There were more than 1,100 visits from 288 families to the Kendall County Food Pantry location in Yorkville in the past four months by residents living in the 60543 and 60538 area codes in the school district, she said. It's been more than five months since, the global pandemic has taken a toll on our lives and all the researchers have been giving their 100 per cent in making the vaccine and decoding this deadly coronavirus . Scientists have found the likely order in which COVID-19 symptoms first appear, an advance that may help clinicians rule out other diseases, and help patients seek care promptly or decide sooner to self-isolate. AFP According to the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, the likely order of symptoms in patients with COVID-19 is fever, followed by cough, muscle pain, and then nausea, and/or vomiting, and diarrhea. "This order is especially important to know when we have overlapping cycles of illnesses like the flu that coincide with infections of COVID-19," explained study co-author Peter Kuhn, a professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) in the US. With this new information, Kuhn said doctors can determine what steps to take to care for patients, and prevent their condition from worsening. The researchers believe identifying patients earlier may reduce hospitalisation time since there are better approaches to treatments now for COVID-19 than during the beginning of the pandemic. In the current study, the scientists predicted the order of symptoms from data on the rates of symptom incidence of more than 55,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in China, all of which were collected from February 16 to 24 by the World Health Organization (WHO). AFP They also studied a dataset of nearly 1,100 cases collected from December 11, 2019 through January 29, 2020, by the China Medical Treatment Expert Group via the National Health Commission of China. To compare the order of COVID-19 symptoms to that of influenza, the scientists examined flu data from 2,470 cases in North America, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, which were reported to health authorities from 1994 to 1998. "The order of the symptoms matter. Knowing that each illness progresses differently means that doctors can identify sooner whether someone likely has COVID-19, or another illness, which can help them make better treatment decisions," said Joseph Larsen, study lead author from USC While fever and cough are frequently associated with a variety of respiratory illnesses, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which caused the 2002-03 pandemic, they said the timing and symptoms in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract set COVID-19 apart. "The first two symptoms of COVID-19, SARS, and MERS are fever and cough. However, the upper GI tract (nausea/vomiting) seems to be affected before the lower GI tract (diarrhea) in COVID-19, which is the opposite from MERS and SARS," the scientists wrote in the study. According to the research, a very small fraction of patients experienced diarrhea as an initial symptom. "This report suggests that diarrhea as an early symptom indicates a more aggressive disease, because each patient in this dataset that initially experienced diarrhea had pneumonia or respiratory failure eventually," the scientists wrote. "The highest reported symptom is fever, followed by cough or dyspnea, and then finally, a small percent of patients reported diarrhea. This order confirms the most likely paths that we have determined," they noted. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:00:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The Tel Aviv Municipality Hall is illuminated with the colors of the national flag of the United Arab Emirates in the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Aug. 13, 2020. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) "Yes, it is historic, but it is only an illusion of the peace Trump vowed he'd deliver," Nic Robertson, an international diplomatic editor with CNN, wrote in an analysis. BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled on Thursday has drawn mixed reactions from relevant parties. The two countries agreed to the full normalization of relations, and Israel agreed to suspend its plan to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank, according to a joint statement of the United States, Israel, and the UAE on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as "a historic moment of a breakthrough towards peace in the Middle East." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at a press conference in Jerusalem, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/JINI via Xinhua) UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that establishing normal relations with Israel will enable the country to play a constructive role in enhancing the region's security and stability. U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped broker the deal, tweeted following the announcement that "HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!" Screenshot shows U.S. President Donald Trump's Twitter post published on Aug. 13, 2020 on the Israel-UAE peace deal. However, some political observers held a more cautious attitude towards the so-called "breakthrough" in the Middle East peace process. "Yes, it is historic, but it is only an illusion of the peace Trump vowed he'd deliver," Nic Robertson, an international diplomatic editor with CNN, wrote in an analysis. The deal was reached when "both Trump and maybe Netanyahu face elections and need votes. And both are running out of time to cement a legacy, to shore up their otherwise relatively controversial records in office," he added. The agreement, which will make the UAE the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel, has drawn both denouncement and cautious welcome from regional countries. People take part in a protest against the deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) Huge protests broke out in the West Bank and Gaza after the announcement of the peace deal, with banners writing "Palestine is not for sale" and "normalization is a knife in the back of the Palestinian people." Slamming the deal as a "betrayal," Palestine denounced the agreement as "disgraceful" and considered it a "blow to the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits, and an aggression against the Palestinian people." Palestine warned the rest of the Arab countries against "bowing" to the U.S. pressure. Iran's Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the establishment of diplomatic ties between the UAE and Israel. "It (the agreement) is a strategic act of stupidity by Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, which will undoubtedly result in strengthening the axis of resistance in the region," according to a statement. The Islamic republic considers as "dangerous" the UAE's act of normalizing ties with Israel, and warns Tel Aviv against "any kind of intervention in the Gulf equations," read the statement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey on Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey might suspend its diplomatic relations with the UAE, or call back its ambassador over the UAE-Israel deal. "We stand with the Palestinian people. We have not let Palestine be defeated, or let it be defeated," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. In a written statement issued earlier in the day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said "the history and the conscience of the region's people would never forgive the hypocritical behavior of the UAE." Jordan urged Israel to treat the peace deal seriously and to engage in direct peace talks to end the occupation. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said if Israel regards the agreement as a means to end the occupation and respects the Palestinians' rights, the region will move ahead towards peace. Otherwise, Israel will deepen the conflicts that will jeopardize the entire region's security. Meanwhile, Egypt and several Gulf states gave their cautious welcome to the peace agreement. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said in a statement he values "the efforts of those in charge of this agreement in order to achieve prosperity and stability for our region." "I have followed with great interest and appreciation the tripartite joint statement among the United States, the UAE and Israel regarding the agreement to stop Israel's annexation of Palestinian territories and take steps that would bring peace to the Middle East," said the president. Bahrain welcomed the peace agreement, saying the deal will strengthen the foundations of world security, stability and peace. Bahrain "looks forward to more efforts to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the Bahraini government said in a statement. The Bahraini government also hailed Israel's decision to halt the annexation of the Palestinian territories as "a step towards peace in the Middle East." Oman on Friday expressed its support for the UAE's decision on relations with Israel. "The sultanate hopes this will contribute to achieving just and peace in the Middle East in a way that serves the aspirations of the peoples of the region," said a statement. A Chicago businessman says he's going to sue the city after police failed to respond when his convenience store was looted for the second time since May. Walid Mouhammad's store was destroyed Monday, when the city experienced widespread looting. He said he watched the looters in real time on surveillance cameras as they ripped out the new steel security door that he'd recently installed, after spending $300,000 to repair the damage done when his store was first looted in May. 'I've been open for just 40 days, so who will be responsible for this?' Mouhammad told ABC 7 Chicago. Walid Mouhammad's convenience store was destroyed Monday, when the city experienced widespread looting Mouhammad said he watched looters via surveillance cameras as they destroyed his store He said that the looting the second time around was worse than before and that in addition to destroying the store, the looters stole merchandise and ripped out the ATM. Mouhammad said that the looters spent 25 minutes at his store, between breaking down the door and ransacking it. During that time, 'no one came to stop them,' he told Fox News, adding that 'Officers are seeing what is going on but are doing nothing.' Mouhammad's landlords said they called police multiple times on Monday during the looting, but that authorities didn't show up until it was too late. 'I made six calls myself,' building owner Tommica Foster-Akin told ABC 7 Chicago. 'The store owners, they made calls; my maintenance guys made calls.' Mouhammad wants the city to show that they'll be able to protect his store before he makes any repairs to reopen. 'I want to know, are we protected or not? I want them to take care of the small businesses,' he told Fox News, also stating that he wants to know who will be 'responsible' for what happened to his store. He said he'd spent $300,000 to repair the damage done when the store was looted in May. The store is shown here after it was looted on Monday Mouhammad said looters were at his store for 25 minutes, breaking through the steel security door and then stealing from inside He said that he has 'been through a lot. A lot of drama, a lot of stress. I don't know what I'm going to do' and said that he is planning to sue the city of Chicago for apparently taking more than 25 minutes to respond to his call for help. Chicago police said Thursday that they will have 1,000 more cops on the street over the weekend to prevent a repeat of the recent looting. 'The looters have made the point that were larger than you, we outnumber you, youve heard that in some of the crowds, well be back, this kind of empty threat, we are committed to deploying our resources as large as we have to be, not only to protect our downtown but also our neighborhood retail corridor,' Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said, according to WGN 9. 'We must show that you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and not be let out of jail without any consequence. We as a group, not just police, prosecutors both state and federal are committed to making that happen,' Brown said. Hundreds of looters caused chaos Sunday night into Monday following a police-involved shooting in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Police said a man matching the description of a suspect ran from officers who were trying to interview him at the time. Officers claimed that the man opened fire at them while he ran, so they shot at him in return, leaving him with injuries he is expected to survive, WGN 9 reported. Police said 100 people were arrested and 13 police officers were injured during the looting sprees. Mouhammad is questioning why the looters have taken to attacking small businesses in response to incidents like this. He said to Fox News that he wanted to know 'what my business has to do with it. If you have something against the officers or whatever, then why you come to break in our businesses, why you destroy us for?' Joshua Lytle of St. Paul was arrested Wednesday in Key West, Fla., on a felony warrant by Key West police and the U.S. Marshals Service. A warrant for Lytles arrest was issued July 16 in Hall County. Lytle, 27, was sentenced June 9 to one year in jail for aiding and abetting a Class 3A felony. That charge stemmed from his involvement in a conspiracy to murder Jennifer Swartz of Grand Island in November and December. Grand Island Police say that Matthew Stephens, another St. Paul man, made plans to kill Swartz, who is his ex-wife. Stephens was arrested Jan. 5 in Grand Island. Lytle was already in custody for an unrelated incident. Lytle signed a plea agreement to testify in the case. Lytle, who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a Class 3A felony, served 170 days awaiting sentencing. Because of good time, Lytles sentence was cut in half. So with the 170 days credit, he had to serve less than two weeks after the June 9 sentencing. His sentence also included 18 months of post-release supervision and drug testing. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 00:03:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan's catering industry has seen a better-than-expected recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, boosted by new dining trends and thrifty rules such as the introduction of smaller-portion dishes. Work resumption rate in the city's catering industry, which was among the hardest hit by the outbreak, was 78 percent on Aug. 1, up from 13.3 percent on May 1, according to the city's dining industry association. "Now, over 80 percent of businesses are back to work in the industry, which is better than expected," said Liu Guoliang, president of the association. "However, restaurant attendance is still modest. It is only 50 percent in many restaurants, and 70 percent in better-off ones," he said, urging for more stimulus and promotional measures. In response to a national call for curbing food waste, the association has advised restaurants to design smaller-portion and half-portion dishes, offer take-away boxes for leftovers, and adopt an "N-1" strategy, in which a group of diners will be encouraged to order dishes one fewer than the number of the diners, but are free to add more later. Such measures will not discourage the sector's recovery or dent consumption, Liu said, adding that local restaurants have adopted the "N-1" mode since 2013, and the concept of small-portion dishes will actually spur consumption. Xinhua reporters in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei Province, said many restaurants and eateries have already adopted small servings to boost sales while curbing food waste. "After we introduced single-person or small servings, we started receiving more take-out orders and our dine-in services have rebounded to 90 percent of the pre-epidemic level," said Huang, manager of Mystic South-Yunnan Ethnic Cuisine in downtown Wuhan. Families, friends, or other group diners communally sharing dishes is a common norm in most Chinese restaurants. Dishes are, therefore, often designed to be large in size, making it unfriendly for individual customers or couples. Wang Xue, a hotpot buff in Wuhan, said many restaurants in post-COVID-19 Wuhan limit the number of diners at each table to four, so instead of throwing large hotpot parties, she now dines with only one or two friends. "The introduction of smaller dishes is very timely, and I can now enjoy more dishes each time," she said. "It makes me more willing to go to restaurants." "Customers can now enjoy four to five (smaller) dishes at the price of two (larger) dishes," Liu said. "This will help restaurants win back consumers who have been accustomed to cooking and dining at home." In 2019, the turnover of Wuhan's catering industry reached 123 billion yuan (17.7 billion U.S. dollars), a threefold increase from 2012, the year before the nation launched a campaign against food waste. Enditem By Express News Service CHENNAI: The export-import (EXIM) trade has been hit due to Covid-19 with Chennai Port in the first four months recording a traffic of only 11.09 milion tonnes, but during July and August things have improved and there is a slight improvement in the traffic, according to Chennai Port chairman P Raveendran. The Port chairman addressing the port employees after hoisting the national flag to mark the 74th Independence Day told reporters that Exim trade was hit due to Covid-19 during the end of 2019 and Chennai Port achieved a throughput of 46.76 MT for the year 2019-20 and hoped that in the next four months the port should be able to handle the normal level of traffic. He said that during lockdown restrictions, the port handled all the ships without any delay. "Due to the restrictions on road movement, evacuation through rail was effected. Chennai Port has taken measures to move the cargo by rail through the extended gate facility at CONCOR Yard, Tondiarpet. Chennai Port has moved a record number of 180 container rakes during the lockdown period surpassing all earlier records. This initiative had helped to keep the terminals congestion-free enabling handling of ships without any problem and within a short time," he said. Stating that Chennai Port has acquired all the equity shares of Kamarajar Port Limited held by the Government of India during March 2020, he said the acquisition will result in the synergy between these two entities which is very essential in the days of severe competition around this region. " The strength of Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port will be harnessed to position ourselves to serve the trade community in a more cost-effective and efficient manner," he said. He also highlighted the signing of Memorandum of Agreement with Shreyas Shipping and Logistics Ltd for handling EXIM laden Transhipment containers from Chennai to the Middle East (ChennaiColombo-Tuticorin CochinJebel AliKandlaChennai Circuit). This service is expected to attract transshipment containers from different Ports to India and Chennai Port will develop as a Hub Port. This is a very important step in developing Chennai as a transshipment port. He also said that Chennai Port will switch over from the existing EDP system to the EBS system during September 2020 which will enable end to end transactions in the online system. Vice President Naidu lauds PM for passionate I-Day speech Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his passionate Independence Day speech at the Red Fort and said that it creates confidence among the people in their endeavours to revive the economy. JP Nadda hoists flag at BJP headquarters BJP national president JP Nadda hoisted the national flag at the partys headquarter in New Delhi. Priyanka Gandhi lauds soldiers, healthcare workers, farmers on I-Day Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lauded soldiers, healthcare workers, farmers in her Tweets on the occasion of Independence Day. India got independence after a long struggle in which people laid down their lives. Crores of Indians fought together for the truth and won. We have to protect our freedom by putting our lives at stake. On this occasion of Independence Day, salute to the soldiers, healthcare workers, sanitation workers, farmers and labourers, her tweet read. President Ram Nath Kovind pays tribute at National War Memorial President Ram Nath Kovind paid tribute at National War Memorial. Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind pays tribute at National War Memorial on #IndependenceDay. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh & Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria present. pic.twitter.com/M7io7HL6C1 ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2020 LK Advani unfurls national flag at residence BJP leader L K Advani unfurled the tricolour at his residence in New Delhi to mark the nations 74th Independence Day. Chinese envoy wishes for peace and prosperity for India and China Congratulations to the Indian government and people on Independence Day. Wish China and India, two great nations with ancient civilization prosper together in peace and develop with closer partnership, tweeted Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to India. PM Modi continues safa tradition; opts for saffron, cream turban Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore a saffron and cream headgear at the 74th Independence Day celebrations. He paired the safa with a half-sleeve kurta and a fitted churidar. Day to remember all those who lost lives at border: Delhi CM Today is also the day to remember those who sacrificed themselves at the border in last 73 years, to keep the nation independent and safe. Our 20 jawans lost their lives at India-China border. Innumerable soldiers have laid down their lives like this, in last 73 years, tweeted Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. On I-Day, CPI(M) pledges to continue its fight to defend constitution We pledge to continue our fight in defence of the constitution and against attack on fundamental rights. This freedom was hard-earned and any attempt to curb it will be fought back, CPI (M) Tweeted. Congress leader AK Antony hoists flag at party headquarters Senior Congress leader AK Antony hoists the National Flag at Congress partys headquarters. Delhi: Senior Congress leader AK Antony hoists the National Flag at Congress party's headquarters, today on #IndependenceDay today. Rahul Gandhi, Ahmed Patel and KC Venugopal also present. pic.twitter.com/QnMXXs0ruj ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2020 Best wishes for more progress: Nepal PM wished India on I-Day Congratulations and greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government and people of India on the happy occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Best wishes for more progress and prosperity of the people of India, Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli tweeted. Australian PM Scott Morrison wishes India happy Independence Day Warm wishes to PM Narendra Modi and the people of India on their Independence Day. The deep friendship and partnership between Australia and India is founded on bharosa (trust), samman (respect) and shared values. Happy Independence Day!, Australian PM Scott Morrison Tweets. Rahul Gandhi extends wishes to nation on Independence Day Remembering a quote of Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Rahul Gandhi tweeted. The only alternative to coexistence is destruction. Jawaharlal Nehru. Best wishes on Independence Day. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat hoists national flag in Nagpur RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat hoisted the national flag at the Sangh headquarters in Nagpur as part of the Independence Day celebrations. I bow to martyrs: Arvind Kejriwal tweets on Independence Day I bow to those martyrs whose sacrifice made it possible for us to breathe in free atmosphere. I wish all the countrymen Happy Independence Day, tweeted Kejriwal on Independence Day. Middle class needs freedom from government interference: PM Professionals coming out of Indias middle class make their mark in the whole world not only in India. The middle class needs opportunity and freedom from government interference, said PM Modi. DRDO-developed anti-drone system was deployed near Red Fort DRDO-developed anti-drone system deployed near Red Fort today. The system can detect and jam micro drones up to 3 kilometres and use laser to bring down a target up to 1-2.5 kilometres depending on the wattage of laser weapon, according to news agency ANI. Development work in over 1,300 islands in country underway: PM There are more than 1,300 islands in our country. Keeping in mind their geographical location and their significance in the development of the nation, work to begin new projects in some of these islands is underway, said PM Modi. Our hearts meet with Indias neighbours: PM Modi Today, neighbours are not only those with whom we share our geographical boundaries but also those with whom our hearts meet, said PM Modi. Ram Temple construction started 10 days ago: PM Modi says conduct of people inspirational Construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya started 10 days ago. Ramjanmbhoomi issue that prevailed for centuries, has been resolved peacefully. The conduct of people of the country has been unprecedented and is an inspiration for future, said PM Modi in his Independence Day speech. PM Modi ends Independence Day speech PM Modi has concluded his Independence Day speech which ran for over 1 hour 30 minutes. Covid-19 is not an obstacle big enough to hamper self-reliant Indias growth: PM Modi Covid-19 is not an obstacle big enough to hamper self-reliant Indias growth, says PM Modi. Indias policies, processes and products should be the best: PM Modi Our processes, policies, products should be the best. That is how India will be at the top of the world, says PM Modi. NCC will select 1 lakh cadets from coastal, border areas, one-third will be female cadets: PM National Cadet Corps will select 1 lakh cadets from coastal and border areas and one-third of these will be female cadets, says PM Modi. Working with maritime neighbours to ensure peace and stability in Southeast Asia: PM We are working with our maritime neighbours to ensure peace and stability in Southeast Asia, says PM Modi in Independence Day speech. India is thankful to all nations who extended help during Covid-19 struggle: PM Modi PM Modi thanked all nations who extended help to India during her struggle with coronavirus. Ladakh showed how India responds to those who threaten her territorial integrity: PM Modi From LOC to LAC, whoever dared to cross the line and threaten the territorial integrity of India was met with an appropriate response from our brave soldiers, says PM Modi. Decreasing carbon footprint will be done on a war-footing: PM Modi Decreasing our carbon footprint and conservation of biodiversity will be done on a war-footing, says PM Modi in Independence Day speech. J-K has completed one year of independence from Article 370 This one year is a year of the new journey of development for Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is the year of the rights received by the women and the Dalits in Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is also the year of a life of dignity for the refugees in Jammu and Kashmir, says PM Modi. 3 vaccines candidates are at different stages of testing in India: PM Modi All of us are waiting for a vaccine for Covid-19. I want to tell you that three vaccine candidates are at different stages of testing in the country. A made in India vaccine will be out soon, says PM Modi. PM Modi announces National Digital Health Mission PM Modi announces National Digital Health Mission, says it will bring a revolution in Indias health sector We have worked for women empowerment: PM Modi We have worked for women empowerment- Navy and airforce are taking women in combat, women are now leaders, we abolished triple talaq, got sanitary pads to women for just 1 rupee, says PM Modi Optical fibre network will reach all 6 lakh villages of India: PM All 6 lakh villages on India will be connected via optical fibre within 1,000 days, says PM Modi National Education Policy will equip kids for global competition: PM Education plays an important role in new India, and we have introduced the National Education policy, which will help our children grow and be equipped for global competition, says PM Modi. Rs 90,000 crore directly transferred to bank accounts of poor: PM About Rs 90,000 crore directly transferred to bank accounts of poor; over 80 crore people provided free food grains, says PM Modi. Middle class will benefit most from ease of living, says PM Modi Middle class will benefit most from a better ranking in ease of living and we are striving for it, says PM Modi. Jal Jeevan Mission empowered spirit of cooperative competitive federalism, says PM Modi Jal Jeevan Mission has empowered the spirit of cooperative competitive federalism, says PM Modi. Economic clusters will be formed in villages: PM Modi We need to strengthen agrarian businesses. Economic clusters will be formed in villages for this purpose, says PM Modi. We will have to work extra hard for upliftment of all: PM Modi Some areas tend to be left behind in journeys of development. There are 110 districts in India that have to be brought back in the narrative of development. We will have to work extra hard for upliftment of all, says PM Modi. Indias progress seen in all fields in past 6 years: PM Modi Be it providing every household with electricity, cooking gas, creating bank accounts for the poor or building toilets in all houses, India has progressed a lot in every field in the last 6 years, says PM Modi. Opening up space sector will generate employment: PM Modi I am confident that measures like opening up space sector will generate many new employment opportunities for our youth, said PM Modi. Record FDI investment reflects worlds confidence in India: PM Modi Indias record FDI investment shows the worlds growing confidence in our nation, says PM Modi. Make in World should also be a key slogan like Make in India: PM Modi Make in World should also be a key slogan like Make in India is, says PM Modi in his address to the nation. Humanity must be centre of economic growth: PM Modi While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process, says PM Modi. Vocal for local should be key slogan of independent India: PM Modi Vocal for local should be the key slogan of independent India, says PM Modi at Red Fort. We have to provide for hungry in our nation, world: PM Modi We have to strengthen our agriculture industry, to provide for the hungry in our nation as well as the world, says PM Modi in Independence Day speech. India has to utilise its human resource: PM Modi PM Modi says India has to focus on its human resources and skill development. India has to stop exporting raw material, importing finished goods: PM India has to stop exporting raw material and importing finished goods. We have to become self-reliant, says PM. I have faith in Indias approach: PM Modi on India becoming self-reliant India has vowed to be self-reliant amid Covid-19. Self-reliance is compulsory for families and for the nation. I have faith in Indias approach, says PM Modi PM lauds nations unwavering spirit Indias soul has been attacked several times, but our nations unwavering spirit conquered all, says PM Modi in his Independence Day speech. I salute the corona warriors: PM Modi I salute the corona warriors who have worked relentlessly for the nation. I extend my condolences to families that have lost loved ones in this battle against coronavirus, says PM at Red Fort. We owe this freedom to those who fought for Independence: PM Modi We owe this freedom to those hundreds who fought for our Independence, says PM Modi. PM Modi begins address to nation PM Modi has begun his address to the nation from the Red Fort. PM Modi unfurls national flag PM Modi unfurled the national flag at Red Fort and national anthem was played. PM Modi receives guard of honour Rajnath Singh and defence secretary Ajay Kumar received the PM at Red Fort. The PM received the guard of honour. PM Modi pays tributes at Rajghat Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes at Rajghat. Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes at Raj Ghat. #IndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/TRm6QVDxqF ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2020 Amit Shah stresses on self-reliance in I-Day Tweet Home Minister Amit Shah stressed on the need for a self-reliant India in his Independence Day tweet for the nation: On this Independence Day, let us take a pledge to fulfil PM Narendra Modis dream of a self-reliant India and contribute to taking the country to new heights by using indigenous products. PM Tweets: Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians PM Tweets: Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind! Rajnath Singh to receive PM at red fort at 7.18am Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar will receive the PM at Red Fort ahead of his speech and flag hoisting. PM Modi to address nation from Red Fort PM Narendra Modi will address the nation from Red Fort today. This will be his second Independence Day speech of his second tenure as PM. PM Modi to visit Rajghat at 7am Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay his tributes at Rajghat before proceeding towards the Red Fort. India celebrates 74th Independence Day The country is celebrating 73 years of independence from the British rule today. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 10:45:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Serie A giants Flamengo have announced the departure of right-back Rafinha to Greek side Olympiacos. The 34-year-old's contract had been due to expire in 2021 but a clause allowed him to join a European club on a free transfer. "We regret that he is leaving," Flamengo vice president Marcos Braz told reporters on Friday, confirming widespread media reports of the defender's impending move. "He received a proposal to continue playing at a high level for two years and informed us that he'd accepted it." Rafinha joined Flamengo from Bayern Munich in June last year and helped the Rio de Janeiro club secure a historic Copa Libertadores-Brazilian Serie A double five months later. Capped four times for Brazil's national team, Rafinha made 266 appearances over eight years for Bayern Munich, where he established a reputation as one of the best full-backs in Europe. Enditem BOGOTA A regional bloc comprised mostly of Latin American nations said on Friday it rejects plans by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to hold legislative elections without participation by all political parties. We express our firm rejection of the illegitimate regimes announcement of the celebration of parliamentary elections without the minimum guarantees and without the participation of all political forces," said the declaration co-signed by Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. The Lima Group, which includes countries from across Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Canada, has long called for a transition government and free elections in Venezuela. The group - together with the United States and European nations - accuses Maduro of manipulating Venezuelas 2018 presidential contest and refuses to recognize the results. Maduro, in power since 2013 in the OPEC member nation, says he won reelection fairly. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is recognized by dozens of countries as the legitimate leader of his country. His administration also signed on to the statement. Colombian President Ivan Duque said earlier on Friday the December contest for the national assembly are a bid by Maduro to seize control of the body, the last bastion of opposition power. We cannot support, validate, applaud or recognize this process, which we already know is a fraudulent process meant to continue to silence independent voices," said Duque, who opened the groups virtual meeting. Argentina confirmed its deputy foreign minister participated in the meeting, but said it did not agree with the position of some Venezuelan political parties who have said they will boycott the elections, saying every citizen needed representation in free, fair and impartial" polls. In another statement, European Union countries, the United States and some group members said relief from sanctions could be provided if there was progress towards a transitional government and free elections. Britain on Friday called on Venezuela to establish a transitional government and swiftly hold free presidential elections, due to the impact of COVID-19. 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 Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh government conveyed its strong objections to the draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2020 citing that it overrides the statutory protections granted under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA). Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in his communication to Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that the draft completely ignored the sensitivity required for the conservation of the environment and achieving the objective on sustainable development. Chhattisgarh is predominantly a tribal state and has 44 per cent forest cover. And the vast areas of the state been included in the "Scheduled Area' under Article 244(1) of the Constitution, providing protection to these Areas against such laws derogatory to the land rights of the indigenous population. The EIA Notification, 2020 should, therefore, be in consonance with the rights of the tribals and the panchayat, Baghel asserted. He further stated that Section 4 of the PESA Act empowers a Gram Sabha/Panchayat to prevent alienation of land and to approve plans and projects but the draft EIA overlooks such mandate by not making it mandatory for the project proponent to get any such approval from the Gram Panchayat. It grossly violates and undermines the rights and interest of village panchayats in scheduled and tribal areas. And exempting a large number of projects from the public hearing, the draft EIA along with granting of post-facto clearances will adversely affect the rights of the forest dwellers to conserve, manage and protect forests, he added and sought that the definition of industrial estates be amended appropriately. The draft EIA Notification states that leveling of the land without any tree felling and geo-technical investigation does not require prior environment clearance. Baghel argued that leveling of project sites may have an impact on topography - mountain slopes can cause soil erosion and can trigger landslides. "Further, geo-technical investigation for roads, hydropower projects and other projects which involves heavy construction activities may have a serious impact on the environment. Such activities should, therefore, be brought within the ambit of the EIA Notification, the CM averred. A Wicklow performer is receiving international plaudits for her newly released single. 'Cloudy Dreams' was written and recorded by Arklow performer nimf at home. Now, the song has been received airplay on American radio and been championed by influential Irish and international music blogs. Speaking to this paper, nimf (also known as Aoibhin Redmond) said, 'I wrote and recorded it in my room using my laptop and microphone. I did it all myself and I'm really excited about how well it's doing.' Performing since she was 16, nimf won the busking competition at Arklow's annual Seabreeze Festival. This inspired her to keep going and to study song-writing at BIMM in Dublin. Describing herself as a sugar-pop performance artist, nimf sings while playing the theremin, with a performance aesthetic intended to transport the listener to a dreamy land. Her music has drawn comparison with artists such as Tune-Yards and Grimes. nimf lists artists including David Bowie and Kate Bush among her influences. 'I grew up with a lot of music tastes. I'm really open in what I listen to. I've been listening to a lot of video game soundtracks recently. Japanese artists have also influenced my sound and style.' The Arklow performer is working on an EP, which she hopes to release later in the year. Her schedule also includes a series of online shows. While virtual performances are not the same as those in front of an in-person audience, nimf seems interested in the opportunities they provide for experimentation. 'They're not the same as performing live, but, it's cool that everyone is exploring different ways of performing,' she said. For more information about nimf and her new single 'Cloudy Dreams', visit www.nimf.bandcamp.com. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. When the ancient Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River gets stuck in the open position, it delays riders on two railroads -- NJ Transit and Amtrak. But when the enormous Dock Bridge next to Newark Penn Station has problems closing, thats a hat trick of delays for NJ Transit, Amtrak and PATH passengers. Dock Bridge is the enormous twin span lift bridge that takes six tracks across the Passaic River and was built in 1935 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. And Amtrak, the bridges owner, has said enough of those delays. Amtrak has started the process with the U.S. Coast Guard for permission to permanently keep the Dock Bridge closed. Amtrak, which owns the bridge and the Northeast Corridor line it carries over the Passaic River, applied to the Coast Guard last month for the change. Its different than Portal. The permit application is to fix the (Dock) bridge in place, so it doesnt have to open and close, said Craig Schulz, an Amtrak spokesman. The Coast Guard received a request from Amtrak to start the process on their proposal, but the required bridge permit hasnt been submitted yet, said Donna Leoce, a Coast Guard Bridge Management Specialist in New York, through a spokeswoman. The reason for this proposal is due to the limited number of requests to open the bridge during the last five years, she said. It takes anywhere up to 6 months to make a determination on the permit. While Dock Bridge hasnt opened much for river traffic in the past five years, it does have to open to be tested, and over the past five years, that has caused more than 37 hours of delays to Amtrak trains alone when there is a malfunction, Schulz said. Newark-World Trade Center passengers traveling Saturday, 9/7/19 1-2am are advised to allow extra time because of potential delays associated with Amtrak Dock Bridge maintenance and testing. We thank you, in advance, for your understanding while this necessary work is performed. pic.twitter.com/EdYLxTcQvt PATH Train. Wear a Face Covering. (@PATHTrain) September 6, 2019 Comments will be taken on Amtraks application until Aug. 23. Similar to Portal, the problems usually happen when Dock Bridge closes and either tracks dont properly line up or signals dont make contact, resulting in delays. Those delays are worse for PATH, which has the highest frequency of rail service of all three bridge users, Amtrak officials said. Opening and closing the bridge doesnt just cause problems during the commuting rush, but also on high rail ridership days, such as when bridge problems caused 30-minute delays when many people were traveling to the Pride Day parade in New York in 2019. The Coast Guard came to the aid of commuters in February after it approved keeping the infamous Portal Bridge from opening during rush hour. That made a temporary measure proposed by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez permanent, to prevent delays when Portal got stuck. In addition to satisfying environmental requirements, Amtrak has to prove that permanently closing Dock bridge wont cause a vertical clearance problem for vessels using the river. There are fixed bridges on the Passaic River. There are some at certain points that have higher vertical and some bridges that have lower clearance. All of this is taken into consideration when making a VC determination, said Chief Warrant Officer Mariana OLeary, a Coast Guard spokeswoman in New York. Amtrak has repair plans for Dock Bridge, if a $31.8 million Federal Railroad Administration grant is approved. The rest of the $63 million State of Good Repair project would be split by Amtrak, NJ Transit and PATH, Schulz said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Justine Hudock, Andrew Maust, and David Leo Sirois took the top three prizes in the 2020 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest Now more than ever, our intimate lives are mediated through computer screens. When travel is off-limits, some of us turn to inner journeys. Such a one is the Instagram mommy who narrates Justine Hudock's tonally perfect 'LSD', the tale of a very special 'trip' to the maternity ward. Winning Writers is pleased to announce the results from its 19th annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Justine Hudock of Cortlandt Manor, NY won first prize and $1,000 for her comedic poem "LSD". Ms. Hudock also received a two-year gift certificate for the literary information services at Duotrope, the contest co-sponsor. 5,072 poets competed from around the world. Jendi Reiter, final judge of the Wergle Flomp contest, said: "Now more than ever, our intimate lives are mediated through computer screens. When travel is off-limits, some of us turn to inner journeys. Such a one is the Instagram mommy who narrates Justine Hudock's tonally perfect 'LSD', the tale of a very special 'trip' to the maternity ward." Second Prize of $250 went to Andrew Maust of State College, PA for "The Challenge", in which a would-be hero of modern times endeavors to "Eat the Monster Burrito and Eat for Free" at Benny's Gas-N-Go in Newark, NJ. Third Prize of $150 went to David Leo Sirois of Madawaska, ME for his Walt Whitman parody "I Hear the Bank of America Singing". Reiter said, "Our fetishizing of cash and corporations becomes delightfully explicit in his ecstatic, erotic hymn to overdraft protection and drive-through ATMs." Twelve honorable mentions of $100 went to Ty.Brack, Mike Cecconi, Deborah L. Davitt, Matt DG, Patty Holloway, Ethan Lesley, Christopher Lessick, Karen Rockwell, Amy St Johnwood, Carol Sanders, David Webb, and Miles Wilson. The top 15 poems and judges' comments are published online. The 20th contest is open now through April 1, 2021. The first prize has been doubled to $2,000, and the second prize doubled to $500. As always, this contest is free to enter. See the guidelines and enter online. In addition to the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, Winning Writers sponsors the North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books, the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest, and the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. All four contests are recommended by Reedsy. (Alliance News) - Tens of thousands of UK tourists in France have made last-ditch bids to return home before the imposition of quarantine restrictions. People arriving in the UK after 4am on Saturday will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, due to rising numbers of coronavirus cases in France. Tickets for planes, trains and ferries were snapped up by travellers at increased prices as they attempted to beat the deadline. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the UK government had taken "a practical approach" to the new restrictions. He estimated 160,000 holidaymakers were attempting to return to the UK from France on Friday. The new quarantine conditions also apply to travellers returning to or visiting the UK from the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks & Caicos and Aruba. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, the train service which carries vehicles through the Channel Tunnel, was fully booked on Friday. A spokesman said 12,000 people tried to book tickets in the hour after the new rules were announced at about 10pm on Thursday, compared with just hundreds normally. Some air fares were more than six times more expensive than normal. British Airways, part of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, was selling tickets for a flight from Paris to London Heathrow on Friday night costing GBP452. The same journey on Saturday could be made with the airline for just GBP66. The cheapest ticket on a Eurostar train from Paris to London was GBP210, compared with GBP165 on Saturday. Travellers in the south of France and the Netherlands faced a struggle getting back to the UK on Friday as many direct fights were sold out. A traveller who gave her name as Sonata K, a 39-year-old dentist, was due to head to Paris on Eurostar for four nights with her mother, but cancelled her plans after finding out about the quarantine measures at St Pancras on Friday morning. She told the PA news agency: "It's not worth it to go out and have to self isolate. "With my work I can't do the procedures from home. "We were too late to get the news, we're just finding out here, but it's better than on the train." Holidaymakers Stuart and Anna Buntine spent nearly GBP1,000 to make it home via Eurostar from Burgundy, central France. Buntine, 58, said: "I went to bed last night thinking it was all OK, woke up at 7am to find we had to get back here pretty sharpish. "We couldn't get tickets, all the sites had crashedawe had to buy business class tickets back today so it's cost nearly GBP1,000." Buntine added: "We left here with our eyes [open] knowing that it was a possibility, so we decided we'd take that risk." Dyan Crowther, chief executive of the HS1 high-speed London to Channel Tunnel rail link, told PA it was "heartbreaking" seeing families having to cancel holiday plans and spend hundreds of pounds dashing home to beat quarantine. She said: "People want certainty, they want to know that they can go away without having to worry about what the world will look like when they return. "My heart goes out to them." A spokeswoman for travel trade organisation Abta said the government's quarantine policy will "result in livelihoods being lost unless it can step in with tailored support for the travel industry". The Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England detected a significant change in Covid-19 risk in all six destinations for which quarantine restrictions are being imposed. The Home Office said on Friday that a total of nine fines have been issued at the border since quarantine restrictions were introduced. The department counts the number of fixed penalty notices issued by Border Force under the regulations. source: PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Striking Workers Lead Demonstrators In Minsk March As Protests Spread By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 14, 2020 MINSK -- Several thousand protesters gathered in front of the main government building in the Belarusian capital to demand a recount of the country's disputed August 9 election, which handed strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term and sparked nationwide protests that have been brutally put down by security forces. The spontaneous August 14 march was led by workers from the Minsk Tractor Works, one of numerous plants around the country where workers have walked off the job. Drivers in passing cars honked their horns in support, and there were few signs of police or security forces. The demonstration was later joined by railway workers and others. Unverified reports put the number of protesters at as high as 20,000. Demonstrators demanded that the August 9 election be invalidated, that a new election be held under a new Central Election Commission, and that all "political prisoners" currently in custody be released. Security forces told demonstrators that "if the protest is peaceful, no force will be used" and warned them not to allow any "provocations." After about four hours, the demonstrators dispersed, chanting "Every day!" to indicate their intention to continue pressing their demands. The united campaign headquarters of the opposition has called for "peaceful demonstrations" in cities across the country on August 15 and 16. During a televised meeting with government officials, Lukashenka urged Belarusians not to attend protests, claiming that the opposition wanted "to use you and your children as cannon fodder." He added the accusation that the protests were being organized by foreigners from Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Russia. In remarks on the growing work stoppages earlier in the day, Lukashenka said if the strikes continued, the workers "will not be able to feed" their families. His remarks televised on August 14 came amid reports that Prime Minister Raman Halouchanka had met face-to-face with striking workers at two major industrial plants in Minsk. In one of the latest work stoppages, thousands of workers at the Hrodna Azot chemical plant in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna walked off the job and met plant administrators and city authorities. The workers held up posters, saying "We demand Lukashenka's resignation," "We did not elect him," and "Our votes have been stolen." Hrodna Mayor Mechyslau Hoy, and the plant's director, Ihar Babyr, were at the meeting, where independent labor-union representatives and workers condemned the ongoing crackdown on protesters across the country. Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of the August 9 poll with some 80 percent of the vote. Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who drew crowds in the thousands at campaign rallies across the country and who has since left Belarus for Lithuania since the vote, finished a distant second with just under 10 percent. The United States and European Union criticized the vote and condemned the postelection crackdown, as have NGOs like Amnesty International. On August 13, workers of the BelAZ plant in the city of Zhodzina near Minsk, which manufactures trucks and other construction vehicles and equipment, walked off the job, demanding new presidential election. Managers of BelAZ, one of the largest industrial facilities in the former Soviet Union, met with the workers in the evening on August 13. No members of the media were allowed to attend that gathering. One of the plant's employees, a technician who requested his name not be mentioned, told RFE/RL that the workers had put forward four demands: the resignation of Lukashenka and his government, an immediate halt to police violence against protesters, the release of all political prisoners and thousands of protesters detained during the last several days, and the holding a new presidential election with all candidates who had been barred from the recent poll. According to the employee, the workers warned that they will go on strike if their demands are not handed over to the leadership of the plant by 3 p.m. on August 17. After the BelAZ workers' protest, Zhodzina city Mayor Dzmitry Zablotski announced a meeting with the workers and other city residents near a shopping mall in downtown Zhodzina in the evening that same day, which was attended by thousands of people. The workers and other residents demanded Zablotski's resignation after he admitted in front of the people that he was aware of the mass arrests of protesters in the city. People started chanting "Go away!" and Zablotski left the podium. A doctor from a local hospital said at the meeting that every day "people with terrible injuries are being brought to us," adding that she had "never seen such injuries in my life." People at the meeting carried out an impromptu poll with a majority raising their hand to indicate they had voted for Tsikhanouskaya. Media reports say thousands of workers at more than 20 other industrial facilities and organizations across Belarus are on strike or are about to. The information has not been officially confirmed, while at some facilities workers said vital part of plants and factories continue to operate. Meanwhile, Lukashenka, in a televised report on August 14, said that strikes at plants and factories could negatively affect the future of the affected industrial complexes. "If you want, go on strike, if you want to work, work...Yes, you can walk on the street [to join the protesters]. There are thousands of them. You can join, walk around with them. But even if they give you money, it will last only for two daysand then what?" Lukashenka said in a statement. The 65-year-old authoritarian leader, who is facing the greatest challenge to his 26-year rule, stressed that he is in the country and did not flee, "as our informed ones insist." His comments came as Halouchanka on August 14 visited the Minsk Tractor Works and MAZ truck-manufacturing plant in the Belarusian capital, to talk to the striking workers. No further details were immediately available on the outcome of those discussions. With reporting by Nasha Niva and Tut.by Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarusians- join-rising-wave-of-strikes-amid- postelection-protests/30783507.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 Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. (Photo: Citizen Daily) Jakarta The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the fragility of conflict-ridden countries and even risk them to fall back into crisis, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told a UN Security Council debate on August 13. Indonesia holds presidency of the council for this month.In her remarks as chair of the virtual debate on the pandemic and challenges of sustaining peace, Retno underlined three points in response to this crisis.First, sustaining peace must be part of the comprehensive response to this pandemic. Countries must ensure the inclusive participation of local stakeholders in sustaining peace agenda and the international community must create conducive international environment to sustain peace during the pandemic.Second, sustaining peace requires synergy between the works of all UN system. In this regard, the UN should integrate conflict-sensitive approach into its pandemic response. General cessation of hostilities and humanitarian pause would enable timely delivery of aid and COVID-19 treatments to civilians in conflicts.Third, it is important that countries optimise the use of the limited resources at hand for sustaining peace, as the majority of these countries are now faced with a hard choice between spending on health infrastructure or peacebuilding.Indonesia's leadership in setting the agenda for this month's UNSC sessions are welcomed by Council members. Several high-ranking officials of UNSC member states, including Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, South Africa, Estonia, as well as Minister of State of Germany participated in the meeting. The prime ministers of Sudan and Egypt have expressed optimism after talks in the Sudanese capital that stalled negotiations with Ethiopia on its construction of a controversial giant dam on the Blue Nile would bear fruit. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is being built some 15km (9 miles) from Ethiopias border with Sudan, has become a significant source of discord between the three countries. Downstream Egypt and Sudan view the multibillion-dollar dam as a threat to vital water supplies, while Ethiopia considers its flagship infrastructure project crucial for its electrification and development. Talks between the three countries were suspended last week after the Ethiopian government insisted on linking them to renegotiating a deal on sharing the waters of the Blue Nile. On Saturday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli made his first official visit to Sudan since the formation of a transitional government in Khartoum last year following the overthrow of longtime President Omar al-Bashir. Following his talks with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in Khartoum, a joint statement was issued saying that negotiations are the only way to resolve the problems of the dam. The two prime ministers said they were optimistic regarding the outcome of the negotiations held under mediation by the African Union (AU), according to the statement. It is important to reach an agreement that guarantees the rights and interests of all three nations, it said, adding that a mechanism to resolve [future] disputes should be part of any deal. Earlier this month, Egypts water ministry said Addis Ababa had put forward a draft proposal that lacked a legal mechanism for settling disputes. South Africa, which holds the presidency of the AU and is mediating negotiations, has urged the three countries to remain involved in the talks. In late June, Ethiopia rejected a United Nations Security Council meeting requested by Egypt saying the 15-member body should not be involved in the dispute, adding that it should be resolved at a regional level. Almost a decade of tortuous negotiations have failed to yield an agreement to regulate how Ethiopia will fill the reservoir and operate the hydroelectric dam while protecting Egypts scarce water supplies. The Blue Nile is a tributary of the Nile river, from which Egypts 100 million people get about 90 percent of their fresh water. Last month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his country had already achieved its first-year target for filling the reservoir, thanks to a heavy rainy season. Madbouli was accompanied to Khartoum by a delegation including Egypts ministers of water and irrigation, electricity, health, and trade and industry. During his visit, Madbouli is also expected to meet with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the ruling Sudan Sovereign Council, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), council deputy chief and military general. Hamdoks office said the visit aimed to improve cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15 2020 Indonesia raised another Rp 22 trillion (US$1.48 billion) on Tuesday from government bonds to fund the countrys fiscal deficit and the costly fight against the unfolding pandemic, with the central bank participating in the tender. The Finance Ministry received incoming bids of Rp 106 trillion the second-highest bids volume throughout the year from both domestic and foreign investors. The demand for government bonds is being driven by national banks that have ample liquidity and rising participation from foreign investors, said the ministrys director for sovereign debt papers, Deni Ridwan, adding that foreign investors made up 33 percent of the incoming bids. 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 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. Katherine Kelly attends the "Liar" photocall at Curzon Bloomsbury on February 27, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) Actress Katherine Kelly has split from her husband after seven years of marriage. The former Coronation Street star married Australian-born digital analyst Ryan Clark in Las Vegas in 2013 after dating for two years. They have since had two children, Orla, aged six, and Rose, aged three, but have ended their relationship, revealing the separation is completely amicable in a statement from a spokesman. The spokesman said: Katherine and Ryan have made the difficult decision to separate. Read more: Suranne Jones says soaps 'use their girls' and encouraged lads mags photoshoots They see it as a positive move for both of them and the separation is completely amicable. Their children are their top priority and they will continue to co-parent as good friends. The 40-year-old found fame in 2006 playing feisty barmaid Becky McDonald on ITV soap Coronation Street. After a series of awards on the long-running series, Kelly left to pursue other roles in 2012. She went on to enjoy roles in shows such as Happy Valley, Netflix show Criminal and the second series of ITVs Liar, but she said last year she may need to refrain from police roles in future. Ryan Clark and Katherine Kelly attend the ITV Palooza! held at The Royal Festival Hall on October 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/WireImage) She told Digital Spy: "I play a detective inspector in Liar 2, I play a DI in this [Criminal], I have to draw the line now. I need a break! I think they are so popular, the police procedurals, all actors do them, and if you didn't, you wouldn't work otherwise! "And you do switch from side to side, and I'm definitely ready for a bit more on the other side [as a suspect]. Read more: Corrie star Jack P Shepherd defends re-casting of Todd Grimshaw after fan criticism Talking of her career choices, she told You magazine in March: Im not interested in playing it safe. Failure doesnt frighten me. Ive always tried to keep everything varied, not just whether its television or theatre or radio, but also the characters that I play. I love the variety. The things I tend to turn down are the ones that are too similar to something Ive done before that arent saying anything new or are a little beige. Id rather have the challenge. Former Hollywood publicist Amir Yass admits that getting fired from his last publicity job may have been the best thing that could have happened to him. Amir Yass | Photographer credit: Dorrien Reeve Yass went into rebuilding mode, unsure about his next move until he suddenly went viral on TikTok. His Instagram Live interviews with celebrities also took off. But it was his Corny-Ass Celebs Ive Worked For: TikToks that ended up breaking the Internet. In his first video, he announced that the NDAs have dropped and he was ready to spill the tea. He didnt hold back, revealing that his encounter with Erika Jayne from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was a nightmare and may have gotten him fired from a job. Plus he shared the sweet side of the business including the down-to-earth nature of A-list celebrities like Michael B. Jordan and Jennifer Lopez. Amir Yass relaunched his career from home Yass appeared on The Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald where he recounted his trajectory from publicist to viral TikToker. I got fired from my last job in December, I was working for this British PR company, and they were just like we dont need you anymore, he recounts. And off I went. Then I just started in January posting videos on Instagram joking around, he continued. And then TikTok happened in March. Then COVID hit and it was like, you know what? Its fine if Im not 12. Ill jump on this and Ill do my best and I did it. Yass moved back in with his parents in Orange County and continues to flood his Instagram and TikTok with hilarious videos. Most recently, Yass dished about working for actor Dan Levys management team. Yass describes him as fabulous and so smart and well-dressed. RELATED: Former Hollywood Publicist Dishes on Some of the Nicest A-List Celebrities Like Michael B. Jordan and Jennifer Lopez He captioned the TikTok, Another one for you! Im doing my best to get you one every day! Love @schittscreek @instadanjlevy he was delight to work for! He deserves all the Emmy nods and all the success! Hes a good one and ppl think we look alike, what a compliment! Is he worried about celeb backlash? Yass has plenty of love for a slew of celebrities hes worked for, but hes frank and upfront about the ones who were less than nice. He went into detail with Showbiz Cheat Sheet about his encounters with Jayne. Yass recalled receiving an icy reception from Jayne at a live television shoot. Jayne then called his boss to say that Yass was the one who was a nightmare. I was actually fired a couple of weeks later, he said. Im not going to say that Erika was the reason I got fired but it had a lot to do with it. Basically that day my boss was like, I no longer want you to fill in for me. Which basically means she no longer trusts me to do the job when shes not there. He later revealed in a TikTok that Jaynes publicist reached out to him, accusing him of lying. What did Yass do? He shared the email in a TikTok. RELATED: RHOBH: Former Publicist Recounts Nightmare Encounter with Erika Jayne (Exclusive) Is he worried all this dishing is going to come back to haunt him? Not really. I literally got tired of hiding, he told McDonald. For people who dont know, if youre a publicist, youre hiding. Youre behind the camera. When I used to work for Michael B. Jordan, you dont want to be seen, you dont want to be heard. And I got tired of it. Like why would I want to do that job for literally dollars on the penny. You get nothing as a publicist. A woman who punched a court usher when she was 'kept waiting' for her case to be called on has been jailed for a year. Kimberley Walker, 33, had been waiting at Blackpool Magistrates' Court when the female usher came to collect her. As she did so, Walker launched at the woman, punching her to the right side of the face, knocking her glasses off and causing some bruising. Kimberley Walker, 33, had been waiting at Blackpool Magistrates' Court when the female usher came to collect her Security officers were called to escort her out of the building, yet as they did so, she spat in one of the guards' faces, Manchester Magistrates Court heard. After being arrested, Walker, of Blackpool, tried to head butt one police officer, then kicked the other officer in the chest. Pleading guilty to two offences of assaulting an emergency worker, an offence of assault by beating and an offence of common assault, Walker was sentenced to a total of 56 weeks imprisonment. Sentencing her, District Judge Jack McGarva said: 'In my experience usher's are invariably helpful, very overworked and get the brunt of it from people like you. 'It's not fair. 'Part of my job is to protect them and I'll certainly do that.' Outlining the facts, prosecutor Nick Smart said that on August 11 this year at 2.45pm, a court usher told Walker that the District Judge was ready to see her about her case. 'She punched the usher on the right side of her face, knocking her glasses off and causing bruising to her face,' Mr Smart said. 'As she was escorted out of the court building, she spat in a security guard's face. 'She was arrested and placed in handcuffs and as she was being escorted to the stairs at the rear of the court building to wait for a secure van she attempted to head-butt one officer and kicked the other in the chest.' Walker was said to have many previous convictions including common assaults and offences of a similar nature on her record. In mitigation, her defence lawyer Avisha Gulhati said: 'It does seem to be a one-off. 'She was frustrated waiting there all afternoon and didn't think. 'She didn't think about her behaviour on that day. 'In respect of the spitting, she tells me she was being held onto by her collar - she didn't make the confrontation. What are the latest coronavirus figures for where you live? Find out by adding your postcode. 'I asked if there were any mental health issues and she said no, though she did receive a hospital order in 2007. 'It's not clear why she was at Blackpool Magistrates Court. Security officers were called to escort her out of the building, yet as they did so, she spat in one of the guards' faces, Manchester Magistrates Court heard 'Her case was being given different dates, then she would go there and be told it's not this date, it's a different date, and she was being kept waiting. 'I believe she was at the Magistrates Court for a breach of a post sentence supervision.' Sentencing her, District Judge McGarva said: 'You have pleaded guilty to four offences which puts you in breach of a suspended sentence. 'These are very serious offences. 'All four offences cross the custody threshold, because of the location of the offence and the use of violence against officers in court. 'I am particularly concerned about the assault of the usher.' Walker had a suspended sentence of 16 weeks activated, along with 20 weeks imprisonment for both offences of assaulting an emergency worker to run consecutively. She was also sentenced to ten weeks imprisonment for the assault on the usher which will run concurrently. She must also pay 156 victim surcharge. Afghanistan Begins Releasing Remaining 400 Taliban Prisoners By VOA News August 14, 2020 Afghanistan has begun releasing the last 400 of its Taliban prisoners, government officials said Friday. Eighty of the prisoners were released Thursday officials said. The release is a condition for starting peace negotiations in the war-ravaged country. The U.S and the Taliban signed a prisoner release agreement earlier this year, calling for the Taliban to release the 1,000 government and military personnel they held captive and for the government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners. The release of the last 400 Taliban was problematic because of the "major crimes" they had committed, according to Afghan officials. However, a council of elders was adjourned last weekend to determine whether the Taliban prisoners should be released. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani warned Thursday that the last 400 Taliban prisoners present a "danger" to the world. Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government are expected to take place in Qatar and could begin later this month. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India on Saturday expressed its appreciation for the UK government's cooperation in ensuring the safety and security of its mission and personnel after a small group of demonstrators from Pakistan-led separatist organisations staged a protest outside India House here to coincide with Indian Independence Day. "We are highly appreciative of the cooperation received from the UK government in ensuring the safety and security of the High Commission and its personnel," the Indian High Commission said in a statement. "We are glad that unlike last year, the usual attempts to disturb our Independence Day celebrations had a very limited participation from a few Pakistani agents and Khalistani extremist entities," the statement said. "This indicates that the misinformation propaganda is being seen for what it is - a false and concocted narrative, being pursued by terror and extremist entities in the UK against India. It appears to be fast losing momentum and support, even within their own respective communities," it added. Waving placards and flags, the protesters were confined behind barriers erected across the road from the India House complex in Aldwych as Scotland Yard officers stood guard outside the High Commission of India. "Police are aware of a planned protest outside the Indian High Commission on Saturday, 15 August. A proportionate policing plan is in place," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. A group of over 100 Indian diaspora organisations had sent a collective letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as well as Home Secretary Priti Patel and Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick expressing concerns and flagging the violent clashes at last year's protest on Independence Day. "August 15 is a National Day celebrated by Indians and across the world by the Indian diaspora. It is the day when the first foundation stone was laid to form the union of states and a vibrant democratic country by gaining Independence," noted the letter sent to Downing Street earlier this week. "We would like to mention the violent attacks by sharp weapons on police personnel too apart from Indians gathered to celebrate last year (2019)," it added. Meanwhile, in a special Independence Day message for the diaspora, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar highlighted India's achievements as the "world's largest functioning democracy" and called on British Indians to help counter misinformation about India. "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Somnath in the west to the farthest point in Arunachal Pradesh, India is an example of unity in diversity, a free and open society, facing its numerous challenges soberly and addressing them effectively in a transparent manner," said Kumar. "At this time, when so many societies are struggling to counter misinformation, which is a new kind of weapon with mass application, I would only urge you to avoid receiving, acting on or promoting doubtful content in any way," she said. Earlier, she led virtual Independence Day celebrations from India House, which included a flag hoisting and several congratulatory messages from leading members of the Indian diaspora as well as British parliamentarians. Indian-origin Labour Party MP Navendu Mishra, elected to Parliament in the December 2019 General Election, chose a rendition of A.R. Rahman's 'Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera' from the 2004 Shah Rukh Khan film 'Swades' as his Independence Day message. MUNCY A charge of involuntary manslaughter has been filed against a Lycoming County mother whose drug use, according to police, played a role in the April 19 death of her 3-month-old daughte.r The charge was filed Friday when Demsey Mae Long, 20, of the Muncy area, waived her preliminary hearing on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child. She remains free on $100,000 bail. The manslaughter charge is the most appropriate given what police say was Longs ingestion of drugs, her neglect of her daughter and how the baby died, District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner said. The sentencing guidelines for involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare are the same, he said. The endangering charge accuses Long of violating a duty of care by being under the influence of illegal drugs. Assistant Public Defender Matthew B. Welickovich said he has received a plea offer but he would not disclose the terms. State police say Longs use of illegal drugs during and after pregnancy was a contributing factor in her daughters death. Long had amphetamine, methamphetamine, marijuana and a stimulant in her blood the day her daughter died, the arrest affidavit states. Trooper Matthew Miller wrote he believes the continuous course of illegal drugs shows an obvious lack of care and neglect that contributed to the death of Luna. The infants father told investigators he had his daughter for four days and she was healthy when he returned her to Long on April 18. Long agreed with that assessment, police said. The arrest affidavit provides this summary of what Long told investigators him when interviewed hours after her daughters death: They fell asleep in her daughters room the night of April 18 but the child, Luna, woke around 1 or 2 the following morning and did not want to go back to sleep. She played with her daughter in the living room until 4 or 5 a.m. when she put her back to bed wrapped in a swaddle and pink blanket that covered her face. Because she was out of oil she had borrowed space heaters but said she had them set low. When she awoke around 9:30 or 10 a.m. she said her daughter was unresponsive, her lips were blue, the blanket covered her completely and, after touching her stomach, she believed she was dead. Longs mother, Holly Carey, told police when she arrived at the home mid-morning the bedroom was hot and a blanket was hanging across the doorway to keep in heat. The blanket was warm to the touch, a trooper said. The infant was unresponsive and had no pulse when she arrived at the Muncy Valley Hospital emergency room, a doctor said. Her temperature at 12:17 p.m. was 104, he told investigators. The cause of her Lunas death has not been determined, Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said, explaining he is awaiting the autopsy report and the results of toxicology tests. At her arraignment in June, Long told District Judge Gary Whiteman she quit school after 10th grade and is addicted to methamphetamine but had not used any in a week. During the execution of a search warrant at the Glade Run Road home police said trace amounts of illegal drugs and several pieces of drug paraphernalia were found including in Longs bedroom. LINCOLN The Nebraska Supreme Court found Friday that a convenience store was not liable for an accident in which a customer was struck by a pickup while filling up her car tires with air. Rita Sundermann had sued Hy-Vee, claiming that the stores free air pump was in a dangerous, high-traffic location without warning signs. The lawsuit also alleged that the original design of the convenience store was not followed, increasing the danger. In March 2012, Sundermann parked her car on the north side of a Hy-Vee convenience store at 156th Street and West Maple Road in Omaha, where the air compressor was located. Her parking spot was in one lane of a busy, two-way driveway used by customers entering and leaving the store. She testified that she knew the spot was in a dangerous position, but that she was looking and listening for traffic as she crouched down to fill up her tires on the north side of her vehicle. She was struck by a pickup that was backing up from parking stalls used by employees across the drive. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:21:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Merchants sell agricultural products in a temporary trading area at the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A fleet of trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables heralded the reopening of Xinfadi, a large wholesale market of fruits, vegetables and meat, Saturday morning after its business was suspended due to a COVID-19 cluster related to the market about two months back. More than 1,000 trucks are expected to deliver some 13,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to the 112-hectare market on Saturday, helping recover about 60 percent of its normal transaction volumes for fruits and vegetables. The market will be fully operational by Sept. 10, according to Zhou Xinchun, executive deputy head of Fengtai District, where the market is located. Xinfadi provided about 70 percent of Beijing's vegetables, 10 percent of its pork, and 3 percent of its beef and mutton before being shut down on June 13. The market will cease its retail business and close doors to individual consumers after the reopening, and all sellers and buyers are required to complete real-name authentication before entering the market, said Zhou. A 1,000-square-meter retail vegetable market has been set up outside the wholesale market to meet the demands of nearby residents. Since June 11, Beijing has reported 335 confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to a cluster of infections in the Xinfadi wholesale market. By Aug. 6, all of the patients had been discharged from the hospital after recovery. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:18:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A chartered flight carrying 265 people, including foreign diplomats and Mongolian nationals, on Friday night arrived in Mongolia's capital from South Korea amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mongolia's State Emergency Commission (SEC). The Mongolian nationals are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with financial and other problems, the SEC said in a statement, adding that they will be quarantined at designated facilities for 21 days. After its suspension of international commercial flights due to the pandemic, Mongolia has brought home around 17,500 nationals by chartered flights, buses or trains, according to the commission. As of Saturday, Mongolia has reported a total of 298 COVID-19 cases, all imported. No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the Asian country so far. Enditem The Canadian Armed Forces says minor problems remain in some Ontario long-term care homes they were deployed to earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic. The militarys concerns outlined in a report dated Aug. 4 include worker skills and standards of practice in the seven nursing homes. The reports attributes many of the problems to inexperienced staff who were quickly pressed into service in the homes during the pandemic. Ontario called in the military to seven homes that struggled to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks starting in April. Weeks later, the Forces said they observed cockroach infestations, aggressive feeding that caused choking, bleeding infections, and residents crying for help for hours. The Ministry of Long-term Care says all of the homes were stabilized by the time the soldiers left in July. In short, I believe Ontario is well equipped to address any of these issues from this point forward, Brig.-Gen. C.J.J. Mailkowski said in the report released Friday. The military was initially called in to assist at Orchard Villa in Pickering, Altamont Care Community in Toronto, Eatonville Care Centre in Toronto, Hawthorne Place in Toronto and Holland Christian Homes Grace Manor in Brampton. It was later also deployed to Downsview Long Term Care in Toronto and Woodbridge Vista Care in Woodbridge, Ont. There remain a small number of observations related to clinical skills and standards of care often connected to training, expertise, and experience with new staff who were mobilized in short order that were identified, Mailkowski said. In every case, once identified ... management, staff, and linked hospital team resolved to correct the issue within the resources available. The province says it will share the report with a commission it has established to probe the long-term care sector in the coming months. We welcome their observations, which will help us in our ongoing work to strengthen the long-term care sector, Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton said. In June, Ombudsman Paul Dube started an investigation into the provinces pandemic oversight of long-term care homes because of what he read in a recent military report. As of Friday, 1,800 residents in Ontarios long-term care homes and eight workers have died of COVID-19. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More ICICI Bank on August 15 said it had completed the allotment of equity shares through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), and raised close to Rs 15,000 crore (~$2 billion). The private lender issued 418,994,413 equity shares at an issue price of Rs 358 apiece, the bank informed the exchanges. The issue price represented a 1.9 percent premium to the floor price determined based on the pricing formula as prescribed under Regulation 176(1) of the Security and Exchange Board of Indias (SEBI's) ICDR Regulations, and a 1.5 percent discount to the closing price of the banks equity shares on the BSE/NSE prior to the launch of the issue, the bank said in a statement. The equity issuance witnessed healthy participation from the global and domestic investor community, including foreign portfolio investors, domestic mutual funds and insurance companies, it added. The proceeds of the issue will be used towards strengthening the capital adequacy ratio of the bank, improving the banks competitive positioning and/or general corporate requirements or any other purposes as may be permissible under the applicable law and approved by the Board of Directors of the bank or its duly constituted committee, the statement read. Thanking investors for faith placed in the bank, the ICICI Bank said it is well-positioned to serve the market and benefit from the opportunities that would arise going forward In these extraordinary times of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Bank will continue to strive to serve its customers and also emerge stronger as an institution. 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. The Royal Navy's newest warship's engine failed just days after setting sail for the first time. The HMS Trent, a 90-metre warship, had to be dragged back to its first port of call in Gibraltar, just nine days after setting sail from Portsmouth. The 100million patrol vessel was supposed to join a Nato mission targeting terrorists and human traffickers. The HMS Trent (pictured) set sail from Portsmouth on August 3 and was at sea for nine days before it had to be dragged back to port The ship left Portsmouth, travelled to Gibraltar where is stayed for three days before having issues on the same day it left About the HMS Trent The warship is expected to displace 1,800 tonnes It is 90 metres long and 13 metres wide Its range is 5,000 nautical miles There is a crew of 40 There is space for up to 50 troops/Royal Marines The flight deck can accommodate Wildcat and Merlin helicopters The ship has a 30mm automated main gun Advertisement 'This is like a brand new Range Rover Sport breaking down on the way home from the showroom,' a source told the Sun. The ship reached its first port of call, Gibraltar, six days after she was commissioned in Portsmouth and set sail on August 3. She spent three days in Gibraltar and started experiencing issues when she set sail again on Wednesday. The captain ordered her to turn back after only 12 hours at sea. Once they were back they had to call out the tugs to help the ship back into the harbour. A source said: 'Patrol vessels are nimble ships and it was a really calm day. She shouldn't need tugs to berth.' The ship, built by BAE systems on the Clyde, was experiencing a defect and was waiting for spare parts, the Navy said. A source also insisted the issues the ship was experiencing was not a propulsion problem. This is not the first navy vessel to break down at sea. HMS Queen Elizabeth, last year's new aircraft carrier, had to return to port because she was leaking. A Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dauntless, has had a total of six days at sea since it first set sail in 2016 also because of engine problems. The chairman of tourism promotion body Failte Ireland has resigned after holidaying in Italy, despite Government advice for citizens to take a staycation. Michael Cawley quit within hours of his trip being reported in the media on Saturday. While Italy is on Irelands official green list for safe travel, the Government continues to urge people to holiday within Ireland this summer. Mr Cawley said he had tendered his resignation to tourism minister Catherine Martin with great regret. As has been reported in the media this morning, I am on a pre-arranged family holiday in Italy, which is on the Government green list, he said. I fully support the Governments policy on tourism and I will continue to help the industry emerge from its current difficulties Michael Cawley As I have no wish to allow this issue to become a distraction from the important work of Failte Ireland in rebuilding the Irish tourism industry, I have decided after six years in the position to step down. I fully support the Governments policy on tourism and I will continue to help the industry emerge from its current difficulties. Ms Martin said she was disappointed to learn of Mr Cawleys holiday destination. Tourism and hospitality have suffered significant losses since the start of this pandemic, with the industry in the three midlands counties of Laois, Kildare and Offaly particularly affected at present, she said. As a sign of solidarity with the industry, and to help the country reopen its schools safely, the Government and my department in particular have encouraged people to holiday in Ireland this year. The vast majority of Irish people have heeded that call, and are helping to keep our tourism industry afloat. I was disappointed to learn that the chair of Failte Ireland was holidaying in Italy Tourism minister Catherine Martin While Italy is on the green list, meaning that people who return from there do not have to restrict their movements, the Government has called on people to avoid all non-essential travel. Many of our citizens and residents have followed this guidance at some personal and financial cost to themselves. I was disappointed to learn that the chair of Failte Ireland was holidaying in Italy. I rang Mr Cawley this morning and he has offered his resignation, which I have accepted. I wish to thank Mr Cawley for his service as chair of Failte Ireland. Mr Cawley has served Failte Ireland with energy over his time as chair, and I want to thank him for his service to the cause of tourism promotion in Ireland. He recognises that solidarity with the industry is extremely important at this time, and I have accepted his resignation this afternoon because I believe his position was untenable. I would encourage everyone to support the tourism and hospitality industries in any way they can, and am taking my own holidays in this country. Failte Ireland will continue to promote holidaying in Ireland, including a special provision to support the reopening of tourism in the three midlands counties. Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week? On Independence Day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy hoped the Centre would have a change of heart if not today, in the future, and accord Special Category Status (SCS) to the state in accordance with the promise made in Parliament. Addressing the ceremonial function after unfurling the tricolor at the IGMC Stadium in Vijayawada on Saturday, the Chief Minister said his government was determined to achieve SCS for the state. "The government at the Centre is now not dependent on other parties (for support), so we dont see it granting SCS now. But, if not today, in the future with the blessings of God we hope the situation will change and the central government will have a change of heart and accord SCS for the future of the state," the Chief Minister said. The state would nevertheless continue to raise the demand strongly for SCS, Jagan asserted. The Chief Minister said his government firmly believed that decentralization (of administration) was the right policy to heal the wounds inflicted upon the state by bifurcation. "To ensure that we do not suffer more such wounds and that the three regions of the state flourish equally, we enacted the three capitals legislation. We will soon lay the foundation stone for the Executive Capital at Visakhapatnam and Judicial Capital in Kurnool," Jagan said. The Chief Minister said his 14-month rule so far gave a true meaning to the terms 'justice, liberty, equality, fraternity' as enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. In line with the Directive Principles of State Policy and Article 38 (2) enshrined in the Constitution, the state government launched a gamut of welfare schemes with SCs, STs, BCs, minorities and economically-backward among the upper castes as the main base, to remove the economic and social disparities. "By introducing the Village Secretariat system, which is a new chapter in decentralization of administration, we have ensured Grama Swaraj as listed in the Directive Principles," the Chief Minister added. He noted that the government doled out Rs 59,000 crore in the last 14 months to various sections under different welfare schemes. As part of the measures to eliminate corruption, new initiatives like reverse tendering and judicial preview were launched while a review of the previous government's decisions resulted in an overall saving of Rs 4,000 crore to the exchequer, he added. "Fruits of the schemes and initiatives we launched now will be fully available only after 10-20 years. These are not election schemes but those that are aimed at a better socio-economic and political transformation of the people of the state," Jagan summed up. Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the ceremonial parade by different battalions of the Special Police, commanded by young IPS officer Vakul Jindal. Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, Director General of Police D G Sawang, Principal Secretary (Political) Praveen Prakash and other senior officials attended. (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.) MUSKEGON, MI -- A man incarcerated at the Muskegon Correctional Facility who was recently hospitalized with COVID-19 has received a preliminary parole hearing, following the advocacy of the Michigan Attorney General on his behalf. Michael Thompson, who has served 25 years of a 42-60 year sentence on drug and weapons charges related to a marijuana bust, will meet with the Michigan Parole Board for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Aug. 20, two weeks after MLive reported on Thompsons medical condition after a coronavirus outbreak at the prison where he was living. The meeting will consist of Thompson, a personal advocate who will not provide legal representation, and one member of the parole board, Sarah Gersten, the executive director of Last Prisoner Project, a prison reform group supporting Thompsons case, told MLive in an email RELATED: Sick with COVID-19, inmate cant get out of prison even with AG, prosecutor backing him The meeting also comes two weeks after Attorney General Dana Nessel wrote a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, unequivocally supporting calls for Thompsons release, and arguing that todays sentencing guidelines are significantly less severe. While technically legal, the sentence imposed on Mr. Thompson is the product of a different time in Michigan legal history. And it is a time that has passed, reads the letter, in part. Thompsons attorney, Kim Corral, filed a petition for an expedited parole hearing for Thompson in January. Next weeks meeting amounts to a pre-hearing interview, Gersten said. Thompsons advocates will push for the entire hearing process to be expedited, in acknowledgement of Thompsons age and health, she added. This is a good first step because at least the parole board is moving forward, but if they take the entire statutory timeframe to get to a public hearing and make a decision it could be as long as the end of October, Gersten wrote. Even before he contracted COVID-19, Thompsons case had gained notoriety nationwide as a symbol for the draconian drug laws of the 1990s. Cannabis and prison reform activists, including some celebrities, participated in a social media campaign, #FreeMichaelThompson, arguing that, because marijuana is now legal in the state of Michigan, he has more than served his time. Rashawnda Littles, Michael Thompson's daughter, wears a t-shirt advocating for her father's release from prison. Thompson has served 25 of a 42-60 year sentence on drug and weapons charges related to a marijuana sale in 1996. The charges for which he is currently in prison, however, are weapons charges tied to an incident in which the Flint native sold three pounds of marijuana to a confidential informant who was trying to avoid a severe sentence of his own by working for the police, in the words of Nessel. During that arrest, guns were found in Thompsons home, which was illegal because Thompson had been convicted on felony drug charges in the past. For that reason, Thompson has not yet reached his earliest possible release date -- the year 2038 -- so Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would have to sign off on a commutation of Thompsons sentence, according to an MDOC spokesperson. Because of Thompsons advanced age and medical status -- prior to contracting COVID-19, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, making him more at-risk for the most adverse effects of the virus -- Nessel and others have called for Thompsons immediate release, pending approval from the parole board. I also respectfully request that your office consider Mr. Thompsons application as expeditiously as possible and that he be released as soon as possible if your office will be granting his application, Nessel wrote. RELATED: As coronavirus cases climb in Muskegon prison, families express fear and confusion Thompson is one of 395 prisoners inside the Muskegon Correctional Facility to have contracted the virus in the last three weeks -- a figure that amounts to one-third of the incarcerated population. Nine Muskegon prison employees have also been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to MDOC figures. Thompson is hospitalized at Duane L. Waters Hospital, inside the Michigan State Prison, in Jackson, where his friend and advocate, Deedee Kirkwood, said he is on oxygen and without energy. He said he is isolated and talks to no one and its like being locked up in a crazy house, Kirkwood wrote to MLive in an email. He wants to get out so he can get healthy on the outside. Thats why Thompsons supporters are urging the governors office to expedite his process, according to Gersten. Every day Michael sits in confinement puts him at a greater risk of death from this virus, she wrote. Read more on MLive: City proposal would bring marijuana businesses to downtown Muskegon, Lakeside neighborhood Muskegon County courts to limit access on Fridays, citing costs Replacement for Muskegon-area Habitat for Humanity launches after embezzlement scandal Ronnie Wood believes that special 'valve' in his brain stopped him overdosing during his historic drink and drugs binges. The Rolling Stones guitarist, 73, claims that a circuit breaker saved him from going too far during his blow-outs in the 1970s and 80s. Speaking to the Mirror, he said: 'Luckily I had a valve that cut off, if it was going to be too much in my body, that said "no, don't go over, don't cross this line, otherwise you will not make it". Revelation: Ronnie Wood (pictured in March) believes that special 'valve' in his brain stopped him overdosing during his legendary drink and drugs binges 'It was always ever present that it could be a stopping point or too much. 'If I do not control this then I would shoot off the edge of the precipice.' The legendary musician, who has beaten lung cancer, previously boasted about his out-of-control binges on alcohol, cocaine and heroin. Candid: The legendary musician, who has beaten lung cancer, previously boasted about his out-of-control binges on alcohol, cocaine and heroin Sober: But the father-of-six gave up both drink and drugs in 2010 (pictured in 1999) He said: 'Luckily I had a valve that cut off, if it was going to be too much in my body, that said "no, don't go over, don't cross this line, otherwise you will not make it"' (pictured on stage with Mick Jagger) But the father-of-six gave up both drink and drugs in 2010 before marrying theatre producer Sally Humphreys, who is 31 years his junior, in 2012. The couple now share four-year-old twin daughters Alice and Gracie. Ronnie also has four other children from his previous relationships including Jamie, 45, Jesse, 43, Leah, 41, and Tyrone, 36. Married life: Ronnie married theatre producer Sally Humphreys, who is 31 years his junior, in 2012 and the couple then welcomed their twin daughters, Alice and Gracie, in 2016 (pictured February 2020) His oldest daughter Jesse is almost the same exact age as his current wife and is the daughter of former model and actress Jo Wood. Jo and Ronnie were married for 26-years before their separation and subsequent divorce in 2011, however the pair still maintain a strong friendship. The rocker and his new wife Sally first met just over a decade ago, when she was working at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and Ronnie was still married to second wife Jo . Time to move on: Ronnie was married to the former model Jo Wood for 26 years before the pair decided to part ways and subsequently got divorced in 2011 The couple wed in an intimate ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London in December 2011 after a six-month romance, with Rod Stewart serving as the groom's best man. On expanding their family, brunette beauty Sally said in an interview with The Mirror newspaper: 'I'd love to have twins again. 'We'd be very happy if more arrive. Twins are much easier because they play together. Twins again and then we have double everything. We are good to go. I'm 40 now but you never know.' Egypt will send a ship carrying glass, aluminum and insulating materials to Lebanon next week Egypt sent two tons of medical aid to the Karantina Governmental Hospital in Beirut, less than two weeks after a deadly blast rocked the Lebanese capital, a statement by the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut read. During his visit to the Karantina Hospital, Egypts Ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Elwi said the aid is part of Egypts efforts to support the Lebanese medical system, which has been hit by economic and political crises, the coronavirus pandemic, and the blast. Elwi said the 180-year-old hospital has witnessed the strong ties between the two Arab countries. The Karantina was established by Ibrahim Pasha, son of Mohamed Ali Pasha, who ruled Egypt from 1805 to 1848. Egypt will send a ship carrying glass, aluminum and insulating materials to Lebanon next week, Elwi said, adding Lebanon has become in dire need of such materials after the blast. The massive blast, which turned Beirut into an apocalyptic city, was blamed on the ignition of 2,750 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at Beirut Port. Over 170 people were killed, thousands were wounded, and hundreds of thousands of Beirut residents lost their homes. Violent protests swept the capital, forcing the government to resign a few days after the blast. Following the explosion, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced opening an air bridge to the Lebanese capital to deliver medical aid, food, specialised medical teams, construction materials and glass panels for reconstruction. On Wednesday, Egypt sent an emergency shipment of 14 tons of flour to help support Lebanon's strategic stockpile of grains following the destruction of the main silos in the blast. The plane was Egypts fourth aid shipment to Lebanon. Search Keywords: Short link: This is an opinion column. Section 8 of the US Constitution says a lot about the federal governments duties. With a bullet list of short infinitive clauses, it lays out the central governments powers and responsibilities to coin money, to declare war, to raise an army, and to maintain a navy ... And there, about a third of the way through that fairly short list, is something seemingly trivial. To establish post offices and post roads. At the founding of our country, the framers understood the Post Office to be a crucial function of government, so they put it in the Constitution. Thats how important it is. Today, the Post Office is being threatened by the president for explicitly political reasons. Congressional Democrats have included $25 billion for the Postal Service in a new coronavirus relief bill, which Senate Republicans have rejected. And Trump has made it clear he doesnt want the Post Office to get that money, either. Trumps disdain for the Post Office isnt new. Hes refused to help the federal agency for months. He had already threatened to veto the original CARES Act over the same funding until it was nixed from that bill, too. Last April I wrote a column questioning why anyone could hate the Post Office so much. I mean, who else can you give two quarters and a nickel and say Take this paper for me to Terra Haute, and then they do it? For all the griping and grousing you hear anytime postage goes up. The Post Office really is an amazing thing an institution as old as our country and one of the few government agencies that does its job well at a reasonable price. But maybe too well, as the president made clear this week. With the widespread adoption of vote-by-mail, our elections have become dependent on it. They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots, Trump said in an interview with Fox Business. If they dont get those two items, that means you cant have universal mail-in voting because theyre not equipped to have it. And there you have it. Four months ago, if you said the president was trying to undermine the post office to futz with the election, youd be called a conspiracy theorist and a kook. But now hes copped to it on live TV. Whats criminal about this, aside from trying to fix an election, is just how many people depend on the postal service for utility bills, credit card payments and prescription drugs, not to mention contactless shopping in a pandemic. The president has spent the last four years undermining federal institutions few people care about, like the EPA or the Department of Energy, but now hes messing with one that, polling shows, most people genuinely like. All because Trump sees killing vote-by-mail as his last-ditch reelection strategy. And it will affect Alabama. Although Alabama does not have a pure vote-by-mail system, nor does it allow for no-excuse absentee voting, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill has said fears of coronavirus will be accepted as a legitimate excuse to vote absentee. And this week, the Postal Service warned Alabama, along with 45 other states, that it could not guarantee it would deliver ballots in time to be counted in the November election. That could leave a lot of Alabamians with a really uncomfortable choice: Take their chances with an absentee ballot and risk not being able to vote, or take their chances with the coronavirus at their polling places. It is unfair to place all the blame on Trump since Congress has failed to put a bill funding the Postal Service on his desk. This week, the Senate adjourned until September without moving a new CARES Act to the president. Before they left, they couldnt deliver relief for the unemployed. They couldnt deliver election security. They couldnt deliver on their sworn oaths to uphold the Constitution. Is it any surprise? These guys couldnt deliver the mail. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram. More columns by Kyle Whitmire Welcome to the United States of Alabama Can Alabamas coronavirus numbers be trusted? Maybe. Sort of. Not exactly. What the Alabama PSC doesnt want you to see shows all you need to know Good luck, America! Alabamas given up. Tuberville was paid $5 million to quit. Now he says $600 is too much for you. Meet Alabamas latest Lost Cause: Will Dismukes This ship is going to sink Do your job, Kay Ivey Alabama Senate leaders coronavirus plan: Get sick, try not to die There is no plan Trump ignored facts so he could blame the Black guy Kay Ivey is not your Mee-Maw: What the governor needs to tell Alabama about COVID-19 South Korea tightened coronavirus measures on Saturday in Seoul and its surrounding areas as the country reported the highest number of new daily infections in more than five months. The stricter social distancing guidelines include restrictions on gatherings and activities including professional sports, which will be played behind closed doors in the capital area again. The move came as South Korea reported 166 new cases on Saturday, the highest daily figure since early March, bringing the country's total infections to 15,039 with 305 deaths. South Korea stands at a "critical juncture" in the battle to control the coronavirus surge, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at a government response meeting. "Our top priority is to contain the spread of the virus in the greater Seoul area." A majority of the new cases came from the greater Seoul region -- home to half of the country's 51 million people -- raising fears about a major spike with a three-day weekend starting in South Korea from Saturday. Despite the outbreak and calls to avoid large gatherings, thousands of right-wing protestors rallied against President Moon Jae-in's centre-left government in the heart of Seoul on Saturday. Around 20,000 participated, according to the Yonhap news agency. South Korea endured one of the worst early outbreaks outside mainland China but brought it broadly under control with extensive tracing and testing while never imposing the kind of lockdowns ordered in much of Europe and other parts of the world. The country has been seen as a model on how to combat the pandemic with the public largely following safety health measures such as face masks. It even started allowing limited numbers of spectators at sports games in July -- which was reversed for the greater Seoul region on Saturday. kjk/qan Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) wears a face covering during the House Natural Resources Committee hearing on "The U.S. Park Police Attack on Peaceful Protesters at Lafayette Square," on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 29, 2020. (Michael Reynolds/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Rep. Gohmert Credits Hydroxychloroquine for Recovery From COVID-19 Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) says he tested negative for COVID-19, about two weeks after testing positive for the new disease, and credits hydroxychloroquine for helping him recover. Gohmert, 66, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 29. He was tested as part of precautionary measures implemented for anyone scheduled to come into contact with President Donald Trump. Gohmert opted to take a regimen of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial that has shown some success against the new disease, with azithromycin, an antibiotic also known as Z-Pak, and zinc. Speaking with Fox News Sean Hannity on Aug. 5, the lawmaker credited the regimen with his recovery. I really think getting so early in with the hydroxychloroquine and the Z-pak, zinc, I really think that helped make a difference, he said, noting that symptoms included a cough, light fever, and a general feeling of soreness. Gohmert said he also took vitamins D3 and C and a steroid nebulizer. The lawmaker told the Washington Examiner on Friday that he has tested negative for COVID-19. He has also tested positive for antibodies. He plans to donate plasma to help others recover from the disease. I feel sorry for patients whose doctors are not even allowed to consider the hydroxychloroquine regimen. Thats a real shame, Gohmert said. An arrangement of hydroxychloroquine pills is seen in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 6, 2020. (John Locher/AP Photo) Gohmert said July 29 that he planned to take hydroxychloroquine. He told Hannity at the time that a close doctor friend messaged him and told the lawmaker that he was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. The doctor began taking a hydroxychloroquine regimen, Gohmert said. Hydroxychloroquine became a political issue earlier this year when Trump, a Republican, recommended COVID-19 patients take the drug. Some researchers have said the drug has an impact on the new disease while others say it does not. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June revoked its emergency-use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and the closely related chloroquine. In a letter explaining the move, FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton pointed to trials she said show the drugs are unlikely to produce an antiviral effect. That was before researchers in Michigan found hydroxychloroquine lowered the death rate of COVID-19 patients. Gohmerts diagnosis had a near-immediate impact. After he tested positive, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced a new rule that required members wear a mask in the halls of the House. The chair would also like to remind members that the speaker has the authority to direct the sergeant at arms to remove a member from the floor as a matter of decorum, Pelosi said at the time. To reiterate, the chair views the failure to wear a mask as a serious breach of decorum. Kamal Haasan The Ulaganayagan, who is known for his patriotic films like Indian and Hey Ram took to his social media handle to wish his fans in Tamil on the 74th Independence Day. The tweet is loosely translated as, "Let's celebrate the 74th Independence Day. We will work to set free the country from Corona, hunger, poverty, corruption and divisive forces. May our dreams for a prosperous life for all come true. Jai Hind." Mohanlal Lalettan took to social media and wrote, "Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind." Along with the message, he shared violinist L Subramaniam's latest composition titled Vande Mataram featuring the former and other iconic artists of the country including Hema Malini, Juhi Chawla, Esha Deol, SP Balasubrahmanyam, Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam, Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and others. The five-minute rendition has live symphony orchestra recorded with about 150 music tracks for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parvathy Thiruvothu The talented actress of Mollywood as usual, came with a unique message for her fans and followers on the special occasion. Sharing Nelson Mandela's popular quote, the actress requested her fans to know the importance of understanding the real meaning of being independent. She wrote, "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" - Nelson Mandela On the 73rd Independence Day of our country, I call upon everyone to reflect on the importance of understanding what it truly means to be independent. To hold dear every battle we have fought to reach where we have and how we continue to fight for freedom in a million different ways." Prithviraj Sharing a picture of him from his 2015 thriller Picket 43 as an army officer, Prithviraj wrote, "Happy Independence Day!" He will next be seen in the survival drama Aadujeevitham directed by Blessy. Tovino Thomas Sharing an Independence Day special poster from his next Kilometers & Kilometers, Tovino Thomas sent wishes to his fans and followers on behalf of the whole team. He tweeted, "Happy Independence Day." Dulquer Salmaan The Kurup actor took to his social media handle to wish his fans on the special day. Sharing the Independence Day special logo of his production company Wayfarer Films, he wrote, "Wishing all of us near and far a very happy Independence Day ! I sincerely wish and pray we always stand united and filled with more love than hate !" It makes me feel better. It makes me feel I have people behind me, standing with me, one of the former officers said. I knew after the first or second [D.C. Council] hearing that people were seeing it the same way, but when [the memo] came out . . . that ultimately gave me assurance that [the union] sees the same thing that I see. Good morning! Lisa Bowens, this book will be awesome: Lisa Bowens, PhD '14, is the first African American woman to earn tenure in Princeton Theological Seminarys Biblical Studies Department. Growing up in a Pentecostal family, Bowens had a straightforward relationship with the biblical writings attributed to Paul. Paul was venerated in my tradition, she says. I grew up loving Paul. But when she arrived in academia, she realized it wasnt so simple for many people. One example that stands out to her is the story theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman often told about his grandmother. She was a slave and never learned to read, so Thurman would read passages of scripture to her with one exception. She would hardly ever let him read anything from Paul, except on rare occasions 1 Cor. 13, and one day he summoned the courage to ask her why, Bowens says. She said when she was a slave, it was preached from Paul that slaves must obey their masters. She promised herself that if freedom ever came, she wouldnt want to hear anything from Paul again. This story moved Bowens to learn more about the complex history between the African American community and the teachings of Paul. The culmination of her research is African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation, a new book arriving September 2020, which examines interpretations from the 1700s through the civil rights movement. The research for this book was supported by a grant awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year from the Louisville Institute, called the First Book Grant for Scholars of Color. This grant is specifically designed to provide funds for a first or second book that completes a major research project on an issue pertinent to North American Christianity. On the one hand, Bowens research confirms the use of Paul to support racism, slavery, sexism, and other forms of discrimination and violence. We have to reckon with that, she says. People want healing, and the first step is recognizing the way scripture has been used to dehumanize people and legitimize murder. On the other hand, Bowens was surprised to find that, more often than not, there were many positive interpretations of Paul in African American sermons, speeches, essays, autobiographies, and letters, from a 1774 petition that used Paul to argue against slavery to numerous mentions by Martin Luther King, Jr. It was an interesting journey for me to get a more robust picture of how African Americans have utilized Paul for liberation, freedom, and justice, she says. Remember Blockbuster? (CNN) You can -- and should -- eat popcorn in bed at this one-of-a-kind Airbnb. Located in Bend, Oregon, this rental has everything: a sofabed, free snacks, a VCR and a big TV. Yes, you can sleepover at the world's last Blockbuster video store. Since 2004, store manager (and would-be superhost), Sandi Harding, has run the operation in the spirit of the time when Blockbuster stores and their laminated rental cards and late fees were part of the cultural vernacular, when everyone was encouraged to "Make it a Blockbuster night!" Yale discrimination: Yale Universitys undergraduate admissions process illegally discriminates against White and Asian students, the Department of Justice said Thursday. A two-year investigation into the Ivy League school found that race is the determinative factor in hundreds of admissions decisions each year, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the DOJ said in a press release. The department said Yale must agree not to use race or national origin as criteria in its next admissions cycle, and that if it plans to consider race in the future, it must first submit to the Department of Justice a plan demonstrating its proposal is narrowly tailored as required by law, including by identifying a date for the end of race discrimination. Yale denied the allegation. Karen Peart, a spokeswoman for the university, said in a statement to CNBC that the Justice Department made its conclusions before Yale had provided enough information to show that its practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent. At Yale, we look at the whole person when selecting whom to admit among the many thousands of highly qualified applicants, Peart said. We are proud of Yales admissions practices, and we will not change them on the basis of such a meritless, hasty accusation. Black pit masters, a story often not known: If the Caribbean region gave our unique culinary form its name, barbecue, the uniquely hemispheric cooking form was perfected in the hands of Black pit masters in the American South. At plantations throughout the South, barbecues (in the second sense of the word) were often staged when there were guests or festivities at the Big House. The cooks for these events were enslaved and free black men who used their talents to create an iconic Afro-Southern dish. The cooking ritual was a complex process replicated today by Black pit masters throughout the South. That same basic process of slow cooking over smoke took place throughout the barbecue belt that runs from Maryland on down through Mississippi. Post Emancipation, it was carried North and West with The Great Migration by the likes of Henry Perry, born in Shelby County, Tennessee, who learned his trade working in steamboat kitchens plying the Mississippi River, and opened the first barbecue restaurant in Kansas City. Other early Black barbecue entrepreneurs included Arthur Bryant and George Gates of Kansas City and John Big Daddy Bishop of Dreamland Barbecue in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Is this the best option for diminishing Covid? Anybody who has waited for hours in line for a coronavirus test, or who has had to wait a week or more for results, knows there has to be a better way. In fact, the next generation of tests will focus on speed. But what should the Food and Drug Administration do with a rapid test that is comparatively cheap but much less accurate than the tests currently on the market? A test like that is ready to go up for FDA approval, and some scientists argue it could be valuable despite its shortcomings. At first blush, you wouldn't want a medical test to be pushing out untrustworthy results. And that's certainly the case for a medical diagnosis. But rapid test could be valuable if used to screen large numbers of people for infection repeatedly and frequently. For example, some of the rapid tests under development don't detect the virus in a person who is in the early or late stages of infection they only catch an infection at its peak. Dr. Michael Mina at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health says that's OK, under certain circumstances. "As long as you're using the test on a pretty frequent basis," Mina says, "you will be more likely than not to catch the person on the day they might go out and transmit. And they'll know to stay home." To be useful, such tests need to be widely available and affordable, he says. "I envision a time when everyone can order a pack of 50 tests for $50 and have those and use them every other day for a couple of months." When it comes to controlling the epidemic, that could be an appealing alternative to the current laboratory-based system, an overburdened process that has become a serious bottleneck. These days, some people are waiting a week or more for results, and by then they have potentially spread the virus to others. Highly accurate at-home tests are probably many months away. But Mina argues they could be here sooner if the FDA would not demand that tests for the coronavirus meet really high accuracy standards of 80 percent or better. Well-stated: Debate about how to best approach this school year is widespread, even among some government experts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently called reopening schools "critically important for our public health. And the agency's newly updated guidance strongly emphasizes the importance of resuming in-person learning within the next couple of months. Yet Erin K. Sauber-Schatz, Ph.D., the lead for the CDC Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force for the COVID-19 response, said that decisions about how to reopen schools safely should be made on local needs and the level of community transmission. Each school in each community will have different needs and should implement the strategies that meet those needs. Tough days: PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Vilified, threatened with violence and in some cases suffering from burnout, dozens of state and local public health leaders around the U.S. have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak, a testament to how politically combustible masks, lockdowns and infection data have become. One of the latest departures came Sunday, when Californias public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell, was ousted following a technical glitch that caused a delay in reporting hundreds of thousands of virus test results information used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools. Last week, New York Citys health commissioner was replaced after months of friction with the Police Department and City Hall. A review by the Kaiser Health News service and The Associated Press finds at least 49 state and local public health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 23 states. The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and KHN started keeping track in June. Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the numbers stunning. He said they reflect burnout, as well as attacks on public health experts and institutions from the highest levels of government, including from President Donald Trump, who has sidelined the CDC during the pandemic. The overall tone toward public health in the U.S. is so hostile that it has kind of emboldened people to make these attacks, Frieden said. Not Flannery: The deed is done. A week after the decision by Loyola University Maryland to remove Flannery OConnors name from one of its buildings, the cherry-pickers arrived on the schools bucolic campus in northeast Baltimore and, letter by letter, the name of one Americas most iconic Catholic writers disappeared from the dormitory that had been known for more than a decade as Flannery OConnor Hall. The unnaming was anticlimactic. The campus is empty, not only because it is high summer, but also because of COVID-19. As a result, there were few witnesses. When students arrive back on campus, whenever that might be, few are likely to notice the change, because these days so few undergraduates are devotees of literature. Most are probably unaware of who Flannery OConnor was and of the books she wrote. She meant little to them before, and will mean less than little after this. But to a great many people, Flannery OConnor means a great deal. This has never been more evident to me than now. In the wake of the public statement issued by the universitys president, Rev. Brian Linnane, SJ, explaining that OConnors name would be removed because she does not reflect Loyolas Jesuit values, hundreds of writers, scholars, readers, and admirers of OConnors work have expressed their shock and sorrow to see her repudiated by the university. Many have posed the question, in essays, in emails, and in social-media posts: How is it possible that OConnor, a devout Catholic who embraced her vocation as a Catholic as passionately as she embraced her vocation as a writer, could be cancelled by a Catholic university, and, effectively, her own Church? This question is easier to answer than one might suppose. Its possible because of an essay published in the June 22 issue of the New Yorker, a magazine not generally sympathetic to Catholic writers, and written by Catholic critic and biographer Paul Elie. In the essay, bearing the incendiary title How Racist Was Flannery OConnor?, Elie replicates passages from a recent book on Flannery OConnor and race, using them to try to prove that OConnor was a racist. In the interest of full disclosure, I wrote the book in question, Radical Ambivalence: Race in Flannery OConnor, wherein I present and explore those passages in an effort to arrive at an understanding of how a writer who created the powerful anti-racist parables we all know and admireEverything That Rises Must Converge, The Artificial Nigger, Judgment Day, Revelation, and morewas in her personal correspondence also capable of entertaining and confessing racist thoughts. Elie mines the book for what he refers to as nasty passages, removes them from the historical and personal context necessary for understanding them, and presents them to the New Yorker readership with little explanation, all as evidence of OConnors American sin of racism. The problems with his essay are many. It is confusing, it is irresponsible, and it is an attempt to make the erroneous claim that he is the only critic ever to deal frankly with OConnors complex attitude toward race. Critics have been wrestling with this since the early 1970s. Readers of Elies essay are never informed of this. There is, in short, nothing new or notable in what he presents. Vaccines and the Virus: (CNN)As US leaders work to control the spread of coronavirus, researchers across the globe are working to answer the mysteries that remain around infections. One of those mysteries: why the experience can be so different from person to person. One expert says the answer may involve lookingat previous vaccines individuals have had. "When we looked in the setting of Covid disease, we found that people who had prior vaccinations with a variety of vaccines -- for pneumococcus, influenza, hepatitis and others -- appeared to have a lower risk of getting Covid disease," Dr. Andrew Badley, an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday night. It's what immunologists call immune training: how your immune system creates an effective response to fight off infections, Badley says. "A good analogy is to think of your immune system as being a muscle," he said. "The more you exercise that muscle, the stronger it will be when you need it." There's been no definitive evidence of any other vaccines boosting immunity against Covid-19. But some researchers have suggested it's possible. Dogs and the Virus: WHAT DOES A PANDEMIC SMELL LIKE? If dogs could talk, they might be able to tell us. Were part of an international research team, led by Dominique Grandjean at Frances National Veterinary School of Alfort, that has been training detector dogs to sniff out traces of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) since March. These detector dogs are trained using sweat samples from people infected with COVID-19. When introduced to a line of sweat samples, most dogs can detect a positive one from a line of negative ones with 100% accuracy. Across the globe, coronavirus detector dogs are being trained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Belgium. In the UAE, detector dogs stationed at various airports have already started helping efforts to control COVID-19s spread. This is something we hope will soon be available in Australia too. A KEEN NOSE Our international colleagues found detector dogs were able to detect SARS-CoV-2 in infected people when they were still asymptomatic, before later testing positive. Johnson and Johnson: Six companies are currently evaluating COVID-19 vaccine candidates in late-stage testing. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) isn't one of them. J&J was among the first to commit resources to a major effort to fight COVID-19. It established a partnership with the U.S. government early on to develop a novel coronavirus vaccine. It's the biggest healthcare company in the world, with massive resources. And yet Johnson & Johnson lags well behind multiple rivals, both big and small. Don't discount J&J's prospects, though. The healthcare giant's COVID-19 vaccine candidate could have an ace in the hole that just might make it the biggest winner of all. Johnson & Johnson announced the publication of results from a preclinical study of its lead vaccine candidate, Ad26.COV2-S, on July 30. You might not think preclinical results would be a big deal. After all, several of J&J's rivals in the race to develop COVID-19 vaccines have already announced results from early-stage clinical studies in humans. The company reported that its experimental vaccine induced a robust immune response in nonhuman primates. In particular, vaccination with Ad26.COV2-S resulted in the production of high levels of neutralizing antibodies, which hold the potential to prevent infection by the coronavirus. J&J noted that its vaccine candidate provided "complete or near-complete protection in the lungs from the virus" in the animals in the preclinical study. All of that was great news. But what really made these preclinical results stand out was that the impressive immune response was obtained with only a single dose of Ad26.COV2-S. Other COVID-19 vaccine candidates that are farther along in clinical testing require two doses. There are a couple of key reasons why a "one-and-done" vaccine is preferable to vaccines that require multiple doses. First, a single-dose vaccine is cheaper. Second, people would be more likely to receive a single vaccine dose than they would be to get both doses of a vaccine that requires two. Better than empty malls: Amazon may replace closed department stores at struggling malls. The company is in talks with Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in the United States, to convert former or current JCPenney and Sears stores into distribution hubs to deliver packages, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Both retail chains have filed for bankruptcy (Sears has since emerged from Chapter 11) and are closing hundreds of stores. Simon malls have 63 JCPenney and 11 Sears stores, according to its most recent public filing. The deal could make sense for both Amazon and Simon as the e-commerce landscape shifts and many traditional brick-and-mortar stores are in collapse. Amazon wants more space closer to where customers live as it builds out its one-day delivery strategy. Malls are typically located closer to highways and residential areas than mammoth warehouses, which would allow Amazon to speed up shipping times to customers. Mall owners need cash-rich tenants to replace their bankrupt anchor stores. Although Amazon warehouses wont be attracting much foot traffic, theyll help to pay the bills. It is a win-win for both sides, said Chris Walton, a former Target executive and now CEO of the retail blog Omni Talk. Simon gets an anchor tenant and Amazon gets a more localized fulfillment center. For Amazon, the deal would also give it a front row seat into developing the mall infrastructure for the future. It isnt clear how many stores are under consideration for Amazon, and it is possible that the two sides may fail to reach an agreement, the Journal reported, citing people briefed on the matter. Amazon declined to comment to CNN Business. Simon did not respond to a request for comment. The talks between Amazon and Simon reflect a growing trend in the retail industry of stores and malls turning into warehouses. Catholic schools in trouble: Sarah Palin has been offering advice to Kamala Harris on running for Vice President as a woman, and tonight goes on Jesse Watterss Fox News program to add a personal touch. There is sudden interest this week in past female nominees for vice president, of whom there have been only two before Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.): Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) in 1984 (she died in 2011), and Sarah Palin (R-AK) in 2008. Although very much alive, Palin, 56, has been largely out of the limelight lately since the divorce from her husband Todd became final last spring. This past week, however, within hours of Harris getting the call to run on the Democrats ticket this year with Joe Biden, Palin took to Instagram to weigh in. Politico described her Instagram post as warmhearted in its article titled Sarah Palin offers survival tips to Kamala Harris. Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin from Sarah Palins Instagram An excerpt from Palins lengthy Instagram posting directed at Harris: Congrats to the democrat VP pick [icon American flag]. Climb upon Geraldine Ferraros and my shoulders, and from the most amazing view in your life consider lessons we learned: 1) out of the chute trust no one new; 2) fight mightily to keep your own team with you - they know you, know your voice, and most importantly are trustworthy; 3) dont get muzzled - connect with media and voters in your own unique way. Some yahoos running campaigns will suffocate you with their own self-centered agenda so remember YOU were chosen for who YOU are. So stay connected with America as you smile and ignore deceptive handlers trying to change you; On Thursday, Palin appeared by Skype from inside her home in Alaska in an exclusive interview on ABCs Good Morning America. Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said she hopes the media will treat Joe Biden's vice presidential pick, California Sen. Kamala Harris, not as personally rough as they treated her in 2008, but that shouldn't mean shes given a pass. A lot of the coverage of me was quite unfair ... I hope that they will treat her fairly, Palin said in an exclusive interview on ABC's Good Morning America Thursday. But at the same time, no kid gloves ... the American voter wants to know that we have the most capable people running and who will be elected, regardless of gender, regardless of race. Sarah Palin screen shot from her appearance on Watters World, Fox News Channel, August 16, 2020 Tonight, on Watters World on the Fox News channel (8 PM, 11 PM, and 2 AM Sunday, all times ET), Palin will appear in a pre-recorded interview apparently Skyped in from a cell phone outside of her Alaska home. A decade ago, Palin was a regular contributor for several years to the Fox News channel. On Friday, Fox News provided in an email to journalists some quotes from Palins conversation with Jesse Watters along with links to three video clips On the nomination of Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens running mate: https://video.foxnews.com/v/6181299604001/ If you consider what they said about each other for months and months and months, you know, she kicked the crud out of Joe Biden in the primaries and then they hook up as buddies. That always just kind of cracks me up. Its like the illustration of politics that people, you know, just shake their heads, roll their eyes and say, God, come on you guys. Wheres the sincerity? On the media reaction to the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as Bidens running mate: https://video.foxnews.com/v/6181296519001/ I dont know if its so much a gender thing as it is a, if youre conservative, youre going to get beat up. You just are. You know? Its like what Trump faces all the time. Its three against one. You have the Democrat Party, you have the media and you have the RINOs in your own party that are always, always trying to clobber you. Im no different than any other conservative, I think, in offering myself up to serve the people. We expect it. I expect it. And you just deal with it and it makes you work harder. On her hope for President Donald Trumps reelection campaign: https://video.foxnews.com/v/6181296132001/ What I would hope President Trump and his team will do is not get into the personal, petty type stuff. Just stay focused on what their record is, again it speaks for itself. They are so extremely liberal. I cant stress that enough. People just need to do their own homework and find out what their record is and what their view of the future is under a pretty much, I guess you could say, the socialist slash Marxist view that they desire. Let their record speak for itself. Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who writes about politics, media, popular culture, and health care for American Thinker and other publications. He also appears in the media, including recently as a contributor to BBC World News. Peter's website is http://peter.media. His YouTube channel is here. For updates on his work, follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka. Corn sits near damaged grain bins at the Heartland Co-Op grain elevator on August 11, 2020 in Luther, Iowa. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said early estimates indicate 10 million acres, nearly a 1/3 of the states land used for crops, were damaged when a powerful storm battered the region a day earlier. (Photo : Daniel Acker/Getty Images) Five days after a derecho hit Iowa, 160,000 residents are struggling without electricity. Gov. Kim Reynolds assured the residents that Cedar Rapids would have their power back by Tuesday or earlier. Residents of Des Moines while having their electricity again this weekend. Alliant Energy estimates that 2,500 damages poles had to be repaired in a week, a feat that usually takes eight months. Reynolds also announced that she would submit a federal disaster declaration and was given assurance by President Donald Trump to provide federal resources once approved. READ: Derecho Causes Havoc Across Midwest The Derecho Storm's Damage In a press conference on August 14, Reynolds said that "most of us had not even heard about the derecho before then, but now we know it all too well." Derecho swept over 770 miles and lasted up to 14 hours at a wind speed of more than100 mph in Iowa and Illinois. According to poweroutage.us, there are around 167,733 customers that are without electricity as of Friday afternoon, and it is expected that the power outage will last for a few more days. The storm also caused devastating damage to corn and soybeans. Farmers were already facing drought conditions, and this recent disaster will likely leave a big dent to the state's $10 billion industry. Iowa, if the country's top producer of corn and harvest is expected by September and mid-October. In Cedar Rapids, one the hardest hit, had more than 20 school buildings damaged. Some neighbors have yet to remove the tree debris. A biker in Linn County died after a fallen tree struck him, the county's sheriff's office announced. READ ALSO: Derecho Season in the US: Preparing for These Destructive Thunderstorms Is Vital Most residential and commercial buildings in Cedar hills were damaged, with more than 800 structures that suffered full or partial collapse of the walls, ceilings, or floors, Cedar Rapids Chief Greg Smith announced. According to resident Jeffrey Frajman, he and his neighbors wanted the power to come back and the road to clear badly but are frustrated with the slow response. Stuart Appelbaum said that "too many Iowans are suffering and it is not acceptable that they are living without electricity, many are unable to go work, downed trees block roads for families to get badly needed essential supplies." Residents are struggling to make ends meet after, as this happened in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Eric Fish said he had not received any help except for the city worker who helped cut down a large tree branch his home. He said he had to resort to eating peanut butter sandwiches for the past three days as he could not prepare a hot meal without power. He shares his frustration that it has been a week with no electricity, and the massive debris is still everywhere. They are losing every bit of their food, and yet help could not be found. READ NEXT: Derecho Causes Havoc Across Midwest Prince Andrew has been pictured alone as the rest of the Royal Family took on royal duties to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the victory over Japan. Andrew was pictured today driving from Windsor Castle, alone, while his brother Prince Charles led tributes to the war dead at National Memorial Arboretum. The prince was forced to stand down from royal duties following his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview about his links to the convicted paedophile Jeffery Epstein, and allegations that he had sex with 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre. Today, he was seen appearing to hum a tune at the wheel of his Range Rover while his brother paid his respects to those who died during WWII, at the Victory over Japan memorial. The Prince of Wales paid tribute to the 'indefatigable' heroes of 'the Forgotten Army' on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. Prince Andrew appears to hum a tune as he drives from Windsor Castle today Prince Andrew appears to hum a tune as he drives from Windsor Castle today In a speech at a ceremony marking the occasion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Charles said: 'Today we remember and give thanks for the extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and tenacity demonstrated by those who fought in the Asia-Pacific theatre of the Second World War. 'Together, they comprised a force whose courage was as remarkable as its diversity. 'Hundreds of thousands of troops from India, Burma, China and across Asia, were joined by hundreds of thousands more from Europe, Africa, Australasia and North America. 'Together, they served with the greatest distinction. Without them, the war could not have been won.' Prince Andrew's last appearance, earlier this week, showed him enjoying a horse ride at Windsor Castle in blistering temperatures. The Duke of York infamously dismissed some of the allegations made against him by Virginia Giuffre in his disastrous Newsnight interview last year by claiming he couldn't sweat due to a medical condition - she previously claimed he was 'profusely sweating' when they had sex. But Andrew was clearly feeling the 82F heat this morning as he left two buttons undone on his dark navy blue shirt, and rolled his sleeves up while galloping through the picturesque royal grounds with an unnamed companion. Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by the late financier Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell - allegedly Epstein's madame - claims Andrew had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law. The duke categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre. Yesterday, the chief of the Metropolitan Police has offered to assist US authorities with their investigation into Prince Andrew's ties to and Maxwell. Dame Cressida Dick said that while the focus of the investigation was 'clearly' in America, she added the Met would assist US authorities should it be required 'at any stage'. Prince Andrew, right, pictured left with Virginia Roberts, centre, and Ghislaine Maxwell, right, in 2001 Charles addressed up to 40 invited veterans drawn from the four corners of the Commonwealth during the socially-distanced ceremony. He said: 'On this day in 1945, the surrender of Imperial Japan and the cessation of fighting in the Asia-Pacific region, brought an end to six bitter years of global conflict. 'Victory in Europe had been achieved that May, of course, but while millions in Europe rejoiced, in South East Asia and the Pacific our long-suffering service personnel, with their Commonwealth and Allied partners, continued the fight for three more months. 'It was their extraordinary endurance and fortitude which secured the end of the war, and which was later confirmed by the ratification of the Japanese surrender on September 2 1945, in Tokyo Bay, on board the USS Missouri - an event my father (the Duke of Edinburgh) witnessed whilst serving with the British Pacific Fleet. 'From the vantage point of the 21st century, it is hard for us to appreciate fully the suffering endured by those who fought, or were caught up in, this theatre of war. 'Drawing on his time as Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command, my great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, helped me begin to understand the quite atrocious conditions experienced by our forces throughout South East Asia. 'But those of us not there at the time really can only begin to understand. Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (left) and Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day Red Arrows Flypast over Belfast, Ireland. VJ Day 75: Commemorations mark 75 years since Victory over Japan The Armed Forces will lead the nation in commemorating the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day and paying tribute to the enormous sacrifices of the Greatest Generation during the Second World War 'Lord Mountbatten told me of his experiences of that gruelling campaign in which our troops faced not only a determined opponent, but at the same time had to contend with an incredibly hostile jungle environment and the ever-present scourge of disease which claimed nearly a quarter of a million Allied casualties. 'At this point we should also reflect on those unfortunate prisoners of war, who suffered so dreadfully. 'Over a quarter of all Allied prisoners of war lost their lives in captivity. 'The courage and fortitude shown by all those who fought in the region was exemplary. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has deemed the 2019 police shooting of a 16-year-old male during an attempted robbery "appropriate to the situation" and the use of possibly lethal force "unavoidable." Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has deemed the 2019 police shooting of a 16-year-old male during an attempted robbery "appropriate to the situation" and the use of possibly lethal force "unavoidable." On Nov. 21, Winnipeg police responded to calls a convenience store at the corner of Ellice Avenue and Arlington Street was being robbed by a male with a weapon. Upon arrival, a youth wielding a machete advanced on an officer outside the building. According to the IIU report released Friday, officers told the youth to drop his weapon and a Taser was discharged, to no effect. One officer shot fired nine bullets at the teen, with five hitting him. He was sent to hospital and discharged in mid-December. "Sometimes the more important question is: is there a way we don't end up with a guy with a raised machete six feet away from a police officer?" Frank Cormier The youth was subsequently charged and convicted with regards to the robbery, and has received a sentence, leading to the report's release, IIU civilian director Zane Tessler said. Tessler said he was satisfied with the police watchdog agency's decision to recommend no charges be filed against the officer. "If you look at the video and compare, and the eyewitness testimony and other evidence that existed, the number of shots itself was not necessarily excessive by any means in these circumstances," he said. The incident became the subject of public debate last year, after video of the incident circulated on social media. That video, along with nine civilian witnesses and 10 police witnesses, were used as part of the IIU investigation. Both the officer who fired the shots and the youth who was injured declined to be interviewed as part of the investigation. The officer provided a self-prepared report on the incident; a form consenting the IIU to access the youths medical information was provided to investigators. Tessler said hed encourage those concerned the amount of force used was unjustified to read the IIU report in full. "This is not television or movies. We dont have single shots shooting things out of peoples hands or hitting someone in the shoulder and knocking them down. Its engrained in their (police) training to shoot to neutralize the threat," he said. Whether or not the shooting was justified couldnt be determined through arbitrary means such as the number of shots fired, University of Manitoba sociology and criminology instructor Frank Cormier said, calling police use of force "a multi-faceted and extremely complicated thing." "According to police training, once an officer has decided that deadly force is on the table, basically they will shoot until they believe the target has been neutralized rendered no longer dangerous," he said Friday. In strictly technical terms Cormier clarified he could only judge based on the video he had seen on social media, which he noted could not tell the whole story the officer in the video fulfilled that requirement. "You can hear very clearly when he was shooting and when he wasnt, and once the young man went to the ground, he did stop firing," he said. 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. University of Winnipeg criminal justice assistant Prof. Bronwyn Dobchuk-Land said deliberating over whether or not the use of force in the situation was legitimate was not possible, given the current system makes it difficult to regulate use of force in policing. "Its basically impossible for independent oversight bodies to find police guilty of illegitimate use of force, because the definition of legitimate use of force basically comes down to what the police deem to be legitimate in that moment based on their assessment of the threat," she said. However, Cormier and Dobchuk-Land said the incident raises questions about the role of the police in crisis situations. "Sometimes the more important question is: is there a way we dont end up with a guy with a raised machete six feet away from a police officer? How do we handle these situations? Is there another way to handle it?" Cormier said. malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_ Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, right, holds his mother's hand during her wedding to Greg O'Donnell. Gaby and Greg O'Donnell recently died due to complications from COVID-19. (Robert Garcia) When 61-year-old Gaby Elena O'Donnell died July 26 of complications from COVID-19, her son Robert Garcia honored her on Twitter, posting photos of his mother at her job as a medical assistant at a clinic. She dutifully wore a mask and scrubs. Two weeks later, on Aug. 9, his stepfather, 58-year-old Greg O'Donnell, who had been fighting for his life on a ventilator, also died of COVID-19 complications. But for the Long Beach mayor, this was no time to stop. Garcia powered through news conferences and pleaded with the public to wear masks and maintain their distance. He presented the 2021 city budget proposal amid the greatest economic crisis in decades and pressure to defund police agencies after the historic protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Garcia gave media interviews about his family and Long Beach's COVID-19 plans as nearly 10,000 residents became infected and the citys coronavirus death count reached 187. On Twitter, vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris expressed her condolences and told him, Mothers are irreplaceable but I know yours will continue to be a guiding force throughout your life. My dear friend, my heart aches for you and your family. Your beloved mother led an extraordinary life and her compassion touched countless Californians. Mothers are irreplaceable but I know yours will continue to be a guiding force throughout your life. Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 27, 2020 Garcia has no doubt about that. My mom taught me to be really strong, the mayor said in an interview with The Times. When you get elected mayor of your community, thats a hard job that requires a level of toughness and knowing what you signed up for. I signed up for a job regardless of hard moments in my personal life. For the entirety of Garcias term, Gaby Elena O'Donnell had been a fixture in Long Beach city affairs, beloved by the many who knew her. During council meetings, city events and other engagements the mayor was involved in, there she was to support her son. Story continues I think sometimes she still thought I was 18 years old in her head, Garcia said. During a July 30 news conference, Garcia regaled his audience with memories of his mother. He was a 5-year-old boy when he left Peru with his mother, father and grandmother in search of the American dream. They fled domestic terrorism and economic uncertainty. Together, Garcia and his mother learned English and made a new home in California. His mother worked at thrift stores and as a housekeeper, eventually landing a job at her most recent workplace, a clinic where she was a medical assistant for more than 25 years. Greg and Gaby O'Donnell, who met at a disco bar, were "just totally in love. They were always happy." (Robert Garcia) A couple years after arriving in the U.S., Garcia's parents divorced. Eventually, Gaby met Greg ODonnell on a night out at a disco bar in the San Gabriel Valley. He remained loyal to her and his family ever since. O'Donnell was a quiet but also gregarious man who loved simple things in life, Garcia said. He worked hard to start and maintain his contracting business for about 30 years. He liked to host barbecues and spend time with his family. Garcia's mother and O'Donnell eventually had a son together. He was just a good dad and good grandpa to my brothers son, Garcia said. He was a hard worker and took care of the family really well. He was very humble and the strongest person I have ever known, Garcias brother Jacob ODonnell wrote in a public Facebook post. He had a heart of gold. And he and Garcias mother were just totally in love. They were always happy. A few years ago, Garcia went back to Peru with his mother. She hadn't been to her homeland in decades. They went through the neighborhood she grew up in. She pointed to the window of her old barrio apartment, her favorite anticucho cart, a stand selling various types of meat dishes. They visited other landmarks of her life. "It was amazing to see Peru through her eyes," he said. But one of the most joyful moments of Gaby O'Donnell's life was the day she became a U.S. citizen, Garcia said. She instilled in her son an appreciation for their adopted home. Garcia would become an American citizen a year after his mother. I think about, during these times, my mothers optimism in us building a better future and a better community, he said. She always said to me and to my brother that well never be able to give back to our country what our country has given to us. It was that belief system that led him to be a public servant, he said. Now, in the midst of this pandemic and the loss of his mother and stepfather, he wakes in the early morning, turning on his computer by 6 a.m. He checks with his staff. Then he checks in with his mourning family. In between his duties as mayor, he plans his stepfathers memorial service. Garcia is also preparing to give a speech at this week's Democratic National Convention after he was selected as one of 17 civic leaders to address the gathering. The days go pretty late, he said. My mom spent over 25 years taking care of patients as a medical assistant in the same clinic. She helped thousands of patients, nurses & doctors. She was a healthcare hero. Our healthcare workers need your support to fight COVID-19. Stay safe and protect our families. pic.twitter.com/Bqva9fFcQ3 Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) July 30, 2020 This weekend is my moms services. Over the last two weeks Ive gone through hundreds of old photographs. I had never seen this photo of her - but its now my favorite. She looks stunning. Love you, mom. Forever. pic.twitter.com/yqPHz7HC96 Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) August 8, 2020 On social media, Garcia has remained active, sharing some of the messages of support from Gov. Gavin Newsom and presidential candidate Joe Biden. He shares snippets about his mother and stepfather sprinkled in with pleas to his city the second largest in L.A. County. He does this, he says, because he knows that his job requires him to be transparent with the people of Long Beach. But he also hopes that maybe, if his constituents hear his story, they will realize how deadly real the virus is. Maybe people will think twice about taking a stroll, without a mask, along Bluff Park or the beach. Or anywhere, really. Even before his mother and stepfather died, it angered the mayor how many people didn't wear masks or take the precautions necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus. "Its incredibly irresponsible," Garcia said. For some people "it doesnt really matter how many times you say it. Theyre making a personal, irresponsible choice. And I dont understand that choice. As recently as Wednesday, the mayor posted his latest plea to the public. In a short video on Twitter, he first thanked the many who have showered him with support and tacked on a reminder: Please remember COVID-19 is real. I hope that my familys story inspires other families to not just stay safe, but to spend time with each other and to know they have a family they should check in on and love and spend time with and that it could be gone instantly," he said. He's still reeling from his mother's death. It wasn't that long ago that Gaby ODonnell was urging him to take care of Long Beach from her hospital bed. Im fine, just focus on the city, the mayor recalled his mother saying to him via FaceTime or phone calls. Make sure youre telling everyone to be safe and wear a mask. On Aug. 8, the mayor attended his mothers memorial service organized with the Long Beach health departments guidance. It was a small service, with family and friends sitting on chairs lined six feet apart. The following day, doctors informed Garcias brother, Jacob, that his father had died. As the hard-working royal celebrates her 70th birthday today, two well known NI faces tell Stephanie Bell why they admire her thrifty sense of style and dedication to duty. The Queen's daughter, born on this very date in 1950, is renowned for her charity work and patronage of more than 200 organisations. She is often referred to as the hardest working royal, clocking up impressive mileage each year to carry out engagements in her much loved no-nonsense and genial manner. Princess Anne is also well known for her style, and her prudent approach in often wearing the same outfits decades apart has won her legions of fans. It's something that radio and TV presenter Wendy Austin (68) admires - she, too, cherishes items in her wardrobe which date back to the Fifties and which belonged to her late grandmother. The broadcast journalist has always appreciated classic style but is not keen on designer labels. Expand Close All smiles: three new portraits of Princess Royal to celebrate her 70th birthday today taken at Gatcombe Park PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp All smiles: three new portraits of Princess Royal to celebrate her 70th birthday today taken at Gatcombe Park Being in the public eye through working on TV and hosting local events means that Wendy has to keep an eye on style but, like Princess Anne, she is happy to re-wear pieces she loves and feels comfortable in. Expand Close Vintage fans: Wendy Austin in her grannys dress / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vintage fans: Wendy Austin in her grannys dress She has two very special items in her wardrobe which belonged to her late grandmother Molly Austin, who died in 1988 aged 106. "I have a black lace evening dress which belonged to my Granny Austin who ran Austin's department store in Londonderry," she says. "Granny Austin was a lady who loved her fashion and kept herself very smart. Expand Close All smiles: three new portraits of Princess Royal to celebrate her 70th birthday today taken at Gatcombe Park PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp All smiles: three new portraits of Princess Royal to celebrate her 70th birthday today taken at Gatcombe Park "I also have a lovely black coat that was hers. I do remember her wearing her black lace evening dress on special occasions such as Christmas Day when she would have appeared in it with a black lace jacket and pearls. "The dress has black lace and chiffon panels and I have worn it to a few events and ceremonies over the years. I think it dates from the Fifties or Sixties. "I also have a black coat which was hers and which I still love to wear. Neither has labels so I think she got them made especially for her. Expand Close The Princess Royal enjoying Royal Ascot PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Princess Royal enjoying Royal Ascot "The coat is knee length and is made from the most beautiful material and has a swing shape with batwing sleeves. "I would wear it a lot in the winter and it is one of those pieces that makes you feel good when you put it on. "It's a lovely item and it's very nice to have something to wear that your granny wore." Belfast-born Wendy, who is married to Frank Hewitt and has three children and three grandchildren, retired last year after 44 years with the BBC. Expand Close Style icon: the young Princess Royal in 68 PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Style icon: the young Princess Royal in 68 She worked on Good Morning Ulster and in the last five years of her career she presented Inside Business on Radio Ulster. Being in the public eye, making TV programmes and hosting big events, has meant that she has had to keep an eye on her wardrobe. Although not a slave to fashion, she enjoys wearing stylish clothes and particularly loves bright colours. Another of her favourite items is a Gok Wan multicoloured jacket she bought in Sainsbury's 10 years ago for 30. Wendy wore it recently when she presented a podcast for business students at Ulster University. "I wore it when I covered the results of the European elections six years ago and also during one of my podcasts a couple of weeks ago," she says. "It is a short, round neck jacket, edged in silk with a lovely pattern of greens, blues and browns and it goes with everything. "It is one of those items you can put on with jeans and feel smart and, particularly now with Zoom calls, it adds a bit of colour to your top half and is perfect for that." Wendy doesn't buy designer labels and says she admires Princess Anne for being able to still look good in clothes she first wore in the Seventies. "I'm not into brands or labels and always tried to avoid that," she admits. "With working on television I didn't want to wear things that were identifiable. Also, I tend to go for things which are not too patterned as that tends to dance on the screen. "I like bright colours and I think Anne is very much her own woman when it comes to fashion. "She is known for wearing things time and time again and for not being a clothes horse. I think if you have something you like and it still fits, then why not wear it?" A hard worker all her life, both at work and at home, Wendy also admires the Princess Royal's work ethic. She tells a story which, for her, neatly sums Anne up. "I was making a TV documentary about Hillsborough Castle and the late David Anderson, who managed the castle and was a dear friend, was showing me round," she says. "He was a huge help and good fun, and was notoriously but gently indiscreet about some things. "We were looking at the visitors' book on the table in the hallway and he mentioned that when Prince Charles had recently visited, he really had a lot of people with him while in contrast Princess Anne had arrived pretty much on her own with a bag. "She is great - she just gets on with it and is fairly grounded, if that's possible in her situation. "She works enormously hard. I'm not that far behind her in years and I think work keeps you going, it keeps you alive and alert and makes all the difference." Glamorous UTV presenter Pamela Ballantine (61) has always held on to classic outfits but when she realised she could no longer fit into some of her favourites she donated them to the Ulster Museum. Expand Close Young Pamela Ballantine / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Young Pamela Ballantine Pamela is known for her love of shoes and has a whole room dedicated to a collection dating back 40 years and which she still enjoys wearing today. As presenter of UTV Life, she set herself a challenge to wear a different pair of shoes for all 20 episodes of the new series ... which turned into 44 weeks of shows - and she achieved it. When it comes to clothes she says she is a savvy shopper who likes a bargain and isn't afraid to pick up classic pieces in charity shops. "I do like good labels but I only buy them in the charity shops," she reveals. "I love a bargain and I love going to outlets to shop. I have picked up a couple of Ralph Lauren evening dresses in outlet stores which I've worn to many functions. Expand Close The young Princess Royal with Mary Peters in 1972 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The young Princess Royal with Mary Peters in 1972 "I had some outfits which I have worn over the years from the Eighties until I couldn't fit in them anymore, and I recently donated them to the Ulster Museum. "My mum bought beautiful silk fabric on a trip to Hong Kong many years ago and I got two outfits made from them by the well known local designer Kathryn Morrison. "One was a two-piece in kingfisher blue with a Bardot style off-the-shoulder jacket which was made to look like a dress. "I have worn it to my cousin's wedding and to the races and I kept re-wearing it up until 2000 when I could no longer fit into it. It would be bang on-trend now and I would still be wearing it if it fitted me. I love the off-the-shoulder look as your shoulders never age! "I had a beautiful pink dress which was made from silk that my had mum bought. It was a sequinned two-piece with a long sleeved jacket with big gold buttons down the front. "It too went to the Ulster Museum after I had worn it to a lot of functions in the Nineties." Being on television, Pamela has discovered that good quality fabric looks best on camera as it doesn't crease easily so she tends to buy cotton or linen. She says her sense of style has changed over the years and as she has got older she is more confident in what she wears and knows what suits her. She explains: "I think you get to know what shape, cut and colour you suit. I cannot wear yellow, green, brown and orange as they just drain me." Just like Wendy, Pamela says she admires Princess Anne for her timeless style and was delighted to have the chance to meet her at an event in Hillsborough Castle last year. However, her very first encounter with the senior royal was when she inadvertently shared a toilet block with the Princess. She laughs as she recalls: "I was at a horse trial event a few years back and Princess Anne's team had taken over one of the toilet blocks for her to use. I had no idea and I went into it through a back door and ended up in the cubicle next to her. "When I realised I scuttled out fairly quickly! "I did get introduced to her last year when we were both giving out Duke of Edinburgh awards at Hillsborough Castle. "She was lovely and very, very attractive. I think she was beautiful as a young woman too and a real fashion icon in the Sixties when she was wearing all the beautiful styles that you would have seen Twiggy in." When I recently went in search of a legendary Cajun soda pop company, I didnt have to travel far. Who would have guessed Swamp Pop, the pride of Lafayette, Louisiana, would have their world headquarters in Clackamas, Oregon? I was tipped off to Swamp Pop by a New Orleans friend who described the Swamp Pop ginger ale as definitely worth tracking down. That was the best tip Ive received in years. Swamp Pop was started in 2013 by cousins John Petersen and Collin Cormier. They launched six flavors showcasing Louisianas natural ingredients, from file powder to Ponchatoula strawberries. The company is named in honor of Swamp Pop, the music genre that blends French-language country, Cajun and Creole music with New Orleans-style rhythm and blues. In December 2019, Petersen and Cormier sold Swamp Pop to Chris Fontenot, who grew up 40 miles away from them in Eunice, Louisiana. Fontenot moved his family to Oregon in 2010 when he was promoted to a new job by The Hershey Company. Neither Fontenot nor his wife had ever stepped foot in Oregon. Fortunately, we loved Oregon at first sight. Were never moving again, Fontenot said. As Fontenot managed Hersheys relationships with several large West Coast companies, he brought a little Cajun food culture to his new home state. It started with Fontenot and his wife sharing ingredients and recipes with friends. The enthusiastic encouragement they received spurred them on. In 2012 Fontenot opened A Cajun Life food cart in Damascus. It was a success. In 2013 Fontenot moved the cart to Portland and proceeded to open a series of brick and mortar restaurants in the Portland metro area. Petersen and Cormiers Swamp Pop sodas were a best-seller in Fontenots Cajun food establishments. In 2015 Hersheys presented Fontenot with the option of accepting an early exit package from the company. He accepted the offer to focus on his long-term plan of creating a company to sell his Cajun rubs, seasonings and mixes. In 2017 Fontenot closed his food cart and restaurants and went all in with the new company. Fontenot, however, had created a Swamp Pop following he couldnt shake. Even after my restaurants closed, people were asking me all the time where they could buy them, Fontenot said. When Fontenot noticed Swamp Pops social media presence waning in early 2019, he emailed Petersen and Cormier. I said if they ever decided to sell their company, I was interested. They called me back in 30 minutes, Fontenot said. Petersen and Cormier were looking to get out of soda pop to concentrate on their Lafayette restaurants. I was fortunate to reach out to them at just the right time, Fontenot said. A few months later, Fontenot added Swamp Pop to his A Cajun Life product line. My official introduction to Swamp Pop took place at a garage sale at Fontenots home in Clackamas. I purchased the entire Swamp Pop line from his enterprising young sons pop-up pop store. The Swamp Pop flavors are Jean Lafitte Ginger Ale, Ponchatoula Pop Rouge, Noble Cane Cola, Praline Cream Soda, Satsuma Fizz (orange) and File Root Beer. They are all caffeine-free and made with 100% Louisiana pure cane sugar and 100% natural colors and flavors. Beginning this month, all Swamp Pops are also preservative-free. The Swamp Pops are impressive. They arent too sweet, and the lighter carbonation is right in my wheelhouse. The pirate ginger ale, with its unique combination of cucumber and ginger spice, was my favorite. Every sip made me feel like a true son of Acadiana. Swamp Pops can also be used to make a wide variety of killer poptails. We Cajuns tend to spike everything, Fontenot said. My personal favorite is the Pimmger, which Cormier says should be sipped while listening to a recording of Cookie and the Cupcakes Swamp Pop classic, Belinda. This combination is guaranteed to tame both heat and humidity. The Pimmger (recipe by Bradys Wine House in New Orleans) Ingredients: 12 ounces Swamp Pop Jean Lafitte Ginger Ale 2 ounces Pimms 3 sliced strawberries 3-4 ribbons of cucumber 4 slices of fresh ginger Directions: Mix all ingredients, including the chopped fruit, in a glass. Garnish with a spear of cucumber, a whole strawberry and a slice of ginger. Add copious amounts of ice. Swamp Pop is available for purchase from the companys website. The $24 mixed case is a great way to try all the flavors. The sodas are also available at Mac Market in McMinnville and Cracker Barrel restaurants across the country. Swamp Pop, drinkswamppop.com or 971-231-4792. -- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Firefighters battle the Pine Gulch wildfire. Kyle Miller/Wyoming Hotshots Three major wildfires have scorched Colorado this week: the Pine Gulch, the Grizzly Creek, and the Cameron Peak Fires. The largest, Pine Gulch, is now the fourth largest in Colorado history. Climate change has increased the severity of wildfire season in the western US. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Three major wildfires the Pine Gulch, the Grizzly Creek, and the Cameron Peak Fires are raging in northern and western Colorado, after the week brought hot and dry conditions to the state. The biggest of the three, the Pine Gulch Fire, has engulfed more than 73,000 acres near the Grand Junction area of Colorado, making it the fourth largest wildfire in state history. It overtook the 2002 Mission Ridge Fire's 70,485 acres on Friday, according to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. The Pine Gulch Fire was just 7% contained as of Friday morning. That blaze ignited after a lightning strike on July 31, then grew this week as a result of hot and dry conditions across Colorado. Firefighters battle the Pine Gulch Fire in the Eagle Valley Wildland. Pine Gulch Fire Information Team/Facebook The Grizzly Creek Fire, meanwhile, began Monday near Glenwood Springs and had growing to more than 13,400 acres by Friday. Residents of at least 35 homes have been evacuated so far due to that blaze, but no new evacuations have been ordered during the last several days, according to a hotline organized by a coalition including the Garfield County Health Department. Smoke from the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Peak Fires has spread into Colorado's Front Range, a corridor of mountainous terrain that includes Denver and Boulder. Smoke from the Grizzly Creek fire billows over mountains. Inciweb Meanwhile, in a remote area of Larimer County, the Cameron Peak fire began Thursday afternoon and has grown to over 2,000 acres. It was 1% contained as of Friday morning, with 352 personnel working on the ground, including firefighters and members of the incident management team. A small number of residents and campers are under evacuation orders in the area, according to the County Sheriff's office. Story continues All three fires are expected to grow into the weekend if conditions remain hot and dry. Friday offered a bit of a respite from a windier, drier Thursday, however. "We do not have a red-flag warning today, and are looking at much calmer winds and potential for a little bit of precipitation," Tracy LeClair, spokesperson for the Pine Gulch Fire Information Team, told Insider. Climate change is making Colorado's fire season more severe Climate change has contributed to the increase in fire severity in Colorado: All 10 of the state's largest recorded fires have occurred since 2000, according to Denver7 News. Rising temperatures and droughts have dried out soil in the state, killing many trees and creating natural kindling for wildfires, according to the EPA. Additionally, rising temperatures have decreased snowpack in the Front Range and other mountainous regions, reducing water flow in the Colorado river and further drying out land. "In the coming decades, the changing climate is likely to decrease water availability and agricultural yields in Colorado, and further increase the risk of wildfires," a 2016 EPA report warned. But the trend isn't limited to Colorado, of course. Large wildfires in the US overall now burn more than twice the area they did in 1970. In the western part of the country, the average wildfire season is 78 days longer than it was 50 years ago. Read the original article on Insider India celebrated its 74th Independence Day on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic with the revelries and crowds missing as state leaders urged people not to fear the disease and called for a mass awareness movement to combat it. IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hoists the tricolour at Vidhan Bhawan on the occasion of 74th Independence Day in Lucknow on Saturday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo Official celebrations in most states were restricted to unfurling of the national flag and chief ministers and governors addressing the people, with fewer guests in attendance. Chief ministers of Bihar and Assam Nitish Kumar and Sarbananda Sonowal, respectively, used the occasion to reach out to voters, highlighting the achievements of their governments and announcing new schemes. While Bihar assembly elections are due later this year, Assam will go to polls in 2021. In the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the coronavirus situation in Delhi is 'quite under control' as compared to what it was two months back. In his speech at the Delhi Secretariat, the chief minister credited the people of the city for bringing the situation under control. IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews the parade during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo He also thanked all the stakeholders, including the central government, 'corona warriors' and different organisations. "The Delhi model is being talked about in the country and has emerged as a study case in the world. It is an outcome of working by taking everyone together," he said. This year the city government shifted its Independence Day event to the Delhi Secretariat from Chhatrasal Stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani called for a mass awareness campaign on the lines of the Quit India Movement to drive the pandemic out of the state and the country. IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee felicitates a COVID-19 warrior during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Road in Kolkata, on Saturday. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo Speaking at the Independence Day function at Swarnim Park in Gandhinagar, the chief minister said the pandemic has slowed down the pace of development in the state but his government is committed to make up for it. "To achieve independence and drive out the British, the slogan of 'Quit India' resonated across the country. As a result, the British left the country and we got freedom. Likewise, let's start a mass awareness campaign to free the country and Gujarat of coronavirus," he said. Due to the pandemic, the Independence Day function was held in the capital city for the first time in 15 years. As part of a tradition started by former chief minister Narendra Modi, earlier functions were held in district headquarters. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal salutes after hoisting the Tricolor, at Delhi secretariat, on Saturday. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo Speaking about the state government's efforts to tide over the coronavirus crisis, Rupani said his dispensation has managed to bring down the COVID-19 death rate to 2.1 per cent and increase the recovery rate to 78 per cent. At the state function held in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exuded confidence that the country will overcome the challenge posed by coronavirus. She unfurled the national flag and inspected the guard of honour by various contingents of the state police at the event held at Red Road. Only a few ministers and government officials were present at the event. IMAGE: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot speaks during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo Banerjee felicitated 25 frontline workers who rejoined duty after recovering from COVID-19. A song composed by her -- 'Corona chole jabe ek din, COVID joddhader mone rekho' (coronavirus will be defeated one day, but remember the COVID warriors) -- played in the background during the felicitation. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured people that no COVID-19 patient in the state will be deprived of treatment due to financial constraints as the government has taken concrete steps to provide all facilities free of cost. "Every life is valuable for us," he said at the Independence Day function held at the Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar. IMAGE: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh after hoisting the national flag in Mohali. Photograph: PTI Photo "Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who recently recovered from COVID-19, asked people not to be afraid of the disease. "I too was infected with coronavirus, and I have fully recovered. I would like to send a message on this occasion that the people need not worry or be afraid of this infection," he said. The 77-year old leader was discharged on Monday after about 10 days in hospital. In his message to the people of the state, the chief minister said the pandemic has affected every single industry but the pace of life that had slowed down during the lockdown is slowly picking up. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami presents Kalpana Chawla Award for courage and daring enterprise to Senthamizh Selvi, who along with two other women saved the life of two youngsters from drowning in Kottakarai canal, during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, in Chennai, on Saturday. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo In Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar, newly appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said a new era of normalcy and development has dawned in the union territory due to the changes effected in the last one year. In his maiden Independence Day address, he expressed the resolve to make peace, progress and social harmony the most integral part of the transformed narrative. "After the constitutional change enacted in 2019, the central government took not one or two, but historic 50 decisions to transform the face of the region. IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa speaks during 74th Independence Day celebrations in Bengaluru, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo "A new era of normalcy and development has dawned due to the changes effected in the last year; a new journey has been undertaken," the LG said referring to the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A in August last year. Sinha said some 'wrong decisions' were unfortunately taken after independence which inevitably led to resentment in the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and distanced them from the rest. In Jammu, official functions witnessed low attendance as authorities restricted the entry to special invitees and also curtailed many traditional programmes as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. IMAGE: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inspects the Guard of Honour during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo The main function in Jammu was held at Mini Stadium Parade where K K Sharma, advisor to the LG, unfurled the national flag and addressed the gathering. In poll-bound Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sought to counter the 'uninformed criticism' faced by his government through his Independence Day address. In the celebrations held at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Kumar spoke at length about the work done by his government besides announcing new vacancies for teachers and extending the Employees' Provident Fund benefits for those already in service. IMAGE: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren felicitates a frontline corona warrior during the 74th Independence Day celebrations at Morhabadi ground in Ranchi, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo "It has become a fashion these days to tweet anything while sitting at home, without having any idea of what has been achieved," the chief minister said. Kumar's government has been repeatedly targeted by opposition leaders and aide-turned-adversary Prashant Kishor over its handling of the COVID-19 crisis. In his speech, which lasted over an hour, Kumar sought to sum up his government's various accomplishments, including schemes for schoolgirls, the ban on sale and consumption of alcohol and environment conservation drives. Fewer people were allowed to attend the function to ensure social distancing. The attendees were seen wearing face masks. IMAGE: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu after hoisting the National Flag at the Indira Gandhi Park, in Itanagar, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo With an eye on the Assam assembly polls scheduled to be held early next year, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a slew of incentives for the agriculture sector. At a subdued official Independence Day function in Guwahati, he said farmers utilised the lockdown and their products were exported to Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong and other markets. "The state government will set up rice purchasing centres in every district so that farmers get the minimum support price for their produce. We will also offer 30 per cent grants to set up 220 rice mills," the chief minister said. The government will distribute 1,000 mini-trucks among youths and self-help groups (SHGs) to ensure smooth transportation between paddy fields and markets, he said. Sonowal said his government had identified 75,000 bighas of agricultural land to develop the state as an organic hub. He said a Centre of Excellence for Organic Agriculture will be set up in Biswanath district. IMAGE: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hoists the Tricolor in Bhubaneswar, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo He also announced cold storage units will be set up in every district to preserve farmers' products scientifically. The 126-member Assam Assembly is scheduled to go to polls in March-April next year. On the occasion of Independence Day, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called on people to keep democracy intact and counter divisive forces. "Governments kept changing but democracy continued in the country. We all have the responsibility to keep democracy strong because the country will survive only when democracy survives," he said in a speech at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium. In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remembered Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India's independence. Dressed in a saffron robe and turban, and wearing a white mask in view of the pandemic, Adityanath unfurled the national flag at the Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow ahead of his address to the people of the state. He urged people to value the importance of independence. He also lauded health workers and security personnel for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia has issued a statement over the recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasizing the unconditional support of Armenia and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the statement runs as follows, ''We closely follow the latest developments and naval mobilization in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean caused by the Turkish illegal and provocative actions. This destabilizing posturing in the Eastern Mediterranean manifests continued aggressive and expansionist policy that Turkey has been pursuing in its neighbouring regions. We reiterate Armenias unequivocal support and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and call on Turkey to de-escalate the situation, respect the International Law and cease all actions within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Greece and Cyprus''. Ruby Princess passengers who contracted COVID-19 on the ill-fated voyage have welcomed criticism of NSW Health in a report handed down by the special commission of inquiry into the debacle but some feel it does not go far enough. Michelle Kelly, who became ill with the virus on the ship along with her wife Lindsey and two-year-old son Vinnie, said passengers had been "let down" by those who were meant to keep them safe. Michelle Kelly and her wife Lindsey contracted the virus on board the ship. They suspect their son, who has suffered seizures since the cruise, did too. Ms Kelly says she "almost died" and has ongoing symptoms of the virus, while her son has been having seizures since the cruise. "From the cruise line to the so-called 'health' officials, they didnt take our lives seriously enough," she said on Friday evening. Through the pandemic, it has not only met its domestic requirements but taken a range of steps for global good Hindustan Times / ANALYSIS / Harsh Vardhan Shringla Covid-19 continues to exact a heavy toll worldwide. In India too, positive cases are rising. However, our effective domestic response has led to a significant improvement in our recovery rate, which is now 68.78%. The case fatality rate at 2.01% remains one of the lowest in the world. High recovery and low-fatality outcomes can be attributed to proactive measures taken to deal with the outbreak from its early stages. We started screening Covid-19 cases a full 13 days before the first case was detected in India. We implemented full lockdown on the 55th day of the outbreak when we had only around 600 cases. Our public health response has been appreciated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The government took rapid steps to augment health infrastructure. As Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi noted, India now has over 11,000 Covid-19 facilities and 1.1 million isolation beds. We have ramped up testing to over half-a-million tests a day, to be scaled up to a million. Indias response has not been confined to meeting our domestic requirements. We have been significantly engaged with the international community in providing the leadership that the global situation demanded. As a responsible stakeholder in global health supply chains, we ensured timely access to essential drugs and medical items for over 150 countries, while meeting our own domestic requirements. We reaffirmed our position as the first responder to humanitarian crises in the region by deploying medical teams to help Maldives, Mauritius, Comoros and Kuwait deal with the pandemic. India also dispatched naval assets to the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles to deliver assistance. This demonstrated our strong commitment to the PMs vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). From being a net importer of Covid-19-related medical items, we have emerged as a net exporter. Today, we are manufacturing over 500,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and over 300,000 N-95 masks every day. Our system has shown the necessary adaptability and agility to significantly ramp up production to go beyond our domestic requirements. The repatriation of Indian nationals stranded abroad and the evacuation of foreigners from India to their home countries have been among the most successful aspects of our response. In the initial days, the ministry of external affairs had promptly set up a Covid cell and a 24x7 control room to assist Indian citizens abroad. The PM had also personally directed our heads of missions to extend all possible assistance to our nationals stranded abroad. Subsequently, the Vande Bharat mission, launched to repatriate our nationals stranded overseas, has been the largest exercise of its kind ever undertaken by the government and has demonstrated our capacity to effectively carry out complex humanitarian missions. Over one million Indians have returned under the Vande Bharat mission so far through flights, across land borders and on naval ships. We have been able to bring home Indian nationals from distant locations, and also facilitated the return of Bhutanese and Nepalese nationals stranded in third countries to their homes on Vande Bharat flights. Rigorous screening of returnees by our diplomatic missions has ensured that the proportion of positive cases remains extremely small (less than 0.2%). Testing on arrival by the health ministry and state governments has helped detect these cases. The mission just doesnt end with the arrival of our nationals. We are also mapping their skills on arrival to link them with companies for job opportunities. There has also been no let-up in our diplomatic outreach during the pandemic. We have initiated and been part of several important conversations globally. Our Neighborhood First policy was on full display when the PM hosted a video conference of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) leaders early in the crisis our first such engagement on Covid-19. He announced a series of measures to deal with the pandemic, including the creation of a Covid-19 emergency fund with a commitment of $10 million from India. We have also called for a better multilateral response to global crises in the future. The PM has, on several occasions, including in the G-20 and Non-aligned Movement virtual summits, proposed the reform of multilateral cooperation by bringing people to the centre of our efforts. Our own initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure are prime examples of this approach. The decision of the G-20 on debt service suspension for developing countries, which India fully supported, reflects this people-centric approach. At the virtual Global Vaccine Summit, the PM highlighted how Indias contribution to the global response in terms of sharing medicines was guided by our philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkum. The PM also hosted the first virtual bilateral summit with Australia, which was followed by the India-European Union summit. In addition, the PM has spoken to his counterparts from 61 countries during this period. The external affairs minister has spoken to foreign ministers from 77 countries. We have kept open channels of virtual communication to strengthen partnerships and deal with situations that require diplomatic engagement. We have been constantly adjusting, adapting and innovating to deal with the changed reality, particularly in our engagement with the world. And in the process, we have been successful in elevating Indias profile as a constructive and dependable actor on the global stage. [Harsh Vardhan Shringla is Foreign Secretary, Government of India] [The views expressed are personal] Another provision was designed to protect patients against surprise medical bills from doctors and others in hospitals who turn out to be out of network. The measure also sought to require hospitals to comply with certain national standards of infection control. Foes, led by the hospitals and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, filed suit. They said there were flaws in how signatures were gathered and in the wording of the initiatives description provided to petition signers. They also charged that signers were deceived because the names used by the initiative backers and campaign committee did not disclose that the measure was being financed by the California-based Service Employees International Union Union Healthcare Workers West. The judges findings Gates acknowledged that virtually all of the $6.7 million raised by June 30 came from the union. But she also said there was not sufficient credible evidence to conclude that potential petition signers were defrauded or that anyone was confused or misled because SEIU-UHW was not included in the committees name. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-14 21:51:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Examinees enter the exam site at the Beijing Zhongguancun High School in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Beijing education authorities said on Friday that staff and students shall wear masks at school and only take them off on outdoor occasions where there are no crowds and no contacts. Primary and middle schools will be put under relatively closed management, and the risks of spreading COVID-19 will be reduced by staggering attendance and keeping a distance of at least one meter, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission said. Kindergarten children do not have to wear masks, but their teachers and staff do. Regular checks shall be conducted for the attendees, it said. Beijing has rolled out plans for the opening of schools for the fall semester with a slew of targeted prevention measures. All teachers, students and staff from low-risk areas must present a green health code to be able to return to school. Those from medium-risk areas shall observe the 14-day quarantine rule and take nucleic acid tests before returning to campuses. Universities and colleges will pay for nucleic acid tests for students who come from areas outside Beijing. Students entering any building on campus should have their body temperature checked and their code scanned. She underwent a gruelling six hour operation to repair her broken feet. And Katie Price sobbed in agony following the procedure as she sat outside Chelsea & Westminster hospital on Saturday while waiting to go home. The former glamour model, 42, was accompanied by her dutiful boyfriend Carl Woods, 31, who then carefully lifted her into a waiting car. Pain: Katie Price was left sobbing in agony following the procedure as she sat outside Chelsea & Westminster hospital on Saturday while waiting to go home Katie recently broke her feet and ankles in a freak accident on holiday in Turkey with Carl and children Princess, 13, and Junior, 15. And following her operation she was clearly in pain and discomfort as she sat in a wheelchair after leaving hospital. The mum-of-five put her head in her hand and winced in pain as she waited to be helped into her car. Discomfort: The former glamour model, 41, was accompanied by her dutiful boyfriend Carl Woods, who then carefully lifted her into a waiting car Dressed in a white teddy bear cropped jumper and matching bottoms, Katie sat uncomfortably with her bandaged legs stretched out before her. Her boyfriend Carl was on hand to help as he wheeled her out of the hospital before preparing the vehicle. He then took his girlfriend in his arms and carefully carried her to the car. Katie hooked her arms around Carl's neck as she was cautiously lowered into the vehicle. Agony: The mum-of-five put her head in her hand and winced in pain as she waited to be helped into her car Struggling: Following her operation she was clearly in pain and discomfort as she sat in a wheelchair after leaving hospital Still stylish: Dressed in a white teddy bear cropped jumper and matching bottoms, Katie sat uncomfortably with her bandaged legs stretched out before her It comes as Katie took to her Instagram Stories in the early hours of Saturday morning to issue a hospital update on how she was doing. Posting a video of herself in bed at 2:30am in the morning, Katie revealed that she was unable to sleep as she panned around the empty ward. She said: 'So 02:30am I can't sleep despite the fact I've had pain killers and I'm in so much pain and so tired,' followed by a sad emoji. It comes after Katie revealed on Friday night that she had undergone a six hour operation to repair her broken feet after being warned by doctors it could take months for her to recover. Home time: Her boyfriend Carl was on hand to help as he wheeled her out of the hospital before preparing the vehicle Support: Caring Carl carefully wheeled his girlfriend out of hospital following her operation Painful: Katie looked in a manner of discomfort as she was wheeled to her car Precautions: Adhering to procedure, Katie donned a face mask at the hospital, while Carl went without Heading home: Katie flashed a hint of her taut midriff as she made her way home The star took to Instagram to pen a lengthy caption to update fans on her condition, and admitted there were 'more procedures needed than they thought.' It comes after it was reported that Katie is banned from having sex with her boyfriend Carl Woods for two weeks after being left unable to move by the casts following her major surgery. In a lengthy post, Katie wrote: 'Wanted to update everyone who has been sending all the beautiful messages to me 'So I've had my 6 hour op Unfortunately more Procedures was needed when they entered my feet than thought , but I'm lucky I have the chance to one day get on my feet again. 'Chelsea Westminster hospital nurses doctors have been amazing and the surgeons totally have my up most RESPECT and absolutely FANTASTIC very professional and have been very honest and straight with me to make me actually sink in my head the seriousness of my injuries MASSIVE THANKYOU ... Caring boyfriend: Carl took charge of the wheelchair as he prepared to accompany his girlfriend home Taking charge: The former Love Island contestant puts the breaks on Katie's wheelchair as he prepared to lift her into the car Ouch: Katie endured a six hour procedure on her feet, which were heavily bandaged I'll take those: The hunk took the leaflets off Katie as he prepared to lift her up 'And massive Thankyou to @carljwoodsfor constantly fitting me around his work and being by my side , loving knowing I've found the man that has surprisingly ticked every box I could only dream of a man to be like and knowing I'm spending the rest of my life with him.' It comes after Katie was banned from having sex with boyfriend Carl, 31, for two weeks after the surgery. She was allegedly told she would not be able to move for a fortnight after the procedure, according to a report from The Sun. A source speaking to the publication claimed: 'Katie's been told she has to lie down and not move for two weeks when she gets home. What next? The couple were no doubt discussing how to get her safety into the car Let's do this: Carl manoeuvred himself as he prepared to lift Katie Easy does it: The former model reached up for her beau as he attempts to lift her Gently gently: Carl took extra care as he gripped Katie's legs 'She will have to keep her legs elevated to give her the best chance of recovery - and that means no sex or moving around. 'Carl will basically be her full time carer - the only time she's allowed to move is to go to the toilet.' The requirement will allegedly be 'a real test' for Katie, but the star is said to be following the doctor's orders. Katie broke both of her feet and ankles in a freak accident while on holiday in Turkey last month, the surgery will help her on the long road of recovery. Since the accident, Katie has been seen several times being pushed in a wheelchair by her beau Carl, including on Wednesday when she had a coronavirus test at a hospital to see if she could be operated on later in the week. I've got you: Katie hooked her arms around Carl's neck as she was cautiously lowered into the vehicle Carried away: The star held on tight as Carl transferred her from the chair to the car In we go: It was a delicate procedure to get the I'm A Celebrity star into the car safely It was previously reported that Katie has been warned by doctors she 'must take her recovery seriously or she could risk losing a leg'. The reality star is said to have been left 'terrified' by her surgeon's stark warning. A source told The Sun: 'Katie's doctors have warned her she must take her recovery seriously and it's left her terrified. 'She's prone to getting infections after operations, and her surgeon says she could lose a leg if her feet get infected. 'She'll have to be so, so careful - she'll have medical professionals on call 24/7 - and change the dressings regularly. She's got a long road ahead of her.' Almost there: Katie held on to Carl as he slowly lowered her into the vehicle CHICAGO (AP) Former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson, known as Big Jim during a long career that eventually made him the states longest-serving chief executive, has died. He was 84. Thompson died shortly after 8 p.m. Friday at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, his wife, Jayne, told the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. The Tribune, citing a police report, reported Thompson had been recovering there for several weeks after suffering heart problems. It was very sudden, Jayne Thompson told the Tribune. I was told that his heart simply stopped. James Thompson, a Republican from Chicago, was first elected governor in 1976 and eventually served four terms before leaving office in 1991. A moderate, he managed the state through recession years in the 1980s. He also helped put together a plan to help the Chicago White Sox get a new stadium to head off a potential move out of state. As the longest-serving governor in Illinois history, Big Jim was known to treat people he encountered with kindness and decency, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement Saturday. Jim dedicated himself to building positive change for Illinois, and he set an example for public service of which Illinoisans should be proud. Before becoming governor, Thompson rose to prominence as a prosecutor, making a name for himself as someone who fought public corruption a reputation he carried into his time in office. From the time he signed the Political Honesty Initiative to stop legislative conflicts of interest, double dipping, and advance pay for politicians when he was first running for Governor in 1976, Gov. Jim Thompson stood for cleaning up corruption in Illinois politics and government, former Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat who left office in 2015, said in a statement. While working in the Cook County States Attorneys Office in the early 1960s, he prosecuted Lenny Bruce after the comedian held up a photograph of a womans breast while on stage at a Chicago nightclub. After he was appointed U.S. attorney for the northern Illinois district by President Richard Nixon, Thompson became known for anti-corruption cases, including the prosecution of Democratic former Gov. Otto Kerner Jr., by then a federal appeals judge. Thompson and his staff uncovered massive voter fraud in 1972, an effort that led to 83 indictments and 66 convictions or guilty pleas. He headed the prosecution that led to the conviction of a powerful Chicago alderman and took part in the investigation of Republican Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, who eventually pleaded no contest to tax evasion. Widely respected across Illinois, Thompson was honored in 1993 when the state government building in downtown Chicago was named after him. He also later served as a member of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States to examine the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He was a great guy, no question about that, said Republican former Gov. George Ryan, a longtime friend who held the office from 1999 to 2003. But Thompson also made headlines when, as a leader of the law firm Winston & Strawn, he agreed to defend Ryan on a pro bono basis in a corruption case that eventually landed Ryan in prison. In a 2015 article when Thompsons retirement from the firm after a quarter century was announced, Crains Chicago Business noted that Thompsons decision to represent his fellow former governor without receiving payment ultimately cost the firm more than $10 million. The signs are growing stronger that 2020 may turn out to be Kimi Raikkonen's eighteenth and final season in Formula 1. The 2007 world champion is now regularly among the very slowest drivers in the field, as Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo openly struggles with its 2020 car. And Raikkonen's long-time racing driver friend Toni Vilander, who is linked with Ferrari through GT racing, is suddenly admitting that the 40-year-old's motivation is finally fading. "He has said several times that he wouldn't be in F1 unless it was something very important to him," Vilander told the Finnish broadcaster C More. "But now he is in a difficult situation. Running around at the back, fighting with Latifi and Russell - it doesn't motivate Kimi very much. That's the difficult thing here," he explained. "If he drove for points and he could battle in qualifying, then Kimi would still be very motivated and do his best to keep going for another season. But now things must be assessed from a slightly different perspective," said Vilander. However, Vilander admits that Raikkonen is unlikely to be musing about his future too openly in public. "Kimi is a strange bird of Formula 1," he said. "Usually, drivers of Kimi's status wonder about the right solution and what others think of it. Kimi doesn't think like that at all. "He makes his own decision. The first person he consults is probably (wife) Minttu." What Vilander is sure about is that Raikkonen won't quit mid-season. "No, Kimi wouldn't do that," he said. "He is a professional and will drive what has been agreed. It's not part of the Finnish character to throw the towel into the ring," Vilander is also quoted by Ilta Sanomat newspaper. "But I know that Kimi is horribly frustrated, and that's the problem. It's hard for him to dig up the motivation if there is not even a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel." (GMM) About 2,300 students are returning to Lamar Universitys residence halls this weekend with an elongated, and socially distanced move-in process that kicks off a unique year for the university amid the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. Our numbers are slightly up from last year at this time, Mary Atkinson, the director of housing and residence life at LU, told The Enterprise. We are excited with how many residents want to live on campus. Instead of the normal two-day move-in, students are moving in over four days, with about 25% of students moving in each day. Returning students, including those working as residential assistants in the dorms, said the longer process made it easier for students and families. Last year for me it was definitely stressful, because I didnt know the campus, sophomore Dajha Myles said. It is easier (this year) for the freshmen to understand what is going on because of how spread out everything is. Brady Muth, who will be a freshman studying criminal justice this year, said the move-in process didnt feel all that different despite the health and safety precautions. It honestly is just moving in with a mask on, Muth said. Across the hall was Kasia Kanada, who will be studying social work. Moving in during these times has been stressful but exciting, she said. While an online option was offered, many of the students The Enterprise spoke to said they were eager to return to campus for the sense of community and independence. This is an important experience, Kanada said. When you go from high school to college, you want to live and explore on your own without your parents always telling you what to do. Kanada said she isnt concerned about the threat of the virus. LU spokesperson Shelly Vitanza said the protocol in the event of a coronavirus-positive student would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We would do what is best for that student, Vitanza said. That could be taking the student out and quarantining them, that could mean moving the roommate out, or that could mean going home. Atkinson said the university has identified specific housing if it is needed for students to quarantine for 14 days. In addition to precautions in dorm rooms, required face coverings, smaller class sizes and socially distanced classrooms are in place to prevent the spread of the virus. As part of their jobs as resident assistants, the student workers have to help introduce new students to campus and put their minds at ease. With so many unknowns, that job is particularly challenging this year. I am planning on being as honest and reassuring as I can with them, Myles said. I am just as confused as they are with a lot of this. No one knows what is happening. Another R.A., Jared Shirley, introduced himself to each of his residents Thursday and plans to speak with them about the importance of staying safe while having a good time. It really depends on us if people want to gather or people want to stay away, Shirley said. Hopefully, everybody understands how serious this is. While the university has contingencies in place in the event of another spike, students are hoping they dont have to return to online-only like they did in spring. A lot of my major I kind of have to be face-to-face, said Emily Carminati, a senior studying American Sign Language with a focus in ,nterpretation. Youd think with ASL you could just switch over to video, but it is hard to see a 3-D language in a 2-D perspective, so that was very challenging. Jasmine Delarosa-Bonilla, a sophomore studying English who is also an R.A., ran into problems when her laptop broke just as the campus shut down in response to the virus. I had the help I needed, but it was kind of a struggle for me, because I didnt know how to talk to my teachers virtually, she said. Even though I did very good at the end, it was still hard. Those experiences give Delarosa-Bonilla and other R.A.s an edge in guiding new students through an altered college experience. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Dustin Chambers/Reuters Far-right militia, pro-Confederacy groups and anti-fascist counter-protestors faced off on Saturday in tense scenes at Stone Mountain, Georgia, home of the largest monument to the Confederacy. To prepare for the confrontation, park officials closed off entry to the giant rock carving of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and Stonewall Jackson. The city suspended bus services and urged residents to avoid the city center entirely out of an abundance of caution. Nevertheless, a small number of armed protesters from all sides descended on the city from 9 a.m. local time. Videos on social media showed far-right protestors attacking anti-facism protesters with pepper spray, and anti-facism protesters grabbing Confederate flags and setting them alight. People tussle over a Confederate flag. Dustin Chambers/Reuters Police presence was initially minimal outside a church where protesters converged, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Some fist fights broke out in the crowd. According to the AJR, a man with a Dont Tread on Me flag and an assault weapon pointed his gun on the crowd, though he was charged down by his opposition. Scuffles broke out between rival groups before police moved in. Dustin Chambers/Reuters Around 11:30 am, a message from counter-protesters came over a loudspeaker, warning them to be prepared for tear gas, the newspaper reported. The protest dispersed when police in riot gear moved in on the crowd at around 1 p.m., and ordered demonstrators to leave or be arrested. Photos from the scene showed the National Guard moving in as well. Go home, racists, go home! Members of BLM, Antifa and independents chant during protest in the town of Stone Mountain @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/Rr75W36hrv Maura Sirianni 11Alive (@MauraSirianni) August 15, 2020 Today right-wing activists and militias are converging on Stone Mountain Park in Georgia to hold a Defend Stone Mountain #Confederate rally. Antifascists are gathering to oppose them. Here, III% activists gather about a block East from Antifa, loading and prepping guns. pic.twitter.com/DjmVwBLBtc Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020 A Georgia chapter of the Three Percenters militia, a far-right paramilitary group, initially applied to hold a 2,000-person rally at the Stone Mountain monument on Saturday but they were denied by police, in part because a 2016 Stone Mountain pro-white demonstration resulted in nine arrests. Story continues But some online groups vowed to turn up anyway, including a group of Confederate-loving protesters calling themselves Defending Stone Mountain and a rival group called Atlanta Antifascists. A protest in Kalamazoo, Michigan also turned violent on Saturday when the far-right, white nationalist group Proud Boys attempted to march but were overrun by counter-protesters. After the two groups fought in the street, police arrived and made a few arrests, according to local affiliate WOOD-TV. Fights broke out between protesters and the Proud Boys group when they arrived in Kalamazoo. @wwmtnews pic.twitter.com/bgk0LGa6j7 Trisha McCauley (@TrishaWWMT) August 15, 2020 Stone Mountain is the largest bas-relief statue in the world, completed in 1925 by Augustus Lukeman, with original work by Gutzon Borglum (who would go on to sculpt Mt. Rushmore). The Ku Klux Klan was a major donor to the project. Since the Charleston church shooting of 2015, many have called for the removal of the monument. The movement has grown urgency over the past few months, as more protestors take down Confederate monuments following the death of George Floyd. Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has called the carving a blight on our state. 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. By Humeyra Pamuk and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it had confiscated four Iranian fuel shipments that had been bound for Venezuela, disrupting a key supply line for both Tehran and Caracas as they defied U.S. sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran should not be sending cargoes to Venezuela and added that the seized shipments were bound for Houston, Texas, and suggested they may have already arrived. "They're going to Houston. And, they're there," Trump told a White House news conference. "We're ... In a state of emergency after the catastrophic oil spill on the coral reef on July 25, people of Mauritius have now resort to chopping their hair for spill soak of over 1000 tons of the pollutant to deter one of the deadliest ecological disasters. According to reports, the residents of Mauritius have decided to do whatever it takes to cleanse the Indian Ocean archipelago rich in flora and fauna. On August 13, the crew struggled in the dangerous conditions to extract the 4,000 tonnes of fuel from the Japanese-owned cargo ship that threatened the eco-tourism hub after an accidental leak. "We are in a situation of environmental crisis". Kavy Ramano, Minister of the Environment of #Mauritius pic.twitter.com/xp03LbHrGL Ministry of Environment (@Environment_MU) August 7, 2020 Almost 1,000 tonnes of fuel leaked into the Indian Ocean, posing a risk of destruction to the vast scathes of coral reefs, lagoons, and mangrove forests in the Mauritius shoreline. In the greatest-ever ecological disaster, the 13-year-old ship MV Wakashio had toppled off coast spewing the pollutants that prompted the authorities into action. Despite the orders of the government to steer clear of the dangerous and risky site, Volunteers in large numbers launched a major cleansing effort to conserve the marine ecosystem, according to reports. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced at the press briefing that all the fuel onboard the ship had been emptied from 300 meters (984 feet) long vessel except for about 100 tonnes. Read: Analyst On Mauritius Oil Spill; Clear-up Continues Read: Greenpeace On Mauritius Oil Spill From Grounded Ship Fellow warden currently on the mainland sent this through. Free haircuts at the local mall to collect hair to help absorb some of the #oilspill in #mauritius. The official response may have been severely lacking but the community are coming together and its fantastic. pic.twitter.com/mBXNQ5PjDE Bethan Govier (@Bethan_Govier) August 8, 2020 Hairnets to be submerged in oil-laden water Meanwhile, amid fears of an estimated 2,500 tons of oil from the mammoth carrier causing further pollution in case of a split, the volunteers and residents designed the brooms of cane leaves, stockings, and plastic containers in response to clean the rock bed. As per the reports, people appealed to donate the hair in order to submerge in the oil-laden water for the oils to soak up. In a campaign launched online, Mauritians urged residents to accumulate large quantities of human hair, citing scientific evidence that it might suck the pollutant material and leave the water clean. Salon owners and hairdressers were reportedly cutting off the hair and sewing into nets and tubes and transporting the supply at the site of the oil spill. While French has recently sent aid to Mauritius to preserve its marine ecosystem on which the countrys economy heavily relies on, people are seeking to proactively explore ways to conserve its beautiful beach and contain the spill. [Volunteers take part in the clean up operation in Mahebourg, Mauritius Wednesday Aug. 12, 2020 surrounding the oil spill from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius. Credit: AP] [Anxious residents of this Indian Ocean island nation have stuffed fabric sacks with sugar cane leaves in an effort to stop the oil spill from reaching their shores. (AP Photo/Beekash Roopun-L'express Maurice)] [Police and Fire personnel take part in the cleanup operation in Mahebourg, Mauritius, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, surrounding the oil spill from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius. Credit: AP] [Volunteers take part in the cleanup operation in Mahebourg surrounding the oil spill from the MV Wakashio. Credit: AP] [Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Ministry shows oil leaking from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius. Credit: AP] Read: Mauritius Tries To Counter Oil Spill From Ship Read: Mauritius Scrambles To Counter Oil Spill From Grounded Ship A mum has been left stranded in an African city known as the world's 'rape capital' after the Australian government capped international arrivals. Melissa Inkster is desperate to return home to Australia to be with her two young sons, who she hasn't seen in six months. She was supposed to board a flight home from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on Saturday but was bumped off the service because of Australia's COVID-19 restrictions. 'My flight back to Australia has been cancelled because our government is only allowing 30 people on a plane,' she said in a video posted to Facebook. 'So essentially that means people in business, first class get first priority and us people who can only afford economy are pretty much off.' Melissa Inkster (pictured) was supposed to board a flight home from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on Saturday but was bumped off Ms Inkster and her partner Joseph travelled to Africa via Europe in March for business. 'Mel and her fiance spent their time in Africa creating a charity and working with locals to improve many aspects of their lives and will continue working in these areas along with new business ideas when they are safely back home,' a GoFundMe page says 'I haven't seen my kids for six months,' she said. Ms Inkster said there is only one flight leaving Kinshasa each week. She has now booked a hotel up to next Saturday, which has cost her more than $1,000. 'Not cheap. Everyone thinks, third world country, you're not paying much, that's a myth,' she said. 'Right now I'm in survival mode, trying to get back home, trying to get back to my kids, trying to get back to Australia.' A GoFundMe page has been created to help Ms Inkster get back to her two sons. The fundraiser explains Ms Inkster and her partner Joseph travelled to Africa via Europe in March for business. An Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo is seen on patrol in February CONGO: 'THE RAPE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD' A senior UN official declared the African nation to be the 'rape capital of the world' in 2010. 'Women have no rights, if those who violate their rights go unpunished,' Margot Wallstrom, the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict said at the time. The comments drew the attention of researchers, advocates and journalists and Congo is still known as the 'rape capital' in media reports due to widespread sexual violence. Advertisement 'Mel and her fiance spent their time in Africa creating a charity and working with locals to improve many aspects of their lives and will continue working in these areas along with new business ideas when they are safely back home,' the page says. 'Mel has two young boys in the Australia who she is desperate to get back too. They need her and she needs them.' Ms Inkster and her partner are stranded in different parts of Africa. The GoFundMe page is asking for donations because Ms Inkster cannot afford a $15,000 first class ticket to get home. 'Mel is a kindhearted woman giving to all she meets and wouldn't hesitate to help another Mum get home,' the page states. 'The government isn't helping and she is stuck in Africa alone which is also incredibly dangerous.' Ms Inkster told news.com.au she speaks to her sons via WhatsApp and Skype. 'Sometimes my son is crying, ''Mummy, mummy, when will you be coming home?'',' Ms Inkster said. 'Now I thought I was coming home and I'm not. It's devastating.' At the 25th National Cabinet meeting on August 7, the government decided to extend caps on international passenger arrivals 'to manage and maintain quarantine arrangements across jurisdictions'. Ms Inkster and her partner are stranded in different parts of Africa Victoria is battling a second wave of coronavirus infections, with the outbreak linked to safety breaches within their hotel quarantine program. International flights into Victoria have been suspended as the state attempts to control their active infections. Sydney is taking in a maximum of 350 arrivals each day, while Perth is limited to 525 each week. There is a limit of 500 passengers in both Brisbane and Adelaide, while passenger limits on flights in Canberra and Darwin are 'discussed with jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis'. A DFAT spokesperson said: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stands ready to provide consular assistance to any Australian citizen, should they request it.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton for comment. For the last three decades, the most reliable feature of Lebanons government has been its relentless decline. Here was a country so brazenly corrupt the World Bank abandoned its usual diplomatic language in 2015, declaring the country increasingly governed by bribery and nepotism practices, failing to deliver basic human services. Among ordinary people, the lived reality of Lebanese politics produced a gall that rose like the stench of the garbage that has accumulated on the capitals streets because officials cannot figure out where to put it. In October, the announcement of higher taxes triggered gigantic daily protests across the country. But they have not yet led to any substantial change. Riad Hussein Al Hussein and his wife Fatima Al Abid in the Mar Mikhael neighborhood of Beirut on Aug. 7. He was buying vegetables there three days earlier when he heard a small explosion. He asked the seller whether he thought it was a shell or a bomb, and where it had landed. A volunteer named Ahmad, who works with a Palestinian organization helping victims, prays amid rubble in Beirut on Aug. 5. | Myriam Boulos Kevin Obeid cuts Jad Estephans hair in the Mar Mikhael area of Beirut on Aug. 7, three days after the deadly port explosion. The question now is whether the catastrophic explosion of Aug. 4, which wiped away more than 220 lives and the homes of 300,000 people in Beirut, will ultimately take down Lebanons unique political system. The countrys constitution which guarantees government positions to 18 separate religious sects was intended to balance the interests and needs of a diverse, cosmopolitan nation. In reality, it provides semi-permanent employment for self-dealing elites in political parties that look after themselves, rather than a greater good. Which is how 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate languished in a port warehouse in the center of a city of 2.4 million people since 2013. Branches rest on a sedan. The blast, estimated at one tenth the size of the atomic explosion at Hiroshima, sent a wave of destruction six miles across a city already reeling from shortages of food, water and electricity. | Myriam Boulos for TIME I felt like I went to hell for seven hours and then I came out of it, recalls Andrea, a drag performer in Beirut who was injured in the port explosion. I didnt know what to think. Did I lose my house? Did I lose my life? Did I lose my beautiful city? It was a war zone. Since then, Andrea, whose home sustained significant damage, has helped with a relief fund that offers shelter, food and first aid to members of the city's LGBTQ community who were impacted by the disaster. If we didn't have our rights before, he adds, referring to the fact that same-sex relations in Lebanon can be punishable by up to one year in prison, now what we have left is very little. | Myriam Boulos for TIME We have been living next to an atomic bomb for six years. We stroll around, we walk by it, but we know nothing about it, says resident Jad Estephan, of what produced one of the largest man-made (non-nuclear) explosions in global history. How can the people in charge be this conscienceless? For a week after the blast, photographer Myriam Boulos moved through the wreckage of her native city, documenting an aftermath nearly as extraordinary as the explosion: Soldiers and police stood idle while ordinary people bent to the task of clearing debris. (They carry guns, says Boulos. They dont help with anything.) As she photographed, she also asked questions. Its important that we tell our own stories, she says. Its so important to listen to people, because at the end of the day the country is people. Story continues Angelique Sabounjian and Cherif Kanaan on Aug. 10. Six days earlier, she was hit in the face with a piece of glass as the blast wave tore through the coffee shop where she was working in Beirut's Gemmayze neighborhood. Sabounjian walked to the CDs are scattered on the floor of music producer Jana Saleh's apartment, which was heavily damaged by the port explosion and blast wave. Joseph Sfeir, 88, a journalist for six decades, was born in this house in the Mar Mikhael area of Beirut. He lived through Lebanons 15-year civil war there, too. When the massive explosion occurred, Sfeir recalls, his reflex was to save his grandchildrenthe reasons he came back years ago from France. They were with him in the house that day, but were not injured. His wife, who was on the second floor when the blast shook the city, was wounded. Sfeir is pictured with his sister, Mona. | Myriam Boulos for TIME Citizens complain about their government in every country, but few have better cause than the Lebanese. In a country that made its national symbol a tree, the Lebanese people had to put out fires that were devastating our forests because our government was unable to do its job, Nour Saliba noted, recalling a series of forest fires last October. It was the month daily demonstrations erupted in the capital. Protesters demanded an end to corruption and a new constitution. The pandemic was still months away, but misrule had already sent the countrys economy into free fall, and almost half the 6.8 million residents (including 1.5 million Syrian refugees) lived in poverty. After two weeks of protests in October, Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned. His replacement lasted mere months, stepping down on Aug. 10 after the protests, which had dwindled during the pandemic, resumed with a seething new anger. The explosion, it cannot not define us, in a way, says Boulos. Of course its a turning point. Smoke billows from a tear gas canister during an antigovernment demonstration in Beirut on Aug. 8, four days after the blast. | Myriam Boulos for TIME People gather on balconies during the demonstration. Protesters say negligence and corruption across Lebanon's political system contributed to the disaster. | Myriam Boulos for TIME A young protester near Beirut's Martyrs' Square during the Aug. 8 demonstration. | Myriam Boulos for TIME Riad Hussein Al Hussein was buying vegetables in the citys Mar Mikhael neighborhood when he was knocked to the ground by the blast wave. He noticed he was bleeding from his head. Someone came to help him. He used a cotton compress and pressed on my wounds for what seemed like a long time. He said that I had to endure the pain. And I endured. That lasted about 20 minutes. I really thought I was dying. I held my saviors hand while he was helping me and I asked him to say my goodbyes to my family. Nothing binds people to one another like a trauma endured together. The explosion devastated three neighborhoods a poor district east of the port; an enclave of Armenian Christians; and a gentrifying zone of older residents and young, artsy people. But with a damage radius of six miles, the entire city came apart. And then, came together. Cherif Kanaan told Boulos he was at home when he heard the explosion. My mum, my brother and I ran towards each other very scared. A few seconds later the whole building started shaking like crazy and the massive blast hit us, he says. The look in their eyes will forever haunt me. We really thought we were gonna die. He left the apartment and sprinted first to the home of his uncle, where everyone was okay. From there, he ran from hospital to hospital, looking for people to help. Some protesters on Aug. 8 reportedly threw stones and debris at officers or jumped over barricades that had closed off access to parliament, while others entered government ministries. Officers responded with heavy volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. | Myriam Boulos for TIME A group of women inside a van avoid thick clouds of tear gas in Beirut on Aug. 8. | Myriam Boulos for TIME A man who was wounded during a demonstration on Aug. 11. At protests since the blast, researchers with Human Rights Watch have observed birdshot pellets being fired He found them everywhere. He held a compress to a wounded nurse outside a destroyed hospital, then cut his own hand lifting a metal pole out of the road. He helped an old man struggling with a bandage, and took off his shirt for a woman carrying two babies from a destroyed hospital. Another passerby gave his shirt for a third baby. Back at the ruined hospital, he spotted a woman with a terrible wound on her face. Her name was Angelique. I couldnt quite get her family name at first because of her numb lips, he says. Kanaan took her phone, reassuring relatives who were calling constantly. In the mayhem, an ambulance appeared. He bundled Angelique into a scene that would stay with him: On a stretcher was a young girl named Alexandra, struggling to breathe, her grandpa at the back, a lady doctor next to him, insufflating Alexandra, her dad with a broken left cheekbone, Angelique next to him, myself, a wounded old lady in front of me, a wounded old man next to her behind the driver and a rescuer, I believe, Kanaan says. Alexandra would not survive. Hatem Imam and Maya Moumne of Studio Safar, a design and communications agency, photographed on Aug. 10. The explosion A cactus rests on broken glass. Cleanup efforts have been left to volunteers, with authorities all but invisible. | Myriam Boulos for TIME It was six days after the blast that Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned, saying he wanted to stand with the people and fight the battle for change alongside them. The next day, one week to the minute after the explosion, citizens gathered in the wreckage of their capital At 6:08 p.m., what moved through the air was not a blast wave but the Muslim call to prayer, and the peal of church bells. Let us hope that this catastrophe doesnt destroy us even further but rather gives us a much needed strength, says Estephan. Because this is our last chance. We must change today, or never. With reporting by Myriam Boulos/Beirut and Madeline Roache/London The world saw what our soldiers did at Ladakh: PM Modi India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: The entire world saw what India is capable of in Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Independence Day address at the Red Fort today. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Every inch of land from the Line of Control to the Line of Actual Control will be protected the PM also said, without making a reference to any country. Our Army has paid back everyone in their own coin, the PM also added. What our brave soldiers can do, the entire world has seen at Ladakh, the PM said. Be it an aggressor or a terrorist, India has fought and will continue fighting them, PM Modi further added. Independence Day 2020: India has the willpower to lead the world, says PM Modi From the LoC to the LaC, whoever has tried to raise their eyes towards the sovereignty of our country, our brave soldiers responded to it in the same coin, the PM also said. Today, a neighbour is not just the one we share a border with, but also those with whom our heart stays connected and there is harmony in relations. I am happy that India has strengthened its relations with all countries in the extended neighbourhood, the PM further added. The PM also spoke about India's victory of a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He said that out of the 192 countries, 184 backed India. This is because India is strong and secure, the PM also said. Over 100 kiosks which serve as shelter for some squatters have been burnt to ashes at a community in Shiashie within the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Accra. The firefighters are having a hard time dousing fire. An eyewitness told Citi News that the fire spread to other kiosks because they were too close to each other. I can say its about 100 kiosks. Theres no interval in between the kiosks thus cause the fire to spread faster. Those in the kiosks all came out when they saw the fire. I think it started in one of the kiosks and extended to other parts. It is currently unclear what triggered the fire. John Dumelo, the National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for the constituency who came to the scene assured that his outfit will come to the aid of the squatters. When I got here there were two fire tenders. 30 minutes after they ordered for about two more. The fire personnel are ensuring that things are under control. A number of people have provision shops here. As for the businesses, Im sure about 40 small scale businesses might have been affected. Personal belongings have also been lost. Its a sad day for Shiashie. Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, Lydia Alhassan, says she has provided accommodation for the affected residents at a church in the constituency. ---citinewsroom FILE PHOTO: An Alibaba Cloud sign is seen at the Alibaba Group booth during the fourth World Internet Conference in Wuzhen BEDMINSTER, N.J. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he could exert pressure on more Chinese companies such as technology giant Alibaba after he moved to ban TikTok. Asked at a news conference whether there were other particular China-owned companies he was considering a ban on, such as Alibaba, Trump replied: "Well, we're looking at other things, yes." Trump has been piling pressure on Chinese-owned companies, such as by vowing to ban short-video app TikTok from the United States. The United States ordered its Chinese owner ByteDance on Friday to divest the U.S. operations of TikTok within 90 days, the latest effort to ramp up pressure over concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles. Trump, who has made changing the U.S.-China trade relationship a central theme of his presidency, has been sharply critical of China while also praising its purchases of agriculture products such as soybeans and corn as part of a trade agreement reached late last year. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Richard Chang and Daniel Wallis) By ANI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday attacked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, saying "no one will be safe in Biden's America" adding that the California Senator is a "step worse". "If Joe Biden would become the President, he will immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in American and probably Kamala (Harris) is a step worse. She is of Indian heritage. I have more Indians than she has," said Trump while speaking to members of the City of New York Police Benevolent Association. The president, in his speech, took a sharp aim at Harris as being hostile to police, and suggested that she and Biden were at the center of "a left-wing war on cops." "This guy has been taking your dignity away and your respect... No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump said of former Vice President Joe Biden. "And I'm telling you on Nov. 3 you're going to be getting it back." ALSO READ | Joe Biden blasts Donald Trump for 'abhorrent' birther rhetoric on Kamala Harris In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly asserted that Biden supports defunding the police, Fox News reported. On Friday, President Trump's reelection campaign was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYCPBA) on Friday. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who also spoke at the NYCPBA meeting on Friday, attacked the prosecutorial record of Kamala Harris. Giuliani said that when Harris was California's Attorney General, "she prosecuted little people but she wouldn't prosecute big people." The collateral damage from the pandemic continues: Young adults, as well as Black and Latino people of all ages, describe rising levels of anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts, and increased substance abuse, according to findings reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a research survey, U.S. residents reported signs of eroding mental health in reaction to the toll of coronavirus illnesses and deaths, and to the life-altering restrictions imposed by lockdowns. The researchers argue that the results point to an urgent need for expanded and culturally sensitive services for mental health and substance abuse, including telehealth counselling. In the online survey completed by some 5,400 people in late June, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms was three times as high as those reported in the second quarter of 2019, and depression was four times as high. The effects of the coronavirus outbreaks were felt most keenly by young adults ages 18-24. According to Mark Czeisler, a psychology researcher at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, nearly 63 per cent had symptoms of anxiety or depression that they attributed to the pandemic and nearly a quarter had started or increased their abuse of substances, including alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs, to cope with their emotions. Its ironic that young adults who are at lower risk than older adults of severe illness caused by COVID-19 are experiencing worse mental health symptoms, Czeisler said. A survey of about 5,000 people done in April, during the earlier days of the pandemic, Czeisler said, suggested that tremors in the mental health firmament were beginning to surface. Already in April, high percentages of respondents reported they were spending more time on screens and less time outside than before the pandemic, which translated into more virtual interactions and far fewer in person. They noted upheavals to family, school, exercise and work routines, and to their sleeping patterns. All of these are factors that can contribute to the robustness of mental health. But why do young adults appear to be crumbling at rates far greater than older people? Czeisler said that the team hoped to conduct more research along those lines. He mentioned one direction of inquiry that could prove especially illuminating: measuring the extent to which people can tolerate uncertainty, or the ability to accept the unknown, because now there are so many questions, especially for young people, about relative risk, duration of the pandemic and what their futures will look like. In this latest survey, nearly 41 per cent overall reported symptoms of at least one adverse reaction, ranging from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly 11 per cent said they had suicidal thoughts in the month leading up to the survey, with the greatest clusters being among Black and Latino people, essential workers and unpaid caregivers for adults. Men were more likely to express such feelings than women were. The researchers, who represent a joint effort largely between Monash University and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, said the symptoms were less pronounced in older groups, perhaps an indication that their longer life experience has been beneficial to helping them ride out the current turbulence. A seven-year-old boy who slipped out of a sixth floor window while playing is safe after being rescued by Peel police. Police got a call that a child was hanging from a sixth floor window in the Erindale Station Road and Dundas Street West area at around 5 p.m. Friday. Police say the boy cried for help and his mother was able to grab hold of him but couldnt pull him back inside. Police breached the womans front door and rushed to help the child. The boy was unharmed in the rescue. Two officers were treated for minor injuries from broken glass. Readers have opinions about Star columnists. Recent columns on race and diversity, getting Ontario students back in the classroom and the Blue Jays season have sparked the ire of readers. There was criticism that a column on the political woes of Finance Minister Bill Morneau was too harsh on the Liberal government. One reader demanded that columnists be banished from the front page entirely, declaring, The Star has yet to decide if it is a newspaper or an opinion platform. Well, the Star has long performed both roles, with a strong stable of columnists providing analysis to accompany the news. When readers fly to their keyboards to write angry denunciations of those opinions, the public editor has defended the right of columnists to speak their minds. After all, a columnist is not meant to be a dispassionate, even-handed chronicler of the news. Their very job is to take a side, to provoke and prod us to see an issue from a different vantage point. Thats why the Star is careful to label them as opinion. A columnists viewpoint may not always be popular in the newsroom. The tone can occasionally make a public editor cringe. But the Torstar Journalistic Standards Guide states that opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views. As my predecessors have noted, that even extends to the right to be outrageous when making a point. Of course, that doesnt mean they have to be. I have some sympathy with readers who say they dont want to be insulted for holding opposing viewpoints. I dont want to be berated with my morning coffee and toast, one reader wrote. Yet, in holding civic institutions to account, calling out politicians and stirring us all to act, blunt talk is often the best tool a columnist can wield. Weve seen that with the recent discussions around race, racism and diversity, to break through the status quo and jar people into recognizing long-standing biases and inequities. At the forefront of that topic has been Shree Paradkar, who writes on race and gender for the Star. Paradkar says she sets out to be thought-provoking rather than provocative. Im just trying to be as clear as I can . . . if that clarity ends up provoking people, its not by design, she said. My hope is that it makes you see how the invisible hierarchies operate in our society. Who is being provoked and what are they being provoked to think of? I think those are two very important issues, she said. Without the wide latitude she enjoys as a columnist, I could not do my job, she told me. Yet she notes that the opinion label can be a misnomer. Most columnists like Paradkar remain reporters at heart and their columns blend news, analysis and opinion. Paradkar says her goal is to draw on data to just not make it about my opinion but to ground it in analysis. No doubt, Paradkars columns spark reader feedback, notably one on the hordes who crowded into Trinity-Bellwoods Park and another that took aim at feel-good white saviourism. Unlike other columnists, whose focus might be politicians or pro athletes, Paradkars gender and race focus means she is writing about attitudes found in society at large. Her unflinching writing hits closer to home. If a journalists job is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, the question is Who is the comfortable? For many beats, those could be corporate hotshots or political leaders. In my gender and race focus, those comfortable are us. We like sticking it to the man but dont like the same scrutiny on ourselves. And it shows, she said. Some readers dont always like her message. Yet the long-standing attitudes and problems she writes on wont get resolved without attention and action. As one reader wrote her, thank you for regularly making me feel uncomfortable and making me re-examine my assumptions, beliefs and opinions. Veteran columnist Rosie DiManno prompted a few emails when she wrote that the chattering commentariat had been transformed into a platoon of brownshirts at the potential health risks of having the Blue Jays play in Toronto. Brownshirts is the name given to Nazi Stormtroopers whose terror tactics aided Adolf Hitler in his rise to power. A harsh analogy, no doubt. Reader Allen Tait wrote to say he took great offence. Heathy respectful debate is important, he said in an email. Analysis supporting opinion should not include offensive and insulting references to individuals who hold an opinion contrary to the columnist. DiManno says it was a metaphor. My view is that we shouldnt be afraid of words, certainly not allow public reaction to strip our vocabulary because someone takes offence, she told me. Columnists can make us squirm with their language and rage at their viewpoints. That is, after all, part of their job description. Some of Australia's most influential lobby groups have been put on notice over climate change, with mining giant BHP setting standards that require them to advocate for Paris agreement-aligned emissions reductions and stop backing energy policies that favour fossil fuels over renewables. BHP, the world's biggest mining company, updated its website on Friday with details of its new climate-related expectations of its industry lobbyists including the Minerals Council of Australia, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association which have faced shareholder criticism for public-policy positions surrounding fossil fuels. BHP has been facing a big investor backlash over the climate positions of its lobby groups. Credit:Tony McDonough Among the miner's expectations are advocacy for targets that increase over time and aim towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as policies to support that transition including a price on carbon. The new standards also say the associations must ensure their lobbying is balanced prohibiting them from emphasising the cost of climate action without considering the cost of inaction and ensure their lobbying does not attack or promote one energy source or commodity over another, such as advocating for coal or against renewable energy. Lobbying that could "unduly exacerbate" policy tensions, such as support for the federal government's use of Kyoto carryover credits to meet national emissions goals, must also be avoided. The Bachelor Australia Credit: THE BACHELOR AUSTRALIA 7.30m, Ten The Australian Survivor turned Australian Bachelor, Locky Gilbert attends a cocktail party with the bevy of beauties who are desperate to woo him but are somewhat distracted from that purpose by the drama of the most recent group date. There will be panda eyes before last drinks, and poor Locky will have to choose his rose recipients from the tear-stained faces. Knowing what lies ahead for this Bachelorus Interruptus, such trivial issues may soon fade into obscurity for the lockdown lovers to be. Phuket officials help mediate restructuring of B1bn in debt relief push PHUKET: Phuket officials yesterday (Aug 13) hosted a mass mediation session between debtors and banks and other financial institutions in the hope of preventing legal action being taken against local business owners and other people in Phuket left without any form of income due to the COVID-19 economic crisis. Saturday 15 August 2020, 02:25PM Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai spoke to several people at the event about their debt situation. Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai spoke to several people at the event about their debt situation. Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai pointed out that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on peoples lives, leaving them without any way to pay debts. Photo: PR Phuket More than 1,000 people were invited to the event, altogether involving a total of more than B1 billion in outstanding loans. Photo: PR Phuket More than 1,000 people were invited to the event, altogether involving a total of more than B1 billion in outstanding loans. Photo: PR Phuket The event, organised by the Legal Execution Office and held at Phuket Rajabhat University, saw major lending companies and institutions present to discuss terms of restructuring loans. Among them were Toyota Leasing (Thailand) Co Ltd, Krungthai Card PLC, Sukhumvit Asset Management Co Ltd and Siam Commercial Bank, and even representatives from the Student Loan Fund (KorYorSor). Duangchun Suksaeng, Director of the Phuket Legal Execution Office, explained that a total of 1,021 people with unpaid loans were invited to the event. Together, those invited had outstanding loans totalling B1,012,999,742.70, she said. The mass mediation event was aimed at preventing people in debt having legal action taken against them for not making loan repayments, Ms Duangchun said. Most of the people invited to join the event already had court orders against them, she added. Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai pointed out that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on peoples lives, leaving them without any way to pay debts. V/Gov Supoj noted that some of the people with outstanding loans already were in financial trouble before the COVID-19 crisis, but the pandemic had only made their problems worse. Peoples incomes have disappeared, making it impossible to pay their debts, whether they be home loan installments, car loans or credit cards, he said, after speaking with several people attending the event to restructure their outstanding debts. Therefore it is necessary to mediate the terms of the loans so these peoples properties are not seized. This especially applies to outstanding student loans, V/Gov Supoj said. One person was killed in a fiery crash on US-290 after midnight Saturday when a cargo van collided into the back of a cement tanker truck, police said. The van was fully engulfed in flames and its driver was pronounced dead at the scene, Houston Police Lt. R. Wilkins said. The crash occurred around 12:40 a.m. near Bingle Road, and investigators closed all inbound lanes of the highway for a time. RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Richmond Heights Planning & Zoning Commission has cleared for landing Flexjets plans to build a futuristic global operations center on its property off Curtiss Wright Parkway at the Cuyahoga County Airport. Company representatives presented their plans to the commission on Wednesday (Aug. 12). At the meetings conclusion, the commission unanimously approved site and elevation plans for the building at 26180 Curtiss Wright Parkway, which, at capacity, can accommodate up to 387 workers. Flexjet is a luxury private jet company that offers private aviation services, including fractional jet ownership, leasing and more. According to architect Richard Hebard, the plans depict a sense of aviation, with wings spreading out from a jagged, round, three-tiered structure. I would describe this as the mother ship, said Jay Heublein, Flexjets executive director of strategy, when describing the global operations center during the online Zoom meeting. We have satellite facilities around the world. As you can imagine, running airplanes in different countries, it helps to have local logistic folks on site, but our vision for this facility is to make this kind of the master logistics and control center for the entire (Flexjet) global network, he said. Heublein said Flexjet has a portfolio of $2.5 billion and has offices throughout the United States and Europe. Its intentions to build an operations center in Richmond Heights became known in July. A rendering of a portion of the interior of the planned Flexjet building. As you can imagine, this is an exciting facility to get the opportunity to design, Hebard said. We were given the task of creating a building that gave the sense of aviation, and our client, fortunately, loves architecture, so this was an open palette to do something creative. The concept is aircraft wings spreading from the core (building). Hebard said the buildings design is centered around control center operations, but that offices, sales and support staff will also work there. The control center will allow for large screens built into the rounded walls to track flights, which, Hebard said, makes for a NASA operations appearance. Construction, in the center of the Flexjet property, will necessitate the demolition of a hangar. A connector tunnel will give access from the new building to Flexjets adjacent shipping and receiving building. Accompanying the building will be 101 new parking spaces, giving the facility a total of 445. However, Susan Hamilton, of engineering firm Stephen Hovancsek & Associates, said that the size of the building will allow for one less acre of impervious surface than is now at the Flexjet property. Speaking about that fact, City Engineer Lee Courtney said, Susan has a dream design job, whereas shes not adding (impervious pavement, a problem at many construction sites), shes taking away. New lighting is not expected to be added, as the buildings designers said that because its walls are largely made up of windows, a large amount of lighting will come from inside the structure and shine outward. Flexjets existing driveway from Curtiss Wright Parkway will remain, while another will be added and lead to the new global operations center, which will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Heublein said that, within five to six years of the new buildings opening, an additional 200 skilled jobs should be created at the site. He said the new center would have a minimal impact in terms of flights added at the airport. Richmond Heights Schools Superintendent Renee Willis has spoken of plans to open trade programs to high school students, in conjunction with airport companies, that would lead to employment in the flight industry. Heublein said Flexjet is mapping out a program in which students from Richmond Heights and other local schools can begin learning the trade of aircraft maintenance while earning $30,000 per year. If students complete the entire program through their college-age years, they would be in the position to earn an annual starting salary of $70,000. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation means that the plans will next go for approval to City Councils Planning & Zoning Committee, on Sept. 1, and then to the full council for final approval. Read more from the Sun Messenger. Iran on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has "never been so isolated". President Hassan Rouhani said the US had failed to kill off what he called the "half alive" 2015 deal with major powers that gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. "The United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation," said Rouhani. "This day will go down in the history of our Iran and in the history of fighting global arrogance." Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favour of the US resolution seeking to extend the embargo, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord in 2018. Washington's European allies all abstained, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for winning the support of just one other country, the Dominican Republic. "In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted. "Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them." People on the streets of Tehran had mixed reactions. "This is an American political game. One day they give a resolution to the Security Council, the next they say they have taken" Iranian fuel, said a worker at the city's Grand Bazaar who gave his name only as Ahmadi. A drugstore employee named Abdoli told AFP she was happy Iran won, but added that it "should interact with the United States and establish relations". The result increases the likelihood the US will try to unilaterally force a return of UN sanctions, which experts say threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defence of international peace and security is inexcusable," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Israel's UN ambassador called the UN vote a "disgrace". "This decision will further destabilise the Middle East, and increase the spread of violence around the world," said Gilad Erdan. The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Since Trump pulled out of the JCPOA and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran, Tehran has taken small but escalatory steps away from compliance with the accord as it presses for sanctions relief. European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East. However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA. The US text, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear deal. Iran says it has the right to self-defence and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the agreement. Pompeo said members had failed to back the proposal about 30 minutes before Indonesia, the current president of the Security Council, announced the official results included two votes against and 11 abstentions. Russia and China opposed the resolution. "The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail," China's UN mission tweeted. Ambassador Gunter Sautter of Germany, which abstained, said "more consultations are needed" to find a solution acceptable to all Council members. During a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders "discussed the urgent need for UN action to extend the arms embargo on Iran". Hours earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin appealed to China, France, Russia, Britain, the US, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf. Washington has threatened to try to force a return of UN sanctions if it is not extended by using a controversial technique called "snapback". Pompeo has offered the contested argument that the US remains a "participant" in the JCPOA as it was listed in the 2015 resolution -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms. European allies have been sceptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and warn the attempt may delegitimise the Security Council. Nevertheless, the US is expected to deliver the snapback letter next week, AFP understands. Analysts suspect Washington purposely put forward a hardline draft that it knew Council members would not be able to accept. PHOENIX In the early 1930s, Robert Carr, a member of the Creek Nation, was expelled for incorrigible behavior from Chilocco Indian Agricultural School near the Kansas-Oklahoma border. By the time he was 21, Carr had been incarcerated in three different institutions. He died in a Kansas state prison where he was held for stealing $30 worth of food, said his niece, K. Tsianina Lomawaima, a professor and Indigenous studies scholar at Arizona State University. It was the height of the Great Depression and, according to Lomawaima, Carr said he committed the crime because he couldnt get a job and was hungry. The school-to-prison pipeline a trend of school discipline pushing children into prison is recognized to have started developing at the end of the 20th century, experts say. But Carrs story is an example of this phenomenon from decades earlier, when the U.S. government sanctioned, and sometimes operated and financed, hundreds of boarding schools for Native American children that relied on military and carceral practices to forcibly assimilate them into Western culture. Modern juvenile incarceration disproportionately affects Native American youth, and experts on U.S. Indian policy trace the disparity back to the U.S.s Native American assimilation policies of the 19th and 20th centuries which included boarding schools. Not only were boarding schools often little better than prisons, they intentionally broke up Native American families and triggered trauma that has compounded over generations, leading to many of the disparities Native Americans face today, according to a report by the National Congress of American Indians. However, Lomawaima said the history of boarding schools is nuanced. Native American boarding school students report vastly different experiences, many of which are displayed in Phoenixs Heard Museum exhibit Away from Home, which shows the evolution of boarding schools. Early boarding schools tried to strip youth of their culture and language, but schools changed policies over time and in their final years were more culturally tolerant. Some allowed kids to remake their school policies so they could express and share their culture. Boarding school policies were just one part of the governments efforts to undermine Native Americans sovereignty and rights, Lomawaima said. These institutions were built on centuries of federal policies aimed at land acquisition through erasing Native culture. Its not that what happened in boarding schools was directly responsible for every bad thing that happened in Indian Country, Lomawaima said. But its linked to every bad thing that happened in Indian country. Lomawaima first learned about boarding school history from her father, Curtis Carr, Roberts brother. Curtis and Robert entered Chilocco in 1927, when Curtis was 9 years old. He persevered longer than Robert, but ran away at about age 14 because he wanted to see his mom and he just couldnt hack it anymore, Lomawaima said. Lomawaimas father rode the rails to California and weathered the Great Depression in a hobo camp, fought in World War II and eventually became a flight engineer and in-flight photographer for Boeing. Lomawaima said the stories he told of his boarding school days were mainly lighthearted tales of boyhood pranks on teachers and his school gang teaching him to fish. Under the surface, she knew there was more. Even in the funny stories, you could see the reality of institutional life, she said. For nearly a century, the federal government funded boarding schools both on and off reservations. They were started as an extension of government policies aimed at assimilating tribes into Western culture, converting them to Christianity and weakening their cultural and family ties. The real goal of these accumulated policies, said Addie Rolnick, professor of law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was to get rid of (Native Americans) as a barrier to settlement, enabling U.S. settlers to expand west and take advantage of the continents rich land and resources. Over the years, boarding schools took many forms and Native American students experiences varied greatly, but in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, schools were brutal by many accounts. Sandy White Hawk, president of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, said boarding school survivors have given consistent accounts of abuse, forced labor, inhumane conditions and attempts to erase Native American culture by cutting students hair, dressing them in uniforms and punishing them for speaking their tribal languages. White Hawk said she attended a healing ceremony for boarding school survivors where, I dont know if there was one man who did not share that he had been raped and women as well. The education was rudimentary and largely focused on training Native students for menial labor, said former Colorado U.S. Attorney Troy Eid, who was also chairman of the Indian Law and Order Commission. Many students were forcibly removed from their homes to attend boarding schools against their parents wishes. In 1894, the U.S. imprisoned a group of Hopi men in Alcatraz for resisting their childrens removal. A 1928 government-commissioned survey, now known as the Meriam Report, gave a scathing summary of school conditions, and by the 1930s, the U.S. adjusted its boarding school policies. But, Lomawaima said, Theres policy and then theres practice and they dont always line up. Accounts of boarding school conditions during this time vary greatly. The Great Depression was particularly hard on Native American tribes, Lomawaima said, and some parents willingly sent their children to boarding schools. They knew that at school their children would at least receive three meals a day, something many parents couldnt provide. This was the case for the Carr brothers. Lomawaima said archival records show that in 1926, Cora Carr, their mother, requested her sons be allowed to attend Chilocco. In the era her father and uncle attended Chilocco, Lomawaima said children were allowed to go home to see their parents on breaks, a significant difference from earlier school policy. Despite some improvements, though, it was a very harsh environment built on strict military discipline and regimented schedules, she said. The school used methods like the beltline strategy to encourage students to regulate themselves. They would line the boys up in two lines, like running a gantlet. They hit him with their belts, Lomawaima said. As my dad said, if some guy had it out for you, he hit you with the buckle end. Lomawaima said her father had fond memories of the Saturdays he spent hunting and fishing in Chilocco Creek with his boarding school gang. He also credited the school for teaching him practical trade skills that he was able to develop into his later career as a flight engineer, but he said those skills didnt make up for destroying his family. More significant boarding school reforms came during the Civil Rights era, though White Hawk said there were still some reports of brutal treatment. During this later period many Native American families developed school pride after multiple generations attended a specific boarding school. Many students have shared fond memories of boarding schools and express regret that so many were closed. Patty Talahongva, a Hopi journalist for Indian Country Today who attended Phoenix Indian School in 1978-79, said, Things changed in the boarding schools over time. What did not change was the quality of education. It was always substandard. Later-era students at some schools took back the experience and made it their own. Talahongva said when she was attending Phoenix Indian School, students shared their culture through tribal clubs and powwow groups. But there were still vestiges of the militarized regimen that had characterized early boarding schools. Attendance was no longer mandated but Talahongva decided to go to Phoenix Indian School in 1978 because there wasnt a high school on the Hopi reservation. The only option on the table was to go to boarding school, and is that being forced? Talahongva said. Experts say trauma from the boarding-school era has been passed through generations of Native American families. They point to the lasting effects of historical trauma as causes of the high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, incarceration, violence and poverty Native American youth face today. But White Hawk said the trauma isnt just historical its present-day. Im 66 and we still have the generation right here who are the last to have gone to those kinds of boarding schools, White Hawk said. Its not in the past at all. But Lomawaima said that, while historical trauma is real, blaming everything on it can mask the fact that, theres bad stuff happening now. It can imply that victims are permanently broken and often lets the victimizers off the hook, undermining the strength and resilience Native people have shown by surviving centuries of colonialism. Talahongva said the boarding school system was devastating because generations of Native Americans grew up away from their families and culture. If young people returned to their tribes, she said, they didnt know their traditions or how to be parents. Were healing ourselves, Talahongva said. And every generation gets a little bit better. Experts like Lomawaima and Brenda Child, professor of American studies at the University of Minnesota, question whether too much emphasis is placed on boarding schools as the main cause of Natives Americans historic and current trauma, especially since students recollections of their boarding school experiences are so disparate. In a chapter of a book she contributed to, Child concludes that the boarding school experience does not summarize all the bad things that have ever happened to Native Americans. Rather, its a metaphor useful for summing up the many federal policies that accumulated over the allotment and assimilation era to undermine tribal sovereignty and allow European settlers to claim tribal lands. In some ways, Lomawaimas fathers experience at Chilocco actually reinforced his cultural identity. Curtis Carr hadnt been raised in a traditional Creek home; he learned about tribal culture from his gang at school and they developed their own culture of resistance that helped them be resilient in the face of abuse, Lomawaima said. Lomawaima said her father taught her and her sister to always resist and question authority. Thats certainly not to say that boarding schools are blameless because they were not, Lomawaima said. But it also is just a reminder that they werent the only thing going on, not then, not now. This story was produced in collaboration with the Walter Cronkite School-based Carnegie-Knight News21 Kids Imprisoned national reporting project scheduled for publication in August. Check out the projects blog here. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org. TikTok logos are seen on smartphones in front of a displayed ByteDance logo in this illustration taken November 27, 2019. President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday that will force China's ByteDance to sell or spin off its U.S. TikTok business within 90 days. "There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," Trump said in his order. The order was seen as good news for TikTok a wildly popular short form video-sharing app and its future in the U.S., at least relative to an earlier one from Trump last week. The prior executive order could have forced U.S. based app stores to stop distributing the TikTok app if ByteDance did not reach a deal to divest from it in 45 days. The new order buys time for ByteDance to sort out a potential deal for TikTok in the states. Under the latest order, ByteDance is expected to destroy all its copies of TikTok data attached to U.S. users, and inform the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) when it has destroyed all that data. ByteDance responded to Trump's latest order with the following statement: "As we've said previously, TikTok is loved by 100 million Americans because it is a home for entertainment, self-expression, and connection. We're committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform for many years to come." (CNN) On Thursday, President Donald Trump was asked about a false report that California Sen. Kamala Harris might not be eligible to be vice president. Rather than dismiss them out of hand, he said this: "I heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements, and by the way the lawyer who wrote the piece is highly qualified, very talented. I assumed the Democrats would've checked that out before she gets chosen for vice president." Shame on Trump. But anyone who acts surprised that the President was willing to push a lie about his political opponents into the public space has been residing on another planet over the last four-plus years. This is who Trump is and what he does. Birtherism is, literally, how he got his start in politics. The real story at this point, then, is not necessarily Trump's willingness to engage in baseless speculation about an untrue storyline. The real story is the silence that has -- and will continue -- to greet Trump's ridiculous remark from the Republican establishment and its elected leaders. Because it's that silence, and the tacit acceptance that "Trump is Trump," that will define the GOP long after Trump leaves office -- whether involuntarily in 2021 or four years later. The willingness to simply swallow known falsehoods or dismiss them with a "I didn't see the President's remarks" or "I'm sorry, I have to get to a meeting" is what will, ultimately, do the lasting damage for a Republicans. The breaking of principles -- like, you know, truth -- is how party and movements die, or at least badly injure themselves. If a political party abandons what it believes in order to follow a single person who openly mocks what the party once stood for, then what is holding the party together? It's a cult of personality, not a gathering of like-minded people all working toward a common set of goals. And time and again during the Trump candidacy and presidency, we've seen the GOP walk away from long-held principles. Its devotion to balanced budgets and reducing the debt load on future generations? Gone. Its commitment to block attempts by a president to run the country by executive orders and end-runs around Congress? Gone. Its fealty to family values, as it relates to marriage and extramarital affairs? Gone. Its support for international trade agreements? Gone. Again and again and again, Republican elected officials have walked away from supposedly deeply held beliefs in order to bend themselves to the point of breaking to align with Trump. (Who, not for nothing, has been all over the ideological map in his life.) Why? Because they are afraid of what Trump might do to them politically if they don't get in line. The ruins of former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's political career -- he wrote a book suggesting the GOP had abandoned its principles to support Trump -- are on the minds of every Republican politician who considers breaking with the President on, well, anything. No one wants to be the next Flake or the next Rep. Justin Amash, driven from the party for having the temerity to suggest the commander in chief made a mistake or broke with principle. This lying down -- call it acquiescence -- has consequences. Primarily that the Trump wing of the Republican Party gets more and more emboldened, and more and more powerful, while the "establishment" wing of the party withers. Every time Trump lies or slanders or engages in race-baiting and the elected leadership of the Republican Party refuses to condemn him and the thinking that informs him, they allow that viewpoint to expand within their party. Here's one real-world example. On Tuesday, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) won a House runoff in Georgia's 14th district, a victory that virtually ensures she will be the next member of Congress from the strongly conservative area. Greene has, among other things, expressed support for QAnon, an conspiracy theory that the FBI has warned could be a domestic terror threat, as well as made anti-Semitic and xenophobic comments. When Greene's comments initially came out in June, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, through a spokesman, called them "appalling" and said he had "no tolerance for them." But, McCarthy stayed neutral in the runoff -- unwilling to publicly oppose Greene. In the wake of her victory, Trump tweeted out praise of her as "strong on everything and never gives up - a real WINNER!" And McCarthy said he "look[s] forward" to her winning in November and said he would seat her on congressional committees if she does. In so doing, McCarthy is allowing the normalization of a dangerous conspiracy theorist who, among other things, has shown support for the idea that there is a secret group of Democratic operatives running a pedophilia ring in Washington. (This widely debunked conspiracy theory is known colloquially as "Pizzagate.") "I'm very excited about that now there's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it," Greene said in 2017. And there are signs everywhere that Greene is just the leading edge of those who will attempt to bring their wild views into the mainstream using the Republican Party of Donald Trump as their vehicle. Oregon Republicans nominated a Senate candidate who has spoken glowingly of Q. Lauren Boebert, who beat Colorado Rep. Scott Tipton in a Republican primary last month in a district Trump won handily in 2016, said this during that campaign: "Everything that I've heard of Q, I hope that this is real, because it only means America is getting stronger and better." This is the natural next step from the hostile takeover of the Republican Party that Trump conducted during the 2016 election -- and that the GOP establishment has enabled ever since. If QAnon supporters can rightly lay claim to being a part of the Republican Party, then what does it actually mean to be a Republican anymore? Especially when the party's leader regularly breaks with long-held principles that stood as pillars for the entire GOP tent, and regularly engages in the racist, xenophobic attacks designed solely to improve his own political position? The reality Republicans face is this: A party without any principles isn't a party at all. This is story was published on CNN.com Why Trump's birtherism attack on Harris is killing the Republican Party Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:59:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Tafara Mugwara HARARE, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- With flights across the world grounded and non-essential businesses shut amid COVID-19, Zimbabwe's art industry which is highly dependent on tourists spending has been devastated. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped all tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe since the end of March when the southern African country imposed a ban on nearly all incoming passenger flights. In the capital Harare, the once bustling Newlands Arts and Craft Market sits nearly empty as the pandemic keep tourists who used to frequent the market confined to their home countries. Now sculptures and other artworks on display are gathering dust as most of those who had placed orders before the pandemic have not been able to come forward to take delivery for their pieces due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown. With virus cases spiking locally and abroad, artists and traders at the market have been left with little hope of finding customers. Gift Rusere, a 35-year-old sculptor who has been in the industry for 20 years, said the arts and craft sector has been severely rocked by the COVID-19 shutdown. "This has greatly affected my work considering the fact that I am an exporter. I ship some of my work to countries such as Australia, America, Germany and also England," he told Xinhua. Rusere and other artists at the Newlands market have now found themselves without commercial outlets for their work, as many galleries, art fairs and festivals locally and abroad have shut down. "For the better part of this year I haven't exported anything to those countries. Business is shut down there because the galleries are not open, so there isn't any business because there are no tourists that have been coming into the country. "During the normal times we normally have some festivals and art fairs, but all of those have been cancelled for the better part of this year, so there is nothing that is going to be taking place this year because of this pandemic and we are actually struggling to make ends meet," said Rusere. "We used to get many Chinese that came in large numbers for different purposes, and they would visit us here, they would buy from us," he said. Another artist, Adam Moore, said the pandemic has been a disaster for the arts industry. "You can see from the movement of people, there is no business to talk about," he said. Foreign consumers also account for the bulk of Moore's clientele but travel restrictions around the world are curtailing the normal flow of tourists who usually buy his pieces. An economic fallout from the virus has also seen wealth locals who are potential substitutes to foreign tourists keeping a tight grip on their purses and wallets. "With this lockdown, people cannot move, there is no money in circulation," he added. Moore said lost revenue is still piling up due to cancellations of art exhibitions. Dorothy Mhondamapango, who has been in the arts and craft industry for the past 27 years, said the pandemic has taken a huge financial toll on her business. "We are just coming to work because that's what we used to do, but business has tanked because no foreigners are coming to buy," she said. Mhondamapango has also seen knock-on effects from the broader economic downturn. "Locals buy here and there, we are all struggling to survive, many people are not going to work, so we don't expect much support from local consumers," she said. Zimbabwe's crippling economic challenges means very few local people can afford to spend money on luxury consumer goods such as artworks. Jane Manhamo who sells stone sculptures, wooden crafts and African print clothing said it had been difficult after normal operations stopped. Manhamo said the coronavirus restrictions have seen a dramatic decline in business. Zimbabwe has a rich history of stone sculpture. Works by some of the country's renowned artists has been exhibited around the world and great acclaim has accrued to contemporary artists. The country's famous stone sculpture industry attracts a fair share of foreign visitors every year, contributing immensely to the tourism sector. About 1.2 million tourists visited Zimbabwe in 2019, drawn by its unparalleled wildlife and rich historical and natural sites. The country received a total of 1.25 billion U.S. dollars in tourism receipts in the same year, with foreign receipts contributing 868 million U.S. dollars. Zimbabwe's Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu recently said the country's tourism sector could lose up to 1.1 billion U.S. dollars due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Enditem New Delhi, Aug 15 : The contraction in India's exports narrowed further in July, on a sequential basis, as the country shipped out merchandise worth $23.64 billion. The contraction, caused by Covid-19 pandemic, narrowed down to (-) 10.12 per cent in July from (-) 12.41 per cent in June. In terms of sequential movement, the country's merchandise exports in June stood at $21.91 billion. On a YoY basis, the country's exports fell during the month under review to $ 23.64 billion from $26.33 billion reported for the corresponding period of the previous year. "Non-petroleum and Non-Gems and Jewellery exports in July 2020 were $20.37 billion, as compared to $19.70 billion in July 2019, registering a positive growth of 3.40 per cent," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement. "Non-petroleum and Non-Gems and Jewellery exports in April-July 2020-21 were $64.29 billion, as compared to $79.81 billion for the corresponding period in 2019-20, which is a decrease of (-) 19.45 per cent." Similarly, decline in India's imports narrowed down in July. It declined by (-) 28.40 per cent to $28.47 billion in July from $39.76 billion reported for the corresponding month of 2019. In June imports declined by (-) 47.59 per cent to $21.11 billion in May from $40.29 billion reported for the corresponding month of 2019. "Oil imports in July 2020 were $6.53 billion (Rs 48,975.09 crore), which was 31.97 per cent lower in Dollar terms (25.86 per cent lower in Rupee terms), compared to $9.60 billion (Rs 66,056.77 crore) in July 2019," the statement said. "Non-oil imports in July 2020 were estimated at $21.94 billion (Rs 1,64,524. 47 crore) which was 27.26 per cent lower in Dollar terms (20.72 per cent lower in Rupee terms), compared to $30.16 billion (Rs 2,07,522.94 crore) in July 2019." Besides, the non-oil and non-gold imports were $20.15 billion in July 2020, recording a negative growth of (-)29.15 per cent, as compared to $28.45 billion in July 2019. Consequently, India's trade deficit narrowed to $4.83 billion on a year-on-year basis in July from $13.43 billion reported for the corresponding month of last year. "The rare trade surplus seen in June 2020 predictability vanished with some recovery in merchandise imports in July 2020, which stamped out the further improvement in merchandise exports," said Aditi Nayar, Principal Economist, ICRA. "This trend is likely to strengthen in the coming months, as demand for non-oil non-gold imports starts to normalise, gold imports gather steam around the festive or marriage months, and crude oil demand and prices stabil ise at a moderate level." According to EEPC India Chairman Mahesh Desai: "It is a matter of relief that the sharp slide in India's exports has been arrested in July, 2020 even as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to create health and economic disruptions in the world." "Engineering exports are amongst a handful of sectors which managed to post a positive trend of 8.6 per cent growth as global demand for essential metals and other related items has started bouncing back." President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 13, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Manhattan DA Argues Trump Cant Assume Scope of Probe Involving His Tax Returns Is Limited The Manhattan district attorney told a federal court judge that President Donald Trump cant assume that the scope of the grand jury investigation involving his tax returns is limited to hush money payments made in 2016, while adding that the president also isnt entitled to ask for information about the probe. In a pair of court filings (pdf) on Aug. 14, New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.s legal team pushed back on Trumps bid to persuade the court that the subpoena seeking his eight years of tax returns is overbroad and hence issued in bad faith, by claiming that the scope of the grand jury probe is limited to certain payments made by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to two women in 2016. Vances team argued that the assertion was too thin a reed to stave off dismissal. The Manhattan DA seeks to dismiss Trumps second attempt to prevent the prosecutor from obtaining access to the tax returns from his accountant, Mazars USA. The district attorney issued a subpoena for those documents as part of a criminal grand jury probe. It was widely believed that Vance was investigating hush money paid to two women during the 2016 presidential campaign: adult film performer Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. But recent court filings suggest that the scope of the Manhattan DAs probe might be broader than what was previously known. Last week, Trumps legal team challenged Vances suggestion that it is pursuing an investigation into possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization. They argued that the prosecutors team is still fishing for a way to justify his harassment of the President when he cited several newspaper articles to justify his subpoena for the presidents tax returns. Trumps lawyer also wrote a letter to the presiding judge requesting a pre-motion conference to discuss whether Vance should be compelled to reveal details about his grand jury probe in order to show that each item in his subpoena is relevant to the probe. Vances office responded to the letter through its own letter (pdf), arguing that Trump was not entitled to discovery in a separate, civil lawsuit. This, of course, is not how a grand jury functions, the offices general counsel Carey R. Dunne wrote in the letter. In its attempt to convince the judge to dismiss Trumps challenge, the DAs office argued in its Aug. 14 filings that Trumps team didnt offer any persuasive argument for its assumption that the scope of the grand jury probe is limited. The office continued to suggest that the investigations scope might actually be broader than the 2016 payments, without providing details about the actual scope. Indeed, many investigations develop and expand over time, Vances team wrote. The [Second Amended Complaint] also asserts that [a]ccording to published reports, the focus of the District Attorneys investigation is payments made by Michael Cohen in 2016 to certain individuals.' Whatever the newspapers reportedand regardless of whether those reports were accuratethey say nothing about the full scope of the investigation, just its purported focus, they added. In short, the only non-speculative fact that Plaintiff has pleaded with respect to the scope of the grand jurys investigation is the Offices own explanation, appropriately generic, that it is looking at business transactions involving multiple individuals whose conduct may have violated state law.' Trump has been fighting Vances subpoena since September 2019. The case went to the Supreme Court after lower courts denied Trumps request for relief from the subpoena. Trumps lawyer argued before the Supreme Court that a sitting president has absolute immunity from state criminal subpoenas because compliance with them would impair the performance of his presidential duties. The federal government, which was also involved in the case, argued that a state grand jury subpoena for personal records of a sitting president should meet a higher standard of need. The Supreme Court in July rejected (pdf) both arguments and stated that no citizen, not even the President, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding. However, the top court left the door open for the president to seek recourse, suggesting that Trump could still challenge the subpoena on other grounds. NEW YORK Gerrit Cole gave the Yankees the perfect antidote after news that would surely leave them sick for a while. Hours after they put star Aaron Judge on the injured list, they watched Cole punch holes through the Red Sox lineup in an easy 10-3 win at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. It was Coles best start since signing a $324-million deal with the Yankees in the offseason. He lasted a season-best seven innings, striking out eight. He walked none and gave up just one run on a Alex Verdugos shot to right field in the fourth. Cole improved to 4-0 in five starts, his ERA dropping to 2.76. He retired the final seven hitters he faced, pushing his fastball to 98.6 mph. He threw 95 pitches. The Yankees won their third straight game and improved to 12-6 atop the American League East. Boston, in the division cellar, fell to 6-14. The Yankees have won seven straight games vs. Boston and 12 of their last 13 between the clubs since July 28, 2019. They have also won 11 of their last 12 vs. the Red Sox in the Bronx since the start of 2019. Theyre also 7-0 at home this season. Since 1959, they have started 7-0 at home just twice in 2017 and in 1998. Of course, the back end of the Yankees bullpen made it interesting late. In the eighth inning, Jonathan Holder entered for Cole and loaded the bases with no outs on walks to the Nos. 7 and 8 hitters and a single. Then Verdugo grounded in a run against Holder before Rafael Devers ended his night with an RBI single to make it 8-3 Yankees. That forced manager Aaron Boone to once again need to go to one of his top relievers, Adam Ottavino, in what should have been a blowout. Ottavino got back-to-back strikeouts to end it. Ben Heller worked a scoreless ninth. The bats did what they were supposed to do agains Bostons awful pitching staff, too. Gleyber Torres had four hits to boost his average from .161 to .217. Even the struggling Gary Sanchez got into the act, rocking a two-run shot in the fifth inning to give the Yankees a 5-1 lead. It came off reliever Ryan Brasier, who had bad blood dating back to 2018 with Sanchez after he yelled at him mid-at-bat. Sanchez put an exclamation point on the moment with a dramatic bat flip. Mike Tauchman went off, too. He went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Tauchmans bases-loaded single in the eighth brought in two runs for a 10-3 Yankees cushion. The Yankees also got production from Judges replacement. Clint Frazier smoked a two-run double down the third-base line in their three-run seventh inning. Frazier will get a lot of time in right field with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain). The Yankees jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Torres doubled in a pair of runs. They could have blown it wide open in the first inning, but Tauchman struck out with the bases loaded to end it. Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Compton Requiring Face Coverings in Public The city of Compton will require people to wear face coverings in public to guard against further spread of the coronavirus, officials said today. The order applies to anyone within city limits failing to wear a face mask and business owners failing to comply with Los Angeles County shutdown orders and restrictions in accordance with the citys local COVID-19 emergency order. ADVERTISEMENT After a written warning for the first violation, the city will impose fines of $500 for a second violation, $750 for a third violation, and $1,000 for a fourth violation. As the COVID-19 cases in Compton continue to grow exponentially, we are issuing this order to ensure residents and visitors comply with coronavirus restrictions that can help save lives and reduce the spread, City Manager Craig Cornwell said. We urge everyone to wear a mask when stepping outside their home, not just to protect themselves, but to help keep others around them safe from this virus that continues to hurt families and our local economy. We also ask businesses to continue practicing safe measures to protect their staff and customers. The city will partner with Compton Station deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department for enforcement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech from the Red Fort during the 74th Independence Day was a long recalling of the government's achievements and plans. The Prime Minister spoke at length about India's fight against coronavirus, how it united the country, the clash with China and Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative. He also elaborated on the plans for the future, including the National Digital Health Mission, the New Education Policy, reconsidering the minimum age for marriage for girls and the coronavirus vaccines in the works. Here's the highlights of PM Modi's jam-packed speech on Independence Day: Coronavirus: No speech this year can be complete without the mention of the single-biggest event of the millennium. PM Modi started his speech with coronavirus and spoke about how it brought Indians together. "We are going through distinct times. I can't see young children in front of me today, the coronavirus pandemic has stopped everyone. In these times of COVID-19, corona warriors have lived the mantra of 'Seva Parmo Dharma' and served the people of India. I express my gratitude to them," he said, adding, "India's unity has been a lesson to the world in times of the COVID-19 pandemic." Also read: PM Modi's I-Day speech vocal for local, heavy on 'Atma Nirbhar' India Atma Nirbhar Bharat: PM Modi said that the coronavirus pushed Indians to realise the importance of a self-reliant nation. He said that Indians united to match the requirements when the world could not help the nation. "There are many challenges to becoming self-reliant but our youth helped find solutions to the coronavirus crisis. We made PPE kits locally when the world couldn't help us," he said. The PM said that a self-reliant India has become the mantra of 130 crore Indians. "Today India is not only meeting its own requirements but is also helping other countries. India should be 'vocal for local'," he stated. He asked how long would India continue to provide raw materials to the world and import finished goods. "There was a time when finished goods produced in India were appreciated the world over. We have to achieve that again," he said. The PM not only pitched for Make in India but also for Make for World. Infrastructure: The PM said that India's overall infrastructure needs a new direction. "There is a need to give a new direction to the overall infrastructure development of the country to move India towards modernity at a fast pace. This need will be met from the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project," he said. He said that the government is planning to spend more than Rs 100 lakh crore on this. Seven thousand different projects have been identified. "A very big plan has been prepared to connect the entire country with Multi-Modal Connectivity Infrastructure," he added. Also read: PM Modi warns China from Red Fort, raises Ladakh clashes in I-Day speech Welfare schemes: "7 crore poor families were given free gas cylinders, more than 80 crore people were provided free food, about Rs. 90,000 crore were directly transferred to the bank accounts. Until a few years ago, all this could not be imagined to be done without any leakage, money would reach the poor directly," said PM Modi. He said that under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan employment opportunities are being provided to these people in their villages. National Education Policy: PM Modi said that the only way forward is through education. "Education is of utmost importance in building a self-reliant, modern and new India. It is important in building a prosperous India. With this thinking, the country received the new National Education Policy," said PM Modi. Optical fiber: The Prime Minister said that the importance of Digital India was realised amid the coronavirus pandemic. He announced that in the coming 1,000 days, every village in the country will be connected with optical fiber. "Before 2014, only 5 dozen panchayats in the country were connected with optical fiber. In the last five years, 1.5 lakh gram panchayats in the country have been connected with optical fiber," he said. Also read: 6 lakh villages to be connected with optical fibre in next 1,000 days, says PM Modi National Digital Health Mission: PM Modi announced the National Digital Health Mission. As per the mission, every Indian will have a health ID. He said that this will revolutionise the Indian health sector. The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) will ensure seamless healthcare services through the health card, he said. Coronavirus vaccine: PM Modi said that there are three COVID-19 vaccines in the works now. "Indian researchers are working on 3 corona vaccines. We will ensure the vaccine reaches every Indian," he said. India-China clash: The PM said that the Indian armed forces foiled every challenge that dared the country. "The world has seen what India is capable of in Ladakh. 184 nations have backed India at UNSC," he said, adding that 1 lakh NCC cadets would be trained in border areas. Ram Temple in Ayodhya: "Recently we laid the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. I laud the patience and resolve Indians showed. I congratulate all for maintaining peace and brotherhood," said PM Modi. Also read: PM Modi launches National Digital Health Mission; every Indian to get health ID Cofepris warns public of toxic hand sanitizer being sold in Cancun markets Cancun, Q.R. A federal sanitary agency has confiscated approximately 300 liters of adulterated hand gel from a market in Cancun, warning residents not to buy these products from street vendors. Miguel Alejandro Pino Murillo, director de Proteccion contra Riesgos Sanitarios del Estado de Quintana Roo (Cofepris), says the agency has seized around 300 liters of adulterated sanitizer after it was found made with methanol. He says that the adulterated disinfectant has been withdrawn from vendors in a market in Cancun where they detected, among other irregularities, that the products lacked health certificates and an ingredient list. He explained that they were able to verify that product contained methanol rather than ethanol. The health certificate for such types of disinfectant must be issued by the FDA. Cofepris has confiscated more or less 300 liters being sold as an antibacterial gel, mainly in Cancun, said Miguel Alejandro Pino Murillo. He warns people about buying unlabeled products from unknown origins such as social media and along public roadways. In June, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about several brands of antibacterial gel, most of which were made in Mexico. The FDA listed the brands they found to be harmful saying they advise consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 16:54:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday rejected a resolution that would extend the current arms embargo against Iran. The draft resolution, tabled by the United States, failed to get the required nine votes in favor for adoption. Besides the United States, only the Dominican Republic voted in favor of the draft. China and Russia voted against the text, and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including the European allies of the United States, abstained. "It's disappointing, but not surprising," U.S. President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in an interview with Fox News on Friday. "We have other tools in our toolkit," he said. "We're going to take some severe measures up at the UN, and I think you can expect snapback sanctions to come into play." "Snapback" refers to restoring all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran. U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Kelly Craft also said in a Friday statement that "the United States has every right to initiate snapback of provisions of previous Security Council resolutions." "In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise, and we will stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo," she added. Under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, the arms embargo against Iran expires on Oct. 18, 2020. The U.S. draft sought to extend the embargo indefinitely until the Security Council decides otherwise. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the voting result on Friday once again shows that unilateralism receives no support, and bullying will fail. Any attempt to place one's own interest above the common interests of the international community is a dead end. China urges the United States to abandon unilateralism, and stop unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, he said, and the United States should adopt a reasonable and realistic attitude, and return to the right track of observing the Iran nuclear deal and Security Council Resolution 2231. The United States, which unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, has repeatedly claimed it will invoke the "snapback" mechanism within the Security Council should its draft resolution fail to pass, Zhang said. Having withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, the United States is no longer a participant in the deal and therefore ineligible to demand the Security Council invoke a snapback, he said. The overwhelming majority of the Security Council members believe that the U.S. attempt has no legal basis. Should the United States have its way in disregard of international opinion, its attempt is doomed to fail again, he said. The foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany also noted in June that they would not support any unilateral attempt to trigger a UN sanctions snapback. Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Enditem EDWARDSVILLE A judge Friday sentenced a murder defendant to 45 years in prison after noting the defendant seemed to care more for cats than human beings. If only we cared for humans as much as we care for our pets, perhaps there wouldnt be so much violence in this world, Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli said in sentencing Robert T. Beckman, 59, of Collinville. Tognarelli was referring to a video recorded call Beckman made to his mother shortly after the June 15, 2018, murder of Beckmans neighbor, Daniel R. Lee, 40, of Collinsville, in which Beckman told her how to see that his cats were cared for. Beckman pleaded guilty in December 2019 to shooting Lee with a 12-gauge shotgun in front of Lees father and other witnesses. The sentence was the maximum after prosecutors agreed to a cap of 45 years in exchange for Beckmans guilty plea. Beckman moved to withdraw his plea, but that motion was denied Wednesday. When Tognarelli pronounced sentence, members of Lees family broke into tears and applause. During the sentencing hearing, the judge saw a video recording of Beckmans call to his mother telling her to bring clothing, how to dispose of his property and how to care for the cats. The call was recorded and heard by officers with Beckmans knowledge. There are no words to describe what I did. Ill never be back again, he told his mother. I just snapped. I know I did something evil, he is heard saying. I wanted to teach that sucker a lesson. He intimated that the shooting was a result of some long-standing minor disputes between the two. I just didnt care anymore, he said. adding that, after the shooting, he drove his van into a bridge abutment. I tried to kill myself, but I couldnt even do that right, he said in the phone call. The airbag deployed, saving his life. I guess God wanted to keep me alive to punish me, he said. Gary Lee, who watched as his son lay dying, said his son left a daughter who was a teenager at the time of the murder. He said he heard Beckman say, I told you Id get you, after the shots were fired. Gary Lee said his son was a great person. He had difficulty speaking through deep sobs as he told of the good times they use to have. Collinsville Detective Doug Talbot said that, after the shooting, two people dialed 911 and reported shots fired. When police arrived, the victim was at a St. Louis hospital, fighting for his life. He died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Talbot said that, as Beckman was being taken into custody, he admitted to having a bad temper when he was drinking. Talbot said Beckman fled the scene in a van, but the van was later found crashed on Interstate 255 near Cahokia. Assistant Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland argued Becknans guilty plea show remorse on his part. She sad the fact that he tried to withdraw his guilty plea was the result of aggressive persuasion by jailhouse lawyers in the Madison County Jail. She said her client apparently suffers from untreated bipolar disorder and alcoholism. Copeland said the fact that Beckman never held a job for more than two years is evidence of his disease. She asked for the minimum 20-year sentence, which would be tantamount to a life sentence. Beckman apologized for what he did. Tognarelli said he was not convinced that Beckman deserved anything but the maximum. What you did was atrocious and awful, he told Beckman. First Assistant Madison County States Attorney Crystal Uhe asked for the maximum. There are no words to describe how senseless this is, Uhe said, stating that Beckman admitting he was pissed is evidence that his was a cold-blooded act. After the sentence, Gary Lee said, Im just glad its all over. I am pleased with the sentence, he said. Im pleased that the family got justice. Fifth and sixth generation butchers, Jack and Tim McCarthy, display the award the shop won for its breakfast meats from recognised food writer Georgina Campbell. Picture: Sheila Fitzgerald They've won umpteen awards for their sausages, rashers and pudding and had their fare served to the Queen of England - and now Kanturk's artisan butchers have added another accolade to their breakfast roll of honour. Renowned critic Georgina Campbell has recognised McCarthy's Butchers in Kanturk in her annual awards by presenting the artisan victualler with her Breakfast Meats award. "It's a great one to win," said Tim McCarthy, the sixth generation of the McCarthy family in the butchery trade. While the award was presented in February, they 'made no commotion' about it until the past week due to the COVID-19 restrictions. "We're very lucky to have been able to continue trading as we've seen our neighbour suffering badly. "A lot of pubs we'd have been supplying meats to for barbecues and the like during the summer are closed and the food service restaurant business has also suffered." The Duhallow shop emerged as winners in a tough field after participating in a tasting session at Dublin's Intercontinental Hotel. Alongside Georgina Campbell herself, prominent TV chef Rachel Allen was also an adjudicator. In the citation, the McCarthy family butchers were described as an 'institution defnitely worth a detour' by Georgina. "Jack McCarthy and his son Tim come from a long line of butchers that have been perfecting their techniques and developing new and value-added meat products since1892. "Colourful recent highlights in the McCarthys' careers include a visit from 23 members of the French Brotherhood of the Knights of the Black Pudding, no less, who presented Jack with a Gold Medal for his fresh blood pudding - and they created a bespoke pudding to serve at the state banquet celebrating Queen Elizabeth's visit to Ireland in 2011 too. "Today, in their recently redesigned shop, they stock an exceptional range of fantastic meats including local free range pork, Aberdeen Angus beef, local Duhallow milk lamb and free range chicken, and you'll also find highly regarded speciality products here including spiced beef, air-dried beef - and their sought-after Ardrahan cheese & smoky bacon sausage." According to Tim, the past number of months since they won the award have been very challenging. "It's been a quare time," he said. "It's great to get an acknowledgement like this from peers and critics," he said. Their regular customers and visitors who've tasted their fare will know well the reason for the award and, of course, the increased profile it brings may lead to more people making a detour to Kanturk for the town's meaty attraction. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged greetings Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation, according to Pyongyang's state media. In their messages, the two men expressed their desire to further deepen bilateral ties based on an agreement for cooperation reached during their first summit in Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok in April last year, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The KCNA said Kim conveyed in his message that cooperative relations between the two countries "would steadily grow strong at a higher level" based on the summit agreement. Kim also wished Putin "bigger success in his responsible work" of building a powerful Russia, and for the prosperity of its people. The KCNA quoted Putin as saying that the North Korea-Russia agreement "contributes to further developing the reciprocal cooperation and promoting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Northeast Asia region." Kim traveled to the Russian border town of Vladivostok in 2019 for his first-ever summit with Putin, at which they agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in various areas. (Yonhap) Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, will work with India in the Indo-Pacific to ensure no country, including China, is able to threaten its neighbours with impunity and will have no tolerance for cross-border terrorism in South Asia, if elected president, his campaign said in an expansive agenda released Friday for bilateral relations with India and the welfare of Indian Americans. A Biden administration also will place a high priority on bolstering ties with India, continue to strengthen Indias defence capabilities and bring the United States back into the Paris climate to work with India again to combat climate change, according to the agenda. On immigration, which has been a major part of India-US relations, Biden will preserve family unification as a core principle of our immigration system, increase the number of visas offered for permanent, work-based immigration Green Cards, overturning the Trump administrations switch to a merit-based system. His administration will also exempt from any cap recent graduates of PhD programs in STEM fields, eliminate country limit on Green Cards, which has created a 100-year-long backlog for Indias. He will support reforming the temporary visa system for high-skill H-1Bs to protect wages and workers and then their numbers. The agenda was a first expansive plan released by any presidential campaign yet for aims and goals for relations with India and Indian Americas. And, thus, marked the importance being accorded to India. It was released just hours before a major outreach by senior members of the Biden campaign to the community. On bilateral relations with India, the former vice-president will bring to the offie years of supporting India. As a senator, the agenda said, Biden had in 2006, said,My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States In 2008, he led other Democrats to back the India -US civil nuclear deal. The Obama-Biden administration declared support for Indias claim to permanent membership of the UN Security Council and Declared India a major defence partner. As president, the agenda said, Biden believes there can be no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia cross-border or otherwise. The reference here was unmistakably to cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which had also been a sore point with the Obama administration. On China, the Biden administration will ensure continuity. A Biden Administration will also work with India to support a rules-based and stable Indo-Pacific region in which no country, including China, is able to threaten its neighbours with impunity. There was no explicit mention of the border clashes but, once against, the sub-text was clear, aligning with growing bipartisan support for India in these clashes. Biden will deliver on his long-standing belief that India and the United States are natural partners, and a Biden Administration will place a high priority on continuing to strengthen the US-India relationship, the agenda said, adding, No common global challenge can be solved without India and the United States working as responsible partners. It added: Together, we will continue strengthening Indias defense and capabilities as a counter-terrorism partner, improving health systems and pandemic response, and deepening cooperation in areas such as higher education, space exploration, and humanitarian relief. For the estimated 4 million Indian Americans, the Biden vowed adequate representation in the his administration if elected and pointed, as evidence, picking Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Our government will reflect the diversity of the United States, and Indian American voices will be included in shaping the policies that impact their communities, said the agenda. The Biden administration will address the rising incidents of hate crimes against Indian Americans of all backgrounds -- Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, and others -- (who) have been subjected to bullying and xenophobic attacks. He will see a legislation to increase the punishment for certain hate crimes that occur in houses of worship and other religious community sites, such as gurdwaras, mandirs, temples, and mosques. We cannot leave our faith-based organizations to rely on donations and internal fundraising efforts to guard against deadly attacks. Biden will work with Congress to attain an immediate and substantial increase in direct security grant funding to faith-based organizations, said the agenda. The Biden administration will also work with congress to reform the immigration system and find a way to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, including 500,000 from India. 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 It is basically over 6-12 months In another year or years It was never a real pandemic Vote View Results The Israel-UAE agreement gives the United States a rare diplomatic success in the Middle East -- but it is Iran which President Donald Trump has in his sights, with a strategy that has already hit roadblocks at the United Nations. The White House has lavished praise on a foreign policy coup which was sorely needed by a president seeking re-election in November who has little to show on the diplomatic front. "This is a dramatic breakthrough that will make the Middle East safer," chief US negotiator Jared Kushner told CBS. "It means less American troops will have to be over there." Under the US-brokered agreement, the United Arab Emirates and Israel agreed on Thursday to establish full diplomatic ties, making the monarchy just the third Arab country to recognize the Jewish state, following Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. "Assuming the deal works, it's the first time Israel has established normalized relations with any Gulf nation and for that reason it's significant," said Aaron David Miller, a former diplomat who served as Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiator in Democratic and Republican administrations. But, Miller cautioned, "don't blow this out of proportion. "I don't buy that it's on the same level of magnitude or accomplishment as Egypt or Jordan," said Miller, now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "This is the UAE we're talking about. This is not the Arab world's most powerful nation like Egypt. This isn't even a country that has a contiguous border with Israel." Barbara Slavin of the Atlantic Council, another Washington think-tank, described the agreement as a "good move" but "not earthshaking in view of the covert ties the two countries have had for a very long time." Since taking office, Trump has pledged to apply his self-proclaimed deal-making skills to resolving the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He charged Kushner, his son-in-law, with the daunting task of hammering out Middle East peace. But the Palestinians have refused to play along with an administration seen as staunchly pro-Israel, and rejected the US president's "Vision for Peace" unveiled in January. Miller said the Israel-UAE normalization agreement does little to advance Trump's "vision" of overall Middle East peace. What's more, he added, "the administration's motivation has nothing to do with Israeli-Palestinian peace." "It's about domestic policy," Miller said. "This is about making the president look good, demonstrating some measure of competency and fulfilling at least some degree of what the administration claimed it would do from the beginning -- which is to make peace between Israel and the Arab world." Above all, Miller said, "it helps give rise to the image that there is an anti-Iran coalition." "But I'm not sure that's going to get very far," he continued, unless Trump can get other Arab countries such as Morocco, Bahrain and Oman to sign on. Trump has made it clear that his main objective in the Middle East is neutralizing Iran. He has called on several occasions for the creation of a NATO of Middle East nations, an alliance which has failed to come together. Since unilaterally repudiating the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, Trump has also found himself isolated by other Western countries when it comes to the Islamic Republic. This isolation came to the fore at the United Nations on Friday when the Security Council soundly rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October, with only two votes in favor. China and Russia -- who had intended to veto the resolution even if it did pass -- voted against it, while 11 other nations including France, Germany and the UK abstained. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the result "inexcusable." The United States may now try to force the Security Council to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran which were lifted in 2015 as part of the nuclear deal. Washington has threatened to use a contested argument that it remains a "participant" in the nuclear deal -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- despite its withdrawal. And if UN sanctions are not extended, the argument goes, the United States can force their return if it sees Iran as being in violation of the JCPOA's terms. Slavin said that is unlikely to get very far. "The US is in a weak and legally dubious position on that and this proto-normalization between the UAE and Israel will have zero effect," she said. By Magi Helena Tribune Content Agency BIRTHDAY STAR: Actress Jennifer Lawrence was born on this day in 1990 in Indian Hills, Ky. Her starring role in the critically acclaimed 2010 film "Winter's Bone" propelled her to stardom, but her lead role in the "Hunger Games" movie franchise helped make her the highest-paid actress in the world for 2015 and 2016. Lawrence played the part of Raven/Mystique in several "X-Men" films and appeared in "American Hustle" and "Silver Linings Playbook." She most recently starred in the action films "Red Sparrow" and "X-Men: Dark Phoenix." ARIES (March 21-April 19): Check in with yourself and your life. This may be a good time to break away from a stale or stalled-out relationship or to otherwise strike out on a more joyful path. Your leadership abilities might receive notice. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Relationships can require you to walk a tightrope between pleasing others and taking care of your own needs. Use a combination of sensitivity and sensibility to keep it all working positively and in balance. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Share your knowledge and expertise; you may have an excellent grasp of all sides of a situation. Write down imaginative ideas for later use since you may be too busy with mundane matters this week. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be gracious. Bring a hostess gift to someone's house or make a polite reply to a formal invitation sitting in your mailbox. Don't be discouraged by a lack of response right now. It will come. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Get right to the point. You can accomplish a great deal because you dive right in and aren't distracted by nonessential elements. Be generous, because that is who you are; don't be attached to the outcome. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Invest your time and money wisely. Today you are probably quick on the uptake and capable of making good snap decisions. There is always a progression of logical consequences to every action that you take. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take advantage of every useful benefit available and don't be afraid to multitask. Others may not understand that it's possible to socialize and do business at the same time, so be patient and reassuring. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Delicate attempts to be thoughtful and discreet might not satisfy the people who control the narrative. Someone else may want to run the show, but you may have better instincts when it comes to making money. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You can find energy to fix up your home base, fine-tune an idea or have some fun. A casual picnic or impromptu cookout might make a relaxing backdrop for family gatherings or a social get-together. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Try not to settle for less than you deserve. You might worry that you're losing your edge, but that doesn't mean you should accept any relationship or job that isn't first-class and satisfying. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Today could mark the culmination of your ongoing efforts to achieve one of your most important goals. You may be filled with warmth, compassion and generosity that shines through and lights up your relationships. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The kindness you show to others comes back to you multiplied. However, this may not be the time to spend extra money just to impress someone. Concentrate on working with a partner to make your joint dreams come true. IF AUGUST 15 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You may become the center of someone's helpful attention, or you might just have the time to enjoy your childhood hobbies or a fabulous vacation during the next four to five weeks. Enjoy blissfully serene times with your favorite people and consider joining a network of interesting people in October. Your life may change for the better in November, when a guardian angel may be disguised as a job offer, a transfer or a benevolent adviser. It's a good idea to put your most important plans into motion and launch crucial enterprises while you can most easily adapt to changes. Your drive, ambition and business knowledge can keep you on top of things where business or career is concerned through December, but you can also find a sweet spot within a serious relationship. Learn more at https://magihelena.com/ Questions? Reach out to Helena at questionsmagihelena.com. 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. The chief provincial public health officer told Manitobans, "We're losing sight of the fundamentals," after the province recorded two troubling distinctions in its fight against COVID-19. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The chief provincial public health officer told Manitobans, "We're losing sight of the fundamentals," after the province recorded two troubling distinctions in its fight against COVID-19. On Friday, Manitoba equalled its previous daily high of 40 new coronavirus cases and set a yet another new high-water mark for active cases (246). Rather than cracking the whip with enforcement and restrictions, Dr. Brent Roussin said residents need to raise awareness and urged Manitobans to be "kind," because were in this for the long haul. "This isnt just for another month or two, this virus is for another year or two," he said during a media briefing. "We cant rely on massive shutdowns to get through this." For the first time, the public health leader who hasnt previously been a strong advocate of face coverings said: "All Manitobans should be ensuring they have access to a mask." Manitoba reported 25 new cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Many are close contacts of known positive tests in Brandon (that city's active case count is now 90); some can't be traced to another case, indicating the virus is spreading in the community. Possible exposures may have occurred Aug. 7 at Sobeys grocery store in Brandon, Aug. 9 at the Cartwright Town and Country Club west of Cartwright, and Aug. 10 at the Minnedosa Hospital. Officials said there's still no sign of workplace transmission at Brandon's Maple Leaf Foods Inc. plant, where 39 workers have now tested positive for COVID-19. In the Winnipeg region, 10 new cases were reported Friday. Many appear to be travel-related or close contacts of known cases who have since tested positive. However, there is community transmission of the virus in Winnipeg, too, as roughly 12 per cent of the cases are of "unknown acquisition." RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Brent Roussin urged people to go above and beyond public health guidelines, such as avoiding large gatherings, even though they're permitted. Roussin called on Manitobans to follow the "fundamentals" of handwashing, physical distancing, getting tested and self-isolating as soon as possible if symptoms appear and not waiting until they've potentially exposed more than 25 other people to the virus, as public officials discovered with some case investigations this month. He urged people to go above and beyond public health guidelines, such as avoiding large gatherings, even though they're permitted. "Is now the time we want to be getting together with 30 people when you can't do physical distancing? Think about that." Individuals should be wearing face masks while doing errands indoors and shopping where physical distancing can't be assured even though such coverings are not mandated, he said. Meanwhile, with the rising number of COVID-19 cases, it's time for the province to accept what it is doing is not working, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said. Telling people to return to the fundamentals does no good when some refuse to take COVID-19 seriously, refuse to wear masks, and ignore public health orders including Premier Brian Pallister, Lamont said, taking a dig at the Tory premier who was caught not wearing a mandatory mask in the Toronto airport. "This is not just a failure to communicate, this is a failure of leadership," Lamont said. Dr. David Butler-Jones, former head of the Public Health Agency of Canada, said he understands why Roussin is telling people to be kind, rather than cracking down on scofflaws and imposing restrictions. "What you're trying to do is build public consensus that it is the right thing to do, and it polices itself, in a sense," said the Ottawa-based epidemiologist. Peer pressure and education can help, he said. "Its about gently reminding people, Its not just about you.'" 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. Such a mindset will pay bigger dividends in the long run than a crackdown, in which some get their back up and others feel pitted against one another or don't get tested when they should, Butler-Jones said. "The on and off again, open and shut down again no one wants to go back to March and April. At the same time, clearly people are getting tired of this. Dr. David ButlerJones "The on and off again, open and shut down again no one wants to go back to March and April," he said. "At the same time, clearly people are getting tired of this." The goal is to convince people they have the power individually to control the surge in cases and can prevent such restrictions from being reimposed, he said. "If we do behave this way of being cautious and prudent, this is totally in our control. We can, individually, make a big difference, collectively." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Environment Canada is still assessing the damage caused by a tornado that touched down near Alexander on Thursday evening, but a meteorologist said most of the damage from the storm appears to have been caused by wind. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Environment Canada is still assessing the damage caused by a tornado that touched down near Alexander on Thursday evening, but a meteorologist said most of the damage from the storm appears to have been caused by wind. The straight-line winds from the storm brought down trees and branches across the city and left thousands temporarily without power, said warning preparedness meteorologist Natalie Hasell. The strength of tornadoes is measured by how much damage they cause, she said, but on Thursday morning the agency hadnt received any reports. As a result, it cant be given a classification under the EF scale. Anyone who had damage to their property can email Environment Canada or use the hashtag #mbstorm on Twitter. Alex Thiessen, who recorded a video of it on his way home from work, said it was exciting to see from a safe distance. He said he was driving west of the city near Alexander when he saw a shape in the clouds that looked like a "thumbs-down" shape. "Once I saw that point start to move out from the larger formation it was quite an experience." A large fallen tree rests against a white picket fence on Lorne Avenue at First Street in Brandon on Friday after Thursday evenings storm. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) Thiessen said he pulled to the side of the road with a number of other drivers and started recording the tornado. There was debris spray coming up from the ground at the tip of the tornado, so its clear it did touch the ground. "Its pretty cool. A couple of times it touched down and caused a bit of spray and then looked as if it would relax a bit, then it would reform and do it again. It was quite an experience to behold." There was lots of wind blowing from the west, he said, but not enough to push cars. While the tornado Thursday follows one near Scarth in early August that killed two people, Thiessen said he was approximately a mile away. He said he felt safe recording it and was not in its path. "If youre going to stop and take pictures or videos be sure you are not in its path and that its not moving towards you. Definitely take the precautions necessary, its not worth losing a limb or a life over thats for sure," he said. Manitoba Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said in an email the utility had activated an emergency operations centre in Brandon on Friday to co-ordinate the restoration effort. He said the tornado didnt cause much damage to energy infrastructure, but winds brought down power lines in the city. He said approximately 70 people were without power on Friday afternoon but crews from Morden, Portage la Prairie, Virden and Neepawa had been called in to help. Most people were expected to have power back by 6 p.m. Friday, but Manitoba Hydro is continuing to work on individual cases over the weekend. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images Historians will savage Jair Bolsonaro for leading Brazilians into a deadly canyon with his shambling, self-interested and anti-scientific response to Covid-19, according to his former health minister. In an interview with the Guardian, Luiz Henrique Mandetta accused the Brazilian president of playing a pivotal role in steering Latin Americas largest economy towards a catastrophe. Bolsonaro played politics with citizens lives at a time of global crisis, he said, as Brazils death toll rose to more than 105,000. Only the US has suffered more deaths. Mandetta, who has hinted he will challenge Bolsonaro for the presidency in 2022, became a household name in the early stages of this years pandemic. He drew praise from left and right for his accessible, science-based alerts over the threat of coronavirus during daily press conferences. A 55-year-old orthopedic doctor, Mandetta was elected to congress in 2010 and has faced criticism for opposing the Mais Medicos (More Doctors) health scheme that sent Cuban doctors to remote and deprived parts of Brazil. He was named health minister in November 2018, shortly after Bolsonaros shock election. But he was sacked in mid-April after publicly challenging Bolsonaros sabotaging of social distancing. Speaking from his base in the midwestern city of Campo Grande, he said the two had not spoken since. Luiz Henrique Mandetta gives hand sanitiser to Jair Bolsonaro during a press conference in Brasilia on 18 March. Photograph: Andre Coelho/Getty Images On the day Mandetta was fired Brazils Covid-19 death toll stood at about 2,000. Four months later it has risen to over 105,000 with the former minister one of many who blames Bolsonaro for the tragedys scale. Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic, undermined containment measures and attended protests and barbecues, using face masks incorrectly, if at all. Mandetta said the fight against Covid-19 had been fatally compromised by Bolsonaros utter contempt for science which saw him belittle the disease as a little flu and trumpet ineffective treatments such as the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Story continues Its interesting that he totally rejects science and mocks all those who speak of science. Yet when theres any prospect of a vaccine hes the first to come knocking on sciences door ... as if a vaccine would redeem him from his shambling march through this epidemic. Mandetta also attacked Bolsonaros complete sabotage of the health ministry. After Mandetta and his team were evicted, another health minister, Nelson Teich, took charge but lasted less than a month after also clashing with the president over Covid-19. Since May the ministry has had an army general with no medical experience as its stopgap leader. Jair Bolsonaro with Nelson Teich in Brasilia on 17 April. Photograph: Andressa Anholete/Getty Images Mandetta who said he felt anguished and impotent about the situation claimed that by forcing out specialists and surrounding himself by yes men Bolsonaro had lost touch with reality. When youre in a situation where you surround yourself with people who say what you want to hear and not what is the truth the leader ends up blinding himself to what is happening, he said. He listens but doesnt hear. He looks but doesnt see. The ex-minister suspected Bolsonaros refusal to comfort grieving families reflected guilt over the realisation his actions had cost lives. He led the Brazilian people into a canyon in quick march and people have fallen off and died and having to recognize that this was a mistake, that this caused pain, I think must be politically tricky for him right now. Perhaps once the tragedy was over Bolsonaro might publicly express remorse, Mandetta said. But how could Brazilians believe the words of a man who had openly criticized those who sought to save lives? He warned that without an urgent change in direction the average number of daily deaths which has been close to or above 1,000 for nearly three months was only likely to fall in late September. Mandetta, who is from the rightwing party Democratas, has declined to confirm he will run for president but said Brazil needed a leader who could pacify the country after Bolsonaros toxic term. I hope the leader who emerges victorious in 2022 is capable of rebuilding Brazils broken social fabric, giving this country a sense of unity and accepting that it just isnt normal to go around saying Brazilians like to roll around in the sewage. Mandetta predicted Bolsonaro would eventually pay a political price for making a beeline down the path of denial. But on Friday one of Brazils top pollsters found the presidents approval rating had risen to its highest level since he took office in January 2019. Ghana's COVID-19 active cases keep dropping as the current figure stand at 1,832. The cumulative figure stands at 42,210 after 147 new cases were recorded. The number of recoveries/discharge has risen to 40,147 and the number of deaths is 231. Meanwhile the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe has urged Ghanaians not to relent in observing the safety protocols. Speaking on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo' he said the fact that the numbers are going down doesn't mean people should throw caution to the wind. Listen to him in the video below Greater Accra Region - 21,014Ashanti Region - 10,488Western Region - 2,899Eastern Region - 2,065Central Region - 1,754Bono East Region - 716Volta Region - 631Western North Region - 580Northern Region - 472Ahafo Region - 469Bono Region - 468Upper East Region - 282Oti Region - 213Upper West Region - 88Savannah Region - 62North East Region - 9 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 TEN areas in the country, including Cebu City, will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) from Aug. 16 to 31 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. Aside from Cebu City, these areas are the following: Lapu-Lapu City; Mandaue City; Talisay City; Minglanilla, Cebu; Consolacion, Cebu; Iloilo City; Quezon Province; Batangas; and Nueva Ecija. President Rodrigo Duterte will announce next week the community quarantine classification of the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, Roque said. NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine until Aug. 18. The rest of the country will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Roque said. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said in its Resolution 63, which was issued Friday, Aug. 14, that the quarantine classifications were considered based on the epidemic risk level and economic, social and security considerations, as well as the appeals and commitment of local government units (LGUs). Roque said the National Task Force and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) were directed to ensure that minimum public health standards, intensified contact tracing and quarantine of close contacts are strictly enforced in areas where local action is needed to combat the Covid-19. The National Task Force and DILG shall ensure that areas flagged for local action shall implement strict lockdown of areas in line with the Zoning Containment Strategy, strict enforcement of minimum health standards and intensified tracing and quarantine of close contacts and isolation of confirmed cases, the IATF Resolution 63 stated. As of Aug. 14, the Philippines recorded a total of 153,660 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of the total, 71,405 have recovered from the disease and 2,442 had died. The countrys active cases remain at 79,813. Story continues With the announcement, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the existing community quarantine protocol in the city will be in place, which means internet cafes will remain closed. He said the City inspected several establishments and found these to be small with compact spaces where social distancing is hard to implement. Labella said authorities cannot monitor all internet cafes, particularly those in far-flung barangays. He also said residents who go outdoors to access basic needs must continue to carry a QR-coded quarantine pass. He appealed to the public to follow quarantine and health protocol. In Mandaue City, the City Government also accepted the national governments decision to place the city on GCQ until the end of the month. John Eddu Ibanez, Mayor Jonas Cortes executive secretary, said they cant be complacent even though the number of Covid-19 recoveries in the city continues to rise and the number of people who test positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is low. He said a person with Covid-19 can infect 30 to 100 people. As of Friday, Aug. 14, Mandaue City had 413 active cases with 1,513 recoveries and 82 deaths. This war against Covid is a protracted war. We will declare that we have flattened the curve when we no longer have active cases, Ibanez said. In a separate interview, Julius Ceasar Entise, head of the contract tracing team in the city, said the decision to loosen or tighten an LGUs quarantine level is not only be based on the number of active cases and recoveries but also on the positivity rate, or the percentage of positive cases compared to the number of individuals who have undergone swab tests. In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Junard Chan had hoped to shift to MGCQ, but he said that being on GCQ until Aug. 31 will give them the opportunity to improve the Covid-19 situation. Chan said they have experienced a 70 percent drop in the number of Covid-19 cases in public and private hospitals and in isolation facilities. He attributed this to the strict implementation of health and quarantine protocol. Meanwhile, Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said he respects the IATFs decision to continue placing the city on GCQ. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Gullas believes the IATF is taking a one Metro Cebu approach in placing cities and towns in the metro under GCQ since the LGUs are interconnected. He urged his constituents to be patient as they continue to help improve the citys Covid-19 situation. I understand that many of the residents want their lives to return to normal but that cant happen without a vaccine against the Covid-19, Gullas said in Cebuano. As of Thursday, Aug. 13, Talisay City had 53 active cases with close to 700 recoveries. Gullas said the Citys Covid-19 Task Force continues to conduct contact tracing to ensure there are no local transmissions in the citys 22 barangays. (LMY, SunStar Philippines, JJL, KFD, GCM / JKV) Its not yet clear, but it may depend on if theyre sick. Children younger than 5 with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 have higher concentrations of the virus in their upper airway than older children and adults, doctors in Chicago reported in July. This could make them more infectious. However, another study published in Nature found the vast majority of infected kids in this age group dont have symptoms, which reduces their likelihood of transmitting the virus. In another, much-cited study of 5,706 coronavirus patients and their contacts in South Korea, researchers concluded that children younger than 10 spread the virus within a household at the lowest rate, but those age 10 to 19 were more likely to spread it than even adults. Additional data later cast doubt on the rate of spread for older children but not those under 10, with an overall finding that the ability to transmit seems to increase with age. In the U.S., school closure was associated with a 62% drop in Covid-19 cases and 58% decline in deaths, researchers in Cincinnati reported in July. They acknowledged that the trends were largest in states with a low cumulative incidence of Covid-19 at the time schools were shut, and that its possible some of the reduction was due to other measures. Months before New Jersey prisoners began dying with the coronavirus at the highest rate in the country, lawmakers quietly beefed up oversight of state prisons. Advocates for reform were concerned the corrections ombudsman, a small state office that investigates complaints, hadnt been effective for years, so they gave it new powers to make it one of the strongest watchdogs in the nation. The United States Embassy in Ukraine has handed a batch of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the protection against the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection over to Ukrainian state agencies. "As part of our international technical assistance, the U.S. Embassy's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs office donated approximately $250,000 worth of personal protective equipment against COVID-19 to our Ukrainian partners at the National Police, State Border Guard Service, and the State Customs Service," the embassy said on Facebook. A 15-foot futuristic looking glass and steel hexagonal prism has been erected at Stokestown, several hundred metres from the iconic Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge and bypass. The art piece is located at a viewing area owned by Wexford County Council in Stokestown - several hundred metres from the iconic bridge. The structure loosely references the local architectural landmark of the nearby Stokestown House Folly. The bridge will be visible through the sculpture, which will be officially unveiled once landscaping of the site is completed and seating erected. Created by artist Caoimhe Kilfeather, the coloured glass reflects the landscape - the hues and tones of the fields, hedgerows and sky. On overcast days, the glass will appear dense and opaque and on bright summers days more transparent - allowing views through to the surrounding landscape. Director of Services for Roads Eamonn Hore defended the placing of the artwork near a local road, out of sight from some people travelling over the bridge. He said other locations were considered for the artwork, but the field which was acquired as part of the CPO process was ultimately chosen. 'The artwork is on the Stokestown road near the Kennedy Homestead. There is a really good view of the bridge when you pull in. People will be able to sit down and see the bridge in the background and the artwork in the foreground. When the sun hits it it creates a nice effect.' Responding to criticism of the artwork online, Mr Hore said: 'Obviously it will divide opinion. It's by a young artist and I think it reflects her personality. She has pieces in Dublin too which I went to see [prior to her being awarded the commission]. The way it interacts with different weather makes it special.' He said: 'Other sites and other art pieces were considered and that was chosen as the best site for the particular piece of art. It also relates to the Stokestown Folly which is a protected structure. In a lot of per cent per art works lately, like the circles on the N25 and the Pikemen, many can be seen from the road. This one is on a local road where you can pull in to sit and admire a piece of art. You can access it by coming off the bridge and following directions for the Kennedy Homestead by going back under the N25 and the piece of art appears on the right hand side.' Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state Health Minister K.K. Shailaja on Friday tested negative for Covid-19, as per a rapid antigen test. Earlier on Friday, Vijayan announced that he and seven of his cabinet colleagues have decided to go into self-isolation after Malappuram Collector K. Gopalakrishnan tested Covid positive. However, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who had accompanied Vijayan to Kozhikode to visit the survivors of the Air India Express flight from Dubai, which skidded off the runway and fell into a gorge on Friday evening leaving 18 dead, and inspect the accident site, will not isolate himself. Gopalakrishnan had been coordinating the rescue and relief operations at the accident site. In a WhatsApp message, Vijayan said the others who will be going into isolation are Shailaja, Local Administration Minister A.C. Moideen, Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar, Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel, Ports Minister Kadanapally Ramachandran and Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran. Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta will also isolate himself. Consequently, it was decided that Vijayan will not unfurl the tricolour at the main Independence Day function here, with Devasom Minister Kadakampally Surendran stepping in for him, in the ceremony which will last only 10 minutes. Cannon Hinnant was set to start kindergarten this week. He was buried instead. And, his family, and just about everyone else, is left to ask how and why this heartbreaking tragedy came to be. How could a 5-year-old boy, just out riding his bike, could be, according to witnesses, shot in the head at point-blank range? We shouldnt even be here, his grandfather, Merrill Race, told ABC 11 following the boys Thursday funeral. Race said Hinnant was a beautiful kid, who loved playing outside. And, police say, thats what Hinnant was doing last weekend at his fathers Wilson, North Carolina home when they say he was shot in the head by a neighbor. Darrius Sessoms, 25, has been charged with first-degree murder. Hinnants name has trended on social media networks since, and the family told ABC 11 theyve seen him remembered by people around the world with so many wondering how someone could do such a thing to such an innocent, young boy. His father, Austin Hinnant, told a CNN affiliate, he was inside his house when he heard the shot. He went outside and saw his son laying on the ground. The first thing that went through my mind was maybe he just fell off his bike, he said. The closer I got to him, the more I realized it was something far more serious. Hinnant descried a heart-wrenching scene in which he cradled his son in his arms and screamed for someone to help save him. You cant imagine what its like to hold your son in your arms with a gunshot wound to the head, and his blood is running down your arms, he said. Hinnant said Sessoms was in the yard next door, pacing franticly, gun in hand. The suspect was far from a stranger to the family. In fact, Hinnant said, Sessoms came over for dinner the day before the shooting. He said they sat on his porch and sipped a beer after eating. There wasnt anything between me and him, any bad blood whatsoever, for him to have a reason to do this, he said. Police havent released any info on a motive, and CNN said Hinnant said he doesnt know why his son was killed. Race told WSOCTV.com he believes Sessoms is evil. I never met this guy in my life, but that is one evil dude, he said. And the family, and neighbors said they arent sure how this wound will ever be repairedl. A prayer vigil that was scheduled for Friday was postponed because WSOCTV.com said the family needed some time to mourn and heal. And, for now, everyone is left to wonder why and how this could have happened. How could you walk up to a little boy, point blank, and put a gun to his head and just shoot him? Charlene Walburn, a neighbor, told WSOCTV.com. How could anyone do that? Some representatives of the Senate of the University of Lagos on Friday visited the President Muhammadu Buhari to seek his intervention in... Some representatives of the Senate of the University of Lagos on Friday visited the President Muhammadu Buhari to seek his intervention in what they described as the illegal removal of the varsitys Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe. The UNILAG Senate members, who were led by their chairman, Prof Chioma Agomo, also visited the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, but were reported to have met the Minister of State for Education. Agomo, while briefing the press after the meeting, said though they did not meet the President, they dropped a letter of the resolution of the Senate. She said Ogundipes sacking without due process was a dangerous precedent for the university system in Nigeria. She said, We are here on behalf of the Senate of the University of Lagos. We came to the Villa because the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a visitor to the university, so we thought we should pay a courtesy call to the Villa because we had gone to the appropriate authorities to give them the resolution of the Senate concerning the event that is unfolding on the university. On August 13, we had an emergency meeting, attended by 91 professors. What was the issue? We want to make it known that the purported removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos did not follow due process. Therefore, it is illegal and cannot stand. We are not saying that the council has no right to remove the vice-chancellor. There is a laid-down procedure in the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The law provides the procedure for the removal of the vice-chancellor that there should be a joint committee of the Senate and the Governing Council. This has not been followed. The rule of law has been trampled on the ground. We are talking about the life and soul of the rule of law, of fairness and justice, not just for the University of Lagos, but for the entire university system and indeed the entire nation. We are not saying our vice-chancellor has or has not committed any offence. Binding allegations here and there is begging the issue. The issue is, if you say he has done something wrong, follow due process. And if he is found guilty, so be it. Agomo added that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of UNILAG, Dr Wale Babalakin, had lost the confidence of the Senate and that the council should be dissolved. However, Babalakin on Friday defended Ogundipes sacking, accusing him of looting the universitys treasury recklessly. He stated this on Friday at the MMA2 on his arrival in Lagos from Abuja, where the schools governing council had been in a three-day meeting. The UNILAG governing council had on August 12, the first day of its meeting, announced Ogundipes sacking and appointed Prof Theophilus Soyombo as the new vice-chancellor. Speaking on Friday, Babalakin said, Without mentioning to anybody, Ogundipe spent N49m renovating his official house; he sought no approval for this. To cover it up, he gave the bursar N41m to renovate his official residence. An investigation found out that he exceeded his authority. He was paying security vote to the Dean of Students Affairs without anyone authorising it. He also criticised Ogundipes style of confronting his employers (the governing council) with legal action over his removal. Meanwhile, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Universities in Nigeria on Friday faulted Ogundipes sacking, saying it didnt follow due process. While calling on the UNILAG governing council to follow due process in Ogundipes removal, the organisation said the embattled vice-chancellor should be given an opportunity to defend himself. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities on Friday distanced itself from the solidarity protest by its acting Chairman of UNILAG chapter, Olusola Sowunmi, on Ogundipes sacking. Sowunmi was said to have participated in the joint meeting of UNILAG-based unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the condemnation of the removal of Ogundipe by the Babalakin-led governing council, describing it as unjust, ungodly and illegal. But the UNILAG SSANU executive, in a statement by its acting Secretary, Feyisetan Olaoluwa, condemned Sowunmi for joining in the protest, saying that the entire scenario was political. Meanwhile, the newly appointed acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Omololu Soyombo, has said his appointment is a call to service with the overall objective of fostering an atmosphere of peace in the university. A statement signed by Shoyombo noted that it was a position of responsibility that was entrusted upon him which he accepted out of a sense of duty to the University. In the statement titled, Press release by Prof Omololu Soyombo: acting Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, he said, I wish to start by noting that this is a position of responsibility that was thrust upon me and which I accepted out of a sense of duty to our University. I see this as a call to service with the overall objective of fostering an atmosphere of peace for the normal university business of teaching, research and community service. Dolly Parton Dolly Parton attends a press conference before a performance celebrating her 50-year anniversary with the Grand Ole Opry at The Grand Ole Opry on October 12, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images Dolly Parton is rarely political. But the country-music legend has expressed her support of the Black Lives Matter movement in light of recent protests over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other unarmed black people. Read more from Rolling Stone: The lingering mysteries of Charles Manson In a new interview with Billboard, Parton says she is "unequivocal in her support" of protesters within the Black Lives Matter movement. "I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen," Parton says. "And of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!" Read more from Rolling Stone: The unraveling of America The article also references Parton's 2018 decision to rename her Dixie Stampede dinner attraction as Dolly Parton's Stampede, due to the racist connotations of the word "Dixie" and its association with the Confederacy, as well as the Dollywood Co.'s plans to expand to an international market. The name change predates similar ones from the country trio Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) and the Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) that occurred two years later as a response to the Black Lives Matter protests. "There's such a thing as innocent ignorance, and so many of us are guilty of that," Parton says. "When they said 'Dixie' was an offensive word, I thought, 'Well, I don't want to offend anybody. This is a business. We'll just call it the Stampede.' As soon as you realize that [something] is a problem, you should fix it. Don't be a dumbass. That's where my heart is. I would never dream of hurting anybody on purpose." Read more from Rolling Stone: What's the difference between N95 masks and KN95 masks? Story continues In May, Parton released a video for the song "When Life Is Good Again," which instructed fans to "be safe, be respectful, wear your mask, lead with love." She'll release her first album of holiday music in 30 years in October with the just-announced LP "A Holly Dolly Christmas." Related Articles A Bharatiya Janata Party worker was allegedly killed by supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress after clashes broke out between the two rival parties over hoisting the National flag on Independence Day at Hooghly district in south Bengal. While the BJP alleged that Sudarshan Pramanik, 40, was beaten to death by TMC supporters, the ruling party has refuted the allegations. Police have detained eight people after the incident. The clash sparked off tension at Khanakul around 60 km west of Kolkata. Authorities deployed a large police contingent to bring the situation under control. A clash broke out between locals over hoisting the Indian flag at Khanakul in the morning. A man was killed when he was attacked with bamboo sticks. We have detained eight persons for interrogation, said Tathagata Basu, superintendent of police of Hooghly district. Locals said that workers and supporters of both parties had gathered at the same spot to hoist the flag as their offices are located in the same area. Clashes broke out after some heated altercation and soon the supporters of rival parties attacked each other. Such incidents will continue till the TMC is in power. Till date 108 BJP workers and leaders have been killed, said Sayantan Basu, general secretary of BJP. TMC leader and the partys spokesperson in the district, Prabir Ghosal, however, said: TMC doesnt believe or support violence and bloodshed. I have heard that it was a fight between two factions of the BJP. Police are investigating. On July 13, the body of BJP MLA Debendra Nath Roy was found hanging in a market near his home at Hemtabad in North Dinajpur district. Police said he had died by suicide. Thereafter two more BJP workers were found dead in Bengal. Police said both had died by suicide. By Online Desk India continued to maintain its higher spike in daily COVID-19 cases as 65,002 new infections and 996 deaths were reported on Saturday. The COVID-19 tally in the country rises to 25,26,193 including 6,68,220 active cases, 18,08,937 discharged/migrated and 49,036 deaths, as per the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. As lockdown was lifted from Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, the authorities at Kerala capital has also decided to repoen gyms, salons and beauty parlours. While Gyms will be needed to provide oximeters to record oxygen saturation, the salons have been asked to adopt token system of appointment for staggered client entry. All shops can also functiom from 7 am to 7 pm. The bars and beer parlours in the city will now open for takeaway while government, private offices and other financial eatablishments can function with 50 percent staff. Representative image The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is inviting applications from students to help harvest water on the Moon and Mars. The US space agency has announced the 2021 Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge for university-level engineering students. Eligible students are expected to design and build hardware that would help astronauts harvest water on the Moon and the Red Planet. In an official statement , NASA explained that water is important in space missions for hydration, to grow plants, and even making rocket propellants. But water is heavy and expensive to carry from Earth. Therefore, harvesting water will be the key to sustainable human exploration of celestial bodies. NASA chief technologist Douglas Terrier said: The water we will find when the next men and first women explore the lunar surface for the Artemis programme is liable to be mixed with contaminants that need to be removed before drinking, or use as fuel. So, students have been urged to design and build hardware that can identify, map, and drill through various subsurface layers, then extract water from an ice block in a simulated off-world testbed. They will have to strive to harvest as much water as possible from simulated slices of the lunar surface and the surface of Mars. The students will also have to identify how the system functions in harvesting water on Earth will be different from harvesting it on a satellite or another planet, and will have to make modifications to their prototype accordingly. The last date for submission of the proposed concept design and operations is November 24. NASA will be selecting a maximum of 10 teams in December, each of which will get a $10,000 (INR 7.5 lakh, approximately) development stipend to build their systems in six months. The systems developed by each team will then be demonstrated at a three-day competition that would be held at NASAs Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in June 2021. Lexington, Aug 15 : World No. 116 Shelby Rogers earned an thunderous upset at the Top Seed Open as she stunned top seed Serena Williams in a thrilling clash to claim a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing Top Seed Open. In her first-ever meeting with Williams, Rogers fought back from a set down to register a 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) win in a match that lasted two hours and seven minutes on Friday. This was her third career victory over a Top 10 player. "It was important for me going onto the court thinking I could win that match, and knowing I could take care of my service games," Rogers said, during her post-match press conference as per the WTA website. "Because (Williams) has probably the best serve of all time, and when she wants to, she can win a point on her serve." "I just tried to control what I could control, and that's mostly my service games, and then if I had an opportunity, I tried to capitalise," Rogers added. "I think the few that I did have today, I was able to do that." Rogers will now face Switzerland's Jil Teichmann -- who defeated Catherine Bellis 6-2, 6-4 -- for a place in the final. Meanwhile, American teenager Coco Gauff also rallied for a thrilling victory over Ons Jabeur to make it to the final four of the tournament. Trailing 6-4, 4-2 against the No.8 seed and facing a break point for 5-2, Gauff pulled off a thrilling comeback to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in almost two hours. She will now face America's Jennifer Brady in her last-four clash. From the creator of Survivor comes a new competition: Worlds Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji premiering on Prime Video today, Friday, August 14. Bear Grylls hosts as 66 teams from 30 countries descend on Fiji to compete in an 11-day challenge. The competitors will push themselves to their physical and emotional limits as they compete in a brutal global adventure race. They will traveling across hundreds of miles with only a map and compass to guide them as they push their body to endure physically demanding activities like hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting to reach the next checkpoint. The contestants are blind to where they will head next and how they will get there until they arrive at each checkpoint where they receive coordinates and are sent on their way. The clock doesnt stop to allow for sleep so everyone will have to manage their time well if they want to be rested enough to continue in this fast-paced adventure with a $100,000 grand prize. Where can I watch Worlds Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji? Worlds Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji is available exclusively on Amazons Prime Video. If youre an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to it through your subscription to Amazon. If you arent a member, Prime offers a free 30-day trial. You can sign up here. "That was made over half a billion years ago," Seamus Caulfield says, pointing his umbrella towards the broody landscape out west. Some of North Mayo's cliffs are taller than the Cliffs of Moher, the retired archaeology professor notes with a grin. "That's my homeland of Belderrig." We're standing in the Ceide Fields, a heritage site marking a patchwork of stone-walled fields, mostly buried in the bog, first noticed by his father, Patrick, while cutting turf in the 1930s. Walking along the boardwalk with Gretta Byrne, another archaeologist and manager of the OPW visitor centre, we stop to push a two-metre-long, T-shaped probe into the earth. There's a squelch and a slither as the bog briefly resists, before giving way. The iron probe slides down like a needle, stopping with an echoey clunk. "You're hitting a wall that was built 5,000 years ago," Seamus says, still delighted with the fact after decades of discovery and interpretation. He then scampers down a shelf in the bog, illustrating the depth just probed. A foot below ground is where the surface lay several decades ago. Deeper, it's the time of the Vikings. Then, "before our Lord". And finally, "a simple farmer building a wall". Expand Close Seamus Caulfield in the Ceide Fields. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Seamus Caulfield in the Ceide Fields. Photo: Pol O Conghaile We're exploring just a fraction of a field network Caulfield says was built by dairy farmers and is the world's most extensive Stone Age monument. It's amazing to think of those people, in this place, looking out as we are on Downpatrick Head, on Ben Bulben and even the cliffs of Slieve League in the distance. What's more amazing, hardly anyone knows about them. Read More You could say the same for this coast. Stretching from Killala Bay towards Benwee Head, the drive can be as little as 60km and an hour at a push. But within that short distance, exploring those ceidi (flat-topped hills), it feels like you could unravel the DNA of Ireland itself. "It has to be one of the most dramatic coastlines anywhere," Gretta says. "Not in Ireland. Anywhere." The route reels me in. Taking the L-road from Belderrig to Portacloy ("the inside road", as Seamus calls it), real life seems to recede in the rearview mirror. Driving up over Glinsk, a strip of grass bisects the boreen, and the first batch of black-faced sheep block my way. In an hour of driving with photo stops at the height of July, I meet just a single tractor. Touch of traffic along North Mayo's Ceide Coast pic.twitter.com/MbLJjWzXmR @poloconghaile (@poloconghaile) July 23, 2020 The road is bracketed by swathes of cut bog, with turf stacked to dry or packed into fertiliser bags. There is a grotto. There are isolated, one-off houses with washing hung and kids' bikes lying on the tarmac outside. There are also ghosts along the coast - desolate husks, cottage ruins, windowless and roofless shells that tell a story as old as the west. At one point, the local road brings me to nose the car between two outbuildings of an old farmstead. It feels like 1920, not 2020. "This year is a load of shite," one local said. We were chatting in the car park back at Downpatrick Head, watching a couple from a campervan unfold their travelling chairs and pour themselves some tea. There was no phone or data connection. "Best tip I can give you is to carry 20 or 30 in cash around here," he says. The poster boy in these parts is Dun Briste, a stunning sea stack standing sentinel off the Head. A storm snapped it from the mainland in 1393 (Dun Briste means "broken fort"), with stories of people rescued from it using ships' ropes. Its dense strata of rock make it look like a geological baklava, or a giant game of Jenga. A cave below feeds water through to the enormous blowhole, Poll na Seantainne (Irish for "hole of the old fire", due to the vapour that can wisp and billow from it). I also spot the restored Eire 64 coastal marker, and several fishermen dropping lines for mackerel, hundreds of feet above the sea. Offshore, painterly skies are in continual transition. One moment, I can clearly see the Stags of Broadhaven, shaped like the Skelligs. The next, I can't. When I last visited, surf sent spray almost halfway up to the coastal watch station atop the headland. This time, the sea is flat. Occasionally the sun breaks through, moving like a spotlight across the water. At other times, the ocean is like ink. If you don't fancy the weather, as they say, just wait five minutes. "That doesn't happen in Ballycastle," laughs Mary Munnelly, welcoming me into Mary's Country Kitchen a few miles up the road. "We get an hour at a time!" There's more space between Mary's tables now, and she and her staff wear visors, but otherwise it feels almost normal. There are homemade jams for sale, cakes behind the counter, a small Virgin Mary in the window. I tuck into a plate of fresh crab, and wonder where it's from. Porturlin, the lady at the next table tells me. "It's not on the Wild Atlantic Way route," she says. "It's the other road". Expand Close Fresh crab from Porturlin at Mary's Country Kitchen. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fresh crab from Porturlin at Mary's Country Kitchen. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The pubs are closed in Ballycastle, but I find a surprising shot of new life in the Ballinglen Museum of Art, where a light-splashed space is filled with works by visiting artists-in-residence (they stay free in its studios, leaving work as payment). The surrounding landscape is reflected in everything from impressions of Dun Briste to Ballycastle scenes and a tintype of Polke's shop across the street. "In an area like this, they can get away from the phone, from people, from the outside world, and just work," says managing director Una Forde. It's remarkable how much is crammed into this short coastline. Think of the Round Tower at Killala, or General Humbert's landing in 1798. There are wild, hidden beaches like Kilcummin back strand at Lacken, Rinroe, or the hidden cove of Portacloy, fronting onto a field of sheep that look like they were shot with purple paintballs. I drive through the Gaeltacht, into Carrowteige. Stopping into Garvin's post office and shop for a snack, I queue behind two men speaking Irish behind their masks. It's so quiet outside. Following the thin, bumpy roads around to Benwee Head, a Wild Atlantic Way viewing point, there are just two other cars, and a handful of hikers. I decide to make this beautiful headland and its looped walk the end of my drive. You could continue to Belmullet and the windswept Mullet Peninsula, of course, but I walk around the head, amazed at the porridge-like folds of the rock, the sheep clinging to impossible slopes, the lobster pots marked near storm coves below. It's evening, the midges are showing interest, and I aim to take the R314 - the 'outside road', you might call it - back to Ballina. Expand Close Evening fishing boats beside Killala pier, County Mayo. Photo: Gareth McCormack / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Evening fishing boats beside Killala pier, County Mayo. Photo: Gareth McCormack At Belderrig, before we parted ways, Seamus Caulfield had taken me to the site of an ancient farm, and a stone plinth featuring Seamus Heaney's poem 'Belderg'. The poet once brought his family here, I learn, and a week later sent the Caulfields a thank-you letter containing a copy of the poem. Standing by it, Seamus recited from memory. A landscape fossilized Its stone wall patternings Repeated before our eyes In the stone walls of Mayo "What would take me a whole series of lectures, Heaney said in four lines," he smiled. Yet another layer to the Ceide Coast. Take three: pit-stops Foraging Expand Close Denis Quinn, Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours, Killala Bay, Co. Mayo. photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Denis Quinn, Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours, Killala Bay, Co. Mayo. photo: Pol O Conghaile Get beneath the skin of the Ceide Coast with one of Denis Quinn's fab foraging trips out of Killala. facebook.com/WildAtlanticCulturalTours Food at Fenn's Expand Close Jack Fenns courtyard cafe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jack Fenns courtyard cafe Bookend your drive with a stop at Belleek Castle in Ballina, or grub at Jack Fenn's courtyard cafe. The ham hock and Dozio cheese toastie is a winner. belleekcastle.com Spirits of Place Expand Close Spirit of Place / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Spirit of Place Follow the 'Tir Saile' signs to 11 sculptures along the coast. Travis Price's 'Spirit of Place' artworks are dotted here, too. northmayoarttrail.com; spiritofplacemayo.com NB: For more information, visit mayonorth.ie. Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. Truck traffic has quickly become a hot topic in Will County as developers continue to be drawn to the area to for warehouse development while many residents raise concerns about the increase in truck traffic and its impact. Several residents reiterated some of those concerns as they got a first look at the draft routes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on the occasion of Indias 74th Independence Day as he reached the Red Fort a while ago. Prime Minister Modi inspected the guard of honour and then unfurled the tricolour to mark this joyous occasion before he began his address to the nation. The nation will celebrate the Independence Day mostly indoors as the world remains under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. # - ! Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind! Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2020 The Prime Minister has wished the 130 crore people of the nation on the 74th Independence Day. He offered his reverence and gratitude at Rajghat, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhis memorial, where the eternal flame of non-violence keeps burning. 4000 attendees are attending the Independence Day ceremony. As coronavirus numbers grow, all precautions have been taken to maintain social distancing. The celebrations will be held following the Prime Ministers clarion call against the invisible enemy - Do Gaz ki Doori. The infantrymen, navy and airmen who will be present in the guard of honour have remained in quarantine for the last 15 days. The defence minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will be present with the Prime Minister during the event. WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to the nation from the Red Fort: The Prime Minister thanked the key workers who have been vital in the nations fight against the coronavirus in his speech. He is also expected to thank and applaud the gallant soldiers who fought the recent Chinese intrusion in Galwan Valley in Ladakh. The Prime Ministers speech will focus on self-reliance as India battles along with the entire world to stave off the economic effects the pandemic has brought along with it. The invitees have already reached the venue. The guests, with masks and ensuring social distancing, are set to celebrate nations 74th Independence Day. At the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, the food is adorable, the merchandise is plentiful ... And pink is everywhere. On the cookies. On plush toys. And especially on the truck itself. The popular truck, in all its pinkness, will roll into Omaha on Aug. 22. It will be parked at Village Pointe Shopping Center, near the site of the farmers market, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The truck has all-new pandemic safety precautions to keep its patrons in the pink. Foodwise, it has a modest menu: minicakes, macarons, madeleines and cookies. The giant cookies are in the shape of, you guessed it, Hello Kitty. Merchwise, you can buy Hello Kitty enamel pin sets, canvas totes, stainless steel thermal bottles, T-shirts, bow-shaped water bottles, a cafe lunchbox and more. Be prepared to pay by credit or debit card (a pink one, perhaps), because the truck doesnt take cash to keep transactions free of contact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation for the seventh time from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day on Saturday and it will be his second speech of the second term in office. PM Modi has announced some major initiatives in his Independence Day addresses including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh India, Pradhanmantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan, the abolishment of Planning Commission and the announcement of the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff. He also has been giving an account of his government's performance. Independence Day this year will be different due to conditions created by COVID-19 and people will mostly watch the address on their television sets or through other means. Here are some highlights from his previous speeches. Modi's 2014 Independence Day speech highlights: 1. Announcement of Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana to connect the poorest citizens with the facility of bank accounts. 2. He gave the call "Come, Make in India," noting that India has skills, talent and discipline and will to perform. 3. Announced the launch of `Clean India` campaign from October 2, 2014. 4. He noted that Digital India is a dream for the nation and is meant for the poor. "If we move with the dream of electronic digital India and manufacturing of electronic goods and become self-reliant, it will be a major gain for the country," he said. 5. Announced `Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana under which MPs were required to adopt and make a village in their constituencies a model village by 2016. 6. He announced that all schools in the country should have toilets with separate toilets for girls in a year. 7. Announcement that there will be a new institution to replace Planning Commission. PM Modi's 2015 Independence Day speech highlights: 1. Announcement of the Start-Up India initiative to encourage entrepreneurship. 2. He said the government's target was to provide electricity to all 18,500 non-electrified villages within the next 1,000 days. 3. Announcement about doing away with interviews in recruitment for 'C' and 'D' category government jobs. 4. He said financial inclusion had received a big boost with the opening of 17 crore bank accounts through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. 5. Gave details of steps to curb black money and action against corrupt government officials 6. Ministry of Agriculture to be renamed as Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. 7. Announced in-principle acceptance of the demand for OROP PM Modi's 2016 Independence Day speech highlights: 1. He said more than two crore toilets have been built. 2. 21 crore people have been linked under Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana. 3. PM said that the government has identified about 1700 obsolete laws and Parliament has abolished nearly 1,175 of them. 4. He said that in the last few days the way the people of Balochistan, Gilgit, from Pak occupied Kashmir have thanked him, it is the honour of 1.25 billion people of India. "I thank those people from Balochistan, Gilgit and Pak occupied Kashmir". 5. He urged neighbours to fight poverty. "I say to our neighbours, let's fight poverty, by fighting our own people we will destroy ourselves, only by fighting poverty together will we prosper." 6. Announcement to increase the pension of family members of freedom fighters by 20 per cent. 7. PM Modi said that 10,000 villages out of 18,000 non-electrified villages have been provided electricity. PM Modi's 2017 Independence Day speech highlights: 1. PM Modi said we have to leave this 'chalta hai' (casual) attitude and think of 'badal sakta hai' (it can change). "This attitude will help us as a nation," he said. 2. Announced that more than 14,000 villages, which were without electricity since Independence, have electric power now. 3. He said that more than two crores poor mothers and sisters are no longer using the fuelwood and using LPG gas stove now. 4. Announcement for launch of a website which will give an account of the valour of the Gallantry Award winners. 5. He said the nation's call was 'Bharat Chhoro' (Quit India) in 1942 and today's slogan is 'Bharat Jodo' (Unite India). 6. Appealed to countrymen to make digital transactions and move towards a cashless economy. 7. PM said that the government has confiscated black money worth Rs. 1.25 lakh crores. 8. He said that Kashmir issue will be solved neither by abuse or bullets - it will be solved by embracing all Kashmiris. 9. He said that registration of 1.75 lakh companies out of 3 lakh shell companies dealing in hawala transactions has been cancelled. PM Modi's 2018 Independence Day speech highlights: 1. An Indian to be sent into space by 2022 as a part of manned space mission. 2. Thirteen crore mudra loans have been provided, including to four crore youth who have taken loan for the first time with the aspiration to become self-reliant. 3. Announcement to launch Pradhanmantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan to free treatment for serious diseases to poor people. 4. Declaration of the grant of Permanent Commission for the appointment of women officers in the Short Service Commission of Indian armed forces. 5. He said minimum support price for many crops has been increased to more than 1.5 times the input costs. 6. He said the country is producing record foodgrains and manufacturing record number of mobile phones. The sale of tractors has reached a new high. The country is buying the largest number of aeroplanes after Independence. 7. He said the country is confident of launching NavIC, the first indigenous Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) which will guide fishermen and other citizens through Satellite signals. PM Modi's 2019 Independence Day speech highlights: 1. He said that abrogation of Article 370 and 35A is a significant step towards fulfilling the dream of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and added that the spirit of "One Nation, One Constitution" has become a reality. 2. Declaration to take forward the 'Jal-Jeevan' Mission. He promised to spend more than Rs 3.5 lakh crores on this mission to give access to piped potable water to every rural household by 2024. 3. Highlighted that almost 1,450 obsolete laws have been done away with to reduce the burden from the common man's life. 4. Announcement about plans to invest Rs 100 lakh crore to boost infrastructure in the country. 5. He said it must be a dream of every Indian that the country becomes a USD 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years. 6. Announcement of creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff as a major reform in higher defence management. 7. India to declare itself Open Defecation Free in the next few weeks. 8. In accordance with Mahatma Gandhi's dream of self-reliant India, PM Modi appealed to citizens to buy local products. 9. Call to make India free from single-use plastic. The Hamilton County Republican Women will be having its monthly meeting on Tuesday, at 11:30 a.m. The Aug. 18th meeting date is significant in that it was on this date that the 19th Amendment was passed in the Tennessee Legislature in 1920 ratifying the right for women to vote. Tennessee became the 36th state to pass the 19th Amendment thus granting women the right to vote nationwide. The Tennessee ratification vote became known as the Perfect Thirty-Six with the state giving the needed 3/4 majority for passage. The luncheon celebration will take place at the Mountain Oak Tea Room, 9508 Church Street, Ooltewah, Tn. 37363. The guest speaker will be Jeannie Hammond. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. An Army commander caught cheating during lockdown has been cleared of breaking social distancing rules, it was reported last night. Major General Rupert Jones, 51, previously Britain's highest-ranking soldier in Iraq, was accused of breaking the rules to carry out his affair with his married lover. An investigation into Maj Gen Jones's commitment to the army's standards found 'no case to answer', The Sun reported. It emerged last month that he had left his wife Lucinda, 47, and moved out of their 1.5million home in the West Country. The couple have three children, aged between 16 and 20. Major General Rupert Jones, 51, previously Britain's highest-ranking soldier in Iraq, will face the Army Board over two misconduct charges His lover is understood to work outside the military and had left her husband to pursue the relationship. The father of three, whose father Herbert 'H' Jones was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his heroism in the Falklands conflict, is also facing a charge of bullying. An Army spokesman said on Monday: 'We are investigating the facts of this matter, and while we do so it would not be right to comment further.' Maj Gen Jones has an extraordinary military pedigree. Family: With wife Lucinda and his mother Sara after birth of son Henry Major General Rupert Jones is pictured (left) as a boy with his father Colonel 'H' Jones, mother Sara and older brother David Bravery: VC winner Colonel H Jones He was 13 when his father was killed storming an Argentine machine gun nest at Goose Green, and followed him into the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment. He became one of the Army's youngest commanding officers when he took charge of the 4th Battalion, The Rifles, at the age of 38. He has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland and was awarded an MBE for his role in drawing up Ministry of Defence plans to cope with potential national crises. Maj Gen Jones was Britain's senior general in Iraq in 2016 and 2017 as part of the US-led campaign against Islamic State. Kunal Kemmu is back as the fearless STF officer Abhay Pratap Singh who would do anything for justice in the second season of Abhay 2. Ram Kapoor is essaying a spervillain in this crime thriller, which has an ensemble star cast. Vidyut Jammwal is back in his action avatar in Khuda Haafiz, a film inspired by true events. He is fighting goons in the Middle East, trying to save his wife from the flesh trade. Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover are back together on screen, five years after their horror film Alone. The web series Dangerous is a thriller produced by Mika Singh and Vikram Bhatt. Heres what you can watch over the Independence Day weekend. Churails (ZEE5) This feminist show set in Karachi has been winning praise all week. Besides being a product of cross-border collaboration at a time of non-cooperation between the two countries, the show is being hailed for its fresh approach to telling stories of women. It is created and directed by Asim Abbasi, whose first feature film, Cake, was lauded by critics. And now, Churails has been receiving widespread critical acclaim. It focuses on a gang of four women who are out there to right the wrongs of men. The four protagonists (Sarwat Gilani, Mehar Bano, Nirma Bucha, and Yasra Rizvi) together run a fashion store which specialises in conservative clothing. While the Churails moonlight as Charlies Angels-inspired avatars, their personal struggles and issues are universal and strike a chord with the viewers. Dont miss this one. Dangerous (MX Player) Dangerous was shot as a movie in London, and later divided into episodes. The 7-part series traces the journey of a young entrepreneur Aditya Dhranraj (Karan Singh Grover) whose life changes when his wife gets kidnapped. His ex-lover Neha (Bipasha Basu) is sent on-ground to handle the case and find the kidnapper. The series is written by Vikram Bhatt and directed by Bhushan Patel and also sees Suyyash Rai, Sonali Raut, Natausha Suri & Nitin Arora play pivotal roles. Mika Singh turned producer with this project and has also sung four songs for the thriller. Khuda Haafiz (Disney+ Hotstar) Written and directed by Faruk Kabir, Khuda Haafiz stars Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi, with Annu Kapoor, Aahana Kumra and Shiv Panditt in supporting roles. Set during the financial crisis of 2008, the film is inspired by true events and follows Sameer Chaudhary, a young man who races against time to rescue his kidnapped wife Nargis from flesh traders. Vidyut has sealed his spot as an action man in Bollywood, and this film gives him a lot of opportunities to throw punches and kick goons. That promises to be the highlight of the film. Abhay 2 (ZEE5) Along with Kunal Kemmu, the second season of Abhay has an ensemble cast consisting Ram Kapoor as the super villain; Asha Negi, Nidhi Singh opposite Kunal Kemmu; Chunky Pandey, Bidita Bag, Raghav Juval, Indraneil Sengupta and Asheema Vardhan in a never seen before villainous avatar. The trailer showed Ram Kapoor getting willingly arrested as his goal is to meet Abhay Pratap Singh (Kunal Kemmu). Just like season 1, Abhay season 2 will have 8 episodes in total. Three episodes out of 8 have already been released on August 14. The remaining 5 episodes are slated for a mid-September release, although it is not yet confirmed by the makers of the show. World on Fire (SonyLiv) Penned by multi-award-winning writer Peter Bowker, World On Fire is a heart-stopping, multi-stranded drama telling the story of World War II through the lives of ordinary people from all sides of this global conflict. It traces the intertwining fates of relatable, vividly drawn characters from Britain, Poland, France, Germany and the United States as they grapple with the effect of the war on their everyday lives. The series features a stellar ensemble cast including Academy Award winner Helen Hunt, Emmy and BAFTA-winner Sean Bean, and Academy Award nominated and Olivier Award winner Lesley Manville in lead roles. We'll be back with more recommendations of content on streaming platforms next week. An upcoming election for a regional bank could hint at how Americas allies are reading the 2020 presidential polls and a signal of President Donald Trumps waning clout on the world stage. At issue: Trumps pick to run Latin Americas top development bank is forcing countries across the region to decide whether to support the U.S. choice without knowing if Trump or Joe Biden will be the president next year. The vote on the next president of the Inter-American Development Bank is currently scheduled for September, just seven weeks before the U.S. election. Normally, U.S. electoral politics wouldnt be relevant, as the bank has historically been led by a pick from a Latin American country not a U.S. nominee. But the White House has nominated Mauricio Claver-Carone, the current senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council, to lead the Washington-based bank. And Claver-Carones reputation as a highly partisan, Trump-aligned candidate has raised questions across Washington and Latin American capitals from Buenos Aires to Mexico City if he would be able to effectively lead the bank if Trump does not win reelection. If Trump loses, why allow him to impose his imprint on the region by electing someone that represents the Trumpian vision of the Americas? said Mark Feierstein, a former national security adviser on Western Hemisphere affairs during the Obama administration. The bank doesnt need this distraction when the highest priority in the coming months is to help these countries defeat the pandemic and revive their economies. Bidens campaign has already made clear it does not support Claver-Carone, pointing to criticism hes drawn from across the region. Trump's nominee for the Inter-American Development Bank is like most of his appointees: overly ideological, underqualified and hunting for a new job after November, a Biden campaign spokesperson said. While little known in Washington circles, the IDB is a major source of financing for Latin American and Caribbean countries, loaning about $13 billion each year. It funds development projects aimed at combating climate change or better equipping countries to handle natural disasters and public health emergencies. And given the fallout from the pandemic Latin America currently accounts for about half of the worlds coronavirus-related deaths the bank is expected to be especially relevant in the next few years. Story continues Some Latin American countries have been more vocal in the push to wait until after the U.S. election. Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and the European Union have already said they support a delay on the banks vote, which is currently scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13, partially because of the pandemic. Peru is also expected to push for a delay, multiple former IDB officials and Latin America experts said. Postponing the election would be a blow to the Trump administration. Former IDB officials, U.S. administration officials and congressional aides said the push for a delay reflects growing skepticism among the regions leaders that Trump will win reelection, and their fears of being saddled with a bank president who is unable to work with a Biden administration or potentially Democrat-majority Senate. We can read the polls and know nothing is for certain come Nov. 3, a former IDB official from Latin America said. If Trump is reelected, then thats another story. But for now, theres no certainty and we should wait. Mauricio Claver-Carone, deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, speaks to the press after meeting with Bolivia's Foreign Minister Karen Longaric in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Claver-Carone, for his part, welcomes all the attention around his nomination as a chance to draw attention to the little-discussed bank. Were going to use that sudden interest that has sparked across the board among Republicans and Democrats and put it to work for the benefit of the IDB, Claver-Carone said in an interview. The winner is going to be the IDB because now everyone, whether because they like me or they dont like me, [is] going to want to be the biggest champions of the IDB. Meanwhile, former Republican and Democratic officials alike, including former World Bank President Robert Zoellick and Thomas McLarty, former White House chief of staff in the Clinton administration, have called for the IDB to delay the election until March. They also want the U.S. to withdraw its candidacy to allow for a Latin American to take the job. That is the prudent step. And at that time, the U.S. government, whether led by President Trump or President Biden, should return to the well-established norm that the IDBs president be a Latin American. If it aint broke, dont fix it, former Secretary of State George Shultz and five other former officials wrote in an op-ed published last week in major Latin American newspapers, like Reforma in Mexico and Clarin in Argentina. The U.S. already has significant power within the bank, which is headquartered in Washington, as it has a 30 percent share meaning it has de facto veto power. Tradition holds that the executive vice president spot in the banks leadership is reserved for a U.S. pick. A group of former Latin American presidents, including Colombia's Juan Manuel Santos and Brazils Fernando Henrique Cardoso, have also called for countries to oppose the U.S. nominee and keep the tradition of having a Latin American leading the bank. Now is not the time to further complicate the already difficult episode that Latin America and the Caribbean confronts due to the pandemic and its grave economic and social consequences, they wrote in June. Part of their issue with Claver-Carones candidacy, former IDB officials said, also hinges on his ability to get Congress to support giving more money to the bank, as it is the largest source of development funding in the region. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has already made clear that Claver-Carone is the wrong nominee to make the case for such an increase, noting his unpopularity with key members of Congress. Leahys role in allocating money could make it difficult for Claver-Carone to lock in the money he wants for the bank. It is important to be aware that this nomination could jeopardize United States support for, and cooperation with, that institution, Leahy said in a statement in June. Other influential lawmakers have offered mixed reactions to Claver-Carones nomination. Reps. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), members of the House Appropriations Committee, in late July, urged the administration to reconsider, as Claver-Carones nomination "breaks from a 60-year precedent that a Latin American serve as President of the IDB. Claver-Carone has received strong support from fellow Cuban Americans on Capitol Hill. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a longtime friend and an influential voice in the region, has expressed strong support for his nomination. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), also a long-time friend of Claver-Carone, dismissed concerns about having a Trump-picked official in the position. Claver-Carone said he spoke to Menendez and vowed to lead the bank without a partisan agenda. "My commitment to him was that I would not get involved in partisan politics and Im going to meet that commitment, Claver-Carone said. He added that he is open to talking to any of his critics, including Leahy. But a spokesperson for Leahys office said the senator is familiar with Claver-Carones record, which is well-known, so he doesnt feel a need to speak to him. Multiple former administration officials and IDB officials are doubtful that Claver-Carone could ever work with Latin American officials across the political spectrum or Democrats in Washington. The guy is at his core a political operator and attack dog. That personality profile is simply antithetical to the leader of the Inter-American Development Bank, particularly given divided concepts of democracy across Latin America, a person close to Claver-Carone said. Claver-Carone is a longtime opponent of U.S. reconciliation with Cuba, a policy Leahy and other Democratic senators supported during the Obama administration. He has been central in crafting the Trump administrations policies toward Cuba and Venezuela, which Democrats criticize as ineffectual and inflexible. He previously worked at the Treasury Department and as a U.S. representative to the International Monetary Fund. Prior to that, he was a lobbyist leading a political action committee that worked to preserve the U.S. embargo on Cuba, but really gained prominence in conservative Latin America policy circles for his Capitol Hill Cubans blog, where he was pro-embargo on Cuba and argued against U.S. engagement with the communist-run island. The Trump administration previously failed to secure Claver-Carone as the executive vice president of the bank, as current IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno opposed the pick, multiple people familiar with the situation said. Rubio also failed to install Claver-Carone into the top Latin America job at the State Department, leaving the National Security Council post which did not require Senate confirmation as the next-best option. Its unclear if the countries currently pushing to postpone the IDB election will be successful. A former IDB official explained that this push to reschedule the election is unprecedented, but it could happen if countries send a formal letter requesting it. A vote would then be held by the board of directors of the bank; more than 50 percent of the votes would have to favor postponing the election for that to happen. The official said a successful vote to postpone is unlikely unless the current group of countries that oppose Claver-Carone gets his supporters to back a delay. In that case, the election would still take place as scheduled in September. The other option opposing countries have is to not show up for the virtual vote in the first place. To hold an election, there must be 75 percent of the regions member countries to meet quorum requirements. Right now, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica and the EU nations if they individually opt to vote have a large enough combined vote share to deny the U.S. quorum for the September vote. But former IDB officials and Latin America experts say it would be indecorous to do so, as one put it, and the best option would be to postpone the election before the scheduled vote. However, if the vote takes place, Claver-Carone is expected to meet the requirements to win. Claver-Carone is currently up against former Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla and Gustavo Beliz, secretary of strategic affairs to the president of Argentina, who worked at the bank for almost 15 years. The winning candidate, based on IDB rules, must receive a majority of the total voting power of member countries, which is based on each country's allotted shares in the bank. Brazil and Colombia combined, for example, have 14.5 percent. Claver-Carone must also receive the majority of the 28 regional member countries' votes. The White House said he already has 17 countries backing him, although it declined to share the full list. Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Haiti and Jamaica are some of the countries that have publicly offered support. Its really his victory to lose. Despite all the drama, hes the frontrunner, a former administration official said. But if the election is postponed, thats a whole other story. CORRECTION: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. When you throw an apple up in the air you expect it to fall down right? Same with water. Because gravity keeps us all grounded. However, this video of gravity-defying reverse waterfalls in Australia is going viral, baffling many. The video of two waterfalls at the Royal National Park near Sydney shows water flowing in reverse, from the bottom to the top. The water can be seen flowing backwards over the cliff instead of falling down. Facebook This, however, is no magic. The reason for this phenomenon is believed to be the torrential rainfall and wild weather in Australia. One Facebook page shared the video with the caption, 70km/h gusts battering the Royal National Park coastline have resulted in the creation of spectacular reverse waterfalls as captured in this video. Meteorologists believe that the occurrence of reverse waterfalls is the result of high winds coming off the ocean. These winds are so strong and they hit the cliffs with such a force that the water is pushed back up from where it comes. Also Read: This Reverse Waterfall In Maharashtra Seems To Be Defying Gravity, Flows From Bottom To Top The aerial footage of the phenomenon has left netizens amazed. However, this is not the first time reverse waterfalls have been recorded. Last year something very similar happened in Ireland and that video went viral as well. However, what happened was that the winds on the east coast side of Ireland were so strong that some of the water was pushed back and it appeared to flow upward. Sorry folks, only Science here. Also Read: World's Largest Waterfall Is Running Out Of Water & Might Disappear Kanye West said it's an "honor" to run against Kamala Harris, who is Joe Biden's running mate. (Photo: Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair) Kanye West isnt dropping out of the presidential race yet the rapper congratulated VP candidate Kamala Harris saying, Its an honor to run against you. I know my mom and Kamala Harris would have been friends, West, 43, tweeted on Saturday of his late mother Donda West. Congratulations on being the democratic Vice President nominee... all love and respect from the future president. Its an honor to run against you. On Tuesday, Joe Biden, who is running for president, chose California senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, calling her a fearless fighter for the little guy. West launched his presidential campaign on the Fourth of July with a tweet: We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States and the hashtag #2020Vision. Related: Kanye West confirms private meeting with Jared Kushner The rapper, who is married to Kim Kardashian, since campaigned in South Carolina, making a shocking speech that claimed his father wanted to abort him. My mom saved my life," he said. West also shared that him and Kardashian discussed abortion during her pregnancy with first daughter, North, 7. "So even if my wife were to divorce me after this speech, she brought North into the world, even when I didn't want to, said West. The pair, who wed in 2014, share three other children: Saint, 4, Chicago, 2 and Psalm, 14 months. I know my mom and Kamala Harris would have been friends ... congratulations on being the democratic Vice President nominee ... all love and respect from the future president Its an honor to run against you pic.twitter.com/5NYcyq9Gob ye (@kanyewest) August 15, 2020 The rapper apologized to Kardashian on Twitter for going public with something that was a private matter then revealed in deleted tweets that he had been trying to get a divorce and that Kardashians mother Kris Jenner had flown to the couples Wyoming ranch with 2 doctors to hospitalize him for mental illness. Story continues California Senator Kamala Harris was chosen by presidential nominee Joe Biden as his running mate. (Photo: Getty Images) In July, Kardashian revealed that her husband suffers from the mental health condition bipolar disorder and asked for compassion and empathy" while coping with Wests revelations. "Anyone who has this or has a loved one in their life who does, knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand," she wrote. The reality star is said to feel torn over whether she should stay married. Meanwhile, Wests future in politics looks uncertain. In an August exclusive interview with Forbes, he implied that his campaign was meant to boost President Trump, whom he praised during a 2018 trip to the White House while wearing a red Make America Great Again hat. When Forbes asked West whether he was trying to earn votes that otherwise could have gone to Biden, West said he was walking . . . to win. When the reporter said that West would not likely acquire 270 electoral votes needed to win the election, West answered, Im not going to argue with you. Jesus is King. According to a poll by Politico and Morning Consult, West currently has two percent of the vote. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: CHICAGO - Former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson, whose prosecutions of public officials including a predecessor helped catapult him to become the states longest-serving chief executive, has died. He was 84. Thompson, known as Big Jim, died shortly after 8 p.m. Friday at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, his wife, Jayne, told the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. The Tribune, citing a police report, reported Thompson had been recovering there for several weeks after suffering heart problems. His longtime press secretary, serving as a family spokesperson, confirmed the death to The Associated Press. It was very sudden, his wife told the Tribune. I was told that his heart simply stopped. Thompson was a prosecutor known for taking on Chicagos Democratic machine in a state infamous for political corruption when he was first elected governor in 1976. He led the state through a recession in the 1980s and served four terms before leaving office in 1991. A moderate Republican from Chicago, he worked across the political aisle to push through the construction of miles of highways and rebuild scores of bridges. He had a hand in the expansion of Chicagos McCormick Place convention centre and the construction of what is now the United Center, home to the NBAs Bulls and the NHLs Blackhawks. He also helped put together a plan to help the White Sox get a new stadium to head off a potential move to Florida. He was always willing to take the call and make the call to the other side of the aisle, said longtime press secretary Jim Prescott. He never demonized the other side. His work earned him praise from Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who issued a statement saying Thompson was known to treat people he encountered with kindness and decency and that he set an example for public service of which Illinoisans should be proud. As a prosecutor in the Cook County States Attorneys Office and later as U.S. attorney, the 6-foot-6-inch Thompson had become known for anti-corruption cases, including the prosecutions of major figures in the Democratic machine that had dominated Chicago politics for half a century. That reputation followed him into office, where he pushed to make political appointments based on talent, rather than based on past political or financial support. One of the things he will be most remembered for was getting away from making patronage appointments for top positions in state agencies and bringing in people based on their expertise, said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield. He really helped shape the modernization and professionalism of state government. But Thompson also made headlines when, as a leader of the law firm Winston & Strawn, he agreed to defend Republican former Gov. George Ryan, a longtime friend, on a pro bono basis in a corruption case that eventually landed Ryan in prison. In a 2015 article about Thompsons retirement from the firm after a quarter century, Crains Chicago Business noted that Thompsons decision to represent Ryan without receiving payment ultimately cost the firm more than $10 million. While working in the Cook County States Attorneys Office in the early 1960s, Thompson fought obscenity and prosecuted Lenny Bruce after the comedian held up a photograph of a womans breast while on stage at a Chicago nightclub. After he was appointed U.S. attorney for the northern Illinois district by President Richard Nixon, Thompson and his staff uncovered massive voter fraud in 1972, an effort that led to 83 indictments and 66 convictions or guilty pleas. He headed prosecutions that led to the conviction of a powerful Chicago alderman and Democratic former Gov. Otto Kerner Jr., by then a federal appeals judge. He also took part in the investigation of Republican Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew, who eventually pleaded no contest to tax evasion. Widely respected across Illinois, Thompson was honoured in 1993 when the state government building in downtown Chicago that he could see from his law office was named after him. He also later served as a member of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States to examine the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He was a great guy, no question about that, said Ryan, who was governor from 1999 to 2003 before being indicted on corruption charges. Prescot said in a statement that because of COVID-19 restrictions that limit the size of gatherings, a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Heres where to kick off this weekend with some delicious tacos, mariscos, and margaritas Scott MacCoubrey looked at his growing list of postponed memorial services and realized he might have a problem. He and his staff at MacCoubrey Funeral Homes in Cobourg and Colborne, Ont., have started generating ideas for how to address the backlog of memorial services created by government restrictions on public gatherings in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. "We're still sort of brainstorming, but one of the things that we're planning on doing is having more night funerals," said MacCoubrey, noting that would allow his funeral home to host an additional service every day. "Prior to the pandemic, we'd have maybe two night funerals a year." Small funerals are still permitted under Ontario's current emergency orders, with an officiant plus nine other people allowed to attend. Expanding the number of people allowed to attend funerals was in Stage 1 of Premier Doug Ford's plan to reopen the province that was unveiled on Monday, but the timeline and details of that plan are not yet clear. Of course, death doesn't wait for government orders. According to Statistics Canada, Ontario averaged more than 8,300 deaths every April between 2014 and 2018, and a surge is expected this year because of the novel coronavirus. Although some families have opted for the small-scale funerals currently permitted, most have not. A representative from the Ontario Funeral Services Association suggested there could be as many as 5,000 memorial services waiting to be held from the past six weeks alone. "For the most part, families are understanding the situation and have followed the rules," said Scott Smith, owner of Smith Funeral Home in Sarnia, Ont. "It is so hard to see families having to grieve separately and from a distance." Smith says he's done what he can to help grieving families, including hiring a videographer to ensure families have a quality recording of their private service or livestreaming the event when families have requested it. Michael Sargent of Sargent and Sons Funeral Home in Thunder Bay, Ont., hopes the government will lift the restrictions gradually so that smaller gatherings of 20 or 30 could be held, easing the burden on his industry. "They may have families that are comfortable with 30 people there so (a limit of 50) is going to more than cover what we need, so they may be willing to proceed at that point," said Sargent. "I have others that are a big family with a lot of community involvement and they're expecting 300 people, so they may not be quite comfortable yet with just a crowd of 50." Hosting two or three services in a day would also likely mean having to disinfect chapels and reception spaces after each event. The mounting number of postponed memorials is not the only logistical problem facing the funerary industry. Burials and cremations have continued on at the request of the government, with some crematoriums having to extend their hours to keep pace. Picking up the remains of the recently deceased has also become more complicated, with funeral home staff unable to enter hospitals or long-term care facilities. Instead, funeral homes bring a gurney and body bag to the door of the facility and pass it off to someone just outside of the building, who is then responsible for bringing the remains back out. Most pressing is a lack of personal protection equipment, which is necessary to protect funeral home workers when handling remains. Because funeral homes are not considered an essential service, they don't have the same access to masks and gloves as front-line health workers. Instead, the Ontario Funeral Service Association and individual homes have organized trades or sales, moving surplus stock around the province as needed. "It's been very interesting because even though we're private enterprise, and we compete with each other, during this pandemic, everybody's working together to help each other," said MacCoubrey. "It's been amazing, really." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Geza Molnar/Balazs Wizner (Agence France-Presse) Zahony, Hungary Sat, August 15, 2020 09:01 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2f21c 2 Environment environment,Hungary,waste Free The 150-odd competitors meeting on the banks of Hungary's second largest river carried somewhat unusual equipment for a boat race -- protective gloves, rubber boots and large bags. Their challenge was to collect as much rubbish as possible from the Tisza, in the northeast of the country on the Ukrainian border, navigating it on rafts, built themselves from trash, for nine days. "Every year since 2013, we start again where we left off the previous season," said competition organizer Attila Molnar. This year, more than eight tonnes of rubbish -- such as plastic bottles, tires and cans -- were collected from the river and its surrounding floodplains during the Upper Tisza Plastic Cup from August 1 to 9. With just half as many participants because of the coronavirus pandemic, that was still almost as much as in 2019, when racers managed to clean up an 80-kilometer section of the water course, according to organizers. "I think that, in all, we have extracted between 50 and 60 tons of waste over the past eight years," calculates 52-year-old competitor Istvan Palko. While Hungary's president has become one of the competition's sponsors, the water authority has taken on the challenge of keeping the cleaned sections rubbish-free, such as by closing the waterway with locks. Read also: Indonesian students win award for plan to clean up Citarum River 'Hell, this is hard!' For the race, typically about a dozen rafts start from a small pier -- itself built from rubbish recovered from this tributary of the Danube -- and row downstream between 10 and 20 km a day. The distance covered over the nine race days is "enormous", according to Laszlo Helmeczi, the mayor of Zahony, one of the small riverside towns, who enthusiastically praises competitors' "superhuman effort". Rafters prefer to use plastic bottles scooped out of the water in huge nets to make their vessels because they increase buoyancy. Other rubbish, including parasols, fridge doors and pipes, can then be used to constitute the hull and the cockpit. During evening stopovers, racers participate in awareness programs on environmental protection with locals, as well as lectures on the fauna, flora, history and heritage of the region, where ferocious fifth-century ruler Attila the Hun died. Race participant Dalma Farkas described the area as a kingdom "of mosquitoes and spiders". Many of the competitors are also involved the rest of the year in environmental associations in Hungary. "We are men of the water," said Viktor Kocsis, 40, who has been participating in the Cup for years and whose makeshift boat's name is a Hungarian expression, which roughly translates as "Hell, this is hard!". Topics : environment Hungary waste Jon Andrewes was appointed chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) ahead of 117 other candidates. No one on the high-powered panel, who conducted two interviews with Mr Andrewes, had any doubts they had chosen the right man for the job. Outstanding is how they described him. His CV experience aside pointed to a man of considerable intellect and academic prowess; the letters after his name alone took up much of the alphabet... joint first-class honours and master of philosophy degrees from Bristol University... an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Edinburgh... a PhD from Plymouth University... a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Mr Andrewes sounded as impressive as he looked on paper. His outwardly prestigious life was based on lies. Jon Andrewes, 67, (pictured) pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud after he told 'staggering lies' about his academic qualifications and experience to win a string of top-level positions in the NHS It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to provide outstanding health and social care services, he said in a statement shortly before taking up his duties in 2015. I will listen and engage with patients, clinicians and the wider community to improve care for the people we serve. The RCHT has a budget of about 380 million and employs 5,000 staff at three hospitals. It was the latest in a string of top-level positions Mr Andrewes held in the NHS. He also chaired the Torbay NHS Care Trust where he worked for the best part of a decade. But Andrewes should never have got any of these jobs. For his qualifications were made up. How a man who started life as a builder before gaining a diploma in social work his only real academic achievement rose to such prominence in the NHS on the back of fabricated credentials is a source of continuing embarrassment. Andrewes, 67, was forced to quit claiming ill-health a year into his tenure at Cornish Trust, prosecuted for fraud and obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception and jailed for two years. Only now, after the final chapter in the scandal unfolded this week, can the full story behind what the original trial judge at Exeter Crown Court called his outwardly prestigious life based on a series of staggering lies be revealed. Those lies helped him earn 1 million (before tax) in 12 years, not just from the NHS but also from a number of charities he ran; most of it has been spent. Any available assets (more than 96,000) were confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act two years ago. 'He got away with it for a very long time: The ex-builder rose to prominence in the NHS on the back of fabricated credentials and made 1million in 12 years. Jon Andrewes worked for the Royal Cornwall Trust, pictured But the Court of Appeal has now reversed this decision, arguing that Andrewes had given full value for the salary and benefits he received even though he had obtained the roles fraudulently and should not be punished twice for the same crimes. Which all rather begs the question: did he actually need any qualifications to do his job in the first place? Andrewes has now been released from prison. His wife Penny has stood by him. They live in Devon. Had the Court of Appeal not ruled in his favour, Andrewes would have had to relinquish the profits from the sale of their previous house, along with premium bonds in his name, an insurance payout for a Seat Leon car, and a barge he owns in Amsterdam; he would have also had to cash in a pension plan. There are those, no doubt, who think he should have been made to repay every penny, considering he worked for the NHS. Others, however, including former colleagues, believe he has already paid a heavy price; the sentence he received (some child sex offenders have spent not much longer behind bars) combined with the public humiliation is punishment enough, they say. His motive, according to someone who used to work with him, was not simply financial but borne out of frustration with people less able than himself getting promotions because he did not have the right piece of paper. Either way, the case highlights just how far lying on your CV can get you although few could have matched the sheer chutzpah of Jon Andrewes. The key date in this cautionary tale for employers is 2004. That was the year Andrewes was made chief executive of St Margarets Hospice, a palliative care charity in Taunton, Somerset, on an initial salary of 75,000-a-year. From our inquiries, based on information supplied to us by a former member of staff, we know that he was challenged during his interview about why his name was spelt differently (Andrewes and Andrews and Jon and John) on his birth certificate, passport and driving licence. He said this was because he had been adopted, something we have been unable to verify. In any event, copies of the documents with the different spellings circled were sent to the Criminal Records Bureau, part of the Home Office (now the Disclosure and Barring Service) which confirmed that Andrewes did not have a criminal record. There was no suspicion Andrewes had invented his qualifications, which would have been more difficult to check quickly back then in the days before there was an array of companies offering specialist checking services. So there was no reason not to make the appointment; a decision the hospice would come to bitterly regret with hindsight. At the time, his application seemed hugely impressive. And it was true that, after a spell as a builder, he had actually been legitimately employed in a number of senior management positions in the public and charity sectors after working as a social worker and probation officer in the Seventies and Eighties. One of the groups was the national environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Trust. He came across as very knowledgeable and competent, recalled David Shepperd, former head of legal services at Plymouth City Council, who liaised closely with Andrewes on a council-funded green project. He was an affable, nice guy to deal with. Andrewes combined his job at the Groundwork Trust (1998-2004) with a voluntary role leading Brixham 21, a campaign credited with bringing millions of pounds of investment to the port near Torbay. The Court of Appeal ruled this week that Andrewes can keep his earnings arguing that he had given full value for the salary and benefits he received even though he had obtained the roles fraudulently. Andrewes was also appointed chairman of the Torbay NHS Care Trust (Pictured, Torbay hospital) Under Jons leadership we achieved a hell of a lot for Brixham, said Chris Lomas, a former Liberal Democrat councillor. He got things done. I always thought of him as a successful high-flying, high achiever. I dont agree with anyone forging qualifications to get ahead of somebody else. I suspect he got frustrated with people less able than himself getting promotions because he did not have the right piece of paper. This is precisely what happened, it seems, after Andrewes was installed as CEO of St Margarets, which he used as a springboard to launch his career in the NHS, taking up a string of influential, high-profile, non-executive roles he was able to carry out in conjunction with his responsibilities at the hospice. He was appointed chairman of Torbay NHS Care Trust in 2007 before stepping down in 2015 to take up the same position at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. Andrewes received a net income from the former of 62,156 and 33,687 from the latter. He was also paid an additional 20,000 for chairing, on a temporary basis, another Devon health partnership in 2013. Total income from NHS during this period: 115,843. Still there was no suspicion of the staggering lies on his CV. At St Margarets, he was charming and personable, by all accounts, even though he had requested, rather loftily, that everyone address him as Dr Andrewes. Anyone who has a PhD is entitled to use that title. He got away with it for a very long time, said the former member of staff. She compared Andrewes to Frank Abagnale, the legendary U.S. fraudster whose exploits were turned into the movie Catch Me If You Can. That may seem like an exaggeration but Andrewes did more than just embellish his CV, he practically created a new identity, which was about to dramatically unravel. Irregularities in the way grants from the Department of Health were obtained and spent on building projects at the hospice had led to an internal investigation at St Margarets which, eventually, resulted in two former members of staff pleading guilty to fraud last year. During this process, clinical director Ann Lee discovered Jon Andrewess CV on computer records at St Margarets. Or should we say his three CVs. Key dates and career details on his original CV for the chief executives job at St Margarets were significantly different from the CV he used to become chairman of Torbay NHS Care Trust, which was markedly different again from the CV he submitted to get the same position at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. It was almost as if Jon Andrewes was three different people. The discrepancies uncovered by Ann Lee, who has now taken over as chief executive at St Margarets, were brought to the attention of the police and the NHS anti- fraud team. None of the universities Andrewes claimed to have received degrees from, they discovered, had any record of his attendance. Much of his employment history had also been re-written so it included stints at the Home Office and HM Revenue & Customs in 1969 when he would have been only 16. It beggars belief that no due diligence was carried out when he was appointed to these roles in the NHS, says an NHS source. Jon Andrewes announced he was retiring early from the NHS in 2016. The following year he was in the dock at Exeter Crown Court. Your outwardly prestigious life was based upon a lie, and more accurately a series of staggering lies, the judge told him before passing sentence. They were repeated lies about your education and employment background and your experience, lies by which you obtained responsible positions which you at least probably, if not certainly, would not otherwise obtained, positions in which honesty and integrity were essential qualities. Of course, because of your fraud, you received an income you should not have received. Above all, what you did means that you were performing responsible roles which you should not have been performing and inevitably that causes real damage to the publics confidence in the organisations which you deceived. On the Court of Appeals decision, a spokesperson from St Margarets Hospice, said: We are disappointed that Mr Andrewes appeal has been upheld, but are pleased that this final hearing brings this matter to a close. St Margarets Hospice has moved on and is focused on ensuring that our patients and their families across Somerset continue to receive compassionate end of life care and support when and where they need it most, particularly at this challenging time. Jon Andrewes has now embarked on a new life running a curtains and blinds company in South Devon with wife Penny. Im sorry he doesnt want to talk about this, she said when she answered the door of their bungalow. I understand why youve come but, Im sorry, weve been through enough. NHS Improvement, which appointed Andrewes, said the range of checks necessary for these type of appointments had been expanded in the wake of the controversy. Considering how easily he fooled his bosses, the question is: How many others like Jon Andrewes are still out there? BLOOMINGTON A single-day record for new COVID-19 cases in McLean County was set on Friday with 32 additional people testing positive but, because testing is increasing, the county's overall positivity rate remained 2.1% McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight reported Friday that a total of 722 county residents have had confirmed cases of the virus since March 19. She also reported that four people were hospitalized with the virus, one in an intensive care unit. That's one more than the three people hospitalized on Thursday. The hospitalized McLean County residents include people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, a reminder that COVID-19 affects people of all ages, McKnight said. McLean County is experiencing a trend of more younger people testing positive, with 30% of the cases among people in their 20s and 10% among people ages 1 through 19, McKnight said. "We've had a lot of new cases reported in the last couple of weeks," McKnight said. Reasons for the recent surge include people who have attended parties and people who have traveled, McKnight said. "They were at a gathering or party where they know of another person who tested positive," McKnight said. "Anytime there are large gatherings, these pose a higher risk," she said, encouraging people to avoid large gatherings and, when in public, remain at least six feet away from others and wear a mask. In addition to the four hospitalized people, the 722 cases include 108 people in home isolation (17 more than on Thursday) and 595 recovered (14 more than on Thursday). Fifteen McLean County residents have died of the virus since March but no new deaths have been announced since early July. The county's positivity rate for the seven-day period ending Thursday decreased from 1.9% to 1.8%, compared with the Central Illinois rate of 5% and the state rate of 4.1%. The positivity rate is the percentage of tests of county residents that have come back positive for the virus. McLean County's overall positivity rate, of more than 33,700 tests, is 2.1%, McKnight said. Testing numbers remained high at the COVID-19 testing site, operated by Reditus Laboratories, at the McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington. On Thursday, 589 people were tested there, McLean County Emergency Management Agency reported Friday. The site is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for anyone who can perform the nasal self-swab test. Meanwhile, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a warning to 14 Illinois counties because of an increase in COVID cases. Those counties included LaSalle and Moultrie. LaSalle County Health Department reported the COVID-related death of a woman in her 90s that county's 11th COVID death in August and 29th overall. The county also reported 32 new COVID cases, bringing its total to 912. They ranged in age from teenagers to a man in his 80s. Of the 912, 424 have recovered. LaSalle County has had 430 new COVID cases so far this month, more than June and July combined, that health department reported. That county's seven-day positivity rate is more than 8% and COVID emergency room visits have increased by more than 20% for two straight weeks. Social and family gatherings, household sharing, workplace exposures, long-term care outbreaks and community spread have contributed to the uptick in LaSalle County, said Julie Kerestes, LaSalle County Health Department administrator. Tazewell County Health Department reported 38 new COVID cases, bringing that county's total to 650 confirmed cases. Livingston County Health Department reported four more cases, bringing that county's total to 141. That health department will host mobile COVID-19 testing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at 310 E. Torrance Ave., Pontiac. Statewide, IDPH reported 2,264 new COVID cases on Friday and 25 additional deaths, including an Iroquois County woman in her 50s, a Sangamon County woman in her 80s and a Sangamon County man in his 90s. Since the novel virus hit Illinois earlier this year, 202,691 Illinoisans have been sickened by COVID and 7,721 have died, IDPH said. IDPH reported that 1,612 people in Illinois were hospitalized on Thursday night with COVID and 345 of them were in intensive care units. Contact Paul Swiech at 309-820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the world, Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of leading medical journal The Lancet, asked a provocative question with his newly-published book titled "The COVID-19 Catastrophe: What's Gone Wrong and How to Stop It Happening Again." Such a question reverberates around the globe as worldwide COVID-19 infections have crossed the 20-million mark and coronavirus deaths surpassed 750,000. Amid the catastrophe of the century, the future and destiny of mankind, analysts say, depend on current choices and actions. COMMON SECURITY From traditional security threats such as wars and conflicts to non-traditional security threats such as climate change and cyber attacks, humankind's understanding of security has been continuously expanded. Among them, in the past over 100 years, various infectious diseases, ranging from the Spanish Flu to AIDS, Ebola, SARS and Zika, have repeatedly reminded humans against biosecurity risks. Nobel laureate and biologist Joshua Lederberg once warned, "the single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on this planet is the virus." The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has been severely hitting the world's economic production, social life, international relations and global landscape, sounded the alarm bell again. The coronavirus, which knows no borders, races or religions, can serve as a sober reminder that security has become more interconnected and transnational. Considering that facing the pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe, China's vision of common security could help provide an answer to defeating the virus. Countries, as China proposed, should pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, reject a Cold War mentality and confrontation between blocs, and oppose the practices of seeking absolute security of oneself at the expense of others, so as to achieve the security of all. LIFE FIRST The public health crisis is also a test of countries' value orientation. Countries have different histories, cultures and levels of economic and social development. Thus, in the fight against the pandemic, with such different factors, they may adopt different crisis response approaches. Despite that, as the rights to life and health are fundamental parts of human rights, they should become the primary consideration for countries when facing the challenges posed by the pandemic, and guarding life should be the common value pursued by countries. Yet, Washington, in the absence of scientific evidence, has reopened its economy during the peak period of the outbreak, ignored the elderly in nursing homes, turned away the poor who cannot afford treatment, and launched election campaigns regardless of the risk of virus transmission, all in a bid for more cheap political points. On the contrary, many other countries like China have put the people's interests first and uphold the vision that nothing is more precious than people's lives. These countries have also sent medical staff abroad to help fight the outbreaks, demonstrating a sense of solidarity and mutual help. When the novel coronavirus struck, China made every effort to protect the lives and health of its people even at the cost of a short-term economic downturn and even a temporary shutdown. Mehmood-ul-Hassan Khan, a Pakistani geopolitical analyst, said that China's response to COVID-19 has been timely, effective, transparent and responsible. Noting that the Chinese government has always given top priority to the life and health of its people, he added that the international community can learn a lot from China's experience. SOLIDARITY NEEDED "Our best way forward is to stick with science, solutions and solidarity and together we can overcome this pandemic," World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged earlier this month. Looking back over the past century, from World War II to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and then to the global financial crisis of 2008, mankind has relied on cooperation to tide over these crises. However, since the onset of the pandemic, this cooperation has been lacking and such international organizations as the WHO have repeatedly called for solidarity. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to international cooperation is Washington's intentional disruption. Though the United States boasts rich scientific and technological resources and advanced medical equipment, the country intercepted shipments of medical equipment bound for other countries and recklessly stigmatized others to shift the blame. "The threat of coronavirus should kindle global cooperation, not a new cold war," Horton warned in a Guardian opinion piece this month. Also, the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the global systems of detection, monitoring, control and treatment of such infectious diseases. Thus, as the international community has urged, countries need to defend the global governance system with the United Nations at its core, give full support to the WHO, share experiences in fighting the pandemic, ensure the smooth supply of medical supplies and accelerate the research and development of drugs and vaccines. The virus's attack on human beings is far from over, and the prospects for pandemic control remain grim. In these drastic times, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said last month, only through international cooperation "will we ease the economic and social consequences of the crisis." "It is only by strengthening bonds across society that we will recover better and build a healthier, more inclusive, sustainable, resilient and equitable world," he added. Queen Elizabeth played an important role in Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exit from the royal family, according to the new book Finding Freedom. However, the bombshell biography claims that the weeks leading up to Megxit did not necessarily play out behind-the-scenes at the palace like the British press reported. Queen Elizabeth with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth and The Firm have not changed Through their rep, Harry and Meghan made it clear before the books release that they did not contribute to the project. However, Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand spoke to dozens of royal insiders close to Harry and Meghan, as well as Kensington Palace. According to Express, some of Harry and Meghans friends described palace officials as vipers. Scobie told the BBC that is an indication that not much has changed during Queen Elizabeths reign. RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Fears She May Never See Archie Again Amid The Escalating Row With Meghan and Harry Claims Expert I think what weve seen time and time again is that things havent changed that much within the institution, said Scobie. Its ultimately why they failed to really embrace and make it work with an American woman of color marrying into the House of Windsor. Thats a huge loss in itself. Scobie added that those close to the couple thought they were victims of many, many leaks. They also believed that many of the stories about the Sussexes were twisted to make great headlines by people inside the Firm with other agendas. Harry and Meghan did not snub Queen Elizabeth at Christmas In December 2019, it appeared to many royal fans as well as the British press that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were snubbing the Queen when they didnt travel to Sandringham to join the family for a traditional royal Christmas. Instead, Harry and Meghan traveled with their son, Archie Harrison, to Canada for a six-week trip. According to Finding Freedom, Queen Elizabeth gave them her blessing to take a break from their royal duties. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Continue to Defy Queen Elizabeth With Sussex Royal Months After Megxit The Queen, who saw Harry and Meghan regularly since they all lived on the Windsor estate, actually encouraged him to take the trip, writes Scobie and Durand. After all, they had spent the past two Christmases at her Norfolk retreat, and other family members including the Cambridges had skipped festive visits there, too. At that point, Harry and Meghan had been under intense scrutiny for two solid years, without fail. They had also gotten married, welcomed a child, and moved into a new home. Queen Elizabeth agreed that they should take a breather and enjoy some alone time. Harry and Meghans trip to Canada was far from a break Harry and Meghan didnt go on a quiet vacation to Canada during the holidays. While the Queen was with her close relatives in Sandringham, Harry and Meghan were on Vancouver Island. Where they were reportedly planning their future outside of the royal family. While on Vancouver Island, Harry and Meghan rented a four-acre Mille Fleurs estate in Victoria. It was there that they worked on setting up their non-profit organization, now known as Archewell. Just days after Harry, Meghan, and Archie arrived back in England, the Sussexes announced that they would be stepping down as senior working members of the royal family. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Seemingly Snub Queen Elizabeth Following Her Historic Speech Finding Freedom claims that Her Majesty knew about Harry and Meghans intentions. She told them not to make an announcement before they put together a strategic action plan. Of course, Harry and Meghan didnt listen, and this reportedly hurt Queen Elizabeth. Not long after the Megxit announcement, Harry and Meghan returned to Vancouver Island before moving to Los Angeles. The couple reportedly purchased their first home in Montecito, California, in July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been known among the best orators and his speeches on days of importance always become a talking point. It was no different on Indias 74th Independence Day as the leader raised significant points once again at the Red Fort. One of the topics, however, drew attention and won praises online, the PMs mention of sanitary pads and how his government had ensured it was distributed at just Rs 1. READ: PM Modi's Full 74th Independence Day Speech: Mega Announcements, Updates On Vaccine & J&K PMs I-Day mention impresses Pad-Man PMs address impressed Bollywoods very own Pad-Man Akshay Kumar. The actor, who had played the lead in Pad-Man, expressed his joy about the Prime Minister making menstruation a 'mainstream topic' and called it a sign of true progress. The Khiladi also hailed the governments effort in distributing sanitary pads for just Rs 1 to 5 crore women. Our @PMOIndia talking about sanitary pads in his Independence Day speech today is true progress...made menstruation a mainstream topic. Also kudos to the government who has so far distributed sanitary pads to about 5 crore women at Re. 1 Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2020 PM Modi in his Independence Day speech highlighted his governments efforts for the health of the poor women. He spoke about the effort of 6,000 Janaushadhi centres, that had helped in distributing sanitary pads to 5 crore women for just Rs 1. READ: Independence Day 2020: PM Modi Continues 'safa' Tradition; Opts For Saffron, Cream Turban For the unversed, Akshay had played the role of Arunachalam Murgunantham, a person who has made global headlines for his work in making affordable sanitary pads. Pad-Man was based on Akshays author-wife Twinkle Khannas story in her book, with the former actress also going on to produce the film. The R Balki directorial had won the National Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. Meanwhile, PM Modi also raised numerous other crucial issues like the COVID-19 vaccine, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India initiative, the face-off with China at the LAC, Kashmir, health and foreign policy in his address. READ: Nepal PM KP Oli Dials PM Modi, Extends Greetings On 74th Independence Day READ: PM Modi Announces Revolutionary National Digital Health Mission Launch On Independence Day WASHINGTON It appears Congress is off until September with no deal in sight on another round of pandemic relief measures. Democrats have criticized Senate Republicans for not sticking around until they had at least voted on a proposal, but Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., put the blame on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The House has been in session only a handful of weeks in recent months, after all, he noted. Were in the middle of a pandemic and weve been in session for five weeks out of six months, Bacon said. Its wrong. No deal means no relief funding for the Postal Service, which faces a virus-related shortfall and an impending surge of mail-in ballots. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his resistance to additional Postal Service funding, saying blocking the money will make it harder to do mail-in ballots. Trump has repeatedly suggested that those ballots would be susceptible to fraud. Bacon said Trump is right to push states such as New York to improve their mail-in balloting. NASA has called out to university-level engineering students to help with its mission to harvest water on Moon and Mars. The US space agency has called the programme, 2021 Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge. In a statement, NASA said that water is extremely important in all space missions, either to drink, to grow plants or even to make rocket propellant. But, NASA explains, it is expensive to carry water from Earth, especially since water is available in the solar system in abundance. The statement said that NASA is using a water mapping technology to understand how the water reserve in space, way more than previously imagined, could be utilised. "The water we'll find when the next men and first women explore the lunar surface for the Artemis program is liable to be mixed with contaminants that need to be removed before drinking, or use as fuel," said Douglas Terrier, NASA chief technologist. The statement said that harvesting water is the key to successful and sustainable human exploration of the lunar surface, of Mars and other planets in the long run. Interested teams will have to send in details of their project by November 24, 2020. Ten teams will be shortlisted; each of these ten teams will be given a $10,000 development stipend (approximately 7.5 lakh) to build and test their proposed systems over a period of six months. The final systems will be demonstrated at NASAs Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia in June next year. You can get more details on the competition here. NASA said that the motive behind the competition is to encourage the "brightest minds" to come up with "technological breakthroughs" which can contribute to human exploration of space in the future. Jonathan Cheban appears to be replacing the $250,000 watch that was stolen during a harrowing gunpoint robbery earlier this month. The reality star, 46, was spotted shopping at the luxury watch store Patek Philippe in Beverly Hills on Friday. Jonathan was spotted inside the store with his friend, where they appeared to be viewing new replacement watches. Back at it: Jonathan Cheban appears to be replacing the $250,000 watch that was stolen during a harrowing gunpoint robbery earlier this month The 'Food God' wore his sunglasses inside the store as he sat behind a Plexiglas shield, awaiting a selection of watches to select from. Jonathan wore a black face mask, a matching T-shirt, ripped jeans, and stylish sneakers as he headed towards the high end store. Jonathan appears to be returning back to normalcy after his horrifying robbery earlier this month, with the reality star posting his usual food content on his social media platforms. The incident happened in the quiet, upscale suburban neighborhood of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey while the Keeping Up With The Kardashains star was with a friend. Replacement? The 'Food God' wore his sunglasses inside the store as he sat behind a Plexiglas shield, awaiting a selection of watches to select from At one point his mother Galina had a gun pointed at her head before the mugger took Cheban's $250,000 Richard Mille watch, the star confirmed to DailyMail.com on Monday. 'It was frightening, I want the guys caught,' Cheban told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'The mugger had a gun pointed at my mother's head,' Cheban tells DailyMail.com. 'There were two gunmen. It was frightening. It happened at 8:30 pm last night just as the sun was going down.' On the go: Cheban wore ripped jeans and a black face mask for the outing The reality TV star, who goes by the name FoodGod, reported the mugging to New Jersey police and he visited the police station to create sketches of the criminals with detectives. This comes almost four years after Jonathan's good friend Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint inside her Paris hotel, The Hotel Pourtales, during fashion week. The gunmen barged their way into the room where Kim was with an assistant. The men eventually tied Kim up and locked her in a bathroom as they stole her jewelry worth over $10M. Kim has since said the robbery changed her life and she often does not go out with big items on. It also turned her focus in life toward her family and charity. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Technology prices in South Africa have increased significantly in recent months, and the price of smartphones has also been affected. These increases can be attributed to the falling value of the rand against the US dollar, as well as supplier shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South African mobile operators have also faced a shortage of Apple iPhones specifically, which is only now beginning to be alleviated. Cell C previously told MyBroadband that this shortage could be attributed to three incidents the Chinese New Year, COVID-19 related supply challenges in China, and the lockdown restrictions in South Africa. Certain products from Samsung, Huawei, and LG were also affected, but iPhones were the most heavily impacted. Some mobile networks said that despite production and supply interruptions, they were able to cover stock shortages thanks to well-managed inventory processes and timely delivery during level 5 lockdown. Many South Africans may feel that these increased prices mean they are paying inordinately high prices for smartphones and other tech products than other countries around the world. iPhone 11 price comparison To give an idea of how South African prices differ from those charged for these products overseas, we looked at the price of a new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max in the following countries: South Africa United States United Kingdom Finland Australia Brazil As sales tax is not included in the price of an iPhone in the United States, we added an average markup of 7.25% to make this price more comparable with that of other countries. It is important to note that the real combined sales tax rate would depend on which individual state the iPhone was purchased in. The price of these iPhones was converted to South African rand using the exchange rate at the time of writing, and this figure was used to rank the prices from most expensive to cheapest. While this provides a rough idea of how much more South Africans pay for iPhone 11 devices, it should be noted that this price difference may be influenced by a number of factors. These include shipping costs, as South Africa is much farther away from Apples global distribution centres than many other countries in this comparison. Import duties may differ compared with other countries as well, meaning that local distributors may be charged more for bringing iPhones into the country than distributors in Europe or Australia. Sales volumes are also a consideration, as local distributors may not be able to import as many iPhones as international distributors, and therefore they will not benefit from bulk volume discounts to the same extent. iPhone 11 South Africa vs The World The prices of iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max smartphones in South Africa and a number of other countries are listed below. Pricing information was sourced from the Apple website in the international regions and iStore South Africa for South African pricing. Country Price iPhone 11 64GB South Africa R18,499 Finland 829 (R17,147) United Kingdom 729 (R16,758) Brazil R$4,999 (R16,023) Australia A$1,199 (R15,120) United States* $751 (R13,128) iPhone 11 Pro 64GB Finland 1,179 (R24,414) United Kingdom 1,049 (R24,139) South Africa R23,999 Australia A$1,799 (R22,701) Brazil R$6,999 (R22,435) United States* $1,074 (R18,870) iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB South Africa R26,499 Finland 1,279 (R26,485) United Kingdom 1,149 (R26,435) Brazil R$7,599 (R24,358) Australia A$1,899 (R23,963) United States* $1,181 (R20,750) *Average sales tax of 7.5% added to the price. Now read: WhatsApp to sync chats between Android and iPhone Teachers unions all across America are successfully shutting down public schools in the name of COVID-19. Now, under the guise of equality, theyre trying to shut down private schools, as well. The Maryland county where my kids go to school already tried. The countys chief health officer, offering no metric to justify the move, issued a blanket closure of all private schools on a Friday evening. Outraged parents mobilized over the weekend and, less than 48 hours after the initial decree, Gov. Larry Hogan overturned the county order. Days later, the health officer dug in his heels and issued a new order closing schools in total defiance of the governor while at the same time, greenlighting the opening of massage and tattoo parlors. After more outrage, he was eventually forced to rescind the order. But it was perhaps the most brazen attempt yet to hide this increasingly glaring reality: While public schools are closing for in-person learning, private schools are working hard at great expense to open safely in the fall for in-person learning. The upshot? The teachers unions and their apologists are now labeling private schools engines of inequality. Thats the false phrase of two authors in a recent New York Times article that framed school closures as a conflict between privileged parents and poor county families whose children will be victims of the failed experiment known colloquially as distance learning. The problem is that the data simply do not support such a simplistic framing of the issue. Thats especially the case when you account for the fact that Catholic schools fall into the private/independent school category. Teachers unions argue they cannot re-open safely because of budget constraints and class sizes. Yet Catholic schools spend nearly seven thousand dollars less per pupil than national per pupil average spending. Catholic school tuition on average costs less than half the national average for their non-sectarian private counterparts, and nearly all offer financial aid despite often operating at a loss. They do this, in part, because their very mission is to meet the needs of Americas most disadvantaged families. A full 40 percent of Catholic schools are located in America's inner cities. In the words of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Catholic schools are often the Churchs most effective contribution to those families who are poor and disadvantaged, especially in poor inner-city neighborhoods and rural areas. Catholic schools cultivate healthy interaction among the increasingly diverse populations of our society. In cities and rural areas, Catholic schools are often the only opportunity for economically disadvantaged young people to receive an education of quality that speaks to the development of the whole person. And they still manage to produce enviable educational outcomes. They boast some of the nations best graduation rates. As one study concluded, [S]tudents who attended Catholic high schools had the highest college GPAs, total college graduation rate, and four-year college graduation rate, and they were more likely than students who attended other high school types to have graduated with a STEM degree. Catholic schools arent engines of inequality; they are accessible pathways out of poverty for some of Americas most disadvantaged students. Despite far fewer resources than public schools or their elite private counterparts, Catholic schools nationwide have spent the summer retooling their operational plans to get Americas most disadvantaged children safely back at their desks this fall where health and public policy experts all agree these kids belong. While the teachers unions have been lining up body bags outside of schools, Catholic school administrators have been working overtime buying tents, reconfiguring classroom layouts, and installing air filtration and hand sanitizing stations throughout their schools. That Catholic schools have nimbly come forward with CDC-compliant reopening plans on shoestring budgets stands in stark contrast to the unions arguments that more money and outrageous demands are the solution to safely educating Americas children in a pandemic. They unmask in an unprecedented way the unions' fraudulent claims that they have Americas neediest kids at heart. And, now, in trying to close down Americas Catholic schools, the unions are exposing themselves as the true engines of educational inequality in America. Mumbai, Aug 14 : Actress Sonam Kapoor loves reading and she has shared two books that have impacted her. Taking to Instagram on Friday, the actress wrote: "Revisiting books is like opening up a memory box. The nostalgia, emotion and joy of it all comes rushing back to you, like it's your first time being immersed into the writer's universe. Today, I'm sharing with you the two books that have impacted me in more ways than one." One of them is "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth. "It takes us on Lata's journey: how she navigates into finding her 'suitable boy' in a newly independent India on the behest of her domineering mother," Sonam wrote. The other book is "Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer". She described the book as "a historical fantasy novel penned by German writer Patrick Suskind", adding that it "is the perfect horror fiction read that you want to deep dive into on a lazy day". She also asked her 30 million followers what their favourite fiction reads are. "I need to get my hands on some new recommendations. Leave them for me in the comments below!" she concluded her post. Share This Infographic On Your Site You can also find more infographics at Visualistan Covid-19 not only weakens a person physically but mentally as well. Along with the people who have contracted Covid-19, those who have not, face mental issues as well. The grief of losing their loved ones due to pandemic, unemployment stress, lockdown frustrations, taking care of the family, challenges of work from home, and above all, the fear of getting infected by the virus. All of these things are messing altogether with the mental health of people from all over the globe. A survey was released by the Commonwealth Fund and research firm SSRS that showed that among the top ten high-income charts, a third of people from the U.S. said that they experienced anxiety, stress, and sadness, which was pretty difficult to cope up with alone in this pandemic. Almost a quarter of the respondents from the United Kingdom, Canada, and France said they struggled with mental health issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.Refer to the infographic below and know the stats of mental health issues amongst the top ten high-income countries. Prime Minster Narendra Modi said in his 74th Independence Day speech that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will help Indian students become global citizens while ensuring that these students stay connected to their roots. "After three decades, we have been successful in getting a new education policy," said PM Modi. National Education Policy was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 30. This policy aims to bring a change in the way academics is taught in schools and colleges and also the way the sector is regulated. Follow here for 74th Independence Day LIVE Updates This policy has proposed that students learn in their mother tongue or local language till the fifth grade and preferably till the eighth grade. This is expected to boost regional languages since most schools use Hindi or English as the medium of instruction. Also, vocational education has been made mandatory from the sixth grade. Here, students will be able to visit local craftsmen, carpenters, potters and weavers to understand the skills of the trade. Also Read: What are the key features of National Education Policy? PM Modi said that education is necessary for a new India and for the country to become self-reliant or Atmanirbhan. He added that the NEP has been welcomed by all citizens across the country. "An important aspect of NEP 2020 is the National Research Foundation. An emphasis was placed on research because that is a key focus for innovation and India's progress," he added. Also read: Key highlights of what PM Modi said and announced During his speech, PM Modi also spoke about how an adversity called Coronavirus has brought about a new phase of digital education in India. "Online classes have become a culture during COVID-19 outbreak. We are seeing classes being held online even in villages during this time," he added. Since schools have been shut due to the outbreak of coronavirus, regular classes are now being taught over video-conferencing tools using platforms like Zoom and Google. A World Bank experts advice about attracting FDI deserves consideration, according to Bui Trinh, a respected economist. Jacques Morisset, the World Bank Chief Economist, spoke at a ceremony on the launching of a report that took stock of Vietnams economic development in July. Vietnam should not think about how many foreign investors it can attract, but raise the question about what FDI has done for Vietnam, he said. The expert stressed that investments need to bring efficiency and contribute to economic development. In fact, many FIEs cannot find local vendors. He said that Vietnam should train its workforce and upgrade Vietnamese enterprises, not just try to attract more investment. Trinh said on Dat Viet that the comments by the World Bank expert were not new. In fact, Vietnamese economists have many times urged government agencies to review the positive and negative effects that FDI brings to Vietnam. They have warned that Vietnam has been relying too much on FDI, while FDI still cannot bring the desired effects though it has been given many preferences. The only difference between the comment by the World Bank expert and the warning by Vietnamese economists is that the remark this time was made by a creditor. According to Trinh, the World Bank expert recommended that Vietnam reconsider its FDI attraction policy. He also mentioned a worrying issue: Vietnams high growth rate heavily depends on international business and domestic consumption. Meanwhile, because of Covid-19, both export and domestic consumption has fallen significantly. The decline can be seen in every aspect of the economy, while potential resources for growth are becoming exhausted. The Vietnamese economist said that the World Bank expert may help discourage those who try to lure FDI at any cost. Over tens of years, Vietnam has accepted many low-quality FDI projects, which use low technologies, pollute the environment, and exploit natural resources in Vietnam. Trinh cited reports released recently as saying that many FIEs exploited the loopholes of the legal framework to carry out transfer pricing, causing losses to the economy. We can only collect some money from the taxes they (FIEs) pay. The technology transfer, which Vietnam most expects from FDI, is nearly at zero. Meanwhile, Vietnam has to offer them too many incentives, he said. Trinh went on to warn that an unreasonable policy on attracting FDI affects the strength of the internal economic sector. The more we rely on FDI, the narrower internal strength will get, he warned, adding that it is necessary to think carefully about which business fields Vietnam should encourage investments in and how to call for FDI. Translated by Mai Lan Bookworms are gathering in Shanghai to celebrate the festival of reading. The 2020 Shanghai Book Fair was unveiled on Wednesday at Shanghai Exhibition Center (SEC) with a dizzying 1,000 events on-site and online. The annual event, in its 17th edition, has seen more than 300 reading events go online and diverse in-person activities take place at the main hall of the SEC and across 150 bookstores in Shanghai and its neighboring cities, according to the organizers. Bibliophiles are promised a comfortable, cafe-like experience during the seven-day events, with international literary celebrities such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jesse Ball, Roy Jacobsen and Belinda Cannone, as well as renowned writers at home like Ma Boyong, Zhu Yong and Mao Jian, slated to hold reading events. 700-plus new books are set to make their debut during the fair with over 100 of the latest works launched online simultaneously for readers unable to attend in person. One of the most exciting first releases is the newest version of Cihai the most authoritative dictionary and encyclopedia of Standard Mandarin Chinese and its online version, which were launched on the opening day, drawing large crowds. Bookworms can savor a variety of classic literature and the latest best-sellers at different themed exhibitions in the main pavilion. "Many big-name publishers are here, and I can spend the whole day here. I also want to buy some books for my daughter. Spending too much time on tablets and smartphone is not good for her," said Chen, a reader visiting the book fair. Noting that they've brought many books about local culture, including The Mountains of Hangzhou, and The Temples and Churches of Hangzhou, Yang Qinghua, assistant director of the Hangzhou Publishing Group, added "Books on tourism are in high demand in recent months. I think people can't wait to travel as the pandemic wanes." Books recording the COVID-19 battle highlighted There is also a special exhibition showcasing publications related to the COVID-19 fight, such as A Brief History of Anti-Epidemic, Oral Account of the Witnesses by Xinhua Publishing House and U.S. author John M. Barry's The Great Influenza. It also features books about the heroic medical workers and others supporting the tough battle over the past few months. Among them is the high-profile work The Diary of Doctor Zha, which was penned by Zha Qiongfang, a doctor from Shanghai's Renji Hospital who was dispatched to support the hardest virus-hit Hubei Province. This year's event has seen stringent COVID-19 prevention measures in place to ensure the health and safety of visitors and staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the organizers, the exhibition area at the main pavilion was expanded to 26,000 square meters, an increase of 10.8 percent over the previous one, so as to help scatter the crowds and keep social distance. The organizers have also limited the number of daily visitors to 18,000. All visitors to this year's book fair have to register in advance, show their health codes and have temperature checks before entering the venues. Other precautions include wearing masks and staggered visiting hours. Launched in 2004, the book fair, held annually in summer, has become a cultural gala for both local residents and visitors. This year's event will run through August 18. Pottsville, PA (17901) Today Overcast. High 43F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with periods of light rain and snow after midnight. Some sleet may mix in. Low around 30F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Let us ask Our Lady, the Gate of Heaven, for the grace to begin each day by raising our eyes to Heaven, toward God, to say to Him: "Thank you! as the lowly ones say to the great ones. Thank you'". Today I would like to pray in particular for the difficult situation in Nigeria, hit by terrorism. Finally, Francis addresses an appeal to Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, involved in negotiations on the Nile, which is a "river of peace". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Going to the moon serves us little if we do not live as brothers and sisters on Earth. But that one of us dwells in the flesh in Heaven gives us hope: we understand that we are precious, destined to rise again. Together with "putting God first" is what, in the words of Pope Francis, inspires today's feast of the Assumption of Mary. In fact, Francis said to some thousands of people present in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus that "When man set foot on the moon, he said a phrase that became famous: Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. In essence, humanity had reached a historical goal. But today, in Marys Assumption into Heaven, we celebrate an infinitely greater conquest. The Madonna has set foot in paradise: she went there not only in spirit, but with her body as well, with all of herself . This step of the lowly Virgin of Nazareth was the huge leap forward for humanity. Going to the moon serves us little if we do not live as brothers and sisters on Earth. But that one of us dwells in the flesh in Heaven gives us hope: we understand that we are precious, destined to rise again. God does not allow our bodies to vanish into nothing. With God, nothing is lost! In Mary, the goal has been reached and we have before our eyes the reasons why we journey: not to gain the things here below, which vanish, but to achieve the homeland above, which is forever. And Our Lady is the star that guides us. She went there first. She, as the Council teaches, shines as a sign of sure hope and solace to the People of God during its sojourn on earth (Lumen gentium, 68)". Mary, in fact, acknowledges that she is small and exalts the great things (v. 49) the Lord has done for her. What are they? First and foremost, the unexpected gift of life: Mary is a virgin yet she becomes pregnant; and Elizabeth, too, who was elderly, is expecting a child. The Lord works wonders with those who are lowly, with those who do not believe that they are great but who give ample space to God in their life. He enlarges His mercy to those who trust in Him, and raises up the humble. Mary praises God for this. And we - we can ask ourselves - do we remember to praise God? Do we thank him for the great things he does for us? For every day he gives us, why does he love us and always forgive us, for his tenderness? And again, for having given us his Mother, for the brothers and sisters he puts us on the path, why did Heaven open to us? If we forget the good, the heart shrinks. But if, like Mary, we remember the great things the Lord does, if we magnify him at least once a day, then we take a big step forward. Praise God. With this little prayer, the heart will expand, the joy will increase. Let us ask Our Lady, gate of Heaven, for the grace to start each day by looking up at the sky, towards God, to say to him: 'Thank you!' ". And after the recitation of the Marian prayer, the Pope said that " The Virgin Mary, whom we contemplate today in heavenly glory, is the Mother of hope. This title of hers has been recently included in the Litany of Loreto. Let us invoke her intercession for all the situations in the world that are most in need of hope: hope for peace, for justice, hope for a dignified life. Today I would like to pray in particular for the population of the northern region of Nigeria, victim of violence and terrorist attacks." Finally, Francis addressed an appeal to Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, involved in negotiations on the Nile, which is a "river of peace" Poland and the US signed an expanded defense cooperation agreement that will result in 1,000 additional U.S. personnel being sent to the Eastern European country on a rotational basis. The deal, agreed earlier this month, and signed Saturday in Warsaw by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, follows the U.S.s decision to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany and plans to redeploy almost half of that number to other nations in Europe. It envisages that Poland will host forward elements of the U.S. Armys V Corps headquarters and intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as well as the infrastructure to support an armored brigade combat team and a combat aviation brigade on top of the 4,500 personnel already on rotation in the eastern European nation. Poland will cover the costs of the presence, which its defense ministry estimated at 500 million zloty ($135 million) a year. I believe the agreement will help boost cooperation in other areas; more security means more investment by American companies, including more cooperation in the energy industry, President Andrzej Duda said at the signing ceremony. The nations have also been negotiating a bilateral civil nuclear power agreement to help Poland to decisively move ahead in building nuclear plants with American technology, the White House said in June. Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller confirmed nuclear power was among the topics raised by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at his meeting with Pompeo earlier on Saturday. Excited that the US and PL took another important step towards enhancing Polands energy security through the Intergovernmental Agreement on nuclear power, Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher tweeted on Saturday. Pompeo and Morawiecki also discussed the situation in Belarus, as well as co-operation in 5G network construction, and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which would link Russia and Germany. Poland welcomed U.S. sanctions aimed at halting the pipelines construction, Muller said. Colombo bourse on a firmer wicket By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): The new Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is pushing for a more liquid, multiproduct and more accepted stock market in these challenging times. In an interview with the Business Times on Thursday, Dumith Fernando, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CSE who settled into his new role on July 1, reiterated his first priority as rightly positioning the stock market. The value proposition of the CSE in the context of the national growth agenda is very important. We want to revitalise the long-term capital formation and risk mitigation in the stock market, he said. For this, the exchange is looking at creating exchange trading and risk management products such as mortgage backed securities (shares of a home loan sold to investors) in a thoughtful way. We can look at allowing banks to lend on housing loans and lay off the risk which is a way to help this industry to mitigate the exposure. Secondly, he highlighted broad-basing or bringing the benefits of the capital market to the citizens, adding: Thirdly we have a trusting trading and depository venue which is the Central Depository System (CDS) through which we can create awareness and easy access and you can introduce better products. During the last five years, customer complaints to the CSE has dropped by a whopping 70 per cent, he said pointing out that this as an area the exchange has managed well. The surveillance related referrals to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped also by 70 per cent. Mr. Fernando added that now more than ever, the exchange has a better wicket to articulate and implement their strategies with a very proactive SEC team. The CSE has identified five strategic push areas in this regard. As a start, Mr. Fernando said they are trying to analyse how to rerate the CSE valuations. CSEs price to earnings (PE which reflects the earnings potential) stands at 11.4 reflecting a better position than Pakistan (at 15), Vietnam (at 14), the Philippines (at 16) etc. CSEs five-year PE average is 11.3. The price to book value of the CSE is 0.8 while Pakistan is 1.9, Philippines 1.5 and Thailand 1.5. Secondly the CSE will attract new listings focused on liquidity. We are in discussions with the Board of Investment, Export Development Board and ICTA (state IT agency) to identify why companies under their remit are not listing and then jointly give incentives to them to do so, Mr. Fernando said. He added that a continuous discussion on listing state-owned enterprises and looking at public private partnerships will be carried out. The CSE also aims to promote listing more debt. This is a really good time to look at better rates through debentures which corporates can benefit from, Mr. Fernando pointed out. Thirdly the CSE plans to level up the unit trust and insurance industries where more equity-based products can be sold. The CSEs fourth initiative is to give a big push on financial literacy, Mr. Fernando said. We see many people not being aware and not knowing how to access the market, all the while seeing it as too risky. We want to promote more financial literacy so that more retailers can actively participate in the market. He added CSEs digitisation will be a big game changer in this regard. The CSE also has plans to open new branches in the suburbs. Mr. Fernando added that digitising will be a big game changer in this regard. The final key push area will be to develop trust with the main stakeholders issuers, investors and the public. We are trying to find ways to resolve client disputes quicker, Mr. Fernando added noting that the impending delivery versus payment (DVP) system is a big part of building trust with foreign clients as well. He has plans to get the CSE into an operating profitability within three years. Mr. Fernando added that the exchange is looking at new products. We are looking at gold-based products. He also mentioned that CDS is a great product that the exchange has, which has a centralised structure. We are working with state agencies to include this in their roadmap and to implement centralised registries. In terms of products, the CSE is also looking at over-the-counter debentures including the debenture repos. Mr. Fernando highlighted that in his tenure, he wants to focus on the role the CSE can play. We are ready to make a very honest effort to collaborate with the regulatory and policymakers to see what CSE can be and not what it was or has been. We are a facilitator and we have a trusted depository which we can utilise to generate more wealth. The Ghana Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), a science-policy dialogue platform, is to deepen awareness and to enhance knowledge on climate change among stakeholders. It will also provide consistent research and development to support the mainstreaming of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), into Ghanas food and agriculture systems. Ghana is one of three countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, to benefit from the initiative to enhance Climate-Change adaptation within the food and agricultural systems in rural communities through the exchange of information, experience sharing and learning to influence policy. The platform is hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-ARI) and was formed in 2012 through multi-stakeholder dialogue and launched on July 30, 2013, with strong ministerial support from Ministry of Food Agriculture, and the Ministries of Environment Science and Technology, and Trade and Industry. Mr Vincent Ansah Botchway, the Executive Secretary of the platform, said the platform, in the past seven years, had helped to increase collaboration between the private sector, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the public sector to address climate change. The platform with support from the ministerial and parliamentary levels made significant contributions to protect the environment by developing bye-laws at the district and community levels. He said the frameworks were anchored by gender and value chain development considerations to guide district assembly in their development plans, particularly in tapping into the one-district-one-factory (1D1F) policy of the government. Mr Botchway said the platform in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2017-2018 developed nine district-level CSA investment frameworks for the mobilisation of funds into the districts, and thereby responsive to the Ghana CSA-FSAP 2016-2020. To bridge observed climate change information, solutions and actions gaps between community people, researchers, policy decision-makers, the platform in collaboration with CCAFS West Africa, CARE International and MOFA mobilised for the establishment and launch of 10 subnational platforms in 10 districts in Ghana, he explained. The districts are Nadowli-Kaleo, Lawra, Jirapa, Nandom, Lambusie-Karni, Ho West, Ada West, Tain, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Birim South respectively to ensure policy advocacy and mainstreaming. The concept was initiated by the CCAFS programme West Africa (ICRISAT, Bamako- Mali) to promote food-secure nations through the provision of science-based efforts that support sustainable agriculture and enhance livelihoods while adapting to Climate-Change and conserving natural resources and environmental services. Through the work of the platform, the draft financial plan to address the CSA and Food Security Action Plan (CSA-FSAP, 2016-2020) has become a relevant input for the development of Ghana CSA Investment Plan (CSAIP) by the World Bank through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and which will be linked to the Adaptation of African Initiative. Dr Botchway said the platform would support improved food and nutrition security for health, contribute to building resilient agro-systems at the sub-national level through active participation in action research and CSA promotions. He said CSA aims to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes; adapt and build resilience to climate change, and reduce and/or remove greenhouse gas emissions. CSA provides the means to help stakeholders from local to national and international levels identify agricultural strategies suitable to their local conditions and it is one of the 11 Corporate Areas for Resource Mobilisation under the FAOs strategic objectives. This year CCAFS West Africa in collaboration with Ghana CCAFS platform is supporting the capacity building of CSA actors in the existing platforms to enable them to develop proposals to attract local and international funding to address climate-change-related challenges within their respective farming systems, he said. The CCAFS is a member of the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) and also member of West Africa CSA Alliance and an active participant of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA)-NEPAD activities on climate-smart agriculture on the continent. 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 Sorry! This content is not available in your region Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Friday agreed to reopen President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi to visitors from Saturday after two months of closure for maintenance and renovation. On Friday afternoon, PM Phuc inspected the periodic maintenance and renovation of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which had begun on June 15 and wrapped up on Friday. In its report to the PM, the management board of the mausoleum said that late President Ho Chi Minhs embalmed body continued to be preserved in the best state thanks to stable, accurate and reliable technical equipment. The architecture of the mausoleum and the adjacent works are maintained and repaired in a spacious, clean and beautiful manner, the management board reported, while officers and employees working at the venue have accumulated more experience, improving their organizational qualifications and ability to meet the technical requirements of their works. Notably, this years maintenance and renovation works were carried out without the assistance of experts from Russia as in previous years due to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his response to the report, PM Phuc held in high regard the mausoleum management boards efforts in the maintenance and renovation project. The government chief also approved the management boards proposal to restart welcoming visitors to the venue from Saturday, August 15. However, he reminded the board to ensure security and safety in the area in combination with pandemic prevention and control. PM Phuc asked the board to continue refining its management model during the 2021-25 period and fulfill assigned tasks. Phuc also gave his opinions on the boards other proposals, including cooperation with Russia during 2016-20 and discussions on the signing of the 2021-25 cooperation plan with the Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. President Ho Chi Minh, born in 1890, was the founder of what is now the Communist Party of Vietnam. He passed away in 1969. His body was embalmed with help from Soviet experts. The late Vietnamese presidents embalmed body is up for public viewing at selected times of the year for visitors to the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi. The mausoleum was built in two years from 1973 to 1975, with materials collected from all parts of Vietnam as a symbolic gesture of national mourning and union. The solemn granite structure is one of the most iconic landmarks in the heart of the Vietnamese capital city. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Saturday dialled Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to wish India on its 74th Independence Day, the first direct contact between the two leaders in four months. PM Olis ice-breaking phone call was quickly followed by tweets from Nepals former prime ministers, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Madhav Nepal of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, and Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the opposition Nepali Congress. PM Oli had set up a row over an 80-km road built by the Border Roads Organisation in April this year and issued a new map the next month that depicts Indian territories, Kalapani and Lipulekh as part of Nepalese territory. A statement by the external affairs ministry said PM Oli greeted the government and people of India on the occasion of its 74th Independence Day. He also conveyed congratulations for Indias recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in both countries, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi offered Indias continued support to Nepal to deal with the pandemic and recalled the civilizational and cultural links that India and Nepal share. The two prime ministers had last spoken on April 10, a conversation that had focussed on the Covid-induced lockdown and the problems being faced by people on both sides of the border. PM Olis early morning tweet, and then the phone call, was followed up by more tweets from across Nepals political spectrum. I would like to convey my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to PM Modi ji, his government and people of India, tweeted Dahal, better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda. Madhav Nepal tweeted his letter to PM Modi that expressed optimism about the future of India-Nepal relations. We are confident that Nepal-India relations based as they are on close cooperation, historical ties and people-to-people contacts, would continue to grow in coming years to the satisfaction of the people of two countries, Madav Nepals letter said. Deuba, who heads the lead opposition party Nepali Congress, extended cordial greetings and best wishes to the friendly people and the government of India in his tweet. In his Independence Day address early on Saturday, PM Modi had stressed on peace and harmony in the South Asia region. All the leaders of the countries of the region have a huge responsibility, an important responsibility for the development and progress of such a vast population, he said. The more peace and harmony there is in this whole region, the more it will work for the welfare of humanity, he said of the region that is home to a quarter of the worlds population. PM Modi also spoke about New Delhis efforts to forge deeper connections with Indias neighbours. PM Olis phone call comes days ahead of the meeting of the India-Nepal body overseeing the implementation of development projects funded by New Delhi that is scheduled to meet in Kathmandu next week. This meeting between Indian ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Nepals foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi is also the first between the two sides after the row over Nepals new map took relations to a new low. India has been sharply critical of Kathmandus decision to issue a new map, describing it as untenable and an artificial enlargement of claims that isnt based on historical facts or evidence. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues, New Delhi said in June this year after lawmakers cleared an amendment to incorporate the new map in Nepals emblem. Indian officials had, however, made it clear that New Delhi would not hold back on assistance granted to Nepal due to the boundary row and would continue to focus on deepening people-to-people ties between the two countries. It was in this context that the Indian army had earlier this month gifted 10 ventilators to Nepalese army. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Parliament on Friday approved GHS 174.69 million waiver of income tax on personal emoluments of Health Workers and on additional allowances paid to Frontline Health Personnel for the months of July to September 2020. The waiver was requested by the Finance Committee of Parliament in line with national measures outlined for combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Assibey- Yeboah, Chairman, Finance Committee of Parliament, presenting the Committees report to the plenary, recalled that as part of measures to support frontline personnel in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Ghana decided that all health workers would not pay taxes on their emoluments for a three-month period, commencing April 2020. Also, all frontline health workers would also receive an additional allowance of 50 per cent of their basic salary per month tax free for the period March to June, 2020. To support health workers in the continued fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Government has decided to extend these incentives granted to health workers to cover the months of July, August and September 2020, the report said. According to the report, the total amount of Income Taxes for which the waiver is being sought is GHS174.69, broken down as Personal Emoluments of GHS 168.98 million and GHS 5.71 million for Additional Allowances. Dr Assibey-Yeboah noted the high risk of Covid-19 infection among doctors, nurses and others on the front lines leading to death in some cases. Additionally, the report noted the considerable mental stress of health workers as a result of the sorrow they felt when patients succumbed to the virus. They too have families, and will naturally be fearful that the virus might reach those they love most. The above factors, together with the added pressure of workplaces a lot of strain on health workers who overcome their own fears to put themselves on the line daily to treat the sick and to combat the pandemic, the report said. The tax incentive, according to the report, was designed as a token compensation to encourage healthcare workers, especially frontline health personnel to continue to make sacrifices in caring for those infected with the virus and caring for the sick in general during the difficult times. The House learnt that the requested tax incentives covered health workers in the frontline health facilities, quasi government health facilities, quasi-government health facilities and private health facilities. There was however a challenge in defining who a frontline health worker was. However, in collaboration with relevant agencies, a working definition of Frontline Health Workers was accepted, and it included people working in the most critical and risky areas in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the report, the number of health workers who fell into the frontline category for the months of April, May and June 2020 were 6091, 7418 and 7196 respectively, with corresponding expenditure on Additional Allowances being GHC 6.5 million for the months of April, May and June 2020 respectively. Mr Benjamin Kpodo, MP for Ho Central, seconding the motion, called for an expansion of the definition of frontline health workers to include all people who put their lives on the line in caring, in all aspects and transportation of people infected with the virus even though they may not be medical staff. 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 16th Meeting of Political Bureau of 7th Central Committee of WPK Held Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The 16th meeting of the Political Bureau of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) took place at the office building of the Central Committee of the WPK on August 13. Kim Jong Un, chairman of the WPK, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, was present at the meeting. Attending the meeting were members of the Presidium and members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee. Present there as observers were directors, first vice directors and vice directors of departments of the WPK Central Committee, vice-premiers of the Cabinet, ministers, chairpersons of provincial Party committees, chairpersons of Party committees of ministries and national institutions, commanding officers of the armed forces organs and members of the Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters. Upon authorization of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Supreme Leader of the Party, the state and the armed forces Kim Jong Un presided over the meeting. The meeting discussed and decided on the issues of eradicating the flood damage and providing stable living conditions to the people as early as possible by concentrating all efforts, and on further strictly maintaining the state emergency anti-epidemic system in the face of the worldwide public health crisis, perfecting the regular commanding system for anti-epidemic work, on lifting a lock-down of the frontline area including Kaesong City, and on organizing a new department in the Party Central Committee, and examined the state event preparations for marking the 75th Party founding anniversary with splendor, before studying and discussing relevant measures. There was a briefing on the damage by the recent disastrous heavy rains and floods. During the rainy season 39 296 hectares of crops were damaged nationwide including Kangwon, North and South Hwanghae Provinces and Kaesong City, at least 16 680 dwelling houses and over 630 public buildings were destroyed or inundated, lots of roads, bridges and railway sections broken, a dam of a power station gave way and there were other severe damage in various sectors of the national economy. A particular mention was made of the fact that inhabitants in the areas with severe damage including Kimhwa, Cholwon, Hoeyang and Changdo counties in Kangwon Province and Unpha and Jangphung counties in North Hwanghae Province are living in the evacuated areas, undergoing great pain in their living. Briefing on a general situation of flood damage, the Supreme Leader said that the flood-stricken people must be suffering great as they are living in temporary dwelling places with their houses and family properties lost. He earnestly said that it is a crucial time that our Party must be responsible for their living and we have to go closer to them to share the pain with them and to relieve them of their sufferings. Our state faces two challenges: anti-epidemic work to thoroughly cope with the world public health crisis and unexpected sudden natural disaster, he said, pointing out that our Party and the government must set forth correct policy direction to overcome these two crises at the same time and display excellent leadership arts in the three-dimensional and offensive campaign. Stressing the need to rapidly organize and take all necessary measures no matter how long the state emergency anti-epidemic work may last and how many obstacles and difficulties may lie ahead, the Supreme Leader called on all the Party organizations and the power bodies at all levels to properly discharge their roles. Saying that we can not make the flood-affected people celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Party homeless, he set forth tasks for different sectors to eradicate the damage of the flood and bring the living of the people to normal at an early date. He specified detailed ways for this. He said that the flood damage rehabilitation should not just be confined to mere construction for removing the damage caused by natural disaster and restoration of the living conditions but should be carried out as an important political work for celebrating the 75th birth anniversary of the Party as a genuine holiday of the people and a revolutionary holiday cementing the single-minded unity. He emphasized that we should spruce up the flood-damaged area to meet not only the desire and wish of the people but also the high standard of the times, and ensure qualitative construction in appropriate places based on the opinions of the inhabitants so that no damage can occur even though there come more natural disasters and flood in the future. The situation, in which the spread of the worldwide malignant virus has become worse, requires us not to allow any outside aid for the flood damage but shut the border tighter and carry out strict anti-epidemic work, he said, adding that information work should be conducted well so as to prevent any violation of anti-epidemic rules among inhabitants in the flood-hit area and those mobilized for the rehabilitation work. He said that through the active rehabilitation drive we have to prove in practice once again the revolutionary nature of our Party which shares misfortune and pain with the people and protects them by removing all those pains, the advantages of our social system. He repeatedly stressed the need for our Party to fulfill its sacred duty so that it won't feel ashamed of itself before the people and surely live up to the trust and expectation of the people. He suggested issuing a decision of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and the joint order of the WPK Central Committee, the Party Central Military Commission and the State Affairs Commission reflecting the immediate fighting tasks for finishing the most part of the flood damage rehabilitation and stabilizing the people's living by October 10 through the coordinated operation of the army and people loyal to the leadership of Party based on the great unity. The Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee expressed a unanimous approval for the ardent appeal of the Supreme Leader. The meeting agreed on an issue of introducing new machinery for setting up nationwide regular anti-epidemic work system, now that the emergency anti-epidemic work has assumed prolonged nature. It also mentioned the issue for the new machinery to correctly exercise the authority it has been vested with and enhance its responsibility and role. The meeting also decided to lift the lock-down of the front line area, including Kaesong, which has been enforced from July 24 following the emergency incident in the forefront area, based on the scientific verification and guarantee by a professional anti-epidemic organization. Saying that following the past over 20 days of lockdown of the front line area it has been proved the situation of anti-epidemic work has been kept and controlled stably, he expressed thanks in the name of the Party Central Committee to the people in the locked-down area for having remained faithful to the measure taken by our Party and government, despite of inconvenience in their living under quarantine, and to soldiers, public security officers, security men and members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards for having performed their duty of locking down the area with responsibility, despite of heavy rains and sultry weather. The meeting also heard a report on how the preparations for state events in celebration of the 75th birth anniversary of the WPK according to the decision made at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th WPK Central Committee proceed, checked the issues arising in preparing every event and took due measures to prepare at the best level all the celebrations with peculiar style as a great political festival to be provided as an excellent gift to the 75th birth anniversary of the WPK. The meeting discussed and decided on the affair to set up new department in the Party Central Committee and defined its function and role. The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee expressed belief that the department to be newly established will make tangible contribution to safeguarding the dignity and interests of the state and people, reliably supporting and guaranteeing the political stability and order of the society and impregnably defending our class position and socialist construction. The meeting also discussed an organizational matter. Members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee were elected. Kim Tok Hun and Ri Pyong Chol were elected as members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee. The meeting re-called and by-elected a member and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee. Pak Thae Dok was by-elected as a member of the Party Central Committee and member of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee. Pak Myong Sun and Jon Kwang Ho were by-elected as alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee. According to a proposal of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, the Chairman of the DPRK State Affairs Commission relieved the premier of the DPRK Cabinet and appointed new premier by exercising the power he has been invested with under the Socialist Constitution. The Chairman of the DPRK State Affairs Commission appointed Kim Tok Hun as the premier of the DPRK Cabinet. The meeting elected vice-chairmen of the Party Central Committee. Kim Jae Ryong and Pak Thae Dok were elected as vice-chairmen of the Party Central Committee. It also dismissed the directors of some departments of the Party Central Committee and appointed new directors. Kim Jae Ryong, Pak Thae Dok, Pak Myong Sun, Jon Kwang Ho and Kim Yong Su were appointed as department directors of the Party Central Committee. Chairmen of the provincial committees of the WPK were appointed. Kim Chol Sam was appointed as chairman of the North Hamgyong Provincial Party Committee and Ri Jae Nam as chairman of the Nampho City Party Committee. -0- (2020.08.14) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and 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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 A court in Malawi's capital Lilongwe has ordered the arrest of police officers who raped and abused 18 women and girls during anti-government protests last year, as well as compensation payouts. It is important that the officers that sexually assaulted and raped the applicants and all other women and girls be arrested and prosecuted, High Court judge Kenyatta Nyirenda said in the ruling issued Thursday. Seventeen policemen had been accused of raping and sexually assaulting 18 women and girls during an operation to disperse demonstrators in October in three districts on the outskirts of the city. Three of the victims were under 18 years old. The Women Lawyers Association which represented the women in court hailed the judgement as a precedent-setting victory. The effects of this case will be much broader than just in Malawi, the association's president, Tadala Chimkwezule said. The justice system is not blind and this ruling is very pivotal to the human rights discourse, she added. Thursday's judgement was one of the greatest rebukes to sexual harassment against women and impunity by some police officers in Malawi, agreed national Ombudswoman Martha Chizuma. A report compiled by the Malawi Human Rights Commission served as evidence in the plaintiffs' lawsuit. Compensation amounts for the individual victims will be determined by the court's registrar within 21 days. News Colony Keep it simple: Do you ever get the feeling that game publishers intentionally try to confuse players with their branding schemes? Often you find similar services from the same company with different names or different services with similar names. EA is trying to fix that with new names for its Access and Origins brands. EA announced on Friday that it is consolidating its Access and Origin Access subscriptions under a single brand umbrella. On August 18, EA Access and Origin Access Basic will become EA Play, while Origin Access Premier will be renamed EA Play Pro. As you may recall, EA hosts an event at the Hollywood Palladium every year during E3 called EA Play, which creates some ambiguity in the branding. When it held EA Play this year, it had to be a virtual event, so EA called it EA Play Live, eventhough it was the opposite of "live." This new moniker for the expo will remain as the company moves forward, which means if people can ever attend it in person again, it will be live. Have you got that? So, EA Play and EA Play Pro are its subscription services, and EA Play Live will be its yearly hands-on event. EA said that renaming the services is an attempt to "streamline" user benefits. "EA Play puts you at the center of the experience," said the publisher. "Moving all the benefits to a single brand is an important step in streamlining our services to ensure that being an EA Play member is the best way to play." Current members do not have to do anything during the transition. Logins will not change, and all the perks they previously received will remain the same. Benefits include in-game challenges and rewards, member-only content, early trials, and discounts on digital purchases. New York With less than a year before the Democratic mayoral primary, New York City's business leaders are actively plotting how best to use their influence and money to shape the race to become Bill de Blasio's successor. Stephen Ross, whose Related Cos. is building the biggest mixed-use private real estate development in the nation, has floated the idea of helping to raise $100 million for the right candidate in the 2021 mayoral race, according to two people involved in those discussions. Ross, along with Daniel Doctoroff, chief executive of Sidewalk Labs, the tech company affiliated with Google, are concerned the city's economic woes could endanger New York City, home to their investments and legacies. A spokesman for Ross, a fundraiser for President Donald Trump, said he has made no financial commitments or raised any money for such an effort but that Ross believed there was an overwhelming sense that something needs to be done. Ross has no preference as to a mayoral candidate's party affiliation, his spokesman said. Ross has also been advising Doctoroff, a Democrat who served as deputy mayor under Michael Bloomberg, on a proposal that Doctoroff is drafting to create a nonprofit to help shape an agenda for the next mayoralty. Doctoroff is not part of Ross' fundraising effort. The goal of Doctoroff's Coalition for Inclusive Growth would be to develop and release a policy framework for the city's future, and to do so by Jan. 15, six months before the 2021 Democratic mayoral primary. The primary is likely to determine New York City's next mayor and the composition of much of New York's City Council. The pandemic has temporarily decimated New York City's health, its economy and its morale. Companies large and small are reconsidering their need for New York office space. Well-heeled New Yorkers are leaving the city. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In the last two years, the Democratic Socialists of America have animated much of the intellectual ferment in city politics, gaining a foothold after helping propel Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez into Congress. In the recent Democratic primary, several DSA-backed candidates unseated incumbents in the state Legislature. Doctoroff's nonprofit could serve as something of a counterpoint. Among other things, the coalition would focus on stabilizing the city's budget, improving public health, eliminating disparities in the criminal justice system and turbocharging development of affordable housing. Doctoroff, a former private equity executive, said he has yet to raise any money for the nonprofit. A draft charter for the organization estimates a preliminary budget of $10 million. It says additional fundraising will be necessary for disseminating the plan and get-out-the-vote operations. Doctoroff said he has already spoken with many likely mayoral candidates about his idea. He has personal relationships with several of them, including Shaun Donovan, who worked in the Bloomberg administration before joining the Obama Cabinet, and Ray McGuire, a Citigroup executive who is reportedly considering a mayoral run. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - Prosecutors in El Salvador presented charges of bribery, money laundering and criminal conspiracy Friday against former President Mauricio Funes, who has fled to Nicaragua. The charges allege that Funes, his companion, Ada Mitchell Guzman, and several others defrauded the government of almost $50 million. Funes, who was president in 2009-2014, allegedly paid the Italian construction company ASTALDI too much money after it stopped contracted work on the El Chaparral dam. Funes denies the allegations. He wrote in his Twitter account that as president, he had not decided on the contract or the payments. In 2019, Nicaragua granted citizenship to Funes, who had been in that country under political asylum since 2016 and was already wanted back home on allegations of illicit enrichment and embezzlement. Funes previously faced four arrest warrants for alleged corruption and the purported diversion of a total of $351 million in state money. NSW Labor said on Saturday victims of the Ruby Princess coronavirus outbreak should not be forced to wait days for the Berejiklian government to acknowledge inexcusable mistakes made by health officials. Health Minister Brad Hazzard would not comment on Saturday on the damning findings of an inquiry into the Ruby Princess debacle, which laid considerable blame at NSW Health for assessing the ship as "low risk" and allowing 2647 passengers to disperse into the community without further screening. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian did not address the findings of the report from the Ruby Princess inquiry on Saturday. Credit:Rhett Wyman Mr Hazzard's office instead referred to the commitment made by Premier Gladys Berejiklian to "respond early next week" as she publicly released the report on Friday. The decision comes as NSW recorded nine new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday. The cases include two employees of Chopstix Asian Cuisine in Smithfield RSL, in western Sydney. A case also dined at celebrity chef Rick Steins Bannisters by the Sea restaurant on the South Coast. Another student from Tangara School for Girls has also tested positive, taking that school's cluster to 22. 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 Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. UPDATE, 1:30 p.m. -- This article was updated to reflect an email sent to Cal State ethnic studies faculty saying Melina Abdullah will not be appointed dean. California is undergoing two ground-breaking developments in ethnic studies. The first is a forthcoming requirement that all students in the 23-campus California State University system take a three-unit ethnic studies course. What that course looks like is still to be determined, but it's expected to be in place in three years. The second could put one of those Cal State campuses on the national map. Later this month, California State University Los Angeles will open a new college of ethnic studies that will bring under one roof the departments of Asian and Asian American Studies, Chicana(o) and Latina(o) Studies, and Pan-African Studies. Most universities have ethnic studies classes, many have ethnic studies departments, but only one other university in the country, San Francisco State, has boosted the discipline to an autonomous university unit as, say, a school of engineering. "I can't overstate the importance of both the requirement for ethnic studies as well as its status as its own school," said Eric Tang, a professor of Asian American and Black studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He said both issues put California in the national spotlight. Both developments in California have generated struggles that have pitted high profile and powerful players in academia and social activism. At issue is who leads the way in shaping ethnic studies. Both sides paint dire pictures if the other side's plans carry the day. "There's always been a political battle when it comes to who the leadership will be," Tang said. A CONTENTIOUS BATTLE AT CAL STATE LA Here in Los Angeles, the most public battle is over the leadership of the new college of ethnic studies at Cal State Los Angeles. For weeks, supporters of Melina Abdullah, a professor of Pan African studies at the university and a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, have come out on social media and at rallies to push Cal State president William Covino to appoint her as dean. . @CalStateLa @EthnicStudiesLa & #PresidentCovino dont give us a watered-down version of what Ethnic Studies means! Its disrespectful and erases the groundwork that has been made by students, faculty, staff, clergy & community members! For once listen to us. #DrAbdullah4Dean Leah Martinez (@leah_mart) August 5, 2020 The campaigns in support of Abdullah ramped up last week after Covino named an Asian American civil rights advocate as interim dean while the university searches for a permanent leader for the school. On Wednesday, three dozen university students, faculty, religious leaders, and activists gathered in front of the university administration building to rally in support of Abdullah. "Let Covino listen to us. We are civil rights advocates. We are Black Lives Matter advocates. We're here to say that if it doesn't go down, we're going to make it go down," Pastor William Smart, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California, told the crowd. Abdullah has long been publicly critical of Covino. She has said he's taken too much credit for the creation of the ethnic studies school and accused him of erasure and appropriation in an academic journal article. Supporters surround Melina Abdullah at a rally demanding Abdullah become the dean of Ethnic Studies. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) When Abdullah took the mic at the rally on Wednesday, she said that under her leadership, the new school would reflect the tone of the Black Lives Matter movement. "Authentic ethnic studies means recognizing that ethnic studies is absolutely about correcting the record, it's absolutely about saying Columbus didn't discover America and Lincoln didn't free the slaves," she said. On Friday, Abdullah shared a message sent by the university's provost to the Cal State ethnic studies faculty on Thursday night saying she will not be considered for either dean or interim dean. (Screenshot provided by Melina Abdullah) SEARCH FOR A DEAN CONTINUES The university says it continues to accept applications for the permanent job, but it's not clear if Abdullah is being considered. Last week, the university appointed Stewart Kwoh as interim dean. He's the founding president and past executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA), and a life trustee of the board of Southern California Public Radio, which publishes LAist. "My background in ethnic studies goes back to the 1960s. I helped to set up the Asian American Studies at UCLA," where he's taught for 30 years, he said. One of his most significant contributions to social justice came in the late 1990s. AAAJ-LA won settlements on behalf of dozens of Thai immigrants imprisoned by the owners of sweatshops in El Monte. While Abdullah said she respects Kwoh's activism, she said his appointment takes ethnic studies in the wrong direction, ignoring the prominence of Black Lives Matter in the nationwide reckoning over race. "We're calling on Kwoh to refuse the position and President Covino to reconsider," Abdullah said via text. I respect Stewart Kwohs work as a lawyer & social justice advocate. However, AUTHENTIC #EthnicStudies has subject area, pedagogical and epistemological adherences. It is disrespectful for @CalStateLA to appoint someone with no grounding. #DrAbdullah4Dean #FreedomCampus Melina Abdullah (@DocMellyMel) August 7, 2020 THE CSU FACULTY VS THE ADMINISTRATION There's a related confrontation going on at the university system level over who gets to craft CSU's new ethnic studies requirement. Last month, the Cal State board of trustees approved a requirement that students take ethnic studies or courses with a social justice component to graduate. The rule gives campuses wide latitude over course content, as well as the ability to design a menu of classes. But opponents say allowing social justice courses to count toward the requirement waters down the core issues surrounding race. Ethnic studies "are explicitly linked to the struggles of people of color in society," Sharon Elise, a sociology professor at CSU San Marcos and associate vice president of racial and social justice for the California Faculty Association, told LAist last month, "These programs emerged from those struggles, and they express the academic side of those struggles." The faculty union favors Assembly Bill 1460, which would require students to take a 3-unit course in one of four specific ethnic studies disciplines -- Native American studies, African American studies, Asian American studies, or Latina and Latino studies. If Governor Gavin Newsom signs the bill, the law would supersede the administration's plan. He could sign it as soon as this weekend. The bill has raised criticism from some Cal State trustees that the legislature is intruding on its work. "I can imagine if we were in a different state that we would be scared out of our wits by the idea that the legislature would be telling us what we should be teaching," said CSU trustee Rebecca Eisen. CSULA's college of ethnic studies opens in the fall of 2020, only the second such university unit in the nation. (screenshot) ETHNIC STUDIES CAME LATE FOR THIS STUDENT Kayla Felton graduated from the elite Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies in 2013. She'd done well in AP Calculus and picked math as her major when she enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At 0.7%, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has the lowest Black student enrollment of any CSU campus, and by one account the lowest of any university in California. Felton is Black and grew up in Inglewood. She marks each of her three years at the campus by the racist student incidents on campus. "My first quarter at Cal Poly would be the 'Colonial Bros' and 'Nava-hos' Halloween party," held by a campus fraternity. She left after three years because of the environment on and off campus. "Not only not welcoming but not understanding us," she said. "There was a lot of stares, people wanting to touch my hair without permission. Anytime we would walk into the library as a group, it would just feel like eyes were consistently on us." Felton believes an ethnic studies requirement for students would have changed the environment on her campus. Studies show that most students, regardless of race, benefit academically from taking ethnic studies classes. She said a community college African American history class put her on a new path. She learned about the pioneering Black journalist Ida B. Wells, best known for leading an anti-lynching campaign in the early 20th century. "[Wells] knew what she was doing was really important. And she, she saw value in it, and she pursued it with everything she had," Felton said. But Felton said ethnic studies is not coming too late. She's now a Pan African Studies major at Cal State LA and sees Melina Abdullah as a driven Black woman much like Ida B. Wells. Regardless of who ends up as dean of ethnic studies at Cal State LA, the dust isn't likely to settle any time soon, Tang said. "It's always going to be a struggle, a challenge, a political one, to keep these things sustained, to say nothing of their growth," he said. "So it requires consistent vigilance, organizing political discussions amongst stakeholders to keep these things going." RELATED: The Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal in the Western North Region has recorded its first COVID-19 death after a male Adult reported with respiratory distress and diabetes died within 24 hours on arrival at a Health facility. This brings to two recorded COVID-19 deaths in the Western North Region. This was contained in a Public Health Emergency Management committee ( PHEM ) report signed by Dr Marion Okoh-Owusu and copied to the Ghana news agency(GNA) in Sefwi-Wiawso. The report showed the region has 598 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 576 recoveries and two deaths. The Region now has 20 active cases with the Aowin Municipal and Bia West District recording three active cases each. The Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipality has nine cases with Juabeso and Bodi Districts having two cases each and Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal with one active case. Dr Marion Okoh-Owusu asked residents to strictly observe social distancing, wear nose mask, ensure regular washing of hands with soap under running water and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the region. She said the COVID-19 police launched by the Regional Health Directorate has helped in the fight against the spread of the virus in the region. She asked churches, opinion leaders and traditional authorities to join the fight against COVID-19 to stem the spread in the region. 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 Tim Minchin sits on a bench, staring out to sea, reflecting on the strangest of times. On one hand, his new single is out and his first studio album is about to be released. On the other, a dear friend has recently died unexpectedly and, back in Minchin's home town Perth, a loved one is awaiting biopsy results to confirm a cancer diagnosis. "I'm just trying to get on with it," Minchin says. "We're very lucky that we live in a time where you can all talk to each other on screen. It's not the same, but it's a hell of a lot better than throughout history; people have always sailed away knowing they'll never see anyone again. And without being flippant. I'm so blessed. No one said life got to be exactly as you wanted all the time." Tim Minchin is riding the good with the bad. Credit:Janie Barrett Blessed is an accurate way to describe Minchin's trajectory. Growing up in Perth he took the path well travelled to Melbourne with the intention of launching a recording career. A sidestep into cabaret and comedy saw his star rise in the live scene as he added comedy DVDs and albums to his resume. Then, in 2009, Minchin was tapped to pen the score for a musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's classic Matilda, which nabbed him an Olivier Award for best musical and a Tony nomination in the same category. The success saw Minchin shift away from comedy and return to writing music for theatre as well as roles in film and television. Vice-presidential candidates rarely lead to huge swings in the polls, but they can boost enthusiasm among the party base. On this score, Harris the first black and first Asian-American woman to appear on the ballot in US history has been a big success so far. A Morning Consult poll released on Thursday (Friday AEST) showed that Democrats were overwhelmingly pleased with Bidens selection: 88 per cent said the choice made them hopeful and four in five said it made them confident, proud, happy or excited. Democrats, it seems, share Barack Obama's reaction: "Joe Biden nailed this decision." Loading Even more importantly, party loyalists demonstrated their approval by opening their wallets. In the 24 hours following the announcement, the Biden campaign raised $US26 million ($36 million) more than twice its previous record. This cash will allow Democrats to compete on the airwaves in battleground states against the well-funded Trump campaign. Meanwhile, Trump and his Republican allies have struggled to find a clear line of attack on the California senator. Given Harris has one of the most left-wing voting records in Congress and was a one-time supporter of Bernie Sanders' Medicare-for-all proposal there is material for them to work with. But they haven't settled on a coherent strategy. Referring to her tough performances during Senate hearings and the Democratic debates, Trump described Harris as "nasty" and "disrespectful". By the end of the week he was calling her "a mad woman", "angry" and "condescending". The Republican National Committee (RNC) initially said that Harris' appointment showed that "the left-wing mob is controlling Bidens candidacy, just like they would control him as president". Hours later, the RNC said the Democrats' progressive base was in revolt because Harris was not sufficiently left-wing. US President Donald Trump and other Republicans have been inconsistent in their attacks on Democratic vice-presidential hopeful Kamala Harris. Credit:AP "You can tell it's a good choice because the Republicans are flummoxed," University of Virginia politics professor and election forecaster Larry Sabato says. "She has been the favourite for months, but when the announcement came they didn't know what to say. They've been contradicting each other. 'She's soft on crime - no, she's too tough on crime.' Well, which is it?" Former Obama administration official Van Jones said Trump's personal attacks on Harris were "just not effective". "What they are about to do is create such a backlash of support for Kamala," Jones said on CNN. "Because once you go down the 'angry black woman' thing you're creating a wave of sympathy and empathy and solidarity for her." Conventions coming The election campaign will step up another gear next week with the Democratic National Convention, Biden's official coronation as the party's nominee. When the Democratic Party announced in March that it would hold its convention in Milwaukee, it was a triumph for the residents of Wisconsins biggest city. "We are seen as a sleepy city, we're often overlooked," says Patrick Guarasci, a Democratic strategist who lives in Milwaukee. "People here were very pumped up about the convention, even if they weren't Democrats. We had competed with the big boys Miami and Houston and we'd won. People had pride in that." In 2016 Hillary Clinton was so convinced she would win Wisconsin that she never set foot in the state during the campaign and barely spent any money advertising there. She became the first Democratic nominee to lose the state since 1984. Both Republicans and Democrats have scrapped plans to hold traditional conventions. Credit:AP By choosing Milwaukee to host the convention, the Democratic Party was trying to send a message to Wisconsinites that they would not take their votes for granted this time around. Then the pandemic hit. First the Democrats delayed the date of the convention by a month. Then they made it a largely virtual event. Last week Biden announced that he would not even travel to Milwaukee to deliver his acceptance speech: instead he will accept his nomination from home in Delaware. Guarasci says people in Milwaukee are disappointed but they understand the decision: "We don't want people to die so that people can give speeches here." The shift towards a virtual convention has presented a challenge to Democrats: how to create a compelling television event without relying on the usual spectacle of balloons falling from the rafters of a packed arena. With the televised component of the convention running for just two hours a night, speakers have been told to keep their speeches shorter than normal. And they have been asked to come up with an innovative backdrop for their presentation, rather than bookshelves or a brick wall. Among those scheduled to speak are Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama on night one, Bill Clinton on night two, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on night three and Biden on the final night. Loading The Republicans have had their own convention woes. Their event was originally supposed to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina. But when the state's Democratic governor declined to guarantee that he would permit a packed arena, Trump shifted it to Jacksonville, Florida. Then COVID-19 cases surged in that state, forcing Trump to cancel plans for an in-person event. The President is now weighing up whether to deliver his August 27 nomination acceptance speech from the White House or Gettysburg, the Civil War site in Pennsylvania. Right-hander Frankie Montas likely wont pitch until the As upcoming series against Arizona after missing his scheduled Friday start with upper back tightness. Manager Bob Melvin said Montas felt better Saturday but it wouldnt be a good idea to have Montas start Sundays series finale at San Francisco. Mike Fiers would pitch Sunday against the Giants on regular rest. The fact that we had an off-day and everybody pitches on normal turn, I think it wouldnt be the right thing to do to push (Montas) tomorrow, Melvin said before Saturdays game. The As would prefer to have Montas throw off a mound before he makes another start. Melvin said that wasnt likely to happen Saturday so the earliest Montas would pitch again is Tuesday at Arizona. The As play four games in a row against the Diamondbacks starting Monday, two in Arizona and two in Oakland. Montas is 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA and has allowed one run in 14 innings over his past two starts. He was named A.L. Player of the Week for last week. Puk update: Melvin had encouraging news on A.J. Puk : The left-hander threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday and has a 30-pitch session scheduled for Monday. Puk is rehabbing from shoulder inflammation that arose during the summer training camp. He was sidelined during spring training by a shoulder strain and felt similar discomfort after one of his camp outings, after which he received injections of platelet-rich-plasma and cortisone. Melvin said he remains hopeful Puk will be able to rejoin the As this season. It would likely be in a relief role, similar to last year when Puk joined Oaklands bullpen after returning from Tommy John surgery and pitched in 10 games down the stretch with a 3.18 ERA. Were not even at the halfway point yet, Melvin said. So, hopefully. Heating up: Liam Hendriks had an impressive 10th-inning save in the As 8-7 win Friday, striking out the side on 13 pitches, all fastballs. Melvin noted that Hendriks fastball velocity reached 98 mph after being mostly in the mid-90s in his earlier outings. Theres certainly some adrenaline going when you come in with a man on second base, a one-run lead and its not your normal save, Melvin said. The intensity is there right away. It certainly looked like it for him. Since recording a blown save on Opening Night, Hendriks in 10 outings has seven saves while allowing one run and one walk with 15 strikeouts in 10 innings. Matt Kawahara covers the As for The San Francisco Chronicle. President Trump on Thursday encouraged a racist conspiracy theory that is rampant among some of his followers: that Senator Kamala Harris is not eligible for the vice presidency or presidency because her parents were immigrants. That assertion is false; Ms. Harris was born in California and is eligible to serve. Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday, nevertheless pushed the attack. I heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements, Mr. Trump said. I have no idea if thats right, he added. I would have thought, I would have assumed, that the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president. On Friday, Mr. Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, declined to forcefully disavow the presidents comment, which echoes the birther lie, though when pressed said he had no reason to question Ms. Harriss eligibility. Paul Langille enjoyed a banner day at Truro Raceway thanks to a driving Grand Slam, a training triple and a victory in the featured affair on the eight-race card. Rusty Riley was the heavy favourite in Fridays $1,675 Winners Over Pace, and he didnt disappoint for Langille. The nine-year-old son of Blissfull Hall-My Friend Flicka rallied to win by a pair of lengths over Lady N Paradise in 1:57.1. Third prize went to Instant Shadow. Chantel Gillis of Truro, NS and Dana Getto of New Waterford, NS share ownership on the veteran who won for the third time this season and for the 25th time in his career. Langille also clicked with stablemates Woodmere Cecil (2:01.2 Race 2) and Arizona Bucks (1:58.2 Race 4). He also kicked off the card with a catch-driving score behind the Stephen MacLeod-trained Cool Dew (1:59.2). Fans were also treated to a track record-equalling performance when Imalookertoo toured the oval in 1:54.4 to tie the track record for three-year-old pacing colts. The performance matched the record set by Autumn Gottem in 2012. Ryan Ellis got away fourth with Imalookertoo while Ultimatelyhandsome rolled to the top and carved out the opening quarter in :28.1. Ellis revved up the engine on Imalookertoo in the second quarter and the Danny Romo trained exploded to the front and took the field to the half in :57.3. He then stepped past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.2 before using a :29.2 closing quarter to seal the deal by 11 lengths over Ultimatelyhandsome. Jazzmo was third. Robert Sumarah of Halifax, NS owns the son of Shadow Play-Tymal Xtra who visited victory lane for the first time this season after going 6-for-10 in last years rookie campaign. To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results Truro Raceway. A preexisting condition of his own kept Whitlock from spending time with her, even as her health declined, he said. Their time apart has been weighing heavily on him ever since, because his mother, Eileen Glover Whitlock, died almost two months later on May 2 of complications related to the coronavirus. She was 90. Sri Lanka doubles efforts of mobilising foreign financing By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): Burdened with heavy debts and facing a financial crisis triggered by COVID-19, Sri Lanka is doubling its efforts of mobilising foreign financing while placing high priority to implement strategic development initiatives, according to a new governments policy framework document. The government has made arrangements to mobilise foreign financing of US$628.6 million by entering into three agreements with foreign development partners and lending agencies from January 1 to April 30, 2020 to support the Public Investment Programme (PIP). It will be able to finance its maturing external debt in 2020 through loan disbursements from bilateral and multilateral agencies, apart from the sovereign bond obligation that is due, which will be met out of reserves, official sources said. The external financing will represent a significant share of the public investment as domestic financial resources are hardly adequate to meet the resource requirement of the country. The share of outright grants and concessional financing in the foreign financing basket has been reduced, official data showed. A sum of US$500 million of Foreign Currency Term Financing Facility (FCTFF) has been extended by the China Development Bank for budget support and $128.6 million provided by the World Bank to be utilised for the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. According to official data, total foreign financing disbursements made during the period from January 1 to April, 30, 2020 amounted to $869.8 million of which $869.7 million was disbursed as loans while $0.1 million was disbursed by way of grants. The majority of the disbursements were from the loan agreements signed with China, which is almost 65 per cent, followed by Asian Development Bank (11 per cent), World Bank (9 per cent) and Japan (8 per cent). Other than the $500 million obtained as budget support loan, the majority of the disbursements were in lieu of the projects implemented under the roads and bridges sector accounting for almost 14 per cent of the total disbursements. This will be followed by the water supply and sanitation sector (8 per cent), ground transport sector (7 per cent), power and energy sector (3 per cent) and disaster management (3 per cent). The entire San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding regions will be under a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to the current heat wave and the potential for dry lightning. The red flag warning starts at 4 p.m. in Monterey and San Benito counties, and at 11 p.m. in all other counties. It is slated to expire everywhere at 11 a.m. Sunday. "Moist unstable air will bring a slight chance for fast moving high based storms with little to no accompanying wetting rains," the National Weather Service warns. "This air mass will move roughly from south to north beginning in the Central Coast this afternoon/evening before transitioning into the Bay Area overnight into early Sunday. Given dry fuels and hot dry conditions near the surface, dry lightning can directly lead to wildfire starts." In addition, the NWS warned that, "Onshore winds near the coast late Saturday may lead to additional complications for any fire starts in proximity to the sea breeze." The region was originally under a fire weather watch, but it was upgraded to a red flag warning at 11 a.m. Three hours earlier, the NWS shared that lightning was already developing over Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The Bay Area saw triple-digit temperatures in many places on Friday, and temperatures will remain high on Saturday, with a large portion of the Bay Area under an excessive heat warning. NWS Bay Area On Friday, climate scientist Daniel Swain of Weather Watch warned that California's heat wave "will be more intense, prolonged, and dangerous than previously anticipated." "A very intense and prolonged heat wave now appears likely for a large portion of California over the next 7-10 days, and this event will likely have wide-ranging impacts from human health, wildfire, and electricity demand perspectives," he wrote. "I suspect this event will probably end up being one of the most significant widespread California extreme heat events in the past decade, if not longer." The heat wave has strained California's electrical system, with the The California Independent System Operator (California ISO), directing utilities around the state to implement rolling power outages. Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting LAKEFIELD Selwyn Township is looking for public feedback about recommendations in an updated report on a project to rehabilitate Water Street. This years township budget included funding for an engineering design for the reconstruction of the street, which runs along the Otonabee River. The public was asked to provide feedback on the original recommendation report in May, which has now been updated. The feedback is being sought online since public meetings couldnt be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The township is planning construction in three phases between 2021 and 2023. The report suggests implementing three-way stops at the intersections with King and Reid streets to calm traffic and improve pedestrian crossings. Participants in the planning expressed that parking is another concern that needs to be addressed. The recommendation suggests creating two accessible parking spaces on the west side of Water Street to improve accessibility of the Millennium Trail to people with disabilities. Additionally, it recommends creating defined parking adjacent to the boat launch and install signage directing boats and trailers to park at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre. Improving the trail section between the defined parking area and the river to better delineate the trail is another recommendation. For the sidewalks, the plan calls for additional crosswalks in front of Lakefield Dentistry, King Street and between Bridge Street and Burnham Street. Existing sidewalk sections will remain in their current locations but will be removed and replaced with new concrete. Comments were also received calling for defined bike lanes. As a result, the report suggests encouraging cyclists and motorists to share the roadway is the preferred alternative because traffic volumes and speeds are relatively low, which means potential hazards for cyclists and motorists are mitigated. To accommodate dedicated bicycle lanes, other elements within the roadway would have to be eliminated, such as trees, walking trails or sidewalk. These features were identified as being of particular importance to the community, so the report recommends sharing the road as the best alternative. The township will also review possible locations of additional bike racks on Water Street. The design proposes a standardized local street lane width of 3.4 metres with a semi-mountable curb on the east and west side of Water Street to better define lanes for traffic and manage drainage. Comments about the plan can are being accepted up to Aug. 18 by email publicworks@selwyntownship.ca. The full report can be viewed at bit.ly/2Y4EeA9. Marissa Lentz is a staff reporter at the Examiner, based in Peterborough. Her reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email: mlentz@peterboroughdaily.com India is too diverse to be governed centrally and with a single system. The way forward is for the central government to keep the monopoly of military power and a share of national resources while the provinces must have greater autonomy, recommends Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi addresses the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day in New Delhi, August 15, 2020. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo As India celebrates the 74th Independence Day and inches towards the landmark 75th year, it is as good a time for some introspection. One has recently heard laments about the death of 'Secular India' and the birth of a 'Hindu Rashtra'. The occasion to cry wolf has been anchored on the recent happenings like the start of construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. If one is to find a parallel, then according to these 'crying wolf' intellectuals, the reconstruction of the Somnath temple in 1951 should have been the occasion for the demise of 'Secular India'. A more plausible explanation for the restitution of the Ram Janambhoomi to its rightful owner is correcting historical wrongs. If one has to see the broader sweep of history of nearly 6,000 years, India has never been a religion-based nation. The only exceptions to this rule were Ashoka the Great who expressly championed Buddhism as a State religion and later when Aurangzeb tried to forcibly Islamise India. Both these were short lived episodes and like in Ashoka's case did not last beyond his life and failed in Aurangzeb's case. The reason for this phenomenon unique to Indian civilisation is the very nature of the Indian plural ethos. In broadly understood terms, Hinduism as a faith is actually an amalgamation of several 'religions' like the Saivaite, Vaishnav, Shakta (mother goddess cult) and atheists. When there is no single book or single God, the concept of a Hindu Rashtra itself would be based on pluralism. It is this spiritual pluralism that also explains the fact that while many poor and developing countries failed to survive as democracy, India became an exception. These philosophical moorings of Indian democracy and secularism are not understood even by Indians who look at Indian reality through Western eyes. Western political scientist Samuel Huntington believed that for democracy to thrive and survive it needed a high level of universal economic prosperity, an attribute that a desperately poor India lacked. India defied the stereotype due to its civilisational heritage. Many perceptive Indians (non-Hindu) believed that India was secular and democratic because it has a 'Hindu' majority. Some Indian intellectuals credit the Constitution for Indian democracy and secularism. These worthies forget that India got a democratic and secular Constitution because the Hindu majority wanted it that way. Hindus are pluralist by DNA and not due to the Constitution. For India to become a Hindu Rashtra, it has to deal with a 5,000-year-old historical and philosophical legacy. Since attempts to make India into a Buddhist nation or an Islamic State have failed in the face of this deep-rooted Indian ethos, the narrow concept of a Hindu Rashtra that is ill defined is hardly likely to succeed and poses little threat. The greater threat to the Republic comes from other quarters -- a tendency to over-centralise power. Again, a look at our history shows that many Indian local identities are at least 5,000 years old. The Great Mahabharat war (believed to have taken place in 3002 before CE) was fought between two coalitions. The various kingdoms mentioned in that epic, Panchala (roughly corresponding to the current Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) or Sindh, exist to date. Around these ancient identities, distinct culture and languages have evolved. India is also home to the people belonging to the Caucasian, Astro-Negroid and Mongolian races. I recall that during one armed forces course, which had many foreigners from Africa attending, an Indian was prevented by the sentry from attending a 'classified' lecture meant only for Indians. The poor Indian officer from South India was mistaken for an African. We have many instances where Indian citizens from the north eastern states are mistaken for Japanese or Chinese and asked to show their passports! Many years ago, at a joint Indo-European Union seminar, where Indians from all four corners were present, an EU official openly admired India and openly wondered that if Indians can come together despite these vast differences, why can't Europeans? There are factors like a common race and religion in Europe and yet the EU finds it difficult to stay united while India survives and thrives. The biggest internal threat to India comes from this over centralisation harking back to the Ashokan empire. It is very interesting that this importance to Emperor Ashoka is an entirely post-Independence phenomenon. There was no mention of Ashoka during the long freedom struggle and he was never invoked either as an ideal or symbol of India. To an extent, the 'discovery' of Ashoka can be credited to Jawaharlal Nehru. The selection of Ashoka and his symbols for the fledgling Republic was done by Nehru so that he could stay away from any symbols that could be termed as 'Hindu'. The equally extensive empire of Vikramaditya was ignored. This fear of a Hindu revival so pervaded the new Republic that even after Independence no effort was made to unearth evidence of history at places like the Purana Quila in Delhi or in Ayodhya/Dwarka. India under the Nehruvian thrall made no attempts to restore cultural links with Indonesia, Cambodia or Thailand. The virtual deification and idolising of Ashoka had another damaging effect. Every ruler from Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Narendra Damodardas Modi has wanted to emulate Ashoka in ushering in peace. As opposed to the Ashokan model, the longest surviving and durable political model in the Indian subcontinent has been the Raj Mandala or Chakravarti model. In this scheme of things, the central ruler kept overwhelming military power, but permitted regional players to exercise considerable freedom in administration. Contrary to the popular but false notion, the British also followed this loose confederacy model. The idea that the British united India is false as during their rule India was divided into close to 460 semi-independent princely states and several directly ruled provinces. The British did not interfere in local customs and faith. The model followed by British India is closer to the Chakravarti model of ancient India. India is too diverse to be governed centrally and with a single system. One size does not fit all. The way forward is for the central government to keep the monopoly of military power and a share of national resources while the provinces must have greater autonomy. This should be both symbolic (in terms of state flag and state song etc) as well as substantive in choosing the structures of governance suited to their genius. The only restriction should be that these do not violate basic Fundamental Eights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Within this ambit, the states should be free to experiment with governing structures suited to them. To expect the same system to work in Tamil Nadu or Kerala or tribal dominated Nagaland or caste dominated Bihar is absurd. The states must be allowed to find their own solutions to their own problems. The Centre's role must be that of hand holding and not dictating. This is a major change that we ought to start thinking about when we approach the milestone of the 75th year of Independence. Herein lays the solution to many of India's internal problems from Kashmir to Nagaland to Naxalism! Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) is a former Chhatrapati Shivaji Chair Fellow at the United Services Institute of India. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com NEW YORK Here are the lineups for the Yankees and the Red Sox before Fridays game at Yankee Stadium. Manager Aaron Boone will address why Aaron Judge (lower-body tightness) wasnt in the lineup at 5:20 p.m. Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers 1. DJ LeMahieu, 2B 2. Luke Voit, 1B 3. Aaron Hicks, CF 4. Gio Urshela, 3B 5. Gleyber Torres, SS 6. Mike Tauchman, RF 7. Gary Sanchez, C 8. Clint Frazier, DH 9. Brett Gardner, LF Gerrit Cole, RHP Heres the Red Sox lineup: SERIESOUSLY SPEAKING: The Yankees are undefeated in their last 26 home series (since 4/16/19), going 23-0-3 in those completed seriesaccording to STATS, is the longest undefeated series streak in Yankees history (previous: 25 consecutive undefeated home series from 1997-98 and 25 straight in 1937)according to Elias, the Yankees streak is tied for the sixth-longest in Major League history (counting only decisions) and the longest by any team since the Cincinnati Reds went undefeated in 26 straight series at home from September 1969-August 1970. Are 6-0 at home in 2020since 1959, have started their home slate 6-0 or better just three other times 2017: 7-0 (lost ALCS); 1998: 7-0 (won World Series); 1987: 10-0 (missed playoffs). BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters lead the Majors in OPS (.813), rank second in OBP (.345) and SLG (.468), third in HR per game (1.72), fifth in HR (31) and runs per game (5.22), and are eighth in runs scored (94). LeMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu is hitting .431/.479/.569 (28-for-65) with 14R, 1 double, 1 triple, 2HR, 8RBI, 5BB, 1SB and 1HP in 17 games this season, ranking third the Majors in BA and second in hits (both first in AL)his seven multi-hit games are tied for seventh in the Majorshis 68 multi-hit games since the start of 2019 are the most in the Majors. Has hit safely in each of his last seven games, 10 of his last 11 and 15 of 17 this season. Reached base in 8-of-10PA vs. the Braves (5H, 2BB, 1HP). Is 5-for-10 w/ 6RBI and 1BB with RISP in 2020since 2019, has hit .397 (54-for-136) w/ RISP, the second-highest mark in the Majors during that span (Nelson Cruz-.398). Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_53f.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_53f .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_53f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_53f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_53f.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement If Ndigbo do not tell Arthur Eze that money is not everything, he will destroy whatever value is left in Igboland. The self-acclaimed Igbo Messiah (Ozo Igbo Ndu) has become a most irritating pain in the neck of Ndigbo. In the past thirty years, Arthur has brought everything he has touched to ruin. Eastern Plastics, Premier Cashew Industry, Anambra Vegetable Oil Products (AVOP), Premier Brewery Limited, Orient Bank and even his own Triax Group of Companies all melted under his cancerous touch. And now, Arthur has turned his attention to the Igbo presidency project and the government of Anambra State. Now is the time to tell him to stop! Anyone who has followed the appalling drama playing out in Anambra State at the moment will not miss the underlying message mutiny! Arthur is currently leading a rebellion against the government of Anambra State. This is not opposition as we know it. This is an act of rebellion. When a man is puffed up by his belief in his own invisibility, he turns himself into a menace to society. That was exactly what Arthur Eze did when he took 12 traditional rulers from Anambra State to Abuja on an ill-advised mission to create disaffection for the governor of Anambra State at the presidency. Arthur is leading a mutiny against Anambra State. He should be told enough by Nigerians who value decency and order in the society. The traditional rulers are the leaders of the grassroots in our democracy. Anyone who successfully turns a sizeable number of them against the sitting government under any guise has masterminded civilian coup plot. That is exactly what Arthur Eze has done. He is hell bent on setting Anambra on fire. He will succeed only if we support him with our silence. We must tell Eze that the office of the governor of Anambra State should not be desecrated. And that any effort that denigrates and belittles it exposes Ndi Anambra to ridicule before decent people across the world. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_a6c.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_a6c .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_a6c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_a6c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_a6c.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Without a doubt, Arthur Eze appears to have a brutal knee firmly pressed into the neck of Ndigbo. He ridicules our aspiration for the presidency. He spits in the faces of our political leaders at will. He is locked up in a mortal battle with neighbouring villages in Anambra State. He is at war with the novelist, Chimamanda Adichie. He instigated criminal charges against Pius Nweke, the CEO of Best Aluminum who unlike him has created thousands of jobs for the people. He has no respect for constituted authority. He believes that money is everything. Arthur is one of the disappearing breed of post-Biafra War Igbos whose dumb worship of money set the tone for the moral decline of our society. His inherent evil has always been easy to see. His very name invokes a horrifying atmosphere that is antithetical to democracy and peace. It reminds us of another Arthur in another era. But even more horrifying, he reminds us of godfatherism and reckless brigandage. But we choose to turn a blind eye to Arthur. For many decades, Arthur strutted the entire South East Nigeria like a winged monster in a Hollywood movie, talking down on his enemies and giving the impression that with money he could buy anybody including one half of heaven. He moves around in the longest and most expensive vehicular convoy in Igboland. He feels that everyone is beneath him. He does not weigh his utterances. He speaks as the mood takes him. At a time when his Igbo people feel entitled to provide Nigerias next president, Arthur told them that they were not good enough for the position in clear terms. Only Northerners are good enough to lead Nigeria because they gave Arthur contracts. He is a bull in china shop. Nothing is sacred to him. He is a monster with a philanthropic face! But Arthur Eze should be reminded that all his philanthropy does not stretch beyond dashing people money. And that begging is not in the DNA of Ndigbo. This is one truth Arthur must be told! Throughout history, Igbo people have shown a definitive practical side to their communal life. In Igbo worldview, no one, no matter how gifted can win judgment against a clan. A thematic exploration of this deep philosophy gave birth to Chinua Achebes Arrow of God. Somebody ought to tell Arthur that he cannot win a fight against his own people. In fact, the futility of that enterprise in Igboland has been demonstrated to a point where some gods that proved to be a thorn in the flesh of their worshippers were hurled to the crossroads and set ablaze by the same people who once supplicated them for protection. It is therefore embarrassing to see that just because he could sell a few oil wells, Arthur Eze has forgotten the capricious nature of his own culture. He is blind to the fact that a masquerade that turns against its minders in a stab of arrogance risks the humiliation of being deserted at the market square! This is the inconvenient truth we must tell Arthur Eze! Ngwu Nweze writes from Ajalli, Orumba North LGA of Anambra State. /* custom css */ .tdi_76_765.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_76_765 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_76_765.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_76_765.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_76_765.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Newly appointed USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was given a rude awakening Saturday morning when hundreds of noisy protesters descended on his Washington D.C. home amid claims he is engaging in voter suppression. The 'noise demonstration', led by Shutdown D.C., marched to DeJoy's Kalorama condo where they blew horns and beat on saucepans to issue an early morning 'wake up call' to the Trump donor. He has been accused of 'dismantling' the United States postal service and actively suppressing voters ahead of November's election, when it is estimated that half of the voting population will be reliant on mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Protesters called for DeJoy to be fired as they claimed he has been aiding Trump in meddling with the election. It comes after former President Obama accused Trump of 'kneecapping USPS' to suppress voters by withholding the vital funding needed to ensure that mail-in ballots can be adequately processed and delivered in November. Trump on Thursday admitted that he is withholding the funds to the post office as he doesn't want to see the money spent on mail-in voting, as he continues to claim postal voting will lead to fraud, despite voting by mail himself. On Friday, the Postal Service's inspector general announced it is examining possible conflicts of interest involving DeJoy, who has donated $2.7 million to Trump and his fellow Republicans, and his recent changes to the post office. Hundreds gathered outside the home of USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in D.C. Saturday morning to demand he resign The protesters stuffed fake voting ballots in the door of his building amid claims he is engaging on voter suppression Protesters allege that DeJoy is slowing down US postal service to aid Trump in the November election Shutdown D.C. organized the 'noise protest' as a 'wake up call' for DeJoy Saturday morning. They marched to his home where they began to blow horns and to band on saucepans as they called for him to resign from his role DeJoy owns millions of dollars in stock in Postal Service rivals and customers, according to a financial disclosure form filed by his wife. Since his appointment, which was made despite him having no background in the postal service, DeJoy has been highly criticized for the 'cost-cutting' changes he has made, including eliminating overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal employees and mandating that mail be held if distribution centers are understaffed or running behind. All the measures are said to have caused widespread delays in the postal service. The Inspector General's Office is 'conducting a body of work to address concerns raised,' spokeswoman Agapi Doulaveris said. Democratic congressional leaders and committee leaders also sent a letter to DeJoy on Friday demanding an explanation for changes he is making at postal facilities. Protesters brought along saucepans for the 'noise protest' which took place before 9am on Saturday morning The group claim DeJoy is working alongside President Trump to engage in voter suppression this November DeJoy has implemented 'cost-saving' measures since his appointment that protesters say are really to slow down voting The group called on DeJoy to resign just a day after the Post Office inspector general announced he is being investigated The protest emerged after complaints that the postal service is being delayed. They called for the service to be returned Adding to concerns for voters are rumors that mailboxes across the country are disappearing, making it more difficult to post a ballot. USPS argued this week that the mailboxes were simply being removed by the postal service due to declining mail volume as DeJoy said that they had to be taken away because of the service's untenable financial situation. 'First-class mail volume has declined significantly in the U.S., especially since the pandemic,' Ernie Swanson, a spokesman for the USPS, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. 'That translates to less mail in collection boxes.' While Swanson said that the move should not impact anyone, the news that mailboxes are decreasing alarmed some who felt it could be part of a plan by DeJoy and Trump to slowdown the postal service and as such, slow down voting in the election. It was revealed Thursday that President Trump had an Oval Office meeting last week with DeJoy as more allegations emerged that the billionaire mega-donor to the Republican Party put the policies in place to aid the president get reelected. The protesters gathered outside DeJoy's home after marching from a nearby park They blew on horns and made as much noise as possible in a 'wake up call' to DeJoy DeJoy has denied claims from protesters he is engaging in voter suppression The protesters placed fake ballots in his door as part of the demonstration 'Postmaster General DeJoy's brief term has already become one of the darkest in USPS history,' Democratic Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly said in a statement. 'On the eve of a presidential election, in the midst of the worst public health pandemic in 100 years, Mr. DeJoy has pledged his allegiance to the political expedience of President Trump at the expense of protecting our democracy and access to the ballot. 'He has deliberately enacted policies to sabotage the Postal Service to serve only one person, President Trump. He has failed the American people. Mr. DeJoy must resign.' The claims led to Saturday morning's protest, which also called for DeJoy to be removed from his role or resign. The protest gathered at Kalorama Park in Adams Morgan on the corner of Kalorama Road and 19th Street before 9am Saturday before walking to his home where they stayed to demonstrate. According to WUSA9, some protesters were seen stuffing fake absentee ballots into the Postmaster General's apartment lobby door. Videos from the protest showed that specially crafted fake ballots were placed in the door with calls to save the post office The group marched a short way to DeJoy's home. He was not seen during the protest The protesters were encouraged to bring saucepans and other items to make noise with Hundreds of protesters were involved in the Saturday morning demonstration in Washington D.C. 'DeJoy has fired or reassigned much of the existing USPS leadership and ordered the removal of mail sorting machines that are fundamental to the functioning of the postal service. Meanwhile, mail delivery is slowing down under other decisions made by DeJoy, such as eliminating overtime for postal workers,' the group said in a statement. DeJoy has denied all the allegations that he is acting to aid Trump by slowing down the postal service. 'Despite any assertions to the contrary, we are not slowing down Election Mail or any other mail,' he said last week. The investigation from the inspector general into DeJoy comes as the Postal Service is warning states there is 'significant risk' voters will not have enough time to complete and return their ballots. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has denied that politics are at play in the post office ahead of the November election The Postal Service late on Friday released letters it had sent to 46 states and the District of Columbia, after the Washington Post reported earlier on the extent of the warnings. The warning highlighted the possibility that a meaningful number of mail votes in the November 3 presidential election might go uncounted if they are returned too late. 'State and local election officials must understand and take into account our operational standards and recommended timelines,' Postal Service spokeswoman Martha Johnson said. Election officials are bracing for a deluge of mail ballots as many states have made it easier to vote by mail to address concerns about public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. Mail voting is expected to surge to 50 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic rages ahead of the election. Yet the postal service is in dire financial straits having a loss of $4.5billion in the first quarter of 2020, before the pandemic even properly took hold of the country. According to Associated Press, the service has 'warned they will run out of money by the end of September without help from Congress'. However, the president has denied this help, as he continues to claim that mail-in voting will lead to the election being a 'fraudulent mess'. The USPS got caught up in a political fight between Democrats and President Trump over an emergency funding provision for the service in an overall bill designed to offer financial relief from the coronavirus. Democrats want $25 billion for the service but President Trump called it election money although he has since indicated he may be inclined to cut a deal. Democratic Congressional leaders Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump as the two sides negotiate money for the postal service as part of the coronavirus relief talks. It was revealed President Donald Trump held an Oval Office meeting with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (above) last week before DeJoy's meeting with Democrats on Capitol Hill. Trump and DeJoy are accused of working to suppress voters 'The President, his cronies and Republicans in Congress continue to wage their all-out assault on the Postal Service and its role in ensuring the integrity of the 2020 election,' the two leaders said in a joint statement. Trump, who is falling further behind rival Biden in his fight for reelection, is leading a vigorous campaign to sow doubts about mail-in voting and how it could lead to voter fraud and election collapse. On Saturday morning, he claimed that the U.S. 'will maybe never know who won', questioning the legitimacy of the election before it has even happened. He was responding to reports of fraudulent ballots that were uncovered during a recent local election in New Jersey. The article said 20 per cent of mail-in ballots in Paterson had been rejected after some were found to be linked to out-of-towners or dead residents. The report was tweeted by GOP national spokeswoman Elizabeth Harrington who accused Democrats of tampering with ballots in New Jersey and other states in recent elections. Evidence has shown that mail voting is as secure as any other method and Biden and other Democrats say Trump is simply trying to interfere with the election by withholding funding to the post office. Mail voting is expected to surge to 50 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic rages ahead of the election A resident places his mail-in ballot vote in a drop box in Miami-Dade county on August 11 Obama became the most-high profile name to add his criticism to the situation when he accused Trump of starving the U.S. Postal Service of much needed funds in order to re-ensure his re-election. The former president challenged Republicans to do something about it. 'What we've seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a President who is explicit in trying to discourage people from voting,' Obama said. 'What we've never seen before is a President say, "I'm going to try to actively kneecap the postal service to encourage voting and I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it".' 'That's sort of unheard of. You now have the President throwing in this additional monkey wrench trying to starve the postal service,' Obama added. 'My question is what are Republicans doing where you are so scared of people voting that you are now willing to undermine what is part of the basic infrastructure of American life?' Obama's concerns came as United Parcel Service and FedEx on Friday shot down social media calls that they step in to deliver mail-in ballots from USPS, which is warning states of potentially 'significant' delays. 'State ballots must be postmarked to be considered valid and only the USPS has lawful postmarking status. Therefore UPS, FedEx and other private parties cannot technically be involved in shipping ballots,' UPS told Reuters in a statement. 'FedEx does accept individual ballots, and we advise that customers planning to return their ballots via FedEx should closely review their state's guidelines on absentee voting and deadlines for ballots or related election documents,' FedEx said. The Pentagon has set up a new task force to investigate the sightings of unidentified flying objects. The new division will be headed by the US Navy and will look into the nature and origins of UAPs" or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. On Friday, the US Department of Defense announced the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF). Establishment of the new task force was approved by Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist. As per spokeswoman Susan Gough, the mission of the task force is to detect, analyse and catalogue UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to US national security." The new announcement comes within a month of reports highlighting the secret military program still being run, despite the Pentagon claiming to have shut it down. The program had instead been renamed and tucked inside the Office of Naval Intelligence. Guarding territories (Representative Image: Reuters) The hunt for the UFOs, or the UAPs in this case, is not meant to identify extraterrestrial beings. With the new task force, the US military will monitor any threat to its territory from its adversaries. This would include monitoring its designated airspace for incursions by any unauthorised aircraft. "This includes examinations of incursions that are initially reported as UAP when the observer cannot immediately identify what he or she is observing, Gough said Several US Navy pilots have had mid-flight encounters with such flying objects as mentioned above. Back in April, the Pentagon officially released three videos taken by US Navy pilots showing such unidentified objects in the air. While investigation is further on to identify the flying objects encountered in the US airspace, the Pentagon identifies its targeted risks. A report by AFP mentions that the US is particularly concerned about China's spying capabilities, using drones or such means. A history of hunting for UFOs US Navy's encounter with the UFO The Pentagon had previously studied recordings of these encounters with unknown aerial objects. Launched in 2007, the program was classified at the time. It was later ended in 2012 as the Pentagon redirected its funding towards other programs which were higher priorities. The North Carolina 5-year-old fatally shot while playing in his front yard carried a big smile and a big heart, the boys grandfather recalled at his funeral. Merrill Race joined others at grandson Cannon Hinnants funeral Thursday night to mourn the boy killed as he rode his bike in the driveway of his familys home Sunday, news outlets report. Cannon was the type of kid that was always polite, kind of laid back, but he was a beautiful little kid, Race said, according to WRAL-TV. Cannons youth pastor, Daryl High, said the boy was always a joy in Sunday school. His smile is huge. His personality is big. You could not help to be changed when you met Cannon. If a word wasnt said, you cant help to be changed, High said. Cannons father, Austin Hinnant, explained, "Everybody just loved Cannon. He lit up the room." Hinnant told The Wilson Times that the boy had been playing with his sisters outside when he heard a gunshot nearby. Hinnant said he rushed outside and found his son lying on the ground. When he scooped the boy into his arms, he realized his son had a gunshot wound to the head. That is why this is so horrific to me, Hinnant said. He was doing something he loved. A neighbor, 25-year-old Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, is charged with first-degree murder in Cannons death. Hinnant told the newspaper that he and Sessoms were friendly and he always checked in with Sessoms parents, who lived next door. cannon hinnant funeral The night before the shooting, Hinnant was grilling chicken, saw Sessoms sitting in his car, like he had a lot on his mind and asked if he wanted to eat. The two shared a beer on the front porch, Hinant told the newspaper. He said he saw no foreshadowing of what was ahead. I have no idea why he did what he did, Hinnant said. It was literally out of nowhere. He puts a gun to my sons head and shoots him. Hinnant said his family is grateful for the communitys support, but hes been disturbed by social media posts that suggest race was a factor in Cannons death. Story continues This is no racial issue, Hinnant told The Wilson Times. Cannon was white and Sessoms is Black. It didnt matter what color, male or female, he just had that love and joy in his heart, he said. He loved everyone. Sessoms parents said they believe their son was on drugs and having hallucinations at the time of the shooting. Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Saturday Tokyo planned to send a team of officials from the ministry and other specialists to Mauritius to assess the damage from an oil spill. A Japanese bulk carrier struck a coral reef off Mauritius on July 25, spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and triggering a state of "environmental emergency" in what some scientists call the country's worst ecological disaster. Removing the ship will be a delicate operation and is likely to take months. France, which once ruled Mauritius as a colony, has said it will assist with the cleanup. Koizumi also told reporters on Saturday he saw the oil spill as a grave crisis that could lead to a loss of biodiversity. The ship, MV Wakashio, is owned by Japan's Nagashiki Shipping and chartered by Mitsui OSK Lines. (REUTERS) Wistful speculation about a reconfigured world after the pandemic can be heard. Granted, it would make worthwhile use of a crisis - but let's not hold our breath, judging by the bounce-back to business as usual following the 2008 economic collapse. Remember when hypermasculinity in the financial sector, along with groupthink and a lack of oversight, lost the State its sovereignty temporarily? Shockwaves led to an expectation that workplace dynamics would be shaken up. But change has been slight. Middle-class men who don't even recognise their own privileged position continue to rule the roost. Leo Varadkar, the second most powerful politician in the State, this week tried to position himself and Barry Ward, a senator and barrister, as part of a marginalised group because they are male and middle-class. Indeed. I did a double-take too. It suggests a blind spot about one's own advantages in life, to say the least. The Tanaiste, by the way, isn't known for promoting women - as Taoiseach, he appointed fewer women to junior ministries than Enda Kenny, and just four women to senior Cabinet portfolios. Despite social transformation in other areas of life, workplace attitudes are slow to change, with some downright hostile to women. Women are accustomed to having their authority questioned. Where a man is regarded as confident, a woman is represented as aggressive. Presenteeism is a factor in some jobs, with long hours the norm and an expectation people will make themselves constantly available. Long hours don't necessarily make employees more productive, of course. But the tradition militates against women who may have caregiver roles outside work - caring work tends to be feminised in households. Society in general profits by it, but women carry the lion's share of the burden. "The deep-structured gender divisions that almost imperceptibly frame our institutions, processes and practices remain largely intact," according to Producing Knowledge, Reproducing Gender, an important collection of well-researched essays for UCD Press, edited by Pauline Cullen and Mary P Corcoran of Maynooth University. The editors point to the persistence of a "power dynamic in the workplace that consistently benefits men at the expense of women" and note the "pink collar ghettos" of dead-end, low income jobs where women workers cluster. James Connolly's famous observation - behind every poor man is a poorer woman - hasn't dated. The book notes Ireland is home to global giants such as Facebook, and educates a high number of computer programmers by European standards. But it says the information and communication technology workplace is gender segregated, with the more prestigious programming jobs dominated by men while women are likelier to be in business operations and community management. In the wealth-creating investment management sector, the lack of change post-crash is striking. A 2015 study of 56 companies worldwide found four in five fund managers were male. In Ireland, it was eight in nine. In science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM subjects, girls outperform boys at secondary level but that's reversed at third level education. In 2016, women comprised only 24pc of top academic staff in the EU - and just 15pc in science and engineering. Directors of big budget films in Hollywood are exclusively male. Books written by women receive less review attention than books by men. Women national newspaper editors are thin on the ground. In media, the "important" political and economic stories tend to be reported by male journalists, while women are nudged towards features and lifestyle. Granted, some women currently hold down high-profile jobs once associated with men. Women heading up organisations include Francesca McDonagh at Bank of Ireland, Fiona Muldoon in insurance company FBD, Patricia King in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Siobhan Talbot at Glanbia. Claire Loftus is director of public prosecutions, Mary Lou McDonald is both president of Sinn Fein and leader of the Opposition, RTE has a female director general in Dee Forbes and chair in Moya Doherty. But the visibility of individual high-achievers gives an unrepresentative picture overall. Research shows women adapt to the prevailing culture in ways which don't disrupt it. Some become "pseudo males" to succeed, according to Producing Knowledge, Reproducing Gender - reluctant to take maternity leave or ask for flexible working - while others feel forced out of their jobs because of the culture. Some move sideways and don't pursue promotion, partly to accommodate motherhood and carer roles. When they do seek promotion, they can be dismissed as either "wombs in waiting" or past it. The pay gap is a live issue. Significantly, women TDs still only account for 22pc of the Oireachtas. There has been no female taoiseach in more than a century. Change in politics, as elsewhere, needs to be not just structural but cultural - although any cultural shift is a distant prospect judging by that daft, self-serving tweet from Mr Varadkar. He posted: "If you are white, male or even worse middle-class, Sinn Fein doesn't want you. So much for an 'Ireland of equals'." This is Trumpery idiom - the US president is master of such divisive rhetoric. The matter arose because of a disagreement a week-and-a-half earlier between senators Lynn Boylan and Barry Ward about residential tenancies' legislation. Senator Boylan was making a valid point about how those who are privileged experience the law differently to others relegated to the periphery. I'm mystified why the Tanaiste was scrolling through old tweets to score points with a pandemic in full swing. In any event, white, middle-class men are hardly the most exploited, demoralised or disadvantaged group in Irish life. Rather, they are overrepresented among key decision-makers and opinion-formers. Clearly, there is resistance to change. Notably from some - not all - white, middle-class men. And if white, middle- class women must push boulders uphill to succeed, how daunting is it for women of colour, Traveller women, migrant women, women with disabilities and so on? Change hasn't yet been delivered because a gulf yawns between lip service about gender equality and the implementation of initiatives to drive improvements. But maintaining the status quo does a disservice to society in the round - after all, the community flourishes when diversity is encouraged. In no circumstances is inbreeding healthy. An interesting chapter contributed by Catriona Crowe, former head of special projects at the National Archives, mentions the silenced voices of women in Magdalene Laundries and mother and baby homes - she says some religious orders have not made archive material readily available. That refers to the past - but there are silenced voices today. Finally, a clever, able woman in the shape of Kamala Harris is a contender for the US vice-presidency - the first time a woman of colour has joined a US presidential ticket. Joe Biden chose well in his own interests, but also in women's. Producing Knowledge, Reproducing Gender: Power, Production and Practice in Contemporary Ireland, edited by Pauline Cullen and Mary P Corcoran, has just been published by University College Dublin Press Montana State researcher featured in Nature for work on rare reptile genome BOZEMAN -- A Montana State University researcher contributed to a novel project with scientists from around the country and world that sheds light on one of Earth's most important reptile species. Chris Organ, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Earth Sciences in MSU's College of Letters and Science, worked with a team from 10 countries and six U.S. states along with Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institution to sequence the genome of the tuatara, a reptile Organ refers to as a "living fossil." "The tuatara isn't a lizard, even though it looks like one. They evolved early among their group of amniotes, animals like lizards, birds and mammals," said Organ. "The group never really diversified much, so the tuatara is very similar anatomically to fossils that we see that go back 200 million years. The question that remains is, if the anatomy of the animal hasn't evolved very much, what about the genome?" The project marks the first time the tuatara genome, which is roughly twice the size of a human genome, has ever been sequenced, which illuminates not only how the unique species evolved, but also offers some insights into human genetic lineage as well. Organ brought a paleontological perspective to the international team, helping to compare the genome of the animals living today to their prehistoric ancestors. The paper, "The tuatara genome reveals ancient features of amniote evolution," appeared in the scientific journal Nature on Aug. 5. Lead author Neil Gemmell from the University of Otago in New Zealand said sequencing the genome allows scientists to learn just where the tuatara fits in the tree of life. "If we consider a tree, with species diverging over time and splitting off into groups such as reptiles, birds and mammals, we can finally see with some certainty where the tuatara sits," Gemmell said. The sequencing of the tuatara genome places it on the same branch of the tree of life as snakes and lizards up until about 250 million years ago, when the tuatara's branch, the genus Sphenodon, split from the class branch squamata, the branch that includes snakes and lizards. The tuatara has been genetically unique ever since. Tuatara are native only to the islands of New Zealand, and because of that they have experienced very little habitat change during their long evolutionary existence, said Organ. Rodents, as a counterexample, exist all over the world. They have adapted over time to survive in a multitude of habitats with varying weather, predators, threats and food sources. Tuatara have been exposed to very few such speciation events, meaning they have seen a remarkably slow pace of evolutionary change. Coupled with a long lifespan -- a tuatara can live for more than 100 years -- this consistent habitat means tuatara have seen very slow evolutionary rates. Tuatara predate modern snakes and lizards by around 100 million years, said Organ. They also do not use genetic sex chromosomes to determine the sex of offspring, instead determining sex based on the temperature of their surroundings. This makes them particularly sensitive to changing habitats or a warming climate, which could unbalance the male-to-female ratio and lead to significant declines in population. The tuatara is also a culturally significant animal to the Maori native people of New Zealand, said Gemmell. The research team worked closely with indigenous communities in New Zealand as well as the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, the Ngatiwai Trust Board and the New Zealand Department of Conservation to explore how these novel insights into the tuatara could aid in its preservation in New Zealand. In addition to having an unusually large genome for an amniote, the tuatara also bears unique, never-before-identified genetic elements discovered through this research. Through narrowing down what makes the tuatara unique, the team hopes to discover the root of the species' longevity and to identify the best way to preserve this unique reptile. "Sequencing a genome is like piecing together a page of text using only sentence fragments," said Organ. "But because the tuatara genome is so large and has changed over time, it's like trying to piece together 'War and Peace,' and in a different dialect. Since the tuatara is so distantly related to anything that's alive today, we have genomic 'sentences' that don't overlap clearly, and that makes compiling this genome something new and exciting." ### This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Advertisement On the 75th anniversary of Victory in Japan Day, ceremonies are being held around the world before the Royal Family join UK PM Boris Johnson and veterans for a red arrows flypast. Japan on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing 'deep remorse' over his country's wartime actions at a somber annual ceremony curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Naruhito pledged to reflect on the war's events and expressed hope that the tragedy would never be repeated. There was no word of apology from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gave thanks for the sacrifices of the Japanese war dead but had nothing to say about the suffering of Japan's neighbors. 'Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated,' Naruhito said in a short speech at the event in Tokyo marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender on 15 August, 1945. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Britain and Australia, senior government figures laid wreaths at war memorials to commemorate the dead from the brutal conflict in the Pacific. The Royal Family and Boris Johnson will today join Second World War veterans to mark 75 years since the end of the war. Prince Philip, 99, will be among those paying tribute to the heroes who fell during the campaign in the Far East. The duke was aboard the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan attend a memorial service marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II at the Nippon Budokan hall on August 15, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. 75 years ago today and following the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, former emperor Hirohito formally announced Japans surrender to allied forces, bringing the hostilities of World War II to an end Japan's Emperor Naruhito (L) and Empress Masako (R) wearing face masks, attend a memorial service marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, Japan today Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London, to mark VJ Day this morning Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and husband Sir David Gascoigne lay flowers on the steps of the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War today in Wellington, New Zealand Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lays a wreath during a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific Day at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, 15 August 2020 Handout dated yesterday, issued by RAF/MoD, shows the Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes in front of the Burma Star Memoriall. He is the lone piper at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, when The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will join Second World War veterans, their carers and their families to pay tribute to all those who fell during the Far East campaign Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will also attend today's service at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire. For the first time since the 2012 Olympics, the Red Arrows will conduct a flypast over the four capital cities of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Japan, amid virus fears and worries about the fading memories of the fast-aging war generation, about 500 participants, reduced from 6,200 last year, mourned the dead with a minute of silence. Masks were required, and there was no singing of the 'Kimigayo' national anthem. Naruhito has promised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who devoted his 30-year career to making amends for a war fought in the name of Hirohito, the current emperor's grandfather. Abe has increasingly sought to whitewash Japan's brutal past since taking office in December 2012. He hasn't acknowledged Japan's wartime hostilities during Aug. 15 speeches, which had previously been a nearly 20-year tradition that began with the 1995 apology of Socialist leader Tomiichi Murayama. Abe, in a largely domestic-focused speech, said the peace that Japan enjoys today is built on the sacrifices of those who died in the war. He pledged that Japan will reflect on lessons from history and will not repeat the war devastation. He listed damage inflicted on Japan and its people, including the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, massive firebombings of Tokyo and the fierce battle of Okinawa. Abe pledged to play a greater role in tackling global problems. Under his goal of turning Japan into a 'beautiful' and 'normal' nation, Abe has steadily pushed to cleanse Japan of its embarrassing wartime history and build up its military by stretching the interpretation of Japan's war-renouncing constitution. It includes acquiring greater missile defense capability in the face of a growing military threat from North Korea and China. 'Remembering those days, I strongly feel we should never wage war,' said Shoji Nagaya, 93, who traveled from Hokkaido in northern Japan to commemorate his brother who died of illness while serving in China. 'But politicians today seem to have different views than ours, and I really hope that they will not head to a wrong direction.' At sunrise (0600) on 15 August, military pipers will perform 'When the Battle's O'er' onboard HMS Belfast, London, and at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. The playing of the Highland air signifies the moment that the UK woke up to peace on 15 August 1945 Image shows Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes. C Sgt Gurung is a Pipe Major in the uniform of 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and is the lone piper at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on 15 August 2020 Image shows Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes. C Sgt Gurung is a Pipe Major in the uniform of 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and is the lone piper at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on 15 August 2020 Abe stayed away from the shrine that honors convicted war criminals among the war dead. He sent a religious offering through a lawmaker, a gesture meant to avoid angering China and South Korea, which consider the Yasukuni shrine a symbol of Japan's militarism. Abe last visited Yasukuni in December 2013. Four members of his Cabinet did visit the shrine, the first ministerial visit in four years. Among them was Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who repeatedly visited the shrine on different occasions, including his last visit as serving prime minister on Aug. 15, 2006, that sparked criticism from China and South Korea. 'We decide how we want to pay respects to the war dead. This should not be a diplomatic problem,' Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi, an ultra-conservative who shares Abe's historical views, told reporters after praying at the shrine. Repeated Yasukuni visits by Japanese government officials 'indicates that on the issue of history, Japan has not completely abandoned militarism,' said Wang Shaopu, a Japanese studies professor at Jiao Tong University and honorary president of the Japan Society of Shanghai. 'Japan's invasion of China has brought huge disaster to the Chinese people. Under these circumstances, if Japan doesn't face up to historical issues, how could we be sure that Japan will follow the path of peace in the future?' Kosaburo Tanaka, a martial arts association manager, traveled from Osaka to give thanks for Japan's postwar peace. 'Japan hasn't been in any war over the last 75 years and we were able to live peacefully. I think that's all because of the spirits that rest here in Yasukuni. They protect the peace.' Nobuko Bamba a retiree whose grandmother, uncle and aunt died in the March 10, 1945, U.S. firebombing of Tokyo, thinks both sides of history should be remembered. 'There are many people who don't know anything about the war, not only the suffering of the Japanese people, but there are also things that Japanese people did, bad things,' Bamba said. 'Unless we teach these things to future generations, I don't think war would end.' She prayed for her uncle, whose remains have never been found. Some 71,000 British and Commonwealth troops died during the war against Japan, including 12,000 in captivity. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday: 'VJ Day is sometimes seen as the forgotten victory, but this year, on its 75th anniversary, our celebrations are rightly focused on paying special tribute to the Greatest Generation and their service and sacrifice in the Far East. 'These commemorations have been specially designed to include our veterans and pay tribute to the wartime generation as much as possible despite these challenging times.' His comments came as a poll for Armed Forces charity SSAFA found that 46 per cent of Britons do not know the meaning of VJ Day. World leaders will join Boris Johnson and Prince Philip on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. VJ celebrations in London, August 1945. News of the surrender of Japan to the Allies in mid-August 1945, which signalled the end of the war in the Far East, generated even more rejoicing and celebration in Britain than the proclamation of Victory in Europe only a few months earlier. In this B/W file photo dated 15 August, 1945, Japanese prisoners of war at Guam, Mariana Islands, bow their heads as they hear Japanese Emperor Hirohito making the announcement of Japan's unconditional surrender In this B/W file photo dated May 9, 1945, while American cities were going wild on an unconfirmed report of Germany's unconditional surrender, American soldiers and marines are checking the identification of their dead on May 9, 1945, on Okinawa, Japan Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been joined by nine other global figures including US president Donald Trump, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari and Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau in recording a video message thanking those who served. In the Friendship of Nations video, due to be released ahead of commemorations, each leader will say in turn: 'To all who served, we thank you.' During a series of events throughout VJ Day, August 15, the royal family and Mr Johnson will lead the country in honouring those who fought in the Far East and helped to finally end the Second World War. Mr Johnson said: 'On this 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we pay tribute to the heroes deployed thousands of miles away in the mountains, islands and rainforests of Asia. 'Unable to celebrate the victory in Europe, and among the last to return home, today we recognise the bravery and ingenuity of those who, in the face of adversity, restored peace and prosperity to the world. 'Their immeasurable sacrifice changed the course of history and at today's commemorations, we take the opportunity to say what should be said every day - thank you.' The day will begin with a piper playing Battle's Over at the Imperial War Museum's HMS Belfast in London at sunrise, as part of a tribute entitled Waking Up To Peace. Boris Johnson and Prince Philip will be among the World leaders marking the anniversary Boris Johnson letter to veterans on VJ days For the first time since the 2012 Olympics, the Red Arrows will conduct a flypast over the four capital cities of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Military pipers will also be playing at dawn in India, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will lead a two-minute silence at 11am during a televised event, screened by the BBC, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Mr Johnson will read the Exhortation before the nation falls silent and afterwards the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part in a flypast over the arboretum. The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who served in the Second World War as a naval officer, will feature alongside other veterans on a number of large screens across the UK, including the Piccadilly Curve, in a photo-montage showing veterans today and when they served. The Duke of Edinburgh was aboard the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945 during the Second World War POLL IMPLIES ALMOST HALF OF BRITISH PUBLIC DO NOT KNOW ABOUT VJ DAY Nearly half of the British public do not know what Victory in Japan (VJ) Day is, according to the findings of a poll taken shortly before its 75th anniversary. On Saturday, the country will pay tribute to the sacrifices made by those who fought in the Far East to bring about the end of the Second World War. The conflict against Japan endured three months beyond Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8 1945, with brutal fighting only ending with the Japanese surrender on August 15. But a survey of 2,020 Britons aged over 16 from SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, carried out between July 27 and 29, found that 46% did not know what the VJ acronym stands for. Of these, just 5% said they would celebrate it every year after discovering what the day marked, the survey found. Meanwhile, more than half (52%) of those unaware of the significance of the day said they were not likely to do or feel anything towards the anniversary after finding out what it stood for. SSAFA suggested the findings pointed to VJ Day 'slowly being erased from British history'. It highlighted that due to the earlier conclusion of war in Europe, some veterans returning from the Far East have referred to themselves as the 'forgotten army'. This year's VJ Day commemorations have had to be adapted to accommodate restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, are all due to play a role in events planned on Saturday. This includes a service of thanksgiving and remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, a national two-minute silence, and a Red Arrows flypast. Sir Gary Coward, chairman of SSAFA, said: 'We should all be aware of our national history, especially when associated with an unrelenting campaign and huge sacrifice. VJ Day marks such an event.' He added: 'Many people celebrate Victory in Europe Day, but very few acknowledge or know about Victory over Japan Day. 'Thousands of Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen remained incarcerated in horrendous conditions and their many colleagues continued to fight bitter battles for freedom in the Far East well after VE Day. 'Without their supreme sacrifice, life would be very different to what it is now. 'On this 75th anniversary, we ought to take a moment to reflect on this and try to learn the lessons of this key moment in history. 'The huge losses on all sides must not be forgotten.' Advertisement It will be a rare appearance for the duke who retired from royal duties in 2017 and has only been seen in public a handful of times. In the evening his grandson the Duke of Cambridge will take part in VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute, a pre-recorded BBC programme filmed at Horse Guards Parade where, alongside veteran testimony and a host of famous faces, the duke will honour and give thanks to all those who sacrificed so much during the Second World War. Another aerial tribute will also be staged, with the Red Arrows roaring over the cities of Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London with the flight path to include the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, where three Burma Star recipients live in retirement. The other world leaders who have taken part in the Friendship of Nations video, which will be broadcast at 10.15am, include Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo, prime minister Scott Morrison from Australia, Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama, Malawi's president Lazarus Chakwera, Sierra Leone's president Julius Maada and the prime minister of Tonga Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa. In a video message to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'On behalf of the Labour Party I want to pay tribute to the wartime generation, who through the horrors of conflict showed us the spirit and determination that we need to always remember and always be grateful for. 'It's important that as we face the challenges of today, we take inspiration from that generation. 'Through their community spirit and their bravery and their determination for a better world they've shown us what we can achieve when we pull together.' Japan's capitulation came more than three months after VE Day saw the war end in Europe, when Germany surrendered to the Allies following the suicide of Adolf Hitler. The Prime Minister has hailed the courage of Far East veterans in bringing the Second World War to an end and delivering 'peace and prosperity'. In a letter addressed to 'Veterans of the Far East Campaign' on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, Boris Johnson offered his thanks for their service. Highlighting the importance of the war's outcome to South East Asia, Mr Johnson said: 'You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today. 'You fought for freedom, brought the Second World War to its end, and restored peace and prosperity to the world. 'All of us who were born after you have benefited from your courage in adversity. On this anniversary, and every day hereafter, you will be remembered.' Due to the distance from Britain, military victories in Europe, and long final journeys home, some veterans returning from the Far East felt their efforts were not fully recognised, dubbing themselves the 'forgotten army'. In acknowledgement, Mr Johnson wrote: 'When at last you returned, you sometimes found that your experiences had been overshadowed in popular imagination by the conflict in Europe. 'So in offering my thanks for your service, I would like to remember what you achieved. 'Today the countries of South East Asia are prospering faster than almost anywhere else in the world. 'This transformation would never have been possible if they had stayed under the occupation of Japan, imposed through the defeat of British and Commonwealth forces in Malaysia, Singapore and Burma.' Mr Johnson added: 'These blows were so heavy that many feared they would break your will to fight on. 'But you survived the longest retreat in British history, marching almost 1,000 miles from Burma to India, and then you regrouped and reformed.' The Prime Minister also wrote: 'At Kohima in 1944, British and Indian forces, outnumbered ten to one, halted Japan's invasion of India and achieved one of the greatest feats of arms in military history.' He added: 'You accomplished these advances through ingenuity and daring, mastering jungle warfare, overcoming malaria and solving the supposedly intractable problem of how to fight during the monsoon. 'General William Slim, the Commander of the 14th Army, wrote that he asked his soldiers 'for the impossible - and got it'.' Mr Johnson concluded: 'You know better than me the fearful cost: 50,000 British and Commonwealth citizens laid down their lives in the war against Japan. Of these, nearly half died in brutal prison camps. 'Yet this immeasurable sacrifice helped to change the course of history and lay the foundations of the success of South East Asia.' Council, other groups will look at downtown parking concerns There have been several downtown businesses requesting reserved parking spots prompting the council to make some changes to the parking ordinances. India takes pride in having largest vaccination programme in the world: PM Modi From 2014 to 2021: A look at Narendra Modi's Independence Day Turban tradition Independence Day 2020: CM Arvind Kejriwal extends wishes on Twitter; Pays tribute to the martyrs India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Aug 15: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday wished the country on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. Kejriwal posted his wishes on social media where he paid tributes to the martyrs. In a tweet, CM Kejriwal said, "I bow to those martyrs whose sacrifice made it possible for us to breathe in free atmosphere. I wish all the countrymen Happy Independence Day." CM Kejriwal's tweet came moments before Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. This is PM Modi's second speech of the second term in office. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Modi's 74th Independence Day speech highlights: PM emphasises on Make in India and Make for World The Independence Day function at Red Fort this year will be relatively muted in terms of participation of people in view of the situation created by the novel coronavirus. Compared to the previous years, only about 20 per cent VVIPs or other participants were be able to witness the Prime Minister's speech. Independence Day 2020: Google Doodle pays tribute to Indian musical legacy A security ring, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, will be placed around the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation. According to reports, more than 300 cameras have been installed for security and their footage is being monitored round-the-clock, according to the police. There will be around 4,000 security personnel at the Red Fort and they will stand in adherence with social distancing norms, the police further said. A New York man accused of torching a New York Police Department patrol car has been held without bail after police arrived at his apartment and found a smiley face spray painted onto the wall and the words: 'Too late'. Construction worker Sam Resto, 29, was arrested on Thursday at his work, having left the message in his Queens apartment to taunt the police earlier. Resto reportedly told police he 'had a feeling' they were coming for him. His passport was in his backpack and he admitted to the FBI that he intended to flee, prosecutors said. Sam Resto, 29, was caught on surveillance camera buying a red jerrycan of gasoline in Queens The patrol car went up in flames in the early hours of July 29, in the Upper West Side of NYC Resto had been arrested twice before the alleged arson attack - once on July 10 for 'allegedly swinging a chain' at someone during a parking dispute, and again on July 15 during an anti-police brutality protest on the Brooklyn Bridge. He was being watched by NYPD on the night of the attack, in the early hours of July 29. The afternoon before, on July 28, officers watched as he went to a gas station in Elmhurst and filled up a red jerry can with gasoline using the self-service pump. He then brought it back to his apartment. Officers said he was wearing a dark Adidas hat, a dark long-sleeve top, dark jeans, dark Nike sneakers and gloves with the fingers cut off. He stayed home until 11:47pm, when he headed to Manhattan via a ride share, wearing the same clothes, plus a backpack, according to police. At 3:50am on July 29, surveillance video captured someone wearing the same clothes which police observed Resto wearing earlier, plus a Guy Fawkes mask, walking up to an NYPD Ford Fusion in the Upper West Side. The vehicle was parked at the corner of Columbus Avenue and West 83rd Street. Prosecutors claim the man in the video is Resto. Police found an abandoned backpack containing the clothes and equipment Resto wore Police, arriving at Resto's Elmhurst apartment, found graffiti saying: 'Too late' The man was seen breaking the passenger-side window of the car and then pouring gasoline inside and lighting it on fire, before heading east on West 83rd toward Central Park, prosecutors said. Officers later found a backpack in the park near where they said they saw Resto. In the backpack was an Adidas hat, gloves with the fingers cut off, a Guy Fawkes mask, a hammer, lighter and red jerry can. Officers said the can smelled of gasoline. Prosecutors said police pulled fingerprints from the jerry can and matched them to Resto. Following Resto's arrest, police found a copy of 'The Anarchist's Cookbook,' a book with recipes for bombs and other explosive devices, police said. Resto is expected to have his first court appearance conducted by telephone on Friday, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Heavy. Prosecutors asked that Resto be held without bail pending his trial, claiming he is a flight risk and danger to the community. They said that the actions they alleged were 'extraordinarily dangerous to the community' and said that Resto's police record showed he was becoming increasingly 'unhinged.' 'Resto presents a danger to the community and a risk of flight that no set of release conditions can mitigate,' prosecutors wrote. If convicted he faces up to 20 years in prison. The NYPD claims that since George Floyd's killing on May 25, more than 300 of their vehicles have been vandalized or damaged during protest activities. The department claimed the costs of repairs neared $1 million. William Sweeney, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI in New York, said in a statement on Friday that Resto's alleged actions were 'an affront to everything this city is supposed to be about'. 'When Resto set an NYPD van ablaze last month, as we allege today, his actions not only destroyed essential public safety equipment paid for by the people of New York City, he placed the personal safety of those living in the neighborhood and their private property into harm's way,' said Sweeney. 'Deliberate criminal activity like the type alleged today puts both first responders and private citizens at risk, it is an affront to everything this city is supposed to be about. 'Today's federal charges are the community's message back to Mr Resto and others who may choose to engage in this type of criminal behavior we will not tolerate crimes of this magnitude and the consequences will be significant.' A 32-year-old woman has become the latest person in Northern Ireland to die after contracting Covid-19. Andreea Maftei from Ballymena passed away in hospital on Thursday. The young woman was well-known in the town as a long-time employee of Nobel Cafe. Originally from Tecuci in Romania, Mrs Maftei is survived by her husband of seven years Ovidiu, who works in construction. Her father Mircea Serban confirmed her death from Covid-19, posting on social media that she was "killed by this unfortunate virus that killed hundreds of thousands of people". On Friday devastated staff at Nobel Cafe were coming to terms with the loss of their "dear friend and colleague" as floral tributes to Mrs Maftei were left outside the premises. The cafe had been closed for 24 hours earlier this week for a deep clean after the positive case was identified. Mrs Maftei had been self-isolating and was believed to have been diagnosed on Tuesday. Nobel confirmed on Wednesday that all other staff members had been tested and returned negative results. The business stressed that the Public Health Agency's contact tracing service and Environmental Health had both concluded that Mrs Maftei contracted the virus due to a community-based outbreak, and not through their food premises. Posting on social media, Nobel said: "Andreea worked with us for 12 fantastic years, not only was she a trusted employee but a very loyal friend. "We are astounded at the news and utterly heartbroken. "Unfortunately, Andreea has been taken from us under horrendous circumstances." Mrs Maftei is the second member of staff Nobel has lost in recent months following the death in June of Roisin O'Neill (66) following a battle with cancer. Paying tribute, Nobel added: "We know Roisin will be waiting for Andreea and we ask her to look after her. We are completely and utterly heartbroken. We will miss you forever. We can't put it into words. Out of respect for Andreea and the shock this has caused for our staff we will be closed today and tomorrow." Mrs Maftei's passing brings the official death toll from coronavirus to 558. Hers was the first death to be confirmed by the Department of Health for four days. The department confirmed a significant spike of 74 new cases of the virus. Mid and East Antrim has had the highest number of new cases, with 55 recorded in the last week and 75 in the last fortnight. Tributes to the young woman poured into Nobel's Facebook page. Angelika Andzia wrote: Andreea was the most positive person that I had chance to meet. Heartbreaking news." Ballymena businessman Thomas McKillen wrote: "The Management and staff of McKillens of Ballymena wish to express our deepest sympathy to all in Nobel Cafe on the passing of their colleague Andreea Maftei. "We also extend this sympathy to her husband and family. Please take care everyone." Mary Cooke posted that "Auntie Roisin O'Neill will be waiting with open arms... So sorry to the whole of Nobel family and to Andreea's family - may she get the best bed in heaven." Health Minister Robin Swann said he was saddened by the latest death and rise in cases. "I want to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person who has tragically passed away," Mr Swann said. "This upsetting news serves as a stark reminder that this virus has not gone away. "I implore everyone to stick with it. Keep your distance, wash your hands, wear your mask and do not let this virus take a hold in our society. These measures, while simplistic, are essential to winning the battle." Ballymena-based SDLP councillor Eugene Reid also expressed his condolences. He said: "Andreea had made Northern Ireland her home and both she and her husband have worked hard for many years to build their life here." Make in India, make for the world, says PM Modi in Independence Day speech Screengrab: YouTube/Narendra Modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort in New Delhi on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. He addressed a variety of issues ranging from an atmanirbhar or self-reliant India to addressing the countrys fight against the coronavirus pandemic as well as launching the National Digital Health Mission. Here are some key highlights from his speech. PM Shri @narendramodi unfurls the Tricolour flag at the ramparts of Red Fort, on the occasion of 74th Independence Day in Delhi. #AatmaNirbharBharat pic.twitter.com/YcNklznOh9 BJP (@BJP4India) August 15, 2020 On Self-Reliance PM Modi said that atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India had become the mantra for 130 crore Indians and will soon become a reality. "Self-reliant India is in the minds and hearts of every Indian. We are transforming this dream into reality," he said. "In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, 130 crore Indians have pledged to build an atmanirbhar Bharat and I am confident that India will realise this dream I believe in the capabilities of our youth, our women, our thinking and approach... Once we decide to do something, we do not rest till we achieve that goal." Urging people to adopt the "vocal for local" pledge, he said, "As we move towards our 75th year of Independence, the entire nation must take a pledge to make 'vocal for local' the mantra of the nation." He said that India needs to work on the mantra of "Make in India, Make for world". The whole world is observing the reforms taking place in India. As a result, FDI has broken all records. India saw 18% jump in FDI even during the pandemic," he added. It tells us that the world sees our potential and has hope from a rising India." PM Shri @narendramodi pays homage at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, on the occasion of 74th Independence Day in Delhi. #AatmaNirbharBharat pic.twitter.com/P12nXmIUZy BJP (@BJP4India) August 15, 2020 On COVID-19 Prime Minister Modi began his speech with a tribute to corona warriors saying, "On behalf of the entire nation, I want to thank the efforts of all corona warriors. All those healthcare workers, doctors and nurses, who have worked tirelessly to serve the nation. He also announced that there are currently three coronavirus vaccines in India at different stages of trials. "Today in India, three vaccines are in the stage of testing. As soon as we get a green signal from scientists, the country is prepared to produce it in large numbers. Our roadmap to bring the corona vaccine to all Indians in the shortest possible time is ready," he added. National Digital Health Mission PM Modi launched the National Digital Health Mission as well - a "completely technology-based" initiative aimed at revolutionising the Indian health sector. Under this mission every Indian will receive a health ID card containing all the relevant information about his/her medical conditions. This card can then be used to access health services and medicines. "Every time you visit a doctor or a pharmacy, all your information will be logged in this card... From the doctor's appointment to the medication, everything will be available in your health profile," said the prime minister. On Indias sovereignty From LoC to LAC, whoever tried to challenge the sovereignty of our country got a befitting reply from our soldiers in their own language," said PM Modi, steering clear of directly naming China or Pakistan. From LOC to LAC, Indian Armed Forces have taught unforgettable lessons to our neighbours who dared to misadventure. They have been responded to in the language they understand. India stands committed to defeat forces that aid and abet terrorism & expansionism. #AatmaNirbharBharat pic.twitter.com/WMfx9k2blp BJP (@BJP4India) August 15, 2020 Alluding to the clash with Chinese troops in Galwan, PM Modi said, What our jawans can do, what the country can do, the world has seen in Ladakh." The prime minister emphasised that neighbours are not only those with whom India shares a border but those with whom we share a bond. "Neighbours are not only those with whom we share our geographical boundaries but also those with whom we share emotions and values... Where there is harmony in relationships, there is bonding, he said. " " In this composite image of the Crab Nebula, matter and antimatter are propelled nearly to the speed of light by the Crab pulsar. The images came from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope. Photo by NASA/ Getty Images This isn't a trick question. Antimatter is exactly what you might think it is -- the opposite of normal matter, of which the majority of our universe is made. Until just recently, the presence of antimatter in our universe was considered to be only theoretical. In 1928, British physicist Paul A.M. Dirac revised Einstein's famous equation E=mc. Dirac said that Einstein didn't consider that the "m" in the equation -- mass -- could have negative properties as well as positive. Dirac's equation (E = + or - mc2) allowed for the existence of anti-particles in our universe. Scientists have since proven that several anti-particles exist. These anti-particles are, literally, mirror images of normal matter. Each anti-particle has the same mass as its corresponding particle, but the electrical charges are reversed. Here are some antimatter discoveries of the 20th century: Advertisement Positrons - Electrons with a positive instead of negative charge. Discovered by Carl Anderson in 1932, positrons were the first evidence that antimatter existed. Anti-protons - Protons that have a negative instead of the usual positive charge. In 1955, researchers at the Berkeley Bevatron produced an antiproton. Anti-atoms - Pairing together positrons and antiprotons, scientists at - Pairing together positrons and antiprotons, scientists at CERN , the European Organization for Nuclear Research, created the first anti-atom. Nine anti-hydrogen atoms were created, each lasting only 40 nanoseconds. As of 1998, CERN researchers were pushing the production of anti-hydrogen atoms to 2,000 per hour. When antimatter comes into contact with normal matter, these equal but opposite particles collide to produce an explosion emitting pure radiation, which travels out of the point of the explosion at the speed of light. Both particles that created the explosion are completely annihilated, leaving behind other subatomic particles. The explosion that occurs when antimatter and matter interact transfers the entire mass of both objects into energy. Scientists believe that this energy is more powerful than any that can be generated by other propulsion methods. So, why haven't we built a matter-antimatter reaction engine? The problem with developing antimatter propulsion is that there is a lack of antimatter existing in the universe. If there were equal amounts of matter and antimatter, we would likely see these reactions around us. Since antimatter doesn't exist around us, we don't see the light that would result from it colliding with matter. It is possible that particles outnumbered anti-particles at the time of the Big Bang. As stated above, the collision of particles and anti-particles destroys both. And because there may have been more particles in the universe to start with, those are all that's left. There may be no naturally-existing anti-particles in our universe today. However, scientists discovered a possible deposit of antimatter near the center of the galaxy in 1977. If that does exist, it would mean that antimatter exists naturally, and the need to make our own antimatter would be eliminated. For now, we will have to create our own antimatter. Luckily, there is technology available to create antimatter through the use of high-energy particle colliders, also called "atom smashers." Atom smashers, like CERN, are large tunnels lined with powerful supermagnets that circle around to propel atoms at near-light speeds. When an atom is sent through this accelerator, it slams into a target, creating particles. Some of these particles are antiparticles that are separated out by the magnetic field. These high-energy particle accelerators only produce one or two picograms of antiprotons each year. A picogram is a trillionth of a gram. All of the antiprotons produced at CERN in one year would be enough to light a 100-watt electric light bulb for three seconds. It will take tons of antiprotons to travel to interstellar destinations. Perhaps one of the most common things we often take for granted is how quickly life can change for us in the blink of an eye. Maritime horseman Mike McGuigan is certainly counting his lucky stars after he was recently involved in a severe car accident just five minutes from his destination. McGuigan recently recalled the events of July 26 that have him sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks. I work security at Red Shores, Ive worked there for 15 years now, McGuigan told Trot Insider. On that evening on my way back to work the fog was thick and heavy -- the worst I have ever seen in my entire life, I really couldnt see anything in front of me. I met a car coming head on which startled me, I just looked at my mirror and looked back up and at that point I missed the road and went right through an intersection. I went down an embankment about eight feet down and about 100 feet in, continued McGuigan in a somber tone. When I looked down at my foot, the blood was coming out so bad, but I was so far down and into the embankment that with how heavy the fog was no one would have seen me. So I had no other choice but to crawl out and through the marshy area I was in back up to the road. The York, P.E.I.-based horseman had Steve Jobs and a company based out of Cupertino, Ca. to thank for getting him to safety. I always have my phone on the dash of my truck, when I went down the embankment my phone smashed against the windshield and smashed to pieces. I was able to get Siri to call 911 hoping that it would send them my location and by the time I had crawled back up to the road a First Responder was just arriving. Im not really sure how long I was down there because I did smash my head pretty good, but I would say it took me about 20 minutes to get to the road. Fortunate to survive such a harrowing ordeal, McGuigan did suffer rather serious injuries as a result of the single-vehicle accident. I broke my lower tibia and fibula bone and my ankle. I also broke three of my toes and three bones in my foot and a vertebrae in my back. They put 17 staples in my foot from where the bone came through my foot. It will be eight weeks for sure before I will be able to put weight on my foot at all. I just had a new cast put on that is more permanent as my other cast was one that would allow my foot and leg to expand with swelling. Now that the swelling has somewhat subsided, a fiberglass cast was put on. It will stay on for the next four weeks. Mike McGuigan and Gettin Messi winning at Charlottetown Mike McGuigan and Gettin Messi winning at Charlottetown Though McGuigan will now have to cheer on his stable from the sidelines, he is beyond thankful to be alive and be able to watch his horses at all. His barn sends out a single starter on the Saturday afternoon card and five more on Monday & Tuesday. Stake races are pretty hot and heavy right now so this didnt exactly happen at a great time. I have 13 horses at the moment but Im very fortunate to have come out of this with only the injuries that I suffered. This accident could have ended my life. McGuigan, who enjoyed a career year in 2019 thanks in large part to the exploits of trotting colt Gettin Messi, has turned over the hands-on management of his stable to some trustworthy family and friends. I have a couple guys that work for me at the barn, Glen Dunn, John MacKay as well as my father Barney -- theyre handling all the duties right now while I sit and watch. Im kind of like a stick in the mud to them right now. Im there and Im trying to watch over everything and probably driving everyone crazy, says McGuigan with a laugh. I cant stress how lucky I am to have them all helping me. I have two little boys Owen (5) and Isaac (3), my wife Erin is working from home thanks to COVID so she really has her hands full right now too, but we are managing the best we can and just thankful things didnt turn out worse. Mike McGuigan (R) with father Len (Barney) and sons Owen and Isaac with Gettin Messi in 2019 Mike McGuigan (R) with father Len (Barney) and sons Owen and Isaac with Gettin Messi in 2019 In McGuigans stable of 13 there are a handful of Atlantic Sires Stakes competitors for which the horseman has high hopes. I have five two-year-olds and three-year-olds. CL Gangsta Boy is one of the ones we really like, hes a really nice colt. Woodmere Alvin is another that we have that we also really like. Im very happy with how all of our young horses turned out, they certainly are holding their own. Obviously you want to see them as best as they possibly can for the owners, but Im very fortunate to have really good owners that are understanding that Rome wasnt built in a day. It's safe to assume that while McGuigan is sidelined he will be taking in as much of the harness racing action during what's typically Old Home Week, despite the difference in atmosphere leading up to and surrounding Red Shores' signature event, the Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer. Its going to be different for sure. The marketing and management team at Red Shores are doing everything in their power to promote the event still as much as they can," said McGuigan. The world is just such a crazy place right now and I dont think anywhere is normal -- so we just have to make do with what we have. McGuigan also discussed the changes in the entries in this year's Gold Cup & Saucer trials with the 15 starters comprised of mostly local entries. Its nice to see so many Maritime-owned horses entered in the race this year; we have really good horses here that sometimes dont get their opportunity to shine. I know they are going to put on a good show. Though sidelined, McGuigan is eternally thankful not only for how lucky he is to be alive, but also for the outstanding outpouring of support he's received during this ordeal. Ive had a lot of support from my family to owners to friends. I must have had 600 Facebook comments and probably 400 direct messages. I just want to thank everyone for their support. Im very, very lucky. Crisis Communication Assistant Professor and Director of Public Health Chrysan Cronin takes her expertise beyond the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. By: Meghan Kita Friday, August 14, 2020 00:00 PM Assistant Professor and Director of Public Health Chrysan Cronin speaks during a COVID-19 panel in Miller Forum on March 10. The 12 seniors taking Infectious Disease Epidemiology this spring werent required to attend the weekly videoconference class meetings set up when coursework went remote due to COVID-19. But Chrysan Cronin, assistant professor and director of public health, says they all showed up routinely anywayas did many of the 11 students whod taken the course last fall. I dont have students saying, Why do I have to learn this? Its never going to happen, she says. While these students were already invested in public health, the appetite for information about infectious disease has never been greater. Cronin spent the first half of the year fielding interview requests from journalists, trying to communicate what science tells usand what scientists dont yet knowabout this new-to-humans virus. Cronin, who has a doctorate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, sees this as an opportunity to expand her role as an educator. Im being able to use a different skill set than I use in the classroom, she says. Its about how to practice public health instead of how to teach it. Cronin has been a key player in the Colleges public health program since its inception. In 2004, the then dean of academic life identified the potential of adding such a program at the undergraduate level. Cronin, who was teaching biology at the time, was part of a faculty task force to design a public health minor, which debuted in the 2006-2007 academic year. Thats also when Cronin returned to school to pursue a masters in public health (she already had one in microbiology) from Johns Hopkins, one of the top-ranked public health schools in the world. She completed her masters and doctorate while continuing to teach full-time at Muhlenberg, making the three-hour drive to Baltimore at least twice a week for six years. As a doctoral student, Cronin was most interested in infectious disease research, but living far from Johns Hopkins labs would make that logistically challenging. A mentor helped steer her toward research on radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung disease when inhaled at high concentrations over long periods of time. Pennsylvanias buildings have some of the highest radon levels in the world. Cronin found an entry point when she noticed a wide variety in radon testing rates across Allentown. When I looked at testing rates by zip code, there were some zip codes in Allentown that had much higher testing rates for residential radon than other zip codes, she says. My questions were: Why? What is it about some of these areas where people arent testing? Muhlenberg students helped Cronin survey 550 Allentown residents to gauge how radon awareness, testing and mitigation varied across zip codes, education levels and various other demographic groups. Further research helped Cronin understand that the problem was one of communication and that Allentownians identifying as non-Hispanic were more than twice as likely to have ever heard of radon than those identifying as Hispanic. In 2018, Cronin and students conducted focus groups to better understand where Allentown residents find news and which outlets they trusted most. Last fall, Cronin organized a radon symposium on Muhlenbergs campus with guests from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Allentown Health Bureau and the local hospital networks. The idea was to come up with ways to use research to enact change. Some of Cronins students who attended came up with the idea to advertise about radons risks within the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority bus system. The state paid for ads, in both Spanish and English, to run on the outsides and insides of buses and within bus shelters. They read, Radon causes lung cancer. Test your home. Save your life. Public health students (from left) Rashida Haye 20, Brynn Cardonick 21 and Meray Faragalla 20 worked with Cronin on the radon campaign. Cronin paused her radon work this spring in order to help with a student-driven program to train Lehigh Valley community members to administer Narcan, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. That project is on hold indefinitelyno one is sure when things like in-person training sessions can safely resume. This time of uncertainty has Cronin thinking about the tabletop exercise on pandemic influenza that her Infectious Disease Epidemiology students would, in a typical semester, spend three or four class sessions working on. They imagine the disease making its way to campus and discuss how it should be handled. We end with, Should we have graduation or not? We never get to, Well, will we open the following semester? she says. I think Im going to have to redo that whole course, because we dont work in what-ifs anymore. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) calls on teachers, students and workers in Germany to stand up against the dangerous reopening of schools. By demanding a return to face-to-face teaching amid rising coronavirus infection rates, state governments of all stripes are putting the health and lives of countless teachers, students and parents at risk. This murderous policy can only be stopped by the independent mobilization of all workers in a nationwide general strike. When the number of daily infections exceeded the 1,000 mark on March 15 and the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly in Germany, schools were closed due to pressure from teachers, parents and students. Now, despite similarly high numbers, they are being reopened during a new wave of infections without any serious safety precautions being taken. Hundreds of thousands of German teachers and millions of children face a deadly risk in overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated sanitary facilities and on crowded public transport on their way to school. All safety measures that were developed in the last school year in weeks of work by educators, parents and students are being thrown overboard. Even the regulations regarding minimum distances and wearing protective masks do not apply in classrooms. However, it has now been scientifically established that children and adolescents are at least as infectious as adults and that the virus is spread strongly via schools and day-care centres. We warn against the idea that children play no role in the pandemic and its transmission, ten leading virologists declared last week in a joint statement on school openings and warned of a lack of prevention and control measures. The mass deaths of teachers, parents and even students are being accepted as part of forcing workers back to work and securing the profits of the rich. The hundreds of billions of euros that have been thrown at the corporations and banks since the beginning of the pandemic are now to be recouped from the populationat any cost. Four Berlin business groups have expressed this with remarkable openness in a joint declaration. It is high time that regular operations in Berlin schools start again, they say. It is in the interest of employers and their employees that their children are reliably taught and looked after again. This ruthless policy in the interest of the banks and corporations is supported by all parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament). The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), neo-Nazis and coronavirus deniers demonstrate against the protective measuresand the federal and state governments put their demands into action. Regardless of whether the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU-CSU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), Greens or Left Party head the government, each proceeds with breathtaking brutality. In Germanys most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), scientific studies have classified half of all classrooms as hygienically unacceptable and breeding grounds for the coronavirus, according to current workplace guidelines. When state Education Minister Yvonne Gebauer (Free Democratic Party, FDP) was asked about this by broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, she insisted on full attendance at classes. She categorically ruled out renting additional space, as demanded by virologists. We cannot protect people from becoming ill with COVID-19, she declared tersely. Resistance is growing against this policy, which puts profit above the lives of people. Teachers are organizing themselves via social media to exchange ideas and protest against the reopening policy. At many schools, pupils are discussing school strikes. Similarly, resistance is forming throughout Europe and the world. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei supports all these protests and actions. For them to succeed, they must be extended to the entire working class. Teachers and educators must unite with other workers and jointly prepare a general strike against the criminal policies of the ruling elites. The reopening of schools is part of the general policy of opening up the economy, which is forcing slaughterhouse workers, farm workers, factory workers and many others into hazardous jobs to increase the profits of the corporations and drive up stock prices. For parents to be able to return to the labour market without restriction, children must go to school, whatever the price. We, therefore, call on teachers and workers to discuss the following demands in schools, factories and residential areas in preparation for a nationwide general strike: No return to regular attendance classes until the virus is under control! During the pandemic, teaching should only take place online or in small, fixed study groups, physically separated and safely housed. Billions for more teachers, new premises and online teaching! To guarantee safe supervision and teaching, extended premises must be rented or requisitioned, and many more teachers must be employed. There are enough trainee teachers, students and other professionals who would be willing to lead small groups under the guidance of experienced educators if they were paid properly. Also, all teachers and students must be provided with good computers and fast internet access to ensure quality online teaching. Families need comprehensive financial and social support during the pandemic. Stop all non-essential production! Until the pandemic is contained, only key industriessuch as food production, medical care and logisticsshould remain open. Workers in these industries must be equipped with the most advanced protective measures to prevent infection. All others must receive full pay! For a massive expansion of testing and contact tracing! To bring the pandemic under control, tests must be made available to everyone and contact tracing must be increased by the hundreds of thousands to quickly track coronavirus cases and test and isolate those potentially infected. A particularly deceitful argument is that schools must be opened because otherwise the children of poor families would be left behind, and their parents would face social hardship. The same parties that are now shedding crocodile tears have been destroying the public education system for decades and are responsible for the spread of poverty. Now, this poverty is to be used as an argument for putting the very survival of those affected at risk. The reopening of schools has nothing to do with the problems of poor families. On the contrary, it is accompanied by the most serious attacks on the working class since the Second World War. First, workers are being forced to work under dangerous conditions, then hundreds of thousands of them are being thrown on the streets. In the German car industry alone, at least 300,000 jobs are to be destroyed. On top of this, there are mass redundancies in retail trade, aviation and many other industries. As in the reopening of schools, workers confront not only the corporations and the government but also with the trade unions. Just as the IG Metall is organising the return to work and the mass dismissals in the auto industry, the Education and Science (GEW) trade union is supporting the reopening of schools. The GEW has even spoken out against the compulsory wearing of masks in the classroom, urgently demanded by virologists. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei calls on workers in all sectors to set up a network of action committees, independent of the trade unions, to prepare a general strike against the reopening of schools and all the policies of the ruling class. The sacrificing of human lives for profit must be opposed by workers with a policy putting their lives and the needs of society above the profit interests of capitalists. The hundreds of billions of euros which have gone to the banks and corporations and which are being channeled into armaments and war must be used for education, health care and the continued payment of wages. The action committees must contact workers in other countries facing the same attacks. In the US, action committees have already been formed in major car factories fighting for safe working conditions. Teachers in the US, Brazil and Britain are also fighting against the reopening of schools. The international sister parties of the SGP support the establishment of action committees everywhere and will help workers to network with each other. The US SEP has already published a call August 5 for a nationwide general strike. The development of a general strike in Germany would be an important contribution to encourage workers around the world. It would bring the working class into direct conflict with the grand coalition of the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats and all the parties that are implementing brutal policies at federal and state level, while resorting more and more openly to authoritarian methods and relying on networks of neo-Nazis in the police, armed forces and the state. The reopening of schools, the further spread of the pandemic and millions more infections and deaths can only be prevented by a mass mobilisation of the working class directed against the cause of the misery brought about by the pandemicagainst the capitalist system. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei and its youth organization, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), are fighting for this goal. We call on teachers to contact us to help organize the opposition. We appeal to students and youth to support the resistance and join the IYSSE. Sign up for the WSWS Newsletter to stay informed about the ongoing struggle against the reopening of schools. Bombarded on all sides by news and newness, we, too, feel exhausted and dont know how to respond. Anna, the protagonist, is, like Lessing, a novelist from Africa. At the start, she is living with her 10-year-old daughter in a flat in the wastes of Londons student-land and is blocked, unable or unwilling to write for the public after a very successful first novel set in Africa. At the moment I sit down to write, she admits, someone comes into the room, looks over my shoulders, and stops me. It could be a Chinese peasant. Or one of Castros guerrilla fighters. Or an Algerian fighting in the F.L.N. Her plight is more than just a form of white liberal guilt or piety. Anna is hopelessly split among identities: exile, communist, novelist, mother, lover. How to put all these strands into one book without delicately pickling each in its own predictable social novel? As a writer torn between countries and careers, I have often struggled with such questions, and I have seen few more brilliant solutions to the problem than the daring form of The Golden Notebook. While the novel is framed by a conventional and delicious third-person story of Anna and her best friend chatting about their lives, it is broken by Joycean interludes of frightening honesty, the so-called notebooks in which Anna pours out her guts. Each notebook is given a color, corresponding to its theme. In the black notebook, Anna tracks her memories of being a young and unseeing privileged white activist in racist Rhodesia during World War II; in the red, her experiences as a reluctant and then disillusioned member of the British Communist Party. In the yellow, we find fragments of a novel based on her love life; in the blue, a record of daily events. In each she pitilessly examines her fear of speaking the truth about her condition. People stay sane by blocking off, by limiting themselves, Lessing writes, adding elsewhere: I see that people everywhere are trying not to feel. Cool, cool, cool, thats the word. Anna quits years of therapy, recognizing it is an evasive way of rescuing the formless into form. Thinking back to her successful first novel, Anna wonders: Why did I not write an account of what had happened, instead of shaping a story which had nothing to do with the material that fueled it. Why a story at all not that it was a bad story, or untrue, or that it debased anything. Why not, simply, the truth? What she wants to do is quit simplifying and pruning, and inhabit the chaos of life the breakups, the contradictions, the depressions, the sexual enchantments. At one point she realizes that her life has always been crude, unfinished, raw, tentative the raw unfinished quality in my life was precisely what was valuable in it. She adds that sometimes I meet people, and it seems to me the fact they are cracked across, theyre split, means they are keeping themselves open for something. She dreams of generating a new kind of strength out of chaos, of wearing words like insecure and unrooted as a sort of badge. (How different this is from our current generation of nationalists, whose desperation for roots drives them back to imagined Edens.) At the end of the novel she abandons all divisions and sweeps everything into a single golden notebook. Canada is offering a helping hand to those affected by the tragic explosion in Beirut last week. Canada offers immigration support to Lebanon Canada is offering a helping hand to those affected by the tragic explosion in Beirut last week. Canada offers immigration support to Lebanon Canada is offering a helping hand to those affected by the tragic explosion in Beirut last week. Canada offers immigration support to Lebanon Canada is offering a helping hand to those affected by the tragic explosion in Beirut last week. Alexandra Miekus Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canada is establishing an immigration task force in support of Lebanon. Canadas Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a statement indicating that the task force will assist those affected by last weeks tragic events in Beirut. The purpose of the task force is to support the delivery of consular services, and to ensure that questions related to immigration can be quickly addressed, they said in the statement. Special immigration measures for Lebanese individuals The Canadian government commits to allowing Lebanese citizens who are temporarily in Canada to extend their stay if they are unable to return home because of the explosion. In addition, Lebanese citizens who are in Canada temporarily and Canadians and permanent residents who are in Lebanon and who need to return home will be exempt from fees related to the renewal of their status documents. Canadians and permanent residents in Lebanon have the right to return to Canada, provided that coronavirus public health measures are followed. Immediate family members of foreign nationals who are related to Canadian citizens and permanent residents are also exempt. The exemption is subject to possession of a valid temporary resident visa, a mandatory two-week quarantine and a minimum 15-day visitor stay in Canada. International students coming from Lebanon may also travel to Canada if they have a valid study permit issued before March 18, 2020. Lebanese immigration to Canada Lebanese immigration to Canada has a long and storied history. The first Lebanese immigrant to Canada is believed to have arrived in Montreal in 1882. Today, the Canadian government estimates there are between 200,000 and 400,000 Canadians of Lebanese origin living in Canada. Lebanese-Canadians are among the many prominent members of Canadian society. They comprise the likes of federal, provincial, and municipal politicians, athletes, musicians, academics, civil society officials, and business people. Currently, Lena Diab is Canadas longest serving immigration minister. She has served as the province of Nova Scotias immigration minister since 2013. Diab was born in Nova Scotia, but moved with her family to Lebanon during her childhood before eventually returning to Canada. Last week, Lebanese-Canadian business leaders announced they would seek to raise at least $2.5 million in relief for victims in Lebanon. Between 2015 and 2019, an average of 1,800 Lebanese nationals obtained Canadian permanent residence per year. Canada welcomes immigrants under its economic, family, and refugee classes. Lebanese-Canadians with close family in Lebanon are able to sponsor their relative through Canadas family class program. The largest available immigration option is through Canadas economic class program. It comprises nearly 60 per cent of the 340,000 or so immigrants that Canada seeks to welcome each year. Get a free economic class immigration assessment About the tragedy Two strong explosions in the port of Beirut devastated several sectors of the city on August 4, 2020. More than 200 people were killed and 6,000 injured in the explosion. The extensive structural damage left approximately 300,000 people homeless and rendered several health care facilities, including hospitals, inoperable. Canada responded quickly to help those most affected by the blast by providing up to $30 million in humanitarian and development assistance to the Lebanese people.Recently, Canadas partners at the United Nations Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration have restarted refugee readmission operations, with priority being given to the most urgent cases. The people-to-people ties between Canada and Lebanon are strong. Canada will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that survivors of the recent tragedy receive the help they need. We remain engaged and stand ready to assist however we can, declared the Canadian government in the statement. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved Nagaland governor R N Ravi on Saturday blamed vested interests for misappropriating dividends of peace and not allowing them to reach the states people. He said waves of positive change sweeping other parts of the country seem to have bypassed Nagaland. When the security forces and Naga armed groups agreed to suspend operations against each other paving way for a political settlement, the legitimate expectation of the people of Nagaland was dividends of peacefreedom from fear of guns, better health, better education, better infrastructure, better livelihood opportunities, an atmosphere to dream and an eco-system to pursue their dreams, said Ravi, who is also the interlocutor for the ongoing Naga peace talks, in his Independence Day message. Ravis message came days before another round of meetings to thrash out a final agreement for the decades-old Naga issue are scheduled to begin in New Delhi next week. National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN-IM, and Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) leaders are expected to take part in the meetings. NSCN-IM on Tuesday demanded Ravis removal as the interlocutor while accusing him of creating hurdles in the final settlement of the issue. It said the peace process is in a state of simmering tension and reaching tipping point because of Ravi. In June, Ravi wrote to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, saying armed gangs have been running extortion rackets and spreading fear while the state machinery has failed to rein them in. He was referring to the various rebel outfits in the state including NSCN-IM, which have been accused of collecting taxes. NSCN-IM chief Thuingaleng Muivah on Friday reiterated the demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution. He said as per the 2015 Framework Agreement signed between the outfit and the Centre, Nagas can co-exist with India, but will not merge with it. Muivah cited the agreement and said the Nagas will share sovereign powers as agreed in it and defined in the competencies. NSCN-IM, which is the biggest and oldest Naga rebel outfit, declared a ceasefire and has been in peace talks with the Centre since 1997. It signed the agreement, which was to be the basis for a final deal on the long-pending Naga political issue. NSCN-IM fought for an independent Nagaland for decades. But with signing of the agreement, they gave up on that demand but sought inclusion of all Naga-inhabited areas in northeast under one administration as well as a separate Naga flag and constitution. The Centre has rejected the demands. Nagaland is endowed with one of the finest human and natural resources. Unfortunately, today it has the dubious distinction of the worst-performing state in the country including the northeast region on almost all the significant indicators of human development, Ravi said. Ravi said nearly 25% of the states children are not enrolled in schools and around 60% of youths have not been to high school. The poor investment climate, internet connectivity, and lack of progress in agriculture and horticulture sectors were also highlighted in the message. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A multi-million-pound cross-Channel smuggling racket is being masterminded by a UK-based criminal known as The Banker. Details of the shadowy Godfather figure emerged during the French trial of a gang of Afghans who smuggled migrants into Britain on small boats and in the back of lorries. The revelation comes as new analysis showed more than 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel in the ten days up to last Thursday. A court in Boulogne-sur-Mer heard how three smugglers, who charged an average of 3,000 for each passenger, were part of a sophisticated operation that used encrypted mobile-phone apps to pass information and collect payment. Janmeer Ahmadzai, 28, his brother Amadjai Shanawaz, 29, and Kochai Juma Gul, 25 were in constant contact with associates in Britain, including an unidentified kingpin known as Le Banquier, the court was told. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers Judge Vincent Naegelin said orders to cram boats and lorries with migrants arrived by phone from Le Banquier and evidence showed he controlled the gangs finances. The French national police conducted a year-long investigation into the Calais-based gang, secretly tracking their movements, photographing them and bugging their mobile phones. They arrested the men last month at a car park near the citys main hospital, close to the notorious Jungle migrant camp. The three men were found guilty of aiding illegal immigration into Britain. Gul was given a five-year prison sentence, Ahmadzai was jailed for four years and his brother for one year. Details of the case emerged as at least five more boatloads of migrants, including a reportedly pregnant woman and a child, arrived in Dover yesterday. Another dinghy carrying six migrants was intercepted by a Border Force vessel about 1,000 yards off the coast before being escorted to Dover. In total, 1,004 migrants were brought ashore by the Border Force between August 4 and August 13, talking the total this year to 4,511 Throughout yesterday morning, dozens of migrants wearing lifejackets and wrapped in pale blue blankets were processed by officials wearing masks and gloves. Each had their temperature taken as part of checks for coronavirus. One frail, elderly man was seen leaving a Border Force vessel using a cane before the deck was sprayed with disinfectant. In total, 1,004 migrants were brought ashore by the Border Force between August 4 and August 13, talking the total this year to 4,511. That figure does not include those who were detained on shore or those who evaded capture and is more than twice the 1,900 seized during the whole of last year. Another 48 migrants were detained on Friday. Among them was a group of 11, including a distressed woman and a teenager who appeared to be her son, who were stopped by police on the busy A20 near the port. The RNLI tow a small boat into Dover, Kent, following a number of small boat incidents in the Channel earlier today It later emerged that Tony Benson, a British expat living in Lens, about 60 miles from Calais, may have provided the boat they used for their crossing. Posting on Facebook, he wrote: Yes, I gave it to them and wished them luck, and do you know why? I am well off, my kids and grandkids dont go without, they have a house, a family, a school to go to, and I dont have to worry about whether or not they will come home to find they dont have one. Yesterday, a series of seemingly new inflatable rubber dinghies were seen being towed into Dover harbour after the Border Force had picked up their passengers. At least one was missing its outboard motor. Migrants often remove them when they are in sight of the English coast, so they cannot be turned back to France. Favourable weather in the Channel and a crackdown by the French authorities on the migrant camps has encouraged more people to make the journey, despite Home Secretary Priti Patels vow to make the route unviable. SHENZHEN, China A sample of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, authorities said Thursday, the latest in a series of reports of contaminated imported food products. The coronavirus was detected Wednesday on a surface sample taken from a batch of chicken wings during screening of imported frozen food in Longgang district of Shenzhen, the municipal government said in a statement. Officials did not name the brand. Health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have said the possibility of catching the virus through food is low. Shenzhen health authorities immediately traced and tested people who might have come into contact with the product, and all results came back negative. All related products in stock have been sealed off and tested negative, the statement said. Authorities are now tracing related products from the same brand that have already been sold and have disinfected the area where the contaminated chicken wings were stored. Brazil has so far reported more than 3.1 million coronavirus cases, the second highest in the world after the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally. News of the contaminated chicken wings comes a day after coronavirus was found on the packaging of shrimp imported from Ecuador, another South American country, at a restaurant in eastern Anhui province during a routine inspection, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported. Since July, there have been seven instances where the virus was detected on the packaging of imported seafood products across the country, from Shandong province on the eastern coast to the municipality of Chongqing in the west, according to state media reports. These incidents have sparked concerns over the safety of imported foods. Chinese health authorities have repeatedly told the public to be cautious about buying imported meat and seafood. On Chinese social media, some have called for the suspension of all frozen food imports. 'No evidence' of food transmission The WHO says it is "highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging." According to the CDC, the risk of infection by the virus from food products, food packaging or bags is "thought to be very low." Both organizations point out that the coronavirus spreads mostly person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. While it is possible to catch COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food or food packaging that has the virus on it, and then touching your mouth, nose, or possibly eyes, it is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, according to the CDC. "There is no evidence to date of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food or food packaging. Coronaviruses cannot multiply in food; they need an animal or human host to multiply," the WHO says. David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the imported food products that tested positive in China were almost certain to have been contaminated during packaging. But he said it doesn't necessarily mean that they're infectious; the nucleic acid tests could be picking up the RNA of dead virus. These remnants of the virus are known to have caused false positive results on patients who have recovered from the coronavirus, such as in South Korea. If the virus taken from the food products can be grown in labs, however, then they are infectious, he said, adding that the coronavirus can survive freezing temperatures and still be active when thawed. Stepped-up screening Chinese authorities have increased screening of imported meat and seafood products since June, when a coronavirus outbreak in Beijing emerged from the city's largest wholesale food market. State media reported at the time that the virus was discovered on a chopping board used for imported salmon at the market, prompting supermarkets in the Chinese capital to remove salmon from their shelves. But officials at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have tried to allay concerns. "We cannot conclude that salmon is the source of infection just because novel coronavirus was detected on a chopping board of a seller," Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese CDC, told the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Wu said the chopping board could instead have been contaminated by an infected owner or customers, or other products that carried the virus. In July, a fresh coronavirus outbreak in the city of Dalian in northern China's Liaoning province was linked to a seafood company, which processes both imported and domestic seafood. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Making it a state cemetery will be important to veterans and their families to have a place for their loved ones to be buried, Shuda said. Quick said, This is just going to be a great honor for our veterans. But its also important for Grand Island. The city will be on the national map in being recognized for supporting veterans again, which is a big plus for the community, Shuda said. People from central Nebraska will benefit from having a burial site nearby, Shuda said. Relatives wont have to drive to Alliance, Maxwell or the Omaha area to visit their loved ones graves. Quick said those distances are too far to travel for many families. The process began last year with Shuda visiting Hilgert because we had to have the support of the state, he said. Without state support, the effort wouldnt have gone anywhere. Hilgert expressed 100% support for the idea, Shuda said. Hilgert then visited with the governor. Shuda and other supporters then met with Quick, who agreed to introduce the bill. File image Peeved at the delay in implementing Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) has released the report of a high-powered committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry for this purpose. The AASU was part of the panel that submitted its report to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal five months ago. Among the key recommendations of the committee was the definition of the Assamese identity in this multi-ethnic state, a highly complex issue that literary and cultural stalwarts, scholars and intellectuals have been grappling with for years. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which was signed by the Centre, the Assam government, the AASU and the now-defunct All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) in 1985, states, Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguardsshall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. According to the panel, the Indian citizens who were part of Assamese community of Assam on or before January 1, 1951, any indigenous tribal community of Assam residing in the territory of Assam on or before January 1, 1951, any other indigenous community of Assam residing in the territory of Assam on or before January 1, 1951, all other Indian citizens residing in the territory of Assam on or before the same date and their descendants should be treated as Assamese people. This definition may not go down well with the various ethnic communities, including the tribals and non-tribals, of the state who could see this as an imposition on their distinct linguistic and cultural identities. Already, a section of the people from the Bengali-majority Barak valley has opposed this, calling it an anti-democratic move. In addition, the cut-off date of January 1, 1951, is itself a problematic one in view of the citizenship controversy linked with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam, something the panel is silent on. The NRC, also a part of the Assam Accord, is aimed at weeding out illegal immigrants. It sets March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date; anyone entering India post this date would be considered an illegal immigrant. The exercise to update the citizens register was a complete mess as it left out only 1.9 million people from the list while including more than 31.1 million names. The state government is now exploring legal options for re-verification of names in the final list released in August last year following fears that a large number of suspected people made it to the list. Assembly hurdle ahead? Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on August 12 that the state assembly has to first ratify the Clause 6 committees definition of Assamese before it is finalised. Nevertheless, this is not the first time that such a recommendation has been put forward. In 2015, the then assembly speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi had prepared a report after exchanging ideas with representatives from over 50 ethnic groups. Gogoi recommended 1951 as the cut-off year, and the NRC 1951 as the benchmark for definition of the Assamese people for the purpose of creating constitutional and legislative safeguards, as required under Clause 6 of Assam Accord. According to the report, an indigenous person of Assam means a person belonging to the state of Assam and speaking the Assamese language or any tribal dialect of Assam or, in the case of Cachar, the language of the region. However, members of the ruling Congress and opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had then prevented the speaker from tabling it in the assembly, claiming that they were not taken into confidence before preparing the report. Perhaps, the Clause 6 panel could have taken a cue from this episode and provided a broader and more acceptable phrase such as the people of Assam instead of Assamese people. Understanding the Assamese identity Among the cultural historians, Bishnu Prasad Rabha (1909-1969) was perhaps the first to provide an anthropological interpretation of the Assamese identity. In his 1956 seminal work, Axomia Krishtir Somu Abhax (A brief introduction to Assamese culture), Rabha argued that the Assamese language and culture had a strong tribal root that had evolved over the centuries and continued to thrive despite many challenges. Rabhas contemporary Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (1903-1951), was one of the foremost advocates of a distinct Assamese identity and worked towards the revitalisation of the culture of the Assamese people, Radha Das, who teaches history at Gauhati University, wrote in an article. Agarwala, a renowned lyricist, playwright and the producer of the first Assamese movie, Joymoti (1935), penned a poem, Axomiya Dekar Ukti (The speech of the Assamese youth) that best defines the multiethnic dimension of the Assamese identity. He wrote, I am the Miri of the plains/The youth of Subansiri/The victorious Ahoms, Kachari, Koch/The prince of the Mech/Rajbongshi- Rabha/In the forehead of whose/glimmers hundred lights of dignity. (translation by Sutputra Radheye) Later, cultural theorist Maheswar Neog (1915-1995) interpreted Assamese culture and identity, saying: The concept of Assamese culture is mostly based on peoples affiliation to, and knowledge of, the Assamese tongue and their belonging to the geographical entity called Assam (Jayanta Kalita is a senior journalist and author based in Delhi. He writes on issues related to Indias Northeast. The views are personal.) Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that schools in the national capital will not be opened until the Covid-19 situation is brought completely under control. Addressing officials and corona warriors who were invited by Kejriwal to be honoured during the Delhi governments independence day function, the chief minister talked about the Delhi Model and emphasised on how aggressive testing, home isolation and plasma therapy were the key game-changers in the national capitals fight against Covid-19. When I meet parents, they all request only one thing that schools should not be opened yet. We care for your children as much as you do. I want to assure all parents that we will not open schools in Delhi until we are fully convinced (about the citys Covid-19 situation), Kejriwal said during his Independence Day speech. Also read: New focus of Atmanirbhar Bharat is make for world - PM Modi in Independence Day speech Unlike previous years when the Delhi governments independence day function used to be held at the Chhatrasal Stadium, this time, owing to the pandemic, the same was organised at the Delhi secretariat in ITO. Also, fewer people were invited due to prohibitions on large gatherings. The chief minister also announced that from next week, the Delhi government will start sending oxygen concentrators to the homes of Covid-19 patients even if they have recovered from the disease. These days we are hearing cases where a Covid-19 patient tests negative, is declared recovered and is discharged from the hospital. But, within hours or a day or two, suddenly the persons oxygen concentration decreases and the person dies. To prevent this, from next week we will be sending oxygen concentrators to all those who need it, he said. Kejriwal had on June 22 announced the same while launching the scheme of distributing pulse oximeters to all Covid-19 patients under home isolation. Also read: Time to move away from ordinary - Inspiring quotes from PMs I-Day speech The third announcement made by Kejriwal in his speech on Saturday was about re-launching Delhi government successful 10 Hafte-10 Baje-10 Minute (10 weeks-10 oclock-10 minutes) programme against dengue, which was first launched in September last year against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. The drive, Kejriwal said, will be launched again from the first week of September wherein everyone will be expected to inspect their homes for stagnant water to prevent the spread of dengue, malaria, chikungunya, zika virus among others. Before his speech, Kejriwal also launched a video message in which he urged people to pledge on three things. First, today take the pledge that neither will you give bribe or take one. Second, pledge against pollution. Do not contribute to pollution - be it air, water or land. Third, keep your city and environment clean. Do not litter, he said. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have squandered a 'tremendous chance to do good as royals', according to a new book, and they will not be welcomed back to the UK unless they make a fortune in Hollywood. Author Lady Colin Campbell claims that the couple have been bogged down in 'petty squabbles' which has prevented them doing humanitarian work. She said that they are 'squandering this tremendous opportunity' because of Harry's 'mental health problems' and Meghan's 'personality problems'. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been bogged down in 'petty squabbles' which has prevented them doing humanitarian work, claims Lady Colin Campbell The 70-year-old author of behind-the-scenes book, Meghan and Harry: The Real Story, says if the couple were 'sincere humanitarians' they would know they had a perfect springboard to do good work. 'What surprised me the most about Meghan and Harry when I looked into what was really going was what a tremendous opportunity they had to do good all over the world,' Lady Colin Campbell told Fox News. 'And if they were sincere humanitarians, they would know they had an absolutely perfect springboard for doing the most wonderful work and how they were bogged down in petty squabbles. 'Because of his mental health problems and because of her personality problems, they are squandering this tremendous opportunity and making it very unlikely that they would achieve their stated objectives or achieve what everybody hoped they would achieve,' she claimed. The 70-year-old royal biographer said they are 'squandering' a tremendous opportunity to do wonderful work because of 'mental health' and 'personality problems' The royal biographer published her new book 'Meghan and Harry: The Real Story,' in June The Jamaican-born British writer also penned the 1992 best-selling biography, Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows. Her most recent book aims to provide a 'behind-the-scenes authoritative account' covering Meghan and Harry's whirlwind romance, high-profile marriage as well as their decision to step back as senior members of the British royal family. 'I try not to show them at their worst,' the 70-year-old continued. 'And I also try to show what their possibilities were and still could be. I think they have damaged themselves very badly. Lady Colin Campbell believes they 'will not be welcomed' back to the UK after their fractious departure from the royal family and their stint in Hollywood 'I think there will be a very difficult way forward, no matter what the way is. I think if they try to come back to this country, they will not be welcomed. 'I think there is a distinct possibility if they don't make their great fortune that they were hoping to make in Hollywood, they're going to have to move on to somewhere else. 'I don't know what they're going to do. I suspect they don't know what they're going to do.' However, despite her criticism of the couple, Lady Campbell insists she is still rooting for Meghan Markle. 'I have said all along, and I still say, I am rooting for Meghan,' she said. 'Because I still see where, because of her natural gifts, if she gets her act together, she could still do so much good for people all over the world.' She also does not believe the 'lie' that the couple moved to the US for privacy. 'If you are sincere about wanting privacy, you shut up and lead a private life,' she said Lady Colin Campbell said she also does not believe the 'lie' that Meghan and Harry moved to the US for privacy as they would have had 'far more' privacy in Frogmore Cottage. 'If you are sincere about wanting privacy, you shut up and lead a private life,' she said. 'And when you have something that is a valid public engagement, you do it.' She said that they moved to Hollywood 'to be free of the constraints and the monitoring that all royals are subjected to' and that Meghan never had any intention of settling into the British royal family. In response to the controversial book Finding Freedom, which outlined the couple's fractious departure from the royal family, Lady Colin Campbell called it 'fiction.' In a recent interview, the author said that Meghan's influence on Harry is 'very reminiscent of Lady Macbeth' because she exploits his weaknesses. Lady Colin has also previously claimed that Meghan has political aspirations and hopes to one day run for president. 'I know the Duchess of Sussex has political ambitions and I've been told that one day she wants to run for President,' she claimed. 'I think everything she is doing, leaving the royal family and moving back to California is part of her plan and she has taken Harry along with her.' Hong Kong's Plight Casts Shadow Over Taiwan's Diplomatic Coups By Natalie Liu August 14, 2020 China's crackdown on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong has generated strong reactions in Taiwan, where senior officials are mourning Hong Kong's losses even as they revel in a rare surge of diplomatic attention themselves. "We are saddened and alarmed to see this beacon of civil liberties become extinguished, in violation of the promises Beijing had made to the people of Hong Kong, as well as the international community," Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen told a Washington audience via teleconference this week. Tsai returned to the theme at a separate gathering of her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei, where concerns for Hong Kong dampened her obvious enthusiasm over back-to-back visits to Taiwan by a delegation from Japan led by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and one led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, the most senior U.S. official to visit the island in more than 40 years. "Our citizens have all been excited over the visits by the American and Japanese delegations [but] it's clear that the situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating," Tsai said. The president remarked on televised scenes of Hong Kong citizens lining up at newspaper stalls in the middle of the night to purchase copies of Apple Daily, in a show of support for the paper and its publisher Jimmy Lai, who had just been arrested along with several colleagues and family members. "The paper is nearly sold out everywhere; some people even said that 'even if [Apple Daily] only consisted a piece of white paper, I still want to buy it,'" she told the DPP officials. "I am extremely touched." Tsai is months into her second four-year term, which she won with a decisive election victory in January widely seen as an endorsement of her position that any potential economic benefits alone did not justify seeking closer ties with Beijing. "People say that the second term is supposed to be easier than the first, they must be people that have not experienced the year 2020 like we have," Tsai said during Wednesday's video conference, organized by the Hudson Institute and the Center for American Progress. She said Taiwan is "not immune" to the current pandemic's aftershocks and has instituted stimulus measures like most other countries, even though the island has been one of the most successful in keeping the pandemic at bay. Taiwan's vulnerability to Chinese aggression, felt more acutely as Beijing tightens its grip on Hong Kong, has forced Tsai's government to beef up defense spending and strengthen alliances with the United States, its most significant partner, and other "like-minded democracies," as Tsai put it. The threat was driven home this week by Chinese media reports that China's military had conducted live-fire drills and flown jet fighters across the "middle line" of the Taiwan Strait in response to the Azar visit. Tsai's government this week proposed a roughly 10% increase in its defense budget from the current level, which is already 2.3% of GDP. Approval is expected, given her party's solid legislative majority. But Tsai played down the fear of any imminent attack and said her approach to relations with Beijing will be governed by four principles she first announced in May during her second inaugural speech peace, parity, democracy and dialogue. Taiwan "will neither act rashly to escalate confrontation, nor will we give in," officials at the de facto embassy in Washington told VOA afterwards. Tsai said Taiwan "will always acknowledge the historical and cultural ties that exist across the Strait. And we will never stop believing that there can be a better future ahead." She stressed the right Taiwan's 23 million people have to determine their own future, a stand she called the "antithesis" of Beijing's position. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi: The Income Tax department raided another Axis Bank branch in Noida sector 51 branches on Thursday. 20 fake accounts of companies with deposits of over 60 crores have been discovered in the raid. The accounts were being used by companies to turn black money to white money. This is second such raid by I-T sleuths. On Wednesday, after a series of irregularities in exchange of old notes were detected at Axis Bank, the government has asked the country's third biggest private lender to "set its house in order." Earlier also, Income Tax officers Axis Bank branch in Chandni Chowk in Delhi and found 44 fake accounts. Income Tax officers found cash deposits worth Rs 100 crore in fake accounts. After demonetisation, Enforcement Directorate arrested two bank managers for converting black money into white from Kashmere Gate branch of Axis bank in New Delhi. Officials identified the two managers as Shobit Sinha and Vineet Sinha, working as managers in the Kashmere Gate branch of Axis bank in New Delhi were arrested, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Newser) Vladimir Putin has agreed to provide protest-engulfed Belarus with security assistance to counter protests if the country requests it, the president of Belarus declared Saturday after more people took to the streets demanding that he resign, the AP reports. President Alexander Lukashenko made the comment on Saturday evening, several hours after a phone call with Putin and after protesters again demanded that he resign after 26 years in power. Thousands of demonstrators rallied Saturday at the spot in the capital of Minsk where a protester died this week in clashes with police. Some stripped off their shirts to display deep bruises they said came from being beaten by police. story continues below It was the seventh consecutive day of large protests against the results of the Aug. 9 presidential election in which election officials said Lukashenko won a sixth term in office in a landslide. Opposition supporters believe the figures have been manipulated. Luksahenko did not specify what sort of assistance Russia would be willing to provide. But he said that "when it comes to the military component, we have an agreement with the Russian Federation" in the framework of the countries' union agreement. "These are the moments that fit this agreement." Despite harsh police crackdowns against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, the demonstrations have swelled into the largest and most sustained anti-government movement since Lukashenko took power in 1994. (Read more Belarus stories.) Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the inclusion of Chhattisgarhi dialect among the languages in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution enabling its wider use and recognition. In his letter, the chief minister said that while it has been twenty years since the formation of Chhattisgarh as the 26th state of the Indian Republic, in terms of culture, the state has a separate identity in ancient history. He said that the states Chhattisgarhi dialect has a history of its own. The grammar of the dialect, prepared by Hiralal Kavyopadhyay and edited and translated by George A.K. Grierson, was published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1890. A wide range of quality literature is also available in Chhattisgarhi and is continuously increasing. The CM further said that while Chhattisgarhi sub-dialects and some other languages are also prevalent in the state, the majority of the residents use Chhattisgarhi as their language and it is also a language of communication with those speaking other regional dialects. He informed that apart from Hindi, Chhattisgarhi has been adopted as a state official language and Chhattisgarhi Official Language Day is celebrated every year on 28th November in the state. Further building the case for the language, CM Baghel said the Chhattisgarh Official Language Commission has also been constituted to preserve the tradition and for the development of overall linguistic diversity of the state according to the public sentiment and necessity. Baghel said it has been conveyed by the Centre that the inclusion of Chhattisgarhi and some other languages in the Eighth Schedule is under consideration. In this perspective, in accordance with the sentiment of 2.75 crore people of Chhattisgarh state, you are requested that keeping in view the prosperity and public goodness of Chhattisgarh, it is necessary to include Chhattisgarhi in the Eighth Schedule. The Eighth Schedule currently recognises 22 Indian languages,helping in their development and enabling people to take examinations for public service in the listed languages. He also urged the prime minister to take quick and positive decisions in accordance with the sentiments of the people of the state. August 5 marked one year since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government illegally stripped Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Indias only Muslim-majority state, of its special, semi-autonomous status, under articles 370 and 35 (A) of the Indian constitution. At the same time, the BJP government bifurcated the state into two union territories, J&K and Ladakh, effectively placing them under permanent central government control. This anti-democratic move was carried out without forewarning by executive fiat in the middle of the night. It constituted both a frontal assault on the rights of the Kashmiri people, and a calculated geopolitical provocation, under conditions where the reactionary seven decades old rivalry between India and Pakistan has been exacerbated by US imperialisms drive to harness New Delhi to its military-strategic offensive against China. A ghost town in Kashmir due to the state-of-siege (Courtesy Kashmir Life Facebook Page) The coup against J&K was meant to demonstrate that New Delhi is determined to bring the three-decade long anti-Indian government insurgency in the Kashmir Valley and its dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir to an end entirely on its own terms. It was immediately followed by declarations from the Modi government that all the territories of the former British Indian princely state of Jammu and Kashmir now held by Pakistan are rightfully Indias, and by statements from Indian military leaders that they stand ready to liberate them. Last week, Pakistans UN ambassador, Munir Akram, told the US magazine Newsweek, "The risk is real and present of a possible war between India and Pakistan. Indian-held Kashmirs full incorporation into the Indian Union and its dismemberment were also directed at China. By transforming Ladakh, a remote region bordering Chinas strategically sensitive Aksai Chin region, into a Union territory and denying it even a token elected assembly, New Delhi has given itself a complete free hand to implement a major military buildup along its disputed Himalayan border with China. In June, the heightened tensions over the border erupted in a clash in the Galwan Valleywhich Beijing claims belongs to Aksai Chin and New Delhi to Ladakhthat left dozens dead. Both sides responded to their worst border confrontation in five decades by disavowing aggressive intentions. But they also rushed large numbers of troops, tanks, planes, and other war materiel to the border region. Abrogation of J&Ks special status was a longstanding demand of the RSS, the BJPs ideological mentor, and the Modi governments other Hindu communalist allies. A further aim of the August 5, 2019 coup against Kashmir was to whip up communalism and activate the BJPs Hindu supremacist supporters under conditions where Indias economy was already in a tailspin and opposition from the working class and rural poor was growing. Anticipating mass opposition from the people of J&K, the Modi government coupled its constitutional coup with the imposition of a state-of-siege in a region that is home to more than 12 million people. It lasted well into 2020, and to a large degree continues to this day. This included the deployment of tens of thousands of troops to what was already one of the worlds most heavily militarized regions; the imposition of blanket curfews; the brutal suppression of any signs of opposition; the indefinite detention of thousands without trial; and the suspension of all cell phone and internet access. So fearful was the BJP government of the potential for mass opposition that it even took most of the regions pro-Indian Muslim political elite, including three former chief ministers and dozens of elected officials, into preventive detention. In May, the Home Ministry reported that 7,357 persons had been arrested in J&K since August 5, 2019. Although the majority have been released after suffering untold beatings and abuse, there are still at least hundreds, including minors, languishing in jails and prisons under preventive detention. Many, if not most, are being held under the notorious Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Public Security Act (PSA) under which a person can be imprisoned for up to two years without charge or trial. Notwithstanding this sweeping repression, the Modi government feared that the first anniversary of its anti-Kashmir coup would trigger widespread protests. In the run up to August 5, Indian authorities deployed a further 10,000 heavily-armed paramilitary forces to the Kashmir Valley, re-erected barbed wire barriers in numerous towns and villages, imposed a near blanket curfew in Srinagar, the regions largest city from August 4-5, and once again severely restricted internet use and text messaging. Despite the brutal repression, around 3,000 students from various universities across India participated in an online protest. Mass protests in November last year in Kashmir (Courtesy, Save the Kashmiri People Facebook page) Big business, the corporate media, and the political establishment have given Modi their full support in his ruthless constitutional coup against the Kashmiri people, with even those few who dissented in the days immediately following the abrogation of J&K special status quickly falling silent. Not only did the ruling elite applaud Modis authoritarian actions as a means of asserting Indian dominance over an intractable Kashmir and strengthening New Delhis hand against Islamabad and Beijing. They also saw Modis draconian crackdown as useful in accustoming the population to the arbitrary deployment of state power and suppression of basic democratic rights. The Indian bourgeoisies fear of working class opposition has only been intensified by the coronavirus pandemic, which all governments at the all-India and state levels have failed miserably to contain. After refusing to provide adequate assistance to tens of millions of impoverished workers during a hastily-imposed lockdown, which resulted in mass suffering and destitution, Modi has now pledged to undertake a quantum leap in pro-business reforms to attract foreign investment. This will inevitably result in a headlong collision between the working class and his government, which will seek to savagely enforce its anti-worker agenda by resorting to measures akin to those now used in Kashmir. The ruling elites endorsement of Modis anti-democratic coup has been graphically illustrated by the Indian Supreme Courts approval of, and connivance in, the BJPs brutal state repression in Kashmir. For months, the Supreme Court delayed hearing a case filed by Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin against the state suspension of the internet and strict restrictions on the freedom of movement of journalists and media personnel in Kashmir, arguing they violated constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press. First Indias highest court admonished her to have faith in the claims of the BJP government and the security services that normalcy would soon be restored, then they countenanced all sorts of delays. Finally in January, the court issued a ruling that asserted there is a democratic right to the internet, but in the name of state security gave the government enormous latitude to violate it. (See: Indias Supreme Court greenlights Modi governments internet shutdown in Kashmir) Over the past year, de facto Indian military rule has converted the Kashmir Valley region into a giant prison mirroring the reality faced by the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip under the Zionist Israeli regime. Human rights abuses are endemic, with arbitrary arrests, torture and disappearances routine. Under the guise of hunting militants and insurgents, Indian troops frequently conduct raids in which they burst into villages in large numbers, terrorize the populace, and kill youth they suspect of giving aid to or being part of armed separatist groups. All aspects of life including access to medical care and education and the ability to make a living have been severely impacted by the Modi governments cutoff of internet communication. Only the essentially useless low-speed 2G internet was restored in phases starting in the second week of January this year. Even this access is sporadic, since the authorities often terminate even 2G and cell phone services, citing some ongoing security threat. As a result of the pandemic and internet shutdowns, tens of thousands of youth are going without proper schooling as the dated 2G internet technology is totally inadequate for online education. The Western imperialist powers, above all the United States, have remained almost totally silent on the savage repression of the Kashmiri people and the governments total disregard of their democratic rights. This speaks volumes about the hypocrisy of the political establishment and corporate-controlled media in the US and Europe, which never tire of invoking democracy and human rights when authoritarian measures are adopted by their geostrategic rivals. Consider, for example, the ongoing anti-China campaign over its anti-democratic national security law, which Beijing is seeking to impose on Hong Kong to strengthen its control over the city of some 7 million inhabitants. While Beijings assertion that Hong Kong is an internal affair has provoked strong denunciations from the US, and Trump has seized on the repression in Hong Kong to ratchet up his military threats and economic bullying of China, Washington has remained full-throated in its defence of the Modi regime under conditions of violations of democratic rights that are arguably much worse than in Kashmir. On August 7, the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations addressed a letter to the Modi government that declared Washingtons emphatic support for New Delhi following a failed Chinese attempt to place the situation in Kashmir on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Eliot Engel and Michael McCaul, respectively the ranking Democrat and Republican on the committee, wrote in their joint letter: Members of both parties recognize the impact that a strong US-India partnership will have on the trajectory of the 21st century. As Prime Minister Modi said in February of this year, our ties are no longer just another partnership. It is far greater and closer relationship. This closer relationship is all the more important as India faces aggression from China along your shared border, which is part of the Chinese governments consistent pattern of unlawful and belligerent territorial aggression across the Indo-Pacific. The United States will remain steadfast in support of Indias efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Only after this provocative proclamation of US support for India in its border conflict with China did Engel and McCaul note in passing, (W)e note with concern that conditions in Jammu & Kashmir have not normalized one year after Indias repeal of Article 370 and the establishment of Jammu & Kashmir as a Union Territory. Washingtons refusal to tolerate any meaningful criticism of its Indian ally is bound up with its predatory geostrategic interests in the Asia-Pacific. While Trump expresses most bluntly US imperialisms animosity towards the rise of China, his adoption of trade war measures and military build-up in the region enjoy bipartisan support. India plays a key role in Washingtons preparations for war against nuclear-armed China, both as a military-strategic partner that is tied to the US through a web of bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral partnerships, also involving Japan and Australia; and as an aspiring regional power in its own right that can act as a counter-balance to Beijing. The Egyptian and Sudanese prime ministers emphasised on Saturday the necessity of negotiating in order to reach a binding agreement on filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The remarks were made in a joint statement read out by Sudans Information Minister Faisal Mohammed Saleh during a press conference held in Khartoum by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Mabdouly and his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok. Madbouly arrived at the Sudanese capital earlier on Saturday for a one-day visit, where he was accompanied by the ministers of irrigation, electricity, heath, and industry and trade, as well as high-level officials from the transport and education ministries. According to the joint statement, the Egyptian and Sudanese sides called for an agreement on the GERD that would preserve the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, in accordance with the 2015 Agreement on the Declaration of Principles, as well as the principle of the just and equitable use of water while not causing significant harm, and the relevant principles of international law. The two sides also highlighted the importance of agreeing on an effective and binding mechanism for settling disputes, as well as a mechanism for coordination between the three countries to ensure the safe operation of all water installations and projects affected by the GERD. The renewed talks, sponsored by the African Union (AU), between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the giant hydroelectric dam that Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile are due to resume on Sunday following a request by Sudan to postpone them for one week last Monday. The Sudanese request came one week after Cairo had requested a one-week halt to the negotiations on the $5 billion dam after Addis Ababa put forward a new draft proposal that lacked "rules on the operation of the dam, any elements indicating a binding deal, or a legal mechanism to settle disputes." The Egyptian and Sudanese sides stressed on Saturday in their joint statement the importance of not taking any unilateral action before reaching an agreement that is satisfactory to the three parties. They also renewed their commitment to negotiations as the optimum way to achieve the interests of the peoples of the region, and expressed their aspiration for the success of the negotiations under the auspices of the AU. Last month, Addis Ababa announced it had achieved its first-year target for the filling of the dams reservoir due to the rainfall season. The move was condemned by Cairo and Khartoum, both of whom had sought a legally binding agreement before the start of the filling process. Accordingly, Egypt sent earlier this month a letter to South Africa, which currently chairs the AU, reaffirming Cairos rejection of Ethiopias unilateral initial filling of the GERD and the new Ethiopian draft proposal. In its letter, Cairo said the Ethiopian proposal violates directives by the AU in July calling on the three countries to swiftly finalise a legally binding agreement. From its side, Sudan, who has also rejected the Ethiopian unilateral filling of the dam, threatened earlier this month to withdraw from the talks if Ethiopia insisted on linking an agreement on the dams filling to negotiating a deal on sharing the waters of the Blue Nile. The mega-dam, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of tension between the three nations. Cairo fears the project will significantly cut its water supply from the River Nile, while Sudan fears it will endanger the safety of its own dams. Ethiopia says the massive project, which it hopes will make it Africas largest power exporter, is key to its development efforts. Search Keywords: Short link: Australia will not have a coronavirus vaccine for at least a year and producing one before then could do 'more harm than good', a top disease expert has warned. Professor Peter Collignon of the Australian National University said a rushed vaccine may not work and could cause adverse side effects including paralysis. He said the federal government should not hurry to buy vaccines from foreign countries after Labor raised fears that Australia would miss out on a vaccine because no deals have been signed so far. The federal government has not signed a single deal to buy a coronavirus vaccine from abroad but Professor Peter Collignon says this it no bad thing. Pictured: A scientist at the University of Queensland 'A vaccine that has not been fully tested may not protect people and may even expose them to getting pneumonia,' Professor Collignon told Daily Mail Australia. 'In a worst case scenario it could cause a funny side effect that gives you paralysis or something nasty like that. 'This may only happen to, say, one in 5,000 people but if you vaccinate one million people you may end up with 200 people paralysed.' He added: 'We are so desperate for a vaccine that we'll clutch at anything but that approach may do more harm than good.' Professor Collignon, a microbiologist who used to work for the World Health Organisation, said the earliest a safe vaccine could be rolled out would be next year. Residents wear masks in Melbourne 'It needs to be tested on thousands of people which will take months and then you need to produce the vaccine. So the most optimistic timeframe is a year from now. 'Anyone who thinks we will have a vaccine before the end of this year is deluding themselves,' he said. Six vaccines around the world have reached phase three clinical trials and Russia has approved a vaccine to be rolled out in October, although experts say it has not been rigorously tested. To date, Australia has not signed any advanced purchase agreements to bring the vaccines Down Under if they are successful. On Wednesday Labor health spokesman Chris Bowen slammed the government for not signing any deals. 'We are way behind the eight ball and it would be just unthinkable if a vaccine breaks through and we just can't get access for it in Australia because of these failings,' he told ABC radio on Wednesday. But Professor Collignon said that was 'not a reasonable criticism' of the government. 'There are more than 100 vaccine candidates so how can you pick a winner when you have no data on whether it actually stops the infection,' he said. 'The Oxford University vaccine looks the best but it's too early to put any great amount of money into purchasing it. 'I would strongly caution against rushing any vaccine through. We have to see it is not only safe in the lab but also safe and effective in the real world.' Professor Collignon said even after a safe vaccine in produced, it will take years before the pandemic is over. 'The influenza vaccine is sometimes only 30 per cent effective in older people so there is no guarantee any coronavirus vaccine will stop illnesses and deaths,' he said. 'Countries with money including us, the US and European nations will be first in line for a vaccine but we need to immunise the whole world which will take time. 'This ain't going to go away for another couple of years,' he said. What is the government doing to secure a vaccine? The strategy is four fold research, purchasing agreements, international agreements and onshore manufacturing. 1. The first Medical Research Future Fund vaccine development round has been independently peer reviewed and announced. A second round has been opened and the Minister is expected to receive the peer reviewed recommendations shortly. 2. Direct procurement with leading international vaccine candidates is highly advanced with multiple candidates. 3. There is participation in the international Covax facility, which is an international consortium to give participant nations access to a variety of potential vaccine candidates. 4. Onshore manufacturing in Australia either directly or under licence, including through CSL. A health department spokesman said: 'We are confident that these investments and actions will secure early and sufficient access to a safe and effective vaccine.' Advertisement There are 20 deals in place to ship three billion vaccine doses to countries around the world once approved. The federal government is in talks to buy a potential vaccine which is being made at Oxford University, but no agreement has yet been reached. A health department spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that negotiations are ongoing with several potential vaccine producers. 'Direct procurement with leading international vaccine candidates is highly advanced with multiple candidates,' the spokesman said. Expert: Professor Peter Collignon of ANU Labor is also urging the federal government to increase funding for vaccine research so Australians have the best opportunity to get a coronavirus jab. The federal government has put $5million towards a University of Queensland study but Mr Bowen says the cheque needs to be bigger. 'We're not investing enough in vaccine research,' Mr Bowen told ABC radio on Wednesday. 'We're putting all our eggs - and not very many eggs - in one basket. There is also $13.6 million on offer in grants to support possible vaccine development projects. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has fired a warning to other world leaders to ensure they make a vaccine globally available should their nation discover one. Russia has become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing. The World Health Organisation is in discussion with Russian health authorities about possible prequalification for the vaccine, which still has to complete final trials. Meanwhile, Australian manufacturers are being urged to tell the federal government if they could help to reproduce a coronavirus vaccine. Submissions will be used to determine the national capacity to make and distribute the drug if an effective candidate is found. Various opinions in The Age lay the blame on the security guards, and then on a night manager for the spread of COVID-19 from a quarantine hotel. In order to have effective infection control in such circumstances, there needs to be a person with full understanding of the necessary isolation procedures to directly oversee what is happening in these hotels. The source of the problem is that no such person was appointed. Elizabeth Meredith, Surrey Hills Out of respect for those who have lost their lives or livelihoods to COVID-19 and their families, the least that our national and state politicians and bureaucrats can do is to provide all necessary information about their own actions and decisions to the various inquiries that are underway without finger pointing or cover-ups. The community that they serve deserves better than the morass of self-centred claims and counter-claims, and attempts to block access to relevant documents, that are currently on display. Lesley Day, Seddon Together again, one day Never would I have imagined that my country would have closed borders as stringently enforced as Soviet-era Eastern Europe. Victoria in particular is close to Tasmanian hearts. For almost two centuries Tasmanians have settled in our nearest mainland state. As a consequence thousands of us have relatives and friends in Melbourne and beyond. We await the day when once again we can reunite in person rather than in virtual space. We stand with you and our other fellow Australians in these dark times. We are thinking of you. Bill Perry, Kingston, Tas Milking a cash cow When you put grandma into a not-for-profit care home run by a church or a charity, you may feel satisfied that no one is making a quid out of her Aged care making big money (The Age, 14/8). Thats true, isnt it? No millionaires mansions here. Just a little harvesting of money from elder care to use in yet another good cause. Wheres the harm in that? The faceless people who are making these financial decisions are far from the coalface of care and deep in the money games. Grandma is just a cash cow. Georgina Batterham, Richmond Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders are considering cutting short the August recess and bringing the chamber back into session to deal with the unfolding crisis at the U.S. Postal Service, according to Democratic sources. The House could return to vote with the next two weeks, the Democratic sources suggested. The chamber is currently in recess, with no votes scheduled until the week of Sept. 14. Pelosi and other top Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), discussed the possibility of returning early during an emergency leadership call Saturday afternoon. Democrats are looking to address organizational issues at the Postal Service in the coming weeks, not to provide additional funding at this time, according to sources familiar with the discussion. One option would be to vote on a modified version of a bill introduced by House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) earlier this week that would prohibit USPS from implementing a planned organizational overhaul that critics maintain would handicap mail-in voting. Other top Democrats also floated addressing other issues, including expired federal unemployment benefits and voting rights. But Democratic sources said the immediate focus at least for now is preserving the Postal Service ahead of the election. On Friday, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued a scathing statement accusing President Donald Trump and Republicans of waging an all-out assault on the Postal Service and its role in ensuring the integrity of the 2020 election. Their statement came after Trump said he opposes a federal infusion of funds to save the flailing postal service because he doesnt support mail-in voting. The President made plain that he will manipulate the operations of the Post Office to deny eligible voters the ballot in pursuit of his own re-election, Pelosi and Schumer said. The Presidents own words confirm: he needs to cheat to win. Story continues Trump has suggested that he's opposed to giving more money to the Postal Service because of the expected wave of millions of mail-in ballots in November due to the coronavirus pandemic. He has also offered strong praise for Louis DeJoy, a businessman and Trump donor who was recently appointed postmaster general. Democrats have suggested DeJoy is revamping the Postal Service's operations to aid Trump's reelection campaign. "The Post Office is a catastrophe," Trump said during a press conference Saturday at his golf resort in Bedminster, N.J. "And obviously if youre going to do these millions of ballots out of nowhere, [DeJoy is] going to obviously need funding. But the Democrats arent willing to provide other things and therefore theyre not going to get the funding for that." Frustration has been growing in both parties over the lack of response to the U.S. economic situation while Congress remains in recess. On Friday, roughly a half-dozen House members spoke by phone with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to discuss ways to break the impasse. The group, dubbed the Problem Solvers Caucus, included members of both parties, including swing district Democrats like Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.). But congressional leaders have failed to reach a wide-ranging coronavirus deal despite weeks of back and forth negotiations between the White House and Democratic leaders. Both chambers have recessed for the traditional August recess. House Democrats included $25 billion for the USPS in their coronavirus bill in May, along with an additional $3.6 billion in election security funding. The White House and Democratic leaders tentatively agreed to as much as $10 billion for the Postal Service in their negotiations, but that was contingent on the rest of the agreement being nailed down, which wasn't anywhere near happening. The biggest federal failure in the Ruby Princess affair came when a key official chose not to check the infections on board just as passengers were ready to disembark. This critical oversight meant nobody reassessed a fateful state decision that the cruise ship was "low risk" even when 110 passengers were ill. The Ruby Princess cruise ship in Circular Quay in March. Credit:Kate Geraghty While Australian Border Force is largely cleared in the investigation into what happened, the report from the Special Commission of Inquiry makes clear the crucial blunder by the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment. This is a warning for Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the readiness of his government departments to deliver everything he promises in this pandemic, such as tough controls for cruise ships. Ethel is six-foot tall (Picture: SWNS) Ethel the emu is apparently on the run again just a few days after she was caught and returned home. The bird went missing for six days in Doncaster before being found on Tuesday. But it seems she may have got loose again after Phil Johnson, 49, claimed to have filmed her near the A1 in South Yorkshire. He told Yorkshire Live: My wife was walking down with her mum when they saw this emu and it went right up to them. When I saw it, it was in bad condition with missing tail feathers. "You're not going to find two emu's in Doncaster, are you? Read more: Third teenager charged with murder of extremely likeable lad Ethel the emu is apparently on the run again (Picture: SWNS) On Tuesday a friend of Ethel's owner Kerry Dobson posted on Facebook the city-wide search for the six-foot-tall bird who had eluded police and RSPCA officers was over. Victoria Elizabeth Robinson-Hewitt said the bird - which can run at speeds of up to 30mph - had been captured near a primary school on Monday night. She said the timid emu had been accidentally let out of her enclosure by builders at Dobson's home in Doncaster before getting lost in woodland. The bird was later spotted at several locations in Doncaster with Facebook group Our Sprotbrough posting dozens of pictures of the wandering emu in a bid to trace her. Read more: Man, 21, held on suspicion of murder after pensioner is found dead in beauty spot Ethel is described as "timid" (Picture: SWNS) She'd made her way from the Newlands Park through to the Trans Pennine Trail near Cosworth before she headed 10 miles east to Dunscroft. Robinson-Hewitt claims the emu was found near Richmond Hill Primary School in Doncaster. RSPCA senior scientific officer for exotics Nicola White recommends people do not keep emus as pets even though they can be owned without a licence. She said: They need large outdoor paddocks with a shelter and high fencing to keep them safe - not conditions you can provide in your average home. Read more: A British holidaymaker has plunged to his death from an Ibiza clifftop German-Argentinean doctoral program bears first fruits The programme is funded by the German-Argentinean University Centre (DAHZ-CUAA). Dr. Regina Mencia from Argentina was the first doctoral student to complete her doctorate under this programme at the beginning of this year. The success of her German-Argentinean cooperation has now been crowned by a joint publication in the renowned journal "Plant Physiology". Under the supervision of Professors Jutta Ludwig-Muller (TUD) and Elina Welchen (UNL), Regina Mencia researched a new method for increasing the resistance of plants to pathogens as part of her doctorate. Between 2017 and 2018 she was a guest at the Chair of Plant Physiology at TU Dresden for one year. Here she investigated the influence of the mitochondrial protein Arabidopsis thaliana Oxidation Resistance 2 (AtOXR2) on plant defence. "At TU Dresden, I was able to carry out experiments for which we in Santa Fe do not have the appropriate laboratory equipment or the necessary expertise. I also had the opportunity here to exchange ideas with many other scientists, attended numerous courses and conferences. As a result, I have advanced not only scientifically, but also personally and culturally. I was warmly welcomed in the research group of Prof. Ludwig-Muller and very well supervised. I could well imagine returning to TU Dresden one day", Dr. Mencia describes her guest stay. During her investigations, she found out that the protein AtOXR2 has an influence on the salicylic acid pathway of the plant, thereby increasing the plant's resistance to pathogen infections. Salicylic acid is a chemical substance that occurs as a plant hormone in the leaves, flowers and roots of various plants and plays an important role in the defence against pathogens. The overexpression of AtOXR2 leads to a general activation of the salicylic acid-signalling pathway, the plant boosts its defense and becomes resistant to the attack of pathogens. Professor Ludwig-Muller explains the relevance of these investigations: "The results are very promising for applications. Whereas in previous studies, salicylic acid-based resistance led to a deterioration in plant growth, the plants from this project showed improved growth in addition to resistance". ### Original publication: Regina Mencia, Gabriel Ceccoli, Georgina Fabro, Pablo Torti, Francisco Colombatti, Jutta Ludwig-Muller, Maria Elena Alvarez, Elina Welchen. OXR2 increases plant defense against a hemibiotrophic pathogen via the salicylic acid pathway" Plant Physiology. Published July 2020. DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1104/ pp. 19. 01351 Interview of the Universidad Nacional del Litoral de Santa Fe with Regina Mencia (Spanish): https:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v= TGl7gMpsVlI This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. In this article TSLA Peter Rawlinson joined Lucid Motors in 2013 as chief technology officer, a role he has maintained since being named CEO of the company in April 2019. Lucid DETROIT It's been nearly a decade since Peter Rawlinson took the stage at the 2011 Detroit auto show to reveal the Tesla Model S sedan. There was a problem though. The car wasn't ready, so he instead showed the car's body shell. "I was almost a laughing stock. I was derided," Rawlinson, who was the Model S chief engineer and vice president of engineering at Tesla, told CNBC. "No one took me seriously." The show came at an important time for Tesla, which needed to prove itself after going public at $17 a share and purchasing its current Fremont plant in California. "It's hard to relate to that time now. Tesla is the most valued car company in the world," Rawlinson said during a Zoom interview. "Who would have bet on Tesla? Let me tell you, I knew that we had the core engineering talent and the technology in-house and that would come shining through at the end." Rawlinson, who left Tesla in 2012, is now looking to defy skeptics again with a similar playbook as CEO of Lucid Motors, a start-up electric vehicle manufacturer he says has the cash, technology and talent to become one of the first real rivals to his former employer. Rawlinson is taking lessons learned from his three years at Tesla as well as other experiences with British car manufacturers Lotus and Jaguar in an attempt to differentiate and validate Lucid from a growing list of electric vehicle startups promising to change the world and bring new electric vehicles to market in the coming years. Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst at Navigant Research, said he's bullish that Lucid has "the prospects to be a successful company." "Not necessarily to be the next Volkswagen. I see them as having potential to be small volume, high-end player," he said. "The challenge right now is there are so many companies trying to break into the auto industry." Lucid Air Lucid's first product is expected to be a luxury sedan priced "well north" of $100,000 called the Lucid Air. The company has built about 40 prototypes of the vehicle. It plans to unveil its final version of the car on Sept. 9, followed by production and customer deliveries next year. The Lucid Air sedan is expected to go into production at a plant in Arizona in 2021. Lucid Rawlinson, who was named CEO in April 2019, backed up his claims of competing against Tesla earlier this week by announcing the car is estimated to achieve an EPA-rated range of 517 miles on a single charge. That easily tops Tesla's industry-leading 402 miles with a version of the Model S. Rawlinson expects the Air to be the catalyst for a lineup of future all-electric vehicles, including an SUV starting production in early 2023 and more affordable vehicles down the line. "We started with that high-end product because I believe the first product defines the brand, just as Model S defined Tesla," he said. "And you have to create a technological tour de force to define the brand with your first product and that's what we're doing with Lucid Air." It's a plan similar to how Tesla came to market. It's one many companies have said they would follow with little to no success. Lucid, like Tesla, also is entering the market with a sedan instead of an SUV or pickup like many other startups are planning to do. While there's expected to be less competition in the all-electric car market, sedan sales have plummeted in recent years with the rise of crossovers. Abuelsamid views the Air as what the Model S "could have been" if Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk had the resources and talent throughout the development and production of the vehicle for a "real, high-end electric sedan." "For all the good stuff about the Model S in terms of electric drive technology, a lot of which can be credited to Peter Rawlinson ... the reality is at its price point, $100,000 they were costing in the early days, it wasn't much of a luxury car," he said. "The Air is completely different. It is if you actually tried to build a real 21st century luxury sedan." 'Haven't achieved anything' Rawlinson, an engineer who also serves as Lucid's chief technology officer, knows the company must prove itself before any of those his plans are even close to coming to fruition. He expressed as much ambition as pragmatism when he discussed them. "We have to approach this with a degree of humility because until we've got that car into production, we really haven't achieved anything," he repeatedly noted to CNBC. "I tell the team that every day." Interior of the Lucid Air show car, which is expected to be produced beginning in 2021. Lucid Lucid was founded in 2007 as Atieva, a name it now uses for its engineering and tech arm that supplies batteries to electric racing circuit Formula E. The company first focused on electric battery technology before changing its name and shifting to an electric vehicle manufacturer in 2016, three years after Rawlinson joined the company to lead its technology development. "Right now, there's one electric car company in a preeminent position," Rawlinson said. "No one's really giving it some serious competition. Competition will improve the world, improve the breed." Lucid had some difficulty obtaining capital to fund its plans until September 2018 when it received $1 billion from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. Cosmos instead of chaos The investment was expected to fund the construction of a factory in Arizona as well as the launch of the Lucid Air in 2020. But that timeframe was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rawlinson said. The car is now expected to begin production early next year at the plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, which is located southeast of Phoenix. The $700 million facility, including $300 million for the first phase of production, is expected to have an initial vehicle production capacity of 34,000 units, which Rawlinson believes will grow to a maximum capacity of 400,000 units toward the end of the decade. Lucid, according to Rawlinson, has a four-stage plan to grow the volume of cars produced at the plant as well as a "Lucid manufacturing process" that takes lessons learned from his experiences at Tesla. "Tesla is process adverse. I welcome process where it's appropriate," he said. "We will have a production cosmos, not production chaos." Rawlinson, speaking opportunistically, expressed aspirations for the company to build 1 million vehicles a year by 2027, which would mean the addition of at least one additional manufacturing facility and several new products. Lucid plans to start producing additional prototypes of the Air at the factory by the end of the month, followed by full pre-production test models in December. The California-based company recently hired Peter Hochholdinger, a longtime Audi executive who most recently led Tesla's production, to head manufacturing operations. Tech Companies have come up with creative ways to describe their battery cells and packs. Rawlinson describes Lucid's as "Lego blocks." Battery cells go into the packs to power the vehicle. The greater number of cells a pack has, the further the vehicle can typically go on a single charge. Rawlinson said Lucid has labored over every detail of the batteries to get the greatest efficiency to achieve a higher range with less cells. He also cited a "nerd-like" obsession regarding the company's in-house electric motors and design and aerodynamics of the Air, among other things. The Lucid Air Alpha test car, displayed at the New York Auto Show, reached a software-limited 217 miles per hour on a text track in Ohio. Robert Ferris | CNBC Katie Price has revealed she is in 'so much pain' after her six hour operation to repair her broken feet. The mother-of-five, 42, took to her Instagram Stories in the early hours of Saturday morning to issue a hospital update. Posting a video of herself in bed at 2:30am in the morning, Katie revealed she was unable to sleep as she panned around the empty ward. Update: Katie Price has revealed that she is in 'so much pain' after her six hour operation to repair her broken feet She said: 'So 02:30am I can't sleep despite the fact I've had pain killers and I'm in so much pain and so tired,' followed by a sad emoji. It comes after Katie revealed on Friday night that she had undergone a six hour operation to repair her broken feet after being warned by doctors it could take months for her to recover. The star took to Instagram to pen a lengthy caption to update fans on her condition, and admitted there were 'more procedures needed than they thought.' Agony: The mother-of-five, 42, took to her Instagram Stories in the early hours of Saturday morning to issue a hospital update after revealing she had undergone the surgery Awake: Posting a video of herself in bed at 2:30am in the morning, Katie revealed that she was unable to sleep as she panned around the empty ward In a lengthy post, Katie wrote: 'Wanted to update everyone who has been sending all the beautiful messages to me 'So I've had my 6 hour op Unfortunately more Procedures was needed when they entered my feet than thought , but I'm lucky I have the chance to one day get on my feet again. 'Chelsea Westminster hospital nurses doctors have been amazing and the surgeons totally have my up most RESPECT and absolutely FANTASTIC very professional and have been very honest and straight with me to make me actually sink in my head the seriousness of my injuries MASSIVE THANKYOU ... 'And massive Thankyou to @carljwoodsfor constantly fitting me around his work and being by my side , loving knowing I've found the man that has surprisingly ticked every box I could only dream of a man to be like and knowing I'm spending the rest of my life with him.' Candid: It comes after Katie revealed on Friday that she had undergone a six hour operation to repair her broken feet after being warned by doctors it could take months for her to recover It comes after Katie was banned from having sex with boyfriend Carl, 31, for two weeks after the surgery. She was allegedly told she would not be able to move for a fortnight after the procedure, according to a report from The Sun. A source speaking to the publication claimed: 'Katie's been told she has to lie down and not move for two weeks when she gets home. 'She will have to keep her legs elevated to give her the best chance of recovery - and that means no sex or moving around. 'Carl will basically be her full time carer - the only time she's allowed to move is to go to the toilet.' Glam: It comes after Katie shared a glimpse of her colourful casts on Instagram on Thursday Doctors orders: The former glamour model explained in the caption that she had been told to 'keep her legs up' before the surgery The requirement will allegedly be 'a real test' for Katie, but the star is said to be following the doctor's orders. Katie shared a glimpse of her colourful casts on Instagram on Thursday. She previously said she was 'terrified' about the operation and has been 'banned from getting out of bed, with doctors telling her to stay laying down'. A source told The Sun: 'Katie's doctors told her she had to stay lying down on her back to stop her feet swelling up in the heat. 'She's terrified about the surgery tomorrow - but she's listening to all the doctor's advice.' The source added that Katie was 'devastated' about the medical advice as it meant she couldn't celebrate her youngest son Jett's birthday properly. However it is thought that the mother-of-five has told him that she will make it up to him with another party after the operation. MailOnline has contacted a representative for Katie for a comment. Family first: Katie is said to have been 'devastated' about medical advice to 'stay in bed' as it was her youngest son Jett's birthday (pictured with her son and youngest daughter Bunny) Katie broke both of her feet and ankles in a freak accident while on holiday in Turkey last month, the surgery will help her on the long road of recovery. Since the accident, Katie has been seen several times being pushed in a wheelchair by her beau Carl, including on Wednesday when she had a coronavirus test at a hospital to see if she could be operated on later in the week. It was previously reported that Katie has been warned by doctors she 'must take her recovery seriously or she could risk losing a leg'. The reality star is said to have been left 'terrified' by her surgeon's stark warning. Trooper! Katie broke both of her feet and ankles in a freak accident while on holiday in Turkey last month, the surgery will help her on the long road of recovery Shock injury: Katie confirmed the news on Instagram, revealing that it could be six months before she can walk properly again Katie recently explained she broke her ankles and feet during a 'silly accident' while on holiday with her beau and her children Princess, 13, and Junior, 15. Taking to her YouTube channel, the star explained: 'Silly me, at my age, should calm things down. Basically, silly little accident. I was running and jumped over a wall, as it was a little shortcut, and didn't really judge the height. 'I just sort of fell funny on my ankles and I fractured the hairline on my heels and stuff. The hospital here wanted to operate and wanted to put pins in and stuff. Because I'm away, I'd rather wait until I get home.' She continued: 'It's the most painful thing ever. Like when I was trying to put the cast on, I was screaming in pain. They said I won't be able to walk for three to six months.' Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Washington had suffered a humiliating defeat in its bid to get a UN arms embargo on Tehran extended. In a UN Security Council vote on the US effort on Friday, Russia and China voted against, while 11 members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain. The United States and the Dominican Republic were the only votes in favour. I dont remember the United States preparing a resolution for months to strike a blow at the Islamic Republic of Iran, and it garners only one vote!, Rouhani said in a televised speech. But the great success was that the United States was defeated in this conspiracy with humiliation. The UN arms embargo on Iran is due to expire under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which provided for many international sanctions against Iran being lifted in exchange for curbs on Irans nuclear programme. Washington withdrew from the deal in 2018. The United States could now follow through on a threat to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback. Diplomats have said the United States could do this as early as next week, but that it would face a tough, messy battle. Amid multi-layered security arrangements and social distancing measures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation after unfurling the Indian flag on the 74th Independence Day celebrations at the iconic Red Fort. In PM Modi's seventh August 15 speech, he addressed the latest affairs in the country - from the India-China row; his call for 'Atma Nirbhar' Bharat, to the Covid-19 vaccine and much more. The PM had addressed the issue of cleanliness in his first I-day speech in 2014; the issue of village electrification in 2015; ease of doing business in 2016; shared his dream of a New India in 2017 and focused on tackling poverty in 2018. In his second term, his 2019 speech had stressed on the need for population control. However, this year, the PM's focus lay most on asserting Indias self-confidence and self-reliance, or 'Atmanirbharta'. Here's everything Modi spoke about on the country's freedom day: He began his his hour-and-a-half long speech by paying respects to Indias Corona warriors - health workers, sanitation workers, and those working in essential services amid the pandemic. As India reels under the effect of Covid-19, Modi assured that three vaccines were under various stages of trials in the country, and that all preparations had been made to mass produce the vaccine, and provide them to every Indian in the shortest time possible. He said a green flag by scientists was being awaited for now. The question before the entire world today is, when will the Coronavirus vaccines be ready? Our scientists, given their skills, have been, like monks, single-mindedly working night and day in their labs. Because of this not just one or two, but three vaccines are now in various stages of development. As soon as we get the green flag, the roadmap has been prepared to start production on a very large scale. We will ensure that every Indian gets the vaccine in the shortest possible time. PM Modi said efforts were being made to create a unique health ID card for every Indian, one which would integrate all medical history of the person along with their past appointments. It would give them a chance to book a new appointment and make payments through this unique identification, which would enable doctors to better and more quickly diagnose the patient, he added. READ | Independence Day 2020: Rare Photos of Indian Freedom Fighters The Prime Minister also talked about the India-China row after the Galwan Valley clash. He said attempts were made to challenge our territorial integrity, from the LAC to the LoC. With whatever happened, our jawans replied in the language of the enemy. What the country and our jawans can do was seen in Ladakh. I salute all those who laid down their lives to protect our borders. He said the nation had in the past also stood up to the ideology of 'Vistaarvaad' or expansionism, whose proponents ruled over India believing that a country so diverse could never unite to fight its oppressors. But India never gave up on its Independence. India stood against this expansionism and successfully fought for its freedom, he added. Those who were busy finding new places to put their flags and wanted to expand their empire, underestimated us. The world saw two 'world wars' and so many nations faced immense destruction, but we rose through it all and our freedom struggle was seen and acknowledged globally. The way Indias farmers elevated India from a country that imported food grains to a country that was capable of feeding hungry people across the world, was an example of 'Atmanirbharta' or self-reliance, he said. The other example was Indias space program, which like many other of its achievements in sectors like healthcare, was a force for betterment for Indias partners in the subcontinent and beyond, the PM said. READ | 15 Patriotic Films to Watch This Independence Day 2020 - In Pics He said the country would soon come up with a cyber space security strategy, as the rapid advances made, also invited threats. The prime ministers comments come against the backdrop of increasing cyber threats, psychological warfare and misinformation campaigns against the country, which are reportedly abetted from nations like Pakistan and China. He said that the country needs to discourage imports, which take a toll on the creativity and capability of local innovators, and encourage India to move from Make in India to Make for the World. Modi said Indias health sector in fighting the menace of coronavirus, had reached a position where it was exporting N-95 masks, PPE kits and ventilators; a huge step as before there was negligible production of the same. This is an example of how Atmanirbhar India can be a force for good for the entire world. In Independent India we should all become vocal for local. It was because of Indias growing self-reliance, the Prime Minister added, that record FDIs had flown into India breaking all records over the past one year, increasing by 18% last year. For this reason large multinationals are investing in India, he said. It was this self-reliance that was keeping India in motion despite the country being beset by so many natural disasters from hurricanes to earthquakes to locust attacks, PM Modi said. "Despite everything, India did not lose its Atma-vishwas (self-confidence). To keep this momentum on, Modi said a massive push was being planned in infrastructure, through which many allied industries would benefit. For Indias growth at a faster pace, we have focused on comprehensive, multi-modal infrastructure development. We are no longer segregating rail, from roads, ports from airports and we have clubbed them to have a holistic approach to infrastructure development. Modi also recalled some other important decisions taken in the country over the past one month. The National Education Policy was among them. After 3 decades we have been able to give to the nation a National Education Policy. This will help our students not just in connecting them to their roots but in also making them global citizens, he said. The Prime Minister also recalled the abrogation of article 370, through which, he said that Dalits and women" had gotten equal rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Modi also said the process of delimitation was going on in the UT at the moment, and soon after its completion, the nation was committed to having elections there so that J&K could have its own MLAs and ministers. He proposed that Ladakh, the other Union Territory carved from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, could create its own identity as Indias first carbon neutral UT. He also expressed happiness with the way that work on building Ram Temple in Ayodhya began, and the manner in which the Supreme Courts verdict was received with humility and grace by the country. Thousands of Britons Return From France to Avoid Quarantine LONDONThousands of British tourists beat a hasty retreat from France, packing out planes, trains, and ferries to return to the UK by the early hours of Saturday morning to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. On Friday, many British travelers in the country opted to cut short their vacations to meet the 4 a.m. Saturday deadline that had only been announced the night before. Anyone arriving back from France from Saturday must stay at home for two weeks to make sure they cannot spread the coronavirus beyond their households if they have become infected. People queue in line to check-in for the cross channel ferry in Calais, France, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Olivier Matthys/AP Photo) The exodus was prompted late Thursday when the British government took France off a list of nations exempt from traveler quarantine requirements because of a sharp rise in new coronavirus infections there. A spokesman for the Le Shuttle car-carrying service linking Britain and France under the English Channel said 12,000 people tried to book tickets in the hour after the new rules were announced, compared with just hundreds normally. People on the beach at Biarritz, southwestern France, on Aug. 8, 2020. (Bob Edme/AP Photo) Some air fares were selling for significantly inflated prices compared to normal rates. British Airways was selling tickets for a flight from Paris to London on Friday night costing 452 pounds ($590). The same journey on Saturday could be made for just 66 pounds ($86). Ferry companies put on extra services but they sold out fast too. For those who cannot work from home on their return, the mandatory self-quarantine could see them penalized further. Others just couldnt face the prospect of having to stay at home for two weeks, unable to do even basic chores, go for a run or even to walk the dog. Woman walks, wearing a face mask to protect against coronavirus, near the beach, in Saint Jean de Luz, southwestern France, on Aug. 5, 2020. (Bob Edme/AP Photo) Peter Norris, who managed to get on one of the last flights Friday out of Nice, in the south of France, said it would have been incredibly inconvenient for him to face another two-week period cooped up at home. Its not like during lockdown, where you can go for a run, go to the shops, come back, he said. None of that, we have to stay in, for two weeks. As well as complicating the return home for the hundreds of thousands of British tourists in France, the UK move has the potential to upend the plans of those planning trips in the days ahead, particularly of families during the run-up to schools reopening in September. French businesses running campsites in Brittany, wine-tasting tours in the Loire Valley or mountain treks in the Alps also have reason to worry. Cars are loaded onto a cross-channel ferry at the Port of Dunkerque, France, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Olivier Matthys/AP Photo) The French government has indicated that it will respond in kind, a move that is set to further hobble travel and tourism between the two countries. The British government insists it had to make the decision in light of a 66 percent spike in confirmed coronavirus cases in France in the past week. The Netherlands, Malta, Monaco, and the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Turks & Caicos were also added to the UKs quarantine list for the same reason. In France, theres a growing fear of a second spike of the outbreak. Health authorities on Friday reported 2,846 new virus cases in 24 hours, bringing the total for the week to over 12,900. Paris extended the areas of the city where pedestrians will be obliged to wear masks starting Saturday morning after health officials said the coronavirus is active in the French capital and the Mediterranean city of Marseille. Last month, Spain, the number one summer holiday destination for British tourists, was taken off the exempt list. DES MOINES, Iowa School nurses have a message for parents: Expect your kids to be sent home more quickly this year if they seem even a little ill. There have been a lot of kids Ive sent back to class with a headache, and now I might send them home. That will be different for sure, said Nicole Cable, the nurse at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. In normal times, a student with a headache, fatigue or slight cough would not raise alarms in a school nurses office. But these are not normal times. Cable and about 600 other Iowa school nurses along with their peers across the country will face immense challenges in trying to keep children and staff safe as classes resume amid the coronavirus pandemic. Its an uphill fight," said Cable, who leads a Des Moines school district committee working on the issue. "Its one thing to say you have to physically distance in the classroom. Its another thing to actually do it. School nurses will be on the lookout for signs of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes. It could be especially tough to sort out those cases as late-summer allergy season brings a wave of coughs and sneezes. Then schools will see outbreaks of colds and flu, which cause many of the same symptoms COVID-19 brings. There have been a lot of kids Ive sent back to class with a headache, and now I might send them home," says Nicole Cable, nurse at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. School nurses always perform crucial public health tasks, from bandaging playground scrapes and ensuring kids are vaccinated to responding to teens who are considering suicide. It was a really complex role anyhow, and now you add COVID on top of that and it gets a whole lot more complicated, said Sharon Guthrie, executive director of the Iowa School Nurse Organization. School nurses are armed with flow charts to help discern the difference between everyday maladies and COVID-19. But they will have to employ a relatively quick hook this fall, sending kids home if theres any doubt. Once a coronavirus case is identified, school nurses and local public health officials will have to figure out which students, teachers and other school staff might have been exposed at length to the infected person. That could lead to extensive testing and quarantining. Story continues The challenges could be particularly daunting for nurses in rural school districts. Many of them work in more than one building, and some ride a circuit of several towns. Urban districts nurses have backup in case they become overwhelmed or ill. Many rural school nurses lack that support. Heather Sloma-Weber is the only full-time school nurse in eastern Iowa's Tipton school district. She monitors the health of about 700 elementary and middle-school students. A part-time nurse covers the high school. Sloma-Weber said she enjoys the autonomy of her job, which she likens to being on an island as the district's leading medical expert. Now everyones on my island, she said with a laugh, describing the intense focus on health this year. 'Like saying I don't love her': Parents torn as some schools face greater reopening risks Sloma-Weber said she and many other school nurses wish the state was allowing more flexibility in deciding whether to pull back from in-person classes if COVID-19 breaks out in a community. Shes concerned about state benchmarks that districts will be required to hit before they can apply for waivers to in-person teaching requirements. One of the criteria for such a waiver is that at least 10% of students must be absent from school. This is going to be my ninth school year, and Ive never had that many kids gone, even during a bad flu season, Sloma-Weber said. The other main benchmark before a district can apply for a waiver to reduce in-person classes is that at least 15% of people being tested for the coronavirus in a county come up positive over 14 days. Heather Sloma-Weber said she and other school nurses wish her state was being more flexible in deciding whether to pull back from in-person classes if COVID-19 breaks out in a community. That would be pretty ugly. I hope we dont get to that point, Sloma-Weber said. As of Friday, Cedar County, which includes Tipton, had a positivity rate of 6%. Sloma-Weber said she appreciates the support of colleagues who have been participating in weekly video chats organized by the Iowa School Nurse Organization. Dozens of members have been tuning in and sharing tips. Guthrie, executive director of the professional group, said many school nurses werent being paid during the summer, but they devoted countless hours to planning how to prevent outbreaks. She said some rural members of her group serve three or four schools in different towns. A lot of people have an assumption that theres a nurse in every building every day, all day," she said. "There really isnt. Guthrie, a former school nurse who now directs graduate nursing programs at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, wishes schools had their own coronavirus testing equipment. If they did, nurses could quickly determine if a child or staffer was infected with the virus. But such equipment is not likely to be available anytime soon, she said. From Stanford med to blueberry fields: Student laborer gets lesson in COVID perseverance Like teachers and other staffers, school nurses face the risk of becoming infected at work. But Melissa Walker, a nurse practitioner who coordinates school-nurse programs for the Iowa Department of Education, said she hasnt heard of a wave of Iowa school nurses resigning or retiring because of the risk. Walker said some school districts have hired additional nurses or health associates to help respond to the pandemic. Iowa school districts employed the equivalent of 645 full-time nurses last school year, the education department reports. Walker said some districts also contract out with local clinics or hospitals to provide nursing services to students. Face masks will be one of the main ways of limiting the spread of the virus in schools this fall. Some districts will just encourage their use. Others, including Tipton and Des Moines, will require them for almost everyone. Nurses said they dont expect major problems in persuading students to comply. Cable, the Des Moines high school nurse, said it will be important for adults to set an example by wearing masks properly all the time. We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe, she said. Sloma-Weber noted that everyone is under stress, but shes optimistic parents and school staff will show each other grace and patience as they work their way through difficult times, including the mask question. We all want the same thing, she said. We all love these kids and we all want the best for them. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: COVID-19 at school: Nurses brace for uphill fight against coronavirus European Commission Considering Fact-Finding Mission To Minsk By Rikard Jozwiak August 14, 2020 BRUSSELS -- European Union Neighborhood Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi has expressed his readiness to travel to Minsk on an EU fact-finding mission to gather information following the government's crackdown on protests triggered by the August 9 presidential election, which the bloc has described as "neither free nor fair." In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL after a video-link meeting of EU foreign ministers, Varhelyi suggested the possibility of traveling to the Belarusian capital, adding that he could go "any timewhen I am tasked" and saying he would sit down with the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to discuss how to proceed. No high-ranking EU politician has traveled to the country since the vote, but the commissioner expressed his readiness to do so during the August 14 council meeting and received the backing from several EU foreign ministers, according to several RFE/RL sources. Even though the EU has not officially called for a rerun of the vote, Varhelyi mentioned the possibility. "There have been not only major shortcomings, but the elections cannot be considered free and fair," he said. "So, we have to go there and see the situation on the ground. But, of course, this is a very strong likelihood that the elections might have to be rerun." At least two protesters have died and some 6,700 people have been detained since nationwide protests erupted on election day after the government announced an exit poll that showed strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka winning a sixth term with about 80 percent of the vote. That claim was rejected by opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to leave for Lithuania the next day. Varhelyi said he had been in touch with officials from the Lukashenka government and underlined that his message to the Belarusian government was that "we should try and create a situation where we can bridge all the differences between the government and the opposition and where we can get a common reading of the elections, a common reading on what needs to be done after that." At the meeting, the EU foreign ministers also tasked the commission and the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service (EEAS), with drawing up sanctions proposals targeting people who have been involved in the crackdown and individuals responsible for the alleged falsification of the election results. Varhelyi said an agreement on sanctions such as visa bans and asset freezes could come at the end of the month when the ministers meet again in Berlin. "I think this will go ahead really fast," he said. "We agreed that 10 days from nowwe will already be finalizing this." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/european- commission-considering-fact-finding- mission-to-minsk/30784477.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 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday thanked the foreign ministers of Russia, Bhutan, the Maldives, Lithuania and Latvia for their wishes on India's 74th Independence Day. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, in a tweet, said since independence, India has strived to be, and now become, an enduring example of democracy and development, for the region and the world. Responding to his tweet, Jaishankar said their bilateral relationship is a shining example of 'Neighbourhood First'. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia also greeted Jaishankar on India's Independence Day. He thanked Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for his wishes and said India greatly values the exceptionally close and time-tested relationship. Bhutan Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji tweeted, "I take this privilege to wish every Indians, a very #HappyIndependenceDay. I pray for your great country to grow from strength to strength." Replying to Dorji, Jaishankar said, "Your warm sentiments reflect our unique relationship." His counterparts in Latvia and Lithuania, Edgars Rinkevics and Linas Linkevicius respectively, also greeted him. Jaishankar expressed his thanks to the two leaders. NCPA slammed for gross failure to act in childrens defence By Nadia Fazlulhaq What we need is swift action against molesters and abusers - Auditor-General condemns top officials for poor management View(s): View(s): The child protections bodys 20-year delay in implementing a National Child Policy, failure to compile a national database and lax recruitment of adequate and qualified staff has let down the countrys children, exposing them to great harm, a scathing report has found. Even though child abuses, delinquencies and injuries had been on the rise during the previous seven years, the higher management of the [National Child Protection Authority NCPA] had not properly directed the district/divisional child protection/district psychosocial officers for preventing such occurrences, the Auditor-General states. The special report, Role of the National Child Protection Authority relating to Child Abuse in Sri Lanka, was released last month. Reports of the gruesome deaths of underage children have emerged in recent weeks. The victims, male and female, died as a result of sexual abuse or domestic cruelty, with the youngest being eight months of age. One victim,10-year-old Senuri from the rural area of Sirambiadiya in Puttalam, was molested and later killed by her mothers current partner. Senuri had never attended school despite being 10 years of age, and was among eight children her mother had with two previous husbands. This is a clear indication that state officers varying from the grama sevaka, midwives, police, education and samurdhi officers and child protection officers have failed to address grave issues in their respective areas such as school dropouts, lack of sex education, teenage pregnancies, parents ignorance and negligence, protection of children in mother migrated families, economic hardship, Professor Harendra de Silva, emeritus professor of paediatrics, child rights activist and founder chairman of the NCPA said. Prof. de Silva said every government should have child welfare as priority. Child abuse and cruelty comes under the penal code; it cannot be sorted out at police stations or by village committees. One cannot advise the molester even if the person is a family member, he said. He pointed out that such abuses are regarded as grave offences by the law. We dont need new laws, Prof. de Silva emphasised. There are enough legal provisions. we need is swift action against molesters and abusers. Lack of accountability is one of the major concerns. Justice delayed is justice denied. In the nine years to 2019 when the Auditor-Generals report commenced, 48,361 complaints came before the police division of the NCPA. Of that, only 413 were investigated and referred to the Attorney-General to take to the High Court. Of the 413, only 185 cases were actually filed at the High Court. Court hearings should be accelerated; some defence postponements cause the cases to drag for weeks and months. Child abuse cases should be concluded as soon as possible but, sadly, in some teenage rape cases the judgment [only comes after] the victim is married and trying to recover from the hurting past, Prof. de Silva said. Last year, according to police statistics, 305 cases of statutory rape of females under the age of 16 were reported, and by the end of the year 296 were still pending. Also in 2019, 80 cases of cruelty to children and 34 cases of sexual exploitation were reported but by the end of the year 77 and 32 cases respectively remained as pending investigations. Prof. de Silva said it was important to strengthen rehabilitation processes with counselling and psychosocial support. The health ministry needed to focus on the countrys need for child psychiatrists and child psychologists as there were just a handful of experts, and provide all necessary assistance and encouragement to strengthen its cadre. Dr. Miyuru Chandradasa, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist attached to the Ragama Teaching Hospital, told the Sunday Times that depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occur in victims of abuse, especially when court cases drag on for many years. Some victims have not revealed their past sexual abuse encounter to their spouses, but then after a decade or so, they are called to court. This causes immense mental health issues. Unfortunately, the health sector in the country has not given prominence to mental health. The police are concerned with the physical evidence of abuse and not the psychological evidence, Dr. Chandradasa said. The Auditor-General recommended that it be compulsory for principals to set up School Protection Committees. The report noted that civil society committees had been a white elephant for years. Despite a high amount of expenditure, there had been few beneficiaries. The expenditure incurred only for the Jana Pavura for the period of 2018 to 30 October 2019 was Rs. 17 million, and programmes had been conducted only in two districts, the report pointed out. There is a dearth of trained officers for holding interviews in relevant police stations and only two posts had been created for the video evidence preparation units that commenced in the year 2001, the report added. NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana said a National Child Policy, which he said had been formulated, would be implemented by November and that, at present, discussions were being held with the defence, justice, labour and education ministries on the implementation process. The 400 child development centres will be increased to 50,000 and continuous monitoring will take place, he said. Prof. Vidanapathirana said the recording of evidence via video would become available in all provinces as a Cabinet paper had been submitted to bring this about. All 14,022 grama sevaka divisions would be instructed to ensure mandatory schooling for all children and the establishment of school child protection committees. Prof. Vidanapathirana also said an Additional Solicitor-General was helping with child abuse-related cases in the Attorney-Generals Department. Pic and additional reporting by our Puttalam correspondent, Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Empty seats at NCPA The Auditor-Generals report highlighted the fact that a number of vacancies have not been filled for many years at the National Child Protection Agency (NCPA).Even though the Director/Assistant Director of the Law Enforcement Division should read and select the complaints received by the Authority and refer to the other divisions, the post of Director (Law Enforcement) has remained vacant for seven years, the report said.The post of Director (Legal), Second Stage of the Complaint-Resolving Process has remained vacant for a period of six years from the year 2014 and the job of Clinical Psychologist has been unfilled since July 13, 2018.A total of 131 posts of district child protection/psychosocial and divisional child protection officers remain vacant. The vacancies were a prime cause of the load of unresolved cases, the Auditor-Generals report said. It also drew attention to a high number of resignations from the NCPA. Last year, 41 field officers quit their posts. NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana said the resignations were mainly due to low salaries, no transfers or promotion for many years and a lack of permanent positions for officers with experience and qualifications. Smiling for the camera on a summers evening, they look like a typical happy family. But the photograph, which was taken to mark two of Ewan McGregors daughters going off to university, came on the same day that the Hollywood actor was ordered to hand over an eye-watering amount of his fortune and future earnings to ex-wife Eve Mavrakis. Following the couples acrimonious split, a judge in California has ruled that the 49-year-old actor who went on to date his Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead after his marriage ended in 2017 will have to hand over half of the royalties he made from starring in four Star Wars movies. This image was posted this image on her Instagram page on August 14 with a caption which read 'My little beans are off to college I'm so proud of you both' Yesterday, it also emerged that production designer Ms Mavrakis will keep the 5 million family home in Los Angeles, as well as around 400,000 in cash, jewellery and five of McGregors 34-strong car collection, which includes his cherished vintage blue Volkswagen Beetle. Ms Mavrakis, 53, will also reportedly get child support of around 12,000 a month and 30,000 of spousal payments, as well as some of the royalties McGregor made from the films Angels And Demons, The Men Who Stare At Goats and Moulin Rouge. The pair will share joint legal and physical custody of their youngest daughter, nine- year-old Anouk. McGregor filed for divorce in 2018, with documents lodged at the LA Superior Court that year revealing that he and Ms Mavrakis were already locked into a dispute over money. The papers showed the Trainspotting star believed he was paying more than he was obliged to to support his family, while Ms Mavrakis who described the split as disappointing and upsetting believed the amount was too little. However, on Friday, as their divorce after 22 years of marriage was finalised, the couple put their differences aside to throw a party for daughters Esther and Jamyan the child they adopted from Mongolia to celebrate them heading to university. The pictures, which were posted on Instagram by their elder sister Clara, 24, were accompanied by the message: My little beans are off to college, Im so proud of you both. Notre petite family. The couple, who met on the set of the TV crime drama Kavanagh QC, first confirmed their split in 2017 amid claims that McGregor had been seen kissing Miss Winstead, 35, in a London restaurant. Ewan McGregor blamed 'irreconcilable differences' for the split then began dating Mary Elizabeth Winstead which reportedly caused his eldest daughter Clara to be furious Ms Mavrakis was pictured without her wedding ring at around the same time. McGregor who blamed irreconcilable differences for the split then began dating Miss Winstead. However, his decision to do so left the couples eldest daughter Clara furious. Last July, she described the actress as a piece of trash on Instagram, which accompanied a photograph of her father and Miss Winstead kissing at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2014. Clara, a budding actress, said afterwards: It wasnt the most mature way to go about things, but I was angry and upset. According to Clara, there were things going on behind-the-scenes that became a lot to deal with and eventually sent her over the edge. There had been a lot building up to it and a lot to deal with not to make excuses or anything but, yeah, it wasnt my finest moment, she admitted. Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four teenagers for allegedly kidnapping their neighbours six-year-old son and demanding N2.6m ransom at Anguwan Borno also known as Jaja in the Bauchi metropolis. One of the suspects, Muhammad Isa, 18, who is a student of AD Rufai College of Education and Legal Studies, was arrested along with three of his friends for allegedly kidnapping their neighbours son. While parading the suspects on Thursday, Isa told journalists that he was pushed into the crime to raise capital to start a tailoring business. He said he was lured into the crime by his friend, Abdulgafar Adamu, 18, saying he could not resist the idea because he needed the money badly. When Abdulgafar told me about the plan I accepted immediately. The boy was kidnapped, and offered to keep him in my house. I lied to my parents that the boys mother was seriously sick after an accident and was hospitalised. I learnt tailoring and even had a shop built due to the COVID 19 pandemic, things were tight and I was looking for money to start my business. I told my father but he said he had no money, he said. The 200 Level Civil Law student said after a day his mother became suspicious and demanded to visit the abductors boy mother in hospital but Isa and his friends bought time as they contacted the hostages father. Isa said Adulgafar, after hatching the plan, also involved Usman Muhammad, a 16 year old student of FOMWAN Secondary school, Bauchi. I invited the boy Abubakar Mohammed whom I know very well to accompany me to but doughnuts nearby and we took him to Usmans house and hid him there, the Senior Secondary 2 student said. Abdulgafar, who masterminded said when he told his friends, including Ahmed Usman, school a 15 year old SS two student of Special School Toro, they all agreed Later I regretted my action and wanted to withdraw but I could not summon the courage to tell my parents or anyone, he said. Bauchi state Commissioner of police, Mr Lawan Tanko Jimeta told newsmen that the suspects would be soon arraigned in court. KanyiDaily had also reported how an 18-year-old boy, Elikor Ehud, was arrested for allegedly stealing 1.8 million from tithes and offerings boxs in Lagos Church. Twenty-two years after the first Charter on taxpayers rights and income tax departments obligations came into existence, there is promise of these entitlements finally becoming a reality. While the earlier charters were purely voluntary and were not enforceable and remained mostly on paper, the new charter unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday has the backing of the Income Tax Act. With the incorporation of Section 119A in the Income Tax Act, mandating the Central Board of Direct Taxes to adopt and declare a Taxpayers Charter and issue such orders, instructions, directions or guidelines to other income-tax authorities as it may deem fit for the administration of such Charter, the voluntary charters of all these years give way to a mandatory legal requirement, enforceable by law. This is a very positive development. One looks forward to the Board drawing up not only stringent service delivery standards with specific timelines, but also an effective mechanism for strict monitoring and compliance. The Board should also draw lessons from the reviews of the earlier charters and ensure that tax payers are fully aware of the details of the charter and have an effective redress mechanism for complaints on non-compliance. The government also has to keep in mind the reasons for the failure of the Income Tax Ombudsman and create an effective and independent system of time-bound grievance redress. It is equally important to ensure that the tax authorities comply with the Charter in letter and spirit. In fact complaints of non-compliance from tax payers should form an integral part of the performance appraisal for the income tax department staff. The department shall hold its authorities accountable for their actions, says the Taxpayers Charter. It should also hold them accountable for their inaction or failure to conform to the Charter. It was in November 1998 that the income tax department first came out with a Taxpayers or a Citizens Charter. It was part of an overall administrative reform programme (similar to the Citizens Charter programme of the United Kingdom) initiated by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances ( DARPG) to improve service delivery by all government departments and ministries and bring in transparency and accountability in the administration. The Income Tax department described the Charter drawn up by it as A declaration of our commitment to excellence in our service to taxpayers. The one-page charter promised to be a) fair, b) helpful and c) efficient. Under its promise of efficiency, for example, the department said it would acknowledge all communications from taxpayers on the spot and in any case within seven days and furnish final replies within 30 days. It promised to redress all complaints within 30 days, issue refunds within 30 days of determination, and also keep all personal and business information/materials furnished to the department, confidential. The promises, however, remained unfulfilled-- in fact a review of the Citizens Charter programmes of various departments and ministries, done by the Indian Institute of Administration in 2008, at the behest of DARPG, made scathing observations about the poorly drawn up charters and an even poorer implementation. Subsequently, many departments reviewed and revised their Charters. The Income Tax department too revised it in 2007, again in 2010 and subsequently on April 29, 2014. However, two factors -- absence of statutory backing and the taxpayers lack of knowledge of the Charter -- allowed the income tax officials to often ignore the promises made. In fact a letter written by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in January 2014, asking assessing officers to respect the Citizens Charter in respect of TDS matters, is a case in point. Now that the Charter has been enshrined in the Statute, will it usher in a tax regime that respects the taxpayer and guarantees a fair deal, devoid of corrupt or unfair practices? The answer lies in the way the details are drawn up , the procedures and mechanisms provided and the strict implementation of the Charter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Plays The Thing: The Theatres Resurrection! As the COVID-19 smoke tentatively begins to clear, we all are venturing out and engaging in various forms of social activity, while still maintaining social distance, being cautious even though its been over a month since Thailand has had a home-grown case. How is this trend going to affect theatre? The-Plays-the-Thing! By Joel Adams Saturday 15 August 2020, 11:00AM Theatrix performs an interactive murder mystery at Project Artisan. Theatrix will perform an interactive murder mystery at Peppers bar in Cherng Talay on Aug 20. Well, the good news is that there are signs of a new springtime for the theatre. We just completed a three-week summer camp at HeadStart International School that had a record attendance, showing how much everyone longs to get back to some form of normality. While wearing masks and maintaining social distance, we and the children involved managed to prepare two plays/performances a week, one for kids from 5 to 8 and one for those 9 and up, filming the performances every Friday. It was hard work, but we, both teachers and students, had a lot of fun. In another development, in early July, I was contacted out of the blue by Peppers Bar in Laguna and asked if we would perform an interactive murder mystery in late August. They found Theatrix in a Google search when they typed in murder mystery Phuket! So, we are now preparing that and are excited about future interactive events at Peppers and other venues as things hopefully open up more and more. Interactive theatre is becoming increasingly popular around the world as people look for something more active than conventional theatre, and we are ready to supply that here in Phuket. Today, lets take a look at the history and styles of interactive theatre. Its a big subject so this may take a couple of articles to cover. Bear with me. What makes theatre interactive? Traditional theatre creates what is called a fourth wall between the actors and the audience that separates them both physically and verbally. However, while most playwrights adhered to the fourth wall principle, playwrights for hundreds of years have delighted to break the fourth wall. Shakespeare did it with narrator characters in plays like Henry V and Romeo and Juliet. Thornton Wilder did it in his twentieth century classics, Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth. And it has been done in even more extreme ways where the audience can influence the direction of a play by their actions or words as in Peter Pan, The Seesaw Tree, and other plays. There are plays where the wall is totally broken and the audience becomes part of the play, taking roles either assigned or chosen. They may become or hold props, make sound effects, offer suggestions as in improv comedy, and more. There are so many ways interactive theatre can happen, and we will talk about some specifics in the next article, but suffice it to say, the interactivity can be used to increase the comedy and fun, or it can be used to explore serious issues and get community input on how best to solve problems, and interactive theatre is fast becoming one of the most popular and vital forms of theatre today. Our improv team, Outta the Box, has performed comic improv for delighted audiences several times. We ask for the audiences suggestions and/or participation in scenes and sketches made up on the spot by improvisational actors. If youd ever like a hilarious evening of improv comedy, feel free to contact us and it can be arranged. Theatrix has also performed interactive murder mysteries in which the audience watches scenes played depicting the events leading up to and following a murder. The spectators have printed evidence and the scenes they watch to try to unravel the mystery. Additionally, between scenes the actors mix and mingle with the audience in character and the audience can ask them questions. The actors/characters may not lie unless they are asked point blank if they committed the murder. When all the evidence has been laid out, the audience votes on who committed the murder, and prizes are given out to the winner(s). At Peppers August 20th, we are doing something slightly different. Our former murder mysteries were rehearsed and prepared before the evening, but this time those who choose to act roles in the mystery, a cowboy mystery performed around a poker tournament set in a saloon in the Wild West, are only given a character bio and costume and character suggestions before the evening. Theatrix actors will play a number of roles, and the remainder of the roles will be filled by members of Peppers clientele. On the evening they are handed assignments they must accomplish before the murder; after the crime, they receive another paper for what they must do to help find out whodunnit. When the evening starts, none of the actors knows who the victim or the perpetrator will be, which makes for a lot of fun and adds reality and tangible suspense to the situation. This will be the first time we have done this kind of interactive theatre and we are really looking forward to it. If you would like to join us, please contact Peppers in Laguna. You can be a spectator or perhaps even an actor. Join us for a night of fun on August 20th! Also, if you or your kids are interested in acting classes on many different subjects either in-person or online, please contact me. We have something for everyone, including a course designed to help non-native English speakers improve their English through drama games, activities, and projects. Bye for now. Talk to you again soon with more of the history of interactive theatre. Joel Adams is building a vibrant theatre community right here in Phuket. You can contact him at theatrixphuket@gmail.com or by phone on 093 6490066. Facebook: Theatrix Group The Volta Regional Police Command has assured the families of the late businessman, Samuel Nyamador, who was recently shot dead in Juapong, of their commitment to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book. The Regional Commander, DCOP Edward Oduro Kwarteng, also said his office has already picked up leads that he believes will lead to the arrest of the assailants. Speaking to Citi News on behalf of the Volta Regional Police Command, Corporal Prince Dogbatse, the PRO, appealed to the public to volunteer relevant information to aid the police in its work. The motive of our visit was to commiserate with the family. The District Police Commander and the MP have also visited. The family has given us the assurance that they will give us the highest level of cooperation to carry out our investigations. The police are currently picking up some leads that are going to help very well in zooming in on those who are behind the killing. Samuel Nyamador was killed while on his way home from work on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, in the company of his wife. Three men are said to have confronted the couple and shot the man . The youth in the area massed up in protest of what they described as the late response by the police to many distress calls after the incident occurred. Ablakwa offers GHS10,000 bounty In the meantime, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced a GH10,000 bounty for the persons involved in the killing of a businessman at Juapong, Samuel Nyamador. I have just spoken to both the Volta Regional Police Commander and the Juapong Police Commander to inform them of my decision to make available a personal donation of GHS10,000 as bounty for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the fiendish killers of Sonny, he said in a tweet. NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- If you own shares in any of the companies listed above and would like to discuss our investigations or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact: Joshua Rubin, Esq. WeissLaw LLP 1500 Broadway, 16th Floor New York, NY 10036 (212) 682-3025 (888) 593-4771 [email protected] GCI Liberty, Inc. WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of GCI Liberty, Inc. in connection with the proposed interested-party acquisition of the company by Liberty Broadband Corporation ("Liberty Broadband"). Under the terms of the all-stock transaction, holders of Class A GLIBA shares will receive 0.580 shares of Liberty Broadband's LBRDK common stock for each share of GLIBA stock that they hold. If you own GLIBA shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: http://www.weisslawllp.com/gci-liberty-inc/ GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE American: GSB) WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE American: GSB) in connection with the proposed acquisition of the company by HelpSystems, LLC. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, which is structured as a tender offer, GSB shareholders will receive $9.50 in cash for each share of GSB common stock they own. If you own GSB shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://weisslawllp.com/globalscape-inc/ SOURCE WeissLaw LLP Related Links http://weisslawllp.com 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 On some nights when the air was balmy with humidity and her pen refused to move anymore, writer Daya Lakhi Jashnani often thought of that day in a small village in Sindh, Punjab, when her classmate and best friend Hamid had cried because a bee had stung her at recess. The little boy held her hand and took her to his mother who applied medicine to the wound and made her 'jawar ki roti'. Daya was four at the time but she still remembers the smell of those chapattis. They smelled of love. "It all changed so quickly," Daya, now 84, recalls. Her best friend Hamid and her home in Sukkur are now in Pakistan. When riots broke out after the partition of undivided India - which coincided with India's independence - Daya along with her family had to leave everything behind and run for their lives as sectarian violence broke out across parts of India. Today, 72 years on, Daya who is now a reputed Sindhi writer with three children and a family in Maharashtra's Ullaspur, still cannot understand the reason for the hate. From fighting for freedom to fighting for religion "Before and during the fight for independence, Hindus and Muslims in my neighborhood were like brothers and sisters. I grew up in the laps of Muslims. That was until the partition of India," the octogenarian tells News18. Though she was little, Daya remembered burning 'videshi' (foreign) clothes as part of the swadeshi movement and raising calls of Vande Mataram. She remembers singing songs in Sindhi along with other children and adults - Hindu, Muslim alike - about India's freedom from the British. "It was hard to understand when the fight for freedom became a fight for religion," she reflects. She recalls losing her baby brother to disease as they could not secure medical resources for the infant due to the ongoing violence. "We had to bury the baby in our own backyard because we were not being allowed into any burial or cremation space," she recalls. Soon after that, she left her home forever amid massive bloodshed. "We saw rivers of blood. We did not know who was killing whom. But we were in danger, that was certain. Muslims were killing Hindus here while Hindus were killing Muslims elsewhere," she said. After nearly a week's journey, much of which they spent hidden behind luggage in buses and trucks, Daya's family managed to reach Deolali in Maharashtra - to India. "But in my mind, I was born in India. I am still in India," Daya asserts, claiming that she has always been and will be an Indian, no matter where her birthplace is now. A woman of many words Daya's family suffered many hardships upon coming to India which had just received independence after 200 years of British rule and recovering from the shock of the worst form of sectarian violence that the country had seen. Jobs were scarce and her parents had to build everything from scratch. Daya claims that it was the Sindhi community in Ullasnagar that came to their aid. "We Sindhis are peace-loving, enterprising people. We can make a business out of nothing. If humans manage to reach the moon, the first shop there will be set up by a Sindhi," she laughs, unable to hide the community pride. A woman of many words, Daya's love for writing and her mother tongue drove her to the pen early on in her life. Her books have won several awards including 'Izat Ji Chadar' which won an award from the National Council For Promotion Of Sindhi Language. She has written several books and articles for magazines from across India and her pieces appear in Sindhi newspapers in both India as well as Pakistan. Speaking of Pakistan, Daya recalls returning to her former home in 1986 for the wedding of their beloved friends. On her visit, she sensed a hint of unrest amid the younger generation. "The elderly showed love and respect. But those born after the Partition were suspicious. I sense similar unrest in India's youth today. But Daya believes in not dwelling on the past and marching forward in life with a fierceness intended to make adversities quail. "I have a big family now. I write about love, friendship, about the Sindhi language and other joys of life. While I have witnessed unimaginable pain, I have also lived a life full of laughter and love," Daya says. On some nights, however, her mind wanders to Hamid. Streams of blood can not make her forget the streams of tears on her best friend and protector's face. And she smiles. This story was published as part of a three-part series 'Preserving Partition' in collaboration with 1947 Partition Archives of India to mark the 72nd anniversary of the horrific Partition of India. News18.com interviewed three partition survivors who lived to tell the tale. Daya Jashsnani was originally found and interviewed for the non-profit by Pooja Yangaldas. Video game specialist Codemasters is another British company to have defied the prevailing economic gloom. Best known for its F1 series, Codemasters is behind several other racing car games, such as Project Cars, Dirt and Fast & Furious. Lockdown left many people with time on their hands and gaming proved a useful distraction. Sales rose across the industry as gamers twiddled consoles for hours on end, with high-quality titles particularly popular. Full speed ahead: Best known for its F1 series, Codemasters is behind several other racing car games, such as Project Cars, Dirt and Fast & Furious These are the types of game that Codemasters focuses on, and chief executive Frank Sagnier said last week that trading had been exceptionally strong in recent months so results for the year to March 2021 would be significantly ahead of expectations. Sagnier admits that recent sales are less turbocharged than when the lockdown was at its peak, but the group is still selling more games than before the pandemic started. Some people who never played before have discovered the joys of gaming. And old-timers have turned back to past car racing favourites. The latest Formula 1 title, F1 2020, was launched at the start of last month and has proved extremely popular, with top scores from gaming enthusiasts. Fast & Furious Crossroads, unveiled ten days ago, has also made good initial progress. Gaming groups tend to make most of their money from new titles, so Sagnier's optimism is encouraging, particularly as Codemasters still has two more two big games to launch this year Project Cars 3 and Dirt 5, coming out later this month and in October respectively. After last week's trading update, analysts expect a 57 per cent increase in sales to 120million for the year to March 2021, with profits soaring 63 per cent to 30.6million. No dividend is scheduled, but the company is accumulating cash, and payouts may be on the cards as the business expands. There is plenty of potential for further growth. Warwickshire-based Codemasters bought Fast & Furious developer Slightly Mad Studios in November last year and integration has gone well to date. But the deal should yield many more opportunities over the next year or two. Midas verdict: Midas recommended Codemasters in January, when the shares were 2.78. They have risen 42 per cent since then to 3.95 and most brokers believe the shares are still undervalued. Investors who bought at the beginning of the year may choose to offload some stock and bank much-needed gains but they should keep a good chunk as Sagnier is ambitious and gaming is a growth industry. It is also heartening to see a UK-based firm making waves in this global field. Traded on: AIM Ticker: CDM Contact: codemasters.com or 01926 816000 Fall is right around the corner and with the colder temps comes the threat of a potentially catastrophic flu season that could overwhelm already-strained hospital systems across the nation. Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield said in an interview with WebMD that if Americans don't take every precaution to stem the spread of COVID-19, 2020 could become "the worst fall from a public health perspective, we've ever had." EXPERTS WEIGH IN: How can you tell if you have a cold, the flu, or coronavirus? The CDC recommends that 60 percent to 70 percent of Americans get the flu vaccine, but only about 47 percent do so. Redfield said his goal for this year is to get that number up to 65 percent. More than 190 million doses are projected for the 2020-21 season, which is more than the 175 million dose record set during the previous season, per the CDC. "Some people don't realize. In the last 10 years, 360,000 people died in this country from flu. Flu is a major cause of death," Redfield told John Whyte, chief medical officer at WebMD. "This is the year I'm asking people to really think deep down about getting the flu vaccine." Redfield added part of the mission to increase flu vaccinations involves addressing the anti-vaxxer movement. In Texas, anti-vaxxers have fought back against COVID-19 contact tracing, alleging the public health measure that has been used for decades to track the spread of disease infringes on their constitutional rights, the Houston Chronicle reported. "Clearly, when we look at the mortality that we see with flu, one thing is for certain. The kids who get vaccinated, they basically get protected against death," Redfield said. "So by getting that flu vaccine, you may be able to then negate the necessity to have to take up a hospital bed. And then that hospital bed can be more available for those that potentially get hospitalized for COVID." On HoustonChronicle.com: 'A significant concern': How Houston health officials hope to prevent a flu-plus-COVID surge The CDC recommends the public prepare to get a flu shot in September or October. Depending on how the pandemic continues to play out, where and how to get a vaccine may change. The CDC is working with health departments to develop contingency plans on how best to provide flu vaccines during a global health crisis. Gov. Greg Abbott last week called on Texans to get a flu shot, warning the upcoming season would be "prolific" and that if not taken seriously, "hospitals across Texas will be completely overrun." "As we continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for the upcoming flu season, Texans must remain vigilant in our collective efforts to maintain infection control," Abbott said. "It is vital that every Texan continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid group gatherings, and frequently sanitize their hands. These best practices will aid in our efforts to reduce the spread of both COVID-19 and the flu." As of Thursday evening, Texas is now at 530,562 COVID-19 cases and 9,748 deaths, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of state data. The Houston region is now at 127,247 cases total and Harris County is at 89,425 cases total. For more information on where to find a flu vaccine, visit this website, or speak with a primary care physician. For more information on the flu, visit the CDC website. rebecca.hennes@chron.com New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses at the launch of platform for Transparent Taxation Honoring the Honest via video conferencing in New Delhi on Aug 13, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Aug 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reiterated that the government will soon unveil a new cybersecurity policy. During his speech from the Red Fort on the 74th Independence Day, Modi said that India is alert, cautious and is taking decisions to counter cyber threats and is constantly developing new systems. The draft of National Cyber Security Strategy 2020, that envisages creating a secure cyberspace in India, is ready and is likely to be finalised this year. "The threats from cyberspace can endanger all these aspects of Indian life. The government is alert to this threat and is taking all the necessary action," Modi said. The government recently banned several Chinese apps to protect the personal data of the Indian users. As nation-state bad actors from countries like China, Russia and Pakistan amid the demand to keep the data of Indians to remain within the boundaries of the country, the government has envisioned the "National Cyber Security Strategy 2020". "Cyber intrusions and attacks have increased in scope and sophistication targeting sensitive personal and business data, and critical information infrastructure, with impact on national economy and security. The present cyber threat landscape poses significant challenges due to rapid technological developments such as Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, lnternet of Things, 5G, etc," according to the draft. "New challenges include data protection/privacy, law enforcement in evolving cyberspace, access to data stored overseas, misuse of social media platforms, international cooperation on cybercrime & cyber terrorism, and so on". Digitisation in India will dramatically rise in a post COVID-19 scenario which in turn will increase demand for greater cybersecurity and privacy, according to experts. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, as businesses are still coping up, cybersecurity is being seen as a core technology to keep companies secure as they go online and virtual, and as emerging deep tech such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain evolves, investment in cybersecurity will be a key differentiator for companies offering such services. "We have joined hands with DSCI (the Data Security Council of India) in establishing a National Centre of Excellence to accelerate innovation and make India an attractive cybersecurity market," Ajay Sawhney, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said recently. Ransomware-related cyber attacks on the Indian enterprises saw a significant rise in the first three months of the year, and the increase has been enabled by operators offering ransomware as a service (RaaS) to cyber attackers. The report from Global cyber security major K7 Computing also found that Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad recorded the highest rate of infections amongst Tier-I cities. Guwahati, Jaipur and Jammu had the highest infection rate of 38 per cent each, followed by Patna at 35 per cent among Tier-II cities. One in two Indian companies have experienced a data breach involving the loss or theft of more than 1,000 records containing sensitive or confidential customer or business information in the past two years and the Covid-19 has only accelerated the cyber attacks, according to Sandip Patel, General Manager, IBM India/South Asia. For 46 per cent of Indian firms, data breaches led to significant disruption to their IT and business processes, according to a recent global survey conducted by Ponemon Institute and sponsored by IBM Security. Murtaza Ali Khan is an independent film critic / journalist based out of New Delhi, India. He has been writing on cinema for over 10 years. He runs the award-winning entertainment blog . He regularly contributes to and . He was previously a columnist at . He has also contributed to publications like , , , Dear Cinema, Desimartini and Jamuura Blog. He regularly appears as a guest panelist on the various television channels and is also associated with radio . His education spans science, technology, mass communication, and management. But cinema remains his first love. His all-time favorite movie-makers are Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Luis Bunuel, Andrei Tarkovsky, Charles Chaplin, Orson Welles, Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman, Satyajit Ray, Fritz Lang, Sergio Leone, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. He can be reached at murtaza@apotpourriofvestiges.com / murtaza.jmi@gmail.com. He tweets at His education spans science, technology, mass communication, and management. But cinema remains his first love. His all-time favorite movie-makers are Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Luis Bunuel, Andrei Tarkovsky, Charles Chaplin, Orson Welles, Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman, Satyajit Ray, Fritz Lang, Sergio Leone, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. He can be reached at murtaza@apotpourriofvestiges.com / murtaza.jmi@gmail.com. He tweets at @MurtazaCritic STEM Minecraft for Chromebooks Arrives As Microsoft promised a few weeks ago, the company has announced general availability of Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebook devices, just in time for the start of school. The release comes with two new features for all users: 11 new STEM lessons, including a Minecraft world developed with help from the American Beekeeping Federation's Kids and Bees program, to introduce students to honeybees and pollination; and Improvements to the lesson library, with tagging of learning activities to make searching easier; Schools with a license to Microsoft 365 for Education already have access to the newest version of Minecraft. However, the gaming platform can also be licensed through an annual subscription in the Microsoft Store for Education. Currently, a Microsoft account is required; but soon, the company reported, users with a Google account will be able to log in as well. Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebook details on provided a dedicated landing page. The Minecraft education download page is the starting place for all versions of the product. Microsoft has also developed a "learning at home" set of free resources to help teachers and families stay connected through educational play. The federal government is blocking three out of four applications for Australians to leave the country while the borders are closed, amid concerns they could spread coronavirus when they return home. MPs from across Sydney, including Liberal Dave Sharma in Wentworth in the eastern suburbs, independent Zali Steggall in Warringah, and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and fellow Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek in the inner west, have been fielding numerous requests for assistance from residents stuck here because of the travel ban. Donna Burton was refused permission to go to England for her only daughter's wedding. Credit:Steven Siewert Mr Sharma said federal government MPs were starting to raise concerns internally about the travel ban, which he described as a "pretty extraordinary restriction on people's liberty". "This is an extreme measure for extreme times but it cannot be something we contemplate keeping in place for the long term," Mr Sharma said. "There's no other country of which I'm aware that is imposing an exit permit system, like we've got in Australia." A homeless man found dead near a Cork city centre car park had warned in a radio interview just a few weeks ago that he felt forgotten on Irish streets with few caring about the plight of the homeless in modern Ireland. The body of Gary Dineen (35) was found near the Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre car park on Wednesday - just weeks after he warned he did not know how much longer he could endure life on Irish streets. A second homeless man was found dead in the city on Thursday. Gardai are keeping an open mind about the circumstances of Mr Dineen's death, though there was no indication of foul play and his injuries appear consistent with a fall. Last month, Mr Dineen spoke on Cork's 96FM about the terrible plight facing the homeless. Support He explained that he became homeless after having to move out of his home because the landlord was selling the property. Mr Dineen was then left devastated by the tragic death of his partner. "I have been homeless a few times over the years but I have always got back on my feet and got a place again," he told 96FM. "I am homeless now for about two and a half years." He said his partner had been a rock of support -and he was left devastated by her death. "It was unconditional love. I loved her and she loved me. "When the landlord was selling the house she went to stay with people and I came to Cork as homeless. That broke our relationship then. We were talking about getting back together. She wasn't in the best place. "My world since then has just crumbled down. I feel like with the homeless that nobody cares about anyone. There was another [homeless] fellow pulled out of the river [recently] who I knew very well. I knew him for 13 years." Mr Dineen lost his mother when he was very young and it had a traumatic impact on him. "The amount of stuff that goes on around the place makes you worse and you are battling your own demons," he said. "Since her death [partner] I have been in hospital twice. I relapsed. I was clean until she died." He said despite stalwart support for the homeless from Cork Simon and Cork Penny Dinners, the pandemic has hit homeless people very hard. Mr Dineen said he did not know how he would cope without the support of his sister. "She has been there for me for everything. "But the whole place [Cork] was empty [during the pandemic] and it was full of homeless people. Everything was closed. "There were empty hotels right behind me. Empty hostels everywhere. "There are people out on the streets for the whole virus." Mr Dineen said he did not know how much longer he could endure life on the streets. "I don't have the heart or the strength for it [being homeless]anymore. It is hard, very hard." President Donald Trump is donating $100,000 of his salary to help repair national monuments damaged during anti-police brutality protests. According to The Sun, Trump pledged a quarter of his $400,000 annual pay to be given to the National Park Service to restore the damaged monuments. "I promised YOU I would not take a dime of salary as your President," Trump tweeted on Friday. "I donate the entire $400,000! It is my honor to give $100,000 to @NatlParkService to help repair and restore our GREAT National Monuments. So important to our American History! Thank You!!" I promised YOU I would not take a dime of salary as your President. I donate the entire $400,000! It is my honor to give $100,000 to @NatlParkService to help repair and restore our GREAT National Monuments. So important to our American History! Thank You!! pic.twitter.com/4ETkUZ9yUf Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2020 Officials in cities that endured weeks and months of protests estimated tens of millions of dollars in damage cost to property, public works, and buildings, including statues. According to the Oregonian, Portland businesses estimated $2.3 million in damage in early July because of the anti-police brutality protests. Private businesses in Denver reported similar damages of around $2 million in late June, as per Denver Post. There were no reports yet on how much of Trump's $100,000 donation will go toward the restoration of these monuments. Confederate statues were destroyed or removed in the wake of George Floyd's police custody death in Minneapolis. Floyd's death prompted mass protests across the United States. Protesters mainly targeted monuments to slaveholders or Confederate officers in major cities. Some businesses and buildings were also damaged during the chaos. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), most of America's Confederate statues were built between the 1900s and 1920s. In the 1900s, states were enacting Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise black Americans. Some southerners claim these monuments are a testament to their history and were erected to honor Civil War heroes. However, others believed that they promote white supremacy. The UPI reported that this was the second time Trump pledged his salary to the National Park Service. He gave his first paycheck as president to the agency in March 2017. Trump donation on Friday came more than a month after he signed an executive order to protect monuments in the U.S., like those toppled in connections to slavery or racism. Check these out: Trump Orders $400 Boost to Jobless Benefits McConnell Pushes Leaders to Restart COVID-19 Relief Negotiations Trump Directs Mnuchin to Send Stimulus Checks of $3,400 to Family of 4 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, and Poland's Minister of Defence Mariusz Blaszczak greet each other after signing the US-Poland Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Aug. 15, 2020. Pompeo is on a five day visit to central Europe. (Janek Skarzynski/Pool via AP) Read more WARSAW U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sealed a defense cooperation deal Saturday with Polish officials that will pave the way to redeploy American troops from Germany to Poland. Pompeo, in Warsaw at the end of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, signed the deal with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak that sets out the legal framework for the additional troops. This is going to be an extended guarantee: a guarantee that in case of a threat our soldiers are going to stand arm-in-arm, Poland's President Andrzej Duda said during the signing ceremony. It will also serve to increase the security of other countries in our part of Europe. The deal would also further other aspects of U.S.-Polish cooperation, he added, citing primarily investment and trade ties. The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernization of existing capabilities and facilities by allowing U.S. forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded U.S. presence in the country. The opportunities are unlimited, the resources will be available," Pompeo said later at a news conference alongside Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. "Troop levels matter ... but the world has moved on too, Pompeo said, referring to threats posed in space, cyberspace and disinformation campaigns. He said such defense agreements would allow work on those threats too. Czaputowicz said the presence of American troops enhances our deterrence potential because we are closer to the potential source of conflict. It is important that they should be deployed here in Poland and not in Germany, he said. President Donald Trump said the pact was the culmination of months of negotiations with Poland. The agreement will enhance our military cooperation and increase the United States' military presence in Poland to further strengthen NATO deterrence, bolster European security, and help ensure democracy, freedom, and sovereignty, Trump's statement said. Some 4,500 U.S. troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added. Last month, in line with Trump's demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland. In addition, several U.S. military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the U.S. Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense and has repeatedly accused Germany of failing to pay NATO bills, which is a misstatement. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2% of their gross domestic product. After the signing ceremony, Pompeo joined Duda and other Polish leaders at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the centennial of Polands landmark victory against the Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 during the Polish-Soviet war. In the Battle of Warsaw, often called the Miracle on the Vistula, outnumbered Polish troops led by Marshal Jozef Pisudski defeated an advancing Red Army. The battle is credited with stopping the Bolsheviks' westward march, and remains a source of huge national pride in Poland. Saturday's signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a U.N. Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the U.S. Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president. Pompeo said in Warsaw that it was unfortunate that France and the U.K., permanent members of the Security Council, did not support the U.S. position and that Washington would continue to press the issue. The United States simply wanted the keep the same rules that have been in place since 2007," he said. I think there are a lot of people who understand that it is not in the worlds best interest to allow this arms embargo to expire. I hope they find the courage to say so publicly. Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the region's young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China. In Poland, the reception was particularly warm, given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election. Many of the policies pushed by Polands ruling conservative government have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU nation. While Luxembourg can certainly be considered a pioneering country in certain areas, there are others where the Grand Duchy could learn a thing or two from other nations. Denmark could for instance serve as an example on how to improve road safety. Road safety is a major issue in Luxembourg. Not only is the number of road fatalities on the rise, but the country is facing ever increasing problems in terms of road congestion as well. The European Commission assessed in its latest report that with 60 road fatalities per one million inhabitants, Luxembourg's situation regarding road safety has "deteriorated". What makes this already harsh verdict even worse is that this was during a year (2018) when all indicators were on the decline in the rest of the European Union. The Grand Duchy is thus part of the bad apples when it comes to road safety in the EU. This is in stark contrast to for example Denmark, which only recorded 30 road fatalities per one million inhabitants. Considering this data, it may be time to reconsider the road safety measures taken by the Luxembourgish government over the past years. No correlation between high speeds and high mortality rates In fact, while Luxembourg went all in on speed controls and the installation of new speed cameras, Denmark actually raised its speed limits. The result: The mortality rate was two times higher in the Grand Duchy than in Denmark in 2018. However, a significant decrease was recorded in 2019: "only" 22 road fatalities in Luxembourg. According to the experts from the European Commission, the country's small size is the reason behind this drop. On this matter the report states that figures shift significantly from one year to the next. Meanwhile, "40 million drivers" praise the decisions taken by the Danish authorities. The report states that Denmark has chosen to invest in the installation of numerous crash barriers, the systematic doubling of speed limit signs on both sides of the road as well as the use of audio-tactile warning strips on the trajectory of road user to prevent them from leaving the road due to inattentiveness. All of this in the context of an overall road infrastructure described as "exemplary". However, Luxembourg does seem to have picked up some of the Danish concepts, or that is at least the impression one could get when reading over the action plan that was published last May. More and more speed cameras The so-called "Vision Zero" strategy includes making road infrastructure safer to use, refurbishing certain 30 km/h zones, and promoting driver assistance systems. According to this plan, the road safety association wants to continue investing in speed cameras, e.g. by installing them at red lights, inside tunnels, or on dangerous road sections. Good news for all those who fervently believe that the recent decline in road fatalities is due to the installation of such devices on Luxembourg's roads. In reality, however, the data does not support this theory. In fact, road fatalities have significantly decreased since the year 2000 and thus long before the installation of stationary speed cameras in 2016. There have been a number of temporary spikes between 2009 and 2013. Securite routiere While a decrease in fatal road accidents has been observed since 2016, severe accidents have increased over the same period of time. The efficiency of speed cameras can thus certainly be put into question. In the meantime, Luxembourg's road mortality figures are far from encouraging. 17 people have already lost their lives on the Grand Duchy's roads this year and this despite the ongoing pandemic, which substantially decreased traffic over a two month period. She's one of Hollywood's busiest actresses, with three films currently in production. But Sofia Boutella recently took a well-deserved break, with the Star Trek Beyond star hitting the open roads of Wyoming and Montana in a decked out Outdoorsy campervan. The 38-year-old showed off her sensational bikini body in a series of picturesque snaps shared to her Instagram account on Thursday. Getting away from it all: Sofia Boutella recently took a well-deserved break, with the Star Trek Beyond star hitting the open roads of Wyoming and Montana in a decked out Outdoorsy campervan The Atomic Blonde actress luxuriated in the clear waters of a lake in several pictures. In others she relaxed in a beautiful new 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, while gazing at the wild scenery outside. Sofia captioned the envy-inducing pics, 'Wyoming, Montana [HEART EYES EMOJI] The dream continues with @outdoorsy'. Beach ready: The 38-year-old showed off her sensational bikini body in a series of picturesque snaps shared to her Instagram account on Thursday Living the dream: Sofia captioned the envy-inducing pics, 'Wyoming, Montana [HEART EYES EMOJI] The dream continues with @outdoorsy' Star: She's one of Hollywood's busiest actresses, with three films currently in production. Seen here with Charlize Theron in 2017's Atomic Blonde The French-Algerian beauty was definitely traveling in style with her digs provided by Outdoorsy, the largest and most trusted RV rental marketplace. Her 2500 series camper van was fully equipped with a queen size bed, sink, microwave, refrigerator and ventilation. The rig is also filled with high-end components - Insulated/magnetic blackout curtains, full laminate counter tops & vinly floors for easy cleaning, USB & outlets throughout, LED recessed lighting and a built in roof rack for the ultimate viewing deck. A queen size memory foam bed triples as a seating area and dining area. Outdoorsy is the new face of outdoor travel making the outdoors accessible to everyone by connecting a community of RV owners with renters. To die for: In other snaps she relaxed in a beautiful new 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, while gazing at the wild scenery outside Way to go: The French-Algerian beauty was definitely traveling in style with her digs provided by Outdoorsy Boutella will next be seen in the film Settlers, alongside Angelina Jolie's ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller. Following that is the film Prisoners of the Ghostland, starring Nicolas Cage, the Alpha Gang, with Jon Hamm and Mackenzie Davis. As well as being a model and actress, Sofia is also a noted dancer, having appeared in multiple Madonna music videos. In demand: Boutella will next be seen in the film Settlers, alongside Angelina Jolie's ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller But not quite. Biden tapped Harris because she was the least risky choice. In doing so, he may have written the script for his party for the next decade, though nothing is assured. Polls indicating that Trump trails Biden, er, Harris, may not be telling us much. Fence-sitters who watched the primary debates and came away disliking Harriss attack on Biden and recalling her attacks on Brett M. Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing may be more comfortable with a known quantity than with Harris, whose policies would offend anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders. A UK start-up offering cinema-quality short films on mobiles has signed deals with global telecoms giants to reach millions of new users. Discover.film, co-founded by media entrepreneur Sarah Jane Thomson, will be launched this week as an app on 100million Huawei handsets in 26 countries and on My5, the Channel 5 streaming service. It is also in talks with other mobile operators, and is set to announce a deal with Jio, India's biggest telecoms company, to go live on its set-top boxes and then its vast mobile network. Its catalogue of more than 10,000 films, typically three to 45 minutes long, includes The Karman Line starring Olivia Colman as a mother hit by a rare condition that sees her lift off the ground, and Inseparable, starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Breakthrough: The site hosts films like The Karman Line with Olivia Colman Thomson said: 'This is a big growth market, as millennials look for quality short-form content, evidenced by the growth of TikTok and YouTube.' Its big competitor is Hollywood start-up Quibi, founded by former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, which has raised $1.75billion to produce mini-shows for mobiles. Discover.film has investment of 1.5million to date from Thomson, her husband Steve, plus two wealthy investors. It licenses its content from film-makers, who receive a share of revenue from the films streamed through its app and online in 190 countries. It is funded by advertising and has also signed distribution deals with Eurostar and airlines. Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, has released a foreword to his new book in which he calls the US president "a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man", and again accuses him of cheating in the 2016 presidential election. Cohen also makes reference to "golden showers in a sex club in Vegas" without specifically stating that Mr Trump took part in such acts, and "catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump's clandestine lovers". "Apart from his wife and children, I knew Trump better than anyone else did," Cohen writes in the foreword to the book Disloyal, which has been teased online. "In some ways, I knew him better than even his family did because I bore witness to the real man, in strip clubs, shady business meetings, and in the unguarded moments when he revealed who he really was: a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man," he adds. While the book itself has not yet been released, the foreword contains several damning allegations against the president. Mr Cohen claims that his former boss "had colluded with the Russians, but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors. "Trump had cheated in the election, with Russian connivance, as you will discover in these pages, because doing anything - and I mean anything - to 'win' has always been his business model and way of life," he wrote. "Trump had also continued to pursue a major real estate deal in Moscow during the campaign. He attempted to insinuate himself into the world of President Vladimir Putin and his coterie of corrupt billionaire oligarchs. I know because I personally ran that deal and kept Trump and his children closely informed of all updates," he wrote. Cohen also references sex acts in the release but does not say whether Mr Trump took part. "From golden showers in a sex club in Vegas, to tax fraud, to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union, to catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump's clandestine lovers, I wasn't just a witness to the president's rise - I was an active and eager participant." Cohen, who previously described himself as Mr Trump's personal "fixer", was handed a three-year prison sentence for lying to Congress and campaign finance violations involving hush money to women who have claimed to have had affairs with the president. He was released from jail in May this year to serve the rest of his sentence at home as part of measures designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. He was briefly sent back to jail for allegedly violating the terms of his release by writing a tell-all book, before a judge ruled that was "retaliatory" and therefore illegal. Mr Trump's attorneys had tried to block the release of the book, claiming Cohen had signed a non-disclosure agreement that prohibited him from talking about his work with the now-president. Cohen describes in the foreword how he feared Mr Trump wanted him dead before he was going to testify before Congress after turning on his former boss. "The President of the United States wanted me dead. Or, let me say it the way Donald Trump would: He wouldn't mind if I was dead," Cohen writes at one point. At another point he claims that Mr Trump will not leave office "peaceably", a comment that will add to concerns the US president may not accept a narrow loss in November's election. Cohen describes how he began writing the book on yellow legal pads while in prison, getting up early to put down his recollections without being disturbed by other inmates. He writes: "I had to report to the sewage treatment plant where some of us worked for a wage of $8 a month. As the months passed by and I thought about the man I knew so well, I became even more convinced that Trump will never leave office peacefully. "The types of scandals that have surfaced in recent months will only continue to emerge with greater and greater levels of treachery and deceit. If Trump wins another four years, these scandals will prove to only be the tip of the iceberg." While he was behind bars, Cohen - while seeking home detention - wrote he was an "enabler" for the Trump Organisation, lured by its "magnetic, charismatic and powerful" figurehead. In a six-page sworn affirmation filed in a US District Court in December, Cohen said that everything he "thought was important and valuable has been painfully revealed as derived" from a "Faustian bargain" in which he cast the president as the Devil, to whom Cohen "sold his soul" and "foolishly frittered away his integrity" on behalf of the president. Alibaba, Xiaomi to join Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index FILE PHOTO: An Alibaba Cloud sign is seen at the Alibaba Group booth during the fourth World Internet Conference in Wuzhen HONG KONG (Reuters) - E-commerce conglomerate Alibaba <9988.HK> , handset maker Xiaomi <1810.HK> and WuXi Biologics <2269.HK> will enter the Hang Seng <.HSI> next month, broadening Hong Kong's traditionally financial services-dominated index. The change announced by the Hang Seng Indexes Company on Friday was made possible after the 50-year-old benchmark's publisher changed the rules on shareholder structure and secondary listings in May. China's largest financial hubs are revamping key indexes to give more weight to internet companies, which are increasingly important to its economy. Alibaba and Xiaomi, along with delivery platform Meituan Dianping <3690.HK>, will also join the 'H-share' Hang Seng China Enterprises Index <.HSCE>, which represents Chinese companies listed in the city. Changes to both indexes are effective September 7. About $19.7 billion of assets under management in exchange-traded products were linked to the Hang Seng Index with another $5.4 billion tied to the H-share index as of July, the index provider said. The Hang Seng Index will drop Sino Land <0083.HK>, Want Want China <0151.HK> and China Shenhua Energy <1088.HK>, while Sinopharm <1099.HK>, BYD <1211.HK> and Citic Securities <6030.HK> will leave the H-share index. (Reporting by Twinnie Siu; writing by Noah Sin; Editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith) Hospitals in Madagascar have been struggling to cope with a surge of Covid-19 cases, while the president has been promoting an unproven product he says can cure the disease despite the World Health Organization (WHO) warning against using untested remedies. Cases have quadrupled in the past month in the Indian Ocean island, with more than 13,000 infections and 162 deaths from coronavirus, which has spread to all but one of its 22 regions. Despite the spike, President Andry Rajoelina stands by the herbal concoction called Covid-Organics, which was launched to great fanfare in April. It is produced by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research from the artemisia plant - the source of an ingredient used in a malaria treatment - and other Malagasy plants. The drink has been marketed as a prevention and remedy - and for the last four months been offered to children at school. Earlier in the month the president was out again distributing the tonic, along with essentials such as rice, oil, sugar, to poor communities in the capital, Antananarivo. He faced criticism for drawing crowds during a lockdown, but his attitude remained upbeat: "The epidemic won't last, it's only passing through and we will defeat it." He also suggested that the number of infected people was not high in suburbs of the capital where the free distribution of the drink had started a few months ago. The WHO says it welcomes innovations based on traditional remedies but it wants scientific evidence before backing their use. So far no results of clinical trials have been made public - though that has not stopped stop the tonic from becoming a source of African pride for some. Free shipments have been sent to dozens of African countries. The government has sought to counter growing scepticism about it at home and abroad. "Just because we have condoms, does that mean we shouldn't be careful about Aids or that Aids is over? It's the same thing," says the president's communications director Rinah Rakotomanga. "The majority of people who used the product and don't have a chronic illness recovered completely, we are proud to have this remedy against the disease. It's in our culture as Malagasy people to use decoctions like this as long as it's working, we don't need clinical trials." However, most people with coronavirus will start to recover quickly after a few days' rest. It is chiefly - though not exclusively - those with underlying health conditions that are most at risk of developing severe symptoms. But the health ministry has been much more cautious in its approach - advising hospitals that Covid-Organics only be administered to patients with mild symptoms who do not have other illnesses such as diabetes. Consent from those being treated is also needed, its advice protocol says. Hospitals under pressure Despite the president's optimism, coronavirus deaths are reported daily. Last month, Health Minister Ahmad Ahmad appealed for international help to get equipment as he expressed his concern about the rapidly filling hospitals - for which he was rebuked by the presidency. The defence ministry then issued a call to find volunteer doctors and nurses to support the staff at a treatment centre set up at the Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo. It was opened at the beginning of August and dozens of patients have already been received. One of the hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of patients is Antananarivo's University Health Centre of Andohatapenaka - it only takes serious coronavirus cases, especially those patients who are also suffering from other conditions. According to hospital director Raveloson Nasolotsiry, there are between 50 and 56 beds constantly occupied. As soon as patients start getting better, they are transferred to other treatment centres to make space for new arrivals. He expects severe cases to keeping arriving as it is winter in the central highlands. "Patients with a serious form of the disease are already vulnerable and sensitive to seasonal variations," he said. They might also mistake their symptoms for flu and not see a doctor right away to check if they are infected with Covid-19, he warns. Not enough protective gear Health workers on the frontline also feel vulnerable, including those at the country's main hospital. "We have been completely exposed," Sitraka Randrianasolo, a 27-year-old intern at the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Hospital in the capital, where several medics have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent weeks. "There was a patient who came to the emergency service and died 24 hours later. Turns out he had Covid-19. "I treated him without proper protective gear. I only had a cloth mask that I brought from home. I took the test later, and thankfully I wasn't infected." He says the issue has since improved after a private company donated protective masks and gloves to the facility. The government has been trying to send equipment to hospitals in different regions. But for Jerisoa Ralibera, president of the paramedics' union SISFM, the government's efforts are too little, too late. "The state is doing better now regarding protective equipment but it's not enough to stem the epidemic, health workers keep using the same protective gear meant for single use only, especially gowns and suits, and there aren't enough drugs," he said. Lockdown lifted despite fears According to SISFM, dozens of health staff have been infected with Covid-19. These fears have not been eased by the government's lifting of a five-week lockdown in the region of Analamanga, where the capital is located. President Rajoelina said in a televised speech that it was economically unbearable for the Malagasy people to continue with the restrictions. He said a "stabilisation phase" had been reached and in the last two days new cases have been lower in the capital. But the Analamanga region remains the epicentre of the epidemic - and the disease is continuing to spread in other regions of the island. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bill Gates, the founder of software giant Microsoft, always advocates that science and technology should lead the way in changing the world, and thats where most of humanitys focus should be right now. The scientific approach towards many of the worlds problems and challenges will inevitably lead to better solutions instead of politicizing everything and putting profits and money before the environment and humanity. Bill Gates has been involved in many causes for humanity, and despite what many skeptics say, he has done some tremendous good in the world. His initiatives are about dealing with issues like diseases, overpopulation, scarcity of resources, education, and the environment. Climate change: A more significant threat than COVID-19 Bill Gates urged the government to take climate change seriously and develop the same sense of urgency it did for COVID-19. Climate change is a big wheel turning and slowly gaining traction. Still, many of the governments, even the U.S., which is one of the largest contributors to global warming, typically tries to circumvent the issue. Its one of the things that Gates condemns and believes that the governments most responsible for this mess should be the ones working on it. According to an estimate quoted by Gates, COVID-19s mortality rate falls somewhere around 14 deaths per 100,000. Climate changes impact, if it continues to worsen at the same rate, will be 73 deaths per 100,000 by the end of the century. This makes it five times as deadly as the current pandemic. Bill Gates believes that we should use what weve learned about responding to global emergencies and apply it to climate change. Otherwise, climate change will decimate more than humanitys chances of survival; it will deal a much harder blow to the economy. In 20 years, economic damage from climate change will be like having a COVID-19 pandemic every decade. Green stocks If you agree with Bill Gates and understand the danger of climate change and you want your investments to reflect your belief in the protection of the environment, you may want to invest in one of Canadas green companies organizations focused on the environment and spreading awareness about it. Loblaw Companies (TSX:L) is in the list of Canadas greenest employers in 2020, and its a healthy green stock you may need for your portfolio. Story continues Loblaw is an eight-year-old Aristocrat, with a very modest yield of 1.8%. Its a $24.8 billion market cap company and a food and pharmacy leader in the country. The company is divided into five different divisions: 475 stores under Market division, 507 stores under its Discount division, and 1,300 healthcare retail outlets under the Shoppers Drugs Mart division. It also has three major brands, including the famous (ironically) no-name brand. The stock is currently trading at $69.5 per share, and even though it has recovered from its crash, its currently trading at a price-to-earnings of 14.9 and price to book of 2.3, so its not very overvalued. Apart from increasing its dividends every year, the company also offers decent capital growth. Its three-year CAGR is 10.3%. Foolish takeaway Canada ranks 20th in the greenest countries in the world. But that doesnt mean that Canadians cant or shouldnt do anything about climate change. You might not have to do a lot, just making some small changes in your lifestyle, investing in and buying from green businesses, and preferring eco-friendly products can go a long way. Because when climate change truly hits, a ruined economy might be one of the lesser of our problems. The post Bill Gates: This Other Crisis Could Cause a Bigger Market Crash Than COVID-19 appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Fool contributor Adam Othman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Microsoft and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $85 calls on Microsoft and short January 2021 $115 calls on Microsoft. 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 Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/15/2020 -- While performance issues are a huge concern among QuickBooks users, so is the inability to determine the cause. As the size of a file and the number of users grow, it is inevitable to increase the functionality on the server used to host multi-user access to the file. Experts believe that apart from merging files, enhancing your computer would be another fix to slow responding files. It may be necessary to increase RAM to a higher capacity on the server computer if it currently hosts less than 4GB. A slow running QuickBooks file could be due to multiple users accessing one module at the same time as well as the size of the data file John Rocha of E-Tech advised creating backups of a file which helps with minimizing general performance issues that can happen when the transaction log file gets too large. Files over 300 MB can begin to slow a user down. One can find out about their QuickBooks version or about the size of a company file by pressing F2. "This is particularly useful when trying to find out how large the data file is, how many transactions are in the file, or what release level of QuickBooks is being used," Rocha said. While there are no actual hard limits for the company file, performance may be impacted if the file is over 500mb for QuickBooks Pro/Premier and 1.5GB for QuickBooks Enterprise, more than 7 years' worth of transactions, or are exceeding any of the list limits. QuickBooks data files larger than 500MB need to be optimized every 6-12 months to ensure they run at top performance. There is no internal functionality in QuickBooks to optimize the data file other than running a condense. The optimize operation will copy all data into a new data file, remove unwanted temporary data, and audit trail data to bring down file size by 25-40%. This will improve the performance and stability of the data file. E-Tech's exclusive File Optimization Service optimizes the size and performance of your QuickBooks data file, whereby the size of the data file is reduced by up to 50 percent by copying all data into a new data file, removing temporary data and re-indexing the file. To learn more about this service, visit https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-file-data-services/quickbooks-file-optimization-service/ About E-Tech E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms. For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca. To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/ President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook raise their hands during a formal chant celebrating Korean independence from Japanese occupation along with other participants of at a National Liberation Day commemoration event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul's Jung-gu District, Saturday. Yonhap President Moon Jae-in said Saturday his government was is ready to sit down with Japan at any time to resolve a longstanding dispute over the compensation of Korean victims of forced labor for Japanese companies during before and World War II. "The government has consulted with Japan on a smooth resolution, which the victims can agree upon, and is leaving the door for further consultations wide open," he said during a nationally televised Liberation Day speech. "Our government is ready to sit down face to face with the Japanese government at any time." Tokyo has argued that all reparation-related issues were settled in a 1965 bilateral treaty. In October 2018, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that the individual rights to compensation remain valid despite the state-to-state deal. During a national ceremony at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, Moon said his government respects the judiciary's view and will "endeavor together with Japan to keep the universal values of mankind and the principles of international law." He said, "I believe that joint efforts by Japan and South Korea to respect an individual's human rights will become a bridge of friendship and future cooperation between the two countries." Moon also made peace overtures toward North Korea, saying, "True liberation is when the dreams and lives of each person are guaranteed in a peaceful and safe, unified Korean Peninsula." He stressed the need to protect the "life and safety" of all people on the peninsula. "I hope that (the two Koreas) will cooperate more closely in the new security situation of a COVID-19 world " to realize a community of "peace, economy and life," he added. (Yonhap) The Pentagon in April officially released three videos taken by US Navy pilots showing mid-air encounters with what appear to be UFOs The Pentagon said Friday it was setting up a new task force under the US Navy to investigate UFO sightings. With the creation of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), the Defense Department hopes "to improve its understanding of, and gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAPs," spokeswoman Susan Gough said in a statement. Rather than little green alien invaders, the US military is actually concerned about "unidentified aerial phenomena" connected with its terrestrial adversaries. Washington is particularly concerned about China's spying capabilities, using drones or other airborne means. "The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to US national security," Gough said. The Pentagon take "any incursions by unauthorized aircraft into our training ranges or designated airspace very seriously and examine each report," she said. "This includes examinations of incursions that are initially reported as UAP when the observer cannot immediately identify what he or she is observing." Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist approved the establishment of the new task force on August 4. The US Senate intelligence committee in June said it wanted to regulate a Pentagon UFO program, confirming the existence of an informal working group which was revealed by the New York Times in 2017. In December 2017, the Pentagon acknowledged funding the secret multi-million-dollar program to investigate sightings of UFOs, although it said it had ended in 2012. The announcement of a new task force comes after the Pentagon in April officially released three videos taken by US Navy pilots showing mid-air encounters with what appear to be UFOs. The grainy black and white footage had previously been leaked and the Navy had acknowledged they were Navy videos. One of the videos was shot in November 2004 and the other two in January 2015. Story continues In one, the weapons-sensor operator appears to lose lock on a rapidly moving oblong object which seconds later suddenly accelerates away to the left and out of view. In another video tracking an object above the clouds, one pilot wonders if it is a drone. sl/mtp/kaf Advertisement Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall yesterday led the nation as it marked the 75th anniversary of VJ Day when the Second World War ended with victory over Japan. As veterans in their 90s looked on, the Royal couple laid poppy posies and wreathes at the Kwai Railway Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, before a two-minute silence was held in honour of those who died in the conflict. The Prince of Wales wore 13 medals including the Canadian Forces Decoration, awarded in 1991 in recognition of his 32 years of honorary service as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was also wearing the Queen's Service Order, instituted in 1975 on the advice of the Queen's New Zealand ministers, the Coronation Medal, awarded to mark the 1953 coronation, and the Silver Jubilee Medal - awarded to Charles in 1977 to mark his mother's 25-year reign. Other medals included the stags head Gordon Highlanders badge, awarded to the Prince after he became Colonel in Chief of the regiment in 1977, and the circular New Zealand Armed Forces Award. To mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, the heir to the throne wore (1) the Queen's Service Order, New Zealand, Extra Companion, (2) the Coronation Medal, (3) the Silver Jubilee Medal (4) the Golden Jubilee Medal, (5) the Diamond Jubilee Medal, (6) the Long Service Good Conduct Medal, (7) the Canadian Forces Decoration, (8) the New Zealand Commemorative Medal, (9) the New Zealand Armed Forces Medal, (10) the Commonwealth Order of Merit, (11) the Gordon Highlanders badge, (12) the UK Armed Forces Veterans badge, and (13) the Honorary Member of the Burma Star Association Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall yesterday led the nation as it marked the 75th anniversary of VJ Day when the Second World War ended with victory over Japan Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets veterans following a national service of remembrance marking the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day at The National Memorial Arboretum on August 15, 2020 in Alrewas, Staffordshire It is an unforgettable piece of headwear and the Duchess of Cornwall proved it yesterday when she wore the dramatic Philip Treacy hat for the 11th time. She teamed the custom-made hat, which features an ostrich feather wrapped around the brim, with a cream silk printed dress and cream coat with braided trim for her appearance at yesterdays VJ Day remembrance ceremony The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, a Second World War veteran who was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945, sent a message of grateful thanks to all those who fought so valiantly for the Allied nations. We've seen that look before Camilla! It is an unforgettable piece of headwear and the Duchess of Cornwall proved it yesterday when she wore the dramatic Philip Treacy hat for the 11th time. She teamed the custom-made hat, which features an ostrich feather wrapped around the brim, with a cream silk printed dress and cream coat with braided trim for her appearance at yesterdays VJ Day remembrance ceremony. Royal watchers could be forgiven for doing a double-take as she wore the same outfit (save for a brooch) to honour recipients of the Victoria and George Cross in May 2018. The dress and coat are by Fiona Clare, one of her favourite designers, and the shoes are by Sole Bliss. The Duchess first wore the hat 14 years ago for a Garter Day service and it has proved a firm favourite since. Two years ago, she picked it for a service at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London for the Victoria and George Cross Association, of which Prince Charles is patron. Advertisement Earlier, Boris Johnson greeted veterans and joined them in watching the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast. Charles spoke of the dangers of jungle warfare and the loss of Allied prisoners of war in the AsiaPacific campaign. All too often, those who fought in the Far East have been labelled the forgotten army in the forgotten war, he said. Many of the soldiers, nurses and other personnel felt anger and disappointment at how they were treated when they finally returned home from a war which, from the publics point of view, had ended on the May 8, 1945. Let us affirm that they and the surviving veterans are not forgotten. Rather, you are respected, thanked and cherished with all our hearts, and for all time. We salute all those who remain among us, and offer our most heartfelt and undying gratitude for those who are gone before. Your service and your sacrifice will echo through the ages. There were an estimated 71,000 British and Commonwealth casualties in the war against Japan, including more than 12,000 prisoners of war who died in captivity. In an address broadcast last night, the Duke of Cambridge said: Like many of you, I am hugely proud of the wartime generation. My grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, fought in the Far East. His ship, HMS Whelp, was present in Tokyo Bay as the surrender was signed. He remembers vividly his role in collecting released prisoners of war, a sign as sure as any to him that the war was finally over. Among the veterans who met Charles and Camilla was Edward Woodward, a 97-year-old who served in Burma, India and Malaya with the Royal Corps of Signals. He sparked laughter when he asked the couple to guess what was the most sought-after item in their air-dropped rations. Toilet paper, the former electrician from Kings Norton, Birmingham, told them. Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber fly over the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire Images projected onto Horse Guards as part of VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute, a special programme filmed by BBC Studios at Horse Guards Parade, in London, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, August 15, 2020 'We are forever grateful': Prince William addresses Britain in TV tribute honouring veterans on VJ Day 75 years after his great grandfather King George VI gave a speech marking the end of the Second World War By Ross Ibbeston for MailOnline Prince William tonight addressed the nation to honour veterans on VJ Day, 75 years after his great grandfather gave a speech on the end of the Second World War. The Duke of Cambridge described how King George VI's announcement on August 15, 1945, marked the end of 'the most catastrophic conflict in mankind's history.' Thousands watched George VI and the Queen drive down The Mall in an open carriage, as they celebrated the end of the war following Imperial Japan's surrender. Speaking on BBC One, William said: 'As he marked the moment the world had long prayed for, King George expressed his pride in the international effort from across the Commonwealth and allied nations which secured success in the Asia-Pacific region. 'We are forever grateful to all those who fought alongside us. 'It is hard for us to imagine what Victory over Japan Day must have felt like at the time; a mix of happiness, jubilation, and sheer relief, together with a deep sadness and overwhelming sense of loss for those who would never return home. 'Today we remember those who endured terrible suffering and honour all those who lost their lives.' From left to right, Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, and Princess Margaret Rose wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace August 15, 1945 on VJ Day in London, England The Duke showed his gratitude to the wartime generation, which includes his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who fought in the Far East and was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender on the USS Missouri. 'He remembers vividly his role in collecting released prisoners of war, a sign, as sure as any to him, that the war was finally over,' William said. He recited the words of the Kohima Epitaph, carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery of Kohima, northeast India, which reads 'When you go home, tell them of us and say. 'For your tomorrow, we gave our today.' He continued: 'As we look back, we must not forget our responsibility to learn the lessons of the past and ensure that the horrors of the Second World War are never repeated. 'We owe that to our veterans, to their families, and to the generations who will come after us. 'As we mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, to each and every one of you who contributed to the effort, I say, thank you, our country owes you a debt of gratitude. 'Your bravery, and the sacrifices you made, will never be forgotten.' The address was recorded earlier in the month at The Guards Memorial, opposite Horse Guards Parade, in London. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows performing a fly-past over the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas Prime Minister Boris Johnson (2nd L) shares a joke with veteran Bill Redston after a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) perform a flypast at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations over the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day on August 15, 2020 in Alrewas, Staffordshire Earlier on Saturday, a televised remembrance service took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, where a two-minute silence was led by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at 11am. Prime Minister Boris Johnson read the Exhortation before the silence, which was followed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast over the arboretum. About 40 veterans attended the ceremony of remembrance, sharing their stories with one another and with Charles and Camilla. Edward Woodward, 97, who served in Burma, India and Malaya with the Royal Corps of Signals, caused mirth after asking the royal couple to guess what was the most sought-after item in their air-dropped rations. 'Toilet paper,' he told them. After meeting the couple, the former electrician from Kings Norton, Birmingham, said: 'That had them laughing.' Charles and Camilla laid poppy posies and wreaths at the Kwai Railway Memorial, while veterans looked on from benches dotted around the memorial, to maintain social distancing. In a speech dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Allied and Commonwealth personnel who fought and died in the campaign, Charles said: 'All too often those who served in the Far East have been labelled The Forgotten Army, in a forgotten war. 'We salute all those who remain among us and offer our most heartfelt and undying gratitude to all those that have gone before. Prince of Wales lays a wreath during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire 'Your service and your sacrifice will echo through the ages.' The Covid-19 pandemic has meant tributes to mark the landmark anniversary have been organised online and on television, including a video published online of the Prince of Wales reading an extract from the diary of his grandfather, King George VI, written on August 15 1945. He reads: 'By 10am there were already large crowds outside Buckingham Palace and we drove in procession in a state landau with an escort to Westminster where I opened the first peacetime Parliament since 1938. 'The crown was carried in the full procession but no robes were worn. My speech took 16 minutes to read, in which I mentioned the surrender of Japan.' In a separate video, the Duke of Gloucester reads an extract from the speech delivered by King George VI on VJ Day, which formed part of an online service of commemoration from Leicester Cathedral. In a special message, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh - who himself was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender aboard USS Missouri on August 15, 1945 - gave 'grateful thanks' to all those who fought for the Allied nations. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) elbow bumps a veteran after a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. In a statement, the Queen said: 'Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today.' The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, featured alongside other veterans on a number of large screens across the UK, including the Piccadilly Curve, in a photo-montage showing veterans today and when they served. The RAF's Red Arrows had planned a UK-wide tour with flypasts over the four nation's capital cities throughout Saturday. However, the flypasts over London, Edinburgh and Cardiff were cancelled due to poor weather, the Ministry of Defence said. The Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft landed to greet three Second World War veterans, and the scheduled flight over Belfast city centre took place at 2pm. Small poignant ceremonies took place across London to begin the day, including a piper playing Battle's Over at the Imperial War Museum's HMS Belfast in London at sunrise, as part of a tribute entitled Waking Up To Peace. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was joined by military chiefs as he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, London. In a letter addressed to the veterans of the Far East Campaign, Mr Johnson showed his gratitude to the 50,000 British and Commonwealth service personnel who laid down their lives in the war against Japan, half of whom died in prison camps. Presenter: The commemorative programme was hosted by Joanna Lumley, who led viewers who a host of tributes from former servicemen and celebrities Emotional: Tributes: Moments before wowing audiences with a collection of Vera's wartime classics, including iconic track We'll Meet Again, Sheridan was seen wiping away tears as she listened to tributes from war veterans The BBC's special commemorative programme tonight was filmed at Horse Guards Parade in central London Wow: Nicola Roberts, 34, showcased her powerful vocals on the night, as she sang The Captive's Hymn He writes: 'You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today.' He joined nine other global figures including US president Donald Trump, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari and Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau in a video message thanking those who served. In the Friendship of Nations video released ahead of commemorations, each leader said in turn: 'To all who served, we thank you.' In a video message, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'On behalf of the Labour Party I want to pay tribute to the wartime generation, who through the horrors of conflict showed us the spirit and determination that we need to always remember and always be grateful for. 'It's important that as we face the challenges of today, we take inspiration from that generation. 'Through their community spirit and their bravery and their determination for a better world they've shown us what we can achieve when we pull together.' Russia's health ministry has announced that it has started manufacturing its indigenous 'Sputnik V' vaccine, which the country claims as to the world's first COVID-19 vaccine. 'Sputnik V' was named after the launch of a Soviet satellite in 1957, which opened space to exploration by humankind. Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, will be rolled out by August-end, reported news agency Interfax on Saturday, August 15. The country plans to ramp up the vaccine production to 200 million doses by the end of 2020. Russia's health ministry has given regulatory approval for the vaccine developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, after less than two months of testing on humans, said President Vladimir Putin said after announcing its launch on August 11. Some scientists say they fear Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety. Alexander Gintsburg, Director, Gamaleya National Research Centre, while launching the vaccine, stated that the coronavirus particles used in the vaccine cannot harm the body as it uses inanimate particles created on the basis of adenovirus. "The particles and objects that can reproduce their own kind are the ones that are considered alive. The particles in question cannot multiply," Gintsburg said. The technology is a vector vaccine based on the DNA of a SARS-CoV-2 type adenovirus. In Russia's COVID-19 vaccine the genetic material from the coronavirus has been embedded into the carrier virus to deliver small parts of the pathogen into a human to stimulate an immune response. Gintsburg added that some people might experience fever but that can be dealt with by taking paracetamol. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also responded to the country's claim and said that a rigorous review of the vaccine's data needs to be submitted if Russia wants the WHO's stamp of approval. Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesperson for WHO, said, "Pre-qualification of any vaccine includes the rigorous review and assessment of all the required safety and efficacy data." "We are in close contact with the Russian health authorities and discussions are ongoing with respect to possible WHO pre-qualification of the vaccine," he added. One of the Health Minister's deputies said the production of Russian COVID-19 vaccine will start in October. The Russian Defence Ministry said that military volunteers completed the Phase 2 trials in July. The Russian government stated that Russia Development Investment Fund (RDIF) finances the production of the Sputnik V based on production capacities of its portfolio companies - R-Pharm and Binnopharm. The statement said, "The RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund) seen strong global interest in the vaccine and plans to conduct Phase 3 clinical trials in different countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brazil, India and Philippines, and start mass production in other countries in partnership with local sovereign wealth funds, including India, South Korea and Brazil, as well as, in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Cuba." (With agency inputs) Also Read: Independence Day 2020 PM Modi speech: Key highlights Also Read: Gold prices may hit Rs 65,000 level by Diwali; silver likely to touch Rs 90,000-mark Also Read: Jio-RCom spectrum sharing deal not linked with AGR liability, says report - Bishop David Kodia said the daily updates were causing trauma and anxiety among the public regarding the viral infection - The man of God urged the government to consider giving weekly or monthly periodic updates with detailed information - Kodia claimed majority Kenyans had already known existence of the disease despite spike in numbers The government has been urged to stop the daily coronavirus briefs but instead focus on periodic updates with detailed data on the disease transmission and infection. Bondo Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop professor David Kodia said the daily update was causing more hard than good as responsible for trauma and anxiety among the public. READ ALSO: Senior DCI officer dies after car is swept by floods in Kericho Health CS Mutahi Kagwe during a past COVID-19 briefing. Kenya has been giving daily updates since first case was reported on March 13. Photo: TUKO.co.ke. Source: Original READ ALSO: Barcelona defender Gerard Pique offers to leave Barcelona after humbling 8-2 defeat against Bayern The man of God noted despite the daily pronouncements, Kenya was still recording significant increase in the coronavirus cases indicating there was more to be done. It is now time that the Ministry of Health goes slow on the daily COVID-19 updates, the updates do not serve any purpose besides increasing anxiety among Kenyans. Even with the daily updates, we continue to register a rise in cases, he said. READ ALSO: Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala denies his accounts have been frozen Bondo ACK bishop Kodia after the 8th Diocesan Synod meeting at Bondo church which he chaired. Photo: Kenya News Agency. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Larry Madowo funnily complains of hotel room neighbours having loud entanglement session at 2am Speaking after chairing the 8th Diocesan Synod meeting at Bondo church, Kodia claimed majority Kenyans had already known existence of the disease. Kenyans already know about the disease and the measures on how to contain it. The Ministry of Health should stagger their announcements so that whatever they announce after a fortnight or a month is more informative to the public, he added. According to the preacher, there was urgent need to shun cultural and social practices such as eating at funerals if Kenya was to win the war against the contagious disease. "The virus is here with us and we are experiencing community transmission. If we continue to embrace the culture of eating at funerals and socializing normally we will lose the fight against the pandemic, the bishop warned. The Ministry of Health has been holding daily briefings on coronavirus in Kenya since the country recorded its first case on March 13. On Friday, August 15, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi confirmed the total cases in the country jumped to to 29,334 after 580 more tested positive. The rise was as a result 580 out 5,468 samples that showed traces of the viral infection following tests conducted in various laboratories in the last 24 hours. Mwangangi confirmed 530 out of the new infections were Kenyans while the rest were foreign nationals that included 336 males and 244 females. On the other hand, Kenya registered 198 recoveries over the same period, 119 from home -based care and 79 from hospitals bringing total discharges to 16,298. There were 465 COVID-19 deaths as on August 14. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. My husband's family took everything from me after he died and called my children garbage | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Evan Vucci, STF / Associated Press President Donald Trump tweeted that he directed the U.S. Treasury Department to prepare direct economic relief payments to Americans - and blamed House Democrats for not budging on the details of the next economic stimulus package. The tweets come as Congress recessed without making any headway on the next round of COVID-19 economic relief, which would have likely included additional direct payments to Americans. Two men who were convicted of killing two young British tourists on a Thai holiday island have had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment by Thailands king. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, two migrant workers from Myanmar, were among the convicts whose sentences were reduced under a clemency decree issued by King Maha Vajiralongkorn to mark his 68th birthday on 28 July, according to the mens lawyer. The decree, which appeared to cover thousands of prisoners, took effect on Friday with its publication in the country's Royal Gazette. Lin and Phyo have denied killing David Miller, a 24-year-old from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, a 23-year-old from Norfolk, in 2014 after the battered bodies of the British tourists were found on a beach on the popular tourist island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. The 2014 killings caused extensive controversy in Thailand due to allegations that police mishandled evidence and beat the suspects into making confessions. Recommended Thailand quietly drops charges against Red Bull heir A well-known Thai forensics expert testified that DNA evidence which was central in the prosecution case did not link the two men to the scene, while Human Rights Watch called the guilty verdict profoundly disturbing. There were suspicions that the men had been scapegoated as police were under pressure to solve the case due to its potential adverse effect on Thailand's tourism industry. I cant find words to express how thankful we are, Ye Zaw Tun, a brother of Phyo (who is also called Win Zaw Tun), told AFP on Saturday. We knew this case was totally unfair, and we sometimes feel bitterness, but we want to say thanks for the royal pardon. A commutation had become the two mens last hope following a ruling by Thailand's Supreme Court in August last year which upheld their murder convictions and sentences. The court dismissed allegations of physical mistreatment and mishandling of forensic evidence in the case, arguing that the forensic work had been handled by respectable institutions and there had been no proof of torture. Additional reporting by AP Migrant workers await repatriation, wealthy expats charter flights to return By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): Hundreds of higher income bracket Sri Lankan expatriates have recently started escaping their pandemic-hit destinations abroad by chartering aircraft from SriLankan and other companies to return home. These trips are tailored as packages comprising paid PCR, transport and hotel quarantine. They are groups of people who get together and contact an airline directly to charter a flight, an authoritative official source said. This practice appears to have started during the suspension of repatriation when anxious professionals linked up and contacted airlines. The larger number of passengers newly arriving or due to return are not blue collar or domestic workers, the most helpless category in West Asia. Many flights, even of SriLankan Airlines, are charters hired with Government approval by groups of expatriates with higher incomes, schedules seen by the Sunday Time show. Separately, two foreign airlines have been cleared by the Government to operate certain commercial repatriation flights between West Asia and Sri Lanka despite SriLankan Airlines frequently making wide-body cargo trips to the same destinations and flying empty both ways. Qatar Airways and Emirates have both brought paying passengers and are also set to do so in future. SriLankan Airlines, however, often deploys its A330 airplaneswhich seat 269 in Economyto carry cargo to and from West Asian destinations but makes the journeys largely passenger-free both ways. SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage said the decision to let Emirates and Qatar Airways operate repatriation flights was not made by his company. However, the national carrier has also made multiple such trips and is willing to fly anywhere as it has both the manpower and the aircraft. The national carrier uses its wide-body airplanes for cargo trips because of their large freight capacity, Mr Pathirage said. But none of these flights was operated at a loss. We covered our cost, he maintained, adding that the decision whether or not to bring back passengers on those flights was the Governments prerogative based on available quarantine facilities, etc. The Government has granted around 98 percent of repatriation flights to SriLankan because its the national carrier and we want them to survive, said Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations. He was this week appointed Secretary to the Ministry of External Relations. But there are other airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Korean Air which make requests through their governments to operate some repatriation flights to Sri Lanka. Emirates has already done three such trips (and will do more in future) while Qatar has done one. An advantage is that their aircraft are much bigger. With SriLankan, the maximum carrying capacity is 290 whereas Emirates can bring 420, Admiral Colombage said. When the demand is high for a large number of people to be repatriated, we prefer to have bigger aircraft. The receiving mechanism at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was strict and cumbersome with handlers in ebola kits. It is not easy for a person to wear that for a long time, he continued. Whether its 50 people or 300 people, the effort is the same. So we like to bring bigger crowds. SriLankan now operates cargo flights to about 18 destinations. We cannot bring people on every flight because we have a limitation of quarantine centres, Admiral Colombage explained. When there was the Kandakadu spike, we needed a large number of quarantine spaces so we had to limit bringing in people at that time. At present, the Government can only allow one repatriation flight per day. The charter option was given because the passengers were willing to pay for all services. People made requests saying they do not want to burden the Government and can pay for everything, he said. We like to encourage that and are now doing both types of repatriations in parallel. Between August 8 and 23, there are more than 15 charters, predominantly SriLankan, a few Emirates and Qatar Airways as well as some private airlines. They mostly land at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) from where the arrivals are taken to their designated hotels. These flights have come from India, the United Arab Emirates, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, the Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and the United States. A lot of housemaids and drivers desperate to come back cannot afford to use this option, should it even be open to them, the source earlier quoted said. When you buy the ticket, you also pay for the hotel and PCR. Normal repatriation flights where you go into free Government-run quarantine centres are still less frequent. The main excuse for not allowing an exodus of migrant workers was that Sri Lanka has limited quarantine space and testing capacity. However, China and India have both offered to help with tent-style quarantine facilities and doctors. But domestic policy has resolutely been to manage with local resources. Repatriation was suspended on July 14 after the Kandakadu cluster (which did not start with a returning migrant) emerged. It was again stopped briefly in view of the August 5 parliamentary election but started shortly afterwards. On August 6 and 7, two Emirates flights ferried nearly 600 migrant workers that the Emiratis had asked Colombo to take back as their visas had expired. This was a government-to-government arrangement with the West Asian State also agreeing to facilitate passage with discounted tickets. Separately, the Sri Lankan Government has organised around 10 flights on SriLankan Airlines for migrants from Japan, Singapore, Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Chennai in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Cyprus and Bahrain (up to August 23). The situation of migrant workers in West Asia is now more serious, sources in those countries said. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment yesterday said the current official figure for COVID-19 related deaths of Sri Lankans abroad is 47. The Government was bringing as many as we can, the Admiral said. Priority is being given after August 8 to the Maldives and West Asian nations like Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and also Israel. Around 40 percent of Sri Lankans are illegal, on expired visas or work permits. Ministerial jobs: The chosen, the sidelined and the short-changed By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s): In an event rich in religious and cultural symbolism, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa swore in a mix of old and new faces on Wednesday as his Cabinet and State Ministers to take forward his vision of Saubhagyaye DekmaVistas of Prosperity and Splendourfor Sri Lanka. The 25-member Cabinet and 39-strong group of State Ministers took their oaths in the historic Magul Maduwa (Audience Hall) located in the premises of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. After invoking the blessings of the Maha Sangha led by the Anu Nayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters, the new ministers took their oaths before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The table where they took oaths and signed their appointment letters was richly decorated with a bevy of lotus budsthe symbol of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa took oaths as the minister of three portfolios (1) Finance, (2) Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and (3) Urban Development and Housing. His brother Chamal was sworn in as the Cabinet Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management. Meanwhile, Namal Rajapaksa also made it into the Cabinet for the first time, taking oaths as the new Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Another new face in the Cabinet was Presidents Counsel Ali Sabry, who took oaths as the new Minister of Justice. Udaya Gammanpila was the third first-time entrant into the ranks of a Cabinet Minister, taking oaths as the Minister of Energy. Mr Sabry was one of two SLPP national list MPs to get Cabinet ministerial portfolios, the other being SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris, who was sworn in as Education Minister. Some Ministers who served in the caretaker Cabinet after Novembers Presidential election retained their portfolios. These include Prasanna Ranatunga (Tourism), Pavithra Wanniarachchi (Health), Dinesh Gunawardena (Foreign Relations), Douglas Devananda (Fisheries) and Janaka Bandara Thennakoon (Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government). The largest number of Cabinet posts went to the Colombo district, with five MPs from the district appointed to the Cabinet. They are: Dinesh Gunawardena, Gamini Lokuge, Bandula Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila. Aside from Chamal and Namal Rajapaksa, Hambantota district had another Minister in the Cabinet in Mahinda Amaraweera, who was appointed the new Minister of Environment. The Kurunegala, Ratnapura and Kandy districts had two Cabinet appointees each. There were five first-time MPs among the 39 State Ministers who took oaths. They are Dr Nalaka Godahewa (Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation), Dr Seetha Arambepola (Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation), Prof. Channa Jayasumana (Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation), Sarath Weerasekara (Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs) and Jeewan Thondaman (Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure Facilities). Chamal Rajapaksas son Shasheendra Rajapaksa was the other member of the Rajapaksa family to take oaths as a Minister. He was appointed as the State Minister of Paddy and Cereals, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chilies, Onions and Potatoes, Seed Production and High Tech Agriculture. Only one MP from Gampaha (Prasanna Ranatunga) was appointed as a Cabinet Minister. When it came to State Ministers, however, the district counts seven the highest number of State Ministers by some distance. Rather more surprising than some of the picks for Cabinet and State ministerial posts were the names of those who had been left out. Former President Maithripala Sirisena was chief among them. He topped the preference list in the Polonnaruwa district, but did not take oaths as a minister. Former Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena too was not sworn in as a Minister. He is tipped to be elected the new Speaker when the Ninth Parliament convenes for its inaugural session on August 20. Several other senior figures who had held Cabinet portfolios in previous governments also did not get any positions on Wednesday. They include Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Dilan Perera, Chandima Weerakkody, Susil Premajayantha, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Mahinda Samarasinghe and John Seneviratne. Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake also did not get a Cabinet or State Ministerial post, though he was appointed as Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya District Coordinating Committeeone of 23 such appointments made by President Rajapaksa on Wednesday. Only two members of former President Sirisenas Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which is now allied with the SLPP, have been appointed to the CabinetNimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweerawhile SLFP members Duminda Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Lasantha Alagiyawanna have been given State ministerial positions. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, meanwhile, will function as the Minister of Defence, the Presidents Office stated. The announcement has already generated controversy, with some sections noting that the 19th Amendment makes it clear that the President cannot hold any ministerial portfolios. Meanwhile, the extraordinary gazette issued by the Presidents Office prior to the swearing-in ceremony listing out the duties and functions of the new ministers also included a number of institutions that were not gazetted under any ministers. These consist of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team, the Board of Investment, Colombo Port City Project, Sri Lanka Telecom and affiliated institutes and all information technology parks. The institutions are listed as Institutions working to provide national level guidance and coordination on achieving national priorities. In Jonathan Karls recent book, Front Row at The Trump Show, the ABC news White House correspondent has a public service announcement for his fellow White House colleagues to heed, and for the rest of the mainstream media to follow. Karl writes, The surest way to undermine the credibility of the White House press corps is to behave like the political opposition. Report the facts. Investigate. Ask the hard questions. Dont give speeches from the White House briefing room. Karl also notes that, The key to a good interview is to listen... you shouldn't even notice the interviewer is there. While Karl offers poignant advice, his words ring hollow. Anyone who has witnessed the actions of Karls fellow White House reporters, and the media who have covered the Trump Administration over the last several years, can attest that few, if any of his colleagues seem to have received the memo. Karls 368-page book does acknowledge that the White House press corps has room for improvement. Yet aside from weathering a couple of snipes at the verbose, generally arrogant, and irascible nuisance that is CNNs Jim Acosta, he mostly steers clear of any serious self-reflection, or critiques of his colleagues, and those in the mainstream media. Instead, Karl reserves his harshest criticisms for President Donald Trump. The president himself has waged a sustained campaign to make people think the truth is a lie whenever he doesnt like the truth or it makes him look bad. This isnt the dodging and weaving you expect to see from politicians, including presidents. This is an assault on truth itself... I fear President Trumps war on truth may do lasting damage to American democracy, he writes. Karl first became acquainted with Trump in August, 1994 when he was a 26-year old tabloid writer for the New York Post, covering what he described as the tabloid story of the decade. Michael Jackson, the king of pop, had recently married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the king of rock'n'roll. Gossip columnists were hoping to catch a glimpse or snap a photo of the newlyweds who were hiding out in the middle of Manhattan at Trump Tower. While Karl was unable to secure a photo of the star-studded duo, he did receive a private tour of the Trump Tower (from the basement to the penthouse), by Trump himself, including a photo with the future president, and a picture of the newlyweds getaway vehicle. Trump provided Karl with more than enough material for his juicy front-page gossip column, entitled Inside Michaels Honeymoon Hideaway. While Trump and his brand certainly benefited from the free media exposure, Karls major revelation from that experience to the surprise of exactly no one is that, Donald Trump the president is remarkably like Donald Trump the real estate developer. To this day, Karl seems fixated on his other revelation during the 1994 interview, in which he discovered that the Trump Tower is listed as having 68 floors, when in reality it only has 58 floors. This was accomplished by Trump calling the floor above the 5th floor, the 14th floor. So the former real estate conglomerate, and reality tv star, who has mastered the art of self-promotion, is also an exaggerator. Who knew he had so much in common with P.T. Barnum? Karl, in a twisted Sherlock Holmes type of way, seems to think that if Trump is dishonest about the number of floors in the Trump Tower, then there must be other dark secrets that the commander-in-chief is concealing from the public's view. Thus, Karl believes it is the job of the press to connect the dots and inform the naive public of Trumps supposed misdeeds. As Karl writes, Our democracy is built on trust. We distrust politicians, but we trust our ability to vote them out of office. We doubt the ethics of our leaders, but we trust our system of checks and balances and the press to hold them accountable. While Karl correctly points out that it is the job of the press to do a little digging, and question the validity of what our leaders tell them, it is certainly not in their job description to embark on a fishing expedition full of salacious and uncorroborated material, that they report as the truth, which MSNBCS Rachael Maddow and many others reporters did for over two years, before the full findings of the Mueller Investigation were released. It is not the media's job to root for a cause to be true, or to continue to lie, manipulate, and mislead the public about the false pretenses that led to the Mueller investigation. It is also not their job to refuse to acknowledge that the Mueller Report did in fact exonerate the president of the exact crime that Maddow and her cronies had accused the president of committing. No matter, they simply moved on to the next anti-Trump crusade. Instead of criticizing Maddow for her journalistic malfeasance, Karl writes glowingly of her. Rachel Maddow regularly does genuinely news-making [sic] enterprise reporting on her MSNBC show, he says. Certainly, one would think Karl could at least understand why Trump refers to some in the press as Fake News. Instead, Karl leaves us with allegorical soliloquous about the president, Survey the political landscape, and you might, just think the lesson of the Trump era is that you can deny inconvenient facts, slander those who disagree with you, renounce civility, and get away with it and win. It often appears that Karl accuses Trump of doing exactly what the media themselves are guilty of doing. In fact, if Karl wants to discuss presidents who had a devious streak, one need not look any further than Obama who often said one thing in public, and did the exact opposite in private through his deceptive policies. Karl also curiously took issue with the part of Trumps inauguration speech, in which he said, For too long, a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of the government while the people have borne the cost. Evidently, appealing to the 63 million Americans who elected him, and not to politicians, and bureaucrats, was deeply troubling for Karl. Those words were pitch perfect to millions of Trump supporters around the country who believed both parties had failed them. But those words were also a direct affront to the human beings on that inaugural platform -- the congressional leaders, former presidents, and former vice presidents seated right there with him. Karl seems unaware that the president works for the American people and not for career bureaucrats. If Joe Biden, (who looks more frail by the day) somehow manages to leave his basement and defeat Trump in November, one wonders what sort of pleasantries he will toss towards the 45th president during his inauguration speech. Of all of Karls claims, perhaps none is more bizarre than his contention that newspapers are no longer partisan. The Bill of Rights enshrined freedom of the press but did so at a time when newspapers were partisan and, for the most part, didnt give a damn about fairness or objectivity, he writes. After Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his Vice Presidential pick on August 11th, 2020, one could be forgiven for thinking Bidens press secretary was hired to write the headlines for the August 12th, 2020 editions of the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Here were some of the Times headlines: "Harris Joins Biden Ticket, Achieving A First; Political Warrior Shaped By Life In 2 Worlds;" "Pick Seen As Safe But Energizing;" "Woman of Color In No. 2 Slot Of Major Party." The Washington Post was only slightly less objective: "Kamala Harris Met the Most Important Qualification For Bidens Running Mate;" "Kamala Harris Was the Safest Most Experienced and Most Tested Choice Biden Could Make;" "Why Kamala Harris Has Conservatives So Angry;" Evidently, Karl does not believe that two of the largest newspapers in the country are partisan. While Karl may be one of the few political reporters left who still has a thorough understanding of what the job of a White House reporter entails, he is the last of a dying breed. As a reporter for a major news organization assigned to cover the White House, I dont believe I should act like an opinion journalist. There is a central role for journalism that strives to be objective, fair, and unbiased. As a White House correspondent, if I come across like a political opponent to the president, I have failed, he writes. Unfortunately, many of his colleagues either do not share that vision or are unable to separate their political convictions from doing their job. Image: Dutton According to the travel warning for the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands the tourism company Tui and THE travel and tourism have been cancelled for the time being all travel in the affected areas. Since the Foreign office warning due to rising infection numbers in front of non-tourist travel in these regions, should the company "with a heavy heart," all of the packages from now on, up to and including 24. Of August to cancel and cancel and was told to Tui on Friday on its Website. the customers that were already in place, would be asked within the next seven days to travel back. To aim reclassifications other travel might be possible, for example, to the Canary Islands, as a Tui spokesman said on Friday night in the dpa. Due to changes in the travel - and Safety instructions of the foreign office, a continuation of the holiday in the affected region for holiday is not possible. The tour operator OF tourism said its Spain-travel to the 21st century. August, a company spokeswoman said at the request of AFP. An exception applies to travel to the Canary Islands. On Tuesday, the company will assess the situation again. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 03:19 Press Release August 15, 2020 As opening of classes moved to October 5 Nancy to DepEd: If all set, let private schools continue classes on Aug 24 ...says public schools have enough time to prepare, iron out kinks Senator Nancy Binay today asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to issue clear guidelines and direction on how private schools that have already started classes will proceed, and to allow those which are likewise ready to have an option to either start on August 24 or later. "So as not to interrupt classes in private schools that have already started, it is better to allow them to continue, at kung ready naman ang school na magbukas, DepEd can give them the flexibility to open on or before October," Binay said. On Friday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea informed Education Secretary Leonor Briones that the school opening scheduled for Aug. 24 was to be deferred to Oct. 5. According to DepEd, about 1,277 private schools, including 243 in Metro Manila, have already started classes. "While we welcome this move from DepEd, we also have to stress that DepEd should use the deferral as an opportunity to iron out any expected challenges in public schools, particularly access to new learning opportunities, before the opening come October 5," Binay said. Aside from internet connectivity and access to television broadcast, it was revealed during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture last week that DepEd is having trouble in the delivery of new learning modalities and printing of Self Learning Modules (SLMs) to be used for this school year. "Not having SLMs available ahead of time for teachers is just adding more pressure and burden to teachers. Ngayong na-move na ang start ng school year, dapat masiguro nila na pulido na ang sistema't setup, pati na ang mga materyales for both teachers and students. "If this six-week breather can be wisely programmed, then we can expect na kaunti na lang ang mga gusot by October 5, at kahit paano, mayroon nang modules at teaching materials, at pati parents and students handa na rin," Binay said. It is suggested that prior to opening of classes in public schools, DepEd should conduct a nationwide simulation in all grade school levels to test the new setup, and at the same time address whatever problems that are encountered during the dry run. "A nationwide simulation is recommended para alam ng estudyante, kasama na ang magulang kung ano ang bagong sistema, at para makapag-adjust din sila. The simulation should also include schools in rural areas and remote barangays that have multi-grade setups," Binay added. She added that there should be no more excuses for DepEd not to be ready for the start of the adjusted school year since they can adequately prepare for outside-classroom learning following the decision to move the opening of classes to October. DepEd said it was planning to have at least the first two weeks of SLMs available on August 24 while printing the materials for the succeeding weeks on a rolling basis. Bells will toll across Brisbane at midday on Saturday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Victory in the Pacific Day is the day Australians finally celebrated the end of the war on August 15, 1945 after Japan formally surrendered to the Allies. Crowds gather in Brisbane to celebrate VP Day on August 15, 1945. Credit:Australian War Memorial A small ceremony will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane at 11am, with Ann Street closed from Creek Street to Edward Street between 9.30am and 1.30pm. Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will both attend. With large-scale gatherings still banned under COVID-19 restrictions, a video installation organised by RSL Queensland will project images from the war across City Hall. RALEIGH The North Carolina State Board of Education rejected a plan Friday to let the two virtual charter schools add up to 3,800 more students this school year, as thousands of families seek access due to the coronavirus pandemic. Several state board members, including Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, said a one-year, pandemic-related enrollment cap exemption should be offered for the online charter schools to give families more choices. But the majority of board members voted against the proposal, citing the low performance of the two schools and the fact that it would take money away from school districts. "We as a board are responsible for all of the students across the state," said state board member Jill Camnitz. "I want to be sure that in order to provide some options for some students who don't have them right now that we make sure we don't send negative ripples all the way across the state and end up affecting a large number of students negatively by trying to help the students that we're talking about." The 7-4 vote went largely along partisan lines. The board members appointed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper voted against the expansion. They were joined by board chairman Eric Davis, who was appointed by former Republican Gov. Pat McCroy. Opposition leaders call for weekend of protests; prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania call for new polls. Thousands are gathering in the capital, Minsk, as Belarus gears up for a weekend of new demonstrations with pressure growing on longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko. With the opposition gaining momentum after days of protests over last Sundays disputed presidential vote, Lukashenkos main election challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has called on supporters to rally this weekend again. Al Jazeeras Step Vaessen, reporting from Minsk, said protesters have started gathering near the Pushkinskaya metro station to honour Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died there on Monday and whose funeral was being held. Thousands have gathered here in the last hour. They held a minutes silence. People are here on the streets for the seventh day in a row to not just protest police violence but also the election results, she said. They are asking for President Lukashenko to step down. They are also asking for fresh elections to be held. So far, the government has not responded to any of their requests. A March for Freedom is planned in central Minsk on Sunday, a week after the contested election that 65-year-old Lukashenko claims to have won with 80 percent of the vote. Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other opposition candidates, including her husband, were jailed, accuses Lukashenko of rigging the vote and has demanded he step down so new elections can be held. On Tuesday, she left the country for neighbouring Lithuania, with her allies saying she came under official pressure. On Friday, she re-emerged with the call for a weekend of peaceful mass gatherings in cities across the country. She is also demanding authorities be held to account for a police crackdown on post-election protests that saw more than 6,700 people arrested. Hundreds have been injured after police used rubber bullets, stun grenades and, in at least one case, live rounds to disperse the crowds. Officials have confirmed two deaths in the unrest, including Taraikovsky who they say died when an explosive device went off in his hand during a protest, and another man who died in custody after being arrested in the southeastern city of Gomel. On Friday, authorities began releasing hundreds of those arrested and many emerged from detention with horrific accounts of beatings and torture. Amnesty International condemned a campaign of widespread torture and other ill-treatment by the Belarusian authorities who are intent on crushing peaceful protests by any means. In some of the biggest demonstrations yet, thousands marched in Minsk on Friday to denounce the police violence and demand Lukashenko step down. Women greet a soldier guarding the Belarusian government building in a show of friendliness, in Minsk, Belarus [Sergei Grits/AP] In euphoric scenes on Independence Square in Minsk, protesters hugged and kissed young interior ministry troops guarding a government building and put flowers in their anti-riot shields. Unlike the scenes of violent detentions days earlier, police stood by quietly. We will not give up the country to anyone On Saturday, prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania called on Belarus to conduct new free and fair elections. A new vote should be held in a transparent way with the participation of international observers, the leaders said in a joint statement after meeting in Estonia. The Kremlin said on Saturday that President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko agreed in a phone call that the problems in Belarus would be swiftly resolved. Both sides expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon, the Kremlin said in a statement after Lukashenko said he needed to contact Moscow over the growing protests against his rule. Lukashenko rejected on Saturday offers of foreign mediation, telling defence chiefs he would not give up power. We will not give up the country to anyone, state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying at a meeting at the defence ministry. We dont need any foreign governments, any intermediaries, he said. A man in north Belfast has been issued with a community resolution notice for having drugs after a house was raided by anti-terror police investigating dissident republican activity A man in north Belfast has been issued with a community resolution notice for having drugs after a house was raided by anti-terror police investigating dissident republican activity. Yesterday detectives from the PSNI Terrorism Investigation Unit carried out a search at an address in Vicinage Park, seizing laptops, electronics and herbal cannabis. As a result a 28-year-old man was issued with the notice for possession of a class B controlled drug. Detective Inspector Martin Cush said: "Today's operation is further evidence that those involved in dissident republican activity are actively involved in criminality, including drugs, operating under the convenient flag of 'paramilitarism'. "The reality, however, is that they are criminals who will exploit any circumstances they can for their own gain. Be under no illusion, these so-called paramilitaries destroy lives and harm our communities." David Tennant joked he and wife Georgia were worried their eldest son Ty would be 'rubbish' at acting when he first began his career. The actor, 49, spoke about his adopted son in Candis Magazine's September issue, as he admitted he was delighted to find the 18-year-old, who has starred in Tolkien and War Of The Worlds, was 'incredibly talented'. Of his initial concerns, David explained: 'Acting is a crapshoot anyway, and Georgia and I had this fear when he went into it of, what if we see him in something and he's rubbish? Concerns: David Tennant revealed he and wife Georgia were worried son Ty would be 'rubbish' at acting when he first started, but were delighted to find he was 'incredibly talented' 'Will we be able to tell him? But as it turns out, he's incredibly talented. Which was a great relief to realise!' David and Georgia share five children together, Ty, 18, Olive, nine, Wilfred, seven, Doris, five, and their 10-month old daughter Birdie. The Good Omens star keeps his family life out of the public eye, and whilst he says being a dad is 'one of the most extraordinary things' he's ever experienced, he doesn't like to open up about his brood. He added: 'Our kids are lovely, and I think that being a dad is one of the most extraordinary and life-affirming things that can ever happen to you, as well as being something you have to keep working at if you're going to be any good at it.' Doting parents: David said of their concers,'Georgia and I had this fear when he went into it of, what if we see him in something and he's rubbish? Will we be able to tell him?' Georgia confirmed the arrival of her fifth child in October with a hilarious Instagram post, as she compared the birth to that of David's Good Omens co-star Michael Sheen's daughter Lyra. The actress became pregnant for the first time as a teenager after a fleeting relationship with a university student, which resulted in the birth to Ty at 17. He was later adopted by David in 2012. Ty revealed the name of his youngest sibling during an appearance on Lorraine last month, excitedly telling the host he wanted to give a shout-out to his family. Runs in the family: Ty was adopted by his father in 2012 and has followed in his footsteps, landing acting gigs in War Of The Worlds, Casualty and Tolkien He said: 'Hi mum, I love you mummy. Hi dad, Wilfred, Olive, Doris, Birdie I love you all. Sorry, I've always wanted to do that,' which led Lorraine to agree that he 'had all the family covered.' During the interview, Ty also spoke of the moment he met his adopted dad on the set of Doctor Who when he was just five years old. The budding actor spoke of his close bond with the sci-fi superstar whom he calls his father, and why he would love to be the third Doctor in the family. Family ties: David and Georgia have five children called Ty, 18, Olive, nine, Wilfred, seven, Doris, five, and also a child named Birdie who was born in October David met Ty's mum when she had a guest role in the 2008 episode The Doctor's Daughter - and it was then when Ty met his TV hero. 'It was great, I was five when I first met my dad, my mum was working on Doctor Who at the time,' Ty said. 'I watched him on TV as the hero, and it was crazy how much your life can change.' Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam takes part in her weekly press conference in Hong Kong on Oct. 15, 2019. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images) Carrie Lam Gives Up Cambridge University Fellowship After Human Rights Concerns Raised Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam said on Saturday that she gave up the title of Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge University, after receiving a letter from the college asking her to answer questions regarding human rights and freedom of the press in Hong Kong. The fellowship title has been crossed out from Lams annual declaration of registrable interests document published on the Executive Councils website. The crossed-out Cambridge Honorary Fellow title is seen on Carrie Lams annual declaration of registrable interests document published on the Executive Councils website, in a screenshot taken on Aug. 15, 2020. (Hong Kong Executive Council/Screenshot) The bottom of Carrie Lams annual declaration of registrable interests document published on the the Executive Councils website notes deleted by ExCo on 15.8.2020 following Mrs Lams notification, a footnote explaining the deletion of her title of Cambridge University Honorary Fellow, seen on Aug. 15, 2020. (Hong Kong Executive Council/Screenshot) According to the Chief Executive, Wolfson college wrote to her last week saying her fellowship would be revoked, unless she answers questions about what she said was groundless allegations against her. In a Facebook post, Lam said she was disappointed that Wolfson college smeared her with groundless accusations and hearsay, and therefore decided to give up the fellowship title to cut ties with the college. Wolfson college issued a statement in response, saying it was concerned with Carrie Lams commitment to the protection of human rights and the freedom of expression in Hong Kong. The statement says the college was due to consider Mrs Lams Honorary Fellowship early next month but will no longer do so. On July 1, the first day that the national security law came into effect, Wolfson College wrote a statement saying its governing body would be considering Lams position as an Honorary Fellow of the College. The United States on Aug. 7 sanctioned Carrie Lam and 10 other Hong Kong and Chinese officials for undermining the citys autonomy and freedoms. Since the UK established its first autonomous sanctions against the regime in July, British parliamentarians have repeatedly urged the British government to add Carrie Lam and other Chinese human rights abusers to the list. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is another British organization listing Carrie Lam as an honorary fellow. The Epoch Times contacted ICE asking whether it is also considering Lams fellowship position, ICE did not immediately respond to the question. Cathy He, Eva Fu, and Alexander Zhang contributed to this report. On World Organ Donation Day , Lupin Pharmaceuticals #LiveBeyondLife campaign & Mohan Foundations #LeaveYourLegacy campaign by SoCheers emphasizes the importance of donating one's organs after death which can be used to save the lives of many. The concept of organ donation is not a topic that can be heard very often amidst a gathering of people. The campaign with Lupin, a multinational pharmaceutical company, #LiveBeyondLife aims to bring not only more awareness but create a space for more willing interactions & conversations about organ donation in India. The campaign plays with the concept of Deadline Extended which is a common phrase used especially in workplaces. In the campaign, the phrase is used in the context of donating organs thus extending their deadline even after the donor has passed away. The campaign also urges people to share a part (organ) of themselves so that the ones who are in need of an organ can experience life to the fullest. The need for a kidney transplant in India remains at an all-time high, especially for those suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease. This #WorldOrganDonationDay #Lupin urges you to pledge to become an organ donor today. To know more https://t.co/pB9LeLZnWG #LiveBeyondLife pic.twitter.com/Rci3fXLxre Lupin (@LupinGlobal) August 13, 2020 Elucidating more on the campaign, Ankita Kulkarni, Group Account Manager, Brand Strategy at SoCheers said, Organ donation is not a topic that youll see active on the mind of the younger generation very often, maybe because it is communicated and as a result seen as very serious. The idea here is to make the communication more palatable for a wider audience, one thats willing to actively participate and bring about a visible change. Deadline extended is so urban workforce colloquial, but we move it out of context and talk about how one can extend the literal deadlines for their organs, if not themselves. SoCheers did another campaign on Organ Donation Day with Mohan Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Chennai working towards the cause of saving lives through organ donation. The campaign is a series of wordplay and visuals of eyes, limb, skin, heart - organs that can be donated. In doing so, one can leave their legacy after they pass away, a sentiment expressed via the hashtag #LeaveYourLegacy. Talking about the campaign Pallavi Kumar, Director at Mohan Foundation said, Creating messaging which is relatively lighthearted and quirky takes away from the dread associated with organ donation. This kind of contemporary creative treatment especially appeals to the younger generation who can be important ambassadors for the cause. Shivani Mehta, Group Account Manager, Content at SoCheers added, Topics can be serious in nature. But, there is always a way to explain such subjects in an easy way. With the #LeaveYourLegacy campaign, we tried to do the same, by touching upon popular lingual phrases and asking people to take action and pledge their organs for donation. Rioters try to break into an Amazon store in Seattle in a July 19, 2020, file photograph. (Katie Daviscourt via Reuters) Seattle Rioters Smash ATM, Break Store Windows During March Demonstrators in Seattle on Friday smashed store windows and shouted threats at people filming them as they moved through a portion of downtown. No police officers were present, according to video footage captured by live streamers on the scene, though officers showed up later. The Seattle Police Department didnt respond to an inquiry on Saturday. Its not clear which group or groups organized the demonstration, but most of those who participated were clad in all-black, with masks and other accessories. The style was similar to that of members of Antifa, a network of groups that holds far-left, anarcho-communist views and wants to abolish police and prisons. Videos showed the mob moving steadily down the street, pausing periodically to smash parking meters, take hammers to an ATM, and hurl objects through glass windows at various stores. The crowd regularly chanted, I dont see [expletive]! I dont know [expletive]! A police officer keeps watch after rioters smashed windows and vandalized a Starbucks store, in Seattle, Wash., on July 25, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images) Rioters threatened people they saw filming them. One female participant, who was recording much of what unfolded, insisted to bystanders that the group wasnt affiliated with Black Lives Matter. Later in the evening, a group of police vehicles began moving down a street towards the mob. They were hampered by a group of vehicles moving slowly in front of them, blocking direct access to the crowd. Police officers were seen on video slashing the tires of at least one of the vehicles. Demonstrators also shoved garbage cans and at least one dumpster into the street, forcing officers to exit a vehicle to move the objects out of the way. Seattle has faced unrest since late May and dealt with a weekslong occupation of an approximately 9-block area known as CHOP that ended after several deadly shootings. Rioters used Cal Anderson Park, which was part of the zone, as a staging ground on Friday. In an interview with one live streamer at the park, one participant said the current national crisis moves him to take part. I dont understand why more people arent throwing wrenches into the gears of the system. You know that the system is defunct. Why arent you [expletive] [expletive] up? I dont understand it, he said. Construction buildings burn near the King County Juvenile Detention Center, Sat., July 25, 2020, in Seattle, shortly after protesters left the area. A large group of protesters were marching Saturday in Seattle in support of Black Lives Matter and against police brutality and racial injustice. Protesters broke windows and vandalized cars at the facility. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) A similar evening of chaos on July 22 left significant damage at multiple businesses. A police spokesman at the time told The Epoch Times that the agencys primary focus is life safety. When people damage property and the SPD moves in, theres a likelihood that someonewhether an officer or someone elsecould be injured. The SPD is trying to avoid that. However, this doesnt mean that suspects in crimes wont be arrested at a later date, he said in an emailed statement when asked why police officers didnt intervene. We are trying to find the safest ways to enforce the laws without making the situation worse. If lives are at risk, you can expect a swift response by the Seattle Police Department. Three days later, rioters clashed with police, leaving 59 officers injured and a construction site severely damaged. City council members, who are all Democrats except for one socialist, voted last week to cut nearly $4 million from the police departments budget, prompting the resignation of the citys first black female police chief. Lawmakers argue the money is better spent on addressing homelessness and other issues they say will make a bigger impact on public safety. On Thursday, video footage showed demonstrators entering residential areas and demanding white people give up their homes for black people. A group of business owners and residents who live or work in or near the formerly occupied zone sued the city in June, arguing officials failed to restore order and protect the residents and property owners. People stand near tents set up outside of the Seattle Police Departments vacated East Precinct in the area known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) in Seattle, Wash. on June 23, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images) Other businesses are preparing to leave the city, or have already decided to close shop. Amazon asked workers this week where they would prefer to work in the suburbs. The companys downtown offices were vandalized and damaged during unrest last month. The owners of Steepologie Teas told a reporter that theyre closing their downtown location because they feel at risk due to the recent increase in violence. Daniel Carlson, co-owner of a business in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, just blocks from where the so-called autonomous zone was, wrote in an op-ed in the Seattle Times that his store was looted on July 22. On our way to the store that night, after looters stole more than $30,000 in goods, we passed 20 police officers on bikes standing around. Once we investigated the damage, the police department told us that the City Council and the mayor had limited their ability to manage crowds, so their hands were tied, he wrote, taking aim at city leaders for an alleged lack of leadership. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, a Democrat, is facing the prospect of being recalled. Durkan filed an appeal to the state Supreme Court late Thursday, requesting justices block a lower court ruling that allowed the petition to move forward. A spokesperson for Durkan told The Epoch Times in an email that the mayor has consistently acted to protect the public health and safety of residents during the pandemic, economic devastation, and demonstrations for justice. Millie Weaver, widely known as Millennial Millie, a 29-year old conservative new media video and print journalist with a large following online, was arrested at her home in Ohio on Friday morning. Police officers apparently from a local SWAT team took Weaver to the Portage County Jail in Ravenna, Ohio where she is being held without bail until at least Monday for a tentative status hearing. A short video captured on her cell phone as she was being taken away was posted online. Millie Weaver is one of my favorite independent journalists. Shes also a young mom. I was shocked to see this heavy-handed arrest. With her friends permission, I have set up a GoFundMe please join me in chipping in. https://t.co/zsWPUMAUee pic.twitter.com/YFUOdvLtPf Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) August 14, 2020 The news of Weavers arrest was immediately taken note of on social media as the Twitter hashtags #freemillie and #freemillieweaver quickly trended. Talk show host and licensed investigator Doug Hagmann, on whose program Weaver was a guest on July 3, obtained a copy of Weavers custody record, which is public information, with additional background from his sources which he cited in an article: According to the information I obtained through my investigative inquiries (and partially detailed in the video of her arrest), she was indicted by a grand jury seated in Ohio. The indictment was sealed until served. The nature of her alleged offenses appears to be process crimes (e.g. Obstruction of Justice, Tampering with Evidence). [emphasis original] In an article Friday at activist post, Spiro Skouras wrote that he also contacted the Portage County Sheriffs Office and they confirmed Millie Weaver is in their custody. They also confirmed that she was served a secret indictment. Millie Weaver in a screen shot from her new documentary Shadow Gate The plot, if not the confusion, in this case thickens in light of the fact that Weaver was set to release an 82-minute independent documentary, Shadow Gate, which, as they say, is ripped from the headlines. The two-minute trailer, which Weaver tweeted a link to on August 11, teases the films relevance to current events: The ObamaGate scandal only scratches the surface. . . Both parties are equally guilty in what should turn out to be an even bigger scandal. Shadow Gate the tactical and operational role the shadow government played behind the scenes carrying out the coup against President Trump. On the page at her Website with the films trailer, Weave wrote: The material presented in this documentary should concern people of all political affiliations given elected officials are not the shadow government. This is about real players [whose] names never come up but should. Corrupt carrier politicians are definitely part of the beltway swamp, even aspects of the deep state, but they are not the shadow government. Two whistleblowers, who worked extensively within the Shadow Government as contractors have come forward with revelations that may be the biggest whistleblowing event to date. One of the whistleblower sources in the film, who uses the name Tore, uploaded a full copy of the documentary following Weavers arrest on Friday. In its first 14 hours online, the film had over 468,000 views. As of this writing, it is still on YouTube and is propagating virally elsewhere on the Internet. After viewing the complete documentary one time on Friday evening, I can attest to its compelling and complex content. It is a professional piece of film making, with state of the art production values. The interlocks it documents among Deep State players both known and obscure are riveting. Several viewings (a transcript would help) would be required to fully absorb and confirm the myriad details in the incredibly fast-moving presentation. Weaver, originally from California, is married with two children, ages four and nine months. Some reports have said that her husband has also been taken into custody. Weaver started her journalistic career in 2012 at Infowars, where she quickly became one of the channels most popular reporters. Recently, she has gone out on her own as an independent journalist while continuing to contribute articles and video reports to Infowars. Weavers own YouTube channel has over 420,00 subscribers and her Twitter account has 180,00 followers. This story is in its early stages and has the potential of being huge in the days ahead. Stay tuned for developments. The Bloc is set to draft new sanctions over protest crackdown. The European Union does not recognize presidential election results in Belarus, starting work on new sanctions against those responsible for falsification and a crackdown on protesters. EU doesn't accept election results," European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted on Friday, August 14. The Bloc begins work on "sanctioning those responsible for violence and falsification", the same tweet reads. In turn, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared the news, praising the unanimous move by EU foreign ministers to work out "additional sanctions against those responsible". "Europe must actively promote its values," she tweeted. Read alsoUN condemns violent crackdown on Belarus protestsEarlier, RFE/RL correspondent in Brussels Rikard Jozwiak said EU top diplomats had agreed to draft new sanctions targeting Belarus authorities. Belarus protests: developments The one that got away Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne A.S.H. Smyth interviews the prolific wildlife photographer and writer on the greatest shot he never got... and one he did View(s): View(s): Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne went on his first leopard safari when he was three. His parents bought him an SLR at age 15, and during his university years in London (Engineering, Imperial College) he joined The Camera Club in Leicester Square, and immersed himself in the world of practical photography magazines, monthly competitions and professional showcases. Returning to Sri Lanka on the eve of the millennium, as director of Jetwings hotels and of their eco-tourism subsidiary, he found himself steadily drawn into writing and photographing his own journalistic contributions and creating illustrated field-guides to help develop the nature-travel industry. In that sense Im an accidental photographer. He has subsequently become one of the most vocal champions of Sri Lankas natural abundance, responsible for putting the island on the wildlife-tourism map for whale-watching, leopard-spotting and the annual elephant gathering at Minneriya. In fact, he argues Sri Lanka may well be the best all-round wildlife destination in the world. The author of some 15 books and nearly 400 hundred articles (and all while holding down a day job), he now lives once again in London, where he is also involved in the British wildlife sphere as a trustee of several nature NGOs. The one that got away It was an unusual winter, and there was snow everywhere. I was walking home at dusk, near London Bridge, when I noticed a fox, about 10 feet up, on top of a wall. Behind the wall was a building, and in it another man was also looking at the fox through his office window, his face illuminated by the light coming from indoors. The fox was lit up by the street lights and the last embers of the mid-winter sun glowing dimly along the horizon. The snow on the ground reflected both the lamps and the receding daylight, and with fox and person in the same frame it was as if all the elements had been arranged for a snowy urban wildlife picture. I stood there, mesmerised by the scene, and thinking it was just a perfect image for a competition entry. I always have a compact digital camera in my daypack, good enough for a record shot, but probably not good enough to take a competition-quality picture. If Id had my SLR, I would have gone for it But I also have the instincts of a naturalist, so there are times that Im quite content just to observe. I havent lost my love for seeing great artistic images, but the two are sort of mutually exclusive. So I rarely submit for competitions now, because Ive chosen to prioritise the field-guides and the educational angle which in turn generate business and much-needed livelihoods: a sort of virtuous feedback loop. In the end, I decided just to watch, rather than spoil the moment reaching for my camera. Eventually, the fox looked up at me, then slowly walked along the wall until it reached an intersection and soon it was gone. The shot that he got In 2001, I had become the first Sri Lankan to own a Canon 600mm f4 lens, part of my plans to brand Sri Lanka as a Big Game Safari destination (photo shooting only!). There was a certain amount of industry scepticism about this, so I needed some iconic images to persuade tour operators that it was viable. A young male leopard cub we knew as GMC5 had taken to coming every evening to the Koma Wewa in Yala Block 1. Kumar Sangakkara had also come down that weekend, and I had told him where to find the leopard so at 5 p.m. a rather long line of vehicles had formed on the embankment of the wewa to see the young cub [and the leopard]. GMC5 was startled by a photographer re-positioning his vehicle, and started to move away. All of the other vehicles immediately scrambled to follow it; but Rukshan Jayewardene, who knows leopards and leopard-photography better than anyone, gestured to me to wait, and indicated where it would cross in front of us. I held my position and the cub emerged out of a thicket into the golden evening light. I had it for a few seconds, composed what I knew would be a dynamic image, and took my shot: the cub angled down, walking purposefully, with one leg raised, its stride frozen mid-motion. At that time, I dont think anyone had ever used a picture of a leopard in a Sri Lankan travel brochure, or a Lonely Planet-type book. But prints of this were sold in bookshops, and hung over the desks of tour operators like Kuoni. Its been included countless times in newspapers, magazines and books and is probably one of the most published leopard images taken in Sri Lanka. It played a real role in creating the leopard safari industry in Sri Lanka, and helped to brand Sri Lanka as a Big Game Safari destination. I still dont tire of looking at it. The Morrison government's sweeping overhaul of university funding faces an uncertain path through the Senate as key crossbenchers reveal a raft of objections they want addressed if they are to support the bill. Facing stiff opposition from Labor and the Greens, the Coalition needs to secure three crossbench votes to pass its sweeping funding overhaul, which dramatically raises fees for some courses while dropping fees for a suite of disciplines deemed "job-relevant". Crossbenchers have outlined "very serious concerns" about the government's higher education overhaul. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Crossbench senators have sounded the alarm about the fee hikes and have signalled the bill will be referred to a Senate inquiry for scrutiny before it passes Parliament ahead of the government's planned 2021 start date for the fee changes. Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie said the party was only in the early stages of negotiations but she and the party's last remaining senator Stirling Griff held "really serious concerns about what the government is proposing", particularly changes that will put humanities and social work subjects in the most expensive fee category. Copies of Apple Daily newspaper with front pages featuring Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai are displayed at a newsstand in Hong Kong. (Kin Cheung / Associated Press) Once known for fierce independence and exposing the misdeeds of the political elite, iCable has had the sting taken out of its reporting as the Chinese Communist Party tightens its grip on this city by arresting journalists and raiding newsrooms. The broadcaster's new director of news, Oscar Lee, is best known for being a television anchor and a parenting influencer. He was widely mocked on social media after a recent interview with the police chief, which critics said was overly fawning and deferential. That is China's intent as investigative journalists are threatened and top news executives shoved aside. Since the arrest this week of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, reporters and editors have been hiding their notes, protecting contacts on encrypted messaging apps, and contemplating how much jail time they could get for violating Hong Kong's new national security law. It would probably be three to five years, but if I plead guilty in court and have good conduct, I will likely get a sentence reduction, said a reporter at Apple Daily surnamed Chan, who declined to use his full name for fear of retribution. Such are the calculations in a disturbing new era. The chilling scene of Lai's arrest, which was livestreamed across the world, showed police rummaging through reporters desks and shouting at the papers chief editor after he asked to see a search warrant. Outside Apple Daily's offices, police limited media access to only those that backed the mainland Chinese government. In the stepped-up assault on Hong Kongs freedoms after a year of pro-democracy protests, the raid on Apple Daily marked a new phase in Chinas bid to silence critical reporting in a city with a vibrant history of independent journalism. Unlike the mainland where media are essentially the propaganda arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, the semiautonomous Hong Kong has a commercial news industry, which is guaranteed freedom of press under the citys constitution. Story continues Those rights have been harder to defend. Since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 by Britain, the number of outlets willing to report critically on the local and mainland governments has shrunk under political and economic pressure. Newsrooms are often censored by owners who have business interests in China. What remains of those independent voices is expected to dwindle even further with the introduction six weeks ago of a national security law that criminalizes dissenting views of Beijing and calls for greater management and regulation of the news business. Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, was arrested Monday on suspicion of collusion with foreign powers. (Associated Press) Hong Kongs sizable foreign press corps also faces an uncertain future. Correspondents visa requests have been delayed and expectations are growing that Hong Kong will impose the same strict accreditation process used in the mainland. The protest movement in Hong Kong would not have had as much international awareness and attention if Hong Kong wasnt a free and welcoming place for international journalists, said Gwyneth Ho, a former local television journalist who was recently disqualified from running for Hong Kongs legislature for opposing the national security law. If theyre forced out, then the world will not know what will happen next. Locally, few outlets have done more to keep the powerful honest than Apple Daily, which was founded in 1995 by Lai after he made a fortune in the clothing business. An outspoken critic of the Chinese regime since the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in 1989, Lai has been labeled by Chinese state media as a "true race traitor" and is accused of colluding with foreign forces by urging the United States to support Hong Kongs autonomy. He remains free on bail. He is a tragedy in which he, as a Chinese, picked the wrong side and walked on the wrong path, read an editorial in the Global Times after his arrest. Once known for its sensational headlines, Apple Daily has long irritated authorities for its criticism and investigative reporting, exposing abuse of public funds and shoddy work at public construction projects. Thats made it a target of the pro-Beijing establishment. Advertising revenue has plummeted in recent years after businesses were pressured to boycott the company. For weeks last year, Hong Kongs former chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, shamed businesses on social media that placed ads in the paper. Journalists at the company also have been harassed. In December, Chan was among 132 staff members who were doxxed and had their personal details including names, birth dates and photos exposed online. By tracing the personal data to its source, the papers investigative team found that the information was leaked by national security agencies, which have access to data collected by the authorities when reporters applied for mainland travel permits. In September, a co-worker, who reported on the protests, was assaulted by four masked men while having dinner at a restaurant. If you have one to two daring outlets still breaking news, then all the others have to follow, said Francis Lee, director of the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. You cant pretend a storys not out there. It creates a dynamic that ensures sensitive stories still get circulated. Thats the reason why the Chinese government is targeting Apple Daily. While the publics attention was mostly fixed on the purge at Apple Daily, a shake-up was taking place at iCable, where executives were replaced and Oscar Lee was named news director. The sudden turnover is emblematic of the way Chinese authorities have gradually exerted control over local press through behind-the-scenes changes in ownership, personnel appointments and budget cuts. The purpose is to control the highest authority in the newsroom and leverage that power to influence the direction and agenda of news coverage, said Allan Au, a media and political commentator in Hong Kong. Observers say iCables decline began after it was sold in 2017 to investors: real estate moguls Henry Cheng Kar-shun and David Chiu Tat-cheong, both of whom have close business ties with mainland China. The broadcaster soon diverted resources to focus on business news in mainland China. Sensitive topics started appearing less. Pressure from the owners was felt in the newsroom. Two former staff members said they witnessed the news director receive angry calls from the companys board, which had never occurred in the past. During this years anniversary of the June 4 crackdown on protesters, an iCable interview with Zhang Xianling, the mother of a 19-year-old who was killed in Tiananmen Square in 1989, was shortened to remove her comments on Hong Kong's national security law and similarities to restrictions in China. A New Years Eve segment was edited to exclude the chanting of a popular protest slogan by demonstrators: "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time. In its place, an editor added the sound of a New Years countdown taken from archival footage. Reporters, some earning a little more than $25,000 a year, started leaving iCable. Even if they dont aggressively censor," said a reporter who recently left, "we still could not maintain our old journalistic standards because the worsening media environment has led to an exodus of talent. Police display a banner at a march on the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. (Vincent Yu / Associated Press ) Those who have decided to stay face a journalism of limited impact and shrinking freedoms. It feels very draining when most of your time is spent on a futile fight resisting the collapse of the institution instead of doing actual journalism, a reporter at the broadcaster said. I feel like I am fighting alone. I would also like to leave, but with similar scenes playing out across newsrooms in Hong Kong, where else can I go? Some Hong Kongers have supported embattled media companies. Tens of thousands more copies of Apple Daily have been sold than usual this week. Activists briefly pumped up the stock value of the papers parent company. Chan and other journalists at Apple Daily are accustomed to the intensifying battle over telling their stories. He has been pepper-sprayed and struck by tear gas canisters and rubber bullets during street protests. In our role, we see a lot of people getting injured and making sacrifices, he said of the protesters. They are things they should not have suffered. But at the same time, we have to admit there is nothing we can do to save them and that is where we feel the most powerless. Chan spent the hours after the police raid on Apple Daily seated by his colleagues, typing and filing his story before midnight. At 1 a.m., as thousands watched the paper roll off the printing press on a livestream, Chan took deep breaths and tried to check his emotions. Times staff writer Pierson reported from Singapore and special correspondent Cheung from Hong Kong. On Friday the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a congressional watchdog, issued a legally non-binding report which found the current head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chad Wolf, and his deputy secretary, Kenneth Cuccinelli, were not legally appointed to their roles pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. Throughout his presidency Donald Trump has sought to circumvent congressional approval for department heads through the technique of appointing acting secretaries after previous heads resigned. In this way Trump has cultivated, and is seeking to expand, his personalist fascist base of support within the leadership of DHS and throughout the state apparatus. The DHS, with its 240,000 employees and nearly $50 billion budget for fiscal year 2021, currently has no Senate-approved leadership. The agency has been wielded by the Trump administration as a personal army directed at terrorizing the working class under conditions of mounting opposition to the homicidal policies pursued by the ruling class against workers and immigrants. Under the leadership of Wolf and Cuccinelli in the last three months DHS thugs have been found kidnapping fathers on their way to work, disappearing and shooting protesters in Portland, raiding a humanitarian aid camp in southern Arizona and developing intelligence products on US journalists. Both appointees have made frequent appearances on Fox News and delivered congressional testimony in which they have vilified protesters as anarchist terrorists. At a congressional hearing last week Wolf defended DHS snatching protesters off the streets in unmarked vans as a common de-escalation tactic. The GAO investigation found that Wolf and Cuccinelli were part of an invalid order of succession after the previous head of the DHS, Kirstjen Nielsen, resigned from the agency on April 10, 2019. After Nielsens resignation, she named Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan as her designated successor, in violation of the then existing designation which required the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Christopher Krebs, to assume the title of acting secretary. Since McAleenan was not the legal successor to Nielsen, the GAO ruled that the subsequent accessions of Wolf and Cuccinelli in November, after McAleenan submitted his resignation on October 11, were likewise not valid and therefore recommended that the DHS inspector general conduct a review. Fridays report will likely reverberate throughout the courts as judges could be persuaded to dismiss some DHS actions as illegal given the leadership didnt have proper authority to act. Speaking to NPR, Anne Joseph OConnell, a law professor at Stanford University, remarked that the GAO findings could be very persuasive in the courts. Wolf, who previously served as chief of staff under Nielsen, assumed the position of acting secretary in November 2019 after he was approved by 5441 vote in the Senate for the position of DHS undersecretary for strategy, plans and policy and then elevated into the vacant secretary role. Wolf, unlike his previous boss, has a positive working relationship with the de facto shadow secretary of the DHS, Trumps openly fascist advisor Stephen Miller. The GAO report was careful to note that its purpose was not to render a verdict on the legality of any of the repressive policies or actions Wolf or Cuccinelli have overseen since illegally assuming their roles. House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (Democrat-Mississippi) and then-acting House Oversight and Government Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney (Democrat-New York), who originally ordered the GAO investigation, released a statement following its release Friday writing that, Mr. Wolf should immediately step down and return to his Senate-confirmed position as undersecretary for strategy, policy and plans. As for Mr. Cuccinelli, a political pundit plucked by the President to serve in multiple senior roles at DHS for which he is woefully unqualified, he should immediately resign from the federal government and retire his unprofessional official Twitter account. In a statement released Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the reports determination invalidated actions Mr. Cuccinelli and Mr. Wolf have taken and both should immediately step down from their illegal roles. As their statements made clear, Schumer, Thompson and Maloney, along with the rest of the Democratic Party, are not calling for Wolfs resignation from government entirely, in fact, they wish him to return to his senior position within the DHS to continue the work of oppressing and terrorizing the working class. This isnt the first time Trumps appointments have come under scrutiny. Under the same Vacancies Act, a federal judge in March ruled that Cuccinelli was serving illegally as head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services and that any policy directives Cuccinelli issued, including limiting the amount of time asylum seekers could seek legal counsel upon entering the country, were invalid. The Trump administration dropped a formal appeal to the judges ruling on Thursday prior to the release of the GAO report. Upon the release of the report, DHS spokesman Nathaniel Madden issued a terse statement which read in part: We wholeheartedly disagree with the GAOs baseless report and plan to issue a formal response to this shortly. Who you gonna believe, the postmaster general or your lying president? Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag The post office was the midwife of Americas democracy, and the first triumph of its federal state. By facilitating communication between every far-flung, culturally disparate settlement within the early republic, the agency formed the material basis for a national consciousness. By subsidizing the dissemination of newspapers, the post office enabled mass civic engagement and the formation of modern political parties. In the early 19th century, the institution embodied Americas most egalitarian impulses and ambitious conceptions of the role of government. At that time, Western European states ran their postal services as revenue-generating enterprises, and therefore denied mail delivery to communities that could not be served at a profit. Americas post office, by contrast, was conceived as a service to the public and to national unification, and thus provided mail to Americans in remote, rural areas as an entitlement. Over the ensuing centuries, the agency would become a vital source of middle-class employment particularly for African-Americans and other marginalized groups locked out of remunerative roles in the private labor market while remaining one of the few overwhelmingly popular public institutions in the United States. But today, the Postal Service is at risk of becoming an accessory to our democracys murder and dismemberment. COVID-19 would pose a formidable challenge to election administration, even in a healthy republic. In a body politic enfeebled by the metastasizing growth of rightwing authoritarianism, the coronavirus poses a mortal threat. In the United States, elections are overseen by partisan officials and staffed by volunteers. This is a perilous arrangement in ordinary times; in a year when the sitting president openly advocates for the disenfranchisement of his domestic opposition and a deadly virus is mowing down the very retirees who typically staff precincts Americas approach to elections is close to untenable. November is poised to witness a shortage of poll workers. And that is liable to produce long lines at polling places, which would increase the already significant public-health risk of convening an election mid-pandemic. Logistically, this problem is readily solvable: We could simply enable all voters to cast their ballots by mail. But that is not viable politically because whether it is undesirable for voters to be disenfranchised by fear of infection is a source of partisan dispute. The Republican Party has lost the popular vote in six of the last seven presidential elections. It has controlled the Senate for more than half of the past four decades, but its senators have represented a majority of the nations population for only two years in that time period. All of the advances that conservatives have made this century all of the tax cuts, deregulation, and judicial appointments have been contingent on electoral institutions overruling the will of popular majorities. None of this is lost on the conservative movement. Nor have Republicans failed to notice the demographic headwinds they face at a national level, as the least conservative generations in American history continue aging into the electorate. Rather, a consciousness of these trends has spurred conservatives to embrace an increasingly aggressive and open hostility toward popular sovereignty. Donald Trump expresses the movements contempt for democracy in unusually forthright and vulgar terms. But Mitch McConnell has argued that voting is a privilege from the floor of the U.S. Senate, and Republicans in statehouses across the country have unabashedly endorsed the principle that the votes of Democratic regions should count for less than those of Republican ones. For all the American rights populist affectations, none of its stratagems for targeted voter suppression induce much cognitive dissonance: The notion that the preservation of natural hierarchies (whether dictated by God or market forces) takes precedence over democracy is deeply rooted in the white Evangelical and libertarian intellectual traditions. For these reasons, the GOPs interest in preventing COVID from disenfranchising voters is contingent on whose voters it is likely to disenfranchise. And all available evidence indicates that the Democratic coalition is both more afraid of COVID than the Republican one, and far more likely to vote by mail. In the present context, this constitutes a liability for the Democratic Party. Almost all of this years swing states require mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day, rather than merely postmarked by that date. Any delay in mail delivery could therefore result in the nullification of many voters ballots. This prospect is not merely a hypothetical: As NPR reports, across all of this years primary elections, more than 65,000 absentee or mail-in ballots were thrown out as a result of arriving past the deadline, often through no fault of the voter. Why Trump is attacking the USPS is one chart: disenfranchising mail voters is his path to victory. Biden is +10 nationally and +50 with voters who plan to vote by mail. +50! Via @NavigatorSurvey pic.twitter.com/BwJtq0pSLP Nick Gourevitch (@nickgourevitch) August 14, 2020 As Donald Trumps standing in the polls has deteriorated, he has become evermore fixated on exploiting this potential Democratic liability. The coronavirus has put a dent in the Postal Services already fraught finances, leaving the agency in less-than-ideal condition to process a historic influx of mail-in ballots this fall. And yet, in negotiations over COVID relief, the White House opposed Democratic proposals for providing $25 billion in emergency funding for the U.S. Postal Service, and $3.6 billion in assistance to state and local election officials. On Thursday, the president explained to Fox Business Network that he opposed these measures because Democrats need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. If they dont get those two items, that means you cant have universal mail-in voting, because theyre not equipped. In case this was too subtle an expression of the administrations authoritarian motives, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNBC, So much of the Democratic asks [on stimulus] are really liberal-left wish-lists voting rights, aid to aliens thats not our game. Starving the U.S. Postal Service of funding is but one prong in the presidents broad strategy for exploiting Democratic reliance on mail-in voting. The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee have also launched legal challenges against efforts to expand the availability of mail-in voting in battleground states, while the president has argued incessantly that any mail-in votes counted after Election Day are illegitimate, remarks that may augur post-November 3 lawsuits aimed at halting vote counts. The most alarming aspect of the administrations assault on mail-voting may be centered within the Postal Service itself emphasis on may. That Donald Trump has obstructed funding for the USPS out of desire to restrict mail-in voting is now an uncontested fact. The motivations behind Postmaster General Louis DeJoys recent reforms to his agency are more ambiguous. DeJoy, a former logistics executive and big-dollar Trump donor, took the reins of the Postal Service in May. Since then, he has restructured the agency in a manner that centralizes power around himself, and implemented a series of changes purportedly aimed at increasing the agencys efficiency. Among these reforms was a prohibition on overtime pay, limitations on the use of mail sorting machines, and a requirement that letter carriers leave mail behind when necessary to avoid extra trips or late delivery on routes, according to the Washington Post. These policies have reportedly produced days-long delays in mail delivery in many parts of the country, as the elimination of overtime has reduced the agencys man hours. Postal workers and their unions have warned that DeJoys rules are a recipe for disaster this fall, when many epidemiologists expect COVID cases to tick up potentially limiting the USPSs labor force, just as the presidential election raises the stakes of timely mail delivery to nothing less than Americas democratic integrity. Given that DeJoy is unabashed in his Trump support and that Trump is unabashed in his desire to disenfranchise Democratic voters by sabotaging the Postal Service it is reasonable for liberals to view DeJoys policies as a means to Trumps authoritarian end. But it is also true that conservatives have long had the Postal Service in their crosshairs for reasons wholly unrelated to mail-in voting. The agency embodies virtually everything that the Koch Network exists to oppose: The capacity of big government to provide popular services, the efficacy of public-sector unions in delivering well-paying jobs, and the subordination of the profit motive to the maintenance of a positive right of citizenship. In other words, a rich, Republican logistics executive would have plenty of non-election-related reasons to exploit the U.S. Postal Services present vulnerability to force austerity on its workers, while rendering its core service less competitive than that of private carriers. But a generous interpretation of DeJoys actions does not render them defensible. There is no reason why the postmaster general should be prioritizing efficiencies over timely mail delivery in the present context. The Postal Services financial problems are largely an artifact of a 2006 law that arbitrarily requires the agency to pre-fund 75 years worth of its retirees health benefits. Its status as an independent, self-sustaining agency is also relatively novel and unnecessary. The federal government could cover the Postal Services annual losses for about $14 billion a year which is roughly one-tenth of the amount of money that Congress has added to the Pentagons annual budget since Donald Trump took office. Our country can easily afford to sustain an unprofitable public institution that provides 600,000 Americans with good jobs, and 90 percent of all U.S. residents with a service they approve of. Regardless even if one believes that the USPS is in need of cost-cutting and structural reform there is absolutely no reason to implement such measures right now. The official rationale for DeJoys rule requiring postal workers to leave letters behind to avoid extra trips as opposed to making multiple trips to ensure that all mail is delivered on time was that adopting this policy would save the agency $200 million in overtime and transportation costs. Which is to say: The USPS is jeopardizing the timely delivery of medicines and ballots in the middle of a pandemic for the sake of a rounding error in the federal budget. DeJoy might not be trying to undermine democracy in a manner that advances conservative goals; he may just be trying to advance conservative goals in a manner that undermines democracy. But on the list of qualities you dont want in a public servant, indifference toward maintaining the integrity of elections doesnt rank far below hostility toward maintaining such integrity. Whatever happens between now and November, the administrations war on mail-in voting will have done durable harm to our nations political life. The presidents remarks alone are sufficient to ensure that a wide swath of the country will view the elections outcome as illegitimate: How can Democrats have full faith in the legitimacy of a vote count Trump wins, when the president has made his intention to corrupt the election explicit? And how can Trumps faithful accept his defeat when he has assured them that the voting method favored by Democrats is rife with fraud? At the time of its creation, the post office embodied the American republics progressive potential. It was a force of national unification and democratization that testified to the governments capacity to expedite and guide economic development with an eye towards the citizenrys collective benefit. But our settler-colonial society harbored other potentialities. And 244 years into the American experiment, the forces of reaction have brought us to a place where the U.S. Postal Service threatens to deliver democratic decline if not disunion. In the days and weeks ahead, Democrats in Congress, and small-d democrats nationwide, must defend the USPS as if our democracy depends on it. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar honoured a plasma donor by washing his feet. Laskar had tested positive for Covid-19 and recovered through plasma therapy. He said he had washed the feet of the plasma donor, Nabidul Islam Laskar, to pay his respects to him. The plasma donors give lives. I was infected with the virus of Covid-19 and plasma donated by someone I do not know saved my life. We dont get to see God but the plasma donors are no less than Him. They are our God, Laskar told this newspaper. The Deputy Speaker, who represents the Sonai seat in Cachar, had tested positive during an antigen test on July 28. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital with complaints of breathlessness. As the hospital had no plasma bank, plasma had to be brought from Guwahati for his treatment. He was discharged on August 8 following recovery. I am alive today because I got plasma. I have taken a decision that I will wash the feet of any plasma donor from the Barak Valley, no matter which community s/he comes from or what religion s/he practises, Laskar added. The 54-year-old is the only Muslim to be elected to the Assam Assembly on a BJP ticket in the 2016 polls. He was elected as the Assembly Deputy Speaker in 2019. Last month, Assams Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that the plasma donors would get preferential treatment in job interviews and government facilities in the future. Appealing to the Covid-19-recovered to donate plasma, he had said that the observations in the US and India were that plasma therapy has no negative impact and 90% Covid-19 patients recover if plasma could be given in a moderate state of illness. Responding to his call, a lot of people donated plasma. Sarma keeps sharing the photos of the plasma heroes on his Twitter handle. 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. The story of Ireland has for long been the story of Catholics and Protestants. It's a deeply rooted binary in the Irish mind. But the truth has always been much more complex, not only in today's multi-religious and increasingly multiethnic society. Alicia Turner, Laurence Cox and Brian Bocking remind us of this in The Irish Buddhist. Part detective work, part academic study, this book is, first and foremost, a cracking good story well told. It pieces together the tale of a famous Irishman from the very start of the 20th century. While this newspaper reported on his exploits in 1911, he was later forgotten. Yet he was a hero in southeast Asia in his day: an anti-colonial activist and Buddhist monk, who, as the book's subtitle suggests, "faced down the British Empire" with bravery and flair. The challenge in writing this amazing story was in fitting the various parts of his life together. He toured Asia widely, attracting audiences of many thousands in his time, but his identity proved elusive, because of the lax approach to keeping records in the early 1900s. So, probably his name was Laurence Carroll, and probably he was born in Booterstown, Dublin, in 1856. He would become one of the first westerners to be ordained a Buddhist monk. Long before that, he had travelled to Liverpool, setting sail for the US, where he lived as a wandering tramp and alcoholic. But then he gave up the drink and travelled to Rangoon via Japan and received ordination in Burma in 1900. Under his Buddhist name, U Dhammaloka, he would become one of the most famous figures in early 20th century Asia, with his activities reported in the international press. The colonial police investigated him; and he faced charges of inciting rebellion against the empire in 1911. Maybe all this was forgotten because he did not fit the stereotypical image of the Irish freedom fighter. Not only did he non-violently resist empire in a faraway place, but he did not fit the Catholic-nationalist mode that was expected of such heroic figures. He lived the life of a simple Buddhist monk among the ordinary people of Rangoon. But he was far from ordinary himself. We can only speculate about most of his life's journey. Was he involved in radical politics in the US? Was his working-class, Dublin-born and Catholic background the source of his hatred for empire? The authors have spent a decade putting the pieces together, and what emerges is an important part of the story of the Irish diaspora, of the rise of independence movements in Asia and of the break-up of the British empire. Unlike most monks, Dhammaloka stood out. Not only was he a European, but he openly criticised the corrupting influence of Christian missionaries in Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia. He travelled to all these places from his Rangoon base, attracting thousands with his public talks, in which he called on the people to resist the corrupting influences of alcohol, colonialism and Christianity - the three intertwined threats to their native culture and way of life, as he saw it. He set up schools in numerous countries, offering free education; he fought the endemic sexual exploitation of Burmese women by colonial officials; and he saved children from being sold into slavery. He accused missionaries of bringing nothing but addiction and exploitation to the people. Through his Buddhist Tract Society, he printed and distributed millions of leaflets and pamphlets. As you might expect, he made many enemies in powerful places. As his speaking tours grew, he began to be seen as a threat. While back in Ireland the seeds of rebellion were stirring, at the other end of the empire, Dhammaloka was openly criticising Asia's British overlords at mass meetings. His supporters were drawn from many ethnicities and strata of society. He was against empire, but was no xenophobic nationalist. Maybe he was forgotten in part because, later, Burmese nationalism had no use for a white European Irish monk. Today's xenophobic expressions of Buddhist nationalism had yet to arise. Video of the Day Contributing to the amnesia around Dhammaloka is also the fact that there is no record of his death. Facing charges of sedition, he fled from Burma and spent some time in Australia, before returning to Singapore. After the authorities went after him, he faked his own death and went quiet. He also seems to have been in and out of hospital with an unknown illness. In an Irish context, Dhammaloka reminds us that our own story is much richer than is widely recognised. Although the book is called The Irish Buddhist, singular, in truth there are many: 10,000, according to the last census. I am one myself. There are also many Irish Muslims and Irish Jews; Irish Sikhs and Irish Hindus. And, increasingly, there are many Irish atheists. Yet the myth persists that to be Irish is to be, first, an Irish Catholic or, second, an Irish Protestant. The authors of this book have done us a great service in challenging this viewpoint. But our greatest indebtedness must go to Dhammaloka, the Booterstown Buddhist. His gift to Burma was to keep the flame of freedom and self-respect alive. His gift to us is a richer and truer understanding of who we really are. Ian Kilroy lectures at the TU Dublin School of Media. He is a Zen Buddhist priest, teacher and founder of Zen Buddhism Ireland, and founding president of the Irish Buddhist Union. The worlds highest-paid actors have been named in an annual list released by Forbes. For the first time ever, the outcome has been greatly affected by Netflix, who contributed a total of $140.5m ($183.9m) to the featured stars. Dwayne The Rock Johnson topped the list for the second year running, with Ryan Reynolds following close behind thanks to roles in Michael Bays Six Underground and the recently delayed Free Solo. Other high earners include Mark Wahlberg (Spenser Confidential), Ben Affleck (The Last Thing He Wanted) and Uncut Gems star Adam Sandler, who signed a multi-film deal with Netflix in January. Vin Diesel is the sole Marvel actor to have made this years list is, but courtesy of his role in the Fast & Furious franchise. All 10 actors collected a combined $545.5m (416.5m). Find the full list of the highest-paid actors of 2020 below. 1. Dwayne The Rock Johnson $87.5m (66.8m) Dwayne The Rock Johnson topped the highest-paid actors list for the second year running (Getty Images) 2. Ryan Reynolds $71.5m (54.5m) 3. Mark Wahlberg $58m (44.2m) 4. Ben Affleck $55m (41.9m) 5. Vin Diesel $54m (41.2m) 6. Akshay Kumar $48.5m (37m) 7. Lin-Manuel Miranda $45.5m (34.7m) 8. Will Smith $44.5m (33.9m) Will Smith featured in the 2020 highest-paid actors list (Getty Images) (Getty Images,) 9. Adam Sandler $31m 10. Jackie Chan $30m The highest-paid actress list will be released in September. Speaking at a virtual event organised by The 19th, a US non-profit, non-partisan newsroom, Meghan said it was so sad to see where our country was in that moment. But she said that she was inspired by the response to the death of George Floyd, and was looking forward to using her voice in a way I havent been able to of late. Meghan added: To come back and to just see the state of affairs, I think at the onset if Im being honest it was just devastating. It was so sad to see where our country was in that moment and if theres any silver lining in that I would say that in the weeks that were happening after the murder of George Floyd, in the peaceful protests you were seeing, in the voices that were coming out, in the way that people were actually owning their role and acknowledging their role that they played, either actively or passively, in the discrimination of other people, specifically of the black community. Advertisement It shifted from sadness to a feeling of absolute inspiration because I can see that the tide is turning. Its not new to see this undercurrent of racism and certainly unconscious bias, but I think to see the changes that are being made right now, its something that I look forward to being a part of and using my voice in a way I havent been able to of late. It was so sad to see where our country was in that moment African American Mr Floyd died after a police officer held him down by pressing his knee into his neck for almost nine minutes, in Minneapolis on May 25th. The incident was captured on video and sparked a wave of anti-racism protests in the US and across the globe, including in the UK. Meghans comments come after it emerged she and Harry had bought a property in the celebrity hotspot of Santa Barbara for a reported 11 million (12 million). The couple had been house-hunting for some time after relocating to the US from Canada just before the coronavirus lockdown. Harry and Meghan plunged the royal family into a period of crisis when they announced earlier in the year they wanted to step back from their positions as senior royals and become financially independent. A summit of senior royals was convened by the Queen at Sandringham to discuss the issue, with Harry sitting down for talks with his grandmother, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge. It was later announced they would no longer be working members of the monarchy, split their time between Canada and the UK, with the majority spent in North America, and no longer be known as HRH. The United States suffered an embarrassing defeat at the United Nations on Friday when the Security Council refused to go along with a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo against Iran that is due to expire in two months. After a full 24 hours of voting conducted virtually because of covid-19 concerns, the 15-member council rebuffed a pared-down U.S. resolution that would have indefinitely extended the embargo, which has been in place since 2007. The vote paves the way for the embargo to be lifted on Oct. 18, as described in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers, including the United States - a prospect Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday labeled "just nuts" and vowed the United States will not allow to transpire. Pompeo blasted the Security Council's "failure to hold Iran accountable" in a statement sent out half an hour before the vote was announced. "It rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific UN restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade," he said. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable." Pompeo predicted that the decision would sow chaos and destruction, and vowed to block Iran's arms trade despite the vote. "The United States will never abandon our friends in the region who expected more from the Security Council," he said. "We will continue to work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons that threaten the heart of Europe, the Middle East and beyond." The vote was a sharp repudiation of the Trump administration's approach to Iran, the target of a "maximum pressure campaign" of sanctions that has been one of its signature foreign policies. Underscoring the breadth of the opposition to the U.S. proposal, only the Dominican Republic voted with the United States for the embargo's extension. Russia and China voted against it. Eleven members abstained, including France, Britain and Germany, the European countries that helped negotiate the 2015 deal and have struggled to salvage it. The resolution before the Security Council was far less expansive than the initial version the United States circulated in June that spelled out a host of provisions in 35 paragraphs over seven pages. It would have authorized inspections of Iranian vessels and weapons seizures. But that draft gained little support within the Security Council. Russia and China, both permanent members of the council, signaled their intent to use their veto to sink it. The United States came up a compromise draft that was only four paragraphs long. Gone were the explicit criticism of Iran and a section calling for a sanctions committee to monitor Tehran's compliance. Kelly Craft, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., accused the Security Council of falling victim to narrow political interests "just to save face and protect a failed political deal made outside the Council," a reference to the nuclear deal. She said the United States would seek the return of nuclear-related sanctions under the resolution that endorsed the agreement. "Under Resolution 2231, the United States has every right to initiate snapback of provisions of previous Security Council resolutions," she said. "In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo." Though the vote focused on a U.N. embargo against conventional weapons, the measure was intrinsically linked to the Iran nuclear deal that President Donald Trump walked away from in 2018. The other negotiating partners - France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China - still support the agreement. Trump and Pompeo contend that Iran remains a threat to regional stability, in large part because it continues to arm militant groups in neighboring countries. That is why Pompeo and his top aides spent two years in an international lobbying campaign about the need for the arms embargo, whose lifting is part of the U.N. resolution endorsing the 2015 agreement. The six Arab nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council have pushed to extend the embargo, despite the agreement. "Letting the arms embargo expire was a big deficiency of the Iran nuclear deal," Brian Hook, the State Department's special envoy for Iran, told reporters Thursday. "It was an irresponsible concession. We are doing our best to fix the mistake." But dropping out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal's official name, has isolated the United States on the issue, even among allies that share its concerns over Iran and its imminent resumption of buying and selling weapons. Most members of the council want to preserve the nuclear agreement, and Iran could have bailed out of it if the embargo had been extended and resume its nuclear program full tilt. The United States argues that even though it has left the nuclear deal, it retains the right as an original "JCPOA participant" to trigger the "snapback" of sanctions over any issue that violates the agreement, even though it no longer is a participant in it. Both Russia and China have dismissed the U.S. position, saying that since it left the agreement it has no right to keep the arms embargo in place. The Europeans have struggled to keep the nuclear agreement with Iran alive and worry about losing a window into Iran's nuclear program through monitors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "The Europeans see this through the prism of the JCPOA, rather than the issue of the lapsing arms embargo," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "How they vote is defined by their attachment to the JCPOA." Some observers fear that the U.S. pursuit of a sanctions snapback could cause an existential crisis in the Security Council itself. "The question is, does the rest of the Security Council believe the snapback is legitimate?" said Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. "It's possible they'll ignore it. And what's the value of the Security Council if they can't agree on what authority they have?" As if to drive home the point that the administration will not relent in its "maximum pressure" campaign to disrupt Iran's economy, the Justice Department announced Friday that it had seized four ships carrying fuel to Venezuela in what it called the "largest-ever seizure of fuel shipments from Iran." The ships, carrying an estimated 1.1 million barrels of fuel, will have their cargo confiscated on arrival in Houston under a forfeiture order issued by a federal court in early July. U.S. officials had contacted the foreign flagged vessels, believed to be Greek-owned, warning that their contents could be taken. The four then peeled off from a nine-ship convoy whose other vessels were Iranian, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Venezuela, which lacks refining capacity, has been trading crude oil and gold to Iran in exchange for refined petroleum products, according to administration officials. Pompeo, while visiting Vienna where the 2015 nuclear deal was negotiated and signed, met with Rafael Grossi, director of the IAEA. Pompeo said the United States would employ "everything we can within our diplomatic tool kit" to stop Iran from buying weapons that could be deployed against Israel and other U.S. allies in the Middle East and Europe. "We can't allow the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell weapons," Pompeo said at a news conference Friday just before he met with Grossi. "I mean, that's just nuts." - - - The Washington Post's Karen DeYoung in Washington and Rick Noack in Berlin contributed to this report. You are here: Business China's commerce ministry said Friday that it had started an anti-subsidy investigation into polyphenylene ether imports from the United States. The probe was launched following a request by the Nantong Xingchen Synthetic Material Co., Ltd., on behalf of the domestic polyphenylene ether industry, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its website. Polyphenylene ether is a polymer with good heat resistance, dimensional stability and mechanical properties. It is used in photovoltaic, electronics and automobile industries. The investigation is expected to end before August 14, 2021, but could be extended until February 14, 2022, the statement said. New Delhi: Addressing the nation on the occasion of country's 74th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that no country should try to raise an eye on the sovereignty of India. Lauding the soldiers he said that the Indian Army has responded from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and they have time and again proved their ability and valor. He remembered the soldiers in Ladakh and their contribution during the face-offs between the troops of India-China in May-June and said that Indian Army has responded in the same language. The PM said, "Respect for India`s sovereignty is supreme for us. What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen in Ladakh." He said, "All the leaders of the countries of this region have an important responsibility towards the development and progress of this huge mass group." He added, "Where there is harmony in relationships, bonding occurs." Giving strong message to the world from ramparts of Redfort PM said that India is committed to strengthen its security and to make its Army stronger. He said, "India is also fully equipped for self-sufficiency in defence production." In his address, PM Modi also pointed out that India needs to move ahead with the mantra of make for the world along with Make-in-India as India has the natural resources to do so. "India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey," Modi said. Judging from her recent Instagram posts, she's turned a corner in the management of her multiple sclerosis. And Selma Blair looked gorgeous and in great shape on Friday, as she was spotted doing some shopping ahead of the weekend in Studio City, California. The Cruel Intentions star, 48, was stunning in a form-fitting navy blue sleeveless dress from All Good Feels, which ended just at the knee. Picking up essential reading: Selma Blair looked gorgeous and in great shape on Friday, as she was spotted doing some shopping ahead of the weekend in Studio City Selma walked with a cane, and also made sure to mask up with a black face covering as a measure of protection against COVID-19. The actress and mother-of-one wore tan suede Birkenstock sandals on her feet. Blair also sported her mop of short brown locks in a pixie cut, which has grown back beautifully ever since she lost her hair as a result of taking chemotherapy last fall. Stylish Selma: The Cruel Intentions star was stunning in a form-fitting navy blue sleeveless dress from All Good Feels, which ended just at the knee As she has documented her journey in dealing with MS on her social media, Selma explained at the time that the type of chemo she underwent had proven effective for certain sufferers of the degenerative nerve disease. But on Friday, the Legally Blonde actress went about several errands, getting some juice at Alfred Coffee and doing some shopping Big 5, CVS and a local newsstand. The sighting comes one day after Selma lit up the internet with two swimsuit selfies on her Instagram, showing her youthful beauty in bright teal keyhole bathing suit. Beauty: The sighting comes one day after Selma lit up the internet with two swimsuit selfies on her Instagram Wow: The snaps showed her youthful beauty in bright teal keyhole bathing suit And last Saturday, Blair proved that she had turned reached an important milestone by being able to finally do something she had missed dearly ever since being diagnosed with her condition. In a suite of inspirational photos, Selma was seen finally back on horseback, with her beloved steed Mr. Nibbles. The actress, who has three film projects out this year, modeled an elegant equestrian look for the outing, complete with sleek new riding boots. Last Saturday: Blair proved that she had turned reached an important milestone by being able to finally do something she had missed dearly ever since being diagnosed with her condition The first batch of long-awaited five Rafale fighter jets recently arrived in India and was inducted at the Indian Air Forces Ambala airbase. The fighter jets, manufactured by France-based Dassault Aviation, are twin-engine multi-role fighter aircraft. These are nuclear capable and can engage in both air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks. With the arrival of the Rafale, the IAFs firepower is set to increase multifold. The first 5 #IAF #Rafales have taken off from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, #France today morning. These 5 include 3 single-seater and 2 twin-seater aircraft. The ferry is planned in two stages & is being undertaken by IAF pilots. 1/2#RafaleJet pic.twitter.com/0TWU5zlgvQ Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 27, 2020 As India celebrate its 74th Independence Day, we look at all the active fighter jets used by the Indian Air Force, from Sukhoi Su-30MKI to the Tejas LCA and now, the Rafale. Dassault Rafale (Image: Dassault Aviation) RELATED NEWS The Story of 'Aatmanirbhar' Indian Motorcycle Industry and its Dominance Over Chinese Brands Rafale India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and missiles and the first squadron of the aircraft will be deployed at Ambala air force station, considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF. The Indo-Pak border is around 220 km from there. The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The Rafale is a modern fighter jet known for its agility, speed, weapon holding capacity and attack capability. The Dassault Rafale has a delta wing design and is capable of g-forces as high as 11g (in case of emergency). The Rafale is available in both single and dual seating cabin (India ordered 28 single and 8 dual seater Rafale). Mirage 2000. (Image: IAF) Mirage-2000 The Mirage-2000 is undoubtedly one of the Indian Air Forces (IAF) most versatile and deadliest aircraft and it was first commissioned in 1985. Soon after inducting the Mirage, IAF gave it the name Vajra meaning lightning thunderbolt in Sanskrit. The Mirage-2000 is developed by Dassault Aviation and took its first flight in 1978 and was inducted in the French Air Force in 1984. India placed an initial order of 36 single-seater Mirage-2000 and 4 twin-seater Mirage 2000 in 1982 as an answer to Pakistan buying the US-made F-16 fighter jets by Lockheed Martin. The Mirage-2000 played a decisive role in the 1999 war of Kargil and seeing the success of the jets, the government in India placed an additional order of 10 Mirage-2000 planes in 2004, taking the total tally to 50 jets. Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. (Picture courtesy: Official Website of Tejas) HAL Tejas LCA India has long borrowed its fighter jets from countries like Russia, France and Britain under a license agreement to manufacture it locally by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. However, back in the 1980s the HAL started the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme to replace the ageing Soviet sourced MiG-21. With Indias former Prime Minister giving the LCA its name Tejas the 1st indigenously built fighter aircraft was inducted in the Indian Air Force with the IAF placing a 20 jet order initially and the 1st Tejas Squadron was formed in 2016 called the Flying Daggers. Till now IAF has placed an order of 40 Tejas Mk 1, including 32 single-seat aircraft and eight twin-seat trainers. IAF has also initiated procurement of a further 73 single-seat fighters in Mk 1A configuration. MiG 21. (Image: IAF) Mikoyan MiG-21 The first supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, the MiG 21 is one of the most known fighter jets on Earth. Having served 60 countries over a course of 60 years, the MiG 21 is still in service in many countries, including India. In 1961, IAF opted for the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau made MiG 21 and since then has bought more than 250 estimated units of this incredibly competent planes. While the 21s played a pivotal role in the 1971 India Pakistan War, they are currently being used only as Interceptors with a limited role as fighter jets and IAF will soon replace the remaining units of the MiG21 Bison with the Tejas LCA. The MiG 21 has a single-seater cockpit with a maximum speed of 1.05 mach (1300 kmph). IAFs Sukhoi-30 MKI plane, carrying Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, takes off for a sortie, in Jodhpur. (Image: PTI) Sukhoi Su-30MKI The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is the most advanced fighter jet in operation with the Indian Air Force and is the primary air to air and air to ground strike machine. Also known as Flanker (NATO), the Su-30 MKI is built in India by HAL under a license agreement with Russias Sukhoi. The Su-30MKI is exclusively used by India and theres an estimate that IAF has 290 operational units of 30MKI till now. The first unit was inducted in 2002. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI has a top speed of Mach 2 (2120 kmph) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 38,800 kg. The jet can carry a wide range of equipment from radars to missiles, bombs and event rockets. MiG 27. (Image: IAF) Mikoyan MiG-27 The MiG 27 is again Soviet sourced ground-attack aircraft designed by Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau from the Soviet Union and manufactured by HAL under a license agreement. The MiG27 is known as Bahadur (meaning Valiant in English) in India and the IAF retired the last 27 ML squadron in 2017. India is only among a handful of countries who still operates the updated MiG-27 UPG ground attack aircraft. The 27s are based on the MiG23 with a redesigned nose and flies low altitude. SEPECAT Jaguar. (Image IAF) SEPECAT Jaguar The SEPECAT Jaguar is a fighter jet developed together by British Royal Air Force and French Air Force. Only the Indian Air Force is currently using the upgraded Jaguar in active duty. The SEPECAT Jaguar is known as Shamsher and serves IAF as primary ground attack aircraft. Indian Jaguar is quite different from the RAFs Jaguar and are built locally by HAL under a license agreement. IAF recently upgraded its entire fleet of Jaguars by adding Avionics support. The only problem with the Jaguar is its inability to fly high altitude with heavy load on board. MiG 29. (Image: IAF) Mikoyan MiG-29 Last on our list is another Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau produced MiG called the MiG 29. Introduced in the 1970s to counter U.S. F-Series planes like F-15 and F-16 the MiG29 is known as Baaz (Hindi for Hawk) and forms the second line of defence after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. The MiG-29 is exported to more than 30 nations, India being the first and one of the largest exporters of this jet. The IAF currently uses the upgraded MiG-29 UPG, the most advanced MiG-29 variant ever. The MiG29 were used extensively during the Kargil War by the Indian Air Force to provide escort for Mirage-2000 attacking targets with laser-guided bombs. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram. Speaking at an Independence Day function in Jalna, the health minister said that despite the rise in infections, the COVID-19 recovery rate in the state was also high Jalna: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday expressed concern over the rise in COVID-19 in rural areas of the state due to the influx of migrants from Mumbai. Speaking at an Independence Day function at the Collectorate, the minister said despite the rise in infections, the recovery rate in the state was high. While the COVID-19 tally in Jalna had reached 3,000, more than 2,000 patients had recovered from the infection, said Tope, who is also the guardian minister of the district. The minister noted that the spike in cases in rural parts of the state due to the return of migrants from Mumbai is a cause for concern. Felicitating health and frontline workers on the occasion, Tope urged citizens to cooperate with doctors and the administration in the war against the pandemic. A liquid oxygen plant is being set up at the COVID-19 hospital in Jalna, he said, adding that the health department was providing proper facilities for the treatment of infected persons. Apart from Tope, MLA Kailash Gorantyal, district collector Ravindra Binwade, chief executive officer Nima Aroraand district superintendent of police S Chaitanya were present on the occasion. Chhattisgarh High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to IAS officers Anil Tuteja and Alok Shukla in a money laundering case related to the Chhattisgarh Civil Supply Corporation scam. The anticipatory bail order was passed on Friday. Justice Arvind Singh Chandel had reserved the order on separate pre-arrest bail pleas of Shukla and Tuteja on July 14. In 2019, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had lodged an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which was based on the FIR and charge sheet filed by the Chhattisgarh polices economic offences wing (EOW) and the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in the civil supply scam. Tuteja and Shukla were named as accused in the EDs case. Also read: Chhattisgarh CM raises objection over draft EIA notification, writes to union environment min The counsel of IAS officers, Avi Singh and Aayush Bhatia said that while the ECIR was registered by the ED at its sub-zonal office in Raipur, the summons were issued by the ED office in Delhi. The HC granted anticipatory bail saying that the charge sheet has already been filed, no recovery was made from anyone and no departmental proceeding has been initiated. The ECIR case was registered against them last year and notice was issued to them for the first time in the case in March this year. The delay in the issuance of notice has not been explained, the court said. Nan-Scam came into light in 2014 when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted raids in various parts of the state and seized cash and documents. The ACB also recovered coded diary entries of pay-offs to officials and politicians. Then in opposition, Congress party claimed that the scam is worth about Rs 36,000 crore. In 2015, a PIL was filed by Sudeep Shrivastava in Chhattisgarh high court demanding an SIT investigation in the case. Shrivastava, in his PIL, alleged that the investigating agency saved few officers who were involved in the scam. The PIL which was filed by Shrivastava says that of total 254 samples of rice 111 samples and out of 185 samples of salts 64 samples were found to be sub-standard and unfit for human consumption but were cleared by officers. Shukla, then food secretary, and Tuteja, then managing director of the corporation, were not accused initially but were named in a supplementary charge sheet filed in December 2018, the lawyers said. The two had been granted anticipatory bail by the HC last year in the ACB/EOW case, the lawyers pointed out. In her four years serving Tulsa City Councils District 1, Vanessa Hall-Harper has proven to be a strong and consistent voice for her constituents. When she ran for reelection two years ago, the Tulsa native identified the lack of a full-service grocery store and the need for police reform as the top concerns for her district. Since then, Hall-Harper helped land a comprehensive supermarket and doggedly pursued improvements in the polices and practices of Tulsa police. The Oasis Fresh Market broke ground earlier this year in partnership with the Tulsa Economic Development Corp. This store will end the food desert drought that has plagued the district for too long, and Hall-Harper deserves credit for her role in the deal. Her leadership for law enforcement reforms reflect the frustrations and distrust of police by her constituents. A survey last year found only about 1 in 5 Black Tulsans have a lot of trust in police. This is the story of a derelict building thats been moldering on the corner of Music and Urquhart streets in St. Roch for years and years. Because of the skeletal exposed beams on the second floor and the flapping loose tarps that used to cover the windows, some people call it the ghost ship. Two weeks ago, a neighbor set out to mitigate the blight by inviting some of the citys finest muralists and graffiti writers to turn the gutted eyesore into a street art extravaganza, where neighbors could hear a band play outdoors. Aerosol art aficionados will certainly want to check out the buoyant, blazingly colorful murals that brought some life back to the decaying structure. But dont wait too long. As the project was nearing completion on Thursday, the city marked the building with an emergency demolition notice. The property, the city warned, was an imminent danger of collapse and/or a threat to life, health, property or public safety. According to the notice, the old wreck would be torn down tout suite at a cost of $29,000, which would be billed to the absentee owner. The building is owned by Lagniappe Property Management LLC, according to the Orleans Parish Property Assessor's records. That firm's registered agent and manager is Sadat Spencer, according to the Louisiana secretary of state. It's not clear whether that means Spencer owns the corporation. Beyond his role in the company and SMS Development, a real estate firm, Spencer also is a board member of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. The redevelopment authority is a state-created entity charged with reducing blight by managing and reselling vacant properties with a mission of aiding in the "revitalization of underinvested areas" in the city. Reached by phone on Friday, Spencer declined to comment on the derelict building. Antoinette Reynolds has lived within sight of the unsightly property for seven years, during which time theres been no effort at improvement, she said. According to neighborhood lore, the ghost ship was once a dry cleaning shop. I always hoped something nice would happen with the building, Reynolds said. But it didnt. Reynolds said she contacted the owner and city agencies, complaining of the abandoned site. But there was never any action. Reynolds, a renovation contractor by trade, hates to see properties allowed to fall apart for lack of maintenance. Fall apart is not an exaggeration. A chunk of the second story mansard roof once crashed into the street just as a man walked past the building, she said. Thank goodness he was young and spry, she said. Vagrants routinely spent the night in the ghost ship and adjacent structures, until Reynolds, fearing a fire, took it upon herself to board up some of the doors and windows with trepidation, she said. My fear was the owner showing up and suing me, she said. But someone had to do something. A few weeks ago, her custodianship went a step further. Reynolds and neighborhood volunteers cleaned up the concrete lot beside the building, which was littered with mattresses, syringes and excrement. Once the lot was cleaned out, Reynolds and neighbors decided to put it to use. The concrete lot would be the perfect place for a Friday night socially distanced band. And if there was going to be a band, wouldnt it be cool if there was a mural in the background? Reynolds got in touch with Carlos Fundora, who leads New Orleans street art tours. He hooked her up with a pair of gifted street painters who go by the names Sanguine Skills and Swan. The duo composed a gorgeous double portrait over the bricks, corrugated sheet metal and broken glass of the building. The artists were soon joined by other graffiti and street art stars known as Meek, Crude Things, Mr. Balloon Hands and Fosa. In less than two weeks, Reynolds had become the impresario of an outdoor gallery. Oh my God, it knocked my socks off, she said. I was not expecting the level of professionalism. And this didnt cost anything. For them to be working all day in the hot sun just for the joy of people walking by, I was amazed. Then, suddenly, after years of inaction, the citys notice of emergency demolition appeared amid Mr. Balloon Hands painting titled Heard Dat! In one respect, Reynolds said, I completely understand. After all, shed been hoping for someone to do something. But why now? She's heard from the demolition company that its date with the bulldozers is two weeks away. Trey Caruso, media assistant with Mayor LaToya Cantrell's office, responded that state property laws require "extensive research and noticing requirements that can delay abatement." "Unfortunately, the continued deterioration of some properties may lead to them being declared to be in imminent danger of collapse, and the City must expedite removal in the interest of public safety," Caruso said in an email. The city's statement did not directly address the management of the derelict property by Redevelopment Authority board member Spencer. "The Mayor's priority is the full abatement of blighted properties throughout the City, regardless of ownership," Caruso wrote. I feel sorry for the artists, Reynolds said. Shed warned them that the building was always in jeopardy one way or another, but it was as if the city waited until someone took matters into their own hands to act. I literally got tired of asking for help. I said We are on our own. If we want things improved, we have to do it ourselves.' +5 Is Mardi Gras 2021 still possible? Meetings in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish offer no clue Will there be a New Orleans Carnival in 2021? Those who hoped a meeting Thursday of the Mayor's Mardi Gras Advisory Council would answer that The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) urges Nebraska families to catch up on childhood immunizations, and all Nebraskans to get the flu vaccine this fall. While immunizations were postponed in the initial stage of the coronavirus pandemic, they play an essential role in protecting infants and children from serious diseases. During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend maintaining immunization schedules for infants, children and adolescents through age 18, and for pregnant women. The pandemic understandably impacted childhood immunization rates, but this is the moment to catch up, said Dr. Gary Anthone, chief medical officer and director of public health for DHHS. Ensuring children get all their immunizations is one of the most effective ways to protect them from serious diseases that are easily spread and often require medical care. Compared to rates from January to June 2019, Nebraska immunizations for the same time frame in 2020 are down almost 6% for children under 2, 27% for children ages 2-7 and 30% for youth ages 7-17. Three rockets landed in the vicinity of Baghdad airport near a military base in the complex that houses U.S. forces, the Iraqi military said, after one of the busiest weeks of attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq for months. The incident caused no casualties, the military said. It followed at least five attacks directed at U.S. interests in Iraq this week, including four blasts against convoys carrying supplies to bases housing U.S. forces, a rocket attack on an air base north of Baghdad and a rocket attack near the U.S. Embassy in the capital. Washington blames such attacks on Iranian-backed militia groups. Iran has not directly commented on the incidents but little-known groups believed to be connected to Iran-aligned militias have claimed some attacks. Friday's attack took place as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi prepares to travel to the United States for talks about Iraq's future strategic relationship with Washington. It also comes after Israel and the United Arab Emirates, two regional opponents of Iran, announced they would normalise diplomatic ties, a move that some commentators say provides a fresh challenge to Iran's power in the Middle East. Iraq, where U.S.-Iran tensions have often spilled over into violence, seeks to avoid being drawn into any regional conflagration. The Middle East came close to a full conflict in January after a U.S. drone strike killed the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad airport. Iran-aligned militias have sworn to avenge their deaths. The militias see Kadhimi as having firmly sided with the United States since he took office in May, after he ordered an arrest raid against one powerful Iran-aligned group and has indicated he wants to rein in the paramilitaries. Search Keywords: Short link: (CNN) Bald eagle versus drone, round one: Bald eagle. When a bald eagle tangled unexpectedly with a US government drone last month in Michigan, it won, emerging from the scene unscathed. And the drone? Officials say it is somewhere in Lake Michigan. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy disclosed the attack on Thursday, almost one month after the eagle sent the $950 drone into the Great Lake. The trouble began when Hunter King, an environmental quality analyst with the department, sent a drone over Michigan's Upper Peninsula to map shoreline erosion, the department said. His drone's reception started to sputter, so he commanded it to return home. He watched on a screen as his drone turned back to head toward him when it suddenly began to spiral. Eventually, the drone disappeared and King saw an eagle fly away from the scene. A couple who witnessed the event told the environmental department they saw an eagle strike an object in the air, though they didn't know then it was a drone. They both confirmed, as did King, that the eagle looked unharmed as it flew away, the department said. Searches for the downed drone were futile. Telemetric data showed that the drone fell about 150 feet from the shore in water four feet deep, but staff couldn't find it after repeated searches by boat and on foot. Data from the flight showed that the eagle struck the drone about seven minutes into its flight, and within a half-second, the drone started to spiral. Three seconds later, the drone's propeller was torn off, and it fell 160 feet into the water below. The attack might have been a "territorial squabble" between the eagle and drone. Or the eagle may have been hungry, mistaking the drone as a seagull or another non-electronic meal, the department said. Drones have become an increasingly mainstream research tool that give scientists a bird's eye view of the environment. But they can confuse actual birds especially the birds of prey closer in size to many drones, like eagles who may confuse them for prey or attack them for flying through their territory. This story was first published on CNN.com "A bald eagle takes on a government drone. The bald eagle wins" Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty Friday after admitting that he doctored a document used in the application process authorizing surveillance against for a former Trump campaign aide -- part of the first criminal case brought by U.S. Attorney John Durham in his investigation examining the origins of the Russia probe. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz had previously outlined Clinesmith's conduct in his report released last year examining the Russia investigation, and referred Clinesmith to the DOJ for prosecution after finding he had altered an email from the CIA that was used by the government in the final FISA renewal application authorizing surveillance of former Trump aide Carter Page. According to a criminal information filing made public Friday, Clinesmith pleaded to one felony charge for making false statements. "He will be pleading guilty," Clinesmith's attorney Justin Shur told ABC News in a statement Friday. "Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email. It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues as he believed the information he relayed was accurate. But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility." The news of Clinesmith's plea was first reported by the New York Times. The first FISA application targeting Page was first approved in October of 2016 and signed by then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. The first renewal came in January of 2017 under Yates signature, the second came in April of 2017 signed by Acting Attorney General Dan Boente and third and final renewal application was filed under the signature of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in June of 2017. Clinesmiths alteration only impacted that final renewal application in June of 2017 and was not relevant to the earlier FISA warrants. Horowitz's report last December outlined numerous errors and omissions by the FBI agents who handled the applications for Page, and the DOJ subsequently declared the final two applications were, including the one implicating Clinesmith, while declining to take a position on the first two applications. Story continues The criminal information filing does not include any allegation that Clinesmith's decision to alter the document was related to any bias against President Trump specifically or part of a broader effort to undermine his presidency. Attorney General Barr last night appeared to preview Clinesmith's plea in an appearance on Fox News host Sean Hannity's show Thursday evening, which he described as "not an earth-shattering development" for Durham's investigation but "an indication that things are moving along at the proper pace as dictated by the facts in the investigation." Barr's announcement came just hours after President Trump signaled he's impatient about the lack of action taken by the Justice Department against his political opponents. Related: Trump administration addresses election meddling "We're not going to do anything inappropriate before the election but we're not being dictated to by this schedule -- what's dictating the timing of this are developments in the case," Barr said. "And there will be developments tomorrow -- there will be a development in the case. You know, it's not an earth-shattering development but it is an indication that things are moving along at the proper pace as dictated by the facts in the investigation." It's unclear, however, whether Clinesmith's plea will satisfy Trump or those on the right who have demanded charges against more senior officials involved in launching the Russia investigation. Trump in an interview with Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo Thursday said Barr's reputation as attorney general would hinge on the results of Durham's investigation. I hope hes doing a great job, and I hope theyre not going to be politically correct, Trump said. "Bill Barr can go down as the greatest attorney general in the history of our country, or he can go down as an average guy. Well see what happens." Responding directly to Trump's comments in his interview with Hannity, Barr said, "if I was worried about being politically correct, I would not have joined this administration." PHOTO: Attorney General William Barr listens during an event to highlight the Department of Justice grants to combat human trafficking, in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Aug. 4, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE) MORE: DOJ watchdog defends Russia investigation report against AG Barr's criticism Durham's last public statement during his investigation was in December of last year, when he and Barr following the release of Horowitz's report into the origins of the Russia investigation said they disagreed with Horowitz's assessment that the investigation was launched with proper cause. Barr's recent comments on how he plans to handle Durham's findings have caused increasing alarm among Democrats, who have argued he will seek to use the investigation to benefit Trump politically in the months and weeks leading up to the November 3 election. MORE: Prosecutor reviewing Russia probe known for tenacity, ethics While Barr has repeatedly insisted he will take no action based on political considerations, he has at the same time set down Election Day more recently as a benchmark for when he hopes to reveal some of what Durham has uncovered. "We're all aware of the calendar and, you know we're not going to do anything for the purposes of affecting an election," Barr said in an interview with conservative commentator Buck Sexton Wednesday. "But, you know, we are trying to get some, some things accomplished before the election." MORE: Barr says Russia probe was started 'without basis' Barr has also suggested Durham's investigation has faced delays in part because the COVID-19 crisis has made it difficult to impanel grand juries which would issue subpoenas for witnesses or indictments. Previously, Barr has taken umbrage when President Trump openly weighed into criminal matters before his department. Barr's Thursday tease of the latest Durham development is reminiscent of Barr's intervention in the sentencing process for Trump's longtime ally Roger Stone back in February, just hours after Trump tweeted, "Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!" In an interview with ABC News, Barr denied his actions were in any way connected with Trump's comments and added that Trump's tweets "make it impossible for me to do my job. "I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me, Barr said. In addition to his comments about Barr Thursday, Trump also distanced himself from his FBI Director Christopher Wray, who he said has not recently been cooperative enough with Republican lawmakers demanding more documents related to the Russia investigation's origins. "Christopher Wray was put there. We have an election coming up," Trump said. "I wish he was more forthcoming, he certainly hasn't been. There are documents that they want to get, and we have said we want to get. We're going to find out if he's going to give those documents. But certainly he's been very, very protective." Trump added Wray was put in his job "by a certain person," but Trump himself nominated Wray for the position after his firing of former FBI Director James Comey, saying in a statement at the time that Wray "is an impeccably qualified individual, and I know that he will again serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity." Former FBI lawyer to plead guilty in Trump-Russia probe review originally appeared on abcnews.go.com 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 UPDATE: Charge dropped against MLive reporter KALAMAZOO, MI A rally by the far-right group Proud Boys turned violent in downtown Kalamazoo the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 15. First Congregational Church hosted a vigil of anti-racism counter protesters within Arcadia Creek Festival Place. The group formed a perimeter around the area, according to MLive reporter Samuel J. Robinson who was on the scene. Proud Boys, a white nationalist group, is protesting in Kalamazoo. Fights have broken out between opposing groups: Posted by MLive.com on Saturday, August 15, 2020 The Proud Boys, they not only have hatred for Jewish people and Muslim people, but theyre also very hateful of anybody who doesnt look like them or act like them, said The Rev. Nathan Dannison, the churchs pastor. Addressing the gathered crowd, Dannison urged those present to commit themselves to non-violence and non-aggression. Lets work together to remain peaceful and manifest positive energy with each other, to take care of each other, to take care of our own selves and our own safety, and to defend one another, Dannison told the crowd. Proud Boys rally in downtown Kalamazoo Shortly thereafter, chanting, mostly mask-less Proud Boys marched toward the parks entrance, waving American, Trump, and Gadsden flags and other symbols. Violence broke out soon after, with Proud Boys attacking counter-protesters with fists, kicks, and shoves. Proud Boys also pepper-sprayed numerous people, including Robinson. As of 1:49 p.m., there were no police present, Robinson tweeted. Kalamazoo Public Safety officers and Portage police officers, many wearing riot gear, showed up shortly thereafter at a parking structure where the protest had advanced to. Counter protesters stood at the exit of the ramp yelling at Proud Boys as they left. Robinson, who was recording a Facebook Live video for MLive, was detained by police despite announcing being a reporter covering the protest. The video ended abruptly with Robinson being seemingly taken to the ground by police as he repeatedly stated he was being arrested. Robinson was shooting video of the Proud Boys leaving the parking ramp, and the confrontation with counter protesters, when he was detained. Robinson was later bonded out after being charged with impeding traffic. Afterward, counter protesters criticized police for not stepping in sooner to control the situation. About two dozen of them block traffic on West Michigan Avenue late Saturday night demanding answers from police. Saturday evening the city of Kalamazoo issued a statement defending police. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety had developed plans in accordance with the departments policies for peaceful protests, and also for a response to the event if it were to turn violent, which included over 100 officers from 5 jurisdictions, the city wrote. Once the event turned violent, the officers responded quickly and restored order. To restore order to the area, the officers declared a police zone and dispersed the crowds. Hell has broken loose pic.twitter.com/SBj5GqdhFq Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020 More: Rumored Proud Boys event sparks counter vigil in Kalamazoo Another local event, a counter protest against the Proud Boys, is set up for 2 p.m. the same day and place. The Southern Poverty Law Center designates Proud Boys a hate group Donald Trump is to be portrayed as a cheat, a predator and a conman in a bombshell book by his ex-lawyer. The President's longtime 'fixer' Michael Cohen has promised to spill the beans on Mr Trump's sordid secrets. Boasting he 'knows where the skeletons are', Cohen is set to release a tell-all book in which he says he will detail deals with corrupt Russian officials, lies to the First Lady and depraved acts in Las Vegas sex clubs. The former lawyer wrote his memoir called Disloyal while in prison and paints the President as a mob boss for whom he did the dirty work as 'designated thug'. Donald Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen (left) has announced he will shed light on the 'real Trump' in his new book 'Disloyal' as he boasts he 'knows where the skeletons are' (file photo) President peddles 'racist' myth about rival Kamala A false and racist conspiracy theory about Kamala Harris's eligibility to be vice president has been given credence by Donald Trump. The President fuelled an online misinformation campaign that parallels one he used to power his rise into politics, questioning details of his rival's birth. Mr Trump told reporters at the White House he had heard 'very serious' rumours about the Democrat's eligibility to run for the highest office because she was born to immigrant parents. Despite Miss Harris, pictured below, being born in Oakland, California, Mr Trump still questioned her rights as her mother was born in India and her father is from Jamaica. The US Constitution states that to be eligible for the Oval Office, a candidate must be a natural-born US citizen, 35 or over, and a resident of the US for at least 14 years. Miss Harris was picked this week to run alongside presidential candidate Joe Biden and is the first black woman, and first Asian American woman, on a major party ticket. Referring to an article questioning her eligibility, Mr Trump said: 'I just heard today she doesn't meet the requirements and by the way the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer.' He previously stoked the 'birther movement' that questioned whether Barack Obama was eligible to serve. Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, said there was absolutely no question that Miss Harris was entitled to be vice president, adding that the conspiracy was just a 'racist trope' Kamala Harris will run with Joe Biden Advertisement Cohen once claimed he would 'take a bullet' for his employer but his loyalty has since disintegrated. He is completing the last two years of a three-year prison sentence at home after admitting paying hush money to women who claim they had affairs with the President and lying to Congress about Mr Trump's business interests in Russia. But he used his time behind bars, writing on yellow legal notepads, to recount his 12 years at Mr Trump's side. The White House last night dismissed the book as 'fan fiction'. Publishing the foreword to the book yesterday, Cohen claimed: 'Apart from his wife and children, I knew Trump better than anyone else did. 'In some ways, I knew him better than even his family did because I bore witness to the real man, in strip clubs, shady business meetings, and in the unguarded moments when he revealed who he really was: a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man. 'He crushed or cheated all who stood in his way, but I know where the skeletons are buried because I was the one who buried them.' Alluding to what is to come when the book is published next month, Cohen wrote: 'I stiffed contractors on his behalf, ripped off his business partners, lied to his wife Melania to hide his sexual infidelities, and bullied and screamed at anyone who threatened Trump's path to power. 'From [a depraved act] in a sex club in Vegas, to tax fraud, to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union, to catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump's clandestine lovers, I wasn't just a witness to the President's rise I was an active and eager participant.' Mr Trump has repeatedly called Cohen a liar since they parted ways in 2018. Yesterday, despite being very active on Twitter throughout the day, he was silent on the claims in the book's preview. A White House spokesman, however, said Cohen 'readily admits to lying routinely but expects people to believe him now so that he can make money from book sales'. In the foreword, Cohen, once vice president of the Trump Organisation, says he had such unique access to the property tycoon that their mobile phone contacts were synchronised. For more than a decade, he says, he was 'in and out of Trump's office on the 26th floor of the Trump Tower as many as fifty times a day, tending to his every demand'. 'I was Trump's first call every morning and his last call every night,' he added. Borrowing the language of the Mafia, which he says Mr Trump himself uses, Cohen writes: 'If you want to know how the mob works, you've got to talk to the bad guys. I was one of Trump's bad guys. In his world, I was 100 per cent a made man.' But Cohen 'flipped', he said, and agreed to work with investigators looking into Mr Trump and possible Russian interference in the 2016 election which propelled the former Apprentice host to the Oval Office. Cohen claims he lied to Donald Trump's wife Melania (pictured) to hide his sexual infidelities Towering ego of the 'pit bull' who savaged master Michael Cohen is a shady character even by the dubious standards of the company that Donald Trump has sometimes kept. The son of a surgeon father and nurse mother, Cohen, 53, was brought brought up on Long Island, on the edge of New York. He originally practised lucratively as a New York personal injury lawyer, joining the Trump Organisation in 2005. Cohen also ran a taxi business on the side, holding valuable licences, known as medallions, that he would lease to drivers of New York's yellow cabs. The value of such medallions hit 1million each in 2013. Cohen held 32 of them. He rapidly earned a reputation as Mr Trump's 'pit bull' who ironic as it may seem now was famous for his unswerving loyalty to his boss. Although he said he supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election, he went cold on his presidency and became a cheerleader for Mr Trump's political ambitions. In the foreward to his book, Disloyal, Cohen says: 'I had agency in my relationship with Trump. I made choices along the way terrible, heartless, stupid, cruel, dishonest, destructive choices, but they were mine. 'During my years with Trump, to give one example, I fell out of touch with my sisters and younger brother, as I imagined myself becoming a big shot. 'I'd made my fortune out of taxi medallions, a business viewed as sketchy if not lower class. On Park Avenue, where I lived, I was definitely nouveau riche, but I had big plans that didn't include being excluded from the elite. 'I had a narrative: I wanted to climb the highest mountains of Manhattan's skyscraping ambition, to inhabit the world from the vantage point of private jets and billion-dollar deals, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get there. 'Then there was my own considerable ego, short temper, and willingness to deceive to get ahead, regardless of the consequences.' As a spokesman for the Trump 2016 election campaign, Cohen sometimes dispensed with any niceties. When a reporter asked him about the rape allegations once levelled at Mr Trump by first wife Ivana, Cohen told the journalist, on the record: 'I'm warning you, tread very f****** lightly because what I'm going to do to you is f****** disgusting.' After Mr Trump was elected, he retained Cohen as his personal lawyer. Cohen handled the allegations by women who either accused Mr Trump of sexual misconduct or said they'd had affairs with him. Porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had a brief relationship with Mr Trump in 2006, claimed Cohen paid her hush money. Ex-Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal accused the lawyer of colluding with a gossip magazine, the National Enquirer, to buy her story about her own affair with Mr Trump and then ensure it was never published. But in 2018, Cohen and Trump went their separate ways. Advertisement He told a Congress hearing last year that he had lied in the past to protect his boss. Cohen claims Mr Trump wants to be 'leader for life' to avoid going to prison and claims the scandals that have engulfed his administration are only the 'tip of the iceberg'. According to Cohen, who served his sentence at a prison in Otisville, New York: 'As the months passed by and I thought about the man I knew so well, I became even more convinced that Trump will never leave office peacefully. 'The types of scandals that have surfaced in recent months will only continue to emerge with greater and greater levels of treachery and deceit. The front cover of Michael Cohen's book 'If Trump wins another four years, these scandals will prove to only be the tip of the iceberg.' Cohen claims 'Trump had colluded with the Russians, but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors', adding: 'Trump had cheated in the election, with Russian connivance, as you will discover in these pages, because doing anything and I mean anything to 'win' has always been his business model and way of life.' The New York-born lawyer eventually pleaded guilty to eight federal crimes, including paying adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, 100,000 in hush money and arranging a 120,000 payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal in exchange for the women not to go public with allegations they had affairs with Mr Trump in the run up to the 2016 vote. The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Saturday. This file is no longer updating. Click here to read the latest. Web links to longer stories if available. 9:30 p.m.: After an increase in COVID-19 cases in B.C. this past week, Vancouver-born actor and comedian Seth Rogen tweeted Saturday that the people of British Columbia should forego parties, barbecues and other gatherings in favour of more low-key activities. Its more fun to hang out alone and smoke weed and watch movies and TV shows anyway! he wrote. Do that instead! B.C. reported 85, 78 and 84 new cases on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday respectively. 7 p.m.: Torontos public school board is reeling after learning its plan to shrink elementary class sizes to 15 or 20 students has been rejected by the province and like other large, urban boards including Ottawa-Carleton it must now also overhaul its schedule for high schools, too. Trustees say officials had given the go-ahead for the half-day, every-other-day schedule for secondary schools, but that was nixed late last week because the ministry expects teens to be in class, in person, 50 per cent of the time. Boards had opted for the every-other-day model to limit the number of contacts for secondary students. Now, just three weeks before classes are expected to resume, the countrys largest school board must overhaul its back-to-school plans for all grades, from kindergarten to Grade 12. Read the full story by the Stars Kristin Rushowy here 6:30 p.m.: Rolls-Royce will close its aircraft parts factory in central Virginia by the middle of next year, throwing 280 people out of work. The closing is the result of the decline in global travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, and follows layoffs to 120 workers in June. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a historic collapse in civil aviation which will take several years to recover, Rolls-Royce North America spokesperson Don Campbell said in a statement. The British-based company has its North American headquarters in northern Virginia. 5:25 p.m.: Ontarians prefer a combination of in-school and at-home learning for students and want kids to start wearing masks in class starting in Grade 1, a new poll for the Star has found. Some 37 per cent of those surveyed last week by Campaign Research say they are very or somewhat confident in a safe return to school if kids attend full-time, with 57 per cent somewhat unconfident or not at all. And when it comes to masks which the province has mandated for students in Grades 4 and up more than a third of those surveyed felt children should don them starting in Grade 1, or when they are six years old. Read the full story by the Stars Kristin Rushowy here 5 p.m.: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has announced his government is delaying the date students will return to classes by a few days, and that an extra $40 million will be spent on keeping students and school staff safe from COVID-19. Moe says students will begin classes on Sept. 8, the Tuesday after Labour Day, in order to give teachers and school staff a bit more time to prepare their classrooms and common areas for a safe return. Read the full story here 3 p.m.: Brazil, where 105,000 people have died from COVID-19, has emerged as a vital player in global efforts to end the pandemic. Three of the most promising and advanced vaccine studies in the world are relying on scientists and volunteers in Brazil, according to a World Health Organization report. The Butantan Institute is partnering with Chinas Sinovac on one vaccine that has reached the third stage of research, during which potential vaccines are tested on 9,000 people. Some 5,000 Brazilians have also been recruited to support a trial by AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company in partnership with Oxford University. An additional 1,000 volunteers in Brazil were recruited to test a vaccine developed by New York-based Pfizer. Researchers need countries with large enough outbreaks to assess whether a vaccine will work. Some volunteers are given the potential vaccine while others are given a placebo, but they have to be in a place where enough of the virus is circulating to test its efficacy. 2:30 p.m.: Quebec is reporting 80 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death. The number of hospitalizations dropped by two to 149. Of those, the number in intensive care remained unchanged at 25. 1:01 p.m.: Health authorities in New Brunswick are reporting four new cases of COVID-19 in the province. The provinces health department says two cases involve people in their 40s in the Moncton area and are related to international travel. The other two cases are in the Fredericton area and involve children under the age of 10, contacts of a previously announced infection. 12:12 p.m.: Anyone can get a coronavirus test at the CentroMed clinic in San Antonio, but on a recent day, the drive-thru was empty. Finally two masked people in a maroon SUV pulled straight on through with no wait. With hundreds of deaths reported each day, students returning to class and football teams charging ahead with plans to play, Texas leaders who grappled with testing shortages for much of the pandemic are now facing the opposite problem: not enough takers. Were not having enough people step forward, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said. The number of coronavirus tests being done each day in Texas has dropped by the thousands in August, mirroring nationwide trends that has seen daily testing averages in the U.S. fall nearly 9% since the end of July, according to The COVID Tracking Project. The problem is dwindling demand: Testing centres like CentroMed are no longer inundated by long lines that stretch for blocks, or closing hours early because tests run out. 12:11 p.m.: Nova Scotia is reporting two additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to three. The province said Saturday that the two new cases were identified on Friday and are in the northern zone of the province. They are in addition to another case in the same region announced one day earlier. 10:56 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 106 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death related to the virus. The total number of cases now stands at 40,565, which includes 2,789 deaths and 36,783 cases marked as resolved. The number of new cases narrowly outpaced the number of cases newly marked as resolved in Saturdays report. 7 a.m.: Cases of COVID-19 in reopened schools are inevitable, say Toronto public health officials, who are cautioning parents not to expect a shutdown of the entire school whenever a student or staff member tests positive. We expect to get cases related to schools, said Dr. Vinita Dubey, the citys associate medical officer of health, adding Toronto Public Health will take a conservative approach in how it handles cases in schools to ensure the risk of transmission is limited. While TPH and school officials will be tasked with preventing the spread of COVID-19 when hundreds of thousands of children return to school in September, how those efforts will be communicated to the wider school community and the broader public is not yet clear. Read the full story from the Stars Jennifer Pagliaro here. 6:23 a.m.: Thousands of British tourists beat a hasty retreat from France, packing out planes, trains and ferries to return to the U.K. by the early hours of Saturday morning to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. On Friday, many British travellers in the country opted to cut short their vacations to meet the 4 a.m. Saturday deadline that had only been announced the night before. Anyone arriving back from France from Saturday must stay at home for two weeks to make sure they cannot spread the coronavirus beyond their households if they have become infected. The exodus was prompted late Thursday when the British government took France off a list of nations exempt from traveller quarantine requirements because of a sharp rise in new coronavirus infections there. 6:16 a.m.: Only a small fraction of the 40,000 new ventilators Canada ordered for hospitals last spring have been delivered, but several companies involved say their production lines will start delivering the products faster in the next few weeks. The promise of new arrivals comes as Canadas chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, warned Friday that a fall surge of COVID-19 cases could overwhelm the health-care system, including its supply of critical care beds and ventilators. What we know based on what we learned from other countries and cities that had a devastating impact in that initial wave, if you exceeded that capacity the mortality goes up really, really high, she said. 5:52 a.m.: South Korea on Saturday announced stronger social distancing restrictions for its greater capital area where a surge in COVID-19 cases has threatened to erase the hard-won gains against the virus. The two-week measures starting Sunday will allow authorities in Seoul and towns in neighbouring Gyeonggi Province to shut down high-risk facilities such as nightclubs, karaoke rooms, movie theatres and buffet restaurants if they fail to properly enforce preventive measures, including distancing, temperatures checks, keeping customer lists and requiring masks. 5:52 a.m.: Indias confirmed coronavirus cases have crossed 2.5 million with another biggest single-day spike of 65,002 in the past 24 hours. India is behind the United States and Brazil in the number of cases. The Health Ministry on Saturday also reported another 996 deaths for a total of 49,036. The average daily reported cases jumped from around 15,000 in the first week of July to more than 50,000 at the beginning of August. The Health Ministry said the rise shows the extent of testing with 800,000 carried out in a single day. But experts say India needs to pursue testing more vigorously. Indias two-month lockdown imposed nationwide in late March kept infections low. But it has eased and is now largely being enforced in high-risk areas. The new cases spiked after India reopened shops and manufacturing and allowed hundreds of thousands of migrant workers to return to their homes from coronavirus-hit regions. Subways, schools and movie theatres remain closed. 5:52 a.m.: Chinas government reported 22 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday. Eight were acquired locally, including seven in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, the National Health Commission reported. The rest were found in travellers who arrived from abroad. The raised the number of confirmed cases on Chinas mainland, where the pandemic began in December, to 84,808, with 4,634 deaths. 4:01 a.m.: Plans are being made across the country for how to safely send students back to school in the fall as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Click here to read what the various provinces have said about getting kids back to classes. 10:33 p.m. Friday: The Canadian Armed Forces says minor problems remain in some Ontario long-term care homes they were deployed to earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic. But critics say this does not mean the homes have a clean bill of health. The militarys concerns outlined in a report dated Aug. 4 and released Friday include worker skills and standards of practice in the seven nursing homes. Since the 1990s Germany has ignored complaints from its allies that Germany was failing to maintain sufficient defense spending to maintain its military obligations to NATO. In 1990 Germany spent 2.7 percent of GDP on defense. That fell to 1.5 percent in 2000 and despite growing calls to increase spending fell to 1.4 percent in 2010 and 1.3 percent in 2014. Currently, it is 1.2 percent despite promises to achieve two percent by 2024. For a long time, Germany got away with this because it had no real military threats to deal with. But after 2014 Russia became a real threat and since then alarmed German defense officials have leaked increasingly embarrassing data about how ineffective the German armed forces are becoming The latest leak, about the shrinking percentage of military aircraft are capable of carrying out a mission, was particularly alarming. Less than four percent of Germanys Typhoon fighters were capable of combat. Ironically 31 percent of the older (and being retired) Tornado fighters were operational. Newer equipment tended to be worse off. Only 13 percent of the NH90 transport helicopters were ready and only 16 percent of the Tiger helicopter gunships. Even more dismal was the number of these military aircraft Germany has (114 Typhoons, 93 Tornados, 40 NH90s and 43 Tigers). This discouraging data is nothing new. German military aircraft have had the lowest readiness rates in NATO for years. Germany continues, as it has for over twenty years, to promise the situation would be fixed but it never is. For example earlier in 2018 leaked data showed that a key component of the NATO rapid reaction force, which Germany is to supply in 2019, is nowhere near ready to perform duties German assured everyone it could handle. The German armored brigade that was promised for 2019 is, in short, not ready. Only about 20 percent of the armored vehicles (Leopard 2 tanks and Marder infantry vehicles) are fit for service. Now we know that the brigade is unlikely to get much air support either. When the Americans press Germany to meet its NATO obligations there are promises but no performance. Meanwhile, the United States spends nearly four percent of GDP on defense, accounts for 70 percent defense spending in NATO and is now telling the Germans that they can no longer automatically expect the Americans to bail them out when Germany comes up short in meeting its NATO obligations. This got some attention in Germany, but not a lot. This is a major shift since Germany was reunited in 1990. Before that, during the Cold War, West Germany (the half that belonged to NATO) maintained its military obligations faithfully, fearful that the dozens of Russian divisions in communist East Germany would quickly extinguish a democratic and prosperous post World War II Germany. That seemed to work because by 1990 Russia agreed to withdraw from East Germany and allow Germany to be united once more. Since then the united German defense budget and armed forces personnel were cut, what with the primary threat, the dozens of Russian divisions in East Europe gone and all those East European nations embracing democracy and a free (and more productive) economy. But a decade later Russia had second thoughts about giving up its empire. Germany made promises but did little. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks Germany agreed to help out in Afghanistan, as long as its troops were kept away from the hostile areas and allowed to avoid combat as much as possible. The deployment of a few troops to Afghanistan and other peacekeeping missions revealed other problems. While Germany had, on paper, well-armed and equipped troops the government had spent very little on training and logistical support. It required a major effort to keep small numbers of German troops overseas fed and supplied. It was embarrassing and promises were made to set it right. Nothing really got done about that. The current American government is questioning the usefulness of the United States in NATO when the Americans have always tolerated their assuming a disproportionate burden of NATO responsibilities. In return for that, the U.S. regularly received more criticism than cooperation. A growing number of Americans question why the U.S. should remain so involved in a defensive effort that so many other NATO partners are backing away from. In response to this, the German government is criticizing American commitment to NATO without appreciating the irony of that attitude. Until now it was generally overlooked, especially by Western Europe, that the U.S. was stubbornly determined to stay out of the two World Wars because the majority of Americans came from Europe to get away from all the wars, broken promises and bad politics in general. Europeans tend to forget that the main reason the Americans eventually entered the two World Wars was Germans misunderstanding what they were up against. In World War I the Germans engaged in all sorts of covert aggression against the neutral United States that eventually came to light and got America into the war during the last year when they were needed most. In World War II it was Germany that declared war on the United States after Japan attacked the Americans. At the time U.S. public opinion was very hostile taking part in another World War. West Europe is again misjudging the Americans, who are quite capable of leaving NATO and telling Europe to take care of itself. As history demonstrates time and again its the things that you refused to recognize and later say you didnt see coming that cause the most damage. Now a growing number of Germans, especially defense experts and politicians, are recognizing that they have a problem. Yet the attitude in Germany remains hostile to actually spending the money needed to repair the damage over a decade of neglect did to their defense capabilities. German elected officials agree and have promised to come up with more than $12 billion to deal with the worsening readiness problems. The same politicians agree that the annual defense budget should be increased. But when the parliament goes to work on the government budget defense always comes up short. That does not appear to be changing in 2018, despite everyone agreeing this is not a good thing. This latest crisis is made worse by a 2015 NATO decision to do something to help new NATO members in East Europe fulfill the mutual defense pledge in the face of Russian threats. NATO agreed to speed up efforts to create a rapid reaction force to help with the defense of new NATO members bordering Russia and very much in the way of the growing Russian threat. These new NATO members had suffered decades of Russian occupation after World War II and many of their citizens spoke or understood Russian and felt that the west NATO members underestimated the seriousness of the renewed Russian aggressiveness and misunderstood what the Russians were up to. It was pretty clear what NATO was up to, at least in theory. The overall rapid reaction operation was called NRF (NATO Response Force) and it was to have NATO members contribute 30,000 troops. A third of NRF would be available within 48 hours for an emergency. This Spearhead Force was officially called the VJTF (Very High Readiness Joint Task Force). Germany is scheduled to assume command of the VJTF in 2019 and that means a German armored brigade will be the core unit of the VJTF. That German brigade is not ready and unless Germany makes some drastic changes wont be ready. Currently, most of the tanks in the entire German army are not functional. Now it is clear that the German air force would be of even less help. The German navy, which is mainly responsible for dealing with Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea, is aging more rapidly than the ground and air forces and efforts to build replacements for Cold War era warships are inadequate and the ships that are built turn out to be less effective (or not even able to go to sea) than expected. The NRF itself is a division size organization with air, naval and special operations contingents backing three Spearhead Force brigades. Each of these brigades has about 5,000 troops and one (the VJTF) must have units ready to move within 48 hours with the rest of the brigade moving within a week. At that point portions of the other two brigades would be on the move. The major contributors to the NRF, and especially the VJTF will be the United States France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Britain. Nearly all the ground troops will be from European NATO members while the U.S. provides a lot of specialized electronic and naval forces only they have. Note that all these other NATO members are in better shape to fulfill their NRF obligations. Germany is in a class of its own when it comes to un-readiness. The VJTF could be used to slow down disrupt Russian aggression with ground and air forces (and naval ones if needed) until more forces can be mobilized. NATO members are reviving Cold War era defense plans because Russia has again become a threat in the east. Its a different threat this time because during the Cold War NATO was looking at an initial Russian invasion force of over 30 divisions followed by two or three times that number once they these reserve units were mobilized and deployed. These days Russia cant even muster that many brigades. In the past, there were few NATO members (like Norway and Turkey) that even bordered the old Soviet Union. Now there are many more, including the major Russian Cold War allies in East Europe (the former Warsaw Pact) who are now members of NATO. The Baltic States are particularly vulnerable and the VJTF was created in large part to reassure these neighbors of Russia that NATO membership can deliver the promised security. Not only are the East NATO members not reassured by VJTF but they are afraid that history will repeat itself in more ways than one. East NATO members remember that in the 1930s there was a similar situation with Western nations promising assistance if there was aggression from Russia and Nazi Germany. The worst happened in 1939 when World War II officially got started when Germany and Russia both attacked and partitioned Poland as part of a secret agreement. Two years later Germany double crossed its new ally and invaded Russia. That ended disastrously for Russia, Germany and Eastern Europe, especially when the West again abandoned East Europe to Russian domination after the war. That period of Russian domination collapsed in 1991 but now East Europe sees the 1930s pattern of earnest promises that wont be kept and Russia moving in again. File photo Domestic homicides, or murder by an intimate partner, is gradually assuming an alarming dimension in Nigeria, with reports of the death of one or both partners in the resultant fisticuffs. . Investigation revealed that women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner, be he, her husband, an ex, or boyfriend, than anyone else. Sometimes, innocent children who did not beg to be brought to the world end up having their lives snuffed out of them by either of the partners, apparently to erase memories of the bitter days. Investigation by Crime Guard revealed that between January and June 2020, more than 40 cases of domestic homicides have been recorded in the country, with about six in the month of June alone, in Lagos State. Investigation further showed that in most cases, anger, jealousy, depression and abuse of drugs have been the propelling force behind these unwarranted deaths. Abia One would have expected that cases of domestic homicide would be witnessed among youths due to their display of youthful exuberance. But no! Just few weeks ago, in Ohobo-Afara community in Umuahia area of Abia State, an air of gloom and despondency settled over the community following a bizarre incident which left everyone stunned. The villagers woke up to find the lifeless body of 83-year-old Alhaji Isa Uwagam, in his apartment. Their shock was not in his death but the circumstances surrounding it, as he was alleged to have been strangled to death by his 73 -year-old wife, Rose, during a misunderstanding which degenerated into a fight. A version of the account alleged that the late Isa had grabbed a machete to scare his wife during the fight, but that the latter overpowered him, causing the machete to fall off his grip. Rose , said to be huge, reportedly pinned him by the neck and strangled him to death in the process. However, another version of the account claimed the deceased might have slumped and died out of exhaustion during the quarrel. Many also wondered if it was possible for a woman of about 73 years to muster the strength to strangulate a man. Another question on the lips of villagers is what could have warranted couple of that age , who are supposed to be counselors and mentors to young couples , to have engaged in a fight that went awry. Love goes sour Love is one of the most profound emotions known to human beings. Unfortunately, some persons got entangled in it but ended up realising too late that it was a death trap. In Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the story is the same. One moment, it feels like both parties could not do without each other and in another moment , one of the parties ends up in regret, that is , if life is not snuffed out of him or her , either due to anger induced by jealousy , or frustration of not getting a reciprocal feeling from the other. Imo An incident that left Nigerians stunned was that involving an ex-Director General of the Imo State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Thoephilus Okere, 82. He was alleged to have stabbed his wife to death at their residence in Ngor Okpala local government area in Imo state, on May 22, 202. The exact cause for his action could not be ascertained. But the Police said the victim died while being rushed from the village to the hospital. Tramadol induced In one of the recent murders in Lagos, the suspect identified simply as Mojupa, blamed his action on Tramadol. The 33-year-old man, alleged to be a ritualist, allegedly murdered an unidentified lady in his apartment at 2, at Corporation Estate, Mile 2, Amuwo Odofin, last month. The victim whom he claimed was his girlfriend, had visited, only to have life snuffed out of her at about 3.45 am, on July 2, 2020. During the investigation, he told detectives at the State Criminal Investigation , Yaba, that he was contacted by an undisclosed man to kill his girlfriend, apparently for money rituals. Before carrying out the act, he said he took some dose of tramadol to embolden him. Osun Three weeks later, one Tunde Oyediran, was arrested by the Police in Osun State for allegedly matcheting his wife, Sarah to death with a cutlass. He was alleged to have used the same weapon to kill two children living with them. Apparently to cover up, the suspect, who resides around Wednesday Market in Inisa, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the State, inflicted matchet cuts in his hand and stomach before raising the alarm that his family had been attacked by unknown individuals. However, during investigation, the Police suspected foul play. Lagos The most recent incident occurred on August 1, 2020, in Sagbokoji Island, Apapa area of Lagos, after a lady allegedly stabbed her lover, Auwal Suleiman , to death during a scuffle. The 24-year-old suspect, identified simply as Nkechi, moved into her lovers apartment last year. Residents said there had been quarrels between the duo, over accusation of cheating on the part of the suspect. During a routine quarrel last Saturday, Nkeci allegedly made for the kitchen knife and thrust it into Suleimans neck. He bled to death before a boat that would convey him to the hospital arrived. Japan Between January and July 2020, there had been over 40 cases of domestic violence that resulted in the death of either one of the parties or both. On June 5, 2020, in far away Japan, Police in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, arrested a 73-year-old woman alleged to have killed her ailing 83-year-old husband. According to the Police, the suspect, Teruko Ikeda, admitted to strangling her husband Yoichi, with a face mask string by 12:30 a.m. One of her children, Ikeda, was said to have alerted the Police. Bauchi Back home in Nigeria, same month, a jealous lover identified simply as Solomon, allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Patience Zakkari , to death, in her apartment at Gwallameji area of Bauchi state. Reason? He accused her of picking a call from another man. Shortly before she breathed her last, Zakkari, a National Diploma , ND graduate from the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, managed to narrate what transpired between her and her once upon a time lover, to a friend of hers. She said they were engaged in a verbal altercation , when a call from a man whom she described as a casual friend came in. This sparked up a renewed rage, as her jealous lover, according to her, started beating her and in the process, stabbed her with a knife in the back and abandoned her to die. Though she was rushed to the hospital by her friends where she was treated, she died a day after, due to complications from the stab. Ogun In February 2020, another bizarre incident involving a teenager , occurred in Shagamu area of Lagos. In this case, an 18-old girl, Idowu Abosede, was arrested for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend to death during an argument over N3000. The suspect was said to have spent the night with her boyfriend, Alliu Ibrahim, on February 26, 2020. When leaving the next day, she attempted to collect N3000 from Allus shirt pocket, but the latter stopped the move, claiming that was all he had. An argument according to her ensued, during which she said her boyfriend rushed for a kitchen knife and in the process of struggling it with him, it pierced into his chest . Alliu, bled to death. Lagos In March 2020, another news of a 22-year-old man, Daniel Okocha who allegedly stabbed his live-in-lover, Nkechi Agwor , to death in his apartment in Egbeda area of Lagos, greeted the nation. The incident occurred on a Sunday, while the deceased was preparing to go to church. But Okocha prevented her from leaving the house, accusing her of going to see her boyfriend. Like in other cases, it resulted in a quarrel which degenerated into a fight during which Okocaha stabbed 20-year-old Agwor in the neck and fled the scene. He was arrested two days later by detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department. Though he described his action as a mistake but a message in his phone indicated that the motive could have been a premeditated one. From the text message, it was discovered that he watched her bleed to death. The text message read, I killed her and watched her die for 45 minutes. I gave her life but she refused to give me back. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect and his deceased lover were from the same community in Ubulu, in Aniocha-South Local Government Area of Delta State and had one child who is with the deceaseds mother. Poisoned over bareness Love for 45-year-old Mary Olotu, was nothing to write home about. Unfortunately, she could not live to share her ordeal for the world to learn a lesson or two. This is because she was allegedly poisoned by her bricklayer husband, Damilare Olotu, over her inability to bear him a child. Though she had a child from her previous marriage. Her 47-year-old husband, married a second who bore him two children. The younger wife was said to have insisted on moving into Olotus home in Ibuji, Ifedore council area of Ondo State where he lived with Mary, but she (Mary) kicked against the suggestion, only to be allegedly poisoned. Wife killed over breakfast Again in Akure, the Ondo state capital, a 45-year-old hunter, Ojo Toki, was arrested for allegedly shooting his wife, Adesewa, over a disagreement on his breakfast, in Ibule Soro area of the state. The deceased had packed out of her matrimonial home following a disagreement. However, after one year of living separately, their families resolved the issue. Part of the settlement process agreed upon by both families was that the deceased should be preparing food for her husband from her brothers house, where she was . But on one of the days when her husband came for his food, an argument over the deceaseds failure to prepare his breakfast broke out. The hunter was said to have shot her in the neck with his Dane gun, killing her on the spot. Another killed over bag of garri A farmer, John Ogunji, 45, was also arrested by the Police in Ondo for allegedly killing his wife, Christiana Ogunji, in Okitipupa area of the state, during an argument over sharing of a bag of garri (cassava flour). Problem started, after the farmer suggested that the bag of garri be shared equally between them. Refusal by the deceased, who insisted that the bag of garri should be kept in the house since they were one family, was seen as an affront by her husband who allegedly hit her with a plank in the head. She slumped and was confirmed dead at a private hospital she was rushed to. Defiant driver killed Cases of domestic violence that resulted in death are numerous in Ondo state. Another instance was that of a driver, identified simply as Felix who was stabbed to death by his lover Fasilat, in the ikare akoko area of the state. The incident occurred in a guest house. After the attack, the lady abandoned him to fate. But he quickly put a call to one of his friends whom he informed that he was being taken to the hospital, where he later died. Relatives of the deceased accused him of ignoring an earlier warning by a prophet who told him to desist from illicit love affairs. Bauchi On May 19, 2020, in Itas-Gadau community, Bauchi State, an 18 year-old girl was arrested for allegedly stabbing her husband , Salma Hassan, to death. The newly wedded bride allegedly committed the act when her husband wanted to consummate the union. In her case, she blamed her indulgence on ignorance, saying she did not know that sex was part of her marital obligation. According to her: I never knew that sex is a marital obligation. On that fateful night when he approached me for sex, I refused him because I have never been involved in it. I honestly thought he wanted to defile me. He later got angry and was trying to force himself on me with slaps and beating, then I picked up a knife to scare him away but he kept coming. I didnt know when I stabbed him with the knife in his chest. I wouldnt have done what I did if I knew better, she said. Jigawa In Jigawa, a mother of two, Hauwa Sani, was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband of eight years, Abdul Hassan, in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Abdul Jinjiri, said Hassan stabbed Hauwa eight times with a knife which led to her death. Preliminary investigation according to him, revealed that the suspect acted based on the influence of drugs as he had been addicted to substance abuse for a long time. Jinjiri said Hassan fled the scene after committing the crime but was later arrested and Would be arraigned in court soon. OYO Last month, 26-year-old, Shagbada Erigga was arrested by the Police in Oyo State for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Happiness Winifred, 30, for refusing to have sex with him. He invited late Happiness, a mother of three, to his home to spend the night with him on June 21, 2020. However, trouble started after she refused to have sex with him. Erigga confessed to have punched her in the neck, thrice, causing her to slump. Thereafter, he dumped her corpse inside a well, where a resident who had gone to fetch water , raised the alarm on discovering the bloated body, three days later. He however claimed that he mistakenly killed her. New dimension A new dimension to domestic homicide surfaced recently , with the perpetrators committing suicide, apparently to evade arrest or to escape the consequences of their actions. A vivid instance was the alleged killing of a 17-year-old girl, Tope Ajibade, by her commercial motorcyclist boyfriend, Ayorinde Igbasan, in Ayeka new site, Okitipupa area of Ondo State, Monday. The commercial motorcyclist who accused the teenager of double dating, claimed he had done everything possible within his capability to make his girlfriend happy. Sensing he would lose her for another man, he lured her to the area where he allegedly stabbed her during an argument. Not done, he also slit his neck with the same knife. Residents who heard the teenagers cry for help rushed both of them to the Okitipupa specialist hospital where the girlfriend was confirmed dead having bled to death. The suspect was treated and thereafter transferred to Ondo State Trauma center for further treatment. Lekki, Lagos Another unforgettable scenario was that of the bizarre incident in Lekki area of Lagos, last month, where 25-year-old Alli Olamides lifeless body was found in the pool of her blood, beside her lovers, at road 5, House 16a, Victory Point Estate. She had gone to visit her lover, late Chris Ndukwe, 39, with their two children of ages three and seven respectively, and her 22-year-old relative, who discovered their lifeless bodies the next day. While Homicide detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, are still trying to unravel the root cause of the deaths, Crime Guard gathered that late Olamide had fears of imminent danger. She had confided in some of her close friends that she would not want to marry late Ndukwe, because of his excessive anger. An initial plan for the lovers to tie the nuptial knot in October 2018, was cancelled because she had a second thought over the decision. Plans for a rescheduled wedding in August 2020, was ongoing when tragedy struck. In a whatsapp text message and a voice note to one of her friends, the mother of two , sounded confused about her decision to marry late Ndukwe. She however , confided in her friend that she would rather have a broken relationship than a broken marriage. In the voice note posted on social media, late Olamide was heard saying, We have had an up and down relationship. We have broken up and got back together. This time around, we are supposed to do everything ( wedding) next month (October 2018) but I am not sure, I dont want children to be the only reason to get married. We have been having issues. Not sure we really know each other. Yes, we have been together for years but a broken relationship is better than a broken marriage. Perhaps, if she had followed her instinct, she would have been alive today. Surprisingly, her lover committed suicide after stabbing her to death, leaving their two children to face the challenges ahead of them , without their parents guide. Lagos Another case of Domestic Homicide occurred in Aga, Ikorodu area of Lagos, a month earlier, where a man , Enifeh Akupa Omomo,allegedly murdered his wife and their six-year-old son. Thereafter, he committed suicide by hanging himself in his one-room apartment on 12 Eruga Street. Residents revealed that late Omomo had always threatened to kill his wife and son over allegations of infidelity on the part of his wife. An argument, which reportedly ensued, degenerated into a brawl between the couple in the early hours of a Friday, during which the woman was heard shouting for help. However, by the time neighbors went to the apartment to settle scores between the couple, they were thrown off balance at the sight of the 38-year-old woman and her son, Glorious, in a pool of their blood. As if that was not enough, residents said the lifeless body of Omomo was found dangling from the ceiling fan. ONDO A similar incident occurred in Ondo state, as a 47- year- old Taxi driver stabbed his former wife, Amudat Oluwafunmilayo Lateef to death and thereafter committed suicide by hanging himself. The marriage was blessed with five children before things fell apart between the couple who lived at Omoniyi quarters along Agbogbo area, along Owo-Benin-Akure expressway. LASTMA official too One of the latest cases of domestic homicide was that which involved an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA ,Emmanuel Mekuri . He allegedly stabbed his lover, Patricia Ogunshola , with a knife during a fight in their apartment at Zoo area of Araromi , Morogbo area of Lagos, two weeks ago. Thereafter, he was said to have stabbed himself with the same knife in the stomach. Both of them were rushed to the hospital by neighbors who were alerted. While Ogunsola, 37, survived the stab, Mekuri, 47, was confirmed dead on reaching the hospital. A blood stained knife according to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Elkana Bala, was recovered from the scene. Preliminary investigation, he said, revealed that the couple started cohabiting in February, 2020, but were not legally married. He added that there was a protracted argument between them that degenerated into physical assault purported to have arisen from allegations bothering on infidelity on the part of the man. Several other cases, most of which are in court abound. From the foregoing, it is obvious that domestic homicide accounts for a number of deaths in Nigeria and elsewhere in the globe. *** Source: Vanguard The protest at the Department of the Taoiseach this afternoon. Credit: Alena Arlova Protesters in Dublin today marched against the Belarussian presidential election. Protesters in Belarus have accused police of brutality in the wake of its presidential election, where authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, was declared the winner of the vote. The election has been condemned by the EU as "neither free nor fair". The main opposition contender, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was then detained before being forced to leave for neighbouring Lithuania. Read More At least 200 protesters have been wounded and 6,000 people detained. Belarusian natives living in Ireland held two protests in Dublin today in a bid to get the Irish government to act, one taking place at 11.30am and a second protest at 2pm. At 2pm, Vladimir Gontchar marched with approximately 40 other people from the European Commission Representation offices to the Department of the Taoiseach. The Belarussian native, who has been living in Ireland with his family for four years, said that he fears for his family in Belarus. "I'm not planning to go back unless the politics change," he told Independent.ie. "But I have a strong fear for my family, my mum and my relatives. "I totally disagree with the Lukashenko regime. He turned our world upside down," he said. The protesters have called on the Irish government to act. "The Irish government should cut off their relationship with Belarus and if they interact with the country, collaborate with the people and not the politicians," added Mr Gontachar, who now lives in Dundalk. In a statement to Independent.ie yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that it is monitoring developments closely and that Ireland supports the EUs call for the Belarusian authorities to release all civilians who were unjustly detained. It added that today it was agreed by EU foreign ministers to initiative sanctions against human rights violations following the Belarusian election. It has been agreed to initiate a process of sanctions against those responsible for the human rights violations following last Sundays elections. Minister Coveney strongly supports this step and along with our fellow EU Member States, we will continue to demonstrate our support for the rights of the people in Belarus to fundamental freedoms and democracy, the statement added. Mexico City, Aug 15 : Restrictions on the movement of non-essentials along the border between Mexico and the US has been extended until September 21 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Mexican Foreign Ministry announced. In the announcement on Friday, the Ministry said that Mexico proposed the extension of the partial closure of the border for another month after reviewing the development of the pandemic in both countries, reports Xinhua news agency. The measure, implemented on March 21 along the common border, restricts travel for tourism or recreational purposes but permits commercial, medical and essential work-related travel. "Both countries will try to coordinate health measures in the border region that will be in effect until 11.59 p.m. on September 21," the Ministry tweeted. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced on Thursday that Mexico had asked the US to extend the measure as the pandemic was re-emerging in bordering American states. "Right now, they have a resurgence (of the disease) in the south, so the border cannot be opened right now, and in some (Mexican) states, we are more or less going down," Ebrard addeed. Under normal circumstances, thousands of people cross the common border every day for work, school and tourism purposes. By September 21, the partial border closure will complete six months. The US currently accounts for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities at 5,309,138 and 168,396, respectively, according to the Johns Hopkins University. Mexico comes in the sixth place in terms of cases at 511,369 and with 55,908 deaths, it accounts for the third highest in the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's historic deal with the UAE won praise abroad - but generated discontent from right-wing supporters and settlers over the suspension of land annexation plans. "This agreement could signal a possible crisis in the relationship of Netanyahu and many of the settlers and their supporters in the Israeli right wing," said Yohanan Plesner, director of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think-tank. Figures on Israel's nationalist right have called for a replacement to Netanyahu. Netanyahu may have "gained a few points among centre-left voters, who like deals with the Arabs, but he lost several points with his right-wing base" whose "dream" of annexation of land has gone, said political commentator Ben Caspit, writing in Maariv newspaper. The deal announced on Thursday sees Israel pledge to suspend its planned annexation of Palestinian lands, a concession welcomed by European and some pro-Western Arab governments as a boost for hopes of peace. But Netanyahu, neck-and-neck with political rivals during the three last election campaigns, had used the issue of annexation to woo voters from the radical right and the settlers. They are fierce opponents of any return of Palestinian territories, seized by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. 'Bitter pill' Netanyahu's unity government had announced a strategy to annex parts of the West Bank and Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory, including the Jordan Valley, a strategic strip along the Jordanian border. That plan was given the green light in January by US President Donald Trump. But the surprise deal with the United Arab Emirates appears to put annexation on ice; Israeli, Emirati and US leaders said they had agreed "Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty" over West Bank areas. The normalisation agreement is only Israel's third with an Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. For commentator Ben Caspit, the deal was driven by opposition to annexation by members of the ruling coalition -- such as Benny Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi. That "forced Netanyahu to recalculate", and made him look for a way to get his supporters to swallow a "bitter pill". But since Netanyahu has said annexation of parts of the West Bank is only "postponed" and that Israel had "not given up", some see it as only a matter of time before it resumes. 'Myth has disappeared' In Efrata, an Israeli settlement near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, the head of the local council Oded Revivi tempered his disappointment. "All these years people thought that peace with Arab countries could not be made, as long as there was a Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria," he said, using the Jewish name for the West Bank. "We see that this myth has disappeared." Revivi, looking back over the decades since the 1967 war, believes annexation has only been paused. "It was put on hold, but nobody knows for how long," Revivi added. "We've been waiting for this for 53 years -- maybe more than 2,000 years. I'm sure it will come back to the table and much faster than you think." The nationalist right have reacted bitterly. They are angry that the deal "pauses" annexation - and thus keeps the idea alive of a viable separate Palestinian state alongside Israel. "It is tragic that Netanyahu did not seize the moment, nor have the courage to apply sovereignty even over a centimetre of the Land of Israel, but sovereignty over the territories of our homeland will come," said Naftali Bennet, leader of the radical right-wing nationalist Yamina alliance. "We cannot ignore the great dangers posed by relaunching the talks for a Palestinian state," said Bezalel Smotrich, another Yamina member, which sits in the opposition and draws much of its support from settlers. "To face the danger, the right has to present here and now an alternative" to Netanyahu's leadership, he said. I think the worse part was crossing rivers at night. It was cold at night, then all night in wet clothes and wet equipment, still having to move about, he said. It was a glory for them (the Japanese troops) to die for their emperor. They didnt appear to have any fear at all. A Donabate volunteer recently swam the often treacherous route from Donabate to Lambay Island, braving the elements to raise awareness for a charity carrying out vital humanitarian work in Africa. Mark Whelan took on the challenge in aid of Action Ireland Trust, an Irish charity which carries out important humanitarian work in Lesotho, an impoverished landlocked country encircled by South Africa. Mark first got involved with Action Ireland Trust in 2006, when later he and fellow volunteer students from Portmarnock Community School travelled to South Africa on a humanitarian mission. Speaking after his Donabate to Lambay Island open water swim, Mark explains how his solo challenge came about. Mark says: 'I have lived in Donabate my entire life so going to the beach was always a common occurrence in our family when I was growing up. 'I also worked as a beach lifeguard for Fingal County Council between 2007 and 2015 so I have spent a substantial amount of time throughout my life on the beaches of Fingal. 'Outside of playing GAA locally with St. Pat's, swimming was always a main sport of preference for me growing up. 'In more recent years I developed a keen interest in swimming longer open water distances and so I set my sights on completing a swim from Lambay Island to Donabate Beach. 'This was personal challenge for me and was also in recognition of the work of carried out by Action Ireland Trust in Lesotho, Africa which is a charity I have been heavily involved in for several years.' Mark explains: 'Shockingly, despite facing various severe challenges including Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, AIDs and widespread poverty, drownings is the fourth biggest cause of death for young people in Lesotho, which is actually a landlocked country. 'Each year a division of Action Ireland Trust volunteers led by one of our Directors, Karen Murphy, undertake swimming lessons with children from local schools in the capital city of Maseru which is our attempt to combat this serious problem. 'The swim became an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of swimming not just as a form of exercise but a major life skill, particularly for young children.' Turning to the challenge itself, he says: 'The closure of all gyms and swimming pools as a result of COVID-19 meant I was training in the sea five to six days a week for about 10 weeks before the big day so I felt relatively well prepared on the 1st of August. 'That said, I had quite limited experience swimming these sort of distances in open sea water, taking account of tides, currents and the wind. 'I was well advised by a local friend and avid kite surfer, Niall Kealy, who assisted in navigating me during the swim on a stand up paddle board. I also had a speed boat with a support team there on the day for additional safety.' He describes: 'On the day, the wind changed to a northerly direction and this together with the current of the flooding tide meant getting to Donabate as planned was somewhat of an impossible task for me! 'After swimming for 6.6 Km against the current we decided to turn back and land at Portrane as the final destination! 'It was an incredible experience and a challenge I will certainly undertake again in the future.' Reflecting on the swim, he says: 'It was tougher than expected, we had initially sought to go against the ebbing tide because the current of the ebbing tide flows back towards Howth, but the wind changed from a westerly to a more northerly direction so it made it quite difficult. 'It felt like swimming against the tide for pretty much the entire swim. 'We had initially sought to get to Donabate beach, and then had to make an emergency landing in Portrane, but once the flooding tide kicked in the current goes totally the other direction and it was all just a bit too difficult to swim against, so at that stage we set our sights on Portrane.' Mark says: 'I had done various open water swims, I'd done a few triathlons and that, but I'd never done anything quite that distance. By the time we meandered our way through the overall distance, it was 6.6km, so it was the longest swim that I would have done.' Action Ireland Trust is a registered charity dedicated to transforming the lives of rural communities in Lesotho, and Fingal County Council, in partnership with the charity and Portmarnock Community School have worked closely in improving conditions on the ground. Mark was part of the first group of students from Portmarnock Community School to visit South Africa in 2007, before travelling to poverty-stricken Lesotho to carry out humanitarian work. Since then, he has visited the country several times. With his dad, Fran, also working as CEO of Action Ireland Trust, Mark has been heavily involved since his first outing in 2007. Speaking of how he first got involved with Action Ireland Trust, Mark says: 'It was an opportunity that presented itself back in 2006 when I was in Portmarnock Community School, through Niall Fitzgerald, he was the teacher at the time. He's still the chairman of the charity, but he had sort of set out to start this project and to bring Portmarnock Community School into it, and I think it was more so by chance initially, then it just evolved and I've been there several times now and I'll probably be going there into the future. Over the past couple of years, there has been a huge global effort from mappers and the students of Portmarnock Community School to map Lesotho, the result being that it is now the most mapped country on the African continent. The objective of mapping was to facilitate the country in deciding where key strategic development might take place in the future, and where schools, hospitals and infrastructure might be best delivered. Speaking of some of the work he himself has carried out in Lesotho, Mark says: 'I've worked with the construction team and we've built creche facilities, we've built feeding centres, renovated schools, renovated kitchens, toilets, sanitary facilities and enhancing hygiene and all that. We've put in electricity into various schools, we've brought in computer and science labs, so I've worked a good bit with the construction team and some of the work they've done like that over the last couple of years.' Although the people of Lesotho are living in poverty and under 'incredibly tough conditions' in comparison with Western standards, the focus of Action Ireland Trust is largely on education, Mark explains. To this end, work is being carried out on improving conditions and facilities in schools and improving the educational setting. Portmarnock Community School has been sending volunteer students to Lesotho since 2007. Mark says he found his first experience of working in the country 'incredible', and something which had a profound impact on him as a young student. Mark, like his fellow volunteers from Portmarnock Community School, was involved in construction-related work, building a feeding centre for the local community and carrying out predominantly labour-intensive work facilitating the construction team. Mark says: 'You realise just how fortunate you are in Ireland and I suppose in more developed countries and that. It was quite a profound impact on me, I must say, at the time. It was great that I had the opportunity to be involved in it.' Mark said of the charity's work in Lesotho: 'I think Action Ireland's Trust's work is massively important. I think that's recognised right up to Government level and with the King, Letsie III as well, and with the Lesotho ambassador here in Ireland. So they, I think, fully recognise and appreciate the work that's done and I'm looking to ensure that it continues on into the future.' mfanukhona@times.co.sz MBABANE The projected cost for the construction of the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility at Phuzumoya in the eastern part of Eswatini is now E3.2 billion. Initially, a private company styled Kantey & Templer Eswatini had been contracted by the Government of Eswatini to construct the fuel storage facility, at a cost of about E900 million. The current project estimated costs show an increase by 355.5 per cent. The Times SUNDAY can reveal that government has so far spent E54.89 million on the deferred project shrouded in controversy. The initial contractor, Kantey & Templer (Pty) LTD was ordered out of the project site in October 2017. It must be said that the company had been engaged in 2014 to construct the facility but its BOOT (Build Own Operate and Transfer) agreement with the Government of Eswatini, which could have facilitated access to loans, was signed on April 5, 2017. This is according to documents seen by the Times SUNDAY. circumstances Gates to the project site were locked in 2017 (October) under highly questionable circumstances as government felt the companys contract had lapsed. In the current financial year, a request for E10 million by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy to commence construction of the strategic fuel depot was put on hold by Parliament. The money was put on Head 60 (suspension). According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energys financials, the total estimated cost is E3 264 897 000. One of the representatives of the initial contractor declined to comment on the matter, but hinted that they were still interested in undertaking the project at the same cost of E900 million. Senator Peter Bhembe, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, told this publication yesterday that it was possible the cost for the project would not reach E3.2 billion. The E3.2 billion is an estimated cost that we will try by all means to reduce to affordable levels. We are still to do designs and other fundamentals of the project, and the project cost will be less than E3.2 billion, he said. Bhembe said the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility had three components blending, refinery and storage. He explained that government would start with blending, which has a budget of E100 million. Energy experts say blending amounts of alternative fuel with conventional petrol/diesel is one way to conserve petroleum. Blends can also consist of two types of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG). Other experts say fuel blending involves mixing hazardous wastes or hazardous waste and commercial fuels to meet the specifications required by an incinerator, a cement kiln, or an industrial furnace. The minister of Natural Resources and Energy explained that blending would save the country a lot as there was also a good export market for the blended fuel. He said government did not have a strong financial muscle to undertake the Strategic Oil Reserve Project at this point in time when COVID-19 has depleted and diverted resources. Senator Bhembe mentioned that his ministry would apply for loans to embark on this project. He announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy had two main projects - thermal power and the strategic oil reserve facility. opportunities The minister disclosed that government has since decided to start with the thermal power project because of its urgency and potential to massive job opportunities for emaSwati. He pointed to the need for the country to attain energy self-sufficiency by 2025. The country must be ready to generate its own electricity by 2025 when its power supply agreement with ESKOM ends. Im not saying the agreement will not be renewed, Senator Bhembe said. He mentioned that the thermal power project would be undertaken at Lubhuku in the Lubombo Region. He said this project has two components coal mining and power plant. We are looking to the future, hence we have to fast track the thermal power plant, he said. Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), expressed shock that estimated project costs stood at E3.2 billion. He said the project should be stopped because it was too expensive for the taxpayer. Gina decried the fact that the taxpayer did not know who caused the delay in constructing the facility. He urged government to produce evidence that the country would suffer economic losses if it were to stall the project. The project could be too expensive for us now, it must be stopped, Gina said. The oil reserve project has been included in the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan as one of the drivers of economic growth. The plan was launched by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini on Friday. The thermal power plant, which will cost E32.125 billion, has also been included in the plan to stimulate economic growth. According to the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, a limited energy supply can adversely affect the development of a country. If it is not taken into consideration, it is said that it can limit growth prospects of the different sectors of the economy. Energy is a key source of economic growth as many production and consumption activities involve energy as basic input, according to the plan. Government is of the view that the energy sector is one of the most important inputs for economic growth. Since economic activity will be increasing in other sectors, a sustainable supply of energy is necessary, reads the plan. The energy sector proposes nine projects worth E3.747 billion that will provide the much needed energy security to stimulate economic growth. These projects mainly consist of solar plants (varying in size), a biomass energy plant, refinery, and an oil reserve. In total, government says 750 jobs will be created through these energy projects. resources It must be said that the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility has also depleted financial resources for other companies. Inyatsi Construction demanded payment of E6.1 million from Kantey & Templer for works done at Phuzumoya. On the other hand, Kantey & Templer reported that it spent E4 million on environmental assessment work and engineering aspect of the project. Documents that were shown to this publication indicated that the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) had expressed interest in funding the project. The other one was the Vitol Group, whose representatives also came to the country about three years ago. Vitol Group is a Dutch energy and commodity trading company that was founded in Rotterdam in 1966 by Henk Vietor and Jacques Detiger. In its business profile, this company ships more than 350 million tonnes of crude oil per year and controls 250 super-tankers and other vessels to move it around the world. However, many of the potential financiers, according to well-informed sources, were discouraged by a public statement issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy to the effect that the agreement had lapsed. In a letter dated May 10, 2019, seen by this publication, indicating that another organisation known as the Africa Finance Corporation expressed its interest in funding the project. We write to inform you of Africa Finance Corporations (AFC) interest, in principle, to provide financing for the development of an 80 million-litre capacity fuel storage in Swaziland (Eswatini), partly reads the letter, which was seen by this publication. One of the conditions for the granting of the loans was a funding mix that would consist of 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent debt meaning government was to pay back 70 per cent of the about E900 milion. facility That would have effectively translated to about E630 million. Since Kantey & Templer was contracted to operate the fuel storage facility for 20 years, the AFC, which is an E63 billion Pan-African multilateral infrastructure finance institution, required an equity share of 51 per cent. After 20 years, documents indicate that the facility was to be transferred back to government for 100 per cent ownership. Another potential financier was ISCM Foundation, whose mandate letter dated April 1, 2019 indicated that it was prepared to release E1.06 billion (US$76 million) for the project. In addition to the E1.06 billion as a credit line, ISCM expressed interest to make available an additional amount of money totalling E560 million (US$40 million) as a trade/debt funding. This money, according to classified papers, was to assist in charity work in Eswatini projects related to education. It was reported that a company from Taiwan was to take over the construction of the facility but nothing has materialised so far. A government economist said the costs for the project could escalate further if it was delayed for a year or two. What one reform if adopted by the federal government would move the nation forward in addressing the challenges and opportunities of immigration to the United States? Focus on areas of agreement Rep. Fred Upton: America has long been the land of opportunity for millions of immigrants who have enriched our communities and contributed to our economy. As a nation of immigrants, Democrats and Republicans must come together on bipartisan reforms to fix our broken immigration system. One thing is certain we cannot let divisive rhetoric prevent us from working toward a compassionate immigration policy that enforces our laws, supports our agricultural community and farm laborers, and lives up to the ideals of the American dream. The president has said that Congress needs to do our job and get a bill to his desk. Congress has failed to do such. Weve made some progress like when the House passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act last year but more is needed. Partisan bickering only delays progress. Lets focus on areas of agreement rather than letting politics get in the way. Fred Upton, a Republican, represents Michigan's 6th Congressional District. Enforce laws in good faith Rep. Dean Phillips: We need a commitment to good old-fashioned respect, commitment to action and collaboration to solve the partisan deadlock on immigration. Why do I seem so upbeat? Because we achieved a bipartisan compromise on immigration just last year. I was among a group of members from both parties who came together to pass a pathway to citizenship for Liberian families who sought refuge from civil war through the Deferred Enforced Departure program. Greater Minneapolis has an extraordinary Liberian population, and after listening to leaders from that community, I worked with Republicans and Democrats to finally pass a pathway to citizenship, which was signed by the president. Weve proved that bipartisan immigration reform can be done, but early reports suggest that the Trump administration has yet to approve a single green card application from that program nine months after its passage. Story continues People take part in a protest near a U.S. Immigration building on May 13, 2020, in New York City. Protesters were demanding an end to the continued detention and deportation of non-U.S. Citizens. Conditions within detention centers guarantee exposure to COVID-19 and detainees who have tested positive for COVID-19 are still being deported. So while collaboration is key, we cannot fix our countrys immigration problems until we have a president who is willing to enforce in good faith the laws set forth by Congress. Optimism is empty without action, after all. Dean Phillips, a Democrat, represents Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. Provide path to citizenship Peter Boogaard: Our immigration system has been broken for decades, leaving millions of people contributing to our families and economy, and helping our communities survive the ongoing pandemic, with no opportunity to earn legal status. These nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants should be able to become citizens. Taking this vital step while reforming laws that trap people in undocumented status would immediately improve our immigration system. We spend billions trying to deport hardworking immigrants, often separating parents from their U.S. citizen children and breaking apart families. We lose billions in economic growth and tax revenue by limiting their ability to fully contribute. And we sacrifice ingenuity, dynamism and cultural cohesion by systematically perpetuating an underclass who are essential to our society, but who are denied the most basic freedoms and dignity. This further fuels the demagoguery of immigrants we see far too often. Legalization wont fix every problem with our immigration system, but the overwhelming success of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed young undocumented immigrants to legally live and work in the United States, has proved that creating more opportunities for immigrants to fully contribute is good for the country. Its long past time for Congress to act and unlock our nations true potential. Peter Boogaard is the communications director for FWD.us. He previously was deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and worked on the National Security Council and in White House communications in the Obama administration. End birthright citizenship for illegal families Mike Howell: For conservatives, one unfulfilled promise really stands out ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. President Donald Trump promised this during the 2016 campaign and on multiple occasions since then. Birthright citizenship automatically grants U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants. At least 5 million individuals in the USA have received birthright citizenship but should not have. This practice is due to a misapplication of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the interpretation of the language subject to the jurisdiction. Legislative history makes no mention of illegal immigrants being subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Proponents of birthright citizenship often point to the 1898 Supreme Court case U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, but that case dealt with the children of lawful permanent residents, not illegal immigrants. The president doesnt need Congress to end this practice. He could issue an executive order instructing federal agencies to issue passports and other government documents and benefits only to those individuals whose status as U.S. citizens meets this requirement. Trumps 2016 campaign put out a policy paper saying that birthright citizenship remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration. He was right then and would be right now to end it. Mike Howell is senior adviser for Executive Branch Relations at The Heritage Foundation. He previously was the chief legal point of contact in the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the General Counsel. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Immigration reform: 4 ideas for fixing a broken system Israel President Reuven Rivlin has congratulated India on its 74th Independence Day in a video message, saying "may the deep friendship and partnership between our nations and people continue to grow and flourish". He said that Israel and India are two ancient nations with young states. Their deep friendship is based on the shared values of democracy and freedom and shared commitment to innovation, education and development. "In the name of the state and people of Israel, I send our warmest wishes to President Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the people of India on your 74th Independence Day. As we say in Hebrew 'Mazal Tov' (congratulations). Good luck", he said. Rivlin also recalled the "wonderful reception" he and his late wife Nechama received in India during their 2016 visit. "The cooperation between the countries is growing in so many fields and right now our best minds are working together to fight the coronavirus pandemic. We deeply appreciate the aid India sent us at the start of the pandemic and today Israel is sending advanced medical technology to you - to India. "Our cooperation will bring great benefits to the people of India, the people of Israel and to the entire world, he said. India had sent a five-tonne consignment of medicines, including anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, and other medical equipment in what Israeli media then reported was done at the personal request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau while India was preserving its stock for local use. Israel last month sent ventilators, making an exception, as a gift to India in a reciprocal move thanking New Delhi for its timely help. "Once again congratulations India. May the deep friendship and partnership between our nations and people continue to grow and flourish for many, many more years to come. Happy Independence Day India. May God bless India, Rivlin concluded. Netanyahu, in a tweet on the eve of Independence Day, congratulated his Indian counterpart Modi and the people of India, saying "you have so much to be proud of". "Swatantra Diwas ki haardik shubhkamnayen, he tweeted in Hindi. The tweet also carried a photo of Modi and Netanyahu. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also posted a video with soldiers from all over the country, including some from the Indian Jewish community of Bene Israel, congratulating on the Independence Day saying, Jai Hind. "Our soldiers wish a very happy #IndiaIndependenceDay to all of our friends in India!" the IDF wrote on Twitter. "Swatantra Diwas ki haardik shubhkamnayen, it added. The Indian mission in Israel live streamed the Independence Day celebrations on its official Facebook page in view of COVID-19 restrictions. Ambassador Sanjeev Singla hoisted the national flag and read out the President's address to the nation. "The strategic relationship between India and Israel is in a qualitatively different trajectory since the historic visit of Prime Minister Nerandra Modi to Israel three years ago in July 2017 and the visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India in January 2018. As directed by the two Prime Ministers, the two countries are moving ahead across the entire gamut of relationships ranging from trade and innovation to education and culture, Singla said, touching upon the bilateral relations. Highlighting the collaboration in the field of Science and technology and creation of a USD 40-million research and development fund to boost the joint innovation projects, the Indian envoy also mentioned that there is an ongoing discussion around a limited preferential trade agreement in goods and in a bilateral investment treaty. Applauding the role of the Indian Jewish community in strengthening bilateral ties, Singla said that the mission has tried to keep in direct touch with them even during the pandemic by taking consular services across the country, to their doorsteps, and its resolve has been further strengthened by the overwhelming response from the community. In efforts to promote people-to-people contact, the Indian ambassador pointed out at the opening of an Indian Cultural Centre in Tel Aviv, the direct Air India flights that are a "game changer" in promoting relations on the ground and the increasing number of Indian students in Israel, which is probably the largest community of overseas student community in the country. The celebrations included an Indian classical dance ensemble by Trikudhum, comprising Israeli artistes Ayala Lev on Kathak, Dinoor Aharonson on Odissi and Yael Tal Notea on Kuchipudi. The Indian embassy had also organised an essay competition on India-Israel relations: A Knowledge and Innovation Based Partnership. A Russian banking billionaire who owns the world's first private ice-breaking super yacht has been banned from travelling outside the M25 ahead of an extradition hearing. Oleg Tinkov, 52, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court next month on foot of an extradition request made by US authorities who wish to question him over an alleged multi million-pound tax fraud. Tinkov, who relinquished his US citizenship in October 2013, was released on 20m bail while the extradition is decided. Russian banker Oleg Tinkov, pictured, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court next month as US authorities attempt to extradite him over an alleged tax fraud Tinkov owns the world's first ice breaker private yacht, La Datcha, pictured Tinkov, pictured, is accused of hiding assets worth more than $1bn when he relinquished his US citizenship to avoid paying tax Tinkov was investigated after US authorities discovered he owned a private jet, pictured The tycoon pictured, is known for his jet-setting lifestyle Tinkov's jet, pictured, is registered in the Isle of Man US authorities accuse Tinkov of hiding $1bn in income and assets when he renounced his US citizenship to avoid paying tax. According to the US Department of Justice, Tinkov allegedly filed paperwork claiming he was worth $300,000. They began their investigation after discovering he owned a 2018 Dassault 8X private jet registered in the Isle of Man. US authorities said: 'Oleg Tinkov was the indirect majority shareholder of a branchless online bank that provided its customers with financial and bank services. 'The indictment alleges as a result of an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange in 2013, Tinkov beneficially owned more than $1 billion worth of the banks shares. 'The indictment further alleges that three days after the IPO, Tinkov renounced his U.S. citizenship a taxable event requiring Tinkov to report to the IRS the constructive sale of his worldwide assets, report the gain on the constructive sale of those assets to the IRS, and pay tax on such gain to the IRS.' Tinkov allegedly told US authorities that his earnings in 2013 were $206,000 and he had a net value of $300,000 According to authorities, if convicted he could face three years in prison for each count he faces Federal authorities alleged Tinkov routed more than $1bn through the British Virgin Islands to avoid US tax. According to the indictment, Tinkov said his income was less than $206,000 in 2013 while his net worth was $300,000. According to the Feds: 'If convicted, Tinkov faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison on each count. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.' As well as his superyacht, Tinkov owns a Dassault 8x jet worth around 50 million. According to an investigation by The Times, Tinkov is on the US government's 'Putin list'. As well as his superyacht La Datcha, he also owns a 50m private jet Turkey has slammed France for acting like a bully and lashed out at Greece as foreign ministers from the European Union weighed in on the emerging crisis in the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean. The search for oil and gas in disputed waters not far from Cyprus has pitted Turkey against its uneasy NATO ally Greece and the entire EU bloc. Turkey's decision to send a scientific vessel accompanied by a small navy fleet into the volatile region on Monday prompted Greece to dispatch in its own military assets to observe what was going on. France on Thursday also announced it was "temporarily reinforcing" its presence in the eastern Mediterranean in support of Greece. That only further hurt France's relations with Turkey -- already damaged by opposing approaches to the Libya conflict and other parts of the Middle East -- and saw the diplomatic rhetoric rise another notch. "France especially should avoid steps that will increase tensions," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on a visit to Switzerland. "They will not get anywhere by acting like bullies, whether in Libya, the northeast of Syria, in Iraq or the Mediterranean." French President Emmanuel Macron retorted that his view on Libya and the Mediterranean were "convergent" to those of US President Donald Trump and UAE strongman Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. "Our interests in peace and security are common there," Macron said in Paris. "We will ensure that it is respected." Ankara steps up rhetoric Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscored the fraught nature of the standoff by warning on Thursday of a "heavy price" to pay for those who threaten Turkey's Oruc Reis research ship. "We can't let even the smallest attack go without an answer," Erdogan reaffirmed on Friday. Story continues The president said "something like this" happened to the Oruc Reis on Thursday but provided no details. Another warship accompanying Oruc Reis "gave the necessary response, and then they withdrew to their ports," Erdogan said, without specifying which nation's ships allegedly confronted Turkey's. The Greek defence ministry denied being involved in any incident with the Oruc Reis. Cavusoglu said that Turkey was seeking a peaceful end to the crisis and was only expecting "common sense" from Greece. "Of course we do not wish to escalate," said Cavusoglu. Turkey argues that Greece is using its control of a few tiny islands off the coast of Turkey to claim an outsized share of the Mediterranean Sea. It also cites examples of past international agreements that gave the coastal power the right to waters despite another nation's islands near its shores. (AFP) The Los Angeles Times has hand-picked three Aussie dramas to recommend to readers who like discovering gems such as Britains Fleabag. What they have in common is that they dont let style stand in for content they share a certain tradition of naturalism, in writing, acting and production, they noted. Heres what they said about Frayed, Five Bedrooms and Upright. In Frayed, airing on HBO Max, fabulously wealthy Samantha Cooper (creator Sarah Kendall) learns that her late husband, deceased under unsavory circumstances, has left her destitute. Dragging two confused teenagers, from whom she has concealed her actual past, she returns reluctantly to the industrial harbor town north of Sydney she left in a hurry 20 years earlier, moving in again with her properly wary mother (a terrific Kerry Armstrong) and angry brother (Ben Mingay) and encountering various old friends not unhappy to see her laid low. Set in the late 1980s allowing for amusing hair and fashion and recurring Dynasty references its a different sort of series than the similarly premised Schitts Creek, less whimsical or warm; the comedy rides on a bed of sorrow. (Each family member gets a substantial storyline.) Still, as in Schitts Creek, the viewer suspects that this is the best thing that could have happened to them, and is in no rush to see their fortunes, as measured by money, restored. The premise of Peacocks Australian import Five Bedrooms five people, not all of whom know one another, buy a house together is the sort of thing multi-camera sitcoms are built on; its Friends without the intervening hallway. Its fundamentally a comedy, but as a story of people who need people its more in tune with, if not as nakedly sentimental as, NBCs This Is Us. Each character gets a turn at narrating; each seems superficially cut to type posh lawyer lady; semi-closeted gay doctor; hunky construction worker; slightly creepy guy separated, but not emotionally, from his wife; lovelorn girl on whose shoulder he cries but will prove more dimensional. Each is keeping a secret, and all are running from or toward the wrong thing, or running from the right thing, which gives them room for growth, and room to stumble. This is not quite my cup of tea, but I quickly became invested in their several fates. (It helps perhaps that, the actors being unfamiliar, the characters felt that much more actual.) The marvelous Upright, on Sundance Now, also features a musician who has never managed to grow up, though it is less grotesque and satirical and more warm and human. Created and directed in part by and starring Tim Minchin a sort of show- business Jack of All Trades, Master of All, whose credits include the score for the Tony-nominated Matilda: The Musical it is a road movie, and in most respects a comedy in that Minchins character, the ironically nicknamed Lucky Flynn, manages to climb out of the bad situations into which he steers or falls only to steer or fall into another, as he makes his way across the continent, hauling an old upright piano, to visit family he has not seen in years. His accidental companion on the trip, Meg (Milly Alcock, vulnerable beneath the bravado and thoroughly exceptional), is a teenage runaway with whose truck he collides minutes into the opening episode. (The last episode destroyed me, in a good way, but I am a sucker for a weathered piano metaphor.) The camera takes advantage of the wide expanses and arboreal silhouettes of the Australian outback without making it into a statement. Myanmar Ethnic Alliance to Skip Government Peace Talks Next Week 2020-08-14 -- An umbrella group of ethnic armies in Myanmar announced Thursday it will skip a government-sponsored peace conference next week, citing coronavirus-related travel difficulties and solidarity for a rebel group that was excluded, diminishing already low expectations for the negotiations. The seven-member alliance, known as the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), includes some of the largest of the ethnic armies that have been at war with the central government for decades and have resisted signing a recent cease-fire with the Myanmar military. Aung San Suu Kyi won office in 2015 on pledges that included ending wars between the national army and armed ethnic groups that stretch back to the country's independence from Britain in 1948. To achieve this, she launched the 21st-Century Panglong Conference, and held annual sessions from 2016-18. The Panglong process, also known as the Union Peace Conference, treats the ethnic groups differently, depending on whether they have signed the cornerstone nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) in October 2015. The FPNCC's seven armies are not NCA signatories, and the invitation that the six of them turned down Thursday only covered the opening ceremony of the next talks slated for Aug. 19-21. The six armies "will not be able to join the fourth session of the UPC, mainly due to COVID-19," the FPNCC said in a statement. The group also said that it was disappointed that its seventh member, the Arakan Army (AA), was not invited. The AA, which is fighting Myanmar troops in western Rakhine state in a war that erupted in late 2018, was declared an illegal association and terrorist group by the government in March. "The FPNCC member groups held a meeting today and decided not to attend mainly because the government didn't invite our allied group, the AA," said Brigadier General Tar Phone Kyaw, second-in-command of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). "We decided not to attend to show our solidarity," he added. In addition to the AA and TNLA, the armies staying away from the talks next week include the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)/Mongla group, the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP)/SSA-North, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)/Kokang group. Nyi Rang, liaison officer for the UWSA, Myanmar's largest non-state army which leads the FPNCC, told RFA that the ethnic force was in accord with the umbrella group's statement and that he had no further comment. Talks next week with the 10 ethnic armies that have signed the NCA are likely to focus on technical details and terminology, much like in the previous sessions. 'Of utmost importance' Aung Thu Nyein, director of communications at the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar, said it will not matter to the government or to the peace process if the FPNCC members do not participate in the fourth and final round of talks before general elections in November. "The government views the Panglong peace conference as being of the utmost importance for its performance," he said. "So, the government will hold the Panglong conference and portray it as its victory no matter what happens," Aung Thu Nyein said. "If it fails to hold the conference, it will be a weak spot for criticism during the election campaign." Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) faces competition from nearly 100 political parties who are putting forward candidates in the Nov. 8 elections to vie for 1,171 seats available in both houses of the national parliament and in state and regional legislatures. No matter which party wins, however, it is important that the next government continues the peace talks and possibly includes the FPNCC groups in future conferences, Aung Thu Nyein said. RFA was unable to get a comment from government spokesman Zaw Htay, who is also a member of the state's National Reconciliation and Peace Center, which runs the peace negotiations and is chaired by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. RFA also could not reach Myanmar military spokesmen for comment on the FPNCC's decision to sit out the peace conference. 'A clear path' In Naypyidaw on Thursday, representatives from the government, the military, and ethnic armed groups agreed on a draft of the Union Accord Part III to be signed during the peace conference. First inked at the 2016 round of the Panglong negotiations, the Union Accord comprises a framework agreement for implementing the NCA, steps for implementing the peace process after 2020, and issues pertaining to democracy and basic principles for the federal system that Myanmar seeks to adopt. Parties who attended the ninth meeting of the Joint Implementing Coordination Meeting (JICM) for the NCA, agreed on seven points, which will be submitted to the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) and signed at the peace talks. The UPDJC comprises officials from the government, military, and parliament, and representatives from ethnic armed groups and political parties. The Union Accord "will show a clear path to resolve Myanmar's ongoing crises a crisis of politics, a crisis with building a democratic federal union, [and] a crisis on constitutional reform," said Aung San Suu Kyi at the meeting. "But we still have to maintain negotiations on the details of the processes," she added. Ongoing discussions will include security matters as defined in the NCA plan, said government spokesman Zaw Htay, who also serves as director general of the State Counselor's Office. "It will include bilateral discussions and preparations," he said. "These security processes are intended to balance the progressing political processes." Senior Vice General Soe Win, deputy commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military, said that many of the issues discussed at Thursday's meeting have been covered in the NCA. "The meeting wasn't able to cover the main issues as it was hindered by redundant discussions due to misunderstandings," he said. Reported by Thiha Tun, Kan Tar, and Soe San Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. 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 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday sealed a defense cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland. In Warsaw at the end of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, Pompeo and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak signed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that sets out the legal framework for the additional troop presence. This is going to be an extended guarantee: a guarantee that in case of a threat our soldiers are going to stand arm-in-arm, Polands President Andrzej Duda said during the signing ceremony. It will also serve to increase the security of other countries in our part of Europe, Duda said. The deal would also further other aspects of US-Polish cooperation, he added, citing primarily investment and trade ties. The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernization of existing capabilities and facilities by allowing US forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country. Some 4,500 US troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added, under a bilateral decision announced last year. Last month, in line with President Donald Trumps demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that some 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland. In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense and has repeatedly accused Germany of failing to pay NATO bills, which is a misstatement of the issue. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2% of their gross domestic product. Saturdays signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a UN Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the US. Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president. Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the regions young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China and has received a warm welcome. In Poland, the reception was particularly kind given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election. Many of Dudas Law and Justice partys policies have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU member country. Princess Annes 70th birthday has been celebrated with the release of three new official photographs and shes been given a military promotion too. The Queens only daughter has reached the milestone today although festivities have been scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic. To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Defence has made the Princess Royal a General in the British Army and an Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force in recognition of her invaluable contribution and commitment to the military. If that wasnt enough, celebrated photographer John Swannell was dispatched to her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire to photograph her wearing a fancy evening dress while sitting in a chair. Swannell has taken photographs of everyone from Diana, Princess of Wales and her sons to Tony Blair, Sir Michael Caine and Sir Elton John. His images were taken in late February, a few weeks before the coronavirus lockdown. Annes son-in-law Mike Tindall has already revealed Covid-19 and the recent spike of cases in Aberdeen have meant the family has had to come up with alternative arrangements to mark the day. The former England rugby star, who is married to Annes daughter Zara, said on BBCs The One Show: We did have plans it wouldve been up in Scotland but obviously with Covid and Aberdeen being locked down a bit, I think everythings been scaled back a little bit. Its a shame. Im sure well do something as a family to celebrate her 70 amazing years, shes just an incredible woman in terms of how much work she can get through in the year. We will be doing something, as yet I dont know whether she knows so my lips are sealed. It is thought Anne is in Scotland like the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh who are spending the summer at Balmoral. Despite the limitations of Covid-19, Annes milestone has been marked by a TV documentary and she has also guest-edited Country Life magazine. In the ITV film, the princess suggested that social media is adding to the pressures already faced by younger members of the royal family, like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Anne was followed by film-makers for more than a year to make the programme, which featured unseen family footage and conversations with her children, Peter Phillips and Zara, and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Speaking about the younger members of the monarchy, she said: The pressure that is applied to the younger members of the family is always worse, because thats what the media is interested in and thats, you know, hard sometimes to deal with. Anne also said she hoped her legacy would be the passing-on of her knowledge and experience. When she guest-edited Country Life, the princess paid tribute to her parents for instilling in her a lifelong love of nature. She also wrote about holding an HGV licence, how she hates fly-tipping, and sees herself as a classic Jack of all trades. Recently she impressed with her technological knowledge when she taught the Queen how to use Zoom. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Protesters raging against the corruption and negligence faulted for the explosion have hanged an effigy of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah in Beiruts central Martyrs Square, the first time he has been so publicly maligned. His name and that of the group have been emblazoned on banners and included in chants, along with those of other top figures blamed for the vast corruption and mismanagement that have bankrupted the economy and propelled hundreds of thousands into poverty, even before the blast. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Senthil Nathan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 09:12 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2f272 3 Opinion poverty-alleviation,rural-area,rural-development,pandemic,COVID-19,Education,school-children,education-inequality,poverty Free I met Ibu Fathima (name changed) on a hot day in a small village, in North Sumatra, where she was tending her half-hectare farm. "I go and work as a labor in the neighboring farm as soon as I finish the work on my farm," she said with a smile. As a single mother, she also looks after the household and nurtures her two children. When I asked why she is working so hard and what she wants to accomplish in life, her answer is spontaneous: "I want my children to get educated and achieve great things in life". I remembered Ibu Fathima as I think of the millions of children who must miss school because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools remain closed, many children, especially from the poor and marginalized communities, might give up on education permanently. A recent report from Save the Children, a global charity, calls it as an 'unprecedented global education emergency. Children from rural households in particular will be the worst affected, as four out of five who are living under extreme poverty live in rural areas. For millions of rural children in the developing world, schools are the most promising pathway to productive careers, well-paying jobs, and ladder of social progress. Subsistence farmers' educated children increase the living standards of their families that their farming parents only could dream of. But COVID-19 has given a debilitating blow to this crucial socioeconomic ladder. Save the Children report says that "deep budget cuts to education and rising poverty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could force at least 9.7 million children out of school forever by the end of this year, with millions more falling behind in learning." Among the 40 countries which the report classified as moderate to extremely high-risk of children permanently dropping out of school, almost all are from developing countries in Africa and Asia. It seems rural communities are aware of this challenge. A survey by Enveritas, a global sustainability platform, conducted among coffee-growing smallholders in three continents found that COVID-19 impact on access to education is one of the greatest concerns for smallholders in many countries. The economic and social consequences of children dropping out of school are vast. The World Bank estimates that if "schools remain closed for five months, pupils will forgo US$10 trillion of future earnings in today's money." Also, the world would see "the first potential reversal in global child poverty trends since the late 1990s." Rural children will face further challenges besides losing education and poverty. Economic hardships may force them to work in farms for a living, which may compromise their health, safety, and, above all, the sense of self-worth. Adolescent girls face increased risk "of gender-based violence, early pregnancy or child marriage, trapped in a cycle of violence and poverty, and denied the chance to fulfill their potential," according to Save the Children report. In many countries, school feeding programs are also social safety nets for the children from poor households; school closures will deprive many children of this publicly provided food. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the quality of education in many developing countries had scope for improvement. Hardly any country from developing Asia and Africa is on the top 30 in the Program for International Assessment (PISA), a global test conducted in nearly 80 nations to assess 15-year-old students' academic performance on mathematics, science and reading. Dismal school attendance of teachers and students is a constant challenge for policymakers in the developing world. Even for the students who regularly make it to school, presence is often not equal to learning. Hiring good teachers in rural areas is hard; teacher training in evolving pedagogy is rare. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. As the school closures increased, the world quickly adapted to web platforms such as Zoom as a substitute for classrooms. But rural children are woefully underequipped to embrace such tools. Functional internet connectivity is still a far cry in many rural areas. Even in areas where there is internet connectivity, it is hard for parents, who often have little education, to help their children use technology as a means of learning. Also, many parents in rural areas cannot afford computers or smartphones that are needed to participate in online classes. All of these can impact children and let them fall further behind their better-off peers. Policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and businesses should prioritize interventions to make sure rural children are not missing out on education. COVID-related cash transfer programs can be tied to parents' readiness to educate their children. Children who are currently out of school due to the pandemic should be taken care of. Research shows that when children spend any significant time out of school, they tend to forget some of what they have already learnt. So prolonged educational breaks for rural children while their urban peers catching up on Zoom classrooms will undermine many bright minds. We must ensure that vulnerable children receive the necessary support and tools for distance education. Looking at this challenge from another perspective, this is also an opportunity to overhaul education and promote digital learning in rural areas. Many other sectors have seen such pivot towards digital since the pandemic started. McKinsey, a global consulting firm, recently reported that consumer and business digital adoption vaulted five years forward in a matter of around eight weeks due to COVID-19. Education systems serving poor and marginalized children need such reckoning. Carefully designed policy interventions to promote hybrid learningclassroom lessons coupled with learning from digital platforms is a promising option. If there is a moment for political leaders and stakeholders to come together and show determination in the betterment of the marginalized, this is it. We will never have a more opportune time. The world will eventually find a cure for COVID-19. But a child missing education now will be disadvantaged for years to come. *** The writer manages the Asia operations for Enveritas, a New York-based non-profit. The views expressed are his own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. WASHINGTON One wintry day in 1992, my boss drolly told me to try to look young. We were meeting Richard Nixon and the fallen president preferred to talk to reporters who were not old enough to have covered his Waterloo of Watergate. We had our coffee with him two years before he died. Some of his observations on the presidential race were smart but one seemed more vengeful than visionary. He warned that Bill Clintons campaign would have to be careful about how it deployed Hillary Clinton. If the wife comes through as being too strong and too intelligent, it makes the husband look like a wimp, he said, adding that unfortunately some voters concurred with Cardinal Richelieus pronouncement, Intellect in a woman is unbecoming. I wondered if he was still smarting that Hillary Rodham had been a lawyer for the House Judiciary Committees impeachment inquiry. And I didnt agree with him. Arkansas voters had a period of adjustment with their governors formidable wife. But on the national stage, it was Bill Clintons inability to control his appetites that made him seem weak not having a strong partner. U.S. Postal Service mailboxes were removed from Portland and Eugene, Oreg. neighborhoods this week, sparking concern from residents, the Oregonian reported. The USPS confirmed that four boxes were removed from Portland this week due to declining mail volume. A Postal Service spokesperson said they removed duplicate boxes from areas that have multiple collection boxes. First-class mail volume has declined significantly in the U.S., especially since the pandemic, Ernie Swanson, a spokesman for the USPS, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. That translates to less mail in collection boxes. He said the removal should not impact people at all and that some mailboxes are being replaced with high-security ones, he said. However, the sight of carting away mailboxes still alarmed residents in light of recent comments made by President Donald Trump about cutting Postal Service funding and criticizing voting by mail. Outbound slots in neighborhood mailboxes are being locked shut, Jacob Strouckel, a Eugene resident, told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an email. We are not just losing access to roadside mail dropboxes, but our convenient neighborhood drop slots. This applies to neighborhoods without individual mailboxes, so we are unable to send outbound mail from our area, without finding a roadside mailbox or risking a trip to the post office. Trump said he doesnt want to fund the postal service in light of the democratic partys efforts to expand voting by mail the Washington Post reported. At a Wednesday briefing, he said he would not approve $25 billion in emergency funding for the postal service or $3.5 billion in supplemental election resources funds, according to the Post. Read the full story here. India celebrated its 74th Independence Day in a manner befitting the occasion but with all precautionary measures over Covid-19 pandemic. The celebrations were curtailed and only selected guests are invited to be part of the Red Fort event. Despite this pandemic, as a part of the annual decoration areas like India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Building was lit up spectacularly in tri-colours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the I-Day celebrations by unfurlling the national flag and delivered his seventh consecutive Independence Day speech from the iconic Red Fort on Saturday, reported PTI. The PM also received the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police. Major Shweta Pandey assisted the PM in unfurling the National Flag, following which PM Modi addressed the nation. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, PM Modi put forward the mantra of Make for World alongside his pet initiative of Make in India as he exhorted all Indians to be vocal for local. Dressed in his customary ''kurta pyjama'' and safa, the prime minister, in his nearly 90-minute address, dwelt at length on his ''Aatmanirbhar Bharat'' campaign and gave a call for reducing imports and pushing exports of finished products in place raw material, saying the country will have to move forward with the mantra of ''Make in India'' as well as ''Make for World''. A self-reliant Bharat was the centrepiece of Prime Minister's Independence Day address as he presented a broad outline for spurring India's growth in diverse sectors and asserted that the coronavirus pandemic cannot halt the country''s march towards self-reliance. ''Aatmanirbhar Bharat'' is no longer merely a word but has become a mantra and captured people''s imagination, he added. Modi also made a host of new announcements on Saturday including the launch of a national digital health mission for the country of 1.3 billion under which health IDs will be given to everyone, connecting all six lakh villages with optical fibres in 1000 days and promised the holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the delimitation exercise is over. On the digital health mission, Modi said that records of every health test, disease, medication and other details will be kept under a health ID. Technology will be judiciously used to reduce challenges in treatments, he said. Whether it is making a doctors appointment, depositing money or running around for documents in the hospital, the mission will help remove all such challenges, he added. The Prime Minister also chose the occasion to deliver a warning to India''s hostile neighbours saying the armed forces have given a befitting reply to those who challenged the country''s sovereignty "from LoC to LAC" in their own language, reported PTI. In a reference to the border row with China in eastern Ladakh, Modi said: "Respect for India''s sovereignty is supreme for us and the world has seen in Ladakh what our brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve. I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort." "Whether it is terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting both with determination," Modi said. Modi also touched upon the much-anticipated issue of vaccine for COVID-19 and said three vaccines are in various phases of trials in the country. He said that a roadmap is ready to innoculate all citizens at the shortest possible time with their mass production after scientists give a green signal. He also announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission under which every Indian will get a unique health identity. Modi said India was ready to mass produce Covid-19 vaccines when scientists give the go-ahead. Not one, not two, as many as three coronavirus vaccines are being tested in India, he said in his speech. Along with mass-production, the roadmap for distribution of vaccine to every single Indian in the least possible time is also ready, Modi said. The country is also ready for mass production of those vaccines, he added. Business Roundup Irrawaddy Business Roundup -- YANGONMyanmars Health Ministry announced this that it will relax public gathering COVID-19 restriction starting Sunday as no new locally-transmitted cases of the disease have been reported for nearly a month. During the week, two local companies announced they will team up to implement a new international trade terminal in Pathein Industrial City, Ayeyarwady Region. At the same time, the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) said COVID-19 wont affect the flow of foreign investment into Myanmar and the commission is confident that the country will meet its investment target for this fiscal year. Furthermore, MIC also said that investment by Myanmar citizens has doubled under the National League for Democracy (NLD) administration compared with the previous government. Additionally, the government said Myanmar is seeking new markets for fruit exports as the sector has been hit badly by COVID-19. Local companies form joint venture for new international port Two local companies have formed a joint venture to implement the Ayeyarwady International Industrial Port (AIIP) in Pathein Industry City, located on the bank of the Pathein River, four miles south of Ayeyarwady Regions capital, Pathein. Unison Choice Services Limited, a subsidiary of Ever Flow River Group Public Company (EFR), signed a deal with Ayeyar Hinthar Holdings Co., Ltd (AHH) on Wednesday to form a joint venture company called A Logistics Co., Ltd that will operate the AIIP, according to a press statement from EFR. The statement said that Unison Choice Services Limited has done a feasibility study and design development for the AIIP in cooperation with AHH over the past year. The planned project will include bonded warehouses, a container yard, international port terminals and other infrastructure. It will handle international ships and ocean liners. Pathein Industrial City is slated to cover 2,711 hectares and include industrial zones, a river port for 10,000-ton cargo ships and commercial and residential areas. The EFR statement said that Unison Choice holds 60 percent of the new company and AHH holds the remaining 40 percent. MIC: Pandemic wont affect flow of FDI The MIC said the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country wont decrease during the COVID-19 period and that it is confident the country will meet its FDI target for this fiscal year. According to MIC records, the country received more than US$5 billion from foreign investors during the 10-month period of the current fiscal year (2019-2020). The government target for FDI for this fiscal year is US$5.8 billion. The 2019-2020 fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2019 and ends on Sept. 30. The MIC said it has obtained investments from a total of 219 foreign enterprises and secured more than US$110 million for special economic zones during this fiscal year. Citizen investment has doubled This week, the MIC also said that investments from Myanmar citizens have almost doubled in the last four years under the current government, compared with the previous government. It said total citizen investment in March 2016 was over 11.6 trillion kyats (US$8.5 billion) but the total had increased to over 20.9 trillion kyats (US$15.3 billion) by the end of June 2020. During the last four years, citizens invested the largest amount in the real estate sector, accounting for about 30 percent of their total investments. The total value of real estate investments by citizens over the past four years was nearly 2.6 trillion kyats (US$1.9 billion). The second-largest investment by citizens is in the manufacturing sector, with more than 1.5 trillion kyats invested (US$1.1 billion). Moreover, citizens invested more than 1.1 trillion kyats in the transport sector. Government seeks new market for fruit export The Ministry of Commerce said it is seeking new markets for fruit exports as the sector has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Currently, China is the major market for Myanmars fruit exports but producers and exporters have suffered extreme losses due to Chinas COVID-19-related restrictions and new export rules. The ministry said that officials from Myanmar embassies in foreign countries have been trying to seek new markets for fruit exports in their host countries. It said they are also conducting market research on exporting fruits such as watermelons and cucumbers to the European market. You may also like these stories: Japan, Singapore to Ease COVID-19 Travel Restrictions From September Whats New in Myanmars Project Bank Irrawaddy Business Roundup TORONTO, July 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:ERE.UN, ERES or the REIT) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a multi-residential property located in the municipality of Renkum in the eastern Netherlands (the Doorwerth Property). The Doorwerth Property is a three-building, 8-floor multi-residential property that is comprised of 120 residential suites and 24 parking units. It is 100% owned and is currently 97.5% occupied, with approximately 67% of the residential suites liberalized. The 20.15 million (C$31.9 million) purchase price (excluding transaction costs and fees) represents an estimated forward capitalization rate of approximately 4.3%. Closing is anticipated on or around September 1, 2020, and ERES intends to finance the acquisition using cash on hand, with ultimate funding to come from long term mortgage financing thereafter. The Doorwerth Property is well-located, being close to a supermarket and other amenities, and in proximity to the centre of Doorwerth. It is also nearby several existing properties owned by ERES, including in the neighbouring municipalities of Arnhem and Nijmegen, which will allow for operational synergies with ERESs established regional asset and property manager. ERES is excited to return to accretive expansion of our high-quality asset portfolio, commented Phillip Burns, CEO of ERES. We believe this transaction signals the continued attractiveness of the multi-residential real estate market in the Netherlands and the underlying resilience of the Dutch economy, reinforcing not only ERESs prime positioning in the market, but also our ability to execute our growth strategy and move forward in these trying times. About ERES ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERESs Units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canadas only European-focused, multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality, multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands. ERES owns a portfolio of 131 multi-residential properties, comprised of 5,632 suites and ancillary retail space located in the Netherlands, and owns one office property in Germany and one office property in Belgium. ERESs registered and principal business office is located at 11 Church Street, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W1. For more information, please visit our website at www.eresreit.com . Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release that do not relate to historical facts constitute forward-looking statements. These statements represent ERESs intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could result in actual results differing materially from these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in regulatory filings that can be obtained on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . For further information ERES ERES Mr. Phillip Burns Mr. Scott Cryer Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer 416.354.0167 416.861.5771 p.burns@eresreit.com s.cryer@eresreit.com Iran on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has "never been so isolated". "In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted hours after just two of the Council's 15 members backed a US resolution to extend the embargo. "Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them," he added, in reference to failed efforts by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to rally support for a US resolution. Iranian state television's website said the only other country to back the US resolution was the Dominican Republic, citing unnamed sources. The embargo on conventional arms sales to Iran is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic republic and world powers. "Last night, Iran's active #diplomacy, along with the legal force of (the nuclear deal), defeated the United States again at the Security Council," Mousavi tweeted. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018, escalating tensions between the longtime enemies. Leading tourism operators on Friday revealed the top 10 romantic destinations suitable for holiday relaxation and couples honeymoon within Nigeria. The travel experts made the revelation during the 9th Naija Seven Wonders webinar session themed: Places to Visit in Nigeria: Issues of Access and Security. It was organised by Ikechi Uko, AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market promoter. Top on the list are Obudu Resorts, Cross River; Whispering Palms, Badagry, Lagos; Ikogosi Warm Springs, Ekiti; Ifie Mangrove Park, Warri; Abraka Turf Club, Warri; Inagbe Grand Resort, Lagos; Nike Lake Resort, Enugu and Ilase Island Resort, Lagos. READ ALSO: Chichi Umeasiegbu, Chief Executive Officer, Global Links, said lots of Nigerians were still ignorant of the existence of some fascinating romantic tourism destinations within the country. She said this had made many embrace international sites, urging Nigerians to visit most of the local sites to boost the growth of Nigerias tourism industry. According to her, the Abraka Turf Club usually hosts a polo tournament every Easter period and aside from this, the place is suitable for honeymoon activities such as swimming, horse ride and different forms of fun could be achieved there. Ifie Mangrove Park is another beautiful place for honeymooning, picnicking, wildlife exploration, kids excursion and all; this place accommodates a 400-year-old tree with medicinal properties. Obudu Resort with its natural pools, fresh breeze and serene ambience offers the appropriate environment for couples to unwind, she said. Also, Franklin Ihejirika, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Frank News, suggested visitation to Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, Ikogosi Warm Spring and Inagbe Grand Resort to explore the luxury of honeymoon experience. He said it was high time people begin to acquire the right information about Nigeria tourists sites to encourage tours within the country. Nigeria has a lot to offer in terms of tourism and hospitality, Ikogosi Warm Spring is unique for its feature of the confluence of cold and warm water, this is nature at its best. There are well furnished chalets for guests, no security problem, it is well protected, it is a beautiful place for parties, picnics, and all. This is also applicable to the Inagbe Resort which is known for its beautiful natural landscape, he said. Apata Nunayon, Environment and Tourism Supervisor, Badagry Local Government, said the ancient town of Badagry had lots to offer tourists ranging from festivals, slave history, museums, beaches and all. Badagry remains an important destination to be visited, western education took its roots in Badagry with rich slave history, the First Storey Building in Nigeria can be found in Badagry and that was the place Christianity was first preached. There are also lots of festivals in Badagry which tourists can attend, like: Black Heritage Festival, Diaspora Festival, Miss Tourism, Badagry Mega Concert, Coconut Festival. Badagry is very peaceful and secure, he said. John-Likita Best, Vice President, Federation of Tourism Association (FTAN), North Central, woos tourists to Plateau State, adding that the state had the most unique and spectacular waterfalls in Nigeria. Plateau State tourism potential is still virgin, investors and tourists are advised to come and explore, the Shere Hills and Zungu Waterfalls are fascinating, the weather in Plateau is an amazing feature to experience, he said. (NAN) Dozens gathered in Gov. Ned Lamonts Hartford driveway Friday to demand the state provide relief to its immigrant population. The event hosted by the Immigrants Are Essential Coalition, made up of faith, immigrant rights, civil rights and social justice organizations was attended by about 50 people, according to a news release from the coalition Friday night. The coalition has been asking the Lamont administration to create a disaster relief fund for the states immigrant community since April. Just this week though, the coalition said Friday, Lamonts office reached out to discuss a potential meeting. Throughout the gathering Friday featured speeches, poetry reading and dancing. Without the option of working from home, he had to choose between earning an income or risking his and his familys health for a paycheck, attendee Sonia Gutierrez told the crowd, according to a transcript of her speech, shared by Make the Road CT later Friday night. Gutierrez, a Fight Back Committee organizer at Make the Road CT, said her husband ended up catching the coronavirus. She said he was in critical condition for a month at a half. Our story makes it clear, Gutierrez said, our immigrant families have been suffering both financially and physically from the pandemic for far too long, and we have been excluded from most federal and state relief. It is time for Connecticut to step up. Gutierrez said the rally attendees were with the governor in June, when he announced $3.5 million in private and state funds for the community. While we are glad to be a part of that process, the roll out has been slow and too little to late, she said. Were here today asking the state to create a real immigrant relief fund that actually helps our immigrant families recover. Unprecedented street protests are rocking Belarus, which Alexander Lukashenko has ruled for 26 years - EPA-EFE Belarus's embattled dictator Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday claimed Vladimir Putin had agreed to provide military support if needed as he clung onto power in the face of a growing pro-democracy revolution. Police launched a violent crackdown on protests that broke out last weekend when Mr Lukashenko claimed 80 percent of the vote in a presidential election, results largely seen as completely fabricated. But authorities failed to contain the demonstrations and pressure is mounting at home and abroad on Mr Lukashenko to step down, after ruling the Eastern European country with an iron fist for 26 years. Mr Lukashenko said on Saturday night that Russia and Belarus remained tied with a treaty with a "military component". "I had a long, thorough conversation with the Russian president today," he said. "He and I agreed comprehensive aid to ensure the security of the Republic of Belarus will be provided at our first request," he said in comments carried by the Belta news agency on Saturday. Moscow sees Belarus as a strategically important buffer against NATO and the European Union, and will have no desire to see the current leadership replaced with a Westernising reformer. The Kremlin has, however, remained tight-lipped throughout the crisis on whether it would seek to prop up the regime. Analysts say direct intervention of the type seen during the 2014 Ukraine crisis, when pro-democracy protests ousted a Moscow-backed leader, is unlikely at this stage. Russian President Vladimir Putinand Alexander Lukashenko in December last year Mr Putin and Mr Lukashenko spoke by telephone on Saturday and both expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon, the Kremlin said, without describing what if any action would be taken. A Kremlin statement afterwards made no mention of any security assistance. The call came after the Belarusian leader told government officials that he needed to speak with Mr Putin because this is not a threat to just Belarus anymore. Story continues "Defending Belarus today is no less than defending our entire space, the union state, and an example to others ... Those who roam the streets, most of them do not understand this, he said. At least two people were killed and more than 6,500 were arrested during nightly crackdowns on demonstrations in Belarus, which saw police use stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas in several cities. Released protestors displayed severe injuries and Amnesty International described a campaign of widespread torture in jails. Recent days have seen continued peaceful protests, with tens of thousands pouring onto the streets of Minsk, some of them embracing or handing flowers to riot police. Mr Lukashnenkos appeal to workers to end widespread strikes or risk crippling the Belarusian economy have fallen on deaf ears. The presidents of the neighbouring Baltic states called on Belarus to conduct new free and fair elections as the EU prepared to impose sanctions in response to police brutality. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday at a news conference in Warsaw, 125 miles from the border with Belarus: "We've said the elections themselves (in Belarus) weren't free. I've spent the last days consulting with our European partners. Artem Pronin shows his bruises which he reportedly got after her was beaten by the police "Our common objective is to support the Belarusian people. These people are demanding the same things that every human being wants. Mr Lukashenko rejected calls for foreign mediation of the crisis, though the foreign ministry said it was committed to continuing dialogue with the EU. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Lithuania this week after apparent threats to her children, has said she is the legitimate winner of the election and announced the creation of a committee to oversee a transfer of power. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered at the Minsk metro station where protestor Alexander Taraikovsky died during demonstrations. Authorities said he died when an explosive went off in his hands, but his wife insists he was killed by police. People hold old Belarusian National flags and gather at the place where Alexander Taraikovsky died amid the clashes He is a hero of Belarus who has died for our freedom, 33-year-old Vitaly Karazahn, who had a Belarusian flag over his shoulders and two white roses in his hands, told The Telegraph. We will never forget him. This act by our government has crossed the line. Theres no going back. This death has changed everything. Moscow has described the presidential election as legitimate and accused outside forces of seeking to destabilise Belarus. At the same time, Russian state media report that the Belarus demonstrations are peaceful. This is in contrast to coverage of the Ukrainian uprising six years ago, when portrayals of pro-democracy demonstrators as fascist thugs helped rally public support for direct intervention. Relations between Russia and Belarus are traditionally close but have become strained in recent years as Minsk resists moves from Moscow towards closer integration. Joe Biden mocked President Donald Trump on Friday over his apparent hypocrisy on the issue of mail-in voting. Trump, who is falling further behind rival Biden in his fight for reelection, is leading a vigorous campaign to sow doubts about mail-in voting and how it could lead to voter fraud and election collapse. In a tweet early Saturday, he claimed the election would be a 'fraudulent mess' and the U.S. will 'never know who won'. Yet the president and his wife Melania trusted the security of the postal system enough to register themselves for a mail-in vote in Florida this week. Biden called out the president online for warning voters against voting by mail while doing the same himself. Joe Biden called out President Trump Friday for hypocrisy on mail-in voting, tweeting how voters should do as the president does, not as he says, and register to vote by mail Biden said Friday that 'voting by mail is safe and secure' as he hit out at Trump 'Voting by mail is safe and secure. And don't take my word for it: Take it from the President, who just requested his mail-in ballot for the Florida primary on Tuesday,' Biden tweeted. Trump's hypocrisy was also called out by his 2016 rival Hillary Clinton who tweeted: 'What's good enough for the Trumps should be good enough for the people they work forthe rest of us.' According to CNN, Trump and First Lady Melania requested mail-in ballots for Florida's primary election on Tuesday. The ballots were mailed Wednesday to Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, records show. Trump made the Florida home his permanent residence instead of New York last year. In apparent attempts to cover himself, the president earlier this month tweeted that Florida's own system was safe compared to other states. 'Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True,' he wrote. 'Florida's Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail!' Though Trump casts his own ballots by mail, he's repeatedly criticized efforts to allow more people to do so, which he argues without evidence will lead to increased voter fraud that could cost him the election. On Saturday morning, he continued to push the idea that mail-in voting will collapse the system and questioned the legitimacy of the election. 'The Democrats know the 2020 election will be a fraudulent mess. Will maybe never know who won!' he claimed. Trump's admitted on Thursday that he is starving the U.S. Postal Service of money Yet mail-in ballots were sent on Wednesday to both the president and First Lady at the Mar-a-Lago resort (pictured). The club has been Trump's permanent residence since last year Trump suggested Saturday the November election would not be legitimate Trump's former rival Hillary Clinton also called out his hypocrisy on mail-in voting On Thursday, Trump seemed to suggest that he is blocking funding for the postal service in an attempt to slow it down ahead of the November election. The president said that he was opposing much needed funding because he didn't want to see it being used on making voting by mail easier. The U.S. Postal Service is currently bracing for an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It is estimated that up to half of U.S. voters could cast ballots by mail this November. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has denied that politics are at play in the post office ahead of the November election On Friday, the post office's internal watchdog announced it is investigating cost cutting that has slowed delivery and alarmed lawmakers ahead of a presidential election. The Postal Service's inspector general also will examine possible conflicts of interest involving new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has donated $2.7 million to President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans, according to Saloni Sharma, a spokeswoman for Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who requested the investigation. DeJoy owns millions of dollars in stock in Postal Service rivals and customers, according to a financial disclosure form filed by his wife. The Inspector General's Office is 'conducting a body of work to address concerns raised,' spokeswoman Agapi Doulaveris said The investigation comes as the Postal Service is warning states there is 'significant risk' voters will not have enough time to complete and return their ballots. The Postal Service late on Friday released letters it had sent to 46 states and the District of Columbia, after the Washington Post reported earlier on the extent of the warnings. The warning highlighted the possibility that a meaningful number of mail votes in the November 3 presidential election might go uncounted if they are returned too late. Mail-in ballots being processed at at the Chester County Voter Services office in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Postal Service issued a warning Friday that not all ballots may be delivered on time 'State and local election officials must understand and take into account our operational standards and recommended timelines,' Postal Service spokeswoman Martha Johnson said. Election officials are bracing for a deluge of mail ballots as many states have made it easier to vote by mail to address concerns about public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. Evidence has shown that mail voting is as secure as any other method. Biden and other Democrats say Trump is trying to interfere with the election by withholding funding. Former Democratic President Barack Obama said he was worried that Trump was trying to 'kneecap' the Postal Service. The issue has taken on added urgency in recent weeks as cost-cutting measures put in place by DeJoy have led to widespread mail delays. The measures have included removal of letter collection boxes in some states. Democratic congressional leaders and committee leaders sent a letter to Dejoy on Friday demanding an explanation for changes he is making at postal facilities. Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday said that Punjab would always be at the forefront of fighting the enemy at the borders considering the threat posed by China and Pakistan. With tensions at the borders continuing, India had to be prepared to deal with any eventuality. While Pakistan continues to resort to firing every day, China, on the other hand, talks about friendship but remains a danger to our nation. The recent barbaric attack on Indian soldiers by the Chinese forces. India has always given Pakistan a befitting response, which is the only way to deal with them, the Punjab CM said and added, China also needs to be handled with the same iron hand. Recalling the contributions of the millions of Indians to the freedom struggle, CM Singh said Punjabis had always been at the forefront of every battle. The cellular jail in Kaala Paani (Andaman Islands) have the names of tens of hundreds of Punjabis etched in immortality. Even though the I-Day celebrations this year were low-key due to the Covid pandemic, this was the time to remember the sacrifices of all those who had made freedom possible for us. It was also the time to salute the defence forces guarding the nations borders from the enemy. Paying his tributes to Punjabs freedom fighters, Captain Amarinder reiterated his governments commitment to extend all benefits of freedom fighters to their next generations (grandchildren). At the same time, he also saluted the Health Workers and Paramedics who were continuously fighting the invisible Covid enemy, along with the NGOs and religious organisations that have worked tirelessly to provide free food and medicine during the period of lockdown. The Punjab CM also acknowledged the great work done by the farmers, who have produced the food that fed the nation during the lockdown period and government officials who are serving the people in these difficult times. The chief minister recognised the people of Punjab for their cooperation in observing precautions that were helping in containing the pandemic, the students who had adapted to the online teaching methodology, as well as the teachers who were working day and night to create online content to ensure that the studies of their students do not suffer. He also lauded the industrialists who had shown remarkable resilience in recovering from the extreme slowdown caused by the pandemic, and the industrial labour which had placed its faith in the state of Punjab and returned to work with the same dedication as before after the initial panic which forced them to leave for their home towns through the trains arranged by the Punjab government. US President Donald Trump hasn't yet delivered the "deal of the century" he's long sought in the Middle East, but his administration's efforts have produced an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that even opponent Joe Biden is calling a historic step. It's an accomplishment that comes with plans for a White House signing ceremony on the cusp of the November presidential election. And it lets Mr Trump claim a foreign policy win after he failed to deliver on efforts to secure a nuclear deal with North Korea's Kim Jong-un or force Iran's leaders to the negotiating table through a "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions. Much has yet to be hashed out beyond the broad strokes outlined by Mr Trump on Thursday: the UAE will move toward normalising relations with Israel, and Israel will suspend further annexations in the West Bank. "It has been a long-term, bipartisan goal to pursue normalisation between Israel and Arab states," Daniel Shapiro, an ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration, said on Twitter. "The UAE-Israel announcement is good news, and breaks an important barrier. Everyone should welcome it." A lot can still go wrong. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled he still hopes Israel can eventually annex the West Bank, emphasising the current freeze is temporary. The Trump administration also made clear that it hopes other Gulf countries, such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, will now follow the UAE's lead. Yesterday, Oman hailed the decision to normalise ties as boosting "permanent peace" in the Middle East. At the same time, such moves leave countries vulnerable to being seen as sabotaging the Palestinian cause. Palestinian officials quickly condemned the UAE-Israel accord as a "betrayal". That rejection comes with the prospect of violence if it stirs up groups such as Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah. Even far-right Israelis may be frustrated at the annexation suspension in the West Bank. Asked about rejection by the Palestinians, Mr Trump said on Thursday, "I think the Palestinians, without saying it, necessarily - I think they very much want to be a part of what we're doing." Tanzanian students use the Kitkit School app via tablet PCs. / Courtesy of KOICA By Kang Seung-woo Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the education sector hard, Korea's overseas aid agency has stepped up efforts to minimize the fallout on developing countries, by building infrastructure and offering various programs for distance learning. According to the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the organization, teaming up with ed-tech company Enuma, has made its game-based learning app Kitkit School free for download until the end of 2021 as the coronavirus crisis has made it even more challenging for children in need to access quality education. Through its Creative Technology Solution program, KOICA helped Enuma develop and launch the app to support organizations and schools that are working to improve educational equality and access for learners in low-resource, hard-to-reach and developing contexts. In addition, the app won the Global Learning XPRIZE in 2019, awarded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who donated to the prize. Mobile apps are not all the agency offers. In Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, KOICA has aired learning programs since April as the country has shut down schools and universities due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Due to its low internet penetration rate, the Tanzanian education authorities decided in April to air educational programs through radio and television and the Zanzibar government announced that it will use the Kwarara Media Education Center (KMEC) as an "outpost" of distance learning. The center was built in 2017 through a collaboration between Seoul Broadcasting Service (SBS), Good Neighbors International and KOICA. KOICA started broadcasting English learning programs on ZBC and ZCTV in February after producing them with SBS, Daekyo and Good Neighbors at the KMEC and it is now producing content for school curriculums beyond English in the wake of the virus pandemic. The programs are mainly created by locals. In 2018, Korea and Nigeria constructed Nigeria-Korea Model School in the capital city of Abuja as part of efforts to improve Nigerian children's access to quality basic education. It is equipped with a facility that can produce learning programs one of the African nation's best educational facilities. In response to school closures, the education office in Abuja is using the model school's studio and multimedia facility to produce learning programs that are provided to students for free. Meanwhile, across the globe in Guatemala, KOICA's office there and the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala are jointly running free online education courses to help students continue their studies amid the pandemic. According to KOICA, the two are offering various classes to the public as well. Police officers found more than 25 kg of cocaine aboard a ship that arrived to Russias second largest city of St. Petersburg from Belgium, Russian Interior Ministrys official spokeswoman Irina Volk said, TASS reports. "According to information received from Belgian colleagues, drugs were trafficked into Russia aboard a heavy-tonnage vessel transporting trucks. 50 trucks have been examined, and more than 25 kilograms of a substance - which experts later identified as cocaine - were found in a cabin of a truck," she said. The joint operation by St. Petersburg police, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Federal Customs Service was carried out following a tipoff sent by Belgian law enforcement agencies to Interpol's National Central Bureau (NCB) in Moscow. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo. "Dear Mr President, I convey my most heartfelt congratulations on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan to you and through you to the friendly people of Indonesia on the occasion your countrys national holiday the Independence Day," Azerbaijani president said. "It is gratifying to see the current level of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Indonesia and the ties within international institutions, and particularly in the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement," the head of state wrote. "I wish to note that the people of Azerbaijan stands in solidarity with the people of Indonesia in the fight of COVID-19 pandemic faced by the mankind," Azerbaijani president wrote. "On this remarkable day, I wish you strong health, happiness and everlasting prosperity to the friendly Republic of Indonesia," Azerbaijani president said. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, and Poland's Minister of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak sign the U.S.Poland Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Aug. 15, 2020. (Janek Skarzynski/Pool via AP) Pompeo Inks Deal for US Troop Move to Poland From Germany U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Aug. 15 signed a defense cooperation pact with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of U.S. troops to Poland from Germany. In Warsaw, at the end of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, Pompeo and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed an enhanced defense cooperation agreement that sets out the legal framework for the additional troop presence. The deal was concluded after months of negotiations with Poland, following the two joint declarations President Donald Trump signed with Polish President Andrzej Duda last year, according to a White House statement. The agreement is one in a series of actions to strengthen and rebuild the U.S. military, the White House said. This agreement serves as a model for other nations with respect to equitable burden-sharing, according to the statement. Poland has been a strong NATO ally since its accession to the Alliance in 1999, and serves as a linchpin of regional security, the U.S. State Department said in a statement. Poland is a crucial strategic U.S. Ally in Central Europe. Polish troops stand shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and provide critical support to the Defeat-ISIS Campaign the statement said. The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and regulates the legal status of U.S. forces in Poland. It provides necessary authorizations for activities conducted by the U.S. forces in Poland and their access to Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for cost-sharing for the U.S. military presence in Poland, the statement said. The agreement needs to be ratified by Poland in order to be implemented, the U.S. State Department said in the statement. Troops from the U.S. Army 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division wait to take part in live-fire exercises during the multinational DEFENDER Europe 20 military exercises at the Drawsko Pomorskie training grounds, at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, on Aug. 11, 2020. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images) Some 4,500 U.S. troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added. Last month, in line with Trumps request to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany, with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland. In addition, the V Corps forward command post would be established in Poland and manned by 200 U.S. troops on a rotational basis. The first rotation will relocate to Poland next year. Thats an important strategic move for American security, too, as we have been having discussions with the Russians on our strategic dialogue, Pompeo said at a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz on Aug. 15. It will lead to good outcomes for each of our two countries, and the work that we all do as part of NATO as well. We agreed, together with my colleague, Secretary of State, that the presence of American troops in Poland enhances our deterrence potential because we are closer to the potential source of conflict, Czaputowicz said at the press conference. It will be good to have also unreduced American presence in Germany. But we do understand the need for economy. The presence of American soldiers on the Polish soil contributes largely to the security of Poland and the Central European region. After the signing ceremony, Pompeo joined Duda and other Polish leaders at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the centennial of Polands landmark victory against the Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 during the Polish-Soviet war. The victory in the Battle of Warsaw stopped the Bolsheviks from imposing communism on other parts of Europe. A hundred years ago this month, Polish valor won an epic victory against communist tyranny during the Battle of Warsaw, the Miracle on the Vistula. Its one of the many heroic stands the Polish people have made in the 20th century, Pompeo said at the press conference. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Capacitive Sensors Market Research Report by Type (Motion Sensor, Position Sensor, Touch Sensor, Level Sensors, and Pressure Sensors), by End User (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Food & Beverages, and Healthcare) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Capacitive Sensors Market Research Report by Type, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913719/?utm_source=GNW The Global Capacitive Sensors Market is expected to grow from USD 27,571.92 Million in 2019 to USD 35,093.96 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.10%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Capacitive Sensors to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the Capacitive Sensors Market studied across Motion Sensor, Position Sensor, Touch Sensor, Level Sensors, and Pressure Sensors. The Motion Sensor further studied across Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, and Magnetometers. The Position Sensor further studied across Displacement Sensors and Proximity Sensors. The Touch Sensor further studied across Buttons, Displays, Multi Touchscreen, Single Touchscreen, Sliders, and Trackpads. Based on End User, the Capacitive Sensors Market studied across Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Food & Beverages, Healthcare, and Oil & Gas. Based on Geography, the Capacitive Sensors 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 Capacitive Sensors Market including Cypress Semiconductor Corp., Siemens AG, STMicroelectronics NV, Texas Instruments Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Microchip Technology Inc., 3M Company, Analog Devices, Fujitsu Limited, NXP Semiconductors, and Omron Corporation. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Capacitive Sensors 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 Capacitive Sensors Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Capacitive Sensors Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Capacitive Sensors Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Capacitive Sensors Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Capacitive Sensors Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Capacitive Sensors Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913719/?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 Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic... 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. Kurunegala mayor, suspects await ruling on arrest warrants By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s): The Court of Appeal will rule on August 24 on whether to proceed with a writ application filed by Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa and four others seeking an order to quash the arrest warrants issued by the magistrate following the demolition of an archaeologically-significant building in Kurunegala. The writ was taken up in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday before Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz and R.M.S. Rajakaruna. The counsel for the petitioners argued that the magistrates arrest warrant was illegal on the basis that the magistrate did not have the power to do so. The mayor and four others municipal commissioner, municipal engineer, work supervisor and backhoe driver are charged with the destruction of the historic Buwanaka Hotel in Kurunegala, commonly referred to as the former Royal Court of King Buwanakabahu II. Senior Additional Solicitor General Mr. Sarath Jayamanne PC told the court that similar to how the police are empowered to arrest the suspects without a warrant if they have a reasonable suspicion that they have committed offences, the magistrate is also empowered to assist the police during the investigation by issuing arrest warrants if requested. He argued that it is provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, and will take place only if the magistrate, too, is convinced, based on the evidence, that there is a reasonable suspicion that the suspects have committed the offences. Magistrates have issued arrest warrants to assist the police on other occasions, he said. The petitioners argued that the police need not have gone to the magistrate, and could have arrested the suspects without a warrant. But Mr Jayamanne said the police sought a warrant exercising an abundance of caution as well as maintaining transparency. In open court, the police had to show basis for the arrest and satisfy the magistrate as well. The issuance of the warrant shows that the magistrate, too, had agreed with the polices opinion that the individuals were complicit and should be arrested. Mr Jayamanne laid out many factors that should be weighed by the court when considering the applications. He implored the court to consider the ramifications that issuing a writ would have; it would open the floodgates where even murderers would be allowed to remain free simply by filing a writ and asking for interim relief that they should not be arrested. The counsel for petitioners argued that the magistrate ordering an arrest warrant was illegal on the basis that the magistrate did not have the power to do so. However, Mr Jayamanne explained that similar to how the police are empowered to arrest the suspects without a warrant if they have a reasonable suspicion that they have committed offences, the magistrate is also empowered to assist the police during the investigation by issuing arrest warrants if requested. The destruction was done with no regard for the emphatic instructions of the Archaeological Department that the building not be changed or altered without prior approval from them, the court was told. Expert reports have shown that a backhoe was driven in a haphazard manner, crashing into the columns of the building, causing instability not only in the ancient columns but also in the roof itself. The police reported facts to the Magistrates Courts on August 7. Expert reports from the directors general of the Archaeology Department and National Building Research Organization were also obtained and considered by the magistrate. According to the suspects, the building became unstable on July 14th, and the roof collapsed, resulting in nearly the entire building collapsing later. They say that they had stored some combustible material in the building, and therefore they had to enter to retrieve it. However, the expert reports by the DG of Archaeology as well as the DG of the National Building Research Organization show that this version of events is not accurate, the court was told. The court was informed that the buildings come under the Antiquities Ordinance. The petitioners were represented by Mr. Rienzie Arsecularatne PC, Mr. Kalinga Indatissa PC, Mr. Shavindra Fernando PC and A.L.M.N. Ameen. The Attorney General was named as one of the respondents in all five applications, and was represented by Senior Additional Solicitor General Mr. Sarath Jayamanne PC, along with Senior Deputy Solicitor General Vikum de Abrew, Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon, Senior State Counsel Manohara Jayasinghe, and State Counsel Krishan Gunathilaka. 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An environmental expert and a local news portal reported on Saturday. The 300-metre-long Japanese ship was launched about three weeks ago, on a coral reef due to. After a Tank was ripped, streamed more than 1000 tons of fuel in the lagoon in front of Pointe d'esny. The government is calling it the worst ecological Disaster that has experienced the holiday Paradise has ever been. Now, the front part of the ship should be towed slowly, said Alain Donat from the shipping Ministry, according to the news portal "lemauricien". The Plan was to sink it for at least 1000 kilometers away from the coast. The rear part is intended to remain on the reef. environmental state of emergency call The independent environmental consultant Sunil Korwarkasing confirmed to the German press Agency, citing drone pictures that the ship is broken into two parts. on Friday Oil could not be pumped into the ship. In a race against time, a helicopter between the freighter and the coast, were flown since the early Saturday - and-forth, to bring additional Oil from the ship. On Saturday, it was unclear how many still on the freighter was. On Thursday the owner, Nagashiki Shipping had reported that almost the entire remaining had been brought 3000 tons of Oil from the ship. Mauritius had to call last week an environmental state of emergency. However, the authorities have been accused of, to have to slowly traded. The environmental organisation Greenpeace is calling for an investigation of the accident. It is unclear why the ship was so close to the reef and why it lasted three days, until the authorities arrived at the scene. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 15:19 Beijing: The Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong on Saturday (August 15, 2020) extended Independence Day greetings to the Indian government and hoped that the two "great nations" develop with closer partnership. Sun Weidong wrote, "Congratulations to the Indian government and people on Independence Day 2020. Wish China and India, two great nations with ancient civilization prosper together in peace and develop with closer partnership." Congratulations to the Indian government & people on #IndependenceDay2020. Wish #China & #India, two great nations with ancient civilization prosper together in peace and develop with closer partnership. Sun Weidong (@China_Amb_India) August 15, 2020 The greetings come amid the border tension between the two countries that escalated on the night of June 15, 2020, when the Indian Army and China's Peoples Liberation Army involved in the violent clashes at the Galwan valley in Ladakh. The skirmish led to the killings of soldiers on both sides. Recently, Sun had also said in the July issue of the embassy magazine that in any relationship, "there are ups and downs". He expressed, "The recent border issue and the unfortunate incident between China and India should not detract from the forward-looking vision of the bilateral partnership charted by our two leaders, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi." "As our frontline troops disengage and the border situation de-escalates, its important to underline basic principles that should guide the development of China-India relations," wrote Weidong. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. During his address, PM Modi also talked about India's borders with Pakistan and China - Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LOC). He said, "From the LOC to the LAC, whoever has raised eyes on the sovereignty of the country, the country, the army of the country has responded in the same language. Respect for India's sovereignty is supreme for us." He added, "What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen this in Ladakh." The Lagos State government and operators of ride-hailing services have agreed on the governments guidelines for the regulations of e-hailing taxi services, the state said in a statement Friday. The agreement came at the end of a three-hour discussion between the representatives of the operators and government officials, headed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Briefing the media on the outcome of the meeting, the Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladehinde, disclosed that the state government and the operators had unanimously adopted the new regulations, after all parties jointly reviewed and fine-tuned some of the contentious items in the framework. He said the new regulations were not initiated by the government to extort the operators and drivers in the business. He stressed that the government was moved by the necessity to regularise the ride-hailing operations in line with security measures. READ ALSO: From the communique read out after the meeting, the enforcement of the new regulations will now take off from August 27 instead of August 20 initially announced by the government. By implication, the operators now have additional seven-day extension to comply with the Governments regulations. Mr Oladehinde said the state government and the operators had reached an agreement on the controversial service tax, which is to be known as Road Improvement Fund. He said e-hailing operators would be paying N20 as Road Improvement Fund and it is to be levied on each trip all their drivers make in a day. The commissioner said Governor Sanwo-Olu offered a duty incentive to the operators, reducing their statutory operational licencing fee and renewal fee by 20 per cent. This implies that each e-hailing firm will now pay N8 million per 1,000 cars fresh licencing and renewal, instead of N10 million initially announced. The parties, Mr Oladehinde said, also agreed on procurement of comprehensive insurance by the e-hailing companies to cover their drivers and passengers. He said: We have just concluded a three-hour meeting which was attended by Governor Sanwo-Olu, Ministry of Transportation officials and representatives of the e-hailing ride operators. After the meeting, we jointly developed a communique to which all parties agreed in relation to the new regulations for e-hailing ride business. The regulations for the e-hailing companies will take effect from August 27, 2020. We have given an additional one-week extension for all operators to comply. Given that most of the drivers on the e-hailing platforms have third party insurance, the companies will have comprehensive insurance for each driver while the driver is working with them. The insurance will also cover passengers, which amounts to double insurance for the driver. We also discussed the issue of service tax, which was initially defined as 10 per cent charge. We have come to resolution that the levy will become a flat fee of N20 per trip. We no longer call it service tax; we now call it Road Improvement Fund, which will be levied per trip. We also came to resolution that there will be reduction in operational licence by 20 per cent. Likewise, the renewal fee has been reduced by 20 per cent, going forward. Mr Oladehinde said the state government had granted all drivers on the e-hailing platforms an extension of 90 days to perfect all documents and licences, required for operation, including drivers licence and Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) cards. The commissioner disclosed that the government would create a special office for the drivers to fast track necessary registration and documentation before the deadline. He said the operators acceded to the governments position on thorough background check on the drivers for security and improved service delivery. We also agreed that there must a background check on drivers. One of the reasons why we came up with this communique together is to ensure that every resident using the e-hailing mobile application is safe. All forms of checks must be carried out to ensure the right people driving on the platform. This is paramount to the Government. He said all parties agreed to checkmate bypassing of e-hailing mobile apps by unscrupulous drivers, who take passengers offline to collect cash. He warned drivers to desist from the fraudulent act, saying the governments enforcement team would go after defaulters. Speaking on the controversial issue of data, Mr Oladehinde said: We are not asking the e-hailing companies to release detailed data. All we are asking from them data for trip movement, so that we can calculate the right charge and levy due to the government. This data is to be supplied every week. Mr Oladehinde said there was no burden of additional levy on passengers that will be using the e-hailing services, noting that residents interest has been protected by the Government. He urged the e-hailing companies to work with stakeholders in the business for better relationship. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said there had been no strained relationship between the e-hailing operators and the state government, pointing out that the new regulations were not to bring up a tax burden on the business. He said: There is not iota of truth in the speculation that Lagos Government is introducing a new tax regime. Introduction of the new regulations is about security and smooth running of the business. Its all about ease of doing business in the State. The National President of Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association (PEDPA), Idris Sonuga, said the new regulations would enable the drivers to go on their businesses without harassment by law enforcement agencies. The meeting was successful, he said. Advertisements Governor Sanwo-Olu has done justice to all the grey areas. I use this opportunity to thank the Governor; he means well for the e-hailing community, Comrade Sonuga said, urging drivers to comply with the regulations and the deadlines given by the Government. The Chief Executive Officer of BMP Car, Ezekiel Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the e-hailing companies, confirmed all the operators were in agreement the outcome of the meeting. Other representatives of e-hailing firms that attended the meeting include Abisola Odukoya of Bolt Nigeria, and Tola Odeyemi of Uber Nigeria. Your first book was self-published and was a bestseller. How did that come about? I published it on Kindle and it did very well, selling over 100,000. The Girl who Came Home was based on the story of a group of 14 Irish emigrants from Mayo who travelled on the Titanic, and only three of them survived. I told the story of one of the survivors and the legacy of trauma the tragedy left behind. I think people are endlessly fascinated by the Titanic. My agent read it after I had published it myself, and that is how I got a two-book deal with HarperCollins. You hold workshops giving tips to writers on publishing. What does that involve? I set up the Inspiration Project with Catherine Ryan Howard and Carmel Harrington. All three of us were self-published originally. There is a lot of mystique about writing a book, as if you have to have a secret password. We wanted to demystify the process of getting published. So we share practical tips. We held workshops, but more recently it has moved online. What inspired your latest novel The Bird in the Bamboo Cage? I got the idea from a podcast. I heard the true story of children and teachers from the Chefoo School in China. They were British, American and European attending boarding school - and they were ultimately taken prisoner by the Japanese army during World War II. They were part of a Girl Guide patrol in the school. There was that sense of the Guiding principles, of being prepared and resourceful, helping them to overcome a difficult set of circumstances over four years. Are you now a born-again Kildare woman, having grown up in Yorkshire? I have been in Ireland for almost 20 years, and in Kildare for 15 years. I like to think I have been adopted now at this stage. I have applied for Irish citizenship through marriage to my husband, who is a Dub. Do you think you would have pursued a career as a writer if you hadn't been made redundant from a law firm in the recession of 2009? Probably not. I didn't know anybody in the publishing industry. I always loved writing but my career was very corporate. Sometimes you need a catalyst to take the leap. Sometimes when things are so uncertain, it's the best time to take that leap of faith and chase the dream. [Being made redundant] has allowed me to pursue this wonderful second career while raising a family. Which books would you take to a desert island? I would take the Winnie the Pooh boxset that I bought with pocket money as a child while on holiday in the Cotswolds. And Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It's an absolute classic. I have read it a number of times and it's cracking. If you weren't a writer what you be? A pastry chef. Carbon Nanotube Market Research Report by Type (Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT)), by Form (Black Powder, Carbon Nanotube Sheets, Clumps, and Small Black Spheres), by Process, by Industry - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Carbon Nanotube Market Research Report by Type, by Form, by Process, by Industry - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913735/?utm_source=GNW The Global Carbon Nanotube Market is expected to grow from USD 4,155.45 Million in 2019 to USD 9,295.72 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.36%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Carbon Nanotube to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the Carbon Nanotube Market studied across Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT). Based on Form, the Carbon Nanotube Market studied across Black Powder, Carbon Nanotube Sheets, Clumps, and Small Black Spheres. Based on Process, the Carbon Nanotube Market studied across Arc Discharge and Laser Ablation, Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition, Chemical Vapor Deposition, Comocat, Electrolysis, Flame Synthesis, and High-Pressure Carbon Monoxide Reaction. Based on Industry, the Carbon Nanotube Market studied across Aerospace & Defense, Chemicals & Advanced Material, Energy & Utilities, Medical & Pharmaceuticals, and Semiconductor & Electronics. Based on Geography, the Carbon Nanotube 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 Carbon Nanotube Market including Advanced Nanopower Inc., Arkema SA, Arry International Group Limited, Carbon Solutions, Inc., Cheap Tubes, Inc., Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd., Cnano Technology Ltd., Cnt Co., Ltd., Grafen Chemical Industries, Hanwha Corporation, Klean Commodities, Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Nanocyl SA, Nanolab Inc., Nanoshel LLC, Ocsial, Raymor, Showa Denko K.K., Thomas Swan & Co. Limited, and Toray International Group Limited. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Carbon Nanotube 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 Carbon Nanotube Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Carbon Nanotube Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Carbon Nanotube Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Carbon Nanotube Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Carbon Nanotube Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Carbon Nanotube Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913735/?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 By Trend Azerbaijan didn't start negotiations to purchase anti-COVID-19 vaccine from Russia, Head of the Disease Control and Prevention Department of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) Yagut Garayeva said. Garayeva made the remark during a briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on August 15, Trend reports. According to her, Azerbaijan closely and carefully monitors the processes and information on the development of vaccines. However, these vaccines must go through three main testing steps before they are actually used, since we plan to purchase these vaccines only if they are completely safe and effective against coronavirus, Garayeva noted. Discussions are underway with international, well-known European companies in this direction, and for now, the results of the vaccine usage in Russia have yet to be received. The data is very promising, but it is too early to make concrete conclusions on the use of this vaccine," she stressed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The owner of popular North Wildwood bar Flip Flopz was charged with violating Gov. Phil Murphys executive orders after patrons were not socially distancing at the establishment and the measures set up to stop the spread of the coronavirus were not enforced by staff, police said. Officers went to the bar at 12:34 a.m. on Sunday and saw large groups of people crowded around the upstairs outside patio bar known as Tiki Topz, according to a statement from the North Wildwood Police. Social distancing regulations were not being enforced by staff and police said they had warned the management in the past after they received complaints for similar situations. The Cape May County Prosecutors Office reviewed the incident and ultimately charged the bars owner, Joseph Mahoney Jr., 34, of Mt. Laurel, with a disorderly person offense and he was later issued a summons, police said. The bar did not immediately return a request for comment Friday evening. Murphy threatened to shut down bars after an NJ Advance Media report from the weekend that showed numerous locations on the Shore where social distancing wasnt happening. This is not a game, the governor said Monday. Standing around maskless in a crowd outside a bar is just as big a knucklehead move as standing around maskless inside one. Murphy said he would give everyone, from patrons to bars, the chance to do the right thing. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Two groups of protesters faced off in midtown Toronto on Saturday: one challenging the citys decision to open two homeless shelters in their community, the other in support of the shelters. Hundreds of people gathered on both sides of Mount Pleasant Road near Broadway Avenue, with police officers mediating. A small section of the road was blocked off by a police cruiser as protesters chanted back and forth. The 150-person shelter on Broadway and 174-person site in the Roehampton Hotel near Mount Pleasant and Eglinton Avenue are among several buildings in the Toronto core mostly hotels that are giving the homeless a place to live with physical distancing. Thousands were quickly moved out of crowded shelters across the city because of the pandemic, while many others were relocated from makeshift outdoor encampments. On Friday, speaking to reporters after an unrelated announcement, Toronto Mayor John Tory said he visited the midtown neighbourhood and spoke with shelter residents, as well as people who live nearby. Tory said the city is substantially ramping up assistance to address problems related to substance abuse and security. In a press release, the city announced a third-floor outdoor space will open next week at the Roehampton site, along with the addition of 33 security cameras, four security guards and around-the-clock patrols. Toronto must keep neighbourhoods safe and secure, Tory said, while also looking after the most vulnerable residents. Liberal MP Adam Vaughan said that adding services for homeless Torontonians to a neighbourhood is always controversial, noting that he can see four such facilities from his balcony in his Spadina-Fort York riding. While poverty often puts you on the street, its health issues that keep you on the street, including addiction and mental health concerns, he said. The city, provincial and federal governments must work together to provide housing and other supports to help solve the problems behind Saturdays protests, Vaughan added. The goal here is to turn these (homeless) people into neighbours, to make their lives better, and to help them contribute back to the community. An Elvis-crazed fan from Swords is 'all shook up' over an open invitation to visit the birthplace of the King of Rock 'N' Roll in Tupelo, Mississippi, but despite travel restrictions, it's not Heartbreak Hotel just yet. Maurice Colgan from Mooretown in Swords is Ireland's most avid Elvis fan, and he has been collecting rare Elvis memorabilia since the age of fifteen. Maurice's collection of letters from Elvis' movie co-stars, photographs, original records, statues and rare books, collected from markets and from contacting movie stars, are now available to view at his Elvis shrine in his small Swords home. Recently, Maurice received an open invitation to visit the birthplace of Elvis in Tupelo, Mississippi from another Elvis fan in the United States, and as soon as travel restrictions lift, he'll fly over with his wife, Maureen and his daughter to pay homage to the King. Speaking of how the invitation came about, Maurice says: 'There's a lady over there, she has a shop called 'The Main Attraction', Maureen and I were in there way back in 2002 and it's a clothes shop and a gift shop all combined and it sells coffee to customers, and we sat and had a good long chat with this lady. She actually gave me a card with Elvis' drummer's signature on it, DJ Fontana, and that was very nice. 'We're sort of friends on Facebook, and what happened was I put up a story about Tupelo and the visit we made there before and to Graceland as well, and my daughter replied 'I wish I'd been there', and this lady says, 'why don't you all come over?, you can be my guests.' 'We hadn't made any arrangements, it's an open invitation, because when I contacted her she understood too, the restrictions on travel. I'm hoping to go next year, if it's all cleared up, hopefully.' Maurice says there will be quite a lot of interest in Elvis over the coming days, with a week-long celebration of The King on the 43rd anniversary of his death due to take place at Graceland from August 8-16 in Memphis, Tennessee, where Presley lived. Unfortunately, Maurice won't be able to attend himself, thanks to 'the blinking COVID-19', but he will instead be worshipping from afar. Speaking of his Elvis museum in Swords, Maurice says: 'Harry Crosbie, a businessman in Dublin, was supposed to be buying part of the collection for a music venue down in Wexford, but that deal has fallen through. 'I'm still open in Swords and I'm still getting Elvis fans to come and see the collection. I'm not getting so many visitors now I suppose, because of the restrictions, but I do let people know that I can only see a couple of people at a time.' Maurice is now eagerly waiting for travel restrictions to lift so he can slip on his 'Blue Suede Shoes' and return to his second home in Tennessee. The United Nations cultural agency has said it will lead the international campaign for the recovery and restoration of Beiruts heritage, citing local officials who said that around 60 historic buildings in the Lebanese capital were at risk of collapse following a devastating explosion at the Beirut port. On August 4, some 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at Beiruts port blew up, obliterating the citys main commercial hub and spreading death and wreckage for miles around. The death toll from the deadly explosion has risen to nearly 178, with an estimated 6,000 people injured and at least 30 missing, the United Nations said on Friday. The blast, the most destructive in Lebanons troubled history caused damage of up to $15 billion. Among the damaged structures were museums, historic buildings, art galleries and religious sites in Beirut. The most affected areas in the capital were the historic quarters of Gemayzeh and Mar Mikhael that face the port and that were known for their active night life, with many old buildings turned to pubs or restaurant. The international community has sent a strong signal of support to Lebanon following this tragedy, said Ernesto Ottone, assistant Unesco director-general for culture. Unesco is committed to leading the response in the field of culture, which must form a key part of wider reconstruction and recovery efforts. Unescos statement quoted Sarkis Khoury, director-general of antiquities at the ministry of culture in Lebanon, as saying that at least 8,000 buildings, many concentrated in Gemayzeh and Mar Mikhael, were affected. Among them are some 640 historic buildings, approximately 60 of which are at risk of collapse, he said. Also affected was Beiruts eastern neighbourhood of Achrafieh where the landmark Sursock Museum is located as well as other neighbourhoods that are home to the National Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut, Unesco said. Unesco said that it will lead the international mobilisation for the recovery and reconstruction of Beiruts culture and heritage. "I'm not trying to be dramatic or anything, but you can feel the difference on the street, in the office, as far as the mood, in how things have transpired in just a few days," Chris (not pictured) says. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Chris (not his real name), 41, is a veteran postal worker in Massachusetts who spoke to Business Insider about what the past few months have been like for him. The US Postal Service has been dealing with financial trouble, a pandemic, and the president's recent admission that he would block funding in order to sabotage mail-in voting. Chris, whose identity Business Insider has verified, spoke anonymously out of concern for losing his position. This is his story, edited for length and clarity, as told to reporter Juliana Kaplan. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. [The past few months,] it's been very, very different. I've been doing it for 17 years. Especially with these COVID times we're in, [my management team has] been excellent as far as providing us with gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and even social distancing the whole office. And I know not all offices have been doing that, which is unfortunate, but my management team has been right on top of things. It's quite a spotlight on our company right now. That's been pretty worrisome to go to work with every day. As far as the talk about holding back first class mail, that's something that we've always been told that we don't do. And now we're going to be told the opposite. My office has been doing everything right by the customers and doing things right by the employees. And we've been moving on mail still, but we have been hearing the news. When our mail is ready to go it's supposed to be ready at 8:30 we're supposed to leave the office. Now, every year previous to right now, if mail was late if there was a truck running behind, or mail coming in late you waited until all the mails of the day got there. Now, the orders are we are just to hit the street and leave mail. If we're supposed to go over eight hours for the day, if the mail was heavy that day, more of a workload than what we anticipated, we would put in for our overtime. But now we're told just to cut the mail. Story continues So, say there's a new person that doesn't know the route. He's just learning. And he's out there and say he has three streets left at four o'clock, which is when my office hits eight hours for a day; they are instructed by upper management to just bring the mail back, which is not something we've ever done. When I got hired, we actually swore an oath to just move the mail no matter what; I'm sure you've heard it rain, sleet, snow, gloom of night, we move the mail. It's a little scary to see it nowadays ... it's just a little nerve-racking. Like I said, I can only speak for myself. I can't speak for the other 650,000 postal workers out there, but ... you get up every day and you have to put on the uniform, and you go to work. You work as hard as you can to serve your customers and community. And just the way they're talking about us is completely inaccurate. Everyone I work with is a great worker who works their butt off. But everyone's just out there doing their job. And just to hear the idea that we could be undermined by people above us it's unnerving. In my community I've been hearing a lot of people just stopping me and telling me that they stand with us, which is great to hear. We are so integrated into our communities. Especially someone's who been doing it a long time, like myself, who does a mail route every day, I'm almost like a fixture that goes unnoticed every day. I'm just there. More people have been stopping me, stopping fellow workers also, saying, "You know, we just want to let you know, we stand with you, we support you." I have not had any concern [over mail-in ballots], to be honest with you. I think I safely speak for every postal worker in saying that we are more than confident that that's something we can handle. You know, we get trusted with medication on a daily basis. We get trusted with all the checks that just got sent out, people's social security checks, unemployment checks, this is what we do. This is our profession. You know, we take a lot of pride in it. How do I feel about [Trump saying he would sabotage USPS funding to sabotage mail-in voting]? It's not the right thing to do. What is the incentive to do that? As far as the route goes, it's an interesting world out there these days. You run into all different types of people. People who don't want to give you your social distance, you know? And so you just say, "Listen, if you want me to keep providing you the service that I'm providing you, you have to either wear a mask or give me my space when I do my job." But I haven't really run into that too often. And I gotta tell ya, I have more pride in my job and what I do right now than I ever have in 17 years. It's pretty overwhelming to watch, during this COVID-19 era, the way we've come together and watch out for each other's safety and give each other our social distance while also working together to get the job done. I can see all of the changes already. I'm not trying to be dramatic or anything, but you can feel the difference on the street, in the office, as far as the mood, in how things have transpired in just a few days. It's getting a little scary. It was scary last week; now it's getting scarier. We've had our jobs threatened. Right now if customers ask us we're to totally not answer about our feelings on it, where we are in our job, how we feel about the mail-in voting situation, we've been told: "If you like your career, don't talk." I'm sure you've seen the locked mailboxes all over Twitter. That's standard procedure. If an area has been vandalized before, in between certain pick up times they'll lock boxes. If there's a high volume of tourists at a certain time near a certain area, they'll lock boxes so there's no vandalizing going. That is standard procedure, to the best of my knowledge. The taking away of the mailboxes? It's been done before during the Bush and Obama administration, when mail lightened up as far as letters we started doing more packages than letters. But the timing of the mailboxes being picked up right now makes no sense. That is happening. That is definitely unnerving. The important thing is the attempt to delay the mail. We're maybe a day off from where we usually are, but we're still moving the mail, we're out here trying to move as fast as we can with the hours we're given to get the medication out there. All the ballots are coming back, we're trying to get them out there. Fortunately, first class letters have dropped off. Read more: USPS warned 46 states that it can't guarantee that all mail-in-ballots would arrive on time to be counted I don't totally trust the postmaster's general incentives to take these actions whether before the election or afterwards but I'm at least glad for the election that it's all on hold. Hopefully he puts back all the mailboxes that were removed last week. In my opinion, right now, my stance is, I don't want to get into politics, because, like I said, I'm speaking for 650,000 people they may not share the same political point of view as I do. But if people aren't happy with the direction this is going, do their research [on] where it's coming from it's coming from somewhere they gotta get out there and vote, make the right choices, and, if at all possible, when you buy a package, if you have an option, pick us. Read the original article on Business Insider With all eyes on the impending start of the school year, national education leaders who have criticized plans to reopen classes in-person praised a new effort by Yale University to ease the anxiety on teachers and anyone else who works in schools. The 10-session course, first of its kind in the nation, launches next month free for all school employees in the state. Its based on emotional learning an understanding of anxiety, the feelings around it and how to cope with it. Connecticut, you really are the cool kids right now, said Lily Eskelsen Garcia, President of the National Education Association. We have been trying to get 49 other states to take social emotional learning seriously ... once you get people in powerful places understanding how important this is, things start to move. Garcia and other prominent education leaders came to Connecticut, virtually of course, in a discussion moderated by John King Jr., President and CEO of the Education Trust and former U.S. Secretary of Education, about the benefits of social and emotional learning. The coronavirus pandemic and the national reckoning over race and equity makes the program financed partly by Dalio Education all the more timely. While the prospect of opening schools in Connecticut may be more realistic the states positivity rate has been less than 1 percent for most of the summer many teachers, families and school staff members are still concerned about Gov. Ned Lamonts plan to open all schools for at least partial in-person learning. That adds strain on teachers expected to prepare for both in-person and distance learning while also dealing with the personal anxiety around safety generated by the pandemic itself. Garcia and American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, who was also a part of the panel discussion, have both raised concerns about schools opening too soon across the country. They did not specifically address Lamonts school reopening plan. Its a matter of understanding that not just in crisis, but in normal times, we have to actually meet childrens needs, said Weingarten, who said in July that her union would authorize strikes for teachers forced back in unsafe conditions. That starts with kneading the agita, the anxiety, the well-being to create a safety and an environment that is safe and welcoming for children, and an environment that is safe and welcoming for teachers, for parents and for communities. Weingarten said it is especially important to address that anxiety as people are fixated on the issue of how to create physical safety in the pandemic, as well as the plethora of other issues weighing on people inside and outside of schools. They actually have three crises that are bearing down on kids, on educators, on communities right now, she said. An economic crisis, a health crisis, and frankly how to deal with the long-awaited racial reckoning that we need to be dealing with. And all of this means that all of us need to have tools by which to do this and to deal with this. The course will be offered to the nearly 100,000 people who work in a public or private school in Connecticut. Its intended to help people address the trauma of 2020 as well as prepare for the uncertainty of whats next. Titled Social and Emotional Learning in Times of Uncertainty and Stress: Research-Based Strategies, anyone who completes it will receive a certificate for a non-credit course from Yale University. Marc Brackett, founder and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, said the course isnt about eliminating the factors that cause stress, or even eliminating stress, but giving everyone who works with students the tools to manage both their own emotions and the emotions of the students. How teachers feel matters, Brackett said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media, noting that emotions are contagious. If a school staff member is overwhelmed and anxious, students are likely to feel overwhelmed and anxious, too, and carry that home to their families. Lamont, who joined the virtual panel from his vacation home in North Haven, Maine, said the course and the focus on social and emotional learning broadens the discussion about what education can be, and said he, too, has already learned new ideas from the concepts developed by Brackett. Getting schools back safely is about COVID, but its also about well-being, Lamont said. Everything is going to be a little different after this COVID crisis, and hopefully education is going to be different as well. How do we think about the whole kid? If were not talking to that whole child in a way that inspires him or her, theyre never going to learn. Barbara Dalio, who leads Dalio Education and who has worked with Connecticut schools as a philanthropist for 12 years, views the course as a sort of foundation for the state. Dalio Education has committed $1 million to the center this year, which will again support the in-school program as well as the $300,000 cost of the new virtual course for all Connecticut school staff. This is really a dream come true to be able to help the teachers and really to all come together and bring something that has been proven and works, Dalio said, adding she hopes the program will help teachers manage their emotions and transmit those skills to their students. The stress and demands that the teachers have now are tremendous and anything that we can do to help them is not even good enough, Dalio said. They have to be parents and they have to be really everything for some of these kids. They are parents and teachers and counselors and everything. Separately, Dalio Education is working with cities and towns in Connecticut to bring unoversal internet connectivity for example, with street-by-street wireless nodes in Hartford. The philanthropy also provided 60,000 laptops this spring and summer to Connecticut high school students in low-performing school districts, originally in a partnership with the state, later on its own. Garcia said she hopes the rest of the country will follow in Connecticuts footsteps to embrace social and emotional learning. I want to go to 49 of our colleagues and say you should be doing this, Garcia said. You can find people in government, in philanthropy, administrators, teachers, support professionals, parents, students, that all of us coming together to say we deal with the social emotional health of our students and all else will follow. You get this right and we get it all right. She added a warning: You get this wrong, and well be repairing big people and little people for years to come. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt On Friday afternoon (Aug. 14), Simon Allard recorded the 4,000th driving win of his career, doing so with Anythingforlove A ($2.10) in the ninth race at Harrah's Philadelphia. Allard yielded for the pocket with the eight-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, and the pair drafted Skip To My Lou before reclaiming the lead on the backstretch and holding off a late charge from 23-1 outsider Mr Profeta to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. Allard also won with Rock The Town ($23.20) and Diamond Head ($11.20), and his hat trick gave him top honours among all drivers on the 14-race program. The 38-year-old Quebec native has driven almost exclusively in the United States since 2016 and has earned more than $39 million in purses. Racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 16), with a 14-race card featuring two $94,967 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, as well as a $22,990.90 carryover in the fifth-race Jackpot Hi-5. Post time is 12:40 p.m. (Harrah's Philadelphia) Britain will buy potential Covid-19 vaccines from US drugmakers Johnson & Johnson and Novavax Inc, the companies said on Friday, boosting the number of deals it has with drugmakers as the global vaccine race rages on. Britain and the United States are in the lead with six vaccine deals with drugmakers each, as companies and governments worldwide work overtime to find a vaccine against the pandemic disease. The latest agreements bring Britain's total number of doses secured to 340 million, with options for millions more, for a population of 66 million. Britain said both vaccines could be available by the middle of next year for priority groups, such as such as frontline health and social care workers, ethnic minorities, adults with serious diseases, and the elderly. The deals cover a wide range of vaccine types currently in development for Covid-19, as Britain seeks to hedge its bets should one or more of the technologies prove ineffective. "For now that is probably the bedrock of the portfolio. We basically need to see now, what we want to add, if anything, immediately that could diversify the sorts of vaccine that we've got in the hopper now," Kate Bingham, chair of UK Vaccine Taskforce, told Reuters. "I think we're well placed... but I think we need to see the data of some of these early vaccines first before we know what is likely to be protective and what is not." Johnson & Johnson said its Janssen Pharmaceutica unit will supply Britain with its candidate, known as Ad26.COV2.S, with an initial sale of 30 million doses on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use.The advance purchase agreement will also provide an option for an additional purchase of up to a 22 million doses, it said. Separately, Novavax said Britain would buy 60 million doses of its vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373. Novavax will manufacture some of the vaccine using Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies facilities in Stockton-on-Tees, northern England. Alex Harris, head of global policy at the Wellcome Trust health charity, said the deals put the Britain in a strong position, and urged the government to explain how it will now ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for poorer countries too. "Without this...the risk increases that other rich countries will seek to strike similar bilateral deals, potentially ... leaving insufficient volumes of vaccine for the rest of the world," Harris said in a statement. The Janssen vaccine uses an adenovirus technique to ferry coronavirus proteins into cells in the body, while the Novavax shot uses a technology known as recombinant nanoparticle to produce antigens - molecules that are designed to spur the immune system into action. Recent studies show the odds of an experimental vaccine making it from early testing in people to regulatory approval are roughly one in three. J&J said it has also agreed to collaborate with the British government on a global Phase III trial to explore the two-dose regimen of its Covid-19 vaccine, which will run parallel to a Phase III single-dose trials. Britain will also work with Novavax on a late stage British-based trial. No COVID-19 vaccine candidate has yet been proven effective against the disease, but around 20 are in clinical trials. Also read: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine not in advanced stages of trial: WHO 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 Two years after the flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday rolled out the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) from the majestic Red Fort as he delivered his seventh straight Independence Day speech. The NDHM aims to create a digital ecosystem where every Indian will be given a health ID with a digital health record. This personal health record will be an account tracking ailments, tests and treatments. News18 explains the important contours of the new mission. What is the National Digital Health Mission? At its core, NDHM seeks to create a health informatics organisation and a digital ecosystem for health services in the country catering its citizens, health professionals, public hospitals as well as institutions in the private sector. The NDHM will be an executing body for the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) which aims to, among other things, create a state-of-the-art digital health system for managing core digital health data along with the infrastructure required for its seamless exchange. According to the NDHB, released by the government last year, NDHM will comprise components such as national health electronic registries; a federated electronic health records framework for patients, healthcare providers and researchers; a national health analytics platform and unique health IDs. This means that personal health records, unique health identifiers, health master directories on human resources and hospitals will be made digitally available, and will be stored on community cloud infrastructure. The electronic health records of an individual can be accessed across systems with consent and they can be updated as and when the person accesses healthcare. What will be the outcomes of NDHM? The governments NDHB report outlines the outcomes that have to be achieved. Key outcomes include providing easy access to electronic health records to citizens, using longitudinal health record data, a patients health records and standard protocols to prevent unwarranted tests, and ensuring privacy of personal health data along with consent-based access to electronic health records. What services will be provided as part of the mission? The services provided under NDHM can be categorised on the basis of who is availing them or who they are targeted for. As part of services for citizens, NDHM seeks to provide a single and secure health ID to all citizens. It will create a personal health record, a national health portal for the mission, a mobile application and dedicated call centres will be established and citizens can get digital referrals, consultations and online appointments. Registries and directories will be maintained on diseases, clinical establishments, healthcare professionals. While the doctors will get a unique identifier which would be separate from the license they receive for practising medicine. The NDHB report states that among services provided by and for healthcare providers and professionals includes among others, a summary care record; an open platform to access emergency services, digital referrals and case transfers; clinical decision support and hospital digitization. What directories will be created in the first phase of the National Digital Health Blueprint? As per the NDHB report, a directory of all health facilities (hospitals, diagnostic centres, pharmacies, and clinics), doctors, nurses and paramedical directory and health workers, allied professionals directory will be created. What does the National Digital Health Blueprint say about consent for providing access to personal health records? According to NDHB, every access to each record will require the explicit consent of the individual and a consent manager system approach will be adopted. Consent is to be obtained at the primary source of its capture and retention at the facility level, before collection of data and before its processing and/or sharing. Who will implement the National Digital Health Mission? The National Health Authority, which is also the implementation authority for the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana will helm the NDHM. The mission will be a completely government-owned body- the National Digital Health Blueprint, the base document for NDHM says. The institutional structure must include an organization with two different arms one to handle the policy and regulations and the other for operations and service delivery, the NDHB report said. Which other countries have a digital database for health systems that NDHB has studied? While creating the NDHB, India looked at Information and Communication Technology infrastructure in the United States, the National Health Services-Digital in England and digital health records systems in South Korea. The NHS-Digital provides services for the NHS including management of large health informatics programmes. Patient data is maintained in this digital system which facilitates electronic prescription service and referral service, the NDHB report said. In South Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) created a specialized organisation to maintain electronic health records, NDHB report added. The cabin crew members who operated the ill-fated Air India Express flight IX 1344 that operated from Dubai to Kozhikode on August 7 have been granted special paid leave for a month. An airline source said that these crew members have been given special leave so that they can rest and recover from the tragedy. The plane overshot the runway while lading at the table top Kozhikode airport; it had four cabin crew members and two pilots. While the two pilots lost their lives in the accident, all four cabin crew were rescued. Total 18 people had lost their lives in the tragedy. Top sources from the airline said that the cabin crew, who were stationed at their seats while landing, had started taking off their seat belts when the accident took place. While two male cabin crew (Abhik Biswas and Lalit Kumar) went unhurt, a senior female cabin crew - Shilpa Katare - suffered minor injuries. One of the male cabin crew members had to be rushed to the intensive care unit of a hospital, but is believed to be stable as of now. While Katare got discharged and returned to her home in Calicut on Wednesday, Akshay Pal Singh, the fourth male cabin crew is recuperating in the hospital. He is believed to have fractured his leg and sustain multiple inuries. While speculation continues around the probable reason for the accident, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Wednesday announced that a team of five officials have begun their probe on the cause and the contributory factors leading to the accident. The team has been told to complete the investigations in five months. By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Friday took the first step to impose new sanctions on Belarus over a disputed election last Sunday and a crackdown on protests that followed, instructing its foreign policy arm to prepare a blacklist of responsible individuals. President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory but now faces the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule, with tens of thousands protesting for a sixth day running on Friday and opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya calling for a recount of the votes. "EU will now initiate a process of sanctions against those responsible for the violence, arrests and fraud in connection with the election," Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde said after emergency talks among all her EU peers on Friday. The EU first imposed sanctions on Belarus in 2004. It tightened them in 2011 over abuses of human rights and democratic standards, including vote rigging. Many were lifted after Lukashenko released political prisoners in 2016. But an arms embargo remains, as do sanctions on four people over the unresolved disappearances of two opposition activists, a journalist and a businessman, years ago. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud. His government freed many detained demonstrators on Friday after issuing a rare public apology. However, citizens took to the streets again on Friday after at least two protesters were killed and thousands detained in a violent crackdown this week. "What happened in Belarus in the last few days is completely unacceptable and calls for a clear reaction of the EU," Germany's Haiko Maas told reporters. Maas called on the Belarus government to release political prisoners and review the official election result, which gave Lukashenko 80%, triggering protests in which security forces beat demonstrators and arrested several thousand people. 'CAREFUL BALANCE' The top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the bloc did not accept the official election results. Story continues Poland, the Czech Republic, the three Baltic states and Denmark also pushed for mediated talks between Lukashenko and the opposition. Vilnius called for an EU fund to support victims of repression in Belarus while Warsaw said it would loosen visa restrictions, open its labour market for Belarusians and support civil society and independent media there. "We ... need to find a careful balance between pressure against and engagement with Belarus President Lukashenko. We believe the EU should assume the role of a mediator as soon as possible," the six countries said in a joint letter seen by Reuters on Friday. Their line reflects wariness of any repeat of the 2013/14 street protests in Kyiv, which the EU and the United States supported and Russia then used as an excuse to annex Crimea from Ukraine before backing separatists in the east of the country. The new sanctions on Belarus would come in the form of visa bans and the freezing of any assets held in the EU by the designated individuals and could be finalised as soon as the end of the month, diplomatic sources said. Charles Grant, director at the Centre for European Reform think-tank, said the EU should also coordinate its response with the United States and Britain. "Ultimately, change in Belarus will depend on the Belarusian people, but Europe and the U.S. can do their bit to help," he said. (Reporting and writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold, Johannes Hellstrom, Kirsti Knolle, Editing by Kevin Liffey, Frances Kerry and David Goodman) Jeremy Corbyn was last night at the centre of extraordinary claims that Boris Johnson was infected with coronavirus during a visit to Downing Street by the former Labour leader and his Marxist-sympathising aide. The Mail on Sunday has established that on the evening of March 16 during the last days of his party leadership Mr Corbyn visited Mr Johnson at No 10 with his most senior adviser, former Guardian journalist Seumas Milne. Joining them in Mr Johnson's cramped study, as they discussed the Government's response to the epidemic and whether there should be a lockdown, was the Prime Minister's aide, Dominic Cummings. A few days after the meeting, Mr Milne developed a fever and a loss of taste and smell symptoms of coronavirus and went into self-isolation. The Mail on Sunday has established that on the evening of March 16 during the last days of his party leadership Mr Corbyn visited Mr Johnson (left) at No 10 with his most senior adviser, former Guardian journalist Seumas Milne (right) Mr Johnson then also developed symptoms, testing positive for the virus on March 27 the start of the Prime Minister's terrifying descent towards a life-and-death battle in a London hospital. On the same day, Mr Cummings was seen sprinting out of No 10 and three days later he was self-isolating, ahead of his now infamous journey to stay with family in the North East of England, after also displaying symptoms. Jeremy Corbyn in London on March 9 According to one source, the Prime Minister had been 'disconcerted' by the meeting because of Mr Milne's 'persistent cough'. But a friend of Mr Milne, 61, disputed this, saying: 'He didn't have a bad cough, but developed symptoms soon afterwards. Boris could have given it to him! 'The hour-long meeting included Dominic Cummings, so there were a number of potential suspects. Plus it was rampant in Westminster at that time anyway. When he [Milne] developed the symptoms, he stopped going in to work and self-isolated.' A Downing Street source said it was 'unclear how the Prime Minister had been infected' and Mr Johnson 'was not pointing the finger at Seumas'. Symptoms can take up to 14 days to appear after contact with an infected person. Mr Milne, who had worked for The Guardian since 1984, became Mr Corbyn's director of communications following his shock election as Labour leader in 2015. The public school-educated son of former BBC director-general Alasdair Milne was regarded as Left-wing even by his Guardian colleagues, having once written that the number of Stalin's victims had been inflated and that 'for all its brutalities and failures', Soviet communism delivered 'huge advances' in equality and 'encompassed genuine idealism and commitment'. Dominic Cummings, special advisor to the PM, arrives at No.10 Downing Street earlier this week The No 10 office where the March 16 meeting took place offers the ideal conditions for the virus to pass: compact and airless, the 'den' by the Cabinet Room contains a table in the middle of the room for meetings, with a small sofa squeezed into a corner. The first high-profile case of Covid-19 in Westminster was Tory Health Minister Nadine Dorries, who announced on March 10 that she had tested positive five days after mingling with Mr Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds at a No 10 reception. On the same day as the reception, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier met his UK counterpart David Frost in Brussels for the first round of trade talks. Within a fortnight, with Mr Frost then back in No 10, both men had fallen ill. The last Cabinet meeting to take place in person was March 17. By the end of the month, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty had also contracted the virus. A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 11:11 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e39741 4 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,#COVID19,Papua,school-reopening,school Free Approximately 289 children below 19 years old have been infected with COVID-19 in Indonesias easternmost province of Papua, an official has said, arguing that the virus transmissions were not from school activities following the recent reopening of schools. Papua Education, Archive and Library Agency head Christian Sohilait said not every infected child was a student. However, he has yet to receive details on the age demographics of the children who were infected with COVID-19. We will track the number of children who were infected with COVID-19 in each regency or city. We will also maintain contact with the schools and teachers regarding school reopenings amid the pandemic, Christian said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. Christian said the infected children did not contract the virus during face-to-face activities at school. He explained that the data from the Papua COVID-19 prevention task force was a cumulative number from March 22 to Aug. 12. The Papua Administration had previously issued a study-from-home policy that began on March 17 to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission. They could have contracted the disease from their parents or other parties, Christian said. The Education and Culture Ministrys early childhood, basic and secondary education director general, Jumeri, reiterated that the transmissions did not occur at school as the ministrys decision to allow more schools to operate amid the epidemic had only been issued recently. Previously, data from the COVID-19 prevention task force in Papua revealed that the total cumulative cases for COVID-19 in Papua had reached 3,225. Of the cases, 86 percent were people aged 19 to 58, while 10 percent were 0 to 19 years old. (dpk) Election years are extended seminars on democracy. They showcase, in dramatic real-life lessons, the genius of the Founding Fathers, who gave us the vote the single most powerful weapon against tyranny. The federal government is so vast, so complex, that it is easy to feel small, even impotent, but every four years, the presidential election gives us a voice, and that collective voice is powerful. Will the power be diluted this year? Much anxiety centers on the U.S. Postal Service, where a recent reshuffling and lack of funding have caused concerns about the impact on mail-in ballots. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced the overhaul, including a hiring freeze and a request for voluntary early retirements, both of which have raised concerns about the flow of mail-in ballots. And President Donald Trump has made clear his opposition to mail-in voting, even though he has voted by mail. In many states, election commissions must receive the ballots by Election Day Nov. 3. The Postal Service recently warned 46 states and Washington, D.C., that not all mail ballots cast for the November election may be delivered in time to be counted. This means voters should request their ballots as early as possible or drop them off at polling locations. Big picture, though, is that undercutting the Postal Service threatens to disenfranchise millions of voters while casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election results. This would be disastrous to the election and faith in democracy. DeJoy was appointed to the position after contributing to the Trump campaign in 2016, and while Democrats say the moves were motivated by politics, USPS officials claim a mammoth shortfall this fiscal year an estimated $13 billion, caused by drops in first-class and business mail during the pandemic triggered the overhaul. But the politics are undeniable. Trump has said he would not approve $25 billion in emergency funding for the Postal Service or $3.5 billion in supplemental funding for election resources. Now, they need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots, Trump told Fox Business Networks Maria Bartiromo. He also said: Now, if we dont make a deal, that means they dont get the money. That means they cant have universal mail-in voting, they just cant have it. Trump has alleged mail-in ballots would lead to the most corrupt election in U.S. history. But the president has requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming Florida primary, and there is no evidence of widespread fraud, according to numerous studies. The rate of overall voting fraud is infinitesimal, according to a 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media The real motivation behind the war on mail-in ballots is politics, which Trump has made clear in his own words. Individual states develop their own voting rules, and about half allow any citizen to vote by mail. The process is more complex in Texas. Voters are eligible if they meet one of four conditions, including whether they are disabled or 65 years or older. There are three key points to consider as the Postal Service is politicized and undercut. First, voting by mail is one way to reduce the risk of getting sick or getting others sick during this pandemic. Voting by mail means not standing in line at a crowded polling place. But to cast doubt on the efficacy of voting by mail is to invite more people to vote in person, during early voting or on Election Day. I think its clear we have a potential disaster on our hands on Election Day if we cant process as many votes as possible beforehand, Dale Ho, who supervises voting litigation for the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Washington Post. Second, many Americans rely on the postal service for timely delivery of prescriptions. And, third, Republicans vote by mail, too. There are no clear statistics indicating mail-in voting favors one party over another. Some GOP officials fear Trumps rhetoric could backfire. Republicans in Florida, for example, rely heavily on mail-in ballots. The pandemic is devastating the country, with more than 167,000 dead, but the tragedy would multiply if the virus counted our democracy among its victims. Voting should be a right, not a potential death march. Tampering with the process is a bipartisan transgression, one that damages all Americans. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on being named in the Global Thinkers of 2016 list compiled by the Foreign Policy magazine. Swaraj was named in the decision makers category along with the Democratic Party nominee for US presidential election Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Attorney General Loretta Lynch among others. Very proud to see our hardworking EAM @SushmaSwaraj part of the @ForeignPolicy Global Thinkers list 2016! Congrats, Modi tweeted. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also tweeted, MEA proud to be led by EAM @SushmaSwaraj, who receives yet another recognition for her unique brand of diplomacy. The magazine complimented Swaraj for fashioning a novel brand of Twitter diplomacy. From evacuating Indians from Yemen to helping replace lost passports, Swaraj has earned the nickname the common tweeples leader for her aggressive use of Twitter, the magazine noted. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The number of pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo might grow by one in just a few days, officials announced on Friday: Mei Xiang appears to be pregnant. The 22-year-old giant panda, whose name is pronounced may-SHONG, has tissue consistent with fetal development, according to the zoo, which cautioned in its statement that it is too early to determine if the tissue is a completely viable developing fetus because there is a substantial possibility that Mei Xiang could resorb or miscarry a fetus. The zoo said that scientists do not fully understand why some mammals resorb fetuses. But if she is pregnant, the zoos veterinarians estimate, Mei Xiang could give birth within the next few days. The zoo currently has just an adult pair of giant pandas. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 12:38:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A group of public health advisers to the U.S. government have expressed their grave concerns over the Trump administration's decision to change the way for hospitals to report COVID-19 data, CNN reported Friday. The nearly three dozen current and former members of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee shared their concerns in a letter intended for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CNN said on its website. "We are extremely concerned about this abrupt change in Covid-19 reporting," said the letter from the committee, which is an independent group of experts that provides guidance to HHS and the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on infection control practices and strategies, according to CNN. "Moving forward, it will be even more challenging to perform meaningful inter-state comparisons, and to understand which COVID-19 mitigation strategies were successful (or failed)," said the letter dated July 31. The HHS posted a memo on its website last month, saying the Trump administration ordered hospitals to report all COVID-19 patient information to HHS, instead of to HHS and CDC as before, according to CNN. The new reporting system swiftly drew criticism from public health officials, CNN said. Former CDC Acting Director Richard Besser has said that the change was a "step backwards" for the U.S. coronavirus response, and "another example of CDC being sidelined." Enditem Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has expressed sadness over the brutal murder of Musa Mante, the lawmaker representing Dass Constituency in the state House of Assembly by gunmen. The governor in a condolence message through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mukthar Gidado, on Friday described the killing of the lawmaker as shocking and despicable. The governor, who led top government officials on a condolence visit to the palace of Emir of Dass and the residence of the deceased, sympathised with the immediate family of the lawmaker, Dass Emirate council and his colleagues in the state house of assembly over the loss., He described MRT Mantes demise as a great loss to the state and promised to take stiffer measures to address security concerns in the area. The governor condemned the killing of the lawmaker and assured the constituents of the commitment of his administration to guarantee the security of their lives and property. Innalillahi Wainna Ilaihi Rajiun, I received the killing of our lawmaker by unknown gunmen with great shock and that has shown that we need to put extra efforts in collaboration with the security agencies to ensure the safety of our people. With this unfortunate incident , Bauchi State Government will work in close collaboration with security agencies to identify those involved in the killing, so that they will face the full wrath of the law, he said. He, however, prayed that Almighty Allah will receive the soul of the departed and comfort his family. (NAN) Blasted: A man inspects the remains of his home in Beirut. Photo: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters The global community should help Lebanon rather than impose its will on the country, Iran's foreign minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said while in Beirut yesterday, following the catastrophic blast at the city's port that killed 172 people and pushed the government to resign. Iran backs Lebanon's powerful armed movement Hezbollah, which along with its allies helped form the outgoing government. The United States classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Mr Zarif was speaking after meeting President Michel Aoun, who had earlier met US and French officials in a flurry of Western diplomacy that has focused on urging Lebanon to fight corruption and enact long-delayed reforms to unlock foreign financial aid to tackle an economic crisis. "There should be international efforts to help Lebanon, not to impose anything on it," Mr Zarif said in televised comments. He earlier remarked the Lebanese people and their representatives should decide on the future of Lebanon. "It is not humane to exploit the pain and suffering of the people for political goals," he said. Angry protests have been staged against a political elite blamed for the country's many woes even before the August 4 blast, which injured 6,000, damaged swathes of the city and left 300,000 homeless. Some 30 people are missing. The explosion sharply deepened anger at the authorities. "We can't live like this. The West has to pressure our leaders to save us," said Iyaam Ghanem, a pharmacist. US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and French Defence Minister Florence Parly met separately with Mr Aoun. Mr Parly later publicly called for the formation of a government capable of taking "courageous decisions". Mr Hale said on Thursday the FBI would join a probe into the blast at a hangar in the port where highly explosive material detonated in a mushroom cloud. He called for an end to "dysfunctional governments and empty promises". International humanitarian aid has poured in but governments have linked any financial assistance to reform of the Lebanese state, which has defaulted on its huge sovereign debts. Mr Zarif said Tehran and private Iranian companies were ready to help with reconstruction and rehabilitating Lebanon's electricity sector, which is a chief target of reform. France's navy helicopter carrier Tonnerre docked at the port, where authorities say more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored for years without safety measures. Mr Aoun told Mr Hale that Beirut needed help to "understand the circumstances" under which the nitrate shipment was brought into the port and unloaded. He also said the probe would look into whether the cause was negligence, an accident or "external interference". Victims and their representatives told reporters that only an independent probe would deliver justice, appealing to the UN Security Council for an international investigation and the referral of the blast to an international court. "Is it unacceptable that people find their homes shattered, their families killed, their hopes and their dreams killed, with no justice," said Paul Najjar, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra died in the blast. The cabinet resignation has fuelled uncertainty. Agreement on a new government will likely be very difficult in a country with deep factional rifts and a sectarian power-sharing system. Senior Christian cleric Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, who wants Beirut kept out of regional conflicts, said a new Lebanon was being "cooked in kitchens" of foreign countries, which he did not name, to serve the interest of politicians. Asked during a June town hall event about Los Angeless decision to shift $150 million from its police department, Mr. Biden responded: Some places, theyre short on having enough people to cover the community or others the police departments have a lot more than they need. And so it depends on the community. The Trump campaign ad also took Mr. Bidens comment out of context. In a July discussion, the prominent liberal activist Ady Barkan asked Mr. Biden whether he would support redirecting some of the funding for police into social services, mental health counseling and affordable housing. Mr. Biden agreed and listed his proposals to increase funding for mental health clinics, more federal oversight of police departments, and restricting military equipment sold to the police. But do we agree that we can redirect some of the funding? Mr. Barkan asked. Yes, absolutely, Mr. Biden responded. The published version of that conversation edited out some of Mr. Bidens remarks that made his positions clearer. In the full version, provided to The Times by the Biden campaign, Mr. Biden emphasized that his proposals were not the same as getting rid of or defunding all the police and repeated that he believed federal grants to departments should be conditioned. Other spots warn that Mr. Biden supports massive taxes on working families. A new ad titled Takeover misleadingly cites the Tax Policy Center to claim that he would impose trillions in new taxes, crushing middle-class families. Analysis from the center does show that Mr. Bidens tax proposals would generate an additional $4 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade, but the Trump campaign is wrong that this would come from the middle class. Rather, the wealthiest top 1 percent of taxpayers would bear about three-quarters of tax increases. In contrast, middle-class taxpayers would see an average increase of $260, totaling 2.4 percent of the total burden. Daryl Baxter is leaving his family. He doesnt want to go. His wife, Jennifer, doesnt want him to. Neither do their girls, Autumn and Raya, 15 and 11 respectively. But its still the best decision for the Caledonia family. Daryl is immunocompromised. He has several health conditions. I have idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Thats the biggest one; the one we worry about the most, Daryl said. You do die from it. Its a slow death. Around the middle of the summer, the family had a big scare. I thought I had an infection in my heart, Daryl said. His blood work has since come back clear, but that doesnt change the other piece of the puzzle. Since COVID, weve been trapped here, he said. Since the start of the pandemic, theyve rarely left their Stoney Creek Road property. Now, though, school is starting back up again. Jennifer works as a teaching consultant in Hamilton. I usually travel between four and five schools within the board, she said. And so far, We dont know what my job will look like in the fall. Daryls physical health, as well as his mental health, make him unable to work; Jennifer is the familys sole breadwinner. I cant not work, she said. Daryl said both of their daughters have been struggling without social interaction with their friends during the pandemic. Autumn would prefer to be at school, he said. Raya has some learning disabilities; she would benefit from being in school. Thats why they and Jennifer will be returning to their respective schools this fall, and Daryl will be heading to Nova Scotia. The couple bought a piece of property there several years ago. Our plan was to eventually retire out there, Jennifer said. Daryl will be living in a trailer, where he can self-isolate. They have family out there who will help him with getting supplies. He doesnt want to be apart from his family, but I could never afford rent here, Daryl said. A second wave is coming. We have to see what that looks like. Jennifer said its a hard decision for them. Hell be further away from us, but we will have more freedom. We wont have to worry as much about contracting the virus, she said. Daryl said he didnt want to burden his wife or girls with worry that they would be putting his life at risk simply by going to school, or worse, if he were to get coronavirus, to blame themselves for bringing it home. They need a life, Daryl said. Im taking my heart out of it. Im using this, he said, pointing to his head. Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will address the party volunteers on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day on Saturday. The Chief Minister will first participate in the function to be organised on the occasion of Independence Day at the Delhi Secretariat. "After this, at 4 pm, he will address Aam Aadmi Party volunteers online through social media. Lakhs of volunteers will participate and listen to Kejriwal," said Delhi government in a statement. Besides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the speech from Red Fort amid coronavirus pandemic. Over 4,000 people have been invited for the ceremony. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:21:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A staff member puts vegetables in order at a retail grocery store which has been set up recently next to the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 15, 2020. Xinfadi, a large wholesale market of fruits, vegetables and meat, reopened Saturday morning after its business was suspended due to a COVID-19 cluster related to the market about two months back. The market will be fully operational by Sept. 10, according to Zhou Xinchun, executive deputy head of Fengtai District, where the market is located. Xinfadi provided about 70 percent of Beijing's vegetables, 10 percent of its pork, and 3 percent of its beef and mutton before being shut down on June 13. The market will cease its retail business and close doors to individual consumers after the reopening, and all sellers and buyers are required to complete real-name authentication before entering the market, said Zhou. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A fleet of trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables heralded the reopening of Xinfadi, a large wholesale market of fruits, vegetables and meat, Saturday morning after its business was suspended due to a COVID-19 cluster related to the market about two months back. More than 1,000 trucks are expected to deliver some 13,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to the 112-hectare market on Saturday, helping recover about 60 percent of its normal transaction volumes for fruits and vegetables. Wang Jie, 36, a buyer who drove to the market with his colleagues, said he was required to register his personal and vehicle information online one day in advance. He added that prior to his entry, he had to undergo temperature screening and his identity was verified via a facial recognition machine at the gate. "The market has changed so much that I can barely recognize it," said Wang, adding the place has undergone a massive makeover in the past two months, with new roads and renovations making its operation more organized. "The market resumed business much quicker than we expected," said Wang. "The local government took prompt actions and everyone was very cooperative, so this time I didn't panic much. Now the market looks much better," he added. Apart from advanced equipment and strict epidemic prevention measures, the market has also introduced a third-party testing institution to provide regular COVID-19 tests on different environments, goods, packaging materials and public facilities in the market. Meanwhile, trading in the underground and semi-underground zones of the market have been banned completely. The market will be fully operational by Sept. 10, according to Zhou Xinchun, executive deputy head of Fengtai District, where the market is located. The market will cease its retail business and close doors to individual consumers after the reopening, and all sellers and buyers are required to complete real-name authentication before entering the market, said Zhou. Separate passages have been set up for vendors and buyers and their identities can be distinguished by the color of their vests, with red indicating vendors, blue for market staff while purchasers don yellow vests. Xinfadi provided about 70 percent of Beijing's vegetables, 10 percent of its pork, and 3 percent of its beef and mutton before being shut down on June 13. A 1,000-square-meter retail vegetable market has been set up outside the wholesale market to meet the demands of nearby residents. Since June 11, Beijing has reported 335 confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to a cluster of infections in the Xinfadi wholesale market. By Aug. 6, all the patients had been discharged from the hospital after recovery. Enditem Nilons India, one of Indias oldest and most loved processed food companies, has launched its latest new media campaign #AchaarWithVichaar, featuring some of the top content creators of India and its most beloved fans. Masala is the pulse of India - we love it in our food, moods and conversations. Playing on this, Nilons #AchaarWithVichaar aims to build consideration for pickles in the minds of the new-age consumer. Tangy taste coupled with the many health benefits of the pickle such as boosting immunity, improving digestion, strengthening gut and many more, Nilons believes this is the perfect time for the brand to bring back the much-needed masala and magic in the lives of Indian youth, while boosting sales for its recently launched Rajasthani-flavourited pickles through Amazon. And how do they want to do that? By introducing the First Achaari show of India! Talking about the campaign, Rajheev Aggarwal, Director & CEO, Nilons shares, We are very excited for this campaign. Nilons products are something that the youth of this country has grown up with and when they today see us talking to them in their language, lingo and laughter, we are certain that these millennials will make Nilons Achaar their companion once again. Theres so much that the humble pickle that our dadis have made us love has to offer- right from health to taste. The 2-month long campaign begins with many exciting activities that they believe would appeal to the youngsters, like a crowd-sourced Achaari Rap Anthem, Nilons Chant for the Longest Achaar that finally lead up to the Instagram-LIVE show. Partnering with some of the biggest content creators of the country from the spheres of lifestyle, health and food, a promise of achaari conversations, atrangi creations and lots of laughter is what the brand is looking forward to as the campaign kicks off. Some of the quirkiest minds of the country have come together to give Nilons Achaar the new-age spin it deserves. For us at M&C Saatchi February, the most exciting aspect is the involvement of not just the best of content creators, but also the creators who live amongst us- the fans of Nilons! We hope #AchaarWithVichaar resonates with our target audience and creates a stir to remember, said Gopal Krishnan, Founder & MD, M&C Saatchi February, on his expectations from the campaign. Nilons has already launched the #AchaarWithVichaar Rap Anthem, the brands first crowdsourced anthem featuring content creators and users. The rap has reached the screens of over 13 million Indians, with more on its way. JUNEAU, Alaska - Five people who travelled together on a state ferry in southeast Alaska have tested positive for COVID-19, a system spokesperson said Friday. The individuals boarded the ferry Matanuska in Kake Monday morning, with the vessel arriving in Juneau late that night after passing through Sitka, according to a release from the state transportation department. The state health department believes the individuals were likely infectious while on the ship, the release states, and the ferry system is notifying the public out of an abundance of caution. Officials are recommending recent travellers on the Matanuska get tested if any symptoms arise; wear masks in public; and maintain physical distance from non-household members. Ferry system spokesperson Sam Dapcevich said the Alaska Marine Highway System has a policy of only allowing passengers to get off at their ports of destination. He said the five individuals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 were considered close contacts only with each other. He said the epidemiological investigation of the case continues. The ship arrived Friday morning in Bellingham, Washington, and crew members will be tested, according to the system release. U.S. authorities on Friday gave wildlife managers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho permission to start killing 716 sea lions in the Columbia River basin in hopes of helping struggling salmon and steelhead trout. The bulky marine mammals long ago figured out that they could feast on the migrating fish where they bottleneck at dams or where they head up tributaries to spawn. 'These are places where the fish are really vulnerable,' said Shaun Clements, senior policy analyst for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 'We have to manage this so the fish can get through to spawn.' Federal officials have allowed several groups to kill more than 700 sea lions along the Pacific Northwest in an attempt to save fish populations The new permit allows the states and several Native American tribes to kill 540 California sea lions and 176 Steller sea lions over the next five years along a 180-mile stretch of the Columbia, from Portland to the McNary Dam upriver, as well as in several tributaries. The permit is valid until August 14, 2025, unless renewed or revoked. It's the first time they have been allowed to kill the much larger Steller sea lions. The sea lions, whose populations generally are healthy, have posed a long-running conundrum for wildlife officials, pitting mammals protected under federal law against protected - and valuable - fish runs. Complicating matters is that Columbia River salmon are a key food source for the Pacific Northwest's endangered population of orcas, which scientists say are at risk of extinction if they don't get more sustenance. Sea lions have figured out the best spots to find endangered salmon, steelhead and other fish in the Columbia River Involved groups will be allowed to kill 540 California sea lions and 176 Steller sea lions over the next five years Over the last few decades, authorities have tried all kinds of less-lethal methods to deter the sea lions, including traps, rubber bullets and explosives, to no avail. They would return days after being relocated hundreds of miles away. The Port of Astoria in Oregon even tried a fake, motorized orca made of fiberglass in a futile effort to keep them off its docks. Authorities began killing some California sea lions at the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River about 13 years ago, under restrictions that required them to first document each targeted animal in the area five times, observe it eating salmon and wait for it to enter a trap. Some 238 have been killed there. Under changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act two years ago, authorities will no longer face such restrictions. Part of the issue officials take with the sea lion population in the Pacific Northwest is that they compete with the endangered orca species for a key food resource The permit prohibited using firearms against sea lions, so they animals will be captured and put under lethal injection instead They will be able to tranquilize, capture or trap any sea lions in the area, then bring them to another location to give them a lethal injection. The permit forbids them from shooting sea lions. Last year, Oregon officials killed 33 sea lions that were devouring steelhead on the Willamette River. Scientists estimated that the animals ate about one-quarter of the returning fish there, and they say runs have started to rebound since. Blue Planet Society, a 'volunteer pressure group campaigning to end the overexploitation of the worlds ocean', blasted the permit as 'tragic.' Sharon Young, senior strategist for marine wildlife at the Humane Society, called the sea lions the least of the salmon's problems. Fishing, competition from hatchery fish and habitat loss, including dams and culverts that block their passage or raise water temperatures, are far more serious, she said. Blue Planet Society, a volunteer pressure group campaigning to end the overexploitation of the worlds ocean,' called the approved permit 'tragic' on Twitter Pictured: a California sea lion swims near the entry to a sea lion trap on the Columbia River near Bonneville Dam in North Bonneville, Washington 'Killing the sea lions isn't going to address any of that,' she said. 'It is only going to distract from what they aren't doing to address the real problems salmon are facing. You're killing sea lions for nothing.' Young served on a federal task force that reviewed the permit request that the states and tribes filed last year. Members voted 16-2 to approve the permit following a three-day hearing in May, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's regional administrator, Barry Thom, signed off Friday. Clements of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said reducing the number of sea lions is one of many efforts to help the salmon, including billions of dollars spent on restoring habitat. 'They need all the help they can get,' he said. Blake Nicholson/Associated Press In another story of a misguided tourist learning why it's important to leave wild animals alone....AP reports that a motorcyclist has survived a violent attack by a bison in the Black Hills of South Dakota, sheriff's officials said. A bystander's video shows several bikers had stopped while a herd of bison crossed a road in Custer State Park on Wednesday. A 54-year-old Iowa woman got off the motorcycle on which she was a passenger and approached a bison calf, the Custer County Sheriffs Office said. The Oregonian/OregonLive analyzed fatal shootings by Portland police since Kendra James was killed in 2003, a pivotal moment in the local movement to reform policing in the city. The analysis showed those fatally shot were disproportionately Black. At least half of the cases involved people with mental illness. Most of the people had guns or knives. None of the more than five dozen officers who pulled a trigger in the shootings were ultimately disciplined or indicted by a grand jury, despite attempts to fire or suspend some of them. Tara Shaw sat at the breakfast table of her New Orleans home, doing business like nearly everyone else these days wearing comfortable clothes and taking a business meeting on Zoom. Shes a furniture designer, antiques dealer and interior designer whose goods have made it into homes all over Louisiana, Texas and elsewhere, and her newest endeavor is her first published book, Soul of the Home: Designing With Antiques (Harry N. Abrams; $50; 272 pages). It started out as a biography and spirit guide and ended up as a tribute to things of the past the antiques she cannot live without. She was born in Lake Charles, La., and attended Louisiana State University, but her family moved to Austin many years ago. After working several years in the apparel industry, she moved to New Orleans, where she lived and worked until Hurricane Katrina wrecked most of that city. (When the storm hit, she was in Italy trying to ship two, 40-foot containers of European antiques and had to shift their destination to Texas.) Like thousands of other New Orleanians, Shaw came to Houston as part of the post-flood migration. She lived in Houston five years and opened an antiques showroom on West Alabama, an easy call since she already had numerous interior design clients in Houston and other Texas cities. She eventually returned to New Orleans, and is now putting finishing touches on a new showroom on Magazine Street, which she expects to open in a few weeks. More Information 'Soul of the Home: Designing With Antiques' By Tara Shaw Harry N. Abrams 272 pages, $50 See More Collapse The front part of her book is a conversational tutorial on antiques, where she explains the difference between Louis XIV and Louis XVI antiques as well as how styles of European antiques vary from one country to another. There are photos of her own home, with antiques in every room, and youll meet her 10-year-old whippet, Brother Lucca, who innately knows how to pose perfectly on any piece of furniture he encounters. Through these and other projects, youll learn how to sprinkle antiques throughout any room like a pro. Shaw recently spoke with the Houston Chronicle about her love of antiques, spotting fakes and her new book. Q: Tell me about your connection to Houston. A: Houston saved my life financially after Katrina that big welcome and Texas can-do spirit. I was in Livorno, Italy, when Katrina hit and I remember looking at the TV and thinking, Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness. Thats my city, New Orleans. I thought, If I ship into Houston, they will embrace it, and they did. They turned out in droves. Q: You talk about guerilla shopping and selling to the trade. How does that work? A: I shop (in Europe) for five weeks at a time looking for one-of-a-kind antiques, and then I have an opening event when the containers come in. I call it the running of the bulls designers run in and tag furniture, and then we see them again next time. Unloading during COVID-19 because freight never stops we wear masks and gloves, but there are no people running in. We took our time and photographed things and put them on the website. I am working on a new showroom on Magazine Street. Thats where we will put the new container of antiquities and midcentury, and well only allow so many people in at a time. It should be open in three to four weeks. Q: So, this book has been in your head and your heart for a while. What pushed it into print in this form? A: The book, for me, is about connecting to that still small voice of understanding the things youre drawn to and to make your home feel unique. Thats my passion collecting things that youll have with you for the rest of your life. Feather your nest with things that are important to you. Dont follow a trend, follow your heart. I started writing a book in 2004 called The Code Your Father Gave You. It was really my spiritual journey from working in Europe for over two decades and in Asia for seven years. I ran into (literary agent) Jill Cohen, and she said, I know you have a book in you. Why dont you tell me your story in antiquities? We turned to that, and it became Soul of the Home. I wrote the book as a teaching tool because I was trying to find out who I was because of furniture. In business, I didnt feel like I could make a financial mistake, so I wanted to give people a shortcut to do their home. I wanted to paint a picture of how it happened for me and then get them to listen to that small voice thats directing them. I want them to fill their homes with treasures that mean something to them rather than trends theyre going to dispose of in five years. Q: A lot of designers and antiques dealers seem to constantly rotate things they buy in and out of their own homes. Do you do that, too? A: No, I am the opposite. In guerrilla antiquing and selling to the trade, in my most productive year I brought in 16, 40-foot containers. That is a lot of furniture. I allowed myself one piece per container. When I took time to select one item per container, it really meant something to me. Q: Now that Soul of the Home is done, did it turn out the way youd hoped? A: I really believe that it did. What validates me is when I read reviews on amazon.com or receive emails. It was written as a teaching tool to help and inspire and encourage people to just develop their own style. When I read the reviews, I think, Oh, my goodness, this really is everything I wanted it to be. Q: Images in your book show such a variety of European antiques, but I notice a lot of Swedish pieces. What do you like about those? A: Someone asked me what piece of clothing I would attribute to Swedish furniture, and its like a crisp white shirt. You can put it with anything, and it always looks great. You can use one anchor piece in a room, and then you have to use soft supporting pieces around it. Q: You shop for your antiques trade in Europe, but where are some of your favorite places to shop? A: I love firstdibs.com. I have the world at my fingertips on firstdibs, and Ive been selling on it, gosh, for 15 years. I also like Sothebys Home for bluechip midcentury and Live Auctioneers where you can see auctions throughout the U.S. and Europe. When Im guerilla antiquing in the field, I might have a shopping list of the things that I feel interior designers and antiques dealers and customers would want to buy, a beautiful commode or beautiful armoire or great sconces, but Europe is far from Walmart. I might go with a list, but I might not find one armoire when Im there. I love how small the world is now; we have the world at our fingertips. Q: What are the most sought-after antiques right now? A: Sconces, beautiful mirrors and any kind of chest or commode, which has so many functions. You can put them bedside or at an entry with contemporary art above it. I still sell a lot of anything Swedish, whether its a secretary or a daybed. I see a lot of Swedish furniture that is not antique its been reproduced and is being labeled incorrectly. You need to do your research pairs of Swedish commodes are not that prevalent but are all over the market. Q: If there are a lot of fakes out there, what are some tips for spotting them? A: Im always looking for an original patina. I can spot a new finish without a flashlight at 100 paces at 4 oclock in the morning. My eye is trained, and I know what an original finish is and the layers it has. You can open drawers and look at the construction. Look for dovetail corners and look at the back. Q: People who love antiques are often collectors, so what do you collect? A: My husband collects whippet canes. Everywhere we go we look for them. I love old white porcelain and old silver services. I also collect prehistoric bones. My mother gave me a pair of prehistoric scapula for my birthday one year. It was in a box the size of a shoe box, and I was sure she bought me shoes. I opened it, and it was a prehistoric scapula. She said, One day youre going to think of these as art. I thought, OK, thank you so much. Theyre now on an acrylic stand in my office. diane.cowen@chron.com Nujaba declares 'Israel's destruction' ultimate goal of all resistance groups Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 10:14 AM Iraq's al-Nujaba Movement says the ultimate goal pursued by all resistance groups is to destroy Israel and expel all American forces from the region. "Our goal today is not limited to victories here or there; rather, our clear goal is the full destruction of Israel and expulsion of the US and its mercenaries from the entire region and Islamic countries," said Nasr al-Shammari, the deputy secretary-general and official spokesman for Iraq's al-Nujaba Movement. "In order to achieve this goal, we will avenge the cowardly assassination of resistance commanders, most importantly the martyred commander Hajj Qassem Soleimani," he said on Thursday night. He made the remarks in a video conference speech to an international conference held in the Iranian city of Mashhad to commemorate martyrs of Afghanistan's Fatemiyoun Brigade, a resistance group involved in the regional fight against terrorism. Al-Shammari said the fighters of Fatemiyoun and other resistance forces in Iraq are taking the "hard revenge" every day, and that is what American forces witness today. "These fighters will continue to struggle against the US with stronger resolve, greater experience and with technologies the enemy can't counter," he added. He said the defeats currently suffered by the US are an introduction to the ultimate humiliating defeat they and the Israeli regime will suffer. "The enemy's increased pressure is what contributes to the realization of the resistance front's goals and its great victory," he said. Al-Nujaba Movement is part of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), an Iraqi government-sponsored umbrella organization composed of around 40 factions of volunteer counter-terrorism forces, including mostly Shia Muslims besides Sunni Muslims, Christians and Kurds. In the early days of the Daesh's reign of terror, the PMU fighters played a major role in reinforcing the Iraqi army, which had suffered heavy setbacks against the Takfiri elements. In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate the PMU into the military amid US efforts to sideline the group. PMU crushes Daesh gathering in Samarra In their latest operation against the Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, PMU forces attacked a gathering of Daesh elements in a region south of the holy city of Samarra. The raid was launched based on secret intelligence received by the PMU and after monitoring the movements of the Daesh remnants in the region, a statement by the PMU said. Several terrorists have been killed and wounded, and some of them have escaped after counter-terrorism forces attacked them with artillery and other light and medium weapons. The PMU Central Command has been on high alert since May, warning its forces to beware of Daesh's attempts to attack the holy shrines located in Samarra, Saladin province. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AP CM Jaganmohan Reddy hopes Centre would grant Special Category Status to State in future India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Amaravati, Aug 15: On Independence Day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy hoped the Centre would have a change of heart if not today, in the future, and accord Special Category Status (SCS) to the state in accordance with the promise made in Parliament. Addressing the ceremonial function after unfurling the national tricolor at the IGMC Stadium in Vijayawada on Saturday, the Chief Minister said his government was determined to achieve SCS for the state. Independence Day 2020: Day after testing COVID-19 negative Amit Shah hoists National Flag "The government at the Centre is now not dependent on other parties (for support), so we dont see it granting SCS now. But, if not today, in the future with the blessings of God we hope the situation will change and the central government will have a change of heart and accord SCS for the future of the state," the Chief Minister said. The state would nevertheless continue to raise the demand strongly for SCS, Jagan asserted. The Chief Minister said his government firmly believed that decentralization (of administration) was the right policy to heal the wounds inflicted upon the state by bifurcation. Ram Mandir finds a mention in PM Modis Independence Day speech "To ensure that we do not suffer more such wounds and that the three regions of the state flourish equally, we enacted the three capitals legislation. We will soon lay the foundation stone for the Executive Capital at Visakhapatnam and Judicial Capital in Kurnool," Jagan said. The Chief Minister said his 14-month rule so far gave a true meaning to the terms 'justice, liberty, equality, fraternity' as enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. In line with the Directive Principles of State Policy and Article 38 (2) enshrined in the Constitution, the state government launched a gamut of welfare schemes with SCs, STs, BCs, minorities and economically-backward among the upper castes as the main base, to remove the economic and social disparities. "By introducing the Village Secretariat system, which is a new chapter in decentralization of administration, we have ensured Grama Swaraj as listed in the Directive Principles," the Chief Minister added. He noted that the government doled out Rs 59,000 crore in the last 14 months to various sections under different welfare schemes. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 15, 2020, 16:03 [IST] A manufacturing company based out of Bozeman spent several months this year pivoting from producing trucks to meet a national demand that followed the outbreak of COVID-19. In the span of three days, the staff of Acela Truck Company began building mobile morgue units to be delivered to government agencies across the country, becoming one of the only companies able to respond to counties overwhelmed by the pandemic. Starting Thursday, the company will begin renting out its units that have been perfected over the past four months. Everybody in the world, no matter what they do, was caught with their pants down. Those companies that were used to building one a month just couldnt meet the demand, said Acela Truck Company President David Ronsen. Launched in January 2017, Acela specializes in reconditioning demilitarized vehicles. Their main line of on-and-off-road trucks, the Monterra, has been used by fire and flood rescue agencies, mining companies and private customers needing a durable all-terrain vehicle. The company has expanded to employ 25 staff members, most of them experienced in diesel and auto mechanics and vehicle customization. Four and six-wheeled Monterras have anchored the business to its Belgrade space, all formerly used by the U.S. Army, and torn down to their frames and rebuilt. That laid the foundation for how we got into trailers, said Director of Sales and Marketing Louise Rainone. In March of 2020, as Montana reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 and state officials prepared to close businesses and public buildings, Acela received an offer from several different government agencies represented by FEMA to change its production. It took a lot of work to pivot, but the expertise to get it done was in-house, said Ronsen, who has over two decades in custom vehicle manufacturing. During that time, he has designed and built trailers meant for mobile health clinics, incident command centers and even bookmobiles. Complications from COVID-19 have led to the deaths of more than 750,000 people globally as of Thursday, according to data gathered by the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. In major cities where the virus first took hold, overflow in hospitals had health officials at a loss of where to keep the anticipated bodies. In New York, the Associated Press reported that crews built a temporary morgue in Manhattan, while Maryland state health officials leased two ice rinks to be used as makeshift morgues. What we were seeing at first were emergency, knee-jerk reactions to immediate needs. What were seeing now, what Im getting calls about almost every day, are from folks looking to prepare for future. I think everyone understands now that another pandemic is not a matter of if anymore. Its a matter of when," Ronsen said. The transition came at an ideal time for Acela, Hansen said, when several component suppliers for the companys truck line told them shipments would be temporarily halted due to their being deemed nonessential. The opportunity to produce mobile morgue units both kept his employees working, and expanded the company into a new market. There was a thing called a mobile morgue trailer before March, but I would say that a very small number of companies manufactured them, and they probably averaged manufacturing about a dozen a year, said David Ronsen. After fulfilling their first contract, Ronsen said Acela had built and delivered about 55 units in two months. To meet the demand of customers, employees worked 12-hour shifts, seven days a week for that entire time. By April 1, their warehouse had been completely cleared and trailers arrived from a partner company based out of Idaho. After all of his employees agreed on the companys new mission, they set to work installing refrigeration units, lining the floors with rubber, installing doors that retain cold temperatures and outfitting trailers with rows of steel beds. Supplies, Ronsen said, had to be ordered from six different countries. Other than the tires, the trailers are built to last at least three decades. Ross Feenstra, the senior sales manager for Acela who has a background as a diesel and automotive technician, said Acelas small team allowed it a more fluid conversion. The company focused solely on trailers until mid-June, when it began rebuilding trucks once again. At the peak of production, we were building and shipping four trailers a day, Feenstra said. With the launch of the companys rental program, which allows agencies to operate a trailer for at least three months, Ronsen said trailer construction is about a tenth of what it was earlier in the summer. Trucks have since returned to the companys warehouse, but now they roll out to the yard to join the 53-foot innovations that the pandemic produced. Ive worked in plenty of startups before, but never have I been a part of a business that jumped into a product line this suddenly and been this successful. Its not something that people want to talk about, but the last five months have been a reality check for our partners, Louise Rainone said. Lavie: I did love Ready Player One and Anita Blake. And you forget Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse novels. I read through about eight of them in one go. But if I am sticking with secondary-world fantasy for a bit, one of my favorite current writers is Robert Jackson Bennett. City of Stairs, the first in a trilogy, is great fun, a mystery set in a city where the gods all died or did they? He just does this sort of thing so well. A great title I wish more people saw is Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef, by Malaysian author Cassandra Khaw. Its a pitch-perfect hard-boiled fantasy set in Kuala Lumpur thats tremendous fun with a great sense of place. For the pure essence of noir, mixed in with Lovecraftian horror and Le Carre-like spy games, I adored Caitlin R. Kiernans Agents of Dreamland, which is unclassifiable and wonderful. More recently, Asaf Asherys Simantov, translated from Hebrew by Marganit Weinberger-Rotman, is a weird detective novel set in Israel, against a cosmic battleground based on Jewish myth. This might be one to keep an eye out for. Taking Away Polling Places In the five years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key parts of the Voting Rights Act, nearly a thousand polling places have been shuttered across the country, many of them in southern black communities.The trend continues: This year alone, 10 counties with large black populations in Georgia closed polling spots after a white elections consultant recommended they do so to save money. When the consultant suggested a similar move in Randolph County, pushback was enough to keep its nine polling places open.But the closures come amid a tightening of voter ID laws in many states that critics view as an effort to make it harder for blacks and other minorities to vote and, in Georgia specifically, the high-profile gubernatorial bid by a black woman.The ballot in November features Stacey Abrams, a Democrat trying to become the first black woman elected governor in the United States, versus Brian Kemp, the Republican secretary of state who has led efforts in Georgia to purge voter rolls, slash early voting and close polling places.Local officials across the country shuttered 868 polling places in the three years after the Supreme Courts 2013 ruling, according to a 2016 report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund, the research arm of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of 200 civil rights groups.Arizona, Louisiana and Texas, the report said, have all made alarming reductions in polling places.We are now seeing the fallout of that ruling, said Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.Polling places have often been used as political tools to shape the outcome of elections. Officials can reduce the voter participation of certain groups by eliminating polling places, and increase participation in other groups by placing precincts in key neighborhoods.But its not just the number of polling places that affect voter outcomes. Moving voters to different voting environments also may affect how they vote.The number of polling places in a county can have a significant impact on who votes. And changing the location of a polling place, according to a 2011 study in the American Political Science Review, can lower voter turnout.Fewer polling places also can lead to longer lines, which may dissuade people from voting, the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, found. Knowing this, officials can change the outcome of an election by manipulating polling places.You can basically lessen the turnout of people who disagree with your position, said Abraham Rutchick, a psychology professor at California State University Northridge, who has studied the impact of polling placement.Officials in Florida might have used the tactic recently to target college students. A federal judge ruled in July that election officials, at the direction of Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott, reveal[ed] a stark pattern of discrimination by blocking early voting at the states college and university campuses.Many young people have registered to vote in the aftermath of the school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, where student survivors have led registration drives throughout the state. Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, said state officials were trying to block these first-time voters from getting access to the ballot.Its jaw-dropping that they wouldnt be doing everything they can do to get those students to vote, Brigham said. It sends a very unfortunate message to our students that they arent doing so.The League of Women Voters joined students and the Andrew Goodman Foundation, a New Jersey-based advocacy group, in the successful lawsuit.In the days after the ruling, county officials who run elections at Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida all said they would set up early voting for upcoming elections.But Miami-Dade County, home to Florida International University, and Duval County, home to University of North Florida and Florida State College, wont allow early voting this year, which could impact voter turnout among those college students.Counties across the country continue to eliminate polling places. Just last month, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, a Republican, removed 170, mostly Democratic voting precincts from Lake County home to the states largest Latino and second-largest black communities.Lawsons office said her plan updates the map to reflect new demographic data and still puts polling places close to public transportation. Local Democrats said it keeps African Americans and Hispanic voters from the polls.There are other efforts underway in counties in Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Ohio and Wisconsin to move thousands of voters to new locations. The primary driver for closing some of these polling places is a tight local budget.Some voters in Barton County, Kansas, now will have to drive 18 miles to vote in Novembers election because of polling place consolidation. In the past three decades, the county has gone from 40 polling places to 11. The main reason, said County Clerk Donna Zimmerman, is cost.Its expensive, Zimmerman said. Its always hard when youre taking the ballot further from the vote. Its a hard decision, and one I take to heart.Voters in the rural county will be able to vote by mail, however.In Kankakee County, Illinois, officials reduced the number of polling places from 69 to 65 this year. County Clerk Dan Hendrickson said each closed polling place saves the county a thousand dollars.Hendrickson said he decided against closing a polling place in a predominantly black area in the city of Kankakee because of concerns from the community about transportation costs.We could move that polling place somewhere else, he said, but not a one of them could vote then.In Georgia, civil rights groups remain vigilant, observing each of the states 159 counties to make sure polling locations arent shuttered.This has become commonplace in the state. Nearly a dozen counties closed many of their polling places in 2016.Last year, Fulton County officials tried to close several polling places in predominantly black neighborhoods of South Atlanta, claiming they werent used enough to remain open. The American Civil Liberties Union sued, saying the county didnt give enough public notice before closing them. A month later, and after public pressure, the county decided to keep those precincts open.When local officials attempt to close polling places in majority-black neighborhoods, as they tried in Randolph County, Georgia, they force black voters to travel farther to vote, Rutchick said, and to vote in an environment they may find threatening, like in a majority-white neighborhood.Indeed, Andrea Young, the executive director of the Georgia chapter of the ACLU, said poll closings often target so-called super voters, who consistently vote and depend on routine and comfort in the voting process.It suppresses the African-American vote, she said.Pushing back against that notion, Mike Malone, the white election consultant hired in Randolph County, said in community meetings that the suggested closings were not racially motivated.Is this the right time? he asked at the August meeting, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The answer is no. Its not. The reason its not the right time? Its never the right time.Malone has since been fired by the county. The other 10 counties that closed polling places at Malones recommendation, however, will keep the locations shuttered ahead of the November election.At the time, Fulton County officials said the polling places they decided to close had declining popularity, and closing them would streamline the voting process.Richard Barron, the countys director of elections and registration, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in July 2017 that voters were relying more on early voting and wouldnt be as hurt by the move. In making the decision, he said, the county looked at several factors, including race, voters at the precincts and distances to make a fair decision.We dont like to move polling places, Barron told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. We like to have consistency so voters know where they go all the time.Polling place environments also can have a large impact on how people vote. Sometimes the influence can be overt, such as when a location is a church or a school.In mid-August, city officials in Medford, Massachusetts, moved a polling place from a Veterans of Foreign Wars building because of a large All Lives Matter sign on display at the location, which some residents claimed was racist. And during the Pennsylvania primaries in May, voters in Philadelphia accused poll workers of intimidation for putting Bibles on polling place tables.In June, the Supreme Court struck down a Minnesota law preventing political apparel at polling places, opening the door for more explicit political influencing there. Most states, however, have a 100-foot buffer zone around polling places to prevent electioneering, including stumping for candidates and issues and putting up campaign signs and posters.But often, the influence is subtle.Changing a polling location to an unfamiliar environment, said Marc Meredith, an associate professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, can be an effective tool of voter manipulation.While peoples partisanship is their biggest motivator, he said, the environment where you vote can influence how you vote.In 2006, Meredith and his studys co-authors found that people who voted at schools were more likely to support an education funding initiative. In 2010, Rutchick in a separate study found that people who voted in churches were more likely to vote conservatively on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, finding the presence of Christian imagery activates Christian values and attitudes and can thereby influence voting.Both studies show that voting environments can unconsciously trigger specific voter behavior. And while the effect is minimal, Rutchick said, weve had enough close elections this year that those little things do matter.One way to shield certain groups from being targeted by discriminatory policies, such as closing polling locations, is to harness a vote-by-mail system, as is done in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, said Nina Kohn, a law professor at Syracuse University. It insulates voters from location biases so they can more accurately cast their ballot.But that sort of system, said Young of the ACLU, favors voters who are highly literate.If you mess up your ballot, she said, its not counted.Instead of dramatically changing voting systems, Kohn said, voters could instead focus on local boards of election, where decisions on voter procedure and polling places are often made.As we look to the midterms, we need to pay very close attention to where polling locations are located, she said. This is not just an issue of fairness, but it could affect tight races. It could be the difference between someone winning or someone losing. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Beijing, China Sat, August 15, 2020 10:06 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e352ec 2 Lifestyle fashion,China,Beijing,grandma,elderly Free Four famous amateur model grandmothers took off their masks during a saunter down the streets of Beijing on Thursday to demonstrate life returning to normal as the COVID-19 pandemic eases. Glamma Beijing, a group of four women who met during a modelling training course after retiring 20 years ago, became an internet sensation in China last year. A 15-second video of them walking in Sanlitun, one of Beijing's busiest shopping districts, wearing traditional qipao dresses and over-sized dangling fringe earrings, was viewed more than 50 million times in a day, according to local media. Since then, Lin Wei, Wang Xinghuo, Sun Yang and Wang Nianwen, all aged over 60, have enjoyed dressing up and performing in videos on short-video platform Douyin for likes. "Your life is grey if you are always afraid of ageing and death," said Lin Wei, 64, explaining her philosophy on growing older and enthusiasm for donning stylish clothes and makeup. Read also: Vintage fashion: Senior models bridge South Korea's age divide "You are old, you have wrinkles, you don't have too much energy, or your figure becomes baggy. But this is something you can't go against, so you need to face it with positivity." During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the group had to stay indoors, they reverted to creating videos about their lifestyle. They now have more than a million followers on Douyin. On Thursday, the stylish grannies, as they call themselves in Mandarin, turned heads as they walked in figure-hugging qipaos down a street like a catwalk, in Beijing's central business district of Guomao. "Beauty is in all ages," said Liu Jing, a passer-by. "You can be young and stylish, or feminine. And you can also be elegant just like these grannies." Topics : fashion China Beijing grandma elderly Afghan Government Begins Release Of Final Group Of Taliban Prisoners By RFE/RL August 14, 2020 The Afghan government says it has started releasing 400 Taliban militants, the final part of a prisoner swap meant to clear the way for the start of peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban. Javid Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council, made the announcement. Taliban officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, said 86 detainees were freed. It wasn't immediately known when the remaining prisoners would be released. The prisoner release would "speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide cease-fire," the security body said. President Ashraf Ghani announced on August 9 his intention to release the 400 Taliban militants, many of whom have been convicted for deadly attacks on Afghans and foreigners. The decision came shortly after the move was recommended by a traditional Loya Jirga consultative assembly in Kabul. The release of the prisoners is the last hurdle to opening peace talks between the internationally backed government in Kabul and the Taliban under a peace deal signed in February between the militants and the United States. Both sides have said that within days of the final prisoners being released they are ready to begin intra-Afghan talks in Doha, Qatar. There was no immediate response from the Taliban about the prisoner release. But on August 12 the Taliban issued a statement warning that detainees released from Pul-e Charkhi prison, the country's largest detention facility in Kabul, faced "a serious security threat." The Taliban claimed that the rival Islamic State extremist group, in cooperation with some government spoilers, planned to attack vehicles transporting the remaining detainees to disrupt intra-Afghan negotiations. Kabul had already freed 4,600 Taliban inmates out of the 5,000 pledged in the landmark U.S.-Taliban deal. Afghan officials have described the remaining prisoners as the most dangerous, accusing them of masterminding attacks on embassies, public squares, and government offices, killing thousands of civilians in recent years. The Taliban says it has freed all 1,000 government prisoners it had pledged in the agreement with the United States. In addition to the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition troops, the U.S.-Taliban deal calls on the Taliban to guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks on the United States or its allies. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in an interview on August 8 that the United States plans to cut its troop levels in Afghanistan to "a number less than 5,000" by the end of November. Although the Taliban hasn't targeted U.S. forces since the February deal, militants have carried out multiple attacks on government forces that have killed 3,560 Afghan security personnel. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has documented more than 1,280 Afghan civilian deaths during the first half of 2020 -- mainly as a result of fighting between government forces and the Taliban. On August 14, a small bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded near a mosque in Kabul just as worshipers were finishing their prayers, wounding a police officer. No one immediately took responsibility but the Islamic State group has in the past targeted mosques in Afghanistan. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-government-begins- taliban-prisoner-release/30783064.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 An alert walker, taking a stroll around the head in Clogherhead, played a key role in saving the lives of two kayakers last week. Just after 8pm last Tuesday, the man spotted an upturned kayak in the sea and saw that the canoeists were in trouble. He called the emergency services and within minutes, Clogherhead's Michael O'Brien lifeboat was racing to the scene. 'The Lifeboat quickly located the casualties 3/4mile north of the Headland, one of whom was in the water. There was a significant swell of 1metre plus, making it difficult to see the male casualty in the water. There was a Force 5/6 wind blowing offshore, which together with the tide was taking the casualties out to sea,' the lifeboat confirmed. The rescue was carried out by the Lifeboat who took the casualties from the water and brought them to Port Oriel. The Irish Coastguard helicopter Rescue 116 was also in attendance. The crew of the lifeboat spoke of the value of generally being observant, and were fulsome in their praise for the man who reported the incident. Wicked Sharks (Discovery at 9) As the number of great white shark encounters on Cape Cod spikes, shark expert Greg Skomal breaks out cutting-edge technology to capture the white sharks point of view to find out where they hunt in the summer to protect the public. When I walked into the old Blue Quills Indian Residential School in St Paul, Alberta, it was like being transported back in time. Maybe it felt more so because I was with a former student who had just shared with me some of the details of her horrifying experiences there as a child. Alsena White led us to the basement of the large, cathedral-like brick building that once housed the areas First Nations children, operating with the government-mandated goal to kill the Indian in the child. There was a strong, musty smell that overwhelmed my senses and seemed to follow me the whole time we were inside. The first room she took us to was partially covered in beautiful art painted by students in recent years after the former residential school was transformed into a First Nations university. She stopped at one of the cubbies attached to the wall. It was where she had once kept her belongings. Around the corner was a small, crumbling room with rubbish strewn across the floor, pipes open and moulding. Tiny green tiles were still visible on the walls. Alsena made her way through the rubble and found a memento from a nightmare she has never forgotten. Number 39, her number the number she was given in place of her name was still there, above the space where she once brushed her teeth and washed her face. As she prepared to pose for a photo in front of it, her gaze drifted out of the dirty window. My colleague, photojournalist Amber Bracken, asked her why she preferred to have her photo taken looking out of the window. Because, Alsena answered, she used to do just that as a child who dreamed of being out there, of escaping, instead of being trapped in here. It felt so heavy. To be there in a space that held memories of such tragedy, sadness, abuse, genocide. Did it feel more intense because I am Indigenous or because my own grandmother attended a residential school? Does it feel that way for others who have no personal connection to it? Names of the dead I left the room and wandered around. I walked across the hallway into a larger room where tables and chairs were stacked. It was once a student dining hall. Again, I felt as though the smell was smothering me. I needed to get outside, to take a breath. But I didnt. I stayed and took it all in. It was quiet and dark, with just the glare of the mid-winter sun lighting the room. Then, I noticed sheets of paper taped around a couple of the beams that held up the ceiling. They seemed out of place. On them were lists of names the names of the thousands of Indigenous children across Canada who never made it out of their residential schools, who died in them of neglect, abuse, disease. I thought of Alsena and the courage it had taken for her to return to a place she described as a prison, to a place where she was molested, demeaned and torn away from her family, her culture and her identity. I thought of my own children and how gut-wrenching it would be if they were stolen from me and raised by strangers who tried to teach them to hate who they are. I thought of those childrens parents, whose instincts must have been to protect and fight for their children, but who had been rendered powerless by the authorities. My spirit hurt being there. It was physically hard, too I wanted to run away. I was sure I could hear the echoes of childrens voices, of all the children who, like Alsena, had prayed and dreamed of being able to escape. The names of children who died at residential schools, printed on sheets of paper [Brandi Morin/Al Jazeera] Truth-sharing Local Indigenous groups took over the school in 1970, first turning it into an Indigenous learning centre and now a university. Alsena said not much had changed in the way it looked. I was baffled that hundreds of our people have willingly gone there every day to learn. But maybe it was a way to reclaim what was lost. To get back into the trenches, but turn the tables and arm themselves with traditional knowledge and culture. That day I had to get out, but maybe, sometime, I will go back to ask. Alsena sometimes gives tours of the school. To her, it is a form of healing. She wants the truth of the residential schools and their legacy to be told and experienced, she said. Another way she heals is by practising speaking in front of an audience when she is alone. She introduces herself, Hi, my name is Alsena White, and Im a residential school survivor. This is my story. To her, it validates what happened, and helps to empower other survivors to not feel burdened by shame. She told me non-Indigenous people sometimes come for tours, and some of them cry. That is a good sign because this kind of truth-sharing goes hand-in-hand with reconciliation. In public school, we learn about the concentration camps of World War II and other injustices of war that we are far removed from. But do we understand that we had war for hundreds of years right here in Canada? That our people were held in concentration camps called reservations, that our children were taken and held like prisoners? Few people know that part of our own history. Student artwork is displayed in the former residential school, now a First Nations university [Brandi Morin/Al Jazeera] Ignorance and reconciliation Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we think we have done a lot of work as a country. But my experience as an Indigenous person and my work as a journalist have shown me that we still have a long way to go. Discrimination, racism, systemic inequality still penetrate almost every aspect of society, and the divides between the settlers and Indigenous continue to widen. I recently spoke to the head priest of the St Paul Roman Catholic Parish about residential schools. Father Gerard Gauthier, who leads a congregation of 600 and holds influence in the town as a religious leader, told me he does not think residential schools were that bad. Some of the survivors, he said, are exaggerating. There was also good that came out of them, he added. They (First Nations) would still be in the Stone Age, and wed be living the good life if we didnt teach them to read, he said. I know such ignorance exists, but sometimes, it still floors me to hear it. Still, I would not want Gauthier to be attacked for his views because that will lead us nowhere. He attends a monthly reconciliation group and believes he is doing his part for reconciliation. It is best to leave it at that and hope his eyes are opened to the truth. He is, after all, by far, not the only one to hold such views. These attitudes are alive and well, and an example of just how long the road ahead of us is. Canada, a place the world views as almost utopian in its beauty, freedoms and equality, has this dark secret barely below its surface. I believe in reconciliation, and I see the efforts that are making a difference here and there. But unless we get right with our past and the havoc it has wreaked, these secrets will tear us apart. So, I am hopeful we will continue along this path to reconciliation so future generations can get along and Canada can truly become all those things it portrays itself as to the rest of the world. Will Rajapaksas third coming give national reconciliation a chance? View(s): After a long five-year intermission spent wisely preparing for a comeback, the spectacular third advent of the House of Rajapaksa to the centre stage of Lankan politics was made replete this Wednesday morning when Mahinda Rajapaksa followed by his ministerial retinue were formally sworn in to high office by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the sacred shelter of the Sri Dalada. As temple bells pealed, heralding the auspicious hour to perform the initiation rites, the nation watched riveted history in the making unfold before their eyes, as live television coverage of the formation of the Rajapaksa Government streamed into their living rooms frame by frame; and dramatically brought home the realisation they were witnessing the outlandish marvel of the Rajapaksa Resurrection. And it had been no mere tepid return of Lankas First Family to the helm of affairs. The Rajapaksas Third Coming had been on a Tsunami tidal wave on the crest of which they had ridden to the shores of triumph, annihilating every bulwark of opposition into fragments, until at last, no alternate credible voice lay left even to squeak a whimper of protest against it. The victory had been complete. Power had been given by the masses and power had been taken lock, stock and barrel; and, like all Alexander Selkirks on desert islands, to paraphrase Cowley, They are the monarchs of all they survey; Their right there is none to dispute; From the centre all round to the sea They are lords of the fowl and the brute Take a look around. The United National Party which, once upon a time even in opposition, stood unshaken like the Rock of Gibraltar now lies hopelessly reduced to a sand castle some schoolboy had trampled upon on some sandy beach; its leadership, its rank and file, men and women of some earthly substance only but yesterday, now haplessly rendered overnight to airy fairy apparitions, hoping against hope to regain lost paradise; and conspiring, in the words of John Milton: To wage by force or guile eternal war, irreconcilable to our grand foe, who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy sole reigning holds the tyranny of heaven. Take the Samagi Jana Balavegaya which narrowly escaped the Wednesday massacre. Though it emerged with a decent tally of 54 parliamentary seats, it will find it difficult to transcend its present feather weight status and cross swords with swashbuckling maestros. Until they are able to convince the masses they are more than a rag tag collection of opportunistic mutineers who jumped the sinking mother ship for personal glory, they maybe unable to command the respect of the people as being not top heavy enough yet to fill the shoes the UNP hastily left behind in the wake of its ignominious debacle. Do they possess the gravitas to be treated seriously? Do they have the wherewithal to hold the fort when besieged? Its in its salad days; and may need more time to find its bearings, to bloom and flower in the oppositions front benches as a worthy adversary to an all-powerful and overbearing government. And what of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna the hardcore revolutionary party of yore, which held as its guiding dogma that power came through the barrel of a gun, now keeping company with core intellectuals and professionals and masquerading as one under the sheepskin of the National Peoples Power? The gambit failed. The JVP won only two seats. Surrendered the national list seat to the NPP. And lost its vital member Handunnetti who failed to secure his Matara seat. Compared to 2015 election result, which was six seats, including two national list seats, the JVP position as a powerful third voice has been weakened. But in this desolate political landscape, one party sees a rainbow dawn to banish the surrounding gloom. It sees hope in the Rajapaksa Renaissance to usher in a new era of lasting peace and harmony. It envisages, in the rise of the SLPP based on its strong Sinhala Buddhist roots, the sure, albeit, ironical means through which the noble prospect of national reconciliation to heal the wounds of war and dispel the mistrust and suspicions amongst communities, can at last be achieved. And it sees in the sturdy figure of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime catalyst of change, as the one man who can deliver the goods to end this ethnic madness. In the shadow of the SLPPs two-thirds majority, it sees the Phoenix of Tamil aspirations once more reborn. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan put the government on notice the day after it was installed in Kandy and warned it not to ignore Tamil concerns merely because it lorded over Parliament. He told the media in Jaffna on Thursday, The government could not ignore the concerns of Tamil people just because it has a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government should find solutions to the problems faced by the Tamils. He declared defiantly: The Government attempted to divide the votes of Tamil people through various means. It tried to weaken the TNA and reduce the number of seats we have in Parliament. But we have not been weakened. Soon, we will regain what we have lost. Sampanthan also asked the Government to find a permanent political solution to the problems faced by the Tamils through a new constitution. He declared: The new constitution that the previous government tried to pass was stalled. But the new government that has two-thirds majority in Parliament can easily pass a new constitution. The Government says it will bring in a new constitution and that should offer concrete solutions to our issue. Perhaps, he has a point. The Government has made no secret of its plans to amend or even repeal the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe 19th Amendment to the Constitution which repealed the Rajapaksa 18th Amendment. In fact, it has placed constitutional changes high on the cabinet agenda. Apart from a side remark from Professor G.L. Peiris that the Government might venture beyond changing 19A, there has been no further discussion on broadening the scope of change. Ever since the Sinhala Only policy was adapted by the Bandaranaike Government in the late fifties, the call from moderate Tamils for a just solution to their legitimate grievances has grown. The failure of successive governments to address the issue, no doubt spawned the rise of Tamil militancy in Lanka and spurred the resort to arms to win their demands, with the separate state of Tamil Eelam as their ultimate objective. Thirty years of a terrorist war almost bled Lanka to death, with thousands of her civiliansbe they Sinhala, Tamil or Muslimdying needless merely because intransigence incarnate and manifest prejudice blinded either side and barred the entry of reason to resolve the issue. President Mahinda Rajapaksas singular determination and purpose to win the war against all odds and bring the evil reign of Tiger terror to an end, finally succeeded on May 18, 2009 when the bullet riddled body of Tiger Supremo was found by the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon in Mullaitivu. But the peace that ensued was a superficial peace. The rumbles of distrust and animosity between the two communities, rumbled beneath the surface, an active volcano waiting to erupt hidden behind the facade of normalcy. But even the architect of a nations peace revival, the man who had ended the war, paused his hand when it came to delivering the fruits of peace to the nation, inhibited to upset the diehard chauvinistic elements who feared a sellout at the behest of foreign powers. And the nations discontent continues simmering, unattended in the cauldron of racial prejudice and hate. But, perhaps, the time is more conducive to change, the people more enlightened. In the hands of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the man who brought the curtain down on Lankas gruesome theatre of war 11 years ago, now rest the power to deliver the belated fruits of peace. He is the nations consummate politicians. The one the majority community trusts implicitly not to sell Sinhala Buddhists interests down the river as evidenced by the massive landslide win bestowed on him and his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It is doubtful whether any other politician now or in the future will command such trust and have the political skill and acumen to engineer a lasting peace deal acceptable to both sides. Only he can undertake this task in the foreseeable future and grant the legitimate reasonable grievances of the Tamil minority. One unfinished business remains for him to complete without postponing it for future generations to resolve. And, magnanimous in victory, show the world hatred does not end by hatred, only love can douse the fire. It will be Mahinda Rajapaksas shinning hour. Flag foul up spotted in the nick of time The Lion Flag of Kandyan Kings briefly held monopolistic sway and fluttered in the winds of Sinhale over Senkadagala hills hours before modern day Lankas new Government were to be sworn in and officially come into being in the hallowed precincts of the Sri Dalada.Over enthusiastic municipal workers were blamed for decorating Kandy town with a set of the now defunct Royal Flag of the Kandyan Kingdom, with the solitary lion symbolising Sinhala supremacy, the day before the Government carnival was expected to arrive in this once historic capital where Lankan sovereignty was surrendered to the British without a single bullet fired 205 years ago at the Temple of the Tooth. When the Kandy Municipal Council finally awoke to the blunder and realised Kandy was awash with lion flags devoid of the green and orange stripes meant to represent the minority Muslims and Tamils respectively, the gravity sunk in and an immediate counter operation to hoist down the offending imposter flags, passing off as the real thing, from every flag pole in the city was launched. Kandy Municipal Council Commissioner Chandana Tennakoon confirmed to the Sunday Times that earlier a couple of those lion only flags were put up by the municipality staff but they were removed later. He refused to elaborate on why those flags were hoisted around the city in the first place. But why was the imposter hoisted at all? Was it to discredit the Government by casting a racial slur, of imputing a Sinhala only face to its official standard? True. The SLPP had campaigned aggressively on a Sinhala Buddhist platform but once it had achieved its objective of coming to power, its leaders have shown no inclination of being a one race party but held itself as one that represented the legitimate interest of all. The Lankan Constitution takes pains to illustrate the National Flag of Sri Lanka and details it in exact terms so as to ensure no room is allowed for any distortion whatsoever. The National Flag also recognises that Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural society and, by the use of the green and orange vertical stripes, has accommodated the two main minority groups. It is a criminal offence to distort the national flag or use any other and attempt to pass it off as the nations National Flag. The Government must not turn a blind eye to this flagrant breach but take steps to bring the offenders to book. And reassure the minorities that under this Government there will always be for all an equal place in the sun. A video of a witness telling gardai that he heard Aaron Brady admit to murdering a garda was circulated on social media, with text accusing the witness of being a tout or a rat, in what the presiding judge described as the most outrageous contempt of court he had ever seen. After hearing from representatives of WhatsApp Mr Justice Michael White found he was "powerless to prevent its dissemination" on that platform and could make no order that would prevent it being circulated. It was, the judge said, a deliberate attempt to intimidate the witness and others who were due to give evidence in the trial. The same video appeared on Youtube and Facebook who were able to delete it and prevent it being put up again. The capital murder trial took place against a background of intimidation and interference, with witnesses and their families subjected to threats and targeted using social media. Molly Staunton, who told the trial that she heard Brady admit that he shot a cop, received a death threat on Snapchat within hours of completing her testimony. Throughout the trial, prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC raised concerns about the impact of witness interference and intimidation and worried that ongoing delays caused by the covid-19 outbreak and lengthy legal argument gave those intimidation efforts greater chance of success. In total five people who had given statements to gardai failed to show up in court or told the prosecution that their original statements were inaccurate. One talked of being petrified after coming into information about the shooting. Another potential witness, a friend of Aaron Bradys, originally provided an alibi for him but later retracted it and then did not come to court. He lives in Northern Ireland and will be arrested on a bench warrant if he travels south of the border. Another man who lives in Northern Ireland lived with Brady for a period in New York and went out with Molly Staunton. He was there along with Ms Staunton when Brady went on a rant one evening and said he wanted to be a good father but had to carry around the guilt of having shot a cop in Ireland. This man initially gave gardai accounts of various times when he overheard Brady say incriminating things about the murder of Det Gda Donhoe but when it came to trial he did not come forward. There is an outstanding warrant for his arrest as a result. Most outrageous contempt of court Besides the leaked video on social media, Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution told the court the same witness was the subject of widespread intimidation both personally and through his family here in Ireland. In his statement to gardai the man in question said he heard Aaron Brady admit to shooting Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. He lives in New York where, due to the extent of the pandemic lockdown, it was not possible for him to be subpoenaed to give evidence. Mr Justice White said he had no doubt the publication of the video was intended to intimidate the named witness and to have an effect on other witnesses due to give evidence. It had, he said, interfered fundamentally with the administration of justice. Mr Grehan said the prosecution believes that the WhatsApp message was part of a campaign to disrupt the trial and prevent witnesses, including [the subject of the video] from giving their testimony in accordance with their statements. In an update to the court on June 2 Mr Grehan told the trial that the witness and members of his immediate family, have been subjected to an ongoing campaign of intimidation and it is continuing. He said the leaked video was neither the beginning nor the end of the campaign and that it had become clear the witness was not going to give evidence. Bradys senior defence barrister Michael OHiggins SC said that any campaign to stop witnesses giving evidence is reprehensible, beyond comprehension. Mr Grehan noted the timing of the leaked video, coming soon after the prosecution had secured permission from the court for witnesses based in America to give evidence via video link. After hearing evidence that there was nothing WhatsApp could do to prevent the video being circulated, Mr Justice White said: It's a sobering day for the administration of justice in Ireland. He said it was the most outrageous contempt of court I have come across yet he was powerless to prevent it. At the time, he couldnt even make an order telling people not to share the video because he would have to make the order public through the media which would alert the jury to the existence of the video. Another man, who also lives in New York, told gardai that he heard Brady boasting in a pub that he knew what it was like to kill someone. According to his original statement to gardai, when Brady realised he was there he took him outside, assaulted him and warned him to keep his mouth shut. The man was left with a scar over his eye which was photographed by gardai. Some months into the trial a solicitor on behalf of this man contacted Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and told him that his client would not return to Ireland to give evidence because of outstanding criminal matters in Northern Ireland. When gardai contacted the solicitor to say his client could give evidence by video link from New York the solicitor responded that his client had no knowledge personal or otherwise of the matter into which you are inquiring. He said that his client was under immense duress when he spoke to gardai previously and wishes to put the matter behind him. He added that his client, will not voluntarily testify. He will not cooperate with the process. Inspector Phillips told the court there was no question of duress during the taking of the witnesses statement. During their visits to the US gardai became aware of numerous people who had heard Brady admit to the murder. Although gardai tried to speak to them, most were unwilling to talk. Gardai claimed privilege over numerous documents generated during their investigations on the grounds that if they were revealed to Brady there would be a risk to the life or lives of people mentioned in those documents. The claims of privilege were upheld by Mr Justice White. Mr Grehan also referred at various times to people being terrified after coming into information about the shooting and not wanting to speak to gardai as a result. Molly Staunton video death threat Molly Staunton told gardai that following her appearance in front of the jury she received a video death threat from a known associate of Aaron Brady, one of the men initially expected to give evidence against Brady but who failed to show up in court. The man, who was identified by the witness, sent her a Snapchat video in which he used his hand to form the shape of a gun and said, bang bang, youre dead. This was followed by a text message saying: You silly, silly girl with ten crying laughing emojis. Mr Grehan told the court that while Homeland Security was able to assure Ms Staunton that the man who sent the video was not in the US but in Northern Ireland, she was still scared for her safety and that of her family. She had previously been in a relationship with this man and he knew where members of her family lived. She also told gardai that she had done an internet search on south Armagh and the IRA and found something stating that informants would have a life expectancy of one week. The court also heard that members of Aaron Brady's family had contacted trial witnesses through social media. During legal argument in the trial Det Inspector Phillips revealed that Ms Staunton had been contacted prior to giving evidence by Mr Bradys wife Danielle Healy who sent her a friend request on Facebook to Ms Staunton and also messaged the witness. Ms Staunton ignored both. On April 24 Mr Grehan raised concerns that Danielle and Bradys sister Sonya had contacted witnesses through social media. He said the prosecution believed there are people hell bent on making life difficult for potential witnesses. He revealed that gardai had become aware that on April 8, 2020, while the court was on its Easter vacation, various witnesses or people close to them had been contacted. A former girlfriend of one witness, whose evidence was later deemed inadmissible by the judge, received a message from Aaron Bradys sister Sonya Brady saying that her brother is on trial for murder but had no part in it. Ms Brady claimed that gardai had given people in New York money, arranged visa green cards and left people off with crimes in return for statements. She said the Brady family believed this womans partner was one of those people who has been forced to lie about my brother. She added that the family believed the man had visa problems and problems with a sham marriage. She added: I promise you all the Brady family wants is the truth and we won't stop until we get the truth. "We're asking people who have any or some knowledge about this behaviour no matter how small to help. "We have information about [THE WITNESS] but we will continue to dig for more. "If someone is telling the truth so be it, if they are telling lies we want to know. On April 14 Sonya Brady sent another message saying: We are reaching out to you, please, please consider talking with us. All the Brady family want is the truth. By late June Mr Grehan raised concerns that delay in the trial due to ongoing legal argument was playing into the hands of those who were attempting to exert pressure on witnesses. On June 24, as Daniel Cahill was being cross examined, Mr Grehan said there was in the background a campaign being waged on behalf of Mr Brady, excluding his lawyers, of contacting witnesses, associates of witnesses and family members in Ireland with a view to putting pressure on people not to give evidence. He said that as the delays continued it provides further opportunities for Mr Brady or his family or associates to do that. Daniel Cahill, he said, had been contacted before it was even disclosed to the defence that he had made a statement to gardai. Mr Grehan said there was evidence that Brady had boots on the ground in New York who were keeping him abreast of who was speaking to gardai. Sonya Brady had also contacted Mr Cahill prior to him giving evidence with a message saying my dad would really appreciate if you would chat to us for five minutes over the phone. I understand the problem this has created but I promise all the Brady family wants is the truth. Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan has said that the issues around intimidation during the trial are under investigation by gardai. Talk about trial by fire. In late June, veteran airline executive James Canders took over the top helm at MBS International Airport following the retirement of longtime director Jeff Nagel. Canders, a U.S. Army veteran who spent a year (2004-2005) as a civilian contractor at Baghdad International Airport following four years of service in Army aviation, is not one to shy away from challenges. He certainly took on a huge one when he agreed to become MBS new leader during a time that COVID-19 had all but grounded the industry. It was an interesting time to come into the position, Canders acknowledged. I was working In Albany, New York, during 9-11. I thought that would be the worst I would see the industry. It may take some time, but I think eventually we will get close to pre-COVID levels of traffic. Before COVID-19 hit, MBS was experiencing significant increases in passenger numbers. In 2018, the airport saw 127,210 enplanements and enjoyed even a better year in 2019 with 134,781 enplanements. The economy was booming and increasing numbers of flyers were choosing MBS after evaluating factors such as time, gas, hotels, parking and other expenses associated with booking flights at airports outside of this region. This year, of course, tells a much different story. We are down about 62% for the first six months of 2020 compared to the same time frame from 2019, Canders said. We have not received numbers for July yet, which started to show a slight rebound. MBS most significant flight reduction occurred in June. Both of its carriers, Delta and United, only had one flight daily, compared to six Delta flights and three United Flights in 2019. United flies to Chicago and Delta to Detroit. We are now back to three Delta flights and two United flights in August, Canders noted. Projections indicate MBS should prepare for a 40% to 45% reduction in enplanements for the entire 2020 calendar year. Given the fact that the second quarter was during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, I think those numbers should hold true, Canders said. A second lockdown would change our outlook and quite frankly, would be a hard hit to take. Yet there remains room for optimism as the industry navigates through uncharted territory. Officials must pack their patience, though. There will be no overnight fixes. We will be constantly monitoring the traffic level compared to pre COVID, but it will take time, Canders said. I am expecting at least three years before we can tell if things are progressing at a good pace. What might key a resurgence? "If I had to pick something, it would be how traffic responds after a vaccine is approved and put into wide circulation, he said. Canders said virtual meetings are serving its purpose in this climate, but I have some concerns that the increase in virtual meetings might make companies reevaluate how they conduct business, but there will always be some need for a face-to-face meeting. Hundreds of people supporting the effort to keep L-E-E in the name of Midlands high school and freshman school currently known as Robert E. Lee High School and freshman high school made the trek to the hallowed high school grounds Saturday to make their voices heard. The event was called the Save LEE Rebels rally, and it was put together to save the name, history and legacy of the Midland Lee Rebels. Midland ISD board voted last month to change the name of Robert E. Lee senior and freshman high schools. Earlier this month, the board approved members of a committee that has been tasked with recommending new names and determining the next steps regarding a mascot and school symbol. There is a vocal group in the community that wants to keep LEE. A second opinion article calling for using at least a LEE acronym appears in todays edition of the Reporter-Telegram. Supporters of Lee High School congregated Saturday to collect signatures for petitions and displayed school spirit in the parking lot south of the school. One petition called for Midland ISD, the school board, Superintendent Orlando Riddick and any subcommittee to cease consideration of any previous petitions or proposals regarding the name changing of Robert E. Lee High School and to official rename said school Midland L.E.E. (Legacy, Equality, Education) High School Rebels. The second petition called for the school to be named Midland L.E.E.-Carver (Legacy, Equality, Education) High School Rebels. Both petitions state that the name change and other actions take place in the interests of achieving a more unified community while honoring the legacy and tradition of former students and staff. Organizers said the event included alumni from Midland High, Permian High School in Odessa, Odessa High School and the former Carver High School, where Black students attended before desegregation. So we know Robert E. Lee is gone, and we are good with that, said JLyn Wilson, one of the event organizers. We don't want any Confederate symbolism. We don't want any symbolism that offends anybody. Thats not who we are. However, we are a family. The event continued as the temperatures approached 100 degrees. There was lots of maroon, chants of Rebels, and support from those traveling down Neely Avenue who would hit their horn to the whoops and cheers of those at the event. Wilson, who grew up blocks from the campus, questioned the motive of those on the school board and said those at the rally wanted what was right. Never did I see anyone balk in putting on a uniform or being a Rebel, said Wilson, Lee class of 1994. It is something to be proud of. Timothy Lyles, Lee Class of 1976, said he came to the rally because he believes it is wrong for anyone to impinge on anyone's heritage. I don't care whose (heritage) it is. OK? Lyles said. And this is Midlands heritage. There was nothing wrong with the name of this school. No, the only thing wrong is what people choose to decide they want to believe about it. Lyles questioned the need for the school board and what he said was a minority of Midlanders to feel the need to change history. He also repeated the notion that there are better things to do with the money that it will take to rebrand this. The school district has not released any information or estimates on how much a name change could cost. The school board should be more interested in our curriculum and our quality of education or quality of teachers, Lyles said. Changing the name of the school isn't gonna change any of that. Three-hundred or six-hundred-thousand-dollars-plus to change the names of both schools? I can think of a lot of places it can go to improve education. Amid strain in ties, Nepalese PM Oli calls up Modi; greets people of India on I-Day India pti-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli held a telephonic conversation on Saturday, in the first high-level contact after ties between the two countries came under severe strain following issuance of a new political map by the Himalayan nation in May. Oli called up Modi and greeted the government and people of India on the country's 74th Independence Day, an official statement said. It said Oli also conveyed to Modi his congratulations for India's recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Modi offered India's continued support to Nepal in its fight against the pandemic and recalled the civilizational and cultural links that the two countries share, it said. "The leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in both countries. Prime Minister offered India's continued support to Nepal in this regard," the statement said. It said Modi thanked Oli for his telephone call. Independence Day 2020: Day after testing COVID-19 negative Amit Shah hoists National Flag The telephonic conversation between the two leaders came two days before Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi are scheduled to hold talks under a bilateral framework. It is not known whether issues relating to the border row figured in the talks between Modi and Oli. The ties between the two countries came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal protested the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through its territory. Days later, Nepal came out with the new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories. In June, Nepal's Parliament approved the new political map of the country featuring areas which India maintains belong to it. In its reaction, after Nepal's lower house of parliament approved the bill, India termed as untenable the "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims by the neighbouring country. India said Nepal's action violates an understanding reached between the two countries to resolve the boundary issues through talks. Oli has been asserting that Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal and vowed to "reclaim" them from India. Currently, about 30,000 German package tourists the meantime, according to the German travel Association (DRV) in the Balearic Islands. With an estimated more than 90 percent of most of them is likely to make your holiday in Majorca, said DRV spokesman Torsten Schafer on Saturday, the dpa. However, there is still no Overview of how many tourists wanted to leave in the next couple of days in advance. On the eve expanded the Federal government's so far for some of the Spanish regions, current travel warning on the whole of the Spanish mainland, and the island group of Balearic Islands. The sole exception will be the deep in the Atlantic opposite the Canary Islands. Include the Balearic Islands, the smaller Mediterranean Islands of Ibiza and Menorca, next to the popular holiday island of Mallorca. According to the DRV are going to cancel all of the tour operators in the coming days, planned trips there. It's part of the standard procedure after a travel warning, which means no travel ban, but package tourists allows for a free cancellation of the travel contract. Since the Foreign office warning due to rising infection numbers in front of non-tourist travel in these regions, should the company "with a heavy heart," all of the packages from now on, up to and including 24. Of August to cancel and cancel and was told to Tui on Friday on its Website. the customers that were already in place, would be asked within the next seven days to travel back. To aim reclassifications other travel might be possible, for example, to the Canary Islands, as a Tui spokesman said on Friday night in the dpa. Due to changes in the travel - and Safety instructions of the foreign office, a continuation of the holiday in the affected region for holiday is not possible. The tour operator OF tourism said its Spain-travel to the 21st century. August, a company spokeswoman said at the request of AFP. An exception applies to travel to the Canary Islands. On Tuesday, the company will assess the situation again. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 07:19 Health authorities in Goa have defended their record of treating patients of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the coastal state, claiming they have the lowest fatality rate in the country. Speaking at a press conference Dr Uday Kakodkar, the nodal officer of the states dedicated Covid-19 hospital, said the death rate of admitted patients, those with severe symptoms and comorbidities, stood at 5.77% while the overall fatality rate was less than 1%. Till date at the Covid hospital, we have had 1,126 admissions of which 65 persons have died. These are people who would have died Covid or no Covid. They had hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and all the other morbidities and Covid put them in fast forward gear. Just because of Covid they came to us, else they would have gone to the many (private) hospitals and died over there, Kakodkar said. Importantly, we have been able to cure 75% of our critical patients, which is a very high number and we are on par with any hospital in India, Kadodkar added. The hospital has also conducted 32 caesarean surgeries on pregnant women who had tested positive, seven normal deliveries, two orthopaedic surgeries and two general surgeries. Plasma therapy has also been given to a total of 14 critically ill patients of whom 2 have already recovered and have tested negative, he added. The Goa government has been under pressure from opposition parties over its handling of the pandemic in the state, where 93 people have succumbed and the number of cases registered has touched 10,970 of which 3,720 are active cases. There were 476 fresh cases on Friday. Health minister Vishwajeet Rane has not only failed to control the spike in the pandemic in Goa but also has been lying consistently since March 2020 about his departments preparedness to control the pandemic and the actual number of cases in Goa, Girish Chodankar, the president of the Congress Goa unit, said. The BJP should own up and admit to Goans for having lied to them that Goa was COVID-free and apologise for the spike in such a high number of cases despite claiming and parading on all media that Goa is Covid-free, Chodankar said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), too, hit out the ruling government. The governments lack of vision to anticipate growth in the number of cases and total unpreparedness has resulted in such a chaotic situation that patients with several other ailments who need medical attention have been left to fend for themselves as they are shunned upon even in the GMC, Pradeep Padgaonkar, the AAPs secretary, said. I write today from Bahrains notorious Jau Prison, where I have spent the last seven years as a political prisoner for organising protests calling for democratic reform. I am one of thousands of Bahrainis rounded up, tortured and handed lengthy sentences in unfair trials as part of a government crackdown on dissent that continues to this day. The abuse I was subjected to has left me with a slew of injuries which continue to plague my daily life. During hours of brutal beatings, my nose was broken so badly it required two operations to fix and I was left with partial deafness and permanent damage to my testicles and jaw. Yet while my experience may sound shocking, torture has long been a tool of political control in Bahrain and hundreds of my fellow prisoners have similar stories. News recently reached the prison that the British government has introduced Magnitsky-style sanctions against international human rights abusers, raising hopes among some prisoners that those responsible for our torture and imprisonment might held to account. However, for those familiar with Britains long friendship with Bahrain, these hopes seem misplaced. The British government often boasts about opposing torture, but it has in fact played a historic role in its institutionalisation in Bahrain and continues to turn a blind eye to abuses in its former protectorate to this day. In the 1920s, the UK was responsible for establishing Bahrains first police force and contemporary sources reveal that many torture techniques I was personally subjected to, including targeted beatings and sleep deprivation, were introduced during this period. Since Bahrains independence in 1971, the UK government has remained close with Bahrains ruling family and has been reluctant to criticise their dismal human rights record. Bahraini state newspapers, which are all thats available to prisoners since the regime shut down the countrys only independent newspaper in 2017, frequently brag about the UKs support for Bahrain, particularly their efforts to reform our notoriously abusive police and judiciary. However, despite receiving thousands of pounds from the British taxpayer, these institutions remain as corrupt as ever. Torture remains central to Bahrains justice system and study visits to the UK by Bahraini judges have done nothing to lessen the reliance of Bahrains courts on coerced confessions. Substantial evidence suggests that five of the six men executed in Bahrain since 2017 were tortured into providing false confessions; I shared a cellblock with one of these men, a gentle 27-year old schoolteacher named Abbas Al-Samea, and I will never forget my horror when I learned he and two others had been shot dead by a state firing squad. Bahrains injustice system remains as ruthless today. Just last month, torture victims Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa had their final appeal against their death sentences rejected, in a trial damned by numerous British MPs, leading NGOs and top human rights lawyers as fundamentally flawed. They join 10 other Bahraini political prisoners who have exhausted legal remedies and face imminent execution. The UKs attempts to address the rampant impunity enjoyed by Bahraini security forces have been similarly unsuccessful. Much vaunted local oversight bodies, trained at the expense of the British taxpayer and mandated to investigate human rights violations, have attracted widespread international criticism for their proximity to the government. I experienced this collusion first-hand; when I was assaulted by prison guards in 2015 in full view of CCTV cameras, these institutions actively covered-up the attack, even after I provided the names of the officers responsible. Such complicity continues to this day. Earlier this summer, my fellow prisoner Mahmood Aljazeeri, a journalist imprisoned for writing articles critical of the government, was placed in solitary confinement for challenging false statements made on Bahraini television by the head of one of these same UK-funded bodies. Bahraini prison staff, too, have benefited from British training, enjoying guided tours of prisons in Britain and Northern Ireland to learn best practice. Yet prisoners continue to languish in squalid, overcrowded conditions, with social distancing rendered impossible and prisoners still not provided masks or hand sanitiser months after the pandemic began. These conditions have led to an ongoing scabies outbreak, which has infected most prisoners in my building, including myself. Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease which thrives in unsanitary environments and is exacerbated by Bahrains baking summers, where temperatures regularly exceed 40c. As the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and 20 other rights groups recently stated, should Covid-19 reach Jau Prison the effects would be devastating, particularly for aging political leaders with underlying health conditions. Such disregard for inmates health is nothing new and medical negligence has long been one of Bahrains most insidious means of abusing political prisoners. Over the past two years, I have been forced to conduct two 75-day hunger strikes just to secure medical treatment. After having 13 teeth removed almost a year ago, I am still awaiting follow-up surgery and struggle to even consume solid food. Now coronavirus is being used as an excuse to further deny us medical care, with all external appointments cancelled until further notice. Britains unwavering support for Bahrain has provided the regime with a convenient veneer of reform behind which they continue to terrorise their population. Even the handcuffs we are forced to wear when moving around the prison are a reminder of this pernicious relationship, bearing the letters TCH ENGLAND, a Birmingham-based security company. For all Bahraini political prisoners, it is painful to watch the UK government consistently side with our abusers while we suffer behind bars. If the government is serious about reform in Bahrain, they should begin by calling for all political prisoners to be released. Los Angeles will not resume parking enforcement on street-cleaning days until October at the earliest, officials said Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Granting a reprieve to drivers in neighborhoods with scarce street parking, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday that the city will not resume ticketing on street-cleaning days until October at the earliest. Parking enforcement on street-sweeping days has been suspended since April. The city had previously said officers would resume writing the $73 tickets Aug. 16. People "shouldn't be penalized for staying home, avoiding unnecessary trips, and doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19," Garcetti said in a statement. With one-quarter of the city out of work, relaxed parking rules have been a welcome respite for residents in crowded neighborhoods where street parking is at a premium. Los Angeles officials will continue to avoid ticketing vehicles that have expired registration or that are parked in rush-hour and anti-gridlock zones. But those grace periods are coming to an end. All parking enforcement will resume Oct. 1 with the exception of street sweeping tickets, which will return later, Garcetti said. Los Angeles is still ticketing cars parked at expired meters. Officials say that policy is designed to encourage turnover, helping restaurants that rely on curbside pickup and delivery drivers. The city is also still ticketing vehicles parked in red zones and in front of driveways, and is enforcing the posted time limits in preferential parking districts, officials said. The city has also waived fine increases for people who miss the deadlines to pay parking tickets. Terming Covid-19 as the century's most disruptive and dangerous pandemic, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Saturday that the people across the southern state were in distress due to the huge loss it caused them since its outbreak in mid-March. "The people of the state are in distress, as Covid-19 brought economic and social activities to a grinding halt and caused recession, job losses and revenue loss to the state government," lamented Yediyurappa in his address on the 74th Independence Day here. The chief minister said that though the state government enforced a lockdown to prevent its spread in the early stages of its outbreak, economic and social activities came to a standstill. "After realising that lockdown was not the solution to prevent the virus spread, we unlocked since June 1 to revive the economy and restore near normalcy by making wearing mask, washing hands and maintaining social distancing mandatory for all citizens," asserted Yediyurappa in his 30-minute I-Day speech in Kannada at the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw parade ground in the city. Noting that the communicable disease had impacted every sector, the chief minister said the pace of life that had slowed during the lockdown was slowly recovering. "Though I too was infected by the infection, I have recovered. I would like to tell on this occasion that the people need not worry or be afraid of this infection," reiterated Yediyurappa. Unfazed by the Covid challenge, the state government ensured that the migrant workers who returned to their villages from urban clusters had a job under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme since April. "While fighting the pandemic, we have amended the Industrial Facilitation Act for ease of doing business for entrepreneurs and encourage industrial development across the state," said the chief minister in the address, that was telecast live on the state-run Doordarshan and all local news channels, as the public could not be at the venue due to a ban on large gatherings. Besides encouraging youth to develop skills, the state government has amended the Land Reforms Act to enable non-farmers to buy agricultural land for growing foodgrains or set up agro-based and allied industries. "We have created an opportunity for farmers and industrialists to benefit from purchasing agricultural lands directly. Many new projects have been unveiled to create jobs across the state, especially in rural areas," Yediyurappa said. As part of its war against the virus, dedicated hospitals to treat Covid patients, fever clinics for testing, Covid care centres for the asymptomatic and quarantine facilities to identify and isolate the infected were set up across the state since April. "Under Ayushman Bharat scheme, health cards were distributed to 1.31 crore people and health coverage was offered to 8.5 lakh beneficiaries at a cost of Rs 1,694 crore. We have taken steps to ensure quality healthcare for the people," claimed Yediyurappa. The state government also announced in mid-May a Rs 3,187-crore relief package for migrant workers, daily-wage workers, farmers, those depending on floriculture, weavers, fishermen, construction workers, barbers, washermen, taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers and others in the unorganised sector. "If people are not alert or careful, no amount of government action will yield result. Hence, I appeal to the people to wear face mask, maintain social distancing and follow the guidelines in this fight against the virus," said the chief minister. Amid the pandemic in the state, the state government also conducted the SSLC exams and the Common Entrance Test in July. The tongs are out after a Melbourne council moved to outlaw backyard barbecues and firepits, stoking swift public outrage. A proposed change to Bayside City Council's local law would see a ban on burning solid fuel, such as wood and charcoal, for backyard fires or outdoor cooking, like wood-fired pizza ovens. Chef Gianluca Bocci tends to his beloved wood-fire pizza oven as his wife Sandra and their daughters Chloe (13) Astrid (11) laugh nearby. Credit:Joe Armao The amendment was revealed online on Thursday, with the municipality citing complaints around the "offensive emissions" of smoke and odour in the area on its website. For Brighton East couple Sandra and Gianluca Bocci, the suggestion that their beloved backyard oven be retired is "nonsensical". HMSHost, which operates food concessions at Kansas City International Airport, is laying off 229 employees due to "a drastic decline in business" as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, which operates airport concessions around the world, said in a labor law notice that it had seen an unprecedented decline in airport and highway traffic. Sean Penn and his Leila George were glimpsed out and about this Saturday in their first public sighting since their wedding. The 59-year-old actor and his new 28-year-old wife were spotted holding hands at he airport in Los Angeles over the weekend. Both of them made sure to take the precaution of wearing masks as they surfaced amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Hand in hand: Sean Penn and his Leila George were glimpsed out and about this Saturday in their first public sighting since their wedding Rumors circulated at the beginning of this month that Sean and Leila had secretly tied the knot after four years of dating. News of the wedding spread when they received congratulations on Instagram from Josh Brolin, as well as from movie producer Mike Medavoy's wife Irena. A few days later Sean went on Late Night With Seth Meyers and showed off his gold wedding band, confirming that he has married for a third time. 'We did a COVID wedding. By that I mean it was a county commissioner on Zoom, and we were at the house,' Sean revealed. Careful: Both of them made sure to take the precaution of wearing masks as they surfaced amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic 'My two children and her brother, and we did it that way,' said Sean, who won an Academy Award in a biopic of Harvey Milk. Sean has a daughter called Dylan, who is a year older than her new stepmother, and a son called Hopper, who is two years younger than Leila. Upon hearing Sean's explanation of his latest wedding Seth cracked: 'Having had a very large wedding, that actually sounds pretty nice and low stress.' The duo: Rumors circulated at the beginning of this month that Sean and Leila had secretly tied the knot after four years of dating; pictured this month 'Let's say there are socially liberating factors under COVID,' quipped Sean, whose nonprofit CORE has helped set up coronavirus testing sites. Leila comes from a showbiz family - her mother is actress Greta Scacchi and her father is actor Vincent D'Onofrio, who is just one year older than her new husband. Sean has been married twice before, to Madonna from 1985 until 1989 and to Robin Wright, the mother of his two children, from 1996 to 2010. Well wishers: News of the wedding spread when as received congratulations on Instagram from Josh Brolin, as well as from movie producer Mike Medavoy's wife Irena. 'There is no shame in my saying that we all want to be loved by someone. As I look back over my life in romance, I don't feel I've ever had that,' he said in 2012. Sean told Esquire: 'I have been the only one that was unaware of the fraud in a few of these circumstances blindly. When you get divorced, all the truths that come out, you sit there and you go, What the f*** was I doing? What was I doing believing that this person was invested in this way?' 'Which is a fantastically strong humiliation in the best sense. It can make somebody very bitter and very hard and closed off, but I find it does the opposite to me.' Only a few hours drive from the Greater Toronto Area, cottage country provides well over 100 waterfalls to explore. Here are two worth exploring, a short car ride away from one another: Cordova Falls This is an interesting place to explore and a perfect spot for a picnic. There are at least three little waterfalls along this stretch of the Cordova River, which drops a total of 28 metres. The largest is found immediately below a dam at the southern outlet of Cordova Lake. Here, the Crowe River tumbles down a narrow rocky channel perhaps 100 metres long. The river drops about 10 metres, falling not as one main cascade, but rather in at least five distinct smaller drops, separated by short pools. By walking along a poorly marked trail leading south from the dam, you can get to the lower reaches of the falls. Middle Cordova Falls is perhaps the most photogenic of the three waterfalls, forming a pretty five-metre-high cascade set among cedars and hemlocks. It is partially hidden behind the Cordova Lake Hydroelectric Generating Station, and is difficult to view up close without a little adventuring. A portion of the rivers discharge that would have flowed over these falls is diverted at the upper falls and delivered 200 metres to the hydroelectric plant by a long, wooden penstock. Opened in 1992, the station generates a peak output of 780 kW, which is enough to power about 50 homes. The lower falls are the smallest, but are located beside a beautiful rock-floored clearing in the woods. Youll find them hidden at the end of a short driveway on the right side of the road a few minutes drive further south. Healey Falls The Trent River drains much of central Ontario, including much of the Kawartha Lakes. As a result, the flow over Healey Falls can be significant, but can also dry up during the summer. Some of the rivers flow is diverted for the power generating station located on-site, but the rest is allowed to fall over a 150-metre-wide series of limestone steps. Each of the hundreds of small steps is a different thickness, varying from thin to massive bedding. Look for potholes in the bedrock, but also watch out for slippery sections covered in algae. According to Environment Canada, the average stream discharge at Healey Falls is about 50 cubic metres per second, but has varied from as much as 286 cubic metres per second to as little as 0.6 cubic metres per second. In addition to the falls, Locks 15, 16 and 17 of the Trent-Severn canal are located about a five minute walk to the west. A concrete trail leads up over the long dam structure. The trail becomes a long concrete berm that supports the approach channel to the locks. Use caution here! While the water is only about one metre below the edge of the walkway, there are no railings; if you fell in, youd find it very difficult to climb up the featureless, near-vertical concrete face of the berm. But dont stray too far toward the other side of the berm, either, since the ground is covered in poison ivy! The walk to the locks also takes you past the Healey Falls Generating Station. The station went into service in 1913 and contains three giant feeder pipes, each 3.6 metres in diameter. Note from the author: Many waterfall sites in Ontario have been closed to the public this summer due to visitor negligence. Several emergency and high-risk rescues have occurred. Please note that waterfalls can be great, safe places to visit as long as we do so with care and respect. On the occasion on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India is ready to mass-produce Covid-19 vaccine as and when the scientists give it a nod. Not one, not two, as many as three coronavirus vaccines are being tested in India, he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the national capital. The country is also ready for mass production of those vaccines, PM Modi added. The race to developing a vaccine for Covid-19 is intensifying by the day with new contenders joining in and the front runners making great strides. According to the World Health Organisation, over 160 vaccine candidates are in pre-clinical or clinical trials at present, 29 of them are in the clinical trials phase. Six contenders are in final stages, phase-III of human trials. At least eight candidate vaccines are being developed in India of which two are in phase -II trial phase. The latest to create ripples is Russia which recently announced giving a regulatory approval for the Sputnik V vaccine for Covid-19. On Saturday, Moscow said it has started manufacturing the new vaccine, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the health ministry. The vaccine, developed by Moscows Gamaleya Institute and the first for the coronavirus to go into production, is expected to be rolled out by the end of this month. Also read: Made in India Covid-19 vaccine soon - PM Modi in Independence Day speech Oxford Universitys Covid-19 vaccine trial, which is in phase-III, is expected to get completed by the end of this year. The University of Oxford joined hands with British Swedish firm Astrazeneca to make a vaccine against coronavirus. The vaccine had shown promising results in the first phase of clinical human trial. Pune-based vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) has already received a nod from for Indias top drug regulatory body for conducting phase-II and III clinical trials on the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Argentine biotech firm working on the production of 400 million doses of an AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for Latin America said it could begin shipping the active substance of the product to Mexico for completion. Esteban Corley, director of mAbxience, the biotech firm, said he foresaw the finished product could be distributed in Latin America between April and May, news agency Reuters reported. The US government has entered into a $1.5 billion deal with biotechnology company Moderna for the manufacturing and delivery of 100 million doses of its potential Covid-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273. The United States has allocation agreements with Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc, BioNTech SE, Sanofi SA, and GlaxoSmithKline Plc. It also has a claim on 300 million doses of AstraZeneca Plcs vaccine in exchange for helping finance its research and development efforts. (With inputs from agencies) realtor.com, Steve Granitz/WireImage Country music star Kane Brown is selling his home in Franklin, TN, for $910,000. He bought the place brand-new in May 2018 for $829,000. Fellow country music superstar Jason Aldean and his family lived in the home rent-free for a few months. Aldean was waiting for his new Tennessee mansion to be completed and needed a place to stay. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 00:09:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2020 shows a mobile phone running the TikTok app in London, Britain. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua) ByteDance has taken note of the invitation and told Journal Frankfurt that the company is very pleased about Frankfurt's interest. ByteDance is considering setting up TikTok's headquarters outside the United States to better serve customers worldwide, but is not yet possible to comment in detail about the potential location, according to a ByteDance spokesperson who was quoted by Journal Frankfurt. FRANKFURT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The mayor of Frankfurt Peter Feldmann has recently invited popular Chinese video-sharing app TikTok to set up its new global headquarters in the German metropolis, several German media outlets reported. Feldmann's letter of invitation to ByteDance, a Chinese tech firm and owner of TikTok, was first reported by Journal Frankfurt on Wednesday, and later also by Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung and Der Spiegel. Frankfurt boasts one of the world's busiest internet hubs and a large number of data centers, as well as many well-trained professionals in the region, Feldmann was quoted as saying in the letter, who also noted the city's central location in Europe and excellent connections with China through partner city Guangzhou. People take part in a TikTok filming session in Vilnius, Lithuania, Aug. 10, 2020. (Photo by Alfredas Pliadis/Xinhua) Frankfurt is an ideal location for IT companies and especially for TikTok's international headquarters, Feldmann was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, ByteDance has taken note of the invitation and told Journal Frankfurt that the company is very pleased about Frankfurt's interest. ByteDance is considering setting up TikTok's headquarters outside the United States to better serve customers worldwide, but is not yet possible to comment in detail about the potential location, according to a ByteDance spokesperson who was quoted by Journal Frankfurt. ByteDance currently has a branch in the German capital Berlin. Remember how you felt about going to a motel after seeing Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho? Thats the same vibe first-time director Dave Franco goes for with this horror/thriller, The Rental, based in an Airbnb. The country is as divided as its ever been, and no one trusts each other, observes Franco in the press notes. Yet we trust staying in the home of a stranger simply because of a few positive reviews online. Charlie (Dan Stevens) and Mina (Sheila Vand) are business partners. To celebrate closing a major tech deal, Charlie plans a weekend getaway, renting a magnificent mansion perched on a rocky cliff with expansive Oceanside views. Charlies married to Michele (Allison Brie, Dave Francos wife), while Minas dating Charlies rebellious, ex-con brother, Josh (Jeremy Allen White). Troubles brewing immediately, since Josh and Mina insist on bringing their dog, Reggie, even though the lease agreement specifically forbids dogs. Plus, Minas furious that Charlie was able to reserve this secluded Airbnb while she, having tried earlier, was rejected; shes convinced its racial profiling because her Iranian surname is Mahoumadi. Mina immediately confronts their sinister host Taylor (Toby Huss) with accusations of discrimination. Trying to defuse the situation, Michelle inquires whether it would be possible to get a telescope, and he agrees to bring one over. Eager to liven up the party, Michele reveals shes brought Ecstasy to share the following evening, but Charlie, Josh and Mina decide to drink & drug right away. When Josh passes out, Charlie and Mina climb into the hot tub and, predictably, nature takes its course. The next morning when Michele and Josh go on a hike, Charlie and Mina beg off. Then Mina discovers a camera hidden the shower head with incriminating footage of their indiscretion. And theyre not alone. Someones stalking them. Scripted by Franco and co-writer Joe Swanberg, its character-based, delving into the insidious relationship dynamic between the two couples. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, The Rental is an exasperating 3, burdened by a disturbing, frustrating conclusion. Susan Granger has been an on-air television and radio commentator and entertainment critic for more than 25 years. Raised in Hollywood, Granger appeared as a child actress in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, and Lassie. She currently resides in Westport. File image Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday called on the people not to worry or be afraid of COVID-19 infection, as he vowed to build a "welfare state" with development as the only mantra, while fighting the pandemic. In his message to the people of the state on the occasion of 74th Independence Day, the Chief Minister while pointing out the challenges faced by rain, floods and drought along with COVID-19, also defended the reforms brought in by his administration. He also remembered and paid tributes to all corona warriors, including the government machinery, private establishments, industrialists and volunteers who have been working relentlessly in these trying times. "Our aim is to build a Kalyana Rajya (Welfare state) with the avowed principle of development as the only mantra. While fighting the global pandemic COVID-19, we are taking giant strides towards realizing Mahatma Gandhis dream of building a Ram Rajya and will practise Rajadharma in true earnest," Yediyurappa said. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Realising the responsibility thrust upon us and keeping in mind the welfare of people in these critical times, we have taken many pro-people decisions, he said, adding "the people of the state have given complete support to the decisions that my government has taken. I am indebted to all of you." It was a subdued Independence Day celebration in the state capital with no school children or public in attendance, only select invitees including elected representatives, officials, also some COVID warriors and those who have recovered from the infection were present. Noting that COVID-19 was a global pandemic, a global scourge, the CM said this has affected not just the health sector, but continues to affect every single industry, and the pace of life that had slowed during the lockdown is slowly recovering now. "I too was infected by the coronavirus, and I have fully recovered. I would like to send a message on this occasion that the people need not worry or be afraid of this infection," he said. The 77-year old leader was on Monday discharged after about 10 days in the hospital, following his recovery from the infection. Besides record rain, floods and drought, the century's most disruptive and dangerous pandemic, COVID-19 has posed huge challenges, Yediyurappa said with economic recession, job losses, loss of revenue to the government, and social and economic activities grinding to a halt, people of the state are in distress. "Our government has implemented many schemes and projects to ensure peace, relief and tranquillity in society and help people see a ray of hope in this hour of gloom," he said. The Chief Minister said his government has been giving a boost to entrepreneurs through the Industrial Facilitation Act, which greatly improves the ease-of-doing business and encourages industrial development in the state. Not just that, we have been encouraging the youth of the state to develop skills. Along with that, rules have been simplified to purchase agricultural land that's required for industrial purposes, he said, adding that we have created an opportunity for both farmers and industrialists to mutually benefit from the direct purchase of land. Also noting that the government has made big changes in the co-operative sector which is the backbone of the agriculture economy, Yediyurappa said, with an objective of allowing farmers to sell their produce at a market of their choice, the government has made changes to the APMC Act. Opposition Congress and JD(S), also few organisations have been critical of government's ordinances amending land reforms, APMC and industries related laws, calling them anti farmer, people and labourers. Highlighting measures taken by his government to remove regional imbalance and for the development of the backward Kalyana Karnataka region, Yediyurappa said airports in Bidar and Kalaburagi have commenced operations to encourage industrial activities in this region. Work on setting up an airport in Shivamogga has gathered pace, and the government has given administrative approval to launch work on Karwar and Vijayapura airports, he said. Observing that agriculture, welfare of backward classes and minorities are among the priorities of his government, the CM also said the Centre's Aatmanirbhar Scheme is a ray of hope for all of us, and as PM Narendra Modi has said, Karnataka too has been taking bold steps to convert every crisis into an opportunity. Pointing to the talks held with more than 40 prominent companies during the World Economic Forum summit held in Davos, seeking their investment in Karnataka, he said, later during COVID-19 too we have approved 101 industrial projects worth Rs 27,000 crore at the state level. Also complementing Prime Minister Modi for the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, Yediyurappa revealed his government's plans to build a Yatrinivas in Ayodhya for devotees from Karnataka who travel there. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Here is a sampling of the weeks events and how to tune in (all times are Eastern). Note that events are subject to change after publication. Monday Start your week off by exploring the paintings of Philip Guston with Hauser and Wirths exhibition What Endures. The featured works were selected by Mr. Gustons daughter, Musa Mayer, who also is the president of The Guston Foundation. Created during the political unrest of the 1970s, his art ruminates on loss and endurance. When Anytime Where vip-hauserwirth.com Look to the future with the photography exhibit Hearts in Isolation, presented by The Studio Museum in Harlem. The museums first online exhibition gives a platform to 15 high school students from the New York City area who use the lens as a journal to delve into themes of home, family and connection. People who have recovered from COVID-19 dont need to quarantine for up to three months after the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updated guidance suggests the people who have tested positive for the coronavirus have a low risk of reinfection during that time period. The CDC did not announce the new guidelines, instead updating its website with information about quarantining after exposure to people with the virus. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again, according to the CDC. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms. A CDC spokesman told The New York Times there is no evidence to date of any reinfection within 90 days of the initial diagnosis. CDC officials said although the risk of reinfection is low for three months, its important these individuals continue to social distance, wear masks, and practice good hand hygiene until scientists know more about long-term immunity against COVID, The Hill reported. Focus on COVID-19 symptoms, not test, to confirm youre free from isolation, CDC says North Korea Forces Entire Country to 'Volunteer' in Flood Relief Effort 2020-08-14 -- North Korea is forcing state-run organizations, the military, and ordinary citizens to 'volunteer' for a nationwide flood relief effort in the face of heavy rains over the past month and a government refusal to accept foreign aid over coronavirus fears, sources in the country told RFA. In Northeast Asia, the monsoon season typically begins in July and ends in September. In most years that means more rainy days than usual, but the Korean peninsula this year broke recordsSouth Korea's Arirang News reported 50 consecutive days of torrential rains before they finally let up Wednesday. But unlike in the South, the North's government lacks the capacity to respond to natural disasters. North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday that floods had destroyed 40,000 hectares (154 square miles) of farmland, 16,680 homes, and 630 other buildings all over the country. "Lots of roads, bridges and railway sections [were] broken, a dam of a power station gave way and there was other severe damage in various sectors of the national economy," the report added. According to the KCNA report, Kim Jong Un ordered a rapid recovery effort for the areas most affected, saying they should be "fundamentally completed by October 10," the 75th anniversary of ruling party. But the North Korean leader also shunned the idea of receiving foreign flood aid, saying that the risk of COVID-19 contamination was too great. With no aid coming in from abroad, citizens are being made to donate labor and resources to provide relief. "The Central Committee [of the Korean Workers' Party], gave the order to mobilize the entire party, army, and all the people to help the effort to recover from the damage caused by the rainy season," an official in North Hamgyong province, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA's Korean Service Thursday. "All agencies, businesses and households across the country were ordered to 'voluntarily participate' in projects to provide support to flood-stricken areas," the source said. According to the source, each organization was given a different responsibility in the recovery effort. "First, the factories and businesses were given tasks like providing equipment and materials needed to recover from the damage," said the source. "The big factories in North Hamgyong province, like the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, the Songjin Iron and Steel Complex, and the Komusan Cement Factory are working on projects to send cement and steel to the damaged areas, and the smaller factories have been ordered to send construction tools, food and daily necessities depending on [availability,]" the source said. Being forced to volunteer resources that companies need for themselves has not gone over well, according to the source. "Officials at the companies ordered to provide aid are in a difficult spot," the source said, adding, "But they dare not raise objections. This order was issued by the Central Committee following the instructions of the Highest Dignity," the source said, using an honorific term to refer to Kim Jong Un. "The officials are seriously worried about the order to restore the damaged areas before October 10," the source said. "If the officials fail with the flood recovery project, they will be marked by a lack of loyalty to the party and will be subject to severe ideological censure, so [they] are on high alert," the source added. 'Volunteer' the people The public are facing the same demands as the state organizations, a second source told RFA. "As this recovery project is nationwide, the general population is no exception," said the Ryanggang Province resident, who requested anonymity to speak freely. "Local government offices are launching propaganda projects to encourage the people's participation as if they are helping their own parents and brethren, but in reality the authorities are forcing us to provide aid," the second source said. "The list of aid items imposed on us includes various types of supplies like food, kitchen appliances, fuel, blankets, clothes, school supplies, plastic film and other work tools needed for the restoration of buildings including gloves and shovels," the second source added. The resident said this was not the first time the country called upon the people to provide flood relief. "When there was a severe flood in the northern part of the country in 2016, the Central Committee ordered the residents to provide aid then, too. People are just exhausted," the second source said. "We're all aware that the Highest Dignity personally visited Taechong-ri, North Hwanghae province," the source said, referring to Kim's highly publicized personal visit to an especially hard hit town earlier this week. The photo-op was meant to show the North Korean leader's love for the people and dedication to their well being, as he ordered emergency supplies from his own reserves be given to the flood victims, but the second source said the gesture instead made the residents grumble about the unfairness of giving one particular town special treatment. "Our lives are extremely difficult due to the combination of coronavirus crisis and natural disasters, so the people complain, asking why the Central Committee does not take charge of supporting the restoration of the flood damage as they did in the case of Taechong-ri." Overseas aid Kim Jong Un's refusal of foreign aid was chalked up to concerns over the possible transmission of COVID-19 from contaminated supplies, but a South Korean expert told RFA the need for aid outweighs the risk. "It is inappropriate for the Supreme Leader of North Korea to mention outside aid," said Cho Han Bum, of the Korea Institute of National Unification. "It can be seen that the flood damage is so great that outside support is needed. There must have been talk in North Korea about getting outside aid, but Kim Jong Un seems to have drawn the line at that point," he said. But Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the Seoul-based University of North Korean Studies, told RFA the reasons for the refusal are legitimate. "In order for aid to be delivered to North Korea in a proper way, there should be quarantine measures in place and the international organizations would require monitoring, wouldn't they?" he said. "Since it is difficult in the current national emergency quarantine system, I think that's why they are not going to receive flood aid from the outside world," he added. Red Cross provides relief Despite Kim Jong Un's orders, the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) told RFA it is providing aid to North Korean flood victims. "The DPRK Red Cross is providing relief to support 2,800 families affected by the floods in North Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces, including family tents for people most at risk, tarpaulins, shelter tool kits, kitchen sets and quilts to help people with their urgent needs," said Antony Balmain, the IFRC's Asia-Pacific communications manager. "DPRK Red Cross volunteers are also providing hygiene kits, water containers and water purification tablets, all while engaging in COVID-19 prevention activities," he said. Seoul-based NK News reported that state media aired images of Taechong-ri flood victims in tents provided by the IFRC, and later censored the images to hide their foreign origin. According to IFRC figures, 22 people have lost their lives in the floods. Reported by Myungchul Lee, Jae Duk Seo, and Hee Jung Yang for RFA's Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2016, 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 Advertisement Rick Stein's exclusive seafood restaurant has been plunged into crisis after a diner tested positive to COVID-19. Customers who ate at Rick Stein's at Bannisters in Mollymook, New South Wales, on August 1 between 8pm and 10.20pm are urged to get tested for coronavirus immediately. They are considered close contacts of the infected diner, meaning authorities are very concerned they may develop the virus. 'Anyone who was at the restaurant on this night for at least one hour is considered a close contact and must get tested for COVID-19 right away,' a statement from NSW Health read. 'They must self-isolate until midnight tonight or until they have received a negative result, whichever is later.' NSW Health said the new case at Bannisters was one of nine new cases of the virus in the state overnight. One of the fresh cases dined at Rick Stein at Bannisters in Mollymook on Saturday, August 1, between 8pm and 10.30pm. Pictured: Rick Stein with his wife Sarah Burns at their home in Mollymook Stein has two restaurants in Australia - one in Mollymook, about 220km south of Sydney and one in Port Stephens, around 178km north of Sydney. His second wife Sarah Burns, who is 20 years his junior, is from Mollymook and the couple met on a book tour in 1997. They had a five-year affair before Stein's first wife Jill discovered his infidelity and divorced him. The celebrity chef who became a household name with his seafood and travel cooking shows later admitted stress wrecked his first marriage. Speaking to The Times, he said: 'The business was eating us alive. What happened had nothing to do with Jill. It's more to do with the nature of the restaurant business - it's just so bloody demanding. 'It takes over your life and our lives didn't exist outside it. The more successful we got, we had to keep the restaurant going all year and then we didn't go away on our holidays. Mr Stein's first wife, Jill (pictured), who filed for divorce when she found out he had a five year affair with Sarah Burns Rick Stein's popular seafood restaurant at Mollymook (pictured) overlooks stunning beaches popular with tourists and locals Menu options of Mr Stein's restaurant include a sashimi plate, oysters, black cuttlefish risotto, Bomba fish masala and lobster thermidor. Pictured: Diners at the Mollymook restaurant 'We didn't have a life outside the business and we kind of fell out of love.' Stein and Ms Burns decided to open Rick Stein's at Bannisters in Ms Burns' home town of Mollymook in 2009. The restaurant overlooks stunning beaches popular with holidaymakers. Menu options include a sashimi plate, oysters, black cuttlefish risotto, Bombay fish masala and lobster thermidor. Earlier this year, both restaurants were forced to close due to the spread of COVID-19 but they reopened once restrictions in New South Wales were lifted. Mr Stein and his second wife Sarah Burns (pictured), who is 20 years his junior and from Mollymook Mr Stein has two restaurants in Australia - one in Mollymook, about 220km south of Sydney (pictured), and one in Port Stephens, around 178km north of Sydney The new case at Bannisters is one of nine new cases of the virus in the state. Two of the other new cases are staff from Chopstix Asian Cuisine in Smithfield RSL. The first member of staff became infected from an unknown source sparking fears of a fresh cluster. The second member of staff contracted the first from their colleague. Anyone who dined at Chopstix Asian Cuisine from Friday July 31 to Saturday August 9 are urged to get tested if they develop symptoms. Another of the cases is a student from Tangara School for Girls and one attended Mounties club at Mount Pritchard. Five of the new cases are close contacts of known cases, NSW Health said. NSW Ministry of Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said the nine new COVID-19 cases reported on Saturday brought the state's total to 3,756 cases. 'There are currently 129 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health,' he said. 'There are seven COVID-19 patients in intensive care adn five are ventilated.' Eighty-eight per cent of the coronavirus cases being treated in NSW are non-acute, out-of-hospital care. There were 27,389 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 29,696 in the previous 24 hours. 'To help stop the spread of COVID-19: If you are unwell, stay in, get tested and isolate. Wash your hands regularly, take hand sanitiser with you when you go out, keep your distance, and leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others,' Dr McAnulty said. One of the nine new cases on Saturday was linked to Tangara School for Girls (pictured) 'And wear a mask in situations where you cannot physically distance.' On Friday, NSW recorded nine coronavirus cases, including one mystery community infection. The fresh cases include another student from the Tangara School for Girls, with 21 people related to the school infected. One was also a staff member at Liverpool Hospital, the third to test positive in recent days. Officials insisted there was no ongoing risk to patients at staff at the western Sydney hospital. However, people at Liverpool Hospital the same time as the cases were advised by NSW Health to monitor for symptoms and get tested. The cases were at the hospital from 7am to 3pm on August 6 and August 7, and between 5am and 1.30pm on August 8 and August 9. Dr McAnulty said of the nine new cases reported on Friday, five were locally acquired and linked to known cases, one was locally acquired with no known source, and three were returned travelers from overseas. 'There are currently 131 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health, six in intensive care with five ventilated,' he said. St Vincent's College in Potts Point was on Friday closed for deep cleaning and to allow health authorities to contact trace after a student tested positive to coronavirus on Thursday. It was the third independent Catholic school to shut after being exposed to the virus. Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta was also closed until August 24 after three cases were linked to the school. Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook will remain shut until August 24 as well, with its COVID-19 outbreak reaching 21 people as its source remains unconfirmed. The outbreak was linked to a nearby Opus Dei Catholic study centre, Eremeran, which is closed for cleaning after recently hosting five senior schoolgirls. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 01:07:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok speaks at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly (not in the picture) in Khartoum, Sudan, on Aug. 15, 2020. Sudan and Egypt on Saturday reiterated importance of reaching a binding agreement regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with commitment to negotiations to resolve the dispute. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua) KHARTOUM, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and Egypt on Saturday reiterated importance of reaching a binding agreement regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with commitment to negotiations to resolve the dispute. "It has been stressed on the necessity of the negotiations to reach a binding agreement in a manner that preserves the interests of the three countries according to the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015," said a joint Sudanese-Egyptian communique issued after joint talks between Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Khartoum. "It has also been on the necessity of reaching a conflict resolution mechanism and a coordination mechanism among the three countries on the filling and operation of the GERD," said the communique. The two countries stressed the importance not to adopt any unilateral measures before reaching the binding deal on the filling and operation of the GERD. In the meantime, Sudan and Egypt voiced commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in all fields. The Egyptian prime minister arrived in Khartoum earlier on Saturday, leading a high-level delegation, for an official one-day visit to Sudan to review bilateral cooperation in all fields. Enditem As many as 57,381 people recovered from Covid-19 on Saturday across the country and marked the highest number of recoveries so far, which crossed the 1.8 million mark, with India achieving another peak in the total tests conducted in 24 hours, according to Union health ministry data. Over 70% of those infected by the disease have recovered so far. The total tests conducted in the previous 24 hours stood at 868,679 on Saturday, taking the cumulative tests to more than 28.5 million, the ministry said. The recoveries in 12 states are higher than the national average, with Delhi leading the way. The data shows that almost 90% of the people in Delhi have recovered from the infection, followed by Haryana (84%), and Tamil Nadu (82%). Officials credited the Delhi model for the decline in the number of new infections and deaths. The model involved ramping up testing and the number of beds for Covid-19 treatment, isolation of those with no symptoms or mild symptoms at home, providing pulse oximeters and oxygen concentrators, plasma therapy, and surveys and screening. Delhi was the first to start a convalescent plasma bank. The state has decided to conduct serological surveillance every month to check the prevalence of antibody levels in the population. Officials said India is focusing on a test, track, treat strategy to prevent the spread of the infection. Dr Puneet Mishra, a community medicine professor at New Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said now the testing strategy needs to evolve in places such as Delhi and Mumbai. In these areas, we have to focus on reducing mortality and for that hospitals and health centres have to keep an eye on those who are symptomatic, especially among the high-risk group. Ensuring that these people reach hospitals on time is important. Officials said the focus is now on improved and effective treatment in hospitals, supervised home isolation, use of non-invasive oxygen support, improved services of ambulances for ferrying patients for prompt and timely treatment. The government is also working on the upgrade of clinical management skills of doctors. Doctors from AIIMS are providing active technical guidance through teleconsultation. The ministry said this has also resulted in a declining case fatality rate, which is well below the global average. The national case fatality rate, or the proportion of people who die among those diagnosed with the infection, is 1.94%. Dr Sanjay K Rai, a community medicine professor at AIIMS, said they do not know yet what the reasons are for fewer deaths in India. However, there are some educated guesses that scientists have made. One, India has a relatively young population just 8 or 9% of the population is above the age of 60 as compared to about 25% in the European countries. Old age puts people at higher risk of severe disease and mortality. Two, Indians get common cold from other coronaviruses that might be providing cross-immunity against Sars-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19, said Rai. Third, now there is evidence emerging that BCG vaccination given to prevent tuberculosis is protective against Covid-19. We have universal BCG vaccination, the European countries do not. He said the mortality rate is unlikely to increase as the infection spreads to smaller cities. From the sero-surveillance in Delhi and Mumbai, we know that in 90% cases there are no symptoms or very mild symptoms and no medical care is needed. For most of the others, it is just oxygen support that seems to be helping; there is no evidence to suggest that the experimental drugs reduce mortality. Rai said this is why they have suggested that only availability of oxygen needs to be ensured in primary and secondary level healthcare facilities. Even if the government does provide ventilators, who will operate them? In the absence of trained professionals, it will do more harm than good. Chandrakant Lahariya, a public health specialist, said a vaccine will help in preventing deaths in high-risk individuals as the infection is unlikely to just disappear. Broadly, every pandemic infects many people initially because the entire population is susceptible and as people start getting immunity, the infection disappears in about 18 months to two years. However, unlike other pandemics, Covid-19 is highly infectious and the spread is truly global... if re-infection starts happening, then we will need to immunise everyone, especially the healthcare workers constantly at risk. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Still, it is far from certain, experts say, that the vaccine trials underway in Brazil will win the race. Countries across the world are vying to be among the first to get access to a vaccine that will be in demand by billions of people. In India, one of the countrys wealthiest families is taking a gamble by mass producing the Oxford vaccine in hopes that it will be the first to clear safety and regulatory hurdles. Russia this week approved a homemade vaccine which has not yet met the final tests for safety and efficacy. If it works, it could position the country to claim it developed the worlds first effective coronavirus vaccine. Brazils explosive caseload has made it the second hardest-hit nation in the world after the United States. While other countries in the region have higher per capita rates, experts have assailed President Jair Bolsonaros cavalier handling of the crisis. The president, who caught the virus in July, has called it a measly flu and sabotaged calls for quarantines and lockdowns. He also appointed an Army general with no medical experience to run the health ministry after two ministers clashed with the president over his disdain for science-based approaches. Because of the countrys disorganized response to the virus, Brazilians have been subjected to travel bans, neighbors have militarized border crossings and unions representing medical workers recently asked the International Criminal Court to charge Mr. Bolsonaro for crimes against humanity, arguing that he has given the virus free rein. New Delhi, Aug 15 : Even as the nation celebrates its 74th Independence Day on Saturday, the descendants of the forgotten heroes of the freedom movement continue to live in pathetic conditions. Some of the descendants of our martyrs are reduced to performing menial jobs for paltry wages, while a few are virtually begging on the streets. Jeet Singh, the great grand nephew of martyr Udham Singh, was spotted near a construction site in Punjab's Sangrur district. Jeet Singh has been serving as a daily wage labourer. Udham Singh went to London in 1940 and assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, to avenge the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh. The martyr's family has been facing extreme poverty. However, subsequent governments in Punjab did not take care of the family. Similarly, the descendants of Tatya Tope, one of the heroes of the 1857 rebellion, have been struggling in Bithoor, Kanpur. "I found Tatya's great grandson, Vinayak Rao Tope, running a small grocery shop in Bithur. I also discovered Anita Bose, great grand daughter-in-law of martyr Satyendranath Bosu, living in pathetic condition in Midnapore," said Shivnath Jha, a former journalist who has written four books on the bloodlines of more than 73 forgotten heroes of the Indian freedom movement. Satyendranath Bosu and Khudiram Bose were involved in the Alipore bomb case. Both were hanged in 1908. While Satyendranath was 26, Khudiram was just 18 years old when he was hanged by the Britishers. "We traced Satyendranath's bedridden great grandson who was in his mid 80s and in a paralytic condition. We spoke to Anita Bose, who was able to converse. Now we are trying to rehabilitate this old couple," said Jha, who earlier collected Rs 5 lakh for Vinayak Rao Tope. Jeet Singh was also given financial assistance. Jha and his friends run an NGO and publish books detailing the living descendants of freedom fighters. Their organisation is coming up with a new 800-page pictorial book "1857-1947 Martyrs' Bloodlines" that is likely to be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The book comprises pictorial details of living descendants of the Queen of Jhansi, Jaspal Singh (Babu Kunwar Singh commander-in-chief), Wajid Ali Shah, Mangal Pandey, Jabardast Khan, Tatya Tope, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Durga Singh, Surendra Sai, Udham Singh, Ashfaqullah Khan, Khudiram Bose, Bhagat Singh, Satyendra Nath Bosu, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil, Raj Guru, Sukhdev, Batukeshwar Datt, Jatindranath Mukherjee or Bagha Jatin, Kushal Konwar, Sachindra Nath Sanyal and many more. Besides helping the descendents of Udham Singh and Tatya Tope, the organisation has succeeded in rehabilitating the descendents of Bahadur Shah Zafar and Ram Prasad, who were leading a life of deprivation, despite the existing government programmes to aid the families of freedom fighters. The idea of paying tribute to the forgotten revolutionaries and martyrs who rebelled against the tyrannical British rule and laid their lives for the motherland does not include posting quotes, garlanding photos or making a biopics about the martyrs, Jha said, adding that, "We wish to bring a smile on their faces, we wish to perform marriages of their daughters, we wish to provide them financial support to send their children to school. This will be the real tribute." Flash UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the condition of the Safer oil tanker moored off the western coast of Yemen and asks for UN access for assessment, said his spokesman on Friday. The secretary-general urges the removal of any obstacles to the efforts needed to mitigate the dangers posed by the tanker without delay, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. Guterres specifically calls for granting independent technical experts unconditional access to the tanker to assess its condition and conduct any possible initial repairs. This technical assessment will provide crucial scientific evidence for next steps to be taken in order to avert catastrophe, said the statement. The aging tanker has had almost no maintenance since 2015 and risks causing a major oil spill, explosion or fire that would have catastrophic environmental and humanitarian consequences for Yemen and the region, it said. The Houthi rebels, who control the territory where Safer is moored, first indicated on July 5 that they would allow an inspection and emergency repair team to board the floating oil storage and offloading vessel. An official UN request was sent on July 14. One month later, the United Nations is still waiting for permission from Houthi rebels, who have recently come back to the United Nations with a range of technical follow-up questions, said Dujarric on Wednesday. Earlier on Friday, Guterres' press office said the issue should not be politicized. "Averting this calamity should not be politicized. It is about people's lives and futures," said the office in a note to correspondents. The Yemeni people are already facing impossible odds: a war, a free-falling economy, diseases, shattered public institutions, unreliable infrastructure, hunger, and uncertain futures. The Safer oil tanker is a solvable problem and does not need to be added to their many other burdens, it said. On May 27, 2020, seawater leaked into the engine room, threatening to destabilize and sink the entire vessel, and potentially releasing all the 1.1 million barrels of crude oil into the sea. A temporary fix by divers from the Safer corporation succeeded in containing the leak. But the fix is unlikely to hold for very long, warned the United Nations. "Planning and executing a sustainable solution will not be possible without independent experts first assessing the damage. And the assessment cannot be completed if the experts are not granted the required visas and permits to deploy to the tanker." An oil spill would have catastrophic environmental and humanitarian consequences, including destroying livelihoods and shutting down Hodeidah port, a vital lifeline for millions of Yemenis who depend on commercial imports and humanitarian aid. The tragic Beirut explosion on Aug. 4 and the recent alarming oil spill in Mauritius from a Japanese bulk carrier demand the world's vigilance and urgent action to avert preventable loss of life and livelihoods where possible, said the note to correspondents. Research by independent experts indicates that an oil spill from Safer could destroy Red Sea ecosystems on which almost 30 million people depend, including 1.6 million Yemenis. All the fisheries along the Yemeni west coast would be impacted within days and the livelihoods of the fishing communities would collapse, at a time when 90 percent of these populations are already dependent on humanitarian aid, it said. An oil spill could lead to the closure of the key port of Hodeidah for up to six months. Experts estimate that a six-month closure would increase fuel prices in Yemen by 200 percent for months, double food prices and hinder the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to millions of Yemenis. At this time of economic hardship, the risk of famine may again already be on the horizon. Yemen cannot afford the closure of its largest port as it is almost entirely dependent on imports for its basic needs of food and medicines, it said. Other Red Sea littoral countries, including Djibouti, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia, would suffer as well. A spill could also debilitate one of the world's busiest commercial shipping routes through the Red Sea, which accounts for about 10 percent of global trade. Overall, the impact of an oil spill from the Safer tanker would cost an estimated 1.5 billion U.S. dollars over 25 years, said the note. If fire erupts on Safer for any reason, more than 8.4 million people would be exposed to harmful levels of pollutants, it said. The government of Yemen and the Houthis first approached the United Nations to provide support in resolving the Safer tanker issue in early 2018. But the escalation of military hostilities on the Yemeni west coast throughout most of 2018 made safe access to the tanker impossible. With the Yemeni parties concluding the Stockholm Agreement in December 2018, which included a governorate-wide cease-fire in Hodeidah, safe access became possible once again. In 2019, both Yemeni parties approved the deployment of a UN technical team to assess the damage and conduct any feasible immediate repairs. The Houthi authorities granted the United Nations the travel authorizations to come to Hodeidah but did not provide the final clearances necessary to access the tanker by sea. They further raised several demands, including some unrelated to Safer, that eventually led to the cancellation of the mission, according to the note. Since then, the United Nations has repeatedly attempted to obtain the required authorizations to deploy the expert team. When the Dharala River burst its banks in early July, Kamal Hossain left his home with five members of his family to take shelter in a school in northern Bangladesh, carrying their most prized belongings: cattle, a few sacks of rice and clothes. Like him, an estimated 17.5 million people across South Asia are suffering as a result of the devastation of this year's monsoon floods. Nearly 700 have died. A third of Bangladesh went underwater, including Hossain's district of Kurigram, after most of its 16 rivers overflowed following torrential rains and violent onrush of waters from upstream India, which was also tormented by the floods as rivers cut their ways from as far as the Himalayan nation of Nepal. Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by 230 rivers, is the last channel through which waters are drained into the Bay of Bengal. Experts have long been warning that a densely populated delta country like Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change, and severe and frequent floods indicate that something has gone wrong. The current major floods affecting millions of people in Bangladesh along with super cyclone Amphan that hit the country a few months ago are both linked to human induced climate now becoming a reality, said Saleemul Huq, a Bangladeshi expert on climate change and director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development. He said Bangladesh needs to ramp up its diplomacy to convince global powers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as many countries had agreed in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015. The impact of global warming in South Asia is evident by a steady sea level rise, changes in ambient temperature and rainfall patterns and an increase in cyclonic activity, experts say. More landslides and flooding are projected across the region, which is home to almost one-fourth of the worlds population. Thousands have already been displaced from low-lying islands in the Sundarbans, the worlds largest mangrove forest straddling Bangladesh and India. When upstream countries like India or Nepal flush out waters, a district like Kurigram pays the price. Some 300,000 people have either lost their homes or crops. Some 400 small river islands were completely under water, said Mohammed Rezaul Karim, a top government official in Kurigram. This is a great worry for us. Azmat Ulla, the Bangladesh head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said disasters like floods are becoming more frequent and dangerous. Waters are going down, but peoples homes and other infrastructures are being devoured by river erosion, he said. Rebuilding their lives is not so easy." While the national governments are assessing the extent of damage, the European Union said this week it will provide $1.94 million in aid. The support comes on top of the $2.21 million announced earlier this year to support those affected by a series of disasters, including Cyclone Amphan that ravaged India and Bangladesh in May. In Nepal, a repeat of the deadly 1993 floods that were caused by the biggest rainfall on record could be catastrophic, said Shreekamal Dwivedi, a senior engineering geologist at the governments Venerable Landslides Management Project. Authorities in one of Indias worst-hit states are also counting losses. About 5.7 million out of Assam's 30 million people have been hit by the deluge with the total loss of property and crops estimated at $306 million. Assam faces floods every year when waters of the Brahmaputra, one of Asias largest rivers that originates in the Tibetan Himalayas, and its tributaries overflow. After more than 1 1/2 months in shelter, Hossain is preparing to return home, but faces uncertainty over how to rebuild with almost no money in hand. His only choice is to wait for the next harvest two months away. I have lost everything. I dont know what will happen next, he said. Iran Parliament Speaker Sues Three Journalists, Lawmaker For 'Libel' Radio Farda August 14, 2020 Three journalists and a lawmaker who have publicly discussed bribery allegations against the newly elected Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf are being sued by the Iranian Parliament for "libel," an Iranian Parliament official said on Wednesday. Alireza Sharifi, Director-General of the Parliament's Public Relations, wrote in a tweet that lawsuits have been filed "against those who assault [the Parliament with accusations]." Sharifi's tweet follows reports that Qalibaf has filed lawsuits against Mostafa Mir Salim, a representative of Tehran in the Parliament, as well as three journalists. Mir-Salim was also nominated for the position of the parliament speaker in June 2019, but lost to Qalibaf. The three journalists being sued by Qalibaf are allegedly Yashar Soltani, Sadra Mohaqeq and Vahid Ashtari, with Ashtari confirming the reports in a tweet on Tuesday. "Remaining silent about the assault on the Parliament is injustice against the people," Sharifi tweeted, accompanied by the hashtag "end no cost libel," adding that he hoped the judiciary would not delay taking action against the culprits. "[The accusers] should not consider themselves immune from prosecution by wearing the mask of journalists, defenders of justice or lawmakers." Earlier this month, Mir-Salim provided the judiciary with evidence that implicated Qalibaf in an "astronomical bribery case" that has been debated since 2017. Qalibaf, during his twelve-year tenure as the mayor of Tehran, allegedly paid 650 billion rials (about $25.5 million at the time) to former parliament members to drop their probe into a multimillion-dollar property fraud case. Last week, Judiciary Spokesman Gholam-Hossein Esmaili confirmed that a former lawmaker had been arrested in connection with a massive corruption case, but did not disclose the name of the lawmaker or his role in the bribery case. Qalibaf has so far preferred not to comment on the latest developments, though sympathetic media have intensified their attacks on Mir-Salim and the journalists who allegedly exposed Qalibaf's role in the case. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-parliament- speaker-sues-three-journalists -lawmaker-for-libel-/30783639.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 A Biden administration will place a "high priority" on continuing to strengthen the India-US relationship, his campaign said on Saturday, asserting that no common global challenge can be solved without the two countries working as responsible partners. In a major policy document on Indian-Americans, the campaign said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden believes there can be no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia, cross-border or otherwise. A Biden administration will also work with India to support a rules-based and stable Indo-Pacific region in which no country, including China, is able to threaten its neighbours with impunity, it said. "Biden will deliver on his long-standing belief that India and the United States are natural partners, and a Biden administration will place a high priority on continuing to strengthen the US-India relationship," the Biden Campaign said as Indians and 4 million Indian-Americans celebrated India's Independence Day. "No common global challenge can be solved without India and the United States working as responsible partners," said the campaign as it released 'Joe Biden's Agenda for the Indian American Community' policy document. "Together, we will continue strengthening India's defense and capabilities as a counter-terrorism partner, improving health systems and pandemic response, and deepening cooperation in areas such as higher education, space exploration, and humanitarian relief," the campaign said. The policy document comes days after former vice president Biden named Indian-origin US Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Harris, whose father is an African from Jamaica and mother an Indian, is the first-ever Black vice-presidential nominee. "Biden will ensure that South Asian Americans are represented in his administration, starting with his Vice-Presidential nominee, Senator Kamala Harris, whose mother emigrated from India to study and build a life in the United States," the campaign policy document said. "Our government will reflect the diversity of the United States, and Indian American voices will be included in shaping the policies that impact their communities. From fighting COVID-19 to building our economy back better to reforming our system of immigration, a Biden-Harris Administration will be one that Indian-Americans can count on," it said. As the world's oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India are bound together by their shared democratic values: fair and free elections, equality under the law, and the freedom of expression and religion, the campaign said. "These core principles have endured throughout each of our nations' histories and will continue to be the source of our strength in the future," it said. Biden played a lead role, both as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as the Vice President, in systematically deepening the US' strategic engagement, people-to-people ties, and collaboration with India on global challenges, it said. "In 2006, Biden announced his vision for the future of US-India relations: 'My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States'," it said. He has also worked to make that vision a reality, including leading the charge in Congress, working with Democrats and Republicans, to approve the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008, said the campaign. The Obama-Biden administration continued to deepen collaboration between India and the United States on strategic, defence, economic, regional, and global challenges. Biden was a major champion of growing and expanding the US-India partnership. Recognising India's growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden administration formally declared US support for India's membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council, it said. The Obama-Biden administration also named India a "Major Defense Partner' a status approved by the Congress to ensure that when it comes to the advanced and sensitive technology that India needs to strengthen its military, India is treated on par with its closest partners, it said. Former President Barack Obama and Biden also strengthened their cooperation with India to fight terrorism in each of "our countries and across the region", it added. The Obama-Biden administration worked closely with India to secure the successful signing of the Paris Climate Agreement to address the global climate crisis that "threatens all our peoples". "A Biden administration would bring the United States back into the Paris Agreement, giving us the ability to again work closely with India to fight climate change and once more work hand in hand to reduce our carbon emissions and secure our clean energy future, without which we cannot build the green economy we need," the campaign said. USA Today issued a fact check this week that served as both a disturbing sign of the times and indication of just how outlandish conspiracy theory groups, such as Qanon, can be. The headline? Fact check: Tom Hanks is now a Greek citizen, but pedophilia has nothing to do with it. You read that right. USA Today had to explain that Forrest Gump isnt some sort of monster running off to another country to skirt the law for his crimes. Howd it come to this? QAnon appears to have been a key contributor. Thats right, the dumbest people you went to high school with have cooked up a conspiracy theory that claims Hanks became a Greek citizen because the country classifies pedophilia as a disability. Theres no evidence that he is a pedophile, and Greece doesnt consider pedophilia a disability. According to USA Today, it began with a July 28 Facebook post which was shared more than 2,300 times that read, while everyone was distracted by the coronavirus Tom Hanks became a citizen of Greece a place that recognizes pedophilia as a disability. USA Today said the person who made the post claimed she found out about Hanks Greek citizenship via a BBC article, but did not comment on the other claim about pedophilia. USA Today said the post was part of a larger trend of posts questioning Hanks citizenship change, and alluding to him being involved in child sex trafficking. Many of the posts appear tied to QAnon which USA Today said believes a deep state run by elite pedophiles politicians, celebrities and business leaders exists and that they both operate a child sex trafficking ring and are also working against President Donald Trump. QAnon members seem to believe that Trump is attempting to take down this group with the help of the military. But, its not that simple. The Qs appear to believe the people Trump is attempting to have jailed are so powerful that he has to speak about what he is doing in codes. Codes that the make-believe, powerful, pedophile elites he is trying to take down, somehow, cannot understand, but Qs can. Its far-out stuff. And Hanks isnt the only celebrity target. QAnon supporters have taken aim at Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Bill and Hillary Clinton within this whole elite pedophiles who are battling Trump vortex. Yes, Oprah is duking it out in a battle of good vs. evil against the President and the United States Military. And, if you truly believe that, like the Qs seem to, Oprah is one, bad woman because shes still out there interviewing people while beating back the armed forces. Back to Hanks and this USA Today fact check, though. Remember back in March when he got coronavirus and went into quarantine? The Qs passed around a theory that he was actually arrested for pedophilia. That was false, of course, and News Break, sadly, had to fact check that. But the Qs have helped keep this bunk swirling. Heres what is true: Hanks did become a Greek citizen, along with his wife, Rita Wilson. That happened on July 26. Hanks, Wilson and their children were awarded honorary Greek citizenship after working to bring attention to a wildfire near Athens in 2018 that killed more than 100 people, according to USA Today. Theyve been visiting the island for years, and, according to USA Today, own a home on Antiparos. Wilson has Greek heritage. Hanks converted to the Greek Orthodox Church. Heres whats not true: everything else. Pedophilia is not considered a disability in Greece. There was a proposal in 2012, USA Today said, in which behavioral disorders such as compulsive gamblers, pyromaniacs, pedophiles and fetishists would be added to the list of disabilities. That proposal was designed, USA Today reported, to better enable medical assessments but not to affect disability benefits. And that sparked outrage and caused the proposal to be quickly rebuked in the country. And, again, theres no evidence Tom Hanks is a pedophile. None. And, no, despite what Qs might tell you, according to Reuters, the flight logs from Jeffrey Epsteins jet show no evidence of Hanks flying on the plane. Finally, life is like a box of chocolates, and memes arent always facts. (Newser) Newsweek has apologized for an op-ed that questioned Sen. Kamala Harris' US citizenship and her eligibility to be Joe Biden's running mate, a false and racist conspiracy theory which President Trump has not dismissed, the AP reports. "This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize," read Newsweek's editor's note on Friday, which replaced the magazine's earlier detailed defense of the op-ed. "We entirely failed to anticipate the ways in which the essay would be interpreted, distorted and weaponized," read the apology, signed by Josh Hammer, opinion editor, and Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief. But they ended the note by saying that the op-ed would remain on the site, with their note attached. story continues below The op-ed was written by John Eastman, a conservative attorney who argues that the US Constitution doesn't grant birthright citizenship. Eastman sowed doubt about Harris' eligibility based on her parents' immigration status. Harris' mother was born in India and her father was born in Jamaica. Newsweek earlier defended the piece, arguing that Eastman "was focusing on a long-standing, somewhat arcane legal debate" about the 14th Amendment and not trying to "ignite a racist conspiracy theory around Kamala Harris' candidacy." But the theory is false. Harris, who was tapped by Joe Biden to serve as his running mate on the Democratic ticket, was born in Oakland, Calif., and is eligible for both the vice presidency and presidency under the constitutional requirements. (Read about the anger elicited by the op-ed.) A bison attacked a female motorcyclist for getting too close with its herd in Custer State Park in South Dakota. In the disturbing video, a group of motorcyclists had to interrupt their ride as a large herd of bison crossed the road. The footage showed one motorcyclist walking over and taking a video a few feet from the massive animals. The motorcyclist then sits down a few feet from the bison and takes a cow and her calf's photo until a bison from the opposite side of the road charges her. Her belt was caught in the animal's horn, and she has swung around aggressively. She fell to the ground when her pants were ripped off, thereby saving her life. The woman "somehow escaped serious injury" and was flown to a hospital on a helicopter. The woman's current is not yet known. The bikers were in Black Hills, South Dakota, to attend the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. READ: Animal Attacks: Is Playing Dead the Key? Keep a Safe Distance from Wild Animals The video was filmed and posted by Jo Reed, saying that she is sharing the video to highlight the dangers of interacting closely with wild animals. "Thankfully, the ranger did not need to tranquilize the bison," she wrote. According to Reed, she did not feel that the bikers respected the space of the "massive beautiful creatures." A week ago, the Custer County Sheriff's office in a Facebook post asked people not to pet the buffalo. The post indicated that they have been getting calls about bison blocking the road occasionally, and some people are getting too close. The post warned that "Remember this is their park, and we are the guests." READ ALSO: Large Carnivores Less Likely to Attack Cattle With Painted Eyes on Their Rumps The National Park Service (NPS) on its website issued reminders to give the animals room to ensure safety when watching the animals. Most parks require the public to keep a minimum distance of 25 yards from most wildlife, and 100 yards from predators like bears and wolves. Animals generally react to a presence if it gets too close. The advisory said that if you are "close enough for a selfie, then you are definitely close." The agency instead recommends using binoculars or zoom lenses and moving back to give the animal space when it approaches. NPS also emphasized the importance of not disturbing the wildlife. Leaving the wildlife alone is not only mandated by law, but it also enhances your viewing experience. The law stipulates that it is illegal to intentionally feed, touch, tease, frighten, or disturb the wildlife. Wildlife in the parks is wild, and disturbances may trigger unpredictable behavior, NPS warns. Last June 25, a 72-old woman from California was gored several times by a bison in Yellowstone National Park after approaching the animal within ten feet in an attempt to take a close picture of it. The park rangers immediately administered first aid, and she was sent to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by helicopter for further treatment. Her condition was not disclosed. READ NEXT: Mother Swan "Dies from a Broken Heart" After Teens Smashed Its Nest and Eggs Check out more news and information on Animal Attacks on Nature World News. Migrant arrivals to Italy increased by nearly 150 percent over the past year, with the majority of those arriving from Tunisia, Italy's interior ministry said on Saturday. Italy has been struggling in recent months to deal with daily arrivals of hundreds of migrants to its southern shores, a task complicated by security measures imposed by the ongoing coronavirus crisis. With frustration growing among local mayors, the government has chartered massive ferry ships to hold migrants under quarantine and called in the army in some cases after some migrants who tested positive for coronavirus escaped from welcome centres. From August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020, 21,618 migrants arrived at Italy's shores, 148.7 percent higher than the 8,691 landings the year before, according to data presented by Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese on Saturday in Milan. Despite the sharp rise, the number of migrant arrivals is still far below numbers recorded in recent years. From 2016 to 2017, Italy recorded 182,877 migrant arrivals. After Italy signed a deal with Libya for its coast guard to prevent migrant departures, the number fell to 42,700 in the 2017 to 2018 period. Some 41.6 percent of the migrants departed from Tunisia, followed by Libya at 40.5 percent. Over a third of those who arrived listed Tunisian as their nationality, versus Bangladesh at 12 percent and Ivory Coast at 7 percent of migrants. Tunisia is battling high unemployment and political instability, pushing more so-called economic migrants to cross to Italy. Lamorgese said she planned to make a trip to Tunisia on Monday with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and two European Union commissioners. Lamorgese travelled to Tunis in July, meeting with President Kais Saied and her counterpart Hichem Mechichi. "It's an important moment and a sign of attention for a country in difficulty," Lamorgese told journalists, without providing more details on the trip's agenda. The interior ministry data showed that 622 asylum-seekers were relocated to other European countries during the period from September 5, 2019 to July 31, up 167 percent. Most, 395 asylum-seekers, went to France, while 132 migrants were sent to Germany and 42 to Portugal. Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Rome Sat, August 15, 2020 11:15 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e3a34c 2 News travel,travelers,Italy Free Italy has imposed mandatory coronavirus testing for all travelers arriving from Croatia, Greece, Malta and Spain, and banned all visitors from Colombia, in a bid to rein in new infections. "We must continue to be cautious in order to protect the results obtained thanks to sacrifices made by all in recent months," Health Minister Roberto Speranza said late Wednesday after issuing the new rules, which will last until September 7. Health authorities worry in particular that Italians returning from vacations abroad may be bringing home the virus and passing it on when people are crowding outdoors, on beaches, at festivals or parties during the summer. A weekly report issued on Thursday by the health ministry and the top health agency, the Instituto Superiore di Sanita, said Italy was in a transitional phase "with a progressive worsening trend." Read also: Italy extends coronavirus state of emergency Recent infections from early August showed "important warning signs for a possible increase in transmission" of the virus, it said. Under the new rules, travelers arriving at an airport, port or border crossing can choose from a number of options, including rapid tests on the spot, or the presentation of a certificate obtained within the last 72 hours which shows they are COVID-19 free. They can also choose to carry out a test within two days of entering Italy, but will have to stay in isolation until the results arrive. Anyone found to be positive, including asymptomatic cases, must report to the local health authorities. Over 251,000 people have been infected by coronavirus and more than 35,000 have died in Italy, once of the worst affected countries in Europe. Over 13,000 people are currently known to be infected. Topics : travel travelers Italy India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt India briefs Chinas top military body about its stance on border issue India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: It has been over 100 days since the military stand off with China. Amidst the stand off, Ambassador Vikram Misri held talks with Major General Ci Guowei, Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Misri briefed him about India's stance on the border issue in eastern Ladakh. Meanwhile, Anurag Srivastava, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides agreed on the broad principles of disengagement and based on it some progress had been earlier made. Onus of Galwan clash not on China says Chinese enjoy in embassy magazine PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News I must add that translating these principles on the ground is a complex process that requires deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective side of the Line of Actual Control. It is natural that this can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions, he also said. He further added that we would like the ongoing disengagement process to be completed at the earliest. It is also important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed actions by both sides, Srivastava also added. Srivastava also said, "We, therefore, expect the Chinese side to sincerely work with us towards the objective of complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas as agreed by the Special Representatives. This is also necessary and essential in the context of overall development of our bilateral relationship. As External Affairs Minister had noted in a recent interview, the state of the border, and the future of our ties cannot be separated." Misri had earlier met with Liu Jianchaou, the deputy director office of the CPC Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission. During the meeting, Misri meet Jianchaou of India's stance on the situation on the borders on easter Ladakh and the overall bilateral relations. India-China standoff: The importance of Misri meeting Liu The meeting was important considering the influence Liu holds with the CPC's foreign affairs division. He would be able to convey the need to resolve the border row at a political level. Sources tell OneIndia that New Delhi is looking for another round of official talks through an established diplomatic channel. The talks are likely to take place next week, the official cited above also said. The Expedition 63 crew trio continued ongoing space research and orbital housekeeping aboard the International Space Station today. Mission controllers are also preparing the Canadarm2 robotics arm for departure operations with Japan's ninth resupply ship. Commander Chris Cassidy split his Thursday shift with physics research in the morning and plumbing and electronics maintenance in the afternoon. The veteran NASA astronaut first checked samples inside the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace that levitates, melts and solidifies materials exposed to extreme temperatures. After lunch, he connected water recovery system cables then checked emergency communications gear. Astrobee, a set of cube-shaped robotic free-flyers, was turned on today inside the Japanese Kibo laboratory module. The devices were autonomously maneuvering throughout Kibo and live-streaming video during the afternoon so engineers could monitor the operations. Cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner tackled their portion of research and maintenance today in the Russian segment of the orbiting lab. Ivanishin once again continued his space biology and Earth studies. Vagner worked on another Earth observation experiment and also organized the Pirs docking compartment. Attached to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module since May 25, Japan's H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9) is nearing the end of its mission. Robotics controllers will maneuver the Canadarm2 in position on Friday before grappling and removing the HTV-9 from Harmony on Tuesday. Cassidy will take over afterward and command the 57.7-foot-long robotic arm to release the HTV-9 into Earth orbit the same day. Nicknamed Kounotori, or "white stork" for its delivery mission, the Japanese resupply ship will end its mission two days later for a fiery, but safe demise over the South Pacific. On-orbit Status Report Payloads Astrobee: The crew powered up the Astrobee free flyers and cleared away and stowed items within the JEM module in preparation for Astrobee flyer operations. Astrobee is made up of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots which are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the space station. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew monitoring, sampling, logistics management, and accommodate up to three investigations. Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): The crew installed the Round Robin #2 Sample Cartridge into the ELF facility. The MSPR work bench was then closed out. ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the electrostatic levitation method. With this facility thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved. JEM Water Recovery System (JWRS): The crew performed cable connections to hoses and bags as part of closeout procedures. The demonstration of JEM Water Recovery System (JWRS) generates potable water from urine. In the past on manned spacecraft, urine and waste water were collected and stored, or vented overboard. For long-term space missions, however, water supply could become a limiting factor. Demonstrating the function of this water recovery system on orbit contributes to updating the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) to support astronauts on the space station and future exploration missions. Systems In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Node 2 Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Screen Installation: Today, the crew installed an IMV screen over the Node 2 Starboard Forward IMV Inlet. The fine mesh screen was installed to decrease foreign object debris (FOD) in the Columbus module and ventilation hardware. The original mesh size of the current screen was fine enough to catch larger particles but over time smaller debris can pass through the screen and collect in the ducting downstream of the IMV and cabin fans. Adding the finer mesh screen will protect the ventilation hardware from debris build up over time. Emergency Communication Verification: Today, the crew performed an emergency communication checkout from the US segment using the Very High Frequency (VHF)-1 comm system over US ground sites. During the Wallops ground site pass, the crew conducted a comm check with each center in Houston, Huntsville, Munich, Tsukuba, and Moscow. VHF-1 provides the emergency back-up for ISS to ground communication. Due to the rarity of using the VHF system over the US ground sites, emergency VHF comm verifications offer the only means of assuring the end-to-end VHF systems, equipment and personnel are operational and ready to support an emergency. H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)9 Cargo Operations: Today, the crew continued with HTV9 cargo transfer operations. Ground teams estimate approximately 2 hours remain to complete available cargo ops. The crew will continue to focus on HTV9 cargo operations in preparation for HTV9 close out and departure early next week. HTV9 is scheduled to unberth from the ISS on Tuesday, August 18th. Completed Task List Activities: Packed Bed Reactor Experiment (PRBE) Hardware Setup HTV Cargo Ops (on-going) Today's Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. Comm Config for MRM Ops Ground Supt for P/TV ARED Ground Cmding for Astrobee Ops Look Ahead Plan Friday, 8/14 (GMT 227) Payloads: RADI-N2 Deploy-Node 3 F3 Rack (CSA) JWRS Closeout (JAXA) Food Physiology (NASA) Astrobee Off and JEM Cargo replacement (NASA) Systems: HTV Departure OBT CMS ARED Qtrly Maint HTV Cargo Ops Saturday, 8/15 (GMT 228) Payloads: Off-Duty Systems: Crew Off Duty Sunday, 8/16 (GMT 229) Payloads: Off-Duty Systems: Crew Off Duty Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. Photo T/V Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Session URAGAN. Setup and activation of SOVA and VSS PL TBU (Universal Bioengineering Thermostat). Checking - No.07 thermostat temperature and unobstructed area near - inlet/outlet vents Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Cartridge Exchange & Sample Holder Install TERMINATOR. Terminator-Limb PL Installation Audit of working areas for prep of AL in MRM2 comm configuration for MRM1 Checkout of comm quality and operability of low-noise headset --24 S/N 0009310 and PTT switch S/N 10329170 CONCTANTA-2. Preparation and execution Transfer Operations - Pack and stow items on HTV Checkout of 5-15 micro-compressors (fans) (2 count) with [] control panel from spares () Crew relocates stowage items from JPM Rack Fronts, in prep for Astrobee Ops. Astrobee On Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT) Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference JEM Water Recovery System (JWRS) Cables Connection Life On The Station Photo and Video Emergency RS ISS VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS In-Flight Maintenance Node 2 Intermodule Ventilation Screen Installation CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE Flight Director/ISS CREW CONFERENCE UF-ATMOSFERA. PL activation Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 12:23:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Undated file photo shows the portrait of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis. by Xinhua writer Hu Xiaoming NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua)-- "We all must cherish the spirit of Kotnis and of Indian Medical Mission for world peace and progress," said Mrigendranath Gantait, president of Dr. Kotnis Memorial Committee (DKMC) of India's West Bengal State. Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis, as a member of the Indian Medical Mission (IMM) to assist China, arrived in Yan'an, the city in northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, in 1939. After his work in Yan'an, Kotnis then went to other parts of North China where he worked in the surgical department of the Eighth Route Army General Hospital, treating the wounded at battlefront. Kotnis joined the Communist Party of China in July 1942. Unfortunately his health deteriorated due to overwork and he passed away on Dec. 9, 1942 in China. "Dr. Kotnis is no more. But many more Kotnis should come in future to safeguard the human civilization," Gantait said in a recent interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. "All of us should practice the ideals of Kotnis in our daily life to some extent according our sphere and ability," he said. "Kotnis laid down his life, but we may at least spare some of our time regularly for selfless service to society." Gantait said in this context Dr. Bejoy Kumar Basu was the best example of someone who followed Kotnis' footsteps. Basu stayed in China for a period of nearly five years during 1938-1943 as an IMM member, and later had worked for another 43 years for the IMM until his death in 1986. Dr. Basu, as a colleague of Dr. Kotnis and the torch-bearer of the IMM, established the DKMC that preaches the ideals of humanism, internationalism and anti-imperialism, said Gantait. Gantait, a student of Dr. Basu and also the president of the Acupuncture Association of India, has been following the ideals of Dr. Kotnis and Dr. Basu by promoting acupuncture therapy in India as a bridge of friendship with the Chinese people. Gantait, who accompanied Dr. Basu for higher training in acupuncture in China in 1978, visited the Kotnis Memorial Exhibition Hall in China's Shijiazhuang City in northern Hebei Province. Recalling his visit to Gegong village where Kotnis lived and died, he said that one woman was weeping recalling memories of Kotnis. "That touched my heart to know how one Indian doctor was deeply rooted in the heart of a remote hilly village of China," he added. In 1988 Gantait visited China as a member of the All India Dr. Kotnis Memorial Committee delegation on the occasion of inauguration of Indian Medical Mission Memorial Exhibition Hall in Shijiazhuang City. "We were astonished to see how the Chinese people did not forget their foreign friends who had helped them in their anti-fascist and liberation struggle," Gantait said. He visited China for the third time in 2016 as the president of the Acupuncture Association of India. "I was astonished by enormous material development of China," he said. "I was thinking in mind how one underdeveloped country could become a magnificent country in less than 70 years!" As the president of the DKMC, West Bengal, Gantait headed a seven-member delegation to China in 2018 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of IMM's presence in China. "DKMC members were amazed to see how the Chinese have remembered Dr. Kotnis and IMM," he said. In 2014, Dr. Kotnis was listed among China's 300 martyrs and heroic groups who sacrificed their lives during the Japanese invasion of China. In India one movie on the life of Kotnis was made in Mumbai in 1945 in the name "Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani" (immortal story of Dr. Kotnis) in Hindi. "It became very popular among Indian people," Gantait said. Meanwhile, he expressed his hope that the two countries would strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields as "the right tribute" to the celebration of 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China. He suggested that in school text books of India, there should be inclusion of the great contributions of the Indian doctor heroes. "Students will be aware of humanism, internationalism," he said. "That will create the feeling of friendship towards the people of China which is India's biggest neighbour and has an old civilization like India." Enditem Two new hotels coming up By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): Sri Lankas tourism industry may be dormant at present but is gearing for better times with plans for the construction of two properties in Colombo and Matara by a leisure sector investor. Bernard Hotel Management companys Managing Director Denesh Silva told the Business Times on Thursday that they will be investing US$6.5 million in a 40 room boutique hotel in Talalla, Matara and $3 million in a city hotel on Chatham Street, Fort with 30 rooms. We have been always skeptical of the tourism industry but we have never given up and with the new turn of events in the external environment we believe there will be greater times to come for Sri Lanka, Mr. Silva said. Currently they are on the search for respective parties to carry out construction work on the properties in these two locations, he said. He pointed out that the hotel in Colombo will be a bed and breakfast with minimal offerings and the property in Matara will be established as a high end one with both likely to open in 2022/23, he said. Mr. Silva noted that they were hoping to attract visitors from Europe and also India and pointed out that it was the governments that were placing restrictions on the people from travelling. People are willing to travel both in Europe and even in India, he said adding there is hope once a vaccination comes through. Moreover, the parliamentary elections have also pushed for a two-third majority by the ruling party and with the Presidents vision we are quite hopeful for better times, he said. In addition the company has also invested Rs.10 million in a venture to market local seafood, he said stating that this company, Ceylon Seafood Pvt. Ltd was established in July to sell across the country. Guardians of the Galaxy (Saturday, BBC One, 10.20pm) - visually stunning with a great playlist of tunes as a soundtrack Saturday: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) BBC One, 10.20pm - Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is abducted from Earth as a child and raised by alien mercenaries. Consequently, he becomes a thief for hire and steals a mystical orb sought by sadistic warlord Ronan (Lee Pace) and his army. When Peter learns the orb has the power to destroy the universe, he puts selfish desires to one side and aligns himself with a motley crew of renegades - green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), genetically engineered raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), his tree-like sidekick Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and vengeance-seeking warrior Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) - to repel Ronan. From its visually stunning opening set to the funky strains of Come and Get Your Love, James Gunn's film is a blast. The fact it plays such an integral part in Captain Marvel and the recent two-part Avengers saga makes it well worth another look. Sunday Jurassic World (2015) ITV, 5.50pm Dinosaur theme park Jurassic World opened to the public in 2005 and now welcomes more than 20,000 visitors a day. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) oversees park operations, while Dr Henry Wu (BD Wong) plays God in the laboratories, splicing DNA strands to create terrifying new breeds. Thus the ferocious and highly intelligent Indominus Rex is born. When the I-Rex escapes her paddock, Claire begs animal behaviour specialist Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to capture the beast and protect her nephews, Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray (Ty Simpkins), who are trapped in the middle of the bloodbath. Jurassic World is a muscular, rollicking romp that captures some of the adrenaline-pumping thrills we felt more than 25 years ago when Steven Spielberg first unleashed dinosaurs back into the world. Fans may note a third Jurassic World movie is now filming. Monday Crocodile Dundee (1986) Film4, 4.10pm A New York reporter ventures into the Australian Outback to interview legendary hunter Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee - and hits it off with him so well, she invites to come back to the Big Apple with her. But while Dundee may be a natural when it comes to surviving in the wilderness, he finds it much harder to navigate the urban jungle of Manhattan. The fish-out-of-water storyline is a bit hackneyed, but there's a reason this film proved to be a surprise box-office smash - and that's leading man and co-writer Paul Hogan. He's hugely likeable as Dundee, a weathered action man who doesn't take himself too seriously, and the film coasts along on his charm alone. Linda Kozlowski also stars with John Meillon, Mark Blum and Michael Lombard. There is truly nothing else like it in the world. Born from a need to connect the art of teaching piano to the digital age and to reach students in areas where there are no available teachers, Steinway & Sons developed the Spirio|r instruments that combine technology with the design and artistry of Steinway. The state-of-the-art technology allows instruments, teachers and students to connect and share the art of music around the world, and Wayland Baptist University is the catalyst that will make that happen. Last week, the Spirio|r instrument was delivered to its new home at Wayland where piano professors Dr. Richard Fountain, Dr. Kennith Freeman and Dean of the School of Music Dr. Ann Stutes welcomed its arrival, and the new era of distance education that comes with it. As other instruments are delivered and set up in Spirio hubs around the state and across the globe, musicians will be able to learn, teach and share their music with others in remote locations. The fact that this is a technologically advanced piece of equipment puts us in the arena to be Pioneers in what its going to be like to teach face-to-face, real-time, distance lessons, Stutes said. Brian Elmore, Director of Institutional Sales and Educational Services for Steinway & Sons, has been working with Wayland since 2011, when the university committed to being an All-Steinway School. Wayland reached All-Steinway School status in 2014 and has continued its relationship with Elmore and Steinway & Sons pianos. Elmore said the move to distance education was a major step for the 165-year-old piano company. When you have a New Yorker who bought our company, and he said, Build this project without budget. I cant emphasize enough what that phrase means, Elmore said. You dont find that in industry today. Elmore explained that John Paulson, owner of Steinway & Sons, pushed to hire the best technicians who could put together the digital technology and install it in a piano without degrading the integrity of the instrument. Elmore said Paulsons goal was to promote artistry unlike any that has ever been seen in human history. The digital components and recording devices are hardly noticeable on the small grand piano emblazoned with the Steinway & Sons logo. Dr. Fountain was the first to play the new instrument and experiment with the recording. Its everything we hoped for and more, Fountain said. Its a fabulous piano in its own right, with a smooth tone and wonderfully sensitive action. It will take the artistic expectations in our community to another new level. The Spirio|r works similar to an old player piano that would use bellows to depress piano keys based on some sort of coded document or panel. More modern versions might use cassettes or CDs to mimic the experience, but none of them capture the artistry and expression that is evident in the Spirio|r instrument. As Im listening to Dr. Fountain play and he hits record when he steps away from the piano its literally going to replicate 100 percent of his artistry, Elmore said. Every nuance. Every breath. And that artistry can be translated to any corner of the globe. The recording can then be played at another Spirio|r instrument. Teachers and students will also be able to connect, collaborate and discuss music through the technology. Dr. Stutes said having this instrument will enable Wayland professors to bring music education to students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to learn piano. We are going to become leaders in the practice of teaching young people, be they little children out in rural communities, or under-privileged young people in urban areas, college-bound young people who may have skills and abilities that they dont even know about because they dont have access to pianos and great teachers, Stutes said. We are going to provide Spirio hubs across the state of Texas and beyond, and we are going to provide the teaching that will bring the young people to those hubs to use the pianos. Wayland will work with Weatherford College, also an All-Steinway School, and Talkington School for Young Women Leaders in Lubbock. Both schools also received Spirio instruments and the will soon begin working with Wayland to provide education to students. The university will also set up a Spirio hub at Waylands San Antonio campus to connect with students. Elmore said Steinway & Sons is excited about this opportunity and Waylands School of Music is becoming well-known among Steinway and its circle of influence. We are changing the way we teach piano, the way we are able to reach students who otherwise could not be reached, Elmore said. In every corner of the globe, especially in New York City, they know Wayland Baptist University, and they know this as being a cutting edge university that will make a difference because you have all the faculty, youve got the drive, youve got the discipline, youve got the donors, youve got everybody on board in this little location in the world who is literally going to change it. Tension gripped in Bansgaon area, under Tarwan police station limits of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh after a Dalit village head was murdered late on Friday evening. Angry family members, villagers staged violent protests where incidents of stone-pelting, vandalising police check posts along with arson were reported. The protests resulted in a stampede killing a teenager. However, a heavy police force was deployed in the area but the situation continues to remain tense. On the other hand, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati expressed grief over the incident and has raised questions on the incumbent BJP governments way of handling the situation. Comparing the functioning of Yogi Adityanath-led government with the Samajwadi Party regime, Mayawati tweeted, The news of the brutal killing of Dalit Pradhan Satyamev Jayate Pappu in Bansgaon, Azamgarh on the eve of Independence Day and death of one more person is very sad. What is the difference between the present SP and BJP government in UP, if such incidents continue to happen like before." Taking cognizance of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the bereaved family. And in addition to the amount of assistance given under the Scheduled Castes / Tribes Act, he announced additional assistance of Rs 5 lakhs from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Instructions were given to suspend the concerned police station and the post of in-charge with immediate effect. Adityanath has also directed officials to take action against the perpetrators under the Gangster Act, seize their property and invoke the National Security Act. As per the preliminary investigation, the deceased village Pradhan was identified as Satyameva Jayate, alias Pappu Ram. On the day of the incident, he was passing by a private school outside the village where his friends Vivek Singh and Suryansh Dubey, took him to a nearby tubewell on the pretext of a feast. Following a heated argument at the feast, Pappus friends allegedly shot him dead. The accused then informed the Pappus family about the murder and fled the spot. Following which, the villagers staged a protest and jammed the road which eventually turned violent. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 00:20:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Floods in India's eastern state of Bihar have affected over 8.1 million population, officials said Saturday. According to Bihar Disaster Management Department (BDMD), the ongoing floods have inundated 16 districts across the state, affecting a population of 8,131,841. The ongoing floods have hit 1,310 panchayats (villages) spreading over 130 blocks of 16 districts, data released by BDMD said. According to officials, the floods have claimed 25 lives in five districts. Officials said several rivers and rivulets were flowing above the danger mark in the affected districts. The floodwater has inundated residential areas and has posed a threat to embankments. Locals said the floodwater has entered houses and shops, and people are moving around in boats. According to officials, over half a million people have been evacuated. "A total of 550,838 people have been evacuated," the data shows. "Ten relief camps have been set up, wherein 12,573 people are taking shelter. Besides this 782 community kitchens have been set up to provide food to the displaced people." Authorities pressed in 33 teams of disaster response force personnel in the affected areas. Of these teams, 20 belong to National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) while 13 are from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Flooding has been going on in Bihar since July 13. Enditem Counterprotesters staged their own event in the area at the same time as the rally that the Proud Boys had planned, according to local media reports. When the Proud Boys arrived, the confrontation ensued. Some fist fights occurred before police arrived and ordered the crowds to disperse. A reporter for MLive.com, who was detained by police while recording live on Facebook, reported that some of the Proud Boys also used pepper spray on people. YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani troops violated the ceasefire regime nearly 300 times on Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line in the period of August 9-15, during which over 6000 bullets were fired in the direction of Armenian border guards from different caliber weapons. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, the front line units of the Defense Army took adequate counter-measures to protect their military positions. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan The death toll in South Sudan's Warrap State has risen to 148 following fighting this past weekend during a disarmament exercise, a local government official said on Friday, and the UN has deployed forces to maintain calm in the region. Heavy clashes erupted over a two-day period between armed civilians and government forces carrying out a disarmament project, after some armed youths in the Greater Tonj area started engaging the security forces. It is still unclear what set off the clashes. Tonj East County Executive Director Makuei Mabior Dhuol told Reuters that the death toll jumped due to some of the injured not receiving immediate medical treatment after the fighting. "According to the latest report, we have collected 148 people killed from both sides," Mabior said. "85 were civilians and the other 63 were government soldiers." A further 141 were injured, Mabior added. The United Nations Peace Mission in South Sudan peacekeeping's patrol arrived in Tonj on Tuesday and has set up a temporary operating base to help deter further violence, spokesperson Francesca Mold told Reuters. "The patrol reported that the situation is calm although tensions remain high," Mold said. The national government, formed this year after a deal to end a conflict that broke out in 2013, launched a disarmament exercise in Tonj county last month, saying that armed militias in the area were driving inter-communal violence. Search Keywords: Short link: Two Myanmar migrant workers on death row for the brutal murder of a pair of British backpackers in Thailand have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment following a mass royal pardon. The men's lawyer Nadthasiri Bergman said the pardon decree -- which was published Friday and applies to all inmates on death row -- was "effective immediately". Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and of killing David Miller, 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of Koh Tao in September 2014. But defence lawyers have said the evidence used to convict the two men -- who are both from Myanmar's impoverished Rakhine state -- was unreliable and alleged that confessions by the pair were obtained under duress. "I can't find words to express how thankful we are," Ye Zaw Tun, a brother of Win Zaw Tun, told AFP on Saturday following the decree. "We knew this case was totally unfair, and we sometimes feel bitterness, but we want to say thanks for the royal pardon." A commutation of their sentence had been the pair's only remaining hope after their final appeal failed last year, with Thailand's top court ruling the evidence against them was clear. The case triggered a strong reaction from Myanmar, where many felt the two men had been given an unfair trial as low-paid migrant workers -- an integral part of Thailand's workforce -- are often regarded with contempt by its public. The police were accused of buckling under pressure to solve a crime that attracted worldwide attention. Defence lawyers claimed authorities mishandled DNA related to the case and did not allow independent analysis of the samples. Win Zaw Tun's brother said the men were in good health in prison but called for them to be "immediately released". The royal pardon comes as Thailand is rocked by near-daily anti-government demonstrations by student-led groups. bur-aph/leg Scientists argue that companies first priority should be to cut actual emissions wherever possible, and only rely on offsets for the emissions that cannot be cut. Big technology companies are leading the way. Apple Inc. has promised to cut all of their emissions by 75% by 2030 and then offset the remainder. Unilever, for example, plans to manufacture 100% of their products using renewable energy by 2030 showing that greener business models are possible, and only start using offsets when monitoring and verification is a lot stronger. But for companies in other industries, the choices can be tougher. Airlines that have no alternative to burning jet fuel and oil and gas companies do not have the option of drastically reducing emissions without making major changes to their business model or investing heavily in alternative technologies. Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed a software which can be of immense help to teachers who are currently facing challenges as the entire classroom session has shifted to online mode in different educational institutions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof Raja Datta of Electronics and Electrical Communication Department with his postgraduate students developed the software, the current version of which can be used within a campus LAN, an IIT Kharagpur spokesperson said on Saturday. Talking about the software Deekshak, Datta said, It is now a single session platform where the teacher would concentrate on the screen with the teaching materials while being able to view queries on a live chat box where each student can send in their queries. Students also have access to a doubt box where they can click to raise their hand and wait for the teacher to address it, as is done in a physical classroom. Teachers can also share documents with the students through the platform and even update notes on the documents in real-time, Datta said. Deekshak is a low bandwidth web-based software and can be accessed using any computer or even a cell phone. Teachers can also record attendance of the students on the platform. The software has been tested at IIT Kharagpur during the initial phase of social distancing with about 40 hours of classes being conducted with a total of approximately 300 students. IIT Kharagpur, Director Prof Virendra K Tewari said, We need platforms for addressing challenges faced by India and Deekshak is designed to cater to Indian academia, be it the bandwidth issue, or user interface or storage. He said, Deekshak is one step towards that goal through which the teachers would be able to offer more personalised interaction while focusing better on the act of teaching. IIT Kharagpur has applied for the copyright registration of Deekshak and is in search of a start-up company for its maintainability. Further development of Deekshak is also underway to improve its features and make it secure so that it can be made available for use in academia, said Datta. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 12:45:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Yosley Carrero HAVANA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A "No visitors allowed" door hanger reminds people to stay away from the apartment of Ariel Salas, a Cuban bus driver, also a COVID-19 frontliner, who lives with his wife and an adolescent son in Havana's Vedado district. Cuban authorities have urged people to comply with sanitary protocols and social distancing measures not only in public space, but also in residential areas and even at home amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the last few weeks. The 44-year-old driver is tasked with transporting medics and suspected patients from a COVID-19 isolation center on the outskirts of Havana with a bus manufactured by Chinese company Yutong. Everytime he finishes work and returns home at midnight, Salas will follow a set of sanitary measures to reduce the risk of infection. He also set a family rule he called "COVID-19 border control" to keep his beloved safe, as Havana has reimposed strict lockdowns earlier this week. "Once I get back from work, I remove my shoes at the front door, wash my hands properly with water and soap, and take a shower immediately. My house is like a small country that I have to protect from an invisible enemy," he told Xinhua. "Frontline workers have a huge responsibility nowadays because we are highly exposed to (risks of) contracting this terrible disease. One simple mistake could be fatal," he added. "It is like walking on a tightrope." As the island has recently seen a rise in local transmissions, Salas and his family give a priority to disinfecting doors, windows, tables and light switches so as to virus-proof his home. Salas' wife, Yaquelyn Santamarina, 47, a telecommunications technician who has been working from home since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, pays particular attention to ventilating the apartment and laundering outerwear. "Although we prefer home delivery services and online shopping, we usually go outside for basics. In that case, we have to be very cautious because the virus can be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers," she said. "Whenever I leave home to take the garbage out or buy vegetables at the market, I try to keep a distance of two meters from those around me. This is the perfect time to promote non-face-to-face communication," she said. The driver's son, Adrian Salas, 16, has also done his part as the whole family is fighting against the coronavirus. "I have the responsibility to keep remote controls and mobiles all cleaned up," he said. Many Cuban residents, like the Salas, have been accustomed to the "new normal." Ania Chibas, an epidemiologist and health expert at Cuba's Labiofam biological pharmaceutical laboratories, said that Cuban houses are cleaned more frequently than before, since people are aware that the novel coronavirus can survive on different surfaces. "People are setting rules to keep their homes free from the virus," Chibas told Xinhua. "It is not only a matter of health but also of social behavior." Cuba has registered 89 deaths and 3,229 cases from COVID-19 as of Friday. Enditem India is celebrating its 74th Independence Day today. This day commemorates Indias independence from the British rule. A proud day for Indians all over the world, social media is flooded with posts and messages to mark this special day. Among various posts, this one by the Indian Army stands out. The official Twitter handle of the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) shared a video to mark Independence Day. #IndianArmy remains steadfast in its service of the #Nation. Jai Hind Ki Sena, says the caption shared along with the video. The hashtags #NationFirst, #IndiaIndependenceDay, #SaluteTheSoldier have also been used in the tweet. The video highlights how the Indian Army overcomes extremely tough situations and challenges to protect its motherland. Take a look at the tweet shared: A similar video was also shared on the official account of the Chinar Corps, Indian Army. Both videos have collected thousands of likes and reactions of pride and gratitude from people on the micro-blogging platform. Many also wrote Happy Independence Day to wish others. Salute to ever vigilant Soldier. We celebrate because you stand guard. We live because you are prepared to die for us. Your debt can never be paid back. Please accept our deepest love and respect. RC (@IZEKRIM) August 15, 2020 Thank you for protecting & defending our freedom at all costs. Thank you for your service & sacrifices to the Nation. Forever indebted and grateful to all of you & your loved ones. Happy Independence Day warriors! Jai Hind. (@roshwrites) August 15, 2020 All the best to the Indian Army. Jai Hind. Brig R S Pathania, Veteran. (@rspathania) August 14, 2020 Wishing All INDIANS .....A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY..... pic.twitter.com/LAuSLXKVkl Ganesh rane (@GaneshRane07) August 14, 2020 Salute to soliders pic.twitter.com/45hd2SKxUq C (@__rickyArjun) August 15, 2020 What do you think about these videos? Also Read | Independence Day 2020: Heres how Twitter is celebrating Indias 74 years of Independence BRUSSELS The European Union has agreed to buy at least 300 million doses of AstraZenecas potential COVID-19 vaccine in its first such advance purchase deal, which could weaken plans led by the World Health Organisation for a global approach. The European Commission, which is negotiating on behalf of all 27 EU member states, said the deal included an option to purchase 100 million additional doses from the British drugmaker should its vaccine prove safe and effective. The EUs bilateral deal mirrors moves by the United States and other wealthy states, some of which are critical of the WHOs initiative, and further reduces the potentially available stock in the race to secure effective COVID-19 vaccines. The EU agreement follows an initial deal with AstraZeneca reached in June by Europes Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), a group formed by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to secure vaccine doses for all member states. The Commission did not disclose the terms of the new deal and declined to say whether it had replaced the IVAs. This new agreement will give all EU member states the option to access the vaccine in an equitable manner at no profit during the pandemic," AstraZeneca said in a statement. The EU executive said its deals are aimed at financing part of the upfront costs to develop vaccines. The funding would be partial down-payments to secure the shots, but actual purchases would be decided at a later stage by each EU state. The EU said over the past two weeks it was in advanced talks with Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi for their vaccines under development. It is also in talks with Pfizer , Moderna and CureVac to buy upfront their potential COVID-19 vaccines, EU officials told Reuters in July. BLOW TO WHO? The EU move could make more difficult efforts led by the WHO and GAVI, a global alliance for vaccines, to buy shots on behalf of rich and developing countries with a separate scheme. The Commission has urged EU states to shun the WHO-led initiative because it sees it as too expensive and slow, EU officials told Reuters in July. Now the Commission is openly saying that vaccines bought from AstraZeneca, and from other vaccine makers, could be donated to poorer states, effectively taking on the very task that the WHO is pursuing with the so-called ACT-Accelerator Hub. Brussels has publicly said that its purchasing scheme is complementary to the WHOs, but in private told EU states that there may be legal issues if they joined the WHO programme. 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 Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Sushant Singh Rajputs post mortem report doesnt mention time of death, says lawyer The lawyer for Sushant Singh Rajputs father has flagged the post mortem report of the actor which he claims does not mention the time of death. Read more Air India crew members who survived Kozhikode air crash given special leave to recover The cabin crew members who operated the ill-fated Air India Express flight IX 1344 that operated from Dubai to Kozhikode on August 7 have been granted special paid leave for a month. Read more Gold prices may hit below Rs 50,000 level. Should you invest or wait? Experts say the price of 10 gram of gold can fall below Rs 50,000 and that of one kilogram of silver can come down to Rs 60,000 tracking the international market. Read more Amit Shah asks countrymen to take a pledge on 74th Independence Day Union home minister Amit Shah has said that the 74th Independence Day is witness to an independent, strong and self-sufficient India that our freedom fighters had dreamt of and he urged the citizens to take pledge on the occasion to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Read more Sanjay Dutt posts on social media for first time since cancer diagnosis, wishes fans on Independence Day Actor Sanjay Dutt has shared his first social media post after he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this week. Sanjay wished his fans and followers on Independence Day. Read more Grocery store employee entertains shoppers with her melodious voice, goes viral Some shoppers at a store in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, have had the pleasure of witnessing a melodious musical performance while grocery shopping all thanks to 24-year-old Lily Taylor-Ward. Read more Yumthang, Dzuko, Valley of Flowers: Check out Indias most picturesque floral landscapes If you have ever imagined yourself running through a picturesque field of blooming poppies, with your hair caught in the wind or even if you imagine trekking through these fields to capture those amazing photographs, India has several destinations that you can visit. Read more Missiles, fighter jets, medical tech: PM Modis atmanirbhar India examples Addressing the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the country will realise the dream, adding that the dream of self-reliance is turning into a pledge. Watch The United States on Friday failed in its attempt to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, and Washington could now act on a threat to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Tehran. Here is a look at the events leading to the showdown and an explanation of what could happen next. WHY IS THE ARMS EMBARGO ON IRAN EXPIRING? The United Nations Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Iran in 2007. The embargo is due to expire in mid-October, as agreed to under the 2015 nuclear deal among Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for economic sanctions relief. That accord is enshrined in a 2015 Security Council resolution. In 2018, US President Donald Trump quit the accord reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, calling it "the worst deal ever." The United States failed on Friday in a bid to extend the arms embargo on Iran at the UN Security Council. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE 2015 NUCLEAR DEAL? Even though the United States has withdrawn from the nuclear deal, Washington has threatened to use a provision in the agreement to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not extend the arms embargo. While diplomats have predicted that the so-called sanctions snapback process at the Security Council would be messy - with the remaining parties to the nuclear deal opposed to such a move - it could ultimately kill the nuclear deal because Iran would lose a major incentive for limiting its nuclear activities. After the United States quit the deal, it imposed strong unilateral sanctions. In response, Iran has breached parts of the nuclear deal. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday described the next few weeks and months as critical. WHAT SANCTIONS WOULD SNAP BACK? A snapback of UN sanctions would require Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and ban imports of anything that could contribute to those activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. It would reimpose the arms embargo, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and reimpose targeted sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities. Countries also would be urged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and authorized to seize any banned cargo. HOW DOES THE UNITED STATES TRIGGER A SANCTIONS SNAPBACK? The United States would have to submit a complaint about Iran breaching the nuclear deal to the Security Council. The council would then have to vote within 30 days on a resolution to continue Iran's sanctions relief. If such a resolution is not put forward by the deadline, all UN sanctions in place before the 2015 nuclear deal would be automatically reimposed. Some diplomats have said the United States could submit its complaint as early as next week. CAN THE US EFFORT BE STOPPED? It was not immediately clear how Russia, China or any other Security Council members might try to stop the United States from triggering a sanctions snapback or if procedurally there is any way they can. Diplomats have said several countries are likely to argue that the United States legally could not activate a return of UN sanctions and therefore they simply would not reimpose the measures on Iran themselves. Sisters Daisy Johnson Jonathan Cape 14.99 Just ten months apart, teen sisters September and July share an unusually intense bond, with one dominating the other. At the start of this eerie novel, theyve moved from Oxford to an isolated house on the North York Moors with their mum, a childrens writer still haunted by the cruelty of their dead father. The slow revelation of the unmentionable episode that led to their flight drives a lushly written, psychologically suspenseful narrative thats not easily forgotten. Hephzibah Anderson Meanwhile In Dopamine City D. B. C. Pierre Faber 18.99 It is easy to sympathise with Lonnie, the hero of Pierres dystopian fantasy. He is an unemployed widower, at loggerheads with his teenage daughter, and new technologies designed to bridge the generation gap are having the opposite effect. Apps go haywire. Gibberish floods the screen. Alas, Pierre gets so carried away with his conceit that the novel becomes as incoherent as the technological gobbledegook it is trying to satirise. Only the hardiest readers will last the course. Max Davidson Burnt Sugar Avni Doshi Hamish Hamilton 14.99 Antara endures a sordid, traumatic upbringing in an Indian city. Her mother takes her to live in an ashram, neglecting her to serve as the gurus lover; her father remarries and emigrates; shes sent to a boarding school run by a sadistic nun. As she begins a family of her own, she finds herself responsible for her mother, now in the grip of dementia. Can she forgive her? Doshis Booker-longlisted novel is sometimes overwritten, but the plot is absorbing. Anthony Gardner The Less Dead Denise Mina Harvill Secker 14.99 Mina is the most compassionate of crime novelists. The title of her latest refers to the murder victims no one cares about: the prostitutes and druggies. It features Margo, a Glasgow GP who decides to find her birth mother, only to discover that she was murdered 30 years earlier. Soon Margo is quite literally stalked by her mothers awful past. This is a dark and heartfelt novel, full of sadness and anger at the undeserved harshness of too many lives. John Williams Business has soared for UPS as Americans have turned to home delivery during the pandemic, but employees say heavy workloads, COVID-19 safety measures and sweltering summer heat are pushing them to the limit. We're in the middle of a pandemic, said David Cockrel, a UPS driver and union steward in Brooklyn, New York. It's about 105 to 110 and hotter in the back of that truck. We're working, 10, 11, 12, 13 hours a day. Were tired. Twenty UPS workers around the country told NBC News that since spring theyve been dealing with the volume of packages they see during their peak season, the Christmas rush, if not more. As the pandemic has forced businesses to close around the country, UPS is a shiny outlier. Company statistics show home deliveries are up two-thirds compared to the same period in 2019. But even as temperatures rise, drivers and warehouse workers said theyre pushed to work harder and pressured not to take breaks or days off. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak As the pandemic extends into the hottest days of summer, UPS employees are among thousands of essential workers in the U.S. confronting a Catch-22. To stave off infection, theyre told to wear masks and avoid clustering with others in closed, air-conditioned spaces. But those measures increase the risk of heat illness a problem for delivery workers even before the pandemic. Last year, NBC News found more UPS employees were hospitalized for serious heat-related injuries between 2015 and 2018 than workers at any other company except the U.S. Postal Service, which is significantly larger. Many delivery vehicles and warehouses for UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service the nations three largest delivery companies are not air conditioned, a growing challenge for workers as the climate warms. Dave Cockrel and Basil Darling, UPS drivers and union shop stewards, stand outside their UPS facility in Brooklyn, N.Y. UPS has seen booming business during the pandemic, but workers say long days and hundreds of deliveries have left them exhausted. (Lisa Riordan Seville / NBC News) The challenge is compounded now that you have a pandemic risk on top of the heat risk in the summer, said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of Harvards Center for Climate Health and the Global Environment. We have to make sure, especially now that so much is dependent on package delivery, that those workers are protected both from heat and infection. Story continues Both UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents UPS workers, said the company has taken steps to protect them from COVID-19 and heat, including reviewing their safety policies, requiring workers with the virus to test negative before returning to work and mandating masks in the buildings. But the mask itself makes the workers hotter. Wearing a mask for a long period of time makes it more difficult for your body to cool down, said Juley Fulcher, worker health and safety advocate at Public Citizen, a nonprofit that has pushed for better heat standards. You should be wearing a mask, but you should be taking regular mask breaks. Devain Campbell, a warehouse worker who had just finished loading five UPS trucks on a July morning in Brooklyn, told NBC News wearing a mask can be suffocating in the heat. Its like 100 degrees trapped on your face. Workers facing the twin challenges of heat and coronavirus have few federal protections. There are no national workplace regulations that address either heat or airborne infectious diseases, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not issued emergency rules in response to the pandemic. Its stunning, said Debbie Berkowitz, director of the Workplace Safety and Health Program at the National Employment Law Project and a former top OSHA official. It is a total failure of an agency to protect workers. Record loads, rising profits Home delivery has grown rapidly in the past decade, pressuring warehouse workers and drivers to move ever faster to get packages to doorsteps. But during the pandemic, delivery suddenly became a lifeline. This springs delivery boom somewhat cushioned pandemic-related economic losses at the Postal Service and FedEx. At UPS, it brought record growth, with revenue growing more than 13 percent and deliveries growing 65 percent. The company increased cleaning, hired 39,000 employees and expanded weekend operations to ease the load on workers, said UPS spokesperson Matt OConnor. "We never want our employees to continue working to the point that they risk their health or work in an unsafe manner," said OConnor in an email. But workers from Kentucky to California told NBC News said that even as business boomed, UPS was slow to address safety concerns. In Tucson, Ariz., June saw a COVID-19 outbreak at the UPS facility, according to local union officials. More than 40 UPS employees tested positive. One died. We were devastated when we heard of our employees passing, said OConnor, who added the company increased cleaning at the Tucson facility and ensured that employees were using personal protective equipment properly. Workers and union officials said the company is now falling short in adapting as summer heat has met record demand. You knew summer was coming, said Karla Schumann, principal officer of Teamster Local Union 104 in Arizona. You knew temperatures were going to go through the roof. And you knew you were going to put people in the position of working excessive hours in a pandemic. This is avoidable. 'Go, go, go' Even before the pandemic, climate change was shaping the lives of essential workers in hot environments. This summer is on track to be one of the hottest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. High temperatures can have devastating effects on the body. What begins as fatigue or fainting can quickly lead to organ failure. Heat illnesses, heat cramps these can be deadly, said R. Jisung Park, an environmental and labor economist at the University of California, Los Angeles who studies heats effects. But theres evidence that finds that hotter temperatures raise the risk of other injuries, too. Research has increasingly linked incidents from heart attacks to accidents like ladder falls and car crashes to hot temperatures, indicating heat-related injuries are far more widespread than previously thought. Were almost certainly undercounting what the effects are, said Amir Jina, a University of Chicago professor and researcher with Climate Impact Lab. UPS does not air condition its boxy brown trucks where, on hot days, drivers say they have clocked temperatures above 150 degrees in the cargo areas. The company does not consistently provide drivers with water and the ice machines at its facilities frequently run out or break, workers said. UPS said air conditioning trucks drivers constantly turn on and off is ineffective, as is air conditioning many warehouses with large, open doors. The company did not directly respond when asked about water and ice machines, but has previously said it provides drivers water in the morning but not when they are out on their routes. Drivers often rely on public buildings and businesses to find respite. The pandemic has whittled their options. There are no libraries to go to. Can't go to restaurants, said Basil Darling, a driver in Brooklyn. What we would somewhat have as a little break, we don't even have that. Those workers who move packages in the companys warehouses said they feel the same pressure as drivers from management to move quickly. The buildings largely cooled by fans can be hotter than outside in the summer, workers said. The dark brown trucks they load, which sit out in the sun, are hotter still. They ask, Are you alright? but see if you can keep going, said a warehouse worker in Dallas, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. There are days when I go home, I feel like passing out. Basil Darling, a UPS driver and union shop steward, in Brooklyn, N.Y. in July. Darling and others said UPS workers have been suffering with the twin challenges of COVID-19 and sweltering summer heat. (Lisa Riordan Seville / NBC News) Texas has reported more severe heat injuries for delivery workers to OSHA than any other state, federal data show. But some of the new workers are not being properly trained on how to protect themselves, said Debbie Franco, another Dallas warehouse worker. Weve had a lot of new hires in the last two months and a lot of them are put in operations without being trained, she said. If theyre not trained well in hydration, theyll just go, go, go." Employers can mitigate risk of both coronavirus and heat illness by giving workers time to cool off in safe places, Fulcher of Public Citizen said. During the pandemic, when more employees are pushed outdoors to do everything from curbside pickup to COVID-19 testing, essential workers are particularly vulnerable. Weve all come to realize just how important these folks are, and just how much theyre putting their lives at risk for us, said Fulcher. 'Unthinkable' But despite a growing attention to the role of essential workers, advocates said OSHA, which polices workplaces, has failed to protect them. Its unthinkable to me what has been happening with OSHA, said Terri Gerstein, senior fellow at the Economic Policy Institute and director of the State and Local Enforcement Project at Harvard Law School. They are abdicating their duty to enforce the law. OSHA has been working around the clock to protect Americas workers during the pandemic, an agency spokesperson wrote in an email. The agency has issued guidance for employers on respirators, preparing the workplace for COVID-19 and enforcement responsibilities. It has also reminded employees about whistleblower protections, the spokesperson said. OSHA maintains that the guidance, along with existing law, is enough to protect workers. But it has done little enforcement. The agency has received more than 9,000 coronavirus-related complaints since March. It has issued just four citations. Data obtained in early June showed more than 350 complaints concerned the Postal Service, FedEx and UPS inadequately protecting workers from coronavirus. Of those, OSHA conducted five inspections. The most common complaints were an inability to social distance, bathrooms constantly without soap and minimal communication about coworkers who tested positive for the virus. Without stronger federal regulations, some states are taking their own steps. In July, Virginia became the first state in the nation to pass safety rules to protect workers from infection. In the face of federal inaction, Virginia has stepped up to protect workers from COVID-19, said Governor Ralph Northam in a press release. Local union president Vinnie Perrone, left, speaks to UPS workers at a protest of working conditions at their Brooklyn facility on July 24, 2020. (Adiel Kaplan / NBC News) More than a dozen other states have broadened worker protections. Among those is California, which is the only state that has a comprehensive standard to help prevent heat illness in outdoor workers. Since 2018, OSHA has pushed UPS, the Postal Service and FedEx to voluntarily improve their heat protections, records show. In written statements, both FedEx and the Postal Service said they educate workers on heat illness, encouraging hydration, rest and to recognize the signs of heat illness. The Postal Service also said it has provided all of its employees hot-weather face coverings...to ensure their safety and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. UPS and the Postal Service were both fined twice for heat citations. But those fines may successfully be contested. Last month, a judge vacated five Postal Service heat citations from 2016 and 2017, ruling that OSHA failed to show that the heat-stress chart it uses to issue citations was based in science. The rulings could have widespread implications for OSHAs ability to successfully cite employers for failing to protect workers from heat exposure, leaving workers vulnerable as temperatures continue to rise. If they arent going to defend the guidelines for heat, are they going to defend the guidelines for COVID? asked Fulcher, the worker safety advocate. Outside a warehouse in Brooklyn on a sticky July morning, brown-clad UPS drivers gathered before their shift on the last day of a weeklong protest. UPS is one of the only companies that made a large profit in the last six months, while most businesses are closing, said Chris, who declined to give his last name for fear of retaliation. We just dont feel they treat their employees fairly. Chris said he had passed out twice from the heat during his decade working at UPS. I don't think that's safe working in a hot truck, he said. But in an economic crisis, he cant afford to be out of work. You could stand up and lose your job and end up homeless. Or you could just go with what they say. James Durbin/Midland Reporter-Telegram After nearing a five-month high with a $1 gain Wednesday, crude prices retreated as the week came to an end, weakened by rising concerns about a resurgence of the novel coronavirus and its impact on global economies as well as the postponement of talks between the U.S. and China this weekend to review progress on their phase one trade agreement. West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 23 cents, or 0.5 percent, to close at $42.01 a barrel. The posted price ended the week at $38.50 a barrel. Despite two days of decline that eroded Wednesdays jump, prices recorded a 1.9 percent gain for the week. (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Friday said it has sealed an agreement to supply the European Commission with up to 400 million does of its AZD1222 Covid-19 vaccine. The pact is the company's first Covid-19 vaccine deal with the European Commission, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant noted. "Building on the existing agreement with Europe's Inclusive Vaccines Alliance spearheaded by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, this new agreement will give all EU member states the option to access the vaccine in an equitable manner at no profit during the pandemic. It also allows EU member states to redirect doses to other European countries," the drugmaker said. "AstraZeneca continues to engage with governments, multilateral organisations and partners around the world to ensure broad and equitable access to the vaccine, should clinical trials prove successful. Recent supply announcements with Russia, South Korea, Japan, China, Latin America and Brazil take the global supply capacity towards three billion doses of the vaccine." In July, AstraZeneca ported encouraging interim results from a trial of the vaccine, being developed alongside Oxford University. The much-anticipated findings showed that a single dose of AZD1222 resulted in a four-fold increase in antibodies fighting SARS-CoV-2, the virus strain which causes Covid-19. Shares in the Cambridge-based firm were 1.3% lower at 8,433.00 pence each in London on Friday afternoon. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Actually, I have had enough. So should you have had enough. The time has come for real discontent, or there will be no end to our mistreatment and humiliation by this Government. To call these people incompetent would be to pay them an over-generous compliment. We shall see in a minute what might be a better word. This is not personal grievance. By great good fortune, I managed a swift holiday a few weeks ago, and was not caught by any sudden Government panic measure, though the holiday itself, in places I love, was a sad shadow of what it would once have been. Passengers are seen returning from France to St Pancras Station, London after quarantine restrictions were introduced. These figures of so-called cases mean nothing except that the authorities have been looking harder for such cases, and finding them, even though the people involved are usually not ill So my anger about the crazy quarantining of travellers to France is not self-interested. This heartless smashing of the simple pleasures of thousands is a futile act of spite. Do you know how many people officially died of Covid-19 in France during the past week? Fewer than 80. In April, official deaths in that country peaked at more than 1,400 in a single day. These figures of so-called cases mean nothing except that the authorities have been looking harder for such cases, and finding them, even though the people involved are usually not ill. A similar panic in New Zealand concerns an outbreak in which (at the last count) one person was in hospital. Everything about the figures we are given has been fraudulent and wrong. We will never know how many people were listed as Covid deaths in this country, whose true cause of death was something else. The rules on classifying them were shockingly lax, and almost no post-mortems were held, so we can never check. But the London Government was last week forced to admit that for some time its official death figures have been a wild overstatement of the facts. Somehow this colossal event was pushed on to inside pages and way down BBC bulletins, but let me tell you the UKs total death toll has been revised down from 46,706 to 41,329, a fall of 5,377. That, as you might have noticed, is an error of more than ten per cent, a huge admission. They were forced into this by the brilliant forensic work of Professor Carl Heneghan and his brave colleagues at Oxfords Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, which showed that the previous figures were so loose that they could have included car-crash victims who once tested positive for Covid. They were forced into this by the brilliant forensic work of Professor Carl Heneghan and his brave colleagues at Oxfords Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, which showed that the previous figures were so loose that they could have included car-crash victims who once tested positive for Covid. Even the fatuous Health Commissar Matt Hancock (above) had to accept that for months, his department had been publishing bilge as if it was information Even the fatuous Health Commissar Matt Hancock had to accept that for months, his department had been publishing bilge as if it was information. I promise you here that, when sanity and respect for facts once again resume their reign in this country (if they ever do), then it will prove to be far worse than that. My suspicion is that the wrecking of the economy and the state-sponsored panic of these times has killed more people than Covid ever did, and the research on this is piling up too, though the BBC would prefer not to mention that either. A paper submitted to the Governments own scientific advisory group, SAGE, estimated that 16,000 people had died up to May 1, thanks to missed medical care following the shutdown of the country. They suggested another 26,000 could die by next March for the same reason. If these figures are right (and I believe they will be vindicated by hard research), the Governments flailing panic killed two people for every three who died of coronavirus and that is assuming the Covid death figures are not inflated. The scale of this error is so great that the mind turns away from it. Add to it the slow but relentless destruction of the economy and the catastrophe in the schools, and you have even more to weep over. Bit by bit, people are finding out what a recession actually means in terms of lost jobs, busted businesses and ravaged pensions. This is all now inevitable, and only weeks away. Meanwhile, thousands of teenagers have been robbed of an essential part of their education, which they can never get back. Thanks to bungles piled on top of folly, they now face stupid injustice, broken hopes and the cold face of bureaucracy. Those responsible for this have a terrible load on their consciences. Back in March, their famous SAGE committee produced a document, Options for increasing adherence to social distancing measures. It concluded that we were not yet frightened enough. It said: A substantial number of people still do not feel sufficiently personally threatened. So we needed to be scared into compliance. It recommended: The perceived level of personal threat needs to be increased among those who are complacent, using hard-hitting emotional messaging. So the hidden persuaders went to work with their doom-laden warnings, their house arrest, their claims that we are all toxic to each other, and their swollen death tolls. Now they seek to keep up the anxiety levels by trying to make us wear loose, soggy muzzles. And here we are, perhaps for ever, unless we begin to show a bit of spirit. Remember how we used to boast about how unflappable we were, with our Keep calm and carry on posters. Well, we are not unflappable. We have been well and truly flapped, and this is the price you pay for it. Blame Blair and his heir for migrant crisis I have tried and tried to think of a civilised way in which we could stop people crossing the Channel illegally and landing here. But I cannot. We are stuck with this. But there are still people to blame. We are stuck with this. But there are still people to blame. Notably the Blair Creature, who destroyed the stability of the Middle East with his unforgivable and dishonest support for the Iraq War. That was when the great mass migration towards Europe began Notably the Blair Creature, who destroyed the stability of the Middle East with his unforgivable and dishonest support for the Iraq War. That was when the great mass migration towards Europe began. Also to blame is Blairs imitator, David Cameron, still vying for the title of Worst British Prime Minister Ever (with Al Johnson coming up fast on the inside). Mr Cameron must have been told by someone in Whitehall that overthrowing the Libyan tyrant Muammar Gaddafi would mean mass migration across the Mediterranean. Gaddafi had often threatened it himself. And if Cameron had the sense he was born with (not to mention that imparted by his expensive education), he must have realised that if you depose despots, chaos often follows. These people need to be restrained. But far too often the public sees foreign wars as video games that will never have any effect here. Next time, beware of this. These evil, foolish actions, dressed up as noble or humanitarian, always have long-lasting bad outcomes at home. A hit drama built on lies When it first appeared, I refused to watch the Netflix series The Crown, starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith, as I was sure it would be twisted propaganda masquerading as truth. Now, thanks to the total absence of anything worth watching on normal TV, I have abandoned my ban. And it is even worse than I suspected. Thanks to an excellent handbook by Hugo Vickers, who explains in detail the falsehoods and errors that spatter every episode, I can entertain myself by exclaiming That cant be true! and then checking to find that, in fact, it isnt true. How did it garner so much praise? I can only imagine that it is because so many TV reviewers are ill-informed, chip- on-the-shoulder republicans and boring Leftists. Which is not exactly a surprise. When it first appeared, I refused to watch the Netflix series The Crown, starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith, as I was sure it would be twisted propaganda masquerading as truth If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here Idris Elba is set to star in a new spy film, it was revealed by Variety on Saturday. The actor, 47, will both act in and produce the untitled project, which is described as a 'spy movie with romance' and is set in Africa. Apple have won the rights to distribute the movie - which will also be produced by Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon for Genre Films - after a bidding war. New venture: Idris Elba is set to star in and produce a new untitled spy film set in Africa after Apple TV+ won the distribution rights, it was revealed on Saturday Both Idris and Simon have first-look deals with the streamer to produce series and features for Apple TV+, with Kinberg in the early stages of an untitled sci-fi series for the platform. It marks a return to the spy genre for Simon, who previously wrote Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and he has also directed the upcoming spy movie 355, which is slated for release next year and stars Jessica Chastain and Penelope Cruz. Idris has been strongly tipped for the role of another famous spy, James Bond, in the past, but claimed in 2016 that he felt he was 'too old' to take the part. Getting to work; The project, which is also being produced by Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon, has been described as a 'spy movie with romance' (Idris pictured in Hobbs & Shaw) Last month, Idris expressed to Digital Spy his desire to bring his television series Luther to the big screen. He said: 'I've maintained that I'd like to see it come to a film. That's what I think we're headed towards, a film. 'I'm looking forward to making that happen. It is happening.' Elba - who played the role of DCI John Luther in the BBC show - has also previously said he feels that the potential project has traits of classic crime movies and suggested that he could take the character away from the UK. He explained: 'Luther has all the ingredients to echo those classic films of the 90s like Seven and Along Came A Spider. 'I think what we'd like to attempt is use that as a blueprint to create it. It will be more murder, more Volvos, more frowning Luther. 'Essentially we just want to try and take it to a much bigger remit and scale and perhaps international as well.' Many Americans seem to have understandably concluded that Joe Biden has dementia based on his very public displays of confusion, aphasia, and incoherence. But the question we should actually be asking is What is going on with Joe out of public view? Like many Americans who have cared for parents with dementia, I witnessed my fathers decline firsthand and, sadly, Joe Biden is presenting exactly as my father did in the early stages -- right down to the vacant look in his eyes. While I am neither doctor nor expert, physicians and other medical professionals rely heavily on caregiver observations because they monitor the diseases progression 24/7 over the long haul, and can add valuable input that is not always obvious at an appointment or measurable with a cognitive test. I am relying on my experience as my fathers caregiver, corroborated by medical professionals, health consultants, literature, research, and the shared experiences of others. Of course, not every dementia victim will experience every symptom, but the commonalities are significant. As the disease grabs hold of ones faculties, men like Biden and my father continue to view themselves as experienced executives -- in control, commanding, and coherent; holding court as the family patriarch; the old dude whos seen it all. They dont doubt their ability to express complex ideas with the right words. And so, they conduct business as usual and, for the most part, things go fine until they stammer over a word, get frustrated, then confused, and either babble their way out or shut down. It isnt long before lost words, forgotten names, and elusive ideas are replaced by whatchamacallit, whosimajig, whatshername, and the thing. These lapses can be easily hidden during the early stages. Its not uncommon for loved ones, spouses in particular, to make excuses for the afflicted, cover up the messes, and run interference with others. In those embarrassing moments when a dementia patient fails to recognize someone he should know, the dutiful spouse (often in denial) will swoop down, rush to his side, and handle the mishap. Of course X remembers you. Hes just very tired from our trip. Can you excuse us for a second? She will answer the phone and put the caller on speaker to assist with answering questions her spouse might find confounding. She will accompany him everywhere and serve as backup if he starts to frazzle. But for those occasional senior moments, he seems put together to the outside world. Thats because sub rosa the dutiful spouse makes sure medicine is taken, hygiene and grooming are attended to, and meals are provided and eaten. She controls his schedule and prepares him for the days events. She learns mornings are best, he tires and gets confused as the day ensues, and that crowds and noise are triggers. If she doesnt manage his life, he wont be able to manage it. But the charade can only last so long -- she cannot anticipate everything and the effects of the disease can be unpredictable. What many people dont realize is that stress is a huge trigger and maintaining life as usual can add untold stress to a dementia patients life. Things we generally take for granted can be monumental stressors: a change in schedule or routine, a visit to a new place, travel, a new doctor, crowds, too many people talking at once, loud noises, a rare visit from an adult child. As stress incidents accumulate over time, anxiety increases. As anxiety builds, confusion mounts. Eventually, it seems none of the brains electrical impulses can get where they need to go and the individual devolves into delusions and hallucinations. It can happen at the end of a normal day where the patient decompensates and becomes disoriented, confused, anxious, belligerent, or agitated (sundowning) or amass over months and give way to hallucinations. I call it the anxiety-confusion-delusion loop but I honestly dont recall if I coined that caring for my father or if I read it somewhere. What should give every voter pause is the likelihood that Biden is already experiencing or, due to high stress levels, has a very high risk of experiencing disorientation, crippling anxiety, paranoia, serious behavioral changes, delusions, and intense cognitive decline. Dementia cannot be reversed and will only worsen. He might deliver a short speech and take a few questions without incident, but he invariably falters as he tires -- indicia of other symptoms that will intensify with the hourly rigors of a campaign. It isnt far-fetched to anticipate a president in the White House who forgets to dress, thinks night is day, wanders aimlessly in the middle of the night looking out windows, opening drawers, trying to get somewhere else. The laundry list of behavioral changes is vast and not conducive to a functioning presidency. However, he will be propped up by Jill and his handlers, groomed, medicated, and fed, and might appear just fine at the next days events, even reading from notes and teleprompters until he forgets how to read, what the notes are for, or how the teleprompter works. Forget about multitasking, handling complex economic or geopolitical issues, and running the country 24/7. With todays technology, deep fake videos, and a COVID-inspired virtual presidency, perhaps the DNC is confident they can pull a fast one on the American people, run a shadow government with Joe as the face of the presidency, and cover up his infirmity and ineptitude with the aid of the press -- think Woodrow Wilson and FDR. Maybe they just hope to defeat Trump by any means necessary and plan to invoke the 25th Amendment elevating Kamala Harris to the presidency -- someone who couldnt convince more than 2% of the primary voters to consider her for the nomination. Or, they could be running Biden-Harris knowing theyre unwinnable, but fully intending to contest the election, accuse Trump of stealing it, calling (again) for his impeachment/removal, and causing just enough bedlam to destroy his second term. The Democrat-Media Complex has been explicit about taking Trump down by any means necessary so none of this is overblown or hyperbole. In fact, these tactics have either been deployed during Trumps first term (i.e., impeachment) or suggested as potential tools against him in another context (i.e., 25th Amendment). Fortunately for Jill Biden and Joes political handlers, COVID has played right into their hands, requiring limited exposure to crowds, a controlled schedule, and scaled-back social interactions. But lurking behind those senior moment-y, Joe Biden-y gaffes is his inability to function independently for a full day at peak performance. Of course they dont want a normal campaign season. They just need to get Joe to the finish line and, if theyre lucky, over it. Image: Goodfreephotos Former President Pranab Mukherjees medical condition remains unchanged, the Army (R&R) Hospital, where Mukherjee is undergoing treatment since Monday, announced on Saturday, adding that he continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists, the statement added. On the occasion of Independence Day on Saturday, Mukherjees daughter Sharmistha took to Twitter and shared memories of last years Independence Day celebrations with her father. She said her father never missed a year to hoist the tri-colour on Independence Day and hoped for him to do the same next year. In his childhood, my dad & my uncle would hoist National Flag at our ancestral home in village. Since then, he never missed a year to hoist tri-colour on Independence Day. Sharing some memories from last years celebration at home. Im sure hell do the same next year. Jai Hind, her tweet read. The former president underwent a critical brain surgery to remove a clot in his brain after he suffered a fall at his Rajaji Marg residence on Sunday. On Friday, Sharmistha said that her fathers condition remains critical but has not worsened. Without getting into medical jargons, whatever I could understand from the last two days is that though my dads condition continues to remain very critical, it hasnt worsened. Theres little improvement in his eyes reaction to light, she said. Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chinese tech giant and TikTok parent company, ByteDance is reportedly in early talks with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) about an investment in the India operations of its short-form video app, reports TechCrunch citing sources. The report states that the two companies began conversations late last month but are yet to reach a deal. TikToks business in India is being valued at more than $3 billion, the report added. In a separate report by the Economic Times, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer had contacted top RIL officials to see if there was any investment interest. Nor ByteDance or TikTok have commented on the matter. However, the Mukesh Ambani-owned company, said the news was just a speculation, reports ET. On June 29, 2020, the Indian government had announced a ban on 59 Chinese mobile applications, which included TikTok, UC Browser, CamScanner, SHAREit, WeChat, and more, citing these apps are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order. The ban had come in the wake of the India-China border conflict that took place earlier in June, leading to anti-China sentiment brewing among people with many independent activists calling for the boycott of Chinese goods, services and apps. Before the ban in June, Tiktok had amassed over 200 million users in India. The video-sharing app is also facing a similar ban in the U.S. Earlier this month, tech giant Microsoft had confirmed that it is reportedly in advanced talks with Bytedance to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok. Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States, Microsoft had said in a blog post on August 2. However, last week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits Chinese-based app TikTok from doing business with the U.S. firms terming it a threat to the national security and to the countrys economy. But Trump said that he would support Microsofts efforts to buy TikToks U.S. operations only if the U.S. Treasury got a substantial portion of the proceeds. Microsoft is expected to submit its proposal to the U.S. government by September 15. Besides Microsoft, there were also reports of social media platform Twitter having held preliminary discussions on a potential combination with TikTok involving their U.S. operations. On the left, Sharon Lyons is pictured with her granddaughter, Lillie. On the right, her dented front door can be seen after Chicago police conducted a drug raid. Courtesy of Al Hofeld In the wake of the police raid that killed Breonna Taylor in March, no-knock and knock-and-announce searches across the country have faced scrutiny. There's no nationwide database that tracks them all, but at least 78 civilians and 13 officers have died in police raids that went wrong between 2010 and 2016, according to a New York Times tally. In one recent instance in Chicago, police violently burst into an innocent woman's home and pointed guns at her 4-year-old granddaughter and adult son with autism, she told Insider. Sharon Lyons, 55, has sued the Chicago Police Department over the incident, and said they left her and her family traumatized and permanently fearful for their own safety. The Chicago Police Department declined to comment on the raid, due to the pending litigation, and a lawyer representing the city of Chicago in the lawsuit did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. When Sharon Lyons gazed out her window on the evening of February 20 to see why police were in the street outside her Chicago apartment building, she wondered briefly if something had happened with her neighbors downstairs. Then, she heard a loud boom. Roughly 16 police officers busted through her building's front entrance, thundered up the stairs, and smashed in Lyons' front door, according to court documents. They pointed their guns in what seemed like every possible direction and shone lights in her face. They yelled at everyone in the apartment to "GET DOWN! GET THE F--- DOWN!" The officers, from the Chicago Police Department, were there to execute a search warrant. They were looking for a suspect named "Blondie," whom they believed was selling heroin out of the apartment, according to a federal lawsuit Lyons filed in June. But no one by that name was connected with Lyons' home. The only people inside were members of her family, who were cooped up together that winter evening while they recovered from illnesses. Story continues Among those family members were Lyons' 4-year-old granddaughter, Lillie, and one of her adult sons, Julius, who has autism. Lyons said the officers pointed guns at both Lillie and Julius, who screamed and cried in terror. "It was just, it was chaos," Lyons told Insider in August. "Every time I think about it I get mad." Amid a nationwide reckoning over police violence since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis this May, Lyons has watched as other victims of botched police raids have garnered notoriety and spurred movements for justice. She took note of the death of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old EMT who Louisville police officers fatally shot in March during a raid. "Unprofessional," Lyons said of the raid that killed Taylor. "I didn't like it." Police raids across the country have left a trail of deaths and trauma Police departments across the country have faced similar lawsuits over no-knock raids gone wrong, a practice that activists have called for localities to ban. At worst, officers have killed innocent people. At best, they have left families like Lyons scarred and traumatized, but alive. Experts have estimated police carry out 20,000 no-knock raids across the US each year. In the wake of Taylor's death, Louisville banned its police department from conducting no-knock raids. Other cities, such as Houston, have done the same, and Oregon and Florida have implemented statewide bans. Police have argued in the past that unannounced raids are safer for the officers conducting them, since the suspects will be caught by surprise and off-guard. But nationwide, drug raids have proven deadly to both civilians and police officers a 2017 New York Times investigation found that at least 47 civilians and five officers died in knock-and-announce searches between 2010 and 2016, and at least 31 civilians and eight officers died in no-knock raids in the same time period. Typically, lawsuits are the only way for victims of wrongful raids to get justice, and not all of them result in a settlement. A number of cases in recent years have prompted outrage after officers who killed or injured innocent civilians were protected from lawsuits due to a doctrine known as "qualified immunity." In one 2017 case, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of a Florida deputy who fatally shot a legally armed, innocent man inside his home after knocking on his door at 1:30 a.m., intending to ask about a motorcycle parked out front. The deputy was protected under qualified immunity, even though the man he killed was not a criminal suspect, the deputy had no warrant, and he had not identified himself as a law enforcement officer. Chicago police don't try to verify that they're raiding the right homes before they enter, one lawyer alleges Unlike the raid that killed Taylor, the Chicago police department didn't use a specific no-knock warrant when they searched Lyons' home, her lawyer, Al Hofeld, told Insider. But nevertheless, Lyons said the officers failed to knock on the door or warn her before they burst into her building. In an aerial view from a drone, a large-scale ground mural depicting Breonna Taylor with the text 'Black Lives Matter' is seen being painted at Chambers Park on July 5, 2020 in Annapolis, Maryland. Patrick Smith/Getty Images They also didn't present the search warrant until after they had already turned Lyons' apartment inside out searching for a suspect and drugs that weren't there, she said. Lyons said she no longer feels safe in her own home. She said she wakes up frequently during the night, hoping to be alert enough to hear any warning signs of armed strangers outside. Her lawsuit alleged that Chicago police had raided her home after they received bad information from a "criminally active confidential informant," who said a suspect known as Blondie was selling heroin from the apartment. "Officers' actions toward Ms. Lyons and her family were the completely avoidable product of another sloppy search warrant investigation, and their display of excessive force violated the family's Fourth Amendment constitutional rights," the lawsuit alleged. Hofeld said the police made no other efforts to verify the informant's story before the raid. He also said it's not the first time police have failed to verify that information he has worked on at least 10 similar cases since 2014. "What we find is that they are not even making reasonable efforts to link the address given by the informant with the target name given by the informant," Hofeld told Insider. "They have lots of tools at their disposal they have police department databases, they have proprietary databases that the department has access to they can contact utility companies, they can issue subpoenas, they can do surveillance, they can do a number of things." Chicago police have a policy to 'minimize trauma' for children, but didn't follow it, Lyons' lawyer says The Chicago Police Department declined to comment on the raid, due to the pending litigation, and a lawyer representing the city of Chicago in the lawsuit did not respond to Insider's request for comment. A representative for the City of Chicago Department of Law did not respond to a list of questions from Insider. The police department referred Insider to its policies governing search warrants, which require that police knock and "when applicable, announce their presence and provide the residents a reasonable opportunity to allow entry." Chicago Police officers monitor the area outside their District 7 headquarters during a rally against Chicago Police violence in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, on August 11, 2020. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images Beyond that, the policies dictate that officers maintain a "sensitive approach" and "minimize trauma" when children are present. But the officers who searched Lyons' home broke both of those policies, Hofeld said. "Ms. Lyons' case is an example of them not following the new search warrant policy that says officers have to have due regard for the emotional and physical safety and wellbeing of kids," he said. "It doesn't look like they did a good job of linking the target and the address, either." When it came to 4-year-old Lillie, Lyons said the first officer who searched the bedroom where she was napping pointed a gun at her, and then a second officer did another search, pointing his gun at her, too. Lyons' lawsuit alleged that the officers' actions were contrary to the city of Chicago's own understanding of the impact violence can have on young children. An abundance of research nationwide has shown that violence against children in general or even the act of witnessing violence can result in short- and long-term effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder and other emotional or behavioral problems that can last into adulthood. One 2010 study published in the Children and Youth Services Review found that even just witnessing the arrest of a household member was "significantly predictive" of post-traumatic stress symptoms, though the study was limited to children within the child welfare population. 'I would have let them in' On the left, Lyons' door can be seen with a large mark from where the officers broke it down. On the right, Lyons' battered door frame is pictured. Courtesy of Al Hofeld; courtesy of Sharon Lyons Though no one in Lyons' home was arrested during the February raid, her lawsuit said both Lyons and her granddaughter "suffer severe, long-term, emotional, and psychological distress, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder." Lyons told Insider her granddaughter has not received any counseling after witnessing the police raid and being held at gunpoint, but said she frequently asks questions about the incident and will likely remember it for the rest of her life. She said the officers kept the girl by herself in the bedroom for roughly half an hour, forbidding Lyons to enter and comfort her. "They didn't let me get my granddaughter until a third officer came in to search my room," Lyons said. "That's when they let me get to my grandbaby." She said neither the officers nor any representatives from the Chicago police department have apologized to her, nor asked if her family was alright. Hofeld can tick off a lengthy list of things that Chicago police should have done differently during the raid, or policies the department should implement in the future. But Lyons offered up a simpler solution for the officers who raided her home. "I wish they would have knocked on my door," she said. "I would have let them in." Expanded Coverage Module: black-lives-matter-module Read the original article on Insider The coronavirus crisis has been taking its toll on marriages as couples look to separate after being cooped up together during lockdown. Inquiries for divorce have more than doubled since COVID-19 hit Australia, according to national divorce, information and mediation group, The Separation Guide. The figures are particularly dire for couples in the nation's coronavirus capital Victoria, who represent 40 per cent of this increase. Financial pressure, job loss and mental health issues are some of the key triggers for relationship breakdowns during the COVID-19 crisis. The coronavirus crisis is breaking down marriages as couples look to separate after being cooped up together during lockdown Relationship breakdowns are particularly dire for couples in the nation's coronavirus capital Victoria, (pictured a couple sit in front of the Melbourne skyline) who represent 40 per cent of this increase in inquiries for divorce Reid Family Lawyers managing director Fiona Reid said the crisis has been causing chaos for couples who are unable to escape their homes despite the tension. 'Family homes are being turned into battlegrounds by COVID-19,' Ms Reid told the Australian Financial Review. The lockdown has resulted in couples being forced to remain under the same roof despite the loss of love due to financial stress and stay at home directives. Some couples have been forced sleep in sheds and granny flats, or couch surf with friends or families to weather out the relationship breakdowns. One couple, from North Sydney, separated after 15 years together but continue living in the same home out of fear of financial struggles. While COVID-19 has strengthened some relationships it has broken others (pictured: a pair hold hands as they walk through Sydney's CBD during the pandemic) The lockdown has resulted in couples being forced to remain under the same roof despite the loss of love due to financial stress and stay at home directives (Pictured: a man and woman shelter under an umbrella in the rain in Melbourne) The pair has opted to sleep in separate rooms and restrict communication rather than selling their family home at a loss - which is their biggest financial asset. 'Both spouses will not or cannot move out due to isolation restrictions. From what already is a difficult time, separations are becoming even more stressful and unpleasant for both parties,' Ms Reid said. On top of the figures from the Separation Guide, monthly divorce inquiries also doubled at Ms Reid's law firm which specialises in divorce settlements. Despite relationship breakdowns the fear of financial devastation is resulting in many couples avoiding the official divorce route. This is because any disagreement can carry the burden of a $100,000 visit to the Family Court as couples fight over assets or child rearing arrangements. Divorce fees also tend to cost between several hundred dollars to tens of thousands depending on assets involved. But divorce specialists say the do-it-yourself method can cause serious legal ramifications and tax traps. COVID-19 is putting increased pressure on relationships as couples battle financial pressure, job loss and mental health issue (Pictured: a couple walk hand in hand in Melbourne's CBD wearing face masks) Even if a couple verbally agrees for one occupant to remain in the family home, without any official changes to titles both occupants are legally entitled to remain. 'If there are no court orders being breached, crimes taking place or safety concerns, not even police can enforce the removal of an occupant,' Reid said. Instead couples who have fallen out of love are urged to try and negotiate a settlement out of court. H&R Block Director of Communications Mark Champman says decisions around assets and debt, financial contributions and child care should be formalised through court orders. This would prevent potential trip ups at tax time including around capital gains tax. LIVONIA, MICH. The U.S. Department of Education announced that Madonna University's Grant proposal was selected to receive a federal STudent Support Services (SSS) grant of $1.2 million over five years to help more students succeed in and graduate from college. We are elated to receive this vital funding to students with incredible potential to change lives," said Connie Tingson-Gatuz, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs and mission integration. "Closely aligned with our Madonna mission and core values, this funding enables us to continue to support first-generation, low income, and students with disabilities for the next five years. SSS helps college students who are low income, first generation (those whose parents do not have a four-year college degree) or students with disabilities. The array of services the grant will provide are comprehensive and will include academic tutoring, financial aid advice, career and college mentoring, help in choosing courses, and other forms of assistance. Such services enhance academic success and make it more likely that students will graduate or transfer with the lowest possible debt. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the systemic inequality and financial hardship which keep promising students from succeeding in college. Student Support Services is needed now more than ever, said Maureen Hoyler, president of Council for Opportunity in Education. The Washington D.C. nonprofit is dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. SSS began in 1968 and is one of the eight federal TRIO programs authorized by the Higher Education Act to help college students succeed in higher education. It recognizes that students whose parents do not have a college degree have more difficulties navigating the complexity of decisions that college requires for success; it bolsters students from low income families who have not had the academic opportunities that their college peers have had, and helps students with disabilities remove obstacles preventing them from thriving academically. Madonna Universitys TRIO program has received Federal SSS funding for the past 42 years, in order to assist low-income and first-generation students, and those with disabilities to succeed in their educational pursuits. Madonna TRIO graduates are using their degrees to change the lives of others. ### The government rejects the assertion it didnt have a plan. Rozens statement stands in direct contradiction to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt's assurance in July that aged care around the country has been immensely prepared. At the same press conference, Hunt was explicitly asked: Do you think loved ones should have confidence that their family members will be safe in these facilities? Yes, came the emphatic answer. The royal commission has heard otherwise. It has heard that the de-skilling of the aged care labour force was a longstanding problem that bit hard when the pandemic struck. The sector was blind-sided and initially treated the virus like a flu. Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit: COVID-afflicted residents at aged care facilities in NSW were not moved to hospitals, despite medical advice they should be. But aged care facilities were not able to provide hospital-level care. NSW Health wrote to aged care provider Anglicare to seek assurances that it was not using personal protective equipment too widely. It should be kept for use for confirmed and suspected COVID cases only, the authority said. Loved ones were unable to get information about whether their relatives were dead or alive. Months later, the same problems that had occurred in NSW, happened in Victoria. Expert witness Professor Joseph Ibrahim said there was a failure to provide the same health response to residential aged care that was delivered to the rest of Australia. On Friday Scott Morrison apologised for the "days the system falls short". On Monday he had spoken of his outrage at the idea that somehow our elderly should in some way have been offered up in relation to the virus. It was an "absolutely amoral, hideous thought", he said, one he wouldn't countenance. Another boiling frog moment when the Prime Minister feels the need to specifically reject the idea that elderly people are somehow expendable in our disaster response. Thank the gods for the royal commission, though, because despite Morrisons moral outrage, there would have been no other mechanism to discover the poor preparedness and conditions of the sector, for which his government has responsibility. This week we were reminded of the Morrison governments great pre-pandemic problem with transparency when the Prime Minister dodged questions about why two Border Force officials have refused to appear before the inquiry into the Ruby Princess debacle, which led to over 20 deaths. On March 15, Morrison said cruise ships would be put directly under the command of the Australian Border Force. Four days later, the Ruby Princess docked. We now know (because of reporting by the ABC's Andrew Probyn) that Virgin Australia called the ABF and asked it for a list of the ships passengers booked to take a Virgin flight the airline wanted to avoid spreading COVID throughout the country. Loading The ABF refused the request, citing privacy concerns. On Friday Morrison defended the decision on privacy grounds which seems odd, given how many other civil liberties the government has abandoned in the course of the COVID response, most notably our freedom of movement. The report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess released on Friday said the ABF "do not bear any responsibility for the Ruby Princess mishap". It is a peculiar irony of the pandemic that just as public trust in government reached all-time lows, we have been forced to depend upon it more heavily than ever before. Ditto, our politicians. Greene County on Friday joined Cass County on a list of 14 Illinois counties at a warning level for COVID-19 cases. The Illinois Department of Public Health places a county at warning level when two or more risk indicators increase. Those metrics can include the number of new cases per 100,000 people, the number of deaths and weekly test positivity rates. Greene County, which added one new diagnosis Friday, has seen its total case count rise to 68 with most of the infections coming within the past week or so. The county has a rate of 377.8 cases per 100,000 people, which is more than double the state rate of 187.4. Many counties on the list saw cases or outbreaks associated with weddings, businesses, birthday parties, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings. Public health officials also are seeing people in some communities not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly, according to state health department officials. Local health departments are finding it challenging to obtain the information necessary to halt local transmission by quickly identifying exposures from contacts of cases and businesses, the state health department said in a statement. Cass County cases rose by four on Friday, with positive tests returned on two men in their 20s, a woman in her 20s and a woman in her 40s, according to Cass County Health Department. The countys overall case count is at 253, with 204 people recovered and 11 deaths. Our new cases per 100,000 is 237 and our test positivity rate is 8.2%, with the state at 4.1%, according to the health department. In Morgan County, 12 new cases were identified Friday including three as part of a new outbreak, according to a daily briefing by Jacksonville/Morgan County Emergency Management, Memorial Health System, Morgan County commissioners and the city of Jacksonville. Two residents and a staff member at The Pointe at Jacksonville have tested positive and are in isolation. Seven of the new diagnoses in Morgan County involve prisoners at Jacksonville Correctional Center. Sixty prisoners and nine staff members now have tested positive. One of the cases, a woman in her 90s, is part of an outbreak at Jacksonville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The others involve a man in his 30s and a woman in her 40s. The total case count for Morgan County is 384, with 197 people released from restrictions and 15 deaths. Total cases in other west-central Illinois counties as of Friday were: 15 in Brown County; 144 in Jersey County; 224 in Macoupin County (up 13 from Thursday); 34 in Pike County (up four from Thursday); 1,434 in Sangamon County (up 53 from Thursday); 26 in Scott County; and 19 in Schuyler County, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Statewide, 2,264 new cases of coronavirus disease and 25 deaths were reported Friday, according to the state health department. There have been 202,691 cases in Illinois and 7,721 deaths. Sailors on HMS Formidable, which saw action in the Battle of Okinawa, exercising The Red Arrows will stage a flypast over Belfast as the 75th anniversary of VJ Day is marked in Northern Ireland today. A series of events are planned across the region, although they will be low-key as this year's landmark Second World War anniversaries are commemorated amid the coronavirus pandemic. Japan's surrender to the Allied forces on August 15, 1945, ended the conflict's hostilities. Up to 64,000 people from Northern Ireland served in the Second World War, including the Far East campaign. Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said it was a "significant milestone". "VJ Day is a time for us to reflect and show our gratitude to our service personnel for their bravery, dedication and professionalism," he added. Read More Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken stressed that it was important to remember the sacrifices of past generations. "The war in the Far East is perhaps less remembered today but was as brutal and as fiercely fought as that against fascism in Europe," he said. "The levels of inhumanity and the atrocious treatment of civilians and prisoners of war still resonate to this day. "For many in Northern Ireland, this anniversary is particularly poignant, remembering relatives who were prisoners on the Burma railroad, those who fought with the Chindits, many who fought with the Royal Artillery in Burma and those who served at sea and in the RAF." Prime Minister Boris Johnson was joined by nine global figures, including US president Donald Trump, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari and Canada's premier Justin Trudeau, in recording a video message thanking those who served. In the Friendship of Nations video, released ahead of VJ Day, the leaders say: "To all who served, we thank you." Mr Johnson said: "On this 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we pay tribute to the heroes deployed thousands of miles away in the mountains, islands and rainforests of Asia. "Unable to celebrate the victory in Europe and among the last to return home, today we recognise the bravery and ingenuity of those who, in the face of adversity, restored peace and prosperity to the world. "Their immeasurable sacrifice changed the course of history, and at today's commemorations, we take the opportunity to say what should be said every day - thank you." Also today, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will take part in a private service of remembrance and thanksgiving at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire from 9.30am, broadcast on BBC One. At 11am, Charles and Camilla will lead a national two-minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the war. A number of veterans will be present at the service to remember their fallen comrades. It will be followed by a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Red Arrows will also conduct a flypast over Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London, the first time such a flight has taken place since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Charities including the Royal British Legion and Commonwealth War Graves Commission are urging people to make virtual acts of remembrance this year. Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh will make a rare public appearance on large screens placed across the country displaying a photo montage of war veterans. The 99-year-old, who retired from royal duties in 2017, served on the HMS Whelp, which was present in Tokyo Bay when Japanese officials signed the surrender on the USS Missouri. Later today, the Duke of Cambridge will appear in VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute, a pre-recorded BBC programme filmed at Horse Guards Parade where, alongside veteran accounts, William will salute people's sacrifices during the war. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that on the anniversary he wanted to remember the veterans who "were among the last to come home" and who "brought an end to the Second World War", which "changed the course of history for the better". Locally, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is staging a shared history event to mark the anniversary of VJ Day. The event will include a lecture from renowned historian Dr Eamon Phoenix, poetry reading by Portadown historian Richard Edgar and a musical accompaniment from piper Ian Burrows. The event will be broadcast on the council's Facebook page from 11am this morning. Tomorrow, a service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast commemorating the 75th anniversary will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster, starting at 10.15am. Greater power: Monk and the temple or a two-thirds majority? By Gamini Weerakoon View(s): View(s): The constitutional power vested in a two-thirds majority in parliament of declaring a man to be a woman and vice-versa emanated around the heady days of 1972 when the United Front government of Sirima Bandaranaike and Marxist parties commenced drawing up the second constitution for this country, having scored a two-thirds majority in the 1970 General Election. The fire breathing socialist, anti-imperialist members of the Front triumphantly proclaimed that the umbilical cord connecting Lanka with imperialists for over 450 years had been finally severed by them and Sri Lanka ceasing to be a Dominion in the Commonwealth under the Queen of Great Britain. This country had become a truly free sovereign and independent republic. True, in a legal context we were free, sovereign and independent. But in reality, how free did we become? Forty-eight years after those heady days, how free are we today? Legal declarations can proclaim a man to be a woman or not but transition from one gender to the other can only be performed by specialists in the medical profession in very rare circumstances. That the ordinary citizen knew and when The Law attempted to make a man a woman, The Law became an ass, in the eyes of the public. Gotabaya Rajapaksa now has the power he longed for the implementation of his manifesto: Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour but can he take off to a flying start immediately? As much as he may wish, he cant. He has no money. Lankas external debt by the beginning of 2020 was around $ 55.9 billion and there has been no significant improvement since he took over the presidency nine months ago. In times of economic recession governments have attempted internal generation of the economy such as through agricultural campaigns. These attempts have not resulted in not much significant economic development but have been more or less propaganda campaigns to keep the spirit of the ruling party going. The Rajapaksa family dominated Pohottuwa partys successful propaganda to bring down the ruling Yahapalana government now appears to be boomeranging on themselves. It is better expressed in pithy Sinhala political lingo: Ape arraku dhang apita gahanawa (the arrack we consumed is now hitting us back). Pohottuwa supporters interpreted any foreign investments that were permitted by the Yahapalana government was tantamount to selling off the national treasures of the country. Any profit made by foreign investors was sheer robbery of the national wealth of the country in collaboration with traitors in the ruling party. They did not consider why any foreign investorprivate or a national governmentshould invest in Lanka if they cant make a profit as agreed to with the government. This brazen cockeyed logic was applied to the million-dollar projects in Hambantota to immortalise themselves that turned out to be White Elephants. When the yahapalana government attempted to give out land in the region on a 99- year lease to China to settle debts of the Rajapaksa government, all hell broke loose and cries were raised saying Hambantota was being sold to China! Meanwhile a Nelsonian Eye has been turned on the issue of valuable properties being given for a song such as the three-acres of prime land in Colombofor sale or leaseto the Hong Kong-based Shangrila Hotel company. The strike of Colombo Port workers on the eve of the General Election in protest against the sale of the ECTEastern Container Terminalto a foreign conglomerate comprising India, Japan and a Lankan company could be the harbinger of boomeranging to the sale of national treasures by the new government. The strike was settled even before election day. Shadows of the power of the two-thirds majority? Whatever the neutral foreign policy of new president Gotabaya Rajapaksa may mean, the global scene is far from conducive to him, partly because of the domestic policies of the Pohottuwa party in opposition. The presidential election of the United States is scheduled for mid-November and although the Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden is far ahead in opinion polls, pollsters are still not writing off incumbent Donald Trump. The United States with either a Republican or Democratic president will want Sri Lanka to sign two defence agreements the Acquisition and Cross Service Agreement (ACSA) and the Status of Forces Agreement, both of which were strongly opposed by the Rajapaksa party while in the opposition. The dilly-dallying by President Rajapaksa on these agreements even after eight months in office may be that there is re-thinking on the issue. The US is Sri Lankas largest export market and any hiccups there could result in disasters in Colombo. There is also the issue of violation of human rights by the Rajapaksa government during the last phases of the terrorist war. Even though the Trump administration pulled out of the UNHCR in Oct 2017, the US representative Nikki Haley calling it a cesspool of political bias, US has not relaxed in its call for investigations into alleged violations of human rights. A Democratic administration which will be subject to Eelamist lobbies through Evangelical organisations too is unlikely to relax on the implementation of the joint resolution sponsored along with Sri Lanka to promote accountability on violations of human rights and creation of judicial mechanisms to probe alleged violation of human rights. Such investigations have been vehemently opposed by Rajapaksa governments and today some of its frontline military men holding top civilian posts are specifically named offenders. With India as Americas South Asian proxy vis-a-vis China, American interests in Lanka are likely to surface through India. But both the United States and India are right now not blessed with enough financial largesse to offer countries in need such as Lanka. India is offering economic assistance but this is peanuts to Lankas economic resurrection. China has the financial clout and needs Sri Lankas cooperation on its Belt-and-Road Initiative through land and sea, particularly on the use of Lankas seaports. But XI-Jinping is not Santa Claus to throw away presents in gay abandon. China gives loans on its terms, great part of this countrys massive debt being repayments of Chinese loans along with mounting interest. Thus, President Rajapaksas position is unenviable. In the previous four to five decades even though the countrys finances were barely at manageable limits, it was not critical as today and past leaders could swing to the geopolitical winds buffeting Lanka and claim to be Non-Aligned. Today, does Rajapaksa enjoy that freedom to do so? Rajapaksa can sign the US defence and other agreements he may be presented with, ward off Chinese pressure with US assistance, provided he is assured of the required economic and financial assistance. Or he can agree to Chinese proposals for massive investments here and permit them to use this island for strategic purposes of China. But how would such decisions go with the massive political forces that backed him for his victory at the presidential election and that of his brother Mahinda in the General Election? The Colombo port strike before the election saw a few but leading agitators in saffron robes supporting strikers and demanding that the government cant go back on its pledge of not selling the nations property to foreigners. The foreign policy options Rajapaksa has to overcome his economic conundrum is likely to clash head on with the Pohottuwa propagandists. How would he tackle this issue? The strength of the Rajapaksa party is its imperceptible merger with more than half the Sinhala Buddhist community than any other political party. The Rajapaksas, the third ruling political family after independence, are unlike the landowning, capitalist-aristocratic Senanayakes or the Bandaranaikes, the elitist family of Maha Mudliyars that were the trusted employees of the British. Their claim is to the leadership of the Girawapattu Korale and now to the entire Ruhuna. They speak the same lingo of the Sinhala-Buddhist masses and have forged a very intimate and resilient bond with monks which other party leaders have failed to do. Most UNP leaders are Buddhists with links to Buddhist temples but not to the extent of the Rajapaksas. After their defeat in January 2010 Mahinda Rajapaksa had more political interviews and press conferences in temples on TV after meeting head priests and receiving their blessings. Even after the recent sweeping victory, both brothers are seen at many leading temples, falling at the feet of monks, of course with TV crews trailing behind. The monk and the temple are the strongest political bond the Rajapaksas have forged. Will that be more powerful than the power of a two-thirds majority? (Gamini Weerakoon is a former editor of The Sunday Island, The Island and Consulting Editor of the Sunday Leader) Water Resources and District Incharge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said that the recent violence in Bengaluru was Congress violence. We are awaiting action to be taken by the fact finding committee of Congress. Government in its next cabinet meeting will decide regarding tough action to be taken against organisations involved in it. Speaking to reporters after the Independence Day celebrations here on Saturday, Jarkiholi said, Congress MLA Akhand Srinivasmurthy was innocent and injustice should not be meted to him and government was committed to protect the lawmaker. Tough action will be taken against the groups responsible for the violence and measures to be taken will be decided at the next cabinet meeting. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and police have been taking action against those involved in the Bengaluru violence. Irrespective of the stature, those involved in the violence will face action, he added. Government has been taking all communities along. Investigations into the Bengaluru violence were in progress, hence its not fair to speak much about it, he said. Flood situation in the district has been under control as we have been discharging water from dams commensurate to the inflow from Maharashtra and losses have been controlled. We have to manage the situation for the next two months too. We are coordinating with Maharashtra on water release, Jarkiholi stated. All should follow the guidelines of the government to control and prevent spread of Covid-19. Developmental works in the district will gather pace after the pandemic comes under control, he said. Many of the people who lost their houses in the previous year floods could not get compensation due to technical reasons like the title being on one name and subdivision of property titles not being completed by owners. Housing Minister V Somanna has been apprised about the situation and soon we shall arrive at a solution, he said. Regarding the private hospitals charging exorbitant charges from Covid-19 patients, Jarkiholi clarified that the issue has been taken seriously and stringent action will be taken against them after the pandemic comes under control. By PTI NAGAPATTINAM: A remote village in Tamil Nadu has shot to fame following the nomination of US senator Kamala Harris as the vice-presidential candidate by the Democratic Party for the American Presidential elections 2020. Harris' maternal grandparents belong to this village and it is gaining attention ever since the announcement. The agrarian village of Painganadu is located near Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district near here in the Cauvery delta. Harris' mother, Shyamala, was the daughter of PV Gopalan who was active in the Independence movement and then became a high-ranking civil servant who fought against corruption. ALSO READ: Should India cheer as Kamala Harris gets Joe Bidens V-P call? Her grandmother Rajam belonged to the nearby Thulasenthirapuramvillage. Though Kamala Harris's ancestors left the village, they had kept their connection with the village temple intact. Gopalan and other members of his family have made donations for temple renovation during various periods. As recent as 2014, a donation was made in the name of Kamala Harris, says the temple trustee Ramani. Digital banners have been put up in the village wishing her victory. People of the area have been sharing photographs of the village, temple, her ancestral home and plaque in the temple carrying information about the donations made by the family members on social media. US Democratic party presidential nominee Joe Biden had on Tuesday named 55-year-old Harris as his vice-presidential running mate, making history by selecting the first black woman to compete on a major party's presidential ticket. Harris, whose father is an African from Jamaica and mother an Indian, is currently the US senator from California. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore is facing pressure to cancel this years New Years Eve fireworks, as she concedes it "may not be responsible" to encourage large crowds to the harbour foreshore. Councils across Sydney are awaiting guidance from the City of Sydney and state government before they make their own local preparations for New Year's Eve. "The clock is ticking and the longer the City of Sydney leaves it, the harder it will be for us all to deliver a safe event," North Sydney mayor Jilly Gibson said. "Mayor to mayor, Im asking Clover to call this." Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said there was "a real possibility" this year's New Year's Eve fireworks will not be held because of the COVID-19 crisis. Credit:Wolter Peeters A spokeswoman for Waverley Council said New Years Eve festivities were ultimately contingent upon the City of Sydney fireworks going ahead but the council would also conduct a risk assessment. Washington: The US Senate Intelligence Committee sent a bipartisan letter to the Justice Department asking federal prosecutors to investigate Steve Bannon, a former Trump confidant, for potentially lying to lawmakers during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The letter, a copy of which was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, was signed by the panel's then-chairman, Republican Senator Richard Burr, and its ranking Democrat, Senator Mark Warner. President Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon. Credit:Bloomberg It also raised concerns about testimony provided by family members and confidantes of President Donald Trump that appeared to contradict information provided by a former deputy campaign chairman to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Those it identified as providing such conflicting testimony were the president's son Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law Jared Kushner, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former White House communications director Hope Hicks. The letter, which has not before been made public, was sent July 19, 2019, to Deborah Curtis, a top prosecutor in the US attorney's office in Washington, DC. It is not clear what action the Justice Department has taken on the referral. Kerri Kupec, a Justice Department spokeswoman, declined to comment. On August 15, 2022, India will complete 75 years of Independence. Speaking from the Red Fort last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi listed a set of targets he wanted to be achieved by then. By the 75th year of Independence, farmers income should double, every poor [person] should get a pucca house, every family should get electricity connection and every village should have optical fibre network and broadband connectivity besides the facility of long distance education, Modi said. The unforeseen events in the run-up to completion of 73 years of independence today give a good reason to revisit the goals we want to achieve by August 15, 2022. The year 2020 has one of unprecedented disruption and challenges. The Indian economy, which was already in a deceleration phase, has entered contraction mode due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Given this scenario, Indias priority has to be revive growth. This is crucial to sustaining welfare schemes and expanding crucial infrastructure. Our health infrastructure, at least in most places, has been found to be wanting in dealing with the pandemics public health challenge. This means we need to look at questions beyond affordability when it comes to health care. India lost soldiers in a border clash with China at the Line of Actual Control after four decades. This has brought to fore the need for military preparedness to deal with all eventualities. Successfully meeting each of these challenges will require a focused policy intervention, and ambitious, yet pragmatic targets. Rebuilding growth via investment push The Indian economy will suffer a contraction in 2020-21. Most estimates suggest that the contraction will be at least 5% on an annual basis. The World Bank, in its Global Economic Prospects released in June, projected that the Indian economy would contract by 3.2% this fiscal. GDP growth is expected to reach 3.1% in the following fiscal, the Bank said. This means that Indias income levels will not even return to 2019-20 levels by 2021-22. The government must do all it can to prevent this from happening. It also needs to make sure that the stimulus to push growth does not sacrifice long term interests of the economy for short term gains. The most important metric on this count will be the share of capital expenditure in total expenditure. This number was 14% in 2015-16 and 2016-17. It started coming down with deceleration in growth rates. The Budget Estimates for 2020-21 put the share of capital expenditure at 13.5%. This number is unlikely to be realised, as a revenue shortfall will make it difficult for the government to even fulfil its basic commitments such as salaries, pensions and interest payments. Capital spending is likely to take a back seat in this situation. It will be a huge sentiment boost for the economy,however, if the government announced a gradual ramping up of capital expenditure to take it share in total spending well beyond 2015-16 levels by 2021-22. EXPANDING HEALTH WITH A CENTRAL SPENDING BOOST The Covid-19 pandemic has raised questions about Indias health infrastructure. This merits a recalibration of our health policy focus from affordability the Modi government announced a health insurance scheme for 100 million poor families in 2018 to expansion. India has the dubious distinction of being a laggard in government spending on health among its peer group. State governments spend much more on health than the Centre. A Mint article by Surbhi Bhatia and Sneha Alexander shows that the Centres spending on health in 2019-20 was just 0.32% of GDP, while the states spent 0.9%. Can the Centre give a massive boost to health spending and pledge to spend more than the states by 2021-22? Raising capital spending in defence sector The arrival of Rafale fighter jets from France was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm last month. In todays age, ensuring access to cutting edge technology and new equipment is absolutely necessary to keep our armed forces prepared to deal with all eventualities. Budget figures show that a lot needs to be done here. Defence spending as a percentage of GDP has remained stagnant at slightly above 2% over the last few years. Less than a fourth of Indias defence spending is allocated towards capital outlays. We now spend more on defence pensions than capital outlay on defence services. While the importance of decent pensions to retired defence personnel cannot be overemphasized, the fact that we spend more on them than boosting future capabilities of our armed forces, underlines the need to invest more in the future. To be sure, things have changed in the recent past. Additional defence procurements have been ordered after the clash with Chinese soldiers. The government has also announced an ambitious import substitution programme. Can the government pledge to spend significantly more on capital outlay in defence than on pensions by the time India completes 75 years of independence? (With inputs from Vineet Sachdev) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Deal comes two weeks after the US announced it was withdrawing nearly 12,000 troops from Germany. The United States has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Poland that will pave the way to deploy more US troops to the Eastern European nation. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Baszczak on Saturday signed the deal, called the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which makes Poland a critical component of the US military presence in Europe. This will also strengthen the guarantee that our soldiers will stand shoulder to shoulder in the case of any kind of danger, whether it be a threat to Poland or one for the USA, Polish President Andrzej Duda said after the ceremony. US President Donald Trump concurred, in a statement released by the White House. The agreement will enhance our military cooperation and increase the United States military presence in Poland to further strengthen NATO deterrence, bolster European security, and help ensure democracy, freedom, and sovereignty, it read. Along with the extra troop presence, the agreement would make Poland the headquarters of the leadership of the US Army V Corps, which is primarily based in Fort Knox in Kentucky. About 200 members of that unit will now be in Poland on a rotational basis. At present, some 4,500 US military personnel are stationed in the European NATO member nations, but there is no permanent base for them. Poland has long pressed for a permanent presence, which it sees as a guarantee against any potential Russian aggression. Russia has criticised the planned NATO presence so near to its borders. The US-Poland deal came two weeks after Washington announced plans to withdraw nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, redistributing about half of them to other NATO countries, including Poland, Belgium and Italy, and returning the rest to the US. The Trump administration had repeatedly criticised Germany, one of the USs closest allies since the second World War, saying it was not meeting its funding commitments to NATO. The opportunities are unlimited, the resources will be available, Pompeo said at a news conference after the deal was signed. Troop levels matter but the world has moved on, too, Pompeo said, referring to threats posed in space, cyberspace and disinformation campaigns. He said the deal would address those threats too. The deal would also further other aspects of US-Polish cooperation, he added, citing primarily investment and trade ties. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said the presence of US troops enhances our deterrence potential because we are closer to the potential source of conflict. It is important that they should be deployed here in Poland and not in Germany, he said. After the signing ceremony, Pompeo joined Duda and other Polish leaders at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the centennial of Polands landmark victory against the Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 during the Polish-Soviet war. For Thoroughbred racing these are anything but the dog days of summer. The three grade 1 races at Saratoga Aug. 8 delivered monster performances; each effort seemingly trumping the next. The following day at Ellis Park in Western Kentucky, which hosted the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby and four other stakes, the racing was as high-quality as the humidity. The buzz at the Spa, following Serengeti Empress scorching win in the Ballerina Stakes (G1)which was followed by an even more impressive effort by Gamine in the Longines Test Stakes (G1)was Tiz the Laws victory in the Travers Stakes (G1). Weve watched a lot of races in our time, and its rare when a horse can separate itself from the competition in just a few strides the way the New York-bred did in the stretch at the Spa. We can only equate it to Big Browns tour de force in the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). That effort, of course, was on the first Saturday in May. This years Derby will be on the First Saturday of September, and Sackatoga Stables Tiz the Law will be a big favorite. But lets not count out Bruce Lunsfords homebred Art Collector, who added the Ellis Park Derby to his collection. Both colts have the look of what it takes to wear the blanket of roses under the Twin Spires. The racing at Ellis was limited to owners and some 450 pre-paid spectators. We returned to the quaint facility along the banks of the Ohio River, and it still takes a bit to get used to having so few patrons on the apron, but the enthusiasm was there. So, too, was TVG, which helped promote the races nationally and helped gig the handle. TVGs Scott Hazelton and Gabby Gaudet were stationed near the paddock and did a better job than we did with the humidity. Locked down at home with some coverage of Santa Anita Park during the first five months of the pandemic, Hazelton has been impressed with how the industry has handled itself during COVID-19. I think everybody has done the best that they can, he said. Watching the industry adapt and coming up with a planseeing that first hand at Santa Anita; the lengths they went to make sure jockeys were quarantined and setting up the trailers and testing. They really set the standard when everybody was trying to figure everything out, and everybody has worked together, which has been enlightening to see. This industry has adapted to a lot of socioeconomical situations over the hundreds of yearsIm not going to say we are used to things like this, but weve been able to adapt and that is what weve done, and everybody is doing their part. Everything is different from state to state and county to county. But weve carried on with the racing. General manager Jeff Inman has carried on during his first season at Ellis. A surge in handle figures as with most other tracks amid the pandemichas helped make up what has been lost on track. Weve really had a successful meet so far; weve tried to get our signal out, he said. Out of state weve done really well, and weve done a lot of work to drive it. The last two weekends weve been able to get on TVG and been able to get a high def signal outthat has really helped us. With an eye on the figs, Inman was pleased by days end as Ellis posted record handle of $5,241,601 on a 10-race program. The old mark had been set Aug. 4, 2017, when Ellis handled $4,906,096 on a Claiming Crown card. The handle numbers this summer dont lie. For July the economic indicators point to handle being up 16.63% from July 2019. Lunsford, in addition to celebrating his win, took some time to reflect on the bigger picture. Horse racing has been one of the beneficiaries of the pandemic. You can see it in the handle, he said. Louisville is about to become the center of racing. Its Kentuckys turn. You are going to see things at Turfway Park and here. You are going to see a real change. That change will be as welcoming as the first breeze of autumn. In context: Amazon is one of the largest online retailers in the world, due in no small part to its massive number of third-party sellers. Amazon's own products are decent enough in many cases, but its these unaffiliated companies and users that truly keep the platform afloat. Unfortunately, third-party sellers might also become a serious liability for Amazon moving forward. According to a ruling filed by an appeals court in California's Fourth District, Amazon can be held liable for facilitating the sale of defective products on its platform, even when said items are sold by third-party companies. For a bit of context, Amazon was sued by Angela Bolger after she purchased a replacement laptop battery from Lenoge Technology (operating under the alias E-Life on Amazon). Bolger used the battery for several months before it exploded, causing her to suffer "severe burns." Amazon responded by requesting summary judgement in the case. Given that it did not distribute, manufacture, or sell the defective battery, Amazon argued that it should not be responsible for any damage it may cause. The court that oversaw the case agreed with Amazon's view on the matter and granted the company's motion. However, Bolger appealed the decision, and that appeal has also been granted now. "As a factual and legal matter, Amazon placed itself between Lenoge and Bolger in the chain of distribution of the product at issue here," The appeals court claims. "Amazon accepted possession of the product from Lenoge, stored it in an Amazon warehouse, attracted Bolger to the Amazon website, provided her with a product listing for Lenoges product, received her payment for the product, and shipped the product in Amazon packaging to her." "...Under established principles of strict liability, Amazon should be held liable if a product sold through its website turns out to be defective," The court continues. "Strict liability here affords maximum protection to the injured plaintiff and works no injustice to the defendants, for they can adjust the costs of such protection between them in the course of their continuing business relationship." Amazon has vowed to appeal the new decision, with the following reasoning (via a statement sent to The Verge): The courts decision was wrongly decided and is contrary to well-established law in California and around the country that service providers are not liable for third party products they do not make or sell. It remains to be seen whether or not Amazon's appeal will be successful, but if it isn't, Bolger's victory could set a fascinating precedent for online marketplaces in the future. If Amazon can be held accountable for the poor quality assurance practices of its third-party sellers, the company may tighten restrictions on the types of products that can be sold on its website. Alternatively, it may introduce new product curation systems to weed out defective items. In either case, we look forward to seeing how this situation plays out, and we'll update you if any new information comes to light. Rewiring Government View(s): The week-old new government has plunged into the deep end of controversy straightaway with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa anointing himself with the portfolio of defence, notwithstanding the 19th amendment to the constitution that seemingly prohibits the president from holding any ministerial office. That said, however, that the president has been careful not to gazette the appointment which technically makes it not legally binding and thus attracting a full-blown constitutional crisis is noteworthy. The legality of the appointment cannot, therefore, be challenged in a court, but then what was the indecent hurry in what was at best, flirting with the law. No official statement has been made over the controversial decision though a cabinet minister justifying the move argued that a two-thirds parliamentary majority was a sufficient mandate to do so. There lies the danger of it all; the inherent danger of the new government using its landslide parliamentary majority of last week to justify anything and everything. The president was overtly careful not to engage in any controversy over the issue upon his election in November last year, studiously avoiding allocating for himself that portfolio. Come the August 5 landslide victory, and a two-thirds mandate, and he has been emboldened enough to take for himself the ministry without even bothering to seek an opinion from the Supreme Court on the matter, or waiting for a constitutional amendment to 19a. Whatever, it is the constitution and the spirit of the constitution also matters. There are arguments that support the view that the constitution has entrenched provisions granting an elected president the defence of the nation, and logically they argue, it entitles him to hold the portfolio. Also, if an executive president as head of state can be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, as head of government should he not be entitled to be the minister of defence? This has also been adjudicated previously by the Supreme Court that held the president ought to be the defence minister, but that was prior to 19a. Even the incumbent president has been wary of testing the waters of this provision, careful not to trespass on any possible constitutional landmine until it seems, this landslide mandate came about. If this is to mean anything, it shows that the government is willing to push the constitutional barriers aside under the cover of the mandate manthra. Not many would be in the know to fathom what is cooking in the form of promised changes to 19a. This weeks cabinet appointments have made it clear as clear can be, that the powers-that-be gave a clear message to those who did not stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them during their time in the opposition, i.e the SLFP MPs who have been given stepmotherly treatment in cabinet appointments. The writing was on the wall even before the election that these SLFPers were to be treated shabbily. The chief organiser of the SLPP made it public with exceptionally harsh remarks that these SLFPers who were within their own coalition came smeared with sewage and had to be cleansed before they were embraced. The SLPP will, however, be mindful that the SLFP has more than a dozen MPs in their 145-seat alliance and any blowback from that party could torpedo constitutional amendments planned by the new government. What is still more interesting, if not more concerning to some, is another recent statement from the same chief organiser of the SLPP. He says the SLPP has modelled itself on the lines of two parties from abroad indias Bharatha Janatha Party (BJP) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the two largest political parties in the world. This might well send shivers down the spines of many for different reasons. The BJP is an unequivocally majoritarian hindutva (hindu nationalist ideology) party and the CCP runs that country as a one-party state. It is a deadly combo to follow. Both have a robust political philosophy the BJP revolving around the personality cult of its leader, and the CCP brooking no opposition and exercising the powers of a virtual parliament. Both are engines of the growing economic power-houses of india and china respectively; pro-free market, almost capitalist in outlook dedicated to uplifting the mass of people in both countries who are plagued by poverty and economic inequality. Gone seem to be the days when Sri Lankan political parties emulated British parties, like the Labour Party or in the case of the UNP, the conservative parties of the world. It is a new era for Sri Lankas political parties, at least for the winners of the August 5 elections. Whether President Rajapaksa subscribes to all of this is uncertain. He has not made any specific pronouncements on a political philosophy other than his Saubagya Dakma (vistas of prosperity and splendour) which he has well and truly incorporated into his principles of state policy, so to say. The fact that he has even taken the district secretaries (former government agents) and the divisional secretariats under the defence ministry signals his intention to run the country himself with a direct, hands-on approach. It is significant that there is no home minister and it would appear that the president is the virtual minister. Equally significant is that no deputy or state minister has so far been appointed to be answerable to parliament for the defence ministry. President Rajapaksa is out to reboot or rewire government. In relaunching or rebranding a Rajapaksa government, whether he thinks government and parliament is the problem and not the solution to the countrys problems, he has to work with them. President Rajapaksa has been unable to reboot/rewire the cabinet for a start. It is a case of old wine in new bottles. His picks of professionals have not been included in it, barring one. His revising the public service, from what has been seen in the period between the two elections was to draw from the only known source of personnel, i.e. retired military officers. Is rebooting the whole system an impossible job? President Rajapaksa will not think so. He didnt think winning the war against the LTTE was an impossible task. Now, he and his brother, the prime minister, have time, and a parliamentary majority on their side. Yet many governments come with new ideas, and roosevelt type new deals only to end up a cropper because the government machinery does not work. It is not a Rolls Royce engine or super computer. To rewire/reboot it will take some doing. The parliament of Somalia is mulling over bringing in a contentious new bill that would legitimise child marriages once sexual organs of girls mature and the family of the girl gives their consent for the marriage. The Sexual Intercourse Related Crimes Bill will pave the way for forced marriages of girls if their parents give their consent. The controversial new bill is in stark contrast to the years of efforts of the civil groups, fighting for securing protection for women in one of the worlds most traditionalist countries. The United Nations special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, raised alarm over the development in Somalia, saying the bill would represent a major setback in the fight against sexual violence in Somalia and across the globe. The bill also undermines the protection for victims of sexual violence, she said. United Nations Human Rights chief warns the new bill might set a precedent for other states to follow The passage of the Sexual Intercourse Related Crimes Bill could prove disastrous for the young Somalian women as about 45 per cent of them were married or in union before age 18, according to a United Nations analysis in 2014-15. Somalia in 2013 agreed with the United Nations to improve its sexual violence laws, and after five years of efforts, a sexual offenses bill was passed by the Council of the Ministers and sent to parliament. However, the bill was sent back by the speaker of the House last year reasoning that the process may have been deviated from established law and asked substantive amendments in the law. The United Nations Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet cautioned that the new bill floated by the Somalia risked legitimising child marriage, among other alarming practices and asked for stopping it from being passed into law. She also warned that the passage of the bill might send worrying signals to other states in the region. Outrage against the contentious new bill in Somalia Outrage has swept across Somalia against the proposed bill and thousands of people in the country have signed a petition against it, including Ilwad Elman with the Mogadishu-based Elman Peace organisation. Furthermore, the UN mission in Somalia issued a separate statement, calling the new bill deeply flawed and urged parliament to re-introduce the original one. The new bill be crucial in preventing and criminalising all sexual offences, the Somalia representative for the U.N. Population Fund, Anders Thomsen, said. The womens rights group have also expressed their anxiety over the contentious new bill, adding that the coronavirus pandemic and the travel related restrictions have exacerbated violence against women and female genital mutilation. Almost all Somali women and girls have been subjected to that practice. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said on Saturday that there is no shortage of medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE), amid the surge in coronavirus cases in the state. Unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles Parade Ground here on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, he lauded COVID-19 warriors for their services. "Independence Day is being celebrated in the country in an unusual situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government is taking all measures to contain the spread of the disease. There is no dearth of medicine and PPE kits in the state," Deb said. He inspected the guard of honour of various contingents of the security forces and presented medals to the police personnel for their distinguished services. Only a few ministers and government officials were present on the occasion. The chief minister said the government has arranged for 2,129 beds for treatment of coronavirus patients and a medical college will be set up in Ambassa, the headquarters of Dhalai district. The total number of coronavirus patients in the state rose to 6,952 with 164 new cases reported on Saturday, while the toll climbed to 50 as four more persons succumbed to the disease, a health department official said. Deb said the government is working to bring the entire state under the broadband network connection. The Centre has allocated Rs 3,193 crore for the 15-km long Agartala-Akhaura rail link project and the work for it is progressing well, he said, adding that a survey for an alternative railway line from Belonia in South Tripura district to Dharmanagar in North Tripura has been started. Tripura will emerge as a logistic hub in the north-east region as vessels will start ferrying goods soon through the India-Bangladesh protocol route on the Gomatiriver, he added. In an article published on August 13, the newspaper said the coronavirus has shown how companies have to face risks as supply chains rely on each single country. Therefore, Telsa is not alone in choosing Vietnam. In recent years, the Southeast Asian nation has become a popular option for companies that want to expand their production network in Asia. The virus is intensifying the trend, according to the article. ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, see themselves in a good position to benefit from the trend. The article cited an analysis by consultancy firm BCG as saying that Southeast Asia is moving towards the centre of globalisation. The trade volume between Southeast Asia and Europe as well as the America is expected to increase more than US$20 billion by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, the movement of goods between Southeast Asia and China is set to expand more than US$40 billion. Vietnam, which has a population of around 100 million, is said to have particularly good prospects of taking advantage of the development. The International Monetary Fund forecast that the country can expect economic growth of almost 3% this year, the article said. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) that has become effective since August 1 is a reason that makes Vietnam more attractive to foreign investors. The article said Marko Walde, Chief Representative of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam, expressed his belief that Vietnam will not only become more attractive as an investment destination, but will hold great importance in the development of alternative supply chains. Apart from Europe, Vietnam has joined countries such as Japan, Canada and Mexico in a free trade area with since 2018 through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The country has also participated in the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), including China and Australia. Another free trade agreement with the US is also under discussion. Vietnam's openness to globalisation has helped the country to lure numerous big corporations. Apple moved around one third of its production of wireless headphones to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft have accelerated their plans to relocate part of their hardware production to the country. As for Samsung, Vietnam has been an important production location for years as more than half of its phones are made in factories in the country, the article said. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. asked the state attorney general to investigate whether President Donald Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy are trying to subvert the general election by slowing down delivery and refusing to adequately fund the Postal Service as states ratchet up mail voting due to the coronavirus. Pascrell, D-9th Dist., asked Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal to convene a grand jury to find out whether Trump, DeJoy and other administration officials were trying to subvert New Jerseys election this fall. I call upon you to open a wide-ranging investigation of Trumps actions to interfere in our elections and to empanel a grand jury for the purpose of considering criminal indictments for Donald Trump, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, members of the United States Postal Service Board of Governors, and any other officials in the Trump government that are participating in or have participated in the subversion of New Jersey state elections, Pascrell wrote. Pascrell acted after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the state would send ballots to New Jerseys 6.2 million registered voters, and after the Postal Service told New Jersey that it could not guarantee absentee ballots would be delivered in time to be counted in November. A Grewal spokesman wrote in an email that the attorney general is deeply concerned by recent reports of potential political interference in the operations of the U.S. Postal Service. As is our standard practice, we are neither going to confirm nor deny a grand jury investigation, Steven Barnes said. The Postal Service under DeJoy, a major Trump campaign donor, has restructured the organization, decommissioned machines, cut overtime and changed work rules that had the effect of slowing down mail delivery. DeJoy said the efforts were designed to cut costs and make the Postal Service more efficient and effective. In addition, Trump and Senate Republicans have rejected the House Democratic request for billions of dollars for the Postal Service and state elections boards to help handle the expected increase in absentee ballots as voters stay home due to the pandemic. The money is part of the House-passed $3.4 trillion stimulus bill. Before our eyes, President Trump is openly working to destroy the Post Office and sabotage its ability to deliver absentee ballots in time to be counted, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Saturday in a letter to House Democrats. Trump has continued to claim without evidence that absentee balloting will lead to widespread voter fraud. The Democrats know the 2020 Election will be a fraudulent mess. Will maybe never know who won! he tweeted Saturday from Bedminster, where he is spending the weekend. A 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University found that the rate of voter fraud for mail-in ballots was 0.00004% to 0.0009%. And the Washington Post found possible double voting or voting on behalf of dead people in just 372 of 14.6 million ballots cast in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, which send ballots to all registered voters as New Jersey plans to do this fall. Pascrell has been a fierce critic of the Trump administration, leading the so-far unsuccessful effort to compel the president to follow four decades of precedent and release his personal income tax returns, and calling for Attorney General William Barr to lose his license to practice law. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. SYLVANIA, Ga. Family, friends and people seeking social injustice reform gathered Friday evening in downtown Sylvania for a candlelight vigil for Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis, who died from a Georgia State Patrol troopers single shot seven days earlier during a traffic stop on a county dirt road. Trooper Jacob Gordon Thompson, 27, was charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with felony murder and aggravated assault three hours before the start of the vigil for Lewis, a 60-year-old carpenter who was characterized by loved ones as a great caring man. The president of Georgia's NAACP chapter called the slaying of Lewis another chilling example of a Black man being killed unlawfully by a white law enforcement officer. An attorney for Lewis' family said the trooper initiated the traffic stop over a burned-out tail light and Lewis was shot almost immediately after the trooper forced his car into a ditch. Julian Lewis of Screven County, Georgia. The GBI said Lewis was fatally shot Aug. 7 after a chase in rural Screven County, about 60 miles northwest of Savannah. This marks the 56th officer-involved shooting this year investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Breonna Taylor: Family attorneys push for charges 'hopefully' before October George Floyd: Police body camera video of George Floyd's arrest, final moments released to public He was a kind soul. He was a people person. He would take his shirt off for you, said Betty Lewis, the victims widow, at the vigil that drew approximately 200 on a humid night in a city filled with a great deal of uncertainty about what might occur after a now-fired white trooper ended the life of a Black man. We need more from a public servant who is supposed to help, said Betty Lewis, wearing a T-shirt with a picture of her husband on the front. Lewis called her spouse her soulmate. He died by the hands of a murderer, Betty Lewis said. This is only the first phase. This has got to stop. Justice for Julian. Story continues Lewis was laid to rest Saturday morning with graveside funeral services at Charlestown United Methodist Church in Screven County. Screven County has shown up for Screven County, said Francys Johnson, a former Georgia NAACP president who grew up in Sylvania who is representing the family. Julian Lewis did not deserve to die like he did on Stoney Pond Road. Johnson said Lewis reportedly was being stopped by Thompson for a blown out taillight. Johnson said Lewis was shot in the head. The GBI began its investigation on Aug. 7 at the scene of the death. The GBI reported Thompson attempted to stop a Nissan Sentra for a traffic offense on Stoney Pond Road. When Lewis did not stop, Thompson began a vehicle pursuit that went down several country roads. Thompson initiated a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT maneuver), causing Lewis car to crash into a ditch along the road, and Thompson discharged a round, fatally striking Lewis. Thompson wrote in a GSP incident report after the shooting that after Lewis car wrecked, the trooper stopped his patrol vehicle approximately even with the violators vehicle. Thompson wrote he drew his weapon as he got out of his patrol car because he was concerned about his safety. Related: People protest in Atlanta after police shot Black man Lewis then revved his engine, Thompson wrote. This reportedly led Thompson to activate the light on his weapon. Thompsons report said he saw Lewis with both hands on the steering wheel, and then wrenching the steering wheel in an aggressive back-and-forth manner towards me and my patrol vehicle. It appeared to me that the violator was trying to use his vehicle to injure me, Thompson wrote. Being in fear for my life and safety, I discharged my weapon once. The report from Thompson reads that he unsuccessfully tried to help Lewis. The Georgia Department of Public Safety terminated Thompson due to his negligence or inefficiency in performing assigned duties; or commission of a felony. The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Once the investigation has been completed, it will be turned over to the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review. Thompson, who was hired by the GSP on July 28, 2013, currently is being housed in the Screven County Jail. Thompson is represented by Statesboro attorney Keith Barber. Johnson commended the swift action of the charges. He noted this was different than other law enforcement-involved deaths in Georgia and nationwide. The GBI and FBI also have launched a separate civil rights investigation into the shooting. That ex-trooper was arrested and sits in a Screven County Jail awaiting trial, Johnson said. If you want to clap for anything, clap that the system appears to have worked for us today. He added: Today is justice for Julian, but next week it could be for any of us, said Johnson who will be joined in representing the Lewis family by Decaturs Mawuli Davis of Bozeman and Davis Law. The Georgia NAACP-led JUSTGeorgia Coalition and New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter, and Screven Forward spearheaded the vigil as 56 candles were lit for each of the law enforcement-involved GBI investigations in 2020. A 57th also was lit to represent a possible next investigation. Ida Daughtry, a member of Screven Forward which encourages voter registration and voter participation, told the Lewises she hopes your family gets some sort of closure. If there is a silver lining, his death will help change Screven County, Daughtry said. We can really have conversations about change. Georgia President of the NAACP Chapter Rev. James Woodall said a state of emergency was declared after the death of Lewis. Woodall called law enforcement-involved deaths domestic terrorism. Opinion: Police officers' connection to communities they serve is broken. Here's how to repair it. We are done dying, Woodall said. Enough is enough. We will not stand for this injustice. This has been going on for 400 years. Every part of this system has failed us. If we want justice, we must start from the top on down. We will continue to fight this injustice. You never think you will be here for a gathering like this, said Consuelo Hodge, one of Lewiss sisters and the youngest of 11 children. We are asking Why? Our brother didnt deserve this. Francys Johnson, a Statesboro civil rights attorney, addresses a crowd of 200 in downtown Sylvania, Georgia on Aug. 14, as members of the Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis family hoist lit candles in honor of Lewis. Hodge said Lewis was a great brother and great guy. We hope the cop gets what he deserves, Hodge said. It is at the hands of the police and those are the people we are supposed to trust. We are going to see where it goes from here. Sister Jackie Rose: I dont know if this was a hate crime, but I do want to know why. All people are equal. All people matter. We want justice for anybody, said sister Myra Hilton. We loved our brother. We will miss our brother. My brother was killed on Aug. 7, said sister Tonia Lewis. A young man is in jail. His family is grieving as well. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis death: Jacob Gordon Thompson charged Your browser does not support the audio element. Over the past 12 years, South Korean activist Kwon Hyun Woo has stood his ground to promote restorative justice and healing in the Vietnam-Korea relationship, a trauma-loaded linkage that can be harkened back to the enormities caused by Republic of Korea (RoK) troops during the war in Vietnam. He was recently seen at the inauguration ceremony of four childrens playgrounds built under a charity project of the Korea-Vietnam Peace Foundation (KVPF) at Dien Duong Ward, Dien Ban Town in the central Quang Nam Province, the land that was once the scene of an appalling wartime massacre. Stories of forgiveness These acts of atrocity, which was committed by RoK armed forces during the American war in Vietnam, first came to Kwons attention in 2008 during his time spent in a literature and history club. Digging deeper into the complicity of Korean forces in the war, he was appalled by the stories he read, which was extensively ignored in the historical canon of South Korea. After the fact, he got in touch with a Korean non-governmental agency working to address the war legacies, which led to his mission trip to Vietnam in the summer of 2008. During this trip, he sought to construct roads and erect memorial headstones at Ha My, Phong Nhat and Phong Nhi residential areas of Dien Ban Town, where RoK troops massacred dozens of civilians, most of whom were women and children, on February 12, 1968. Kwons itinerary involved multiple encounters with massacre survivors, which initially came to him as an intimidating thought: He feared his army buzz cut and Korean soldier-resembling outlook might trigger horrific memories from the locals. To not agitate the survivors, he forced himself to act in a demure, vigilant manner as well as keeping a certain distance from the survivors. Yet, contrary to his presumption, he was treated with nothing but hospitality from the Dien Ban community. In a rare occurrence during the trip, he saw a survivor went tempestuous after being asked about that life-and-death experience in the massacre by a Korean student. However, the situation did not escalate further as the survivors relatives immediately intervened and calmed the woman down. As his mission continued, the theme of forgiveness became more evident: A survivor that his team visited wrote I forgive [you] in a letter and handed it to the Korean visitors before drawing her has breath. The image has been ingrained in the back of his mind ever since. In this supplied photo, South Korean activist Kwon Hyun Woo (second row, black T-shirt with glasses) and locals attend the inauguration of a childrens playground in Dien Duong Ward, Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province. Photo: T.B.D. / Tuoi Tre Go till the end Kwon Huyn Woo is an integral part of the Sorry, Vietnam movement under the KVPF, whose work includes organizing trips to visit massacre survivors and sending them apologies for the damage that South Korean troops exerted. The initiative is funded by the subscription fee from members of the KVPF, among other sources. These resources are also directed into philanthropic activities from building memorials to honor massacre victims to giving scholarships and building schools, roads and houses for families of the harmed. They attempted to send massacre survivors to South Korea and engaged them with local residents, journalists and scholars to shed light on the massacres in Vietnam and pressure war veterans to admit the war crimes they committed. The movement also works in governmental advocacy, soliciting an official apology and reparation to the Vietnamese people from Korean authorities. According to Kwon Hyun Woo, the movement to restore justice for Vietnamese victims witnessed a spike in South Korea of late, with massive endorsements seen from the progressive demographic. The collective effort of KVPFs members which include scholars, lawyers, journalists, students and even legislators has made a visible impact on the South Korean authority. On the flipside, this movement also faced major backlash from war veterans in Korea, who ferociously refuted the notion of a war crime committed by them. However, several of them did have a change of heart, showing remorse and seeking atonement before they passed away. In general terms, the work is only halfway done, and Kwon swore to walk this talk till its very end. In 2012, he attended a Master's program in Vietnamese literature at a university in Vietnam. It was at this time that he met his wife, a South Korean woman with whom he now has a one-year-old daughter and lives in Ho Chi Minh City. Kwon also has a Vietnamese, Vu, which, according to him, came from an attempt of a student to transcribe his name into Vietnamese while hollering at him in the university hallway. It turned out to be his favorite and stuck with him to this day. After twelve years of dedication to the massacre victims in Vietnam, Kwon sees his work as a reassessment of South Koreas complicity in the war in Vietnam rather than mere trauma provocation. Revisiting the past is a way for contemporaries to not forget, to not repeat the old mistakes and live fully in the present, he added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being praised by netizens on social media for his seventh Independence Day speech, in which he spoke about his government's efforts for women empowerment. Many hailed PM Modi for taking a step forward in breaking pre-defined taboos against menstruation as he spoke about sanitary pads in his speech. "The government has provided over 5 crore sanitary pads for poor women at Rs 1 each through 6,000 Jan Aushadhi stores," PM Modi said while delivering his 7th consecutive speech on India's 74th Independence Day. He also added that a committee has been set up to consider the minimum age of marriage for women. The prime minister further stated that the government will take an appropriate decision after a report is submitted by the panel. Also read: What PM Modi said about the middle class in Independence Day speech Also read: Made in India coronavirus vaccine soon, waiting for scientists' approval: PM Modi in Independence Day speech PM Modi's remarks on mensuration, seen as a taboo in Indian society, are getting a lot of appreciation on social media. A user wrote, "You know what's #Feminism a male prime minister talking about sanitary napkins from red fort".{blur} Another user wrote, "Sanitary napkins - a taboo - being spoken about from the ramparts of Red Fort. That's it. Day made". You know what's #Feminism a male prime minister talking about sanitary napkins from red fort. Real #IndependenceDay for women (@Ram_Yug) August 15, 2020 "Speaking about sanitary napkins from the red fort is surely a big step towards #womenempowerment It will help in reaching out to masses," a Twitter user wrote. Sanitary napkins - a taboo - being spoken about from the ramparts of Red Fort. Thats it. Day made. @narendramodi@PMOIndia#happyindependenceday2020 debadutta upadhyaya (@dash_up_deb) August 15, 2020 Speaking about sanitary napkins from the red fort is surely a big steps towards #womenempowerment It will help in reaching out to masses BERLIN (@vjaingemini) August 15, 2020 Talking about Women Hygiene from the Red Fort - something far away from the convenient politics and strongly considered as taboos - surely need guts. 2014 - access to Toilets 2020 - access to Sanitary napkins.#HappyIndependenceDay#IndependenceDay Shivya Pandey (@PandeyShivya) August 15, 2020 Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 01:21:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least three pro-government fighters were killed and six others wounded on Saturday in an ambush by the Islamic State (IS) in the country's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, a war monitor reported. The IS ambushed the group of fighters in the desert region of the city of al-Mayadeen in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour at dawn Saturday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The IS attack is the latest in a series of ambushes and confrontations with the Syrian army in the desert region of Deir al-Zour province. The UK-based watchdog group said as many as 644 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters as well as 273 IS militants had been killed in similar attacks in the desert region since March of 2019. The IS group has lost key areas in Syria but it's still active in the Syrian desert and other areas through sleeper cells. Enditem Alice Davis, Terry O Reilly, Diarmuid Fenton and Aoife Leahy at the site of the proposed cycleway. (pic by Fintan Clarke) Balbriggan Community Council has objected to the removal of a number of mature trees on Harry Reynolds Road, for a proposed new pedestrian and cycle route. A number of mature trees on Harry Reynolds Road are set to be removed to facilitate two cycle routes, which Balbriggan Community Council has said will 'permanently damage' the area. Speaking to The Fingal Independent, a representative from Balbriggan Community Council said: 'Balbriggan Community Council endorses Fingal County Council's commitment to a new cycleway in Balbriggan, however, we cannot support the removal of significant numbers of healthy and mature trees as proposed in this plan. 'Harry Reynolds Road is widely used by both pedestrians and cyclists. What is proposed would take away 'attractiveness', which is one of the five needs of the cyclist, when it comes to a cycleway.' They said: 'This principle would be wholly ignored if the existent, tree-lined, Harry Reynolds Road were allowed to become a treeless, barren roadway, as this plan proposes. We are certain that Fingal County Council can provide a quality cycleway and pedestrian walkway which does not require the wide-scale tree removal, thus maintaining the attractiveness of the route for all users.' The representative from the Community Council said the route was a 'very popular walking route', which contributes 'enormously' to the 'mental well-being of residents', and that should the trees be removed as planned, the road would be 'permanently damaged.' They said: 'Balbriggan residents are extremely aware of the general lack of trees in the town's street-scape. The main streets of Balbriggan are virtually treeless. This is why the tree lined route of the Harry Reynolds Road is even more important to residents, because it contributes, dis-proportionately, to the landscape character of the town. 'The benefits of shelter, noise reduction and carbon absorption would also be permanently lost to this roadway, and this should not be underestimated for the residents living closest to the road.' The Community Council believed that by revising the published plan it was 'entirely feasible' to provide a quality cycle and pedestrian route which would save almost all of the trees, and would be more 'cost effective.' A petition against the plans has been signed by local residents to save the trees running along Harry Reynolds Road. A number of submissions have gone to Fingal County Council, with more forwarded to Balbriggan Community Council. Submissions on the plans can be made until August 17. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15) Its settled. Private schools can conduct distance learning classes ahead of the October 5 start date required for public institutions, the Department of Education clarified on Saturday. The DepEd said in a statement it had to confer with the Office of the Executive Secretary on President Rodrigo Dutertes memorandum delaying the school opening, which was initially set for August 24. DepEd hereby clarifies that such private or non-DepEd schools that have already started their classes, or are scheduled to start classes on August 24 or on other dates ahead of October 5, are allowed to proceed provided they are strictly using only distance learning modalities and that there are no face-to-face classes, the department said. READ: Why CHED cannot move opening of classes similar to DepEd The private schools were ordered to submit relevant documents to prove their readiness, including the plan for compliance with health protocols and alternative learning methods, and academic calendar. In a surprise press conference on Friday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that although private schools are under DepEd regulation, the government will not stop those that have already resumed classes. There was no categorical answer on whether the rest of the private schools should abide by the six-week postponement. This prompted the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations to seek clarification. It said more than half of their 2,500 member schools now have ongoing classes, while the rest are all set for this month. Lawmakers and several groups have been calling on the government to push back the academic year 2020-2021, saying the schools, teachers, and learners are not ready, even for blended learning which does not require face-to-face classes due to the pandemic. Briones previously rejected calls to move the opening of classes, insisting that preparations were underway for the new modes of teaching which involve a mix of internet-based sessions, radio and TV broadcasts, and printed self-learning modules. She revealed on Friday that she recommended the postponement as early as August 6, citing challenges in the delivery of learning materials and other logistical constraints brought by the imposition of modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna. Duterte earlier said face-to-face classes could only resume by January 2021 as COVID-19 continues to grapple the country, with nearly 158,000 infected to date. Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's (MoHFW)'s new guidelines issued on August 3, people flying into India can seek exemption from institutional quarantine. AFP Photo Chennai: Thirty passengers who flew in on an Air-India flight from the UK on Saturday morning were bused off to mandatory institutional quarantine, where they will remain for seven days at their own cost. It didn't matter that they all produced COVID-19 negative test results. In Tamil Nadu, if you come in from abroad, you can wave your negative test result all you like but off you go to quarantine. That's the standard operating procedure (SOP) here although the central government exempts COVID-negatives from institutionalised quarantine and allows them home quarantine. The 30 negatives from the UK were picked up from the airport by a government vehicle and driven to Hotel Fairfield by Marriott at OMR Chennai. Room rent: Rs 2500 per day. "I don't know what is happening," said 63-year-old Rajam Nallamuthu, a retired LIC employee from Adambakkam who arrived back in Chennai after a visit to her sons house in London. She produced a COVID19 negative certificate issued by the London Medical Laboratory on August 12 but she was waved on to quarantine hotel. There she had to pay Rs 5,000 as entry fee. "I am a diabetic patient. We were brought in early in the morning. They gave us two chapatis and vegetable curry as breakfast and lunch was served at 3 pm. If I want a coffee, I have to pay for it." she complained. All the rooms in the hotel are filled with passengers like her, people coming home from abroad who thought their negative test report was a passport back home. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's (MoHFW)'s new guidelines issued on August 3, people flying into India can seek exemption from institutional quarantine if they produce a corona-negative report of a test conducted not more than 96 hours before undertaking the journey. Officials of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said they have the mandate to tweak the central government's guidelines. Meghanath Reddy, deputy commissioner (revenue) of GCC, who deals with quarantine-related matters, said the state government 's guidelines over rides the central government norms. "Its the prerogative of the state government to tweak the central governments guidelines. We have adopted an eight-day mandatory quarantine. Those who produce a negative certificate will be released after the first test result," he said. And who pays for the unwanted hotel room? Lavrov presents Armenian Ambassador to Russia, with the Order of Friendship Bill Gates warns of pandemics far more serious than COVID-19 Macron: EU countries must work together on agreement for stability and security Turkey Central banks and UAE sign agreement worth almost $5 billion Blinken: Western countries need unity to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine Iranian President performs evening namaz in Kremlin after talks with Putin Turkish police detain women protesting price hikes in hygiene products Delegation headed by Chief of the Cypriot National Guard General Staff has meetings in Armenia Merkel refuses job in UN structure Greece receives the first batch of French Rafale fighters NEWS.am daily digest: 19.01.22 Azerbaijan hopes Pope to mediate in relations with Armenia Talks between presidents of Russia and Iran start in Kremlin Armenian FM: This is not first time Baku makes nonconstructive statements Ombudsman: I urge not to give in to Azerbaijani manipulations, to visit Artsakh Armenian FM: Armenia passes a package of proposals to Azerbaijan France names the main favorite of presidential election Garo Paylan concludes address in Turkey parliament in Armenian Russian Foreign Ministry believes there is no risk of large-scale war in Europe Dollar goes up in Armenia Sharmazanov: Armenia ex-President Sargsyan did not decide to hold press conference, he did not change his mind Blinken: Russia has plans to increase force on Ukraine borders : Azerbaijani military participate in Turkish drills Taliban say all conditions for recognizing legitimacy of government are met Azerbaijan MFA statement distorts events of Armenian massacres in Baku 32 years ago Karabakh ombudsmans office: Azerbaijans anti-Armenian, genocidal policy has clear chronology US official, Barzani are photographed against backdrop of Greater Armenia and Kurdistan map Armenia ex-defense minister, army General Staff chief, some others criminal case court hearing kicks off FM: Most important direction continues to be international recognition of Artsakh Armenia revenue committee chief on opening of Turkey border: Shall we live with closed borders? In fear? US selects Los Angeles to host Summit of the Americas in summer 2022 Karabakh Foreign Minister: Return of refugees can only be like mirror Iranian president arrives on official visit to Moscow All CSTO peacekeepers leaves Kazakhstan Artsakh Foreign Minister: Unacceptable to bracket NKAO and NKR together Karabakh FM: Format of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' visits needs to be restored Media: Air communication between Turkey and Armenia will start on February 2 Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan attack on Karabakh will mean attack on Russia Gold prices hardly change American professor angers Erdogan's son-in-law Hovhannes Khachatryan is elected Armenia Central Bank Deputy Governor 15 years pass since Hrant Dink assassination 563 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Guterres offers Merkel job at UN Armenian church revamped in Iran World oil prices going up Newspaper: ECHR rulings increase after Armenia revolution in 2018 Newspaper: Armenia ex-President Sargsyan to give interview instead of press conference Azerbaijan MFA falls into hysterical rage by France FM statement 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 Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Facebook Kamala Harris (left) and Barry Presgraves A mayor from Virginia is apologizing after calling vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris a racist, sexist nickname. In a since-deleted Facebook post shared over the weekend, Mayor Barry Presgraves of Luray, Virginia, referred to Harris, 55, as "Aunt Jemima," according to NBC News. Harris, a Democratic senator from California, was named by Joe Biden on Tuesday as his vice president pick going into the upcoming election, becoming the first Black and Indian-American woman to be on a major party's presidential ticket. On Monday, Presgraves, 77, apologized for his public social media comments, as the town council voted five-to-one to formally censure him for the remarks. "I want to make this very clear to everyone, with absolutely no qualifications: I understand what I posted on social media was wrong, offensive and unbecoming," he said, according to the town's official minutes from the meeting. "It does not reflect what was in my heart." "I also want to make a direct apology to all people of color and women," continued Presgraves. "Passing off demeaning and worn-out racial stereotypes as humor isnt funny. I now fully understand how hurtful it is. I can and will do better, and we can all do better. We must. From the bottom of my heart I am sorry and humbly ask for your forgiveness and your grace." RELATED: Rudy Giuliani Slams Kamala Harris as His Daughter Caroline Shares Picture with Her: 'Remove Trump' OLIVIER DOULIERY/Getty Images Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories In their statement about censuring the mayor, the council members called his word "harmful." Story continues "While the Town Council affirms the freedom of speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, as elected officials, we are held to a higher standard within our communities," they said. "Statements by public officials have a powerful impact on the community." "We have listened carefully to and reflected deeply upon the public comments shared with the town during the past week. Your apology is a step towards reconciliation with our citizens, however, damage both internal and external to our community remains." The council members added that the statement of censure "focuses on the action" and that they expect Presgraves' "highest level of commitment and dedication to serving all citizens" regardless of "race, sex or other characteristics." RELATED VIDEO: Trump's Ex-Assistant Ousted After Loose-Lipped Dinner with Reporters Tells Her White House Story Trump's Ex-Assistant Ousted After Loose-Lipped Dinner with Reporters Tells Her White House Story "I think this book reads almost like my diary," Madeleine Westerhout says of the fittingly titled Off the Record RELATED: Donald Trump Donated $6,000 to Kamala Harris' Attorney General Campaign Before Presidential Run "We recognize that words alone will not advance this cause or any other. We are dedicated to working in a transparent manner to build public trust in Town governance and move our great Town forward during this time of healing," the statement concluded. Harris previously talked with PEOPLE about opening new doors for women in politics. Each woman who breaks a barrier and expands the minds of people in terms of whats possible and what that looks like, they do our country a great service, she said last fall while running to be the Democratic presidential candidate. I certainly do think about it that way. My mother had many expressions and one of them was, she would say, Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure youre not the last,' Harris recalled. So with breaking those barriers, Ive also felt a responsibility to lay a path for other people to follow. Bengaluru, Aug 15 : Turning the tables and blaming the BJP government for the riots in the city on Tuesday night, senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara on Saturday said failure of state intelligence and police led to the violent mob attack on the party MLA's house and a police station. "The riot on August 11 night in the city's eastern suburb is an absolute failure of the state intelligence and its police. Didn't the state government have the information that its police station would be attacked and burnt? It had no clue that people would gather after a derogatory post on social media was brewing trouble," Parameshwara told reporters here. The former deputy chief minister in the JD-S-Congress coalition government (2018-19) is heading the party's fact-finding committee to ascertain reasons for the mob violence in which Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy's house and D.J. Halli police station in the Pulakeshinagar assembly segment were burnt and scores of vehicles and public property were destroyed. As the unruly mob went on a rampage, police resorted to firing to quell the violence and bring the situation under control. Three youth died in the violence. "As even innocent people, including boys were arrested after the riot, an atmosphere of fear has gripped the densely populated area," said Parameshwara. The opposition party's 6-member committee visited the riot-hit area earlier in the day and met Murthy and the other affected people for a first-hand account of the violence, arson and mayhem that occurred on Tuesday night. "We are yet to talk to many people to find out what actually happened that led to rioting and looting. We will submit a report on our findings to the party's state unit president D.K. Shivakumar, who appointed the probe panel," he said. Noting that prima facie, the mob violence was triggered by a derogatory post on Facebook by the MLA's nephew, P. Naveen on that day, Parameshwara took exception to some ministers blaming the Congress for the riot, as a fallout of a rift in the opposition party. "On what basis they (ministers) are blaming our party and us? Why will we burn the house of our MLA? We are not saying action should not be taken against those involved in arson. We'll be the last one to protect them," Parameshwara said, seeking judicial probe by a sitting high court judge. "The ruling party (BJP) is talking about a Dalit MLA being attacked. If so, he should be given protection by the state government," Parameshwara said. Meahwhile, Shivakumar refuted a charge by state home minister Basavaraj Bommai that rift within the opposition party had led to the riot. "On what basis Bommai is saying it? If there is any rift, it is in the ruling BJP and not in our party as we are united," Shivakumar told reporters here. Accusing the BJP government for trying to cover-up its failure to prevent the riots, Shivakumar said police could have given protection to the MLA's house in its area after a complaint was filed against the accused for the derogatory post 3 hours before the riot occurred. Asserting that the party was with its MLA Murthy, the party's state unit chief said strict action should be taken against the culprits behind the riot. In a related development, Janata Dal-Secular legislator Basavaraj Horatti urged the state government to ban the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Popular Front of India (PFI) for the alleged involvement of their members in the riot. "There is nothing wrong in banning any organisation engaged in anti-social activities if its members are found guilty after the investigation," Horatti told reporters at Hubballi in the state's northwest region, about 400km from Bengaluru. Blaming the state government for the riot in the city, the former legislative council chairman said the mob violence could have been averted had the police acted in advance as some of the ministers claimed it was pre-planned. "Such violence has become a black-spot for the state. Political blame-game even during the Covid-19 situation and violence is unfortunate. Life-term should be given to the guilty after the investigation," said Horatti. WASHINGTON The health care technology firm that is helping to manage the Trump administrations new coronavirus database has refused to answer questions from Senate Democrats about its $10.2 million contract, citing a nondisclosure agreement it signed with the Department of Health and Human Services. In a letter dated Aug. 3 and obtained Friday by The New York Times, a lawyer for the Pittsburgh-based TeleTracking Technologies cited the nondisclosure agreement in declining to say how it collects and shares data. The lawyer refused to share the companys proposal to the government, its communications with administration officials and other information related to the awarding of the contract. That contract has come under scrutiny in the wake of an abrupt decision last month by Alex M. Azar II, the health and human services secretary, who ordered hospitals to stop reporting coronavirus patient data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and instead send the information to TeleTracking for inclusion in a new centralized coronavirus database. The order raised alarms about data transparency and the sidelining of C.D.C. experts. Later Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services official in charge of the new database, Jose Arrieta, abruptly resigned after only 16 months on the job, according to a report in the Federal News Network. On a conference call with reporters last month, Mr. Arrieta, the agencys chief information officer, defended the TeleTracking contract, saying he envisioned the centralized database as a critical way to make data visible to first responders at the federal, state and local levels. He also said the department was considering giving Congress access to the database. Operation Legend Expanded to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee Today, the expansion of Operation Legend was announced in Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee. Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The Operation was first launched on July 8 in Kansas City, Missouri, and expanded on July 22, 2020, to Chicago and Albuquerque. Operation Legend is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. The first federal arrest under Operation Legend was announced on July 20. The most basic responsibility of government is to protect the safety of our citizens, said Attorney General William P. Barr. Today, we have extended Operation Legend to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee, three cities that have seen disturbing increases in violent crime, particularly homicides. For decades, the Department of Justice has achieved significant success when utilizing our anti-violent crime task forces and federal law enforcement agents to enforce federal law and assist American cities that are experiencing upticks in violent crime. The Department of Justices assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets. As part of Operation Legend, Attorney General Barr directed the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, and ATF to significantly increase resources into Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee in the coming weeks to help state and local officials fight high levels of violent crime, particularly gun violence. Cleveland is currently experiencing a significant increase in violent crime, with homicides currently up more than 13 percent and shootings up over 35 percent over 2019. Similarly, homicides are up in Detroit nearly 31 percent and shootings resulting in wounds are up over 53 percent. In Milwaukee, homicides are up 85 percent this year, and non-fatal shootings are up 64 percent. In Cleveland, the Department of Justice will supplement state and local law enforcement agencies by sending more than 25 federal investigators from the FBI, DEA, and ATF to the city. Under the leadership of Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, these investigators will complement the work already underway by existing joint federal, state and local task forces focused on combating violent gangs, gun crime, and drug trafficking organizations. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $1 million to support Operation Legends violent crime reduction efforts in Cleveland, and the COPS Office has also made almost $10 million available to the Cleveland Police Department to fund the hiring of 30 officers, five Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, and four Adult Parole Authority officers. In Detroit, the Department of Justice will supplement state and local law enforcement agencies by sending approximately 42 federal agents from the FBI, DEA, and ATF to the city. An additional 10 Detroit ATF agents have been reassigned to work on violent gun crimes. Under the leadership of Matthew Schneider, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, these federal agents will work cooperatively with the Detroit Police Department to combat gun and gang violence, as they have been doing since December 2019. These additional resources include 11 new and permanent ATF Special Agents and five new and permanent FBI Special Agents who will focus on violent crime in the City of Detroit. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $1.4 million to support Operation Legends violent crime reduction efforts in Detroit, and the COPS Office has also made $2.4 million available to the Detroit Police Department to fund the hiring of 15 officers. In Milwaukee, the Department of Justice will supplement state and local law enforcement agencies by sending more than 25 federal investigators from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service to the city. Under the leadership of Matthew Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, these investigators will complement the work already underway by existing joint federal, state and local task forces focused on combatting violent crime, including offenses involving firearms and violent drug trafficking organizations. 10 of those federal investigators are assigned to work in Milwaukee temporarily to provide immediate assistance, and the others will be assigned over the coming year to Milwaukee permanently to provide long-term assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $1.9 million in funding to support Operation Legends violent crime reduction efforts in Milwaukee, and the COPS Office has also made $10.2 million available to the Police Departments of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and Cudahy to fund the hiring of 29 officers. The Department has also provided assistance through the Joint Law Enforcement Operations (JLEO) fund to assist reimbursement of local law enforcement serving as federal task force officers with FBI, ATF, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Each city will receive $100,000 from ATF to help local agencies defray costs associated with installing or maintaining shot detection technology. This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. WASHINGTON A young lawyer bounds across a parking lot in New Castle, Delaware, a blur of long sideburns, wide lapels and self-assurance. He throws open a door to a beauty salon, and the ladies inside whoop with surprise. Its clear from the grainy footage that the stylists dont know this 29-year-old candidate yet. Im Joe Biden, Democratic candidate for United States Senate, he announces, shaking the hand of a grinning beautician. Maybe if you get a chance, youll look me over between now and November. The pitch, captured in an October 1972 broadcast by WPVI in Philadelphia, is one Biden has made repeatedly since, winning seven terms in the Senate and two as vice president. But throughout his lifetime in politics, his eye has been on the next rung the presidency in a quest that failed spectacularly in his first two tries. On this, his third attempt, the White House is within Bidens reach at what in some ways seems an improbable moment. At age 77, he is too old to even be called a Baby Boomer at a time when Democrats are prioritizing youth and diversity. But hes vowing to reset the nations compass after four turbulent years under President Donald Trump, staking his claim on the pillars of competence, experience and empathy. The moment has met him, right now, says former Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. People know hes been there, and hes not going to just stand there. Hes going to do something to make it better. We need that desperately right now. People are scared. So Biden is hoping voters will choose him over Trump, like a comfortable blanket, bonded to people by that empathy and his own history of grief. In another time, it might be too late for Joe, said former defense secretary Bill Cohen, who served as a Republican senator from Maine. When you see what is happening in our lives, the chaos, theyre looking for someone who can bring some sort of equanimity. Bidens moment accepting the Democratic nomination will be nothing like he imagined when his campaign began. There wont be thousands of supporters in an arena cheering while he holds Kamala Harris hand aloft. With the pandemics U.S. death toll nearing 170,000, the event is expected to be a far more somber and smaller affair. Still, that moment will mark a peak for now of a career politician who will try to make the case that the times are so different, and Trump is so disruptive and divisive, that voters will see the presidents rival as a calming alternative. How Biden developed from a childhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to that striving candidate in 1972 and into the nations pastoral Uncle Joe is a story of cycles of loss, and, most of all, the practice of recovery. Get up, was the motto of Joe Bidens father, Joe, Sr. It became Bidens through his childhood struggles with stuttering, the deaths of his wife and baby daughter, a pair of brain aneurysms, and, in 2015, the loss of his eldest son, Beau. After the surgery, Senator, you might lose the ability to speak? Get up! Biden writes in Promises to Keep. The newspapers are calling you a plagiarist, Biden? Get up! Your wife and daughter Im sorry, Joe, there was nothing we could do to save them? Get up! ___ BIDEN, BEFORE In the 1972 campaign, Joe Biden is a snapshot of a candidate rushing toward what seems an unbounded future. Husband of Neilia, father of three and owner of a sweet 1967 Corvette in Goodwood Green, a wedding gift from his father, a car dealer - Biden did as many as 10 meet-and-greet events a day. He cast himself in a way that he cant in 2020: as a new kind of leader, an outsider representing young Americans. Then, as now, he was betting that voters wanted a change badly enough to oust a sitting Republican incumbent. At the time, it was popular GOP Sen. J. Caleb Boggs, who had been endorsed by President Richard Nixon. He was old hat," William F. Hildenbrand, Boggs Senate assistant, described his former boss in an oral history interview in 1985. On Election Day, Biden wasnt old enough to serve in the Senate. He would turn 30 on Nov. 20. A photograph from the party in Wilmington captured Neilia helping her husband cut the birthday cake. Towheaded sons Beau and Hunter hover inches away, ready to dig in. He had won the seat by just over 3,100 votes, 51 percent to 49 percent. ___ I KNEW A few weeks later, sitting by the fire in their home, Neilia told her husband: Things are too good. The next day Dec. 18, 1972 Bidens world collapsed. The senator-elect was in Washington setting up his Senate office when a tractor-trailer broadsided Neilias car. She had been taking the kids to buy a Christmas tree. Neilia, also 30, and Naomi, 1, were dead. Beau and Hunter, a year and a day apart at 4 and 3, were seriously injured. Except for the memorial service, their father did not leave the hospital. And at least initially, he wanted no part of the Senate. For the first time in my life, I understood how someone could consciously decide to commit suicide, he later revealed. But he relented to the urging of elder senators. Biden took the oath of office at Wilmington Medical Center just a few feet from Beaus bed. ___ BIDENS BRAND The tragedy meant the Senates youngest member arrived on Capitol Hill saddled with pain and loss that came to define him. The combination would ground Bidens operating philosophy in politics and in life, even as it lived alongside his own presidential dreams. A signature search for connection animated Bidens approach. It helped him identify people who were struggling, and informed his sense of how to call out opponents. Notably, it clued him in on the now-quaint notion of working with members of the opposing party. People would have disagreements with him, but he was very likable," recalls former Vice President Dan Quayle, a Republican from Indiana who served with Biden in the Senate. Quayle, who served as President George H.W. Bushs vice president, is backing Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, a fellow Hoosier. He and other Republicans have suggested that Bidens long reputation of affability is one reason Trump has had trouble defining him with personal attacks such as Corrupt Joe, or as a man who hurt God. Nobody really dislikes Joe Biden, Quayle said, calling him an honest guy." But Bidens style has gotten him in trouble, too. His habit as a hugger drew more serious accusations during the 2020 Democratic primaries when a series of women accused him of getting too close. One said Biden assaulted her during his time in the Senate, an accusation he has denied. His style in many ways reinforced his age and a dated view of appropriate behavior. When primaries began, Biden was the best known among dozens of hopefuls. But he was not the favorite, particularly given a perception that the party had moved well to his left and his brand of politics had become a relic. In the end though, largely on the strength of support from Black voters, Biden at last toppled enough opponents to capture the nomination. Now, the crises over public health, economic collapse and racial justice have created a climate where his personal traits contrast effectively with Trumps, and so far, he has maintained a perceptible edge in polls. Biden has accentuated the differences. He attended a memorial service for George Floyd in Houston. He wears a protective mask in public. And he meets with small groups of Americans brought low by the crises. Decades before President Bill Clinton said he could feel your pain, Biden already had lived it. ___ MY SECOND FAMILY The Senate was Bidens healing road. Its where he matured as a father, a lawmaker and a politician. And its where he began weaving his personal story into politics. He also took onboard the relationships and lessons as he rebuilt his life. Lesson No. One: Other people can help. The old bulls Hubert Humphrey, Ted Kennedy, Mike Mansfield, Ernest Hollings, Tom Eagleton, Ted Stevens invited their new colleague to join them at monthly power dinners that were then a mainstay of Washington social rituals. I was a kid, I was single, and they included me, Biden recalled from the Senate floor in 2009, just before he departed for the Obama administration. They went a long way toward saving my life. Biden was not eager for the dinner circuit; he spent his evenings commuting home by train to Wilmington to keep watch on his sons. In the Senate, he was difficult to label. He was a civil rights advocate in a chamber brimming with segregationists. A year in, he had supported a bill to subsidize federal general election campaigns and place a cap on campaign contributions and spending. In 1975, he broke from liberal ranks on school busing, winning Senate endorsement of an amendment forbidding the government from requiring busing except in certain cases. Along the way, he had begun to rise with a reputation for listening and believing that the Senate can do important things. In 1977, he married Jill Tracy Jacobs, an English professor at Delaware Technical and Community College. President Jimmy Carter chose him to lead a Senate delegation to Moscow for the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. In 1981 the Bidens welcomed a daughter, Ashley. Throughout this period, Biden honed his ability to read people and when necessary, disarm them. Dont bullshit a bullshitter, Biden told a Russian official during private talks in 1984, recalled Cohen, the Republican senator from Maine. They were in Moscow at the height of the Cold War, and Cohen had spoken before the USSR Academy of Sciences about reducing nuclear warheads. Cohens speech wasnt entirely well received. In a private meeting, a Soviet official began criticizing Cohens plan. Biden cut him off in what became his signature, salty style. A tense pause ensued. Joe is going to blow it for me, Cohen said he thought at the time. Theyre going to throw us out. Instead, the Russian just started laughing, an acknowledgement, perhaps, that they were all politicians with agendas. ___ BORK, AND BIDENS BIG MISTAKE Biden wanted to be the youngest president since John F. Kennedy, and by his third Senate term he was traveling to the early primary states. He also was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, charged with running the confirmation hearing of President Ronald Reagans nominee, Judge Robert Bork Jr., to the Supreme Court. Though Trump likes to ridicule Bidens speaking ability, early in his Senate career he was considered one of the best orators in his party. So it was particularly jarring that a speech essentially ended Bidens initial White House run. In Iowa, Biden had used a British politicians words without attribution. He dropped out of the race and quickly pivoted, successfully, to blocking Borks confirmation. Hes said himself he wasnt ready," said Boxer, a Biden supporter that year. When he made his big mistake, he just said, Okay, Im moving on. The hurdle is too great." But there was another life-or-death crisis - this time for Biden himself - and another recovery. In Rochester, New York, after a February 1988 speech, he felt lightning flashing inside his head and collapsed on the floor of his hotel room. He was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, then another, and endured two surgeries. He was, he wrote, determined to get back up faster than anybody expected." ___ CALL ME The doctor told law student Tony Russo that he might never wake up. It was 1994. Russo was in school facing an arduous, two-year treatment to knock back his diagnosis of leukemia. The chemotherapy, he was warned, would be brutal. Then Biden called. I pick up the phone and hear this voice thats obviously very calming. And he was like, Tony, its Joe, said Russo, now 52, and vice president for legislative affairs at T-Mobile Wireless. It was a point in Bidens story where his public and private lives diverged. He didnt ask me, how are you, how you feeling? said Russo, whose story hasnt widely been shared. It was more like, OK, this is the next step and were going to get through this. The treatments were debilitating. I was literally, like, this is going to kill me," Russo recalled. He and Biden talked a few times a week for the duration. Sometimes he would call Biden in the middle of the night and he always picked up. If felt like I could tell him anything. With your family youve got to be a little more careful, because theyre dying inside, said Russo, whose father, Marty, was a congressman from Illinois. With Joe there was no pity. You could just talk. There was no judgment. You felt like it was almost like a therapy type thing. ___ THE ANSWER IS NO. Biden thought 2008 was his year. He was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and had voted for the Iraq War. But he had come to see that as a mistake. This second presidential campaign, too, cratered in a crowded field. This time it included Hillary Clinton, Obama and John Edwards. It didnt help that Biden made another embarrassing gaffe by describing Obama in an interview as articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. The Delaware senator finished the Iowa caucuses with 1 percent of the vote. Obama won the nomination and then asked Biden to be his vice president. Biden said he had one ask of Obama: that he would be the last person in the room at decision time. He was named to oversee the massive economic stimulus plan to counter the Great Recession, helped muscle Obamas signature Affordable Care Act through Congress, and had a seat at the table in the famous Situation Room photo watching special forces take out Osama bin Laden. Throughout, Biden honed a three-dimensional technique blending policy expertise, tactical maneuvers and the human element of whats going to bring somebody our way, said Jen Palmieri, former White House communications director. The Biden approach didnt always work. After the murder of elementary school students in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, Bidens effort to pass gun control laws failed. But on other issues, his credibility was such that he even taught fellow senators lessons. Harry Reid, the former Democratic majority leader from Nevada, recalled in a recent interview that Biden urged patience at a messy, key moment for Obamacare. Let that committee work this thing for as long as they feel its necessary,'" Reid recalled Biden telling him. Theyll let air out of the tires, they will make everyone feel that the committee spent enough time on it. I did that, Reid said, and it turned out just the way he said it would." ___ MY GOD, MY BOY" Beau Biden, the son his father had called Joe 2.0, died from brain cancer on May 30, 2105 at 7:51 p.m. It happened, Biden wrote in his diary. My god, my boy. My beautiful boy. An excruciating moment is captured in a photograph from the funeral a week later., An honor guard carried the flag-draped casket past the grieving vice president. Bidens hand is over his heart, his eyes shaded by his signature aviator sunglasses. His face is clenched. In those moments, he wrote, he understood his role as a grieving vice president was different from what it had been as a senator-elect four decades earlier. He sought to show millions of people facing the same awful reality that it was possible to absorb real loss and make it through. Through his grief, Biden still heard the call of presidential politics in 2016, but it was not to be for the devastated clan. Four years later, he has made the ultimate recovery as the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting with onetime rival Harris, a friend of Beaus, as his running mate. Introducing her on Wednesday, Biden argued that the two understand what Americans want at this time of crisis but he might as well have been describing himself. All folks are looking for, as my dad would say, is an even shot," Biden said. Just give me a shot, a fair shot. A shot at making it. ___ Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar contributed to this report. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman 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 By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 30 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Russia has become the first nation to have approved a vaccine for COVID-19, formally registering it on August 11. Named Sputnik V, this genetically engineered vaccine, developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute, contains a combination of two replication-defective adenovirus vectors Ad5 and Ad26. The vaccine is said to provide immunity against the novel coronavirus for at least two years from the time of injection. The speedy regulatory approval of Sputnik V is raising eyebrows because the phase I trials of that vaccine were started only in June and experts doubt if it would have gone through the whole gamut of tests needed for approval. Countries like China, the US, and Europe, which launched the phase I clinical trials of their respective vaccines as early as March, have advanced only into phase II or phase III testing. The 'Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines', a database maintained by the WHO, still mentions the status of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute as phase I. Commenting on the Russian vaccine, Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser to WHO's director-general, said, 'We don't have sufficient information at this point to make a judgment. We're currently in conversation with Russia to get additional information to understand the status of that product, the trials that have been undertaken, and then what the next steps might be.' Sputnik V is expected to be rolled out by the end of this month, according to reports. As of this writing, 21.24 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and there have been 766,488 fatalities, according to the Johns Hopkins University. The worst-hit country, U.S., has reported 5.31 million cases and 168,462 deaths. Now, let's take a look at how the stocks of some of the companies working on coronavirus treatments/vaccines/diagnostic tests have fared since March, i.e., the month when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. We have listed below only 4 stocks that have notched gains in excess of 1,000 percent year-to-date. 1. Novavax Inc. (NVAX) Novavax is developing a vaccine that is designed to provide protection against COVID-19. The vaccine named NVX-CoV2373 has successfully completed the phase I portion of its phase I/phase II trial, being conducted in Australia. The phase II clinical trials are expected to begin this month. The company is collaborating with the UK government on the phase III trial of the vaccine, which is scheduled to commence in the UK this quarter. Novavax has secured $2 billion in funding for its global coronavirus vaccine program, including up to $388 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). NVAX was trading in the range of $6 to 14 in March, and there has been no looking back since then, with the stock touching an all-time high of $189.40 on August 5. The stock has shed some of its gains and trades around $146. Related Reading The Rise and Rise of Novavax (https://www.rttnews.com/3094956/the-rise-and-rise-of-novavax-nvax.aspx) 2. Altimmune Inc. (ALT) Altimmune's investigational therapeutic program for COVID-19 is T-COVID, an intranasal immune modulator for the treatment of outpatients with early COVID-19. The FDA has given clearance to initiate a phase I/II clinical trial of T-COVID, dubbed EPIC, and enrollment is said to commence imminently. The phase I/II trial of T-COVID is funded by the U.S. Army Medical Research & Development Command (USAMRDC). The company is also developing a vaccine for COVID-19 by the name AdCOVID, which is under preclinical studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). AdCOVID is expected to advance into phase I safety and immunogenicity study next quarter. ALT, which was trading in the range of $2.50 to $3.80 in March and April, jumped to $12 in June and continued to climb further. The stock, which touched a high of $35.10 on July 20, has erased some of its gains since then and trades around $24. Related Reading Altimmune's (ALT) Astounding Journey From $1 To $20 In Just Few Months (https://www.rttnews.com/3109728/altimmune-s-alt-astounding-journey-from-1-to-20-in-just-few-months.aspx) 3. Vaxart Inc. (VXRT) Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are delivered in tablet formulation rather than as injection. In January, the company initiated a program to develop an oral COVID-19 vaccine based on its VAAST platform and in May, selected its lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate to move into clinical trials. Its oral COVID-19 vaccine was selected to participate in a non-human primate (NHP) challenge study, organized and funded by Operation Warp Speed, in June. An Investigational New Drug application, seeking clearance to initiate a phase I trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, was filed with the FDA as recently as August 10. VXRT was trading in the range of $1.08 to $4.12 between March and the most part of June. The stock picked up steam from the last week of June and went on to touch a high of $17.49 on July 14. VXRT has now shed most of its gains and trades around $9.00. Related Reading Vaxart (VXRT) Gains 400% In 4 Months (https://www.rttnews.com/3106573/vaxart-vxrt-gains-400-in-4-months.aspx) 4. Co-Diagnostics Inc. (CODX) Co-Diagnostics is involved in developing COVID-19 tests and equipments. Logix Smart COVID-19 test, the company's SARS-CoV-2 Test, is CE marked and has received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, and is currently available to all clinical laboratories in the U.S. and many other countries. In the last 4 months since Co-Diagnostics received emergency use authorization from the FDA, the company has successfully grown its business. The net income in the second quarter of 2020 was $12.6 million or $0.43 per share on total revenue of $24.04 million. This compares with net loss of $1.34 million or $0.08 per share and revenue of $0.61 million in the year-ago quarter. Co-Diagnostics is confident that the widespread acceptance of its tests will continue to support its sales and profitability. CODX was trading below $1 in the beginning of January. The stock crossed the $1 mark on January 13 and has steadily increased since then. CODX, which touched a high of $30.99 on August 3, has erased nearly half its gains and trades around $16. Related Reading Stocks That Have Doubled and Tripled In Value Due To the Coronavirus (https://www.rttnews.com/3077369/stocks-that-have-doubled-and-tripled-in-value-due-to-the-coronavirus.aspx) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:04:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A UN official based in Nigeria has called on the international community to help Nigeria avert a major humanitarian crisis in the restive northeastern part of the country, as the number of people in need of lifesaving aid has risen steeply. In a statement made available to Xinhua in Lagos on Saturday, Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, said vulnerable people in northeast Nigeria need urgent support as their living conditions have significantly deteriorated since the beginning of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kallon called on donors to continue their supports to humanitarian communities in Nigeria who are facing imminent fund shortage. "Whilst needs are rapidly increasing, funding is however at a historic low. With only five months left until the end of the year, aid organizations have received less than a third of the required amount," he said. Kallon stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the dire humanitarian situation in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, and risks wreaking havoc on the most vulnerable population. "The number of people needing humanitarian assistance is the highest ever recorded in five years of a joint humanitarian response," said Kallon, adding the pandemic's devastating effects will distress Nigeria's most fragile region. "Unless we take immediate action, we should prepare for a spike in conflict, hunger, and destitution in northeast Nigeria," he said. Over 10.6 million people in the region which has witnessed more than a decade Boko Haram insurgence, will need some form of humanitarian assistance in 2020, Kallen said, adding this is close to a 50 percent increase in people in need since last year, mainly from increasing violence and insecurity further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at an online high-level briefing on humanitarian affairs on Friday, Charles Usie, the country director of Christian Aid in Nigeria, said needs are increasing and humanitarian work in northeast Nigeria has become ever more challenging. "With the upsurge in violent attacks by non-state armed groups, humanitarian workers and the aid they deliver are increasingly at risk," Usie said. According to local media, the past year has seen more than 10 aid workers killed in violence by non-state armed groups in northeast Nigeria, greatly affecting the ability for international and Nigerian organizations and the government to provide lifesaving assistance. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 00:05:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close QINGDAO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released 20 crucial scientific and engineering problems that are key to technological and industrial innovation. The problems were released during the association's annual meeting that concluded in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on Saturday. Covering 12 scientific fields such as life science, mathematics, medical health, ecology and information technology, the problems include "ecological mechanism of coronavirus cross-species transmission," "how will gravitational waves reveal the secrets of the universe," and "new approaches and techniques of novel immune cells in tumor therapy," among others. Raising crucial scientific problems is of great strategic significance in building a country of technological power, said Du Xiangwan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Since 2018, the CAST has solicited and published 100 major scientific and engineering problems. Enditem 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. Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan was on Saturday conferred with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's special award, in recognition of her advisory role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Swaminathan received the award from Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the 74th Independence Day celebration at Fort St George here. The WHO representative has been offering suggestions to the state health department to step up measures in fighting the pandemic. Later, speaking to reporters, Swaminathan thanked the state government for selecting her and advised people to follow the pandemic protocols while venturing out. "Maintain a six feet social distance, do not go out without wearing masks and be careful while venturing out", she said. According to the World Health Organisation, Swaminathan has 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate her research into impactful programmes. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Best Practices award was bagged by the department of treasuries, while the Greater Chennai Corporation received the second prize for conducting fever clinics across the city to break the transmission chain of COVID-19. Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation received the certificate of appreciation for various steps undertaken to ensure uninterrupted availability of drugs for combating coronavirus. At least six people have now been killed in three days of clashes as protestors took to the streets following President Alassane Ouattara's decision to run for a third term this October, security sources said Friday. Four people had died in two days of clashes in the central town of Daoukro and the southern town of Bonoua on Wednesday and Thursday. Another death occurred in Daoukro late on Thursday, a security source told AFP. Violence has now spread to the northern city of Gagnoa. "We deplore one death in clashes last night and today between those for and against a third mandate" for Ouattara, the town's mayor Yssouf Diabate told AFP. He said there were injured on both sides as well but that calm had returned to the streets. Ouattara, 78, announced last week that he would contest the October 31 presidential elections, a move that came after his anointed successor Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died of a heart attack. The announcement sparked fury among Ouattara's critics, as he has already served two terms and can only contest a third by arguing that a constitutional change entitles him to reset the clock. The vote is taking place in a country still scarred by a low-level civil war that erupted in 2011 when former strongman Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to Ouattara after losing elections. The ensuing unrest claimed some 3,000 lives and split the country along north-south lines. 40 years of Transforming the lives of Sri Lankan: The Open University of Sri Lanka turns a milestone View(s): The Open University of Sri Lanka turned 40 years on Wednesday, 22 July 2020. As Sri Lankas premier and pioneering Open and Distance Learning institution, OUSL has offered yeoman service to the nation by offering opportunities for higher education and thus transforming the lives thousands of Sri Lankans. While circumstances might have restricted many people from accessing the benefits of higher education, OUSL overcame those obstacles and opened up learning for all. OUSL is not a cosmopolitan phenomenon but has a wide reach through its 9 Regional Centers and 19 Study Centers in many localities. This makes learning flexible and accessible. The university is one of the pioneers who popularised the mode of online learning and such initiatives played a crucial role in disseminating learning during the current Covid 19 crisis. OUSL is the first and only university in the Sri Lankan university system which provides UGC- approved degrees programmes in the Open and Distance Learning mode and the university looks forward to enhancing and consolidating this position. In a ceremony that was restricted due to the Covid 19 pandemic guidelines the highlight of the event was the launching of the special issue of the Open Quarterly magazine featuring the four decades of learning. The first copy was handed over by the Director of the Public Information Division, Dr. Indika Bulankulame to the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka Professor S. A. Ariadurai. The Open Quarterly is a current news and a features magazine with an esteem editorial board headed by Mr. Lal Medawattegedara, Senior Lecturer of the Department of English Language Studies. Two other import events also coincided with this event. The launching of the Code of Practice for Energy Saving formulated through the Center for Sustainable Development was ceremonially launched by the Vice Chancellor Professor S. A. Ariadurai. Mr. Harsha Wickramasinghe, Deputy Director General of the Sustainable Environmental Authority was invited as the Guest of Honour to mark this important milestone for the university. Further the book Pathways to Open Education practices edited by Prof. Shironica Karunanayake and Prof. Som Nidu was also launched on this auspicious day. This is another milestone in Open and Distance Education for the The Open University of Sri Lanka. The Ceremony culminated with a tree planting ceremony Mango trees were planted in the main campus and na tree were planted at all regional centres to mark this historic occasion. In a ceremony that was restricted due to the Covid 19 pandemic guidelines the highlight of the event was the launching of the special issue of the Open Quarterly magazine featuring the four decades of learning. The first copy was handed over by the Director of the Public Information Division, Dr. Indika Bulankulame to the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka Professor S. A. Ariadurai. The Open Quarterly is a current news and a features magazine with an esteem editorial board headed by Mr. Lal Medawattegedara, Senior Lecturer of the Department of English Language Studies. The Ukrainian diplomacy says Ukraine considers Belarus a particularly close country, and is ready to make every effort "to help it go through this difficult stage" The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine says it generally shares the position expressed by the European Union regarding the recent presidential elections in Belarus. The Ukrainian diplomacy in a statement released on Saturday, August 15, said that the officially declared results of presidential elections in Belarus "do not inspire confidence in Belarusian society". "We generally share the position expressed by the European Union regarding the elections in Belarus," the statement says, adding that Ukraine is "extremely concerned about cases of unjustified cruelty by law enforcement against citizens participating in protests, reporters, and foreigners". Read alsoLukashenko strikes deal with Putin: Russia to provide "comprehensive assistance" immediately upon requestThe foreign ministry expects that the release of a certain number of detainees from custody will launch a dialogue between the authorities and civil society in order to find compromises. Diplomats have called on Belarus leadership "to prevent further political persecution of opponents and Belarus citizens who took to the streets to voice their position, as well as to thoroughly investigate all cases of the illegal use of force against peaceful protesters". Ukraine considers Belarus a particularly close country, and is ready to make every effort to help it go through this difficult stage without having its sovereignty weakened, to settle the crisis while respecting fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens," the statement concludes. Belarus protests: other reactions The European Union has not recognized presidential election results in Belarus, starting work on new sanctions against those responsible for rigging the vote and a crackdown on protesters, said Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief. The United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has condemned the violent response of Belarusian government to peaceful rallies held across the country. Belarus protests: developments Following the presidential election held on August 9 and the release of official exit polls claiming overwhelming win of incumbent President Lukashenko (with 80% against opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's 10%), thousands took to the streets of capital Minsk and other cities contesting what many believe is a rigged vote count. Belarus government went for a hard crackdown on protesters, detaining thousands, of whom many are reported to have been badly beaten and injured while in police custody. Workers at major industrial enterprises have joined the call for "fair election" and massively went on strike. Dave Kuhn, Regional President for California and Executive Vice President, Enterprise Distribution Dave Kuhn assumes an expanded role as Regional President for California, in addition to his position as Executive Vice President, Enterprise Distribution. Dave Kuhn assumes an expanded role as Regional President for California, in addition to his position as Executive Vice President, Enterprise Distribution. Dana Ferestien, Regional President for Alaska and Pacific Northwest Dana Ferestien who most recently served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Liability Claims for Alaska National, has been promoted to Regional President for Alaska and Pacific Northwest. Dana Ferestien who most recently served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Liability Claims for Alaska National, has been promoted to Regional President for Alaska and Pacific Northwest. PHOENIX, Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, today announced a new regional structure led by regional presidents in addition to the launch of a new enterprise website to showcase the full capabilities of the CopperPoint Family of Insurance Companies: CopperPoint, Alaska National and PacificComp. With the expansion of the CopperPoint family, the company has organized its core 10 state western footprint into three regions: California Region Southwest Region: Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico Alaska and Pacific Northwest Region: Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon Regional Presidents have been named for each region with overall responsibility for underwriting, regional profitability and growth, budgeting, forecasting, distribution relationships, talent management, community relations, among other functions. Dave Kuhn assumes an expanded role as Regional President for California, in addition to his position as Executive Vice President, Enterprise Distribution. Dana Ferestien who most recently served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Liability Claims for Alaska National, has been promoted to Regional President for Alaska and Pacific Northwest. A Southwest Regional President will be named in the future. Craig Nodtvedt, who currently serves as President, Alaska and Northwest, has announced his retirement effective Sept. 1, 2020. Craig joined Alaska National Insurance Company in 2001 and was promoted to President in 2005. Story continues On behalf of the entire leadership team, wed like to thank Craig for his tremendous contributions to the success of Alaska National, said Marc Schmittlein, President and CEO, CopperPoint Insurance Companies. Under Craigs leadership, Alaska National became known for service excellence and exceptional financial performance as evidenced by 10 years on the Wards 50 list of top performing property-casualty insurance companies. As CopperPoint continues to expand in the western region, a regional structure supports our growth while keeping our underwriting and service roles close to our agency/broker partners and policyholders. Id like to congratulate both Dave and Dana on their roles and wish Craig the very best on his well-deserved retirement. The company has also released a new CopperPoint family website ( copperpoint.com ) that showcases the full enterprise capabilities of the CopperPoint Family of Insurance Companies. The goal of the new website is to provide agency/broker partners and customers immediate access to services and essential information to manage their business insurance needs. While the hallmark of doing business with CopperPoint is our deep, lasting relationships and local, personalized service, having one website for all companies, solutions and services in the CopperPoint family will transform the digital experience for our customers. This is another step forward in our integration efforts for our family of companies, said Schmittlein. About CopperPoint Insurance Companies Founded in 1925, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, www.copperpoint.com , is a western-based super regional commercial insurance company and a leading provider of workers compensation and commercial insurance solutions. With an expanded line of insurance products and a growing 10 state footprint in the western United States, CopperPoint is in a strong position to meet the evolving needs of our brokers, agents and customers. It has $4.8 billion in total assets and an enterprise surplus of over $1.4 billion. CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company is the corporate parent of CopperPoint Insurance Companies, Pacific Compensation Insurance Company and Alaska National Insurance Company. All companies are rated A (Excellent) by AM Best. Contact: Michael Goldman mgoldman@copperpoint.com 602.686.7726 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abe49223-b469-4921-8f23-eeb8bef37099 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ef095fe-a5d8-40ed-983f-89294d5d43c0 Sarah Cooper, the US comedian whose uncanny lip-synch impersonations of President Donald Trump have gained millions of fans worldwide, will star in her own Netflix special. STF / AFP Sarah Cooper, the United States-based comedian whose uncanny lip-synch impersonations of President Donald Trump have gained millions of fans worldwide, will star in her own Netflix special, the streaming giant said Wednesday. "Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine" will be released this fall and feature a variety of satirical political sketches and other vignettes as well as famous guests. It will be executive produced by Maya Rudolph, whose own Emmy-nominated impressions of Kamala Harris on "Saturday Night Live" have been widely shared since Harris was confirmed Tuesday as the Democrats' vice-presidential candidate. Cooper, a former Google employee, shot to fame during the pandemic by lampooning some of Trump's most infamous outbursts -- including his suggestion that injecting disinfectant could help fight the coronavirus. That 49-second clip -- entitled "How to medical" -- saw Cooper lip-synch along to Trump's proposal that bringing "light inside the body" might help combat the disease, while emulating the president's power-posturing body language. It has been viewed over 22 million times on Twitter alone. The 40-something Jamaican-born comedian calls Trump her "head writer," and has gained over two million Twitter followers as well as celebrity fans such as former president Barack Obama, comedians Steve Martin and Jerry Seinfeld, and "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Cooper is also the author of best-selling books "100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings" and "How to be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings." The variety special will be directed by "Russian Doll" star Natasha Lyonne. A Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster prepares to land at RAAF Pearce Base, Western Australia on March 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Australian Defence, Oliver Carter) Aussie Aircraft Makes Beirut Aid Drop An Australian Defence Force aircraft is delivering urgently-needed humanitarian supplies to Beirut following a waterfront blast that killed at least 172 people. Australia is delivering urgently-needed humanitarian supplies to Beirut as the city continues to reel from a blast that left more than 170 people dead and 30,000 homeless. Saturdays delivery will include shelter kits and mobile warehouses to replace destroyed storage facilities, in addition to the $5 million in aid already promised to organisations like the Red Cross Movement and UNICEF. The federal government said the supplies will be distributed by trusted NGOs, including the Red Cross, and Australias UN partners. An Australian Defence Force C-130J Hercules aircraft based in the Middle East is touching down in the Lebanon capital on Saturday. The August 4 explosion was fuelled by 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored at Beiruts port for six years. More than 6000 people were injured and at least 172 were killed in the blast, which has sparked unrest including the resignation of Lebanons government. Tiffanie Turnbull People queue in line to check in for the Euro Tunnel train to the UK in Coquelles, France As tens of thousands of UK tourists in France scrambled for plane, train or ferry tickets before quarantine restrictions were imposed, one Northern Ireland woman said she had arrived at Paris airport four hours early to avoid any crush. From 4am today, people arriving in the UK from France have to self-isolate for 14 days due to a rise in Covid-19 cases there. "I'd thought it was going to be bedlam, but in fact it was strangely quiet," PR executive Laura Rooney (35) said last night. The Newtownabbey woman was in the French capital visiting a friend when she heard about the new rules. She said she had been expecting such a move but decided to travel anyway. "I actually went to the airport four hours early today because I expected a stampede of Northern Ireland people trying to get home, but I was unbelievably surprised by how calm check-in was," she added. The new restrictions also apply to travellers returning to or visiting the UK from the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos and Aruba. The Channel Tunnel was fully booked for vehicles yesterday. A spokesman said 12,000 people had tried to book tickets in the hour after the new rules were announced, compared with just hundreds normally. Some air fares were over six times higher than normal. British Airways was selling tickets for a flight from Paris to London Heathrow last night for 452. The same journey could previously have been made for as little as 66. The cheapest ticket on a Eurostar train from Paris to London was 210. Travellers in the south of France and the Netherlands faced a struggle getting back to the UK on Friday as many direct fights were sold out. A 39-year-old dentist who gave her name as Sonata K was due to head to Paris on Eurostar for four nights with her mother, but she cancelled her plans after finding out about the quarantine measures at St Pancras yesterday morning. She said: "It's not worth it to go out and have to self-isolate. With my work I can't do the procedures from home. "We were too late to get the news. We're just finding out here, but it's better than on the train." Holidaymakers Stuart and Anna Buntine spent nearly 1,000 to make it home via the Eurostar from Burgundy in central France. Mr Buntine (58) said: "I went to bed last night thinking it was all okay but woke up at 7am to find we had to get back here pretty sharpish. "We couldn't get tickets. All the sites had crashed. "We had to buy business class tickets, so it's cost us nearly 1,000." Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin promised him to help securing safety of Belarus if needed, the state news agency Belta reported. In a series of reports by Belta, Lukashenko was also quoted as saying that Belarusian workers of state plants should be fired if they go on strike. As the European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Belarus in response to a bloody crackdown in which at least two protesters have been killed, Lukashenko also said he was concerned with the NATO military exercises being conducted in Poland and Lithuania, which he sees as an arms build-up. Search Keywords: Short link: Good things come to those who wait. For long standing Qualcomm (QCOM) investors the wait appears to be over. Thats not to say the past few years have been disastrous by any means; Qualcomm is after all the worlds largest mobile chipmaker. Yet, Qualcomms market performance hasnt even closely resembled that of other all-conquering peers in the semiconductor sector, such as Nvidia, TSMC or AMD. However, a flurry of recent positive developments is quickly changing sentiment around this industry giant. The resolution of a Huawei patent licensing dispute and a recently overturned loss in Qualcomms favor from a 2019 antitrust case brought against the company by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have removed long standing overhangs. Add in a strong F3Q report and the trends are in Qualcomms favor. Well, one trend in particular. 5G networks are expected to make their mark as the decade progresses, bringing with them phones and other devices capable of handling massive amounts of data. What this means is more demand for the tech that powers these devices, much of it made by Qualcomm. And business is booming. Apart from the recent Huawei agreement which includes past licensing fees of $1.8 billion, Qualcomm has signed long-term licenses with all leading OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and its QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) segment now has over 100 5G licenses. Canaccord analyst Michael Walkley, a long standing QCOM bull, expects the companys leading position alongside several long term growth drivers to pay off. The 5-star analyst said, With smartphone volumes starting to recover and expected to improve in 2H/C20, Qualcomm is well-positioned to benefit from the long-term 5G investment cycle and anticipate strong earnings in F2021 and beyond as 5G smartphones ramp, Apple re-enters the model for QCT shipments, Huawei returns to the model for licensing payments, and global demand for smartphones improves. Accordingly, Walkley rates QCOM a Buy along with a $137 price target, which implies a possible upside of 20% from current levels. (To watch Walkleys track record, click here) Story continues Qualcomm has firm support among most of Walkleys colleagues. A Moderate Buy consensus rating is based on 13 Buys, 7 Holds and 1 Sell. However, going by the $117.59 average price target, the analysts expect shares to remain range bound for the foreseeable future. (See Qualcomm stock-price forecast on TipRanks) To find good ideas for tech stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (Targa Resources Partners or the Partnership) (NYSE: NGLS PR A) announced its monthly distribution on the Partnerships 9.00% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units ("Series A Preferred Units") for August 2020. Targa Resources Partners LP announced today that the board of directors of its general partner has declared a monthly cash distribution of $0.1875 per Series A Preferred Unit, or $2.25 per Series A Preferred Unit on an annualized basis, for August 2020. This cash distribution will be paid September 15, 2020 on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units to holders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2020. About Targa Resources Partners LP Targa Resources Partners LP is a Delaware limited partnership formed in October 2006 by its parent, Targa Resources Corp. (TRC or the Company), to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream infrastructure assets. On February 17, 2016 TRC completed the acquisition of all outstanding common units of the Partnership. Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream infrastructure companies in North America. Targa owns, operates, acquires and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream infrastructure assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting and selling natural gas; transporting, storing, fractionating, treating and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; and gathering, storing, terminaling and selling crude oil. The principal executive offices of Targa Resources Partners LP are located at 811 Louisiana, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77002 and their telephone number is 713-584-1000. For more information, please visit our website at www.targaresources.com . Story continues Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Partnerships control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Partnership. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the impact of pandemics such as COVID-19, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producing countries, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Partnership does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at InvestorRelations@targaresources.com or by phone at (713) 584-1133. Sanjay Lad Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations Jennifer Kneale Chief Financial Officer Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster said, "it's concerning that they don't keep records as to why a case is is struck out" Sinn Fein has called on a tourism chief to resign after he travelled to Italy on holidays amid a drive to promote staycations in Ireland. The Irish Independent exclusively revealed today that Failte Ireland chairman Michael Cawley went to Italy on his holidays, which is on the Green List. Read More The news comes while Failte Ireland is carrying out a "major drive to encourage people to take domestic breaks" and the Government has introduced a tax rebate to encourage people to spend their holidays in Ireland. Expand Close Flight: Chairman of Failte Ireland Michael Cawley. Photo: Damien Eagers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flight: Chairman of Failte Ireland Michael Cawley. Photo: Damien Eagers Sinn Fein spokesperson on Tourism, Imelda Munster TD has called for Mr Cawley to resign, calling his vacation abroad an error of judgement. The Chairman of Failte Irelands decision to holiday abroad in Italy was clearly an error of judgement. It undermines his own organisations campaign to support staycations and shows he does not have sufficient faith in the very industry he is employed to promote, she said. She added that his position is now untenable and that this decision undermines his credibility Mr Cawleys poor judgement has made his position untenable and he should now step down. There has been a major drive to help the sector by encouraging people to take a staycation at home and support Irelands tourism industry. Michael Cawley has been at the helm of this drive. His decision to holiday abroad undermines his credibility and the campaign for people to holiday locally. She also raised concerns that his decision to travel abroad is contrary to Government advice. I am also concerned that Mr Cawleys decision to holiday overseas is contrary to Government advice that people should not make non-essential journeys abroad in order to limit the spread of Covid-19, Deputy Munster added. We all need to holiday at home, not only to support the local tourism industry but also to support public health efforts and ensure the virus does not resurge due to international travel." Photo: Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images Kanye Wests presidential campaign is moving to get on the ballot in two new purple states, Minnesota and Virginia, after filing Friday in Iowa. The three states join Wisconsin, Ohio, and Colorado as competitive states where West has filed to be a presidential candidate. The rapper has been officially certified as a candidate in Colorado but in Wisconsin, his filing is currently the subject of multiple challenges that include claims that his signatures were fraudulently obtained and that the rapper did not file to get on the ballot in time. West, whose wife, Kim, posted about him experiencing a bipolar episode in late July, will face issues in Iowa as well. The rapper, who registered to vote for the first time last month, did so as a Republican in his home of Wyoming. Interestingly, Wests registration as a Republican came five days after he announced his presidential campaign on Twitter. The challenge that poses for the rapper is that, in his affidavit of candidacy, West said he was not affiliated with any party. Iowa Code requires a candidate to include the political party with which the candidate is a registered voter. There is a precedent from 2018 where a registered Democrat attempted to run as a Republican and his candidacy was thrown out as a result. In its ruling, the board that hears challenges said critically Iowa Code does not ask for which political party the candidate intends to run. Rather the code requires the candidate to list on his or her nomination petition the political party with which he or she is registered. This is intended to give the eligible electors asked to sign the nomination petition true and accurate information to make an informed decision. Even if he gets on the ballot, top operatives in the state were skeptical of his impact. I dont think it matters, David Kochel, a top Republican operative, told Intelligencer, I suppose for people who are so disgusted with politics maybe there is a protest vote that happens if they dont like either candidate, but it wont be determinative. Kochel also raised questions about what motivated those assisting Wests campaign, Now I aint sayin theyre a gold digger, but these consultants aint working for free. Jeff Link, a veteran Democratic operative in the state, echoed this. He was skeptical of Wests appeal at the ballot box as a third-party candidate. Hes no Gary Johnson, said the longtime Democrat. Link also took a shot at the involvement of Republicans in the effort to put West on the ballot. It is revealing that the Republicans will do anything to confuse, distract, and distort the law in order to hang on to power, he told Intelligencer. Todd Henderson, a longtime Republican operative, signed one form that West submitted. The lawyer who submitted the petitions, Brian Rickert is also an active Republican and all six of the electors that West submitted were registered Republicans as well. Moving forward, Minnesota has been considered one of Donald Trumps best opportunities to win a state that he lost in 2016, and the president has scheduled a campaign rally there on Monday to coincide with the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Hillary Clinton only narrowly won the North Star State by 1.5 percent in the last presidential election. To get on the ballot there, West only has to obtain 2,000 valid signatures by August 18. His burden to get on the ballot in Virginia is higher. There, in a once safely Republican state that has swung heavily toward Democrats in recent years, West must file at least 2,500 valid signatures by August 21. However, he has the added burden of needing 200 signatures from each of the Old Dominions 11 congressional districts to qualify for the ballot. In addition, as first reported by the Tennesseean on Friday, Wests campaign is attempting to get on the ballot in Tennessee, which has a minimal threshold of 275 valid signatures for presidential hopefuls. Questions have continued to be raised about the West campaigns ties to Republican operatives. These have intensified after the revelation from the New York Times that West met last weekend with Jared Kushner. Forbes has reported that West and Kushner talk almost daily and the rapper told the publication, I love Jared thats my boy. Kushner insisted to reporters that they only talked about policy and not Wests presidential campaign. The campaign has also replaced one elector with Republican ties in Vermont with another elector with Republican ties. Chuck Wilton, who is also a delegate to the Republican National Convention this month in Charlotte, was removed as a West elector and replaced by Bradford Broyles, the former chair of the Rutland County Republican Party. Broyles also served as campaign manager for Wiltons wife, Wendy, when she was the Republican nominee for Vermont state treasurer in 2012. She has since taken an appointment in the Trump administration. In addition, the signature firm that West has been using in many states, Let the Voters Decide, employs an operative named Mark Jacoby, who was charged with voter fraud while working for the California Republican Party in 2008. In a statement, Let the Voters Decide said: Political adversaries often attempt to slander Mr. Jacoby personally due to the fact that he was the subject of a politically motivated public arrest in California 12 years ago on charges that were ultimately reduced to a minor misdemeanor. The facts of the actual charge were that Mr. Jacoby, then a 25-year-old, had mistakenly registered at a childhood address. This years-old misdemeanor charge had nothing to do with any political campaign or voter, Let the Voters Decide, voter registrations, elections, or any other matter and any ongoing focus on it is misplaced and irresponsible. As of Friday, Wests campaign is officially on the ballot in four states, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Vermont with another half dozen pending. It is mathematically impossible for him to earn the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election, however. So far, he has only held one formal campaign event last month in South Carolina, although he tweeted Friday evening to urge his two top rivals, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, to meet with the author of a book that he reportedly touted in his meeting with Kushner. Neither the Biden nor the Trump campaign immediately responded to requests about whether they would follow Wests suggestion. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Shinhan Bank Global Credit Research - 14 Aug 2020 Hong Kong, August 14, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Shinhan Bank (Shinhan) 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. The long-term bank deposit and senior unsecured debt ratings of Shinhan Bank are Aa3. The ratings incorporate a three-notch uplift from Shinhan's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of a3, based on our assessment of a very high likelihood of support from Korea (Aa2) in the event of stress. Our assumption of support is predicated on Shinhan's importance as one of the largest banks by assets in Korea, and its designation as a domestic systemically important bank. The main drivers of Shinhan's a3 BCA are the bank's (1) strong profitability and asset quality, and the low volatility in both these factors; (2) stable funding and liquidity; and (3) solid capitalization. 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. 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TOKYO - Northeast Asia doesnt so much repeat history as drag it along like an anchor. The bombs stopped falling 75 years ago, but it is entirely possible crucial even, some argue to view the regions world-beating economies, its massive cultural and political reach and its bitter trade, territory and history disputes through a single prism: World War II and Japans aggression in the Pacific. Even as Northeast Asias tangle of interlinking economic and political webs grows denser by the day, the potential for an unraveling may loom as large now as at any time since 1945. Japan in 2020 is unrecognizable to the fascist military machine that once rolled across Asia. Its military is now legally constrained as a self-defence force. Its constitution demands peaceful co-operation with the world. Postwar Japan has pumped trillions of yen (tens of billions of dollars) into regional development. So how does this peaceful, generous, stable nation still enrage so many? Why do the crimes of long-dead Japanese politicians and soldiers still loom so large in its neighbours eyes? For many Koreans and Chinese, theres a dogged perception, long encouraged by their national leaders, that Japan has failed to fully address past atrocities, including the sexual enslavement of Asian women by Japanese troops, the forced labour of Asian men in Japanese factories and mines, and a host of other unresolved insults lingering from Japans brutal early 20th century push for regional dominance. Many in Japan, meanwhile, are frustrated that repeated and explicit high-level apologies for wartime actions not to mention the huge amounts of aid sent to former enemies over the years have seen so little goodwill in return. Its useful to put the immense scale of the wars horrors in context when examining why, 75 years later, Japan and its neighbours still cant come to terms with whats euphemistically referred to as their history problems. With its millions dead, injured and displaced, with its grand ideological narratives belying some of the worst brutality in the history of warfare, with its cities pounded to rubble and then, almost as shockingly, rebuilt as glittering, high-tech showpieces, the war in Asia has seared itself into the worlds collective consciousness. Because Japan played such a central role in those years it is jarring to remember what a neglected afterthought it was isolated, feudal, deeply wary of the outside world when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perrys warships forced the ruling shoguns to open up to trade and commerce with the West in 1854. A little less than a century later, Japans foreign minister doffed his top hat to sign surrender papers on the deck of the USS Missouri as it floated in Tokyo Bay. Japans breathtaking rise and fall, in that comparatively short period of time, was, according to John Dowers masterful study of the postwar U.S. occupation of Japan, swifter, more audacious, more successful, and ultimately more crazed, murderous and self-destructive than anyone had imagined possible. In retrospect, it seemed almost an illusion a 93-year dream become nightmare that began and ended with American warships. And now? Updated versions of those U.S. warships still patrol the same waters, dispatched from permanent American bases in South Korea and Japan. This infuriates North Korea and China, who use it to justify their own fast-increasing arsenals. But the anger in North Asia can seem most incandescent when directed at Japan. The reason the war continues to play such an out-sized role in regional ties is because political leaders in Seoul and Beijing see the advantage in keeping these memories alive, not just to honour the dead, which everyone does, but for political advantage, Ralph Cossa, president emeritus of the Pacific Forum think-tank in Hawaii, said in an email interview. Most Koreans and Chinese alive today didnt experience the war, and memories of what happened are fading with each passing year. But the narratives of oppression and victimization are central to an identity and cemented through education and popular culture, said Daniel Sneider, an expert on East Asia at Stanford University. In that sense, the wartime historical memory also undermines the stability and prosperity of the region. In comparison to Asia, Europe has more successfully moved past the trauma of World War II, with Germany now working mostly in partnership with France and Britain, for instance. This may be because the Soviet threat during the Cold War forced the former European foes to co-operate. The postwar years in Asia, instead, saw a split that killed collaboration and healing, with Japan and South Korea in the U.S. camp and China and North Korea in the Soviet camp. The Korean Peninsula was literally split into a Soviet-backed north and U.S.-backed south. Germany solved its war issues by squarely facing up to is past, said Wang Shaopu, a Japanese studies professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and honorary president of the Japan Society of Shanghai. To a large extent, Japans foreign policies are following the United States, Wang said. Japan should learn a lesson from World War II to correctly deal with the issue of history, which is good for the world and for Japan. The war debate has also divided Japan. Progressives acknowledge Japans responsibility for its crimes. Conservatives, however, say Japan, as it struggled against Western imperialism, was boxed into war by resentful Western powers and then punished by unfair postwar trials. Those divisions have complicated efforts to address the past and compensate victims. Many are also exasperated over whats seen in Japan as an unwillingness of China and the Koreas to recognize the efforts Tokyo has made to make amends. The Chinese, Korean and Southeast Asian tigers (and their) economic miracles would not have happened as quickly, and perhaps not even at all, if Japan had not led the way and provided generous assistance, Cossa said. History did not end in 1945. There is a second half of the 20th century where no nation was as generous as Japan in helping others. Conservative Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe often plays to Japanese frustration with its neighbours. And much of the anger in South Korea and China centres on Japanese conservatives, including Abe, questioning past apologies and crimes and pushing for a stronger military. So how will Northeast Asia heal its ancient wounds? Political leaders, for one, will have to resist the temptation to use the past for their own ends. It also requires a readiness by Japan, and by others, to more fully confront that legacy and reassure Asians and others that they have learned the lessons of the past, said Sneider, author of Divided Memories: History Textbooks and the Wars in Asia. If the last 75 years are any basis for judgment, dealing with the still-painful legacy will not be any easier as a riven Asia moves into the remaining decades of this century. ___ Associated Press researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report. ___ Foster Klug, APs news director for Japan, the Koreas, Australia and the South Pacific, has covered Asia since 2005. Follow him at www.twitter.com/apklug Read more about: RTHK: Irish tourism head resigns over Italian holiday Ireland's tourism chief resigned on Saturday for choosing to holiday in Italy after the government advised against foreign vacations. Michael Cawley said he was stepping down as head of Failte Ireland, the country's tourism development agency, because he did not want his actions "to become a distraction". Ireland's tourism minister Catherine Martin said she was "disappointed" by Cawley's decision to visit Italy and had accepted his resignation. "He recognises that solidarity with the industry is extremely important at this time, and I have accepted his resignation this afternoon because I believe his position was untenable," she said in a statement. With international visitor numbers hit by the pandemic, the Irish government has encouraged people to staycation this summer in a bid to boost an economy heavily reliant on tourism in many places. The advice against non-essential travel was also aimed at stemming virus transmission inside the country, as coronavirus cases rise across Europe and around the world. Ireland has seen 27,191 virus cases and 1,774 deaths since the pandemic began earlier this year. The country announced 200 new cases on Saturday, its biggest daily tally since May. Dublin has imposed quarantine restrictions on people entering Ireland from some countries with high rates of Covid-19, but Italy was not among them. Cawley, a former Chief Operating Officer of budget Irish carrier Ryanair, said he "fully support the government's policy on tourism". He added that he would continue to help the industry emerge from its current difficulties. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Covid warriors speak: On Independence Day, some frontline doctors speak on what freedom means to them. One says that freedom means the freedom to speak which is an important aspect of the medical profession. He says, among other things, poor quality of PPE kits and, occasionally, the complete non-availability of them is a cause of concern that needs to be expressed clearly. Other doctors speak of the long and arduous journey they had to undertake amid the pandemic. Freedom for them will mean freedom from the pandemic since thats the only way they can meet with their families and ... The true scale of the Post Office IT scandal was laid bare yesterday as it emerged that as many as 1,855 former employees may have been wrongfully accused of taking money from the till. Hundreds of postmasters were sacked, went bankrupt or were wrongfully convicted after amounts appeared to vanish from their tills. But it later emerged that shortfalls in the accounts of local branches were the result of flaws in the Post Offices IT system, Horizon. Hundreds of postmasters were sacked, went bankrupt or were wrongfully convicted after amounts appeared to vanish from their tills [File photo] In a bid to make amends for the scandal, which has run for close to two decades, the central Post Office company has promised to compensate postmasters. Last night, as the deadline for applications for the scheme passed, 1,300 former members of staff had applied, the Post Office said. This is on top of the 555 postmasters who fought for compensation in the High Court, winning a 58million settlement last December. And 960 convictions linked to the scandal are being reviewed in what has been dubbed the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history. The Post Office has promised to investigate its systems, and yesterday admitted its stamp stock procedures had the potential to produce cash shortfalls for postmasters. The case has caused outrage in Westminster, with dozens of MPs voicing their anger that no one has been brought to justice for the scandal. Boris Johnson has ordered an inquiry. Last night Karl Turner, an MP who represented postmasters as a barrister, said: It is shocking that a Government-owned company got away with prosecuting and demonising its own staff for so long. Andy Furey, of the Communications Workers Union, said: I am shocked they are still finding issues with the system this time with stamps. It brings into doubt the transparency of the whole process. The Post Office said: All claims will be progressed as quickly and efficiently as possible. It added: We envisage it could take several months for individual case outcomes to be reached and communicated. Washington: Tensions have erupted over the ability of the US Postal Service to cope with this years presidential election, after it failed to guarantee that all ballots cast by mail would arrive in time to be counted. The Postal Service issued the warning in detailed letters to states across the US, heightening concerns about voting limitations in what has already become a volatile contest between President Donald Trump and Democratic presumptive nominee Joe Biden. Cages loaded with ballots in postal service bins rest behind a worker at a Board of Elections facility in New York. Credit:AP In the latest sign of angst, protesters on Saturday morning (local time) descended on the home of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a GOP donor and Trump ally, accusing him of trying to "dismantle" the organisation to assist the President. "DeJoy has fired or reassigned much of the existing USPS leadership and ordered the removal of mail sorting machines that are fundamental to the functioning of the postal service," the group, Shut Down DC, said in a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his greeting to all Indians on the 74th Independence Day before hoisting the tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind! PM Modi posted on Twitter minutes before his speech at the Red Fort. The Prime Minister will hoist the national flag and deliver his Independence Day speech shortly. Before that, he will receive the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Delhi Police. In his Independence Day speech last year, PM Modi had talked about the decision to remove Jammu and Kashmirs special rights and ban against triple talaq among the bold moves of the first 10 weeks of his second term. Modi also talked about his aim to turn India into a $5-trillion economy within five years and announced the creation of a new post of chief of defence staff to ensure better coordination of the army, navy and air force, along the lines of western military forces. A multilayered security ring, including snipers from the National Security Guard (NSG), elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, has been thrown in around the Red Fort. Several other leaders, including Union home minister Amit Shah, also tweeted their wishe The Lao official is here to attend the funeral of late Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Man extended best wishes to the Lao official on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Lao front, and affirmed the Vietnamese front always attaches special importance to and hopes to strengthen its cooperation with the Lao counterpart. He also stressed that the two organisations should further intensify their comprehensive cooperation and mutual support in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vietnamese official proposed the two side coordinate with the Cambodian front to hold an online tripartite in November this year. The Vietnamese and Lao fronts will closely coordinate to hold the international conference on the building the Vietnam - Laos border line of peace, friendship, cooperation for joint development at a suitable date in 2021, Man affirmed. For his part, the Lao official highlighted the relations of traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two countries as an invaluable property, and stressed that the cooperative relations between the two fronts have been unceasingly consolidated and strengthened, making great contributions to the acceleration of the traditional relations between the two Parties, States and peoples. He also affirmed the Lao front will closely coordinate with the Vietnamese one to effectively realise the contents of the cooperation programme already signed. Nearly 300,000 people have been arrested in South Africa for violating the lockdown laws that were introduced at the end of March to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, according to the figures released here. Minister of Police Bheki Cele announced the quarterly crime statistics on Friday. At the start of the lockdown, Cele had warned that people contravening the regulations would end up with a criminal record which would impact on issues such as their future job prospects. But at the statistics announcement, he said his colleague in the Ministry of Justice was looking ... Independence Day 2020: PM Modi hoists National Flag for 7th time, first non-Cong PM to do so India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hoisted the National Flag for the seventh straight time at the Red Fort on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. With this, he became the first non-Congress Prime Minister to do so most frequently. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Modi surpassed the number of times late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had hoisted the flag on Independence Day. Modi first hoisted the national flag on the Red Fort in 2014 and in the second term of his government last year, hoisted the tricolor for the sixth time, equaling the first Prime Minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who headed the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), hoisted the tricolor six times between 19 March 1998 and 22 May 2004. Although Vajpayee became the prime minister for the first time in 1996, his government could not run for long and could not get the opportunity to hoist the national flag. A wave of resentment among the general public over the Emergency in the country led to the ouster of the then Congress government in the 1977 general election and the Janata Party government at the centre. It was the first non-Congress government after independence. Morarji Desai became the head of this government. He hoisted the tricolor twice at the ramparts of the Red Fort in 1977 and 1978. After this, on 28 July 1979, Chaudhary Charan Singh became the Prime Minister with the support of the Samajwadi Parties and the Congress (U) and hoisted the tricolor for the first and last year in the same year. Apart from Charan Singh, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, HD Deve Gowda and Indra Kumar Gujral were also non-Congress Prime Ministers who had the privilege of hoisting the tricolor one by one. The country's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the flag from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947 in independent India. Nehru was the prime minister of the country till 27 March 1964 and during this time he hoisted the flag on record 15 times on 15 August. It is followed by Indira Gandhi (11) and Manmohan Singh (10). Advertisement The Union Health Minister encouraged the doctors and healthcare workers to come up in large numbers on the eve of Independence Day to donate blood and save the lives of patients."In view of COVID-19 pandemic, the number of voluntary donations and blood donation camps saw a significant decline. Blood is required for emergency surgeries, blood disorders like thalassemia, blood cancers and road traffic accidents and trauma cases. Hence the best way to serve humankind is voluntary blood donation," he added.Vardhan also shed light on the number of coronavirus cases in the country and showed confidence in the scientific developments in the field of treatment and vaccines, asserting that India will soon achieve in the fight against the viral disease."India's continuously rising recovery rate and progressively falling case fatality rate have proven the success of the COVID-19 containment strategy. We have successfully ramped up our testing capacity which has crossed more than 8.4 lakh milestone today with more than 1,450 testing labs spread across the country."On Friday, India's novel coronavirus tally crossed the 24-lakh mark with 64,553 new cases in 24 hours, while the death toll climbed to 48,040 with 1,007 more fatalities.Out of the total 2,461,190 cases, recoveries have surged to 1,751,555 with a record 55,573 more people recuperating in the past 24 hours, taking the recovery rate to nearly 71.17 per cent. The actual caseload of the country are the active cases, which currently stand at 6,61,595.Notably, the case fatality rate, which is the proportion of people who die from the disease among individuals diagnosed, has dropped to 1.96 per cent, the Ministry said.Source: IANS (Bloomberg Opinion) -- This time it only took six months of haggling and five missed deadlines, but Latin Americas best known recidivist borrower nine sovereign debt defaults since independence and 20 International Monetary Fund bailouts has finally come to terms with the foreign holders of its bonds. And for Argentina, which has spent one of every three years in recession since 1950, the new deal, signed Aug. 4, may once again prove to be the easy part. President Alberto Fernandez and his economy minister Martin Guzman deserve plaudits for keeping the talks for rescheduling $65 billion in foreign debt civil and on topic with remarkably little pushback from alpha Peronist and Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Recall 2014 and 2015, when Fernandez de Kirchner (no relation to Alberto) was running the country and made a point of turning debt negotiations into a passion play. Yet decorum isnt deliverance, and to honor the agreement with private lenders Fernandez not only must convince the countrys biggest creditor, the International Monetary Fund, to reschedule $44 billion in loans, but sell his own recession-battered compatriots on the inevitable sacrifices and unpalatable political changes required to return Argentina to solvency and growth. Three years into a deepening economic contraction, Argentina has fallen hard. It earned the second lowest score on Bloomberg LPs latest misery index, with around 40% of the population living in poverty. Locked down since March, the pandemic-smothered economy is set to contract by as much as 13% this year. The IMF says it will take $55 billion to $85 billion in debt relief to see Argentina through the next decade. This combination of afflictions has bought Argentina some indulgence and may have helped grease the way to a debt deal. Argentina will have four years to start paying off its pared down debt, and many analysts foresee the IMF agreeing to reschedule the loan to its biggest debtor. Nonetheless, the Funds imprimatur will come with conditions. Story continues Guzman deserves applause but the question is, what will he do with the breathing room hes won for Argentina? said Adriana Dupita at Bloomberg Economics. One major unanswered dilemma: How to manage the 70% of national debt denominated in dollars at a time Argentina has been all but shut out of foreign capital markets? Hell have to bring the economy back to growth and to do that will require reducing inefficient public spending and take on structural reforms. Its hard to know where to start. Even before this years compound emergencies, Argentina was a global straggler. It earned the World Economic Forums lowest rank for economic competitiveness among the Group of 20 countries and placed an underwhelming 83 out of 141 countries worldwide. Dont count on much relief from the governments proposed judicial reform, which critics suspect is designed to shield Fernandez de Kirchner from numerous criminal charges such as money laundering. The Casa Rosadas attempt to nationalize financially troubled soy crushing giant Vicentin in June didnt help; although a judge, overruled the takeover, Fernandez declared that nationalization is still on the table. Multinational companies are pulling up stakes. Latam airlines recently announced it was ending domestic flights in Argentina, and Covid-19 was only part of the problem. Spiking operating costs due to onerous taxes, chronic labor disputes and low productivity by flight crews had inflated operating costs to the breaking point, Bloomberg News reported. Perhaps its no surprise that many Argentine companies are weighing relocation across the border to more business-friendly Uruguay. Argentina has become a very hostile place to invest with an out of control executive that seeks to expropriate businesses and the governing Peronist coalition threatening further expropriations, said Nicolas Saldias, a political analyst at the Wilson Centers Argentine Project. Argentina isnt a poor country, just a mismanaged one, chronically squandering the countrys enviable human capital and enterprise. The high tax burden, low productivity and protectionism have delivered years of underinvestment and boom and bust, Alberto Ramos, a senior economist at Goldman Sachs told me. Whats needed are structural reforms. Mauricio Macri surged into office five years ago on precisely that promise fiscal consolidation, streamlining public spending and taxes, and opening the economy. Macri was not wrong. While it has taken time, these policy efforts are starting to bear fruit, the IMF declared in its fourth review under the Argentine Standby agreement 13 months ago. Financial markets have stabilized, the fiscal and external positions are improving, and the economy is beginning a gradual recovery from last years recession. The Fund is strongly supportive of these important policy efforts. That was then. Instead of transformational reform, Macri delivered gradualism and half measures, with the prostrate economy setting up the rival Peronists for a triumphant return. Will Fernandez take up that vital if politically toxic unfinished agenda? Dont hold your breath. The rest of Fernandezs term will be damage control, said Bruno Binetti, who teaches poltical science at the Torcuato Di Tella University in Buenos Aires. What we might see is Fernandez justifying necessary spending cuts and reforms by transferring the blame to the pandemic or to Macri. The deflection may already have begun. A pandemic without the virus, is how Fernandez recently described his predecessors policy bequest as his own sky high approval ratings began to slip. Whether such partisan cant will persuade his crisis-weary compatriots is another matter. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Mac Margolis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Latin and South America. He was a reporter for Newsweek and is the author of The Last New World: The Conquest of the Amazon Frontier. 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. CHURCHES in Tullamore have again been forced to revert to online ceremonies only because of the Covid-19 restrictions imposed on Offaly. Where previously public Masses and services resumed with gatherings in churches limited to 50 people, the latest lockdown has effectively shut places of worship for all but private prayer. In the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore, Mass will continue to be available on the parish webcam. The local Church of Ireland has said there will be no church services in Tullamore and Clara for the next two Sundays. There will be a church service in Tyrrelspass at 10am. However only parishioners who live in Westmeath should attend this service. On Sunday evening the Tullamore Church of Ireland will livestream evening prayer at 7pm from Lawless funeral home, Mucklagh. To view the service use the link https://site2.watchmcnmedia.tv/camera/lawless-tullamore.html Tullamore Presbyterian Church's Sunday Service takes place at 12 noon on Facebook. People who have recovered from Covid-19 need not quarantine themselves for up to three months after they have recovered, the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said in recently updated advisories for their citizens, the first time public health officials anywhere have expressed confidence in some duration of immunity infected people develop. The advisory was available on the website of US CDC which, according to New York Times, appeared to suggest that it was safe for people to mingle with others for three months. People who have tested positive for Covid-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to three months as long as they do not develop symptoms again, said the guidance on cdc.gov. If someone does develop symptoms such as cough, fever or difficulty breathing they may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms, the advisory added. Scientists around the world are yet to conclusively determine the question of how long immunity may last after a Covid-19 infection, which first began infecting humans a little over eight months ago. In this period, studies have indicated the antibodies proteins in the human body that can prevent a re-infection with a pathogen wane over two to three months. At the same time, there are also studies including one from Wuhan published on Thursday that showed antibodies lingered on for over six months. People may also be protected by something known as memory T cells, a part of the immune system that learns how to fight infections. T cell memory may not necessarily prevent an infection but can quickly ramp up the production of antibodies and killer immune cells that can prevent a serious bout of Covid-19 second time around. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said three Covid-19 vaccine candidates were being tested in India and the country is awaiting the go-ahead from scientists to begin their mass production. He added that a road map for the distribution of the vaccine to every single Indian in the least possible time was also ready. ...our scientists are dutifully engaged in the laboratories. They are putting in great efforts. At present, testing for three vaccines is in different stages in the country. Once we get a green signal from our scientists, we will launch a massive production of the vaccine. We have made all the preparations, Modi said in his Independence Day speech. Indian biotech companies have developed two of the three vaccine candidates that have entered the human trial stage in India. The vaccine candidate Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Researchs National Institute of Virology (Pune) uses an inactivated strain of the virus to trigger an immune response. The vaccine has entered phase II trial to examine its immunogenicity, or the ability to produce an immune response. Zydus Cadila has developed the second DNA-based vaccine candidate called ZydCov D, which, too, is in phase II trial. The third vaccine is by Oxford University in collaboration with the Swedish-British biotech company AstraZeneca. Serum Institute of India, which will produce 1 billion doses of the vaccine if it is successful, will conduct its larger phase III trial. At least four other vaccine candidates have reached advanced pre-clinical stages and are soon scheduled to enter the human trials stage. The Department of Biotechnology, which is the nodal agency for vaccine development in India, is supporting the development of the four vaccines. A national expert group on vaccine administration has been formed to decide protocols for the procurement and administration of the Covid-19 vaccine. Government think-tank NITI Ayog member Dr VK Paul heads the group. Former Union health secretary K Sujatha Rao said that a Covid-19 vaccine is the need of the hour to help in preventing infections. But the availability of a safe and effective vaccine will depend on the data generated from the phase III trials. The pace at which we are going, a vaccine should be available by March or April next year. When will it reach you or me is another question. Rao said health care workers and high-risk populations such as the elderly will get the vaccine first. The government should study the deaths from the infection to see who is dying to inform this strategy. Dr T Jacob John, a former virology professor at Vellores Christian Medical College, said this is the right time to answer questions like who gets the vaccine. Whether it will be licensed for sale or controlled by the government, how will the vaccines be delivered to the people, and who pays for it. The government needs to create a platform for vaccine delivery. The universal immunisation programme is for the children and there is not an adult vaccine delivery mechanism in the country just like the flu vaccine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stueve Siegel Hanson, Langdon & Emison, Miller Schirger, and Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, recently secured one of the first favorable rulings for business owners denied pandemic-related business interruption coverage by their insurers. In June, the firms filed a lawsuit on behalf of K.C. Hopps, a locally owned Kansas City-based restaurant group against its insurer, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, for refusing to provide coverage for losses from COVID-19. Cincinnati responded by filing a motion to dismiss, arguing that K.C. Hopps was not entitled to coverage. But on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, Judge Stephen R. Bough, United States District Judge for the Western of District of Missouri, denied Cincinnati's motion. In his Order, Judge Bough concluded that allegations that COVID-19 had deprived K.C. Hopps of its property by making it unsafe and unsuitable for customers and others to use sufficiently stated a claim for coverage. Judge Bough's Order, along with another Order he filed the same day, are the first rulings in the country in favor of insureds for COVID-19 related coverage. Stueve Siegel Hanson, Langdon & Emison, Miller Schirger, and Shaffer Lombardo Shurin are currently representing business owners against insurance companies in business interruption litigation in multiple jurisdictions. In April they filed a class action lawsuit against Cincinnati Insurance on behalf of Promotional Headwear International, a wholesale distributor of custom-branded merchandise, alleging breach of contract stemming from its refusal to pay property insurance claims related to COVID-19. That class action represented the first lawsuit brought by Stueve Siegel Hanson, Langdon & Emison, Miller Schirger and Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, the top tier plaintiffs' firms working together on similar cases. The firms most recently announced two additional class action filings on behalf of three higher education institutions similarly denied coverage of claims filed under their insurance policies. About Langdon & Emison For more than 30 years, Langdon & Emison has dedicated its legal practice to helping people who have been seriously injured or who have lost loved ones. Recognized as one of the nation's leading law firms, our firm has built a national reputation for taking on the world's largest corporations in personal injury litigation. From our offices in Lexington and Kansas City (Mo.), St. Louis and Chicago, we serve as a trusted partner and adviser to clients and referring attorneys across the country. SOURCE Langdon & Emison Two foreigners jailed for trying to smuggle Vietnamese to Europe Two men, one Chinese and the other Japanese, were sentenced to a year and three months in prison each for attempting to bring four Vietnamese into Europe illegally. Lu Yu, 38, and Nagasawa Kazuaki, 62, were charged with "organizing, brokering illegal emigration," and will be deported from Vietnam after completing their sentences, the court in Hanoi ruled Friday. Three other Vietnamese suspects involved were given suspended sentences of between 12 and 15 months. Five people are at a trial in Hanoi for attempting to bring people to Europe illegally, August 14, 2020. Photo by Vietnam News Agency. According to the indictment, Chinese suspect Zhu Yanhua, identified as the ring leader, established an overseas study consulting firm in October 2018 as a cover to organize illegal emigration for Vietnamese citizens who were charged $20,000 each. Three Vietnamese accomplices were responsible for sourcing customers. Between April and October 2019, Yanhuas company had received four Vietnamese clients who wished to travel to Germany and France as tourists and then illegally remain to seek jobs. On October 26, Yu and Nagasa traveled to the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to provide the four clients passports with Schengen visas to enter Europe. However, security officers at the airport found the visas were fake and they were not allowed to fly. Yu and Nagasa were later detained by officers. Based on their testimonies, police captured other members of the ring. However, Yanhua escaped into Laos and is currently wanted by Vietnamese police. In recent years, many Vietnamese illegally working in Europe have had to pay a lot of money to consulting firms or brokers since they were not familiar with procedures. Some firms promised to find them jobs. United Nations The U.N. Security Council on Friday resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, with the Trump administration getting support from only the Dominican Republic but vowing further action to prevent Tehran's sale and export of conventional weapons. The vote in the 15-member council was two in favor, two against and 11 abstentions, leaving it far short of the minimum nine "yes" votes required for adoption. Russia and China strongly opposed the resolution, but didn't need to use their vetoes. The Trump administration has said repeatedly it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18. Kamala Harris listens as her running mate, Joe Biden, speaks during their first news conference together in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 12. (AFP / Getty Images) To the editor: Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) promise us a kinder, gentler, more honest, more effective leadership. But we should not forget that the honest team is competing with a world-class cheater and his helpers. We need to heed the advice of legendary Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher, who said he would trip his mother if she were rounding third base about to score the winning run for the opposing team. Here is a partial list of what confronts Biden and Harris: a plan to weaken the U.S. Postal Service and suppress mail-in voting; interference by Russia, which once again wants Trump elected; the Republican-dominated Supreme Court, which has made it easier for state officials to engage in voter suppression; and Trump's friend Kanye West potentially on the ballot in certain states, in an attempt to appeal to Black voters. Of course, the issues matter, but the election outcome will be determined by how the campaigns strategize. For Biden and Harris this means it is going to take more than just being the nice guys. It means that they are going to have to thwart the tactics of the guy who is never nice. In November, Biden and Harris will be rounding third base, and they need to avoid being tripped up. Stephen Sloane, Lomita .. To the editor: Maybe someone can assure me I'm wrong about something that Trump is so corrupt and manipulating, there will be no way Biden and Harris can win. Is there anyone in this country who can ensure the fairness of the election? If not, we may be doomed. Phyllis Molloff, Fallbrook .. To the editor: It is hard to imagine anyone not being moved by the speeches we recently heard from a high school gym in Wilmington, Del. No cheering crowds were needed to feed our emotions. Even those who support our current president would be hard-pressed to deny how refreshing it was to hear intelligent and inspirational, hopeful and heartfelt words, coming from the mouths of those who aspire to lead and represent America. Story continues As was said, we need a clear mandate this November. We need to let the world know we will no longer tolerate the behavior we have endured for the last three-plus years. We must replace our divider-in-chief with a healer. Enough of the lies. Enough of the fearmongering. Enough of the juvenile whining and blaming. John Saville, Corona .. To the editor: Harris is a bright and shiny choice for a party all-in with identity politics and intersectionality. Her debate performances during the primary process were lackluster, ranking her in my mind alongside former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and billionaire businessman Tom Steyer. She was poorly prepared for obvious questions, assuming apparently that bumper-sticker slogans would substitute for substance. Being called out by primary voters, however, did not dissuade Biden. Perhaps he has learned from the man he hopes to replace in the Oval Office that hoopla from the base is more important than thoughtful answers to important policy questions. Paul Bloustein, Cincinnati .. To the editor: I am not sure why there is so much talk about "swing" voters. In this divisive era, I can't think there are enough of them to make a difference. Here is what matters: More than 40% of eligible Americans did not vote for president in the last election. Trump's base accounts for about a third of voters even less than that if you include eligible voters who did not turn out in 2016. If Democrats must concentrate on those not inclined to vote at all, talk about what will make a difference to them. They should not be consumed by the president's outrage and name-calling. Address instead what Trump is focused on: voting. He has to suppress it, and Democrats have to protect and expand it. That ought to be the focus. Fred Robinson, Dana Point A first look at the reboot of the much-loved series All Creatures Great and Small promises a heart-warming romance blossoming between the two main characters. Returning to our screens on Channel 5 this September after a 30-year absence, the drama, based on the books of James Herriot, sees Scottish actor Nicholas Ralph make his TV debut opposite Oscar-winner Rachel Shenton. Nicholas plays the charming vet who eventually charms Rachel's character Helen Alderson - later Mrs Herriot - in the six-part remake. The first trailer, shared exclusively with FEMAIL, captures the pair after the vet moves to Helen's small Yorkshire town and begins his first job. Scroll down for video A first look at the reboot of the much-loved series All Creatures Great and Small promises a heart-warming romance blossoming between the two main characters. Pictured: Helen Alderson (played by Rachel Shenton) and James Herriot (played by Nicholas Ralph) Returning to our screens on Channel 5 this September after a 30-year absence, the drama, based on the books of James Herriot, sees Scottish actor Nicholas Ralph (above) make his TV debut opposite Oscar-winner Rachel Shenton It appears Mr Herriot gets off to a bumpy start, with his boss Siegfried Farnon (played by Mr Selfridge star Samuel West) warning the vet that it isn't the animals in the Dales that cause 'all the bother', but the people instead. But towards the end of the clip, it seems the story is finding its happy ending, and viewers see Rachel's character stand alongside Mr Herriot during a very lavish-looking party. She candidly warns: 'Careful once [the town] gets in your bones, it's hard to get out,' before Nicholas' character replies: 'I'm not sure I want it.' The adaptation originally ran on the BBC from 1978 to 1990 with Christopher Timothy as the Dales vet and Robert Hardy as his boss. The old days: Actors Christopher Timothy and Robert Hardy are pictured on set in 1979, when playing the vet and his boss The man himself: James Herriot, above, who died in 1995, wrote memoirs based on his experiences with animals as a vet Channel 5's six-part series features Rachel, who won a best live action short film Oscar in 2017 for The Silent Child, which she wrote and starred in. It also boasts Samuel West, 53, plays the vet's boss Siegfried Farnon whose own errant younger brother, Tristan, is played by Callum Woodhouse, 26. Anna Madeley, 43, is housekeeper Edna Hall. The collected works of All Creatures Great and Small have sold 60million copies internationally and have never been out of print. A co-production with the American broadcaster PBS, The Channel 5 remake is set in 1937. Happy house: Pictured from left to right, Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West), James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph), Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) and Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley) The adaptation originally ran on the BBC from 1978 to 1990 with Christopher Timothy as the Dales vet and Robert Hardy as his boss. Pictured is one of the vet's clients, Mrs Pumphrey (Diana Rigg) and her beloved pet Sebastian Cardwell, the digital channel controller at Channel 5, previously said: 'James Herriot has a special place in the heart of the public and the commission of this iconic drama series, against the stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales, is set to bring joy to a new army of TV viewers. 'The original books affectionately captured a unique slice of British life. 'In challenging times we hope the charming and heart-warming stories of community and compassion will resonate with new audiences.' Last autumn, Rachel took to Instagram to announce her casting in the series, which she was over the moon about. Original cast members: Pictured L-R are Rebecca Smith, Christopher Timothy, Lynda Bellingham and Oliver Wilson, seen in January 1988 Alongside a snap of a TV clapper board, she wrote: 'So excited that I can finally say Im working on ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL for @masterpiecepbs... 'Im also excited that I can now freely spam your feed with pictures of various farm animals #dreamjob #imallabouttheanimals #1937 #yorkshire' The reboot comes after Herriot's real-life son, 76-year-old Jim Wight, locked horns with Sue Paterson, the president of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), who said his father's novels portray vets as people who can be called on anytime and paid with slices of cake. She said: 'I think James Herriot is to blame because we're all supposed to love animals and work for nothing, but we all run businesses. All the Herriot stuff about a cat being ill and the owner cuts him a big slab of chocolate cake and he doesn't charge her - well, it's a hard business nowadays.' Take one: Rachel Shenton took to Instagram last autumn to share this picture and announce her casting in the series, which she said she was over the moon about Success: Rachel, pictured with Chris Overton, won a best live action short film Oscar in 2017 for The Silent Child, which she wrote and starred in Jim told The Express: 'I was very put out because it seemed so ridiculous. I was seething with anger, in fact. It is nonsensical to say he is out of date. You might equally say Winston Churchill is out of date. My father is an iconic and historic figure, and to compare veterinary practice in those days to now is completely unrealistic. 'He gave free treatment to a tiny portion of his clientele who were in genuine hardship; it was a charitable and Christian act. He started with no money at all. 'It is a different world, and you cannot compare the two. It is so unfair to blame that man for the woes of our profession today. Of course his scientific training may be dated, but his compassionate, careful and thorough approach is never going to be out of date.' Jim and his sister Rosie approved the 2020 reboot and said of it: 'The scripts are very interesting and the public will find them entertaining!' All Creatures Great and Small is coming this September to Channel 5 South Africa: Sisulu condemns illegal occupation of property Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, has condemned the recent spate of illegal occupation of private properties, including land and housing units in various parts of the country. This follows the recent incident where people illegally occupied housing units in Fleurhof, Johannesburg. Sisulu warned that the illegal act of taking occupation of housing units in Fleurhof, with the express intent of coercing government into providing housing for the illegal invaders on a preferential basis, will never be tolerated. The Fleurhof Housing Development project is meant to address the housing backlog according to the housing database. "Government will not tolerate those who seek to set back development and undermine the rights of other deserving people, who have been on the database for many years waiting for their houses. While we acknowledge that we still have a backlog, which we are tackling annually through the provision of housing opportunities, lawlessness will never be tolerated, Sisulu said. She said the department is satisfied that the City of Johannesburg is renovating units which have been vandalised. Sisulu made an undertaking that the houses will soon be allocated to beneficiaries. She reiterated that national government has made provision for homeless people during lockdown, and alternative accommodation has been provided under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Development. She said the department is not going to tolerate criminal behaviour and opportunists, who seek to undermine development and progress of housing delivery for those in genuine need of decent shelter. Government will continue to use its limited resources to respond to the housing needs of the qualifying beneficiaries, including military veterans who are still part of the housing backlog. According to the Minister, the country has a duty to honour its military veterans for the sacrifices and contributions they made in fighting for the democratic dispensation. Those who illegally invade private property and land parcels are committing a criminal offence and should be dealt with swiftly, and removed to prevent anarchy from spreading to other municipalities. Law enforcement agencies must act in these instances, Sisulu said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Aug 15 (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Washington had suffered a humiliating defeat in its bid to get a U.N. arms embargo on Tehran extended. In a U.N. Security Council vote on the U.S. effort on Friday, Russia and China voted against, while 11 members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain. The United States and the Dominican Republic were the only votes in favour. "I dont remember the United States preparing a resolution for months to strike a blow at the Islamic Republic of Iran, and it garners only one vote!," Rouhani said in a televised speech. "But the great success was that the United States was defeated in this conspiracy with humiliation." The U.N. arms embargo on Iran is due to expire under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which provided for many international sanctions against Iran being lifted in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme. Washington withdrew from the deal in 2018. The United States could now follow through on a threat to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback. Diplomats have said the United States could do this as early as next week, but that it would face a tough, messy battle. (Editing by Frances Kerry) Cases of COVID-19 in reopened schools are inevitable, say Toronto public health officials, who are cautioning parents not to expect a shutdown of the entire school whenever a student or staff member tests positive. We expect to get cases related to schools, said Dr. Vinita Dubey, the citys associate medical officer of health, adding Toronto Public Health will take a conservative approach in how it handles cases in schools to ensure the risk of transmission is limited. While TPH and school officials will be tasked with preventing the spread of COVID-19 when hundreds of thousands of children return to school in September, how those efforts will be communicated to the wider school community and the broader public is not yet clear. Dubey said TPH is waiting for guidance for health units from the province on how to handle cases of COVID-19 in schools, including when to lockdown a school when the virus is believed to have been transmitted within it. On Thursday, four teachers unions raised health and safety concerns with the reopening plan of Premier Doug Fords government, saying it puts students and staff in significant and imminent danger. While parents and other adults are encouraged to work from home, 583 Toronto District School Board locations along with 196 Toronto Catholic District School Board locations are expected to reopen at the bell on Sept. 8 but not for school as normal. The province has already placed guidelines on schools, including class sizes, protocols for self-screening and other measures to help prevent the spread of the virus. TPH will be responsible for monitoring the probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the school system as they already do in the broader community. Dubey noted TPH has a longstanding relationship with schools in handling infectious diseases, such as measles. In their guides to safely reopening based on provincial guidelines, Torontos public and Catholic boards spell out identical, specific processes for how they will handle cases of COVID-19. Students and staff will be asked to assess their symptoms before attending school. Toronto Public Health is also recommending active screening take place at the school, including a paper questionnaire or other means. If a student starts to feel sick at school theyll be separated from others until they can be picked up by their family, with a staff member supervising them while both wear personal protective equipment. The student will be asked to get tested at an assessment centre. A staff member who becomes ill must immediately go home and get tested. Staff and students will self-isolate while they wait for their results. If the test is negative, they can return to school 24 hours after symptoms go away, under TPH rules. If its positive, students or staff can only return 14 days after symptoms first appear as long as symptoms are mostly gone and do not require a confirmatory test or clearance letter. If theres a confirmed positive case, the supervisor or principal have to notify a list of school board officials as well as TPH. The TDSB takes its lead from Toronto Public Health, which is responsible for any necessary communications with regard to COVID-19 cases, said spokesperson Ryan Bird said in a statement. Should a presumed or diagnosed case of COVID-19 be present at one of our schools, well work closely with Toronto Public Health to support contact tracing and inform individuals who may have been in contact with the affected person. Once a lab confirms a COVID-19 case, it notifies TPH directly. Public health has also told schools to contact them if they become aware of a suspected infection, in case theres any delay from the lab so TPHs work can begin as soon as possible. The next step is for TPHs case and contact team to investigate, identifying any close contacts the staff or student may have had. Dubey said the planned school cohorts small groups of students who will stay together throughout the day will help, with the expectation schools will keep track of who is in which cohort and provide that information to TPH. The cohort is well-defined and you recognize that in the cohort while we want you to maintain physical distance as much as possible it may not always be possible throughout the course of the day, she said. And so, if there is a case in a cohort we might automatically say the whole cohort goes home self-isolate that cohort until we can complete our investigation, for example. But parents should not expect an entire school to automatically be shutdown if there is one confirmed case, said Dubey, noting that measles are much more infectious than COVID-19, and when there have been confirmed cases of measles they have not closed the school. But because of the risk congregate settings pose, Dubey said they will err on the side of caution and temporarily close a school if they lack immediate information to know who is at risk. There is no clearly defined protocol for whether the entire school is notified when a suspected or positive case is identified, so how or whether all the parents of the school will be told is still unclear. According to school plans: TPH will contact positive cases directly and provide a letter directly to the other staff/students identified to have a high risk of exposure. Communications department to work with TPH on letters to school or community, as determined by TPH. Dubey said communication is key in these situations and the TPH process of notifying school communities about infectious diseases is also well established. We may send a notification to the whole school to say theres been a case of whatever identified in your school, were letting you know so you can have your child watch for signs and symptoms, she said. Thats definitely part of our routine work in schools. Typically, she said, her agency works with principals to send a letter directly from TPH and set up a hotline where staff can answer questions from students. Dubey said its important parents know the personal health information about students or staff will be protected, so the identity of anyone testing positive will be private. Those identified as close contacts will be told directly. She said that privacy is important, including to prevent stigma when they are asking parents, students and staff to report possible symptoms. As for public reporting, Dubey said a school is not generally considered an institutional setting like a long-term-care home because its not a primary residence. But public health is still working out how it may report school-related cases to the general public. Shelley Laskin, a TDSB trustee for Ward 8 (Eglinton-Lawrence), said she shares the anxiety parents feel. I cannot blame them. They are worried about the health and safety of their most precious commodity, which is their child, she said. She said the board and TPH are providing as many details as possible to make parents feel confident in the plans that are in place. There has to be a level of understanding that people are working flat out to give them the answers they need, she said. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto and University Health Network, said theres an art and a science to contact tracing work TPH will do with a school outbreak. Typically, TPH would try to find out who was truly a close contact with the infected person whether they took the bus with someone, were in a carpool or elsewhere outside school. Its extremely unlikely one case would create the need to shut an entire school down or even a classroom, he said. You can envision a scenario where a kid comes to school is bound to be COVID-19 positive, but when you look at the layout of the class, how the class was conducted and the insurance of physical distancing, it could very well be that there are truly no close contacts, he said. People might need to monitor their symptoms. But Bogoch said even with the best-laid plans, its inevitable there will be cases in schools. Whats important are the steps in place to limit the risk of transmission. The whole point of all these provincial plans is really to prevent the transmission of this infection if it is introduced into a school, he said. How successful the school reopening will be depends on how the provincial guidelines are followed on the ground, he said. The citys board of health chair Coun. Joe Cressy said as the fall approaches, there has to be a recognition that we have to learn to live with COVID. The option of staying locked in our homes forever clearly has enormous social health and economic costs, he said. So getting to a place where we can reopen schools safely is where we want to be. Tokyo, Aug 15 : Japan on Saturday commemorated the 75th anniversary of its surrender in the World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing his "deep remorse" over the country's wartime actions at an annual mourning ceremony in Tokyo. The Emperor, Empress Masako, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a limited number of people attended the ceremony which was scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency. Naruhito, the country's first emperor born after the war, expressed "deep remorse" as he did last year, in a rare public appearance amid the pandemic. "Looking back on the long period of postwar peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated," Emperor Naruhito said in his address at the annual memorial service. Vowing not to repeat the tragedy of the war, Abe said: "We will never forget that the peace and prosperity we are enjoying today are built on the ultimate sacrifices of the war dead." The ceremony was held in Nippon Budokan, with around 540 people in attendace, less than 10 per cent of the number in 2019 and the lowest on record since the government started holding the event in 1963, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Members of Abe's Cabinet on Saturday visited the Yasukuni shrine, a symbol of Japan's past militarism, while Abe himself sent a ritual offering. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was the first Cabinet member since 2016 to visit the shrine on the August 15 anniversary. His visit was followed by three other Cabinet members. Yasukuni Shrine honours 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from World War II. The World Trade Organization (the WTO) was not long ago the ultimate command in the international trading system. However, what it is witnessing now is the dwindling of confidence in its role and posture, as well as increased doubts about its capabilities to regulate international trade relations, which only compound fears that chaos will become the alternative. The world cannot dispense with the WTO as a regulator and supervisor of international trade relations. It is well known that the organization extracts its strength from its unique judicial system, as it has a dispute settlement mechanism unparalleled in the multilateral system, which issues valid recommendations, and member states must resort to it or commit to compensation. Furthermore, its mandate as a forum for negotiation and setting international rules and regulations has given the organisation competency and proficiency that no other international organisation can subsume. Member states were contented with and committed to the rule-based international trading system as enforced by the WTO. The failure of the organisation to perform either of its two major mandates negatively affects the other and reduces its presence on the international scene. The WTO operates by consensus, which is a curse and a blessing at the same time. It is true that the consensus rule reflects absolute democracy, but it also means, in principle, granting the right of veto to 164 member states, which eventually has impeded the organization from performing its negotiating role. Seeing the deteriorating role in enacting trade rules and regulations, the US, the real architect behind the establishment of the WTO, slowly distanced itself from it. The US even refused to renew the members of the Appeal body thus weakening further the WTO and exacerbating the trade war between the two trading powers, US, and China. The WTO by and in itself does not have the ability to prevent the outbreak of trade wars, but it can curb them and keep them under control if countries abide by its rules and recommendations. That the United States' retreat from leadership should be viewed by the world community as an incentive and motivation for other countries, such as China, Japan, the European Union, India, Brazil, and others to join hands to enable the organization to fulfil the role assigned to it. Recognising that the US is no longer the only commercial power to design the international rules, the WTO membership perceives its right to participate in setting new rules to serve the interests of all the members fairly and equitably. Hence, it is important to rearrange the new balance of power to create a new trading system that is more responsive to the needs of its members and not to submit to the rule of haves and have-nots. It is worth questioning why the organization has faltered in discharging its functions after the great success of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations (1986-1994). The reasons lie in the persistence of some to include many topics on the organization's agenda that others perceived as irrelevant and would burden the organization and impede its work. Such issues include the environment, labour, and human rights, all of which are very important topics and have their own international as well as regional organizations and agencies. Hence, the overwhelming majority of countries preferred to keep these topics outside the scope of the WTO. This, on the one hand. On the other hand, is the conviction of developing countries that trade is not limited to promoting exports, but rather contributes to creating job opportunities and achieving development, leading to a welfare state. How disappointed were these countries when the developed countries ignored their demand to link trade with development within the framework of the Doha Development Round. Since then the WTO began to become paralyzed and immobile. The Corona pandemic came to aggravate the ineffectiveness of the organization when countries moved to adopt protection policies and restrictive measures again, believing that globalization is in its last breath. The WTO failed to deal with the dynamic changes and the fourth technological revolution in the multilateral trading system, Internet issues, digitalisation, and electronic commerce. The world trading system needs a second wave of reform and restructuring to be consistent with far-reaching changes in international trade relations and to adapt to the new circumstances and adjust to the post Corona pandemic. This leads us to the expected role of the new management of the organization, which is about to choose a new executive director from among eight candidates. We should be proud of our Egyptian candidate, Abdel Hamid Mamdouh for his knowledge and experience having worked for over 25 years in the organization, during which he held leadership positions and became familiar with its rules as well as its strengths and weaknesses. On July 31, the WTO General Council approved the steps to be taken in the final stage of the process of selecting the new director general of the organization through conducting individual interviews with the representatives of the member states and getting to know their preferences. This last stage of the selection will end in the first half of November, after which the Director-General of the organization will be chosen according to the majority voicing of the member states. It is worth noting that after more than 25 years of the work of the organization, the African continent has not yet had the opportunity to occupy the post of director general. Instead of standing firmly behind one candidate, the continent has three candidates who will share the votes. They are the Egyptian candidate in addition to two women candidates. One of whom is the Nigerian candidate, who is the former Minister of Finance in Nigeria, and the Kenyan candidate, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. There is also the British Liam Fox, a former Minister of International Trade and a member of the British Parliament, the South Korean candidate who is the present Minister of Trade. Another Mexican candidate, who was the chief negotiator for his country in the negotiations of the replacement of NAFTA, a new trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico orchestrated by President Trump. The list also includes a former Moldovan foreign minister and Mr. Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, the former Minister of Economy and Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new administration of the organization faces two basic dilemmas, the first of which is the revival of the WTO as a negotiating forum and the acceleration of reliance on digital trade at a time when the vast majority of countries have not established the necessary national rules within the framework of their legislation. It is also imperative to rethink the consensus rule and the responsibility to devise new means of decision-making. This may be in the form of weighted voting or other mechanisms that are more suitable for successive international changes. Having experienced the disinterest of the US and its worldwide implications, it is vital to agree on a new leadership to lead and support this new phase of reform. The WTO remains a consensual reflection of members desire to envision their new trade system, as trade in services and e-commerce will become the pioneer of integration and new globalization in the future. This is a point of strength for the Egyptian candidate as he has been director of the trade in services department in the organization for more than twenty years. Search Keywords: Short link: On Friday, the New York City Police Benevolent Association (PBA) announced its support of United States President Donald Trump in the November elections. The Commander in Chief of the union has leaned towards the US president's "law and order" platform. Critical points in police history The president of the PBA, Patrick Lynch, said on Friday evening that he does not remember a point in time where the union supported the United States president until this moment and stated it was that historic of a moment. According to New York Post, Lynch said the country needed a strong voice in the country, and President Trump was the right person to provide the nation just what it needed. After the 2016 election, the union had changed to become neutral in political matters. Recently, however, Lynch has since continued to criticize Democrats as well as cities and states led by them for passing legislation that requires transparency of disciplinary actions against police officers and the banning of chokeholds. During one of President Trump's speeches, he verbally attacked Democrats for apparently waging war against police officers of the United States and called out New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for conducting what the US president called a "crusade against the police." During his talk, Trump said he had to bring back law and order across all cities and back to the United States. At one point, the US president polled police who attended when he gave a nickname to his presidential opposition, Joe Biden, as "Sleepy Joe" or "Slow Joe." Also Read: New York Projects Over $64 Billion in Losses in The Next Four Years Due to COVID-19 An America against its officers On Friday, the US president also told hundreds of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers that if Biden wins, no one will be safe in the America that he creates, as reported by HuffPost. Trump added that the Democrat has continuously been taking away the dignity and respect away from US citizens and promised that he would ensure it returns when he wins the November elections. While speaking to approximately 24,000 members of the PBA, Trump continued to attack his opposition, Biden, and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, as the general elections approached closer and looked to raise doubts about the Biden-Harris partnership's ability to maintain peace within the country. In his speech, the US president said his agenda has always been anti-crime and pro-cop, and he plans to keep it that way. Trump previously decried protesters who have been calling out for police reforms and defunding of departments as violent individuals after they spray-painted anti-police slogans during recent demonstrations. According to The Hill, Trump told police in attendance that they should be able to fight back and protect themselves as he stated similar statements to his previous speeches where he encouraged to be more aggressive and use more controversial tactics during encounters. Lynch denied what he called a false narrative that police officers in New York are evil and praised Trump for his willingness to speak the truth about the matter despite public criticism. Related Article: Fact Check: Does Joe Biden Own an Island Next to Jeffrey Epstein's in the Caribbean @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Papua New Guinea first started producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in April 2014 when the flagship $19bn PNG LNG project came on-line months ahead of schedule. With the project exceeding export expectations, the focus has now shifted to two new projects, which would more than double the countrys LNG production capacity if they come to fruition. However, as the government is determined to reap more economic and social benefits from resource projects than ever before, as of June 2020 an agreement has yet to be reached with investors on the fiscal terms that would allow both proposed developments to proceed in tandem. PNG LNG operates as a joint venture between three PNG companies and three multinational firms. US energy major ExxonMobil has the lead stake in the project, at 33.2%, and was responsible for overseeing its construction. PNG-based, Australian Stock Exchange-listed firm Oil Search has a 29% share, while PNGs national oil company Kumul Petroleum has 16.8% and Australian energy company Santos owns 13.5%. The remaining minority stakes are divided between JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japans JX Holdings, with 4.7%, and PNGs state-owned Mineral Resources Development Company, with 2.8%. Projected Growth An economic impact assessment conducted in 2008 by external consultant ACIL Tasman estimated that GDP would more than double as a result of the project, from PGK8.6bn ($2.5bn) in 2006 to an average of PGK18.2bn ($5.4bn) per year when the project came on-line. ACIL Tasman also estimated that oil and gas exports would more than quadruple compared to 2006 levels, and that the project would create 7500 full-time jobs in the construction phase, 20% of which would go to PNG nationals, as well as 850 full-time-equivalent positions once production began. Perhaps most importantly for a lower-middle-income country facing significant developmental challenges and fiscal constraints, the assessment predicted that PNG LNG would result in significant revenue for the government and landowners, with taxes, royalty payments, levies and equity participation expected to total $31.7bn over a 30-year period. Tangible Results Since PNG LNG began production in 2014, it has provided LNG on long-term contracts for four major clients in the Asia-Pacific region: China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec); Japans Osaka Gas Company and Tokyo Electric Power Company; and Taiwans CPC Corporation. It has also signed medium-term supply contracts with BP Singapore, PetroChina and Unipec Singapore, a subsidiary of Sinopec. As of April 2019, PNG LNG was committed to supplying a total of 7.9m tonnes per year to overseas clients through medium- and long-term agreements, with a total capacity to produce 8.3m tonnes per year. The project is widely considered to be a technical success that has exceeded initial export expectations. It has also had a positive impact on employment and local supply chains. Around 86% of the 3200-strong production workforce is made up of PNG nationals, while 250 local businesses and 16 landowner groups provide ancillary services. However, there is some debate around whether the expected fiscal and social benefits have yet materialized. Related: Libya's Oil Blockade Will Help Clear The Global Supply Glut From a 2012 budget projection of receiving $22bn in revenue over the projects lifespan to 2040, the government halved its forecast to $11bn in November 2018. In its assessment, it identified 11 favorable tax concessions granted to the joint-venture partners as one of the reasons for the downgrade. In a 2017 analysis, the World Bank noted that the joint-venture partners had negotiated a complex web of exemptions and allowances that effectively mean that little revenue is received by the government and landowners. In light of this, the current administration has insisted that future projects must offer more benefits for the state. Papua LNG Upon his election in May 2019, Prime Minister James Marape took over talks on two new large-scale energy projects, one of which involves the expansion of the PNG LNG plant through the development of the Pnyang gas field. The other project, which is known as Papua LNG and led by French multinational Total, involves the commercial development of the Elk and Antelope gas fields. The two proposed projects are connected, and combined would add three new LNG processing units known as trains to the existing two trains at PNG LNG. One of the new trains would be fed by the Pnyang expansion and the other two by Papua LNG. By sharing infrastructure at the PNG LNG plant, it is estimated that stakeholders could save $2bn-3bn in construction costs. Altogether the two projects would almost double the countrys LNG export capacity, with Papua LNG alone adding 5.5m tonnes per year to existing capacity at the PNG LNG plant. In April 2019 a gas agreement for the $13bn Papua LNG project was struck by the previous administration led by then-Prime Minister Peter O Neill. Prime Minister Marape quickly signaled his intent to review the agreement and indicated that the government would seek to renegotiate if it felt that the fiscal and social returns for the state were insufficient. Subsequently, there were a number of closed-door discussions between the government and Total, which culminated in a September 2019 statement by the government that the project had been cleared to proceed after the French energy giant had made substantial new concessions on potential future benefits not previously available to the country under the signed agreement. Pnyang Expansion With Papua LNG cleared to proceed, the focus then turned to negotiations for the Pnyang expansion led by ExxonMobil. Since the projects will share infrastructure under the current plans, front-end engineering and design work on Papua LNG is not expected to progress until the status of the Pnyang expansion is made clear. However, the government publicly broke off talks in late January 2020, casting doubt over the future of both projects. In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange after talks collapsed, Oil Search said the fiscal terms requested by the government meant that the joint-venture partners were unable to obtain a return on their investment that made the project investable and bankable. According to international media, the government was seeking a revenue share in excess of the 45-50% it agreed for the Papua LNG project and well above the share negotiated in 2008 for PNG LNG. This stance is consistent with Prime Minister Marapes pledge when he assumed office to ensure that the oil and gas sector is beneficial to our country as well as our investors. Related: Big Oil Forced To Change Strategy After The Oil Price Crash However, the government may face difficulties as it seeks to maximize the benefits from its natural resource wealth without deterring the international capital and expertise required to extract and commercialize it. In the absence of the Pnyang expansion, the two-train Papua LNG project would likely be delayed and costs would increase. The Bank of America estimated that first production would be delayed by 18 months, meaning that it would begin in 2026. Nevertheless, there is some hope that the Pnyang project could still be revived. In late February 2020, Oil Search signaled that the joint-venture partners were willing to resume talks with the government, as they unanimously agreed that the synchronized three-train expansion was the most efficient way to develop Papua LNG and Pnyang. In its first quarter of 2020 report published in April, Oil Search confirmed that talks had formally resumed, although no public updates on the negotiations had been made as of June 2020. Global Changes However, these negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of significant disruption to the global energy market, as a result of the global outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020. Spot LNG prices in North Asia fell to record lows of below $2 per 1m British thermal units (btu) in April 2020 on the back of a supply glut and falling demand. Global LNG exporters are expecting low prices until at least 2022. As a result, energy companies must carefully evaluate the risks and rewards of any exploration and production activities to ensure adequate returns on investment. The LNG industry has been in an extended phase of capacity expansion since 2016, mainly driven by new developments in Australia, the US and Russia. As such, analysts have warned that PNG risks falling behind its competitors if investment decisions are not reached soon on its two major projects. Given the waves of new LNG that have recently been sanctioned, PNGs expansion is slipping further to the back of the queue, Angus Rodger, research director at global energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, said. From both a macro-pricing and a contractor-quality-and-pricing perspective, trailing in the wake of the biggest wave of new LNG supply the industry has ever seen is not ideal. According to consultancy firm Rystad Energy, the estimated $8.40 per 1m btu breakeven price for Papua LNG makes it one of the most expensive projects in the global pipeline compared with other developments in Qatar, Mozambique, the US and Canada. In light of this, it is hoped that stakeholders in the Pnyang expansion can reach an agreement to unlock the countrys potential. By Oxford Business Group More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Rome, 15 August 2020 (SPS) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said that food aid for Sahrawi refugees is not subject to any taxation by Algeria, denying the false allegations peddled by the Moroccan embassy in Rome, the Algerian News Agency APS reported. The aid delivered to the Sahrawi refugee camps "is not subject to any taxation by the Algerian government and is exempt from value added tax (VAT) in Algeria, as in all other countries where we operate," said the WFP in its response to a note verbale from the said embassy which falsely accused Algeria "to levy a 5% tax on this aid." The Rome-based UN agency also notes that "the Algerian government's support for the Tindouf camps includes facilitating customs clearance and port operations and the transport of humanitarian supplies to the camps." As a reminder, the Algerian Ambassador to Brussels, Amar Belani, had formally denied these false allegations, stating that Algerian tax legislation exempts from customs duties and VAT all humanitarian and charitable associations operating in Algeria, in relation to the Algerian Red Crescent. In its response, WFP "reaffirms the commitment made at the annual session of the Executive Board in June 2019 and the note verbale of 14 May 2020 that humanitarian assistance in the Tindouf camps in Algeria will continue to be provided to people vulnerable to food insecurity, in accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality." (SPS) 062/SPS/700 Opposition parties on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his call for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and said that at a time when the government was privatising national assets, a self-reliant India was mere "rhetoric". Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that it was important to question the government on whether it believes in the mandate of the people and if there is freedom to speak freely in the country. "Does our government believe in democracy? Does our government believe in public opinion? Do we have the freedom to speak, think, travel, to wear what we like, to earn our livelihood or has that been curbed," Surjewala said. He said that the foundation of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other freedom fighters. "But a government which is selling public sector undertakings, handing over railways and airports to private players and attacking everything from LIC to FCI, will that government be able to keep the freedom of this country safe? It is the duty of the government and every citizen to keep the freedom of the country safe," he added. The Left parties alleged that the PM's speech was full of rhetoric and said that his New India was subservient to corporates and not self reliant. Urging the people to unite against the government's move to privatise India's assets, the Left parties said that only a people's movement can fight the present regime. "The New India that the PM spoke about in his speech at Red Fort is a negation of that India which was established by our Constitution. This India is not self reliant but subservient to foreign corporates. "A people's movement is the only way to reverse the multi pronged attacks on our Constitution by this government," said CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury at a webinar organised by the party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, and asked citizens to prepare themselves for a self-reliant India. D Raja, the general secretary of the CPI, alleged that unlike former PMs who are remembered for their development agendas, Modi will be remembered as the prime minister who served the purpose of corporates. "His speech today was complete rhetoric. During his speech he repeatedly said Aatmanirbhar Bharat which is an irony given the fact that our entire economy has been handed over to private players. Be it the defence sector, railways, atomic energy or even AI and more are being given for privatisation," he said. Talking to reporters after Modi's address, Congress' chief spokesperson Surjewala also said that all Indians should ask the government this Independence Day what it was doing to protect the country and push China back. In his speech, the prime minister said India's soldiers had given a fitting reply to those who had challenged the country's sovereignty, from "LoC to LAC". Modi, who did not name China, added that the whole country is united in protecting the sovereignty of the nation. "Each and every Congress worker and all 130 crore Indians are proud of our armed forces and have full faith in them. We salute the armed forces for giving China an apt reply every time there has been an attack. But what about those who are sitting in power? Why are they scared of mentioning China's name," Surjewala asked. "At a time when China has entered Indian territory, every Indian needs to ask the government what it is doing to push China back and protect the country. On this Independence Day they should ask this. That is the true sense of democracy," the Congress leader added. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) on Saturday cautioned the public to be cautious when using open fires and electrical appliances in order not to ignite fires. This follows a fire outbreak at a slum dwelling within Shiashie in Accra last night. The slum, known as the Soweto Estate or Ataa Nii Estate within the West Ayawaso Municipal Area, had more than 200 inhabitants who had been completely displaced by the fire. Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar Tchafaram, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Fire and Man-Made Disasters, NADMO, told the Ghana News Agency on Saturday at the scene of the incident that they were investigating the cause of fire but he suspected an electrical fault. He said NADMO was taking stock of the extent of damage and the number of people affected so as to adequately support them. Alhaji Tchafaram said the about 200 victims had been resettled for the time being at the Shiashie Presbyterian Church. He said people should make it a habit to always ensure that electrical cables were well laid and did not pose any threat to life and property. The use of gas cylinders and other forms of open fires should be done with a lot of caution and a great sense of responsibility, he said. At the time of GNAs visit many of the residents were seen trying to salvage what they could from the wreckage. The fire, which began late Friday night, was doused by the Ghana National Fire Service at around 0300 hours Saturday. 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 The colonial-era deal between Ethiopia and Britain effectively prevents upstream countries from taking any action such as building dams and filling reservoirs that would reduce the share of Nile water to downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. The Blue Nile is the source of as much as 85% of the Nile Rivers water. The US justice department has accused Yale University of illegally discriminating against Asian-American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of US civil rights law. The findings are the result of a two-year investigation in response to a complaint by Asian-American groups concerning Yales conduct, the department said in a statement on Thursday. The department said it was prepared to file a lawsuit against Yale if the school, in New Haven, Connecticut, did not take remedial measures. A Yale spokeswoman said the university categorically denies the allegations but has cooperated fully with the investigation. The justice department made its findings before allowing Yale to provide requested documents, Yale said. Had the department fully received and fairly weighed this information, it would have concluded that Yales practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent, the spokeswoman said. The justice department said that although race can lawfully be considered in college admissions in limited circumstances, Yales use of race is anything but limited. The elite school uses race at multiple steps of its admissions process resulting in a multiplied effect of race on an applicants likelihood of admission, the justice department said. The justice department has previously filed legal briefs in support of a lawsuit, brought by affirmative action opponents, accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asian Americans. A federal judge in Boston ruled in favour of Harvard last year, saying the schools affirmative action programme advanced a legitimate interest in having a diverse student body. An appeal of that ruling is pending. The case could eventually reach the Supreme Court. Affirmative action programmes in higher education were meant to address racial discrimination. The Supreme Court has ruled universities may use affirmative action with the aim of helping minority applicants get into college. US conservatives have said that in helping Black and Latino applicants, affirmative action can hurt white people and Asian Americans Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the Delhi government will not open schools unless it is "fully convinced" about the improved COVID-19 situation in the city. Delivering his Independence Day speech at Delhi Secretariat, Kejriwal said the COVID-19 situation in the national capital is under control as compared to what it was two months back and thanked all the stakeholders, including the central government, 'corona warriors' and different organisations. The chief minister said the safety and the health of school children are very important to the AAP government. "I meet people and get messages from them asking not to open schools. I want to assure them that we care about their children as much as they do. Unless fully convinced, we are not going to open the schools," he said. Kejriwal said Delhi "gave the model" of home isolation and plasma therapy concept to the country in the fight against the virus. He said that efforts are being made to bring Delhi's economy back on track. This year the city government shifted its Independence Day event to the Delhi Secretariat from Chhatrasal Stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Scientists identify 73 novel variants of coronavirus strain in Odisha United States Senator Kamala Harris became the first Black woman and first woman of South Asian descent to run for vice president after the US presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, picked her as his running mate on Tuesday. The pair will take on President Donald Trump in US presidential elections on November 3. The choice of Harris has been hailed by many as historic. In her first sit-down interview since being named to the ticket, Harris herself called Bidens choice audacious and said it could spur advances for women and women of colour that could otherwise have taken decades. Harris spoke to the non-profit, women-driven news organisation The 19th in an exchange that was broadcast on US TV channel MSNBC. The 55-year-old senator from California, a former prosecutor and state attorney general, spoke on a wide range of issues from the priorities of the campaign to the importance of voting. Below are excerpts from her Friday interview. On Biden and the agenda Joe Biden had the audacity to choose a Black woman to be his running mate. How incredible is that? And what a statement about Joe Biden that he decided that he was going to do that thing that was about breaking one of the most substantial barriers that has existed in our country and that he made that decision with whatever risk that brings. I think, as much as anything, its a statement about the character of the man that were going to elect this next president of the United States. The Biden-Harris ticket is about an agenda that is about representing what America really is and knowing that among us, there may be those who seemingly have nothing in common but have everything in common. Joe Biden knows that. And it is also about saying that this is going to be an administration the Biden-Harris administration that is focused on the future of our country, motivated by what can be unburdened by what has been. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris speaking during a campaign event at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware [AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster] Economy, healthcare and inclusion I think the Biden-Harris agenda is a shared agenda. For example, Joe had a whole plan, the build back better plan, about the economy, but it includes understanding the connection between the creation of jobs and also bringing dignity and support to working families. One of the parts of the build back better plan is to bring in healthcare and home healthcare to people who need it [and] also to make sure that caregivers are being paid a livable and a righteous wage and getting all the benefits in terms of workers benefits. So in that plan he adopted the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which is something Ive been working on for a couple of years. And when we talk about domestic workers, were talking about predominantly women of colour who are spending hours upon hours night and day, taking care of other peoples children, other peoples parents and grandparents. The plan is about saying they too deserve dignity and support for the work that they do. Climate change We have a shared commitment around addressing the climate crisis. And so theres a whole plan that is about creating a million jobs in terms of investing in infrastructure for renewable energy, but also with a focus on making sure communities of colour and our Indigenous brothers and sisters are part of the plan knowing that in America today in communities that have some of the worst air quality, 70 percent of the people living there are people of colour. So these are the components of the plan, the overall plan for building. It really is a shared commitment that is about paying attention to racial disparities, paying attention to gender disparities and also paying attention to what we need to do to grow back our country in a way that we can actually, again, aspire to the ideals that we have yet to meet but can move closer toward. Kamala Harris speaking during her first joint appearance with US presidential candidate Joe Biden after being named as his running mate [Carlos Barria/Reuters] Gender equity We still have to achieve equity when you look at issues like pay equity, something that Joe Biden talks about and were going to deal with in our administration. Theres a lot to celebrate in terms of the accomplishment, but also it should motivate us to also be clear-eyed about what has to be done and the unfinished business. When I think about this centennial [100 years since women gained the right to vote in the US], I do also think about the fact that lets be reminded about the ability of women also at every stage to build coalition and to fight together. But lets also acknowledge the disparities that still exist based on race and lets all work on that together as those suffragettes did so many, well 100 years ago. Asked what she will fight for on behalf of US women Everything. I said this back on that cold day in January in 2017, at the womens march, which is: every issue is a womans issue, and womens issues should be everyones issues. It is inexcusable that we would not have full representation in the United States Congress. I want to say that we should encourage and always support women who are running for office and support them, knowing that even if they are the first, that they are the one that is necessary for us to continue to break these barriers. I have not achieved anything that I have without the support of many who believed in the possibility of someone who has never been there before being there. And thats what we have to do across the nation. A demonstrator raising her fist while listening to a speech during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Oregon [AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez] Race and racism Im the only Black woman in the United States Senate. The only one and only the second in the history of the United States Senate. And so when we look again at how far we have to go, we have a lot of work to do. And by Joe asking me to be his running mate, he has pushed forward something that might have otherwise taken decades. What we need to do is also speak about systemic racism. When you have one ticket that can say the phrase Black Lives Matter and another who has been full time sowing hate and division in our country, those are the things that are going to motivate Black women to vote. Election and voter suppression When we talk about the election in November, this is probably one of the most important elections of our lifetime. This is about everything, every issue that we discussed and whether we are going to have a president of the United States who lifts folks up and gives you a sense of pride in your country, or somebody who is just full time beating people down. I fear that if we dont correct course, the damage will be irreversible. Everything is on the line. There are states and there are state legislatures who especially after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act have put in place laws that have been designed to suppress the vote and in particular, the Black vote; [to prevent] students from voting, Indigenous people from voting. And those obstacles, some of them were going to fight against and get rid of before the election; some of them are still going to be in place. Everybody has to remember this and ask this question of yourself: Why dont they want us to vote? Why are they creating obstacles to us voting? Well, the answer is because when we vote, things change. When we vote, things get better. When we vote, we address the disparities weve been talking up about. We address the need of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. These [are the] sort of things that are on the line in this election. So we know how to jump over or get around the obstacles that for many of us have been in place since the day we were born. And thats going to be the job ahead of us. New Delhi, Aug 15 : Giving a new fillip to the Digital India vision Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that every village in the country will be connected by the optical fibre cable (OFC) in the next 1,000 days, nearly 3 years. Addressing the nation on Independence Day, Modi said that the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on the Arabian Sea will be connected with submarine optical fibre cable. The announcement comes days after a similar submarine optical fibre cable connectivity was announced to the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Noting that around 1.5 lakh villages have been connected by optical fibre in the last six years, he said: "In the next 1,000 days every village of the country will be connected by optical fibre." Comparing the progress under previous governments, he said that till 2014 only 60,000 villages were connected, which multiplied in the next 6 years. Under the ambitious BharatNet, optical fibre cable under which 1,54,999 Gram Panchayats have been connected as of August 8, 2020, according to government data. The second phase of the project is underway. India has over 6 lakh villages and with the latest announcement by the PM around 4.5 lakh villages will have to be connected in the stipulated time of 1,000 days However, the progress has been slow in comparison to the target set by the government, with concerns of low funds also raised by several states. Prime Minister's renewed emphasis and target would, however, give a major push to the project of making rural India truly digital." Applauding the role of Digital India' mission amid the pandemic, he said that in the last month, transactions of nearly Rs 3 lakh crore took place just through BHIM UPI last month. Among other major announcements, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi announced the government is working on a multi-modal connectivity infrastructure with the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline in place. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. By Sukanya Roy, TwoCircles.net Coochbehar: A nineteen-year-old youth Sahinur Haque, hailing from the Madhya Balabhut village in Coochbehar, along the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, was allegedly shot to death by a BSF Battalion Commander on the night of 9 August. His apparent crime: playing video games on his phone a few metres away from his house. Support TwoCircles At around 7 pm that evening, after having eaten dinner with his parents, Sahinur left with a fishing net in hand, to catch fish at the chaura (pond) close to his house. His two brothers accompanied him. The net was cast, and the trio sat and waited while they played games on their phones, with earphones plugged in. For unknown reasons, a team of patrolling BSF personnel fired pellets from a distance. One of the pellets got lodged in Sahinurs right shoulder, and he sank to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain. Sahinurs brothers, shocked and terrified, started nursing their injured brother. Within the next few seconds, a gypsy van pulled up and BSF men of 62 Battalion, F Company came streaming out, along with their Commander Ballam Ram. They wrenched Sahinur free from his brothers arms, who jumped into the pond to save themselves. They began verbally abusing Sahinur in Hindi, and one of the officers pinned Sahinur down with a knee to his neck. Commander Ram quickly emptied two bullets from his service revolver into Sahinurs chest and waist. By the time residents from nearby houses had gathered, alerted by the firing, Sahinur was already dead. This is just like what happened to the man (George Floyd) in America, observes Kirity Roy, Secretary of Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a human rights organisation which has put out a statement condemning Sahinurs murder. Roys unsaid implication is perhaps that while the circumstances of the killing are similar, there isnt a similar outrage about this case. Zia-Ul Sheikh, member of the local panchayat and one amongst the people who had gathered, told TwoCircles.net, The BSF personnel began verbally abusing the womenfolk and threatened them with rape. They said they would fire into a couple more of us if we didnt give away Sahinurs body. It was the dead of the night, so we firmly refused to hand it over unless the DM or a politician assured us that the body would not be tossed away. Due to our number, the BSF was forced to leave. The deceaseds uncles, Kasem Sheikh and Abdul Haque, along with other villagers, went to the Tufanganj police station the next morning, to inquire about why the police had not started an investigation into the matter. Sahinurs parents, who struggle to make ends meet through weaving and daily wage work, had fainted from the shock of losing their son and were unable to make the journey. After protesting, the family was able to exert pressure on the police to register their complaint. However, the Tufanganj police registered the case as a General Diary Entry (no. 041) and not an FIR. Tilak Barman, the local District Human Rights Monitor, told TwoCircles.net, It is routine that when poor and illiterate residents from the border areas go to the police, they are discouraged and told that the BSF is untouchable, no one can file an FIR against them. They brainwash the locals saying that taking action might instigate the BSF to slap a case on them instead. Because the events were so extreme, they were compelled to file a GDE. MASUM is of the view that this case must be treated as a custodial death since Haque was shot dead in the custody of the Battalion Commander. They condemn that the post-mortem was not carried out at the Tufanganj General Hospital, but in the BSF camp itself, without following official NHRC guidelines for custodial killings which require the presence of a Judicial Magistrate and the victims family members during the autopsy. They demand that an immediate FIR be launched under Sec. 302 (murder) against the accused officers. The deceaseds uncle, Abdul Haque said, We want answers, this matter has to be treated with seriousness. There is a constant fear of the BSF amongst us. They threaten us saying we are cow smugglers who will suffer terrible fates. We are scared to walk around freely at night. And now we have lost the life of our boy at their hands. This claim is corroborated by Kirity Roy of MASUM. The BSF has always disguised their killings behind the pretext of being attacked by cattle smugglers. How could Sahinur have been smuggling cows, sitting in a village 4 kms away from the border? They have no real provocation for their heinous actions. This cold-blooded killing is an addition to the rapidly growing list of Indian and Bangladeshi civilians who have fallen victim to the Indian Border Security Forces whimsical and prejudiced acts of violence. In the areas along the 2,042 km India-Bangladesh border, at least 1000 Indian civilians are killed, tortured and raped by the BSF each year. Since 2010, at least 2000 Bangladeshi citizens have suffered similar atrocities, says a Human Rights Watch report. In not a single one of these cases, Roy adds, has a BSF officer been convicted. It is common knowledge amongst local activists that the BSF has been using pellet guns, same as the ones used widely in Kashmir, in the Indo-Bangladesh border areas since the 1980s. Cross-border trade in cows, vilified by dominant political sensibilities, comes with a penalty that is largely paid by innocent civilians, who are shot at sight, or tortured and killed, on grounds of mere suspicion. Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar, a human rights organization based in Bangladesh told TwoCircles.net, This is a one-sided attack by the BSF, encouraged by the aggressive policy of the Indian government towards minorities in India, and people living near the border in Bangladesh. In 2010, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report titled, Trigger Happy: Excessive Use of Force by Indian troops at the Bangladesh border detailed accounts of people who were killed by the BSF for crossing the border to meet their relatives, including cases of young children beaten up for collecting firewood or grazing their livestock, and farmers tortured brutally for watering their crops at night. The victims allege that their freedom to move around on practical demands of livelihood and leisure is curtailed, and they are left feeling like objects of suspicion to be policed in their own lands. The custodial killing of Sahinur Haque reiterates the need to hold public servants accountable to the atrocities they commit against vulnerable minorities. TMC MLA Rabindranath Ghosh spoke to the grieving family and told the press that he would seek action from the West Bengal CM on this matter. The deceaseds elder sister Esna Bibi is in grief. My innocent brother was killed. Its painful. I dont know much about what is going to happen now. The men will know that better. I just hope that his death is not in vain and that we see justice done soon, she said. To this, the main complainant and Sahinurs uncle, Kasem Sheikh adds, Sahinur did nothing illegal, his killing was unjustified. I trust God in heaven to make things right. But I want people down here to help us as well. Works to remove the Ballyhooly supply in north Cork from the Remedial Action List 'will be completed by the end of this month'. Stock image There was welcome news for residents in Ballingeary this week after Irish Water announced the area's local water supply network has been removed from the Environmental Protections Agency's (EPA) Remedial Action List. The company has also revealed works to remove the Ballyhooly supply in north Cork from the list will be completed by the end of this month. First published in 2008 and updated on a quarterly basis, the list is a register of public water supplies identified by the EPA with the most serious deficiencies and are deemed to be 'at risk' of failing to provide a consistent supply of safe, clean drinking water. The EPA instructs Irish Water to submit an action programme for the improvement of each supply on the list and, in cases where these programmes have not been prepared or implemented to their satisfaction, has been know to issue enforcement action. This can include issuing legally binding directions ordering that specific works be undertaken to ensure the safety and security of a water supply. Over the past 12-years 314 (or 93%) of the supplies listed have been addressed, with issues addressed including the disinfection of E. coli, barriers to Cryptosporidium, adequate treatment for trihalomethanes (chemicals formed when organic material in treated water reacts with chlorine) and operational controls for managing aluminium and turbidity (cloudiness) levels. The Ballingeary supply, which feeds almost 250 households and businesses, had been listed after its treatment system was deemed 'inadequate' due elevated levels of trihalomethanes and other contaminants. To address this Irish Water in conjunction with Cork County Council carried out upgrading works at the Ballingeary supply plant over the past 12-months which included the instillation of carbon filter units, an ultra violet transmittance unit, a booster pump and associated pipe-works. Paul Cremin, regional lead with Irish Water, said the removal of Ballingeary from the list means the local community now has a "clean, safe and reliable supply of drinking water". However, he did say the publication of the latest Remedial Action List at the end of last month confirmed that while progress is being made "the scale of the challenge faced by Irish Water in ensuring the delivery of clean and safe water in Cork and throughout the country remains". The latest list contained 52 supplies, including six in Cork. Among them is the Ballyhooly supply, which serves a local population of almost 1,200 people. According to a 2017 audit report undertaken by the EPA elevated levels of Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, had been detected in the local drinking water supply. The agency recommended the upgrading of the local waster water treatment plant, including the installation of a "suitable barrier against Cryptosporidium to ensure the water supply is adequately treated". The EPA had set an 'action programme completion' date of August 2020 for the project. A spokesperson for Irish Water said the company was on target to meet that deadline. "Works on the installation of UV (ultra-violet) system at the Ballyhooly plant were progressing well during the first quarter of this year. However, due to delays as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, it is now anticipated that works will be complete later this month, and that the required information and data to demonstrate the effectiveness of the works would be collated and submitted to the EPA for consideration for removal of the supply from the Remedial Action List," said the spokesperson. Regional NE observes 74th Independence Day in a low key affair Left-Right: Manipur CM Biren Singh at Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, Assam CM Sonowal saluting a march past contingent, Tripura CM Biplab Deb inspecting the parade, Meghalaya CM saluting a march past contingent. Correspondent NORTHEAST, AUG 15 (IANS/Correspondent): | Publish Date: 8/15/2020 11:48:59 AM IST With the rest of the country, the eight NE states on Saturday observed the 74th Independence Day while observing COVID SOPs and limiting attendance of the public and special invitees. Assam: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said that his government will not make any compromise in the complete implementation of the Assam accord. Unfurling the national flag at the Judges Field in Guwahati on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, he said that the state government is committed to implementing the provisions of the 1985 Assam accord and would also protect the interests of the people of Assam. To check infiltration from across the border, the central government has taken various steps including composite fencing of the India-Bangladesh border along Assam. Riverine borders with Bangladesh were also sealed with the implementation of the Smart Fence scheme by adopting modern technology. The high-level committee on Clause 6 of the Assam accord has submitted its report and despite problems faced due to Covid-19 and other disasters like floods, the state government and the Centre have taken steps to make sure of its implementation, he said. Sonowal said that his government has formulated a new land policy and taken steps to provide land deeds to nearly one lakh landless people. To ensure its preservation and to popularise the Assamese language, a law has been enacted to include Assamese in all school curriculums in the state except in the Bodo Territorial Area and Barak Valley, both dominated by non-Assamese people. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Assam farmers have exported various crops including fruits worth Rs 852 crore to various states in the country and abroad. The Chief Minister announced a slew of measures and schemes especially targeting the agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and food processing sectors. He announced the setting up of rice clusters in Dhemaji and Baksa districts, opening of rice procurement centres in all districts, a centre of excellence for organic agriculture at Biswanath district and cold storage chains in all districts. Meghalaya: Independence Day was celebrated across Meghalaya on Saturday with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma hoisting the Tricolour at Polo Ground here and also launched a Restart Meghalaya Mission to revive the State economy which has been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This mission comprises a series of programs to support our farmers, and entrepreneurs and to build growth promoting basic infrastructure and services. We are calling this mission Restart because we want to revive and give a push to the different development activities that were brought to a standstill by COVID, Sangma said. He said the Mission was based on the recommendations of the Chief Ministers Task Force on the Economy on short, medium and long term measures for reviving the State economy, which has been hit hard due to the pandemic. The Chief Minister committed an amount of Rs 14,515 crore to be spent over the next three years for the mission, of which Rs 7,839 crore has been earmarked for this year. Sangma spelt out the six programmes under Restart Meghalaya Mission which include agriculture and its allied sectors, promotion of well-being and livelihoods in rural area, providing a one-time grant support of upto Rs. 10,000 for any new small business loans of upto Rs. 50,000 for small businesses and entrepreneurs under Chief Ministers Support programme. The Chief Minister also committed a total investment of Rs. 8,753 crore over the next three years in terms of infrastructures and 13 major roads covering a length of about 350 Km to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 850 crores. Stating that the fifth priority area focuses on tourism, the Chief Minister informed that close to 50,000 people are dependent on Tourism for sustenance and livelihood in Meghalaya. We can focus on destinations away from urban areas with plenty of open spaces and with minimal COVID- related risks. Meghalaya is ideally positioned as a pristine, low-COVID destination and many high-spending tourists from within the country will be very keen to travel here. Our goal, whenever we reopen, is to transition to a model of High Value -Low Volume - Sustainable tourism. To become a high-value destination, we need to increase the number of high-value rooms from the current number of 200 to at least 500 in the next two years, he emphasized. As private investment might be difficult to come through, the government will make the investments of about Rs 200 crore in creating high value accommodation and tourism infrastructure. We have already finalized the planning process for iconic tourism projects like the ropeway to Shillong Peak and a luxury boutique resort in the Nokrek Area in Garo Hills among others, he informed. The sixth and perhaps the most significant priority area is Human Development. We are taking steps to ensure that children continue to learn, despite closure of schools. To facilitate remote learning, we are planning to distribute tablets to 25,000 Class XI students. On the infrastructure front, the process of construction of 13 Ekalavya Model Residential Schools will soon begin; another 25 such schools have recently been sanctioned. I am taking all steps to ensure the completion of all the 40 Ekalavya Model Residential Schools by the end of2022, he said. Alongside the fight against COVID-19, we have continued our efforts to improve child and maternal health. The MOTHER programme piloted last year in South West Garo Hills has been expanded to the entire State this year. Over 25,360 infants have received full immunization during this COVID pandemic in comparison to 21,130 infants during the same period last year. We are now amongst the top three States in the country in immunization. The government is fully committed to improving the institutional delivery rate to 80% by the next year and reducing maternal mortality by half, he said. All the investments that I outlined in the Restart Meghalaya Mission will propel us towards progress and well being, Sangma said. (Coresspondent) Tripura: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday said with the improvement in rail, road, air and waterway connectivity, Tripura would be the logistics hub of the north-eastern states. Three projects are now underway to link Tripura with Bangladesh through rail, road and waterways, he added. After the completion of these projects, Tripura and the neighbouring north-eastern states would be connected with other parts of India and the world via Bangladesh. Hoisting the national flag at the famous Assam Rifles ground in Agartala on the occasion of Independence Day, the Chief Minister said Tripuras capital Agartala topped the Smart City rankings among 10 cities of the eight north-eastern states. Deb said Tripura is the only state in the country that had recently conducted a statewide survey under which over 12,000 health workers visited all the nine lakh households to detect Covid-19 patients. The Chief Minister said to provide employment to thousands of people and to earn revenue, the Tripura government has undertaken ambitious projects and schemes. Deb said due to the rigorous efforts of the state government, crime has declined by 32 per cent and crimes against women dropped by 40 per cent. Deb said 34,000 Reang tribal refugees, who fled from neighbouring Mizoram, would be rehabilitated in Tripura and for that the Central government has announced a Rs 600-crore package. Deb announced social pension for more than 30,000 people in addition to the 3.93 lakh people currently receiving the pension under various Central and state government schemes. He claimed that the per capita income and GDP have increased substantially. Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday exhorted the people to adapt to the new normal to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the northeastern state. Khandu, while unfurling the Tri-colour at the Indira Gandhi Park here on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. He said the imposition of the nationwide lockdown on March 24 gave the state government time to prepare for combating the disease. We notified 32 district COVID-19 health centres with 326 beds, 66 COVID-19 care centres with 2,497 beds, 383 quarantine facilities with 13,411 beds and dedicated COVID-19 hospitals Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) at Naharlagun and North Eastern Institute of FolkMedicine (NEIFM) at Pasighat in East Siang district, he said. Khandu said the state government created ICUs in the district hospitals, besides deploying specialised doctors and ventilators in those establishments. It also took a major decision of converting the MLA apartments here into a COVID-19 hospital. Aggressive testing of samples, tracing of contacts and treating of COVID-19 patients was an effective strategy to contain the spread of the disease in the state, the chief minister said. One RT-PCR laboratory has been established in Naharlagun and another is being set up in Pasighat. Also, TrueNat and rapid antigen test kits have been dispatched to all the districts, he said. As a result of this, Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the Northeast. It ranks among the top six states in the country in terms of tests per million population, Khandu said. He said the state government will upgrade 17 district hospitals for Rs 350 crore and tenders will be floated soon. Sikkim: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Saturday said his government will set up an education reform commission to draw a comprehensive policy in line with the NEP. After unfurling the tricolour at Manan Bhawan here on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, he hailed the National Education Policy (NEP), approved by the Centre, saying that it provides an overarching vision and comprehensive framework for both school and higher education sectors. The state government will set up a Sikkim Education Reform Commission to draw a comprehensive policy and strategy in line with the National Education Policy, 2020, he said. The chief minister also said the government has planned to set up one model school in each district with innovative teaching and learning methodologies. Tamang said the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Sikkim will be depoliticised and its representatives will be free from any party affiliation. Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modis slogan for self-reliant India, Tamang said the state government will strive for making Sikkim an atmanirbhar state and encourage people to consume locally produced items. The state government has decided to provide incentives to farmers for milk production and a minimum support price (MSP) for ginger, orange, cardamom, turmeric and buckwheat cultivation, Tamang said. On the long-pending issue of Limboo and Tamang communities reservation in the Assembly and demand for granting ST status to eleven tribes of Sikkim, he said the state government is in touch with the Centre. On the occasion of Independence Day, Governor Ganga Prasad appealed to the people to remain united for the development and prosperity of Sikkim and the country. Mizoram: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Saturday that a plan to increase crop production has been taken up by his government. The government has stepped up the entrepreneurship development programme. The government and people have to work collectively to take the state forward and to reach newer heights, the Chief Minister said after hoisting the national flag at the Assam Rifles ground of the city as part of the 74th Independence Day celebrations. Zoramthanga paid tributes to the freedom fighters and called upon the new generation to show reverence for the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs. Highlighting the progress made in several sectors, he said that plans were also being implemented to augment the production of crops, fruits, milk, vegetables and other essentials. The Chief Minister handed over state and central awards for distinguished service to selected personnel from the police and the teaching community. He also gave Jeevan Raksha Padak to three persons. MANIPUR: Do not stigmatize healthcare workers and other frontline warriors, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said in his address on the occasion of the countrys 74th Independence Day in Imphal on Saturday amid boycott by rebel groups. Rebel groups including Coordination Committee (CorCom) of six major rebel groups while boycotting the day, called for total shutdown across the state. The total shutdown with COVID-19 induced lockdown hit normal life severely in the state. In spite of relaxation for shops selling essential items particularly in valley districts, remained shut for the day, reports said. The occasion was celebrated even at the district and sub-division level under tightened security measures. The state level celebration was held in Imphals 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Parade Ground where chief minister N Biren Singh hoisted the national flag amid playing of national anthem. He said his government has acknowledged the selfless sacrifice by doctors, nurses and other medical staff in the fight against COVID-19. He lauded the team of doctors of JNIMS led by Dr Tharoijam Utthan for rendering their service selflessly towards treating tCOVID-19 patients at JNIMS hospital. On the recent news of denial of admission for patients in hospitals, Singh appealed to hospitals and doctors not to refuse treatment to any patient. Warning hospitals and doctors against denial of treatment to patients, he said the government has already issued an order in this regard. He said the government will decide on extension of the lockdown for another 15 days in consultation with his cabinet ministers and members of the Consultative Committee on COVID-19. On the state governments fight againt drugs, he informed that after the state government declared War against Drugs and set up of Fast Track Court, around 110 persons have been convicted so far and various drug factories have been busted by the police in various parts of the state. Chief minister also handed over the cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the wife of late Riflemen Ratan Salam Riflemen Ratan Salam of 4th Assam Rifles in recognition of his valour under the newly instituted scheme called Major Laishram Jyotin Singh Ex-gratia scheme. The chief minister further handed over the Chief Ministers Trophy for Community Service Awards to three police personnel and the Chief Ministers Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign three other police personnel. The Paona Brajabashi Award for Best NCC Boy Cadet and Rani Gaidinliu Award for Best NCC Girl Cadet were also distributed on the occasion. Plainview Rotarians got together for their weekly Zoom meeting this past Tuesday. The program was presented Chief Brad Brantley, who works with the Plainview High School Navy Junior ROTC program. Brantley is on his second tenure with the PISD program and comes back to Plainview from Uvalde. The Plainview unit began in 2008 and was officially commissioned in 2009. Brantley said that despite the issues surrounding school attendance and extracurricular activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, he is excited for the program this school year. However, there are some significant issues that need to be overcome. Currently, there are 70 students enrolled and the Navy requires an enrollment of a minimum of 100 students. Brantley explained that because of the pandemic the Navy is making accommodations for the current school year. He said that he is reluctant to take advantage of that because he understands that it could put the program behind in coming years. After explaining that so far, only 11 of the 70 participants are online students, Brantley said that he is confident that the high school will reach the 100-student minimum, primarily because of the support he is seeing. He said the school district administration and staff are strong supporters of the program, as are parents and students. The enthusiasm is outweighing the fear, which I think is important, he said. He went on to explain that students should get new uniforms this year, thanks to some financial assistance from a number of entities, will be able to travel as long as they follow social distancing protocols and will be able to participate in local and area activities as they have done in the past. Following the program, the club dismissed and looked to the community for ways to show Service Above Self. The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia held a ceremony on August 14 to receive the Cambodian governments Royal Order of Mahasena Grand Officer to late Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Ngo Dien (1921-2004). Sopheak Thavy (L), Secretary of State at Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection, on behalf of the Cambodian government, handed over the medal to Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh. (Photo: VNA) Dien was also former Deputy Director of Vietnam News Agency, who was in charge of the agencys bureau in Cambodia from 1995 to 1962. He served as Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia from July 1979 to November 1991. Sopheak Thavy, Secretary of State at Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection, on behalf of the Cambodian government, handed over the medal to Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh. She said the honour was the recognition of the Cambodian government and people for the late Ambassadors significant contributions to the cause of Cambodias national building and development as well as the close-knit relations between the two countries governments and peoples. Earlier on August 1, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni signed a decree to posthumously honour Ambassador Dien with the medal, making him the second foreigner to be presented with this medal by the Cambodian government, after late General Hoang The Thien. Ambassador Minh thanked the Cambodian government for the honour to late Ambassador Dien who made remarkable contributions to the relations of friendship and neighbourliness between the two nations./.VNA This is an edited version of a story that was first published in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 16, 1945 Peace and tumult came hand in hand to Sydney yesterday when the dramatically simple statement of Japan's surrender was made at 9 a.m. An entire city felt the burdens of six weary, war-laden years roll from its shoulders, and plunged headlong and full-throatedly into celebration. People shouted and shrieked. They sang meaninglessly, and they chattered volubly. They danced weird rhythms; they clasped the hands of their friends, and of all who would stop for a second or two to become their friends. Celebrations in Woolloomooloo on August 15, 1945. Credit:Gordon Short They were perplexed, and slightly frustrated - they had discovered a vibrant new emotion and they could not find satisfying means of expressing it. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the United Nations Security Council's Friday decision rejecting a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran, saying the council "failed ... to hold Iran accountable." Why it matters: The council voted to allow a 13-year embargo designed to prevent Iran from buying and selling weapons, including aircraft and tanks, to expire this October, despite protests from the U.S., Israel and multiple Arab states, the New York Times reports. By the numbers: Only one of the 15 countries on the Security Council, the Dominican Republic, joined the U.S. in support of the proposal. Americas European allies Britain, France and Germany abstained from the vote, while Russia and China voted against the proposal and 11 countries abstained. To pass, the motion needed nine yes votes and zero vetoes from the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S. What they're saying: "The @UN Security Council failed today to hold Iran accountable," Pompeo tweeted. "It enabled the worlds top state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell deadly weapons and ignored the demands of countries in the Middle East. America will continue to work to correct this mistake." European council members explained Friday they worry about Iran's access to weapons, but noted the proposal would never pass the Security Council because Russia and China had threatened to veto it before the vote, according to NYT. It would therefore not contribute to improving security and stability in the region, Jonathan Allen, Britains permanent representative to the U.N., said in a statement. Go deeper: U.S. threatens to veto UN peacekeeping in Lebanon over Hezbollah concerns Bengaluru: Karnataka is slowly catching up on the recovery rate -- 59.92%. But the health infrastructure in the state continues to be in shambles due to acute shortage of hospital beds. However, some private hospitals have come forward with innovative programmes to mitigate the problem . Gleneagles Global Hospitals and Continental Hospitals have a designed COVID-19 Home Care Services for patients facing mild symptoms that do not equire hospitalization. Through this comprehensive program, patients can be monitored through an online portal and the worsening of symptoms can be identified and attended to at the earliest. In case, patients shows symptoms or has been diagnosed with COVID-19, they can reach the hospital where they will undergo a risk assessment to evaluate their condition and judge severity of symptoms. This assessment will help the hospital know whether a patient is fit for home care or requires hospitalization. If the patient does not require hospitalization, they will have to enroll for the program. The patients will be given access to a portal where they can update their daily vitals like temperature, SPO2, pulse rate etc. These are monitored by a fully trained designated nurse and a doctor on a daily basis, to ensure that the patient is healthy and following the program. Every alternative day, these doctors will do consultation on a video call, while nurses will call every day to keep track of their patients. During these calls, patients can discuss their condition and update on any new developments. Since most of the patients with COVID-19 do not require hospitalization, our team of doctors and nurses can manage these patients from the safety of their home. As long as the patients are compliant and following all the basic instructions, they can recover within a period of 14 days and become symptom-free again. The combination of initial risk assessment, daily follow ups and a clear manual on dos and donts for the patient and the caregiver makes this program extremely robust and comprehensive," said Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, Chairperson, Infection Control Advisory Board- Group, Gleneagles Global Hospitals and Program Director. BEL produces 30K ventilators Meanwhile, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), has announced the completion of 30,000 ICU Ventilators to combat the pandemic. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had earlier placed an order for these 30,000 ICU Ventilators in April 2020 to meet the healthcare infrastructure requirements of the nation, given the rise in COVID-19 cases. As manufacturing of these Ventilators was centred at the Bangalore Unit of BEL, the state government earmarked a nodal IAS officer for BEL to resolve various lockdown-related issues. MV Gowtama, CMD, BEL, said that BEL was able to achieve this significant milestone because of the support of the DRDO labs which worked closely with BEL to provide the design and support from the various government agencies. "BEL needed to think out of the box to overcome many of the challenges, especially with regard to critical components, many of which were indigenised by DRDO labs and manufactured by Indian aerospace and defence companies," he said. On the streets of Germany grows the number of speeders and racers. Since then, the Federal government has made the lawn 2017 for the offence, have increased the numbers of cases in many lander, in some cases dramatically, such as a survey among the 16 Federal States of Germany shows. Accordingly, the police was one of nine provinces in the year 2019, approximately 1900 cases, about 700 more than the previous year. Including single speeders were travelling at top speed, and escape before the police in car chases in addition to illegal racing. At the top in 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, not with 659 cases - what is, however, more amazed, since NRW has 18 million inhabitants, the population and car richest province. it is striking, however, is Berlin, with its 3.8 million inhabitants in 2019, with 390 cases, in second place, ahead of Bayern (294) and Baden-Wurttemberg (252). The phenomenon of turf has many facets: there used to be organized illegal races, often long-term, planned, often with international participants. "This type of illegal car racing is no longer detected for a number of years," says a spokesman for the Bavarian interior Ministry in Munich. Often short-term race, or spontaneous, however, are meet. "It can also be a single, the driving, so to speak, against the stopwatch," says the spokesman. In Saxony-Anhalt, it was 2019, in the large majority of the 53 racers of cases to escape from the police. Politics and police in areas with active racer scene are concerned, as road safety experts. "Accidents with racers, often fatal, and they are often the result of indifference to the safety of others," says road safety researcher Jorg Kubitzki of the Allianz center for technology in Ismaning on the outskirts of the Bavarian capital. "The majority of motorists behaving sensibly" Kubitzki, the racer phenomenon sees as the extreme expression of a General increasing recklessness in traffic: "The majority of motorists will behave reasonably, nevertheless, you have to complain of a growing number of people in a deterioration of the traffic of morality, expressed through a whole range of other hazards in the road." Kubitzki concrete examples: "The Use of the emergency lane, the use of the turn-off strip to the straight-ahead driving or assault-related offences for the purpose of the faster forwards coming in." And if such a failure pile behavior, the assessment of the person skilled in the art that the police has more to do and the work of prevention for road safety elsewhere suffers. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 10:20 The Oneida County Health Department is warning customers of two Utica restaurants that they could have been exposed to the coronavirus if they visited Friday. Customers at the Ocean Blue Restaurant & Oyster Bar, 118 Columbia St., could have been exposed between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. The infected person was wearing a mask when not seated, officials said. Customers at Baggs Square Brewing Company, 330 Main St., could have been exposed between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. The person was wearing a mask when not seated. People who may have been exposed should monitor symptoms through August 28, the department said. Oneida County has lost 117 people to Covid-19. The county is monitoring 82 active positive cases, officials said. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Are CNY parents willing to send kids to in-person school? Early surveys show their thinking How a pandemic laid bare CNYs health crisis Why you shouldnt hang your face mask from your rear-view mirror Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com In the past few weeks, there were some discussions inside Tajikistan about its potential membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Although for Tajikistan, joining the EAEU has been on the table for a while, there are indications that Tajikistans future in the organization hinges in part on Uzbekistans decision and timeline for EAEU membership. Uzbekistans course will be defining for Tajikistan. As The Diplomat reports, if and when Uzbekistan enters the organization, Tajikistan will have little choice but to follow. The most recent discussions about EAEU membership were revived when Tajik Customs Service Chief Khurshed Karimzoda, speaking unofficially, on July 30 said that the EAEU will have negative consequences for the country. According to him, earnings from customs duties, a sizable portion of the countrys budget, will disappear. Karimzoda proposed instead the continuation of bilateral economic relations with the EAEU member countries. Several days later, on August 3, Tajik Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavqi Zavqizoda chimed in and said that Tajikistan is studying the advantages and disadvantages of other countries that have joined the EAEU and that a decision on the countrys accession to the union will be made only after a careful consideration. Zavqizodas comment was similar to the statement given by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev back in June 2019, when he, for the first time, spoke about having trouble with finding markets for Uzbekistan-made products and announced that Tashkent was considering the pros and cons of joining the EAEU. Given Tajikistans dependence on Uzbekistans economy and territory for trade, the political and economic parallels between the two countries are not surprising. All of Tajikistans international rail and much of its road transport network must pass through Uzbekistan to access markets for imports and exports. Back in 2019, a senior official from one of Tajikistans economic institutions spoke anonymously about the negative consequences for the country in the event of Uzbekistans membership in the EAEU. The first reason he listed was that Uzbekistans entry into the EAEU would make Tajikistan the only country without synchronized and advanced customs, sanitary, and phytosanitary norms applied to EAEU members in the region (except Turkmenistan). Furthermore, the official added that Uzbekistan would become more attractive compared to Tajikistan for investments as a result of a common EAEU market. Another concern was that large transportation corridors would circumvent Tajikistan to avoid higher customs duties and that would further isolate Tajikistan. It appears that Dushanbe is closely watching Tashkents activities in terms of the EAEU and postponing a final decision on its own course. The Ministry of Economic Development of Tajikistan already completed and presented a study back in 2016 to the rest of the government on the economic consequences of Tajikistans possible membership in the EAEU. Frederick Starr, chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, at the end of 2019 suggested that Tashkents announcement postponing its decision regarding becoming a EAEU member was to help Dushanbe prepare for the economic consequences that would follow. Both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan feel similar pressures from Russia to join the organization. One point of pressure are the labor migrants that both countries send to Russia. Although the total number of labor migrants from Tajikistan is not as high as migrants from Uzbekistan (in 2019, 424,727 and 890,893, respectively, according to the United Nations Population Division), in relation to its total population Tajikistan sends a larger share (5 percent and 3 percent, respectively). Therefore, the remittances these migrants send constitute a larger share of Tajikistans GDP compared to Uzbekistans. Tajikistan, with a smaller economy than Uzbekistan and geographically dependent on Uzbekistan, is highly dependent on Tashkents decisions. As long as Uzbekistan remains outside the EAEU, Tajikistans external relations remain less dependent on Russia and the union. But Tashkents potential membership will exert serious pressure by default on Dushanbe, inflaming fears of isolation. If Uzbekistan enters the EAEU, Tajikistan will have little choice but to follow. Hezbollah will respond if Israel behind Beirut blast, says Nasrallah Lebanon's President Aoun meets with Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif at the presidential palace in Baabda By Laila Bassam and Ellen Francis BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that his group would wait for results of an investigation into the Beirut port explosion, but if it turns out to be an act of sabotage by Israel then it would "pay an equal price". The leader of the powerful Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group said in a televised speech that the two theories under investigation were that either an accident due to negligence, or sabotage caused the explosion of warehoused ammonium nitrate. Israel has denied any involvement in the Aug. 4 blast that killed 172 people, injured 6,000, damaged swathes of the city and left 300,000 homeless. Lebanon's president has said investigators were looking into negligence, an accident or "external interference". Nasrallah said that among sabotage possibilities, was a deliberate fire or the planting of a small bomb. "Who could be behind an act of sabotage? It could be this side or that, and it could be Israel, which nobody can deny," he said. Hezbollah was waiting for the Lebanese probe's results and if it found "this was a terrorist sabotage operation, and that Israel had a role, then not only Hezbollah will respond. The entire Lebanese state ... must respond," he said. "Israel will pay a price the size of the crime if it committed it." Hezbollah, which exercises sway over government in Lebanon, has fought many wars with Israel. Lebanon's Prosecutor General has pressed charges against 25 people, including senior port and customs officials, a judicial source said on Friday. Nasrallah spoke shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said while in Beirut that the international community should help Lebanon rather than impose its will on the country. "It is not humane to exploit the pain and suffering of the people for political goals," Zarif said, adding that Lebanon should decide on its future. Story continues International humanitarian aid has poured in but foreign states have linked financial assistance to reform of the Lebanese state, which has defaulted on its huge sovereign debts. Iran is seen as a major player in Lebanon through backing, arming and funding Hezbollah, established by the Revolutionary Guards in 1982. The movement is classified by the United States as a terrorist group. Iran's role has led U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states in recent years to shy away from giving Lebanon financial support. Zarif met President Michel Aoun who also met on Friday with U.S. and French officials in a diplomatic drive that has focused on urging Lebanon to fight corruption and enact long-delayed reforms to unlock foreign financial aid to resolve the worst economic crisis in its history. Visiting U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said Lebanon needs to root out corruption, enact financial reforms, establish state control over ports and borders, and revamp the power sector. French Defence Minister Florence Parly called for the formation of a government capable of taking "courageous decisions". Lebanese had been staging angry protests against their leaders who they blame for Lebanon's many woes even before the blast, which officials have blamed on more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored for years without safety measures. The explosion sharpened anger at the authorities. "We can't live like this. The West has to pressure our leaders to save us," said Iyaam Ghanem, a Beirut pharmacist. Victims and their representatives told reporters that only an independent probe would deliver justice, appealing to the U.N. Security Council for an international investigation. "Is it acceptable that people find their homes shattered, their families killed, their hopes and their dreams killed, with no justice?" asked Paul Najjar, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra died in the blast. (Reporting by Ellen Francis, Laila Bassam and Ghaida Ghantous; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; editing by Grant McCool) In case Presgraves actually believes that, and has convinced others, lets be clear: People are fed up with racism from politicians not because of the upcoming election but because lawmakers are supposed to represent people, all people, and not see some as the butt of jokes because of their race, ethnicity or other aspects of their identity. Those who hold power over others dont get the same benefit of the doubt or easy forgiveness as grandparents, neighbors and co-workers who might unintentionally say something hurtful, because the costs of their biases are too high. An Iran-backed Afghan militant group called the Fatemiyoun Brigade vowed on August 14 to carry out its fight until the annihilation of Israel and creating the new Islamic civilization. The Fatemiyoun is made up of Afghans deployed in Syria by Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) extraterritorial military and intelligence arm, the Qods Force. They have been on the frontlines of Tehrans military operations in support of Bashar al-Assad, supplying manpower Iran does not want to commit to foreign battles. The militant group held its first "international conference" in Mashhad on August 13, in collaboration with Astan Qods Razavi, an ultra-rich shrine and a bastion for Irans hardliner clerics. The event was attended by members of the group and their families with Fatimid flags identical to those of the Lebanese Hezbollah's. Sayyid Elias, known as the "Senior Commander of the Fatimids", was the keynote speaker at the gathering. While expressing his loyalty to the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the senior Afghan commander vowed that in addition to the liberation of Quds (Jerusalem), the Fatemiyoun will carry out "jihad" toward creating the "new Islamic civilization." The new Islamic civilization is the fifth stage of a vague plan proposed by Khamenei. "Two stages of the plan, namely the Islamic Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic government, have been completed so far," Khamenei has maintained, adding, "In the third and fourth stages an [international] Islamic State and society should be founded to pave the way for the emergence of the Shi'ites' Hidden Imam." At the end of the conference in Mashhad, special messages were read to the participants from the leader of the Bahraini Shiites Sheikh Issa Qassem, the cultural attache of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Sheikh Akram Barakat, as well as several commanders of the Fatemiyoun. The Iranian government has never officially published a report on the number and status of Fatemiyoun forces. One of the brigade's commanders, Samad Rezaei said in an interview on September 1, 2018, that under the Fatemiyoun, a total of 80,000 Afghans were sent to fight in the Syrian civil war. The militant group's cultural director, Zuhair Mohajer, also announced in December 2017 that more than 2,000 Afghans had been killed in the Syrian civil war. In return for sending these Afghans to Syria, the Islamic Republic government pays them a few hundred dollars a month and legal residence permits in Iran. Millions of Afghan refugees live in Iran often without documentation and subject to discrimination by the state. To earn legal status some are recruited to fight for the Islamic Republic. New Delhi: As the country celebrates its 74th Independence Day in full fervour and gusto, celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Mahesh Babu, and any others gamut of stars wished 'Jai Hind' to countrymen with pride. Take a look at who said what on Twitter, igniting the patriotic spirit of all: T 3627 - the true warriors in the fight against CoviD .. salute .. and on this auspicious Day of our Independence wishes for peace prosperity .. pic.twitter.com/N6ag0JKoOK Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) August 14, 2020 We all know these people, we all have these people in our lives. On this #IndependenceDay, lets come together for them, lets come #Together4India. ... , share the way YOU care. Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/WHCuabljEI Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2020 , Wishing you all a very Happy Independence Day! On our 74th Independence Day, lets pledge to stand united and work towards a better future. Lets buy and https://t.co/QZbCKNfSsc SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA (@TheShilpaShetty) August 15, 2020 The day that marked the dawn of a new beginning... When Independence became our greatest victory! May this freedom lead our way. Let's always be grateful. Happy #IndependenceDay to all my fellow Indians! Jai Hind Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) August 15, 2020 A big salute to all the brave hearts who have fought and been still fighting tirelessly to carry this glorious nation on their shoulders. Happy 74th #IndependenceDay! Ravi Teja (@RaviTeja_offl) August 15, 2020 Thousands martyred their lives so that we could achieve independence. Let's become citizens who honor that sacrifice and bring glory to our nation. 2020 has been a difficult year for all, but with the courageous spirit of India, we will win, united as one. #IndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/vIXWO9l9dI Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 15, 2020 May the Indian flag always fly higher and we celebrate this Significant day each year with great pride,and happiness wish you a very happy 74th Independence Day. #IndependenceDay #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/4tVEJI9lzV Hansika (@ihansika) August 15, 2020 Going out and playing for my nation is a matter of pride! Happy #IndependenceDay, India pic.twitter.com/pbn5y1TPWH Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) August 15, 2020 Wishing each and everyone a very Happy #IndependenceDay !! Salute to the warriors who are fighting on the borders of our nation and the warriors who are fighting to keep the pandemic at bay. May we get past these hurdles and thrive as a nation !! Ram Charan (@AlwaysRamCharan) August 15, 2020 On #IndependenceDay we recall the sacrifices of those who got us freedom. Regardless of religion or caste, they were Indians first. Today Iet's also honour those who selflessly risk their lives at our borders & hospitals.We're stronger today because they put India first everyday. pic.twitter.com/cyIHTI3NPx Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 15, 2020 Our country breathed independence on August 15, 1947, and since then we all have been marching ahead on the path of development. We must celebrate not just one particular day but each day as an assurance to acknowledge the sacrifices made by our ancestors and the great leaders of this country to make India shackle-free. Happy Independence Day! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7) The Philippine military may be barred from joining naval drills in the South China Sea, but the new chief of staff said the country has increased presence in its territorial waters. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said Friday that President Rodrigo Dutertes temporary suspension of the countrys participation in joint military exercises in contested waters doesnt mean we are backing down on our claim." We are patrolling aggressively and vigorously our territorial waters and really maintaining presence in the area, and this sends a signal not only to China but other claimant countries that we are still asserting and protecting our sovereignty in that part of the country, Gapay told CNN Philippines. Tuloy-tuloy yan (Thats continuous). We do that everyday, he added. Gapay is referring to the West Philippine Sea, which includes areas Manila claims and occupies in the disputed South China Sea. China continues to reject the 2016 arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines which invalidated the East Asian giant's sweeping claims. The landmark decision recognized the Philippines sovereign rights to areas within its exclusive economic zone which China claims. But Duterte, who has nurtured friendship with China, agreed to shelve th arbitral ruling. He has repeatedly said he could not go to war against China and pushed for diplomatic endeavors instead. The AFP fully supports its commander-in-chief. We uphold the diplomatic track and of course the rules-based approach in dealing with the West Philippine Sea issue, Gapay said. While the AFP will not resort to arms in line with national policy, it has improved its external defense capability through its modernization program, Gapay said. The country has procured frigates and now boasts of a blue-water navy capable of sustained operations across deep seas, he added. Critics have called out Duterte's defeatist stance on the maritime dispute, saying he does not have to wage a war to assert the country's sovereign rights. However, the administration has rejected calls to raise the arbitral ruling in the United Nations General Assembly in September, saying the Philippines and China have "agreed to disagree" to pursue "friendly consultation." The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said Friday that it will inspect bars and restaurants with a metropolitan government-issued sticker indicating that adequate measures to prevent COVID-19 infections are in place. The system was launched in June, allowing bars, restaurants and other facilities to download the sticker from the metropolitan governments website after entering their names, addresses and what prevention measures they are taking. While about 190,000 facilities had registered as of Thursday, there has been no system for objectively checking whether they are implementing relevant measures. Officials will start to visit registered bars and restaurants in downtown areas as early as next Wednesday, demanding improvements if there are flaws in infection-prevention measures. Courtney Pandolfi, 40, has been charged with murder over the fatal crash that killed mom-to-be Yesenia Lisette Aguilar, 23 A 'DUI driver' who struck and killed a pregnant woman in California has been charged with murder. Courtney Pandolfi, 40, was slapped with the felony charge Thursday - less than 48 hours after the Jeep she was driving plowed into Yesenia Lisette Aguilar, 23, on an Anaheim sidewalk. Aguilar, who was 35 weeks pregnant, rushed to hospital, but died from her injuries. Medical personnel were able to deliver her baby girl, whom her husband has named Adalyn Rose. The infant remains in intensive care at UC Irvine Medical Center, where she is fighting for life. On Thursday, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer described Pandolfi's actions as 'beyond shocking' and 'absolutely reprehensible'. She has additionally been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and driving on a suspended license. Pandolfi has three previous DUI convictions, according to Fox News. Yesenia Lisette Aguilar, 23, died shortly after she was struck by the Jeep driven by Courtney Pandolfi on Tuesday. She was eight months pregnant and medical personnel was able to safe her daughter, who has been named Adalyn Rose Adalyn Rose was delivered by emergency cesarean section after the accident. The newborn is fighting to survive and being monitored for brain damage at UC Irvine Medical Center Aguilar was hit and killed after Pandolfi lost control of the white Jeep she was driving on Tuesday evening The accused murderer appeared in court on Thursday, but has not yet entered a guilty plea. Her next appearance is scheduled for September 4. In a statement, DA Spitzer further slammed Pandolfi, saying: 'This was 100 percent preventable. This woman knew the consequences of driving under the influence and she did it anyway.' 'There is no reason why a 23-year-old mother is dead and her daughter will grow up without ever seeing her mother's smile or hearing her voice.' At the time she was struck, Aguilar was out on a walk with her husband, James Alvarez, who witnessed the horrible incident. The heartbroken widower says his wife was 'so excited' about becoming a mom, and revealed that they had been trying to conceive for two years. 'It's like I'm living a nightmare and I'm hoping to wake up soon,' Alverez told KTLA through tears on Wednesday. 'But I'm accepting the reality is she's gone. And my daughter is the only thing that I have left.' Yesenia Lisette Aguilar, 23, was taking a walk with her husband James Alvarez, pictured together above, in Anaheim on Tuesday evening when an alleged DUI driver struck, killing her. She was 35 weeks pregnant and her newborn baby girl is now fighting to survive Husband James Alvarez revealed the couple had been trying for two years to have a baby Recalling the moment they noticed Pandolfi's Jeep charging towards them, Alvarez stated: 'I was holding her hand. I was trying to pull her away towards me... and all of a sudden, out of a second, my life changed.' Alvarez said he is now concentrating on ensuring his daughter gets better and receives the medical attention she needs so as to keep a part of his wife with him. 'I'm just praying that she is healthy. She's the last thing I have from her,' he said. A GoFundMe has been established in her honor that has raised more than $119,000. 'We ask you to keep Adalyn Rose ( Yesenia's daughter) and her family in your prayers,' reads the page that will cover the young woman's funeral, as well as medical costs. Pandolfi, meanwhile, was taken to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries. She is being held at the Orange County Jail on $1million bail. By Express News Service MYSURU: Congress and BJP leaders on Friday blamed each others parties for the violence in Bengaluru earlier this week. Congress spokesperson M Lakshman alleged that Tuesdays violence was the handiwork of high-profile BJP leaders, aimed at unseating Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and covering up allegations of corruption in Covid-19 spending against his government. Certain leaders are working hard to replace Yediyurappa with their loyalists, and instigated the issue. They are responsible for the wide coverage of the incident in national media to show the CM in a bad light, Lakshman said. He also alleged that the BJP and Social Democratic Party of India which has been blamed for the violence were working in tandem. The SDPI, which is the driving force behind the violence, is the BJPs B team, he said, adding that the BJP was indirectly promoting the party. He claimed that Naveen P, whose derogatory FB post allegedly triggered the violence, was an RSS worker and that his social media posts were proof of his allegiance to the BJP. Meanwhile, MLC AH Vishwanath said, It is unfortunate that the Congress is attempting to politicise the issue. It is Congressmen who were responsible for vandalising MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthys house, not the BJP. MLA Zameer Ahmed is visiting the houses of those arrested instead of calling on the legislator whose house was attacked. Did those people go to participate in a freedom struggle? WASHINGTON - Democrats say that President Donald Trump's assault on the U.S. Postal Service has handed them a new political message in the 2020 election, with a chance to make inroads with constituencies who have long favored Republicans. High-profile Democrats from former president Barack Obama to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sounded the alarm Friday about the president's moves to denigrate government-run mail services, decrying it as an assault on democracy and the needs of citizens who rely on its daily deliveries. Those most affected by reports of slowdowns in delivery services include veterans, senior citizens and rural residents who have long voted Republican, arming Democratic challengers and incumbents with a salient campaign issue. Democrats are already blanketing the airwaves, latching on to the opportunity to highlight support for an institution that has a 91 percent approval rating, according to an April survey by the Pew Research Center. "Senator Perdue needs to take to a stand on principle for once in his career and demonstrate that his oath to the Constitution and his constituents is more important to him than his allegiance to President Trump and his Political Party," said Jon Ossoff, who's running against Sen. David Perdue, D-Ga., this cycle. "And if he allows the president to sabotage voting by mail, he will be condemned by history as an accomplice to this attack on our democracy." Trump said Thursday that he opposes both $3.6 billion in election aid for states and a $25 billion emergency bailout for the Postal Service because he wants to restrict how many Americans can vote by mail, part of a broader assault on mail-balloting that he has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, would invite widespread fraud. Trump, his family and many top aides, by contrast, have regularly voted by mail themselves. Democrats uniformly balked at Trump's move to restrict mail voting during a pandemic, when many Americans fear heading to the polls for fear of catching the novel coronavirus, while most Republicans were silent or offered qualified objections. "Everyone depends on the USPS. Seniors for their Social Security, veterans for their prescriptions, small businesses trying to keep their doors open," Obama tweeted Friday. "They can't be collateral damage for an administration more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus." Democratic incumbents and candidates across the nation are already trying to tie Trump's words to their GOP opponents. Vulnerable Democratic incumbents like Reps. Kendra Horn of Oklahoma and Anthony Brindisi of New York have been latching onto the #SaveThePostOffice Twitter hashtag. In South Carolina, Rep. Joe Cunningham, a Democrat, said that 8 in 10 veterans in his district get their prescriptions by mail and 90 percent of those are delivered through the Postal Service. "This is a blatant attack on our veterans, the majority of whom receive their prescriptions through the mail," said Cunningham, who's up for reelection in a district Trump won by nearly 13 points in 2016. Some Democrats sought to raise money off the issue. Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe told voters in a Friday fundraising email that "Trump admitted he's sabotaging the Postal Service" and "here's what we can do about it." "The bigger our margin, the less this clown can play games with the result," McAuliffe wrote. "I'm doing everything I can to make that happen and I need your help. Pitch in anything you can afford right now and help me fight for Virginia Democrats." Republicans immediately appeared to determine that Trump was creating potential political problems for them. In a rare break from the president, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Friday on CNBC that he supports funding the Postal Service, which has warned 46 states and the District of Columbia that due to deficiencies, it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail will arrive by Election Day and be counted. "The Postal Service will have the funding that it needs," McCarthy said. "We will make sure of that." Even Postal Service workers aren't so sure, however. On Friday, the National Association of Letter Carriers, a union comprising nearly 300,000 postal workers, endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president, with its leader arguing that "Biden is - was - and will continue to be - a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service (USPS), letter carriers, and our fellow postal brothers and sisters." Democrats say Trump's move boosts them threefold: For one, it creates a space for Democrats to talk about policy issues that resonate at home - taking care of veterans, prescription drugs, social security checks - and arms them with a credible claim that Trump is putting his own reelection over those needs. Second, it cuts to the heart of rural economies that depend on the Post Office, offering Democrats an opportunity to reach out to new voters who typically turn to Republicans. Democrats also believe they can use Trump's attempts to curb mail-in voting as a motivator to get people to vote early. "I would say if you were going to vote by mail, that you vote early because they will try to say, 'Well, it doesn't have a stamp, so it doesn't have to be postmarked so we'll just throw it in the corner,' " Pelosi said Friday on MSNBC. "They're going to do everything they can to slow the mail, and that's just not right. So, again, vote early." In West Virginia, Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, spent Friday touring a quartet of U.S. post offices in the state and highlighting what he called an "all-out war" against the Postal Service by the Trump administration. The often mild-mannered Manchin said in an MSNBC interview Friday that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy "won't even talk to us" and "shouldn't even be there to begin with." "Any way you can get rid of him, please do so," Manchin said. Other Democrats warned that the integrity of the U.S. election is at stake and urged an aggressive response. Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, took to Twitter on Thursday to push House Democrats to "go to war for our country" and start a major investigation in the final weeks before the election. "We've never needed Democrats in Congress more than we do now," he wrote. "The whole enterprise is on the line. The Biden campaign has no oversight or fiscal power. Neither does the press. Letters, statements, outrage are not enough. Time to go to the mattresses. Now." While Pelosi called Trump's moves "a domestic assault on our Constitution," it is unclear whether Democrats will start a new probe less than three months from Election Day. Democratic leaders in the House recently canceled a week of voting in September and are only scheduled to be in for about two weeks before the election. For now, the issue will remain the talk of the campaign trail. In a Tuesday interview, Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., who hails from a swing district, brought up the debate, unprompted. While discussing the impasse between the parties on the coronavirus relief bill, he mused that Trump might be intentionally sabotaging an agreement because he knows any deal would include Postal Service funding. "We do need to begin to ask the question whether preventing a free and fair election is more important to the president than getting relief for the economy - I just can't, I can't explain their position rationally in any other way right now," Malinowski said. "I'm beginning to suspect that the president would rather mess with the post office than help the economy because he knows that any deal on a coronavirus bill necessarily will include provisions to fund and protect the post office." - - - The Washington Post's Jenna Johnson contributed to this report. Comments by President Alexander Lukashenko come as thousands gather in Minsk to remember man killed during protests. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, has agreed to help to ensure the security of the country if needed as thousands of people continue to hold peaceful protests against his rule. Lukashenko made the comments on Saturday evening, several hours after a phone call with Putin, the first publicly known direct contact between the two leaders since he claimed a landslide victory in an election his opponents said was rigged. Facing the biggest challenge to his rule since taking power in 1994, Lukashenko called in Moscows help after warning there was a threat not only to Belarus. To talk about the military element, we have an agreement with Russia as part of the union state and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Such situations fall under that agreement, Lukashenko told defence chiefs according to by Belta state news agency. I had a long, substantial conversation today with the Russian president We agreed that at our very first request, comprehensive help will be given to ensure the security of Belarus. Belarus and Russia have formed a union state linking their economies and militaries, while the CSTO is a military alliance between six ex-Soviet states. Protesters have been demanding that Lukashenko resign, saying the official results of the August 9 presidential election that gave him a sixth term in office are fraudulent. On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators gathered at the spot in the capital, Minsk, where a protester died. Some stripped off their shirts to display deep bruises they said came from being beaten by police. Despite harsh police crackdowns against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, the demonstrations have swelled into the largest and most sustained anti-government movement since Lukashenko took power 26 years ago. We dont need any foreign government The 65-year-old Lukashenko, for his part, on Saturday rejected suggestions that foreign mediators become involved in trying to resolve the countrys political crisis. Listen we have a normal country, founded on a constitution. We dont need any foreign government, any sort of mediators, Lukashenko said. He appeared to be referring to an offer from the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to become involved. Meanwhile, a Kremlin statement said Putin and Lukashenko both expressed hope for a quick resolution to the tensions. It is important that these problems are not used by destructive forces aimed at causing injury to the cooperation of the two countries in the framework of the union state, the Kremlin said. Ties between the two traditional allies had been under strain before the election, as Russia scaled back the subsidies that propped up Lukashenkos government. Russia sees Belarus as a strategic buffer against NATO and the European Union. A statement by Kremlin made no mention of the assistance mentioned by Lukashenko but said both sides expressed hope for a quick resolution to the tensions. Statements by both sides contained a pointed reference to a union state between the two countries. The neighbours had signed an agreement in the late 1990s which was supposed to create a unified state. The unification project was never properly implemented, and more recently, Lukashenko had rejected calls by Moscow for closer economic and political ties as an assault on his countrys sovereignty. People gather at the place where Alexander Taraikovsky died amid clashes protesting the election results, during his civil funeral in Minsk, Belarus [Dmitri Lovetsky/AP] Meanwhile, a funeral was held on Saturday for Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died on Monday in Minsk under disputed circumstances. Belarusian police said he died when an explosive device he intended to throw at police blew up in his hand. But his partner, Elena German, told The Associated Press news agency that when she saw his body in a morgue on Friday, his hands showed no damage and he had a perforation in his chest that she believes is a bullet wound. Some 5,000 demonstrators gathered in the area where Taraikovsky died. They laid a mass of flowers in tribute, piling into a mound about 1.5 metres (five feet) tall, as passing cars blared their horns. Al Jazeeras Step Vaessen, reporting from the gathering in Minsk, said people had been streaming in to visit the shrine, in memory of Taraikovsky but also as a sign of protest and defiance. She added that no police or security forces had been seen in the area in the last 48 hours. On Friday, when people were marching towards the Independence Square, there was some military in front of the government house, but they lowered their shields, which led to remarkable scenes with women hugging them. There was some riot police standing by. There were also reports about military trucks moving into the city, but so far, they havent shown themselves. The brutal suppression of post-election protests in Belarus has drawn harsh criticism by Western countries and the United Nations. European Union foreign ministers said on Friday that they rejected the election results in Belarus and began drawing up a list of officials in Belarus who could face sanctions for their role in the crackdown. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that he was glad to see that some protesters in Belarus had been freed but that it was not enough. He also said the presidential election in Belarus fell short of democratic standards. Opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday, has called for more protests and an election recount. Her campaign announced she was starting to form a national council to facilitate the transfer of power. Lukashenko has accused the demonstrators of being in cahoots with foreign backers aiming to topple his government and compared them to criminal gangs. Three friends with support needs are the stars of a new video by a celebrated independent documentary film-maker. Film-maker Matthew D'Arcy has been working on location in Sligo, filming a documentary funded by the Swedish Film Institute. Despite a busy schedule, Matthew found time to film Mikey, Malachy and Rachel, showing how they live independent lives with the support of StepIn Independent Living. Matthew's involvement was arranged by Brian Feeney, of Rosses Point, who has been closely involved in the Roscommon-based charity's work, which enables people with intellectual disabilities to live independently in the heart of their communities. Brian said: "Matthew is a top-class film-maker. His latest project involves the fascinating story of a Londoner who disappeared and then reappeared some time later in Sligo with a new name and a new life. "The project demands all his attention but he still found time to use his skills for our local charity. "It was an immense act of generosity to offer his talent in explaining the charity's work." The new charity video is being launched on YouTube on Thursday, August 13th and due for screening at conferences. Matthew, who cut his teeth with the BBC and Channel 4 making shows such as The Great British Bake Off, follows the friends as they go about their lives: shopping at the supermarket; chatting with the staff; sharing a cup of tea at home; doing the household chores; watching a video together. The film is intended to show how it's possible to live with real independence - more fulfilled, engaged lives as good neighbours in the community. Matthew said:"You got a strong sense of how the members can help each other with life and the outside world, and that I suppose is the point of the network. Mikey and Mal sat down to watch a film together. "By now I'd stopped seeing them as disabled and just saw them as a couple of mates sharing a house, as most of us have done at some point in our lives." Tea with Mikey is released on YouTube on Thursday, August 13th, on the StepIn Independent Living channel. It may also be viewed at www.stepin.ie. Film-maker Matthew D'Arcy is currently working on a documentary funded by the Swedish Film Institute that traces the life story of an artist in Sligo and Donegal after mysteriously disappearing from London. Amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and an explosion of opposition from teachers and parents for plans to begin in person instruction in Hawaii Public Schools, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) has altered their plan for reopening. The new plan includes full distance learning for four weeks after an initial in-person orientation for all students at their school sites, which will span the first week of school starting Monday, August 17. However parents and teachers argue it is not enough. Nearly a month ago, the state of Hawaii was touting the low number of cases as a justification for full reopening of schools, but COVID-19 cases are now climbing at an alarming rate with 4,312 cases and 40 deaths. Yesterday saw a new record high of 355 cases, and already in the month of August, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 14 Hawaiians. Of added concern, Hawaii currently has the highest rate of transmission in the US, at 1.29, according to The COVID Tracking Project. The majority of recent cases have been traced to prisons and shelters on the island of Oahu. Approximately 86 newly reported cases are part of a growing cluster at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, and there is also a growing cluster at a homeless shelter in Iwilei, with 20 cases under investigation. School openings in recent weeks have been disastrous, with at least nine cases of COVID-19 at both private and public schools throughout the state this month alone. In one instance, this past Wednesday, a high school student tested positive at a Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Island Campus, setting off an immediate lockdown of the entire campus, which includes students in pre-school, elementary and high school. It is unclear how many students and staff will be under quarantine as a result. Many private schools such as Kamehameha Schools throughout the state have already reopened the schools to in-person instruction. Parent and teacher opposition has been ongoing for weeks leading up to the reopening of Hawaii public schools. An initial wave of opposition prompted the HIDOE to delay the start date by two weeks from August 4 to August 17. Now, amid a rise in cases throughout the state and in schools that have already reopened to in-person instruction, many parents and teachers are demanding a halt to in-person instruction for all Hawaii public schools. The dangerous school reopening policy is part of the HIDOEs new three-phase plan spearheaded by Superintendent Dr. Christina Kashimoto. Phase one of the reopening plan, which starts this Monday and lasts for one week, calls for in-person instruction at all 238 school sites throughout the state despite the acceleration of cases. Students will meet with all teachers and receive instructions and materials for distance learning. However, an in person start to the school year for the 180,000 students and 13,000 teachers in Hawaii Public Schools will have a disastrous impact on the spread of the virus. The state has the current highest rate of transmission and cases are on the rise. The reopening policy has created an uproar among teachers and parents who are facing a fight for their lives and have taken to social media to organize opposition. The Facebook group Hawaii for a Safe Return to Schools has grown to over 7,500 members. Many parents have said they will not have their child participate in the first week of school. One parent argues, Our middle school is having the kids come in next week, 2 hours and 45 min in one classroom for training. Were not participating. Another declared, I wrote my sons principal. My son will not be attending at all no way! Even more Now since the news has been released that his school has been tied to a case of covid!!! Faced with this growing opposition, many school site administrators have made changes to their plans for the first days of school. Some have opted for a grab and go orientation for week one where parents drive through the school site to pick up materials for their child. Other school sites have opted for a full virtual orientation, but many schools will still have students receive face-to-face instruction from teachers throughout the week. Phase two of the reopening plan outlines fully distance learning for four weeks time, from August 24 through September 11. However, all teachers and staff will continue to report to their school sites to deliver distance-learning instruction. Distance learning will also not apply to all special education teachers and students who will have to be in face-to-face instruction full-time, as will staff in the learning labs at schools who monitor students who do not have wifi access at home. Special education educators are at a high risk as the HIDOE has declared that if distance learning does not prove effective for special ed students, full time face-to-face instruction and in many cases, full contact will be required. On Wednesday, a Hawaii special ed teacher in a post on Facebook notes, I have submitted my leave. I do sped preschool - we havent received any PPE. No masks, gloves, shields. I was asking for gowns but that was turned down. Knowing that I would be exposed to body fluid, doing toilet training/changing diapers and unable to be 6 feet distanced I had to take leave. I would have preferred to distance. My coworker and I have created individual binders for each of our kids. I will continue to advocate for those that dont feel safe, dont have enough PPE. Covid wont discriminate. Many Special Education teachers across the country have voiced their concern for being pushed into classrooms to work with populations who, because of their needs, have difficulty adhering to the most basic hygiene. Staff change diapers, help them eat, and often work in high contact with bodily fluids on a daily basis. Phase three of the reopening plan lays out a tentative proposal to transition to a hybrid-learning model or continue full distance learning by September 14. HIDOE claims it will monitor the situation and work with the governors office and the Hawaii State Department of Health to assess whether or not students can safely return to in-person blended learning models. In response to the immense opposition, the Hawaii State Teacher Association (HSTA) held a press briefing on Thursday claiming it will file a prohibited practice complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) against the state of Hawaii and will file a class grievance on behalf of Bargaining Unit 05 employees because of violations to the HSTA collective bargaining agreement. These are empty gestures aimed at providing a political cover for the unions capitulation to the state authorities. Just a few weeks ago, HSTA was silent amid the growing opposition to the reopening plans. Now, facing a wellspring of anger from teachers and parents, HSTA focuses on hairsplitting arguments over lack of documentation from the Department of Health (DOH). The HSTA argues the DOH has not provided written guidance on triggers and standards which the DOH will use to determine when schools are safe to open for in-person learning, when they should close and/or should reopen after a closure. In its press release, the HSTA openly states that lawsuits take time. In other words, no action is likely before the start of school. In the meantime, the union advises teachers to pressure site administrators and consider a leave of absence for the first week. The release states, If you believe your worksite remains unsafe or hazardous conditions exist, you should notify your administrator and request they take action to address them. Anticipating teachers will take leave the first week of school over concern for their safety, the HSTA merely provides language for the type of leave teachers have the right to use as appropriate and blames the HIDOE for lowering the education requirement for substitute positions to Hawaii high school graduates in the event teachers do not show up next week. In a further exposure of the unions toothless posturing, during the livestreamed press briefing Thursday, Corey Rosenlee, HSTA president, was asked by a member of the public if the union will call a strike or advocate for teachers to stay home. His response was, We are doing what is allowed under our contract. This is why we are filing the HLRB claim and doing a class action grievance. The contract does not allow us to strike; we have to file these legal practices in these cases. This is the textbook answer from the unions time and time again, that their hands are always tied under the contracts that they have helped to develop and rubber-stamped. Both the HIDOE and HSTA work together to suppress any strike action. Indeed, HSTA helped to develop the very plans that originally had schools going back to in-person instruction starting August 4. Unsurprisingly, nowhere in their class action press release do they demand that all schools remain closed, particularly as cases are rising sharply. Teacher unions across the US and globally have overseen decades of cuts to public education that have devastated public school systems leading to overcrowded classrooms and underpaid staff and teachers. In the US, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association have collaborated in the expansion of for-profit charter schools while backing the very same Democratic Party politicians who have defunded the schools. Teachers and parents are now confronting the fact that the unions are their bitter enemies and will do nothing to protect lives. The drive by HIDOE with the collaboration of the unions to reopen schools is not simply a misguided policy. Above all, it is driven by the demands of big business to free parents for a deadly return to work. This poses the urgent necessity for teachers and school staff to organize independently of the unions. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party call for teachers to follow the example of autoworkers in building rank-and-file safety committees in every district to fight to close schools to in-person learning until the virus is contained. Such a fight must be guided by a socialist strategy that insists that the lives of students and teachers must take priority over the profit drive of big business. Plans are being made across the country for how to safely send students back to school in the fall as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Here is a look at what the various provinces have said about getting kids back to classes. British Columbia British Columbia has laid out its plan for studies to resume in learning groups this fall. School districts are to post final back-to-school details online by Aug. 26. Back to class: Schools were initially scheduled to welcome students back full time on Sept. 8, but the province announced it is pushing back the restart date by two days to Sept. 10. Groups: Students will be sorted into learning groups to reduce the number of people they come in contact with. For elementary and middle school students, groups will be no larger than 60 people. Secondary school groups will be capped at 120. Physical distancing: Students and staff dont need to maintain physical distancing within their learning group, but contact should be minimized. Outside the group, physical distancing is required. Students should be more spaced out in classrooms. Masks: Students and staff will not be required to wear masks in schools, but the province says its a personal choice that will always be respected. It says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recommends non-medical masks be worn by adults and older students when they are unable to physically distance like in hallways and on buses. New routines: The province is urging schools to stagger recess, lunch and class transition times and take students outside whenever possible. Transportation: Middle and high school students are asked to wear masks on buses. Students should be assigned seats, and a transparent barrier may be used to separate the driver. Alberta The province is planning to fully reopen schools from kindergarten to Grade 12 this fall. Measures will be tightened if an outbreak occurs and class sizes could be reduced to 20. Back to class: School will be back in session with extra safety measures, but the province says there are programs to support remote and alternative learning. Groups: Schools should sort students into cohorts by class when possible to minimize contact with others. Physical distancing: Physical distancing is recommended when possible. Rooms should be rearranged to increase space between desks. Masks: Masks will be mandatory for staff and many students in some school settings. Students in Grades 4 to 12 must wear masks in all common areas, such as hallways and on buses. Staff are required to wear masks whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained. Mask use will be optional for kids in kindergarten through Grade 3. The government says all students and staff will receive two reusable masks as part of the policy. Transportation: Parents are asked to bring their children to school if they can. Students who take the bus will sit in the same seat every day. New routines: Schools are advised to consider a no sharing policy, with each student bringing their own supplies. Class, lunch and recess schedules will be staggered. Saskatchewan Saskatchewan first unveiled a set of back-to-school guidelines in June, but released more details Aug. 4. Back to class: Students will return to class as early as Sept. 1. Groups: Groups of students and staff members assigned to them should stick together throughout the day and try not to mingle with other groups. Schools should aim to minimize the number of different instructors who interact with students throughout the day. Physical distancing: Officials say maintaining physical distance is less practical for younger children, and the focus should be on limiting physical contact. Officials suggest limiting hugs and hand holding and suggest using alternative greetings such as air high fives. Schools are also to have dedicated quarantine areas where symptomatic students can go before they are picked up by parents. Masks: The province says its up to school boards to decide whether to make masks mandatory for students and staff. The chief medical health officer advises Grade 4 to 12 students should wear them in busy areas such as hallways and on buses. Transportation: Parents should take their kids to school when possible, and pickup and drop-offs should happen outside. Students using school transportation should be assigned seats, and a partition may be used to separate the driver. New routines: Start times, recess, lunch and class transitions may be staggered to allow for more space for physical distancing. Schools should rearrange their classrooms to space out students. Students and staff are asked to bring hand sanitizer. Manitoba The Manitoba government says students are going back to the classroom on Sept. 8 with new guidelines. Back to class: All students from kindergarten to Grade 8 are to have in-class instruction five days a week. High school students will also be in class full time, however, there may be some days of remote learning. Groups: When physical distancing isnt possible, students will have to be organized into cohorts of no more than 75, and minimize contact with others. In these cases, there must be at least one metre between their desks. Physical distancing: The province says students are required to maintain a two-metre distance to the greatest extent possible. When it isnt possible, physical barriers may be an option. Spaces should be arranged to encourage separation. Masks: Masks are strongly recommended for students in Grades 5 to 12. They are required when taking the bus. Transportation: Masks are required for students Grade 5 and up, as well as drivers, on buses. Parents are encouraged to transport their children to school if they can. New routines: Lunch and recess are to be staggered to minimize congestion, and in many cases teachers will change classrooms instead of students. Ontario Ontario students will be back in class September, but their schedules and class sizes may vary depending on where they live. Back to class: Elementary students and many high schoolers will be in school five days a week in standard class sizes. However, secondary students at two dozen boards that are higher risk will only attend class half the time, and will spend the rest of the week working on curriculum-linked independent work. Parents will also have the option to keep their kids out of class, and boards must provide options for remote learning. Groups: For high schoolers in high-risk districts, class sizes will be capped at 15. Meanwhile, elementary students wont be broken up into smaller groups, but will be grouped into cohorts and their exposure to different teachers will be limited. Physical distancing: While Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the aim is to keep students one metre apart from each other, a guidance document says only that schools should promote as much distancing as possible rather than being strictly enforced. Masks: Masks will be mandatory for students in Grades 4 through 12, and will be strongly encouraged for younger kids when theyre in indoor common areas. Staff will be expected to wear masks. Transportation: Some school boards may have more than one student assigned to a seat. When physical distancing isnt possible, masks will be mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 12, and younger students will be encouraged but not required to do the same. New routines: Students in some districts will have to preregister for in-person schooling. Some schools may limit or even ban visitors, including parents. Breaks will be scheduled to allow students to wash their hands. Quebec All elementary and high school students in Quebec will be required to attend class in September unless they have a doctors note indicating theyre at high risk of COVID-19 complications or they live with someone at risk. Those students will be allowed to study remotely. Back to class: Class attendance is mandatory for elementary and high school students. For Grades 10 and 11, schools have the option of alternating schedules where students attend one day out of every two as long as schools cannot maintain stable classroom bubbles. Grade 10 and 11 students are encouraged to attend classes as much as possible. Groups: Each classroom will be its own bubble and students will not be required to maintain a two-metre distance between classmates. Physical distancing: Students will need to keep a two-metre distance from all school staff, as well as all other students outside their classroom bubble. There are no physical distancing requirements for children or teachers in preschool. Masks: All students in Grade 5 and up as well as all school staff must wear a mask inside all common areas of the school except the classroom. Masks can also be removed when students are eating. Transportation: No more than 48 students will be allowed on a school bus, with no more than two students sitting on the same bench. Preschool and elementary school students are strongly encouraged to wear masks, while older students are required to wear them. New routines: When schools return in the fall, teachers will move from classroom to classroom, but students will stay put. Backup plans: In the event of an outbreak in one class, the entire classroom bubble will be sent home to continue studies remotely. Authorities are also putting together an emergency protocol in the event of a second wave to ensure instruction continues online if entire schools are again forced to close. Ideas include quickly distributing tablets or laptops to students needing them and establishing a digital platform to continue courses and maintain communication. New Brunswick The province has outlined a set of requirements schools must follow in developing their plans for the fall. Back to class: Students in kindergarten to Grade 8 are to attend school full time, while those in Grades 9 to 12 are to be taught using a combination of in-class and remote instruction. At-home course work can include online learning, guided projects and experiential education. Groups: For kindergarten through Grade 2, group sizes will be reduced to about 15, wherever possible. Group sizes should also be shrunk for Grades 3 to 5. Grades 6 to 8 will resume at regular class sizes. Students in Grades 9 to 12 will not be grouped because of their schedules and course options. Physical distance: Grade 9 to 12 classrooms are required to maintain a one-metre distance, while a two-metre distance is recommended in common areas at all grade levels. Masks: All students will be required to bring a mask to school, but masks will not be mandatory inside the classroom. Students in Grade 6-12 must wear masks on the school bus and in common areas of school buildings, while children in kindergarten to Grade 5 are encouraged to do so. Teachers for kindergarten to Grade 8 can choose whether they want to wear a mask or shield in the classroom while teachers for Grades 9-12 will be required to wear one when they cannot physically distance from students. Transportation: Curtains will be installed inside school buses to separate drivers from students. If physical distancing is not possible, drivers will be required to wear a mask or face shield. Students must sit in the same seat every day. Students in kindergarten to Grade 5 will sit alone or with a member of their household. Students in Grades 6-12 wearing masks will sit two to a seat, and if they are sitting alone or with a member of their household, they do not have to wear a mask. New routines: Arrivals, breaks and lunches are to be staggered. Public access to school buildings will be limited, and students, staff and visitors may also be subject to screening. High school students will be expected to have their own laptop or similar device, and some subsidies will be available. Drinking fountains will be replaced with water bottle-filling stations. Prince Edward Island Schools on the Island are preparing to welcome all students back to class, while drafting backup plans for remote studies if required. Back to class: Schools are to reopen for teachers and staff on Sept. 1 and for students on Sept. 8. Groups: Students will be organized into cohorts when possible and limit their exposure to others. Physical distancing: Students will be taught about the importance of physical distancing, and extra teaching and cleaning staff may be hired. Schools are also asked to reduce class sizes as much as possible, reconfigure classrooms and make use of spaces such as libraries and multipurpose rooms. Masks: The province says all staff and students in Grades 7-12 are strongly recommended to wear masks when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Students from kindergarten through Grade 6 may wear masks when physical distancing is impossible. Staff interacting with children who have complex medical needs are strongly recommended to wear face shields and gloves. Transportation: Parents are asked to take their kids to school whenever possible. To reduce the number of riders on buses, schools may add vehicles and routes or implement walk-to-school programs. It is strongly recommended that all students and drivers wear masks on the bus. New routines: P.E.I. education authorities are revising curricula for this school year to make up for learning gaps caused by lockdown constraints. Schools will stagger schedules to minimize congestion. The provincial school food program will be expanded next year in keeping with public health precautions. Elementary school students will stay in their classrooms for lunch. Nova Scotia Education Minister Zach Churchill says the provinces objective is for schools to return to 100 per cent capacity in the fall, but its plan includes measures to address the possible onset of a second wave of COVID-19. Back to class: The province aims to have all elementary and high school students in classrooms by Sept. 8. Groups: Students will be asked to keep to cohorts. Physical distancing: Students and staff will be encouraged to maintain a two-metre distance whenever possible. Lecture rooms will be reorganized to increase space between desks. Masks: All students in grades 4 to 12 will be required to wear a mask inside schools except when seated at desks that are two metres apart and facing the same direction. Masks must be worn in hallways and other common areas if a two-metre distance cannot be maintained. All students and staff will receive two free cloth masks. Disposable masks will be available if a student loses theirs or comes to school without one. Transportation: Students who take the school bus will be required to wear non-medical masks. New routines: Only students and staff will be permitted to enter school buildings. When possible, teachers will be asked to move their classes outdoors. Students will be asked to bring their own computers to school, and the province says it has acquired an additional 14,000 devices for those with limited access to technology. The ventilation systems of each school will be assessed to ensure the equipment is operating properly. Backup plans: If a COVID-19 outbreak occurs during the academic year, schools will move to a blended learning model with smaller class sizes and home learning for older students. Newfoundland and Labrador The provinces back-to-school plan aims to maximize in-class attendance with the option of a return to remote learning if the COVID-19 risk increases. Back to class: The provinces plan outlines three scenarios in-class instruction, remote learning or a combination of both, depending on the COVID-19 risk in a particular community. Groups: Cohorting by class is recommended when its feasible, but students schedules shouldnt be disrupted to support smaller groupings. Physical distancing: Schools should aim to create a two-metre distance between desks, or as much distance as possible. However, provincial authorities say these precautions should not interfere with the daily school routine, and strict physical distancing should not be overemphasized to children, because it is not practical and can cause psychological harm. Masks: The province does not recommend masks for children, but says their use should not be stigmatized for those that choose to wear them. Staff will not be required to wear masks if physical distancing is possible. Transportation: It will be up to school districts to determine their transportation operations, considering precautions such as assigning seats and separating the driver with a physical divider. New routines: All students must bring their own supplies in keeping with a no sharing policy. Backup plans: In the event of moderate-to-widespread transmission of COVID-19, school districts will move to online learning. Classroom attendance should be limited to about 50 per cent when the COVID-19 risk in a community is considered low to moderate. Newfoundland and Labrador says it will spend $20 million to purchase laptops for teachers and students in Grades 7 through 12 to support remote learning. Yukon The territorial government says its making plans for the next school year that include flexibility around the number of students in classes if theres a second wave of COVID-19 or increased risk of transmission. It says each school will determine how it will adjust its operations to meet those guidelines, and school principals and staff are expected to share that information prior to September. Back to class: Preliminary plans indicate that in rural communities, all students will return to school full time. In Whitehorse, however, kids in kindergarten through Grade 9 will return to full-day in-school instruction, while Grades 10 to 12 will spend half their day in the classroom, and the rest learning remotely. Groups: Class sizes may be smaller to meet safety restrictions. Masks: Wearing masks is a personal choice. Transportation: Bus school and schedules will be posted to the territorys website. New routines: Schedule shakeups may mean that some students wont have their regular teacher or the same classmates. School meal programs may be adapted with new safety measures and pickup options. Backup plans: The territory has outlined a spectrum of school options if the risk to the community increases, ranging from rotating schedules to suspension of face-to-face learning. Northwest Territories All N.W.T. schools have submitted plans to reopen their doors this fall. The territory says education authorities are taking a flexible approach in their planning to account for a potential second wave of COVID-19 in the fall. Back to class: While plans will vary from school to school, the territory will offer in-person instruction whenever possible, while ensuring alternative options are available. Groups: Students in kindergarten through Grade 6 will be in classroom bubbles, and wont have to practise physical distancing within these groups. Physical distancing: For Grades 7 to 9, students are asked to maintain a one-metre distance from each other, and two-metre distance from staff. Grade 10 to 12 students are asked to allow for two metres of distance from their peers and instructors. Masks: Students of all ages may be required to wear masks in situations where physical distance cannot be practised, such as moving through the hallways. Transportation: There may be changes to bus schedules, and all riders will be required to wear masks. New routines: More time will be spent learning outside. School hours and schedules may also look different. Students are asked to label personal items and not share. Backup plans: The territory says schools are preparing to shift between in-person, distance and blended learning at short notice should there become active COVID-19 cases. Nunavut The territory has released a four-stage plan for reopening schools based on the risk of the novel coronavirus in a community. Back to class: There are no reported COVID-19 cases in Nunavut, so all schools are set to reopen this fall with enhanced cleaning and safety precautions. Groups: It is recommended that schools cohort students by class and limit mixing as much as possible. Physical distancing: Distance requirements will depend on what stage a community is in, and will primarily be achieved by limiting school attendance. Masks: In most cases, the use of masks is not recommended for children. If there are exceptions, parents will be notified, and masks will be provided. Transportation: As it stands, bus schedules are set to resume. Students older than 13 may be required to wear masks. New routines: Group activities will be limited. Students wont be allowed to share food in lunchrooms. Backup plans: The territory says schools could go part-time if contact tracing were to identify a possible source of COVID-19. All schools would be closed if community transmission were to take place. BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Seventy-five years ago, on Aug. 15, Japan announced its surrender in World War II, which marks the Chinese people's victory against the invaders. The courage to fight against evil and darkness China showed in the Chinese resistance war against the Japanese invasion has become significant forces for steering through new challenges, especially when the country faces the threat of hegemonism and blockades to impede its development. During the 14-year anti-invasion war, China was the major oriental battlefield against fascists, in which it provided strategic re-enforcement to the anti-fascist war elsewhere in the world. The war tested the will, courage and strength of the Chinese people and highlighted the resilience of the nation to overcome major challenges. China has shown the heroism of not fearing violence and fighting to the end, the tenacity and perseverance against challenges and the firm faith in victory over all difficulties. Now, some politicians in the United States have been making slanderous attacks on China. They used issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and Taiwan to interfere in China's internal affairs, took a number of provocative actions in the South China Sea, viciously attacked China's political system, attempted to drive a wedge between the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people and conducted repressive moves in various domains such as increasing tariffs and suppressing high-tech companies. Their aggressive and blatant bullying behavior crosses the moral line in international relations and contravenes the trend of the times. Facing the threats, China has clear guiding principles. It does not provoke, and it will not flinch from provocations, either. It will not move to the beat of villains or put up with their wickedness. On issues concerning China's core interests and national dignity, there is simply no room for it to back down. If China gives up an inch, they will ask for a mile, and they will never stop undermining China's sovereignty and dignity. Much stronger than 75 years ago, China has the determination, resolve and national strength to overcome all challenges. It has the courage, ability and wisdom to prevail over the bullying and tests. No country or individual can hold back the historic march toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The experience of war makes people value peace all the more. As a country committed to pursuing peaceful development and building a community with a shared future for humanity, China believes in rational and practical measures to handle the issues of the Sino-U.S. relationship and will never allow a handful of self-serving U.S. politicians to push the relationship into serious jeopardy. In the interest of peace, the Chinese people are resolved to pursue friendly relations with all other people, defend the gains of the victory of World War II and make greater contributions to mankind. China firmly believes that justice, peace and the people will prevail. STAFF affected by the closure of the Debenhams store in Limerick have vowed to continue their 24/7 picket at the premises following reports that another retailer is seeking to reopen a number of the chains stores across the country. It was reported on Friday that the liquidator of the Debenhams Irish operation KPMG has said another retailer is seeking to reopen a number of the stores, and if successful, it could save hundreds of jobs. The liquidator has not revealed the name of the retailer or what stores it is interested in reopening. There has been no formal proposals put forward regarding this, and whether or not it will indeed benefit the ex-Debenhams workers regarding gaining jobs, reads a statement issued by the Limerick workers to the Leader this Saturday. Former staff have been officially picketing Debenham's 11 Irish stores for a number of months calling for what they describe as a fair redundancy package. There is no information or decisions made on which stores will indeed reopen and no official name of the business involved. Reports of pickets being stepped down across the country is untrue and the 11 stores in the Republic are fully committed on the purpose of pursuing their redundancy entitlements as previously agreed as we have a 97% vote for industrial action, the statement continues. Around 110 jobs were lost locally when Debenhams shuttered its landmark outlet in Limerick city centre. The Limerick city store had initially suspended trading in March in the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus but the official confirmation that the store would close came in early April in what was described as a devastating blow to the city. The Limerick store is continuing to picket 24/7. The ex-staff are in good spirits and hoping for some news soon after spending 129 days fighting for justice, the statement continues. The public support has been amazing in Limerick and we couldnt thank them enough. We are just ordinary people in extraordinary times, but we need to fight for the rights of all retail workers. Limerick Sinn Fein Councillor John Costelloe who has been present at a number of the demonstrations in Limerick says the staff are resolute in continuing their fight for what they believe in. They are not moving, he said. he expressed. The high-ranking official also suggested that "if there is no need to leave the house, then it must not be done. Instead, let's stay with our families," but "if we do it for emergency or for work purposes, let's take the necessary precautions." Montoya added that the Constitution includes an article regarding the inviolability of homes, and that has been restricted on Sundays. Therefore, the police can enter any property whose residents do not obey the rules. Measures In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday afternoon, President Martin Vizcarra indicated that said measure was taken based on the information provided by Health Ministry scientists and medical personnel in charge of monitoring the development of the pandemic nationwide. Curfew During the national state of emergency, mandatory social immobilization (curfew) is provided from 10:00 p.m. to 04:00 a.m. the next day, Mondays thru Saturdays. However, in the regions of Arequipa, Ica, Junin, Huanuco, San Martin and Madre de Dios curfew is in force from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. the next day. Also, on Sundays, nationwide compulsory social immobilization will be in force all day long until 4:00 am on Monday. It must be noted that during the mandatory social immobilization strictly necessary personnel, who participate in the provision of food supply, health, financial and restaurant services for home delivery, will be exempted from the measure. The Peruvian Government has approved Supreme Decree N139-2020-PCM , which declares quarantine entirely focused on 6 regions of the country: Arequipa, Ica, Huanuco, Junin, Madre de Dios and San Martin, as well as on 36 provinces due to an increase in the level of COVID-19 contagion. As elucidated by the two films, Indians and Pakistanis are far more alike than some of us would want to admit, and one can pass off for the other without too much effort. The ideal way to begin this essay is by stating the obvious. 14 and 15 August comprise that obviously apparent time of the year, when two nations, joined at the hip, celebrate the arrival of their freedom 73 years this time around. The years have passed and attempts to underline their common past notwithstanding, the nations have blown mostly cold with each other. The perceived and loudly stated differences have largely kept hidden what they clearly share. But it is good to persist in this attempt to underline the commonalities. Eventually, more will perceive it or so we would like to believe. As the shaayar put it, "Dil ko khush rakhne ko ye khayal accha hai!" This is another stab at it. In 1956, the Urdu film Bedari, was released in Pakistani theatres. A tear-jerker that revolved around the exploits of two boys in boarding school, the film and its songs, most of which were woven around a patriotic theme, were smash hits. Within a few months, the backstory of the film emerged. It turned out that the Pakistani film was an exact copy of an Indian-Hindi film, Jagriti, released in 1954. For starters, both the terms, Bedari and Jagriti, mean awakening. However, that was merely the beginning. At every step of the cinematic process, Bedari had chosen to be inspired by Jagriti. Scene for scene Jagritis Ajay (meaning the unconquered) and Bedaris Zafar (meaning the victor) are both fatherless brats painting their villages red by raiding mango orchards and playing cruel and mean tricks on the working folk. The hassled grandfather, in both instances, seeks to tame them by sending them off to a boarding school, hoping that the discipline of the school will straighten them out. At school, they befriend a handicapped classmate Shakti/Sabir who sets an example through his gentle ways and transforms them. Also at school, an idealistic young teacher is instrumental in motivating the boys to turn a new leaf. The teacher spares the rod, befriends the boys, and instils in them a patriotic fervour in order that the boys are made aware of the task of nation-building that lies ahead of them. Shakti/Sabir's death in an accident results in the final decisive transformation. The plot, with the exception of the names, is a match, scene for scene. Song for song And then there are the songs; three patriotic ones and one emotional eulogy by Shakti/Sabir to his mother are all mirror images, albeit with some important differences (especially with regard to the patriotic references). 'Sabarmati Ke Sant tune kar diya kamaal' morphs into 'Aey Quaid-e-Azam tera ehsan hai'. Mahatma Gandhi is replaced by Muhammad Ali Jinnah both in the lyrics and in the photo on the wall/bust in the hall that the songs are addressed to. Gandhi is flanked by Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru, and Jinnah by Mohammad Iqbal Shedai and Liaqat Ali Khan, addressed as 'Quaid-e-Millat' (leader of the nation). They are the heroes who have breathed life into the nation at the cost of their own lives. Gandhi, the song states, fought the dushman (the enemy, termed as firangi the British are not mentioned explicitly). Jinnah too fought the unnamed dushman, and in his case, the foe is identified by a clever interpolation of newsreel footage of Gandhi, when the line containing the word is sung, not once but twice, perhaps to underline the fact. The firangi, however, is noticeably absent. 'Aao bachcho tumhe dikhaye jhanki Hindustan ki' is suitably modified into 'Aao bacho sair karain tum ko Pakistan ki', even as the songs are both sung in the course of train journeys through the respective nations. The Indian chorus of Bande Mataram (it is clearly Bande in the song and not the current Vande; the Bengali pronunciation had not yet then been overridden by the Hindi one) becomes Pakistan Zindabad in the opposite number. The Indian song defines its terrain rather self-confidently. The Himalayas, the Indian Ocean, the Ganga and Yamuna, Rajputana (and Maharana Pratap), Maratha territory (Shivajis battle with the Mughals is invoked), Jallianwala Bagh and Bengal all merit mention in the song with lyrics evoking sacrifice and heroism. In contrast, the Pakistani song is relatively timid and subdued. Sindh, where the Hindu Raja Dahir was overthrown by Muhammad bin Qasim is invoked first. Punjab, that Iqbal supposedly awoke ('jagaaya') is next. There is then a cryptic, undefined reference to Kashmir, and an equally unclear reference to the sarhad (border), with Pathans standing guard. And then the song peters out without attempting to go any further. 'Hum laye hain toofan se kashti nikaal ke' goes the third song common to both films. The first line stays the same in both, with desh in the Indian one being replaced with mulk in the other 'Iss desh/mulk ko rakhna, mere bacchon, sambhaal ke'. The Indian song mentions the arms race and the nuclear powder-keg the world is perched on, and extols youngsters to reach for the sky. India was striving to be something of a moralistic world leader, influenced as it was by the non-violent philosophy of its Sabarmati ke sant. The Pakistani song identifies a narrower objective Kashmir which has to be claimed for the nation. In this song, the Pakistani adopts a more strident stance. The young teacher is on his way out at this point in the movie. He has been called upon by higher authorities to implement his progressive educational scheme in other schools. But before he departs, he leaves behind his to-do list in the song. All three songs are broadly similar, with Urdu words trumping Hindi ones in the Pakistani songs, though the odd Hindi words (amrit, for instance) do appear in the Pakistani numbers as well. Kavi Pradeep, the Indian lyricist, was known for his use of Hindi, but given the exigencies of rhyme and meter, he did use Urdu words on several occasions in the songs. Actor for actor Even as the Pakistani film is by now creaking with the burden of sameness, there is one more important commonality. As circumstances would have it, the same actor featured in a prominent role in both films. Ratan Kumar, born Syed Nazir Ali Rizvi in 1941 in Ajmer the child-actor in Baiju Bawra (1952), Do Bigha Zameen (1953) and Boot Polish (1954), starred in both films. Introduced into cinema by his fathers friend, Urdu writer Krishan Chander, Ratan had a successful career as a child-actor, and seemed poised for big things in Bombay. The family then left India for Pakistan, and soon, Ratans brother, Wazir Ali, made Bedari starring his younger sibling. Interestingly, in Bedari, Ratan chose to go with his Hindu screen-name, and did not opt to use his original one. Not only Ratan, but his co-star Santosh Kumar (Syed Musa Raza) who plays the teacher (played by Abhi Bhattacharya in Jagriti) also went by his Hindu name. Santosh, it appears, never changed his name on-screen all through his career. A third prominent name in the Pakistani credits is a Hindu-sounding Ragini. Ratan attempted in later years to graduate into becoming an adult actor, but never made the cut. After an indifferent cinematic career, he went to Germany in the mid-70s to study hotel management and by late 1979, had migrated with his family to California, where he passed away in 2016. Newspaper reports on him suggest that he never again returned to Pakistan, not even for a visit. His disillusionment in part seems to have been the result of the death of his four-year-old daughter in tragic circumstances, which prompted his move out of the country in the first place. And the twists lessons, perhaps! Given that Bedari was an unabashed copy, the temptation is to take potshots at the film, the industry, and perhaps, even the nation that took to this imitation. But the twists that remain should prompt one to think otherwise. The music of Bedari was composed by Fateh Ali Khan. Several decades later, his son, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khans work would be lifted wholesale by many Indian music directors. Think of Bedari then as a tribute a backdated 'gurudakshina' of sorts, since Nusrat learnt all his music from his father. Bedari also has one more twist that has gone unmentioned so far. In Jagriti, Ajay and Shakti are played by different actors with Ratan Kumar playing Shakti. For reasons unexplained, Ratan Kumar decided to play both characters in Bedari. Zafar and Sabir are look-alikes, something that is briefly mentioned early in the film, with Sabirs distinguishing feature being his crutch (owing to his limp), and spectacles a la Clark Kent. At the end of the film, Zafar, in an inexplicable action, becomes Sabir, opting to use his crutch and walking away with Sabirs mother forsaking his own waiting grandfather. This look-alike trope is perhaps a parable for the larger narrative of the sub-continent. Indians and Pakistanis are far more alike than some of us would want to admit, and one can pass off for the other without too much effort. Given how 2020 has reminded the world of all its human frailties, the crutch that we carry to balance the national identity on our sagging shoulders needs rethinking. From Ajay to Zafar, or from 'A to Z', quite literally our commonalities are more apparent than our differences. All images via Facebook, except where indicated otherwise (Natural News) The Democratic National Convention next week will prominently feature some of its high-profile LGBT members, including homosexual former presidential contender Pete Buttigieg of Indiana, and Virginias Daniel Roem, now known as Danica, the first transgendered state representative in U.S. history. (Article by Doug Mainwaring republished from LifeSiteNews.com) Buttigieg has been handed a prime-time slot for his speech on Tuesday, while Roems role at the convention has not yet been announced. Joe Biden will officially accept his nomination as the partys presidential candidate in a speech to be delivered on Thursday evening, the final night of the convention. Vice President Biden very clearly sees that LGBT people are part of the fabric, and they will be part of the fabric of the convention, Joe Solmonese, CEO of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, told the Washington Blade. Were asking lots of people to participate in all sorts of different ways. Before taking the reins of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Solmonese, who is himself gay, was president of the powerful Washington, D.C. LGBT lobbying organization the Human Rights Campaign. At the Democrats 2016 national convention held in Philadelphia, more than 11 percent of the delegates identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. While there are no reports as to the number of LGBT delegates participating in this years convention, Pennsylvanias delegation alone includes a reported 27 LGBT members. Homosexuals and transgenders are a cornerstone of the Democratic Party Brendan Welch, communications director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, told Philadelphia Gay News that the LGBT community is a cornerstone of the Democratic Party. We must actively uplift LGBTQ+ voices if we are to achieve the America that Democrats stand for: justice, equity and opportunity for all people, regardless of race, gender identity, or who you love, Welch wrote in an email to PGN. We welcome all of our LGBTQ+ delegates with open arms and look forward to electing Democrats who will fight for you in both the nations capital and the state capital, he added. Pro-LGBT platform to be approved In advance of the convention, delegates are now in the process of voting on the partys revised platform which is expected to be ratified next week. Troubling planks in the proposed platform include a call for Congress to push through the so-called Equality Act; ensuring that gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals can adopt or foster children; guaranteeing transgender students access to facilities based on their gender identity; banning, under the misnomer conversion therapy, professional counseling for those with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria; and ensuring that transgender and non-binary people can procure official government identification documents that accurately reflect their gender identity. The proposed platform is the first to recognize a categories of people who claim to be gender non-conforming and non-binary. In a section titled Protecting LGBTQ+ Rights, the 2020 Democratic Party Platform states: Democrats applaud this years U.S. Supreme Court decision that made clear that employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity violates the law, but we know we still have work to do to ensure LGBTQ+ people are treated equally under the law and in our society. We will fight to enact the Equality Act and at last outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in housing, public accommodations, access to credit, education, jury service, and federal programs. We will work to ensure LGBTQ+ people are not discriminated against when seeking to adopt or foster children, protect LGBTQ+ children from bullying and assault, and guarantee transgender students access to facilities based on their gender identity. Democrats will ensure federally funded programs for older adults are inclusive for LGBTQ+ seniors. Recognizing that LGBTQ+ youth and adults suffer from significant health disparities, including mental health and substance use disorders, Democrats will expand mental health and suicide prevention services, and ban harmful conversion therapy practices. We will ensure that all transgender and non-binary people can procure official government identification documents that accurately reflect their gender identity. We will stop employment discrimination in the federal government, and will restore full implementation of President Obamas executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Democrats are committed to ending the homelessness crisis, including among LGBTQ+ youth. We will fight to end violence against transgender Americans and particularly against Black transgender women, who are disproportionately victims of assault and homicide, and will prioritize the investigation of hate crimes against transgender and non-binary people. The convention, which The New York Times has described as a star-studded Zoom call because the speakers will be offering their remarks from remote locations due to Wuhan virus restrictions, will run from Monday, August 17 through Thursday, August 20. Other primetime keynote speakers include Michelle Obama on Monday, Jill Biden on Tuesday, and Barack Obama on Wednesday. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com (This August 14 story corrects to add Novavax to list of companies the U.S. has vaccine agreements with; updates figures for total U.S. investment) By Carl O'Donnell NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States is tying payments for COVID-19 vaccines to timing milestones for production and approval, according to public documents and a Trump administration official, putting pressure on drugmakers including Moderna Inc to meet ambitious targets. In a deal with Moderna announced this week, federal agencies negotiated a sliding scale of payments. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, biotech's $1.5-billion deal pays out in full if its vaccine receives regulatory clearance by January 31, 2021, according to filings. It receives $1.2 billion, if it falls short of that timing goal. Moderna also receives $600 million when it can demonstrate it has built out industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities for its vaccine, even if that happens before the drug is authorized by regulators, the filings show. U.S. government payments to other drugmakers are also conditional on launching clinical trials no later than early fall and building out manufacturing capabilities by the end of the year, two senior administration officials told Reuters, adding that terms varied by company. The deal terms add financial risk for the drugmakers and increase pressure for speed that has worried some public health advocates. HHS and Moderna declined comment; other drugmakers had no immediate comment on Friday. Other drugmakers did not publicly reveal details on the specific terms of their agreements with the U.S. government, though Pfizer has said its deal with the government for its joint vaccine with BioNTech only pays out if it receives regulatory approval. The United States has allocation agreements with Johnson & Johnson , Moderna, Pfizer Inc , BioNTech SE <22UAy.F>, Sanofi SA, and GlaxoSmithKline Plc . It also has a claim on 300 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc's vaccine in exchange for helping finance its research and development efforts and 100 million doses of Novavax's vaccine in exchange for funding its manufacturing ramp-up. Story continues Analysts already have said drugmakers may struggle to recoup billions invested in vaccine development at U.S. treatment prices that so far range from $20 to $42 per person. Administration officials have said they expect the U.S. governments' Operation Warp Speed vaccine development program to deliver an inoculation by the end of the year. President Donald Trump has said he thinks a vaccine could be available before the November 3 presidential election. To obtain regulatory approval, a vaccine must reduce incidents of infection with the novel coronavirus by 50 percent compared to people who are not inoculated and demonstrate a high level of safety. Experts say ongoing vaccine trials, which must enroll tens of thousands of people and wait for them to be exposed to the coronavirus, could produce usable results soon or as late as mid-2021, raising questions about drugmakers' ability to meet the administration's timelines. Shares of Moderna have more than tripled since it announced in January it was developing a vaccine. Moderna has never produced an approved vaccine. But the implied U.S. government payment per course of treatment for Moderna's drug, $30.50, could decline to $24.50 if it doesn't receive approval of its vaccine by January 31, 2021. The United States, through its Operation Warp Speed vaccine development program, has set aside more than $9 billion to lock in deals for COVID-19 vaccines in advance of any of them receiving approval from regulators. (Reporting by Carl O'Donnell, editing by Peter Henderson and Nick Zieminski) Sir Keir Starmer today tries to crank up the pressure on Boris Johnson over the turmoil in schools by saying for the first time that he expects all pupils to be back in the classrooms next month despite opposition from pro-Labour unions. The Labour leader responds to Mr Johnsons declaration in last weeks Mail on Sunday that it was a moral duty for children to return to full-time schooling, arguing that the Prime Minister has a moral responsibility to ensure that it happens. Writing exclusively on this page, left, Sir Keir also takes aim at the A-level chaos engulfing the Government, saying that the anger and frustration I have heard from families over recent days about the exams fiasco has been profound. It comes after nearly 40 per cent of A-level grades awarded on Thursday were lower than teachers predictions, prompting anger among the 280,000 students affected. Ministers and regulators now face the looming prospect of a damaging court battle over the algorithm used to decide A-level results. Legal efforts are being spearheaded by Foxglove, a non-profit organisation which campaigns against the misuse of digital technology. Sir Keir Starmer is pictured talking to students at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, after they received their A-Level results More than 215,000 people have signed a supportive petition in two days, following a similar campaign in Scotland which led to lowered marks being reverted back to teachers estimates. Under-fire Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced yesterday that the Government would cover the cost of schools in England appealing against the decisions. The chaos has led to speculation about his Cabinet future. Urging Mr Johnson to ditch the system in favour of teacher assessments, Sir Keir says: Young people particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds have been robbed by a system that judged them on their postcode, not their ability or effort. The stories we have heard from pupils have been devastating. Students protested against the downgrading of their A-Level results that were announced on August 13 outside 10 Downing Street, London No 10 is likely to be angered by Sir Keirs remarks on returning pupils to the classrooms, given that the objections raised by Labour-supporting teachers unions on safety grounds pose the biggest threat to the reopening. Protesters get Grade F for spelling! It is undoubtedly a very important argument they are making. But sadly their case was not helped by one misspelt placard which was waved outside Downing Street yesterday during a demonstration by hundreds of teenagers. The erroneous banner referred to a politcs exam question The erroneous banner referred to a politcs exam question. Angry A-level students descended on Central London to protest against their grades being downgraded amid a nationwide outcry over the computer algorithm that has left thousands of students denied places at their chosen universities. Ophelia Gregory, 18, from Ashford, Kent, said she decided to organise the demonstration after feeling she had been completely scammed by this years marking system in the absence of exams. Advertisement Sir Keir, whose 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter were able to attend lessons at their local state school in North London during lockdown because his wife Victoria is an NHS key worker, has previously only said that he wants all children in school. But now he writes: I dont just want all children back at school next month, I expect them back at school. No ifs, no buts, no equivocation. Let me be equally clear: it is the Prime Ministers responsibility to guarantee children get the education they need and the benefit of being back with their teachers and classmates. Mr Williamson said the Government would cover the appeal fees in a bid to ensure that head teachers were not deterred from making appeals. The Department of Education said it had introduced a triple-lock system, meaning those pupils unhappy with their calculated grades can appeal on the basis of a valid mock result or sit an exam in the autumn. But exams watchdog Ofqual published guidance yesterday which said that, in the case of an appeal based on mock exams where the centre assessed grade is lower than the mock exam result, students will instead receive the centre-assessed grade. Kate Green MP, Labours Shadow Education Secretary, said: Gavin Williamson promised to give students a triple lock, but instead he left many devastated by unfair exam results, and now his commitment to give them another chance is rapidly unravelling. Having promised that students will be able to use a valid mock result, the reality is that many will not receive these grades even if they represent a students best result. The latest chaos is the inevitable consequence of this Governments shambolic approach to exams. The row comes ahead of the release of GCSE results on Thursday, which Ministers fear will trigger a fresh storm of protests. Meanwhile, Sir Keir is being urged by one of Labours biggest private donors to end the partys dependency on union cash. Wealthy businessman John Mills also aimed a thinly-veiled swipe at Unite union boss Len McCluskey for trying to call the shots on Labour policy on the back of his unions massive donations to the party. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer risks union wrath after saying he 'expects' all pupils to be back in classrooms next month By Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party for the Mail on Sunday I want Britain to be a country where every child can have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, no matter where they come from. And yet, last week, that opportunity was dashed for thousands of young people across England. The anger and frustration I have heard from families over recent days about the exams fiasco has been profound. I have heard from young people who feel a deep sense of injustice that their futures have been decided by an unfair computer algorithm; teachers angry at a system they knew to be unfair; and parents let down by a Prime Minister who has refused to listen to them. I do not underestimate how challenging it is to assess qualifications for young people this year when exams had to be cancelled. It was never going to be easy. Schools and colleges have been closed since March because of lockdown. Many courses were unable to finish and it was simply not possible for students to sit exams because of the unprecedented times we are living through. I want Britain to be a country where every child can have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, no matter where they come from. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer talking with students after receiving their A-Level results However, many of the challenges were entirely foreseeable. The warning signs were there for months. Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson had the time to develop a system that pupils, teachers, universities and businesses could have had confidence in. A system that was fair, transparent and flexible to the unique situation young people face this year. It was also blatantly obvious when the Scottish Government was forced to U-turn early last week that the UK Government was going to need to take drastic action. And yet they turned a blind eye to the injustice that was exposed on Thursday morning. Thousands of young people who have worked so hard had their grades downgraded by a system that was found to be flawed and failed on its own terms. Young people particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds have been robbed by a system that judged them on their postcode, not their ability or effort. The stories we have heard from pupils have been devastating. A downgrading by one grade means the difference between whether someone can get their dream job, go to university or take up an apprenticeship. We also need to see an urgent review into the system to stop the same situation being inflicted on thousands more students when they receive their GCSE results in the coming days. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer talks to Sixth Form students in Darlington after they received their A-Level results Levelling up was meant to be the priority of Boris Johnsons administration. However, many young people have seen their futures levelled down with one clean sweep. The ladder of opportunity has been kicked away and the injustices within our society will only be deepened as a consequence. It has been a shambles. Even now, I would urge the Prime Minister to ditch the system and back teacher assessments. This is not a perfect solution, I accept that. However, it is a fairer solution. There is no shame in Ministers admitting they have got this wrong, and doing what they can to right what could prove to be a historic wrong. We also need to see an urgent review into the system to stop the same situation being inflicted on thousands more students when they receive their GCSE results in the coming days. Sadly, this is not the first time education has been an afterthought for the Government in Westminster. We have seen the same on the reopening of schools. The Prime Minister wrote in this paper last weekend that we have a moral duty to reopen schools. I agree. What he does not seem to understand is that he has a moral responsibility to make sure it happens. Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson (pictured) had the time to develop a system that pupils, teachers, universities and businesses could have had confidence in It was obvious the day schools were shut in March what the problems would be and what the solutions needed to be. The Government needed a plan and the Prime Minister needed to take responsibility to make sure that plan was implemented. We built the Nightingale hospitals to protect the NHS. We introduced the furlough scheme to protect jobs. We needed to see the same grit and determination to protect our childrens education. Instead, Boris Johnson wasted months flailing around blaming everybody else and refusing to take any responsibility or show any leadership. His priorities were wrong, too. He set up a task force for the reopening of bowling alleys but refused my offer to do the same for schools. He set a deadline for reopening the economy but ditched his commitment to get classrooms back open before the summer. We cannot afford to see the same mistakes being made over and over again. Children, young people and families must be a national priority with the leadership to match. Every day children are missing out on their education is a tragedy. It has a devastating impact on their wellbeing and life chances, as well as putting a huge strain on families who are forced to juggle childcare and work commitments. So, let me send a very clear message to the Prime Minister: I dont just want all children back at school next month, I expect them back at school. No ifs, no buts, no equivocation. Let me be equally clear: it is the Prime Ministers responsibility to guarantee children get the education they need and the benefit of being back with their teachers and classmates. Levelling up was meant to be the priority of Boris Johnsons administration. However, many young people have seen their futures levelled down with one clean sweep The Government must learn from the mistakes over the past months and ensure that the next academic year is not disrupted to the detriment of children and families. My offer to help the Government reopen schools still stands but responsibility for making it happen lies squarely at the door of No 10. Despite our differences, I want the Government to succeed in defeating the virus. I want lives saved, I want the virus contained, I want the economy restarted and I want children in school. But education has become characteristic of this Governments handling of the pandemic in recent months. They were too slow into lockdown, too slow on testing, too slow to protect care homes and now too slow to protect childrens education. We were promised a world-beating test and trace system but in many parts of the country we still barely have a system at all. Public health advice has been confused. We have the worst excess death rate in Europe and now we are on course for the worst recession in Europe, too. A downturn was inevitable after lockdown but the Tories incompetence was not. This is holding Britain back in our national determination to stop this virus. It is holding back our economy so it can rebuild out of recession. Until the Prime Minister learns from his mistakes and gives people confidence that he can provide the leadership this country deserves, we cannot get the economy or society back on its feet again. And until he takes responsibility, we cannot give children the opportunities they deserve. The failure to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran was a serious mistake, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday. "It's a serious mistake, we regret that," he told news conference during a visit to Poland. The United States failed on Friday in its bid to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran after the move was opposed by Russia and China, while France, Britain, Germany and eight other members abstained. Search Keywords: Short link: Narendra Modi New Delhi: Delivering his seventh straight Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the call for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) has captured people's imagination and become a mantra for everyone, as he pushed for raising India's share in global economy. For how long India will keep exporting raw materials and import finished products, Modi said in his address to the nation on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day and asked citizens to prepare themselves for a self-reliant India. Advertisement Narendra Modi He also listed out a number of reform measures undertaken by his government which has resulted in a record Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country last year. The prime minister began his address by paying tributes to freedom fighters and security forces while also remembering Aurobindo Ghose, a freedom fighter and spiritual philosopher whose birth anniversary falls today. Hailing ''corona warriors'', including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who have been continuously fighting the coronavirus pandemic, he said, the country will achieve victory over coronavirus with the resolve of its over 130 crore citizens. Advertisement Narendra Modi In the midst of coronavirus pandemic, Indians resolve to become self-reliant, the prime minister said, adding this is not a word but mantra for all people. Vocal for local should be the mantra of the free India, he said. New Delhi: In the BJP Parliamentary Party meet on Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses party and devised the strategy to deal with frequent wash out in the Winter Session of Parliament. Prime Minister targeted Opposition by saying that Wanchoo committee had given recommendation of demonetisation toA Indira Gandhi ji, but she snubbed the report. Earlier on Thursday, BJP stalwart L K Advani expressed his frustration over lack of debate in the Parliament. The Senior BJP leader said that he felt like resigning. Here are the live updates: #A PM said in meet Indira ji told YB Chavan that don't you want to contest polls? This was Congress plank but they did not implement #A PM said in meeting that Wanchoo committee had given recommendation of demonetisation toA Indira Gandhi ji, but she snubbed the report # BJP leaders leave after party's Parliamentary meet Delhi: BJP leaders leave after the party's Parliamentary meet pic.twitter.com/atb9xzLOZA a ANI (@ANI_news) December 16, 2016 #A Opposition used to do scams earlier, now they are working in favour of black money: Prime Minister PM appealed to people of India that digital economy should be a way of life,it will be transparent and effective: Ananth Kumar pic.twitter.com/OMw5x45HxA a ANI (@ANI_news) December 16, 2016 Delhi: BJP Parliamentary Party meeting underway. (Inside visuals) pic.twitter.com/yoz4KXp8Tu a ANI (@ANI_news) December 16, 2016 Delhi: PM Narendra Modi arrives for BJP Parliamentary Party meeting pic.twitter.com/Yjr16durWU a ANI (@ANI_news) December 16, 2016 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Space Force has added a once-wild mustang to its conservation program. However, rest assured they wont be sending this horse to space. The 5-year-old horse, named Ghost, is part of the Bureau of Land Management at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California. The conservation unit and military working horse program has been a part of Vandenberg since 1996. It is the only equine patrol unit within the Department of Defense and one of four conservation units in the U.S. Air Force, a military spokesperson told CNN. Senior Airman Michael Terrazas, 30th Security Forces Squadron conservation patrolman, does arena work with Military Working Horse Buck Feb. 21, 2019, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hanah Abercrombie) The military working horse program supports the Space Force and is key to mission assurance for the Western Range, which is more than 98,000 acres. We use the military working horses to patrol the coastline, SSgt Michael Terrazas explained in a video posted to Twitter. Ghost is about 10 years younger than the other four horses in the conservation program and is the only mustang. He is currently undergoing a rigorous training program and is being ridden three times per week by a personal trainer. Military working horse Ghost, 30th Security Forces Squadron MWH, on July 31 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. (Courtesy of Senior Airman Hanah Abercrombie/US Air Force) Were trying to get him up to speed to handle the workload of a military working horse, Terrazas said. Wild mustangs across the United States plains are currently overpopulating their natural habitats, resulting in diminished food resources. This initiative helps to protect the at-risk mustangs and integrates them into the working horse program. With conservation as the main goal, the horses perform perimeter sweeps of the areas on the base that arent accessible to vehicles or ATVs. Senior Airman Michael Terrazas, 30th Security Forces Squadron conservation patrolman, cleans the dirt out of Military Working Horse Bucks hoof, Feb. 21, 2019, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hanah Abercrombie) Mustangs are sturdy horses that can handle the work we need, Terrazas said. Six patrolmen at Vandenberg play a role when it comes to caring for the horses. They clean the stalls, groom the horses, and inspect them for injuries daily. The team also monitors nesting seasons for endangered species, patrols hunting and fishing areas on the base, and enforces California state and federal laws. We are excited to see what the future may hold for these once wild horses, Terrazas said. The CNN Wire contributed to this report. Tardeo police have booked a manager of a south Mumbai restaurant, known for its Japanese cuisine, for allegedly stealing 50 liquor bottles, a set of Sushi knives among other things from the restaurant when it was closed due to lockdown. Aftab Iqbal Moon, one of the three partners in the restaurant, Keiba, at the Mahalaxmi racecourse, in his complaint stated that the restaurant was closed since March due to lockdown. However, when he visited the restaurant on August 11, he found that 50 liquor bottles, a set of Sushi knives, a microwave oven and several edible items total worth 4.23 lakh are missing, the police said. When Moon enquired with the watchman of the restaurant about the missing things, he was told that the manager, Jackson Thumpit, had taken the items. Moon then informed his two partners Neeti Goel and Ronak Rochlani, and they called Thumpit and asked him about the missing things. However, Thumpit did not give satisfactory answers and switched off his mobile phone. Moon then lodged a complaint with Tardeo police on Wednesday. The police have registered an offense under section 381 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master) of the Indian Penal Code against Thumpit and are investigating the case. Instagram measures to oust bots will soon require at least some users to put up a government-issued ID card or get out. Thats based on a new report from The Next Web, citing statements made by the company. Of course, the goal here is to keep out bots and deactivate suspicious or fake accounts. So not every user will be affected. But some most certainly will and this isnt likely to only impact bots. For users that are asked to prove who they are, Instagram is allowing for two attempts. The exact details of how thats going to work arent immediately clear. But it will need to be a government-issued ID for authenticity purposes. While an account is under review, the company says it may reduce the accounts visibility to other Instagram users. Or presumably only for particularly suspicious accounts, all account access could also be outright denied. Advertisement Who will need to show a government ID to use Instagram? Instagram indicates that this change isnt going to impact every user. So its fair to say the company isnt going quite so far as other cases where a government ID might be required. But the system will catch authentic users up in the mix as well. Thats because Instagrams reasoning is relatively vague. Namely, it says it wants to get a handle on potential inauthentic behavior. The company hasnt elaborated on exactly what it means by that phrasing either. Only to say that Instagram will be targetting bots to show a government ID via the app if suspicious activity is spotted. One example the company did provide though, is an account that has a majority of followers outside the accountholders home region. Advertisement While laudable, this could have privacy ramifications too Now, measures have been put in place along these lines by quite a few tech companies. Whether thats to reduce bot accounts, stop suspicious activity, and even those geared toward halting the spread of misinformation. But, in this case, its easy to see how Instagram could take quite a bit of backlash too. After all, not many companies will actively ask users to share their photo ID, issued by their local government. And thats with good reason. Those identification cards often hold a wealth of information that most users would likely prefer to keep private. And some of the information contained on them is also personally identifiable to such a degree that it can be used for malicious attacks by bad actors. Instagram says that any and all IDs submitted will be deleted from the server in 30-days. But that might not be much comfort to more privacy-focused users. 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. Award-winning musician and storyteller Mike Anderson will discuss Folk Instruments of Early Illinois during the first Looking for Lincoln Conversations program at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the Looking for Lincoln Facebook and YouTube channels. Anderson, also known as the Dulcimer Guy, also will demonstrate the instruments he discusses, including the jaw harp, bones, mountain dulcimer and banjo. For once, I am going to agree with President Donald Trump in his use of his favorite adjective: huge. The agreement brokered by the Trump administration for the United Arab Emirates to establish full normalization of relations with Israel, in return for the Jewish state forgoing, for now, any annexation of the West Bank, was exactly what Trump said it was in his tweet: a HUGE breakthrough. Just go down the scorecard, and you see how this deal affects every major party in the region with those in the pro-American, pro-moderate Islam, pro-ending-the-conflict-with-Israel-once-and-for-all camp benefiting the most and those in the radical pro-Iran, anti-American, pro-Islamist permanent-struggle-with-Israel camp all becoming more isolated and left behind. Its a geopolitical earthquake. It was Trumps peace plan drawn up by Jared Kushner, and their willingness to stick with it, that actually created the raw material for this breakthrough. Here is how. The Kushner plan basically called for Israel and the Palestinians to make peace, with Israel being able to annex some 30 percent of the West Bank, where most of its settlers were, and the Palestinians getting to establish a demilitarized, patchwork state on the other 70 percent, along with some land swaps from Israel. The Palestinians rejected the deal outright as unbalanced and unjust. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who basically helped to write the very pro-Israel plan, said he intended to proceed with the annexation part of the plan by July 1 without agreeing to the part that his political base of Jewish settlers rejected: Palestinians later getting a state on the other 70 percent. It didnt work, because Kushner, who was hearing regularly from Egypt, Jordan and the gulf Arabs that such a unilateral Israeli annexation would be a total deal-breaker for them, told Bibi, Not so fast. Kushner persuaded Trump to block Bibis cherry-picking of the plan by taking annexation now. So what Trump, Kushner, Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, the de facto leader of the Emirates, and Netanyahu did was turn lemons into lemonade, explained Itamar Rabinovich, one of Israels leading Middle East historians and a former ambassador to Washington. Instead of Israeli annexation for a Palestinian state, they made it Israeli non-annexation in return for peace with the UAE, said Rabinovich in an interview. The UAE had been mulling going for more open diplomatic ties with Israel for a while, but it was the discussions over how to stop annexation that created a framework in which the UAE could be seen as getting something for the Palestinians in return for its normalization with Israel. This deal will certainly encourage the other gulf sheikhdoms Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia all of which have had covert and overt business and intelligence dealings with Israel, to follow the Emirates lead. They will not want to let the UAE have a leg up in being able to marry its financial capital with Israels cybertechnology, agriculture technology and health care technology, with the potential to make both countries stronger and more prosperous. The big geopolitical losers are Iran and all of its proxies: Hezbollah, the Iraqi militias, Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis in Yemen and Turkey. This is for a number of reasons. Up to now, the UAE has kept up a delicate balance between Iran and Israel, not looking to provoke Iran, and dealing with Israel covertly. This was the UAE telling the Iranians and all their proxies: There are really two coalitions in the region today those who want to let the future bury the past and those who want to let the past keep burying the future. The UAE is taking the helm of the first, and it is leaving Iran to be the leader of the second. I have followed the Middle East for too long to ever write the sentence the region will never be the same again. The UAE and Israel and the U.S. on Thursday showed at least for one brief shining moment that the past does not always have to bury the future, that the haters and dividers dont always have to win. It was a breath of fresh air. May it one day soon turn into a howling wind of change that spreads across the whole region. Friedman is a New York Times op-ed columnist and writes about foreign affairs, globalization and technology. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 15 : Congress Lok Sabha member TN Prathapan, who hails from Thrissur in Kerala, on Saturday expressed his displeasure over what he called blatant violation of protocols during the 74th Independence Day celebrations in the state. Kerala has 14 districts, and the main I-Day event is held in the state capital. In other 13 district headquarters, the general norm is that a state Cabinet Minister unfurls the tricolour and inspects the Guard of Honour. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and seven of his cabinet colleagues were forced to go into self-isolation on Friday after Malappuram District Collector tested positive for coronavirus. All of them had visited the site of the Air India Express crash site at the Kozhikode airport on August 7. So, at four district headquarters, officials were the chief guests at the I-Day parades. "In my home district Thrissur, of the three state Ministers, two are in isolation. The Education Minister and the government's Chief Whip, who holds the Cabinet status, was not asked to unfurl the tricolour. Instead, the District Collector was asked to do so. According to the protocol, even the state legislators and members of Parliament are placed above the state Chief Secretary. All sorts of violations take place in Kerala. I will now approach the President of India with a complaint about this blatant violation of protocols," said Prathapan. MONTAUK, NY A chalkboard sign outside Montauk Brewing Company in support of "Black Lives Matter" written months ago has sparked a firestorm of controversy on social media this week with thousands joining a Facebook page in protest and many vowing never to drink the beer again. The sign, which said, "The founders and team at Montauk Brewing Company support the movement with all our heart. Black Lives Matter," was written in chalk by Montauk Brewing Company founder Vaughan Cutillo. "We have donated to and will continue to donate to support organizations that support the cause. Come as you are." The words have incited fury among some who charge that the brewery does not support police. A Facebook page created Wednesday, Defund Montauk Brewing Company has more than 13,000 members, many of whom are posting the words "Back the Blue". "This group is to bring awareness," the page said. Montauk Brewing Company, the page said, made a "poor decision by supporting an anti-American terrorist group." Members of the group are posting in support of businesses pulling the brew from their taps. "There will be no Montauk Brewery Company items sold here! Back the Blue!" Timothy Nickels wrote. Cutillo, who co-founded the business with brewmaster Eric Moss, spoke with Patch about the uproar. "To be quite honest, in the last two days, this came out of nowhere," he said. "I don't know how or why this came about. As a company, our goals has always been to give people good vibes, no matter who they are. 'Come as you are,' has always been our message of inclusivity." Montauk Brewing Company launched eight years ago and employs a staff of 10, Cutillo said; the business is community-minded and supports police, first responders, and all people from all walks of life, he said. The backlash his company is facing, he said, "is confusing." Cutillo said the sign in question was handwritten by him, on June 3, more than two months ago, as a message of support for those experiencing racism and attacks, he said. Story continues "We are in support of racial equality and we unapologetically stand against racism and violence," Cutillo said. "At the same time, we will always support our police, our fire departments, our first responders." Montauk Brewing Company, he said, made donations to not-for-profit organizations, the NAACP and the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective, or BEAM. "We weren't donating to violence," Cutillo said. "That's not who we are." That said, Cutillo said: "We would never condone brutality toward police. We respect police." Locally, the business has supported the Navy SEALS, local police precincts, and the Montauk Medical Center, he said. The Montauk Brewing Company sent care packages to police and fire departments during the pandemic. /Courtesy Vaughan Cutillo. When the coronavirus crisis first hit, Cutillo and his staff hand-delivered care packages with T-shirts and other merchandise to local fire departments and police stations. "It's not nearly enough but it's a start," a post, showing a photo of the care packages, said. "Our team is spending time thinking of creative ways to give back and spread even more positive vibes." Cutillo said the pandemic hit his business hard, as well. "We're a tiny company with 10 employees selling a lot of beer to loyal fans. We're a small, community, homegrown company." Born and raised in the area, Moss' father is a retired police officer, Cutillo said. "We stand by our values but we also stand by our local police," Cutillo said. "There's a lot of anger and we want to mend relations with the men and women in the police department. But we are against racism. It's as simple as that." Of the Facebook page, Cutillo said he does not know the people who created it. "I don't know what to say besides we do respect police. We do not endorse or condone brutality between anyone. And at the same time, we needed to take a stand against racism. That's what we stand for." A new Instagram post by the Montauk Brewing Company Friday said: "We have, and will, always support our local police, first responders, doctors, nurses, and fire departments. We also support equal rights for all. At the end of the day, we support good people doing good things." "Little too late if you ask me," wrote Nan Cee on Facebook. Others support Montauk Brewing Company. "There is a very wrong misconception with the Blue Lives Matter take. They would do so much more to support our police departments if they supported and encouraged the 'good apples' to stand up and do whats right that is, call out the dirty problems and violent applications of unnecessary force by those 'bad apples' in the system. That's how we end this relentless and illegal treatment of our Black, Indigenous, and people of color while also giving training and support to those hired by the taxpayer to 'protect and serve' each one of us equally," Kate Mueth said. Some turned to social media to denounce the business and vow that they'd support only companies that were in support of law enforcement. "Let's use this group to help businesses on Long Island flourish that are pro Trump and law enforcement during these tough times," Dee So-Moe wrote on Facebook. "Please list names of restaurants and other establishments from all over the island that we can support and give our business to." Speaking on the firestorm, Cutillo said: "These have been tough times. We're a small, local team trying to survive the pandemic. And now we have people coming to our community to stir up trouble. It's hurtful, but we will get through it. Our message has always been, 'Come as you are.' We welcome anybody. That's been our company motto, as we give back and work with the community." This article originally appeared on the Montauk Patch A suspect was taken into custody one day after police said he struck a man in the head with a sledgehammer and then proceeded to attack children at a nearby daycare center in Utah. The suspect, a 17-year-old who police did not name because he is a juvenile, turned himself in to Utah's Payson Police Department around 4 a.m. local time Saturday, less than 24 hours after the attack. He was charged with one count of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of child abuse, one count of burglary, one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of criminal trespassing and one count of disorderly conduct. Police said they were called to the scene around 10:30 a.m. local time Friday after a woman reported exiting her home and witnessing a person striking her neighbor in his body and head with a sledgehammer. Related: Utah teenager facing attempted murder after alleged crime spree The woman told police she shouted at the person to stop, and then said he turned his attention to her and began walking to her home, which is a daycare facility. The person then began punching children and another adult before fleeing the area, police said. MORE: Philly officer who pepper sprayed peaceful protesters charged with assault A shelter-in-place was issued but lifted by Friday evening. The man who was attacked with the sledgehammer was in the intensive care unit in critical condition as of Saturday, according to police. The children received medical treatment for various injuries, though the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. Suspect in custody after man attacked with sledgehammer, children punched originally appeared on abcnews.go.com While there won't be a Ravalli County fair this year, all of the hard work put in by 4-H and FFA members hasnt been forgotten. During the last week of August, many of the youngsters in those two organizations will come to the fairgrounds to show off all their projects in a socially distanced kind of way. The Ravalli County Extension Office is hosting horse and dog shows, as well as individual interviews for projects that run the gamut from photography to cooking. And those 170-plus youngsters who have spent the summer raising cattle, sheep, pigs and goats will have the opportunity to make some money in the first-ever virtual sale that will happen over a week starting Tuesday, Sept. 1. Extension Agent Patrick Mangan said the virtual sale will operate similar to a silent auction. Bidder and sellers will be able to see the current bid on every animal up until the sale ends at noon on Saturday, Sept. 5. Once potential bidders have registered, they will be able to access the auction platform that will display pages filled photos of the young people posing with their livestock projects. By clicking on one, people will see a couple more photographs, a description of the animal and a short statement from the entrants. Mangan said the cover photographs will be taken on Aug. 22 and 23 when the young people and their families bring the animals to the fairgrounds to be weighed. Bidders will have a variety of options. They can place a bid at any time, set a maximum bid on an animal or say up front they want to be part of the resale program that allows local processors to set a floor price and the buyer to donate the remainder to the young person who raised the animal. I think this will be a great opportunity for people outside the Hamilton area to participate in the annual sale, Mangan said. There may be people who have wanted to take part in the past but couldnt be at the fairgrounds on the morning of the auction. There could be people in Nebraska who want to support their grandkids. This is a great platform that will allow more people to participate. Jerry Collins Auctions will handle the online auction. The auction is located at https://jerrycollinsauctions.hibid.com. Potential bidders can preregister at https://ravalli.msuextension.org/4hfair.html. Anyone with questions can call the extension office at 375-6606. Mangan said the registration process is an easy and one that everyone in the extension office would be happy to help people complete. Livestock kids have a big investment of time and money in their projects, Mangan said. We are hoping for a successful sale. These programs help kids learn all kinds of lessons, some hard, some easy. Right now were stuck with adaption, learning how to do things in a new way and realigning expectations. The youngsters raising livestock have had to look at marketing in whole new way due to COVID-19. Instead of just going out and talking to potential buyers, theyve learned that it might work better to make a call first to find out what people are most comfortable with. All ag markets are changing, he said. Commodities are being delivered differently right now. These are some interesting lessons that we are getting to apply this year. While some of the young livestock producers have found different markets for their animals, Mangan said the bulk of 4-H and FFA kids who started in the program this year have stuck with it. Many of the 431 4-H members in 21 clubs in Ravalli County do something different than raising livestock for sale. On Friday, Aug. 21 those young people will make their way to the fairgrounds to show their work and complete interviews with community volunteers. They will have their opportunity to go through their thought process and show their projects to a judge, Mangan said. There will be some special awards presented for high-quality projects. On Saturday, Aug. 22, another group of 4-H members will bring their canine friends to the fairgrounds for the annual 4-H dog show that features tests in agility, obedience and showmanship. The following Saturday, Aug. 29, horses will be front and center as youngsters show their skills in western and English riding as well as some groundwork. In a letter to the community, Ravalli County 4-H leaders they hope these efforts will help young people realize possibilities and discover their importance. Health, head, hands, community, doing to learn, heart, larger service, clearer thinking, living to serve, and greater loyalty. We say these words as 4-H and FFA members in our mottos and pledges at the start of every meeting, the letter said. This year we find ourselves living these words, daily. We weigh the impact in our lives and the deeper understanding they convey about who we are, and who we want to be in our communities. This has been a year with many lessons; about adapting, about accepting, and about being resilient in the face of adversity. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Anticipating an avalanche of absentee ballots, the U.S. Postal Service recently sent detailed letters to 46 states and the District of Columbia warning that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted - adding another layer of uncertainty ahead of the high-stakes presidential contest. The letters sketch a grim possibility for the tens of millions of Americans eligible for a mail-in ballot this fall: Even if people follow all of their state's election rules, the pace of Postal Service delivery may disqualify their votes. The Postal Service's warnings of potential disenfranchisement came as the agency undergoes a sweeping organizational and policy overhaul amid dire financial conditions. Cost-cutting moves have already delayed mail delivery by as much as a week in some places, and a new decision to decommission 10 percent of the Postal Service's sorting machines sparked widespread concern the slowdowns will only worsen. Rank-and-file postal workers say the move is ill-timed and could sharply diminish the speedy processing of flat mail, including letters and ballots. The ballot warnings, issued at the end of July from Thomas J. Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service, and obtained through a records request by The Washington Post, were planned before the appointment of Louis DeJoy, a former logistics executive and ally of President Trump, as postmaster general in early summer. They go beyond the traditional coordination between the Postal Service and election officials, drafted as fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic triggered an unprecedented and sudden shift to mail-in voting. Some states anticipate 10 times the normal volume of election mail. Six states and D.C. received warnings that ballots could be delayed for a narrow set of voters. But the Postal Service gave 40 others - including the key battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida - more-serious warnings that their long-standing deadlines for requesting, returning or counting ballots were "incongruous" with mail service and that voters who send ballots in close to those deadlines may become disenfranchised. "The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works," Martha Johnson, a spokeswoman for the USPS, said in a statement. In response to the Postal Service's warnings, a few states have quickly moved deadlines - forcing voters to request or cast ballots earlier, or deciding to delay tabulating results while waiting for more ballots to arrive. Pennsylvania election officials cited its letter late Thursday in asking the state's Supreme Court for permission to count ballots delivered three days after Election Day. But deadlines in many other states have not been or cannot be adjusted with just weeks remaining before the first absentee ballots hit the mail stream. More than 60 lawsuits in at least two dozen states over the mechanics of mail-in voting are wending their way through the courts. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that mail ballots lead to widespread voter fraud and in the process politicized the USPS. This week, he said he opposes emergency funding for the agency - which has repeatedly requested more resources - because of Democratic efforts to expand mail voting. The Postal Service's structural upheaval alone has led experts and lawmakers from both parties to worry about timely delivery of prescription medications and Social Security checks, as well as ballots. "The slowdown is another tool in the toolbox of voter suppression," said Celina Stewart, senior director of advocacy and litigation with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters. "That's no secret. We do think this is a voter-suppression tactic." Vanita Gupta, a Justice Department official in the Obama administration and now president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said she viewed the situation as "the weaponization of the U.S. Postal Service for the president's electoral purposes." "It's completely outrageous that the U.S. Postal Service is in this position," Gupta said. DeJoy, in service changes last month, has drastically reduced overtime and banned extra trips to ensure on-time mail delivery. His wholesale reorganizations ousted several agency veterans in key operational roles. And the USPS is currently decommissioning 10 percent of its costly and bulky mail-sorting machines, which workers say could hinder processing of election mail, according to a grievance filed by the American Postal Workers Union and obtained by The Washington Post. Those 671 machines, scattered across the country but concentrated in high-population areas, have the capacity to sort 21.4 million pieces of paper mail per hour. The machine reductions, together with existing mail delays and a surge of packages - a boon to the Postal Service's finances but a headache for an organization designed to handle paper rather than boxes - also risk hamstringing the agency as the election approaches and have lead lawmakers to hike up pressure on DeJoy to rescind his directives. DeJoy wrote in a letter to USPS workers Thursday that temporary delivery slowdowns were "unintended consequences" of his efficiency moves but that the "discipline" he was bringing to the agency "will increase our performance for the election and upcoming peak season and maintain the high level of public trust we have earned for dedication and commitment to our customers throughout our history." DeJoy declined to be interviewed, but in a statement the USPS described the machine reductions as a matter of"routinely" moving equipment to accommodate the mix of packages and letters in the mail stream. Doing so "will ensure more efficient, cost effective operations and better service for our customers," the statement said. Even without the emergency funding Trump vowed to block, postal workers can handle the country's mail-in ballots with proper planning, the head of their union said. "Piece of cake for postal workers," said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. Johnson, the USPS spokeswoman, also said the agency "is well prepared and has ample capacity to deliver America's election mail." The letters to states detailing concerns for November followed ramped-up vote-by-mail primaries marred by serious delivery problems. It "presented a need to ensure the Postal Service's recommendations were reemphasized to elections officials," Johnson said. In New York City, for example, a 17-fold increase in mail-in ballots left results of a June congressional primary race in doubt for six weeks. During court wrangling over it, USPS workers said elections officials had dropped off 34,000 blank absentee ballots at a Brooklyn processing center on the day before the election, leaving postal workers scrambling in an attempt to deliver them overnight. Some voters received ballots after the election, and tens of thousands of voted ballots were initially thrown out because of delayed receipt. The letters warning about November caution many states that their deadlines for voters to request an absentee ballot are too close to Election Day and that "the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law." The letters put the onus on election officials to adjust deadlines or educate voters to act well before them. Mail carriers, meanwhile, have warned that new cost-cutting measures at the USPS are slowing the delivery of mail ballots in key states. Recent contests have offered a preview of the potential consequences, with voters - particularly in urban areas such as Detroit and the Bronx - complaining that their absentee ballots did not arrive until the last minute or at all. The problems predate the cost-cutting measures - a late returned ballot was the chief reason absentee or mail ballots were disqualified during the 2016 election, according to U.S. Election Assistance Commission data submitted to Congress. But the onslaught of vote-by-mail ballots, driven by directives to stay at home and practice social distancing during the pandemic, has increased the volume of delays this year. In D.C.'s early-June primary, elections officials drove around town hand-delivering ballots because the mail service was not quick enough. In Florida, 18,500 mailed ballots arrived too late to be counted during the March primary. Tens of thousands of late ballots in Pennsylvania were counted only after courts intervened. Eighteen states and D.C. have eased or expanded access to mail ballots during the pandemic, allowing concerned voters to avoid potential exposure to the virus at polling places. These policy shifts have brought the number of Americans who are eligible to cast mail or absentee ballots in the general election to a historic high of nearly 180 million, roughly 97 million of whom will automatically receive an absentee ballot or an absentee ballot request form in the mail, according to a tally by The Washington Post. An analysis of the USPS letters to states reveals that the threat of ballot rejection because of missed delivery deadlines may be highest for voters in 40 states that received serious warnings. About 159.5 million registered voters live in those states. According to the letters, the risk of disenfranchisement is greatest for voters who wait until close to Election Day to request or cast a ballot. The letters advised 31 states that regardless of their deadlines, voters should mail ballots no later than Oct. 27 - a week before Election Day - if they want to guarantee they are counted. Elections officials across the country are also installing drop boxes for completed ballots and encouraging voters to use them in lieu of the Postal Service. The USPS did not offer serious warnings to the five states that have long conducted universal vote-by-mail elections - Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington. For Nevada, which Trump accused in May of trying to "cheat" in elections after it announced plans to conduct a statewide primary by mail, the USPS delivered a clean bill of health. The state plans to mail ballots to all active voters for the general election. "Under our reading of Nevada's election laws, it appears that your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return their ballots by the state's deadlines," the letter stated. Trump tweeted Wednesday: "Nevada has ZERO infrastructure for Mail-In Voting. It will be a corrupt disaster if not ended by the Courts. It will take months, or years, to figure out." Postal workers, meanwhile, are concerned over the ongoing removal of mail sorting machines in areas that project to be hotly contested in the presidential race. The machines - Automated Facer-Canceler Systems, Delivery Bar Code Sorters, Automated Flat Sorting Machines and Flat Sequencing Systems - can label and sort tens of thousands of paper mail items, such as letters, bills and ballots, each hour. Purchased when letters and not packages made up a greater share of postal work, the bulky and aging machines can be expensive to maintain and take up floor space postal leaders say would be better devoted to boxes. Removing underused machines would make the overall system more efficient, postal leaders say. The USPS has cut back on mail-sorting equipment for years since mail volume began to decline in the 2000s. The machines, however, fundamentally changed the job of some postal workers, allowing them to spend more time on the street delivering mail, rather than in post offices organizing it. Elections officials in several states contacted by The Washington Post said their deadlines for voting by mail had been in place for years and that the Postal Service has long noted some concerns about meeting them. Some officials received the warnings with skepticism, others with resignation. "This is a conversation that has been going on with the Postal Service, to my knowledge, at least five years," said Alabama Republican Secretary of State John Merrill. While the deadlines haven't changed, "as we all know, the Postal Service has changed," he said. "It has become much more inefficient and much more ineffective at returning the mail in a timely fashion. That has happened over several years." Wisconsin's deadlines were set years ago, when it was reasonable to expect a letter dropped in the mail to arrive in another part of the state two days later, elections officials said this week. But with increasingly slower delivery times and no recourse for bureaucrats to change the deadlines, elections officials are focusing on what they can do - encouraging voters to take on more responsibility to request and cast mail-in ballots early, as well as installing drop boxes and implementing a bar code tracking system for voters to monitor their ballots. Teaching voters "requires a more robust campaign," said Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The state also is encouraging local elections officials in charge of mailing out the ballots to coordinate more than ever with local post offices. In response to the USPS letter, Arizona changed its guidance for when voters should mail back their completed ballots, from at least six to at least seven days before the election, a spokeswoman for Arizona Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs wrote in an email. Maryland shifted its long-standing ballot-request deadline back a full week. "It was the Postal Service trying to cover themselves," Patrick J. Hogan, a Democrat and vice chair of the Maryland State Board of Elections, said of the letter. He supported the deadline change anyway, saying the risk of delayed ballots was not worth it. "This is the way we have to operate," he said. "We've got to get people in the mind-set of getting things done early. There will be no excuse to not vote this year." Missouri Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said the warning to his state appeared to be a "typical CYA exercise" that ignored his state's policy changes and messaging campaigns aimed at alleviating election-season pressure on USPS. In 2018, Missouri moved up its deadline for requesting an absentee ballot to provide additional time for ballots to be delivered and returned, he said. Praising local election authorities for running three smooth votes so far this year, Ashcroft said there are special efforts underway to encourage voters to obtain and submit their absentee ballots with time to spare. "I didn't see how it was at all helpful," he said of the USPS letter, adding: "This is not something that is new to us. It's something we've been working on for years, and I think we've been ahead of it. For USPS to send something out at the end of July - we're in the silly season of politics." Reading from the letter, Ashcroft disputed a recommendation that Missouri voters who mail their completed ballots "no later than Tuesday, October 27," could be assured of arrival by Election Day. He recounted the experience of a voter in St. Louis during the state's June municipal contests - she dropped her ballot in the mail six days before the election, he said, but it took 14 days to arrive at an address in the same city and was not counted as a result. "If you mail it on Tuesday, you have no certainty it will get back in time," he said. "I know that from experience." - - - The Washington Post's Jada Yuan contributed to this report. More than 20,000 peaceful protesters flooded into Minsk's Independence Square on August 14 to demonstrate against the country's presidential election, which is widely seen as rigged, to call for an end to police brutality against protesters, and to demand President Alyaksandr Lukashenka step down. Trump vows 'snapback' to force return of UN Iran sanctions US President Donald Trump, shown speaking at an August 15, 2020 news conference, appears undeterred in pushing forward on unilaterally reinstating UN sanctions on Iran US President Donald Trump vowed Saturday to use a controversial technique to unilaterally reinstate UN sanctions on Tehran, a move with huge repercussions for the Iran nuclear deal. His declaration came a day after the UN Security Council overwhelmingly rejected a US resolution to extend an Iranian arms embargo. "We'll be doing a snapback," Trump said during a news conference at his New Jersey golf club. "You'll be watching it next week." The president was referring to the contested argument that the US remains a "participant" in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- despite Trump's withdrawal from it -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US had failed to kill off what he called the "half alive" deal with major powers that gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. "The United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation," said Rouhani. "This day will go down in the history of our Iran and in the history of fighting global arrogance." Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favor of the US resolution seeking to extend the embargo, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord in 2018. The Europeans on the Council all abstained, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for winning the support of just one other country, the Dominican Republic. "In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted. People on the streets of Tehran had mixed reactions. "This is an American political game. One day they give a resolution to the Security Council, the next they say they have taken" Iranian fuel, said a worker at the city's Grand Bazaar who gave his name only as Ahmadi. Story continues A drugstore employee named Abdoli told AFP she was happy Iran won, but added that it "should interact with the United States and establish relations." - Crisis - European allies have been skeptical on whether Washington can force sanctions, with experts saying a "snapback" threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises. Trump also said Saturday he would "probably not" take part in a summit proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on addressing the situation. "I think we'll wait until after the election," he said, with the US set to hold its presidential poll in November. Putin had appealed to China, France, Britain, the US, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on a visit to Poland on Saturday, made it clear the United States would press on. "It is unfortunate that the French and the United Kingdom... didn't support what the Gulf states have demanded, what the Israelis have demanded... I regret that deeply," Pompeo told reporters. "The United States is determined to make sure that the Iranians and this regime, this theocratic regime does not have the capacity to inflict even more harm on the world." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced a "scandalous" UN vote. "Iranian terrorism and aggression threaten the peace of the region and the entire world. Instead of opposing weapons sales, the Security Council is encouraging them," he said. - Threatened - The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Since Trump pulled out of the JCPOA and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran, Tehran has taken small but escalatory steps away from compliance with the accord as it presses for sanctions relief. European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East. However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA. The US text at the Security Council on Friday, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear deal. Iran says it has the right to self-defense and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the agreement. Apart from 11 abstentions, Russia and China opposed the resolution. "The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail," China's UN mission tweeted. bur-acb/st Salman Khan has launched his line of COVID masks but a section of social media has taken to trolling the actor soon after he tweeted an image wearing a mask of his brand on Friday. Salman took to his verified account to post a picture where he is seen wearing a mask manufactured by his brand, Being Human Clothing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Aug 14, 2020 at 5:29am PDT Soon, the trolls jumped into action. "Being Criminal doing Charity 10rs. And promoting that charity work by 1000rs. Through Social media, news papers, media..after so many backlash now Criminal covering this all stuff..as he always did before also.. when he kill blackbuck, Chinkara, Pavement on people.." tweeted a user. "Are you sure that you're still Being Human, Salman ji? Mask hi to pehen rakhe the aap ne itne saalo se (you have been wearing a mask for so many years now)," wrote another user. Those who have been trolling Salman include fans of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. "Ab ye aadmi munh chupaye ghum raha hai.....iske chehre par itne maask/naqab lage hai ki iska khokhlapan duniya ko naa dikhe... Shameful Salman (Now this person is hiding his face. He has covered his face with a mask to his shallowness from the world)," posted a user on a Facebook page demanding justice for Sushant Singh Rajput. Another Sushant fan wrote on the same Facebook page: "Boycott the product We want Justice for SSR Thanks." Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova has signed an inquiry to the High Council of Justice on temporary suspension of Head of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv Pavlo Vovk and other judges of the court, Ukrainska Pravda reported citing its source in law enforcement agencies. According to the report, the inquiry was signed on August 14. At the same time, "the prosecutor general did not sign a petition for detention of Vovk and other judges of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv." Vovk, in turn, commented on this information on his Facebook page: "If this is the truth, then this is very good news." "The NABU [National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine] wanted very much that the prosecutor sing an inquiry the prosecutor signed it. This, in fact, will not influence the investigation, but at least they will stop pouring dirt on the prosecutor general and the president. Now the members of the High Council of Justice will make their decision," he said. As reported, on July 17, the NABU has confirmed information about notifying of suspicion Head of Kyiv District Administrative Court Pavlo Vovk, his Deputy Yevhen Ablov, five other judges and Chairman of the State Judicial Administration Zenoviy Kholodniuk. In addition, it was noted that "the process of handing over suspicions to four more persons continues." The head of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv is charged under Part 3 of Article 27 (organization of hindering activities of the High Council of Judges and the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine), Part 2 of Article 375 (organization of issuing knowingly illegal court decisions) and Part 2 of Article 376 (intrusion in work of judicial agencies) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to the investigation, the criminal organization approved paid-for decisions for their own advantage, as well as in the interests of political and business circles. Priti Patel sparked a diplomatic row last night by claiming migrants were crossing the Channel to escape racist France, where they feared they would be tortured. The Home Secretarys inflammatory remarks, in a private meeting with Tory MPs, infuriated French politicians. One blasted: Madam Patel is not a politician who does much thinking. But the row came as Europes top judges condemned France for degrading and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers in forcing them to sleep rough for months in constant fear of being attacked or robbed. Tory MPs taking part in the Zoom conference call with Ms Patel also said she claimed to have been frustrated in her efforts to crack down on the Channel migrant crisis by No 10 although both sides denied that last night. The private web chat with the Home Secretary came amid mounting anger on the Tory backbenches over how the Government was handling the migrant crisis. One MP claimed Ms Patel had told them: France is a racist country. They would rather come to England. Last night, Government sources strongly denied that, insisting that the Home Secretary had only been passing on what migrants had been saying about France. One stressed: Priti made clear these were migrants views not hers, adding that the Home Secretary thought claims of possible torture if they returned to France were nonsense, pushed by activist lawyers. British Home Secretary Priti Patel, pictured visiting Dover on Monday, has sparked a diplomatic row with France by claiming that migrants were crossing the Channel to escape racist France, where they feared they would be tortured But an MP from Frances opposition Republicans party raged: Madam Patel has caused a lot of upset already with absurd and untrue claims about our forces not stopping immigrant boats. Wherever these latest claims about racism came from, Madam Patel should not be spreading them in such a callous manner. A politician from President Emmanuel Macrons ruling LREM party said: Hateful claims are not a healthy part of politics, but this woman seems to spread them all the time. But the French MPs comments come after the European Court of Human Rights ordered the Paris government to pay a total of 32,000 compensation to three asylum seekers for failing to provide them with basics like food and shelter. Charity workers have said that French riot police regularly raid migrants camps, slash their tents with knives and confiscate their belongings and medicine. Refugees say police regularly assault them, and video footage of officers dragging migrants off buses has been posted online. Away from the racism row, one MP on the Zoom chat said Ms Patel expressed frustration that she was being hampered in tackling the migrant crisis. She is said to have told MPs: I could see this coming. I have been on about this since I was appointed last summer but claimed the issue had not been given priority. I said around the Cabinet table we should be sitting through the summer recess to get legislation done, she is said to have told MPs . And I was in a minority. Pictured: A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a number of small boat incidents in the Channel, August 15, 2020. New figures show that more than 1,000 migrants crossed to the UK in just ten days this month The Home Secretary also reportedly said she had been thwarted in a bid to give more publicity to repatriation flights, which would send out the message the Government was getting tough on illegal migrants. She is said to have given the impression it was either Boris Johnson or his top aide, Dominic Cummings, who had stood in her way. However, Government sources insisted Ms Patel was expressing frustration with legal constraints. One MP suggested Ms Patel was covering herself as she was getting a hard time from colleagues over the crisis. The backbencher complained: It looks incompetent and is incompetent that we cant stop rubber dinghies coming across the Channel when people are being told they cant go on holiday to Spain. Last week Ms Patel is understood to have told France they would not get the extra 30 million they sought to tackle the migrant problem unless they performed better. The MP said there was also concern about asylum seekers being sent to hotels around the country. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has said he will today release a video on Twitter which will embarrass Priti Patel by showing asylum seekers being housed in a hotel in her Essex constituency. Last night, the Home Office said: The Home Secretary is clearly frustrated by the increasing number of small boats crossing the Channel and said that, by the end of the Brexit transition period, the right legislation would be in place. Cleveland.coms Andrew J. Tobias reports that Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is planning to begin the process of purging Ohio voters from the voting rolls shortly after the Nov. 3 election. About 120,000 voters could be swept off the rolls, based on their failure to vote for four years and their failure to respond to a vote-board mailing. 3D Printing Plastics Market Research Report by Type (ABS, Photopolymer, Pla, and Polyamide), by Form (Filament, Liquid/Ink, and Powder), by Industry - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "3D Printing Plastics Market Research Report by Type, by Form, by Industry - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05951068/?utm_source=GNW The Global 3D Printing Plastics Market is expected to grow from USD 523.94 Million in 2019 to USD 1,685.23 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.49%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the 3D Printing Plastics to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type , the 3D Printing Plastics Market studied across ABS, Photopolymer, Pla, and Polyamide. Based on Form , the 3D Printing Plastics Market studied across Filament, Liquid/Ink, and Powder. Based on Industry, the 3D Printing Plastics Market studied across Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Electrical & Electronics, and Healthcare. Based on Geography, the 3D Printing Plastics 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 3D Printing Plastics Market including Arkema S.A., BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, Clariant, CRP Group, D Systems Corporation, Dowdupont Inc., Envisiontec GmbH, Eos GmbH Electro Optical Systems, Evonik Industries AG, Materialise NV, Oxford Performance Materials, Royal Dsm N.V., SABIC, and Stratasys, Ltd.. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the 3D Printing Plastics 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 3D Printing Plastics Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global 3D Printing Plastics Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global 3D Printing Plastics Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global 3D Printing Plastics Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global 3D Printing Plastics Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global 3D Printing Plastics Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05951068/?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 Washington: Vijay Sazawal, a leading Indian-American expert on India-US civil nuclear deal has been re-appointed to the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee of the US Department of Commerce. Vijay Sazawal's appointment to Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC) was announced by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker along with 38 other members. "Maintaining US leadership in the nuclear industry is critical to our country's economic vitality and to global efforts to combat climate change," Pritzker said." The Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee is a valuable mechanism for private sector representatives to contribute to policy discussions and work with government leaders to create the conditions that will strengthen US competitiveness in this sector," Pritzker said in a statement. Sazawal is the only Indian-American in the advisory committee. Born, raised and schooled in Srinagar, Sazawal came to the US in 1970 to pursue his doctoral degree in Structural Mechanics at Michigan Tech. He received a distinguished alumina award from the university in 2015. After completing his doctoral degree, Sazawal joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation in the Advanced Reactors Division as part of the design and technology team working on the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project. His tenure at Westinghouse lasted 20 years during which time he rose through successive management positions with responsibility for fast reactors, advanced terrestrial and space reactors, nuclear defense programmes, and US government programmes to promote safety upgrades of Russian-built reactors in Central and Eastern Europe. Vijay is also a founding member of the Indo-American Kashmir Forum (IAKF) and in the past has been its president. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sanaa, Aug 15 : Yemen's government forces conducted a prisoner swap with the Houthi militia in the country's northeastern province of al-Jawf, a military official said. The official told Xinhua news agency that "the Sixth Regional Military Command succeeded in exchanging prisoners with representatives of the Houthi group" on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency. He confirmed that the government forces released four members of the Houthi group captured during previous battles. In return, the Iranian-backed Houthis released four soldiers of the government forces from the militia's jail. Yemen's local tribal mediators have more than once succeeded in completing prisoner exchanges between government forces and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition against the Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen for more than five years in support of the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. - Completes first phase in committed investment of US$ 150M (> INR 1000 Cr) - Sri KT Rama Rao, Hon'ble Minister for Industry & Commerce and IT, Government of Telangana inaugurates the facility HYDERABAD, India, Aug. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sai Life Sciences, one of India's fastest growing Contract Development & Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), today announced the inauguration of its new Research and Technology (R&T) Centre in Hyderabad, India. SriK T Rama Rao, Hon'ble Minister for Industry & Commerce and IT, Government of Telangana formally inaugurated the facility in the presence of other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, Sri KT Rama Rao said, "I'm very happy that the esteemed leadership of Sai Life sciences has considered Telangana for setting up their new R&D centre. Life Sciences is one of the key focus sectors for the Government of Telangana. Hyderabad serves more than 1000 global innovators in their vision to develop innovative and affordable medicines for the world. I sincerely congratulate the entire team of Sai Life Sciences, not only for the new Research & Technology Centre but, also for their work towards the development and manufacturing of new life saving medicines." Built with an aspiration to achieve the best global benchmarks in lab infrastructure, the new R&T facility has several unique aspects such as intelligent & ergonomic lab design to enhance safety and productivity, advanced automation for seamless data capture during process development, lean & 5S approach to enhance productivity and collaborative workspaces for engendering innovation. Making the announcement, Krishna Kanumuri, CEO & Managing Director of Sai Life Sciences said, "Our philosophy behind building this new facility was to go beyond what the norm is in India and to create what our global innovator partners expect in their inhouse capabilities." He further added, "We are an example of what is possible in Hyderabad's rich life sciences ecosystem. Today, as we build world class R&D capabilities and invest in nurturing talent with deep domain expertise, I can unhesitatingly say, Hyderabad is truly a city where pharma dreams are made." The new 83,000 sq.ft. (7700 sq.m.) facility houses state-of-the-art research capabilities and advanced technology platforms, augmenting the company's capabilities in providing superior scientific solutions to its pharma and biotech innovator customers globally. It has 24 chemistry labs with 250 fume hoods, analytical labs, fully equipped technology suite and a dedicated process safety lab. Sai Life Sciences began a process of organizational transformation in 2019 reinventing itself as a new generation global CDMO. Through this initiative, named Sai Nxt, the company is investing over US$ 150M (> INR 1000 Cr) to expand and upgrade its R&D and manufacturing facilities, induct top-notch global scientific and leadership talent, strengthen automation and data systems, and above all raise the bar for safety, quality and customer focus. About Sai Life Sciences Sai Life Sciences is a full-service CDMO driven by a vision to support the launch of 25 new medicines by 2025. It works with innovator pharma and biotech companies globally, accelerating the discovery, development and manufacture of complex small molecules. A pure-play CDMO, Sai Life Sciences has served a diverse set of NCE development programs, consistently delivering value based on its quality and responsiveness. Today, it works with 7 of the top 10 large pharma companies, as well as several small and mid-sized pharma & biotech companies. Sai Life Sciences is privately held and backed by global investors, TPG Capital and HBM Healthcare Investments. https://www.sailife.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1228693/Sai_Life_Sciences.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1228696/Sci_Life_Sciences_Centre.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1044186/Sai_Life_Sciences_Logo.jpg Getting back to business: Carroll Cuisine in Tullamore, Co Offaly, began reopening its doors to employees yesterday. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire A mushroom plant has been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak while meat processors in the midlands have begun to reopen. Walsh Mushrooms in Golden, Co Tipperary, has closed after a number of staff tested positive. This followed its first incidence of the virus, when a worker was diagnosed during self-isolation. The new workplace cluster was confirmed as it was revealed there have been 26 outbreaks across the meat and poultry processing industry up to last Saturday. A Department of Health spokesperson said the outbreaks are associated with 1,407 cases, of which 35 people have been hospitalised and no deaths reported. A government minister called for more lightning checks on food premises after the mushroom plant cases. Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath said after a Cabinet meeting: "We do want to see more unannounced inspections. "There is far more value in a visit that is unannounced rather than one that is scheduled and flagged in advance. You get to see what is likely to be usually done in a premises. "This is a matter for the Health and Safety Authority, but we want to see more unannounced visits." He added that the Government would "not hesitate" to act if the situation warranted it in the short term. Meat plants that closed due to recent outbreaks have begun to reopen, including Irish Dog Foods and Carroll Cuisine. Irish Dog Foods will return to full operations in two weeks' time. It halted production on July 25 following an outbreak. Management met the HSE's outbreak control team and Health and Safety Authority representatives last Tuesday and a phased reopening was agreed. Carroll Cuisine in Tullamore began reopening yesterday and will ramp up to full production over the next seven to 14 days. O'Brien Fine Foods plans to reopen on August 24. Reopening plans at Kildare Chilling have not been confirmed. Blanket testing has been promised at meat plants and direct provision centres. A spokesperson for employers' group Ibec said there is a need for clear protocols on all aspects of testing and a results turnaround within 12 to 24 hours. Greg Ennis of Siptu said there is a need for clarity on procedures relating to business closures if there is a small number of cases identified. According to "interim guidance" on Covid-19 for the national outbreak control team on meat plants, in the event of "a sufficiently extensive outbreak", consideration should be given by a local outbreak team to temporary closure of the plant, or part of the plant. However, it does not detail what is considered a sufficiently extensive outbreak. Today marks 75 years since Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15, 1945. Victory over Japan Day or VJ Day, was commemorated early this morning with the quiet raising of flags at the Papamoa Cenotaph. Around the country, large public gatherings commemorating the 75th anniversary had to be cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. Tauranga City Councillor and Mount/Papamoa Ward Councillor Steve Morris was raising the flags with Michael OCarroll at dawn in Papamoa when the pair realised that ideally there should be an American flag amongst the group flying for the day. We were putting up four flags - two New Zealand flags, the United Kingdom flag and Australia flag, says Steve Morris. We use them for Anzac Day and Armistice Day. But we dont have an American flag. Obviously with the Pacific its very relevant as there were over 100,000 US soldiers stationed here during WW2. Papamoa Cenotaph and flag pole with four flags. Photo: Steve Morris Steve did a quick shout out on the Papamoa Link Facebook group, asking if anyone had an American flag. I got a few likes and a couple of hearts and that was it, says Steve. Michael, meanwhile had gone for a walk along the beach. When I got back, there was an American flag flying! says Michael, delighted at what he thought was a wonderful response from someone within the community. Its great to see the Stars and Stripes flying proudly alongside the flags of NZ, UK and Australia on this VJ Day. The flag however came about due to a bit of Kiwi ingenuity. Pam Lewis suggested I go to the $2 shop at the Papamoa Plaza so I quickly went down there and bought a flag, says Steve. I had to do a few modifications to it to rig it up on the staff as its a display flag, not one to be flown. For the rest of the day the Old Glory from the $2 shop has been flying alongside the Commonwealth flags, overlooking the Pacific. For the future wed be keen to have a proper American flag, says Steve. Steve and Michael plan to take down the flags at sunset today at 5.35pm. New Zealand had a unique part to play in the final surrender of Japan, says Michael, who was served as a marine engineer, mechanic and chief petty officer in the Royal Navy, and as a marine engineer, mechanic and warrant officer in the Royal NZ Navy. The HMNZS Gambia was present on September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay for the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender, says Michael. HMNZS Gambia. Photo: Supplied On September 12, she proceeded to Kii Suido, where she was employed until September 19 assisting United States Forces with the embarkation and recovery of Allied military personnel, says Michael. The HMNZS Gambia is reputed to have fired the very last shots in World War II. At the exact time the signal instructing hostilities to cease was coming through, Gambia was engaged with a Japanese aircraft off the coast of mainland Japan. A Naval message containing the original instruction to cease combat and Gambias reply Judy 33 shot down over fleet while signal was flying. C. T. F.s instructions not obeyed is on display at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, which overlooks Aucklands Waitemata Harbour. HMNZS Gambia's reply to the naval message. Photo: Supplied UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says that NZ forces fought in all but three of the 2179 days of the Second World War a commitment matched only by Australia and the UK. Nearly one in ten New Zealanders alive at the time fought in World War II from 1939 to 1945. Outdoor events honouring veterans and commemorating Victory over Japan Day were ditched today due to coronavirus restrictions. The pandemics first wave scuppered Anzac Day events in April. Now, the RSA has had to face another blow with functions honouring the 75th anniversary of VJ Day today cancelled. RSA National President BJ Clark said the situation was unfortunate, but the price to pay for keeping veterans safe. Weve got to acknowledge a lot of our veterans are susceptible to Covid-19, says Clark. The cancellation of multiple events this year hurt RSA fundraising and revenue but Clark said Defence Minister Ron Mark had stepped in with more funding for the veterans association. We are deeply disappointed, especially for the veterans of the conflict who were scheduled to be present, says Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Bernadette Cavanagh. However, public health is our first priority and we need to follow all guidelines, including restrictions on public gatherings. An Act of Remembrance was expected to go ahead at Pukeahus Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, but this would be closed to the public. Under Level 3 alerts covering greater Auckland, gatherings of up to ten people are allowed, but only for weddings, funerals and tangihanga. Under Level 2, covering the rest of the country, public gatherings cannot exceed 100 people and physical distancing must be observed. By PTI MELBOURNE/ BEIJING/ LONDON: Indians across the world on Saturday celebrated India's 74th Independence Day by hoisting the tricolour and singing the national anthem and patriotic songs while wearing masks and adhering to the social distancing norms amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of countrymen in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Israel and several other countries marked the day with the national flag fluttering high and the national anthem reverberating at Indian missions abroad. In Beijing, Indian ambassador Vikram Misri hoisted the tricolour at India House where a large number of Beijing-based Indian diaspora attended the Independence Day celebrations. Addressing the gathering after the flag hoisting and reading President Kovind's address to the nation. ALSO READ| Hope professionals from India are continued to be welcomed in US: Indian envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, hailed the "loving bridge" of global Indians that rallied round during the coronavirus lockdown to help fellow Indians in need as she led Independence Day celebrations in London. Her message, which reflected on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to the Indian diaspora as a "Living Bridge", also highlighted the important role played by people of Indian origin as well as the Indian High Commission in London during the pandemic. The envoy, who took charge as the Indian envoy to the UK recently, went on to lead the Independence Day celebrations with a flag hoisting ceremony at India House, broadcast live via Facebook given the COVID-19 restrictions. She delivered the address of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at an event attended by a small group of High Commission diplomats and officials. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin congratulated India on its 74th Independence Day in a video message, saying, "may the deep friendship and partnership between our nations and people continue to grow and flourish". ALSO READ| We face 'twin challenges' of COVID-19, aggression at borders: Indian envoy to China Vikram Misri Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a tweet on the eve of Independence day, congratulated his Indian counterpart Modi, and the people of India saying "you have so much to be proud of". "Swatantra Diwas ki haardik shubhkamnayen", he said in a tweet in Hindi. The Indian mission in Israel live streamed the Independence Day celebrations on its official Facebook page in view of COVID-19 restrictions. Ambassador Sanjeev Singla hoisted the national flag and read out the President's address to the nation. Indians in Singapore celebrated the day by sending greetings through live Facebook to the newly arrived High Commissioner (Designate) P Kumaran. Students from Indian schools in Singapore led the online celebrations, signing patriotic songs followed by the President's message read by Kumaran at the High Commission complex. Social distancing was observed among staff members who attended the unfurling of the flag at the complex with seating placed at a distance. Kumaran pointed out the challenging times, due to COVID-19 pandemic, saying it was Independence Day comes under extremely difficult circumstances as such it could not be celebrate widely as has happened in the past with regular gatherings of 800 people and well wishes. In Islamabad, the High Commission of India posted pictures of the Indian mission building decorated with lights and flowers. "The High Commission of India in Pakistan resplendent in the colors of the Tiranga, as the nation awaits its 74th Independence Day. Jai Hind!" it said in a tweet. In Wellington, the Indian High commission celebrated the Independence day at the Wellington Indian Association where India's High Commissioner Muktesh Pardeshi hoisted the tricolour, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and addressed a select group of people. ALSO READ| Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli makes courtesy call to PM Modi, discusses COVID-19 situation He also presented Certificates of Appreciation to nine organisations/individuals for their exceptional community service. In Melbourne, an event was organised by the Indian mission where the tricolor was hoisted and the national anthem was sung to mark the occasion. In Jakarta, the Embassy of India invited the members of Indian community and friends of India to join it on its YouTube channel to celebrate the occasion amidst restrictions and precautions due to the coronavirus. In Dhaka, High Commissioner of India Riva Ganguly Das conveyed President's address to the nation to mark the day. The Indian mission in Dhaka tweeted: "Celebrations across Indian homes. We may not be able to meet and greet each other today, but our enthusiasm remains high." It also shared a collage of home videos shot by Indian community celebrating the occasion. In Kathmandu, the embassy of India celebrated the Independence Day at the embassy premises. The event was attended by embassy officials and was live streamed also for Indians living in Nepal, Friends of India in Nepal and media. In Colombo, High Commissioner Gopal Baglay planted the sapling of Na Tree (Mesua ferrea), associated with enlightenment of Maitree Buddha, at India House to mark the occasion. "In the beautiful, serene surroundings of #India House at #Colombo, we unfurl the tricolour proudly and with patriotism on the 74th #IndependenceDay, remembering the courage and sacrifice of everyone who built this nation #AatmaNirbharBharat," it said in a tweet. In Abu Dhabi, ambassador Pavan Kapoor unfurled the tricolour in the presence of the officers and staff of the embassy. Live webcast was shared with the Indian community to enable all to join the online celebrations. The stimulus deadline of $500 per child for some Social Security recipients has been extended. According to CNN, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is giving Social Security recipients with kids more time to register to get the $500 per child due to them as part of their full stimulus payment. On Friday, the IRS said eligible beneficiaries would have until September 30 to register their information online, and payments could be received by mid-October, as per CNN. Most of the Social Security recipients and Railroad Retirement and veterans pension beneficiaries are not required to file the tax returns due to having an income lower than the filing threshold. The IRS said some people, who received their $1,200 stimulus payment automatically, may have missed out on the extra $500 per child because the IRS did not have that information on file, the CNN reported. The stimulus deadline to register for the added benefits was supposed to be on April 22, and the IRS gave only 48 hours notice of that deadline. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said an estimated of 600,000 child dependents' families are at risk of missing out on the payment. Claimants can start putting the dependents' information on the IRS' "non-filer" tool via its website on August 15. Children under the age of 17 will qualify for the additional aid. Those who missed the April deadline but used the non-filer tool by May 5 would not have to take further action. The IRS said they can still receive the additional cash in October. Meanwhile, recipients who received the original payment through direct deposit will get extra money deposited to the same account, while others will receive a check. Beneficiaries who will miss the September 30 deadline need to wait until next year to claim the additional money as a credit on their 2020 federal income tax return. According to MSN, the IRS has already sent more than 160 million economic stimulus payments since March. The distribution started after Congress authorized the program as part of its larger aid response to the coronavirus pandemic. Another round of stimulus payments has been proposed both by the Republicans and Democrats. However, lawmakers failed to reach a deal on a new stimulus package. No agreement would likely be passed before September, as per MSN. IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said IRS employees have been working non-stop to deliver more than 160 million Economic Impact Payments (EIP) on time. "Given the extremely high demand for EIP assistance, we have continued prioritizing and increasing resource allocations to eligible individuals, including those who may be waiting on some portion of their payment," Rettig noted. According to The Hill, payments approved in March's emergency COVID-19 relief law or the CARES Act are set to be issued in mid-October. Check these out: Most Common Stimulus Check Problems and How to Solve It $1,200 US Stimulus Mistakenly Send to Foreign Workers Living Overseas Next Stimulus Package: Here's All the Benefits You Could Receive If Congress Makes a Deal San Francisco, Aug 15 : Several companies including Apple, Ford, Walmart and Disney have called on US President Donald Trump administration to end an executive order seeking the ban of WeChat and TikTok in the country as it would cause harm to US businesses trying to trade in China. The US companies wanted clarification over the executive order that would bar "any transaction that is related to WeChat" by Americans, reports The Wall Street Journal. Apart from the ban order on Chinese short-video-making app TikTok, Trump also issued another similarly-worded executive order against WeChat, a messaging, social media, and electronic payment application owned by the Chinese company Tencent Holdings Ltd. Tencent said it was "reviewing the executive order to get a full understanding." The executive order to ban WeChat from the Apple App Store could lead to 25-30 per cent drop in iPhone shipments in the Chinese market, famed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted. Meanwhile, 95 per cent of the 1.2 million Chinese Apple users said that they would rather switch to an Android device than use an iPhone without WeChat. China, with its population of 1.44 billion people, accounted for about 15 per cent of Apple's total June quarter revenue. WeChat is a popular Chinese messaging application that is especially successful in China. PHOENIX - Zita Robinson, whos 77 and diabetic, has been careful around her granddaughter since the coronavirus pandemic took hold. A door connects Robinsons apartment in Phoenix to the main house where 8-year-old Traris Trary Robinson-Newman and her mother live, but it mostly stays shut. Their only physical contact is if Trary walks in with her back toward Grandma. Then Robinson will kiss her own hand and lightly touch Trarys back like Im sending her a kiss with my hand. Its very hard, Robinson said. We live together, but we live apart. Not hugging Grandma is hard for Trary, too: Its like I cant see her anymore. The separation Trary and her grandmother experience in their home is becoming a bigger issue as children go back to school. Many public schools nationwide are starting remotely in the fall, but if classes resume in person later this year, the chasm could grow between generations who live together. Millions of seniors 65 and up, one of the populations most vulnerable to the virus, live with a school-age child. For those households, the new school year means reconsidering interactions from family dinner to bedtime hugs. While studies so far suggest children are less likely to become infected with COVID-19 or only experience mild symptoms, data isnt conclusive on whether infected kids easily spread the disease. In a Georgia school district that has reopened classrooms, possible exposure has forced more than 1,200 students and staff into quarantine and two high schools to close. If a grandchild does bring the virus home, grandparents of colour are at higher risk than their white counterparts, experts say. As of 2018, the U.S. had 51 million seniors, with 3.3 million, or 6%, living with at least one child between 5 and 18, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. The situation is far more prevalent among communities of colour: 19% of Asian and Pacific Islander seniors live with a school-age child, 17% of Hispanics, 13% of American Indian or Alaska Natives, and 11% of Black people. Just 4% of older whites live with a school-age child. I think there hasnt been a lot of attention to the ripple effects on older people who may live in the same household, said Tricia Neuman, one of the reports authors. People of colour are already at greater risk from the virus because theyre more likely to be essential workers who cant work from home, among other factors, Neuman said. They more often live in multigenerational households because of cultural norms, sharing expenses or getting help with child care. That could become more prevalent as COVID-19 clobbers the U.S. economy. Living with extended family increased during the Great Recession in 2009, according to Jaia Peterson, deputy executive director of Generations United, an advocacy group focused on intergenerational issues. Malia Letalu lives in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Santa Clara, California, with her husband, four children ages 9, 5, 2 and 3 months and her mother and stepfather. Letalu, who is Samoan and Filipino, decided to live with her parents a few years ago so she could help if they got sick. Theyre in their mid-60s and have several health conditions between them, including diabetes and heart disease. But Letalu wont separate them from her oldest kids if school transitions to both remote and in-person learning later this year. I guess you could say its for emotional reasons, Letalu said. If there really was a possibility of exposure at the school ... then I would definitely social distance them and quarantine them inside. I would also take us all to go get tested. Yoma Villalobos, whose parents live with her in Phoenix, worries about big changes at home if the virtual lessons for her 12-year-old and 9-year-old sons at the start of the school year become a mix of in-person classes. If that happens, she will have them shower and change clothes when they get home from school. The boys hate wearing masks, but Villalobos thinks they might use them if it meant protecting their grandparents, who they kiss and hug each morning. Were such a close family. For us, eating together is our thing, said Villalobos, whos Latina. If we were to change our dynamic, that changes the whole family. Being in the same house can make it tempting to bend the rules on social distancing or wearing masks. Peterson of Generations United advises families to agree on what rules to stick to and find unique ways to connect. I also believe when something happens, and families get creative ... those can be some of the strongest memories for children and positive memories, Peterson said. Grandparents who are primary caregivers potentially face a more dire situation. Chris Svaldi, 71, helped raise her 8-year-old grandson and got permanent custody of him two years ago. He will return to his private Catholic school in Montrose, Colorado, on Aug. 24, with fewer than 10 students so they can practice social distancing, Svaldi said. Still, shes pushing COVID-19 worries to the back of her mind. I cant allow myself to go there because if I do, I struggle a little bit with anxiety, said Svaldi, whos white. It would affect the way I raise him, and I dont want him to be a kid whos afraid of everything. Its crucial for grandfamilies like Svaldis to be prepared for the worst, whether its COVID-19 or some other calamity, Peterson said. With grandparents raising grandchildren, there can be legal matters at stake, too. They may be the last option before foster care. Plus, COVID-19 is probably already on childrens minds. Its better to be open about it so that children have a chance to ask questions and know theres a plan, versus if theres any hesitancy to talk about it because they dont want to bring it up, Peterson said. Robinson, the grandmother in Phoenix whos Latina, reminds herself that being separated from her granddaughter by doors or walls is better than being separated by a hospital. I would never want my loved ones to be in that situation, Robinson said. Id rather just listen to her laugh out there than having to go through something like that. ___ Terry Tang is a member of The Associated Press Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ttangAP. MELBOURNE New Zealand on Saturday reported seven new cases of the coronavirus as a lockdown in the countrys biggest city, Auckland, was extended on Friday in response to the countrys first coronavirus outbreak in months. Six of the seven new cases have been linked to the cluster responsible for all the previous community cases, while one case was being investigated, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a media briefing in Wellington. The new cases bring New Zealands total infections since the start of the year to 1258, while the number of currently active cases stands at 56. Twenty two people have died so far. The lockdown in Auckland, home to 1.7 million people, was extended for nearly two weeks, and followed the discovery on Tuesday of the countrys first COVID-19 infections in 102 days, in a family in Auckland. New Zealand and its neighbor Australia have suffered far less death and disease from the COVID-19 pandemic than many other nations, thanks in part to swift lockdown measures. Although economically costly, the measures raised public trust in the leaders of both countries significantly. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, is now, however, under pressure ahead of a upcoming general election, with the main opposition National Party accusing the government of failing to secure quarantine facilities and withholding information. And Australias second most-populous state, Victoria, continues to struggle after it last month became the centre of the countrys biggest coronavirus outbreak. Its capital, Melbourne, is under a strict six-week lockdown and the rest of the state has limited public movement. On Saturday, Victoria recorded 303 new cases and four deaths, following 372 new infections and 14 deaths on Friday. Although Saturdays numbers are well below the peak of 725 new cases seen on Aug. 5 and there has been some stabilisation in the outbreak, state authorities urged vigilance. The signs are encouraging but it is not over, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told a televised briefing. There is a long way to go and the only thing that wins if we get fatigued, if we were in a sense to give up, the only thing that wins is the coronavirus. - An amazing discovery has been made in South Africa - the world's oldest bedding - The discovery dates back over 200 000 years and was found in the Border Cave in the Lebombo Mountains of South Africa - The ancient humans used ash and plant material to repel insects while they slept PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! An ancient secret has been discovered in the Border Cave, which is a deep gash in the side of the Lebombo Mountains of South Africa. The site has revealed that early humans lived there over 200 000 years ago. A new discovery has been made. The oldest evidence of human bedding has been discovered. The bedding was more than simply a comfortable place to sleep; the early inhabitants used ash in their bedding to repel insects. Briefly.co.za learned that the bedding ranks as on the many "incredible discoveries" which have been made in Africa. The discovery was made by Lyn Wadley, an archaeologist at the University of the Witwatersrand, when she and her team were excavating the Border Cave, according to Science Magazine. I looked up at these with a magnifying glass and realised that these were plant traces, she says. READ ALSO: Zodwa Wabantu spills tea on relationship with Gomora's Ntobeko Sishi She was able to safely remove small parts of the rock in which the plant fibres were encased and analyse them. The plant fibre came from the Panicoideae family of grasses which are local to the area. The amount of grass in the cave shows that the inhabitants brought it in on purpose. The bedding itself doesn't tell us a lot about early humans, besides the use of ash, a lot of animals such as birds and mammals use plant matter to create beds and nests. However, what is important is the age. Previously, the oldest evidence of early human bedding was found in South Africas Sibudu Cave, dating back 77 000 years. There has also been evidence of early bedding in Israel from 185 000 years ago but it is inconclusive. READ ALSO: Cassper Nyovest and Nadia Nakai caught on camera arguing in studio Lyn Wadley made the amazing discovery at Border Cave. Photo credit: Facebook/@Wits - University of the Witwatersrand Source: Facebook Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that careful studies in recent years claim to have revealed that one of the world's most relevant subjects, mathematics, was invented in Africa. According to Libertywritersafrica.com historical facts, archaeological evidence and artefacts lend credence to the origination of mathematics from ancient Africa more than 25,000 years ago. A mass of the historic evidence comes from the mountains of Swaziland and the headwaters of the Nile River in the north-eastern part of Congo. In other news, the Egyptian government has told off Space X boss Elon Musk over his tweet claiming that the iconic pyramids were built by aliens. The billionaire had taken to Twitter to support conspiracy theorists who believe aliens were involved in the colossal construction effort. In a quick rejoinder, Egypt's Minister of International Co-operation Rania al-Mashat admitted she was a great follower and admirer of Musk's works but he was wrong on the pyramid theory. "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," said Rania. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly News Infosys, the country's second largest software exporter, has levied a fine of Rs 2 lakh on its independent director Bobby Parikh for an inadvertent trade by the portfolio management services of his spouse Bela Parikh. Bobby Parikh, a joint holder of that account, had bought 2,754 shares during the open trading window period without the knowledge of Bobby and without obtaining pre-clearance of trade, Infosys said in a regulatory filing on Friday. "Parikh has confirmed that he was not in possession of any Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI)," the IT major said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Infosys further informed the exchange that the audit committee of the company has been notified of this matter. Also Read: Coronavirus impact: IT firms to record higher margins, create jobs, says Narayana Murthy "Based on Parikh's submission, the audit committee has concluded that this was an inadvertent trade made without intent to violate the Company's insider trading Policy or the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 ("PIT Regulations")," it said. The audit committee has determined that there was a violation of the Company's Policy and PIT Regulations and has imposed a penalty of Rs 2 lakh on Parikh, which shall be remitted to Investor Protection Education Fund (IPEF) in line with the PIT regulations, it added. Also Read: Infosys mulls permanent work from home for 33-50% employees Infosys shares closed Friday's trade at Rs 953.50 apiece, up 0.24 per cent, against previous closing price of Rs 951.25 on the BSE. By Chitranjan Kumar Student teams from the Union County Vocational Technical School in Scotch Plains, the South Jersey Sudbury School in Medford and Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren have received honorable mentions in last weeks International Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition for their innovative projects. The teams, selected for honorable mention status from 20 global finalists, each was awarded $1,000 in prize money. On Aug. 6, international teams of high school students representing five nations and nine U.S. states presented their projects to judges live online and, on Aug. 7, the winners were announced. Ava La Lande of Team NJ Environmental from Union County Vocational Technical School, Sharon Eastburn and Anna Schwartz of Team Bug Brains from South Jersey Sudbury School of New Jersey and Arjun Singh of Team Conservatech from Watchung Hills Regional High School of New Jersey received honorable mentions as finalists in the Limited Resources Category. The 20 finalist teams were from the United States -- Arkansas, California, Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii, Oregon, New Jersey, New York --, Canada, Singapore, the Philippines and India. They competed for a share of $60,000 in cash prizes. Videos of student presentations and awards program can be found at https://www.facebook.com/CleanTechComp/. The competition is an outcome-based STEM focused research and design challenge for pre-college students. The goal of the program is to inspire young people to pursue STEM studies and careers. The program is managed by New York-based not-for-profit Center for Science, Teaching & Learning, led by STEM Crusader and Advocate Ray Ann Havasy, and sponsored by New York-based Spellman High Voltage Electronics. More than 744 students registered for the competition, comprising of 395 teams, and of those teams 240 submitted projects for judging. This years competition theme, Reducing Individual Impacts, focused on ways to change the course of our environmental future. Teams displayed their projects offering solutions to specific issues relating to climate change or protecting resources using clean technology. The students who participated this year did a remarkable job considering the challenges they faced during the global pandemic, said said Loren Skeist, president of Spellman High Voltage Electronics. Skeist added, At Spellman HV we believe it is critical that we encourage young people to develop technology that will enhance the lives of people around the world. We are committed to this effort and making Spellman High Voltages sponsorship in this competition an integral part of our corporate mission. There are so many challenges facing our world today. It gives us great hope when we see high school students from all around the world use their STEM skills to develop solutions that have the potential to make a real impact. The U.S. and nations around the world must address the shortage of STEM educated people to fill millions of well-paying and rewarding jobs, said Ray Ann Havasy, executive director of Center for Science, Teaching & Learning (CSTL). Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, our finalists demonstrated that when students are motivated to explore science, they will do amazing work. It is truly remarkable to watch students from around the United States and world share their similar concerns about the environment and show their commitment to STEM skills and knowledge to find solutions. President Ram Nath Kovind hailed 26 Corona warriors at an otherwise subdued At Home reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which lasted just around 25 minutes and, for the first time, saw no former Indian Prime Minister attending the event. Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla sat at the main table; other dignitaries included BJP president JP Nadda, defence minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, union ministers Hardhvardhan, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman and Modis principal secretary PK Mishra. The event was held in Rashtrapati Bhavans convention centre, with portraits of former Presidents adorning the walls. The three service chiefs along with CDS Bipin Rawat and a few ambassadors were also present. A total of about 100 guests, including 26 Corona warriors, were invited for the programme that started with a brief speech by President Ram Nath Kovind hailing the Covid warriors (PM Modi led a round of applause for them). Refreshment including traditional delicacies such as samosa and dhokla. To drink, there was tea (green and normal), coconut water and orange juice. While hot samosas were served to guests, by waiters who were not just masked, but also sported a face visor, the dhokla, enchilada, and the tricolour sweet that is customary in many independence day celebrations, were already kept on shrink wrapped plates. There was designated seating, at tables named after rivers. Guests were ushered to their tables the minute they entered, although there was a bit of the usual networking seen at such events before the event started. With just around 30 tables, there was no special VVIP area like there usually is. According to officials involved in organising the event, former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Devegowda decided to skip the event due to the Covid situation. Similarly, Union home minister Amit Shah, who is in home isolation after he tested negative for Covid and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was recently admitted in the hospital, also didnt attend the event. For the first time, the function saw no spouses of the invitees, no live food counters, no freedom fighters and no free interaction with VVIPsnew rules of a new normal, protocol-wrapped ceremony, in the times of a pandemic. People were allowed in after their temperatures were taken; everyone was asked to show their status on the Aarogaya Setu contac-tracing app; and those not wearing N95 masks without valves, were provided them. The guest list was heavily pruned to maximum 90 from the normal gathering of 1500 dignitaries. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To date, 1,774 people have died from the virus in the Republic while the number of confirmed cases now stands at 27,191. Today's cases were recorded across 18 counties, with 56 in Dublin, 81 in Kildare, 13 in Tipperary, 8 in Limerick, 6 Laois, 6 in Galway, 5 in Kilkenny, 5 in Meath. The remaining 20 cases were recorded in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Waterford, Wicklow. Earlier this week, Ireland's 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people surpassed that of the UK for the first time, increasing to 16.9. The UK has since passed Ireland out again, despite the Irish figure rising to 18.1. Ireland 18.1 UK 19.8 Spain 115.7 Italy 8.7 France 36.2 Greece 20.1 Portugal 26.4 Malta 88.3 Poland 25.4 Sweden 37.8 Of the 200 cases, 68% were under the age of 45, 68 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case and 25 cases have been identified as community transmission. 25 cases have been identified as community transmission. Advertisement Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer said; This is the largest number of cases in a single day since the beginning of May. We now have multiple clusters with secondary spread of disease and rising numbers of cases in many parts of the country. "This is deeply concerning. NPHET will monitor this extremely closely over the coming days. This virus is still out there and has not gone away. COVID-19 seeks to capitalise on complacency and is just waiting for the opportunity to spread. "I am asking everyone, especially those who are over 70 or medically vulnerable, to limit your contacts, keep your distance from other people and take extra care to heed public health advice. - The Chief administrative and principal secretaries were also directed to proceed on compulsory break starting August 17 - The Cabinet committees and technical committees will not hold any official engagements unless directed by the president in case of an emergency - Head of Public Service Kinyua said the Cabinet will hold its next meeting on September 3 after returning from the 11-day working recess President Uhuru Kenyatta has granted all members of his Cabinet and their secretaries a 11-day working recess starting Monday, August 17. Chief administrative and principal secretaries were also directed to proceed on compulsory recess with information indicating the Cabinet will hold its next meeting on September 3. READ ALSO: Senior DCI officer dies after car is swept by floods in Kericho Uhuru Kenyatta chairing a Cabinet meeting recently. He granted the team an 11-day working recess. Photo: State House Kenya. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Bondo ACK bishop asks govt to stop daily COVID-19 update, says it causes trauma The Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, however, said the Cabinet members will not be exempted from conducting site visits to check progress of the ongoing government projects. "During the working recess, members of the cabinet will still be required to undertake their ministerial portfolio responsibilities and attend to any presidential engagements arising from or ancillary to their ministerial mandate," stated Kinyua. During the period, Kinyua explained all Cabinet committees and technical committees will not hold any official engagements unless directed by the president in case of an emergency. READ ALSO: Couple ties the knot after 17 years of dating READ ALSO: Barcelona defender Gerard Pique offers to leave Barcelona after humbling 8-2 defeat against Bayern Members of the Cabinet who would wish to take leave during the recess will have their applications approved by the head of state. Members of the Cabinet shall be allowed to take leave from office, subject to prior approval of the president and receipt of Presidential clearance with respect to any travel by the member of Cabinet to any destination outside of the territory of the Republic of Kenya," he added. The memo was dated August 12, the same day Uhuru vowed he will fulfill all his pledges that he made during his campaigns. The president spoke at the KICC in Nairobi when he presided over the issuance of 2,100 title deeds to landowners in Nairobi county. "I will deliver on my pledge. I will deliver on my promise," he assured. It was not clear what necessitated the directive, and whether or not Uhuru intended to restructure his government. There had been talks of an impending Cabinet reshuffle which according to Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi was not a matter of if but when. The second-term MP claimed the reshuffle had already been done but the names were yet to be made public. "We know that they are done constituting a Cabinet reshuffle. Even though there is nothing going on in the ministries, I even wonder what will the picked ministers be doing with everything stuck. Anyway let them release the names, we are fine with it," said Sudi. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. My husband's family took everything from me after he died and called my children garbage | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., Friday on CNBC hinted that there could be illegal activity behind the Trump administration's backing of a number of pharmaceutical companies' Covid-19 vaccine developments. "We see some things that indicate that there may be some insider stuff going on that's benefiting one or two people without regard to what we're really trying to do," Clyburn, who is House Majority Whip, said in a "Closing Bell" interview. Clyburn was speaking in his capacity as chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, a body that on Thursday launched an investigation into contracts issued by the federal government's Operation Warp Speed to boost vaccine research and have hundreds of millions of doses ready by early next year. Operation Warp Speed is an entity under the Department of Health and Human Services. "We need for all of these transactions to be out in the open," the South Carolina Democrat said. "People ought to see what is going on and who is doing it." At center is Operation Warp Speed's Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the operation's head, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and has ties to two drugmakers whose potential Covid-19 vaccines have received funds from the program. The program plans to have 300 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine ready for distribution by January 2021. GlaxoSmithKline and Moderna, two pharmaceutical companies working on separate vaccine candidates, were granted up to $2.1 billion and $1.53 billion, respectively, for development and manufacturing purposes. GSK is working on a joint vaccine project with Sanofi. Slaoui, who took a $1 salary to lead the federal vaccine initiative in May, resigned his seat on Moderna's board after being announced as chief scientist of Operation Warp Speed. Days later, he faced pressure to divest about $12.4 million worth of stock options in the company. When asked about Slaoui's selling his interest in Moderna, Clyburn said the investigation intends to bring transparency to the transactions by the program. Slaoui is also a former executive at GSK who led the British pharmaceutical company's vaccine arm. The subcommittee probe also questions Slaoui's ongoing stake in GSK. Slaoui, who worked at GSK for nearly three decades, declined to divest from the company, citing it as his retirement funds, according to The New York Times. "We're looking at other things as well. We're not sure. We're saying maybe nothing is wrong at all, but let the sunshine in, and let's see exactly what it is," Clyburn said. "We are going to use the powers that we have to shine light on whatever is taking place, and maybe it's all on the up and up, but we've got a gut feeling that it may not be." HHS did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The public-private initiative has inked almost $11 billion in contracts with various drugmakers developing vaccines, including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and BioNTech, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, Novavax and AstraZeneca, which is working with the University of Oxford. "Open your transactions. Let people see what you're doing, and you will never hear from me. I'm doing what we're supposed to do," Clyburn said. The investigation also names Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Advanced Decision Vectors CEO David Harris. When asked if the investigation is an election-year ploy to cast doubt on Trump's coronavirus response, Clyburn cited the subcommittee's investigation into the controversial $765 million federal loan that Eastman Kodak was set to receive to produce drug ingredients to fight coronavirus. The deal was held up after questions were raised about stock activity of executives and board members. "Why did they put it on hold? Because we started asking questions, we started demanding some answers to some letters that we sent to them," Clyburn said, "and now it's on hold." "I don't know of anybody who ever had a Kodak vaccine," he said. As the country celebrates its 73rd birthday this year, we go track people who were born in 1947 and went on to join the Defence Forces to ensure that the countrys borders remain safe. Commodore BK Ahluwalia (Retired) Commodore BK Ahluwalia, who has retired from the Indian Navy, feels privileged to have been born on August 21, 1947 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, just after a few days after India gained Independence. UP wasnt much affected but I was part of the 1971 War, so I have seen how it could have been for India. I am proud of the nation, the way it is turning out. We have the moral and physical courage to safeguard our boundaries. I am happy and satisfied to be born in the nation that was born just a few days before me, shares Commodore Ahluwalia. Air Commodore RM Sreedharan, VM (Retired) Commodore RM Sreedharan, who retired from the Indian Air Force, feels honoured to have been born on November 6, 1947 in Kunnur, in the newly-independent India. My father was in the Indian Army, so when I was born, he wasnt with my mother, he was posted in J & K. My mother raised me by herself till I was two years old. It was an enriching experience, growing up seeing the country developing after Independence, says the Commodor. Recalling the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he said, That was so exciting and I feel good that being born in an independent nation, I helped breathe life into another nation, Bangladesh. When I was growing up, there was so much uncertainty; but now things are better. Individuals are free to enjoy their rights, he says. Commodore Shyam Kaushal (Retired) Born on August 6, 1947 in Amritsar, Commodore Shyam Kaushal feels privileged to share his birth month and year with Independent India. I think its a wonderful feeling being among those who were born just before India attained freedom., he says. Commodore Kaushal recalls the stories his mother told him about the challenges she faced in raising him during the time of turmoil. I was born at home in Amritsar, which is just 22 kilometres away from Lahore. It was a time of turmoil. Communities were fighting and there was a lot of bloodshed. My uncles took me from one place to another to keep me safe, travelling on the roofs of trains, he recounts. Ruing the loss of life during the Partition, he says he wishes the step could have been avoided. My father was in the Royal Indian Navy and I wanted to join the defence services, says the Commodore. Talking about life today, he feels people have changed since the early days of Independence. The approach has changed. Earlier, the nation was everything, but now people have become more materialistic, he laments. Lieutenant Commander Jagbir Singh (Retired) If Lieutenant Commander Jagbir Singh had a choice, he would perhaps not have come into this world just a few days before the split of India and Pakistan. Born on July 21 in a village in Hazira district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), Singh, while feeling privileged to have started life in the same year that India attained freedom, also feels upset that his parents had to live a tough life. We were uprooted from our homes. I was two months old when my family was shifted from POK. We came to a border town in Poonch in 1947. We were the first to be accommodated in an open area. Rations and other supplies were limited. The city was under lockdown for 14 months before some military help came, says the officer, who joined the Indian Navy, following the trend set by his father, who was in the Indian Army. We had to put food on the table and so my father joined the defence services because it was paying. And when my father retired, I had to look after the family, explains the Lt Commander matter-of-factly. Growing older with the nation gives much satisfaction after the suffering our families underwent, he adds. Two senior lecturers of the University of Ibadan allegedly involved in illegal financial transactions have threatened to sue a former colleague over PREMIUM TIMES publications. Both professors, Miracle Oyewola and Dare Ademola, had written a letter demanding an apology from Chukwuemeka Diji, a former lecturer in the school. This newspaper, reported last year how the financial transactions of a conference meant for the department of mechanical engineering, were allegedly devoid of transparency. Amongst those accused of involvement are Messrs Oyewola and Ademola, who headed the department from 2011- 2012 and 2012-2016 respectively. In 2018, Chukwuemeka Diji, a PhD holder, who succeeded Mr Ademola, wrote the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), demanding an investigation into the corrupt practices in the department. He asked the commission to compel the university to probe the organisation of the Energy, Technology and Management (ETM) conference and its account since 2012- 2016. PREMIUM TIMES reporter gathered then, through an official of Guarantee Trust Bank, that the account existed between 2012 and 2017, two years after the implementation of Treasury Single Account policy. The TSA policy, which forbids any government parastatal from running a separate bank account, was implemented in 2015. Meanwhile, Leke Oluwole, the current Head of Department, defended the embattled professors when this reporter confronted him in June last year. The department was running an account before the implementation of TSA. Then when the treasury single account came, we migrated the account to the school account. SERVICOM has looked at it and they have holistically done everything, he told this paper. Although Mr Diji was later dismissed by the school authorities, an official of ICPC had hinted that the agency kick-started the arraignment process of the professors last year November. READ ALSO: The process was however stalled due to the total lockdown enforced to curb COVID-19 pandemic a few months ago. ICPC concluded its investigations earlier this year, our reporter reliably gathered. Threat In two separate letters dated June 29, Messrs Oyewola and Ademola demanded an apology from Mr Diji over this papers publications. Copies of the letters signed by their lawyer, Oladepo Abidemi of Chief Ladosu Ladapo Chambers, were made available to our reporter on Friday. It is in the brief of our client that Premium Times Newspaper relied on information supplied by you to publish libelous statements against him on the 8h day of November 2019 and 23 September 2019 and has imputed to his character and reputation negatively in the University of Ibadan and the general public. According to the duo, the publications, rooted in falsehood have dealt serious harm to their image and reputation of the University community and deterred friends and colleagues from associating with them. We have the instruction of our client to demand that you tender an unreserved apology for supplying Premium Times Newspaper with information used in several publications, especially the publication dated the 8th day of November 2019. TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, neglect or refuse to tender the requisite apology within Fourteen (14) days of your receipt of this letter, we would have no choice but to institute appropriate legal actions against you, a copy of the letter read. When contacted for his reaction on Friday, Mr Diji, who now works at a Ugandan University, declined comments. Since the case has been reported to an anti-graft agency, Ill allow them to do their job, he said in response to an enquiry sent by our reporter. She's the brunette beauty who left Home and Away in 2017. And on Saturday, Pia Miller was spotted out and about in Sydney, heading to a Paddington hair salon for an appointment. The 36-year-old cut a casual figure on the outing, pairing a baggy green sweatshirt with boyfriend jeans. Out and about: Actress Pia Miller cut a casual figure in a baggy green sweatshirt and boyfriend jeans as she visited a Paddington hair salon on Saturday She teamed her look with a pair of stylish black sunglasses and sandals. The former soap star added a touch of luxury, with her Chanel bag and a gold Cartier bracelet, worth $4,600. She wore her luscious chocolate tresses out, ready for her hairdresser to style. Minimal glamour: The 36-year-old teamed her look with a pair of stylish black sunglasses and sandals. She also added a touch of luxury to her look with her Chanel bag and a gold Cartier bracelet, worth $4,600 Pia's trip to the salon comes after she recently moved out of her $950-a-week apartment in Randwick, and into a $7.8million home in the Sydney's eastern suburbs. The home features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, high ceilings, luxury fittings and a natural palette used throughout. The brunette will reside in the new home with her two sons Isaiah, 18, and Lennox, 14. New digs: Pia's trip to the salon comes after she recently moved out of her $950-a-week apartment in Randwick, and into a $7.8million home in the Sydney's eastern suburbs. The brunette will reside in the new home with her two sons Isaiah, 18, and Lennox, 14 Pia is currently dating the CEO of Hollywood talent agency WME, Patrick Whitesell, who represents the likes of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Hugh Jackman. The 55-year-old is worth an estimated $440million, according to Forbes. The couple went 'Instagram official' in December 2019 one month after stepping out publicly for the first time. Making a difference through mobile schooling By ParamieJayakody View(s): View(s): While there are new challenges being posed by a COVID-19 world every day, teams and individuals are working tirelessly behind the scenes to help make a difference, every day in their own way. Child Action Lanka (CAL) is one such organization that works with children marginalised by poverty to bring about transformation in their lives since 2006. CAL works with children (0-18) young adults and parents of urban, rural, estate sectors of Sri Lanka in order to help them understand their individual capacity, own value, skills, aptitude and potential of growth, thereby expecting them to become responsible and independent citizens who can reciprocate their development to those like them. CALs statement is that the cycle of poverty is broken through educating children. Founded by Debbie Edirisinghe, CAL started in Kandy but has now expanded to over 5 different cities, and recently they started a new project called the mobile school system, which kicked off last year and has been developing steadily since. This is the first project of its kind in Sri Lanka, and its been possible through the partnership of StreetWize. Mobile school is a portable setup with education tools attached, and can be used to reach previously unreachable communities with education, making it another step in equality for all. The teams operating the project have been specially trained, and so far it has been a success, with a lot of enthusiasm being displayed by the teams as well as the target communities. Formed with the intention of providing education to the children who are unable to make it to school because of social, financial or physical barriers, the mobile school is a cart like structure with rotation panels, white boards and even instruments like abacuses fixed in an expanding frame. The rotation panels themselves are an advanced form of brain development games and education being seen for the first time in Sri Lanka. The project launched in Gohagoda in February 2020. They run a really successful mobile school there for the community and some of the CAL grads have even started a satellite version of the Kandy centre there. They have established a childrens society, and have plans to establish a womens network. The project has also expanded into three communities in Kelaniya and in Mahaiyawa as well. While the operation was brought to a sudden halt with the onset of COVID19, the education has not stopped. CAL staff were quick to make education packs that follow the education pattern of the mobile school that kids were able to follow individually from home. The aim of the packs was to keep the knowledge fresh and also motivate them to keep learning. Speaking with Subramaniam Yashodaran, who joined the team early this year, he recounts how much he learned at the training, including how to operate the mobile school, and basic knowledge of how to teach whats included. The structure is such that theres very little to explain, Yasho tells us. Rather, the panels are simple and teach the child through their own skills. Since the project kicked off, it has garnered a lot of praise and recognition, and even requests to reach other communities. The children love to learn, and its wonderful to work with a group who are so enthusiastic to learn from us, he says, adding that its worth it to teach communities where education was not possible before. He mentioned that the Gohagoda community even cleared the forest areas to make room for the classes when there were space issues initially. Right now the project is maintained by the trained team, as well as international volunteers, but they are looking to expand to local volunteers as well. If you want to reach out to Child Action Lanka you can check out their pages on Instagram and facebook, or their website https://www.childactionlanka.org/ A Japanese vessel that hit a reef in Mauritius last month, threatening ecological havoc on the island's unique biodiversity, has broken apart. Japan's Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said his country will send a team of ministry officials and other specialists to Mauritius to assess the environmental damage. Mauritian officials reported the condition of the MV Wakashio had seriously degraded early Saturday. By the afternoon, it had split in two. At around 4.30pm, a major detachment of the vessels forward section was observed, said the Mauritius National Crisis Committee in a statement. On the basis of the experts advice, the towing plan is being implemented. The 203,000 tonne Japanese-registered bulk carrier struck a coral reef off Mauritius on 25 July spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and endangering corals, fish and other marine life in what some scientists have called the countrys worst ecological disaster. On Friday, some residual oil from the ship leaked into the Indian Ocean, said Jacqueline Sauzier, the president of Mauritius Marine Conservation Society. "Booms have been placed around the ship to contain the spill," she added. Koizumi said he regarded the oil spill as a crisis that could lead to a loss of biodiversity. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the prime minister of Mauritius, asked for help from France, the former colonial ruler, on 7 August. French president Emmanuel Macron responded to the request by dispatching military and civilian equipment as well as personnel from France's overseas territory of Reunion. The first, Poulter said, affects data collection the ability to make sure weve heard from everybody, not just complete information but accurate information. This is a reference to one of the enumerators fall-back techniques: if they cant get information about a household directly, they attempt to get it indirectly. That can be from interviewing neighbors, their own observations or public records. Ideally, said Poulter, You really want to hear from the people who live in the household. Moving up the deadline for the final report, Poulter said, reduces the time the Census Bureau has for all the data processing. Current law requires delivery of the final report by Dec. 31, but earlier in the year it appeared Congress would move it back because of the COVID-19 disruptions. Interest in that has waned, although Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, whose state has the lowest response rate in the country, has asked for more time. Lyons Echo-hawk said she had planned live group events to spur participation by undercounted groups, but COVID-19 torpedoed those. Now she is doing a lot of social media and local radio and trying to build networks among the target demographics. NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (BAYRY) Class Period: 5/23/2016 - 3/19/2019 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: September 14, 2020 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-bayer-aktiengesellschaft-american-depositary-shares-securities-litigation FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) Class Period: 2/21/2017 - 7/21/2020 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: September 28, 2020 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-firstenergy-corp-securities-litigation If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. Today, the people had closed off the interstate road at Engels district of Alaverdi town. Aren Mkrtchyan, a member of the majority My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, noted about this in a Facebook post. "The citizens wanted to know a timeframe for the asphalting of the M6 interstate roads Alaverdi section, which is under repair. The other requirement was the regular operation of the water trucks, as rising dust [from the repair] causes inconvenience to residents. After talking to Minister [of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure] Suren Papikyan, I met with the citizens in Engels district. Regarding the asphalting, I have noted a clear timeframe; an appropriate instruction will be given for intensive work of the water trucks. The interstate road is open," Mkrtchyan added. Jeffrey Mathews, 36, was arrested by the Metro Nashville Police Department on 3 counts of violating health orders by hosting a gathering in excess of 25 people A Tennessee dentist has pleaded guilty for his part in throwing a massive house party attended by hundreds of people earlier in the month. Jeffrey Mathews, 36, was arrested on Tuesday by the Metro Nashville Police Department on three counts of violating health orders by hosting a gathering in excess of 25 people. Charges were filed against Mathews and 40-year-old Christopher Eubank, who has not been located as of Friday morning, after video of the wild East Nashville party first circulated on August 1, WKRN reports. Organizers had put out flyers advertising 'The Fashion House' at least one week before it took place and neighbors were alarmed it wasn't prevented or shut down. No more than 25 people were allowed to gather during the current phase 2 of shutdowns in Tennessee. Videos of the party first circulated on August 1. Charges were filed for Mathews and 40-year-old Chris Eubanks soon after. Eubanks has not been found Footage showed people spilling out of the building which had High Roller-branded gazebos erected and social media posts showed it was packed with people inside. 'Where is the enforcement? Where are the services I am being asked to pay 30 to 35% more in property taxes to pay for?' Hunter Kelly asked in the description of a YouTube video that showed the event. One attendee said they were there from 11pm until 3am when police arrived. People only started leaving if their vehicle was being towed for parking violations. The organizers had put out flyers advertising the event at least one week before it took place and neighbors were alarmed it wasn't prevented or shut down Grover Collins, the attorney representing Mathews, said his client 'has accepted responsibility for his involvement' in the party. Collins shared that the conditional plea to one count of violating an emergency order came with a punishment of eight hours of 'COVID-19 related' public service work. It will also come with three months of unsupervised probation, according to court documents. Collins added in a statement: 'My client is fully cognizant of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and is remorseful for his actions.' The ruling AIADMK on Saturday asserted that all important policy decisions like the one related to the Chief Ministerial candidate would be taken by the high command democratically and appealed to cadres to work unitedly. Seeking to end the debate on chief ministerial candidate for 2021 Assembly polls and following the flutter caused by posters that clamoured for 'OPS for CM', in Theni district, the AIADMK restrained cadres and leaders from expressing their views in the media on the matter. The party said airing views on the issue would "serve no purpose," and warned of action against those violating the diktat. The gag order followed multiple meetings senior ministers had with chief minister K Palaniswami, who is AIADMK's co-coordinator and Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam the party's coordinator, at the two leaders residences here in quick succession. Without explicitly mentioning the CM candidate controversy, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, in a joint statement, said: "In the past few days, some opinions expressed by party office bearers have become a subject of debate." They said such remarks were unwarranted and had no background to it. The duo wanted functionaries to avoid such controversies again, and asked them to follow the "military- like" discipline that they had maintained when late Jayalalithaa was at the helm of affairs. Instead, functionaries should, "explain the achievements of the government and the ongoing schemes to the people," the duo urged. "All important policy decisions of the party (apparently indicating the CM candidate choice for 2021 Assembly polls), the stand in respect of alliances, will be taken by the party leadership by following Amma's footsteps in a democratic way," they said, adding such decisions would reflect the voice of the cadres. Also, they asked workers and leaders to work unitedly and avoid giving an opportunity to the "avarice" of rivals. "It is time for everyone to work together to win a series of victories again without giving a chance to the greed of those who think they have defeated us." The statement has put to rest speculation on the Chief Ministerial candidate for the moment. Over ten ministers including D Jayakumar, S P Velumani, P Thangamani, Dindigul C Srinivasan, K A Sengottaiyan, held a discussion for nearly one-and-a-half hours with Panneerselvam. The ministerial delegation then called on Palaniswami and had a detailed discussion. The ministers shuttled between the residences of the two leaders and they declined to talk to the waiting media persons. The CM candidate controversy in the AIADMK was triggered by the remarks of Cooperation Minister Sellur K Raju who days ago claimed that AIADMK MLAs elected in the polls would decide their chief ministerial candidate. Dairy minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji tweeted on August 11 that K Palaniswami would lead the AIADMK in the 2021 election. On Saturday, posters hailing Panneerselvam as the only Chief Ministerial candidate blessed by late party supremo J Jayalalithaa for the 2021 Assembly elections, appeared on the walls at several places in Theni district the home district of deputy chief minister - creating a flutter in the party. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 09:53:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) on Friday urged the Lebanese government to address the economic and social crisis in the wake of the deadly explosions that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut last week. In a video conference urgently called by Josep Borrell, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, the ministers demanded the Lebanese authorities rebuild trust and reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund about financial support. The ministers considered it essential to "have a capable, representative and accountable Lebanese government that delivers on a credible reform agenda, including good governance, accountability and transparency," according to a press release issued after the meeting. They also called for an independent and credible investigation of the blasts, which left at least 171 dead and thousands more injured and displaced. The 27-member bloc has offered an initial aid worth 33 million euros (about 39 million U.S. dollars), and pledged an additional amount of 30 million euros (35.5 million dollars) to address the urgent needs. Over 250 rescuers from EU members have been deployed on the ground in Lebanon. Enditem President Trumps newest coronavirus adviser is a former Stanford radiologist and health care policy specialist who advocates safely reopening the economy and schools now, a stance that puts him at odds with more cautious policymakers in California and even his own university, which this week backed off plans to offer in-person instruction this fall. Dr. Scott Atlas is the former chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center and currently a health care policy fellow at the Hoover Institution, a right-leaning think tank at Stanford. He faced criticism in his first week on the job because hes not an infectious disease expert, and from some in the Bay Area who called his approach to reopening naive and dangerous. Atlas, who previously advised other presidential candidates, said Trump asked him to help out. Because of my combined medical science background as well as health policy background, and I think the way I can communicate in a logical way and translate that into something people can understand, I was asked to help out, Atlas said in an interview with The Chronicle on Friday. The job of somebody in health care policy is to have an impact on health care policy, not just to write papers, and because I want to help the country and I want to help the president both formulate the best policy and articulate the best way to the American people. Atlas said he and the federal government are taking a data-based, strategic, tailored, targeted approach. He told The Chronicle Friday that COVID-19 is very dangerous for high risk-individuals, mainly the elderly and people with other health conditions, and not very dangerous for low-risk people. He wants to protect the most vulnerable, while reopening schools and the economy very safely, although he didnt explain in the 15-minute interview how that would be done. The goal of stopping COVID-19 cases is not the appropriate goal, Atlas told Fox News on Aug. 3 during a conversation about college students. The goal is simply two-fold, to protect the people who have a serious problem or die and to stop hospital overcrowding. There should never be and there never is a goal to stop college students from getting an infection they have no problem with. If there are high-risk college students, of course, we need to protect them, he added. And we need to protect professors. People who are elderly and have other health conditions are significantly more likely to get seriously sick and die from the virus: Eight out of 10 coronavirus-related deaths in the country have been among adults 65 or older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But infection rates among young people are skyrocketing, and although theyre less likely to suffer severe outcomes, more are landing in the hospital. A new report by the CDC warned that infected young people without chronic conditions can still have long-term symptoms. Children have even lower rates of infections and hospitalizations, with 8 out of 100,000 infected kids ending up in the hospital compared with 165 out of 100,000 adults, according to a recent CDC report. One in 3 kids hospitalized were admitted to intensive care units. Children and youth can also spread the virus, with another study published in JAMA Pediatrics reporting that kids under the age of 5 can carry high viral loads. Infectious disease expert Dr. Robert Siegel, also from Stanford, said that Atlas approach is dangerous and his logic is faulty. While his goals of protecting high-risk populations and avoiding overcrowding are laudable, his plan for achieving these goals is completely at odds with what is known about the epidemiology of this virus, he said. If we want to protect those who are most at risk we need to drive the prevalence as low as possible, preferably to zero. If we let the virus run rampant among those with a low risk of dying, others will die. Dr. George Rutherford at UCSF said Atlas approach is naive, citing data that showed as infection rates rose among young people in Florida, they did the same among the elderly. You cant pick and choose. I think we know from Sweden that you cant protect the elderly and let the infection run wild, Rutherford said. Sweden, which didnt implement strict lockdown measures, experienced a high death rate and economic setbacks. Atlas denied that his approach is like Swedens and strongly rejected any suggestion that he, the president or the White House are promoting a herd immunity strategy. Herd immunity is achieved when a majority of the population gets infected and inoculated, slowing the spread of the disease among others. But to do that, between 60% and 80% of people would have to get COVID-19, according to experts, which could cause widespread death. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration has taken a cautious approach to reopening, after more aggressive moves earlier this summer were followed by a sharp and steady increase in cases and deaths. 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. Atlas joined the White House team after the presidents recent criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, infectious disease experts leading the administrations coronavirus response. The new arrival said he complements them. Im not hired to be an immunologist, Atlas said. Theres plenty of super talented people already here with that. ... Im not here to replace anyone, by the way, Im here to work with people. These people are working their tails off 24/7 to do the right thing here. A Chicago native, Atlas has lived in Stanford since 1998. Atlas said that during his 25-year practice as a neuroradiologist across the country, he acquired knowledge in multiple disciplines, including infectious diseases, while working with other doctors. During the pandemic, he said, hes been writing, researching and working with epidemiologists. John Cogan, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution who has known Atlas for about a dozen years, said Atlas is a terrific colleague. Hes very thoughtful, always willing to discuss policies and research, very collaborative, very open-minded, very engaging, Cogan said. Hes a very careful researcher. His conclusions invariably come from his analysis and he doesnt go beyond what can be confidently concluded from the data and analysis. Atlas on Friday pointed to shortened hospital stays and progress on vaccines as reasons to be cautiously optimistic. I dont think the American people want to be afraid, he said. They want to understand whats going on. An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Dr. Atlas as a current Stanford radiologist. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Catherine Ho and Erin Allday contributed to this report. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday dismissed another petition filed against the declaration of Douye Diri as governor of Bayelsa State. The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Vijay Opuama of the Liberation Movement and held that the petition lacked merit. The tribunal in the judgment read by its chairman, Justice Muhammad Sirajo, held that there is no inconsistency in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate of the fourth respondent, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjapko and his university degree certificate. It held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegation of certificate forgery against Ewhhrudjakpo, nothing that the petitioner failed to call the person whose certificate he alleged the fourth respondent presented. It also held that both the governor and his deputy, Ewhrudjakpo were qualified to contest the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state, adding that contrary to claim of the petitioner, they did not have to resign their position as senators before contesting for the election. The tribunal further held that both the governor and the deputy governor scored the majority of valid votes in the election. The petition is dismissed for lacking in merit, Justice Sirajo declared. KanyiDaily had earlier reported that the tribunal had dismissed two petitions against Governor Diris election as the state governor. A Byron Bay Instagram influencer has hit back at a magazine article which shamed her and other 'murfers' - mums who surf. Courtney Adamo was featured in the 2019 'The Coast of Utopia' Vanity Fair article which pondered whether her picture perfect life was the real deal. 'From the looks of Instagram, Courtney Adamo and the surfing mamas of Byron Bay are living the dream. Can it be real?' the article questioned. Not so perfect: Byron Bay Instagram influencer Courtney Adamo has hit back at a magazine article which shamed her and other 'murfers' - mums who surf. One year on, the mum-of-five has spoken out about the disappointing article, claiming that she was unaware that it would be presented in a negative way. 'It was pretty shameful of them to put an article up that set out to perpetuate this really nasty cycle of judgement of women. Its not what the world needs,' she told Stellar magazine. Courtney boasts close to 280k followers on Instagram, where she features posts of her well-behaved children and sunny life in Byron Bay. On Saturday, she explained that she's received a lot of criticism over her posts in the past but admits that they don't show the whole picture. Social media star: Courtney boasts close to 280k followers on Instagram, where she features posts of her well-behaved children and sunny life in Byron Bay 'I understand the criticism that I only put up photos of a pretty house and well-dressed children, and everything looks sunny all the time,' she said. 'But I only think to get my phone out and take a photo when a moment is happy. Im not thinking, "My kids are fighting or the dog just pooed on the floor in the kitchen, Im going to take a photo of this."' The entrepreneur went on to say that she is often 'attacked' for 'looking perfect', but she insists that she isn't trying to pretend to be anything she is not. Family first: Courtney and Michael, share children Easton, 15, Quin, 13, Ivy, 11, Marlow, 7, and Wilkie, 3 (all pictured) 'Im not trying to put out a falsely perfect image,' she said. 'My life isnt perfect. My kids drive me crazy. Its not always easy, but I am really happy. I shouldnt be punished for that.' After spending 12 years in London in 2015 Courtney and her husband Michael decided to pack up the family and embark on an 18-month gap year. Criticised: The entrepreneur went on to say that she is often 'attacked' for 'looking perfect' on Instagram, but she insists that she isn't trying to pretend to be anything she is not. Pictured: Courtney and her daughter The family eventually settled in their current hometown of Bangalow on the New South Wales north coast. She and Michael, share children Easton, 15, Quin, 13, Ivy, 11, Marlow, 7, and Wilkie, 3. Courtney founded the online parenting portal Babyccino back in the early 2000s and has since become an Instagram influencer. To read Courtney's full interview, see Sunday's issue of Stellar Magazine. MOROCCO A 52-year-old Shelby woman was airlifted to an Illinois hospital Friday after authorities say the woman failed to yield the right of way. Officials say Bobette Hoover, 52, of Shelby, was driving a 2006 Dodge van northbound on 200 East when she failed to stop for a 2002 Ford van traveling westbound through the intersection of Ind. 115 and 200 East. Newton County responders were called out to the scene of the two-vehicle crash in Morocco at 10:45 a.m. Friday. A caller told dispatchers one of the vehicles involved had three juveniles inside. The driver of the 2002 Ford van was identified as Ronald Anderson, 60, of Morocco. All other individuals had minor injuries or refused treatment, police said, and the roadway was reopened at 12:09 p.m. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. The United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly rejected a US-sponsored resolution today that aimed to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran. The Security Councils failure to act decisively in defense of international peace is inexcusable, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement late today. We will work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons. A 13-year-old conventional arms embargo on Iran is set to expire in October as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which removed most international sanctions in exchange for Iran scaling back its nuclear activity. The United States has been heavily lobbying its peers on the council to keep weapons ban going past its expiration date. The Dominican Republic was the lone council member to join the United States in support of the resolution. Unsurprisingly, Russia and China, which enjoy close ties with Tehran, voted against the embargo extension. The remaining 11 countries abstained. Even if the resolution had won the nine votes necessary for passage, either Russia's or China's no vote would have scuttled the measure. The resolution voted on by the 15-member council was watered down from the initial measure, which among other things, included a provision that would have allowed countries to inspect cargo going to and from Iran. The revised resolution was pared down to just four paragraphs calling for the weapons ban to be extended until the Security Council decides otherwise. The United States had hoped to win over the Europeans, who share the Trump administrations concerns that Iran is not living up to its obligations in the nuclear pact. But Germany, France and the United Kingdom, all signatories to the deal, wanted to ensure its survival and feared Iran would walk away from it altogether had the United States gotten its way today. The Trump administration may now try to invoke the nuclear accords so-called snapback mechanism as US officials have repeatedly threatened to do if their resolution was not successful. The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), allows for a return of sanctions through a complex process if Iran violates its obligations and a JCPOA participant files a complaint to the UN Security Council. Critics say the United States lacks the legal authority to trigger this mechanism because it quit the accord in 2018. The Trump administration argues it is technically still a party to the deal. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, tweeted after todays vote that the failed resolution was further evidence of US isolation on the world stage. US must learn from this debacle. Its attempt to 'snapback' sanctions is illegal, and was rejected by int'l community, as was evident today, he said. Since the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, Iran has steadily enriched uranium beyond what is allowed. Tehran insists its nuclear program is used for peaceful purposes only. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Odessa Regional Medical Center chief medical officer Dr. Rohith Saravanan said Friday it is important for children to be in school and as health care providers they have to be prepared for an increase in cases when school starts. Kids need to be in school, they need the education ... everything that school provides. It has more to do than just the educational aspect, it affects the economy, it affects the social statuses within our community, he said. It affects so many different parts of our community. It is important to get them back to school the safest way possible, which is why we have all these protocols and the phase-in. Even those going back there will be masking, social distancing, plexiglass and face shields in place. They are going to take every precaution. Regional Assam asks pvt schools to cut 25 % fee Guwahati, Aug 15 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/15/2020 10:28:54 AM IST The Assam government on Friday has asked all the private schools to slash 25 per cent fee from pre-school to Class XII standard from May till the schools open, Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Sarma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, in a tweet said: In view of Covid-19 pandemic, we have advised all private educational institutions to offer at least 25 per cent concessions in monthly fees (pre-primary to XII), from May 1 till formal opening of schools. These institutions are saving substantial expenditure under various heads. Assam government Principal Secretary in-charge of Elementary and Secondary Education Department B. Kalyan Chakravarthy also issued an order asking the private schools to cut minimum 25 per cent fee from pre-school to Class XII from May till the schools open. The order said: In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Assam government is compelled to close the schools and colleges from March 16 and all the activities were under lockdown from March 23. The income of all the citizens of Assam has been badly affected and they are not in a position to afford payment of school fees till the lockdown period is over. Chakravarthy in his order said that due to the closure of education institutions, the non-government educational institutions are saving substantial expenditure on various heads, including energy charges on electrical consumptions, transport and vehicular operation, cost of meal in case of residential and boarding schools, sports and games, management and operation of laboratories, computers, reduction of expenses on cleaning and maintenance. Minister Sarma earlier said in Guwahati that the Assam government is keen to reopen educational institutions from September 1 but it would depend on the decision and directives of the Centre. He said that all teachers and employees of the schools will have to get themselves tested for coronavirus before August 30. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Much like her time investigating the Onate protest shooting, Kelsey Lueckenhoffs testimony was short lived. The Albuquerque police detective and sole witness called by Steven Bacas defense attorney spent about a half hour testifying during a probable cause hearing Friday afternoon. Her testimony was cut short by the judge after Lueckenhoff began to wade into secondhand accounts from undercover officers in a case that was taken from her in less than 24 hours due to concerns of a botched investigation. Following a two-day hearing, state District Judge Cristina Jaramillo rejected one of the more serious charges, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, a third-degree felony, connected to a woman who was violently thrown to the ground by Baca. Jaramillo lowered that charge to misdemeanor aggravated battery, saying she took issue with the great bodily harm element as the woman reported bruising, but didnt seek medical attention and, instead, even went to the Frontier to eat afterward. But Jaramillo found probable cause to charge Baca with the other felony charge of aggravated battery with great bodily harm, and misdemeanor counts of battery and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon in the shooting of Scott Williams and assault of two women during a protest outside the Albuquerque Museum on June 15. The court finds that there are some significant inconsistencies in the witnesses testimony versus the pictures and the video that will have to be argued before a jury, Jaramillo said. The incident garnered national attention after protesters attempting to fell the controversial Juan de Onate statue faced off with the New Mexico Civil Guard, a heavily armed civilian militia, outside the Old Town-area museum. The situation escalated, culminating in Williams being shot and riot police swooping in to quell the crowd. The next day, the case was taken from Detective Lueckenhoff, and APD as a whole, at the request of 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez due to the DAs concerns about APDs handling of the investigation and protest response. During Friday afternoons hearing, Lueckenhoff said it wasnt a typical scenario when she was called to a briefing by undercover detectives from the protest before viewing video and doing interviews. Lueckenhoff said she filed the complaint on Baca at 5 a.m. on June 16 and, by 1 p.m., she was somewhat notified that the case had been handed off to New Mexico State Police. Torrez said Lueckenhoffs complaint omitted crucial details such as Baca assaulting women in the crowd and that APDs riot-clad response possibly compromised key evidence and witnesses. Minutes into the detectives testimony, prosecutor John Duran began a string of objections as defense attorney Diego Esquibel asked for Lueckenhoffs analysis of the video of the protest calling it hearsay and an opinion. Jaramillo overruled many of Durans objections, but stopped Lueckenhoffs testimony when the detective began giving the secondhand narrative of undercover officers. We have reached the conclusion of this officers investigation and I dont think anything more would benefit this court, Jaramillo said. I know what youre asking and I do believe that would be going into an area that we cannot go into. After Lueckenhoff was excused, Duran argued the intent of Baca to injure Williams whose back was turned and the two women. Esquibel argued those conflicts arose while Baca was defending himself against an angry mob and trying to help a counterprotester. The people who were there were not there for a peaceful rally as they say, he said. The video shows people walking around with bats, chains, the fact that there was a pickaxe there. Theres not a peace, love, happiness vibe from everybody. Esquibel said Baca oftentimes seen standing around during video didnt pull out a gun until two people were holding him down and doesnt fire until hes confronted with a skateboard-wielding Williams. In his rebuttal, Duran painted a much different portrait of the scene. Who arrived at this rally with bear spray concealed, who arrived at this rally with a firearm concealed and who laid hands on who during the course of this rally? he asked. This individual showed up for this exclusive purpose, he didnt show up to counter protest, he showed up to make a ruckus. By now, anyone who has heard about COVID-19 has also heard the world was unprepared to respond to a pandemic. Check that: fully, completely, ridiculously unprepared. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. By now, anyone who has heard about COVID-19 has also heard the world was unprepared to respond to a pandemic. Check that: fully, completely, ridiculously unprepared. Basic medical equipment and supplies were not stockpiled in sufficient quantities. Logistical plans for the operation of essential services, such as hospitals, were not in place. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Richardson International Airport will start temperature screening for all departing passengers in September. (John Woods/Winnipeg Free Press files) However, of all the shortcomings, the inability to make air travel safer may stand out. The coronavirus did not spread by shipping container, prevailing winds or ocean currents; the virus was a stowaway, carried by air travellers as they zipped across the globe. The phenomenon was aided significantly by the fact nobody knew exactly when and how to control air travel to contain the virus. Although it may seem remarkable, even now governments and corporations are struggling to introduce consistent measures to ensure travellers do not inadvertently spark a new cluster of COVID-19. "The awful truth is, a halfyear after the novel coronavirus first crashed upon Canadian shores, there is still no comprehensive national/international protocol to make air travellers less likely to spread COVID19." Airlines and airports have introduced pandemic safety measures: capacities were, at first, severely limited; passengers are required to wear non-medical face masks in airports and on-board; many airports now do temperature checks and other screening measures before passengers are allowed into the terminal. (Winnipeg Richardson International Airport will start temperature screening for all departing passengers in September.) But there is so much more that can and should have been done. Such as providing much more complete, real-time information about airline passengers. Currently, most airlines do not disclose who is actually on a particular flight. The Public Health Agency of Canada does require detailed passenger information for international flights, but once those people enter the domestic network, we lose track of them. The airlines say more detailed information can be provided by request, but it takes a day or more to produce which leads to intolerable delays in reporting confirmed COVID-19 cases among travellers. This inexplicable gap in information has prompted British Columbia to urge federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau to speed up discussions with the airlines on better access to passenger manifests, to aid contact tracing and public reporting. It is hardly the only shortcoming. Officials are also failing to properly inform arriving passengers about local quarantine regulations and force them to undertake basic public health hygiene before leaving the airport. By now, it's obvious travel is the No. 1 underlying factor in new infections in Manitoba. As with the recent Brandon cluster, one returning traveller who did not quarantine properly can kick off a chain reaction that results in dozens of other infections. Although these instances could be the result of willful blindness (there was lots of information available, they just chose to ignore it) or language or cultural barriers, some travellers do not know what they should be doing after they land. A spokesman for the Winnipeg Airports Authority said the facility currently handles about 2,000 passengers a day, equally split between departing and arriving flights. That is 1,000 people getting off planes every day in Winnipeg. The WAA spokesman said, initially, airport staff handed out pamphlets containing all health and safety information but found people were reluctant to approach and accept the physical document. The airport now relies on signage and announcements to pass on information which is good, but hardly comprehensive. Could technology help fill the information gap? The federal government has launched the ArriveCAN contact tracing app that allows passengers arriving in Canada on international flights or crossing the U.S. border to confirm identities, contact information, and "voluntary updates on your quarantine compliance and the developments of any symptoms." Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Although ArriveCAN was devised to speed entry, it would seem obvious to make this a standard feature for all travellers. People already rely heavily on smartphones for plane tickets and travel updates; would it really be that difficult to make the app a requirement for anyone boarding a plane? There is also a lack of attention to hand hygiene. Epidemiologists believe rigorous hand washing (soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds) can dramatically reduce the transmission of all viruses. However, most studies show only about 20 per cent of travellers in airports have met this standard. Should airports require passengers to pass through hand-washing stations before boarding planes and, perhaps, leaving an airport? It's a logistical challenge, but the payoff is huge: epidemiological modelling found if 60 per cent of people passing through airports cleaned their hands, virus transmission could be cut by up to 70 per cent. The awful truth is, a half-year after the novel coronavirus first crashed upon Canadian shores, there is still no comprehensive national/international protocol to make air travellers less likely to spread COVID-19. The collective failure to prepare for the pandemic was bad enough. But failing to do the obvious things to make everyone safer after the pandemic arrived could prove to be unforgivable. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Specialists of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, who took part in eliminating the consequences of the explosion in Beirut, returned to Russia. Il-76 and Superjet planes of the Ministry of Emergencies of the Russian Federation landed at the Zhukovsky airport in the Moscow region. 150 specialists of the department - rescuers, doctors, dog handlers, psychologists and others - returned from Lebanon. Special vehicles, an airmobile hospital, rescue and other equipment were also delivered to Moscow. After passing through customs control, the specialists were greeted by the orchestra and colleagues with flowers, TASS reports. Mandarina launched Nelum Kole: a menu with authentic Sri Lankan flare View(s): Guest can always count on great food from Mandarina Hotel, Kollupitiya. Now, Mandarina has once again innovated a true Sri Lankan classic. Mandarina Hotel has completely revamped the iconic Nelum Kole meal concept to suit the modern day city dining. Mandarina Colombo, launched the authentic Sri Lankan menu Nelum Kole on the 10th of August 2020, whereby the city hotel is ready to host guests to a tantalising local lunch menu that would become a novel experience for food lovers. Guests will experience the true meaning of lunch served on a Nelum Kole, in the midst of a star quality restaurant backdrop. The whole new Nelum Kole menu promises mouthwatering cuisine. The secret of the rich flavours and their mastery in the local dishes is because of the local ingredients that are used. The guests get to choose from three different types of local rice, a range of 10 rich curries, 5 mouth-watering meat dishes and not to mention any condiment you could think of.In the post Covid situation, its needless to point out that not only the hospitality industry, but also a sub section of the society whose livelihoods were based upon the industry have been affected. Mandarina Colombo, as a part of the leading Sri Lankan conglomerate, Macksons Holdings is on the strong footing that our post Covid revamp mission is not only catering to the reinstatement of our hotels commitment towards the local food culture, but also as an avenue to give back to the society. We have initiated several attractive promotions including the new Nelum Kole menu said Dinesh Hettiarachchi, General Manager, Mandarina Colombo. Mandarinas local suppliers are scattered around the country, this includes the raw materials that are sourced from Kumbukgete in the North Western Province along with daily vegetable and lotus leaves being supplied from the Colombo Suburb, Bandaragama, and many more. Especially through the new Nelum Kole menu, our lunch will offer an array of authentic local cuisine. Hence, we do believe that as a local organisation, at this context we have been able to contribute to the Sri Lankan community at our level best as a part of our CSR commitments. Furthermore, I need to add that for a Hotel, the food is the key value addition, hence we are very proud of the quality and unique taste of the food that has been prepared by our chefs who have over 60 years of combined experience in the industry being sure to tantalize the taste buds of our guests added Hettiarachchi. About a dozen protesters stood outside the Pennsylvania governors mansion on N. Front Street in Harrisburg Saturday wearing masks and holding signs to let Gov. Tom Wolf know they think teachers should be part of educational conversations. The campaign Drawing the Line Campaign is a new endeavor to connect teachers nationwide. It has nine demands teachers say they need to serve students in a safe, healthy, effective, equitable way, according to the campaigns website. Problems in education are solvable, but only if decision-makers start to listen to what teachers are trying to say, said local educator and organizer Sarah Steinhauer. This is the root problem that has been magnified and exacerbated by a pandemic, Steinhauer said. And, the coronavirus pandemic response, were seeing it as highly indicative of these root problems. Demands include center justice and equality, fund school fairly, balance leadership, ensure safety for all, eliminate high-stakes testing, support emotional and mental health, hold administrators accountable, regulate professional expectations, and foster a healthy work culture. Planning needs to include teachers, and unions are not necessarily able to ensure safe working environments because of legal loopholes. Steinhauer said. The campaign is not linked to any unions, she said. It is not against unions. It is just an effort to gather all teachers because there is really no reason that we need to be bound to specific unions, although we need unions for our protection. The campaign statement noted, Wolfs recent decision to allow each local school district to decide its own school safety plans left educators extremely vulnerable. From her viewpoint, Steinhauer said no one can agree on whats safe for teachers and students. When you exclude teachers from the conversation, problems become hard to solve, she said. We are simply stating that we need to be part of the conversation. Drawing the line is meant to define teachers roles more clearly, meaning what is and what is not their jobs, as well as create boundaries for the health and safety of teachers and students. Teachers want to also provide input when crafting policy and curriculum development, Steinhauer said. Having spent 15 years in education, teaching at cyber, public, and charter schools, the lack of agency has led to rules being defined by administrators, lawyers, and politicians who dont understand what really goes on in a classroom, she continued. We have intimate knowledge of our students, especially during the pandemic, Steinhauer said. No teacher wants to go into a school, where they are afraid of our students. We are looking to leadership for help so we can support our students. When those back-to-school plans didnt involve educators, it took away our efforts to create safety. Tanya Sepela, who has been in education for 14 years, said she agrees with the campaigns efforts. If teachers rally together, we could make a lot of change, Sepela said. We need to be allowed to speak for ourselves, but were not given that opportunity. Were often expected to do a lot with a little, and few resources. Going back into the classroom, this is one of those instances. Teachers need to be included in conversations, instead of told what to do. Protesters will continue to meet at 2 p.m. every Saturday for 20 minutes at the governors mansion to draw people to the campaign. To learn more about the campaign, visit their website at wearedrawingtheline.org. READ MORE 5 students at Gettysburg College test positive for coronavirus Pa. spells out when classrooms should be closed or cleaned if students, staff test positive for COVID-19 When could your school close because of coronavirus? Pa. releases recommendations MEMBERS of the public are being given the opportunity to shape Limerick for the future ahead of the city and countys first ever combined development plan. The plan will be the blueprint for the physical and socio-economic development of Limerick over a six year period up to 2028 and beyond and will set out the overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the city and county as a whole. The Limerick Development Plan is the first combined plan for Limerick City and County since the merger of the two local authorities in 2014 and is one of the most important functions of the council. Members of the public, children, businesses, community groups and other interested stakeholders are being invited to give their views on the future of Limerick. The publication of the Issues Paper this Saturday is the first step in a 99-week process in the making of the Limerick Development Plan. By law the Council must have its Development Plan agreed and published within this timeframe. This consultation document presents an overview of the main planning and development issues in Limerick. The Limerick Development Plan presents an opportunity to the general public to shape Limerick for the future and have your say when it comes to important issues such as housing, economic development, community and heritage, and seeks to encourage public debate on what broad issues should be considered in the new plan. Some of the questions that will be addressed throughout the development plan process include: How can we bring people and economic activity back into our city? How can we create compact sustainable communities? How can we reinforce our towns and villages? Where should new housing be located? How can we protect our heritage? Where should new retail be located? Should we increase agricultural sites? What about the climate and sustainable development, provision of public and sustainable transport and the ability to build one-off housing? Cllr Michael Collins, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick said: The Limerick Development Plan process encourages public engagement and we want to start the conversation on the issues that affect you. This new Limerick Development Plan will provide the blueprint for the development of Limerick, physically, economically and socially in a sustainable manner. Dr Pat Daly, Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council said: This project is one of the most important and strategic functions of the Local Authority. The publication of the Issues Paper is the first step in the plan making process and it sets out some of the key issues for Limerick. We want to engage with the people of Limerick, so please have your say on the way you want Limerick to develop over the next decade and help shape the future of our Limerick. The Issues Paper is divided into eight themes and is guided by the UN Sustainable Goals, the National Planning Framework Project Ireland 2040 and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region. The themes are: People & Places Economic Development & Employment Connectivity Infrastructure Landscape Heritage & Green Infrastructure Social Community & Cultural Developments Climate Change & Flood Risk Environmental Assessments To get involved in the Limerick Development Plan, visit Limerick.ie/Limerick-Development-Plan. As part of the consultation process, Limerick City and County Council has created a virtual room where people can enter to get more information on the Limerick Development Plan, and submit their opinions and comments. A series of public meetings (strictly by appointment and adhering to Covid-19 guidelines) and a webinar are scheduled to discuss the Limerick Development Plan. A Virtual Room has been created to give members of the public more information on the plan. For all this information log on to limerick.ie. The Issues Paper is available in Limerick City and County Councils offices in Merchants Quay, and Dooradoyle, the Municipal Offices in Kilmallock, Newcastle West and Rathkeale, as well as the five libraries currently open to the public: Adare; Dooradoyle; Kilmallock; Newcastle West and Watch House Cross. The public consultation period is open until October 12, 2020 at 5pm. You can make a submission through the Councils consultation portal MyPoint | email: devplan@limerick.ie | post: Forward/ Strategic Planning, Corporate Headquarters, Limerick City and County Council, Merchants Quay, Limerick V94 EH90. Hotels in Ngo Huyen Street in Hanoi must stop running or turn themselves into low-cost hourly hotels to cope with the new wave of COVID-19. - VNS Photo Doan Tung Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa reopened the hotel in late May after social distancing orders ended, but now, with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hitting hard, she has decided to cut her losses and sell the hotel. Before the pandemic, Hoa hotels revenue was about VND250 million (US$10,800) per month but in the last five months of this year, she could barely afford to pay her operating bills and employees. The hotel she paid more than VND100 billion for three years ago is now on sale for VND67 billion. The more I stay, the more I lose. I see no future in this place in such a situation," she told Viet Nam News. After 99 days without community transmission, the pandemic returned in late July and hurt domestic tourism, making a bad situation worse for Hoa and other hotel owners. Foreigners account for 90 per cent of guests for many hotels in the Old Quarter. Several popular hotels in the Old Quarter have closed again after reopening and don't know when they'll be back, while other establishments that closed during the first wave will never return. Realty research firm Savills reported the pandemic has had a strong impact on the hotel market's performance in the capital, noting the occupation capacity of 3-5 star hotels only reached 21 per cent in the second quarter. Do Thu Hang, director of research and consultancy department at Savills, said the capacity of the hotel market supply in Ha Noi was nearly 10,000 rooms with 16 five-star hotels, 19 four-star hotels and 31 three-star hotels. However, two four-star hotels and eight three-star hotels in Hoan Kiem District were still closed. Hang said some new hotel projects had completed construction but developers have not yet decided to open. The People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District said before the pandemic, the district had 672 accommodation establishments including hotels, guest houses, motels and homestays but by the end of June 2020, there were only 405 establishments still operating. Despite a lack of official figures, most stakeholders reckon the second wave of the pandemic would have a greater impact on hotels than the first. Instead of closing, the Stelward Prima Hotel on Chan Cam Street has used its facilities to offer monthly rentals and film cafe services. According to the owner of the hotel Hostesk Nguyen, normally the price for one night was from VND700,000 to more than VND1 million, now they must offer rooms in the three-star hotel at VND6 million per month with full service. To retain employees, he has also turned some rooms in the hotel into a film cafe for local couples, asking VND200,000 to VND300,000 for the first two hours with two drinks and two snacks. Our rooms have big TVs with Netflix, now we have installed a good sound system with 5.1 surround sound and made them a cinema box. It's all to help my employees have things to do," he told Viet Nam News. Nguyen Thu Bich was selling iced tea in the lobby of Hotel Trendy on Lo Su Street and said she used to be the hotel's accountant, but now as the hotel is closed, the owner let her sell the tea. Still open for guests, Nguyen Van Hai, the receptionist of the nearby Hanoi Malo Hotel is also selling ice tea and sugarcane juice. There should be something to do to overcome this situation. It is still good to sell the juice here as it is in the Old Quarter with a lot of local tourists," he said. Some small hotels in the area have reduced room rates by up to 70 per cent, with many rooms on offer for between VND200,000 and VND400,000 per night to attract local customers instead of foreigners.

People began taking advantage of travel corridors - meaning they do not have to self-isolate for a fortnight on their return - as a way to take a break abroad, despite the threat of coronavirus.

Access to some countries have been granted, including Sweden this week, while others have been added to the banned list, including French Polynesia and Reunion.

Earlier this week, seven Greek islands were added to the banned list, while the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland were added last weekend.

According to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the government is making quarantine decisions based on - among other things - whether the weekly infection rate per 100,000 is higher than 20.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government would "be absolutely ruthless" about such measures, "even with our closest and dearest friends and partners" - such as France and Spain, which are now both on the quarantine list.

Sky News has looked at the data to see which countries you could still travel to - and which ones may be taken off the UK's safe list next.

At the start of September, there were 20 European countries already above the government's self-imposed threshold, while Ireland had a weekly rate close to 20 per 100,000.

However, the weekly COVID-19 infection rate was still below that rate in around 20 nations and poses less of a threat to British travellers.

But the weekly rate is not the only indicator the government is using.

Public Health England (PHE) told Sky News the risk assessment for each country is considered on an individual basis, and the weekly rate is weighted against several other factors.

These include trends in incidence and deaths, prevalence, and information on a country's testing capacity and positive test rate.

Government actions, the extent to which cases can be accounted for by a contained outbreak as opposed to more general transmission in the community, and an assessment of the quality of the data available will also each be taken into account.

Looking at trends, the number of cases is rising in many European countries. However, Spain, Germany, Poland, some Scandanavian countries and a few eastern European countries have reduced their rates.

PHE said the positive test rate - the proportion of tests with a positive result - is another crucial measure to understand the pandemic in each country.

A high positive rate might indicate that the cases found are just a proportion of all the cases in the country, but a rising trend in the positive rate might suggest that the virus is spreading faster.

According to the World Health Organisation, a positive rate of less than 5%, at least for the last two weeks, is an indicator that the epidemic is under control.

Popular British tourist destinations are more likely to have restrictions placed on them if their cases are on the rise, while other countries may not be placed on the quarantine list despite meeting all the conditions.

She revealed just last week that she's expecting her second child with her NRL star fiance, Tom Burgess. And on Saturday, pregnant WAG Tahlia Giumelli showed off her burgeoning baby bump. The 28-year-old model shared a mirror selfie on Instagram, posing up in a pair of shorts and a crop top. Bumping along nicely! On Saturday, pregnant WAG Tahlia Giumelli showed off her baby bump in a crop top The NRL WAG wrote in the caption: 'We are 100 per cent ready for summer.' Tahlia had her long locks tied up and off her face in a messy bun and went makeup free. Tahlia announced her second pregnancy last Saturday, posting a photo of herself as she showed off her bump with Tom and their one-year-old daughter, Sophie. 'Only months away': Tahlia announced her second pregnancy last Saturday, posting a photo of as she showed off her bump with Tom and their one-year-old daughter Sophie In the sweet image, little Sophie adorably reached out to touch her mother's belly. The doting mother wrote in the caption: 'Only months away from Sophie meeting her little brother or sister.' 'Can't wait to have a new addition join the family before the year is out,' she added. The young couple announced their engagement in December 2019, four months after Sophie's birth. Ready for baby number two! The doting mother wrote her young family 'can't wait to have a new addition join the family before the year is out' Tahlia confirmed the happy news on Instagram while proudly showing off her new diamond ring. She said the proposal was the 'perfect' ending to the year. The South Sydney Rabbitohs star proposed on a farm while the couple were on holiday celebrating their three-year anniversary. Their relationship first made headlines in April 2017, when The Daily Telegraph reported they had been quietly dating for at least six months. Chnnai : Severe cyclonic storm Vardah over the Bay of Bengal will make landfall near Chennai on Moday, the weather office said on Sunday as the coastal states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh brace to deal with it. The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, and southern Andhra Pradesh. Vardah lay centred at about 440 km east of Chennai and the system is expected to move westwards and cross Chennai by December 12 afternoon, S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said in Chennai. However, its intensity will get reduced considerably by the time it makes the landfall. The MeT office in Delhi has briefed the PMO and the Cabinet Secretariat on the cyclonic storm. K J Ramesh, Director General of the IMD said, I have personally spoken to chief secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, while the regional MeT offices are in constant touch with the Disaster Management Commissioners of these two states. Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Chennai said the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall in northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including the capital city. Southern Andhra Pradesh is also expected to receive heavy showers. Wind speed would be in the order of 40-50 kph, it said. Isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely to commence this evening in north Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puduchery and Southern Andhra Pradesh, the RMC said in its weather warning put on its website. Squally winds and rough to very rough sea conditions are expected along and off Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from tonight, it said. Storm surge of about 1 metre above astronomical tide is expected at the time of landfall, the RMC said. IMD said it may cause damage to thatched huts and power and communication lines. The damage may also be caused to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu; Ongole and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, the IMD said in its advisory. It also urged fishermen in Tamil Nadu, Puduchery and Andhra Pradesh coasts to keep away from the seas for the next 48 hours. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said NDRF teams have been deployed in Tamil Nadu on account of the cyclonic storm. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, each consisting of 38 rescuers, have been deployed in Chennai, Tiruvallore and Kancheepuram, the force said on its official Twitter handle. The teams have also been deployed at Nellore, Sulurpeta, Parkasham and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, it tweeted. The force has also asked people to get information from TV and radio on the cyclone and advised them to keep a stock of dry fruits and keep their mobile phones charged. Cyclone Nada, which later weakened, had made a landfall near Chennai in the first week of December, bringing much-needed showers in Tamil Nadu. The state has witnessed a below normal Southwest Monsoon as well as Northeast Monsoon, a phenomenon which brings rains in some parts of southern India, especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 23:51:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- London Mayor Sadiq Khan has given his approval to build major new film studios in Dagenham, a district and suburban town in east London. The multi-million dollar plans will see six sound stages, productions offices and set construction workshops built on the former industrial land, creating an estimated 1,200 jobs and contribute 46 million U.S. dollars a year to the local economy. Noting that the culture and creative industries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19, Khan hopes the film and TV industries can play a key role in the economic recovery. Dagenham became famous in the 1930s when the Ford Motor Company built a major car plant there, employing 40,000 people at its peak. Car production stopped in 2002, but an engine plant still employs over 1,800 people. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 10:17:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Eskom, a company running Uganda's Nalubaale hydropower plant in the eastern part of the country, is battling a floating island of weeds that threatens to interrupt power generation in the country. The floating hyacinth island measuring about three acres is approaching the power plant in the eastern Ugandan district of Jinja, the company tweeted late on Friday. "Our team, with support from Marine Police are observing it and will manage it to avoid any disruption to plant operations," the power company said. The country in April experienced a nationwide power blackout after floating weeds affected the Nalubaale power plant, one of the leading hydro power stations in the East African country. In May, Uganda embarked on clearing dozens of hectares of floating weeds. Lake Victoria, shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, has long been invaded by water hyacinth. Enditem More snow on the way in Pennsylvania; here's how much to expect Iran Condemns UAE-Israel Deal As 'Strategic Stupidity' Radio Farda August 14, 2020 Iran on Friday harshly attacked the normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced a day earlier, calling it a "strategic stupidity" and said the Palestinian people will not forgive Abu Dhabi. Iran is Israel's most radical foe in the region and the decision by the UAE to normalize ties with the Jewish state undercuts Tehran's campaign to rally Arab and Muslim countries against Israel. "The oppressed people of Palestine and all the free nations of the world will never forgive the normalizing of relations with the criminal Israeli occupation regime and the complicity in its crimes," the foreign ministry in Tehran said. The statement had a tone of implicit threats against the UAE. It called the normalizing of ties between the two countries a dangerous, "shameful" measure and warned the UAE against Israel interfering in the "political equations" of the Persian Gulf region. "The UAE government and other accompanying governments must accept responsibility for all the consequences of this action," the statement said. The state TV in a report said the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE revealed the "strategic stupidity" of the two countries and said it "will undoubtedly strengthen the axis of resistance in the region." The ministry statement called the deal a "dagger that was unjustly struck by the UAE in the backs of the Palestinian people and all Muslims." More radical and harsher reactions are expected from Iran, as clerical and military circles begin to address the development. With reporting by AP and AFP Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran- condemns-uae-israel-deal-as -strategic-stupidity-/30783186.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 On U.S. Seizure of Iranian Gasoline Intended for the Illegitimate Maduro Regime Press Statement Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson August 14, 2020 Today, the Department of Justice announced the successful seizure of over one million barrels of Iranian gasoline intended for the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela. The proceeds from these shipments would have allegedly benefitted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Our diplomacy, led by Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, was able to both halt these shipments and assist the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security in executing a U.S. seizure order for the gasoline cargo issued on July 2, 2020. We note that the proceeds from the Iranian gasoline, if successfully forfeited in U.S. courts, could now support the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund instead of those engaging in terrorism, like the IRGC. We are seeing more and more global shipping fleets avoiding the Iran-Venezuela trade due to our sanctions implementation and enforcement efforts. The United States remains committed to our maximum pressure campaigns against the Iranian and Maduro regimes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A heat wave rolling through the Southwest has forced intermittent power shut-offs in California, a state already struggling with wildfires and a recent surge in coronavirus cases, raising fears that the rising temperatures could turn deadly. Californians used so much electricity to try and stay cool Friday night that the agency that oversees much of the states power grid declared an emergency and, for the first time in 19 years, shut off power to hundreds of thousands of customers for several hours to avoid a damaging overload. There is little relief in sight. High temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit are expected in Los Angeles every day through Friday. In parts of California and Arizona, thermometers are cracking 110. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for much of the West Coast, including parts of Oregon and Washington State and extending inland to Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The sweltering heat comes as coronavirus cases are on the rise in California, which reported more than 65,000 new cases and about 950 related deaths over the past week. The health crisis may be deterring residents from gathering at cooling centers or at public places like malls and libraries, making people more susceptible to injury from the heat and driving up electricity demand, as those who have air-conditioners keep them running full blast. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The number of job seekers from Turkey in Azerbaijan increased significantly in the first seven months of 2020, Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR) told Trend. From January through July 2020, the number of Turkish citizens who visited Azerbaijan through ISKUR to find work increased by 11 times compared to the same period of 2019. In total, 110 Turkish citizens visited Azerbaijan via ISKUR over the reporting period. In total, 5,134 Turkish citizens went abroad via ISKUR over the reporting period, which is 53.9 percent less compared to the same period of 2019. In July 2020, 79,098 citizens were provided with jobs through this agency in Turkey. Some 32.5 percent of the total number of employed citizens accounted for women and 67.5 percent for men. In July 2020, 97 percent of the total number of citizens provided with jobs accounted for the private sector, ISKUR said. The number of unemployed in Turkey in the reporting month amounted to over 3.3 million people, 47.4 percent of whom are women, and 52.6 percent are men. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The property tax savings would support construction of a new hospital and redevelopment at the site of the existing hospital. Howard would be able to charge private developers more to lease land that would be considered more valuable with lower property tax bills, according to an analysis by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. NEW DELHI: The Indian Coast Guard conducted joint patrol and a training exercise with the Marine Police of the Eastern, Western coastal states and the islands for better synergy and coordination. During the training, Marine Police personnel were invited onboard the ICG vessels to provide hands-on training on issues like safety, navigation, maintenance, law enforcement, surveillance and investigation at seas within territorial waters. For strengthening Coastal Security in A&N Islands, @IndiaCoastGuard A&NI Unit started Joint Coastal Patrolling with Police Marine Force personnel on-board vessels. This will go a long way in promoting synergy and security.#TogetherAsOne #CoastalSecurity@Dependra_Pathak pic.twitter.com/aozUKL5Ath A & N Police (@AndamanPolice) August 15, 2020 Coast Guard has been training Marine Police since 2006-07 as the calls for developing the latters capabilities have become stronger. The Marine Police is required to patrol up to 12 nautical miles into the waters, as the states laws are applicable until that point. With regard to the Coast Guards areas of responsibility, their aircraft and vessels monitor and secure the 7516-km long coastline and Indias Exclusive Economic Zone that is over 2 million sq km long. Aimed at improving the skills and capabilities of the Marine Police of respective states, Joint Coastal Patrols enhance the Coastal Security mechanism. This ensures that an additional layer of security is in place at the level of the respective states. With the implementation of joint patrol, Marine Police personnel will be able to enhance their operational efficiency. In the East region alone, Coast Guard assets have been deployed at six locations - Vishakapatnam, Krishnapatnam, Chennai, Puducherry, Karaikal and Mandapam. Such joint efforts and training would address issues of communication, interoperability, and joint investigation procedures by Marine Police. Stuart Baker, a musician and voice actor from Albemarle who performs as Unknown Hinson, is in hot water after now-deleted Facebook posts insulting Dolly Parton and making what some felt were racist comments. Baker has toured for years using the stage name Unknown Hinson, a country troubadour who claims to be a vampire. The character is based on one he created for Charlotte public access TV in the 1990s. He also provides the voice of Early Cuyler, the lead character in "Squidbillies," a long-running Adult Swim cartoon co-created by Dave Willis, a Wake Forest alumnus. The posts, apparently made by Baker on Thursday, were in response to Parton speaking out in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement. The first post referred to her as "this freak t---ed, old Southern bimbo" and said "Remember, sl--, Rednecks made you a Millionaire!" A later post, apparently in response to outcry over the first post, said "Leave Liberals!! Unfriend me, please, because I don't want you UN-AMERICANS around!", and another said "Dolly Parton is a Self-Racist" and complained about not being able to speak his mind. New Delhi, Aug 15 : A decade after the Gangetic Dolphins were declared national aquatic animals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day announced 'Project Dolphin' to give a stronger impetus for conservation of the species in the lines of Project Tiger and Project Elephant. It envisages to address conservation concerns and empower the stakeholders like the river-dependent population in reducing the river pollution and allowing sustainable fishery and river-based other livelihood options through scientifically oriented conservation methods, the ministry said. "We will also launch 'Project Dolphin' for protecting ocean and Gangetic dolphins," he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has made elaborate plans to launch the 10-year project 'Gangetic Dolphin' led by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. The Gangetic River Dolphin is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli River system of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Platanista gangetica gangetica is a species of freshwater dolphins primarily found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. In India, these dolphins are sighted along deep river reaches in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. As per the assessment reports available, there are about 3,700 Gangetic River Dolphins in the Indian river systems. River dolphins act as ideal ecological indicators of healthy riverine ecosystems. They are the flagship species for monitoring the conservation status of rivers and were declared National Aquatic species in 2010. Implementation of the "Project Gangetic Dolphin" envisions a healthy river ecosystem not only protecting the biodiversity of the river but also taking into consideration the wellbeing of the people depending on its resources. "The project would also work in close tandem and cooperation and support of various Ministries/Departments/Scientific Organizations/Civil Society Organizations etc. like the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Rural Development, State Governments, etc," the ministry stated. Several million people depend on the River Ganga for their sustenance. Conservation of Gangetic Dolphins will, therefore, benefit not only the survival of the species, but also, the people dependent on the river system for their livelihood. Being an indicator species of river ecosystems, conservation of the Gangetic River Dolphin would also ensure controlling river pollution and thereby improving the availability of fishes and enhancing economies of local communities through sustainable fishery, eco-tourism and others. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:21:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: The Security Council on Aug. 14, 2020 fails to adopt a resolution tabled by the United States that would extend the current arms embargo against Iran. (Xinhua) The United States, which unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, has repeatedly claimed it will invoke the "snapback" mechanism within the Security Council should its draft resolution fail to pass. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday rejected a resolution that would extend the current arms embargo against Iran. The draft resolution, tabled by the United States, failed to get the required nine votes in favor for adoption. Besides the United States, only the Dominican Republic voted in favor of the draft. China and Russia voted against the text, and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including the European allies of the United States, abstained. "It's disappointing, but not surprising," U.S. President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in an interview with Fox News on Friday. "We have other tools in our toolkit," he said. "We're going to take some severe measures up at the UN, and I think you can expect snapback sanctions to come into play." "Snapback" refers to restoring all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran. Kelly Craft, the new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, leaves after a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Kelly Craft also said in a Friday statement that "the United States has every right to initiate snapback of provisions of previous Security Council resolutions." "In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise, and we will stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo," she added. Under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, the arms embargo against Iran expires on Oct. 18, 2020. The U.S. draft sought to extend the embargo indefinitely until the Security Council decides otherwise. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the voting result on Friday once again shows that unilateralism receives no support, and bullying will fail. Any attempt to place one's own interest above the common interests of the international community is a dead end. China urges the United States to abandon unilateralism, and stop unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, he said, and the United States should adopt a reasonable and realistic attitude, and return to the right track of observing the Iran nuclear deal and Security Council Resolution 2231. People wearing face masks walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 10, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua) The United States, which unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, has repeatedly claimed it will invoke the "snapback" mechanism within the Security Council should its draft resolution fail to pass, Zhang said. Having withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, the United States is no longer a participant in the deal and therefore ineligible to demand the Security Council invoke a snapback, he said. The overwhelming majority of the Security Council members believe that the U.S. attempt has no legal basis. Should the United States have its way in disregard of international opinion, its attempt is doomed to fail again, he said. The foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany also noted in June that they would not support any unilateral attempt to trigger a UN sanctions snapback. Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Your browser does not support the video tag. Nigel Broadbent interviews Kim Stolfer - President of Firearms Owners Against Crime. Many important issues are discussed, including: The trend to punish the responsible gun owner for the misdeeds of others. Educating legislators. Understanding the Second Amendment. Moms Demand Action, Everytown for Gun Safety etc and 2A attacks. UK gun confiscation (UK gun ownership was a privilege and not a right). Guns save lives. The media, 'assault' weapons, racism and 'white supremacy'. Challenging the media - local radio and newspapers. Preemption. The fight to safeguard the Second Amendment grows ever more vital, bearing in mind some of the egregious threats openly spoken during the run-up to an election. Last Friday, the Afghan officials began freeing of 400 dangerous Taliban prisoners as part of the peace deal, despite warnings by President Ashraf Ghani that it was not wise to do so. The Afghan government and the Taliban are at odds with each other because of the atrocities the Taliban has done in the past. Many of their militants have committed unspeakable acts of violence against civilians and government troopers and heinous acts of terrorism, according to 24 Matins. Outcry due to the decision A scheduled talk between the government and the Taliban was held. Many were not pleased knowing the ones that were just freed were the most violent. Most of them were part of attacks that have killed my Afghans and foreigners as well. That being said, their presence outside incarceration is not comforting to civilians and officials both. About 80 prisoners have been released on Thursday, according to Javid Faisal, the National Security Council spokesman. He tweeted that effort will be doubled to get the ceasefire talks going soon. He's also hoping for lasting peace and ceasefire for everyone, according to Al Jazeera. Release of the 400 was debated, especially those who were part of the worst attacks against civilians. Not all agree with the Kabul's decisions because many have lost family to these insurgents. Their attacks on civilians were reckless and civilians lost their lives. According to Bashir Naween, if the militants cannot reach peace, they will resolve to seek retribution. Many will die and their loved ones will suffer because of reckless actions. His brother was one of the slain with terror plots in Kabul. One of those who carried out the attack will be among those to be freed. Also read: Taliban Takes Advantage of Pentagon Peace Deal by Attacking Afghan Allies, Killing Civilians Peace deal between Afghan government and Talibans They had to free the 400 Talibans, as it was part of the agreement that will assure Taliban cooperation through the process. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani had his doubts but still had to abide by the peace deal, according to BBC. The Afghan government and the Taliban are set to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed, in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners. Even with the peace deal signed by them and the U.S., the militants still waged attacks against civilians and military. Instead of heeding the peace deal, there are whispers of working with Al-Qaeda. These terrorists are also thought to be active in parts of Afghanistan. Another scary thought is the Al Qaeda supplements the Taliban forces and gives them training too. In 2020, there are still more civilians in the crossfire, but it does not concern the militants. Afghans still consider the loya jirga that is the gathering of many tribal chief and citizens of influence, wherein they deliberated on important issues. Ghani used this form of congress to make authorities reconsider setting them free. They feared what these cadres of Taliban prisoners can do if set loose into society again, confirmed Bangkok Post. Related article: U.S. Retaliates 'Defensive Strike' Against Talibans After Attack on Afghan Checkpoint @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 15.08.2020 LISTEN The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress has alleged that there are attempts by agents of the Rivers State Government to blackmail the All Progressives Congress and drag the party into a needless confrontation over the implementation of the ongoing employment scheme driven by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. The APC in a statement by its spokesman, Ogbonna Nwuke said, We have intended to maintain a dignified silence over what we consider a misguided reaction on the part of the representative of the Rivers State Governor. We are however compelled by circumstances to react in order to clear the air and keep the record straight. It reads: We state emphatically that while some special interest groups, including CAN, NURTW as well the Rivers State Government, to mention a few, have been drafted under the programme to ensure Rivers people benefit from the Federal Government's scheme, the APC has maintained a safe distance from its implementation. The reason is that the APC respects the template painstakingly drawn up by the supervising Ministry which is being followed religiously across the country by all who wish to ensure that the unemployed in their midst, notably able bodied youths, widows and physically impaired persons, are given a unique opportunity to earn a little in these horrific and difficult times. We are aware that as part of the guidelines put in place, all major groups as well as high ranking officials serving in the National Assembly or as heads of State Governments have been duly assigned slots as prescribed. What is left after the slots meant for the high and mighty who equally represent certain constituents are deducted, are reserved for the masses. We recognize that the aim of the ongoing programme is to create a minimum of 1000 jobs in each of the 23 LGAs in Rivers State. It is not something any one, or reasonable institution should politicize. Rivers people and other Nigerians who reside in the various LGAs ought to benefit from a humane policy enunciated by the Federal Government. This is perhaps the point of departure between the APC and the PDP led Government in Rivers State. Given our concern for the masses, we have refrained from involving ourself in the affairs of the Dr Bariko led Committee which is saddled with the responsibility of creating these much needed jobs in line with properly laid down guidelines. Although we do not intend to hold brief for the Committee, we still do not see how it strayed from its core mission. The argument that more people are being allowed to collect forms instead of pinning down the number of beneficiaries to a specific number of slots, defeats the wild allegation made by the Rivers State Government. The truth is that the approach adopted by the Committee gives more persons who could have been excluded from the process, the opportunity to vie for the limited slots. Those who ordinarily have no godfathers; no access to strong men; would certainly have a rare chance of placing food on their breakfast tables, where a straight jacketed arrangement proposed by the Rivers State Government as reason for its withdrawal from the scheme is not allowed to operate. From our point of view, It is obvious that the government has a predetermined number of persons who should earn places under the scheme. Even though such a posture would be anthetical to the observance of fair play and justice, we would not oppose the idea of a parellel scheme by the Rivers State Government that is funded by taxpayers money which would give Rivers people access to jobs. The Rivers State Government should at least set a, good example for once! In conclusion, it is our view that the State Government's position on this matter is as unrealistic as it is unscientific. It cannot control a project that it did not initiate under whatever guise. Rivers people are no slaves. They are free borns who have a right to shape their own destiny. No one born of a woman has the right to negatively tamper with their right to survive on account of preconceived political considerations. While we commend the Federal Government for embarking on the scheme, we urge the good people of Rivers State to ignore the attempt of the Rivers State Government to politicize a process which gives them an equal to benefit from the actions and policies of a dependable administration that they voted to power at the centre. The APC in Rivers State would remain neutral and impartial on matters like this which affect the well being of a great majority of our people. And we thank the Bariko led Committee for ensuring that the scheme which is being hailed by the needy is not hijacked by anyone for selfish and political reasons. Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Volta Region have started receiving their share of Governments coronavirus package for businesses. Mr Seth Klutse, the Volta Regional Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the loans were being disbursed to applicants across the region. The NBSSI is in charge of the disbursement of the 'Adom Micro Loans.' He said the first batch of payments of the Adom Micro Loans, of up to GHC 2,000, were being made to micro-enterprises and noted that more women were accessing the fund. The money is coming. Petty traders, farming and agribusiness operators, and all kinds of microbusiness and enterprises are being paid. More females are benefiting and I believe that the Government considers women as more risk cautious, the Director said. He said, however, that a loan application did not guarantee payment, and said due diligence might cause some to be rejected. Mr Klutse advised beneficiaries to put the funds to good use and share their testimonies to encourage others. He said the NBSSI was providing financial management training to beneficiaries and would conduct follow-ups on the disbursed funds. Ms Irene Balley, a hairdresser at Kpeve in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, who received GHC 1,715, expressed gratitude to the government for the intervention. The money helped me purchase working tools and materials such as shampoo. The government must continue this initiative. It is supporting us a lot. Because of the lockdown, there were no Church services and social events so my business was affected, she said. 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 Long before he became The Wizard of New Zealand, Ian Brackenbury Channell spent a year training as a Royal Air Force navigator in Manitoba learning lessons that he says gave him the wisdom to become a wizard. Channell, who was born in England but became a New Zealand citizen in the 1970s, was officially appointed the countrys wizard in 1990 by the prime minister, allowing him to wear the regalia and conduct jobs such as casting out evil spirits and cheering the population. He said his journey to becoming a wizard began in 1952 during his time in Portage la Prairie, Man. As the 87-year-old gets ready to pass on his staff to his apprentice, he recalled his time in Canada and the craziness of navigating without a radar over the tundra. This is so crazy, he said with a laugh in a recent telephone interview from New Zealand. Im trying to navigate using a sextant, a bubble sextant, flying over territory which there are no maps because its tundra and the floods change the shape of the lakes. ... It was absolutely ridiculous. But I loved doing it. I think it was a great lesson. As New Zealands official wizard, he said he navigates peoples thinking by opening their minds to different points of view with an element of fun. He gets an annual honorarium of C$14,000 from the Christchurch city council. He gives speeches in the citys Cathedral Square using an approach that he said is similar to Ciceros oratory style in ancient Rome on subjects ranging from free speech in universities to patriarchy. I never claimed what Im saying is true or false. Do you enjoy the speech? Do you enjoy what Im saying? Do you enjoy thinking of these things, playing with words? He described himself as more like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings or the very famous English wizard John Dee from the Elizabethan period than Dumbledore in the Harry Potter books. He loves magic. Magic is not religion. Its not science. Its a mixture of all sorts of things. Channell, who also goes by Jack but prefers to be called The Wizard, landed in Canada because of his surname. His instructors announced that the top 20 names on a list were going to Canada to be navigators. He was near the top of the alphabetical list because his name was Channell. After the Second World War, England had strict rationing because of food shortages, but there was plenty to eat in Manitoba, where he found the climate very strange. Extremely cold and extremely hot. Just the snow and the snow and the snow. And mosquitoes in the summer. There was also a group of sailors from the French navy sharing the barracks. Now you cant get further from the sea than in Winnipeg, he said between fits of laughter. So the fact that they were there was very strange. In Portage la Prairie, he remembers visiting record shops. Im very fond of classical music, he said. It was pretty good. For a young man of 19 it was pretty exciting. What also stands out was an absolutely stunning train journey from London, Ont., to Winnipeg. I can never forget that incredible journey with all that snow. Unbelievable. The Wizards adventures also included hitchhiking by air across North America, with stops in Edmonton and Florida before arriving in California. Some of the flights he took as he hitchhiked his way across the continent were enormous cargo planes with just him in the hold. It was like time travelling or like Dr. Who or one of those things in this time machine. Read more about: I think Englishmen or Northern Europeans in general are more naturally attracted to the lute than to the guitar, which always seems Spanish exotic to our ears, he told The Post. My own style on the guitar grew out of my experience with the lute. I suppose some people might say I play each like the other. And of course I know a lot of guitar fans who wish I would stop playing the lute and vice versa. The "Tribute in Light" rises from the Lower Manhattan skyline as seen from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on Sept. 7, 2016. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) 9/11 Light Tribute at Ground Zero Reinstated With Assistance From New York State The 9/11 Tribute in Light will go on this year with help from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and others after the 9/11 Memorial & Museum announced the cancelation of the event this week. The state will provide health personnel to supervise to make sure the event is held safely while at the same time properly honoring 9/11. We will never forget, Cuomo said in a statement. We will never forget. This year it is especially important that we all appreciate and commemorate 9/11, the lives lost, and the heroism displayed as New Yorkers are once again called upon to face a common enemy, he added. The light tribute involves two beams of light echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center before the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks and was first displayed at Ground Zero in March 2002 to commemorate those who lost their lives in the attack. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chair of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, acknowledged Cuomos help in a Twitter post. The 9/11 Tribute in Light will always be a beacon of the resilience and hope of this great city. Im glad we will continue this tradition and remind the world of NYs strength. Thank you to @NYGovCuomo for providing personnel and joining us to ensure the lights shine on. pic.twitter.com/n9itEyc2Yr Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) August 15, 2020 Throughout my tenure as Mayor the Tribute in Light was a powerful symbol of New Yorks recovery after 911. I am pleased that once again it will shine this year as a beacon of our citys resilience, he said in a separate statement. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum confirmed the reinstatement of the event. In the last 24 hours weve had conversations with many interested parties and believe we will be able to stage the tribute in a safe and appropriate fashion, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum President and CEO Alice M. Greenwald said in a statement. I want to particularly thank Mike Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo and the Lower Manhattan Development Corp for their assistance in offsetting the increased costs associated with the health and safety considerations around the tribute this year and the technical support of so many that will enable the Tribute to be a continuing source of comfort to families and an inspiration to the world going forward. The museum announced this week that the light tribute was canceled due to safety concerns with installation workers amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak. The 9/11 anniversary commemoration usually also includes a large crowd that reads off the names of victims of the tragedy. The museum also scrapped the portion of in-person readings and planned to do it through recorded readings instead. The recordings of family members reading the names will be broadcast via speakers while relatives who feel comfortable attending can stand or sit and listen, as long as they follow social distancing guidelines. After the initial cancellation of the light tribute, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundationa foundation named after a hero firefighter who lost his life to save other during 9/11said they are doing everything in its power to make sure the Tower of Light will once again be illuminated. Many others also rushed to save the iconic event. The foundation will also organize an in-person name reading event in memorial of the 9/11 victims. Theyre inviting 140 speakers from family members to join them. Every year, we honor those weve lost on September 11, 2001 by reading their names at Ground Zero. This year, amidst our hardships and obstacles, we will not forget them, the foundation said in a statement. Participants will read 21 names each and continue the tradition of honoring the fallen. Appropriate safety measures will be taken and all speakers will wear masks and practice social distancing, they said. Zachary Stieber contributed to the report. WASHINGTON The younger brother of Ponzi king Bernard Madoff has been released from home confinement and has been released from federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said Friday. Image: Bernie Madoff's Brother Sentenced For Conspiracy And Falsifying Financial Records (Spencer Platt / Getty Images file) Peter Madoff, who had served about nine years of his sentence, was released from home confinement on Thursday, said Justin Long, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons. He had been transferred to home confinement from the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami in November 2019, officials said. Peter Madoff, 74, had pleaded guilty to falsifying documents and lying to regulators as part of his brothers Ponzi scheme and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. His brother, Bernard Madoff, had pleaded guilty to fraud charges after his multi-decade fraud cost thousands of investors roughly $20 billion they had trusted with him. The fraud was first exposed in December 2008. The older Madoff, 82, pleaded guilty within months and was immediately ordered to begin serving his 150-year sentence. A judge in June denied Bernard Madoffs bid to be released early from federal prison. Pranab Mukherjee, former Indian President continues to remain on ventilatory support on Saturday morning, Army Research and Referral Hospital in the national capital said. Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee continued to remain on ventilatory support on Saturday morning, Army Research and Referral Hospital in the national capital said, adding that his vitals are stable and being monitored by a team of specialists. The hospital said in a statement that the condition of Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged this morning, he continues to be on ventilatory support. It read that his vital and clinical parameters remained stable and were being closely monitored by a team of specialists. The health condition of Mukherjee had also remained unchanged on Friday, according to the Army hospital, which had also said the former President was under intensive care and continues to be on ventilator support. Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of Pranab Mukherjee, had said yesterday that while his health condition continues to remain very critical, it hasnt worsened. She had said there is a little improvement in his eyes reaction to light. Also read: Independence Day 2020: Chinese envoy extends greetings to India Also read: Reliance Jio Independence Day 2020 offer: 5 months of free data, Calls with JioFi Earlier, Sharmistha had refuted rumours about the health of her father. Mukherjee, 84, was admitted to Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantt for emergency surgery of brain clot. Later he also tested positive for COVID-19. Also read: Independence Day 2020 Highlights: PM Modi bats for Atmanirbhar Bharat Chinese electronic giant Xiaomi really loves its birthday. On the same week it unveiled the worlds first mass-produced transparent TV in honor of its 10th anniversary, the company also announced that it is teaming up with none other than Lamborghini for a new and improved version of its go-kart. Xiaomi and the Raging Bull have collaborated on an upgraded version of the Ninebot GoKart Pro Lamborghini Edition. The tiny racerthe standard version of which is sold in the US by Segwayhas been given a bold, Huracan-inspired makeover and a tech bump that pushes its top speed to 25 mph. More from Robb Report Unlike the standard Ninebot GoKart, which comes in white, the Lamborghini Edition is finished in the automakers iconic Giallo Orion colorway. And the changes dont stop there. The upgraded kart has also been outfitted with Ice Lake Blue LED headlights for better visibility at night, an audio emulation system that recreates the sound a Lamborghinis engine makes and custom-made tires that make it easier to drift. The Lamborghini Editions drivetrain cant compete with that of an actual supercar, but its pretty impressive as far as far as go-karts go. The mini-vehicles 25 mph top speed is a full 3 mph more that the original version. It gets its juice from a 432 Wh battery back, which is powerful enough to go 62 laps on a 400-meter race track on a single charge, which works out to about 15.4 miles of driving range. And while go-karts are normally for children, this one is for kids of all agesand maybe an adult or two. Xiaomi claims the Ninebot GoKart Pro Lamborghini Edition is capable of carrying a load up to 100 kg (or about 220 lbs). Story continues The Xiaomi Ninebot GoKart Pro Lamborghini Edition is priced at $1,440, which is about $200 more than the standard version. The vehicle is scheduled to go on sale this weekend, but is available for pre-order through the electronic companys website. It will be available initially in China, though a wider global release is expected in the future. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay with Admiral Bruce Fraser signing on behalf of the UK. Japans current constitution was imposed after the Second World War. (Cross W G/PA) Today Northern Ireland will fall silent as the entire United Kingdom comes together to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. Victory over Japan Day commemorates when the war against the Empire of Japan, and the Second World War as a whole, came to a close. Often referred to as 'the forgotten war', it is marked annually on August 15; this year is a significant milestone, being three-quarters of a century since the world woke up to peace. The war against the Empire of Japan was a multinational effort, pulling in over one million men from nearly 30 different countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania. It is estimated that as many as 64,000 people from Northern Ireland served in the Second World War, including the Far East campaign. In recent days, I had the privilege of speaking to a number of local WWII veterans as well as relatives of those who have now sadly died. It was immensely humbling to hear their wartime stories, and have the opportunity to personally thank them and their families for their bravery and sacrifice. Among those I spoke to were the family of the late Eric White, who was captured at Singapore in February 1942 as a prisoner of war. He was forced to work on the Burma railway. Eric was a corporal in the Royal Corps of Signals but on his release, discovered that he had been promoted to sergeant whilst in captivity. Eric's courageous contribution, like so many others, was truly remarkable and his relatives are quite rightly proud of his actions. Today, we pause to remember our heroes like Eric and all those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Along with their peers, from across the rest of the UK and further afield, they fought and suffered around the world in ferocious conditions. They witnessed incomprehensible horrors. They lost their lives - and many were imprisoned. And they did all this for us - to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. VJ Day is a time for us to reflect and show our gratitude to our service personnel for their bravery, dedication and professionalism. We must never forget the sacrifices made and the extraordinary courage of all those who selflessly served our country throughout the Second World War. Brandon Lewis CBE is the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 22:19:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday condemned the move of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish diplomatic ties with Israel as "a betrayal of the cause of the Palestinian nation," Tasnim news agency reported. "This move is incorrect, wrong and totally reprehensible, and it is a betrayal to the cause of the Palestinian nation, to the cause of Muslims, and to the cause of Jerusalem," Rouhani said during a cabinet briefing. The UAE leaders wrongly think that by "attaching themselves to the United States and the Zionist regime" they will guarantee their own security and economical growth, the Iranian president added. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also slammed this diplomatic move by the UAE as "a clear betrayal of the common cause of the Islamic community." The normalization has been "planned and led by the terroristic and inhumane regime of the United States," the IRGC said in an official statement reported by Tasnim. The establishment of UAE-Israel diplomatic ties is aimed to "legitimize the Zionist regime, weaken the Palestinian resistance front and put aside the questions of Jerusalem and Palestine," said the IRGC statement. The Israel-UAE agreement to establish full diplomatic relations was announced on Thursday in a joint statement of the United States, Israel and the UAE. The announcement made the UAE the first Gulf Arab state, as well as the third Arab country after Egypt and Jordan, to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Enditem The Pacific War was so massive, so calamitous, it can be difficult to put it in context. There was the Marco Polo Bridge incident that triggered the Sino-Japanese War, the Battle of Midway that changed the course of the war and the dramatic flag-raising on Iwo Jima. Here are some important events that continue to reverberate in Asia today: COLONIZING KOREA: During Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Koreans had to adopt Japanese names, worship Japan's Shinto religion and speak Japanese. They were treated as second-class citizens. Hundreds of thousands of men were drafted to fight for Japan, and many others were used as labourers at Japanese mines and factories under harsh conditions. Korean women and girls were among tens of thousands of Asian comfort women sexually abused by Japanese soldiers. Many Koreans today think Japan still hasn't fully acknowledged responsibility for its atrocities, and survivors of its forced labour and prostitution are still seeking Japan's atonement. Tokyo claims all compensation issues were settled when Japan and South Korea normalised relations in 1965. Recent rulings by South Korean courts ordering compensation from Japanese companies that employed forced labourers have sent ties between the countries to postwar lows. RAPE OF NANKING: China and an international postwar tribunal said at least 200,000 civilians were killed by Japanese troops in a weekslong frenzy of murder, rape and arson after Nanking, then China's capital, fell to Japan on December 13, 1937. The event remains one of the biggest flash points between the two countries. Right-wing Japanese politicians downplay the death toll or deny that the atrocity happened. Last year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet said some killing and looting could not be denied, but declined to estimate the toll, citing differing views. PEARL HARBOUR: Japan's surprise aerial attack on the US Naval fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii killed more than 2,300 US service members, propelling the United States into World War II. The December 7, 1941, raid has long been cited by many Americans to justify the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to hasten Japan's surrender. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became Japan's first leader to visit the USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii in December 2016. BATAAN DEATH MARCH: More than 70,000 American and Filipino soldiers were captured by Japan and forced into a 70-mile march in March 1942, during which some 9,000 died. Japan's unpreparedness for the large number of captives, coupled with disdain for surrendering troops, led to extensive brutality during the forced march, remembered as one of worst atrocities of World War II. TOKYO FIREBOMBING: Napalm-equipped cluster bombs dropped by US B-29 planes rained down on downtown Tokyo on March 10, 1945, killing an estimated 105,400 people in a single night. US bombings of more than 60 Japanese cities from January 1944 to August 1945 killed an estimated 333,000 people, including the victims of the US atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombing campaign set a precedent for targeting civilian areas that persisted into the Korean and Vietnam wars and beyond. Tokyo firebombing survivors, whose demands for government compensation were rejected by courts, are still seeking redress. BATTLE OF OKINAWA: More than 200,000 people about half of them civilians and about 12,500 American soldiers died in the Battle of Okinawa, the deadliest in the Pacific War. The three-month battle, the only one on Japan's homeland, ended on June 23, 1945. The US occupied Okinawa and the rest of Japan after the war, but even after the occupation of the main Japanese islands ended, Okinawa remained under US control for 20 additional years, until 1972. Resentment over the continued heavy presence of American troops in Okinawa runs deep; more than half of the roughly 50,000 US troops in Japan are based there under a bilateral treaty. ATOMIC BOMBINGS: The US dropped a uranium bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killing 140,000 people in the world's first atomic attack. Three days later, it dropped a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki, killing another 74,000. Atomic bomb survivors have suffered lasting radiation effects, including cancer and other illnesses. The bombings triggered a postwar arms race, with the Soviet Union detonating its first atomic bomb on August 29, 1949. SURRENDER: Emperor Hirohito, the grandfather of current Emperor Naruhito, announced Japan's surrender in a prerecorded radio message on August 15, 1945. It was the first time most Japanese had heard the voice of the emperor, who had been revered as a god, though it was muffled and nearly inaudible due to poor sound quality. The night before, Hirohito met with top government officials inside a bunker dug at the palace and approved the surrender. The recording was top secret because of fears of a violent protest by army officials refusing to end the war. Shortly before midnight, Hirohito appeared in his formal military uniform and read the statement into the microphone, twice. A group of young army officers stormed the palace to steal the records, but palace officials successfully protected them, and they were safely delivered to a radio network for transmission the next day. - Boy Abunda talked about ABS-CBN shutdown via his recent video uploaded on YouTube - He got emotional while addressing the impact of the said issue to the lives of the 11 thousand employees - The King of Talk also mentioned that he will continue to beg to the people who have the power to bring back the media giant - According to Boy, he respects everyones opinion but he will choose not to resort to chaos PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Boy Abunda recently went viral online after he could not contain his emotion while airing an honest statement about the controversial shutdown of ABS-CBN. KAMI learned that the prominent television host addressed the franchise renewal issue of the media giant through a video uploaded on his YouTube channel. The countrys King of Talk stated that he was able to have a conversation with some of the employees of ABS-CBN who are greatly affected by the closure. His voice even cracked while saying that the pain that all the workers of the Kapamilya network is facing cannot be considered as fake. People are crying, people are lost. This pain is real. he quipped. Im not talking about data. Im not talking about statistics. I am talking about real people who are suffering, who are in pain, who dont know what to do he added. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Boy Abunda (Photo from Flickr) Source: UGC As the interview progressed, Boy admitted that he will continue to beg and be humble to anyone who has the power to bring ABS-CBN back on-air. He also mentioned that being silent is not tantamount to not showing support for the giant network. He stressed that a silent man can actually rattle his enemy. May mga nagsasabi na, Hindi na panahon ito Boy na magpakumbaba Iginagalang ko yun Im a very tactical person Ipagpapatuloy ko ang pagpapakumbaba I will do it with humility. Kung sino man po kayo na makakapagbigay-buhay ulit sa ABS-CBN, akoy naninikluhod the celebrity said. Let us not forget that silence can also be a weapon. Because when youre in silence, you can rattle your enemy, you can unsettle your enemy But dont get lost. Know your core he added. PAY ATTENTION: Shop with KAMI! The best offers and discounts on the market, product reviews and feedbacks. Watch the video below: Boy Abunda is a well-known showbiz personality in the Philippines. He is acclaimed by many people because of his excellent hosting skills. Several months ago, he cried a river while talking about her mom who passed away in December last year. The television host also gave his frank opinion about the rumored new project of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz. POPULAR: Read more news about Boy Abunda! Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! Source: KAMI.com.gh New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Car Care Products Market Research Report by Product, by Solvent Type, by Consumption, by Application, by Distribution Channel - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913722/?utm_source=GNW The Global Car Care Products Market is expected to grow from USD 12,092.87 Million in 2019 to USD 20,989.13 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.62%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Car Care Products to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Product, the Car Care Products Market studied across Cleaning and Caring, Polishing and Waxing, and Sealing Glaze and Coating. Based on Solvent Type, the Car Care Products Market studied across Foam Based Solvents and Water Based. Based on Consumption, the Car Care Products Market studied across Autobeauty Shops, Individual Sources, and Service Centers and Garages. Based on Application, the Car Care Products Market studied across Exterior and Interior. Based on Distribution Channel, the Car Care Products Market studied across DIFM/Service Centers and Diy/Retail Stores. Based on Geography, the Car Care Products 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 Car Care Products Market including 3M Corp, Armored Auto Group, Auto Magic, Autoglym, Bullsone, Guangzhou Biabong Car Care Industries Co.Ltd, Illinois Tool Works, Jopasu Systems Pvt Ltd, Liqui-Moly GmbH, Northern Labs, Simoniz USA, Soft99 Corporation, Sonax Gesellschaft MBH, Tetrosyl Ltd, Turtle Wax Inc, and Wurth Group. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Car Care Products 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 Car Care Products Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Car Care Products Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Car Care Products Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Car Care Products Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Car Care Products Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Car Care Products Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913722/?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. __________________________ Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:19:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEGUCIGALPA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Honduras will celebrate in September the 40th anniversary of the inscription of the Mayan Site of Copan on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage. Eva Martinez, assistant director of Heritage at the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, said on Friday that UNESCO and various Honduran institutions are preparing for the event, which will allow locals to rediscover Copan on the border with Guatemala. "The Mayan Site of Copan represents one of the most spectacular achievements of the Classic Mayan period due to the number, elaboration and magnitude of its monuments," Martinez said. A UNESCO World Heritage is the designation for places with universal value to humanity. The city of Copan, with its temples, squares, terraces and other characteristics, is an excellent representation of Classic Mayan civilization. Enditem The logo of Chinese video app TikTok is seen on the side of the company's new office space at the C3 campus on August 11, 2020 in Culver City, in the westside of Los Angeles. (CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Orders TikTok Parent Company to Sell US Assets, Authorizes Full Audit President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Aug. 14 to order the Chinese parent company of the TikTok app to divest its U.S. assets in 90 days and authorized U.S. officials to access the companys premises to conduct an audit ensuring the company is not endangering national security. The executive order is the latest in Trumps campaign against the app, which U.S. officials and experts believe acts as spyware for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The order deems illegal the acquisition of the musical.ly app by ByteDance, TikToks Beijing-based parent company. ByteDance rebranded musical.ly as TikTok after the purchase. Effective immediately, ByteDance is prohibited from owning any stake in musical.ly, but the order gave the TikTok parent 90 dayswith possible 30 day extensionto divest its assets. There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance through acquiring all interests in musical.ly might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States, Trump said in the order. TikTok did not respond to a request for comment. During the 90-day period, Trump authorized U.S. officials to access any premises occupied by ByteDance or TikTok to inspect and copy any books and records, audit hardware and software, and interview any employees to ensure that the companies are complying with the divestment order and not endangering U.S. national security. Trump charged the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to oversee the divestment process and to order an audit activity. Microsoft is currently in talks with ByteDance about buying TikTok, but U.S. software giants extensive ties to the communist regime in China could muddy up any chance of a deal, experts say. Any sale ByteDance may negotiate would have to be approved by CFIUS, the order says. Before making an approval, CFIUS should take into consideration whether the buyer has ties to ByteDance and whether the proposed sale or transfer would threaten to impair the national security of the United States, the order states. TikTok, which is wildly popular among American teens, has come under bipartisan scrutiny over national security and privacy concerns in relation to its ownership. The central concern is that under a 2017 national intelligence law, Chinese companies are required to provide their data to the CCP. On Aug. 6, Trump issued executive orders that ban transactions with TikTok and social media app WeChat after Sept. 20. The orders also ban transactions with ByteDance and WeChats parent company, Tencent Holdings. As the potential reality of a full-fledged ban approaches, small-scale restrictions are already taking place. The Senate recently unanimously approved a bill introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) that bans government employees from using TikTok on government devices. The State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Transportation Security Administration have already barred TikTok on government devices, and in December 2019, the U.S. Army blocked its soldiers from using the app. Lt. Col. Robin Ochoa, an Army spokeswoman, told Millitary.com that it is considered a cyber threat. The Epoch Times recently reported that more than 130 employees at ByteDance are part of a CCP committee embedded in the company. Many of the employees work in management positions, according to internal documents. ByteDance, founded in March 2012, set up its Party committee in October 2014. Bowen Xiao contributed to this report. PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. Pembroke Lakes Mall saw a swarm of police officers after shots rang out Friday afternoon, while a police chopper hovered overhead and at least 10 police cruisers surrounded the area as residents were told to stay away. Around 2:14 p.m., Pembroke Pines police responded to calls of a shooting near the Dillards department store in the mall. When officers arrived they found two men with gunshot wounds. An initial police investigation found that the two men had gone into Elite Fine Jewelry, said Pembroke Pines police Capt. Eric Abrahamson. While inside, one of the men smashed glass cases while the other stole jewelry. During the robbery, a store employee pulled out a gun and began shooting at the men, hitting both of them. Police did not say what their injuries were or what condition they were in. Officers detained the men and had them taken to a local hospital. Police did not identify the two men nor the store employee. From behind the register at Shoe Show inside the mall, Hannah Francis heard the loud banging of four shots, and then saw shoppers running inside her store. She ran to the back of the store and tried to get everyone out. While she didnt see any shooters, she said she did see a man put on a gurney, looking like he was passed out. It is honestly traumatizing, she said. Even though you didnt see anything, just hearing it and knowing that somebody got hurt is just scary because you never expect that to happen. By Devoun Cetoute and Matias Ocner, The Miami Herald (TNS) The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP-Rera) has ordered development authorities in the state to furnish property details of all defaulting developers in their jurisdictions within 15 days. These will be passed onto the concerned district magistrates who can then auction the properties to recover homebuyers money from defaulting builders against whom recovery certificates have been issued, officials said. In a virtual meeting held with the chief executive officers and vice-chairpersons of 15 development authorities on Friday, UP-Rera chairman Rajive Kumar asked the authorities to provide a list of all unsold inventories, vacant land, among others details of both completed and under-construction projects of the defaulters. According to Rera chairman Rajive Kumar, the authority has till date issued nearly 2,000 recovery certificates, and the total amount to be recovered from defaulters is around Rs 600 crore. About 15 percent of the amount against these recovery certificates has been realised and transferred to homebuyers, he added. A recovery certificate is issued after an individual or firm refuses to pay the default amount as ordered by either a court or a quasi-judicial body. The recovery amount is collected the district administration. UP-Rera has also identified 25 top defaulters in the state and asked them to provide these details by August 17. Rera has requested the development authorities under whose jurisdiction the projects or the properties of the defaulting promoters are located to make available the list of unsold inventories, vacant land, unsold FAR (floor area ratio) in all projects of these defaulting promoters, Kumar said on Saturday. The concerned collectors/district magistrates have been requesting us (Rera) to help them in the recovery of the dues by providing them details of the defaulters properties that can be auctioned. Paying heed to their request, Rera has proceeded to take further measures in this regard, he added. Officials from development authorities including that of Noida, Greater Noida , Yamuna expressway, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Moradabad, Agra, Bareilly, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Hapur were present in Fridays meeting. The chairman has directed the concerned authorities to provide the required information to Rera within 15 days. The information received will be passed on to concerned district magistrates for the realisation of the amount payable to the allottees through the auction of those properties, said Abrar Ahmed, secretary, UP-Rera. The Gautam Budh Nagar magistrate said the district administration will take necessary action against defaulters as per the law. I am waiting for the orders from the higher authorities. If we are asked to auction the properties, then such orders will be duly carried out, said districts collector and district magistrate Suhas LY. The authority has also scrutinised projects whose date of completion have lapsed and concerned promoters have neither uploaded the completion certificate or the occupancy certificate of the projects on Reras website nor have requested an extension of the registration of the project. These projects include those owned by both the government authorities and private promoters. The authority has sent the names of the promoters and their projects to the concerned development authorities/industrial development authorities and asked them to give details on their current status so that further action can be initiated by Rera. UP-Rera has also prepared a list of top 10 defaulting promoters on the basis of their non-compliance with the authoritys orders. A total 3,850 orders, including 1,448 refund orders and 2,402 possession orders, and 667 recovery certificates have been issued against these promoters, said the authority. We have also issued directions to the 25 top defaulting promoters, including these 10 promoters, to make available all information available to us by August 17, 2020,said Kumar A Chinese restaurant has apologised to its customers for its controversial policy of asking customers to weigh themselves before entering the restaurant as part of the national campaign against food waste. The beef restaurant in the central city of Changsha has received heavily criticism on social media after it implemented the policy on Friday. The beef restaurant in the central city of Changsha followed these strict norms in response to a new national campaign against food wastage. Customers were asked to stand on scales and scan their data into an app that recommended food choices based on their weight and the dishes' calorific value, according to a report by the state-run China News Service. Two days ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the "Clean Plate Campaign" to reduce food waste. He urged his countrymen to stop wasting food as the coronavirus pandemic and floods have led to a rise in food prices in the country. Following Xi's message, the Wuhan Catering Industry Association urged restaurants in the city to limit the number of dishes served to diners. The Association asked restaurants to implement a system where groups must order one dish less than the number of diners. This system dubbed "N-1", a group of 10 people can only order 9 dishes. Consequently, the beef restaurant displayed sign boards like "be thrifty and diligent, promote empty plates" and "operation empty plate", with reference to the nationwide anti-waste campaign. However, the beef restaurant received backlash on the internet. Over 300 million users condemned the restaurant's policy on social platform Weibo. Later, the restaurant said it was "deeply sorry" for its interpretation of the anti-waste campaign. In an apology, the restaurant wrote, "Our original intentions were to advocate stopping waste and ordering food in a healthy way. We never forced customers to weigh themselves". Also read: Anika Lokhande refutes claim that Sushant Singh Rajput paid her EMIs; shares bank statements Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 18:41:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENNA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Vienna has expressed regret over the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement and the use of sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project during U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Austria. On Friday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen expressed regret over the United States' withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement. The issue was raised by the president while meeting Pompeo in the Hofburg, the presidential office said after the meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump announced in June 2017 that his country would withdraw from the UN climate change agreement that aimed to combat climate change by accelerating and intensifying actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future. Also on Friday, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told a press conference that Austria "deeply" regrets the U.S. use of extraterritorial sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. "It is no secret that obviously any friendship doesn't mean that you agree 100 percent on every topic," said Schallenberg at a joint press conference with Pompeo. "There are issues where we do not agree and we have different approaches. One, for instance, is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project," said the minister, adding they "would rather endeavor on or pursue the way of bilateral talks to find a common solution on this ground, on this matter." The Nord Stream 2 is a multinational offshore natural gas pipeline project that will transport natural gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. When finished, the 1,230-km pipeline will have the ability to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to Europe. Citing energy security concerns, Washington has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on the project's participants. Enditem For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. These are powerful words, spoken by the Apostle Paul choosing to live for Christs glory. He explains that is great, and dying in Christ is even better. I know on the surface it may not make sense, but thats why some things require you to look beneath the surface. You may have considered the concept of living for Christ, but what about this whole idea of dying for gain? Actually, there is great benefit in both of these and that is what we want to explore a little deeper today. What is the real meaning and context of Phil. 1:21 to live is Christ, to die is gain? Before we get to the answer lets look at a little background into the book of Philippians. What Happens in the Book of Philippians? Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul most likely around 62 AD and most likely while he was a prisoner in Rome. The overall theme of the book is one of joy and encouragement to the church in Philippi. Paul continually expresses his thankfulness and heartfelt appreciation for this church all throughout the book. Philippians is unique in that Paul is not addressing any real pressing issues or problems in the church except for a disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche two people who worked with Paul in the spreading of the gospel and helping build the church in Philippi. What Is the Context of Philippians 1? In Philippians 1, Paul opens with a standard greeting that he typically used. It included grace and peace and identified who he is and the audience to whom he is writing. In chapter 1, he expresses how he really feels about this church and you can hear his emotion coming forth throughout this chapter. It is this emotion that really helps to understand the meaning and context of Phil. 1:21, to live is Christ, to die is gain. Consider Phil. 1:20: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. There are two words I want to highlight in this verse: ashamed and exalted. Pauls concern was that he would live in such a way that would not bring shame to the gospel and the cause of Christ. He wanted to live a life that would exalt Christ in every phase of life, regardless if it meant living or if it meant dying. This leads us into the meaning and context of Phil. 1:21, to live is Christ to die is gain. Lets look at both parts. What Does It Mean to Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain? To live is Christ This simply means that everything you do in this life should be for Christ. If you go to school, its for Christ. If you work, its for Christ. If you get married and have a family, its for Christ. If you serve in ministry, play on a team, whatever you do, you do it with the mindset that it is for Christ. You want him to be exalted in every aspect of your life. The reason this matters is because by exalting him, you can potentially create an opportunity for the gospel to go forward. When Christ is exalted in your life it can open the door for you to share him with others. This gives you the chance to win them over not just by what you say, but by also how you live. To die is gain What could be better than living for Christ, shining light and winning people to the kingdom of God? As crazy as it sounds, death is better. Look how Paul states it in verse 22-24: If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. If you can really grasp what Paul is saying here, then you will truly understand the meaning and context of Phil 1:21. For Paul to keep living would be beneficial for the church in Philippi and everyone else he was ministering to. He could keep serving them and be a blessing to the body of Christ. (Thats to live is Christ). However, understanding the sufferings of this life (remember Paul was in prison when writing this letter), and all of the challenges he faced, he understood that as great as it is to serve Christ in this life, it was better to die and go be with Christ forever. This does not mean you should want to die, it just means that you understand that death for a Christian is not the ending, but just the beginning. In death, you lay down your struggle. You complete your race and you enter into the presence of God for all eternity. Thats the experience for every believer and truly that is better. Photo credit: Getty Images/Scyther5 What Do We Gain Through Life? I want you to consider another thought for a moment. If to live is Christ, how then should you live? How do you in fact actually live for Christ? I mentioned earlier that everything you do in this life should be for Christ, but in reality, that is a theoretical statement. Lets make it more practical. I am going to use the four areas I mentioned prior which are school, work, family, and ministry. I am not going to give you answers, I am going to ask you four questions for each section. They should help you think about how you are living and if changes need to be made then let God show you how he wants you to change. Living for Christ in School Are you achieving at the highest level you possibly can? What are the activities you are engaged in? How do you respond to your teachers and those in authority? How would your friends respond if you told them you were a Christian? Living for Christ at Work Are you punctual and show up to work on time? Can you be trusted to get the job done or do you have to be constantly reminded what you must do? Are you easy to work with or do co-workers dread working with you? Are you usually the person creating a healthy work environment or are you always stirring the pot? Living for Christ in Your Family Do you spend time with your wife, kids, etc. (if you have a wife or kids)? Do you prioritize family over career or career over family? Do they see Christ in you on Monday Saturday, or does he only come out on Sunday morning? Do you embrace family members who dont know Jesus or reject and shun them because they dont know Christ? Living for Christ in Ministry Do you put more emphasis on the work of the ministry over the time spent with your family? Do you run yourself ragged serving, doing the Lords work, that you forget to spend time with the Lord? Do you make ministry about the people and not about your personal gain or reputation? Do you talk about the people in the church and the ones you serve more than you pray for them? Granted this is not an all-inclusive list of questions, but hopefully they will cause you to think. Living for Christ is not something that happens by accident; you must be intentional about doing it. As you are intentional about it you can say like Paul that Christ will be exalted in your body (your living) whether you live or die. As you can see there is a lot to the meaning of this verse. However, if I were to give you one final thought it would be this live as great a life for Christ as you can now, dont delay it. Make every day count and every moment count. When you are done living and the day comes where you breathe your last breath on this earth, know that it was all worth it. However, as good as it has been in this life the best is yet to come. It only gets better from here. Photo credit: Getty Images/ipopba Still, I carried with me a fondness for the brand. Until Wednesday. That's when Newsweek online posted an essay promoting the offensive, crackpot theory that U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, whom Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had named the day before as his running mate, might be ineligible to be on the ticket because her parents were foreigners, even though she was born and raised in Oakland, California. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 15 : Kerala's Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday alleged that the State Vigilance Department has been castrated. Chennithala said as such he has no option but to approach the legal system to expose corruptions by the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government. Chennithala was interacting with the media after taking part in the Independence Day celebrations held at the state Congress party headquarters. "We had given a detailed account of the massive corruption that took place in the sand mining at Pamba (at the foot hills of the famed Sabarimala temple) to the Chief Minister. But nothing has happened and now we have realised that the state government doesn't want to order a probe by the Vigilance Department. "The Vigilance department has been castrated by Vijayan. Hence, I have no other option but to approach the judiciary and it will be done," said Chennithala. The Congress-led Opposition has been up in arms ever since a state public sector unit Kerala Clays and Ceramics was given the contract to excavate the sand. But the sand that was moved was allegedly given to a private player. However, Vijayan has claimed that there was no corruption involved and the decision was taken by the district authorities under the guidelines stipulated by the State Disaster Management Authority. Incidentally, before the 2016 Assembly polls the Left Democratic Front and its leaders including former State Home Minister and CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had promised to launch a new concept naming 'Vigilant Vigilance' if they shot to power. After being sworn-in, one of the first decisions of Vijayan was to appoint senior police official Jacob Thomas as the vigilance director. Around a year later their relation soured, resulting in the suspension of the Vigilant director in December 2017. After a long legal battle Thomas was reinstated in August last year as the managing director of one of the state PSUs from where he was retired recently. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington Sat, August 15, 2020 16:25 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e4b024 2 World Joe-Biden,Donald-Trump,Kamala-Harris Free White House hopeful Joe Biden on Friday leveled fierce criticism at Donald Trump, with his campaign saying the president has resorted to "abhorrent" lies about Democrat Kamala Harris's eligibility to be vice president. Biden named Harris, a woman of color who was born in the United States and is constitutionally eligible to be both vice president and president, as his running mate on Tuesday. She quickly faced attacks that Democrats deemed racist. "I heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements," Trump said Thursday, citing an article by a conservative law professor that questioned the immigration status of Harris's parents at the time of her birth. Harris, 55, was born in Oakland, California to a mother from India and a father from Jamaica. Trump "has sought to fuel racism and tear our nation apart," Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement, referring to the "grotesque, racist birther movement" led by Trump that promoted the lie that Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, was not born in the United States. "So it's unsurprising, but no less abhorrent, that as Trump makes a fool of himself straining to distract the American people from the horrific toll of his failed coronavirus response that his campaign and their allies would resort to wretched, demonstrably false lies in their pathetic desperation." The conservative professor's article cited by Trump followed claims shared thousands of times on Facebook that Harris could not become president because her parents hailed from abroad. Article 2 of the US Constitution states that "no person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States" shall be eligible for the presidency. Section 2 of the 14th Amendment says "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" are US citizens. Trump grudgingly acknowledged late in his 2016 presidential campaign that Obama was American-born. Since then, Trump has faced accusations of racism, and has embraced other conspiracies. Polls show him trailing Biden in the November election. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked the foreign ministers of Israel, Russia, Bhutan, the Maldives, Lithuania and Latvia on Saturday for their wishes on Indias 74th Independence Day. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, in a tweet, said since independence, India has strived to be, and now become, an enduring example of democracy and development for the region and the world. Responding to his tweet, Jaishankar said the relationship between India and the Maldives is a shining example of Neighbourhood First. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia also greeted Jaishankar on Indias Independence Day. Jaishankar thanked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for his wishes and said India greatly values the exceptionally close and time-tested relationship with Russia. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji tweeted: I take this privilege to wish every Indian a very #HappyIndependenceDay. I pray for your great country to grow from strength to strength. Replying to Dorji, Jaishankar said, Your warm sentiments reflect our unique relationship. The external affairs minister also thanked his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi for his congratulatory call on Independence Day. Thank FM @Gabi_Ashkenazi for his congratulatory call on our Independence Day. Discussed our robust bilateral cooperation and Israels full normalisation of ties with UAE, he said in a tweet. The UAE and Israel finalised a deal with an aim to normalise their bilateral relationship, seen as a major development in moving ahead with peace initiatives in the Middle East. Jaishankars counterparts in Latvia and Lithuania, Edgars Rinkevics and Linas Linkevicius respectively, also greeted him. The external affairs minister thanked the two leaders in response. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 09:49:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a resolution that would extend the current arms embargo against Iran. The draft resolution, tabled by the United States, failed to get the required nine votes in favor for adoption. Besides the United States, only the Dominican Republic voted in favor of the draft. China and Russia voted against the text, and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including the European allies of the United States, abstained. Under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, the arms embargo against Iran expires on Oct. 18, 2020. The U.S. draft sought to extend the embargo indefinitely until the Security Council decides otherwise. The four-paragraph U.S. draft was already a watered-down version. An earlier version, which was introduced in June, sought the authorization of vessel inspections and weapons seizures as well as a travel ban and assets freeze, according to diplomats. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the voting result on Friday once again shows that unilateralism receives no support, and bullying will fail. Any attempt to place one's own interest above the common interests of the international community is a dead end. In recent years, in pursuing unilateralism and "America First," the United States has abandoned its international obligations, and withdrawn from multilateral agreements and international organizations, shattering its own credibility, Zhang said in an explanation of vote. China urges the United States to abandon unilateralism, and stop unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, he said, and the United States should adopt a reasonable and realistic attitude, and return to the right track of observing the Iran nuclear deal and Security Council Resolution 2231. The United States, which unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, has repeatedly claimed it will invoke the "snapback" mechanism within the Security Council should its draft resolution fail to pass, Zhang said. Having withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, the United States is no longer a participant of the deal and therefore ineligible to demand the Security Council invoke a snapback, he said. The overwhelming majority of the Security Council members believe that the U.S. attempt has no legal basis. Should the United States have its way in disregard of international opinion, its attempt is doomed to fail again, he said. Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Enditem A hidden truth about Connecticut trees damaged underground roots, withered by a punishing drought four years ago, may have resulted in heavier-than-expected outages in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias, an Eversource Energy-supported think tank at the University of Connecticut has determined. Eversource has been criticized for underestimating the severity of the storm damage. It had a third of the crews on hand at the storms outset that it would eventually require to restore power to customers. UConns Eversource Energy Center issued Friday a timeline of storm predictions it sent as Isaias worked its way up the Eastern Seaboard. The storm knocked out power to more than 700,000 Eversource customers in Connecticut. The company planned for fewer than 400,000 outages. An outage prediction model the center relies on had not been updated to reflect the possibility of tree damage in a 2016 drought, which was sufficiently severe to trigger water emergencies in a number of Connecticut communities as reservoirs were drained and aquifers depleted, center officials said. Drought conditions have returned this summer, though have not reached the severity of four years ago. The 2016 drought also killed off a fungus that had kept at bay gypsy moth caterpillars, the centers report stated, resulting in many trees being under additional stress in eastern and south-central parts of Connecticut. Eversource created EEC at UConn as part of a settlement with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, after an inquiry into the companys responses to the 2012 storm Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene and the Halloween noreaster the prior year. EEC feeds Eversource predictions based on the Global Forecast System of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which predicts storm tracks, winds, precipitation and other factors within 18-mile bands. EEC then refines those predictions to differentiate possible conditions every few miles, applying differing scenarios based on historic storms, leaf coverage and other factors. While Isaias lacked the sustained wind speeds and flooding of Sandy in 2012, like Tropical Storm Irene the year before it arrived in August when trees still had their full canopies of leaves, making it more likely that winds would rip big trees up by the roots, the report states. And Isaias was disintegrating as it crossed Long Island Sound into Connecticut, creating pockets of hurricane-force winds including a tornado in Westport confirmed by the National Weather Service. Even the extreme prediction underestimated the impact of this storm, said Diego Cerrai, assistant research professor at the UConn School of Engineering and a manager in the schools Eversource Energy Center. We think there is a combination of some factors that made this storm even more damaging than was predicted. The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority plans to hold hearings to address the performance of power companies Eversource and United Illuminating before and after Isaias. A separate hearing on Aug. 24 will address higher utility bills customers have received this summer. Eversource should be taking a hard look at their storm preparedness and response, stated Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in an email Friday. That is expected and appropriate. That is not a substitute for a thorough PURA investigation. Correction: Due to a reporting error, an initial version misstated the focus of an Aug. 24 PURA hearing, which will address higher customer bills. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman A Melbourne council could ban backyard barbecues after a petition was launched calling for an end to 'offensive emissions'. Bayside Council, in the city's southern suburbs, revealed on Thursday a resident had proposed the prohibition of outdoor solid-fuel cooking and heating due to the smell. The ban would mean locals must say goodbye to burning wood and charcoal for backyard fires and outdoor cooking. But the proposal has struggled to gain popularity as it only had five signatures on its petition when it was handed to council in August 2018. A Melbourne council could ban backyard barbecues in an attempt to prohibit 'offensive emissions' (stock image) 'Clause 31 of Local Law No.2 bans the burning of any offensive materials or any materials that cause offensive emissions of smoke and odour to enter any neighbouring property,' a brief of the proposal reads. 'This idea seeks to include a ban on the burning of solid fuel (eg wood and charcoal) for outdoor cooking or heating due to offensive emissions.' Bayside Council said they receive about three complaints on the issue each year. Brighton's Andrea Swain declared the plan to be 'the most un-Australian thing ever'. 'How can you put a stop to families, friends gathering around a barbecue?' she told The Herald Sun. Ms Swain said she found it 'so strange' someone would want to ban charcoal and wood fires for cooking. Bayside Council (pictured), in the city's southern suburbs, revealed on Thursday a resident had proposed the barring of outdoor solid-fuel cooking and heating due to the smell 'Surely if the smoke was that harmful, the people eating the meat would be ones to get sick,' she said. Brighton East couple Sandra and Gianluca Bocci told The Age the proposal was 'nonsensical'. 'How could you possibly take that away from people, especially now when we're not allowed to be out and about? We only have our backyards,' Mrs Bocci said. The couple use their backyard oven to cook pizzas, whole roast chickens, bread and biscuits. The newly ignited debate on solid-fuel cooking and heating comes from the the council's 'have your say' initiative. The ban would mean locals must say goodbye to burning wood and charcoal for backyard fires and outdoor cooking (stock image) 'Eight new local law ideas have been raised by some residents, including through petitions to council,' Bayside Council said. 'These ideas will only be considered for inclusion in the revised Local Law if they receive strong community support.' Residents of Beaumaris, Black Rock, Brighton, Brighton East, Cheltenham, Cromer, Dendy, Hampton, Hampton East, Highett, Moorabbin and Sandringham are encouraged to fill in a survey on the proposed laws. The survey will allow the council to 'accurately measure widespread support or opposition' to the ideas. Bayside City Council's mayor Clarke Martin said he knew the suggested change to backyard barbecues would be 'divisive'. 'For someone who is having a romantic evening by the fire, it's beautiful for them, but if the smoke is coming across and affecting 20 units down the road then it's a problem,' he said. The council will undertake more community consultation on the barbecue issue early next year. The federal government has upheld Gambler First Nations land-designation referendum results after a review that took five months. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us The federal government has upheld Gambler First Nations land-designation referendum results after a review that took five months. In February, the First Nation held the referendum to designate its Brandon urban reserve lands so it could lease to a third party for commercial purposes. In early March, Gambler member Darlene Labelle Gerula requested Indigenous Services Canada review the process that led to a tight final vote of 72-70 in favour. "Following a review of the Gambler First Nation land-designation vote held on Feb. 25, 2020 pursuant to the Indian Referendum Regulations, Indigenous Service Canada has determined that there was not sufficient evidence to call into question the validity of the results," Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson Rola Tfaili said in statement to The Brandon Sun on Thursday. "As such, the successful vote stands and allows the designation to proceed for ministerial approval pursuant to the Indian Act." Upon receiving the decision, Gerula said she was "quite disappointed, obviously, and shocked, just because there were so many things wrong with the referendum, things that they didnt do." Gerula listed more than 20 perceived breaches in her request for review and hoped that at least the most obvious four or five would lead to a redo. As an example, Gerula cites section 9.1 of the Indian Referendum Regulations, which states that a person attending a polling station to vote, and that person is on the voting list, the electoral officer must provide them with a ballot. In her appeal documentation, Gerula names three Gambler members who were refused a vote. "That section alone, they didnt comply," she said. Section 4.2 (1) (a) states that a notice of the referendum and a list of names of electors must be posted in a conspicuous place on the reserve. "That wasnt complied with either," Gerula said. "There was just so many things they didnt comply with. Im just shocked that the government condones this." Gerula also recalls what she says is a biased letter signed by Chief David LeDoux, which was included in the Indigenous Services Canada information package for electors, in which he states that a "no" vote at the referendum means the Brandon lands will not be developed. A land designation allows for the land to be leased for others to develop on that land. But Gambler could, in fact, develop on that land if it chose without a land designation. Not only was the information erroneous, it sought to sway voters, Gerula said. Once Gambler had the land converted by the addition to the reserve process, it could have built the planned gas bar without a referendum. Even without the land being designated as reserve land, the First Nation could have gone ahead with a gas bar, minus tax breaks. When Gerula saw the letter from Indigenous Services Canada informing the band that the referendum results had been upheld, she was shocked to see who had written it. In her appeal documentation, she made specific allegations against Indigenous Services employee Dana Smith, formerly the bands financial services officer. Smith is the signer. "It just seems to me thats a conflict of interest, because a lot of the violations that we complained about were against him because it was him that threatened the members," Gerula said. "How do you make a formal complaint against someone, only to have him investigate?" Similarly, Gerula made allegations related to the electoral officer who oversaw the referendum, and according to the Indian Referendum Regulation, the minister, in this case Marc Miller, is to ask the electoral officer to respond to grounds in the review request. "So she investigated the allegations against herself," Gerula said. She maintains LeDoux intends to lease the land to other First Nations, which will profit. Leasing the land rather than owning the businesses on the land will make less money for Gambler members. "The land is gone now. Its gone. This was our opportunity." Gerula said through tears. "Were such a small reserve and were so poor. This was an opportunity to try and bring hope for the future for the people of Gambler First Nation. Indigenous Services helped give it away. Its so disheartening." For asking questions about the referendum documents and business arrangements, she and several other members received cease-and-desist letters from a Saskatchewan lawyer in May on behalf of Chief David LeDoux; his daughter, councillor Kellie LeDoux; his wife Rose LeDoux; Gambler Management Ltd.; Gambler Brandon Ventures Ltd.; and Gambler Gas and Convenience Store Ltd. "Nothing came of that. They never pursued it," Gerula said. Gerula said she just wants whats right for the members. "The homeless to have a home, those with medical conditions to have their needs met, those hurting to get help," she said. Gerula has attempted to speak with Chief LeDoux by phone and by email. LeDoux has not responded. He also did not respond to an inquiry by the Sun. The Sun reached out to member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Dan Mazier, who declined to comment on this matter. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. Paris: Pressure is growing on the French government to require masks in all workplaces and everywhere in public as coronavirus infections resurge. Paris police stepped up mask patrols Saturday as the French capital expanded the zones where face coverings are now required in public, including neighborhoods around the Louvre Museum and Champs-Elysees shopping district. With cases in Paris rising particularly fast, police can now shut down cafes or any gathering of more than 10 people where distancing and other hygiene measures aren't respected. Masks are currently required outdoors in hundreds of French towns, but rules vary widely. France's High Council for Public Health published new guidances Friday recommending ?the systematic use of masks in all enclosed collective places, public and private? ? including workplaces. About half of France's current virus clusters started in workplaces. In an appeal published in the daily Liberation, a collective of medical workers urged a nationwide return to working at home, which France largely abandoned after two months of strict lockdown. France recorded more than 2,800 new cases on Friday, up from a few hundred daily cases a month ago. While the rise is in part attributed to increased testing, the rate of positive tests is also growing and is now at 2.4 per cent. However, the number of virus patients in French hospitals and intensive care units has not risen so far. The rising infections prompted Britain to impose quarantine on vacationers returning from France starting Saturday. Health authorities are reportedly considering halting choirs, the use of woodwind instruments and dances to stem the spread of coronavirus in schools. Coronavirus restrictions in New South Wales schools could be changed over fears the virus could spread while singing, dancing and using instruments. The proposed restrictions, which also includes the suspension of social activities such as formals, dances and graduations, are expected to last for the rest of term three. Health authorities are reportedly considering halting choirs, the use of woodwind instruments (pictured) and dances to stem the spread of coronavirus in schools Coronavirus restrictions in New South Wales schools could be changed over fears the virus could spread while singing (stock pictured), dancing and using instruments Tangara School for Girls (pictured) at Cherrybrook in Sydney's north-west has been cleared of breaching COVID-19 restrictions The Sydney Morning Herald reports school guidelines in the state could be changed because of the perceived risk of the coronavirus being disseminated via droplets during singing or playing the recorder, flutes or saxophones. The rules also propose suspending all extracurricular social activities but the debate continues over school sport. Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant confirmed to reporters this week that NSW Health are working on making amendments to school guidelines. School choirs and inter-school choral performances are currently allowed but could be put on hold due to the high risk of disease-spreading droplets. The use of woodwind instruments is also of concern, but not brass instruments. Activities involving different schools mixing would be limited, especially if events involved more than 100 people. Events with parents such as graduations, orientation, formals and dances would also be cancelled for the rest of term three. The worrying restrictions come as NSW reported nine cases on Saturday, with one case a student from the Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook. Events with parents such as graduations, orientation, formals and dances would also be cancelled for the rest of term three A cleaning crew in full PPE enter Tangara Public school to conduct a deep clean The Catholic school is at the centre of a major coronavirus outbreak and is now linked to 22 cases among staff and students. On Friday the school was cleared of breaching COVID-19 restrictions. New South Wales health brought in police to investigate Tangara School for Girls at Cherrybrook in Sydney's north-west after parents claimed they were ignoring social distancing rules. A police spokeswoman on Friday confirmed NSW Health had asked officers to investigate but the probe had concluded and the college had been cleared. In a statement on their website, the school said the 'misinformation' circulating during the 'challenging and emotional period' needed to be clarified. In a statement online the school said the 'misinformation' circulating during the 'challenging and emotional period' needed to be clarified Cleaners enter the school as part of NSW health protocol to disinfect the building after the virus spread on campus 'Today NSW Police deemed that no Public Health Orders have been breached at Tangara,' the statement read. 'We have always followed the advice of NSW Health around COVID-19 and will continue to do so.' School administration also shared a handwritten letter from a young student urging a quick recovery to those inflicted by the virus. 'Dear big girls, I hope you get better. Thank you for staying home to keep us safe. We are praying for you,' the student wrote. The probe was initiated after an angry parent spoke to 2GB Radio's Ben Fordham to suggest the school wasn't following health guidelines and was still offering communion along with compulsory mass. 'According to this parent, the school has not been practicing COVID-safe measures,' Fordham said on Thursday. NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay on Friday upped pressure on government to mandate masks on public transport (Pictured: a cleaner disinfects the hand rails on the NSW light rail in Sydney) 'They say the primary school has been doing weekly choir, they've continued compulsory mass, students are still taking communion by the hand and teachers have been taking it by the tongue. The outbreak has been linked to a nearby Opus Dei Catholic study centre, Eremeran, which is closed for cleaning after recently hosting five senior schoolgirls. The school said it plays no role in organising or monitoring attendees at Eremeran which is a third-party provider. Meanwhile, St Vincent's College in Potts Point became the third independent Catholic school to shut after exposure to the virus, with a student testing positive on Thursday. It joins Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta, which is linked to three cases, and Tangara School for Girls. Both schools will reopen on August 24. Sri Lanka seeks IMF funding for $ 800 mln By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): Sri Lankas ailing economy is set to receive a fiscal-boosting injection as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will resume lending after the new government presents its maiden budget in November this year. The country has still not received external financing from the IMF in 2020, either as part of emergency support during the coronavirus pandemic or as part of a regular Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. More clarity on the governments medium-term economic policies could facilitate such financing, but agreeing on policies to place public finances on a consolidation path will be challenging, economic analysts said. Sri Lankas recent three-year Extended Fund Facility with the IMF expired in early June since the country had deviated from EFF programmes revenue-based consolidation strategy. The disbursement of the final tranche in June 2020 of IMFs US$ 1.5 billion bailout to help avert a balance of payments crisis will be delayed by at least three or four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on policy making, official sources said. Discussions are continued with the IMF to raise another $ 800 million under its Rapid Financing Facility and obtain the balance $200 million following the seventh review of its EFF to Sri Lanka after the presentation of the formal budget in Parliament. However the IMF has assured that they will provide a realistic option for the countrys economic recovery, a senior official closely connected to the IMF programme told the Business Times. The seventh and final review under the EFF arrangement was scheduled to take place after mid-April. It remains to be seen whether conditions will be placed with sufficient time left for a review to be concluded before the end of this year, he added. The IMF is also evaluating Sri Lankas request for rapid financing facility in support of the country hit by the coronavirus. The Sri Lankan authorities also expressed interest in a range of options for future engagement with the Fund, he added. The authorities should move ahead with growth-enhancing structural reforms to fully harness Sri Lankas economic potential and foster greater social inclusion, IMF sources said. Plans will have to be devised to enhance the efficiency of state-owned enterprises, enabling them to operate on a sound commercial basis. These plans need to be supported by a visible commitment to strengthen governance and transparency, notably in the energy sector, and renewed efforts to tackle corruption, sources added. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has installed two electric vehicle Green Charger stations at the offices of Expo Dubai. Dewa is also installing 15 more stations at the Opportunity, Sustainability and Mobility pavilions for electric vehicle owners who will visit Expo Dubai. This is part of its effort to provide a sustainable Expo Dubai for six months and longer. As the Official Sustainability Partner for Expo Dubai from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, Dewa has invested AED4.26 billion to build the electricity and water infrastructure for the event using the latest smart systems. It will also provide clean energy to the Expo Dubai from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer, IPP, model. Managing Dirtector & CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said Dewa is collaborating with the relevant organisations in the UAE to prepare to host the best World Expo, in Dubai. "To host Expo Dubai, Dewa has completed several major projects, including constructing electricity and water transmission networks. The total cost of Dewas three sub-stations at Expo Dubai has reached AED420 million," he added. According to him, Dewa has successfully installed 240 electric vehicle charging stations in different areas of Dubai such as government offices, airports, petrol stations, shopping malls, commercial offices, clinics and hospitals, residential complexes and establishments. This is part of the Green Charger initiative, in collaboration with concerned organisations in Dubai, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The California State Assembly in the US has recognised late actor for his efforts to promote India's rich culture and heritage and his immense contributions to Indian cinema. Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14. The Mumbai police has been probing the alleged suicide following an accidental death report complaint lodged by Bandra police. The California State Assembly in a certificate of recognition noted Rajput's "immense contributions to cinema" and appreciated his "philanthropic community work as well as his efforts to promote India's rich culture and heritage". The actor's sister Shweta Singh Kirti who lives in the US received the certificate on Rajput's behalf. The actor had often expressed his desire to work in Hollywood. Indian community leader Ajay Bhutoria presented the recognition from the California State Assembly to Suhant's family. The recognition of the star was led by California Assemblyman Kansen Chu. It's a great privilege for me to accept this honour from California State Assembly, on behalf of my brother, in remembrance and appreciation of his philanthropic work and contributions to Indian cinema," Shweta told PTI on Saturday. "I thank the Assembly members and the Indian-American community for their continuous support in these hours of crisis," she said. Her husband Vishal Kirti said the California State Assembly has recognised Rajput's contributions to Indian cinema and the community on the auspicious occasion of India's Independence Day. Millions of Indian Americans are watching the proceedings of the ongoing campaign for getting #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput, Rajput's brother-in-law Vishal said. "Indian-Americans are looking up to the Indian government to get death case an unbiased investigation," he said. On July 25, Rajput's 74-year-old father K K Singh, who lives in Bihar, filed a complaint with police in Patna against his son's rumoured girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her family members accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide. The CBI recently took over investigation into the case and re-registered the Patna police FIR. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also questioning Chakraborty, her family members and others in connection with a money laundering case linked to the death of the actor. (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.) TEHRAN, Iran - Irans powerful Revolutionary Guard vowed Saturday there would be dangerous consequences for the United Arab Emirates after it announced a historic deal with Israel to open up diplomatic relations. The UAE is the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to establish normalized relations with Israel, Irans regional archenemy. As part of the U.S.-brokered deal, Israel agreed to temporarily put off the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The Iranian Guard called the deal a shameful agreement and an evil action that was underwritten by the U.S., according to the groups statement on a website it runs, Sepah News. The Guard warned that the deal with Israel will set back American influence in the Middle East and bring a dangerous future for the Emirati government. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has also condemned the Emirati move. In a televised speech Saturday, he warned that the United Arab Emirates has made a huge mistake in reaching a deal toward normalizing ties with Israel. Rouhani warned the Gulf state against allowing Israel to have a foothold in the region. Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called the agreement a painful betrayal of Arab and other countries in the region, during a trip to Lebanon on Friday. Less than 100 people gathered in front of the Emirates embassy in the capital Tehran on Saturday evening to protest the deal. They chanted death to Israel and death to America and burned an Israeli flag. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The UAE presented its controversial decision as a way of encouraging peace efforts and taking Israels planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank off the table. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly pushed back insisting the pause in annexation was temporary. Trump has presented the U.S.-brokered agreement as a major diplomatic achievement and said he expects more Arab and Muslim countries to follow suit. Israel has quietly cultivated ties with the UAE and other Gulf countries for several years as they have confronted a shared enemy in Iran. Read more about: A class-action federal lawsuit filed against Newark this week claims cadets who trained to become cops are owed $2.4 million - but possibly millions more - in overtime they worked at the police academy. Newark cadets at the New Jersey State Police Academy in Sea Girt were scheduled to work from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the 16-week program, the suit claims. However, they were only paid an hourly rate of $17.50 for an eight-hour workday, the suit says. We actually have schedules where they were told to do these duties like cleaning the place and its absolutely required, said Adam Slater, an attorney who represents 200 current or former Newark cadets in the suit. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said the collective bargaining unit had agreed to waive overtime during training at the police academy. The police (department)/city and the labor bargaining (unit) had an agreement waiving OT during academy training, Ambrose said in a brief email to NJ Advance Media on Thursday. Slater said the elimination of overtime did not exist in the collective bargaining agreements he reviewed. Even if it did exist in the agreement, Slater said it wouldnt be enforceable. The class representatives - or main plaintiffs - in the suit are three current Newark police officers: Malikul Aziz, Ronnie Cruz and Rudan Ramsahai. They each attended the academy at some point between 2017 and 2018, the suit says. Cadets sleep overnight at the academy Monday through Friday, Slater explained. They do not leave the base during that time. They were made to work during their scheduled block for personal time, the suit says, cleaning bathrooms, washing or detailing cars, cleaning the barracks, or shining shoes. Cadets were also required to work a two-hour guard duty that would often occur after lights out scheduled at 10 p.m., the suit says. Cadets were entitled to time-and-a-half, or $26.25, for every hour they worked beyond 40 hours in a week, Slater said. On the low-end, Slater said, some cadets could be owed $12,000 to $15,000 in back pay for overtime they worked during the 16-week program, should the suit be successful. And thats before you apply any penalties, Slater said, adding that damages could become doubled. The suit could also apply to Newark cadets who attended the policy academy within the past six years if a judge allows it, Slater added. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. In the midst of a border row with China in eastern Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday Indias sovereignty was supreme and if anyone threatened it from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) the armed forces would respond to them in the same language. In his 86-minute Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort, he said: The world saw what our brave soldiers can do to protect the countrys sovereignty in LadakhI bow to Indias soldiers from Red Fort. The PM also said India was dealing firmly with terrorism (a reference to Pakistans covert warfare) and expansionism (a reference to Chinas aggression). His Ladakh reference was to the brutal skirmish in the remote Galwan Valley where Indian soldiers fought off numerically superior Chinese troops on June 15. Twenty Indian soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in the seven-hour conflict near Patrolling Point 14, where outnumbered Indian troops inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Beijing has not disclosed the number of fatalities it suffered. The PMs comments on securing Indias sovereignty from LoC to LAC are a stern and clear message of the countrys resolve and political will to defend its frontiers, said former army vice chief Lieutenant General AS Lamba (retd). The militarys capability and operational readiness to respond to any misadventure or threat has already been exhibited in a recent engagement (Galwan Valley). The PMs message also directly addresses the leadership of powers that have played negotiations as cover for aggressive posturing and repeated violations of the sanctity of our boundaries, Lamba said. Military talks with China on reducing tensions along the LAC have hit a roadblock with the Indian Army taking the hard line with the PLA. India seeks to restore status quo ante of early April in eastern Ladakh. The PMs speech covered the significance of self-reliance in the defence sector and steps being taken to attain the goal. He said the government imposed an import ban on 101 types of weapons and ammunition on August 9 from missiles to transport aircraft and assault rifles to light combat helicopter to provide a push to self-reliance in the defence sector. He said advanced variants of the locally produced Tejas light combat aircraft were also getting ready. Modi also spoke of continued upgradation of border infrastructure, naming Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh in particular (regions where China has been aggressive and made expansive claims); and spoke of the development of islands (India has 1300 islands), referring to the laying of submarine optical fibre in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and announcing that within, 1000 days, this would happen in Lakshwadeep too. With the country turning increasingly digital, the PM said India was aware and cautious of threats. In the backdrop of the government banning 59 China-linked apps, he said India was taking decisions to safeguard itself, developing new technologies and would soon announce a new cyber security policy. And finally, the PM spoke of Indias foreign policy achievements, highlighting its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council by an overwhelming majority. He made a special appeal to leaders in South Asia to work with the spirit of peace and fraternity, and spoke of the idea of an extended neighbourhood. With West Asia, India shared special links due to energy cooperation and the large pool of migrant workers the PM specifically thanked countries in the region for taking care of these workers during the pandemic. With Southeast Asia, the PM spoke of how India shared old cultural, civilisation and religious ties. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rory Gilmore may have only spent three years at Chilton, but her acceptance into the prestigious school was the entire premise for Gilmore Girls. It was, after all, the reason Lorelai Gilmore had to reconnect with her estranged parents, Richard and Emily Gilmore, and its the entire reason Rory developed a deep relationship with her grandparents. While everyone knows that Chilton was prestigious, was the school real or fictional? Was Chilton a real school? Rorys acceptance into Chilton was a big deal. Everyone in Stars Hollow talked about it, and Richard and Emily were particularly pleased to tell everyone they knew that their granddaughter was attending the prep school. If Richard and Emilys social circle was impressed by her choice in prep schools, you know it was a big deal. Was the school real, though? RELATED: Gilmore Girls: Did Caesar Go to Chilton? No, not exactly. There is no Chilton School in Connecticut. While there are a few school districts that bare the name Chilton, they are not the prestigious prep school that Rory was said to attend. Rorys school is a work of fiction, but a real school inspired it. What school inspired Chilton? Chilton was inspired by Choate Rosemary Hall, according to Bustle. The co-ed prep school is located in Wallingford, Connecticut, and offers students some pretty extraordinary educational opportunities. Rory Gilmore and Lorelai Gilmore | Warner Bros./Delivered by Online USA The school is known as a feeder school, with a high number of graduating seniors going on to Ivy League colleges. Yale, for example, has accepted 154 students from Choate, according to Niche. Harvard has taken more than 100 students from the program, as well. Choate, which will cost parents more than $40,000 a year for non-boarding students, is considered the best prep school in Connecticut, and the eighth best private high school in the country. There is a local prep school in the town that inspired Stars Hollow, too While Choate Rosemary Hall is believed to be the inspiration for Chilton, another prestigious prep school is located in the town that inspired Stars Hollow. Washington Depot is a tiny hamlet in the city of Washington, Connecticut. Close to Hartford, Washington is charming but is so small that those who arent looking for it could easily blink and miss it. With just 3,500 inhabitants, the towns greatest claim to fame is the fact that it inspired Amy Sherman-Palladino to pen Gilmore Girls. RELATED: Gilmore Girls: What Would Lorelai Gilmores House Be Worth Today? Washington, Connecticut, isnt just home to cute inns and charming small businesses, a prestigious prep school is located within the towns limits. The Frederick Gunn School, formerly known as The Gunnery, is a highly-selective boarding and prep school in Washington, Connecticut. According to Niche, students who attend the school enjoy small class sizes, a plethora of enrichment activities, and tend to go on to top-ranked colleges. The Gunnery, however, doesnt have the same Ivy League acceptances of similar schools in the area. A heartbroken mother has spoken whose daughter was raped and murdered in her own bed says she has forgiven the killer. Nancye O'Reilly, 67, found her daughter Alicia, then six, dead inside their Avondale home, in west Auckland, on August 16 in 1980. Alicia shared a room with her sister Juliet who was sleeping just metres away but somehow had not woken during the harrowing attack. 'I went up to the bed and I remember grabbing her arm and her arm was semi-stiff and I just dropped it. I knew,' Ms O'Reilly told New Zealand Herald. Alicia O'Reilly (pictured) was raped and murdered in her own bed in west Auckland on August 16 in 1980 After calling the police one officer took Ms O'Reilly aside and told her bluntly what had happened to Alicia prompting her to rock backwards and forwards and emit 'an awful noise'. The police officer told her to be quiet because her other daughter was asleep. 'And I shut up. And shut down. That's the only way I can really describe it. It's taken me years to get to where I am today,' Ms O'Reilly said. Hundreds of suspects were questioned in the homicide investigation and some physical clues were left behind but Alicia's killer has never been found. Auckland detectives are now re-investigating the case, 40 years on from when Alicia was brutally attacked. Ms O'Reilly, who now lives in Whakatane, said her anguish over the horrific death had never gone away. 'I don't think any of us can comprehend why an adult male would want to rape a six-year-old, you can't get your head around it, it just doesn't make sense to any normal person,' she explained. The 67-year-old, who is also battling cancer, described Alicia as a 'full on' child who liked to have fun. Ms O'Reilly said she was grateful to the police for re-investigating her daughter's death and there were many unanswered questions that still haunted her. Ms O'Reilly (pictured) said the anguish over her daughter's death had never left her Ms O'Reilly explained she didn't need revenge or a criminal trial and only wanted to be able to put and face and a name to her daughter's killer. Her eldest daughter, Juliet, had never been able to come to terms with her sister's death. She tragically died in a car accident at just 14-years-old. Despite the terrible crime ripping apart her family Ms O'Reilly said she had forgiven her daughter's killer so she could move on with her life. Detective Inspector Stu Allsopp-Smith, who was a young trainee involved in the original homicide investigation, said Alicia's case was 'unfinished business'. Police are now scanning old documents into digital files as part of 'Operation Sturbridge' to study the original evidence in a modern way. He said the case had individuals who could be considered persons of interest and urged anyone with any information to come forward. Inspector Allsopp-Smith said Alicia's horrific murder was something that had stayed with him throughout his career. A New Zealand Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia Alicia's murder was being reviewed. 'The first part of this requires us to review and convert the existing documentation into a digital format, a process that will take some time. 'Through this process the team have identified some matters that require further investigation,' the spokesperson said. In the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, on August 17, additional buses will appear on the routes, the press service of the City Transportation Systems company reported. "The number of buses will increase on the nine most popular routes. Our employees continue to analyze passenger traffic. If necessary, there will be changes on other routes," the company informed, Sputnik Kazakhstan reports. Despite the softening of quarantine measures, citizens will have to wear face masks in public transport and public places, the company recalled. Pilgrimage to the cave shrine of in the Trikuta Hills of Jammu and Kashmir' Reasi district will resume from Sunday after remaining suspended for nearly five months in view of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Saturday. The yatra was suspended on March 18. Ramesh Kumar, the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Shrine Board (SMVSB) said the pilgrimage will resume from tomorrow, and in the first week there shall be a cap of 2,000 pilgrims each day of which 1,900 would be from and the remaining 100 from outside. The situation will be reviewed thereafter and decisions will be taken accordingly, he said. "People will be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage after registration only through online in order to avoid any assembly at the yatra registration counter." The pilgrims will be required to install Aarogya Setu App on their mobile phones. Wearing face masks and face cover is mandatory and they will have to undergo thermal scanning at yatra entry points, the SMVSB CEO said. Children below 10 years, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities and those above 60 years have been advised to avoid the pilgrimage, he said, adding the advisory for this group will be revisited when the situation normalises. Kumar said traditional routes -- from Katra to Bhawan via Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat -- will be used for going up and Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg will be used for coming back from Bhawan. COVID negative report of the pilgrims from outside and also from the red zone districts of the Union Territory will be checked at the helipad and yatra entry points at Darshani Deodi, Banganga, Katra. "Only those with negative reports will be allowed to move towards Bhawan. Ponies, pithus and palkis will not be allowed to ply on the tracks initially," he said. "For the ease and comfort of pilgrims, all supplementary facilities set up by the Board like battery operated vehicles, passenger ropeway and helicopter services will ply by strictly following social distancing norms and other precautionary measures," Kumar added. Booking and sitting of pilgrims in Atka Aarti area and Shradha Suman Vishesh Pooja will not be allowed till further orders. "Cloakrooms will be allowed to open but blanket stores will remain closed, initially. All these measured will be reviewed fortnightly," the CEO added. A massive sanitization campaign has been launched by the Shrine Board right from Katra to Bhawan before the resumption of the pilgrimage. (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.) Patrick Dardis, the chief executive of pub group Young's, is calling time on working from home. Last Monday, he took an evening stroll through Central London and found the deserted streets such a 'scary sight' he is determined to galvanise the Government into getting Britain back to work. 'It was still really depressing in Holborn, with closed-up shops, cafes and restaurants that look like they will never reopen again,' he says. 'Then I took the Northern Line from Euston to Clapham South and I counted around six people in my Tube carriage even though it was six o'clock in the evening.' He adds: 'It makes you want to cry when you walk around. The UK can't survive if London continues like this for much longer.' Upfront: Young's chief executive Patrick Dardis predicts a business hangover in the New Year The desertion of the capital, as more than two-thirds of Britain's office workers continue to work remotely, is starving Young's Central London pubs of revenue. City institutions such as Dirty Dicks near Liverpool Street station and the Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market are taking just 10 per cent of their pre-crisis sales since reopening last month, compared to 70 per cent across the Young's estate overall. Dardis says: 'The Lamb is usually a thriving business but it is struggling to take any money at all at the moment.' He adds that ten of the group's tenanted pubs in Central London have found trading so challenging they have closed. 'They couldn't cope with social distancing and just handed back the keys,' he says. Yet despite the huge cost involved in running near-empty pubs, Dardis is determined to keep trading to show London is open for business. If the capital remains a ghost town, he says the impact on Britain could be even worse than the pandemic not just through unemployment, but from the hit to tax revenue to fund the NHS and schools. He warns: 'If our high streets are as empty as they are now this time next year, our country will be bankrupt; it will be in a shocking state. 'The Government needs to level with the British public about this, because while working from home might feel nice at the moment, the capital represents about 30 per cent of the UK's GDP. 'If we don't get the capital going, we don't get the UK going.' Dardis blasts the 'mixed messaging' and 'scaremongering' from Ministers, but reserves his harshest words for London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who he says 'has got to get off the fence'. He says: 'Crossrail is a national embarrassment and he doesn't say anything about it. London transport is safe to travel on, so why doesn't he say it? And why doesn't he say please let's get the kids back to school, let's get people back into the office?' He adds: 'If we don't start growing the economy again we will all regret it and our children will regret it.' Young's is one of Britain's oldest pub groups, founded in 1831 when Charles Young and Anthony Bainbridge bought the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth. The Young family, now represented on the board by Torquil Sligo-Young, still own around 28 per cent of the AIM-listed business and, says Dardis, have been 'hugely supportive' during the pandemic. Even though Young's has endured its brewery being bombed in the Second World War and two staff at its Wheatsheaf pub being stabbed in the 2017 London Bridge terror attacks, Dardis says coronavirus is the biggest challenge its management has ever faced. On his weekly call with chief executives of other major pub chains, including Greene King and Fuller's, their greatest fear is further factors out of their control. Dardis says: 'We know the knowns we have all built up debt, deferred VAT and improved liquidity to survive the crisis, and we know we have to plan to pay that back. 'It's what is lurking in the shadows that scares us all.' Dardis says his firm has been losing an average of 6million a month since April, and predicts the 'brutal reality' of the Covid-19 recession will be felt in the New Year. He says up to 10,000 of Britain's 45,000 pubs could close in January and February and that some of Young's small Central London pubs could be among them. 'Will we have to offload or close some pubs? I'd like to say categorically not, but I can't say that. I wish I could but I can't.' He's also looking at making 600 job cuts in the autumn, after initially planning to axe up to 2,000 posts. The situation is complicated because around a third of the 600 Young's employees not yet back at work cannot be located, with many having returned to Europe. Dardis said last month Young's would take Rishi Sunak's 1,000 bonus for each employee taken off furlough, but now plans to turn down the handout unless 'all our pubs close again in a second wave, and it is a matter of survival'. 'This crisis is brutal and there will be winners and losers,' he says. 'No one takes any joy in saying that, but there will be businesses that don't get through this.' However, he hopes 'the mighty Young's' is well-placed to recover and even expand, boosted by an 88.4million share placing in June to pursue 'opportunistic acquisitions', on top of a 30million Covid Corporate Financing Facility loan and 70million of increased debt. 'The message was that we wanted to do more than survive, to get back into a growth trajectory, and to invest in the premium pub estate,' he says. 'If once-in-a-lifetime freehold opportunities come up, it would be a shame if Young's would not participate in that.' Those sites are not yet on Dardis's radar, but he will snap up freeholds across the Home Counties when the time is right, to fill the gaps between the group's 276 pubs spanning from Cambridge to Devon. Once London finally bounces back, he intends to acquire more pubs in the capital too. He says the dogfights over rents during the pandemic have shown the value of Young's owning the pubs it operates. He hopes to increase its freehold sites from 85 per cent to 90 per cent of the group. In the meantime, the former rugby player is tackling the tumbleweed in corporate London by urging Young's head office staff to return to its Wandsworth HQ from next month. 'We understand the schooling issue in August and are very flexible on that, but when the schools go back in September we are encouraging people back in the office,' he says. As a further warning for Britain's reluctant office workers, he reports that two chief executives he has spoken to this month are considering reducing costs by outsourcing payroll and IT jobs to South Africa and India if working from home becomes the norm. 'We ought not to become too comfortable with working from home, because it has got its potential dark side to it,' he says. 'Let's get schools back, and people back to the office. The sooner we get back to normal, maybe we can look beyond just surviving and start living.' BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal of holding an online summit over Iranian nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Saturday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks when asked to comment on Putin's proposal. Putin proposed on Friday holding an urgent online meeting of the heads of the five states that are permanent members of the UN Security Council with the participation of the leaders of Germany and Iran to discuss Iran and the Persian Gulf situation. China appreciates Russia's efforts to ease tensions on the Iranian nuclear issue and to strengthen regional security, Zhao said. China has always firmly supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and is devoted to safeguarding peace and stability in the Middle East, said Zhao. "China is willing to work with parties concerned to keep close communication and coordination, and jointly promote the process of political resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.15 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and EU countries amounted to $13.1 billion over 1H2020, compared to $15.4 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of EU countries in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at less than 31 percent during the reporting period compared to 33.5 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to EU countries amounted to $10.4 billion over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $12.4 billion during the same period of 2019. EU countries share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to less than 40.2 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 43.5 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from EU countries slightly exceeded $2.7 billion over the reporting period, compared to $2.9 billion during the same period of 2019. EU countries share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 16.5 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 17 percent during the same period of 2019. The total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $42.5 billion over the period from Jan. through June 2020 which indicates a decrease from $46.1 billion during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export amounted to $26 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($28.6 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas import amounted to $16.5 billion ($17.5 billion in 2019). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Army personnel who fought Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh are likely to be given gallantry awards during Republic Day in January New Delhi: Three Indian Army personnel-- Lt Colonel Krishan Singh Rawat, Major Anil Urs and Havildar Alok Kumar Dubey -- have been conferred with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra for counter terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army personnel who courageously fought Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh, particularly in Galwan Valley, are likely to be given gallantry awards during Republic Day in January. They dont figure in the gallantry awards list for Independence Day. Wing Commander Vishak Nair, from the Indian Air Force, has also been conferred with the Shaurya Chakra on the eve of Independence Day. President Ram Nath Kovind has approved 84 awards and decorations to the Armed Forces personnel and members of the Paramilitary Forces. The awards include one Kirti Chakra, nine Shaurya Chakras, five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 60 Sena Medals (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Major Anil, from Maratha Light Infantry laid an ambush on receiving intelligence that terrorists were planning to infiltrate from across the line of control (LoC). On spotting the group of terrorists, Maj Anil killed three terrorists. Being in close proximity to LoC, his action drew violent fire from the Pakistan army. However, Maj Anil chose to remain at the location awaiting an opportunity to engage the rest of the terrorists. After a life threatening wait of fifteen minutes, the team sighted and brought down fire on two more terrorists, leading to neutralisation of a total five terrorists in the ambush. Lt Colonel Rawat from the elite Special Forces was team leader of a mission-oriented team, deployed along the LoC in J-K for conduct of counter infiltration and counter terrorist operations. On receiving inputs about infiltration attempts by terrorists, he led his team to a 36 hours search and kill ambush, in a tough terrain and under difficult weather conditions near LoC. He and his team killed four terrorists during the operation. Havildar Alok, from Rajput Regiment 44 battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles, was deployed as a stop in the inner cordon during an operation last year in June in a village in J&K. He challenged a group of terrorists who were trying to break the cordon, and killed one top terrorist despite coming under indiscriminate fire. He further prevented other terrorists from escaping and facilitated his team to tighten the cordon. His courageous action led to elimination of all four terrorists. Education is a hot topic this Legislative session. Here's what bills we're watching. Here are some of the hot-button education bills were tracking at the Argus Leader. Check back each day to see where they stand as we update. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 00:30:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XINING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Qinghai Province has allocated special funds worth 250 million yuan (about 36 million U.S. dollars) for its cultural and tourist industries since their resumption, the local government said. A total of 121 cultural and tourism enterprises received 15.8 million yuan, while 49 major projects of these industries received 125 million yuan, according to the provincial culture and tourism department. From January to July, Qinghai's tourist number and revenue both dwindled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. After travel agencies in China were greenlighted on July 14 to resume inter-provincial group tours, Qinghai's cultural and tourist market has quickly heated up. As of Aug. 10, all cultural centers, libraries, museums, popular restaurants, travel agencies and A-level tourist attractions have resumed operation. As the epidemic wanes, domestic tourists would seek safe and healthy travel options, and Qinghai is one of the preferred destinations thanks to its clean air and natural beauty, said Ma Jingang, with the provincial culture and tourism department. Enditem Piers Morgan arrives for the 2019 British Academy Britannia (BAFTA) awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills in October 2019 (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images) Piers Morgan responded to a joke his Good Morning Britain replacement Sean Fletcher made about his weight by boasting of his own viewing ratings. Morgan is currently enjoying a summer break from his usual hosting duties on the ITV breakfast show, with his position being filled by a series of stand-in presenters. Fletcher was in the GMB hot seat for the first time last week, and couldnt miss the opportunity to make a light-hearted dig about Morgan. Read more: Piers Morgan flies home early from France to avoid quarantine rules Sharing a photo on social media of himself and co-host Charlotte Hawkins, Fletcher revealed he had been forced to borrow a tie from Morgans wardrobe. Alongside the tweeted picture, Fletcher wrote: Really enjoyed working with @CharlotteHawkns and @alexberesfordTV on @gmb this week. Sean Fletcher attends the ITV Palooza 2019 at the Royal Festival Hall on November 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) FYI my red tie is from @piersmorgans wardrobe, so it normally fits around a slightly larger neck - thats why it kept loosening. The 55-year-old was quick to respond: Shame you cant borrow my much larger ratings too. Fletcher answered to point out they had managed just over a fifth of the total viewing figures. Shame you cant borrow my much larger ratings too. https://t.co/E2oytHGi6K Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 14, 2020 He said: "21.3% for me and @CharlotteHawkns on Thursdays @gmb @piersmorgan. Not a bad share with no promo/social media campaign." Morgan responded to poke fun at Fletchers hair, which has grown longer during lockdown. He tweeted: "And with that hair too!" with a winking face emoji. Fletchers longer hair had already been a talking point on the show, with one viewer sending a message praising him for normalising black hairstyles for our black sons. 'You are normalising male black hairstyles for our young black sons.'@SeanFletcherTV reads out a message he received about his longer hairdo. He says he used to think a shaved head was 'smarter' but now his role is to show longer hair on air. pic.twitter.com/IuShbMepzn Good Morning Britain (@GMB) August 14, 2020 Commenting on the message, the 46-year-old said: Ive had my hair short ever since Ive been on telly. Story continues My hair was always long but when I joined the BBC in the late Nineties and was on screen, there was something in me that made me think do you know what I need to be a bit smarter. I mean, I actually dont think this is not smart its just different. Read more: Kate Garraway overwhelmed by response to coronavirus blood plasma donation plea And if people dont think this is smart, its because they dont see this hairstyle on air. Its my role to put this out there and Im going to keep growing it. GMB airs weekdays from 6am on ITV. Perhaps the most jarring reality of the COVID-19 pandemic for families has been the sudden and dramatic disruption to all levels of education, which is expected to have deep social and economic repercussions for years if not decades to come. Why it matters: As millions of students are about to start the school year virtually, at least in part, experts fear students may fall off an educational cliff missing key academic milestones, falling behind grade level and in some cases dropping out of the educational system altogether. They're also missing out on crucial social development that only comes from interactions with peers. The economic impact could be staggering: McKinsey estimates the average K-12 student in the U.S. could lose $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings or the equivalent of a year of full-time work, as a result of learning losses related to COVID-19. Losses are expected to be even greater for Black, Hispanic and low-income students, widening the existing achievement gaps by 15%-20%, per McKinsey. All in all, this translates to an estimated loss of $110 billion in annual earnings across current K-12 students. The World Bank estimates that close to 7 million students worldwide could drop out of school due to the income shock of the pandemic alone. Globally, a school shutdown of five months could cause learning losses amounting to $10 trillion. What's happening: As many schools transition to online learning this fall, some students will be able to log on consistently and attend classes with help from family and hired caregivers, in the biggest test of remote learning yet. Yes, but: Other students will have limited access to computers, internet and adult help to support their learning, likely exacerbating the stark divide in this pandemic's disproportionate effects. A clear trend emerged from decades of studies on summer slide: students from lower-income families are more likely to fall behind than students who live in higher-income homes, RANDs Jennifer McCombs told Harvard EdCast in March. The spring school closures gave a window into potential losses. A June NWEA study of "COVID slide" suggested students would return to school this fall with about 70% of the learning gains in reading compared to a typical school year. In math, students were likely to return with less than 50% of the previous school year's learning gains, and in some grades nearly a whole year behind what would be expected under normal circumstances. Gauging where students are academically when they resume classes will be a challenge. Educators are more focused on tending to safety, food security and other pandemic-related trauma students are facing. "People aren't rushing to get a kid in front of a test, and I think that's probably a healthy thing," said Beth Tarasawa, executive vice president of research at NWEA, a nonprofit that creates academic assessments for students pre-K-12. Eventually, though, those data points will be needed to plan interventions and support. Despite the difficulties, experts agree that lowering academic standards is not the answer. "What we can't get comfortable with is that kids aren't going to learn if they are at home. The reality is kids are at home and kids must learn. What do we need to put in place to make sure that is happening for every child?" says Susan Schaeffler, CEO of KIPP DC, which operates 18 public charter schools in Washington, D.C. What's next: Some learning loss can be addressed with basic, tried-and-true strategies, said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington Bothell. One-on-one tutoring and small-group lessons can help, even though they are more tricky in a virtual setting and require resources. "What we know from research is that it matters how quickly educators address learning losses because they cascade and students disengage when they don't think they can do the work in front of them," Lake said. She added: "We have to limit the learning loss curve as quickly as possible because, otherwise, educators will be overwhelmed both by the enormity of the need plus all the other stuff they're dealing with, like health and public safety and budget crunches." Parents juggling work and caring for families while making sure their children are set up to learn already feel the pressure. "Now we have this continual conversation about how this is going to devastate our children," particularly children of color, said Keri Rodrigues, co-founder and president of the National Parents Union. "That puts everyone in the mindset that our children are broken. It is our job as the adult to push on and persevere to figure this out for them." The bottom line: Keeping kids on track will require much more communication and teamwork between parents and educators. One positive "is that [the pandemic] has forced parents and schools to lean on each other in a way that I hope continues when we are back face-to-face," says Schaeffler. Go deeper... Podcast: Cap podcast on the loss of learning STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Politicians, labor leaders and local organizations are working to save the September 11 Tribute in Light after the 9/11 Memorial and Museum decided to cancel it. A bipartisan group of City Council members, including Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) and Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), said they are confident the workers needed for the massive light display could be sourced from local unions after coordinating with the AFL-CIO New York City Central Labor Council. Anyone who watched the towers go down, either in person or on television, knows how representative those lights are, Borelli said. This was one of the only ways in which the whole tri-state area could participate in remembering that day. Tribute in Light shines 88 different lights -- 44 for each tower of the World Trade Center -- four miles into the sky, and can be seen from 60 miles away. The lights are sourced from the Italian company Spacecannon. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum did not respond to a request for comment on Friday as to whether the specific lights were necessary for the display, and if it typically sourced the labor for the project from the Italian company. The company also did not respond to a request for comment. In a Thursday statement, the museum, which has a board of trustees chaired by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, blamed the displays cancellation on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. AFL-CIO New York City Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez told the Advance/SILive.com that he was confident that local workers could safely handle the displays installation. Our position is that we must have the tribute and the lights lit on 9/11, he said. We stand ready, willing, and able to do what we can in that effort. New York Citys union workers -- they can do this safely and professionally. The New York City Central Labor Council joins in calling on the September 11th Memorial and Museum (@Sept11Memorial) to reconsider their position and allow the Tribute in Lights to go on as planned. 1/ pic.twitter.com/f2M13aCRaF New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@CentralLaborNYC) August 14, 2020 The museums statement said that it hopes to renew the display next year for the 20th anniversary of the attacks that killed thousands and continues to affect peoples health with 9/11-related illnesses. As a substitute for the annual display, the museum announced a Tribute in Lights initiative in which buildings will light their spires and facades in blue to honor those killed on 9/11. Assemblywoman Nicole Mallitoakis also blasted the decision to cancel the annual tribute, and offered her assistance to the museum as well as Manhattan-based company Michael Ahern Production Services, which owns the displays artistic copyright. The company did not respond to a request for comment. I do not support this decision and am greatly saddened by it, she said. I find it hard to believe that there isnt a way to continue this annual Tribute in Light memorial to honor the victims of 9/11. The installation of these lights poses no greater risk than many of the other activities taking place on a daily basis in our city. The group of City Council members also sent a letter to President Trump inquiring as to whether he could provide federal assistance for an alternate installation plan. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Two local organizations -- the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the citys Sergeants Benevolent Association -- announced their own versions of the display, but neither said how they would do it. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced its Towers of Light tribute in a Friday press release, in which Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said the organization would do whatever it could to ensure a version of the display goes forward. The twin beams of light that shine over lower Manhattan in silent tribute to those lost on 9/11 are an iconic symbol of hope, visibly showing that light will always triumph over darkness, he said. In response to an email inquiry, a spokesman for the organization, which honors fallen 9/11 firefighter Stephen Siller and other victims of the attacks, said they were still working out the logistical information, but that it would be a respectful tribute to those we lost that day. Tunnel to Towers last week announced that it plans to host a 140-person, in-person reading of victims names near ground zero after after the 9/11 Memorial and Museum announced it would play pre-recorded names of the victims from the museums Memoriam exhibition in lieu of a live event because of COVID concerns. The SBA did not respond to a request for comment on the logistics of its Tribute in Light ceremony, but in a Facebook post President Ed Mullins linked the cancellation to Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has no control over the decisions of the privately-run museum. The 9/11 attacks was an act of war on our nation, and the Tribute in Light remembrance paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 innocent victims who were murdered that day, as well as all of the people that continue to die from 9/11-related ailments and illnesses, Mullins said. These victims include members of the NYPD, PAPD, FDNY and other first responders, as well as all of the people who went to work that day and died for our country. There are a great many patriotic Bollywood movies to watch, for filmy patriots. Here are five such movies which will soon be released. From Sunny Deols Border to John Abrahams Satyamev Jayate, Bollywood has always been pumping patriotism in the citizens of the country with its plethora of seasoned patriotic films. As the country is all set to celebrate its 74th Independence Day, here are some of the upcoming films that every filmy patriot should watch out for in the coming months. 1. Tejas After essaying the role of mighty Rani Lakshmi Bai in Manikarnika, Kangana Ranaut is all set to portray the role of an Air Force pilot in her upcoming project Tejas. The Indian Air Force was the first of the countrys defence forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. The film takes inspiration from this landmark event. The first look of the film was released earlier in February which featured the Tanu Weds Manu actor donning the Air Force uniform. Helmed by Sarvesh Mewara and bankrolled by Ronnie Screwvala, the film is scheduled to release in April 2021. 2. Sooryavanshi From an intelligence officer eliminating terrorists in Baby to a common businessman airlifting Indians in Airlift, actor Akshay Kumar has been part of several patriotic films. In Rohit Shettys next Sooryvanshi, Akshay will be seen as an ATS chief Veer Sooryanavshi on a mission. The film was set to hit the theatres in March this year but was delayed due to the shuttering of movie theatres. Also read: PM Modi to CMs: If Covid-19 is defeated in 10 worst-affected states, country will win Also read: Pranab Mukherjee, Covid-19 positive, critical and on ventilator support post surgery 3. Attack After Satyamev Jayate and Batla House, actor John Abraham is all set to once again don the hat of the saviour of the nation in director Lakshya Raj Anands Attack. The story of the film is woven around a hostage crisis in the country inspired by true events. The film also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Rakul Preet in lead roles. The film was scheduled to release on August 14 becoming Johns third consecutive film to release around Independence Day but it has been halted owing to the COVID-19 crisis. 4. Sam After pumping every patriots josh high with Uri: The Surgical Strike, Vicky Kaushal is all set to essay the role of Indias first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in Raazi director Meghna Gulzars next. The film will be a cinematic portrayal of Indias victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war which was led by Manekshaw. The first look of the film featuring Vicky was dropped in June 2019. The film will make its way to the theatres in 2021. 5. Golden Arrow The latest patriotic film which was announced by director Kushal Srivastava and producer Rashmi Sharma is Golden Arrow which is based on the real-life hero and former Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa. The casting for the film has begun but any lead roles for the film have not yet been announced. The former IAF Chief Dhanoa retired on September 30, 2019, after 41 years of glorious service to the nation. As Commanding Officer of a front line ground attack fighter squadron, he led the IAF against Pakistan to evict the enemy from their dug in defences in the icy heights of Kargil region. Alternatively, patriotism centric film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl has been released on the online video streaming platform Netflix recently and has been trending on the platform after a warm response from viewers. The Janhvi Kapoor starrer chronicles the story of the first Indian woman IAF officer to enter a war zone. Actors Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Sonakshi Sinha starrer Bhuj: The Pride of India will also be released on online video streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar soon. Written and directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya, Bhuj: The Pride of India is based on the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Also read: Pilot responds to Gehlots nikamma comment, says right to raise work-related concerns Actor Anupam Kher has spoken about Sushant Singh Rajput in an interview, expressing that Sushant was too positive a person to have taken his own life, and defending his one-time mentor Mahesh Bhatt. He told Times Now, The more I see his fitness, the more I see his carefree videos, the more I think: why will he commit suicide? It was not an overdose of drugs, he was not a druggie, it was not... So you are seeing videos from as recently as January 2020. I want to reach out to the millions of people who are lonely, go out and reach out to people who are quiet. I want to address mental health issues, but I feel we need closure in this case. Asked about his memories of working with Sushant on the biopic MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Anupam said, I also used to let him be himself, because it was a very difficult role for him. I remember I went for a walk late at night, and he was constantly talking about what he wanted to do. He used to ask me how I started working abroad, in films like Bend it Like Beckham, and how I dealt with the difficulty of speaking in English. I still remember that night. He kept asking me the difference between working in Hollywood and Bollywood. Also Watch l Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Six mysteries that CBI needs to solve Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput was planning move to Hollywood, generating Rs 50 crore, reveal diary pages shared by sister Shweta In the weeks since Sushants death, a lot has been speculated about filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who reportedly advised the actor, via his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, to seek treatment for mental health issues. In a conversation with Times Now, Mukesh Bhatt remembered meeting Sushant during the casting of Sadak 2 and noticed something amiss. The producer also revealed he spoke to Mahesh Bhatt and hinted that Sushant was going the Parveen Babi way. Mahesh has since been questioned by the Mumbai Police on the matter. Anupam said that he wouldnt want to pass judgement. I am thankful to him for what he has done for me. Till he one day comes and tells me, or till he is proven otherwise, I will want to give him the benefit of the doubt, only because of the background that I come from. I am not blind, but I will not say anything. I have been taught by my parents and grandparents to not bite the hands that feeds. I am grateful towards him, he said. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Shweta calls for 24-hour prayer on actors two-month death anniversary He added, As an outsider it is very difficult to see what has happened. If none of us could figure it out, I dont want to call him up and ask him what has happened. He is a person who likes to give advice, and he has given me advice so many times when Ive reached out to him. Maybe the advice is right now being construed in such a manner that it is looking very strange and suspicious, but I think he doesnt need my help, he will deal with his battles. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 74th Independence Day Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 74th Independence Day speech today, warned China adding that India gave it a befitting reply in Ladakh. PM Modi further stated that the world has been a witness to India's capabilities. Talking about border security, he highlighted that ndia's armed forces have foiled every attempt that dared India. PM Modi also aunched National Digital Health Mission. He added that the mission will be implemented across all hospitals and will revolutionise India's health sector. He stated that every Indian, under this mission, will have a health ID. He also announced that over 6 lakh villages are going to have optical fibre to boost internet connectivity. PM Modi pitched for a self-reliant India which he said has now become a mantra for 130 crore Indians. He began his speech by wishing and congratulating the nation at the 74th Indepence Day. The prime minister made a strong pitch for Atmanirbhar Bharat adding that despite many challenges to becoming self-reliant, the country's youth helped find solutions to coronavirus crisis. PM Modi further expressed confidence that India will become self-reliant very soon. He stated that the country needs to have balanced development and empower farmers to become self-reliant. He highlighted that India's unity has been a lesson to the world during COVID-19 crisis. Also Read: In pics: An Independence Day full of masks Also Read: Independence Day 2020: Quotes, wishes, messages, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp status Follow BusinessToday.In for all the latest updates on PM Modi's 74th Independence Day speech: 9.02 am: BSF, Pakistan soldiers don't exchange sweets at Attari-Wagah border There was no exchange of sweets and greetings between India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers personnel at Attari-Wagah Border in Punjab on Saturday. 8.58 am: We must go forward united, COVID-19 is a big challenge but it cannot derail us: PM Modi 8.54 am: Independence Day 2020: PM Modi on Ram Mandir Recently we laid foundation stone to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. I laud the patience and resolve Indians showed. I congratulate all for maintaining peace and brotherhood, says PM Modi 8.49 am: PM Modi 74th Independence Day live speech Border, coastal areas to get additional trained manpower. 1 lakh NCC cadets to be prepared in border areas, announces PM Modi. 8.45 am: PM Modi on India-China border row The world has seen what India is capable of in Ladakh. 184 nations have backed India at UNSC. 8.41 am: We have faced challenges at our borders, says PM Modi Talking about the border security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India's armed forces have foiled every attempt that dared India. 8.37 am: PM Modi on new Education Policy "Education has a key role in the making of Aatmanirbhar, modern, new and prosperous India. We have brought the new education policy after three decades that has been welcomed throughout the country, which instils new confidence: PM Modi during his Independence Day speech. 8.33 am: PM Modi talks about COVID-19 vaccine Indian researchers are working on 3 corona vaccines. We will ensure vaccine reaches every Indian: PM Modi. 8.28 am: Modi launches National Digital Health Mission National digital health mission across all hospitals from today; to revolutionise India's health sector, says PM Modi. He adds that every Indian will have a health ID. 8.25 am: Over 6 lakh villages are going to have optical fibre to boost internet connectivity, says PM Modi 8.22 am: People are now embracing digitisation because of COVID-19 pandemic, our villages play a crucial role in digitisation: PM Modi 8.17 am: PM Modi Independence Day speech Vocal for local, re-skill and up-skill campaign will boost India's self-reliant economy and will uplift those below the poverty line, says PM Modi. 8.14 am: We must provide more opporunities to the middle class, says PM Modi 8.09 am: Our Jal Jeevan Mission completes a year today. Every day in over 1 lakh households we deliver water, says PM Modi 8.05 am: Our projects have helped the poor in these trying times: PM Modi 8.03 am: PM Modi focuses on economy in his 74th Independence Day speech Our development must be integrated. Our goal is multi-modal connectivity, says PM Modi. 7.58 am: We must be vocal for local, says PM Modi We made PPE kits locally when the world couldnt help us, said PM Modi in his speech at the 74th Independence Day. 7.55 am: There are many challenges to becoming self-reliant, our youth helped find solutions to corona crisis: PM Modi 7.51 am: PM Modi pitches for Atma Nirbhar Bharat A self reliant India has now become the mantra for 130 crore Indians, says PM Modi. 7.48 am: PM Modi speech live Is is essential for us to be self-reliant. I am confident we will all be self-reliant very soon, says PM Modi. 7.45 am: Self-reliance is now the mantra of every Indian: PM Modi 7.42 am: India's unity was lesson to the world in the times of COVID-19, says PM Modi 7.38 am: PM Modi addresses countrymen We will war against coronavirus, next year will will enter 75th year of Independence: PM Mosi 7.36 am: PM Modi begins Independence Day speech Many people are facing difficulties due to COVID-19, says PM Modi. 7.30 am: Independence Day 2020 PM Modi unfurls national flag at Red Fort. 7.25 am: An Indpendence Day full of masks Officials, diplomats and politicians seen wearing masks, seated at a distance from each other. 7.19 am: PM Modi's cavalcade arrives at Red Fort PM Modi has reached the Red Fort where he will where he will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar. The prime minister will proceed from there to inspect the Guard of Honour which is presented by the three armed forces and Delhi Police. 7.05 am: PM Modi at Rajghat Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He will proceed to Red Fort after this. 6.59 am: Tight security arrangements at Red Fort Around 40,000 security personnel are being deployed at Ref Fort where multi-layered security arrangements have been made. A security ring comprising SWAT commandos, NSG snipers, and kite catchers, is being placed around the Red Fort from where PM Modi will address the nation. Around 300 cameras have been installed with the footage being monitored round the clock. 6.53 am: Independence Day 2020: Who all will attend? Around 4,000 people comprising officials, media personnel, and diplomats have been invited for the Independence Day ceremony at Delhi's Red Fort. The government has made proper arrangements keeping in mind the COVID-19 protocols, the Defence Ministry said on Friday. Besides the Defence Minister and Defence Secretary, others who will also be in attendance are Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat. 6.45 am: Defence Ministry's special arrangements on 74th Independence Day- Masks, sanitisers, special walkways The Defence Ministry has made special arrangements to ensure a smooth ceremony at Red Fort while taking into account the necessary safeguards related to the coronavirus scenario. Hand-sanitisers are being made available at pre-defined locations. Display boards are being positioned discreetly to attract the attention of invitees, seating paddocks and walkways are laid with wooden flooring and carpeting.The ministry has put up additional door frame metal detectors, with sufficiently spaced markings to avoid lineups. This is to ensure smooth passage for all the invitees. Majority of parking areas have been brick-lined and paved to ensure seamless entry and exit of vehicles. 6.35 am: 74th Independence Day live: PM Modi's schedule 7.05 am: PM Modi scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay tribute to father of the nation- Mahatma Gandhi. 7.18-7.20 am: PM Modi's cavalcade will reach Red Fort's Lahore Gate where he will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar. The prime minister will proceed from there to inspect the Guard of Honour which is presented by the three armed forces and Delhi Police. 7.28 am: PM Modi will unfurl the national flag with the Army Grenadiers Regimental Centre Military Band playing the national anthem and elite 2233 Battery (Ceremonial) will give a 21 Gun Salute to him. 7.30 am: PM Modi will address the nation after unfurling the national flag. 6.25 am: Independence day: PM Modi to address nation- Time Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at Red Fort at 7.18 am and will address the nation at 7:30 am after unfurling the national flag. 6.15 am: PM Modi speech to be 7th successive one Today's will be PM Modi's seventh consecutive Independence Day speech from the ramparts of iconic Red Fort. He is expected to focus on his government's efforts to deal with coronavirus pandemic. Renewable energy sometimes has unexpected consequences for the environment. Among them are the carcasses of birds regularly littering the ground of solar farms. In recent years, this mortality has been the subject of studies within the American working group Avian Solar. Today, scientists are now working on artificial intelligence to explain and mitigate bird mortality caused by large solar installations. Thousands of bird deaths every year Misti Sporer, a member of the Avian Solar task force founded in 2013 and scientific director at Duke Energy, a North Carolina electric utility, explains that "there had been very little research on the impacts of energy. Solar on birds. What does it mean when you find a dead bird? No one really knew. But just getting the data on bird deaths in solar installations has already proven difficult. "In the US, only a few states require operators to report bird deaths. A first study was published in 2016, estimating at 140,000 the number of birds dying each year in American solar farms. Although necessary, this figure must be put into perspective: according to Wired, it is much lower than the number of bird deaths caused by fossil fuel power plants (collisions, electrocutions, poisonings). Nonetheless, researchers expect deaths at solar power plants to triple in the coming years, as the number of solar farms steadily increases in the United States. AI to the rescue of birds Despite this first study and theories, the link between bird mortality and solar farms remains uncertain. To facilitate the research work, the US Department of Energy earlier this year awarded a contract for $ 1.3 million to a team of researchers from the national laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. The objective is to develop an artificial intelligence dedicated to studying the behavior of birds in solar installations. Discuss this news on Eunomia It is also a question of improving a deficient census of bird deaths in the country and providing data in real-time. Initially designed for drone detection, the software under design relies on machine learning. The scientists must first identify the birds themselves to transmit their knowledge to the algorithm. He will draw from this lesson the characteristics necessary for the identification of each species. Therefore, he must be able to detect and identify them on his own, whatever their colors, sizes, or shapes. While the team doesn't set a deadline for completing their design work, Misti Sporer says that "being able to see the birds interacting with the site without a human observer is incredibly beneficial. This technology allows us to gain insight into a world that we don't usually see to operate in the least impacting way possible on wildlife. " Three Michigan residents a 30-year-old man, a 31-year-old woman and a 33-year-old woman were arrested Thursday on suspicion of drug and weapon charges after a traffic stop on Interstate 80. According to a Nebraska State Patrol media release, a trooper stopped an eastbound Mitsubishi Outlander for speeding near mile marker 167 on I-80 around 10 p.m. The trooper detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of the car revealed more than a pound of marijuana and a handgun. The three were all arrested on suspicion of possession of more than a pound of marijuana with intent to distribute and having no drug tax. The 31-year-old woman driver also was charged on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and being in possession of a weapon while committing a felony. The three were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center. In addition, two Aurora, Colorado, residents a 33-year-old man and 32-year-old woman were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of multiple drug charges and a weapon count. What would you think if local politicians decided to cut the size of their fire department while buildings in their city were ablaze? What about a general who orders his soldiers to stop fighting and surrender to the enemy? Something similar has occurred in the once tranquil city of Seattle, Wash., where in the midst of riots and over the objections of the mayor and police chief, the city council has voted to defund the police and reduce by 100 the number of officers on the force. The city council added to the indignity by cutting the chiefs salary. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best resigned in her own form of protest. Seattle has about 1,400 police officers, clearly not enough given the ongoing lawlessness. The council vote to reduce the force is far less than the 50% cut demanded by the Black Lives Matter organization, which increasingly seems to be running and ruining Seattle and other cities. Haiti - News : Zapping... July horror month in Cite Soleil According to a report from the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) from July 1 to 28, horror took hold in Cite Soleil : at least 111 people were murdered, 20 others injured, 48 missing, 18 women and raped girls. "These crimes were committed by armed gangs with the complicity of the authorities of the power in place" writes the RNDDH in its report, deplores that the PNH does not have adequate means to deal with the bandits... President Moise in the Dominican Republic President Jovenel Moise, at the head of a delegation composed in particular of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Claude Joseph, will be in Santo-Domingo, Sunday, August 16, 2020, to participate in the swearing-in of the new President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader. Sunday afternoon Jovenel Moise will have a tete-a-tete with his Dominican counterpart, to discuss in general terms the future relations between the two countries. Afterwards, Moise will meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the holding of elections in Haiti will be at the heart of the discussions. PAP pavement work On Thursday, Nader Joiseus, the Minister of Public Works signed a contract with the firm T&C S.A., for the execution of asphalt concrete pavement works for the rehabilitation of downtown Port-au-Prince. France : donation of 11,000 liters of hydro-alcoholic solution As part of the France-Haiti cooperation, the Prefecture of Martinique, the Embassy of France, ACTED, UNICEF and the Ministry of Public Health in Haiti, have joined forces to allow delivery from Fort-de-France, more than 11,000 liters of hydro-alcoholic solution intended for health centers in Haiti to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Covid-19 : training on pre-boarding screening Like the other airports in Haiti, around ten applicants received a training session on pre-boarding passenger screening for Jeremie airport. Did you know ? The "Ranfose Abitid Nitrisyon pou Fe Ogmante Sante" (RANFOSE) project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) ensures that the Haitian population in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, the private sector and other partners now have access to foods fortified with vitamins and minerals: flour fortified with iron, zinc, folic acid and other B vitamins, oil fortified with vitamin A and iodized salt. HL/ HaitiLibre In remarks made after the recitation of the Angelus on Saturday, Pope Francis appeals for the use of dialogue in negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the Nile River. By Vatican News Pope Francis said after the recitation of the Angelus on Saturday that he is "following with particular attention the situation of the difficult negotiations regarding the Nile between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan." He urged all parties to "continue on the path of dialogue so that the Eternal River might continue to be a source of life", uniting, not dividing, nourishing friendship and not hostility or conflict. "Let dialogue", he ended the appeal "be your only choice, for the good of your dear populations and of the entire world." Context of dispute In April 2011, construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) began on the Blue Nile in the Ethiopian Genishangul-Gumuz region near its border with Sudan. Once the $4.5 billion project is completed, it will be Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant. Concerns over the dam's construction, including the possible decrease of water along the Nile in other countries, has created tensions between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. The Blue Nile merges with the White Nile in Khartoum (Sudan) and provides about 85% of the Nile River's volume. Ethiopia, however, holds that the dam will increase access to electricity at lower costs, thus increasing the Nile's potential to provide irrigation and decrease its flooding potential. The countries with an interest in the consequences of the dam's construction have met several times since its construction began. The second round of talks hosted by the African Union began on 27 July. Observers from the United States, the European Union and experts from the African Union Commission were also present. The goal of this set of talks was a binding agreement governing the filling of the dam and its operations. On 10 August, a one-week suspension of talks was announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources. The suspension was granted pursuant to a request made by Sudan to complete internal consultations. Meanwhile, all three countries water ministers will be consulting with each other in preparation for the next meeting. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer A man was shot in the leg Friday night outside the Third Ward food mart that is home to a well-known mural honoring George Floyd, police said. The man was injured around 10:15 p.m. but is expected to survive, Houston police Lt. R. Wilkins said. Witnesses told police that a black SUV drove up, fired one shot at the man and drove away. A bonfire is prepared in the Bogside area of Derry City, to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. Picture date: Saturday August 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER Bonfires. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire A bonfire is prepared in the Bogside area of Derry City, to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. Picture date: Saturday August 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER Bonfires. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Preparations continue at a bonfire in the Bogside area of Derry City, to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. Picture date: Saturday August 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER Bonfires. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Preparations continue at a bonfire in the Bogside area of Derry City, to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. Pictures and flags are added to a bonfire in the Bogside area of Derry City, to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. Pictures and flags are added to a bonfire in the Bogside area of Derry City, to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. Bonfires are due to be lit in nationalist areas of Londonderry on Saturday night to mark the Feast of the Assumption. The annual pyres continue to be a contentious issue with hundreds of pallets gathered in the Bogside, Galliagh and Creggan areas of Derry city. In previous years there has been some trouble linked to the bonfires. Material including poppy wreaths, flags and images of the Queen were pictured on some of the bonfires on Friday and Saturday. Chair of the bonfire working group, Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher, said youths in Creggan had removed 100 tyres from their bonfire following talks. The burning of tyres is illegal as the fumes produced are highly toxic. On Friday the DUP reported an alleged hate crime to the PSNI over poppy wreaths on the Currynierin bonfire. DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted an image of the wreaths, saying: This is disgraceful and utterly insulting to the war dead. There needs to be leadership shown in this community. Poppy wreaths were stolen from the war memorial in Londonderry recently. Those who place wreaths on bonfires clearly have a warped mindset. I dont agree with or support the burning of flags/emblems of any tradition. Thankfully many bonfire organisers are trying to address this. Cultures can be celebrated in a responsible and respectful way. On 16 August, 40 specialists are expected to arrive in Uzbekistan to assist in the fight against coronavirus infection, Trend reports citing Uzdaily.uz. Within a month they will work with Uzbek specialists, provide practical and methodological assistance. This was announced by a member of the headquarters for the fight against coronavirus Barno Abdusamatova. This article originally appeared in The Inquirer on Aug. 10, 1983. With her arms outstretched, 4-year-old Desiree Warren ran to greet her father when he came home yesterday. The little girl with short blond hair pushed her way through a crowd of more than 100 people, including Mayor Bill Green III, who had gathered outside Graduate Hospital to welcome Patrick Warren on his return from a 3,000-mile walk across the nation to promote awareness of epilepsy. Warren, 36, a South Philadelphian who runs a roofing company with his brother-in-law, said he made the trip to prove that he and the more than 2 million Americans who have epilepsy, a disorder of the central nervous system, can do almost anything. Warren averaged 25 to 35 miles a day on his trip from Los Angeles, which was sponsored in part by Graduate Hospital's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. He wore out four pairs of walking shoes. Rattlesnakes were the biggest problem he encountered during the 100-day trek. Snakes like to bask in the sun, Warren said. I saw 25 or 30 along the highways as I walked. Three times, in Arizona, Arkansas, and New Mexico, rattlers coiled to attack. I kept my distance from them with my good old blackthorn walking stick from Ireland I knew rattlers could only spring about four feet, the distance of my stick. Warren said the hardest part of the trip was missing his family, and he clearly was buoyed by yesterdays reunion. Holding his daughter in his arms, he beamed proudly as Green and hospital officials praised his journey to bring epilepsy out of the closet and show that epileptics can compete in society. Patricia Warren, a lifeguard for the city, said her husband called every few days, but she acknowledged that it was lonely without him. And Desiree who said her dad promised to bring her a live frog wasnt a bit disappointed when he showed up with a five-foot stuffed frog instead. Warren trained for seven months to prepare for his long walk. I walked about 4,000 miles here in the city, he said. I got to know Philadelphia real well. He said that he wanted to walk across the country last year, but that doctors advised against it and suggested a shorter walk across Pennsylvania. Warren completed that journey in 29 days and got the go-ahead to fly to Los Angeles this summer and walk home. Warren, a redhead with freckles and an engaging grin, first experienced epilepsy as a teenager. He said he had brief episodes of feeling disoriented but did not know it was epilepsy until near-fatal accidents brought him to Graduate Hospital. In 1974, he fell from a roof on which he was working. Co-workers told him that in the middle of the job, he simply stopped, picked up his tools and walked off, as if he were on the ground. That incident sent Warren to a doctor, who prescribed medicines that he hoped would control the seizures. But they continued and in 1979, Warren suffered a fractured skull in another fall from a roof. The injury brought Warren to Graduate Hospital's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 19th and South Streets, where his illness was finally diagnosed and brought under control. Warren's cross-country trip was his way of showing his gratitude to the hospital. Joan Sterrett, executive director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, said epilepsy is most often caused by head injuries suffered either at birth or during a later trauma. The injury creates scar tissue that causes electrical impulses that trigger seizures. Only 50% of epileptics suffer the dramatic convulsions that people often associate with the illness, Sterrett said. The rest, like Warren, suffer seizures that affect only the part of the brain that has been injured. The symptoms of seizures thus are varied, making the illness difficult to diagnose. The seizure can be so short 90 seconds at most and so subtle that the sufferer can think he or she is going crazy, she said. With the right balance of medications, seizures can be controlled, Sterrett said. Warren, who takes medication daily, said that he has been seizure-free for one year and that makes him eligible to regain his drivers license the only activity legally denied him as an epileptic. He plans to return to the roofing business, but not to rooftops. President Erdogan says Turkey could suspend ties with UAE in wake of deal with Israel Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 12:00 PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is considering the full suspension of diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates following its accord to normalize ties with Israel. "I gave an order to the foreign minister. I said we could suspend diplomatic relations with the Abu Dhabi administration or withdraw our ambassador," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul on Friday. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said earlier in the day that history and the conscience of the people of the region will never forget and forgive the "hypocritical behavior" of the UAE in agreeing such a deal with Israel. "While betraying the Palestinian cause to serve its narrow interests, the UAE is trying to present this as a kind of act of self-sacrifice for Palestine," the ministry said. Israel and the UAE on Thursday reached a deal that will lead to a full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two sides, in an agreement that US President Donald Trump apparently helped broker. Under the agreement, Israel has allegedly agreed to suspend applying its own rule to further areas in the occupied West Bank and the strategic Jordan Valley that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to annex, senior White House officials told Reuters. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also on Friday condemned the recent deal, calling it an instance of "strategic folly" that will only end up strengthening the regional resistance front. "Undoubtedly, the agreement will result in fortification of the resistance axis in the region," the ministry said in a statement. "History will reveal how this strategic mistake by the Zionist regime and this act of backstabbing by the Emirates against the Palestinians and, by extension, the entire Muslim community, will conversely result in fortifying the resistance axis." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the Centre will soon launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin for the biodiversity conservation of these species on the lines of and to replicate the successes of Project Tiger launched in 1973. In his Independence Day speech, Modi underlined commitment to the promotion and conservation of biodiversity and said India is one of the very few countries where the forest cover is expanding. We have successfully carried forward Project Tiger and Project Elephant. The Tiger population has increased in India. In the coming days, we are starting Project Lion for the Asiatic lions. And under Project Lion, the work on the required infrastructure for the protection and security of Indian lions and in particular the special type of health infrastructure required will be undertaken. And emphasis will be laid on Project Lion. Modi said Project Dolphin will focus on both river and sea dolphins. This will also give a boost to biodiversity and also create employment opportunities. This is also a centre of attraction for tourism. Asiatic lions are confined to Gir National Park and its surrounding environs in Gujarats Saurashtra. The Gujarat forest department in June suggested their population has increased by 29% from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020. It said the distribution area of lions in Saurashtra has increased by 36% from 22,000 sqkm in 2015 to 30,000 sqkm. Experts have called for the reintroduced of the species outside Gujarat for the long term conversation of the Asiatics lions. The Gangetic dolphin is an indicator species, whose status provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and of other species in that ecosystem, for the Ganga ecosystem and is extremely vulnerable to changes in water quality and flow. It is categorised as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. Union environment ministry officials said the projects Modi announced are new and different from previous ones for Asiatic Lions and Gangetic Dolphins. The ministry launched the Asiatic Lion Conservation Project in February last year. Vaccination of livestock, control of cats and dogs in lion habitat, identification of wildlife corridors, improvement of habitat, legal aid, wildlife forensic systems, and attractive relocation packages for pastoral communities were the highlights of this project. Additional director general (forests) Soumitra Dasgupta said it is a proud moment for them that Modi has announced the projects to conserve Dolphins, which are an indicator species, and Asiatic Lions a flagship species. The Prime Minister referred to a long-term plan. It will involve the conservation of lions and their habitat in a holistic manner. There will be a focus on conflict mitigation and technology for management. Reintroduction... we have to see what are the possibilities. Last year, only some financial measures were announced but this project is new and long term, said Dasgupta. He was referring to reintroduction of lions to other habitats apart from Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat. For example, Kuno Palpur Sanctuary in MP is being considered by the ministry for reintroduction of lions. Dasgupta said Project Dolphin will also be new, focusing on dolphins in the oceans and rivers. Dolphin tourism is being prompted by other countries but we have not explored it very much. This will also help secure livelihoods... World Wide Fund For Nature India (WWF India)s program management director Diwakar Sharma said lions in India face most of the issues that other large carnivores face. These include habitat loss and fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal trade. The Asiatic lion is confined only to the Gir protected area and its surrounding environs, he said. Sharma said the current Asiatic lion population is built from a very small number in the early 20th century and thus faces the additional threat of genetic homogeneity, which makes the species susceptible to diseases like canine distemper. It is thus in the interest of long term Asiatic lion conservation that the species be reintroduced to other places in and outside Gujarat. A WWF-India and the Uttar Pradesh forest department assessment in 2012 and 2015 recorded 1,272 dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ken, Betwa, Son, Sharda, Geruwa, Gahagra, Gandak and Rapti. The Ganges river dolphin is threatened due to habitat degradation as a result of water development projects [dams, barrages and dredging operations], sand mining, overfishing, and pollution. The incidental catch of dolphins in the fishing gears, specifically gillnets are key causes of dolphin mortality in the Ganga, said WWF Indias river basin management associate director Nitin Kaushal. Travel in the time of COVID-19 has been no easy feat, making it all but impossible for Pastor Lubin Beaucejour to visit his mother in Haiti over the last few months. However, when he learned that she had tragically died unexpectedly, he was determined to make it home to pay his respects. And knowing how hard Haiti has been hit by the virus, he didn't want to go empty-handed. Pastor Lubin has been going back and forth to see his family in Haiti for some time [years] now, and we knew we had to give him masks and things to bring with him when he went down, said his colleague, Pastor Ben McClain. Beaucejour went to Haiti on July 28, armed with over 3,000 masks most homemade by Cheshire residents and White Oak parishioners to distribute to various orphanages and his friends and family in Haiti. Sometimes, people forget about how much Haiti suffers in times like this, Beaucejour said. The saying goes, When places like America get a cold, places like Haiti get pneumonia. Once White Oak parishioners heard masks were being collected for Beaucejour to bring to Haiti, they sprang into action. We worked non-stop to raise funds and collect materials to make the masks, recalled McClain. We knew Pastor Lubin and his family are so influential in Haiti and that a lot of people would want to attend his mother's service, so we want to make sure those who pay their respects to his mother were protected as well. According to McClain, over 1,500 Haitian residents attended Beaucejours mothers funeral service, and all were safely protected with masks made by people over 1,000 miles away. They were so happy to receive them, said Beaucejour. Most people down there cant afford masks. They have to choose between feeding their kids or giving them masks. White Oak parishioners had only about a week to gather masks, but the Church received help from some unexpected outsiders. While watching one of our outdoor services and hearing we were collecting masks, a Cheshire Police officer who had just stopped by saw what we were doing and offered to donate a ton of masks to our cause, said McClain. It just shows how giving our community really is in times like this. Beaucejour plans on returning to Haiti in October to bring even more supplies, and he cant wait to see the masks he brought being put to good use. Mennonite regional body considering cutting ties over LGBT issues Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A regional body of Mennonite Church USA has entered into a period of discernment over possibly leaving the denomination in part over LGBT issues. The South Central Mennonite Conference opted to begin a process, known as Discovery 20.21, which began after the regional body held its July 25-26 online annual assembly. In an overview of the process provided to congregations, South Central leadership explained that the third part of the three-year discernment came over LGBT issues. We are in a time of moral discernment, theological realignments and changing affiliations in Mennonite Church USA, with the result that MC USA has significantly changed in its composition of churches and its theological orientation, explained the overview, as reported by Mennonite World Review on Wednesday. The advocacy for the sanctification of same-sex relations in Mennonite Church USA, some pastors conducting same-sex covenant services with the approval of their area conferences and a few pastors living in same-sex relationships has brought us to a tipping point. Howard Wagler, a former pastor and conference leader who will chair the Discovery Process, told MWR that it was not just the ideological direction of the church body that fueled the process. The pull of culture toward a progressive side of a continuum has been part of, but not all of, why we are doing this, explained Wagler. The specific reason for this is that we can be on mission and know that we are with congregations and are part of a network or conference that holds up like kinds of values. The largest Mennonite denomination in the United States, Mennonite Church USA allows for regional bodies to determine their stance on LGBT issues. Inclusion and the membership status of LGTBQ individuals varies by conference and congregation across MC USA. Discernment around this has been a cause of pain and disagreement, states the church body on its FAQ page. Yes, there are LGBTQ Mennonites and LGBTQ-affirming Mennonite congregations. There are also Mennonite congregations who discern that same-sex marriage is sinful. A congregations website will often communicate if it is welcoming and affirming for people who are LGBTQ. If they decide to leave the denomination, the South Central Conference would not be the first Mennonite regional body to split from the church body over LGBT issues. In 2018, the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, formerly the largest regional body of Mennonite Church USA, left the denomination following their own three-year discernment process. In the spring, three congregations opted to leave Mennonite Church Eastern Canada after the regional body voted to allow member churches to hold different views on LGBT issues. We announce with great sadness Kingsfield-Clinton and Kingsfield-Zurich Mennonite Church, Living Water Christian Fellowship and Maple View Mennonite Church have left the MC Eastern Canada family, announced the church conference in May. After a healthy conversation with leadership from each congregation, we mourn their leaving, and we bless and pray Gods best for each of them in their future ministry. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- In dealing with an increase in summer violence in what one long-time sergeant calls unprecedented, police say theyre doing their best to get guns off the streets in Grand Rapids. Just the number of shots fired are off the charts, longtime Grand Rapids police Sgt. John Wittkowski said. Its houses getting shot up, things like that. I think its unprecedented. The biggest takeaway from Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day speech on Saturday morning could be different for different people. Infrastructure experts are thrilled about the prospect of every village in India being on the optic fibre network in the next 1,000 days; health workers are ecstatic over the launch of the National Digital Health Mission, whereas others are happy that the PM reiterated his resolve to protect the borders and railed against expansionist tendencies of unnamed neighbours. Earlier, observers used to keep count of the references the PM made to Pakistan in his speeches, but today, there could be no doubt that China was occupying Modis thoughts. This was evident in not just in the stated resolve to protect borders against expansionist tendencies, but also in the huge emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat. Modi spoke of economic growth and Atmanirbhar Bharat in the same breath. As rightly pointed out by Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy a few days ago, Indias GDP this year could well reach the same level at which Independent India started in 1947, wiping out all the post-Independence growth! An already slowing Indian economy has been battered by a global pandemic and set several industries back by decades. Anecdotal data show millions of jobs have vanished, industries like hospitality and tourism, aviation and allied services, restaurants and automobiles are struggling to survive and factories continue to function at sub-optimal capacities due to continued demand slump. Not just India Inc, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector has also been hit hard. So what was the one big idea of the PM for handholding the suffering Indian industries? Modis solution to all the current economic woes seemed to be the word atmanirbhar (self-reliant). The PM uttered this word more than 30 times in the nearly 90-minute address. Ever since the Chinese misadventure in Ladakh and subsequent cries of boycott of Chinese goods, Chinese apps and so on, this word has slowly gained currency in the national conscience. Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is supposed to bring a volcanic change in the quantity and quality of Indian manufacturing. The change expected is so significant that India will probably stop importing a wide range of items for domestic consumption and thus not only create millions of new jobs but also reduce the import bill substantially and reach the pinnacle of GDP growth, at least in theory. In his address, the PM said major global firms were looking at India as a major investment destination, there has been a robust inflow of foreign direct investment last fiscal and the country was shifting focus from Make in India to Make for the world. Exhorting Indians to be vocal for local, the PM gave the example of N-95 masks, personal protective equipment kits (PPE) and ventilators to emphasise how Indian entrepreneurs not only met domestic demand but also exported such items to the world within a few months. Already, under the broad umbrella of atmanirbharta, the government has placed myriad duties on certain imports, reminding us of the infamous license raj in the early years of Independent India. Other announcements, such as banning the import of 101 items needed for manufacturing defence equipment in India, asking state-run companies to eschew Chinese equipment in telecom and other industries etc. are also being periodically made to reinforce the need for self-reliance in manufacturing. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a body of small traders whose general secretary lost the election last year on the ruling party ticket, recently announced boycotting imports from China to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore. China is Indias largest trading partner, with trade balance firmly tilted in its favour. But why are we at all importing goods from China which could, logically speaking, be manufactured easily by us within the country? Data from commerce ministry shows India imported nearly Rs 45 crore of agarbatti and other odoriferous preparations from China in 2018-19. Another nearly Rs 66 crore worth of goods classified as hooks, eyes and eyelets were imported from China in the same year; nearly Rs 5 crore worth of needles were also brought in the same year. There is a long list of such small, cheap items we continue to bring from that country. Why we have not been able to make enough and affordable agarbattis in India is a good place to start a discussion on how to strengthen that elusive manufacturing prowess. This reiteration of atmanirbhar by the PM also comes when historical data show imports from China have actually increased substantially since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The biggest jump in imports from China was seen in two years of the first term of the Modi government: 2014-15 and in 2017-18. In both these years, imports from China increased by nearly 20% year on year. In fact, in the last six years, only 2019-20 saw a noticeable decline in Chinese imports into India. So will becoming atmnirbhar reopen shuttered factories, create jobs, and resurrect the economy? Not always, not for all products and not anytime soon. A leading home appliances brand, TTK Prestige, recently said it will stop all imports from China. TTK will be able to do this because it achieved sustained economies of scale through large investments and continuously fortifying local vendors. But carrying the analogy of a small appliances maker to other sectors makes little sense, since import heavy sectors such a mobile phones, auto components and much of the pharmaceutical industry depend on China due to absence of these products in the Indian manufacturing basket. Pressure cookers dont use electronics or semi-conductors but both these are essential for automobile manufacturing, for example. India does not manufacture semiconductors. Indian industries import products where India has no manufacturing competence. Government needs to help industry become self-reliant by facilitating lower cost of capital, rationalising the cost of logistics and other costs such as cost of energy etc. We need to improve the ease of doing business parameter. Or atmanirbharta could remain just another fancy term. On Independence Day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy hoped the Centre would have a change of heart if not today, in the future, andaccord Special Category Status (SCS) to the state in accordance with the promise made in Parliament. Addressing the ceremonial function after unfurling the national tricolor at the IGMC Stadium in Vijayawada onSaturday, the Chief Minister said his government was determined to achieve SCS for the state. "The government at the Centre is now not dependent on other parties (for support), so we dont see it granting SCSnow. But, if not today, in the future with the blessings ofGod we hope the situation will change and the central government will have a change of heart and accord SCS for thefuture of the state," the Chief Minister said. The state would nevertheless continue to raise the demandstrongly for SCS, Jagan asserted. The Chief Minister said his government firmly believedthat decentralization (of administration) was the right policy to heal the wounds inflicted upon the state by bifurcation. "To ensure that we do not suffer more such wounds and that the three regions of the state flourish equally, weenacted the three capitals legislation. We will soon lay the foundation stone for the ExecutiveCapital at Visakhapatnam and Judicial Capital in Kurnool," Jagan said. The Chief Minister said his 14-month rule so far gave a true meaning to the terms 'justice, liberty, equality, fraternity' as enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. In line with the Directive Principles of State Policy and Article 38 (2) enshrined in the Constitution, the stategovernment launched a gamut of welfare schemes with SCs, STs, BCs, minorities and economically-backward among the uppercastes as the main base, to remove the economic and social disparities. "By introducing the Village Secretariat system, which is a new chapter in decentralization of administration, we haveensured Grama Swaraj as listed in the Directive Principles," the Chief Minister added. He noted that the government doled out Rs 59,000 crore in the last 14 months to various sections under different welfare schemes. As part of the measures to eliminate corruption, newinitiatives like reverse tendering and judicial preview were launched while a review of the previous government's decisionsresulted in an overall saving of Rs 4,000 crore to the exchequer, he added. "Fruits of the schemes and initiatives we launched now will be fully available only after 10-20 years. These are not election schemes but those that are aimed at a better socio-economic and political transformation of thepeople of the state," Jagan summed up. Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the ceremonialparade by different battalions of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police, commanded by young IPS officer Vakul Jindal. Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, Director General of Police D G Sawang, Principal Secretary (Political) Praveen Prakashand other senior officials attended. By Humeyra Pamuk and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it had confiscated four Iranian fuel shipments that had been bound for Venezuela, disrupting a key supply line for both Tehran and Caracas as they defied U.S. sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran should not be sending cargoes to Venezuela and added that the seized shipments were bound for Houston, Texas, and suggested they may have already arrived. "They're going to Houston. And, they're there," Trump told a White House news conference. "We're moving them, and moved, to Houston." The U.S. Justice Department said the seized cargo was now in U.S. custody "with the assistance of foreign partners," adding that the amount confiscated from four tankers was about 1.116 million barrels of fuel, making it the largest-ever U.S. seizure of Iranian fuel. The U.S. State Department credited its outgoing special envoy for Iran for the seizure operation. "Our diplomacy, led by Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, was able to both halt these shipments and assist the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security in executing a U.S. seizure order," it said in a statement. Neither the Justice Department nor the State Department specify when, where or how the seizure took place. The latter also did not disclose what steps Hook, whose resignation was announced earlier this week, took to secure the seizure. The Wall Street Journal reported late on Friday that U.S. threats of legal action and sanctions forced Greek ship owners to surrender Iranian fuel to the U.S. government in recent days. The report, which cited people familiar with the confiscation, said that the operation took place in international waters without the physical presence of any U.S. authorities or the assistance of any foreign government. Venezuela had already paid for the fuel and hence Iran will not lose any revenue from the confiscation, the newspaper reported https://on.wsj.com/2E54Xp7. Story continues In July 2019, Hook had sent emails to the captain of a British-flagged oil tanker that was briefly seized by Iran in the Gulf, saying the Trump administration was offering him several million dollars to steer the tanker to a country that would impound it on behalf of Washington. The United States has imposed sanctions on both countries to choke oil exports and deprive them of their main source of revenue in its bid to see the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and change the behavior of Iran's government. It has also threatened to sanction any ship owners and vessels involved in oil trade with Tehran and Caracas. Tensions between Iran and the United States increased last year following a series of incidents involving shipping in and near the Middle East Gulf. U.S. prosecutors filed a lawsuit in July to seize the gasoline aboard the four tankers, and a judge subsequently issued a warrant for seizure. Legal sources previously told Reuters that the cargoes could not be seized until they were in U.S. territorial waters. The owners of the four vessels agreed to have the fuel transferred so it could be shipped to the United States, a U.S. government source said on Thursday. The warrant only covered the cargoes, not the vessels. The owners of the ships targeted by the U.S. legal action agreed to transfer their cargo to vessels owned by Greece's Eurotankers and Denmark's Maersk, which are now heading to Houston, the WSJ reported, citing sources. The four tankers that initially carried the cargoes were the Liberia-flagged Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna. They are owned and managed by companies controlled by Greece-based firms Vienna LTD and Palermo SA. Vienna and Palermo did not reply to requests for comment. The Justice Department said that, following the seizure, Iran's navy forcibly boarded an unrelated ship in an apparent attempt to recover the seized petroleum, and added that the U.S. military's Central Command published a video of it on Thursday. Hook is set to formally leave his post within several weeks, a source familiar with the matter said and after his departure, U.S. Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliot Abrams will be adding the Iran brief to his duties. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Mark Hosenball and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Alexandra Alper, Marianna Parraga in Mexico City, Jonathan Saul in London and Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis and Simon Cameron-Moore) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 15) unfurled the tricolour at the historic Red Fort in the national capital for the seventh time on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day. With this, PM Modi became the first non-Congress Prime Minister to have hoisted the national flag for the most number of times. He's now behind India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (17 times) and his daughter, Indira Gandhi (16 times) and surpassed his mentor and senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee. If PM Modi gets re-elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he will surpass Congress leader and former PM Manmohan Singh who hoisted the Tricolor 10 times during his tenure. A day earlier, PM Modi who is currently in his second tenure, achieved the feat of becoming the longest-serving non-Congress leader to have occupied the Prime Minister's Office as he completed 2,268 days, surpassing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Coming back to the Independence Day celebrations, PM Modi in his 86-minute address to the nation talked about several key initiatives and welfare schemes launched by his government. During his lengthy speech, the PM talked about the peaceful resolution of the centuries-old Ram Temple issue from the ramparts of Red Fort, farmers' welfare and sensitive issues like women's menstruation and sanitary pads. Inarguably, the PM earned praise from several quarters for talking about sanitary pads and breaking the taboo. PM Modi's speech also focussed on "Make in India" coupled with his "Make for World" mantra that further underscores the importance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Most importantly, he announced the National Digital Health Mission under which every Indian citizen will get a unique health ID that will ease access to medical services. Today's special segment of popular Zee News show DNA, which is hosted by the channel's Editor-in-chief Sudhir Choudhary, focused on PM's announcement of National Digital Health Mission and called it the biggest revolution in India. In pics | PM Narendra Modi unfurls tricolor at Red Fort on the occasion of 74th Independence Day In his speech, the Prime Minister said the health ID will store every individual's medical records and the mission will herald a new revolution in the health sector. He said, "Every Indian will be given a health ID. National Digital Health Mission will bring a new revolution in India's health sector. All your tests, every disease, which doctor gave you which medicine, when, what were your reports, all this information will be contained in this one health ID." Here are the four main benefits of the National Digital Health Mission: 1. Digital Health card: Every individual will get a health card through which a person can pay the hospital fees. This will help an individual to get rid of long queues in hospitals. 2. Personal health record: The personal record will keep all your details like - Age, blood group, allergies, and previous surgeries. It will also keep a record of an individual's health history - when, how and where he was treated for a particular disease. 3. Digi doctor: The National Digital Health Mission will also aim at providing a platform to doctors across the country to give online consultation to their patients. 4. Health facility registry: The details regarding hospitals, clinics and health-related queries will be available on one particular platform. As per initial reports, every hospital, clinic and doctor across the country will be connected through a central server, and the server will also be used to store the medical data. The unique ID provided to every individual under this Digital Health Mission will let them update their personal record. It will free patients from carrying their previous medical records for further check-ups. This health mission will mainly benefit the people living in rural areas who will be able to get guidance from a doctor through an online platform. The main motto behind this health mission is to prepare a nation-wide digital health mission and like PM Modi said - "National Digital Health Mission will bring a new revolution in India's health sector" Also read | PM Narendra Modi delivers message to Pakistan, China from Red Fort on Independence Day He also talked about women's empowerment and stated, "We have worked for women empowerment. Navy and Air Force are taking women in combat. Women are now leaders, and we abolished triple talaq, got sanitary pads to women for just 1 rupee." During his address, Prime Minister said that the Government is taking care of the health and hygiene of poor daughters and sisters and has made them available health-related products at an affordable price. He said working in this direction more than 5 crore Sanitary Napkins have been distributed to underprivileged women from 6000 Jan Aushdhi Kendras at the minimum price of Rs 1 each. "My dear countrymen, our experience says that whenever there is an opportunity for women power in India, they have brought laurels to the country, strengthened the country. Today, women are not only working in underground coal mines but also flying fighter planes, touching new heights in the sky," PM Modi opined. He stated that of the 40 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened around the country, over 22 crore accounts belong to women. "At the time of Corona, in April-May-June, about thirty thousand crores of rupees have been directly transferred to the accounts of women in these three months," said PM Modi. The PM further said, "Our Policies, Our Process, Our Products, Everything should be Best, Must be best. Only then will we be able to realize the vision of Ek Bharat-Shresth Bharat." PM Modi said that the middle class will be the biggest beneficiary of the 'Ease of Living'. "From cheap internet to economical air tickets, highways to i-ways, and from affordable housing to tax reduction - all these measures will empower the middle-class of the country," said PM Modi. WARSAW (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sealed a defense cooperation deal Saturday with Polish officials that will pave the way to deploy more American troops to Poland. Pompeo, in Warsaw at the end of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, signed the deal with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak that sets out the legal framework for the additional troops. This is going to be an extended guarantee: a guarantee that in case of a threat our soldiers are going to stand arm-in-arm, Poland's President Andrzej Duda said during the signing ceremony. It will also serve to increase the security of other countries in our part of Europe. The deal would also further other aspects of U.S.-Polish cooperation, he added, citing primarily investment and trade ties. Some 4,500 U.S. troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added. Last month, in line with President Donald Trumps demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland. In addition, several U.S. military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the U.S. Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. The deal would also further other aspects of U.S.-Polish cooperation, he added, citing primarily investment and trade ties. The pact signed Saturday supplements a NATO pact and allows for the enhancement and modernization of existing capabilities and facilities by allowing U.S. forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded U.S. presence in the country. The opportunities are unlimited, the resources will be available," Pompeo said later at a news conference alongside Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. "Troop levels matter ... but the world has moved on too, Pompeo said, referring to threats posed in space, cyberspace and disinformation campaigns. He said such defense agreements would allow work on those threats too. Story continues Czaputowicz said the presence of American troops enhances our deterrence potential because we are closer to the potential source of conflict. It is important that they should be deployed here in Poland and not in Germany, he said. Trump said the pact was the culmination of months of negotiations. The agreement will enhance our military cooperation and increase the United States' military presence in Poland to further strengthen NATO deterrence, bolster European security, and help ensure democracy, freedom, and sovereignty, Trump's statement said. Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2% of their gross domestic product. After the signing ceremony, Pompeo joined Duda and other Polish leaders at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the centennial of Polands landmark victory against the Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 during the Polish-Soviet war. In the Battle of Warsaw, often called the Miracle on the Vistula, outnumbered Polish troops led by Marshal Jozef Pisudski defeated an advancing Red Army. The battle is credited with stopping the Bolsheviks' westward march, and remains a source of huge national pride in Poland. Saturday's signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a U.N. Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the U.S. Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president. Pompeo said in Warsaw that it was unfortunate that France and the U.K., permanent members of the Security Council, did not support the U.S. position and that Washington would continue to press the issue. The United States simply wanted the keep the same rules that have been in place since 2007," he said. I think there are a lot of people who understand that it is not in the worlds best interest to allow this arms embargo to expire. I hope they find the courage to say so publicly. Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the region's young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China. In Poland, the reception was particularly warm, given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election. Many of the policies pushed by Poland's ruling conservative government have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU nation. Portland police made 11 arrests and struggled to keep up with emergency calls as they handled protest coverage and a standoff with an armed burglary suspect in Forest Park late into the evening while the city Saturday marked the 80th consecutive day of protests against systemic racism and police brutality in Portland. The tense scenes played out Saturday on both sides of the Willamette River. An afternoon pro-police protest attracted small groups of opposing demonstrators downtown and culminated in a police investigation into reports of shots fired. A nightly anti-police demonstration brought out more than 200 people to east Portland. After two hours of relative calm, some protesters started throwing things and moving onto police property. Portland police declared a riot when people did not heed warnings to stop. Officers in riot gear advanced on the crowd repeatedly, including once after someone threw an object toward a police vehicle and shattered a window. It was the second straight night police pressed protesters through residential streets as neighbors looked on from windows and porches. Protest groups have pledged to keep gathering until elected leaders enact sweeping criminal justice reforms. Many people want the City Council to make steep budget cuts to the police bureau and invest more money in support for Black Portlanders. Some of the protests escalate to property damage or other tactics to provoke police. Those demonstrations and the police response to them have drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump. Some local right-wing figures organized a Saturday afternoon rally outside the Justice Center to express support for police actions. About 30 pro-police protesters gathered at the building, with a seemingly equal number of protesters there to oppose them. Abbreviated skirmishes broke out between the opposing demonstrations, with pro-police protesters aiming pepper spray and firing some kind of pellet gun at people. The incident culminated in reports that a pro-police protester fired a gun twice from a car as they left a parking garage counter-protesters chased them into. Two gunshots were heard on a KOIN live stream, and a protester later showed the stream a bullet casing they said was from one of the gunshots. A witness told KOIN someone had thrown a bottle at the car before the shots were fired. No injuries from the gunshots were reported. Lt. Greg Pashley, a Portland police spokesman, later confirmed that police were looking into what happened. Portland Police are aware of the allegation that shots were fired and will investigate, Pashley said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Police said they also received a report about separate incident tied to the demonstration. Someone said they were hit in the face with a paintball. Police did not provide any other details about that incident. At about 8:20 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a call about a 2008 Porsche Cayenne that had left the road and hit the front of the Portland Police Association building, according to a police release. No one had injuries, and police arrested the driver for driving under the influence of intoxicants and for reckless driving. Officers later cited and released the driver, and they do not believe this was anything other than a traffic crash. Portland police said these rocks were thrown at officers as they attempted to disperse a crowd of demonstrators. A second high-profile protest started as the sun set in Laurelhurst Park in Southeast Portland. The direct-action march called for the abolition of police. Similarly branded events have culminated the past two weeks in people throwing things at officers or starting small fires in streets near local police buildings. Police regularly respond with force. About 200 people gathered for the event by 9 p.m. and started to march east on Burnside Street. The crowds destination was the Penumbra Kelly building shared by Portland police and Multnomah County deputies. The building is a frequent site of protests. Three motorcycle officers briefly blocked the march on 47th Avenue. After the officers drove away around 9:30 p.m., the crowd made its way to the building. People lined up on Burnside next to a parking lot entrance. Protesters holding homemade wooden shields kneeled at the front of the line. Portland police used a loudspeaker to immediately warn people to stay off the property. A line of police vehicles pointed headlights toward protesters. Police otherwise remained out of sight. The demonstration began with chanting messages such as Quit your job! People did not throw objects or point lasers toward police, two frequent features of late-night protests. A few people pointed flashlights toward the building or cars parked near it. The crowd eventually divided in two, with each group gathered on Burnside at opposite sides in front of the building. By 10:30 p.m., the demonstration remained absent of actions that have drawn police to respond in the past. Around 10:45 p.m., somebody took a few steps into the driveway to grab a safety cone, then threw it into the crowd. The action spurred other people to take other cones. Frontline protesters holding shields then moved up a few feet into the west parking lot entrance. Police repeated the warning not to enter the property or risk arrest for trespassing. Someone soon after threw a firework that exploded near the east side of the building. By 11 p.m., most people continued to mill about and chant. A handful of counter-protesters drew a crowd away from the police building. The group, some wearing American Wolf t-shirts, stood next to an apartment building on Burnside at 50th Avenue. American Wolf is a right-wing group based in Washington. The counter-protesters soon walked away, trailed by dozens of people. At the Penumbra Kelly building nearby, people were listening to speeches by Black Portlanders. Police issued more warnings to the crowd after someone set off a second firework near the building. A few people walked on to the property around 11:30 p.m. One person painted graffiti on the building and a second person hit the building with a baton. Police warned people to stop, specifically calling out a person who they said was throwing rocks at the building. In a release, police said people shone green lasers at them and that someone had spray-painted the buildings security camera. Frontline protesters with shields moved closer to the police building. Police used a loudspeaker to say they would declare the gathering a riot and break up the crowd if people did not stop. Some people responded by throwing bottles. A few people tried to pull down a street sign near the building. Most people stood around, awaiting the looming confrontation with police. At 11:57 p.m., police declared the gathering a riot and told people to leave west immediately. Most people stayed and chanted, No good cops in a racist system! Some people started throwing eggs. At 12:03 a.m., police stationed at the building set off stun grenades and smoke devices and ran toward the frontline protesters, pushing and shoving them. Lines of officers also arrived from the east on Burnside to force the crowd to move. Officers started running toward people to make them leave. Police set off more smoke devices. Most of the officers appeared to be Portland police, although some wore gray jumpsuits. It was unclear what agency they represented. Police forced the crowd south on Southeast 41st Avenue, a residential street. Officers chased people, and police vehicles with flashing lights followed the crowd. The push continued east on Ankeny Street to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. A standoff between police and protesters ensued. Police formed a defensive line on Ankeny. Officers wanted people to cross Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and go into Laurelhurst Park. Police threw smoke devices into the street to force people onto the sidewalk. Eventually, police retreated around 12:15 a.m. Officers shot some type of less-lethal munition toward the crowd as they left on a van. Within minutes, about 100 people began marching through neighborhood streets back to the police building. Police arrived as the crowd approached Burnside. Officers slashed the tires of a pickup carrying the march leaders. Police lines again forced people west. Officers made people stay on the sidewalk and set off some smoke devices in the direction of people who veered away. Police also shot pepper balls toward people. Police often ran behind protesters as they walked away. At one point, several people on a sidewalk tripped on top of each other as they were being chased. Officers loaded onto police vehicles after they reached Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard around 12:30 a.m. Protesters threw water bottles toward the retreating vehicles. One person threw something that smashed a window on a police vehicle. Police said in a release that people wearing outfits with press written on them also threw objects at police. Police then advanced again on the crowd, apparently trying to find the person who threw the object. Both sides moved east on Burnside until 41st Avenue, where another standoff occurred. Officers shot pepper balls toward specific people standing in the street. Most people stood on the sidewalk as police ordered. Around 12:50 a.m., more officers joined the police line and forced people one block west on Burnside. Police detained one person carrying a shield. Police retreated just before 1 a.m. People again threw water bottles toward the retreating vehicles. About 100 people remained. Some people shouted to return to the police building. Others walked toward Laurelhurst Park. Live videos on social media showed a few dozen people gathered back at the building, where police detained one person who walked on to the property. As the nights protests were about to get underway, someone crashed an SUV into the Portland police union building, police said. The North Portland building is a regular target of protesters and was the planned destination of Friday nights march before police repeatedly blocked the crowd. However, investigators said the crash wasnt connected to the protests. Police said they believe the driver, Nicholas Zadrozna, 27, was intoxicated. By early Sunday, Portland police made 11 arrests, on allegations ranging from riot to criminal mischief, interfering with an officer to assaulting an officer and disorderly conduct. Those arrested were between the ages of 18 and 34. Most of those accused of riot also faced other allegations, such as disorderly conduct or interfering with an officer. Multnomah Countys new District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced last week that his office wouldnt pursue riot charges alone against protesters, nor allegations such as interfering with officers or disorderly conduct. Late Saturday, police also reported that the Bureau had more than 60 calls for service holding around the city, including calls reporting theft, vandalism, suspicious activity, hazards, hit and run accidents, burglary, violation of restraining order, alarms, stolen cars, and harassment, according to police. At the same time officers were dealing with demonstrations on the east side of the city, officers also were involved in a standoff with an armed burglary suspect in Forest Park for about 22 hours. Dave Killen, Jamie Goldberg, Beth Nakamura and Ryan Nguyen of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. -- Molly Harbarger; mharbarger@oregonian.com; @mollyharbarger -- K. Rambo; krambo@oregonian.com; @k_rambo_ Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Washington: Miss Canada will be vying for more than the winners tiara when she competes in the annual Miss World pageant in Washington this weekend. Anastasia Lin wants to tell a global TV audience about the evil of organ-harvesting. Lin was due to compete at Miss World last year when it was hosted by China but was barred from entering the country due to her activism against persecution of Falun Gong, a meditation practice that she follows and Chinas government has outlawed. UK-based Miss World is allowing her to compete again this year in the US. Some US media organisations say Miss World, which has Chinese corporate sponsorship, has prevented them from speaking to Lin. But she was allowed to speak to The Associated Press in an interview today where she talked forthrightly about her cause, although she sidestepped questions about whether she had faced restrictions. Everybody is tied economically with China. Chinas soft power is so huge that no one really dares to speak up, said Lin, 26, at a hotel just outside Washington at the National Harbor. Lin, who was born in China and moved to Canada with her mother at age 13, has riled Chinas government with her public advocacy. She has alleged that tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been killed so their organs could be harvested and sold for transplants. She has spoken out at a US congressional hearing, and since her exclusion from last years pageant in China, she has attracted world media attention and given testimony before the British and European parliaments. She says the Miss World pageant, where contestants each present a cause or platform, presents another opportunity to speak out. Im talking about organs being taken from prisoners of conscience, meaning citizens who have not done anything wrong but to speak their mind and believe what they believe in. Its like innocent citizens being killed for their organs and their body parts sold for profits. Its happening and people need to pay attention to it, Lin said. Chinese Embassy spokeswoman Fang Hong said the allegations of the Chinese government harvesting organs are sheer fabrications of the Falun Gong cult. She claimed Falun Gongs spiritual control of its practitioners has led many to self-mutilation and suicide. The Chinese government outlawed Falun Gong as an evil cult in 1999, saying the group had attracted 70 million followers and was a threat to social stability. As of 2015, the government claimed it was ending the long-standing practice of involuntarily harvesting the organs of executed prisoners for use in donor transplants, and had replaced it with a voluntary donor system, but international medical professionals and human rights advocates question whether that has happened. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Nepal looks forward to meaningful bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a phone conversation on Saturday, the first contact at the highest level between the two sides since ties were hit by a border row. Oli called Modi to congratulate him on Indias 74th Independence Day, and expressed his appreciation for the Indian leaders renewed priority to the neighbourhood, as spelt out in his Independence Day address. The two leaders last spoke on April 10 to discuss the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In May, Nepal protested against the opening of a road by India to Lipulekh on the border with Tibet, and ties were hit further when Kathmandu published a new political map that depicted the Kalapani area, controlled by India, as Nepalese territory. Saturdays phone conversation, which was widely anticipated in diplomatic circles, provided an opportunity for the two sides to clear the air and take forward the process of addressing their differences, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity. The conversation also came two days before a meeting in Kathmandu of the India-Nepal joint oversight mechanism, a body that oversees the implementation of development projects funded by New Delhi. The body, launched in 2016, is chaired by Indian envoy Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Nepals foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. Prime Minister Oli appreciated Prime Minister Modis renewed priority to neighbourhood as spelt out in todays Independence Day address. The Prime Minister of Nepal looked forward to meaningful bilateral cooperation, said a readout from Nepals foreign ministry. A statement from the external affairs ministry said the leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in both countries, and Modi offered Indias continued support to Nepal in this regard. Prime Minister thanked the Prime Minister of Nepal for his telephone call and recalled the civilisational and cultural links that India and Nepal share, the statement added. In his speech, Modi said India is forging deeper connections with its neighbours through a partnership of security, development and trust. Noting that a quarter of the worlds population lives in South Asia, he said the countries of the region can create countless opportunities for the development and prosperity of such a large population through cooperation and partnership. All the leaders of the countries of the region have a huge responsibility, an important responsibility for the development and progress of such a vast population, he said. The more peace and harmony there is in this whole region, the more it will work for the welfare of humanity, he added. Oli congratulated Modi on Indias recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and expressed his best wishes for the successful discharge of this important responsibility, the Nepalese foreign ministrys readout said. The two leaders exchanged views on latest efforts in the fight against Covid-19 and agreed to work together in this area, it said. While underlining the need for early development of a vaccine, Oli expressed the hope that scientists around the world, including in India, will be able to develop it in order to control and prevent the disease from spreading further, it added. The two leaders also agreed to continue discussions on bilateral matters in the future. Soldiers spray disinfectants in Son Tra District, Da Nang, on August 3, 2020 to prevent possible Covid-19 infections. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong. The Covid-19 outbreak in hotspot Da Nang "is expected to be brought under control" by the end of August, the Ministry of Health said. The ministry is collaborating with authorities in Da Nang City and neighboring Quang Nam Province to speed up the process of taking samples from the community for mass testing, it said at a meeting on Friday with the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Da Nang, a popular tourism destination with a population of around 1.1 million, recorded Vietnam's first local Covid-19 transmission in over three months on July 25. The city immediately began contact tracing and mass testing, and announced social distancing from July 28, requiring residents to stay home and banning public gatherings, among other measures. The ministry said it has sent best personnel from many hospitals to Da Nang and Quang Nam to assist with the Covid-19 fight, but the outbreak has affected the treatment of some severely ill patients, which explains the growing number of Covid-19 fatalities of late, it said. There have been 22 deaths so far, mostly of elderly patients with underlying conditions like kidney failure and diabetes. Meanwhile, experts are investigating recently detected Covid-19 clusters in northern Hai Duong Province to see if the novel coronavirus strains found there and in Da Nang are the same, acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said. These clusters are "worrying" and a sign that the community is still not vigilant enough in preventing infections, Long said. On Wednesday a 63-year-old man in Hai Duong was diagnosed with Covid-19. His infection has not been traced back to any known source and is not associated with Da Nang, authorities said. Three more people who had come into contact with him have also been diagnosed with the disease. Provincial authorities have announced 15 days of social distancing in Hai Duong Province's capital, Hai Duong Town, from Friday, requiring them to stay at home and not gather in public, among other measures. The ministry would help with contact tracing and collecting Covid-19 samples for testing, Long said. 'No more peaceful times' Vietnam should expect Covid-19 to continue to break out in various places, the steering committee said, warning there would be "no more peaceful times." The committee has advised Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to issue directives for taking further preventive measures like promoting better response and alert levels and having plans and resources in place to combat new outbreaks. The pandemic could only be beaten once the country gets either a cure or a vaccine, and Vietnam is speeding up research for vaccine production, it said. "Importing vaccines and vaccinating people could take months." While Vietnam is expected to develop its own Covid-19 vaccine by the end of next year, the health ministry has registered to buy it from Russia, the ministry said on Friday. The vaccine, called Sputnik V in honor of the world's first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, was granted regulatory approval after less than two months of human trials, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. While he claimed that the vaccine "works quite effectively," creates "strong immunity" and "passed all the necessary checks," global experts have cast doubts on its safety and effectiveness without full trial data. Mark Hoffman, MBR / Associated Press The Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party says the organizers of the DNC "messed up" by not scheduling any members of the party from this state to speak. And after she was chosen as Joe Biden's running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris follows Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as the latest target of President Donald Trump's "birtherism." New Delhi, Aug 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said three vaccines are currently under testing phase in India and their mass production will begin as soon as the scientists give the green signal. As the world inches closer to a Covid-19 vaccine with many vaccine candidates under final trials, the Prime Minister speaking from the rampart of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, assured the nation that the fight against the pandemic was progressing in the right direction and at right pace. The Prime Minister's assurance came at a time when the number of India's Covid-19 cases have crossed the 24.50-lakh mark. "Not only one or two, there are three Corona vaccines presently under testing phase in India. As soon as the green signal is received from the scientists, the country's preparation is also ready for their mass production," Modi said in his 90-minute address to the nation. Modi's announcement came just three days after the first meeting of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19, a NITI Aayog panel in which the Union Health Ministry has said that the country would leverage domestic vaccine production capacity. The Prime Minister reminded everyone that there was only one lab for testing in our country when the Coronavirus first appeared in the country and now India has more than 1,400 labs. The Prime Minister also lauded the efforts of Covid warriors, saying "in this extraordinary time of corona, our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ambulance personnel, sweepers, policemen, servicemen, and many other people are working continuously round the clock, regardless of their lives, with a sense of service". Modi expressed his condolences to all those people in various parts of the country who have been facing natural calamities and disasters and assured them his full support in their hour of need. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Venezuela on Friday sentenced 15 people to more than two decades in prison over a failed invasion plot that President Nicolas Maduro has said was an attempt to overthrow him. The sentencing comes a week after two former US soldiers were handed 20 years over the plot that quickly unravelled once armed men landed on the nation's Caribbean shore in May. Amongst those jailed for 24 years was capitan Antonio Sequea, accused of leading the operation, said Attorney General Tarek William Saab. He said the 15 Venezuelans had "admitted their responsibility" in the "terrorism, rebellion and conspiracy" charges for the botched May 3 invasion that began in Macuto, less than an hour from the capital Caracas. Maduro claimed it was a plot to assassinate him and install opposition leader Juan Guaido in his place, and Caracas accused US President Donald Trump of being directly responsible for the raid, in which eight attackers were allegedly killed. The Venezuelan leader has described the raid as a "remake" of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Cuban exiles covertly financed and directed by the US government attempted to overthrow then Cuba leader Fidel Castro. Saab said 82 people have been detained over the incursion, including the two Americans: Luke Alexander Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41. The invasion force trained for the mission in Colombia but Maduro's agents got wind of the plans and were waiting for them. Washington and Bogota have both denied participating in the invasion. atm/gm/bc/jm (Natural News) We are now living in an era characterized by the total collapse of the rule of law. The deep state is run by lawless, treasonous criminals who will do anything to silence critics and whistleblowers, and when Millie Weaver (Millennial Millie) began releasing a new documentary film today called Shadow Gate, the deep state went into action. According to deep background sources, Millie Weaver was abducted by deep state operators today and is being held under the false authority of deep state operatives. She was not arrested by any lawful process, and there was no legitimate grand jury indictment. Understand that this is a fast-moving story, and new information may help clarify this story as details unfold. But to the best of what we know so far, Millie Weaver is now a political prisoner being held by the deep state. If these sources are correct, Millie Weaver and her husband are victims of a snatch-and-grab operation, and a counterfeit indictment document may have been produced by the deep state, but it would have been created completely outside any legitimate process of law, much like Obamas fake birth certificate. Millie Weaver is now a political prisoner of the deep state. This is what they do to enemies who expose them. But as the Google whistleblower Zach Vorhies explains, sorry deepstate. You cant stop whats coming. The files have already been released! So @Millie__Weaver might have been arrested because she was about to release the documentary "ShadowGate". So @tore_says (now suspended) released the film anyway:https://t.co/mfFltLxcYi 12k LIVE viewers sorry deepstate. You can't stop what's coming. Zach Vorhies (@Perpetualmaniac) August 14, 2020 Since her abduction, a multitude of users have uploaded her film to Brighteon.com, the free speech alternative to YouTube. Brighteon.com links have all been blacklisted by Facebook and Twitter, for all the obvious reasons, but you can now watch the full documentary below: Direct link to Brighteon.com: Brighteon.com/fde592b6-4efd-415a-8268-f29bf288ac65 Alternative, censorship-resistant link: Brlghteon.com/fde592b6-4efd-415a-8268-f29bf288ac65 The hashtag #FreeMillie is already trending on social media. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation unfolds. And understand that the rule of law has collapsed in America, and we now have deep state operators pretending to be police officers carrying out arrests, when in truth, they are kidnappers carrying out abductions, much like what happens to political dissidents in communist China. We demand Millie Weaver be released. The onslaught of rain for areas affected by Tropical Storm Isaias across portions of the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas has refused to let up through August, and the end of the weekend will feature additional rounds of heavy rain that will keep residents on alert for flooding. As a storm system slid eastward into the Carolinas during the day on Saturday, numerous slow-moving downpours prompted flash flood warnings across the region. Localized areas of southeastern Virginia picked up over half a foot of rain, according to radar estimates. Southeastern Virginia experienced heavy rain/flash flooding yesterday as a storm system moved through the region. Storm reports as high as 8.23 inches were observed with radar estimated amounts over 10 inches in some locations. pic.twitter.com/kTiMJ03Ghf NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) August 16, 2020 This storm system and its downpours are shifting northeastward to end the weekend, bringing flood dangers to portions of the Delmarva Peninsula. During the day on Sunday, the flood risk will come to an end across the Carolinas and a majority of the Virginias, but it will ramp up farther north across the coastal mid-Atlantic and surrounding areas. Many of the areas that will face a flood risk on Sunday have already received more than double their average rainfall for the entire month of August. Baltimore, Philadelphia and many other neighboring cities have all observed more than double the rainfall they typically get during the month, so any additional thunderstorm activity can quickly raise the risk for flooding. For those that were hoping to head to the Jersey Shore or any other beaches across the mid-Atlantic through Sunday, plans that do not include swimming may be a good idea. There will be a heightened risk for rip currents. And with many restaurants still at limited capacity, or outdoor dining only, trying to head inside to avoid the rain along area boardwalks may be difficult. Story continues As the storm system continues its trek eastward, it will begin to gain speed as it tracks off the coast, largely bringing an end to the rain by Sunday night. Unfortunately, dry weather will not last for long, as a separate storm system will bring a cold front into the Northeast and East Coast by Monday, keeping the threat for thunderstorms and flooding into early week. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. An enthralling walk along the corridors of time View(s): As someone who has spent the greater part of my working life in the General Hospital Kandy (GHK), this memoir My Peradeniya by Prof. Sarath Edirisinghe is of particular interest. I was so enthralled that I could not put it down until I finished it! Professor Edirisinghes saga starts from his departure from his family home. His destination is the Peradeniya campus. He, together with his family leave in their Hillman, take the historic route through Hanwella, and Ruwanwella to Kandy.We are regaled with stories of battles fought, and old fortifications along the way. His destination is Marcus Fernando Hall, in the Peradeniya campus. The winding road going uphill reminded me of a path leading to an upcountry holiday resort. On the paved banks were pretty ferns with their coppery stems flowing across the stones between which water seeped. As we climbed, the breathtaking campus gleaming in the hot sun in the valley below opened up and within the next few minutes my brother took a sharp right turn that led to the picturesque Marcus Fernando Hall. There is a diversion to Kandy town, and an ensuing description of its mainly mundane buildings which I felt could have been omitted. Those were the days when residence in one of the halls was looked forward to, not dreaded. The old colonial veneer still persisted with relatively sumptuous meals served in style. The Duke of Edinburgh in his address at the opening ceremony of the university in April 1954 pithily describes the Peradeniya Campus Under the terms of the Kandyan Convention, Her Majesty is the successor of the King of Kandy who had the good sense to choose this site for a palace, and I also understand that one of your chronicles has described the river which passes the University Park as a necklace of pearls around the neck of the queen of Kandy. You can pride yourself, therefore, that the past, the present and the poets approve the choice of this lovely site for the university. Professor Edirisinghe gives us a vivid description of his teachers, mainly the consultant staff and professors at the Kandy Hospital. This evoked nostalgic memories for me of friends, colleagues, even teachers. The conversion of an estate to the picturesque Peradeniya campus is given in detail. A bibiliography would have been helpful. His interesting account of his student days is followed by a description of his life on the campus after joining the Department of Parasitology in 1972, until his retirement as Emeritus Professor in 2007. We read of the period of austerity in the 70s during Mrs Bandaranaikes regime, the shameful race riots of 1983; the terrifying time of 88 and 89, when his family and himself were victims. This book is of immense interest, in particular to the doctors who walked the corridors of GHK, in the 60s and 70s, as students. It is unfortunate that there are a few spelling and grammatical mistakes which could have easily been corrected. Premini Amerasinghe Advertisement Testing travellers twice - once when they arrive in the UK and again later on - could reduce the quarantine time from 14 to 10 days, the Governments scientific advisors have said. The groups studies show that when arrivals are double tested, theres hardly any difference between quarantining for ten days compared to a fortnight. The revelation - which emerged last night in documents from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) - will intensify calls among travel bosses for an airport testing regime to replace blanket quarantine measures. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps claimed on Friday that testing on arrival would only pick up seven per cent of cases. But industry leaders including Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye have a suggested a system whereby travellers are tested twice on: once on arrival, and again five to eight days later. If the second test is clear they could, in theory, return to normal life. According to the SAGEs studies, the test success rate for people quarantining for ten days is 96 per cent, which rises to 98 per cent for those isolating for 14 days. By contrast, the success rate is only 85 per cent after seven days, suggesting the optimal time to test someone is between five and eight days after landing. This is after they have taken into account the time it takes between testing someone and for their results to come through. The SAGE documents state: Double testing of travellers significantly reduces the risk of false negatives, and could enable quarantine duration of less than 14 days. The optimal days of testing are between days five and eight post exposure. They added that the duration of quarantine in the UK could be shortened even further if initial testing is carried out before travellers board a flight. However they admit pre-testing of this kind would require international agreements and common standards. Senior industry figures are due to launch a major campaign, warning that holidaymakers face a disastrous quarantine roulette unless airport testing is adopted. has been working with aviation services firms Swissport and Collinson to devise a testing regime similar to systems introduced at dozens of airports around the world. However, it cannot be used on a large scale without endorsement from the Government. If approved by ministers, the tests would drastically reduce the 14-day quarantine period required on return from popular holiday destinations such as Spain, France and Malta. Vehicles are driven off of a ferry at Dover after arriving from France as travellers trying to return from France on Friday to avoid the quarantine restrictions face a scramble for tickets costing hundreds of pounds Growing frustration at the Governments inaction on airport tests has promoted fears for three million travel sector jobs in Britain. Paul Charles, of the PC Agency travel consultancy said: This in-or-out system of quarantine has to change. It creates confusion and fear, and shuts off economic recovery. It also suggests Britain is closed to the outside world in the run-up to Brexit. The Government needs to invest in regular world-class testing as other countries have done. Ministers are yet to be convinced that airport testing is the answer to quarantine woes. Speaking on Sky News yesterday [FRI], Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: Testing on return is something that weve always said wed keep a very close eye behind the science on those things. Testing on return isnt quite as straightforward as it sounds because if you test someone who is asymptomatic, in other words they dont think theyve got anything but they may in fact have it on day one on their return, wed probably only capture a very small percentage, scientists suggest perhaps only seven percent, of actual cases. I am returning from a quarantine country. What do I need to do? First, fill in a 'locator form' online. This includes your travel history, contact details and the UK address where you will be self-isolating for 14 days. Border Force agents will check you have completed this form before you are allowed through passport control. Are there exceptions? YES. Those who do not need to self-isolate after arriving in Britain include airline, ferry and rail staff on cross-Channel services, as well as workers who commute between the UK and a quarantine country more than once a week. Hauliers are exempt, as are seasonal farm workers and anyone with 'specialist technical skills' needed for emergency work. Exemptions can also be granted on health grounds. What if I am driving back via France? There is no need to self-isolate or even fill out a form as long as you do not physically set foot in the country, or have anyone join you during the journey. Does quarantine really mean 14 days indoors? YES. You can't nip out to exercise or shop, and are not allowed visitors unless they are providing emergency help or medical care. Food should be ordered online or delivered by friends or family. Does anyone else in my house have to self-isolate if they didn't travel? No. Only those who travelled to a quarantine country have to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of the household can carry on as normal although they should try to minimise contact with anyone who is self-isolating. What happens to those who break the rules? EVEN failing to fill out a locator form is a criminal offence, which could result in a 100 fine. Those caught breaching quarantine face a 1,000 penalty in England, or even prosecution which can result in an unlimited fine. How will this be enforced? Public health officials will carry out random checks by telephone. If these raise doubts, police will visit the address in question. Can I claim statutory sick pay if I'm in quarantine? NoT unless you're sick. The Government has asked firms to go easy on staff wo get caught out and says workers can claim Universal Credit if their boss won't pay them while they self-isolate. I have a holiday booked to a quarantine country. Should I go anyway? It's up to you. The Foreign Office now warns against 'all but essential' travel to countries on the list. Most insurance policies will not cover medical expenses in this scenario. In addition, countries are likely to respond with their own measures for arrivals from Britain. Will I get my money back if I cancel my trip? IT depends. If your hotel or villa is still open there is no legal right to a refund but some websites such as Airbnb allow for last-minute cancellations. When it comes to travel, you also have no right to a refund if your airline's route is still running although you should get a voucher or free rebooking. These are also being offered to ferry customers due to travel in August. Eurostar says passengers with a booking up to September 7 can get a voucher valid for 12 months. Advertisement Now, clearly you need a system there is more accurate than that before you can say to people youve now been tested and you dont need to quarantine. Families were scrambling to flee France last night amid fears new quarantine rules will cause thousands of children to miss the start of the school year. Pupils who do not return to the UK by Tuesday night will still be self-isolating at home when the majority of schools go back on September 2. But with limited capacity on flights, ferries and the Eurotunnel, many will have no choice but to stay in France or pay high prices for some of the remaining tickets. People queue in line to check-in for the cross channel ferry in Calais on Friday as around 160,000 Brits scramble to get back from France before quarantine restrictions come into force at 4am of Saturday People queue in line to check-in for a British Airways flight to Heathrow Airport on Friday at Nice airport, southern France In one instance, a British couple who paid 1,000 for business class Eurostar seats and a family who drove for 12 hours are the among thousands forced to flee France and get home before 4am tomorrow when the country is added to the UK quarantine list. The holidays of up to 500,000 Britons have been ruined by the government's 11th hour move as they try to avoid having to self-isolate for 14 days once they return to the UK. Some tourists had less time to avoid quarantine after the Scottish and Welsh governments demanded the rules be introduced a day earlier. Meanwhile, France is likely to impose to impose tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions from Monday for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too. The Office for National Statistics says 20 per cent of adults have abandoned plans for trips abroad. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said an estimated 160,000 tried to return from France yesterday. Shapps sparked chaos last night when he announced the dramatic step to add France to the quarantine list, but suggested it would only apply to people who 'come back from Sunday'. The Department for Transport then clarified the restrictions would come into force tomorrow instead amid accusations that Nicola Sturgeon demanded quarantine was imposed on France tomorrow to 'flex her muscles'. In more bad news for British holidaymakers, Greece could soon be added to the quarantine list, after a spike in its infection rate, with a record 235 cases recorded on August 12. Daily new cases in the country were in the 30s towards the end of July. Families returning to the UK from France or another blacklisted country after 4am today risk a 1,000 fine and a criminal record if they send their children to school when they are meant to be in a 14-day self-isolation. Parents will not be fined by head teachers or have their children marked as officially absent if they are observing the quarantine. Attorneys for Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson contend Multnomah Countys new District Attorney Mike Schmidt is engaging in unfair, selective prosecution by refusing to dismiss a sole riot allegation against Gibson, in light of his new office policy against pursuing that lone charge against people involved in recent Portland protests. Hours after Schmidt held a news conference at the Multnomah County Courthouse Tuesday morning, Gibsons lawyer emailed a deputy district attorney, inquiring if his offices new policy meant Gibsons 2019 riot charge would also be dismissed. We got the policy that day and said, whoa, if he can do this for them, hes got to do this for everybody, " said Attorney James Buchal, one of the lawyers representing Gibson and the head of Multnomah Countys Republican Party. Gibson is one of six men accused of inciting a riot on May Day 2019 between right-wing Patriot Prayer and left-leaning antifa outside a Northeast Portland pub. Two of the six pleaded guilty and were sentenced in January. Gibson has pleaded not guilty and the single riot allegation is pending against him. His next court date is set for late October. On Tuesday at 6:12 p.m., attorney D. Angus Lee wrote to the deputy district attorney handling Gibsons case, requesting that the riot charge against Gibson be dropped, arguing that he didnt engage in any other alleged assault or property damage. We therefore call upon your office to provide equal application of the MCDA policy and dismiss the charge against Mr. Gibson just as you would for any other individual charged only with riot, Lee wrote. Deputy District Attorney Brad Kalbaugh, after consulting with Schmdit, responded in an email to Gibsons lawyers Friday afternoon, informing them that the charge would not be dismissed. My offices new policy pertaining to riot trials is not retroactive, Kalbaugh wrote. Gibsons lawyers pushed back, noting that nothing in the written policy that Schmidts office released said anything about retroactivity, yet it does say the policy will apply to all referred cases arising from the current protests. So, just so I understand, Lee wrote back by email, it does apply to cases from the protests that began around the end of May of 2020 through current, but does not apply back further to Mr. Gibsons case? Thats my understanding, Kalbaugh responded later Friday afternoon, according to a thread of emails obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Schmidt, through office spokesman Brent Weisberg, declined comment on Gibsons case Friday, noting its a matter pending before the court. Buchal said Schmidts policy is blatantly unfair. Its selective prosecution in violation of the equal protection clause, he said. It seems a pretty obvious constitutional violation. On May 1, Cider Riot was hosting a gathering of antifa members celebrating demonstrations they held elsewhere in the city that day. Hostilities exploded after about 20 right-wing protesters, including Gibson, arrived outside the watering hole near Northeast Eighth Avenue and Couch Street and confronted antifa members sitting on the patio. Several videos show people using pepper spray, throwing drinks and fighting. Gibson disputes the single charge of felony riot, his lawyers said. In court papers filed last year, a Portland police detective said Gibson could be seen in a video taunting and threatening members of antifa, and later physically pushing a woman before she was hit with a baton and knocked unconscious by someone else. Gibsons lawyers contend the allegations that Gibson pushed the woman are completely false, and said he was trying to defuse a fight between the woman and another man. Buchal accused Schmidt of excusing allegations of trespass at police precincts, the blocking of traffic and attacks on police from recent protests in Portland if people share the political viewpoint he favors. Schmidt said he still plans to prosecute any assaults on officers, fires set in buildings and property damage stemming from recent protests, which are stretching into their 79th consecutive night. On Tuesday, Schmidt had announced that his prosecutors wont pursue demonstrators accused of interfering with police, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, escape or harassment if the allegations dont involve deliberate property damage, theft or force against another person or threats of force. The office also wont prosecute people on a riot accusation alone. Prosecutors will proceed with a riot case only if it includes an accompanying allegation of specific property damage or use of force, he said. In his prepared statement Tuesday, Schmidt wrote that his new policy addresses allegations arising from the current protests in our community. The changes, he said, reflect his recognition that people taking to the streets are deeply frustrated by over policing and disparate treatment of people of color in the wake of the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Schmidt said that his office doesnt want to further perpetuate the deep-seated problems. Schmidt said many of the people arrested over the last two and a half months of daily demonstrations have little to no criminal histories and prosecuting them would cause unnecessary harm. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Marks & Spencer is set to take on the mainstream supermarkets with a major television advertising campaign promoting 'everyday prices' on bread, milk and other staples. In a significant strategic shift from its memorable TV campaigns of the past, M&S will this week attempt to win over shoppers by focusing on its competitive prices for basic foods. And the ground-breaking commercials will run for three weeks to coincide with the launch of its Ocado doorstep delivery service on September 1. Target: Britain's shoppers face a charm offensive from Marks & Spencer It is a stark contrast to M&S's TV campaigns of more than a decade ago when its message was about pure indulgence and premium foods such as melt-in-the-middle Belgian chocolate puddings. Now the focus is on the quality and prices of its grocery cupboard staples including bread, milk, cheese, eggs and mince at 'everyday prices' a slogan more associated with supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda. M&S has been forced to redraft its group strategy amid a persistent decline in clothing sales. The 10billion retailer has struggled to reposition its clothing ranges, despite high-profile deals with celebrities such as Holly Willoughby and Alexa Chung. But its grocery products have proved to be an enduring success over the past two decades and the chain's executives want to double the size of the food business over five years. Chairman Archie Norman highly regarded in the retail industry for reviving Asda in the 1990s has staked his reputation on transforming M&S into a brand to challenge Waitrose in the highly competitive food industry, which is a lower-margin business than clothing. Sources said the tone of the campaign will also seek to remind customers of M&S quality. But, using its 'Remarksable' marketing strapline coined for its value ranges last year, the retailer wants more price-conscious customers to do their regular family food shop at its stores or through its delivery service with Ocado. M&S has spent the past 18 months working behind the scenes to improve its position on prices compared with other supermarkets and in particular Waitrose which it is replacing as Ocado's delivery partner in a move first revealed in The Mail on Sunday. M&S began listing its products on Ocado's site earlier this month. Many items are currently listed as 'out of stock' other than for those with access to September 1 delivery slots. Analysis by City stockbroker Berenberg calculated average prices on a sample of 70 basic M&S products listed on the site to be 8 per cent cheaper than Waitrose, with 36 per cent selling at identical prices. M&S says it will list 6,000 items compared with 4,000 products currently on Waitrose's website. It has developed 750 additional lines for the launch, including 'bigger pack sizes' and 'more cupboard staples to better cater for family shoppers'. The M&S website also includes more ingredients to allow shoppers to prepare meals from scratch, plus wider organic and frozen fruit and vegetable lines. M&S cemented its position as the leading shop for high quality, more expensive food when it launched its famous 2004 advert with the strapline, 'This is not just food, this is M&S Food'. In the fight for survival on the high street, the company now wants to broaden its appeal to families doing weekly grocery shops. Norman called for radical change soon after he arrived at M&S, saying in 2018 the business was on a 'burning platform' and did not have a 'God-given right to exist'. The business has now adopted the mantra of 'never the same again' as it makes a land-grab in the food industry. But it also faces competition from services such as Deliveroo and Amazon-backed Uber Eats which are taking a slice of the nation's spending on meals at home. Amazon also raised eyebrows when it started offering free grocery deliveries to subscribers spending over 40. And all supermarkets face a new threat from start-ups such as Hello Fresh which deliver the exact ingredients for a set of meals for customers to make themselves in a bid to attract more health-conscious and often affluent shoppers. Feathers snapped, throats slit and strings entangled in their clawsa large number of birds in the national capital have reportedly fallen prey to kite strings in the last fortnight. Veterinarians and animal rescue groups have observed that this year, the number of birds injured by manjhas (kite strings) has increased. Sunil Jain, manager at the Charitable Bird Hospital in Chandni Chowk, said that between August 1 and August 15, they received at least 1,000 cases of manjha-related injuries. Last year in the same period, the hospital received around 700 such cases. We have definitely admitted a higher number of birds injured by kite strings to the hospital this year. We assume that since more people are working from home these days, they are entertaining themselves by flying kites. However, a lot of varieties of strings are extremely dangerous for birds; many die during treatment from serious injuries and others are maimed for life, Jain said. Other animal rescue helplines and veterinary hospitals have also observed a similar trend. The Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre has admitted at least 580 birds injured by kite strings during the same period. The Delhi Police said that they have been conducting raids at popular markets to book kite sellers who sell banned varieties of kite strings. Last week, ahead of Independence Day when the sale of kites was at its peak, the police raided over 50 shops in areas such as Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Lal Kuan and Chand Mohalla, and booked around 15 sellers. A Delhi Police officer, who did not wish to be named, said that the sellers were booked under Section five of the Environment Protection Act (1986), which gives the government the power to issue directions and orders for the protection of environmental interests. Experts said that the reason behind such cases is the rampant and unchecked sale of Chinese manjha, which is made of plastic and nylon, and Bareilly ka manjha, which is coated with crushed glass or metal. The Supreme Court, in November 2017, had refused to lift the ban on these types of kite strings brought into effect by the National Green Tribunal in 2016. The Delhi government had also given a separate order for a ban in 2017. These kite strings are not only fatal for birds and animals but have also caused serious injuries to human beings. After many such incidents in 2017, the Delhi government banned the sale of both Chinese and Bareilly ka manjha. But they are still openly sold at local markets and, every year before the Independence Day, innocent birds become victims, Sujata Singh, an animal rights activist, said. Explaining the injuries caused to birds by these dangerous varieties of kite strings, Singh said that most birds wings are damaged. Though there may not be immediate repercussions, if birds continue to fly, the injuries worsen and get infected. The Chinese manjha and the Bareilly ka manjha are popular among people because they make it easier to cut an opponents kite easily. It is the sharpness of these strings that causes grievous injuries, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Japan marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing deep remorse over his countrys wartime actions at a sombre annual ceremony curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of men and women of all ages braved scorching heat to pay their respects at Tokyos controversial Yasukuni Shrine, while Naruhito pledged to reflect on the wars events and expressed hope that the tragedy would never be repeated. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the shrine for war dead, which also honours some convicted war criminals, but avoided a personal visit that would anger China and South Korea. Four Japanese cabinet ministers paid their respects at the shrine in the first such visit since 2016. Yasukuni honours 2.5 million war dead, mostly Japanese, who perished in the countrys wars since the late 19th century. However, it also enshrines senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal after the war. Neighbouring countries see the shrine as a symbol of Tokyos past militarism. Abe last visited the shrine in December 2013 to mark his first year in power, sparking fury in Beijing and Seoul and earning a rare diplomatic rebuke from close ally the United States. A woman cries during a minute of silence at Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday [Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images] Ayaka Soma, who visited the shrine, believes Japanese should not talk about the past, but look at the future. I hope that Japan and South Korea can come closer together. We have never experienced the war and we want to tell other young people to come pray here, the 27-year-old researcher said. I felt I needed to come here as a Japanese person to pay respect to the Japanese who died during the war, said Motoaki Tamura, a 31-year-old IT engineer who was at the monument, adding that his great-great-grandmother had died after contracting a disease during the war after she worked as a nurse in the Philippines. This years visits at ministerial level come with tensions still high between Japan and South Korea one of the countries that suffered most from Japans wartime military atrocities. The two countries have issued reciprocal trade sanctions and threats as they battle over issues including wartime forced labour and sex slavery. By PTI NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday thanked the foreign ministers of Russia, Bhutan, the Maldives, Lithuania and Latvia for their wishes on India's 74th Independence Day. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, in a tweet, said since independence, India has strived to be, and now become, an enduring example of democracy and development, for the region and the world. Responding to his tweet, Jaishankar said their bilateral relationship is a shining example of 'Neighbourhood First'. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia also greeted Jaishankar on India's Independence Day. He thanked Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for his wishes and said India greatly values the exceptionally close and time-tested relationship. Bhutan Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji tweeted, "I take this privilege to wish every Indians, a very #HappyIndependenceDay. I pray for your great country to grow from strength to strength." Replying to Dorji, Jaishankar said, "Your warm sentiments reflect our unique relationship. " His counterparts in Latvia and Lithuania, Edgars Rinkevics and Linas Linkevicius respectively, also greeted him. Jaishankar expressed his thanks to the two leaders. CHESHIRE Police said a home invasion that remains under investigation was a targeted incident, but some residents took issue with how long it took the department to alert the public to what happened. Officers responded to a Notch Road home for a report of a home invasion on Aug. 1, according to a news release shared on the Cheshire Police Departments Facebook page on Thursday. Police said two men wearing face masks went into each residence of the duplex-style home, brandishing a gun. The suspects fled in an unknown vehicle before police got there. The Cheshire Police Department wants to assure everyone that this appears to be an isolated and targeted incident, police said. There is no threat to the public. The department said it continues to investigate the incident, urging anyone with information to call the Detective Division at 203-271-5530. Some people were quick to express frustration in the comment section of the police departments Facebook post about the incident. Why did it take you two weeks to let the citizen know this happened? questioned Shawn Gray in a comment. We heard rumors that this happened but silence from you? Im sorry but this seems very unacceptable. In response to the comments, the police department left an additional comment explaining the delay, while adding that the agency would not comment further. Police said all calls are evaluated in terms of whether there is a potential threat to public safety. If this call presented a need to know, we wouldve taken multiple steps (as we have in the past) to ensure that the public was aware, police said. Obviously each case is evaluated separately and members of the public should understand that there are multiple metrics that must be considered before releasing information on calls such as this. The department said the victim gave investigators selective information in regards to this case. In Belarus, Journalists Beaten and Detained, Internet Cut By Danila Galperovich, Valeria Jegisman August 14, 2020 As Belarus cracked down on protesters contesting the reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, dozens of journalists were detained, beaten, and deported, and internet service was blocked as authorities tried to stifle opposition to the Aug. 9 vote. Mass demonstrations took place in the capital, Minsk, and other cities this week with protesters alleging the election was rigged and that opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and not Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years won the vote. Belarus freed about 1,000 people overnight on Aug. 13 after public outcry at the harsh tactics. Tikhanovskaya fled to Lithuania after the election and has called on her supporters to not oppose the police. She ran for president after authorities detained her husband, Sergei Tikhanovsky, a popular video blogger who was registered as a presidential candidate. About 80 violations against the media have been documented since the election, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, which monitors attacks on journalists. Cases include reporters beaten by police, hit by rubber bullets, mistreated in custody, deported, or who had equipment confiscated or destroyed. International journalists, including news crews for Russian and British broadcasters, were released relatively quickly, but several local journalists remain in detention. Internet and cell phone service were slowed or blocked in a move that human rights experts said was deliberate. In the run up to the election, Belarus detained and harassed local journalists and bloggers. But the crackdown became more widespread after voting day. "What we have seen in the last few days is censorship on an unprecedented scale even for a country like Belarus, which already has a pitiful record in terms of freedom of the press," said Johann Bihr, a press freedom expert and former head of the eastern Europe program at Reporters Without Borders. The Belarus embassy in Washington did not respond to VOA's email requesting comment. Several videos showed police harassing and attacking journalists clearly identified as press, taking flash drives from photographers, or demanding that news crews stop work. In one video, filmed while polls were still open on Aug. 9., plainclothes officers were seen grabbing Vladimir Romensky, a correspondent for the independent Russian channel Dozhd TV, and his colleagues in the center of Minsk. The journalists were forced to lay on the sidewalk and then pushed into a car and taken away In another incident, riot police beat Maksim Solopov, a Russian correspondent for Meduza, and arrested him while threatening his colleagues. Solopov's whereabouts was unknown for two days. He was later handed to the Russian embassy, along with the reporters from Dozhd TV. Security forces also detained and beat journalists from state-owned outlets including the Rossiya Segodnya news agency, Sputnik radio station, and RT TV, as well as the pro-Kremlin newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, demanded the release of the country's journalists. At least 10 of those detained were deported, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. In the Dozhd TV case, the journalists were barred from returning to Belarus for 10 years. News crews from the BBC and Associated Press were also attacked or detained. Riot police beat a BBC cameraman and damaged his equipment. AP photographer Mstislav Chernov, was briefly detained and beaten on Aug. 10. While foreign media were released, many Belarusian journalists were detained on accusations of petty hooliganism, violating laws on mass media, or violations of the law on organizing mass rallies or events. Some are still in custody, and it was not always clear where they were being held. Rights expert Bihr said the disappearance of journalists was disturbing. "This has happened to several Russian journalists in recent days, and they have all been released now. However, we have so far failed to discover the whereabouts of certain Belarusian journalists. And this is a distinctive feature of the recent detentions," he said. International rights groups have criticized the government's crackdown. "The problem was the complete lack of communication: the mobile internet was completely down, it was impossible to use any instant messengers or get any information from the phone at all while you were in the street," Tanya Lokshina, director of the Russia program at Human Rights Watch, told VOA. "You could only figure out what was happening and where basically only by the noise. It was also impossible to find Wi-Fi there, because cafes where such a connection could theoretically be available were forcibly closed. I literally had to run in the direction of the noise," said Lokshina, who was in Minsk. Gulnoza Said, Europe and Central Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the internet block and attacks were an attempt by authorities to prevent independent information from being shared. "We believe that the basic goal of the Belarusian authorities before, during and after the elections is to control the flow of information, to prevent the dissemination of any opinions about the elections or the political situation in Belarus that differ from the narrative approved by Lukashenko," she told VOA, adding that the brutality of the crackdown on protesters exceeds that of previous elections. "The international community was aware of the nature of Lukashenko's regime, probably since the time Lukashenko came to power. And he has remained in power for so long, because the pressure on him to guarantee certain civil and human rights throughout Belarus from the international community was decidedly insufficient," she said. Bihr said instructions appeared to be coming from the top. "Over the past few days and weeks, President Lukashenko has repeatedly warned and threatened independent media. He scolded the Belarusian Foreign Ministry for accrediting Radio Liberty," Bihr said. "He threatened the journalists of (website) Tut.by and (television channel) Belsat, accusing them of instigating a revolution. In this way, he very openly and clearly empowered the state apparatus to crack down on independent journalists and arrange an information blackout in the country." This article originated in VOA's Russia service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The solicitor not Nicola Gobbo cannot be named for legal reasons, but was extremely well-connected and respected in Australias Italian community and underworld, where he had advised and represented a number of significant organised crime figures. Loading Tony [Madafferi] is said to be a/the leading Calabrian figure head in Victoria, detective Buick wrote in the heavily redacted email which was tabled at the royal commission. Tony has been subject to many investigations focusing on Italian organised crime one theory was that Condello was killed on the order of Tony Madafferi. It is my understanding that Purana (anti-gangland taskforce) would now seek to tap into [REDACTED] (if any) criminal offending by the Madafferi's [sic] and associates. The redactions to the email have been made to protect the identity of the potential informer. It is unclear whether the solicitor ever provided information about Mr Madafferi or anyone else a matter that is currently under investigation by the royal commission. Loading Victoria Police declined to comment on the status of the Condello murder investigation as the case remains open, and Mr Madafferi, who was never arrested or charged with the murder or any other crime, declined to comment when contacted by The Age. The Madafferi theory is just one of many advanced in the Condello case. As no charges were ever laid, the police apparently decided that Madafferi was not behind the murder, or that there was simply not enough evidence to prove who was responsible. Even the motive for Condello's death remains a matter of speculation. Condello was ambushed after parking his car shortly before a 10pm home curfew required under his then bail conditions. He was shot four times, including twice in the head. There were no eyewitnesses but Condello was on a phone call at the time, to a person who also cannot be identified. The next thing I heard was a bang and then three more bangs, then a period of silence and the phone got cut off, the person told investigators. Condello, 53, also born in the southern Italian province of Calabria, had been involved in drug trafficking, loan sharking, kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion rackets. The day after he was gunned down, barrister and police informer Nicola Gobbo was tasked by Victoria Police to report any information she heard about the crime from her underworld associates. A great deal of gossip returned. [Drug trafficker] speculates that Condello murder is connected to Italians in Griffith (in New South Wales, a key centre of power for the Ndrangheta), her handlers recorded. Re: Condello murder, rumour has it that it was one of his own crew. Ms Gobbo also reported that Condello owned a half-share in a $4 million drug importation scheme information that she had gleaned from another participant who believed Condello was murdered over the deal. Theories re CONDELLO murder from [drug trafficker] and [drug cook] are: a. He was ripped off. b. He was standing over someone to raise the money for his half of the $4 million import. The hit came on the eve of Condellos trial for conspiracy to murder, during which one of his alleged accomplices was expected to give evidence for the prosecution. Condello was facing substantial jail time if found guilty over a plan hatched as the Williams crew were simultaneously planning to kill him. Hitman-for-hire Rodney Collins, who is suspected of involvement in at least nine murders and died in prison in 2018, has been widely named as responsible for gunning Condello down on the orders of someone else. Williams, who ordered the murders of numerous of his own enemies, has also claimed he brokered murder contracts with Collins on behalf of others, including for the murders of police informer Terence Hodson and his wife Christine in 2004. But Williams was in prison by the time of Condello's death. Condello's long-time friend Mick Gatto, who has a memorial to Condello tattooed on his leg, declined to comment. In his 2009 autobiography, Mr Gatto said he didnt believe Condellos death was gang-related but that someone took the opportunity to make it look like it was part of the gangland wars. Mick Gatto (second from left) arrives at Saint Ignatius Church in Richmond for the funeral of Mario Condello in 2006. Credit:Jason South Hed made a few enemies over the years handling peoples money and other things and I believe it may have been related to that, Mr Gatto wrote, suggesting it may have been a paid hit brokered by Williams. While the feuds of the gangland war were waning by the time Condello was gunned down, there were warning signs he was still in mortal danger from someone. In the aftermath of the murder, Detective Buick interviewed a recently turned informer who claimed he had been told by a member of the Mokbel drug cartel that the word was out Condello would be killed that night in February. Within hours, Condello was dead. As for Mr Madafferi, he has never been convicted, but has been named a number of times as a significant player in Italian organised crime. During a failed legal bid by Mr Madafferi to overturn a police-instigated ban from Crown casino in 2014, Victoria Police cited substantial intelligence about his alleged criminal activities and associations in materials tendered to the court. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results A woman Indian Army officer, Major Shweta Pandey, assisted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in unfurling the national flag atop the ramparts of the Red Fort during the 74th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurls the national flag during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Fort. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo It was only fitting as the prime minister spoke about women empowerment and their achievements in his address to the nation. Women are toiling in coal mines, but India's daughters are also flying fighter planes and touching the skies, he said. Hailing from Lucknow, Major Pandey was commissioned in the Army in March 2012 from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. She is an alumna of City Montessori School, Lucknow, and holds a B.Tech degree in computer science. She is an achiever, officials said. At the training academy, she won the Garhwal Rifles medal for topping in tactics. She has won over 75 medals and 250 certificates in various national and international events during her school and college days. Major Pandey's father Raj Ratan Pandey served as an additional director in the finance department of the Uttar Pradesh government and her mother Amita Pandey is a professor of Sanskrit and Hindi. He is often spotted with girlfriend Camila Morrone, 23, on his arm. But Leonardo DiCaprio was without his lady love on Friday afternoon as he enjoyed a beach day with family in Malibu. The 45-year-old Academy Award winner looked to be in high spirits, while taking a dip in the water with his father George DiCaprio, 76, and a pint-sized female family member. Family first: Leonardo DiCaprio was without his lady love Camila Morrone on Friday afternoon as he enjoyed a beach day with family in Malibu Leo allowed the jovial child to sit on his shoulders as they moved around cautiously in the waist deep water. At one point, the little girl removed DiCaprio's sunglasses from his face and held them in her hand. George appeared to be engaging in an animated discussion with his son, while carrying a bundle of seaweed in his hand. For his beach trip, Leo proudly showed off his quarantine body in a pair of royal blue swim trunks. Total blast: The 45-year-old Academy Award winner looked to be in high spirits, while taking a dip in the water with his father George DiCaprio, 76, and a pint-sized female family member After spending a decent amount of time immersed in the ocean water, the Titanic star swiftly made his way onto the shore. Although Camila was absent from Friday's outing, the brunette beauty and Leo happened to enjoy a beach day together on August 10. Camila and Leonardo originally met through her stepfather, Al Pacino, 80, who was married to her mother Lucila Sola, 44, from 2008 until their divorce in 2018. They have been together since 2017, but only made their red carpet debut during the 2020 Academy Awards in February. Chatty: George appeared to be engaging in an animated discussion with his son, while carrying a bundle of seaweed in his hand Brave: For his beach trip, Leo proudly showed off his quarantine body in a pair of royal blue swim trunks It was the first time the Wolf of Wall Street star brought a date to the show since bringing his ex girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen in 2005. According to reports, Camila and Leo have been enjoying the past few months of lockdown together in his Hollywood home. The pair have even adopted a pup together. 'He is usually very independent, spends lots of time with friends, but because of the lockdown, he has mostly spent time with Camila,' a source told People in June. 'He loves being with her.' Father and son: George DiCaprio shares Leonardo with ex wife Irmelin Indenbirken, 77; George and Leo pictured in 2015 'They are very close,' the insider went on, adding that Leo seems 'serious' about Morrone. 'Leo has spent 24/7 with Camila for months at his house.' 'They're always together, but like maintaining privacy,' another source told Us Weekly recently. 'They're really great for one another and have been enjoying this time together off the grid.' While they have a 23-year age-gap, that hasn't seemed to affect the highly private couple. Going strong: Leo and Camila have been together since 2017; Camila and Leo pictured in 2019 Red carpet debut: The couple made their first red carpet debut during the 2020 Academy Awards in February Camila briefly spoke about the haters who talk about her relationship saying the age-gap didn't bother her at all. 'There's so many relationships in Hollywoodand in the history of the worldwhere people have large age gaps,' she told The Los Angeles Times late last year. 'I just think anyone should be able to date who they want to date.' Throughout our schooling years, weve been taught about the history of India, especially Indian Independence during our History classes. 8 books to read on India's freedom struggle While we had to mug up everything from Gandhis Quit India Movement to Nehrus Independence Day speech in order to get good marks, we forgot to re-think, question and appreciate everything that our leaders and freedom fighters did during those years to fight against the British rule. This Independence Day, re-visit those crucial moments of our culture, our past and our historic struggle for freedom with the help of these books. 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins: This book chronicles the events around Indian independence and partition in 1947-48, beginning with the appointment of Lord Mountbatten of Burma as the last viceroy of British India, and ending with the death and funeral of Mahatma Gandhi. BUY HERE for 29% discount at Rs. 729/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru: This was written by India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during his imprisonment in 19421946 at Ahmednagar fort in Maharashtra by the British during the British Raj before the independence of India. Nehru uses his knowledge of the Upanishads, Vedas, and textbooks on ancient history to introduce to the reader the development of India from the Indus Valley Civilization, through the changes in socio-political scenario every foreign invader brought, to the present day conditions. BUY HERE for a 39% discount at Rs. 423/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh: Published in 1956, this historical novel recounts the events of the partition of India in 1947, through the perspective of Mano Majra, a fictional border village. Train to Pakistan is the story of this isolated village that is plunged into the abyss of religious hate. It is also the story of a Sikh boy and a Muslim girl whose love endured and transcends the ravages of war. BUY HERE for 38% discount at Rs. 153/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha: Indian historian Ramachandra Guha retells the story of the Indian nation after it gained independence from the British Empire. It was chosen as the Book of the Year by The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and Outlook, among others. The book also won Sahitya Akademi Award (one of the highest literary honours in India) for English in 2011. Story continues BUY HERE for a 29% discount at Rs. 565/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor: Shashi Tharoor has masterfully recast the two-thousand-year-old epic "The Mahabharata" with fictionalized - but highly recognizable - events and characters from twentieth-century Indian politics. Blending history and myth to chronicle the Indian struggle for freedom and independence, Tharoor directs his hilarious and often outrageous satire as much against Indian foibles and failings as against the bumblings of the British rulers. BUY HERE for a 25% discount at Rs. 371/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle Remnants of a Separation by Aanchal Malhotra: Remnants of a Separation is a unique attempt to revisit the Partition through objects that refugees carried with them across the border. Written as a crossover between history and anthropology, this book is the product of years of passionate research. It is an alternative history of the Partition - the first and only one told through material memory. BUY HERE for 18% discount at Rs. 486/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: This novel is set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement. Based on Forster's experiences in India, this book was included in Time magazines "All Time 100 Novels" list. BUY HERE for Rs. 399/- 10 books to read on India's freedom struggle Indian Summer by Alex Von Tunzelmann: This book re-creates of one of the key moments of twentieth-century history: the partition and independence of India, and the final days of the Raj. BUY HERE for 18% discount at Rs. 491/- Text sources: Wikipedia and Goodreads - More about Indian books: 12 best Indian novels that everyone needs to read 8 books to immerse yourself in Hindu mythology - For more stories on Shopping, click here. - The editors at Yahoo Lifestyle are committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. Yahoo may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of publication. Maisie Smith is being investigated by BBC bosses after she was spotted smoking a 'strong-smelling' cigarette at the wheel of her car, reports the Sun. The EastEnders actress, 19, has also reportedly ruffled feathers after signing a big money Tik Tok deal despite being told not to by soap chiefs. Maisie, who plays Tiffany Butcher in the soap, has apparently violated the terms of her EastEnders contract by inking a deal to promote musicians on the app. Looking into it: Maisie Smith is being investigated by BBC bosses after she was spotted smoking a 'strong-smelling' cigarette at the wheel of her car, reports the Sun The publication have reported that bosses were 'angry' and 'extremely disappointed' after Maisie was caught smoking a hand-rolled cigarette, after pulling over on an empty road in Essex on Sunday July 19. Maisie previously allegedly turned down an eye-watering amount of money from a record label to promote their artists music on her videos. She reportedly rejected the offer after being told it would breach her EastEnders contract, however she is believed to have gone on to accept a second deal. Pictured: Maisie was caught smoking a hand-rolled cigarette, after pulling over on an empty road in Essex on Sunday July 19 (pictured) An insider told the Sun: 'EastEnders do not take matters like this lightly. There's no blanket rule on deals, and they take each case on its own merit. 'But if they're asked if it's OK and the star is told 'No', they take a very dim view about it then happening. Paired up with the incident a few weeks ago, it doesn't look good. 'She will be spoken to in no uncertain terms and told it will not happen again.' Not impressed: Maisie, who plays Tiffany Butcher in the soap, has apparently violated the terms of her EastEnders contract by inking a deal to promote musicians on Tik Tok Deals: Maisie previously allegedly turned down an eye-watering amount of money from a record label to promote their artists music on her videos An EastEnders spokeswoman confirmed to the publication: 'We are looking into this matter.' MailOnline have contacted representatives for Maisie and EastEnders for comment. It comes after Maisie was criticised by fellow soap star Kym Marsh for 'setting a bad example' when was pictured smoking a 'strong smelling' hand-rolled cigarette while behind the wheel of her car. Kym, 44, who plays Michelle Connor on rival soap Coronation Street, has criticised the 'really silly' actress, insisting she should use her public platform to set a good example for younger fans. Speaking out: Kym Marsh recently slammed Maisie for 'setting a bad example' after the EastEnders star was pictured smoking a 'strong smelling' hand-rolled cigarette while behind the wheel of her car Addressing the incident in her OK! column, she wrote: 'This was a really silly thing to do. We all make mistakes and do things wrong, and hopefully this is something Maisie will learn from as she's only 19. 'When you're in a soap, you have to remember that you have an influence on others - especially younger people - and you have to set an example. 'You are an ambassador for your show, so you have to make sure you uphold its values. I can't imagine she will get away with it lightly.' According to The Sun, Maisie paused to smoke the cigarette before finishing and hastily driving off after a police car pulled into the area on Two Tree Island. Maisie and her pal were said to have been parked for around 40 minutes on the Sunday afternoon around 3:50pm. According to the publication, the pair initially stopped before moving to a more secluded corner on the island. They reportedly spent about seven minutes rolling the cigarette before smoking it and then left around 4:30 pm after a police car arrived. An onlooker said: 'Locals know this area as a spot for people having a smoke. She had the window open and the smell was really strong. I couldn't believe she was doing it while driving.' India on Saturday crossed 25 lakh COVID-19 cases in the country after an increase of 65,002 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Saturday. With the highest recoveries of 57,381 COVID-19 cases in a single day, the total recoveries have crossed the 18 lakh mark and stand at 18,08,936. India's recovery rate has soared past 70 per cent ensuring more and more patients are recovering, said the health ministry. According to the health ministry, there are 6,68,220 active COVID-19 cases in the country, which is 26.45 per cent of the total positive cases and are under active medical supervision. A total of 996 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 49,036. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the tally rose to 25,26,193 COVID cases, including 6,68,220 active cases, 18,08,937 discharged and migrated, and 49,036 deaths. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 2,85,63,095 samples were tested for COVID-19 up to August 14. Of these, 8,68,679 samples were tested on Friday. Maharashtra on Saturday reported 12,614 new COVID-19 cases, 6,844 recoveries and 322 deaths, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,84,754 including 1,56,409 active cases, 4,08,286 cured cases and 19,749 deaths till date, stated Public Health Department, Maharashtra. Delhi reported 1,276 new COVID-19 cases, 1,143 discharges/recoveries and 10 deaths on Saturday. The total number of cases rose to 15,1928 including 1,36,251 recovered/discharged/migrated cases, 11,489 active cases, and 4,188 deaths, stated the Delhi health department. Tamil Nadu reported 5,860 new COVID-19 cases, 5,236 discharges and 127 deaths on Saturday. Total number of cases is now at 3,32,105 including 54,213 active cases, 2,72,251 discharges and 5,641 deaths, said the State Health Department. Kerala health department said that 1,608 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state on Saturday. The number of active cases now stands at 14891. So far 27,779 patients have recovered. Total COVID-19 positive cases in Himachal Pradesh stands at 3,907 including 1,274 active cases, 2,580 recoveries and 17 deaths, said the State Health Department In the last 24 hours, Manipur reported 192 COVID-19 cases taking the total number of cases to 4,390 including 1,939 active cases and 2,438 recoveries and 13 deaths, said the State government on Saturday. A total of 81 new COVID-19 cases and one death was reported in Chandigarh on Saturday. The total number of cases now stands at 2,009 and death toll is 28, said the Health Department, Chandigarh. As many as 532 new COVID-19 positive cases, 734 recoveries and seven deaths were reported in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The total number of cases in the Union Territory rose to 28,021 including 6,818 active cases, 20,676 recoveries and 527 deaths, Jammu and Kashmir administration said in a bulletin. Andhra Pradesh nodal officer in a bulletin said on Saturday that 8,732 new COVID19 positive cases, 10,414 recoveries and 87 deaths were reported in the state in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases rose to 2,81,817 including 88,138 active cases, 2,562 deaths and 1,91,117 recoveries. As many as 1,863 COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths were reported in Telangana as of 8 pm on Saturday. The total number of cases in the state rose to 90,259 including 66,196 recovered cases and 684 deaths, stated Telangana government. A total of 369 COVID-19 cases and 331 recoveries were reported in Goa on Saturday. Total number of cases in the state is now at 11,339, including 3,753 active cases, 7,488 recoveries and 98 deaths, said the State Health Department. Bihar has detected 3,536 more COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours. Active cases in the state stand at 36,237. There were 68,675 recovered patients while 515 succumbed to the infection, said the Bihar health department. As many as 325 new COVID19 cases were detected in Uttarakhand on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 11,940 including 7,748 recoveries, 3997 active cases and 151 deaths. A total of 44 COVID-19 patients migrated out of the state, said Uttarakhand health department. Punjab recorded 1,033 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 30,041 including 10,407 active cases and 771 deaths, said the State Health Department. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that three vaccines against are in the testing stage in the country and it is geared up for mass production once there is a green signal from scientists. Addressing the nation on 74th Independence Day from ramparts of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister also talked about the steps taken to increase the number of labs and production of protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (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.) Absolutely Ascot star Alfie Best Jr was forced to spend 4,500 on taxis after his Audi RS 6 was seized when he was caught speeding at 130 mph. The son of one of Britain's richest men, 23, was pulled over by police, near Dijon, France, where his grey car - which are usually priced between 90,000 and 100,000 was confiscated as he travelled from Calais to Cannes. Alfie was later slapped with a 680 fine on top of a six-month ban as he was forced to hire a taxi for two 440-mile rides across France, costing 2,250 each. Costly: Absolutely Ascot star Alfie Best Jr was forced to spend 4,500 on taxis after his 95,000 Audi RS 6 was confiscated when he was caught speeding at 130mph Alfie had passed through the Eurotunnel and driven 350 miles for a getaway to the French Riveria before police pulled out in front of him on the motorway. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror he said: 'They don't play games out here. I wish I hadn't done it now, I wasn't thinking.' The reality star was ordered to switch seats with his front passenger and follow police to the station before his flash motor was loaded onto a truck and taken to a pound. Flash: Alfie had passed through the Eurotunnel and driven 350 miles for a getaway to the French Riveria before police pulled out in front of him on the motorway Alfie was forced to extend his stay in order for him and two friends to collect the car, which he had purchased in July, in a second taxi after it has been impounded for a week. The heir to Wyldecrest Parks, Europe's largest residential park home operators, revealed how he 'wont be speeding any more' as it lead to 'a lot of grief'. His father, Alfie Best Sr, 50, is worth a reported 341 million and the 382nd wealthiest person in the UK, and bought a 3.6 million seven-seater VIP Airbus EC130 helicopter. The entrepreneur owns homes in Hampstead, Surrey, a sprawling farm in Hertfordshire and 11 villas in Barbados that he rents out. Alfie rose to prominence following his appearance on the ITVBe series Absolutely Ascot, a TOWIE-esque series that followed its residents attending races and parties fraught with drama. He was also previously rumoured to be dating TOWIE star Yazmin Oukhellou last year, which she denied. MailOnline has contacted Alfie Best Jr's representatives for further comment. Manufactures of electric vehicles (EVs) have sought details from the government on how the subsidies will be given to buyers on the newly made changes in electric mobility rules. This week, the Road Transport and Highway Ministry allowed manufacturers to sell electric two- and three-wheelers without a battery, bringing down the upfront cost. The batteries in an electric vehicle (EV) make up 30-40 percent of the total cost of the vehicle. The ministry added that vehicles without batteries can be sold and registered based on the type of approval certificate issued by the Test Agency. That said, there is no need to specify the Make/Type or any other details of the battery for the purpose of registration. However, under the second phase of the government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME-2) policy, a buyer gets a subsidy of Rs 10,000 kilowatt-hour of battery power for electric two or three vehicles. EV makers have asked how buyers would get such sops if the vehicles will be sold without batteries. Sohinder Gill, Director-General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) told the Economic Times that "a lot needs to be done before the move to delink batteries from EVs becomes practically implementable and beneficial to the customers." Gill added that he has sought clarification from the government on various aspects of the policy. Meanwhile, Tarun Mehta, co-founder and CEO of electric scooter maker Ather Energy, told the news daily that the move could prove to be a great enabler for businesses who are using EVs for delivery or shared mobility as they can have captive battery swapping stations. Also read: Sterlite Power sells stake in IndiGrid Trust for Rs 840 crore Also read: Coronavirus update: Russia starts production of COVID-19 vaccine The Premier of British Columbia John Horgan called on Deadpool himself to get the point across about the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic. And Ryan Reynolds listened, by posting an amusing but important audio message to the Canadian politician's Twitter page on Friday. The movie star, 43, was tasked with appealing to Canada's younger demographic, since there have been reports of kids partying and not practicing social distancing measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Funny PSA: Ryan Reynolds posted an amusing but important audio message to Canadian politician John Horgan's Twitter page on Friday; seen in May 2019 On Wednesday, Horgan tweeted, 'We need young people to understand that now is not the time to go to large parties. '@VancityReynolds & @Sethrogen - please help spread the message to stop the spread of #COVID19.' Like Rogan, Reynolds is a famous native of Vancouver, Canada, and Horgan's hope was that appealing to movie stars like them would help discourage young people from acting irresponsibly. Calling on Deadpool: The movie star was tasked with appealing to Canada's younger demographic, since there have been reports of kids partying and not social distancing 'Ryan, we need your help up here,' Horgan said during a news conference. 'Get in touch with us my number is on the internet.' And in response, the Green Lantern star left a typically tongue-in-cheek voicemail 'message' on Friday morning, directed toward the aforementioned 'young folks' in question. 'Called your office. Left a message,' he tweeted, including the silly PSA voice recording. Ryan's cheeky voice memo began, 'I'm not sure it's a great idea, frankly. I don't think they want medical advice from guys like me, no sir. Unless it's plastic surgery; which a lot of people don't know this but I used to be Hugh Jackman.' And in response: The Green Lantern star left a typically tongue-in-cheek voicemail 'message' on Friday morning, directed toward the aforementioned 'young folks' 'Young folks in B.C., they're partying, which is of course dangerous,' Reynolds continued. 'They probably dont know that thousands of young people aren't just getting sick from coronavirus they're also dying from it, too. 'It's terrible that it affects our most vulnerable. B.C., that's home to some of the coolest older people on Earth,' the father-of-three added, mentioning his mom, among others. 'My mom, she doesn't want to be cooped up in her apartment all day. She wants to be out there cruising Kitsilano Beach looking for some young 30-something Abercrombie burnout to go full Mrs. Robinson on,' he kidded. 'She is insatiable. 'Young folks in B.C., they're partying, which is of course dangerous,' Reynolds said; seen with wife Blake Lively and two of their children in 2016 'I hope young people in B.C. don't kill my mom frankly,' he added, switching from humorous to more serious on a dime. Reynolds summed it up by saying, 'Let's not kill anyone. I think that's reasonable.' And then, to end on a lighter note, the Hitman's Bodyguard star called out his wife Blake Lively and reflected jokingly, 'I love parties. My favorite thing to do is sit alone in my room with a glass of gin and the first 32 seasons of Gossip Girl. 'That's a party,' he concluded. Tto end on a lighter note: RR called out his wife Blake and reflected, 'I love parties. My favorite thing to do is sit alone in my room with a glass of gin and the first 32 seasons of Gossip Girl' And Horgan appreciated the message from his famous citizen, tweeting later on Friday, 'You with your mom jokes, me with my dad jokes, just trying to keep people safe. Thanks, Ryan. xoxo.' Clearly, the need for an appeal to Canada's youth is real. British Columbia in particular experienced a jump in COVID-19 cases in the past week, especially among the 20-39 age group, according to a report published on Thursday by the BC Centre for Disease Control. Its been 17 years since a Portland police officer fired a single shot at Kendra James, killing the young woman as she tried to drive away during a traffic stop. The broad outlines of that encounter are by now well-known: James, who grew up in North Portland, was Black and unarmed. The officer had reached deep into the car to get James out, a decision that the chief at the time criticized. James put the car in gear. It started to move. Officer Scott McCollister said he lost his footing and feared he would be dragged down the street. He drew his 9mm pistol. The bullet pierced the womans left hip and lodged under her right breast. Read more: 40 dead in shootings by Portland police: Heres what happened The shooting galvanized Black leaders and spurred a movement focused on wholesale police reform that remains just as urgent today as Black Lives Matter activists -- propelled by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis -- seek a fundamental rethinking of policing. Everything blew, said the Rev. LeRoy Haynes, chairman of a group now known as the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, founded in response to the James killing. The group has gone on to become a leading voice in the effort to transform policing police culture and policy in Portland. There was great outrage from the Black community, not only the Black community, he said. People came to the march that we organized from all sections of the city. Under the backdrop of current demands for far-reaching change, The Oregonian/OregonLive analyzed fatal shootings by Portland police since James died in 2003. In the intervening years, police have shot and killed 39 more people. They were suicidal or in the throes of an emotional crisis. Some people, like James, were trying to flee police. In other cases, officers were responding to calls about break-ins, robberies or assaults. Most of those killed had guns or knives. A handful had replica pistols. Those fatally shot were disproportionately Black. At least half of the cases involved people with mental illness. None of the more than five dozen officers who pulled a trigger in the shootings were ultimately disciplined or indicted by a grand jury, despite attempts to fire or suspend some of them. Those stubborn and troubling patterns are now spurring the thousands of people who have taken to the streets in Portland in the last two months, saying the names of Black Oregonians killed by police and decrying a criminal justice system that too often harms people of color. You can add all the training and this, that and the other, said Donna Hayes, whose teenage grandson, Quanice Hayes, was killed by a Portland police officer three years ago. Changing policies and training, she said, doesnt fix the warrior culture in policing. They do what they are supposed to do, she said. This is the way they were created. The city has paid out a total of more than $2.2 million to the families of four people fatally shot by Portland police officers since James death in 2003, according to Portland Copwatch, a grassroots police watchdog organization. All of this clearly shows theres no accountability when a police officer kills a community member, said Jo Ann Hardesty, a longtime police reform advocate who became the first Black woman elected to the Portland City Council in 2018. I think we could all agree that what weve been doing is not working. BLACK PEOPLE KILLED AT GREATER RATE Twenty-eight percent of those who died at the hands of police were Black, though about 8% of Portlands nearly 655,000 residents identify as Black alone or in combination with another race. Eleven Black people died in the 40 shootings reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Twenty-seven shooting victims, or 68%, were white and two were Latino. A study by two researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that Portland ranks 208th out of nearly 400 American metro areas in police killings for all races and ethnicities between 2013 and 2017. The researchers looked at Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties, as well as Skamania and Clark counties in Washington. The region ranked 56th in the rate of Latinos killed by police and 122nd in the killings of Black people. Portlands ranking in the study is affected by the inclusion of a half-dozen counties with very small percentages of Black people. Nationally, Black Americans are killed at a much higher rate than white Americans, according to The Washington Post, which has tracked fatal shootings by on-duty police officers since 2015. Black people account for less than 13% of the U.S. population but are killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans, the news organization found. It isnt any different here in Portland, said Jann Carson, interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. Despite efforts to train police and improve policing, she said, the outcome for the most vulnerable segments of our communities, primarily Black people and people in mental crisis remains the same. The death of Kendra James represented a watershed moment in the Police Bureaus long and strained relationship with the citys Black community. When the 21-year-old woman was shot, police removed her from the car, handcuffed her and left her on the ground unattended. She died from her injuries. It would be another four days before investigators interviewed the officer. He received a 5-month suspension, later reversed by a state arbitrator. A grand jury found the shooting was justified. Later, a federal jury reached the same conclusion and rejected the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the James family. In the aftermath of James death, a coalition of community groups and Black leaders pressed Portland police to adopt two dozen reforms addressing what they identified as gaps in police culture, hiring, training, independent oversight, racial profiling and the grand jury process for police shootings. Progress meeting those calls has been mixed, said Dan Handelman, a longtime police accountability advocate in Portland. Those pushing for change, for instance, want Oregons deadly force statute to include objective standards that define what constitutes a threat to public safety instead of relying on the reasonable judgment of the officer at the scene. That demand and others including requiring city leaders to ask the FBI to investigate controversial police shootings for possible civil rights violations hasnt been met, said Handelman, a founding member of Portland Copwatch. Oregon lawmakers this week revised the deadly force law but the amendments fell short of the standards sought by activists. Yet other policy changes, including bias training for officers, have been adopted but havent made a meaningful difference, Handelman said. We are still seeing the traffic stop data and the shooting data that reflects over-policing of the Black community, he said. Donna Hayes said she often thinks of the fear her 17-year-old grandson must have felt when confronted by police in February 2017. Quanice Hayes, known to his family as Moose, was a suspect in an armed robbery and attempted carjacking earlier that day. Police were told Hayes had held up a man in a car and that the man had described his assailant as having a tan pistol. Police discovered Hayes in an alcove in front of a Northeast Portland home and ordered him to keep his hands up but crawl toward officers on the driveway and then lie down with his hands to his side, according to grand jury testimony. Police said Hayes appeared to reach toward his waistband. An officer fired, killing him. Police said they found a black and tan replica gun in a flower bed about 2 feet from Hayes body. Three months before he was killed, police had warned Hayes, then found with a fake gun, that it could get him killed. Hayes grandmother doesnt buy the police account of what happened. The family has sued the city. He was a kid but he wasnt a stupid kid to pull a play gun out of his waistband to be shot, she said. All I can think of was how scared my grandson was. She said the teen had been taught by family always to keep his hands where police could see them. They will see you as Black, she said she told her grandson. Show your hands. HALF WERE EXPERIENCING CRISIS The analysis found that at least 20, or 50%, of those killed by Portland police had a mental illness or were experiencing a mental health crisis. Some suffered from a diagnosed condition or appeared suicidal. Others displayed emotional distress or erratic behavior leading up to their fatal encounter. Michael Gennaco, a national authority on policing who has studied Portland police practices for more than a decade, said police departments around the country have their own patterns and trends that emerge around their officers use of force. Take Southern California, he said. There, he said, police shootings tend to be associated with criminal activity such as a suspect firing on police from a moving car or violent crime. That doesnt seem to be as prevalent in Portland. It seems to be more mental health or (people) under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he said. Gennaco has seen signs of improvement in Portland police over the past decade, he said. I see encounters where things are slowed down. I see encounters where there is more deliberation, thoughtfulness and planning with regard to addressing the situation, he said. But even when you do some of that it doesnt mean you will get a result where deadly force is not used, said Gennaco of OIR Group based in California. His organizations most recent report on police shootings in Portland highlighted a problem with what he called the action reaction principle in which officers are trained that someone can pull out a weapon before officers can get to their own guns. While that may be consistent with physics, he said, we are worried about the implication. That doesnt mean you should be shooting someone before you see a gun. In our view, it means you need to get back, you need to seek cover, you need to be safe. One of the citys highest profile police shootings unfolded a decade ago and involved a report of a suicidal and armed man who was distraught about the death of his younger brother earlier that day. When Aaron Campbell, a Black man, emerged from a Northeast Portland apartment complex, an officer thought Campbell was reaching for a gun. The officer, Ronald Frashour, fired and killed Campbell. Campbell was 25. Campbell was unarmed; a gun was found later in his girlfriends apartment. Campbells girlfriend told the primary officer at the scene that Campbells state of mind had improved since the previous night, according to Portland police reports. The information didnt reach fellow officers, the reports say. Investigative records laid bare the disconnect between one officer who was talking to Campbell by text and phone and five officers standing ready in the parking lot with a high-powered rifle, beanbag shotgun and dog. Those officers had no idea of the progress that their colleague had made communicating with Campbell. Officers would later say they were surprised when they saw Campbell emerge -- walking backward with his hands behind his head -- from the apartment. The grand jury issued a blistering rebuke of the Portland Police Bureau for its mishandling of the scene and said the agency should be held accountable for Campbells death. The jurors said Campbell died as the result of flawed police policies, incomplete or inappropriate training, incomplete communication. The city settled with Campbells family for $1.2 million the second-largest payout associated with a deadly police shooting death in Portland. The city has spent millions to settle claims involving people who died in police custody or were shot by police. It paid $1.6 million to the family of James Chasse, a white 42-year-old who suffered from schizophrenia and died in 2006 from blunt force trauma to the chest after officers chased him and knocked him to the ground in the Pearl District. The city paid $2.3 million to settle a lawsuit filed by William Kyle Monroe, a white man who was permanently disabled in 2011 after an officer fired lethal rounds from a beanbag shotgun. The settlement remains the largest payout to date. A grand jury also indicted the officer for assault. As recently as last year, people with mental illness continued to be overrepresented in fatal police encounters in Portland. Of the five fatal police shootings in 2019, three involved people in the midst of a mental health crisis: -- Andre Gladen, a 36-year-old legally blind man with schizophrenia who had used methamphetamine before bursting into a strangers home. -- Koben S. Henriksen, a 51-year-old man whose father described his sons illness as somewhere between extreme bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and who witnesses say was walking in traffic with knives. -- Lane Christopher Martin, a 31-year-old man who threatened a security guard with a knife and hatchet and swung a hatchet as he walked down a busy city thoroughfare. Martins family said he experienced a psychotic break when confronted by police. Gladen was Black; Henriksen and Martin were white. Portland police officers, including the one who fatally shot Henriksen, had previously encountered Henriksen and in that case took him for mental health treatment, Henriksens father said. Rick Henriksen described his son as very sick and said he had been living on the street and off his medication in the weeks leading up to his death. One of the officers in that earlier contact basically talked with my son and talked him down to the point where he sat down and started crying, the father said. Obviously, he said, the shooter didnt learn much as a result of how you handle or should handle the mentally ill. MAJORITY OF PEOPLE KILLED WERE ARMED The news organizations analysis found that 32, or 80%, of the people killed by police were armed with weapons such as guns, knives and in one case a crowbar. Four of the guns were replicas. Seven people were unarmed. Three were Black, including James. Four were white. In one instance, police killed a man who emerged from his ex-girlfriends apartment holding what the officer thought was a rifle; it turned out to be an umbrella wrapped in a towel. Those inside the duplex included his ex-girlfriends three children who later revealed to police that the man, Ronald Richard Riebling Jr., 40, had ordered them to tell officers he was armed. No guns were found on the man or in the complex. Many of the police shootings involved people who were hurting others or threatening to harm them when police arrived. Police said David Wayne Downs, 38, was threatening a woman with a knife and holding her hostage in the stairwell of a Pearl District building when officers encountered him last year. Jeb Brock, 42, was holding a woman at knifepoint in a room with a baby when police fired on him last year. He had stabbed three other residents in the home before officers arrived, according to police, witnesses and grand jury transcripts. Kelly Swoboda, 49, was wanted in the kidnapping of a 23-year-old woman from her job at a tanning salon near Oak Grove. He was killed in a 2014 shootout with an officer who was called to the area to investigate a report of a suspicious van near the Hillsboro Library. He was shot three times and died. Swoboda fired at the officer, injuring his hand. The case was one of three since James death in 2003 when Portland officers were shot by suspects who died in the confrontations. Ten years ago, Keaton Otis, 25, shot Officer Christopher Burley in the groin. In 2004, William T. Grigsby, 24, fired on Officer Richard Steinbronn and Officer Christopher Gjovik -- injuring both. OFFICERS FACED NO DISCIPLINE OR IT WAS OVERTURNED A total of 65 police officers fired their guns in these shootings, according to the newsrooms analysis. Three were disciplined, but those actions were later overturned in arbitration with the police union. McCollister, who shot Kendra James, ultimately received back pay for his 5 month suspension. The 2006 arbitration decision also ordered the city to expunge the suspension from McCollisters record. Frashour was fired by then-Chief Mike Reese after he killed Aaron Campbell. But an arbitrator in 2012 found there was "an objectively reasonable basis" for Frashour to believe that Campbell posed an immediate risk of serious injury or death to others. The arbitrator ordered the city to reinstate him with lost wages. Reese also suspended two sergeants and an officer who fired the beanbags for two weeks without pay for their role in the Campbell shooting. An arbitrator upheld those disciplinary actions. Lt. Jeffrey Kaer was fired by then-Mayor Tom Potter in 2006 after he shot and killed Dennis Lamar Young, an unarmed white man who was inside a car outside of Kaers sisters home. A 2008 ruling found Potter didnt have just cause to fire the commanding officer. Records show McCollister and Frashour still work as officers with the Portland Police Bureau. Kaer retired in 2016. A Portland officer hasnt been indicted for killing someone in 51 years, since an on-duty officer fatally shot his girlfriends husband in 1969. The officer, Steven Sims, was eventually convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. In 2011, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Portland officer Dane Reister on assault charges after he mistakenly fired lethal rounds from a beanbag shotgun and critically wounded William Kyle Monroe in Southwest Portland. Reese, then the police chief, fired the officer in 2013. Reister later died by suicide. According to the newsrooms analysis, seven of the 65 officers have fatally shot two people during their careers with the Portland Police Bureau. One of them, Terry Kruger, is now the police chief of West Linn. Another, Nathan Voeller, who was involved in fatal shootings in 2006 and 2013, currently serves as a lieutenant in Portland, records show. His promotions to sergeant and lieutenant came in 2012 and 2018, respectively. There is just a sense that a cop can kill somebody and never face responsibility for it, said state Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Northeast Portland, a Black lawmaker who has long pushed for statewide police reform and accountability measures. Its a get-out-of-jail card for anything that was done. All told, 20 of the 65 officers who used deadly force in the shootings eventually earned promotions. Fifty-six of them currently work as police officers in Portland or other law enforcement agencies in the metro area, state certification records show. The Oregonian/OregonLive provided Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell with the findings of its analysis and sought comment. In a written statement, Lovell said each shooting involving officers undergoes an extensive internal and external review. Even though these incidents are rare, they have lasting effects on families, the community and the bureau, he wrote. We have to learn from such impactful incidents. In the past decade, Lovell said the Police Bureau has carried out major reforms in areas dealing with mental health, use of force, training, policy, accountability and community engagement. The bureau, he wrote, is committed to building community trust through open dialogue and by doing the work required to provide its officers the best training possible so that they can effectively serve the community. Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association, the police union that represents about 950 rank-and-file officers, sergeants, detectives and forensic criminalists, didnt respond to an email seeking comment. The Police Bureau and the city remain under a 2014 settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice after a federal investigation found police used excessive force against people with mental illness and fired multiple cycles of Taser gun shocks unnecessarily. The agreement led police to improve crisis intervention and de-escalation training, do a better job of tracking when and how police use force and improve their tracking of complaints against officers. After 2019 became one of the deadliest years of police shootings in the last decade, no one has died in a confrontation with Portland police in more than eight months. Still, a growing number of activists, lawmakers and criminal justice reform advocates believe the oversight and rules for reviewing fatal shootings by officers are complicated and unfair. Haynes, of the Albina Ministerial Alliance, said the process has been unfair to the citizens of Portland, the mentally ill and Black people. Its a process that Black folks have no trust in. They know the answer before the grand jury ever issues a statement. In fact the system has broken down. Frederick has spent nearly a decade proposing changes to state law that would shift the job of investigating and prosecuting officer-involved shootings from district attorneys to an independent agency such as the Oregon attorney general. The proposals are now gaining traction in Salem and are part of the focus of a newly formed Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform. We need the community to believe theres a credible investigation following a use of force incident, he said. The promise by law enforcement after these incidents has always been Well police ourselves. Its never happened. Meanwhile, Hardesty is leading a push to revamp Portlands police oversight system, which residents will vote on this fall. The new oversight board would investigate complaints against police employees, deaths of people in police custody, uses of deadly force and officer-caused injuries, as well as cases of alleged discrimination and constitutional rights violations. Board members would be allowed to subpoena documents, access police records and require witnesses, including police, to give statements. They also would be allowed to impose discipline, up to firing a police employee. We now have a chance to fundamentally change our citys police oversight system, Hardesty said. Its long overdue. The Oregonian/OregonLives Maxine Bernstein and David Cansler contributed to this report. Contact the reporters: -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; skavanaugh@oregonian.com; 503-294-7632 Dressed in his customary kurta pyjama and safa, the prime minister, in his nearly 90-minute address, dwelt at length on his 'atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign Giving his seventh Independence Day address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday remphasised his call for an 'atmanirbhar' India as he touched upon issues ranging from a possible COVID-19 vaccine to the stand-off with China in Ladakh. Dressed in his customary kurta pyjama and safa, the prime minister, in his nearly 90-minute address, dwelt at length on his "atmanirbhar Bharat" campaign and gave a call for reducing imports and pushing exports of finished products in place raw material, saying the country will have to move forward with the mantra of ''Make in India'' as well as ''Make for World''. ''Atmanirbhar Bharat'' is no longer merely a word but has become a mantra and captured people's imagination, he said. Modi also touched upon the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine and said three vaccines are in various phases of trials in the country. He said that a roadmap is ready to inoculate all citizens at the shortest possible time with their mass production after scientists give a green signal. The phase-1 and 2 human clinical trials of two of them, developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), and Zydus Cadila Ltd, are currently underway. The Serum Institute of India has been permitted for conducting Phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the third vaccine candidate developed by the Oxford University. The Pune-based institute has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the vaccine. The prime minister also announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission, which will store health records digitally and under which each Indian will get an a unique health ID. Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurls the National Flag at the ramparts of the Red Fort on #IndependenceDay today. The PM is being assisted by Major Shweta Pandey in unfurling the National Flag. pic.twitter.com/RPHNqMZxZS ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2020 The prime minister said the mission will help reduce problems in getting treatment in various health facilities in the country and herald a new revolution in the sector. PM praises COVID-19 warriors The prime minister paid tribute to freedom fighters and security forces while also remembering Aurobindo Ghose, a freedom fighter and spiritual philosopher whose birth anniversary is today. India's freedom struggle, he said, became a challenge to forces of expansionism while attempts were made for hundreds of years by various rulers to root out India's culture and traditions. Hailing ''corona warriors'', including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who have been continuously fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Modi said the country will achieve victory over coronavirus with the resolve of its over 130 crore citizens. On Friday, India reported as many as 64,553 new coronavirus cases and 1,007 deaths, taking the total tally to 24,61,191, including 6,61,595 active cases, 17,51,556 discharged/migrated and 48,040 deaths. Union health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal, who used to address daily media briefings on the COVID-19 outbreak when it was picking up pace in the country, also tested positive for the coronavirus. In the midst of coronavirus pandemic, Indians have resolved to become self-reliant, the prime minister said, adding this is not a word but a mantra for all people. Assembly elections in J&K soon: PM The prime minister said that India is committed to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir once delimitation exercise is completed. The Centre had on 6 August appointed Manoj Sinha as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, a move many had seen as an indication that polls would be held imminently. The choice of Sinha, combined with the release of select political leadership in the Valley, could signal the possibility of creating conditions to restart the electoral process in the Union Territory where Assembly polls are pending, this News18 piece had argued. "Ladakh too is seeing a lot of work done. Ladakh is leading the way and is focusing on becoming carbon-neutral. Just as Sikkim has made its mark as an organic state, efforts are being made to make Ladakh a carbon neutral region. We are working actively with residents of Ladakh in taking new and innovative ways of development," the prime minister said. 'Befitting reply given' Modi taking a dig at China without mentioning it, said "those who challenge India's sovereignty, be it LOC or LAC, have been given a befitting reply in their own language". The prime minister's dig comes a day after Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri met a senior Chinese Army General and briefed him on India's stand on the situation at the borders in eastern Ladakh and against the backdrop of reports that the disengagement process between the troops of the two countries has not moved forward as expected along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. At the latest round of military talks, the Indian side insisted forcefully on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to 5 May when the stand-off began following a clash between the two armies in Pangong Tso. Modi further said, "Today the world stands with India, and to get 184 votes out of 192 nations in the UN for a (non-permanent) seat at the UN Security Council is a testament of it." The prime minister also said that to become "atmanirbhar" in defence production is a top priority. "Now, from pistols and guns to tanks and fighter jets like the Tejas, from artillery guns to missiles, everything will be made in India," he said. Last week, defence minister Rajnath Singh, in a major push to promote the domestic defence industry, had announced restrictions on import of 101 weapons and military platforms including light combat helicopters, transport aircraft, conventional submarines and cruise missiles by 2024. Making the announcement on Twitter, the defence minister estimated that the domestic defence industry would receive contracts worth almost Rs four lakh crore within the next five to seven years as a result of the decision to prune the import list. 'Indians chosen to be united' Modi said the Ayodhya land dispute was recently resolved in legal manner and that a grand Ram temple is now being built at Lord Ram's birthplace. Modi on 5 August laid the first brick for the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, a site that Hindus and Muslims claimed ownership over for decades until the Supreme Court handed it over to the Hindus in November, 2019. Speaking on the construction of Ram temple, he said, "Today, Indians have chosen to be united. Peace and respect for each other is what defines us as a nation." He said there are numerous challenges in becoming self-reliant, but there are millions of solutions as well. "India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey," Modi said. Citing an example what India can do, Modi said before the COVID-19 panedmic, the country was not making N-95 masks, PPE and ventillators, but now it is in a position to export such items. PM pushes vocal for local Asserting that India's new pledge must be 'vocal for local', Modi said, "We have seen that when we put our mind to it, we can achieve anything. We never made PPE Kits, our production of masks and ventilators was meagre but, today we are making it all." Modi and top ministers such as Amit Shah and Piyush Goyal last week took to social media asking people to be "vocal for handmade" products to strengthen efforts for a self-reliant India. "Over the last year, with an 18 percent increase, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have broken all past records. It is commendable that even as the world battles COVID-19, investments are pouring into India. It tells us that the world sees our potential and has hope from a rising India," he said. Focusing on multi-modal infrastucture development, Modi said, "No longer are we segregating rail, from road, ports from airports. We have clubbed them to have a holistic approach to infrastructure development." "Be it electricity for all, gas connections for all, bank accounts for all, toilets in all homes, public sanitation for all, ration to reach all irrespective where they are, the world's largest health cover of up to 5 lakhs for many, connecting villages with the intrnet, bringing technology to small business and ration shops, giving benefits and freedom to farmers - all of it is being done at a rapid pace, and in an inclusive manner," the prime minister said. 'Education policy will shape new India' Speaking on India's new education policy, he said, "This will shape the India of the 21st Century. We will soon have citizens who shape a new India, ones who are global citizens, but know and understand their roots. The new education policy has also focused on research and development to make India a key R&D destination for the world." India's National Education Policy (NEP) was given a complete overhaul for the first time three decades with the Union Cabinet givings its approval to the new policy document at the end of July. The key highlights of the revamped policy include a single regulator for higher education institutions, multiple entry and exit options in degree courses, discontinuation of MPhil programmes, "low stakes" board exams and common entrance exams for universities, among other things. Modi said that the government will soon unveil a new cybersecurity policy. The nation has accepted new methods of transactions, digital transactions have already crossed Rs 3 lakh crore. In the next 1,000 days, villages across the country will have optical fibre connections available, said Modi. Claiming that in the next 1,000 days Lakshadweep will also be connected with high-speed internet, Modi said: "Recently, we launched a submarine fibre optic cable to connect Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the rest of India digitally.This will bring high-speed internet and other benefits to residents in those islands." With inputs from PTI The Akwa Ibom government has described as unrealistic and unbelievable the categorisation of Akwa Ibom by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as the state with the second-highest unemployment rate in Nigeria. NBS in its recent report said Imo state with 48.7 per cent unemployment rate was the highest in the country, followed by Akwa Ibom with 45.2 per cent. The report is for the second quarter of 2020. Rivers State (43.7 per cent) is the third-highest. Anambra State (13.1 per cent) has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. The bureau said Nigerias unemployment rate rose to 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020. The Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom, Ini Emembong, said the NBS statistics called for serious scrutiny. The reality on ground in our state is in contradistinction to the Bureaus report, Mr Emembong said in a press statement, Saturday. A juxtaposition of the said report with the reality of the existence and operation of the numerous industries in our state, the recruitment into the civil and public service, Public-Private Partnership initiatives, award of direct Labour contracts, our airline and general aviation businesses, qualitative cash support and interest-free loans to entrepreneurs, financial and input support to farmers; the obvious conclusion will confirm that indeed the current administration has created quality jobs in an unprecedented manner. This reality is not attempting to deny the existence of unemployment which is a global phenomenon worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Mr Ememobong said the Akwa Ibom government intends to engage the NBS to ascertain the veracity of their processes and results. He said, Particularly, we will seek answers to the following questions: What was the sample size used in the survey? What was the spatial spread of the sample? What population figure did they use to obtain the percentage recorded for Akwa Ibom? What quality assurance mechanisms did they employ? What was the temporal spread of the data used in the analyses? He said they would also want to know which agency of the Akwa Ibom government authenticated the data source for the sake of trust and confidence in statistical output. It is common knowledge that unemployment has its permanent corollary, a spike in crime, increased youth restiveness etc. READ ALSO: In our state, citizens, security agencies and guest alike, agree without any doubt, that we are Nigerias safest state. How then can a state be the safest, which has witnessed influx of industries and other economic activities, purveyed by local cum foreign investors and still be the state with the second largest unemployment percentage? the commissioner said. NBS said it used Computer Assisted Telephone interviewing approach to collect data in all the 36 states in Nigeria for the report. 10 interviewers were selected per state, with each interviewer assigned to 50 households. Each interviewer was expected to cover 5 households per day, with a total of 12 days allotted for fieldwork. On assessment of the response level after the 12 days of interviews, a further 5 days was added to allow interviewers complete allotted households. A robust data monitoring mechanism was adopted to assure for quality of the returns. Interviewers were mandated to submit their completed interviews to the server daily and a team of data editors would go through each of the returns to scrutinise before giving a final approval to go for analysis. Any suspicious returns were rejected and sent back for further review and clarification. Also, there was a team of back-checkers that would randomly call the respondents from the completed returns to confirm that they provided the information contained in the interviews, the bureau said. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Four people were hospitalized and four others were arrested Thursday in San Francisco in connection with two separate shooting incidents, police said. The first happened around 6:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Larch Street. According to police, the victim was buying drugs when a suspect in a vehicle shot him. The suspect vehicle then fled. The victim, a 29-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said. Investigators weren't able to locate the shooter. They were, however, able to recover spent shell casings, police said. Officers then responded to a different shooting around 11:05 p.m. in the 100 block of Otis Street. There, an altercation between two groups of people in separate vehicles resulted in a vehicle collision and shooting. Two people were taken to the hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening in connection with the shooting. A third person was also taken to the hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening connected to the collision, police said. Police arrested four male suspects in connection with that shooting; a 23-year-old, a 20-year-old, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, according to police. Police didn't release the names of the men arrested. 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. Kate Ritchie shares five-year-old daughter Mae with AFL star husband Stuart Webb. And the former Home and Away star revealed the sweet tradition she takes part in every year for Mae's birthday, in an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly this week. The 42-year-old Nova radio host said they always bake a cake together to celebrate the occasion, from the magazine's Children's Birthday Cake Book. How sweet! Former Home and Away star Kate Ritchie (right), 42, revealed the birthday tradition she shares with five-year-old daughter Mae (left), in an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly this week Kate told the publication: 'My earliest memory of [the birthday cake book] was flicking through the pages in wonderful birthday anticipation. Something I do with my own daughter now.' For Mae's first birthday, the doting mother baked a cake in the shape of the number one, which was covered in pink icing and pink chocolate drops. When Mae turned three, Kate made a Barbie princess cake, and more recently, a cake in the shape of the number five, decorated with stars and ponies. Impressive: For Mae's first birthday, the doting mother baked a cake in the shape of the number one, which was covered in pink icing and pink chocolate drops Looks yummy! For Mae's second birthday, Kate made a bunny-shaped cake covered in coconut 'Of the six birthday cakes I have baked for my daughter, three have come straight from the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book.' Kate said that her little girl also enjoys the fun of creating something in the kitchen. 'It is just good fun with a lovely sense of achievement attached when we can stand back and marvel at our creations,' she explained. Work of art! Kate made a Barbie princess cake for Mae's third birthday Cute! Meanwhile, for Mae's fifth birthday, Kate made a number five-shaped cake decorated with stars and ponies Bonding: The Nova radio presenter said that her little girl also enjoys the fun of creating something in the kitchen, saying: 'It is just good fun with a lovely sense of achievement attached when we can stand back and marvel at our creations' Kate shares Mae with husband Stuart Webb, 39, who she married in a lavish ceremony in Launceston, Tasmania in 2010. In April, New Idea magazine reported that the troubled couple had been attending 'counselling' for their issues. 'Stuart has been trying to show Kate that he's a changed man and is serious about getting his life in order,' a 'friend' allegedly told the publication at the time. Kate and Stuart were last spotted together in February to celebrate daughter Mae's first day of school. Family: Kate shares Mae with husband, former NRL star Stuart Webb, 39, who she married in a lavish ceremony in Launceston, Tasmania in 2010. Kate and Stuart are pictured in 2011 The reunion came three months after Kate reportedly moved out of their marital home after police took out an interim AVO on her behalf against the NRL star, following an incident at her house in Randwick. In December, Stuart made headlines for his five-time drink driving history. His driving history was revealed in a police fact sheet, as he faced court for blowing 0.083 when he was pulled over by highway patrolmen in the city's east in March last year. Lady Morgan was Culture Secretary until February this year, and is understood to have been one of two candidates informally approached for the job - REX/REX Former Tory Cabinet minister Baroness Morgan has emerged as an early frontrunner to chair the BBC, although any appointment has been pushed back so the Government can advertise the job. Lady Morgan, who as Nicky Morgan MP was Culture Secretary until February this year, is understood to have been one of two candidates informally approached for the 100,000-a-year job. Number 10 denied claims that an announcement was due to have been made later this month. However, that has now been delayed until the autumn so it can be advertised. Oliver Dowden, Lady Morgan's successor as Culture Secretary, returns to his desk on Monday from a holiday in the UK and the appointment is said to be "at the top of his in-tray". Government sources said they now expected the appointment to replace Sir David Clementi (who stands down in February) in October, around the time of the 'virtual' Conservative party conference. Sources said Lady Morgan is one of two favourites for the role. Another candidate is said to come from the tech sector and could appeal to the Government if they're able to find alternative funding models to the licence fee. A source said: "Number 10 has to decide if they want someone who will bash a few heads together, or somebody who is going to nudge things along but not necessarily do it confrontationally. "Number 10 is obsessed with the tech people so it could be someone with a tech digital background, somebody who comes in from outside, a different sector, different background." The Royal Charter states that the appointment of the chairman may only be made following a fair and open competition. It says that the Secretary of State must consult the BBC on the process for appointing the chairman, including on the job specification. However, the job has yet to be advertised publicly and it is understood that the corporation has not been provided with a timeline. The search for a new candidate has to be conducted in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, a lengthy process which involves a selection panel shortlisting candidates and conducting interviews before preparing a report on the preferred candidate and submitting it to the Culture Secretary. Story continues A female chairman is a strong possibility as the Government has a Diversity Action Plan which includes the ambition that by 2022 half of all new appointees to public roles should be women. Lady Morgan will be a popular choice with Tim Davie, the corporation's new director general, who replaces Lord Hall of Birkenhead next month. The pair worked together and she was at the culture department. Amber Rudd, the former Tory Home secretary and prominent Remainer, who was sounded out by headhunters for the director general job, is expected to apply to the chairman role. One source said that while Baroness Morgan, who was an early supporter of Mr Johnson for the Tory leadership, was a favourite she also voted Remain. The source said: "Love him or loathe him, we know what Boris feels about the BBC. It is the same as what he feels about the EU. He is going to find a male Brexit mate [for the job]." Another source warned that a soft left Conservative candidate like Baroness Morgan or Ms Rudd "would go native within a month" and become a "status quo chairman". Other Brexiteers who could be in the running include Sir Robbie Gibb, a former BBC executive and an ex-director of communications at 10 Downing Street or Dan Hannan, the former Tory MEP, who missed out on a peerage in last month's list of 36 new members of the House of Lords. Separately, Andrew Neil, the BBC presenter and chairman of The Spectator, has also been mooted. An accomplice of pastor Daniel Obinim, founder of the International God's Way Church (IGWC), in an alleged forgery case, has been granted a bail of GH50,000 by a Kaneshie District Court in Accra. The suspect, Kwabena Okyere, aka Kobby Fireman, a hospital administrator, was arrested on Monday, August 10, and put before the court charged with publication of false news and forgery of document contrary to Section 159 (c) of 29, 1960. But he pleaded not guilty. According to the prosecution, Mr. Okyere, with the intent to commit crime, forged a police persons wanted form in November last year for the arrest of one Isaac Opoku, a resident of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, for Bishop Obinim. Obinim Link Bishop Obinim is before the court for allegedly forging and publishing a police persons wanted form against a man in Kumasi without official endorsement. The said wanted persons form bearing the details of the supposed fugitive called Isaac Opoku, according to court documents, was circulated on social media platforms of certain individuals who are linked to Obinim. The alleged forgery of police documents by Bishop Obinim, according to the prosecution, resulted from some GH51,280 he reportedly deposited in Mr. Opoku's bank account. According to court documents, Bishop Obinim transferred GH49,160 out of the amount into his Kaizer Bank account in Spain, but it was later returned into Opoku's bank account in Ghana. Opoku then used the money, claiming he did so because of a promise Obinim made to him in front of his congregation to buy him a car. It was the back-and-forth that followed efforts by Obinim to retrieve the money which led to the alleged forgery of the police document. Mr. Okyere was then arrested by the police after it emerged that the alleged police persons wanted forms appeared on his Facebook page under the name 'Angel Obinim Ba Kobbyfireman'. The complainant in the matter, according to court documents, made a follow up on the publication at the police headquarters but was told that the police did not issue any such form. The complainant then reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of Obinim who told the police that he knew the owners of the Facebook pages as members of his congregation but had nothing to do with them. The alleged forged publications were subsequently deleted by the owners of the Facebook pages but the complainant, according to the prosecution, had already taken screenshots of them. Mr. Okyere is alleged to have gone into hiding until his arrest in Kumasi. A subsequent check on Facebook during interrogation of accused person revealed that the Facebook account, 'Angel Obinim Ba Kobbyfireman', had been deleted, the court document revealed. Bail Argument Lawyer for the accused person, Dela Blagogee of BlackSword & Co, in requesting a bail, said the charges levelled against the accused person were misdemeanours which he had denied and was entitled to bail. The court, presided over by Rosemond Agyiri, granted him a bail of GH50,000 with three sureties who must be earning not less than GH3,000 monthly. Daily Guide Melbourne: A cartoon in Australias biggest national newspaper was denounced as racist by some top government figures on Friday for a portrayal of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris that critics said was racist. The cartoon by Johannes Leak in The Australian newspaper, which is owned by Rupert Murdochs News Corp (NWSA.O) and is known for its conservative views, depicted a beaming Biden saying, Its time to heal a nation divided by racism. The drawing then showed him pointing to Harris, the first Black woman on a major-party U.S. presidential ticket, and saying, So Ill hand you over to this little brown girl while I go for a lie-down. The 77-year-old Biden would be the oldest president ever if he wins in November. The cartoon drew immediate criticism from some officials, and other critics. Its offensive and racist, Andrew Giles, an Australian Labor politician and shadow cabinet minister, said on Twitter. Former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus tweeted, If The Australian has any respect for decency and standards it must apologise immediately, and never again publish cartoons like this. The Australians editor-in-chief, Christopher Dore, stood by the cartoon, saying Leak was mocking Bidens own words. The words little black and brown girls belong to Joe Biden, not Johannes, and were uttered by the presidential candidate when he named Kamala Harris as his running mate yesterday; he repeated them in a tweet soon after, Dore said in a note to the newspapers staff, provided to Reuters by News Corp. A News Corp spokesman declined to comment on the cartoon. In introducing Harris as his running mate on Wednesday, Biden said, This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up - especially Black and brown girls who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities - but today, today, just maybe, theyre seeing themselves for the first time in a new way: as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents. A spokesman for Bidens campaign declined to comment on the cartoon. Harris selection was hailed as historic in the United States, where civil unrest over racial inequity has roiled cities for months following the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minnesota. Dore said, The intention of Johanness commentary was to ridicule identity politics and demean racism, not perpetuate it. Leak did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Murdoch controls a number of conservative news outlets, including Fox News in the United States, which employs high-profile television hosts such as Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson who are hostile to Democrats and sympathetic to the Trump administration. A Former President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Mrs Alice Darkoa Asare-Allotey, has urged nurses and midwives to read professional materials to enhance quality service delivery. We should read to enhance our knowledge and take control of the nursing practice. The ward belongs to us, we manage the ward, so when managing the ward, we need to be abreast with the profession and not allow none nurses to dictate to us, she said. Mrs Asare-Allotey, who was the seventh President of the GRNMA, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra. According to her, nurses were versatile professionals in the health care delivery system with knowledge of all sectors within the clinical settings of healthcare facilities across the country. We have expanded roles, so when they are going to negotiate, for salaries they should take all these into consideration because we as nurses can go into the job areas of Doctors or Pharmacists, but they cannot come into our job area, Mrs Asare-Allotey said. She entreated nurses and midwives to pursue education to the highest level, adding Even if you get your masters or doctorate, you can still perform bedside nursing and conduct research works in the nursing profession to impact positively in the health delivery system. Touching on the attitude of the current generation of nurses and midwives, the retired nurse bemoaned the laid-back behaviour of some nurses at health facilities and urged them to strictly abide by the code of ethics of the profession. She said The profession you have chosen has ethics and code of conduct, so make sure that you work within that confinement so that God will bless you. I am retired, but I have joy in my heart that I have served well. Mrs Asare-Allotey explained that such blessings from God were not in monetary forms, but in the form of good health, peace, protection from God and opened opportunities for children while in active service or on retirement. The former GRNMA President expressed worry about the behaviour of some young people in nursing uniform suspected to be nurses who misbehave on social media, Our uniform is our pride. Once you put on the uniform, you have put on the profession. It is not out of order that they prescribed the style, the length and how the uniform should be. It makes you embodied in the profession, our dressing on the ward should be a form of healing to patients. Dress decently, so that when patients see you, they will appreciate that they are in safe hands, she advised. 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 US Democrats kick off an unprecedented political experiment beginning Monday, an all-virtual national convention that nominates Joe Biden as their White House candidate to battle Donald Trump in the heat of a deadly pandemic. With his vice presidential pick Kamala Harris, the first woman of color on a major US presidential ticket, Biden is campaigning to unify a nation ravaged by political and racial turmoil, voter suppression concerns and profound anxiety over the devastating coronavirus crisis. But the running mates will deliver their message, aiming to inspire the Democratic base while luring frustrated Republicans, under unique circumstances: a four-day Democratic National Convention conducted entirely online. No huzzahs, backroom dealings or balloon drops on ecstatic crowds and candidates, hallmark elements of US political conventions. Instead, organizers are retooling to conduct business online, like drafting the party platform and coordinating scores of presentations and speeches from mid-day Monday. Wednesday evening will spotlight Harris, a 55-year-old US senator and former prosecutor who is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. Biden has promoted her story as the American Dream. - Online nomination - The four-day affair culminates Thursday night with political moderate Biden, a former vice president and three-decade Senate veteran, being nominated by state delegates casting their votes online. He then delivers his acceptance speech from his home state of Delaware. The convention had been scheduled for Milwaukee, in critical swing state Wisconsin, and the cancellation is a brutal blow for the Midwestern city which had spent millions of dollars preparing to host the high-profile event. Downtown streets were largely empty on Friday, with residents lamenting what could have been. "I thought it was good for the city, everybody did," Dan, who provided only his first name because he works in law enforcement, said of the convention plans. Story continues With the economy shedding millions of jobs during the pandemic, Biden will tout his $700 billion "Build Back Better" plan that would invest in new technologies and create some five million new jobs, an aggressive challenge to Trump on economic policy. Organizers have promised an energized "convention across America," despite the potential online awkwardness. "In just three days, we will kick off a Democratic National Convention that will look and feel very different than past conventions," acknowledged DNC program executive Stephanie Cutter. Participants will highlight "Donald Trump's failed leadership and the promise of what we can and should be with Joe Biden as president." - Trump jets in - The party has invited its luminaries, from former president Barack Obama and wife Michelle, who earned keynote speaking slots on Wednesday and Monday respectively, to Hillary and Bill Clinton and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Several senators who challenged Biden for the nomination will also speak, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Keen to avoid the divisions that cuffed the party in 2016 when Hillary Clinton's supporters clashed with those backing Sanders, Team Biden has taken care to invite the progressive wing to help formulate the party platform. Rising progressive stars will have their turn on the virtual stage, including popular 30-year-old congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Speaking Monday will be former Ohio governor John Kasich -- a Republican, representing those in his party who have abandoned the controversial president. While Democrats scrapped their Milwaukee plan, one major political figure will be visiting Wisconsin Monday: Trump himself, eager to plant his flag again in the state he snatched four years ago when Clinton did not campaign there. Democrats "are going to ignore Wisconsin just like they did in 2016," Trump told a virtual town hall Wednesday. Ignoring the pandemic, Trump announced he will deliver a speech in Oshkosh, north of Milwaukee, addressing Biden's "failures on jobs and the economy," according to the president's campaign. Trump will not attend the Republican convention in person the following week, and will deliver his speech from a yet-to-be-announced location. Skipping the in-person element of the convention is "unfortunate," but understandable, said Christopher Arterton, professor emeritus of political management at George Washington University. Critical functions may be diminished, including how the space normally serves as a lively arena for bargaining and strategizing between various interest groups and delegates, most of whom would be "cheering frantically" when the candidate is nominated, Arterton told AFP. Biden and Harris hit the convention facing fresh attacks from Trump, including his opposition to mail-in voting and his refusal to approve emergency funding for the US Postal Service to ensure timely delivery of ballots. "Pure Trump," Biden said Thursday. "He doesn't want an election." mlm/st A suspicious fire has gutted a Spotlight store in Perth's south despite efforts from firefighters to bring the blaze under control for more than six hours overnight. The arson squad has been called in to investigate the incident after signs of forced entry were found in the building. The fire has caused extensive damage to the building. Credit:Facebook Emergency crews were called to the Leach Highway store, in Booragoon, just before 9.30pm on Friday night following reports of thick smoke coming from the building. Around 45 fire trucks attended the incident with firefighters venturing inside the store to battle the flames until signs of structural collapse forced crews to withdraw. J&K Police Medals were awarded to six officers in the force while 202 police officers and officials received the Jammu and Kashmir Police Medals for Gallantry The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced the Lieutenant Governor's gold medal for honesty, integrity and meritorious public service for the year 2020. The officers who have been awarded for the medal include Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mohit Gera, Anti Corruption Bureau director Anand Jain, Finance Department special secretary Shamim Ahmad Wani, Geology and Mining director Vikas Sharma, Reasi Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib, Director Sheep Husbandry, Kashmir, Abdul Salam Mir, and Director Horticulture, Jammu, Ram Savak. MY Itoo, director-general Budget, Finance Department; Rajeshwar Singh, senior superintendent of police; Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma, HoD Department of Micro Biology, GMC, Jammu and Dr Anjum Farhana, HoD Department of Microbiology, GMC, Srinagar are the other nominees. The award carries a Gold Medal, Rs 51,000 cash, a citation and a certificate, an official spokesperson said. Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir administration also awarded J&K Police Medals for meritorious services to six police officers on the eve of Independence Day. The officers who have been awarded are Inspector General of Police (IGP) T Namgiyal, Senior Superintendents of Police Haseeb-ur-Rahman, Swarn Singh Kotwal, Showkat Ahmad Dar, DySP Surinder Kumar Sharma and Inspector Ashiq Hussain Malik, an official spokesman said. The administration has also awarded Jammu and Kashmir Police Medals for Gallantry to 202 police officers and officials, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh congratulated Jammu and Kashmir police officers and personnel who have been awarded medals by Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. He expressed his happiness and pleasure on this feat of the officers and personnel. "Untiring and relentless efforts of the officers and jawans of J&K police have been recognized," the DGP said, adding that recognition will go a long way in boosting the morale of personnel and officers of police force. The DGP also congratulated families of martyrs and awardees. Among the 94 awardees, 12 have been awarded President's Police medal for meritorious service, one officer has been awarded President's Police medal for distinguished service and 81 officers and jawans have been awarded Police Medal for Gallantry. The Ministry of Defence has honoured Head Constable Abdul Rashid Kalas with Kirti Chakra (posthumously) and DIG Amit Kumar with Shaurya Chakra. KANSAS CITY, Mo. - LeGend Taliferro's mother told the 41 Action News Investigative Team on Friday that her son had a positive relationship with the man accused of killing him. Ryson Ellis, 22, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 4-year-old LeGend. The Royal Family have released a black and white picture of a young Prince Philip from when he was First Lieutenant aboard Navy destroyer, the HMP Whelp that saved Japanese prisoners of war in 1945. They shared the picture to mark todays 75th anniversary of of Victory in Japan day writing: 'Did you know that The Duke of Edinburgh was on active service in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered on VJ Day? 'His Royal Highness joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939. Royal Family have released this black and white picture of Prince Philip in 1945 who was aboard HMS Whelp when the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo Bay 'Following active service during the Second World War in HMS RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT and HMS WALLACE, he served in HMS WHELP as First Lieutenant. 'On VJ Day, the Ships Crew in HMS WHELP helped to recover Prisoners of War.' The Duke of Edinburgh recalled his experiences of the historic day in Tokyo Bay in a BBC interview recorded in 1995. 'I suppose I spent longer in [HMP] Whelp than in any other ship and I was first and second in command from beginning to end,' he said. 'And it took me all the way from Scapa Flow to Tokyo and back again. 'Being in Tokyo Bay with the surrender ceremony taking place in a battleship, which was 200 yards away. You could see what was going on with a pair of binoculars,' recalled the Duke in a 1995 interview 'Being in Tokyo Bay with the surrender ceremony taking place in a battleship, which was 200 yards away. You could see what was going on with a pair of binoculars. 'It was a great relief. I remember from there we went on to Hong Kong and [had] the most extraordinary sensation when we sailed. 'We suddenly realised we didn't have to darken ship anymore, we didn't have to close all the scuttles, we didn't have to turn all the lights out. 'All these little things built up to suddenly feeling that life was different.' The HMS WHELP took onboard a number of emaciated Prisoners of War that had been held by the Japanese. The Duke described the emotional moment they collected the released PoWs. The HMS WHELP took onboard a number of released Prisoners of War that had been held by the Japanese who were emaciated 'These people were naval people. They were emaciated and they sat down in the mess [hall],' he said. 'They were suddenly in an atmosphere which they recognised. 'And our ships company also recognised that they were fellow sailors as they gave them a cup of tea. 'It was an extraordinary sensation because they just sat there, both sides, our own and them, I mean just tears pouring down their cheeks. 'They just drank their tea, they really couldn't speak. The Duke of Edinburgh features in the DCMS Then and Now project, which recognises a small sample of individuals who served and supported the war effort until the victory over Japan. Images appeared on big screens across the country to mark todays 75th anniversary of VJ Day. India takes pride in having largest vaccination programme in the world: PM Modi From 2014 to 2021: A look at Narendra Modi's Independence Day Turban tradition Independence Day 2020: PM Modi extends his wishes to Indias ahead of his speech at Red Fort India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Aug 15: On the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his greeting to all Indians before hoisting the tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. Before his speech, PM Modi took to Twitter and said, "Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind!" PM Modi will hoist the national flag and deliver his Independence Day speech shortly. Before that, he will receive the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Delhi Police. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Independence Day 2020: COVID-19 precautions put in place In his previous Independence Day's speech, PM Modi talked about the decision to remove Jammu and Kashmir's special rights and ban against triple talaq among the bold moves of the first 10 weeks of his second term. The Prime Minister also talked about his aim to turn India into a $5-trillion economy within five years and announced the creation of a new post of chief of defence staff to ensure better coordination of the army, navy and air force, along the lines of western military forces. Independence Day 2020: India will give befitting reply if enemy attacks us: Rajnath Singh It can be seen that a multilayered security ring, including snipers from the National Security Guard (NSG), elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, has been thrown in around the Red Fort. Several other leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, also tweeted their wishes. We all must set an example for others by wearing a mask One of the most critical events in 2020 affecting the well-being of our community is about to happen. Thousands of students will be arriving for their fall semesters at either Texas A&M or Blinn. Personnel as both schools have spent an enormous effort to implement plans to reduce the risk of COVID-19 while these students are on campus. Of course, most of the time these students are not on their respective campuses. They spent substantially more time studying, eating, drinking, playing and sleeping outside the boundaries of the school they are attending. How they interact off campus most likely will determine not only their health, but the health of many of us as welland the near-term economic prospects for the Brazos County. Of course, the horror scenario is that a large surge in cases of the virus forces Texas A&M and Blinn to cease on-campus instruction and revert to all distant-education instruction for those who remain healthy, In this nightmare critically ill students as well as those in our community infected by the surge overwhelm local medical facilities. As new cases explode, everything starts closing down again, taking our struggling local economy with it. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 15) unfurled the tricolour at Red Fort in the national capital and addressed the nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. Notably, the Prime Minister was assisted by woman Army officer Shweta Pandey, as he hoisted the national flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Major Shweta Pandey is an Electronics and Mechanical engineer at the Indian Army's 505 base workshops. She was commissioned in March 2012 at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. Her father Raj Ratan Pandey was an Additional Director in the Finance Department of the Uttar Pradesh government while her mother Amita Pandey is a professor of Sanskrit and Hindi. She holds a degree in Computer Science and has pursued an advance course in radars. She has won more 75 medals and 250 certificates in various national and international events such as speeches, debates, extempores, etc in school and college. She is an alumnus of the City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow, the largest school in the world. The officer is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) expert and has completed both basic CBRN and staff CBRN courses from the College Of Military Engineering (CME) in Maharashtra's Pune. She won Garhwal Rifles Medal at Officers Training Institute in Chennai A Sinn Fein TD told the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland he hoped Hong Kong would get "back to the right track" after being informed that protesters were unleashing a "wave of violence" in the territory. Sinn Fein's position on the former British colony has come under scrutiny this week after reported comments by deputy leader Michelle O'Neill on controversial security laws and its abstention on a European Parliament vote condemning the laws amid concerns about Chinese sovereignty. According to the Chinese embassy's account of a meeting last August, Mr Crowe was briefed by Ambassador He Xiangdong on the growing protests in Hong Kong. The then-Sinn Fein foreign affairs spokesman was told the peaceful protests had turned into "violent crimes" with protesters disrupting traffic, assaulting civilians and attacking police. "By unleashing the wave of violence, those protesters have not only undermined Hong Kong's rule of law, social order and economy, and harmed people's livelihoods, but also challenged the constitutional principle of 'one country, two systems'," the account states. The ambassador told Mr Crowe: "Some people distort the facts and intervene in Hong Kong affairs by measures resembling the period of colony and hegemony." Human Rights Watch has said protests last year were largely peaceful and that authorities failed to investig-ate excessive force by police. The embassy's account states that Mr Crowe thanked Ambassador He "for his clarification and wishes Hong Kong back to the right track as soon as possible". A spokesman for Sinn Fein said yesterday Mr Crowe expressed his "hope for a peaceful political resolution to the protests", and added: "We do not comment further on the content of meetings with the diplomatic corps." Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus said his party "condemns unequivocally the human rights abuses carried out in Hong Kong" but that he abstained on the European Parliament resolution condemning China in June because it implicitly supported sanctions "which would have impacted the ordinary Chinese people" and that "many in the EU approached this issue with a colonial mindset". Anti-fascist activists showed up in strength to oppose the launch of an anti-mask group in Belfast city centre on Saturday. A large police presence was on hand to keep the two groups apart as Yellow Vest Ulster activists held their first gathering at Cornmarket near Victoria Square Shopping Centre. Belfast Antifa brought dozens of members to the event, some carrying the anti-fascist flag, the LGBT flag and the flag of the International Brigades, which fought Francos forces in the Spanish Civil War. They also chanted fascist scum as a Yellow Vest speaker addressed the rally. Announcing its launch on Thursday, the group posted on its Facebook page: Yellow Vest Ulster launches this Saturday in Belfast, Cornmarket. Expect anti-lockdown and anti-globalisation speakers. We must oppose the pandemic lockdown. Small businesses are being ruined, mental health issues sky-rocketing. We need to do what Sweden did: protect the vulnerable and (get) the rest of society back to work and study. The Belfast Antifa page responded with a call for supporters, saying: The fascist Yellow Vest movement are holding a demo in Belfast city centre. We would like to publicly call on all anti-fascist organisations and individuals to get out on Saturday and oppose them. A Yellow Vest Ulster member said: We are here for democracy and civil rights. My mother and father marched for civil rights. We will not be silenced. Another member of the Yellow Vest group from the Republic of Ireland read out a list of demands through a megaphone, including government action on health, housing and natural resources. One activist who also spoke at the event described mask wearers as muppets. A police spokesperson said: "Police were in attendance at a protest in the Cornmarket area of Belfast this afternoon. At this stage, no offences have been identified." Express News Service By NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli on Saturday had a telephonic conversation on the occasion of Indias Independence Day, the first after relations between the two countries hit a rough patch over Nepals adoption of a new map in June and claims and counterclaims over territory. The conversation is also likely to set the ball rolling for diplomatic negotiations over border issues. According to the MEA, Nepalese foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Indian ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra are likely to hold talks on August 17 when the border issue may come up for discussion. Relations appeared to sour after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a road in Lipulekh on May 8. Nepal claims Lipulekh, Limiyadhura and Kalapani as their own under the treaty of Sugauli while New Delhi maintains that the three territories are its. Both India and Nepal are mandated by a 1988 treaty to solve all border disputes through dialogue. Congratulations and greetings to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Government and people of India on the happy occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Best wishes for more progress and prosperity of the people of India. K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) August 15, 2020 Relations dipped further after Nepal passed a constitutional amendment to incorporate the territories in its map. India called the claims historically inaccurate and said that Kathmandu had not responded to a request for foreign secretary-level talks. The Prime Minister of Nepal greeted the government and people of India on the occasion of Independence Day, and also conveyed congratulations for Indias recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, a statement from the Indian side said. Oli took to Twitter on his talks with Modi. We agreed to strengthen cooperation to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. We emphasized on taking good care of the citizens who are stuck in each other's countries due to the lockdown. Discussions were also held to maintain the supply system and make it more comfortable and smooth. I thanked the government of India for its assistance, including medicines, Oli said. ALSO READ| At meeting with PM Modi on Bihar floods, CM Nitish Kumar flags non-cooperation from Nepal Oli has been at the receiving end from his own party over handling of the Covid-19 situation and relations with India, prompting him to allege that New Delhi was trying to overthrow his government. Former Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had urged Oli to step down. But, according to the Nepalese media, the two leaders are expected to soon announce a breakthrough. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: But the killings and the disparities in wealth and the foreign interference remain, as do those who presided over the war, the "tribal chiefs" of each of Lebanon's sectarian communities. As Arabs across the region saw in 2011 and 2012, it is not enough to say "no" to what has failed, as important as that is. It is also necessary to articulate a "yes" and agree upon what Lebanon is going to be instead. This articulation has to be Lebanese in order to be effective. When I saw French President Emmanuel Macron, a man beset by political dysfunction and protest at home, plying the streets of Beirut after the blast, I was reminded of what the Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk called the "Napoleonic self-regard" of the French, and when some citizens of Beirut cheered Macron's sales pitch I heard the voice of novelist Rabih Alameddine: Beirut is the Elizabeth Taylor of cities: insane, beautiful, falling apart, ageing, and forever drama-laden. She'll also marry any infatuated suitor who promises to make her life more comfortable, no matter how inappropriate he is. Conspiracy theories about who is responsible for the August 4 blast have poured into the crater left behind from every point in the political spectrum. But ultimately those who died were murdered by the negligence of their state. A series of images of the August 4 port explosion in Beirut. Credit:Twitter: @borzou The Lebanese were already waiting for answers from an international inquiry into who murdered the politician Rafik Hariri, the journalist Gebran Tueni, the author Samir Kassir and others. The country's president has rejected the idea of another such inquiry into the port explosion. Once I believed that the key to reform was to get to the bottom of such questions; now I am not so sure. At the time of Hariri's assassination his allies coined the slogan "the martyrs are our martyrs, the square is our square". But it cannot be that what entitles each faction to a political voice is simply the tally of their dead. Watching young Lebanese act without government help in recent days to clean up the wreckage of their neighbours' homes, I begin to think that it is the rebuilding of Beirut that will show if the country can turn over a new leaf. Beirut has been destroyed a number of times, and each time its reconstruction has had a political cast. After the 1975-1990 war, Hariri - a Sunni backed by Saudi Arabia - formed the company Solidere to rebuild the city. You can see some of Solidere's handiwork in Saifi Square, where the unfortunate bride was having her wedding snaps taken when the blast hit. Loading The company's approach to urban renewal has been controversial but in the 1990s it was a crucial part of Hariri's profile as a prime minister who could get things done and attract investment dollars, in contrast to the militant "axis of resistance" (Syria, Iran and Hezbollah). Years passed, Hezbollah rose to dominance and Hariri was assassinated. When Israel flattened the southern part of Beirut in 2006 in an attempt to smash Hezbollah, the party made rebuilding through its own corporate vehicle - known as al-Waad al-Sadiq, or "The Faithful Promise" - a big part of its pitch that it could repair the damage, for which it was seen as partly responsible. This "jihad of (re)building" left Hezbollah looking more efficient than the Lebanese state. At that time Solidere was going through severe financial problems (from which it seems to have recovered). The question is whether the latest rebuild can be done along non-partisan lines that give all Lebanese a sense of being invested in the outcome. It is a big ask and many vested interests will oppose such a project. But it could be a first small step in finding a "yes" for Lebanon. Telanganas Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday arrested a tehsildar (block revenue officer) after catching him red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of 1.10 crore in cash from a property dealer the previous evening. A team of ACB officials led by Hyderabad zonal deputy director Ramana Kumar and Ranga Reddy-Medchal-Malkajgiri deputy superintendent of police Suryanarayana, acting on a tip-off, raided the residence of Erva Balaraj Nagaraju (47), tehsildar of Keesara block at his residence at Arul Colony, Kapra on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Friday evening. They caught him red-handed while accepting a bribe of over 1.10 crore from real estate developer Chowla Srinath Yadav (50) from Uppal to settle a dispute pertaining to 19.39 acres of agricultural land at Rampally Dayara village on the citys outskirts. The ACB sleuths took Srinath Yadav, real estate broker Kandadi Anji Reddy (40) from Keesara and also Rampally Dayara village revenue assistant Bongu Sairaj (32) into custody along with the tehsildar. The accused would be produced before the special judge for ACB cases, Hyderabad, a statement from the ACB director general said. According to the statement, Nagaraju demanded 2 crore as bribe from Srinath Yadav of Sri Satya Developers, Uppal to settle the land issue pertaining to 19.39 acres in Rampally Dayara village and process the file. Searches continued at Nagarajus residence till late in the night. Apart from the bribe amount, the authorities also seized unaccounted cash of 28 lakh, besides 8 lakh accounted cash, from his residence. This is the largest amount of cash ever seized by the ACB from any official in the state so far. It took more than five hours to count the cash that he had received as a bribe, an ACB official familiar with the development said. The ACB also confiscated several documents from the possession of Nagaraju pertaining to land details of a bank locker, besides about half a kilo of gold ornaments. Many immovable properties belonging to Nagaraju were identified. Further investigation of the case is in progress, the ACB statement said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- President Donald Trump told the New York Post during a recent interview that he will lower New Yorks high property taxes and make sure the city is a safe place, as he plans to invest in the state to take it back from the Democrats. Trump told the New York Post that the crime and high taxes can help him win his home state, which he lost in 2016 with 36% of the vote. Were going to put a very strong move in New York. Because upstate, Long Island, you know everything outside of the core, I get a vast majority of the votes. I think we have a tremendous shot. I think we have a very good shot. Now typically its not in play, but were going to put a strong move on New York. We may also do it in New Jersey, by the way, Trump said. The way to win New York is to win Staten Island and South Brooklyns congressional district, among other New York districts, Brian Jack, White House political director, told the Post. Trump told the Post that Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) is a fraud and Staten Islanders should not be represented by him; he said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore), the GOP candidate for the congressional seat, would do a great job. NEW YORK IS OFF LIMITS College of Staten Island Political Science Professor Richard Flanagan told the Advance/SILive.com its been many generations since New York state was red and doesnt believe it will happen. Flanagan said that early numbers continue to trend in the Democrats favor across the board. Trump is blowing smoke up everybody on that one; New York is just off limits, Flanagan said, adding that California is also a long shot. Malliotakis has strength at the top of the ticket because of Trump but said hes not sure it will be enough to carry her home. Rose is blowing her out of the water with money; the only thing shes got going for her is Trump, Flanagan said. In his interview with the Post, Trump seemed confident that Republicans would be able to pick up five seats and thats in addition to trying to win it. Im afraid the President is going to be disappointed, Rose told the Advance/SILive.com. ROSE, MALLIOTAKIS SAY THEYD WORK WITH TRUMP TO FIX SALT DEDUCTION Ill solve the crime problem. Ill solve their tax problem. Ill solve all their problems. Who would not vote for me? Trump told the Post. Were going to look into SALT, were going to look into crime, were going to look into all of the things and solve the problems of many problems that they have in New York, he continued. The Republican-passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 had capped the SALT deduction for federal taxes at $10,000 per household. Rose said he would absolutely work with Trump to repeal the SALT deduction cap that he put in place, so long as Trump is serious about his claim. He can start by demanding the Senate pass their version of the HEROES Act which included a repeal, Rose said. Malliotakis also said she would work with the president to fix SALT. The Assemblywoman supported the SALT tax bill and in an oped for the Advance/SILive.com, said that the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction limit is irrelevant. A spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo disputed Trumps claim about taxes in New York state to the Post: President Trump needs to stop lying. All income tax rates are lower today than when Governor Cuomo took office the only person who raised New York state taxes was Trump with SALT. During a call with members of the media, Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused Trump and Sec. Steven Mnuchin of lying about New Yorks taxes because its a political season. I lowered the tax rate for every New Yorker. Its a fact. Its a well-documented fact in this state. State income tax rates are down. Thats a fact ... So, its a lie on the taxes going up. And you can say, well thats a harsh word. Its not a mistake ... Theyre numbers. They didnt go up, Cuomo said. HELL FIGHT CRIME Trump said he believes the spike in crime in New York City can help him upset presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris. I will bring down taxes and Ill make sure that New York City is a safe place. I mean, this is one of our cherished this is a cherished diamond of this country. And we cant let this happen to New York, Trump said to the Post. Over the last six months whats happened is insane. Its insane. So were going to try very hard to win New York and that will be the first time is that since Ronald Reagan, I guess? Since Ronald Reagan, Trump said. Cuomo also commented on Trumps claims about the increase in crime in the five boroughs: The genesis of the crime, you can have a great debate about, but the Trump economy, Trump not providing COVID relief, George Floyds murder, Trumps response to the George Floyd murder, race relations stress, Trump there are good people on both sides, the Ku Klux Klan. So, I think Trump has some liability for the increase in the crime, Cuomo said. Flanagan said he thinks Trump will do worse than the 36% he did in 2016; a recent Sienna poll had Trump at 34%. He personally believes Trump will wind up with only 32% of the vote. New York state gets bluer and bluer by the day and New York City gets more of the vote, Flanagan said. People compartmentalize, though Biden and Bill de Blasio are in the same party theres no connection at all between the two; thats a complete non-starter, he said when asked about residents blaming Democrats for the spike in crime. However, Malliotakis said she sides with Trump. President Trump is right; New Yorkers are sick and disgusted by the far left policies that are fueling sky-rocketing crime and leading our city and state to the brink of financial collapse. New York needs to be turned around and voters understand that we need at least one Republican representing the city in Congress for balance. Unlike Max Rose, who goes along with the gang, I will push back against the far left policies of Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Bill de Blasio and work with our President to fix SALT and bring infrastructure funding home, Malliotakis said. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Sat, August 15, 2020 07:05 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2a260 2 Environment climate-change,climate-crisis,rhinoceros,study,environment,genetics,animals,Russia,Sweden Free A woolly brown rhinoceros that weighed two tons once roamed northeastern Siberia before mysteriously disappearing around 14,000 years ago. Was its demise caused by humans, or the warming climate of the time? A new study by a Swedish and Russian team of scientists who examined DNA fragments from the remains of 14 of these prehistoric mammals lets our species off the hook. They say the population of the animal -- also known by its scientific name Coelodonta antiquitatis -- remained stable for millennia as they lived alongside humans, before dropping sharply toward the end of the last ice age. "That makes it more likely that climatic changes that happened around 14,000 years ago are the primary driver of extinction, rather than humans," Love Dalen, a geneticist at Sweden's Centre for Palaeogenetics, told AFP. Dalen led the study that was published in the journal Current Biology on Thursday. How did they reach that conclusion from DNA strands taken from the remains of animals frozen in the soil for thousands of years? The size of a population of a species is proportional to its level of genetic diversity and the degree of inbreeding, said Dalen. The team were able to analyze the complete genome of one rhinoceros dating from 18,500 years ago. By comparing the chromosomes inherited from the mother and from the father, they determined inbreeding was low and diversity was high. Read also: One of world's 79 Javan rhinos caught enjoying mud bath in rare footage "One individual's genome is a mosaic of all its ancestors," explained Dalen. "18,000 years ago, that rhino belonged to a large population, and its ancestors must also have belonged to a large population" going back tens of thousands of years. From other animals they were able to harvest mitochondrial genomes -- which are passed down from the mother -- and from this could estimate the size of the female populations over time. Humans arrived in this part of Siberia 30,000 years ago. Though they hunted the rhinos, the animal's population remained steady for 12,000 more years until an abrupt period of warming known as the BollingAllerod. The same team previously published the genome of another megaherbivore, the woolly mammoth -- and believe this species likewise went extinct due to climate change, not human hunting. Their conclusions are still being debated among the scientific community. A key difference is that the mammoths went extinct twice: the ones on mainland Siberia disappeared around the same time as the rhinos, but a few hundred survived on Wrangel Island six millennia longer. Today, the closest living relative of the woolly rhino is the Sumatran rhino. Frequently poached and facing the destruction of their habitat, there are fewer than 80 left in existence. Here, no one can argue that humans are free of blame. SANTA MONICA, CA Longtime Santa Monica restaurant Enterprise Fish Co. will close its doors and leave the location after more than 41 years in the city. The restaurant is one of several businesses forced out of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County in the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The group will vacate 174 Kinney Street, near Neilson Way and also announced it will close its Santa Barbara location, The Santa Monica Mirror reports. Patch reached out to the company for more information. In March, the restaurant started fundraising to help support employees during the pandemic and has raised $2,668 so far. The goal is $15,000. Several other businesses have recently closed in Santa Monica and the Westside, including MUJI and Coffee Bean on nearby Main Street. Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know Don't miss updates about the coronavirus in California as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters. See more: This article originally appeared on the Santa Monica Patch , We're sorry, this article is not currently available The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have led the family tributes to Princess Anne on her 70th birthday today. Prince Charles, 71, sent the Princess Royal, who is thought to spending the day on a sailing trip around the west coast of Scotland with husband Sir Tim Laurence, birthday congratulations on his Instagram account. The heir to the throne shared a collection of images of the siblings over the years - capturing the pair horse riding together, and with their parents, the Queen, 94, and Duke of Edinburgh, 99, as youngsters. Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 38, also celebrated the milestone by posting a selection of photographs with the royal birthday girl to their social media page. Elsewhere, the Royal Family's Instagram account thanked fans for their warm wishes by sharing a portrait of Princess Anne taken by photographer John Swannell at Gatcombe Park in February. Anne's son-in-law Mike Tindall has already revealed Covid-19 and the recent spike of cases in Aberdeen have meant plans to mark the big day in Scotland have been scaled back. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have paid tribute to Princess Anne (pictured with Prince Charles) on her 70th birthday today The heir to the throne shared a collection of images of the siblings over the years - capturing the pair horse riding together, and with their parents, the Queen, 94, and Duke of Edinburgh, 99, as youngsters. Pictured is the post's caption Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 38, also celebrated the milestone by posting a selection of photographs with the royal birthday girl to their social media page. Pictured, Kate with Anne on the Buckingham Palace Balcony in July 2018 Princess Anne pictured with Prince William at a Buckingham Palace reception in January 2020. This is one of two images shared by the Duke of Cambridge to mark his Aunt's birthday The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also shared a birthday message for Anne, writing (above): 'Wishing a very happy 70th birthday to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal' Clarence House Instagram account, which is run on the behalf of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, posted a clip filled with throwback photographs. 'Wishing The Princess Royal a very happy 70th Birthday,' the post read. 'Lets take a look back at some family photos through the decades.' The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also shared a birthday message for Anne, writing: 'Wishing a very happy 70th birthday to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal,' on their Instagram post, which featured photographs of the couple with the royal. Meanwhile, the Queen's social media account thanked fans for their warm wishes and shared a portrait of Anne in a stunning white gown. 'Thank you for all the warm wishes on The Princess Royals 70th birthday today,' the caption read. 'This new photograph, released to mark HRHs birthday, was taken by John Swannell at Gatcombe Park.' The Princess Royal's 70th birthday was marked with the release of three official photographs to celebrate the milestone. Prince Charles (pictured following the birth of Anne with his parents on 9 January 1951), 71, sent the Princess Royal, who is thought to spending the day on a sailing trip around the west coast of Scotland with husband Sir Tim Laurence, birthday congratulations on his Instagram account Anne's son-in-law Mike Tindall has already revealed Covid-19 and the recent spike of cases in Aberdeen have meant plans to mark the big day in Scotland have been scaled back. Pictured, Charles and Anne as youngsters in 1960 at the Balmoral estate Prince Charles and Princess Anne appear alongside their mother the Queen in 2017 at Braemar Highland Gathering The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, after the Trooping the Colour ceremony held at Horse Guards Parade in 2000 Princess Anne is known for her no-nonsense approach to life and tenacious attitude, but in the images she is pictured smiling and looking relaxed at her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire before lockdown. Wearing a Maureen Baker evening dress, Sue Palmer bolero jacket and pearls, the Queen's only daughter looks stylish as she poses for celebrated photographer John Swannell and smiles broadly while sat in her golden leaf chair. Swannell has taken photographs of everyone from Diana, Princess of Wales and her sons and the Queen's official Diamond Jubilee portrait in 2012 to Tony Blair, Sir Michael Caine and Sir Elton John. In another picture the princess looks directly at the camera, with a hint of a smile on her lips, wearing a Sue Palmer emerald green dress and a gold ribbon knot brooch, set with 12 diamonds. The images were taken in late February a few weeks before the coronavirus lockdown, and in the final picture Anne is dressed more causally for the outdoor setting, where she poses under a tree and looks off into the distance. Elsewhere, the Royal Family's Instagram account (above) thanked fans for their warm wishes by sharing a portrait of Princess Anne taken by photographer John Swannell at Gatcombe Park in February Wearing a Maureen Baker, the Queen's only daughter looks stylish as she poses for celebrated photographer John Swannell and smiles broadly while sat in a chair Anne's son-in-law Mike Tindall has already revealed Covid-19 and the recent spike of cases in Aberdeen have meant plans to mark the day have been scaled back. The former England rugby star, who is married to Anne's daughter Zara, said alternative arrangements were being made. Speaking earlier this week on BBC's The One Show, Tindall said: 'We did have plans - it would've been up in Scotland - but obviously with Covid and Aberdeen being locked down a bit, I think everything's been scaled back a little bit. 'It's a shame. I'm sure we'll do something as a family to celebrate her 70 amazing years, she's just an incredible woman in terms of how much work she can get through in the year. 'We will be doing something, as yet I don't know whether she knows - so my lips are sealed.' The Princess Royal's 70th birthday was marked with the release of three official photographs to celebrate the milestone. In one image Anne is seen with a hint of a smile on her lips, wearing a Sue Palmer emerald green dress and a gold ribbon knot brooch, set with 12 diamonds The images were taken in late February a few weeks before the coronavirus lockdown, and in the final picture Anne is dressed more causally for the outdoor setting, where she poses under a tree and looks off into the distance It is thought Anne is on a sailing trip around the west coast of Scotland with husband Sir Tim Laurence. Despite the limitations of Covid-19, Anne's milestone has been marked by a TV documentary and she has also guest-edited Country Life magazine. In the ITV film, the princess suggested that social media is adding to the pressures already faced by younger members of the royal family, like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Anne was followed by film-makers for more than a year to make the programme, which featured unseen family footage and conversations with her children, Peter Phillips and Zara, and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Speaking about the younger members of the monarchy, she said: 'The pressure that is applied to the younger members of the family is always worse, because that's what the media is interested in and that's, you know, hard sometimes to deal with.' Her Majesty and the Princess Royal during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, Braemar on 1 September 2018 Anne also said she hoped her legacy would be the passing-on of her knowledge and experience. When she guest-edited Country Life, the princess paid tribute to her parents for instilling in her a lifelong love of nature. Anne also wrote about holding an HGV licence, how she hates fly-tipping, and sees herself when she writes about rural affairs as a 'classic Jack of all trades'. She wrote: 'I was equally fortunate that both my parents had a love and understanding of the natural world through their own experiences.' In the documentary to mark her birthday, her son was asked to sum her up and replied: 'Well, you know what, tenacious, I think, is a pretty good word to sum her up. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's only daughter is known for her no-nonsense approach and her work ethic. The princess was born at Clarence House on August 15 1950 and is a younger sister to the Prince of Wales. She survived a kidnap attempt in 1974 and represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games, alongside raising a family and supporting the Queen. Anne is involved with more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments, and regularly tops the leader board as the royal family member carrying out the most public engagements. NEW YORK The leader of a cult-like self-improvement group in upstate New York who was convicted last year on charges that he turned some of his followers into sex slaves will face sentencing on Oct. 27, a judge said Friday. In a conference call, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis told lawyers for Keith Raniere he was making arrangements for the jailed Raniere to be sentenced in person at a federal court in Brooklyn and for his victims to speak to the court if they want. We need to figure out how to configure the courtroom to make sure everyone is safe in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the judge said. At trial, prosecutors told jurors that the 59-year-old Ranieres organization, NXIVM pronounced NEHK-see-uhm operated like a cult that won him the devotion of a wealthy heiress and Hollywood actresses. His adherents included actress Allison Mack of TVs Smallville; an heiress to the Seagrams liquor fortune, Clare Bronfman; and a daughter of TV star Catherine Oxenberg of Dynasty fame. Prosecutors said he formed a secret subgroup comprised of brainwashed female slaves who were branded with his initials and forced to have sex with him. Raniere is facing 15 years to life in prison. Two men from Maharashtra were on Friday arrested at Nizamuddin railway station for allegedly carrying fake TTE (train ticket examiner) identity cards. Police said the two were caught as they were going to board a train to Amritsar, adding that the two men were using the fake ID cards to get free rides inside trains. Police identified the two as Martand Rubab Kamble, 21, from Sangli in Maharashtra and his associate as Omkar Bairagi Waghmode, 20, from Raigarh, Maharashtra. Deputy commissioner of police (railways) Harendra Kumar said the security at the railway stations in capital had been tightened because of Independence Day. Tickets and IDs of passengers were being checked at main hall entry gate of Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Our staff spotted two suspicious men who were stopped for checking. When asked for their identity cards, the duo introduced themselves as railway staff and said they have to board Golden Temple Express train, Kumar said. The DCP said, the policemen posted at the entry gate, however, found the two men suspicious. The two men were asked to produce their government ID cards and when their ID cards were minutely examined it was found to be fake, he said. During interrogation, the DCP said, Martand Rubab said he used to earlier work with a railway vendor in a cyber cafe. He was aware of the railway operations and how he could disguise as railway employee and travel far of destinations. He then made a fake railway employee ID and started travelling for free. The two then sold items inside the train. He then also roped in his cousin Omkar and using fake IDs started travelling in trains. We are probing of they used their identity cards for any other illegal activities, Kumar said. I spent decades proudly serving in Army intelligence. Our job was to collect data and analyze it in order to inform decision-making and to find solutions to whatever challenges we faced. Now, facing a national childhood obesity crisis, the data tells us that modernizing and improving our nations school and summer meals programs has never been more importantespecially in the midst of COVID-19. As our state and our nation persevere in the face of the pandemic, this health emergency has been a sometimes-painful reminder of the fragility of some of the most fundamental elements of our society. Theres nothing more fundamental than the need to eat healthy food on a regular basis. Yet, that was a problem faced squarely by our nations young people even before the adoption of pandemic-related restrictions. Now, with schools out indefinitely, another obstacle stands between our children and their ability to access nutritious, healthy food, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. That concerns me as a citizen, but it also troubles me as a retired general and a member of the military-leader group Mission: Readiness. Thats because obesity is currently the top medical disqualifier that prevents potential recruits from joining the armed forces. Overall, 71 percent of recruiting-aged young people are ineligible for military service, which has a potentially damaging impact on our long-term national security. Mission: Readiness has been sounding this alarm for more than 10 years. A recent research report from Mission: Readiness underscores this point. The report, entitled Bridging the Summer Meals Gap" illustrates the crucial importance of Congress adding funding for school and summer meal programs, adapting meals to incorporate available foods to serve balanced, nutritious meals, and supporting innovation to expand options for meal service to reach more kids. All of these are powerful tools in the fight against childhood obesity. These tools are so important because children all-too-frequently find themselves living in food deserts (areas where affordable, healthy food is scarce) and food swamps (areas where cheap, nutrition-poor food sold at places like convenience stores is plentiful). Lacking reliable, affordable access to healthy foods can create food insecurity in these children. Food insecurity is a form of malnutrition that comes from lacking consistent access to healthy foods. Malnutrition, including malnutrition that manifests as obesity, stops people from living productive lives, including preventing them from serving in the military if they so choose. Programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) help children get the balanced, nutritious meals they need to prevent malnutrition. If we modernize and invest in this program, we can help put more children on track to achieve their potential in whatever path they choose. Here in Arizona, state, local, and private nonprofit partners are already working together to improve summer meals through innovation. The Arizona Department of Education created the upLIFT Program to provide information and resources to school nutrition professionals about how and what to feed students who participate in school meals programs. This includes guidance to help schools offer meals that are more appealing visually and include ingredients that are familiar to kids, making it more likely for students to consume these more nutritious, balanced meals. My hope is that Congress can help build on our states success, and replicate it in other states, by prioritizing and increasing funding for technical assistance provided by the USDA to summer meal preparers. Adding more funding for technical support and training meal preparers will help ensure that kids in Arizona and across the country can access balanced, nutritious meals through the duration of COVID-19, as well as in future summers. To improve the health of our children in the short- and long-term, and to help strengthen national security, investments in and modernization of programs like SFSP will be absolutely critical. Lieutenant General (Ret.) Richard Zahner, U.S. Army, is a member of Mission: Readiness and lives just outside Flagstaff. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Los Angeles Actor Nicholas Braun, who plays fan favorite Cousin Greg on HBO's "Succession," has captured the fraught nature of dating during the pandemic in a catchy new punk song that started as a joke. "If you come within 6 feet, it's mask on, mask on, mask on, mask on. But if you have antibodies, it's pants off, pants off, pants off, pants off," Braun sings. "Do you have the antibodies, do you want to be with me? Do you have the antibodies, cuz if you don't, then stay away!" "Antibodies" quickly caught the ear of Atlantic Records, which released the single and a music video last week. The video shot on Braun's iPhone went (appropriately) viral and drew praise from recording artist Sia, who said she was "in love." "Variety" dubbed the jam "an earworm" that "makes you smile." And rock band Bastille observed: "Cousin Greg came to save music." "I've gotten tons of good texts from people and musicians that I really revere who are like, 'Antibodies' is good, man,'" Braun said recently from his home in New York. "It's been an awesome creative experience for me." Though the song is funny, it was born of stress from the pandemic. Braun's 81-year-old father got COVID-19 in March. One of his "Succession" co-stars, Mark Blum, died of the coronavirus that same month, and a hair stylist with whom Braun had worked died of the virus in April. Braun's father has since recovered. "I know some people haven't had somebody in their life pass from it," Braun said. "But for me, I've now had a few moments where this thing is just really real." Braun, who was stuck in Los Angeles while his father battled the virus, also was inspired by loneliness. "I was just feeling like, 'God, it'd be great to go on a date with somebody and just have a little human contact,'" he said. "And I was talking to a girl and we were not sure if we should. And it just felt like, at the time, it was like, antibodies. Antibodies means you got through it. And, you know, my dad had his antibodies and it's like, we're safe! Right?" That girl, an artist named Camilla Engstrom, not only dated Braun while he was in Los Angeles but appears in the "Antibodies" video, immortalizing the pair's brief but special quarantine romance. "Our first three dates, I don't think we hugged and didn't even take our masks down," Braun said. "So the third date, at the end of it, at the end of our walk, I was like, 'Do you think we should hug?' She's like, 'Yeah, we should hug.' And I was like, 'All right!'" That one hug meant so much, Braun said. "I feel like most people who are being responsible with this are not hugging a lot," he said. "I think we're deprived from that contact. So, yeah, we had a really good time, and it was a good quarantine thing that happened." "Antibodies" raises money to benefit Partners in Health, which brings health care to the vulnerable populations around the world, and Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment, which helps people living with chronic diseases on the poverty-stricken Navajo Nation. On top of "Antibodies," Braun's other big news has been his surprise Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a drama for "Succession." "I expected other actors in my show to get nominations," he said. "So I was like, 'OK. Like, I'm rooting for my team.' But I wasn't really rooting for myself per se. It's hard to believe in that thing until it happens." He was actually in the middle of congratulating co-star Jeremy Strong on his nomination when Braun's team called to tell him about his. "I've been acting since I was 6, so something I've thought about my whole life is how cool it would be to be nominated in any acting thing," Braun said. "It was one of those benchmark moments where you're like, 'Oh my God. This actually happened.'" "Succession" got a whopping 18 Emmy nominations overall, including best series, best actor for Brian Cox and Strong, and best supporting actress for Sarah Snook. Braun will be competing for best supporting actor with co-stars Kieran Culkin and Michael Macfadyen. The awards will be held virtually on Sept. 20. Fans of the show have been hoping for any news about the third season but it hasn't yet started shooting given the pandemic. Braun said he knows the show's producers are "trying to figure out how to shoot us safely and to create whatever the new set is of 2020." "I'm really hoping it's soon and we can start reading scripts and seeing where things go," he said. "We all are willing to do what it takes to get back to work and keep the story going." Meanwhile Braun is basking in the glow of "Antibodies." "It's such a crazy time in the world," he said. "I only want to do stuff that's fun and creative and that people are enjoying. And so that's what this has been." Vatican City: Pope Francis called for dialogue between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on Saturday, urging them not to let a dispute over a dam on the Nile lead to conflict. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is being built some 15 km (9 miles) from Ethiopia`s border with Sudan, has become a major source of discord between the three countries. "I invite all parties involved to continue on the path of dialogue so that the eternal river will continue to be a source of life, which unites and does not divide, which nurtures friendship, prosperity and fraternity and not enmity, misunderstanding and conflict," the pontiff said. He was giving his Angelus message for Assumption Day, the most important Catholic feast dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Egypt, which fears the dam project could lead to water shortages upstream, has threatened to withdraw from the latest round of discussions. Sudan is concerned about the dam`s safety. Aged care residents are living in squalid conditions at some coronavirus-hit care homes because nurses are too overstretched to look after them properly. A disturbing photo obtained by The Guardian shows ants crawling all over a 95-year-old woman's leg wound at a care home in Melbourne. The woman, Milka, is seen wearing a bandage that's coated in blood. She died on Friday from an illness unrelated to coronavirus. Aged care residents are living in squalid conditions at some coronavirus-hit care homes because nurses are too overstretched to look after them properly (file picture) The photos were taken on Tuesday at the home that was at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak a few weeks ago. Milka's family don't blame staff at care home and say they are simply too overstretched by the virus to provide proper care. Several members of staff fell ill when coronavirus hit the care home at the end of July and no one could come in to replace them. Workers told The Guardian that some residents were going without food and water for as long as 18 hours and that rooms were not clean. Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said the images were 'heartbreaking and absolutely unacceptable'. Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week apologised about the outbreak of coronavirus in aged care homes. 'The sad truth is, some days, we fall short. And other days, we don't,' Mr Morrison said on Friday. The majority of Victoria's coronavirus deaths have been aged care residents. A man who was told he wouldn't live past his mid-teens has defied all odds and married his former carer in a beautiful wedding ceremony. Brenton Smith from Campbelltown, south-west of Sydney, was only two when he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a condition which causes muscles to deteriorate leading to difficulty with walking and mobility. Despite suffering serious medical problems his entire life, Brenton, 26 married the love of his life Chrissie, 37, on Wednesday in a stunning wedding ceremony in front of close family and friends. Chrissie was first to arrive and was forced to wait for Brenton who was 20 minutes late to his own wedding because he wanted to do burnouts with friends. Brenton, 26 married the love of his life Chrissie, 37, on Wednesday in a stunning wedding ceremony in front of close family and friends The adorable couple were married on Wednesday after meeting in 2018 when Chrissie was employed to care for Brenton Brenton and Chrissie were married in an intimate ceremony on Wednesday in front of family and friends Brenton was 20 minutes late to his wedding because he wanted to go out with his friends (pictured) and do burnouts The pair met in 2018 when Chrissie was employed to care for Brenton who is unable to eat, dress and shower by himself. They saw each other again at the beginning of last year and 'hit it off' before eventually falling in love. 'They became one and now theyre married,' Brenton's excited mother Kylie told Daily Mail Australia. 'She accepted Brenton the way he is and Brenton just fell over head over heels with her and so did she.' Kylie, a single mother-of-four, explained she was a bit 'stand offish' toward Chrissie when they first met because she was 'protective of Brenton'. Kylie, Brenton's mother (pictured), was excited to see her son get married on Wednesday 'They became one and now theyre married,' Brenton's excited mother Kylie told Daily Mail Australia (pictured: Chrissie and Brenton) The loved-up couple holding up their marriage certificate after a stunning wedding ceremony 'I saw how beautiful and fantastic she was with him and how he was with her,' she recalled. 'She does everything for Brenton, no carers go to him, and she does everything feed him, take him to the toilet, dress him, turn him around at night.' Chrissie has acknowledged that it is hard work caring for Brenton but refuses to bring in carers telling Kylie: 'Hes my husband and I love him. I dont want any carers.' Brenton's heartbreaking diagnosis came when he was just two after Kylie noticed that he 'wasn't walking like other children'. 'He couldnt climb stairs really well, he was waddling and always falling over,' Kylie said. 'I didn't think it was normal.' Brenton's heartbreaking diagnosis came when he was just two years old after Kylie (left) noticed that he 'wasn't walking like other children' The couple got married on Wednesday in front of their closest family and friends She took him to Westmead Childrens Hospital where he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The family had a scare when Brenton was hospitalised at the Royal North Shore seven years ago due to a severe illness. 'He was intubated three times because he was really sick, I saw them revive him once and it was traumatic,' Kylie said. 'They also placed a defibrillator in his chest for his heart which saved helped save him.' Kylie and her son Brenton 'Everyone is drawn to Brenton, everyone loves him, strangers come up to him, hes just a beautiful soul, youll never meet anyone like Brenton,' Kylie said (Brenton and Chrissie pictured) Brenton remained in intensive care for four months and doctors told his mum that he would need a tracheostomy, an opening in the neck to help him breathe, or risk him dying if he were to be intubated again. 'He was only 19 and said "please mum dont let me do it",' Kylie explained. 'I told him it was his choice and he decided against it and he hasn't been sick like that in eight years. Ill forever be thankful for the staff at Royal North Shore. 'Everyone is drawn to Brenton, everyone loves him, strangers come up to him, hes just a beautiful soul, youll never meet anyone like Brenton.' [Read more on whats happening in Belarus: protests, police and government.] For a quarter of a century now, Aleksandr Lukashenko has been offering a master class in dictatorship in Belarus, the country he runs with an iron hand. But after the blatantly rigged election of Aug. 9, the next lesson should be in how dictatorships are brought to an end. The son of a milkmaid and chairman of a Soviet state farm when the Soviet Union collapsed, Mr. Lukashenko was catapulted to power in Belaruss first democratic presidential election. He then made sure it was the last free and fair one reshaping the old Soviet K.G.B. security apparatus into a personal machine for crushing any opposition, bringing the parliament, judiciary and media under his firm control and earning the dubious title, Europes last dictator. With generous support from Russia, largely in the form of gas and oil at privileged prices, to make sure that he did not turn westward, Mr. Lukashenko managed to retain a measure of popular support by avoiding the chaotic, large-scale privatizations that afflicted Russia and most other former Soviet republics and keeping key industries and their jobs and patronage in government hands. Yet well before the latest election, Mr. Lukashenkos sixth, things were not looking good. His silly and incompetent response to the coronavirus pandemic, which included urging his subjects to ride tractors, take saunas and drink vodka, alienated many people as the disease spread and the economy shrank. His usual tactics jailing or disqualifying any serious challengers backfired when Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a former English teacher and the wife of a popular pro-democracy blogger arrested after he declared his candidacy, took her husbands place. Her entire platform, appealing in its passion and simplicity, consisted of pledges to release all political prisoners and hold free and fair elections. Her rallies drew massive crowds, and on Election Day, long lines formed at polling stations. NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Thursday remanded in 11-day judicial custody an official of a private bank and another person in a case of alleged irregularities related to conversion of old currency and supply of new notes. Additional Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav sent 32-year-old Vineet Gupta, now suspended Branch Manager in Axis Banks Kashmere Gate branch here, and Rajeev Kumar Kushwaha, alleged to be the mastermind behind floating of shell companies, to judicial custody till December 26. The two accused were produced in the court on expiry of their Enforcement Directorates (ED) custody. During the hearing, EDs special public prosecutor Vikas Garg pleaded that the two accused be sent to judicial custody as the investigation in the case was at a crucial stage. The third arrested accused, 33-year-old Shobit Sinha, now suspended manager(operations) in the bank, is also in judicial custody till December 26. The prosecutor had earlier claimed in court that Gupta was not cooperating in the probe and was frustrating the proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case. Gupta and Sinha were arrested by ED on December 4 and they were later on suspended by the bank. ED had earlier told the court that the two officials, in connivance with others, were indulging in illegally changing demonetised currency into new notes. ED claimed that the probe has so far revealed that Rs 40 crore worth of currency and several companies were involved in the case. It had said a gold brick worth Rs 39 lakh has been recovered from Sinha while another is yet to be recovered. It had claimed that Kushwaha used the identity documents of various persons to form shell companies through which cash deposits worth Rs 39 crore were made between November 10 and November 22 in close connivance with the two bank managers. The prosecutor had said the two bank officials were taking one per cent commission against the total amount of money deposited. They agreed to accept the commission in the form of gold bar which was worth Rs 39 lakh, he had said. Axis Bank had said in a statement, The bank is committed to following the highest standards of corporate governance and has zero tolerance towards any deviation on the part of any of its employees from the set model code of conduct. In this particular case, the bank has suspended the erring employee and is cooperating with the investigating agencies. A number of bank accounts of various people and traders are under the scanner of the agency in the case, ED had said. ED had lodged a criminal complaint against the two bankers and others based on a Delhi Police FIR after three persons were intercepted with Rs 3.7 crore cash in old currency a few days ago in front of the banks Kashmere Gate branch. The Income Tax department too had surveyed the bank branch and searched the residential premises of the two. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A major Melbourne hospital is offering casual private security guard roles as part of its hotel quarantine program amid controversial debate about flaws in Victorias hotel quarantine system. Services giant Spotless advertised the positions on the Sidekicker platform as recently as Thursday seeking casual security guards to work 12-hour shifts in hospital and hotel settings for the Alfred Hospital. The job advertisement states the jobs are available from July 20 until September 30. Credit:Getty Images The advertised jobs - which involves checking through packages arriving at hotels - come as the governments handling of the hotel quarantine regime is set to come under intense scrutiny next week at an inquiry headed by retired judge Jennifer Coate. The job advertisement, which called specifically for security guards, stated the roles for varied tasks are available from July 20 until September 30, with applicants expected to hold a security licence and be able to work 12-hour shifts across a seven-day rotating roster. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 74th Independence Day at the majestic Red Fort here on Saturday. He will unfurl the national flag and deliver his seventh consecutive I-Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. According to reports, PM Modi will arrive at Rajghat at 7:00 am. At 7:14, he will leave from Rajghat and will reach Red Fort at 7:18 am. On his arrival in front of Lahore Gate of Red Fort at 7:25 am, the Prime Minister will receive ceremonial welcome by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar. After the Prime Minister reaches the saluting base, a combined inter-services and police guards will present general salute to him. He will then inspect the Guard of Honour and proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort. The GoC Delhi area will conduct the Prime Minister to the dais on the rampart to unfurl the National Flag. As the flag is unfurled, the National Guard will give `Rashtriya Salute` to the National Flag. The Army Grenadiers Regimental Centre Military Band will play the National Anthem during unfurling of the National Flag and the 'Rashritya Salute'. A Defence Ministry release said that all service personnel in uniform will stand and salute. The band will be commanded by Subedar Major Abdul Gani. Major Shweta Pandey will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling the National Flag. The unfurling of the tri-colour will synchronise with a 21-gun salute fired by the gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (ceremonial). The Rashtriya Salute during unfurling of national flag will be given by National Flag Guard comprising 32 men and one officer each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police.The National Cadet Corps cadets will sing the National Anthem after Prime Minister's speech. The release said that 500 NCC cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) from different schools will take part in the event.The Guard of Honour contingent for the Prime Minister will consist of one officer and 24 men each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police. The Guard of Honour will be positioned directly in front of the National Flag across the moat below the ramparts. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria will be among those present on the occasion. Washington: US President Donald Trump attacked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, saying 'no one will be safe in Biden's America" adding that the California Senator is a 'step worse'. "If Joe Biden would become the President, he will immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in American and probably Kamala (Harris) is a step worse. She is of Indian heritage. I have more Indians than she has," said Trump while speaking to members of the City of New York Police Benevolent Association. The president, in his speech, took a sharp aim at Harris as being hostile to police, and suggested that she and Biden were at the center of "a left-wing war on cops." "This guy has been taking your dignity away and your respect... No one will be safe in Biden`s America," Trump said of former Vice President Joe Biden. "And I`m telling you on Nov. 3 you`re going to be getting it back." In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly asserted that Biden supports defunding the police, Fox News reported. On Friday, President Trump's reelection campaign was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYCPBA) on Friday. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who also spoke at the NYCPBA meeting on Friday, attacked the prosecutorial record of Kamala Harris. Giuliani said that when Harris was California's Attorney General, "she prosecuted little people but she wouldn't prosecute big people." A gathering at the home of local poet Francis Ledwidge on the 104rd anniversary of his death It is said that it was a fellow worker of Francis Ledwidge that inspired the Slane man to get his first poem published. It was on January 29, 1910 that the Drogheda Independent proudly printed a wonderful piece of writing by a 23-year-old labourer from Janeville. The poem was called 'I Hear Her in the Distance' - A Song of Spring - and the lines seemed to flow, like the Boyne, across the old page, 'I hear her in the distance, but my heart is strangely sad, She comes not to me with days that long have flown, But to weaken recollections of the days when I was glad, With a heart as light as thistle down upon the breezes blown...' Seven years later, in the summer of 1917, Francis was part of the British Army, fighting in Europe, when a shell exploded close to where he stood near Ieper in Belgium. He died instantly and the Blackbird of Slane fell silent. But each year, on the anniversary of his death, those that seek to keep his name alive, gather at his homestead in Slane - now a wonderful museum - and recall the works of the warrior poet. On July 31 last, amidst the COVID-19 war that we are all fighting - his poems came to life again, and 'All the dead kings came to me At Rosnaree, where I was dreaming, A few stars glimmered through the morn, And down the thorn the dews were streaming.....And every dead king had a story, Of ancient glory, sweetly told. It was too early for the lark, But the starry dark had tints of gold,' was heard in his native soil. Jimmy McComiskey laid a wreath to honour Ledwidge and to mark the 103th anniversary of his death at the Third Battle of Ieper. The biggest tribute that exists to Ledwidge and his life and times is the little cottage as you enter Slane village from the Drogheda Road. It is - as the committee that run it state - the perfect example of a 19th century farm labourer's cottage and was purchased and restored by the Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee in 1981. Dr Benedict Kiely opened it as a museum in June 1982. It houses the poet's works and artefacts from World War I, alongside memorabilia of the period. Its exhibition portrays the poet's life in picture and text from his birth in the cottage to his death. The committee that operate it and strive to keep Ledwidge's name to the forefront in Irish and world literature, say that their goal is a simple one, 'To promote an appreciation for the writings and poetry of Francis Ledwidge to as wide an audience as possible and to protect the name, birthplace and memory of Ledwidge for future generations.' They are always seeking to recruit new committee members and the more diverse the skills, backgrounds and opinions, the better. To become a committee member, phone or e-mail the museum, Tel: 041 9824544 or www.francisledwidge.com. Comforting Quilts Stitching for survivors of domestic abuse by Maggie McMillin Published in August, 2020 In 1989, members of the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild (GAAQG) voted to donate profits from their quilt sales to SafeHouse Center. According to the group's website, they were inspired by a member's report said "that in Washtenaw County, there were more services for abused animals than for women who had been assaulted." They've been sending money (and quilts) ever since. The guild's lifetime financial contributions now exceed $76,000. "Prior to the Covid pandemic, we sold quilt raffle tickets and held fundraising events to raise money for SafeHouse and the quilt guild, such as our popular annual Fabric Sale and Garage Sale events," says GAAQG president Susan Schwandt. This year their biennial quilt show moves online, with 175 member-made quilts on display. From intricate florals to bold geometric patterns to quilts that incorporate nostalgic t-shirts, "there's something for everyone," says Schwandt. "Normally we charge an admission fee. This year we ask that viewers make that $10 donation directly to SafeHouse Center." The show features wall and bed quilts, art quilts such as a gallery inspired by Claude Monet's painting "Water Lilies 1916," and upcycled pieces. A special "SafeHouse Quilts for Sale" gallery includes more than 60 quilts; all are at least 60 x 80 inches and available to purchase for $250. Proceeds benefit SafeHouse Center, and unsold quilts will go to SafeHouse residents. "When the pandemic first hit, it got eerily quiet for us." Says SafeHouse development director Deborah Kern. "We realized that survivors were being isolated in their homes and it was harder for them to reach out because of that. When things began to reopen, the phones started to ring." The shelter remained open throughout the pandemic, providing emergency shelter in hotel rooms when social distancing guidelines curbed capacity at its main facilities. One-on-one counseling and drop-in groups continue both virtually and in-person: these include ESL groups, an LGBTQ+ group, and a men's group. SafeHouse staffs a 24/7 helpline, helps survivors obtain ...continued below... personal protection orders, and provides courtroom advocates, rent assistance, and more. "We're trying to serve a large and diverse population because we know that survivors come from all walks of life," says Kern.Anyone in need of help can call the center's helpline at 734-995-5444. All services are confidential and free, made possible in part by donations from groups like the quilt guild.The hundreds of quilts donated by the quilt guild each year mean that all survivors who stay at SafeHouse get their own quilt. "It provides comfort when you've been through trauma," says Kern. Quilters, too, have found comfort in the project. In the midst of the pandemic, Schwandt says, "it's wonderful and therapeutic for our members to focus their minds on helping the community."Schwandt hopes that quilts "remind domestic violence survivors that there are people out there who care. "And Kern believes that they do: "People will tell us years later, 'I still have my quilt.'" [Originally published in August, 2020.] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar Sat, August 15, 2020 16:56 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e4f356 1 National South-Sulawesi,Selayar-Islands,sexual-harrasment,sexual-abuse,verbal-abuse,police,Polwan,female-police-officers Free The South Sulawesi Police have carried out their legal proceedings against the head of the Selayar Islands Polices criminal investigation unit for allegedly harassing three female police officers who are his subordinates. The harassment was not physical but verbal through improper words. It offended the dignity and honor of the victims and, therefore, the perpetrator must undergo the legal and ethical process, South Sulawesi Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ibrahim Tompo told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. The case came to light after three female police officers reported the officer, identified only as First Insp. AM, 47, for sexual harassment in July. At first, one female police officer mentioned the harassment to her fellow female officers. It turned out that she was not the only victim. Two other female officers were harassed in 2017 and 2020, Ibrahim said. Read also: Mataram University lecturer suspended over report of alleged sexual harassment The three women then reported the case to their superior, who opened an investigation against AM. During a preliminary investigation in which the three women and six witnesses were questioned, Selayar Islands Police chief Sr. Comr. Temmangnganro Machmud decided to remove AM from his post. Ibrahim said Temmangnganro initially tried to mediate the case, but after the three victims insisted on taking the case to court, the South Sulawesi Police agreed to begin the legal process. The South Sulawesi Polices criminal investigation unit handled the case while the internal affairs division handled the alleged ethical violations. The investigation was still ongoing, Ibrahim said. The perpetrator claimed that he was only joking, but for the victims what he did was harassment, he added. The three women have continued their duties at the Selayar Islands Police while getting assistance for trauma healing. Besides the sexual harassment case, the Selayar Police had also named AM a suspect in an illegal logging case. (aly) Courtesy of Indeed Not all successful tech companies have their origin stories born out of Silicon Valley or Seattle. In this episode of our C-suite leadership series, Comparably co-founder/CEO Jason Nazar sits down for a virtual fireside chat with Chris Hyams, CEO of Indeed. Hear about how this Austin, Texas-based tech startup broke the mold 15 years ago to become the No. 1 job search site in the world. More than 250 million people each month search for millions of jobs in over 60 countries and 28 languages, post resumes, and research companies on Indeed, and the site delivers three times more hires than any other job site. With 9,500 global employees, including 5,000 in the Austin area, it has also been credited with helping to build the city's burgeoning tech scene. The conversation will center around practical "If I Knew Then..." leadership advice, personal life philosophies, guiding principles, and the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs in today's landscape. Other topics that will be covered include: Evidence of possibly the oldest forms of life on Earth have been found in hot water vents on the ocean floor As you read this, NASA's latest space mission is winging its way to Mars where the rover Perseverance will search for evidence of life. When life on Earth is mentioned, we tend to think of our own species and other large life forms that are around today, but for most of our planet's long evolutionary history the life forms that dominated were various microscopic, or near microscopic, ones that, though very different from each other, are generally lumped together under the umbrella term 'microbes'. Microbes are amazingly successful in that they have evolved to occupy virtually all available environmental niches. They are found living in sea ice and permafrost in polar regions, in acid lakes in volcanoes, in boiling water in hot springs, in bone-dry sand in the most arid deserts, in sediments in the deepest ocean trenches and in highly concentrated salt lakes. Some microbes push things to the limit by surviving in such extremely toxic and hazardous man-made conditions as the waste from both chemical mines and nuclear power stations. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that microbes can tolerate such extreme conditions as they have been found in space. In the quest to understand the origin of life on Earth and advance our understanding of the potential for life elsewhere, it appears likely that microbes in space could well be seeding planetary and other celestial bodies and thriving wherever they happen to fall on fertile ground. The presence of liquid water on Earth and oxygen in the atmosphere are believed to be the key drivers that shaped the emergence and evolution of advanced life on our planet together with the fact that our particular distance from the Sun provides a constant source of energy to power the chemical reactions that maintain life. Whether or not other planetary bodies that we know of could, or did, support life is unclear. Further study of the extreme limits that microbes can tolerate on Earth will inform the exploration of space and narrow down possible places where extra-terrestrial life may exist. At present the leading contenders that are the focus of attention in the quest for extra-terrestrial life are threefold: Mars, Enceladus (one of the moons of Saturn), and Europa (one of the moons of Jupiter). Thousands of demonstrators in Belarus gathered on Saturday at the spot in the capital where a protester died in clashes with police, calling for President Alexander Lukashenko to resign after 26 years in power. It was the seventh consecutive day of large protests against the results of the August 9 presidential election in which election officials say Lukashenko won a sixth term in office. Despite harsh police action against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, the demonstrations have swelled into the largest and most sustained protest wave since Lukashenko took power in 1994. Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the protests in a call on Saturday, the first publicly known direct contact between the two leaders since the election. It is important that these problems are not used by destructive forces aimed at causing injury to the cooperation of the two countries in the framework of the union state, the Kremlin said. Russia and Belarus reached an agreement in 1997 about closer ties between the neighbouring ex-Soviet countries in a union stopping short of a full merger, although that has collided with recent disputes between the countries and Luksashenkos suspicions that Putins government wants to absorb Belarus. A funeral was held on Saturday for Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died on Monday in the capital of Minsk under disputed circumstances. Belarusian police said he died when an explosive device he intended to throw at police blew up in his hand. But his partner, Elena German, said that when she saw his body in a morgue on Friday, his hands showed no damage and he had a perforation in his chest that she believes is a bullet wound. About 5,000 demonstrators gathered on Saturday in the area where Taraikovsky died. There were no immediate reports of detentions. If youre trying to make sense of the current climate for Big Tech, then Dan Cooper has some advice: look to the past. Specifically, hes ready to rehash Microsofts antitrust battle over Internet Explorer in the late 90s, and infer what that means for companies in the governments crosshairs now. -- Richard The Engadget Podcast All about the Surface Duo and Galaxy Watch 3. Engadget Cherlynn and Devindra discuss why Microsofts Surface Duo is such a compelling product and spell out some concerns that could hold it back. How can Microsoft justify the controversial price tag and is the software any better than previous efforts? Our hosts also take a deeper look at Cherlynns experience reviewing the Galaxy Watch 3 and provide updates on some Intel and Avatar news that came out this week. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or Stitcher. Continue reading. This week's best deals: Amazon Fire tablets, Apple MacBook Pro and more Plus a $200 bundle for the Echo Studio + Echo Show 5. Engadget A bunch of the newest laptops, tablets and other gadgets are discounted this week. Amazon slashed the prices of its latest Fire tablets to all-time lows and you can still grab a few of Apples latest MacBook Pros while theyre hundreds of dollars off. Here are all the best deals from the week that you can still snag today, and follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for more updates. Continue reading. Watch Roger Federer play himself in an AI-generated Wimbledon match Sega CD-style FMV is back. Haotian Zhang and Cristobal Sciutto and Maneesh Agrawala and Kayvon Fatahalian Researchers from Stanford University simulated Wimbledon with the help of artificial intelligence. They trained their Vid2Player AI using a database of annotated footage, and it created controllable video sprites that match the real players tendencies. Continue reading. Galaxy Watch 3 review: The best non-Apple smartwatch Tizen OS gets it done again. Engadget Cherlynn Low makes it simple for you: Its battery life could be longer and software could be smoother, but even without upcoming features like ECG, the Galaxy Watch 3 is an excellent smartwatch for Android users. Continue reading. But wait, theres more... USPS appears to be retiring vital machines ahead of mail-in ballot surge How QAnon went mainstream Trump orders TikTok owner to sell its US business Facebook is the latest tech giant to blast Apple's 'App Store tax' NVIDIA is teasing something big for August 31st Amazon may turn dying JC Penney and Sears stores into warehouses Engadget Upscaled: Will QLC SSDs make hard drives extinct? EA is rebranding Origin and Access subscriptions as EA Play Xiaomi unveils a ridiculous see-through TV A 'GoldenEye 007' fan remake is dead after a cease and desist demand Apple is reportedly planning 'Apple One' subscription bundles TCL's 6-series 4K 120Hz TVs pack mini-LEDs and start at $650 In a televised announcement Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said Friday he was extending the quarantine due to the coronavirus until August 30 for the city of Buenos Aires. In addition, he said several of the country's provinces must return to phase one because of the increase in infections and deaths in those areas. Fernandez said the country was "far from solving the problem." Buenos Aires and the surrounding towns continue to register the majority of infections, but the spread of the virus has increased in other places, such as the provinces of Jujuy and Mendoza. Despite nearly five months of strict limits on movement and activities in the country, the number of new coronavirus cases is surging, prompting some specialists to question the government strategy. With more than 260,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, Argentina is among the top 10 countries contributing the most new cases to the global tally since July 22, according to Johns Hopkins data. The health crisis has taken on an increasingly political tinge, as the government blames the surge on lockdown breaches and the opposition says basic freedoms are in peril. Latin American countries account for some of the highest confirmed case numbers and death tolls, as the pandemic continues to sweep the region. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris are the focus of the party's nominating convention August 17-20, 2020, but they will not be there in person, as the event is being held online due to coronavirus concerns US Democrats kick off an unprecedented political experiment beginning Monday, an all-virtual national convention that nominates Joe Biden as their White House candidate to battle Donald Trump in the heat of a deadly pandemic. With his vice presidential pick Kamala Harris, the first woman of color on a major US presidential ticket, Biden is campaigning to unify a nation ravaged by political and racial turmoil, voter suppression concerns and profound anxiety over the devastating coronavirus crisis. But the running mates will deliver their message, aiming to inspire the Democratic base while luring frustrated Republicans, under unique circumstances: a four-day Democratic National Convention conducted entirely online. No huzzahs, backroom dealings or balloon drops on ecstatic crowds and candidates, hallmark elements of US political conventions. Instead, organizers are retooling to conduct business online, like drafting the party platform and coordinating scores of presentations and speeches from mid-day Monday. Wednesday evening will spotlight Harris, a 55-year-old US senator and former prosecutor who is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. Biden has promoted her story as the American Dream. - Online nomination - A sign of what could have been in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Democrats had planned to hold their national convention to nominate Joe Biden as their 2020 presidential candidate, only to have the event move entirely online due to coronavirus concerns The four-day affair culminates Thursday night with political moderate Biden, a former vice president and three-decade Senate veteran, being nominated by state delegates casting their votes online. He then delivers his acceptance speech from his home state of Delaware. The convention had been scheduled for Milwaukee, in critical swing state Wisconsin, and the cancellation is a brutal blow for the Midwestern city which had spent millions of dollars preparing to host the high-profile event. Downtown streets were largely empty on Friday, with residents lamenting what could have been. "I thought it was good for the city, everybody did," Dan, who provided only his first name because he works in law enforcement, said of the convention plans. With the economy shedding millions of jobs during the pandemic, Biden will tout his $700 billion "Build Back Better" plan that would invest in new technologies and create some five million new jobs, an aggressive challenge to Trump on economic policy. Organizers have promised an energized "convention across America," despite the potential online awkwardness. The political spectacle that Americans have become used to during presidential nominating conventions, including the 2016 Democratic gathering that nominated Hillary Clinton, is likely to fall by the wayside in 2020 as conventions go virtual "In just three days, we will kick off a Democratic National Convention that will look and feel very different than past conventions," acknowledged DNC program executive Stephanie Cutter. Participants will highlight "Donald Trump's failed leadership and the promise of what we can and should be with Joe Biden as president." - Trump jets in - The party has invited its luminaries, from former president Barack Obama and wife Michelle, who earned keynote speaking slots on Wednesday and Monday respectively, to Hillary and Bill Clinton and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Several senators who challenged Biden for the nomination will also speak, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Keen to avoid the divisions that cuffed the party in 2016 when Hillary Clinton's supporters clashed with those backing Sanders, Team Biden has taken care to invite the progressive wing to help formulate the party platform. Rising progressive stars will have their turn on the virtual stage, including popular 30-year-old congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Speaking Monday will be former Ohio governor John Kasich -- a Republican, representing those in his party who have abandoned the controversial president. While Democrats scrapped their Milwaukee plan, one major political figure will be visiting Wisconsin Monday: Trump himself, eager to plant his flag again in the state he snatched four years ago when Clinton did not campaign there. Democrats "are going to ignore Wisconsin just like they did in 2016," Trump told a virtual town hall Wednesday. Ignoring the pandemic, Trump announced he will deliver a speech in Oshkosh, north of Milwaukee, addressing Biden's "failures on jobs and the economy," according to the president's campaign. Trump will not attend the Republican convention in person the following week, and will deliver his speech from a yet-to-be-announced location. Skipping the in-person element of the convention is "unfortunate," but understandable, said Christopher Arterton, professor emeritus of political management at George Washington University. Critical functions may be diminished, including how the space normally serves as a lively arena for bargaining and strategizing between various interest groups and delegates, most of whom would be "cheering frantically" when the candidate is nominated, Arterton told AFP. US President Donald Trump will not be attending in person the Republican National Convention set for August 24-27, 2020, but he is traveling to Wisconsin for a speech in the state where Democrats had been scheduled to hold their own convention Biden and Harris hit the convention facing fresh attacks from Trump, including his opposition to mail-in voting and his refusal to approve emergency funding for the US Postal Service to ensure timely delivery of ballots. "Pure Trump," Biden said Thursday. "He doesn't want an election." Nagpur, Aug 14 : Taking umbrage at "insults and humiliations" meted out during its debates on the issue of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a Shiv Sena leader on Friday demanded that Republic TV's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami should apologise with folded hands on TV or face criminal proceedings. The Sena is the second party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, to act against Goswami after the Congress filed criminal proceedings against him a couple of months ago for linking party chief Sonia Gandhi to the Palghar mob-lynching case. Slapping a legal notice on Goswami, Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM) President Kishore Tiwari, who is accorded Minister of State status, contended that the manner in which the debates are conducted on the channel were an attempt at "Contempt of the Supreme Court". The Sena leader - who is also a lawyer - said that despite his protests during the debate, Goswami continued his "wilful disobedience and contempt of court" and attempted to influence and interfere with the court proceedings, on the Sushant case. "Once during the programme, you had gone one step more to term (Chief Minister) Uddhavji Thackeray as 'prime accused' of the (Sushant) case in your prejudged, perverse, biased and pre-determined style towards the Thackeray family," said Tiwari. He added that the entire style and approach of debates was "based on false, concocted stories and a prejudiced mindset in a predetermined way", which, he held, is also contempt of the Supreme Court. "These acts of yours and your team are highly unlawful and nothing but a case of criminal defamation, insult, public humiliation...." he said, citing the institution of a civil suit for infringement of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution "caused in programmes on your channels - Republic TV and Republic Bharat". Tiwari also alleged Republic TV had targeted former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, linking her with the Lalit Modi case, and she could not bear the shock, leading to the collapse of her immune system and finally, she succumbed to cancer in August last year. In a similar manner, he alleged that Republic TV is targeting the Thackeray family to tarnish their image which is tantamount to sheer misuse of freedom of expression and media. In the legal notice, Tiwari called upon Goswami to "apologise with folded hands" on his television during prime time and also publish the same apology in leading print publications. Failing this, he has warned the Republic TV chief and his team of criminal and civil proceedings besides launching a separate case requesting the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings as Goswami has "wilfully and mischievously" tried to influence the matter which is before the apex court. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery SCHENECTADY With bowling alleys opening and gyms next week set to receive instructions on how to open, the operators of New Yorks movie theaters are wondering what happened to them. Continued closures will put some independent owners out of business and it will keep bringing havoc to the film industry in general, industry insiders say. So far 42 states have allowed theaters to reopen but New York and California, which are major markets, remain closed, meaning film releases are delayed or go straight to streaming. "We'd like to get some answers out of the governor's office," said Joe Masher, president of the Theater Owners Association and COO of Bow Tie Cinemas. "Why not movie theaters?" Masher asked during a press conference Saturday at downtown Schenectady's Bow Tie cineplex. "I feel like we are on the same par as churches or bowling alleys," Masher added, explaining that people in all three tend to face in the same direction and can be kept apart from one another by limiting the seating. Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week said bowling alleys will be able to open on Monday with pandemic precautions. And he said state officials plan to release guidelines for the reopening of gyms and fitness centers, although they don't yet have a firm reopening date. Taking to reporters on a tour through the empty cineplex, which is just down the block from the also-closed Proctors theater, Masher explained how they are equipped with MERV-11 air filters and are about to lay down distance markers on the floors. If and when they reopen, moviegoers would be spaced six feet apart with lots of empty seats in each screening room. Tickets and snacks would be preordered on a phone app so people can simply walk up to a kiosk and pick up their food. Masher stressed that his organization has been talking back and forth with the governors office as well as the departments and divisions of health, budget and economic development. But he said they are wondering why theyve gotten no feedback yet regarding how and when they might reopen a fact that came into sharp focus on Friday when Cuomo said bowling alleys could reopen and gym rules were forthcoming. Weve given him a list of our protocols, Masher said, referring to the safety precautions theater owners plan to take when they reopen. We have no indication from New York on whats going on, he said. When asked about the movie theaters status, Cuomo spokesman Jason Conwall said they are continuing to talk with theater owners but cautioned that COVID-19 cases are now rising in other states even though New York has sharply lowered its infection rate through the many precautions taken months ago. Reports show that infections are rising in more than 35 states, and that officials in those states have been forced to reclose businesses and other parts of the economy that were opened too early, Conwall said. Our number one priority remains protecting the health of New Yorkers and we are continuing to look at the issue and are in discussions with the industry about appropriate safety protocols. While this theater is equipped with MERV-11 air filters, Cuomo earlier in the summer said that shopping malls could reopen with denser MERV-13 filters to protect against contagion. MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a filter rating in which a higher number filters out smaller air contaminants. Masher said they would be willing to buy the MERV-13 filters but noted there have been backlogs in ordering such equipment. More for you Bowling centers can open Monday, but uncertainty lingers Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. California had allowed its theaters to open but that was reversed on July 13 amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Masher said 42 states nationwide have let their theaters reopen. But with the major markets of New York and California still closed, the impact is affecting other phases of the movie industry from distributors to filmmakers. Some expected blockbusters such as Christopher Nolans espionage/sci-fi thriller Tenet has been postponed for the third time last week with no firm U.S. release date. Other movies like Trolls: World Tour, Mulan and Spike Lees Da 5 Bloods went right to streaming. Masher added that 10,000 full and part-time movie theater employees in New York have been laid off or furloughed since the March shut-down. In some small towns, movie theaters serve as a hub for entertainment, helping attract people to nearby restaurants and other businesses, he said. Moreover, the growing popularity of home streaming had already put traditional theaters in a pinch prior to the pandemic. If we dont open soon were going to lose the rest of the 2020 calendar, he said. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU The proposed bailout talks between Tata Motor's Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Tata Steel with the UK government have reportedly broken off as both the companies didn't qualify for taxpayer support to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on businesses. The failure to secure a bailout deal with the government would force the companies to rely on private financing to overcome the economic downturn. Talks between the UK's Treasury and the Tata Group companies ended after the government concluded the Indian firms were sufficiently financed and didn't qualify for taxpayer support, according to Bloomberg report. The report also added that the stringent conditions imposed on lending, including decarbonisation requirements pushing electric vehicles, made the deal infeasible for the companies owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Group. However, both the companies remain in ongoing and constructive talks with the UK government on other areas of potential support like tax breaks, which could extend to state loans in the case of Tata Steel, Financial Times reported. Meanwhile, Tata Steel has said that it continues constructive talks with the UK government on areas of potential support. Tata Steel has proposed the UK government to invest over 900 million pounds or $1.2 billion in the company as part of the talks between the two sides. The proposal also involved the company writing off a similar amount owed by the UK business. The company and the UK government were engaged in talks to secure the future of Port Talbot steelworks. The company employs 8,000 people in the UK, half of whom are in Port Talbot. The discussions also involve various options, including shutting down Tata Steel's blast furnace operations at Port Talbot to switch over to greener alternatives. Also Read: UK govt may infuse 900 million pounds in Tata Steel to pick up equity stake Also Read: Tata Steel built up Rs 20,144 crore war-chest to counter economic turbulence Two years after a landmark grand jury report told a sordid history of sexual abuse by priests and its cover-up by their superiors, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is still coming to terms with its impact. Just this week, 28 people filed lawsuits or notices of intent to sue in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, while a local lay group issued a report sharply critical of the diocese's response, which it said is marked by "clericalism" and a bunker mentality. Bishop David Zubik said Friday he marked the somber anniversary with prayers at Mass for the survivors of abuse. He said he believed the diocese has taken important steps in responding to the report, even as it undergoes a vast program of parish mergers and responds to unanticipated challenges such as the pandemic. Over the course of the two years, weve worked very hard to be ever more present to victim/survivors and acknowledge their need for healing, he said. On Aug. 14, 2018, a statewide grand jury issued a report into sexual abuse and cover-up spanning seven decades in six of Pennsylvanias dioceses, including Pittsburghs. The report made headlines worldwide and, combined with scandals elsewhere during what one Catholic journal called a summer of shame, triggered the most intensive wave of scrutiny in years over the scandal. Most of the report covered decades-old cases, and in its response, the diocese noted it had implemented reforms in recent decades that had included better screening and training of priests and the barring of abusers from ministry without exception. Still, the report revealed many instances of abuse previously not made public and reported on missteps even in more recent cases. The report said more than 300 priests in six dioceses statewide, including more than 90 in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, had sexually abused children since the late 1940s. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has since launched a compensation fund for victims, administered by an independent law firm. That program, which received 367 applicants, is still processing claims; Bishop Zubik said he anticipated it would be completed this fall. He acknowledged the pool of available funds is limited, although he said it hasnt been lowered by the recent economic slump or other changes. Lawyers representing survivors have said the diocese has offered lower amounts than has other dioceses to survivors who had suffered comparable levels of abuse. On Thursday, 14 people filed suits against the diocese, alleging abuse by priests, and another 14 filed notices of intent to sue. That adds to at least 30 more legal claims filed earlier this year in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The lawsuits, alleging abuse that occurred decades earlier, are based on a claim that the diocese committed an ongoing conspiracy and fraud, a legal theory being tested before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a pending case involving a different diocese. On Friday, meanwhile, the group Catholics for Change in Our Church, issued a report card on the dioceses response to the grand jury after two years. The group claims more than 1,000 members, and seeks to boost the role of laypeople in the church while supporting victims of abuse and promoting transparency in the diocese. The group gave the diocese particularly low marks in addressing clericalism, or top-down leadership by priests, and said the diocese has failed to grasp how deeply the scandal has caused a breach of trust in the church. The highest grade it gave in any category was a B-, for reforms in responding to victims, though it said progress was uneven. Its two years in, said group vice president Kevin Hayes. People are tired, people are frustrated. He said diocesan officials in many cases started to take steps and then either the steps were just gestures, and there wasnt enough follow-through, or things were initiated but not completed. The group said it was disappointed that, after having four regularly scheduled meetings with Bishop Zubik, he ended those meetings, saying they would be replaced with a program including a dialogue with more people and groups. But that, too, was canceled before it was launched. At the diocesan level, the Bishop and his central administration are demonstrating by their actions that their approach is a top-down one for answers and solutions, the groups report said, adding that many parishioners, too, abet this process with apathy rather than involvement. Mr. Hayes said group members have heard priests and others in the church say we need to move on from the crisis. The fact is that healing hasnt happened, and needs to happen. Bishop Zubik said he does continue to consult with laypersons, noting that many board and staff positions are filled by laypeople coming with a love for the church. He said initiatives such as On Mission for the Church Alive, in which parishes are merging across the diocese, was implemented only after hearings involving thousands of lay attendees. Clericalism can mean different things to different people, he added. He said his emphasis, beginning with seminarians, is that if youre going to be serious about becoming a priest, youve got to be keyed in to being a servant for people. He said the meetings with Catholics for Change in Our Church were productive but that he needs to bring other lay groups and individuals into dialogue too. He had planned a program for such discussions but realized, after some planning, that we have so much going on, and I felt it was an overload. But he said such dialogues can continue in other forms. I hope people see how committed I am to consultation and to inviting laypeople to be involved, he said. The diocese on Friday appointed a new director of victim assistance ministry, which combines a long-standing role of outreach to victims with a broader mission that includes promoting ongoing support for them in parishes. The appointee, Laetitia Bridges, brings experience both in ministry and in licensed counseling to the position, which is part of a secretariat, or administrative structure, created in the wake of the reports release and devoted entirely to protection of children and other vulernable persons. Its a matter of making people in our faith communities aware of the healing that needs to take place, the bishop said. The diocese has acknowledged drops in financial giving even before the pandemic, which caused further declines, although less than anticipated. Bishop Zubik said it would be impossible to determine how much of the decline might be due to anger over the scandals or the parish mergers compared with other factors, such as the economic slump or secularization. But a result has been numerous staff cuts at the diocesan level. Other numbers are also down, including Catholic school enrollment and participation in sacraments. Thats the backdrop for the ongoing mergers of parishes and schools, which have added further stress on priests and laypeople alike. But Bishop Zubik still sees the program as creating a more streamlined and vibrant church. I believe that initiative is going much better and stronger than I would have anticipated, he said. While it isnt easy to make these kinds of shifts, the primary reason for this is to bring people closer together. It has begun to hold exhibitions about current conflicts. It has accepted sponsorship from weapons maker BAE Systems. Most controversially of all, it is now the subject of a bitter battle over a $500million redevelopment plan that Brendon Kelson (a director of the Memorial in the 1990s who is not to be confused with Brendan Nelson) has described as an "act of architectural vandalism". All this raises significant questions about how the Memorial should contribute to our understanding of conflict. How do you fund public institutions in the midst of a recession? How do you recognise multi-faceted modern conflict, including peacekeeping, that escapes the historical definition of war? And is our most famous museum a shrine to sacrifice or a tourist attraction that glorifies war? On one side is the AWM's powerful chairman, media and mining baron Kerry Stokes, and former AWM director Brendan Nelson, the driving force behind the memorial's expansionist stance during his seven-year tenure, which ended late last year. On the other stand historians and some veterans, as other Canberra institutions face budget pressures with scarce resources available. Admiral Chris Barrie, a former chief of the Australian Defence Force, has heard from many veterans who find they are dragged down rather than uplifted by big memorials and commemorations. "[The government] builds more edifices like the Monash Centre on the Western Front and this sort of thing thats not helping them, thats not helping their families, its not helping to repair the damage weve done," Barrie says. The $498 million set aside for the 10-year development was announced in 2018 and is backed by both major parties. The plan is to expand the exhibition space by 80 per cent to add galleries about the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, East Timor mission and peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. There will also be a new underground entrance and car park while the administrative and curation functions and research centre would move out of the main building. Former ADF chief Admiral Chris Barrie is among critics of a $500 million expansion of the Australian War Memorial. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Controversially, the expansion involves demolishing the award-winning $12 million Anzac Hall behind the main building, which was only completed in 2004. A new, larger Anzac Hall will be built along with a glazed walkway to link it to the main building. AWM director Matt Anderson says the development is vital to keep the Memorial relevant and tell the stories of those who put themselves in harms way for Australia. He argues updating and improving the museum areas deepens the commemorative experience. "The deeper the understanding, the more meaningful the commemoration. So that when people get up into the commemorative area and into the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, its a far more meaningful reflection and commemoration than would otherwise be the case." While the expansion is under scrutiny from parliaments public works committee, theres no suggestion the $500 million wont be spent. Nevertheless, there is unrest about the size of this expense both among those who are against the development and some who support it. One argument is that the funding should be matched or partially diverted to mental health initiatives for veterans. "Im not opposed to the expansion but I just didn't want to see it come at the cost of other veterans initiatives because theres just so much bloody work to do in the veterans sector," says former Army officer James Brown, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a past president of the NSW RSL. Loading Hes waiting on the appointment of the inaugural national commissioner for Defence and veteran suicide prevention, announced in February, and wants fixing veterans' entitlements to be a top priority, saying those things will have more far-reaching benefits for veterans than anything that happens at the Memorial. Neuhaus says the institution does play a role in the healing process although it makes no claims to have specific therapeutic value. A key part of the plans are reflective spaces within the Memorial for visitors, away from the thousands of school pupils who are among the million visitors each year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says "not one cent" being spent on the AWM expansion would otherwise have gone to veterans' services. But Barrie wants the government to prioritise spending on the latter just as highly. He leads PTSD Australia-New Zealand and its outreach program FearLess, which has been advocating for five years for a national centre of research into post-traumatic stress, its treatment and potential cures. Coincidentally, the cost of establishing such a centre is estimated at $500 million. About 1.5 million people suffer from PTSD, including about 70,000 veterans. The others come from all walks of life; police, emergency services, victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes, people hit by natural disasters. Barrie says while the government has promised millions in new mental health services for veterans, many dont want to be singled out for treatment separate from civilians. Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester says the government expects to spend $100 billion on support for veterans and their families over the same 10-year period as the construction at the Memorial. That figure includes the $11.5 billion annual bill for veterans benefits and pensions, and $230 million a year in uncapped mental health funding. He also points to investment in the Phoenix Australia centre for post-traumatic mental health in partnership with the University of Melbourne, and programs that provide peer networks and assistance dogs. Official war correspondent Charles Bean developed the idea for an Australian War Memorial while on the Western Front in 1916. By the time it was built in 1941, the nation was in the midst of another conflict and, as Anderson puts it, "it already needed to catch up". Over the past two decades, some 100,000 young Australians have been deployed overseas, primarily to conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan but also in dozens of peacekeeping missions. The Memorial wants to tell their stories. Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. Credit:ADF Nelson first raised the idea of a significant expansion when he opened the Afghanistan exhibition in 2013. One of his final acts as director was to unveil the developments official plans in late 2019. Hes proud of bringing an Afghanistan exhibition to fruition but describes it as incredibly small. "There are 43 funeral shrouds representing the 43 dead in Afghanistan and Iraq and theyre on a shelf in a corridor on the way to the shop," Nelson says. "The space allocated [to peacekeeping] is about the size of the prime minister's office." Senior Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon, who was defence minister in the first years of the Rudd government, says its vital to correct this but it takes time. "Veterans of our more recent conflicts are as deserving of recognition as those who served the nation in earlier conflicts. Appropriate recognition doesn't come cheap and to put costs ahead of what is appropriate recognition would be a disrespectful undervaluing of their deeds." Stokes has been a strong proponent of the plan and has even given the government a personal pledge the project won't go over budget. He spent $740,000 on the lavish invitation-only launch at Parliament House attended by Morrison and business and cultural leaders and has previously donated items to the AWM collection, including three Victoria Cross medals. Chair of the Australian War Memorial Kerry Stokes and Christine Simpson Stokes lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier in Canberra in April. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Stokes' commitment extended to flying back from Brussels to brief another former director, Major-General Steve Gower, on the plans shortly after the project's launch in late 2018 although Gower told a parliamentary committee in July that the more he heard about the plan, the more he decided he was completely opposed. Gower is concerned about the heritage aspects of the site, including the changed vista up Anzac Parade, and doesn't think the massive increase to gallery space is needed. He also disagrees with Nelson's characterisation of the Afghanistan space as a corridor. War historian Joan Beaumont has concerns about the opaque way the $500 million was allocated, especially when other institutions like the National Archives, National Gallery and National Library are cutting staff, collections and services. The National Gallery has recently called for redundancies from its 300 staff, with one in 10 jobs to go. The Library has stopped collecting material on Japan, Korea and mainland South-east Asia and is also likely to shed jobs in a major restructure. Loading Beaumont says the "memory boom" of the World War I centenary, under Nelsons leadership, positioned the Memorial prominently in Australias national culture. "Theres an ongoing debate here as to whether we should be remembering other narratives of Australian history and why we commemorate war as central to our national identity and culture," she says. "Im one who thinks that this is done in part to ensure that there is public support for military deployments in the future. "Others would say its honouring the nations debt to those who serve in the defence forces, its honouring their sacrifice, its honouring their commitment to serve the nation. "I recognise and respect this but, as an historian whos considered the political processes that have shaped the construction of national identity in the past, I have my reservations about that exercise." Members of the Heritage Guardians group campaigning against the development told the parliamentary committee in a July hearing they believed the expansion would in part serve as a personal legacy for Nelson. Former AWM principal historian Professor Peter Stanley decried it to the committee as "a slapdash and, frankly, unprofessional proposal". Critics also raise Nelson's role in accepting donations from weapons makers including Lockheed Martin, Thales, BAE Systems, Boeing and Leidos, which some feel is inappropriate for a site commemorating those who died in war. Boeing made Nelson president of its Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific operations in January, after he left the Memorial. Nelson responded with a written submission that said detractors of the development appeared to be motivated by resentment of changes he made to the revered institution. He declined to comment further to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age regarding the personal criticisms of his involvement. Brown says the institution has to walk a fine line between the veterans whose stories need telling and the tourists those stories are told to. The leaders of Russia and Belarus agreed on Saturday that the problems in Belarus would be resolved soon, the Kremlin said, as tens of thousands took to the streets in Minsk once again to urge President Alexander Lukashenko to quit. Accused of rigging last Sunday's election, Lukashenko had earlier issued an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Belarus leader grapples with the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule and the threat of new Western sanctions. Ties between the two traditional allies had been under strain before the election, as Russia scaled back the subsidies that propped up Lukashenko's government. Russia sees Belarus as a strategic buffer against NATO and the EU. Statements by both sides contained a pointed reference to a "union state" between the two countries. Lukashenko has previously rejected calls by Moscow for closer economic and political ties as an assault on his country's sovereignty. "Both sides expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon," a Kremlin statement said after Lukashenko and Putin spoke by phone. "These problems should not be exploited by destructive forces seeking to harm the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the union state," it added. The European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Belarus in response to a violent crackdown in which at least two protesters have been killed and thousands detained. On a visit to neighbouring Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was monitoring the situation closely. The leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania called on Belarus to conduct new "free and fair" elections. Lukashenko said he did not need foreign governments or mediators to solve the situation in Belarus, state news agency Belta reported. "We will not give the country away to anyone," he said. Tens of thousands took to the streets of the Belarusian capital on Saturday. Crowds gathered to lay flowers where one of the protesters was killed this week, waving flags and chanting "go away" and "Lukashenko is a murderer". 'OUTSIDE MEDDLING' Lukashenko has accused the protesters of being criminals and in cahoots with foreign backers. Ahead of his call with Putin on Saturday, he suggested that the impact of the protests might spill beyond Belarus's borders. Moscow this week also accused unnamed countries of "outside meddling" in Belarus. "There is a need to contact Putin so that I can talk to him now, because it is not a threat to just Belarus anymore," Lukashenko said, according to the Belta news agency. "Defending Belarus today is no less than defending our entire space, the union state ... Those who roam the streets, most of them do not understand this." Opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday, has called for more protests and an election recount. Her campaign announced she was starting to form a national council to facilitate the transfer of power. Lukashenko on Friday warned Belarusians to stay at home to avoid becoming "cannon fodder". Russia has been wary of unrest on its borders since governments fell in Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution, Ukraine's 2003-04 Orange Revolution and Kyiv's 2014 Maidan protests - events in which it says the West backed the protesters. Lukashenko, a 65-year-old who once ran a Soviet collective farm, has faced increasing anger over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as a sluggish economy and civil rights. The official election result handed him a landslide victory with 80% of the vote, compared to around 10% for Tsikhanouskaya. Washington said the vote "was not free and fair". "Former president of #Belarus now asks Putin for help. Against whom? Against own people carrying flowers on the streets?" Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius tweeted. Search Keywords: Short link: In Butler County, north of Cincinnati, two postal officials walked into the election board offices on May 8, more than a week after the April 28 elections, carrying two buckets filled with 317 unopened ballots that had been discovered too late to be counted. We have not received a good explanation yet, said Diane Noonan, the Republican director of the Butler board of elections. The thing I was told that day was that it was found in a corner of a warehouse. Ms. Noonan said she was concerned about the possibility that issues with the mail service could affect the ability of her office to accurately count the votes in November, especially if voters waited until the last minute to request a ballot. She has been urging voters to apply early for a mail ballot and return it immediately. In Ohio, state law allows voters to request a mail-in ballot up until noon on Saturday, Oct. 31, just three days before the election. Even under the best of circumstances, that would leave little time for the Postal Service to deliver a blank ballot and then turn around and deliver the completed one by Monday, Nov. 2, the deadline in Ohio. In Racine, Wis., Melissa Rymsha, a stay-at-home mother of two, does not want to risk contracting the virus in November, so she plans to vote by mail. But the face masks she recently ordered have been stuck in transit for days, and she worries that in several weeks, her ballot could be, too. Im kind of just going to cross my fingers and hope that it goes through the way its supposed to, she said. I dont really have too much of an option. Luke Broadwater reported from Darby, Pa., Jack Healy from Denver, and Michael Shear and Hailey Fuchs from Washington. Jonathan Martin, Lucy Tompkins and Emily Cochrane contributed reporting. Susan Beachy contributed research. Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, listens during a Senate Small Business Committee hearing on coronavirus relief aid and "Implementation of title I of the CARES Act.", in Washington, U.S., June 10, 2020. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney criticized the Trump administration's early response to the coronavirus outbreak on Friday, saying they dismissed the virus as a threat from the outset and failed to take immediate action. "Short term I think it's fair to say we (the United States) really have not distinguished ourselves in a positive way by how we responded to the crisis when it was upon us," Romney said during an interview with the Sutherland Institute. Romney, a Republican who has spoken out against Trump publicly on a number of issues, said the "proof of the pudding" is evident in the number of reported Covid-19 deaths. "We have 5% of the world's population but 25% of the world's deaths due to Covid-19, and there's no way to spin that in a positive light," he said. The U.S. has reported at least 168,462 deaths related to the coronavirus out of the world's 766,488 fatalities so far, marking nearly 22% of the total globally, according to Johns Hopkins University data. However, a recent Yale study suggests that the true tally of deaths from Covid-19 could be substantially higher than the number of confirmed deaths. While Romney applauded Congress and the administration for moving quickly to provide financial relief in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, he said the administration didn't immediately "ring all the alarm bells." They failed to equitably distribute personal protective equipment to every state and were slow to scale manufacturing of the essential supplies, he said. "The health impact of Covid-19 on our country and our response to it was really very, very disappointing," Romney said. President Donald Trump has at times dismissed the Covid-19 death toll, telling Axios' Jonathan Swan in an interview conducted in late July that the number of fatalities "is what it is." During the interview, Trump said his administration has done and "incredible" job responding to the pandemic. "They are dying. That's true, and it is what it is," Trump said. "But that doesn't mean we aren't doing everything we can. It's under control as much as you can control it," Trump said in the interview. White House spokesman Judd Deere said in response to Romney's comments that Trump has built "the largest public-private partnership not seen since WWII that has sourced critical supplies and PPE for our frontline heroes and developed a robust testing regime from nothing resulting in this country leading the world in testing." "He's always acted on the recommendations of his top public health experts throughout this crisis as evidenced by the many bold, data-driven decisions he has made to save millions of lives," Deere said. While the U.S. has conducted more tests than most other countries, recent declines in testing have thrown into question the accuracy of the nation's daily reporting. There have also been delays in people receiving their testing results, in some cases waiting weeks before they're notified. Many health officials say that such long delays make the testing unhelpful when it comes to tracking and preventing further spread. Trump has also frequently clashed with advice from public health experts, including White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. The president failed to recognize the importance of wearing face coverings, though he has recently endorsed the idea, and has repeatedly said the virus "will go away" and that children are "virtually immune." CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report. A restaurant in China has apologised for its controversial policy of asking diners to weigh themselves before entry in an overzealous response to a new national campaign against food waste. The beef restaurant in the central city of Changsha was heavily criticised on Chinese social media as soon as it unveiled the policy on Friday. Customers were asked to stand on scales and scan their data into an app that recommended food choices based on their weight and the dishes' calorific value, according to a report by the state-run China News Service. President Xi Jinping this week urged the nation to stop wasting food, as the coronavirus pandemic and serious flooding last month have led to a rise in food prices. In response, regional catering groups have urged customers to order one dish fewer than the number of diners at a table -- an attempt to overturn the ingrained cultural habit of ordering extra food for group meals. Signs were displayed in the beef restaurant reading "be thrifty and diligent, promote empty plates" and "operation empty plate" -- referring to the nationwide campaign -- according to photos published in local media. In a swift backlash, hashtags related to the incident have been viewed over 300 million times on the social platform Weibo. The restaurant said it was "deeply sorry" for its interpretation of the anti-waste campaign. "Our original intentions were to advocate stopping waste and ordering food in a healthy way. We never forced customers to weigh themselves," it said in an apology posted online on Saturday morning. Chinese state media has also waged war on viral binge-eating videos, known as "mukbang", while livestreaming platforms have promised to shut down accounts promoting excess eating and food wastage. lxc/kaf The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday grilled M Sivasankar, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer and former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the gold smuggling case, official said. Sivasankar was earlier questioned by the National Investigation Agency and Customs department in the same case. The ED had made a submission in the special court dealing with economic offences in Kochi saying after questioning Swapna Suresh, second accused in the smuggling case, it came to know that Sivasankar was aware of her questionable integrity. It also said when the state government officials went to the United Arab Emirates in 2018 to seek flood assistance she was in the country to co-ordinate their visit. It showed she had considerable influence at the CMs office, the ED said in the affidavit. The Kerala gold smuggling case hit the headlines on July 5 when the Customs seized 30 kg of gold that came in an air consignment for the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. P Sarith Kumar, a former employee of the consulate who came to take the consignment was arrested by the Customs after the seizure of the gold and two others Swapna Suresh and Sandip Nair, were arrested from their hideout in Bengaluru five days later. Sivasankar was suspended after his alleged links with Suresh surfaced. Meanwhile, the NIA arrested four more persons in connection with the case. With this total arrest has gone up to 20. It also carried out raids at six places in Kozhikkode and Malappuram districts. The NIA took over the case a week after the seizure. Other Central agencies like the Customs, ED, Income Tax and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence are assisting the NIA. Keith Urban flew into Byron Bay on Friday with his daughters, Faith, 9, and Sunday Rose, 12, on Friday. The family arrived in style via private jet, landing in the nearby Ballina airport, before joining mother Nicole Kidman, 53. Nicole is in town to film her new $100 million series, Nine Perfect Strangers, and bid Keith, 52, and their children farewell on Tuesday before they were reunited later in the week. In town: Keith Urban (right) flew into Byron Bay on Friday with his daughters, Faith, 9, and Sunday Rose, 12, (left) on Friday Country crooner Keith was dressed down in black jeans and a long-sleeved, grey T-shirt. He carried a black backpack and a had a guitar with him which was inside a case. Older daughter Sunday wore a white jumper with black pants, while her sibling Faith wore a grey long sleeved shirt and tights. Reunion: The family arrived in style via private jet, landing in the nearby Ballina airport, before joining mother Nicole Kidman , 53 Comfy: Older daughter Sunday wore a white jumper with black pants Self-sufficient: Faith wore a grey long sleeved shirt and tights and pulled along a suitcase A look: Country crooner Keith was dressed down in black jeans and a long-sleeved, grey T-shirt The family looked tired from their flight but appeared in good spirits as they mingled with flight crew. Days earlier, Nicole was seen going for a morning run in the idyllic coastal town. Nicole is expected to reside in the beach town, located in the far northeastern corner of New South Wales, for the next 19 weeks while filming the Hulu series. Rock star: He carried a black backpack and a had a guitar which was inside a case Casual: The family looked tired from their flight but appeared in good spirits Chats: Keith smiled and chatted as he mingled with the flight crew on the tarmac This way! He was led off by minders and the pilot as they headed for the airport In town: Days earlier, Nicole (pictured) was seen going for a morning run in the idyllic coastal town before meeting up with her family Nine Perfect Strangers is based on Liane Moriarty's bestselling book of the same name. Last month, Nicole told The Daily Telegraph that she's 'thrilled' to be able to bring the $100 million production and hundreds of jobs to the local film industry, after it was sent crashing down by the coronavirus pandemic. The actress and her husband recently divided fans after being granted permission to skip mandatory hotel quarantine and self-isolate at their sprawling country NSW property following their arrival back to Australia via a private jet from the USA. Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday called for a mass awareness campaign on the lines of the Quit India Movement against the British in order to drive out coronavirus from the state and the country. Speaking at the Independence Day function at Swarnim Park in Gandhinagar, he said that while the pandemic had slowed down the pace of development in the state, his government was committed to make up for it. To achieve independence and drive out the British, the entire country resonated with the slogan of Quit India. As a result, the British left the country and we got freedom. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here Likewise, lets start a mass awareness campaign to free the country and Gujarat of coronavirus, he said. Rupani also spoke about the initiatives taken by his government to help people tide over the current crisis. It is our strength that despite earthquake, flood, cyclone, Gujarat and its people have changed crises into opportunities. Our development arc has slowed, but we are committed to make it up, he said. The state government has managed to bring down the Covid-19 death rate to 2.1 per cent and increase the recovery rate to 78 per cent, he said. Due to its effort to deal with the pandemic, the state government has received positive feedback from the Supreme Court, World Health Organisation and Niti Aayog, he said. The state government has announced a 14,000 crore Aatmanirbhar package for small businesses, farmers, fishermen, among others to revive the economy, he said. The state government had offered 1,370 crore as assistance to MSMEs affected by the pandemic, he added. Chief ministers wife Anjali Rupani and senior bureaucrats were present at the event in the state capital. Due to the pandemic, the function was held in the capital for the first time in 15 years instead of the headquarters of some other district in the state, the tradition started by former chief minister Narendra Modi. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage Rupani also felicitated corona warriors, including senior doctors of the state coronavirus taskforce health workers from different parts of the state for their contribution to the fight against the pandemic. He said the state government has launched the Industrial Policy 2020 under the Aatmanirbhar Gujarat, which will ensure holistic development of the backward areas of the state. The chief minister said the Gujarat government will take a lead in the National Digital Health Mission announced by the prime minister. At least 1.5 lakh youngsters in the state had benefited from the Mukhya Mantri Apprenticeship Scheme, he said. Apart from this, land rights have been transferred to 51,400 tribals under Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) PESA Act. Listing some of the achievements of his government, the chief minister said that water reservoir capacity has increased under Sujalam Sufalam Yojana, while uninterrupted power and quality electricity has been provided to farmers. Rupani also spoke about the recently-launched Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana and various steps taken to help the farmers in the state. Moreover, the state government had set up new medical and engineering colleges, some of them in tribal areas, to cater to the needs of the regions, he added. Flash UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for restraint and calm in Belarus as the country is engulfed in protests following Sunday's presidential poll, said his spokesman. The secretary-general is closely following developments in Belarus, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. The UN chief underlines the importance of enabling all Belarusians to exercise their civil and political rights, which include expressing their views peacefully in accordance with the law, the statement said. Guterres calls on Belarusians to address post-election grievances through dialogue to preserve peace in the country, it said. Earlier on Friday, Dujarric said the United Nations welcomed the reported release of some of the detainees on Thursday night and urged this to continue. "We take note of the statement of regret by the (minister) of interior of Belarus regarding the use of force and expect these incidents and claims to be investigated thoroughly," he told a daily virtual press briefing. The United Nations remains in touch with Belarusian authorities in New York, Geneva and Minsk regarding the unfolding situation, he said. 'Extreme' California wildfire forces hundreds to evacuate Fire is seen in Azusa By Andrew Hay (Reuters) - Firefighters scrambled to protect thousands of homes from a wildfire racing through brush-covered mountains north of Los Angeles on Friday that caused hundreds of evacuations and burned 21 structures. The blaze, dubbed the Lake Fire, swelled to over 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares), forcing up to 1,500 people from their houses after erupting on Wednesday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest. Triple digit temperatures and single digit humidity fanned flames on Friday evening, and little let-up was expected over the weekend with an excessive heat warning in effect across Southern California. "We saw extreme fire conditions," Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Frank Garrido said of the operation in steep canyons aided by firefighting helicopters. The cause of the blaze was under investigation but human activity is likely to blame, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Mitchell. No casualties were reported but the blaze threatened 5,420 homes and other structures in communities about 40 miles (65 km) north of downtown Los Angeles where residents have been told to prepare for possible evacuations over the weekend, Garrido said. Much of the area has not had a fire in 60-100 years, allowing flames to move swiftly through fuel-choked areas. Across the United States, fires have been less ferocious so far in 2020, burning around 1.4 million fewer acres than in the same period of 2019. Conditions are expected to worsen in California next month when Santa Ana winds arrive in the south and El Diablo winds pick up in the North. In drought-stricken Colorado, the Pine Gulch Fire, burning near Grand Junction, about 190 miles west of Denver, has blackened over 73,000 acres in remote mountain terrain, making it the fourth-largest in the state's history. (Reporing by Andrew Hay; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Daniel Wallis & Shri Navaratnam) Carbon Fiber Market Research Report by Macro Indicator Analysis (Demand Side Macro Indicators, Manufacturing Process of Sulfuric Acid, and Supply Side Macro Indicators), by Type (Recycled Fiber (RCF) and Virgin Fiber (VCF)), by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Carbon Fiber Market Research Report by Macro Indicator Analysis, by Type, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913732/?utm_source=GNW The Global Carbon Fiber Market is expected to grow from USD 4,255.66 Million in 2019 to USD 7,493.15 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.88%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Carbon Fiber to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Macro Indicator Analysis, the Carbon Fiber Market studied across Demand Side Macro Indicators, Manufacturing Process of Sulfuric Acid, and Supply Side Macro Indicators. Based on Type, the Carbon Fiber Market studied across Recycled Fiber (RCF) and Virgin Fiber (VCF). Based on Application, the Carbon Fiber Market studied across Catalysis, Composite Materials, Microelectrodes, and Textiles. Based on Geography, the Carbon Fiber 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 Carbon Fiber Market including BASF SE, Formosa Plastic Corporation, Hexcel Corporation, Hyosung Corporation, Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, SGL Group, Teijin Limited, and Toray Industries Inc.. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Carbon Fiber 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 Carbon Fiber Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Carbon Fiber Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Carbon Fiber Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Carbon Fiber Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Carbon Fiber Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Carbon Fiber Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913732/?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 A US Coast Guard crew freed a sea turtle that was entangled in fishing trap line off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey, on August 13, the agency said. The Coast Guard said its crew had to disperse sharks that were circling the ailing turtle. This video shows Petty Officer 3rd Class Mason Sanders cutting the line wrapped around the turtle. Credit: US Coast Guard via Storyful JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders on Saturday condemned the U.N. Security Council's decision not to renew a U.N. arms embargo on Iran, saying the decision would encourage Iranian aggression in the Middle East. The 15-member council on Friday resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the embargo. Only the Dominican Republican joined the U.S. in supporting the resolution. Russia and China opposed it, while the remaining 11 members abstained. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the vote scandalous. Iranian terrorism and aggression threaten the peace of the region and the entire world, he said. Instead of opposing weapons sales, the Security Council is encouraging them. He said Israel would continue to cooperate with the U.S. and act with full force against those who threaten it. The Trump administration has said it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the U.S. would invoke the snap back mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal that would restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran. Snap back was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the accord, under which it received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, in 2018. But the U.S. circulated a six-page memo Thursday from State Department lawyers arguing the United States remains part of the 2015 Security Council resolution that endorsed the deal and still has the right to use the `snap back provision. The five other powers Russia, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany remain committed to the deal, and diplomats from several of these countries have voiced concern that extending the arms embargo would lead Iran to exit the nuclear agreement and speed up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Senate Republicans ousted Minnesota Commissioner of Labor Nancy Leppink this week. (Republican) Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka explained on Twitter (below). Removing a commissioner is serious business entrusted to the Senate.The Governor picks,the Senate confirms. I privately told the Gov in Feb that DOLI commissioner was not working out. I asked him to find something else for her. That didnt happen. Today she was not confirmed. Paul Gazelka (@paulgazelka) August 12, 2020 Senator Gazelka also discussed developments with Justice and Drew during the third hour of their show yesterday morning (embedded below in podcast form). Senator Gazelka is a mild-mannered gentleman who represents the view widely held among his caucus that it is past time for Governor Walz to loosen the reins. The Minnesota Reformer is a left-wing site run by former Star Tribune reporter Patrick Coolican. The Minnesota Reformer is inside the circle of media love that surrounds Governor Walz. An unidentified senior Walz administration official forwarded Patrick a statement on the forced departure of Leppink. Patrick reported the statement here. I quoted it verbatim and commented on it briefly in Not Minnesota nice. Here is the statement one more time: Minnesotans will remember Nancy Leppink as a badass woman who fought like hell to protect the health and safety of working people during a pandemic until her final day in office. Minnesotans will remember Paul Gazelkas final days as Senate majority leader as a crisis of character on public display. A man who prided himself on his principals, a penchant for business and labor, and his prized relationship with the governor, chose to flush it all down the toilet in a manic, brazen attempt to appease a band of angry, mask-less men who couldnt stand losing the spotlight to actual public servants. At this point, the only living organism voting for Senate Republicans and their flat-earth strategy in November is, in fact, the coronavirus. So far as I can tell, only the Minnesota Reformer and Power Line have reported the statement, but it is extraordinary by Minnesota standards. Patrick himself only commented wow, but that was not unwarranted. I would like to pause over the statement and add the following questions and comments. Who in his right mind thinks that this statement is a credit to Walz in any respect? Will any reporter ask Walz if he stands by the statement and would like to reaffirm it? The senior Walz administration official doesnt know the difference between principals and principles. What is a flat-earth strategy? The senior Walz administration official seems to have meant scorched-earth strategy. Its not clear who the mask-less men are. To whom is the senior official referring? What is he talking about? What about mask-less women? The Senate Republican caucus includes a number of outstanding women who support Senator Gazelka. Among them are Michelle Benson, Karin Housley, Mary Kiffmeyer, Carla Nelson, Julie Rosen, and Carrie Rudd. Are they chopped liver? The senior official appears to be predicting that the DFL will retake the Senate in November. I think he underestimates the deep resentment of the Walz administration felt in outstate Minnesota, but we shall see. The senior official appears to believe that insulting prospective voters is the path to electoral success. Please consider the concluding assertion: At this point, the only living organism voting for Senate Republicans and their flat-earth strategy in November is, in fact, the coronavirus. It is nonsensical. It is stupid. The senior official does not know how to formulate an insult or target it. The insult is worse than stupid. Likening citizens to a virus is a form of dehumanization consistent with propaganda employed by mass murderers. If a Republican did it, the media would run him out of office. It sounds to me like the senior official was drunk when he sent off this statement. What else might explain it? Maybe Governor Walz could explain, if only someone would ask him. Governor Walz is not well served by the narrow circle of flacks and supporters surrounding him. The statement of this senior official provides insight into their state of mind that is deeply disquieting. One hundred years ago this month, women in the United States were guaranteed the right to vote with ratification of the 19th Amendment secured by a 24-year-old Tennessee legislators decisive vote, cast at the bidding of his mother. Harry T. Burns surprise move set the stage for decades of slow but steady advances for American women in electoral politics. Two years ago, a record number of women were elected to Congress. On Tuesday, Democratic former Vice-President Joe Biden selected Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate making her the first Black woman on a major partys presidential ticket. Burns, from the small town of Niota in eastern Tennessee, joined the Legislature in 1918 as its youngest member. The following year, Congress approved the 19th Amendment, touching off the battle to win ratification by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 states. The process moved quickly at first: By March 1920, 35 states had ratified, while eight states, mostly Southern, had rejected the amendment. Of the states yet to vote, Tennessee was the only one where ratification was considered possible under prevailing political conditions. So all eyes turned to its Legislature, where lawmakers had the power to grant the womens suffrage movement a victory it had sought for more than 70 years or deal it a painful setback. At that time, women in more than half the states could vote in presidential elections. But they had no statewide voting rights throughout the South and several other states. Thousands of activists on both sides of the debate poured into Nashville ahead of the special session. The posh Hermitage Hotel became a hotbed of lobbying and political gossip. The amendment was approved 25-4 in the state Senate and sent to the House, where sentiment was divided as its turn to vote came on Aug. 18, 1920. Anti-suffragists believed they had the votes needed to table the amendment, but that failed in a 48-48 tie. Burn was among those supporting the motion to table. Next came the decisive vote on whether to ratify. Onlookers expected another tie, which would have doomed the measure. But when Burns turn came, he switched sides. His aye was so unexpected that many onlookers were unsure what theyd heard, according to various historical accounts. The amendment passed 49-47. Some wondered if Burn had been bribed. But the next day, addressing the House, he offered an explanation. He had received a letter from his mother, urging him to buck the anti-suffragist sentiments of many of his constituents and instead support the amendment. Dear Son, Hurrah and vote for suffrage! she wrote. Dont forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the rat in ratification. Your Mother. That was a reference to Carrie Chapman Catt, a leading suffragist who had come to Nashville to campaign for the amendment. Burn told the House: I believe in full suffrage as a right. He added: I know that a mothers advice is always safest for her boy to follow, and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification. It took decades after 1920 to reach some significant milestones. For example, no woman was elected a state governor in her own right as opposed to succeeding her husband until Ella Grasso in Connecticut in 1975. Even now, women hold only nine of the 50 governorships and about one-fourth of the seats in Congress. Yet womens commitment to voting has deepened over the decades. According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, American men had higher turnout rates than women in presidential elections until 1980, while womens turnout rate has been higher ever since. In the 2016 election, according to the centre, votes were cast by 73.7 million women and 63.8 million men. The womens suffrage movement in the United States is widely considered to have been launched at the Seneca Falls convention in New York state in 1848. At the time, many Southerners were wary of the movement because key leaders also were engaged in anti-slavery campaigning. By the 1910s, many Southerners were viewing the proposed 19th Amendment through a racial prism, said Marjorie Spruill, an emeritus professor of history at the University of South Carolina. The attitude was, If you ratify the 19th Amendment, youre not a good son of the South, Spruill said. These white radical women from outside are going to insist that Black women get the vote. That opposition continued right through ratification. A few states on the periphery of the former Confederacy Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas had preceded Tennessee in passing the amendment. But in the core of the South, opposition was solid. Even after ratification, Black women, along with Black men, were frequently disenfranchised in Tennessee and other Southern states by Jim Crow laws with requirements for voters such as paying a poll tax, owning property and passing a literacy test. Black women had to continue their fight to secure voting privileges, for both men and women. ... The 19th Amendment was a starting point, wrote Sharon Harley, a professor of African American Studies at the University of Maryland. For white women as well, ratification did not lead swiftly to political equality. Tennessee, for example, has never elected a woman as governor, and Marsha Blackburn became its first female U.S. senator just two years ago. Wanda Sobieski, a lawyer who led campaigns to erect suffrage memorials in her hometown of Knoxville, said women are now well represented as judges in Tennessee, including holding three of the five seats on the state Supreme Court. But she says its been difficult for women to raise the funds needed to win statewide elections. Spruill said theres a similar pattern across the South, where only a few states have elected a woman as governor and most have opposed recent efforts to resurrect the long-derailed Equal Rights Amendment. Mississippi, Tennessees neighbour to the South, was the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment, waiting 64 years before taking that step in 1984. In politics, sexism is alive and well, Spruill said. As the years pass on, Independence Day will be more of a day of gaiety than one of solemnity that it had been in earlier years. But there is no reason to complain that people have forgotten the great freedom struggle, its heroes and heroines and the enormous sacrifices they had made. Independence Day has also been a grim occasion for many of those who had to leave behind everything they had and cross over from Pakistan (or what is now Bangladesh) to India, and from India in the other direction. The wounds have healed to a great extent and those affected by Partition are now picking up the courage to look back with a certain equanimity the mad rage of riots and inter-communal strife that came with Partition and independence. This years Independence Day will be without its customary celebratory spirit. It is going to be a rather grim Independence Day because of the coronavirus pandemic, that has affected nearly a quarter million Indians, of whom nearly 50,000 died, and more than 20 million people across the world, of whom three-quarters of a million died. The nationwide lockdown that had to be imposed in late March this year to contain the pandemic caused much havoc in the lives of the poor, especially the migrant workers who live in shanties in our big cities and eke out a living far from their impoverished hearths in the villages. The lockdown has brought the economic wheels to a halt and took away the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands. The economy will take a while to pick up and it will mean hard times for the poor as well as the middle classes. The country had at the same time to confront the Chinese military threat in eastern Ladakh, in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and 20 of our soldiers had to lay down their lives in a violent faceoff with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army on June 15. The Indian Army has stood its ground and talks between India and China at the military and diplomatic levels are taking place, and as Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat has indicated, the dialogue would be a long drawn-out one because of the complexity of the situation at the LAC. All that we can say of the response of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government to the unfolding of these stressful and sometimes traumatic turn of events is that they tried to cope with it as best as they could, though there have been acute shortcomings in policy and administrative responses. The relief packages provided by the government in terms of the supply of free foodgrains through the public distribution system and the cash, what little of it that there was of it, that was deposited in the bank accounts of many of the poor, the elderly and women, and the farmers, and the medical facilities for quarantine and treatment that the administrations tried to provide were a great help. People are indeed grateful to the government though they are acutely aware that they will have a tough time in picking up the threads of their pre-Covid life and that they must do it on their own. It is the governments that are less than clear-eyed, less than tough, and less than honest compared to ordinary people. And this Independence Day, it is the immature swagger of the governments, especially that of Prime Minister Modi and his colleagues, that will strike the wrong note in these troubling days. But neither the Prime Minister nor his colleagues are willing to respect the sombre mood of the Indian public with the constant public banter of their tenuous achievements, displaying utter insensitivity which is a sign of the arrogance of those in power. The Modi government seem to believe that the help they offered to people during the Covid-19 crisis is largesse doled out by generous rulers. And they expect the people to be grateful to the government. Modi and his colleagues are only too willing to use the Covid-19 crisis and the Chinese threat in Ladakh as a cover to divert attention from their mishandling of major issues like Jammu and Kashmir, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, and the economy in general. In the flush of last years electoral victory, the Modi government had assumed that it can indulge in its favourite game of strongarm tactics, and brush aside public opinion in Jammu and Kashmir. It is now learning that the abrogation of Article 370 did not solve the Kashmir problem, and that humiliating the people of the state by bifurcating its and reducing it to a Union Territory was not a sound idea, and that there is no alternative to the political process. The further abrogation of Article 35A with the dishonest intent of changing the demography of the Kashmir Valley has angered the people of Jammu as well because they do not want to be swamped by the intended demographic change. Similarly, the CAA was flaunted as the whim of a Hindu state which will protect Hindus in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, while the Assamese are totally opposed to the settling of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh in the state. And the BJP was playing to the Assamese Hindu identity to win the Assembly elections. The Narendra Modi government has been flailing its hands for the past six years to make the economy hum, but it found itself committing all the unforced errors possible, including the November 2016 demonetisation, and alienating one Reserve Bank of India governor after another. Even the incumbent, Shaktikanta Das, who wanted to be accommodative to the governments demands, including the transfer of the RBIs huge reserves to the treasury, finds himself in a tight spot. Modi does not seem to get the message that he has not set the economy free from government interference and that the ideal of ease of business is yet to be realised fully. It is a hard lesson that Modi is not willing to learn -- that you could win a parliamentary majority but it does not ensure that the whims and fancies of a popular government do not strengthen the country in any way, including Modi associating himself with the construction of the Ram Mandir at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. 15.08.2020 LISTEN I have not read Prof. Kwamena Ahwois book, Working with Rawlings but I have read enough snippets of its content to form an opinion of Kwamena Ahwoi and his thought processes and is actions; and to make a value judgment of Rawlings, his personality and his leadership. Everything Kwamena Ahwoi has stated in that book is true. But none of it is surprising. For those of us that witnessed the Rawlings interregnum of nineteen years, whatever Kwamena Ahwoi said of himself, Rawlings and that era falls in tandem with our own impressions and thoughts, of what we knew of the epoch and the foolishness, foibles and follies of the era. So of the accounts and anecdotes revealed in the book, and the themes and tropes of leadership expressed of Kwamena Ahwoi, Rawlings and all their other cronies, we have not been surprised in the least. We already had our judgment of how Ahwoi worked with Rawlings, and the judgment is not a pretty picture. That judgment is an ugly picture of political opportunism and dangerous chicanery, characterized by selfish interests, political gamesmanship, knee jerk and guess-work leadership, incompetence, and complete absence of national direction and basic ideas in governance. And of all this national malaise, Kwamena ahwoi was an inextricable part. Now some of us grew up thinking that our leaders were superhumans with good intentions for building a prosperous nation, and that whatever actions they took, no matter how excessive or decadent, were all for that sacred national good. And that they were forced to take those decisions on account of the general good. As a matter of fact, when I later studied law in my mature years, I had validation in my study of Business Law in which the executive is assumed to make decisions in the interest of his or her establishment, guided by the notion of good faith and fiduciary trust. The thrust of the argument is that if he makes a mistake in the exercise of power under these considerations, he cannot be found liable. But the sad revelation after reading all these snippets of accounts in Kwamena Ahwois book is that there is enough evidence on Rawlings and his part to let anybody conclude that these people; or any other person in the P/NDC, had no good faith or any fiduciary responsibility for the nation. They were all in because of their greed: Rawlings staged a coup because of his greed. Kwamena Ahwoi was in because of his greed. Totobi Kwakye was in because of his greed. Tsatsu Tsikata was in because of his greed. Kwadwo Tsikata was in because of his greed. Kwasi Botwe was in because of his greed. Justice Annan was in because of his greed. Obed Asamoah was in because of his greed. And all those who joined the bandwagon of the revolution were all in because of their greed. Nothing else. And of all of them, Rawlings is the least culpable because at least he knew nothing and had achieved nothing in his life. He had never headed anything nor maintained anything in his life. He was young and clueless and could not even provide for his own family. In his house was a single chair which he had unhooked from an old helicopter. He owed money to the yoke-gari sellers and had no discipline prior to joining the Air Force. As a matter of fact, he had left a substantial record of indiscipline in Achimota College and in the military to make him a virtual monster and unbalanced individual. There are those who alleged that he was heavily into weed smoking and the abuse of other drugs. This was his known dossier when he staged his coup, and there was not a single one of his followers who did not know this dossier. And so why blame a tiger for showcasing his tigritude? Rawlings did everything in pattern with what Rawlings does. And so why was anybody surprised? The only surprising thing was the cabal of educated citizens that massively followed him and made it possible for him to be Head of State of this noble country for nineteen years. Maybe if they had all pulled their efforts together to pull down Rawlings, it would have been impossible for him to hang in for that length of time. The only consolation is that almost all of the Rawlings cronies eventually broke ranks with him and are enemies with him to date. The due punishment of all these traitors and collaborators is that most of them ended up dead or totally destroyed, mostly killed or destroyed by Rawlings himself. Meanwhile Rawlings sits in just solitude of all his sins, suffering the poetic justice of all those like him. And so what is Kwamena Ahwoi trying to tell us with his book? That he was the honest or sincere or brave or knowledgeable or well-intentioned and patriotic one? We know something about Kwamena Ahwoi. We heard about Kwamena Ahwois exploits in the university where he used to prance around naked in Commonwealth Hall as a student, just to make himself relevant as a veritable vandal. We heard of him prancing around in the University of Ghana as a lecturer in Jesus-like sandals and growing a long beard to demonstrate his understanding of socialism which he applied as a convenient theory to cloud his destitution. So in the beginning were two failed individuals conjoined by their frustrations and their destitution and their anger, together with their ambitions and mischief. Following In verisimilitude was a long line of like-minded people who got together, not to save the nation but to plunder its wealth. Rawlings staged a coup which all these people lined behind. And so they are all culpable in a treasonable and criminal enterprise, and none of them is guiltless. And this is a cute and tidy summary of the collective culpability of Rawlings and his minions. And all discerning minds know exactly what happened in the details. So what else can Kwamena Ahwoi add to our body of knowledge with his book? How does this book contribute to the advancement of the national agenda or our aspiration as a people? If he had any smidgen of conscience left at all, he would rather give up everything he gained through the so-called revolution like his houses, cars and investments, and put on his old Jesus-like sandals and grow his beard and don a sackcloth and come let us discuss all his sins and evils and the victims he helped to destroy. He will then do a penance for his sins which can the multitudinous sea incarnadine, making the green one red. That is how to properly repent and regret. Because he entered government with a monster at his head and never uttered a word against the monster.until he has fleeced his fill. And now he is talking loudly because Rawlings is a spent force, left with his Parkinsons disease and his vague or forged recollection of his role in Ghanas affairs. I was fifteen years old when Rawlings burst on the scene on June 4, 1978. When he killed all these generals, I also shouted let the blood flow. And I do not exculpate myself as innocent of any bloodshed on account of being too young: I knew much back then even though I was too young. And I should have protested against the pogrom when it occurred. Till date, I regret my role if any; and if there were any profit I gained from the persecution of my fellow citizens, I should have regretted it and made the necessary restitution for any harm done to anybody. I wouldnt have written a book to rationalize and justify my actions while leaving all these victims in the lurch. Fortunately for me, I saw the light early upon the second return of Rawlings in 1981, and never joined in any of the nonsense. Many people also knew Rawlings enough and refrained from joining in his madness. We dont have any restitution for anybody except an apology to all the victims for whatever harm that occurred during the time when we should have known better than to shout, Let the blood flowThe time when we supported nonsense. But maybe Kwamena Ahwoi is no man of depth or knowledge. When I heard him explaining that according to the law of hoarding, somebody who bought six tins of milk could be arrested and jailed for several decades, I knew he did not understand the principles of law. And when he explained in the same breath that a person who bought the one tin of milk left in a store could be arrested and prosecuted under the same law, I concluded that he was patently ignorant of justice. Yet he was the justicer for the incarceration of the many. Those who joined Rawlings knew his nature and joined him nonetheless. And their claim that they joined to support in the building of the country is insincere and very disingenuous. How were they hoping to join a man who had built nothing in his life and who overthrew a government with no knowledge in nation building? Why didnt they join the government with knowledge of nation building which Rawlings overthrew if they deemed themselves fit for nation building? They were all opportunists who saw an aperture out of their poverty and duly enriched themselves at the expense of the country. And so what is Kwamena Ahwoi telling the country? That Rawling was bad and incompetent? When did he get to know this? Like Rip Van Winkle, he has just woken up from over two score years of sleep to tell us how we should look at our world and his role in it. And what are we supposed to do with that kind of information? Maybe it would have been better to tell us what he and Rawlings achieved in twenty years of rule, instead of bickering about anecdotes of Rawlings scrotal ball crushing, or him playing with his toys, or his misunderstanding of policies and politics, or his megalomaniacal tendencies or the petty jealousy of his wife. We all know about Rawlings and what he is capable of. In 1988, when I was a student at Legon, I was put on a research program gathering data on the cost and standard of living of Ghanaians living in the East Legon area. Everywhere I went, there were very nice buildings in which people lived pretty well. Yet they were all complaining about the harsh economic conditions. I entered a particularly imposing white house with solid walls and concrete floor. I met a beautiful elderly woman who had this large bowl sitting in front of her. In the bowl were five fat chicken from which the old lady was pulling feathers. She politely told me that she was the mother of the Ahwois and that for political reasons, I could not conduct my research on their household income. I quickly left, thinking of those fat chicken and wondering whether I could have convinced the old woman to give me the legs or the wings for my soup on campus. Life was very hard in those days! But Ahwoi had cleverly escaped from his own plight and poverty and finally graduated from his Jesus sandals days and beard-wearing days and finally put aside his scruffy socialist notions and dressing, transforming into a nouveau rich and eating rich and dressing rich and even shaving his beard to look more refined in all his richness. He had left everybody else behind except himself and his family. But none of us can be deceived or confused, no matter what appearance he puts out. In fact, his book constitutes self-inflicted confessions of his own greed, disloyalty and utter incompetence as a leader..An expose of his own lack of ethics and morality and treasonable tendency. His actions, thoughts and behavior as gleaned from his book are all intertwined and morphed with everything about Rawlings and his revolution, and he must be responsible enough to take the blame and fall for whatever evil deeds Rawlings performed on the people. Kwamena Ahwoi was part of all of it; and he, a maggot, should never separate himself from the excrement that made and nourished him. He and Rawlings, together with all these intelligent scoundrels and educated retards that followed his cause, are one and inseparable and must endure the calumny and shame together. Dr. Samuel Adjei Sarfo, Esq. Austin, Texas, USA. Email: [email protected] Read what is in the news today. Politics Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception on Friday for his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, who is on a visit to Vietnam for the national mourning of the late former Vietnamese Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Society Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Friday agreed to reopen President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi to visitors from Saturday, August 15 after two months of closure for maintenance and renovation. The inauguration of the new Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 9, scheduled for Saturday, has been delayed again due to several unfinished works, the citys Department of Transport has reported to the municipal Peoples Committee. Da Nang authorities on Friday found seven people gathering at a karaoke parlor to sing and use narcotics, breaking the citys social distancing measures to curb the current COVID-19 outbreak. The market surveillance unit of the southern Binh Duong Province in collaboration with the provincial police on Friday detected more than two million used medical gloves to be put on sale being stored at a warehouse of a company in its Thu Dau Mot City. Can Tho Childrens Hospital in the namesake Mekong Delta city has saved a 0.8-kilogram premature newborn with peritonitis due to congenital perforation, according to the infirmarys deputy director Ong Huy Thanh. The headquarters of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Quang Binh Province has been broken into by thieves for the second time in three years, its deputy director confirmed on Friday. Sports The Medical Services Administration under the Ministry of Health on Friday night requested Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi to conduct RT-PCR (Real-time Polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 tests on all 112 players and coaching staff of the national U22 and U19 mens football team under the Vietnam Football Federation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! For the first time, no former Indian Prime Minister is likely to attend the At Home reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday an event that usually attracts the whos who of the national capital. According to officials involved in the event, former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Devegowda are unlikely to attend the event that will see a subdued gathering of 110 people at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Convention Centre. For the first time, the customary function will see no spouses of the invitees, no live food counters, no freedom fighters and no free interaction with VVIPsseveral new rules of a new normal, protocol-wrapped ceremony, amid the pandemic. Also read: Time to move away from ordinary - Inspiring quotes from PMs I-Day speech Apart from Singh and Devegowda, some other VVIPs may also skip the event. Union home minister Amit Shah, who has put himself in home isolation according to the advice will not come. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was recently admitted in the hospital is also unlikely to attend the event. She also did not attend the flag hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters on Saturday morning and in her absence, former defence minister AK Antony hoisted the flag. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who is still on a ventilator after a life-saving brain surgery, is another invitee who will be missing the event. According to officials, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, is likely to remain absent. According to his aides, Azad is avoiding large gatherings. He too, could not be seen at the flag hoisting ceremony at the party headquarters. A total of about 100 guests, including 26 Corona warriors, have been invited for the programme that will start with a brief speech by President Ram Nath Kovind hailing the Covid warriors. Also read: Peaceful resolution of Ram Janmabhoomi issue unprecedented - PM Modi Refreshment including traditional delicacies such as samosas, dhokla, along with tea, would be served by a limited number of waiters who have been tested negative for Covid-19. All guest tables would be named after rivers of India and each guest would be ushered into his or her assigned place. The guest list has been heavily pruned to a maximum 90 from the normal gathering of 1,500 dignitaries. The duration for the event is likely to be reduced to barely an hour from the normal schedule of two to two and a half hours, said an official. There would be a minimum celebration for the sake of holding the event. We have applied a rationale or logic while selecting the limited number of guests, but as a large number of dignitaries could not be called, the selection might still look like a random choice, said an official. As a result, no ministers of state (MoSs) have been invited. Even all cabinet ministers may not get a chance to enjoy the Rashtrapati Bhavan hospitalities on August 15. Apart from the Prime Minister, the members of the cabinet committee on security (defence, home, external affairs and finance) and a select few senior cabinet ministers would be called. The list of ministers may not go beyond ten VVIPs, said the official. President Trump added more pressure Friday night on China-based TikTok parent ByteDance to exit the U.S., ordering it to divest all assets related to the U.S. operation of TikTok within 90 days. Between the lines: The order means ByteDance must be wholly disentangled from TikTok in the U.S. by November. Trump had previously ordered TikTok banned if ByteDance hadn't struck a deal within 45 days. The new order likely means ByteDance has just another 45 days after that to fully close the deal, one White House source told Axios. Details: Under the order, ByteDance has to divest Musical.ly, the U.S.-based karaoke app it bought and merged with existing assets in 2018 to create TikTok in its present form, as well as all assets that support the U.S. operation of TikTok. The company also must also destroy any copies of data it collected via TikTok. The order follows a unanimous recommendation from the Treasury Department-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. CFIUS had been reviewing the Musical.ly deal for possible national security concerns. Context: Microsoft has been in talks as a potential buyer in a TikTok sale. The latest order is unlikely to affect those negotiations beyond putting all parties in an additional time crunch. What they're saying: "There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," Trump wrote in Friday's order. China hawks maintain that Beijing could force ByteDance to hand over Americans' data collected through TikTok, though there's no evidence it has done so to date. TikTok maintains that it does not store any U.S. user data in China. Be smart: Unwinding the Musical.ly deal was widely expected to be the process for effectively forcing ByteDance out of the U.S. should the CFIUS make that recommendation, until Trump inserted himself more directly into the process. Sources have told Axios that CFIUS has grown less willing to enact measures to greenlight Chinese investment with conditions to mitigate risks and that a divestiture order was likely. The big picture: TikTok, which has been working on boosting its D.C. presence since last year, has been appealing to Congress to explain how its business in the U.S. works and has said it is exploring legal options to fight Trump's ban threat. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:20:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Saturday that his government was ready to sit face-to-face with Japan at any time to resolve a long-drawn-out issue over the South Korean victims of forced labor by Japan during World War II. "Our government is ready to sit face-to-face with the Japanese government at any time," Moon said in his televised speech to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. "The government respects the judiciary's ruling, and has consulted with Japan's government on a smooth resolution, to which the (South Korean) victims can agree," Moon said. Moon noted that South Korea currently left the door of consultations with Japan "wide open" over the forced labor issue. Four South Korean victims, who were forced into heavy labor without pay during the colonial era, field a damages lawsuit in 2005 against a Japanese steelmaker. Among the four victims, Lee Chun-sik is the only surviving plaintiff because of old age. It was followed by other wartime forced labor victims and their families lodging compensation suits against Japanese companies. South Korea's Supreme Court delivered a ruling in 2018 that ordered some of Japanese companies to pay reparation to the victims. Japan has claimed that all colonial-era issues were settled through a 1965 bilateral treaty that normalized diplomatic relations between the two countries, but the South Korean top court ruled that the state-to-state deal did not involve individuals' right to reparation. Referring to the surviving plaintiff Lee Chun-sik, Moon said, "We will confirm the fact that protecting the dignity of an individual will never be a loss to the country." In an apparent protest against the top court's ruling, Japan tightened control in July last year over its export of South Korea of three materials vital to producing memory chips and display panels that are the mainstay of South Korea's export. In August last year, Japan dropped South Korea off its whitelist of trusted trading partners that are given preferential export procedure. In response, Seoul removed Tokyo from its whitelist of trusted export partners. Enditem OHCHR sends fact-finding mission following Mapuche leaders hunger strike, which has continued for more than 100 days. The United Nations has sent a fact-finding team to Chiles restive Araucania region where a jailed Indigenous Mapuche leader has spent more than 100 days on a hunger strike over his detention during the coronavirus pandemic. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) confirmed on Saturday its team had visited the hospital in the regional capital, Temuco, where Celestino Cordova was being treated, according to Reuters news agency. They have also visited prisons where at least 20 other Mapuche people are on hunger strikes. The Mapuche fiercely resisted the Spanish conquest of Chile and have for decades been fighting for what they say is their ancestral land against landowners and the wood pulp industry. Cordova was jailed for 18 years in 2014 for his alleged participation in the killing of an elderly landowning couple in an arson attack. He has been on a hunger strike for 104 days after the courts rejected his appeal to be transferred to house arrest because of COVID-19. His case has recently increased tensions in Chile, which were already high after several months of protests over inequality and deepening economic hardships due to the pandemic. Protests and arson attacks have occurred in Araucania and elsewhere in the country. On Friday night, in Santiagos Plaza Italia, police used water cannon to break up a demonstration in support of Cordova and made several arrests. Continued hunger strike Indigenous leaders have alleged forced evictions from council property, excessive or unnecessary use of force by the authorities and racial discrimination amid the unrest, Reuters reported citing a communique by OHCHR. During the mission, the UN team has met with those leaders as well as with police, prosecutors and business representatives, it said. In July, after Cordovas health deteriorated, Temucos appeals court ordered a hospital to intervene, including providing nutrients against his will. On Friday, the government told Cordova he could return home to conduct an important Mapuche blessing ceremony of a totem carved into a tree if he ceased his hunger strike. Both the government and various national and international organisations have made every effort to bring positions closer, the justice ministry said in a statement. In an audio message circulated on social media that was purportedly recorded by Cordova, he said he would start a liquids strike, and accused President Sebastian Pinera of lacking the wisdom to resolve the conflict. Because he is not up to the task, he will finally kill me, he allegedly said. By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/08/14 On August 14th Management SOOP announced that Gong Yoo, an actor who they represent, had donated approximately one hundred thousand dollars to flood relief earlier this year under an assumed name. The donation was made to a national fund specifically aimed at providing for the safety of people the afflicted regions. Advertisement Management SOOP also inadvertently confirmed that Gong Yoo had also made a donation to COVID-19 relief back in February, also in the amount of approximately one hundred thousand dollars, as Gong Yoo also used the same assumed name at that time. Large donations from Gong Yoo for such causes are not too surprising. The actor's brand is worth quite a bit of money, and he has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2014. Written by William Schwartz It has been exactly two months now since Sushant Singh Rajput passed away in Mumbai. His US-based brother-in-law Visha Kirti put up a blog post recalling the fateful night he and Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti learned about actor's unfortunate demise. Vishal summed up the entire flow of events during the night in the US in June when they got to know about Sushant's sudden death and later informed their two children about the same. He also said it was very difficult for them to travel to India amid the pandemic but Sushant's sister Shweta got on the plane on June 16 due to some of family's contacts in the area. Vishal also shared a throwback picture with Sushant from his marriage day with Shweta. Vishal referred to Sushant as "sensitive and respectful." "Always smiling, always compassionate that's the Sushant I remember," Vishal wrote ending his blog post. Take a look. I am sharing this because its been two months since that fateful night and we are still struggling. Emotions are still high and eyes are still watery. What was taken away from us that night is hard to express in words. #CBI4SSR https://t.co/bUTvqr8uPL vishal kirti (@vikirti) August 13, 2020 Meanwhile, Vishal's wife Shweta has been crusading for justice for Sushant through social media. She has asked for Global 24-hour spiritual and prayer observation for Sushant on August 15 and is constantly pushing for a Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) probe in the matter. Many celebrities like Hina Khan, Mouni Roy, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan, Daisy Shah among others have demanded for CBI probe in Sushant's death. Each person working on the HS2 rail project costs the taxpayer almost 100,000 on average, it has emerged. And the chief executive of the troubled high-speed link leads the charge taking home more than four times the Prime Minister last year with 659,416. The astonishing figures were revealed in HS2s annual report, which also detailed millions spent on communications, dinners, transport and hotel costs. They will raise fresh questions over the huge costs of the project, which have already spiralled out of control from 36billion in 2012 to an estimated 106billion. Each person working on the HS2 rail project costs the taxpayer almost 100,000 on average, it has emerged The 2019/20 report revealed that HS2 Ltd employs 1,415 people at a cost of 134.2million. Most of this is made up of wages and salaries, as well as employer pension and National Insurance contributions all of which are funded by the taxpayer. It means each staff member cost 94,824 on average in 2019/20, up from 92,501 the year before. Of that amount, an average of 80,189 went directly to the employee in wages. The project's chief executive Mark Thurston is the most highly-paid public worker in the country It was already known that chief executive Mark Thurston is the most highly-paid public worker in the country. But the report disclosed that he took home a 617,296 basic salary last year, up from 603,350 the year before. On top of this he received a bonus payment of 36,743 as well as taxable benefits of 5,376 a total of 659,416. The next highest paid was Michael Bradley, HS2s chief financial officer. His salary of 274,500 was boosted by bonuses, taxable benefits and pension benefit to take his final package to 355,044. Allan Cook, the chairman, took 266,770 in total. In comparison, Boris Johnson earns just over 150,000 a year. Campaigners last night accused HS2 of taking taxpayers for a ride. Harry Fone of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Since day one HS2 has over-promised and under-delivered. Its no wonder many see this project as a white elephant that rewards poor performance. Proper scrutiny is long overdue, the Government must interrogate costs and get a grip on this runaway gravy train. Former Tory Cabinet minister Cheryl Gillan, who has been campaigning against the high-speed link which cuts through her Buckinghamshire constituency, said: This is a project which is out of control. We knew it is costing the taxpayer an arm and a leg, and now we learn about these ridiculous salary costs. The astonishing figures were revealed in HS2s annual report, raising fresh questions over the huge costs of the project, which have already spiralled out of control from 36billion in 2012 to an estimated 106billion They are building a railway which is going to be old by the time it is completed. Taxpayers money would be better spent levelling up between the north and south through high-speed broadband and better east-west connections in the north. That would provide employment, but not at this exorbitant cost. The annual report into HS2 which will link London to Leeds and Manchester via Birmingham shows that in 2019/20 the wage bill was 113.5million, or just over 80million per member of staff on average. On top of this, they benefit from 7,098 in employers pension contributions each on average. Campaigners last night accused HS2 of taking taxpayers for a ride. Pictured: The site of a to be completed 10-mile long tunnel in the Chilterns The report also reveals the huge amount spent by HS2 Ltd in non-staff expenditure such as dinners, hotel stays and travel costs. More than 3.3million was spent on travel and subsistence and 802,000 on recruitment fees. Accommodation costs were 13.8million up from 8.9million the year before. Some 24.8million was spent on communication and information technology. Last night an HS2 Ltd spokesman said: In a highly technical project of the scale and complexity of HS2 it is necessary to employ the right level of expertise and knowledge to successfully deliver the programme safely and on time. HS2 Ltd is committed to controlling costs and take our responsibility to ensure taxpayers get value for money very seriously. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 12 planes loaded with a total of 220 tons of aid from Egypt will arrive in Lebanon in the coming two weeks, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Elwi said. Egypt sent on Saturday three jets loaded with 28 tons of food and medical aid to Beirut under a direct airlift operated to provide assistance to the heavily burdened Lebanese capital after a deadly blast this month put its toll on the once lively capitals daily life. The aid was sent jointly by the government and several non-governmental organisations, including Misr El-Kheir, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and Mersal. Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Elwi said 21 Egyptian doctors arrived in Lebanon through the direct airlift as part of the medical relief efforts. Elwi added that 12 planes loaded with a total of 220 tons of aid from Egypt will arrive in Lebanon in the coming two weeks, with three planes sent to Beirut every two days until the end of the month. Following the explosion, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced opening an air bridge to the Lebanese capital to deliver medical aid, food, specialised medical teams, construction materials and glass panels for reconstruction. Search Keywords: Short link: The Uttarakhand rural development and migration commissions report has recommended that a masterplan be prepared for the development of Garsain, the recently declared summer capital of the state in Chamoli district. The report stated that Garsain was one of the areas in the hill district which saw significant migration of locals to other states. The migration commissions 95-page report on Chamoli district was released by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat here on Friday. HT has a copy of the report. On June 8 this year, the hill town of Gairsain in Chamoli district officially became the summer capital of Uttarakhand. In a surprise move in his budget speech on March 4, chief minister Rawat had announced that Gairsain located about 260 km east of Dehradun, will be the summer capital of Uttarakhand. Gairsain as the states capital has been a hot political issue between the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress for a long time. The migration commissions report apart from listing the details about migration in Chamoli has also come up with recommendations on how to strengthen the rural economy in the hill district to check migration of people, especially the need to combine the indigenous Himalayan skill sets with modern technology to enhance productivity and quality that will ultimately lead to the better profit earning. According to the report, in 10 years prior to 2018, around 32,000 people have migrated from the districts 556 villages on a temporary basis while 14,289 people have migrated from 373 villages on a permanent basis. The report also points out that 42% of the people who have migrated were in the 26 to 35 age group. Some of the recommendations made in the report include efforts be made to strengthen the rural economy in the district, employment avenues be created at the local level to check migration, horticulture be promoted as the scope for traditional crops is limited, basic facilities like roads, electricity, water supply be ensured in villages, tourism be promoted in a big way in the district, including its bordering areas with China, locals be trained in various skill sets which can help them in finding employment and so on. The chief minister said the report will help the state government to provide basic facilities, increase employment opportunities and stop migration to other states. Rawat said stress should be laid on identifying people who can be provided jobs in their districts under Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana. He said the state government has already formed a cell for this. He said the focus of the government is to provide employment to people as a large number of people have returned to the state during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to SS Negi, vice chairman Uttarakhand rural development and the migration commission, this is the fifth report that they have come up with. We have prepared detailed reports about four districts so far that include Tehri (June 2020), Almora (June 2019), Pithoragarh (October 2019) and Pauri (April 2018), he said. Migration from rural areas in Uttarakhand is a serious problem with a comparison between 2001 and 2011 census data showing a very slow decadal growth of population in most of the mountain districts of the state, according to the Commission. The data analyzed by the Commission points towards a positive rate of decadal increase in the population of districts like Dehradun, US Nagar, Nainital and Haridwar while negative in Pauri, Almora, Tehri, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts. 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While none of us really expected any of the other parties to win a majority of seats at these hustings, hardly anyone would have predicted the sheer size of the landslide and the complete decimation of both the UNP (zero seats) and the SLFP (1 seat). From disgraced former presidents in Polonnaruwa, convicted felons in Ratnapura and chillie-powder throwers from Gampaha, the people we voters have sent to parliament give credence to the old saying that if a broomstick were to be dressed up as an SLPP candidate, it would have been voted in. This sort of electoral whitewash is nothing new in our country. In 1956, when the SLFPs leader SWRD Bandaranaike led his four party coalition, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, to a resounding electoral victory, the previously ruling UNP was reduced to just eight seats in the 95 member legislature. In 1977, JR Jayewardene-led the UNP won a similar landslide victory with 140 seats in the 168-seat parliament, reducing the SLFP to just eight seats and destroying two of the nations oldest political parties, the LSSP and the Communist Party, in the process. Political giants like Dr Colvin R de Silva, Dr N.M. Perera and Dr S.A. Wickremesinghe all lost their seats at those hustings. I have been trying these past few days to understand just how the Podujana Peramuna managed to inflict such a devastating victory on its opponents in 2020. True, in Basil Rajapakse it had a political geniuslike SWRD was in 1956 and JRJ in 1977who could read the pulse of the country and mastermind an election campaign. But no wily political strategist could singlehandedly deliver the number of seats the SLPP won if not for the fact that the electorate was in the correct mindset to deliver such a punishing message to the previous government. And in my view, the three things that were responsible for this landslide were simply that we were left with neither security nor stability under the so-called Yahapalana government. After the war against the LTTE ended in 2009, our citizens, both in the north and south breathed a sigh of relief, believing that peace would now prevail and we could go about our activities of daily living without fear. That sense of security was devastatingly shattered when in April 2019 the Easter terrorist attacks took placebombings that could have been prevented if only the feuding president and prime minister had only taken the security threat seriously. India gave us no less than three separate warnings about the impending attacks but the President either did not understand the gravity of the situation or simply chose to not take them seriously, while the prime minister, without asserting himself as he had every right to do, just allowed himself to be excluded from meetings of the National Security Council. The inability of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena to lead this country as it was their responsibility to do so resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives. Small wonder then that the electorate in no uncertain terms gave to both their parties what Winston Churchill referred to as The Royal Order of the Boot although the voters of Polonnaruwa have inexplicably returned the former president (now shamelessly covering himself in the colours of the SLPP) back to parliament. If the pitiable lack of security provided by the former Yahapalana government resulted in voters turning against them and throwing its ministers and constituent parties out of office, I believe the other factor that gave President Gotabayas party an edge is the success with which he tackled the coronavirus problem. Bigger and richer countries have been devastated by the virusthe powerful United States has been brought to its knees by the tiny virus. Our neighbour India has been averaging half a lakh of new cases every day since June. Australia with a similar sized population to ours has recorded more than 21,000 cases and 300 deaths, while Sri Lanka, with less than 3000 cases and 11 deaths, seems to have got the epidemic in this country under control. An efficient public health system coupled with decisive leadership plus the ability to take a timely decision and enforce an effective curfewhas given our people freedom from fear of the coronavirus. When it comes down to brass tacks, our people have voted for security from bomb blasts and safety from pandemics. To the man and woman at the ballot box, it does not matter whether Ravi or Rishaad or Wimal takes the commissions, whether the AR and the FR are scrupulously followed in government procurements, whether parliaments Committee on Public Enterprises is chaired by an incorruptible and capable MP like Sunil Handunetti or by a sycophantic poorly educated nonentity (of which there will be many vying for Mr Handunettis post in the new parliament). What our citizens seem to have stated loudly and clearly is that what they want is security and stability to live a peaceful and healthy life without dying prematurely and unnecessarily from acts of terrorism or lethal micro-organisms. The president has been given a resounding mandate. I only hope that his motley minions do not let him down. Rohingya Candidate to Appeal Myanmar Parliament Candidacy Rejection 2020-08-14 -- A Rohingya man who filed to run for a seat in Myanmar's parliament in November has been disqualified over questions about his parents' citizenship, a decision that he disputed and that activists say underscores pervasive official discrimination toward the Muslim minority. Abdul Rasheed, a member of the Rohingya-led Democracy and Human Rights Party (DHRP), filed his candidate application to run for a parliamentary seat representing Sittwe township in western Rakhine state, home to most of Myanmar's 300,000 Rohingya. On Tuesday, six days after he filed his papers at the Sittwe District Election Commission, election authorities rejected his application on the grounds that his parents were not Myanmar citizens when he was born. The 58-year-old said his father was a civil servant for nearly four decades in Rakhine's capital Sittwe and received a government pension. His mother, meanwhile, holds a citizenship certificate. "It is obvious that my mother became a citizen before I was born because she has a three-fold national ID card," Abdul Rasheed told RFA on Thursday, referring to National Registration Cards (NRC) issued by the government from 1948 to 1982, and which provided full citizenship rights. In 1982, Myanmar enacted a Citizenship Law that decreed that only members of the "national races" seen as having settled in Myanmar prior to beginning of British colonial rule in 1824 were entitled to citizenship. The Rohingya were not included among the 135 official ethnic groups and were suddenly excluded from full citizenship and disenfranchised. Election authorities told Abdul Rasheed that they accepted his account, but did not have the authority to verify his parent's citizenship. They also said he could file an appeal over the application rejection, which he said he would do. Abdul Rasheed questioned why other ethnic groups who hold three-fold ID cards are recognized as citizens. "People have asked me if my candidacy was rejected because I am a Muslim or a Rohingya," he said. "I'm disappointed that other people who hold the same types of ID cards are allowed to be candidates," he said. "Their citizenship is not being questioned. Why is my citizenship as a Muslim or a Rohingya being questioned?" More than a dozen other Rohingya candidates have submitted candidate registration forms to run in the upcoming elections. Abdul Rasheed was also rejected when he tried to register as a parliamentary candidate for Sittwe in the 2015 general elections, which brought to power current Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) government. State election authorities later threw out his appeal. 'Linked to genocidal policy' The international community has condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's government over its handling of the military's brutal crackdown on Rohingya communities in northern Rakhine state nearly three years ago that left thousands dead and prompted more than 740,000 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar faces charges on genocide-related charges at the International Criminal Court for the maltreatment of the Rohingya during the crackdown accusations that Aung San Suu Kyi and the military have denied. Rohingya activist Wai Wai Nu, whose father chairs the DHRP, said Abdul Raheed's disqualification by election authorities reflects the government's attitude toward the Rohingya. "This is actually directly linked to the state's genocidal policy against our people," she said Thursday during a webinar on the Rohingya crisis. "Despite a long history of participation in Burma's elections and politics, our people were disenfranchised in 2015," she said, referring to the last general elections in which the Rohingya were not permitted to vote. The NLD government, which won office in 2015 promising a change from military rule, "must change these policies and practices," Wai Wai Nu added. The Southeast Asia-based rights group Fortify Rights issued a statement on Wednesday calling on the government to ensure Rohingya-led political parties have the right to field candidates in the 2020 elections. Nickey Diamond, a human rights activist with Fortify Rights, said he is certain that Abdul Rasheed's latest application was rejected because he is a Rohingya. Myanmar views members of the minority group as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and subject to systematic repression and discrimination. "The rejection in the past election was also for the same reason," he told RFA, adding that many hoped that the civilian-led, pro-democracy NLD government would have opened the door to Rohingya political candidates. "The man has the right to run for the election, and his party is officially registered," Diamond said. "Now, the government has denied his right to run as a candidate. It makes me doubtful that the upcoming elections will be free and fair." Other candidates have been rejected by election authorities, despite proven citizenship, Diamond added. 'Not based on race and religion' UEC Chairman Hla Thein told RFA that religion and race had nothing to do with candidate application approvals. "We are not approving candidates based on their race and religion," he said. "Regardless of their race and religion, we approve all candidates if they fulfill the qualifications required to be a candidate." Established in 1989 as the National Democratic Party for Human Rights, the DHRP has advocated for Rohingya rights in northern Rakhine where more than 300,000 Muslims still live in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships, according to election authorities. The DHRP has nominated seven candidates in all to run in the upcoming elections, with five from Rakhine state and two from Yangon region. Abdul Rasheed is the first one to be rejected by election authorities, while applications submitted by the others are still being reviewed. Nearly 100 political parties have put forward candidates for the Nov. 8 elections in what's likely to be a tough contest among contenders from the popular ruling NLD, the army-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party, and many ethnic parties. The candidates are vying for 1,171 seats in both houses of the national parliament and in state and regional legislatures. Reported by Thant Zin Oo for RFA's Myanmar Service. Additional reporting by Roseanne Gerin. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. 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 Every so often, an idea comes along that is so out of touch and unfair that it unites pretty much everyone in their disapproval. Recently, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) appeared to be doing exactly that when media reports suggested the federal housing agency is researching a new home equity tax on primary residences. According to reports, CMHC is spending $250,000 in partnership with the University of British Columbias School of Population to investigate ways to tax the equity Canadians have gained in their homes. CMHC has denied that a capital-gains tax on primary residences is in the works. But where theres smoke, theres fire. A home equity tax would be unfair and hurtful to Canadians during the best of times, but at this very moment during a global pandemic it is reckless. Across the country, people have lost their jobs or a significant portion of their income and are struggling to make ends meet. For them, their home equity could be a lifeline during these uncertain times and beyond. While the CMHC backpedalled from a home equity tax after the media uproar, they were clear that their goal is to level the playing field between homeowners and renters by making home ownership less attractive. Their research partner at UBC has been leading the charge for higher taxes on home ownership to make owning more equivalent to renting. Our dream of home ownership is static and regressive, CMHC CEO Evan Siddall said in a recent speech. We need to call out the glorification of home ownership for the regressive canard that it is, he said. The Ontario Real Estate Association decided to ask people what they thought of a new home equity tax. It is adamantly opposed. According to a recent Nanos Research report, more than six in 10 Ontario residents would oppose (50 per cent) or somewhat oppose (13 per cent) a new capital gains tax when someone sells their primary residence. Only 16 per cent liked the idea. For homeowners, more than 72 per cent opposed the CMHC tax grab on the value of their homes. This is hardly a surprise. Homes are taxed enough as it is. Hardworking Canadians already pay taxes on their income. They work hard to save what is left of their income to purchase a home only to pay a punishing land transfer tax when they finally get the keys. They continue to pay property taxes every year. They pay sales taxes when they improve their home and then get slapped with even higher property taxes for making it a better place to live. Over time, homes build equity. For many, this is what they rely on for retirement or a rainy day. First and foremost, it is the family home and the place of our fondest memories. But it is also a safety net and a proven investment. Recently, the CMHC has taken several opportunities to talk down the Canadian value of owning a home. This new ideology at the CMHC is contrary to its historic role of building a strong, vibrant Canadian middle class by supporting responsible and affordable home ownership. The notion that governments can tax their way to housing affordability is ludicrous. Lowering the tax and red-tape burden on homes especially for first-time home buyers would be a helpful step toward affordable home ownership. Home ownership is an abiding Canadian value. It has proven to build stronger and more stable communities. Creating more affordable options and greater choice in the marketplace should be a focus of all governments. Increasing housing supply and accelerating the approvals process would make a big difference. Modernizing local planning rules set in the era of disco would open up more housing choices such as laneway homes, intensifying along major transportation corridors and building above transit stations. Instead of being an advocate for an ideological fad that undermines the value of middle-class homes, the CMHC should return to focusing on practical and affordable ways to support the Canadian dream of home ownership. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 18:24:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Another mostly tourist-free month -- now, in August, the highest of the high tourist season in Italy -- is bringing the economies of the country's most popular tourist cities "to their knees," according to sector analysts. August is the most popular vacation month in Europe, a time when Italians usually head to the country's beaches and mountains and tourists from across Europe and farther afield head to Italy. But not this year. The coronavirus pandemic started having a negative impact on Italy's massive tourism industry even before the country instituted its national lockdown in early March. Hotel owners and tour operators reported a wave of cancellations starting in late February when reports showed the country's first coronavirus infections in northern Italy. Italy started to ease the lockdown measures in early May and by early June it opened its borders to foreign tourists from a few countries, gradually adding new countries to the list as the weeks went by. But by Italian standards, few tourists arrived. Some hotels and restaurants opened and then closed again due to a lack of business. Most tour operators remain shuttered. The silence from the lack of tourists has never been more noticeable than it has been in August. "A year ago, we hired three new guides just for August and we still had to turn some people away," Pietro Barsotti, manager and co-founder of Eternal City Tours in Rome, told Xinhua. "This year we've gone from 15 guides speaking the main European languages and even Chinese, Japanese, and Russian, to just two now, me and one other person. Since we reopened five weeks ago there are three or four days a week when we don't have anything to do." Barsotti said the pain from a lack of tourists in August is especially frustrating since the month usually represented the peak month before things began to scale down. "The general concept is that companies operating in the tourism sector do more than half their business in the four months between mid-May and mid-September," he said. "August is our last chance to make something out of this year, but it isn't happening." All told, the pandemic will have cost the country's five largest tourist cities -- Rome, Venice, Florence, Turin, and Milan -- as many as 34 million tourist arrivals this year, according to data from Confesercenti, an industry group. "The absence of foreign tourists is bringing the economies of these cities to their knees," Confesercenti said in a recent research report. Angelo Sferra, manager of MFS marketing, which helps promote hotels and other tourist destinations, said the country's economic and tourism problems create a vicious circle. "A hotel or restaurant, for example, won't open if it doesn't think it will have customers and it won't get any customers until it's already open," Sferra said in an interview. The few tourists who are seen on the streets of the major tourist cities are often drawn by the unusual nature of this tourist season, according to interviews with Xinhua. "I would never consider coming to Rome during August because it's so crowded," said Marco Ancelotti, a municipal worker for the city of Monza, near Milan in northern Italy, in an interview. He echoed the views of the small number of other travelers from around Italy and other parts of Europe. "I figured this was my one chance to the city without the crowds." Another research paper, this one from the consultancy Deloitte, said that for Italy's tourist sector to recover over time, the government must take steps now. "Italy must make travelers feel safe and it must invest in innovative forms of tourism that leverage the Made-in-Italy brand to enhance its economic power," Deloitte's Andrea Poggi wrote in the paper. Enditem Kamala Harris is the bright star of American politics and life. Follow that star. Joe Biden plucked her out of the sky and may find in her hisand Americassalvation. Trump happened. Trump could happen again, remember that. In the fight not to let America make its final melt into an evil gel of billionaires and hillbilly hate, Harris will be Bidens best possible ally. She is smart, clever and a very good lawyer, with a gimlet eye for detail. She has a terrific sense of humour and laughs joyously and unaffectedly in a political madhouse that hasnt pasted a smile on its face since 2016. She is a feminist with the quality that often makes women more successful than men: pragmatism. Men tend to speak of grandiose things, and their posturings get in the way of success. But women like Harris are practical. They get things done and post-Trump, the to-do list will be long enough to wrap itself around the planet. Heres the American post-election dinner order after what might be a brief civil war: rejoin the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Iran nuclear deal, and patch up relations within NATO. Hold an international virus summit for COVID-19 and its successors. Replace ailing Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, and Stephen Breyer, 81, who may retire, and make abortion rights everlasting. Abandon the border wall. Rebuild an education system out of the corn chowder that Betsy DeVos has cooked up. Begin criminal-justice and health-care reform. Appoint Rep. Adam Schiff, who headed Trumps impeachment trial, as attorney general. Harris fears no one. Every time she questioned now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, she had a grim half-smile on her faceI assume this came in useful when she was a San Francisco prosecutorbecause she had the man in her sights. She knew he was splattering the committee with lies, half-truths, evasions and tears, but she did not deviate. She was, like Schiff, a quick thinker, and she drilled in. She used her wits so well in that pitched battle against Kavanaugh that viewers realized something Democrats havent given up. They cannot. They learned something in the last 40 years, with Republican presidents like Ronald Reagan and placatory Democrats like Bill Clinton. They learned that they can win it all back, just as the hard-right did. The journalist Kurt Andersen, author of a new book called Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America, explains. The American right was once in the same place that the Democrats are in now: cowed, depressed, washed up. In the early 1970s, at the zenith of liberal-left influence, an improbable, quixotic, out-of-power economic rightintellectuals, capitalists, politicianslaunched their crusade and then kept at it tenaciously. The unthinkable became the inevitable in a single decade. They envisioned a new American trajectory, then popularized and arranged it with remarkable success. Then came Reagan. But triumphalism has weakened the Republican Party. The quick slide that began with Sarah Palin in 2008 ended in Donald Trump. No respectable party capable of managing the nation well would have allowed such thugs to win entry. Trump wasnt a victor. He was the end of victory. Harris and other smart Democrats know this. The U.S. is facing five crises, Andersen writes: health, economic, racial, democratic and climatic. Was there ever a time riper than this for Democrats to win, by simply pointing out the appalling state of the nation, through sheer tenacity, with candidates who arent shy or placatory, who say I dont like this out loud? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does it consistently, especially in her speech about a Republican congressman calling her a f - - - - - - bitch. Harris did it in her first speech with Biden: Trump inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden and then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground. American political candidates always praise their country to the skies. Harris is shockingly different. She explains out loud what her country has become. Bidens selection of a running mate may be the smartest political choice he has ever made, not that his choices were ever stellar. Harris is of mixed race, which Americans can cope with. She had a mother who immigrated from India and like Barack Obama a Black father who immigrated to the U.S., where Harris was in fact born. That makes her American. Can Americans stop the weird South African-apartheid racial blood chat now? No? Okay then. Regarding health, Biden is the same age as Mick Jagger but looks younger amid rumours of a facial lift-and-fill. Trump doesnt look 74, he looks 102. No, 107. Helpfully, Harris looks younger than her 55 years, which matters to voters considering the future. Kamala Harris. Vice-President Kamala Harris. President Kamala Harris. She is a terrific candidate wherever she goes and whatever she does. I wait agog. Read more about: August 15, 2020 / 05:08 PM IST Coronavirus India LIVE: Today is the 145th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown, to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India officially crossed the 25 lakh-mark on August 15 -- the day when the country celebrated its 74th Independence Day. According to the data last updated on the Union Health Ministrys website at 8.00 am on August 15, the total known cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, reached 25,26,192. The death toll in the country due to the pandemic reached 49,036. While 18,08,936 patients had recovered, 6,68,220 cases were still categorised as active. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are the worst affected states. Globally, there have been over 2.10 crore confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 7.62 lakh people have died so far.Celebrations for the 74th Independence Day celebrations are expected to proceed under multi-layered security arrangements and with social distancing norms in place at the Mughal-era Red Fort this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A security ring, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, will be placed around the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation. Over 300 cameras have been installed for security and their footage is being monitored round-the-clock. There will be around 4,000 security personnel at the Red Fort and they will stand in adherence with social distancing norms, police said. Catch the latest updates here: Myanmar migrants Win Zaw Htun, right, and Zaw Lin, left, both 22, after the guilty verdict in 2015 in Koh Samui, Thailand - AP Two migrant workers from Myanmar on death row in Thailand for the 2014 murder of two British backpackers had their sentences commuted to life in prison on Friday thanks to a royal decree, their lawyer said. The two workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, were sentenced to death for the murder of David Miller and the murder and rape of Hannah Witheridge, whose bodies were discovered on a beach on the popular tourist island of Koh Tao in September 2014. The two men were convicted and sentenced in 2015 and the verdict was upheld by an appeals court in 2017 and the Supreme Court in August 2019. The convictions were mired in controversy with supporters of the two men arguing that they had been framed and that they had initially confessed to the crimes under duress. Their sentences will be reduced to life imprisonment after a royal pardon decree was published on Friday, their lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat told Reuters. The two are eligible under a section in the royal pardon decree to get their death sentences reduced to life imprisonment, Nakhon said. They will also have a chance to get their sentences reduced further on good behaviour. The decree published on Friday said the royal pardons were granted to commemorate the king's birthday on July 28 and to illustrate the king's clemency. It was not immediately clear how many prisoners were eligible for pardons or reduction of sentences under different criteria listed in the decree. She recently spoke about how quarantining with her daughter Suri has been a valuable lesson and has only strengthened their bond. And Katie Holmes looked every inch the doting mum as she headed out for dinner with Suri, 14, in Manhattan on Friday. The actress, 41, cut a stylish figure in a navy patterned maxi dress, which she teamed with a denim jacket. Looking good: Katie Holmes looked every inch the doting mum as she headed out for dinner with Suri, 14, in Manhattan on Friday Katie opted for comfort with a pair of white trainers and, in keeping with coronavirus safety measures, wore a floral face mask. The ex-wife of Tom Cruise complemented her chic outfit with black sunglasses. Suri, meanwhile, looked the spitting image of her mother in a floral dress and gold sandals. That's my girl: The actress, 41, cut a stylish figure in a navy patterned maxi dress, which she teamed with a denim jacket The pair appeared in high spirits as they left the restaurant. The actress is notoriously private when it comes to discussing life with Suri, who she shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise. But during an interview for Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph earlier this month, the actress gave a rare insight. Casual look: Katie opted for comfort with a pair of white trainers and, in keeping with coronavirus safety measures, wore a floral face mask All grown up: Suri, meanwhile, looked the spitting image of her mother in a floral dress and gold sandals The actress revealed how quarantining with Suri in New York has made her 'look at everything' she has, and celebrate simple tasks such as making dinner. 'I like to keep her out of my interviews, but I will say that this time of quarantine has been such a lesson,' Katie told the publication via a video conference app. 'Just really looking at everything you have and celebrating the simplicity of making dinner and [spending] that time together.' The star, who shot to fame in 90's American teen drama series Dawson's Creek, went on to reveal how she feels 'very blessed' with her life. 'When I think about my life, I feel very blessed. I have felt very lucky and I rely on my instincts a lot but I also forgive myself for mistakes,' she said. Katie wed Tom in 2006, welcoming Suri in April of that year. The couple split in 2012. HERAT, Afghanistan In a worrying sign, wealthy businessmen are threatening to move their capital abroad to escape growing insecurity in a strategic western Afghan province that has turned into a key commercial and industrial hub in recent years. A number of business owners and investors in Herat city, the provincial capital, feel compelled to move their businesses outside Afghanistan because of rising insecurity and mounting costs of funding their personal safety through the purchase of bulletproof cars and security guards. Naturally we are worried about being kidnapped, which prompts many businessmen to keep a security detail or a guard, Ahmad Sayed Siddiqi, a prominent Herat businessman, told Radio Free Afghanistan while alluding to Herats status as the kidnapping capital of the country. Funding our own security is expansive." Siddiqi, 40, imports oil, gas, and other chemicals while also investing in the hospitality industry within his home province. Over the years, he has braved many threats but is now worried about his future. He says business in Herat was already experiencing tough times because of the coronavirus pandemic, which hit Herat hardest because of its long border with Iran, where a major outbreak rapidly expanded in March, so it's only right that the Afghan government step in to help the province. This is why I request that the Afghan government and the Afghan National Defense and security forces seriously work on improving the security situation in Herat, Siddiqi said. Otherwise, more investors will be forced to look for opportunities beyond the Afghan borders. A few years ago, Naqibullah Haqmal invested nearly $4 million in a factory making motorcycle spare parts. He now believes the only way to keep investors in Afghanistan is to improve security so they dont have to invest in bulletproof cars and bodyguards. Every year my company's security expenses amount to more than around 1 million Afghanis [$13,000], which includes personal guards and security equipment, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. But next year I will be forced to leave Afghanistan and invest outside the country because the expenses have become a huge burden for me. Investors such as Haqmal and Siddiqi are vital for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan because their investments are key to developing the private sector and attracting vital foreign investments. But rising criminality, insecurity, and bad governance are eroding business and investor confidence in Herat as the impoverished country faces a major transition. The Afghan government is poised to begin sensitive peace talks with the Afghan Taliban. The hard-line movement signed a peace agreement with the United States in February, which stipulates the withdrawal of foreign forces in return for Taliban counterterrorism guarantees and eventually joining other Afghans in a future political system. Herat is home to the Islam Qala and Torghundi border crossings with neighboring Iran and Turkmenistan. These two vital trade arteries offering industrial parks, better security, and the ease of doing business attracted many investors to Herat following the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001. But Ahmad Saeed Qasimyan, deputy head of Herats chamber of commerce and industry, says businesses are losing tens of thousands of dollars on security at a time when they are hit hard by an economic downturn. Providing security is the governments job but we are forced to lose time, money, and energy because of its incompetence, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Officials in Herat, however, do not agree. Provincial police chief Obaidullah Noorzai says they are doing everything in their power to improve security in the vast region, where the Taliban control parts of the countryside. The fact that kidnappings have decreased [this year] means that police in Herat are active and working to keep all our residents safe, including business owners and investors, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Noorzai says the province suffers from a lack of military personnel and police officers, which feeds the mounting insecurity. Nilly Kohzad wrote this story based on reporting by Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Shapoor Saber from Herat, Afghanistan. Across the commonwealth, school districts are beginning to announce their plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Some communities are choosing not to reopen school buildings, opting instead for full distance learning for all students. Other communities are moving forward with a hybrid model, in which some groups of students alternate between in-person learning and distance learning, in order to ensure physical distancing in schools. Neither of these approaches is being met with universal acclaim. Superintendents and school committees find themselves caught between the impassioned viewpoints of two opposing camps. They are hearing from parents who advocate for at least some return to in-person schooling, in part because of fears about the long-term effects of students being out of school, without the supports and interactions they need to thrive. Theyre also hearing from constituents, including many teachers union leaders, who insist that school buildings should remain closed altogether to protect students and staff and to prevent the spread of the virus. Many of the 275 members of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) were eager and hopeful to have their school committee approve a hybrid model. Especially in communities where the COVID-19 infection rate is low, many superintendents are confident that schools can make the necessary adjustments to resume in-person instruction while protecting the health and safety of students and staff. These district leaders have worked diligently with local task forces throughout the spring and summer to craft reopening plans that adhere to state guidelines and follow the science. While so many other states across the country cannot even consider reopening schools as the infection rate continues to soar, Massachusetts is in a very different position. Many superintendents believe that the health and safety measures they will put in place especially the redesign of schools to ensure physical distancing, along with requirements for face covering, hand-washing, symptom screening, and rigorous cleaning and sanitizing protocols create the conditions to begin reopening schools incrementally and responsibly. Despite these precautions, some communities ultimately will decide, as some already have, that even a partial reopening is not worth the risk, and begin the year with all students learning from home. In those communities, superintendents will work with teachers unions to design and implement distance learning plans that reflect lessons learned last spring about what worked well and what needs improvement. Districts will have to find creative ways for students and families to meet their new teachers, even if not in person, to establish relationships at the start of the school year. Districts operating fully remote models also will have to devise strategies to serve students with the greatest needs, particularly students with disabilities, English learners, children living in poverty, and others who were not fully engaged in distance learning from March to June. Challenging questions remain about how schools can provide additional services remotely to address students social-emotional needs, especially their mental and physical health. There is no shortage of opinions about what is the right way to approach the new school year. A quick scroll through any social media feed highlights the vast divide on this issue, with proponents from both sides growing increasingly fervent every day. While superintendents have urged State officials to provide more clear direction for school opening, unless State officials change their position in the days ahead, these decisions are left solely in the hands of the superintendents and school committees. Therefore, each superintendent has a weighty responsibility to cut through the noise, examine the facts, weigh the pros and cons, and recommend a plan that best protects and educates the students in their community. Ultimately, each proposal must be approved by the school committee, but even their decision is not final unless the terms are negotiated with the local teachers union. All of this occurs while the public health situation and the response to it remains a moving target. Whatever the outcome in each community, the new school year can begin successfully only if everyone involved commits to working together for the benefit of students. In the remaining weeks before students resume learning, we have a critical opportunity for parents, educators, union leaders, and community partners regardless of the model they each wanted to see adopted to move forward with a shared sense of purpose. We are living in imperfect times, to say the least, so while no plan can achieve a perfect result, lets all strive to be creative, open-minded, resilient, and unequivocally determined to get our students back to learning. Thomas Scott, Ed.D. is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS). Robert N. Baldwin, Ed.D. is President of MASS and Superintendent of the Fairhaven Public Schools. LA County owes $8M to man killed like George Floyd Los Angeles County must pay a full $8 million damage award to the family of a Black man whose death had similarities to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday. While subduing Darren Burley in 2012, deputies used their knees to pin him to the ground with as much body weight as possible, according to the courts unanimous ruling. It said Deputy David Aviles put one knee on the center of Burleys back and the other onto the back of Burleys head, near the neck, while other deputies also were involved. Burley died 10 days later. ADVERTISEMENT A jury awarded his family $8 million in damages while finding that Burley was 40% responsible for his own death. An appeals court later reduced the payout by $3.2 million. The high court justices, however, ruled that the county owes the family the entire $8 million. Attorney Olu Orange, who represents Burleys family, said the ruling holds that in the state of California, victims of police misconduct are going to be able to avail themselves of every law in the legal toolkit to redress violations of their civil rights. Los Angeles County and the sheriffs department did not respond to requests for comment. The facts of this case bear similarities to well-publicized incidents in which African Americans have died during encounters with police. These incidents raise deeply troubling and difficult issues involving race and the use of police force, the court said in its ruling. The justices said their decision centered on a ballot initiative adopted by California voters in 1986 that assigned damages based on degrees of responsibility, not on Burleys race or that he was killed during an encounter with law enforcement. ADVERTISEMENT Aviles, who weighed 200 pounds, and another deputy were responding to a report of an ongoing assault in Compton when Burley approached them while foaming at the mouth and making grunting and growling noises,`` according to the courts account. It said Aviles knelt on Burley during a significant struggle while three other deputies Tasered him multiple times without apparent effect. A witness said one deputy also appeared to attempt a chokehold, a deputy hit Burley repeatedly in the head with a flashlight, and Burley appeared to be gasping for air. Orange said lawsuits alleging police battery, like the one he filed, are one of the most effective tools that folks in communities that are typically subject to police violence have in order to seek justice. Jurors are instructed to consider if a suspects actions justified the officers reaction, as well as to assign degrees of responsibility. The high court ruled that the county and its deputies cant share the blame with Burley when it comes to apportioning damages for pain and suffering because deputies acted intentionally, as defined by previous court rulings, rather than negligently. In a separate concurring opinion, Justice Goodwin Liu went even further in finding parallels with Floyds death in May, when a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee against Floyds neck for several minutes. In all likelihood, the only reason Darren Burley is not a household name is that his killing was not caught on videotape as Floyds was, Liu wrote. But even as the wrongful death judgment here affords a measure of monetary relief to Burleys family, it does not acknowledge the troubling racial dynamics that have resulted in state-sanctioned violence, including lethal violence, against Black people throughout our history to this very day, he added. Head of the N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Ginzburg hopes that Russians will get full access to the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by the center in about 9-12 months, TASS reports. "It is important to understand when we will be able to meet the demand of the country. I hope that it will happen within 9-12 months," he told TASS. Earlier, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said during a session with Russian President Vladimir Putin that medical workers and teachers would be the first to get the vaccine. The head of the Gamaleya Research Center noted that the amount of vaccine doses will be enough to vaccinate the first groups of the population. Ginzburg informed that the vaccine would first be supplied to 10-15 regions of the country, however, he did not specify where. He added that in a about a month, about one million vaccine doses would be produced at three plants producing monoclonal antibodies. "By the end of the year, there will be 1.5-2 mln doses produced. These are tangible and good numbers on the countrys scale," he said. On August 11, Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, which was named Sputnik V. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko informed that the vaccine created by the N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology had shown its effectiveness and safety on the outcomes of clinical trials. It was created on a platform that had been used for the development of a number of other vaccines. According to the Russian Health Ministry, experience shows that such vaccines are capable of developing long-term immunity that lasts for up to two years. Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev pointed out that Russia had received applications for more than 1 bln doses of the vaccine from 20 countries. ST. LOUIS The Circuit Attorneys Office has sought and received a judges order to re-arrest a St. Louis man whose charges of shooting a co-worker and attempting to carjack a woman downtown in 1992 have languished in the St. Louis court system for more than 2 decades. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan on Friday granted a prosecutors request to arrest Zarreck McNear, 53, who was charged more than 27 years ago with shooting the co-worker at the former Doubletree Mayfair Hotel and then trying to carjack a Post-Dispatch reporter at gunpoint at Tucker Boulevard and Martin Luther King Drive. McNear was charged with first-degree assault, attempted robbery, armed criminal action and two felony gun charges. McNear has been living in the community since 1994 and has not had any criminal cases in any jurisdiction in the state of Missouri since that time, Hogan wrote. Hogans order for McNears arrest allows for his release on his own recognizance, saying she has no indication McNear wouldnt show up for court. She said his case is very unusual as there has been no activity on the case since 1994. On the afternoon of Nov. 29, 1992, police said McNear, a hotel dishwasher, shot Patrick P. Wilson in the abdomen with a .38-caliber revolver after an argument. McNear then ran toward Tucker and MLK where he tried to carjack reporter Charlene Prost in her car in front of the former newspaper building, now under renovation by Square Inc. Two off-duty St. Louis police officers heading to work spotted the carjacking attempt and one of the officers forced McNear to the ground and disarmed him. Prost at the time called the officer who arrested McNear a real hero. McNear was found mentally incompetent for trial in September 1993, but court documents say he didnt report for treatment for at least a year. A judge in 1994 ordered McNear committed to the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center but its not clear if he ever made it there or whether the center conducted court-ordered biannual mental evaluations to determine McNears competency. Authorities said McNear was released from the custody of the Department of Mental Health in 1994 or 1995, and court records show no action on McNears case between 1995 and 2003. Five more years passed before another court hearing was held, records show. Between 2008 and 2019, status hearings were postponed 10 times by nearly as many different St. Louis judges. Court records show McNear has been involved in various civil cases in St. Louis and St. Louis County between 2002 and 2015. Hogan, in February 2019, warned in a court order she would dismiss the case if prosecutors failed to provide a progress report. Eight more times since then, including on Wednesday, Hogan asked the Circuit Attorneys Office to declare whether it had evidence or intended to proceed with McNears case. On Thursday, Assistant Circuit Attorney Sean OHagan filed a request for an arrest warrant, blaming the Department of Mental Health for releasing him after approximately one year of supervision, with no further action taken on the case related to his discharge, nor notice to the Office of the Circuit Attorney or the Court. A spokeswoman for the states health department could not be reached, and attempts to contact McNear were unsuccessful. His former public defender said he did not remember the case and no longer works for the public defenders office. A spokesman for the St. Louis Circuit Court declined comment. A spokeswoman for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner could not be reached. Prost, who retired from the Post-Dispatch in 2005 after nearly 40 years and now lives in west St. Louis County, said she thinks McNear should face some kind of justice for shooting someone and trying to take my car. Im not pushing any great penalty, but I think something should come of it to deter that from happening to someone else, Prost said. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In coming weeks, Ottawa has a golden opportunity to finally reinvent an outmoded Employment Insurance (EI) system, and greatly strengthen the social safety net that helps bind this country. When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck in March, the existing EI system was so slow and inflexible, and its assistance to Canadians in financial distress so meagre, that Ottawa was obliged to quickly create a parallel income-support program from scratch. Historians will note the success of that new program, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The CERB has helped keep its approximately 8.5 million Canadian recipients whole during an unprecedented health and economic crisis. Those recipients, in turn, have helped drive Canadas economic recovery with their continued spending on necessities. And that, in turn, has contributed to a soft landing for a Canadian economy that has been largely shut down for much of the year in order to protect Canadians from a deadly virus. The Canadian economy is expected to shrink by about 5 per cent this year, and strongly rebound in 2021, growing by about 5.4 per cent. And thats largely due to the $63 billion Ottawa has invested in Canadians or, more accurately, the money we have invested in ourselves so that we can return to normality with a minimum of permanent economic damage. As there have always been critics of the dole, there are critics of the pandemic-era income-replacement programs widespread in affluent economies. The critics say these programs undermine or even destroy the work ethic. That view is bunkum. But it could impede progress on devising the world-class reformed EI system that Canadians deserve. So, more on the work-ethic myth later. Intended since its April inception as a temporary program, the CERB will soon end. The last period of the CERB program expires September 26. And for Canadians receiving CERB payments since the program began, it ends August 29. The Trudeau government has vowed to transition CERB recipients to a reinvented EI. The goal is to create a new long-term income-replacement system that incorporates features that made the CERB work well. Well see the details in coming days and weeks. What would make the new system ideal? Like the CERB, it would be a rapid-response provider of replacement employment income. And unlike EI, which covers only a fraction of lost employment income, the CERBs $2,000 monthly payments did not fall short of covering basic living expenses. We should pause here to note the unwarranted mission accomplished sentiment that has taken hold in parts of North America that think the worst of the pandemic and its economic fallout is behind us. Even before an anticipated second wave of the pandemic, expected to coincide with flu season, we have experienced renewed COVID-19 outbreaks across Canada in jurisdictions where the virus was thought to have been defeated. And while its true that Canada has recovered approximately 55 per cent of the jobs lost in the pandemic, 1.3 million Canadians workers are still without jobs due to COVID-19. Canadas current jobless rate, of 10.9 per cent in July, is about double the pre-pandemic rate early this year. Meanwhile, job recovery has slowed. Last month, the Canadian economy added just 418,000 jobs, down sharply from Junes addition of 953,000 jobs. The pandemic recession is also a racialized and gender-imbalanced one, afflicting women more than men. The unemployment rate for racialized Canadian workers is 16.2 per cent compared with 9.3 per cent for white Canadians. The jobless rate for Black workers is 16.8 per cent, and for South Asian and Arab Canadian workers it is more than 17 per cent. In all those groups, joblessness is higher among women than men. Those worker populations are largely concentrated in the economic sectors hardest hit by COVID-19, including retail, tourism, airlines, restaurants, hotels and the arts. And those sectors will be among the slowest to recover. Standard & Poors estimates that even by 2022, the Canadian economy will still be 2.5 per cent smaller than pre-pandemic forecasts had expected it to be by then. One of Canadas biggest employers, the $102-billion hospitality sector, expects it will not fully recover until 2022. All to say that many Canadians will continue to require income support for quite some time. Late last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided an outline of what his proposed long-term income-replacement program will look like. Describing it as a better, 21st-century EI system, Trudeau said EI will finally expand to cover self-employed, contract and gig-economy workers. And EIs notoriously cumbersome eligibility requirements will be relaxed to enable recipients to work more hours and earn more money while receiving the (EI) benefit. Thats a good start. But a reformed EI also needs to cover 75 per cent of lost income, rather than the paltry current 55 per cent. It needs to pay recipients at the beginning of the month, as CERB does, not at the end, as EI does. A sophisticated system would go further, calibrating support for women, people of colour, new Canadians and other workers with special circumstances. And about that work ethic. The Fraser Institute, the Vancouver think tank, said in a June study that overly generous employment insurance can discourage workers from rejoining the workforce. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the small-business lobby, said in July that the CERB has created a disincentive to return to work for some staff. Toronto real estate tycoon Michael Cooper, CEO of Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust, weighed in with, People are getting addicted to getting paid and not working. And Republicans on Capitol Hill in the U.S. have thwarted the renewal of pandemic unemployment relief to 30 million jobless Americans because they believe that relief to be a disincentive to work. Several generations of studies have shown that belief to be bunkum. And in the U.S. alone, five recent studies made by economists at leading universities during the pandemic have found that income supports have had no discernible impact on aggregate employment numbers. What does make a difference is that there are not enough jobs for all the workers seeking one. The Hotel Association of Canada reports that, with 30 per cent occupancy rates, its member hotels simply cant afford to rehire workers laid off from COVID-19. In the U.S., it has been estimated that there are currently about 14 million more jobless workers than job openings. Well soon see what the Trudeau government replaces CERB with. Fortunately, Ottawas starting point is that people want to work, and need to be kept whole in times when paid work is hard or impossible to find. Read more about: The national flags were lowered to half-staff at public buildings in Hanoi from 6 am on August 14 as the country mourns the passing away of former former Party leader Le Kha Phieu. A ceremony to lower the national flag to half-mast was held at 6am on May 3 at Ba Dinh Square to mark a two-day national mourning for former Party leader Le Kha Phieu A ceremony to attach a black ribbon on the national flag is conducted at the same time with the regular flag solute honours at Ba Dinh Square National flags fly at half-staff at public buildings during national mourning for former Party leader Le Kha Phieu who passed away on August 7 During the two-day national mourning on August 14-15, national flags are flown at half-mast at offices and public places Flags are flown at half-staff at the National Assembly House in Hanoi At the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Voice of Vietnam (VOV) pays respect to former Party Secretary General Le Kha Phieu by lowering flags to half-mast at its headquarters in the capital city At the head office of Hoan Kiem District Party Committee in Hanoi At the Flag Tower of Hanoi VOV Rong Village in Hue and unforgettable memories about former Party Chief Le Kha Phieu Houses have put up national flags. Incense sticks have been quietly lit on ancestral altars. Rong Villages people are grieving after hearing about the passing of former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. NEW HAVEN A group of some 30 young people went to Mayor Justin Elickers house Friday as they continue to lobby for cuts to the Police Department as part of an agenda supported by the Citywide Youth Coalition. Remsen Welsh, a member of the group, said the event was one of several planned this summer that will come out of an intensive six-week organizational training session sponsored by the coalition. One of the demands continues to be to reduce the New Haven Police Department budget from $43 million to $10 million and shift the funds to social services that Welsh argued can better handle certain issues such as homelessness. Welsh said the department is funded at an exorbitant amount of money that could be put to better use. She said social services can better deal with the homeless. Prior to the national movement to defund police budgets that came out of the death of George Floyd while being restrained by a police officer in Minnesota, Elicker made the largest cuts in his budget to the Police Department given the citys shrinking resources. He said while this group wants to see less police funding, when he met with residents on the East Shore this week they asked for more funding for police and for action to stop dirt bike riders from swarming city streets. Elicker is recommending a policy that would fine illegal riders, rather than charge them criminally. The city also is experiencing a period of violence with an increase in shootings and killings. The mayor said there was a dialogue with the protesters that was lacking in another confrontation at his home and he agreed with some of their sentiments, but not necessarily their solutions on how to get there. He said he is always available to talk, but he does not want them coming to his home, where he lives with his wife and two young daughters, to protest. One demand asks that $20 million be invested in affordable housing, something Elicker said he supports and suggested the group might organize to change exclusionary zoning laws in the suburbs that keep out affordable housing, concentrating it in the cities. A new demand is to reduce the police and fire retirement fund by $20 million. The mayor told them that would be illegal and the fund, which is less than 40 percent funded, needs more support rather than cuts. Welsh said the coalition, based on what they are hearing from students, wants school resource officers out of schools and replaced with counselors, while the mayor said he has been approached by people who want to keep them. He said if something does happen in a school, it is better to have someone who knows the students to deal with it. Elicker said he endorses the end to all police brutality within the city, state and country. 'Alarming spike' in COVID-19 cases at nursing homes in July after June drop Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Nursing homes in the United States have experienced an alarming spike in new COVID-19 cases during July after cases of the virus dropped significantly in June, according to federal data. A report released Tuesday by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living cites recent data by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that shows there were 8,628 new weekly COVID-19 cases at nursing homes reported on July 19, the last week of data available. By comparison, the number of weekly COVID-19 cases at nursing homes fell to 5,468 a month earlier on June 21 after having been as high as 9,072 in late May. With the recent major spikes of COVID cases in many states across the country, we were very concerned this trend would lead to an increase in cases in nursing homes and unfortunately it has, said Mark Parkinson, president AHCA/NCAL, which represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities. This is especially troubling since many nursing homes and other long term care facilities are still unable to acquire the personal protective equipment and testing they need to fully combat this virus. Weekly reported COVID-19-related deaths at nursing homes in the U.S. have plummeted from just over 3,000 reported weekly deaths in late May. After a slight uptick in recent weeks, there were 1,458 weekly COVID-19-related deaths at nursing homes reported on July 19. On July 14, Parkinson sent a letter to the National Governors Association warning of another potential for outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living facilities due to the spike in new coronavirus cases that occurred in several states, a shortage of personal protective equipment and testing delays. Given the fact we are several months into the response of this pandemic and the lack of PPE supplies is still an issue is very concerning, the letter says. We request governors and state public health agencies to help secure and direct more PPE supplies to nursing homes and assisted living communities, especially N95 masks. Parkinson is also calling for Congress to authorize an additional $100 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services relief fund for all healthcare providers impacted by the pandemic. Without adequate funding and resources, the U.S. will end up repeating the same mistakes from several months ago, he stressed. We need Congress to prioritize our vulnerable seniors and their caregivers in nursing homes and assisted living communities in this upcoming legislation. The new report comes as visitation protocols for nursing homes in the U.S. largely vary. Additionally, some state governments have faced scrutiny over their responses to the virus. In March, many nursing homes and assisted living facilities around the country enacted policies preventing residents from receiving visits from family members. Many families went months without seeing their loved ones. And in some cases, families were prevented from being with their loved ones when they passed. Reopening long term care facilities is important for our residents wellbeing and caregivers and providers recognize the importance of visitations of family and friends, Parkinsons letter to the NGA reads. To accomplish this goal, nursing homes and assisted living communities need additional support from federal and state public health agencies in order to protect residents and caregivers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid published guidance for state and local officials in May on how they should phase nursing home reopenings to allow for visits once nursing homes have had no new cases of the virus for 28 days and are able to provide adequate testing and PPE. According to AARP, scheduled visits are allowed in most states at nursing facilities that have decided to reopen and have met certain requirements. Policies again vary on whether visits must be outdoors. AARP reports that 10 states only allow compassionate care visits for patients with a terminal diagnosis or in an end-of-life situation. After seeing a rise in nursing home COVID-19 cases in his state, West Virginia Gov. halted nursing home visits again in his state this week, except for in end-of-life situations. In New York, there has been much controversy surrounding discrepancies in the states figures on the number of people who have died in nursing homes after contracting COVID-19. With a coronavirus nursing home death toll that was already among the highest in the U.S., the states death toll in nursing homes could be an undercount by thousands because it only counts the number of people who died on nursing home property, not those transported to hospitals. According to The Associated Press, New Yorks top health official was grilled by state lawmakers last week and the state has failed to disclose how many nursing home patients died from COVID-19 at hospitals. The family members of loved ones who died in nursing homes have called for an independent investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo administrations coronavirus response. Earlier this year when the pandemic began, Cuomo ordered nursing homes to house COVID-19 positive patients, a decision that has received much scrutiny. According to the states own numbers, more than 6,600 patients have died in nursing homes after contracting COVID-19. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's mysterious death case has led to yet another twist. Now, Sushant's gym partner Sunil Shukla has filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court and also lodged a complaint in Bandra police station. Sunil Shukla has alleged that attempts were made by certain people to end Sushant's movie career and it would be better if the case is investigated by the CBI instead of Mumbai police. Sunil told Zee Media that Sushant's film 'Drive' did not get a theatrical release and was rather streamed on an OTT platform. Also, the late actor was mocked at the IIFA Awards held in Macau. Sunil also claimed that he has a lot of information about Sushant which he wanted to reveal to the police but even after filing a complaint, the Mumbai police did not call him for recording his statement. And primarily for that reason, he filed an intervention application in the apex court. Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. Meanwhile, Rhea Chakraborty has been grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) twice in the money laundering case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The ED also questioned Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, Rhea, her father, ex-manager Shruti Modi and her chartered accountant Ritesh Shah. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday donated 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies to the Nigerian government to support it in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The consignment, which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Saturday, comprised thousands of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Handing over the items, the UAEs deputy ambassador to Nigeria, Khalifa Al Mehrizi, said the UAE was committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Al-Taffaq said the donation was an initiative of the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Mohammed Al-Maktoum. The UAE believes that concerted efforts across board is key to effectively mitigating the socio-economic effect of the pandemic, hence the donation of these aids, he said. The ambassador said the supplies were meant to boost the provision of adequate healthcare response in the management of the pandemic. I express my profound gratitude to the Vice President Al Maktoum for the donation of these supplies which is part of a series of humanitarian response operations by the UAE to support friendly countries in the fight against COVID-19. The embassy has executed several humanitarian projects during this health crisis and we will continue to collaborate with Nigeria to effectively fight the spread of COVID-19. The UAE strongly commends the unrelenting efforts and excellent work of the Nigerian Government in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also salute all Nigerian frontline workers, doctors, nurses, educators and the media who are working tirelessly to overcome this pandemic, he said. Receiving the items on behalf of the government, the Director of Drugs and Vaccine Development, Federal Ministry of Health, Olubukola Ajayi, said the Nigerian government appreciated the UAEs donation. She added that the federal government welcomed all support it could get in its fight against the pandemic. We thank the UAE for providing Nigeria with the much-needed medical support to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The whole world is in need of medical aid to support the existing resources of individual countries. This shipment will boost the supply of medical equipment that will help manage the pandemic. The UAE continues to remain an active partner with the Nigerian People and government and we will continue to partner for the greater good of ours, she said. (NAN) BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Police on Friday (August 15) detained an Uttar Pradesh MLA booked in a case of criminal intimidation and wrongful confinement. Vijay Mishra, a Nishad Party MLA from Bhadohi's Gyanpur, was booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police along with his wife and son on a complaint of his relative, who had accused them of land grab after threatening him. The MLA currently has 73 cases registered against him and has been booked under the Goonda Act and the stringent National Security Act in the past. According to a senior Madhya Pradesh Police officer, he was detained at the Tanodia police post in Agar Malwa on a request from the UP Police. We had received a communication from the Bhadohi police seeking help in this regard, therefore, we detained him, Agar Malwa SP Rakesh Sagar told reporters. "He was on his way to Kota (in Rajasthan) via Ujjain," the SP said, adding that they have informed the Bhadohi police about it. To a question, the SP clarified that Mishra has been detained and not arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police. Further action in the matter will be taken by the Bhadohi police, he added. Meanwhile, Bhadohi SP Ram Badan said they had requested the MP Police to detain him. There were inputs about Mishra going for a darshan to the Mahakaal temple in Ujjain and the SP Agar Malwa was informed about it with a request to stop him, the SP said, adding that a police team has already left to bring him back. The Bhadohi SP said an FIR was lodged against the MLA, his wife Ramlali and son Vishnu Mishra on August 4 by his relative Krishna Mohan Tewari for allegedly grabbing property after threatening him. They were booked under Sections 323 (voluntary causing hurt), 347 (wrongful confinement), 387 (putting person in fear of death of grievous hurt), 449 (house trespass) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, Singh said. A day earlier, Mishra had issued a video referring to himself as a Brahmin and alleging that his opponents had hatched a conspiracy to frame him. The Bhadohi SP said a team has been constituted to nab the MLA's wife and son. Meanwhile, a Bhadohi court rejected the interim bail application of his wife Ramlali Mishra, a member of the UP Legislative Council from the Samajwadi Party. Rejecting the bail plea, Additional District Judge P N Srivastava asked her to approach the MP/MLA court in this regard. Mishra's daughter Rima Mishra had moved the interim bail application for her mother and brother Vishnu Mishra. According to government counsel Dinesh Pandey, the court, however, stayed the arrest of Vishnu Mishra till the completion of the hearing on his interim bail. The next date of hearing in this connection has been fixed for August 20. Later in the day, the MLA's daughter Rima Mishra feared a fake encounter of his father. In whose custody my father is, she asked. ?Is the UP Police also there. I want to ask the Bhadohi SP and the state government to produce my father in a court properly and safely. There should be not be a fake encounter like Vikas Dubey," she told reporters in Bhadohi. "If anyone is guilty or done any crime, there is a court for it," she added. WINSTED Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley earned some high marks from Gov. Ned Lamont last week for her school districts plan to reopen the towns public schools, and the work continues as opening day draws closer. Brady-Shanley said the reopening plan began during the districts summer-school program, when children attending those sessions wore masks, washed their hands and understood the concept of social distancing while following a daily education routine. The district created a team to develop classroom safety protocols, remote learning plans, provision of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment, and a safety plan for school buses and meal times. To have a positive result on reopening, we needed a team approach, Brady-Shanley said. We set up classrooms, cleaned the buildings, addressed fears. ... Were communicating with families. Children need the benefit of face-to-face interaction, she said, adding that as the parent of two children, she saw how much they missed their teachers and friends and wanted to be back in the classroom. Brady-Shanley and a team of administrators, teachers and town officials have developed a plan to fully reopen Batcheller Elementary School and Pearson Middle School in person Aug. 31. A parent survey revealed that more than 70 percent wanted to send their kids back to school in person. About 22 percent have chosen to use the school districts distance learning program, and a few families have opted to home-school their children, according to Brady-Shanley. When the state closed public schools in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, administrators put distance learning plans in place and used them to continue childrens education through the end of the 2019-20 school year. But Shanley said this years education plan, including distance learning, will be more organized than last years. She also said the school district didnt wait for the state to decide on opening schools. We said, Were not waiting, weve got to start planning now, and weve been working on a reopening plan this whole time, she said. We were out of the gate. Brady-Shanley has held two online forums to discuss the reopening plan with parents, to answer their questions and address concerns. The first one, held July 22, was attended by more than 200 parents. Questions ranged from mask requirements to bus transportation; how many children would be in a classroom; how hallway traffic would be handled; and how the children would be seated in the cafeteria during meal times. At the request of the state Department of Education, Winchester Public Schools developed three plans for reopening: full in-person, full distance learning, and a hybrid plan with a combination of the two. The district will have a week of professional development on opening the schools and following safety procedures for teachers and staff from Aug. 24-28 according to a slide show on the districts website. The first day for grades 1-6 will be Aug 31; pre-k and kindergarten classes begin Sept. 1, according to the website. Families and staff members can find up-to-date information online. Families can expect to get frequent and timely communication on the reopening of schools, Brady-Shanley said. The WPS Reopening Plan and Parent Presentation is located at www.winchesterschool.org. Information will be sent out via School Messenger phone calls, emails, and posted on the districts Facebook Page. Brady-Shanley is the states COVID-19 health and safety compliance liaison; questions can be emailed to her at melony.brady-shanley@winchesterschools.org. The Minority in Parliament is demanding answers from government on who constitutes the Covid-19 frontline healthcare workers benefitting from the 50% extra allowance. This comes amid allegations that the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) officers have been included in the list. Parliament on Friday approves tax waivers to the tune of 174 million for health care personnel who are at the forefront of the fight against the novel coronavirus. The approval is in line with President Akufo-Addos promise to give health workers additional allowances of 50% as tax-free on their basic salary per month. A report of the Finance Committee indicated that 21.6 million has been spent on additional allowances for the health care personnel for April, May, June 2020. Kunbungu MP Ras Mubarak claims the list of frontline healthcare workers is unfair. There is no list of who constitutes those who will be benefiting from this. Supporting people who are working in critical areas is very important but it should not be shrouded under the cloth of secrecy. We know that there are many workers in the health sector who have also agitated to be included in the list pf those who will be benefiting from these incentives who are not included. So how do you ignore some workers in the area of health and then include the Bureau of National Investigations. Chairman of Parliaments Finance Committee, Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah says there has been a difficulty defining who constitutes frontline health personnel but that has been addressed now. He, however, explained that By collaborating with relevant agencies, a working definition of frontline health workers has ben accepted. These personnel were said to include those working in the most critical areas risky areas in the fight against the pandemic. He further disclosed that the number of workers who benefited from the month of April, May and June 2020 were 6,091, 7,418 and 7,196 respectively. This brings the corresponding expenditure to on the additional allowance to 6.5 million for April, 7.5 in May and 7.6 million for the month of June. Source: Myjoyonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ireland has reported 200 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours, the highest daily rise since the start of May. The latest increase in infection numbers, described by the chief medical officer as 'deeply concerning', came on a day when the chairman of tourism promotion body Failte Ireland resigned after holidaying in Italy. Former Ryanair Chief Operating Officer Michael Cawley resigned on Saturday after going on holiday to Italy, contrary to government advice to avoid non-essential travel abroad. Cawley, a Ryanair director who also served as finance chief and deputy CEO at the airline, faced calls from opposition parties to quit after he confirmed to the Irish Independent newspaper on Saturday that he was holidaying in Italy. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Ireland since the outbreak began now stands at 27,191. There were no further deaths reported on Saturday, with Ireland's toll remaining at 1,774. Of the new cases reported, 68% are people below the age of 45. Sixty eight of the cases are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case, while 25 cases have been identified as having been contracted through community transmission. Michael Cawley (pictured in 2008), chairman of Ireland's tourism authority and former Ryanair Chief Operating Officer, has resigned after going on holiday to Italy, despite government advice to avoid non-essential travel Kildare, which is one of three counties currently subjected to localised lockdowns, saw the highest number of new infections at 81. Dublin had 56. Dr Ronan Glynn, Ireland's acting chief medical officer, said: 'This is the largest number of cases in a single day since the beginning of May. 'We now have multiple clusters with secondary spread of disease and rising numbers of cases in many parts of the country. 'This is deeply concerning. NPHET will monitor this extremely closely over the coming days. 'This virus is still out there and has not gone away. Covid-19 seeks to capitalise on complacency and is just waiting for the opportunity to spread. 'I am asking everyone, especially those who are over 70 or medically vulnerable, to limit your contacts, keep your distance from other people and take extra care to heed public health advice.' Cawley is the first senior official in Ireland to resign for flouting coronavirus guidance. Scotland's chief medical officer resigned in April after she ignored her own advice to stay at home during its COVID-19 lockdown. Italy is one of 10 countries on the government's green list, meaning anyone arriving in Ireland can avoid a 14-day quarantine requirement that applies to travellers from anywhere else. However official travel advice since Ireland's coronavirus outbreak began in February has remained that non-essential travel abroad should be avoided and people have been encouraged to holiday at home to support the hard-hit tourism sector. Cawley is Ryanair director who also served as finance chief and deputy CEO at the airline Failte Ireland, the tourism development authority, has been giving extra funding to promote domestic tourism. Cawley said in a statement that he decided to step down because he did not wish to allow the issue to distract from Failte Ireland's work in rebuilding the Irish tourism industry. Tourism Minister Catherine Martin said she was disappointed to learn that Cawley was holidaying in Italy and believed his position was untenable. Mr Cawley quit earlier on Saturday, within hours of his trip being reported in the media, saying he had tendered his resignation to tourism minister Catherine Martin with 'great regret'. 'As has been reported in the media this morning I am on a pre-arranged family holiday in Italy, which is on the Government green list,' he said. 'As I have no wish to allow this issue to become a distraction from the important work of Failte Ireland in rebuilding the Irish tourism industry, I have decided after six years in the position to step down. 'I fully support the Government's policy on tourism and I will continue to help the industry emerge from its current difficulties.' Ms Martin said she was disappointed to learn of Mr Cawley's holiday destination. 'He recognises that solidarity with the industry is extremely important at this time, and I have accepted his resignation this afternoon because I believe his position was untenable,' she said. 'I would encourage everyone to support the tourism and hospitality industries in any way they can, and am taking my own holidays in this country.' Protests over the presidential election in Belarus continued as thousands took to the streets of Minsk and Grodno on August 14, local media reported. Anti-government protests ignited after it was announced on August 9 that President Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected for a sixth term. He has been in power since 1994. The main opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, claimed the vote was rigged. Local media said protesters were calling for the release of political prisoners, the removal of Lukashenko, and a new election. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:15:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Saturday reported 4,293 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, while a ministry official called for tougher procedures against violators of preventive measures. The new cases included 1,068 in the capital Baghdad, 462 in Basra, 443 in Erbil, 325 in Karbala, 290 in Najaf and 264 in Wasit, the ministry said in a statement. The nationwide cumulative infections hit 172,583 after 18,295 testing kits were used across the country during the day, the highest daily number so far, according to the statement. It also reported 76 fatalities during the day, raising the death toll from the virus to 5,785, while 2,571 more patients recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 122,700. "It is a serious fact that the daily coronavirus infections cross the threshold of 4,000," Deputy Health Minister Hazim al-Jumaili told the official Iraqi News Agency. Attributing the latest surge in the number of infections to the public non-compliance with health measures during the Eid al-Adha holiday, al-Jumaili called on the authorities concerned "to rapidly take strict measures against all violators of the health instructions." 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 STURGIS It's a Friday night at a crowded biker bar in South Dakota when Chris Cox, founder of Bikers for Trump, takes the stage. While many have come to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for some combination of riding and partying, Cox's focus is on something else: voting. The coronavirus pandemic may have squashed most in-person get-out-the-vote efforts across the country, but Cox's group remains unbothered by public health recommendations. As the Trump campaign struggles to gain momentum less than 90 days from the election, Bikers for Trump has taken advantage of recent motorcycle rallies to make direct appeals to register to vote. While the group has gained a significant online following for its bravado in providing security at some Trump 2016 rallies, it remains to be seen if it can get bikers many from the suburbs Trump is targeting to show up at the ballot box. To make his appeal, Cox enlisted scantily-clad female bartenders to join his nightly "Trump rallies" atop bars at One Eyed Jack's Saloon. Most of the rallies consisted of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem. As members of the predominantly male audience removed their hats, one bartender who was topless except for a pair of strategically placed American flag stickers performed the Star-Spangled Banner in sign language. "If you live in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida the campaign needs you to double-down because those are the states that we need to carry this thing," Cox bellowed to the crowd. Cox's list of battleground states contained a tacit acknowledgment that many places Trump carried in 2016 are now in doubt. But his praise for the president drew cheers from the crowd, a display of Trump's lasting favor among those who still see him as an outsider in defiance of the political elite. "Trump tapped into all this fear and anger and frustration," said Bill Thompson, a sociologist at Texas A&M University at Commerce who studies biker culture. "Man, he's a master at whipping that up." Cox, who started the group in 2015, has shown a knack for generating political drama. He gained media attention during the 2016 election for assembling a quasi-security force at rallies and forming what he called a "wall of meat" to keep protesters from disrupting Trump's inauguration. More recently, he has enlisted bikers to give Amish and Mennonite Trump supporters motorcycle rides to rallies in Pennsylvania. Since the last election, Cox has tried to build Bikers for Trump into a political machine, registering a political action committee. Its Facebook group has more than 350,000 followers, and 180,000 people have signed up for a mailing list. Cox did not give numbers on how many had registered to vote. Turning bikers into voters could prove difficult. Cox experienced that firsthand this year when his bid to represent South Carolina in Congress got less than 10% of the vote in the Republican primary. "A lot of people want to participate, wearing T-shirts or maybe waving flags," he said. "But the only way to really raise the bar and move the needle is to identify people who otherwise don't vote and get them to vote." Chris Carr, the Trump campaign's political director, urged members of the crowd at a rally Thursday to get their neighbors registered to vote. "Chris Cox right here is a huge ally," Carr said. "The president loves this man." With hundreds of thousands of people rumbling into Sturgis through this weekend, Cox may be in the right place to reach the suburban voters that the Trump campaign is desperate to win over. Despite the stereotype of the grizzled, tattooed biker, a significant number are what's known as "Rolex riders," professionals who can afford to travel across the country with expensive motorcycles. A growing number are female, college-educated and married, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. Cox said that women, including those from the suburbs, are willing to overlook Trump's character to vote for his economic policies and support for law enforcement. "It's not always about liking the leadership, but it's more about respecting the leadership and seeing the direction of your future," Cox said. Genevieve Schmitt, who founded an online biker magazine called Women Riders Now, said that among female riders there are just as many liberals as there are conservatives. They often see the sport as an "expression of freedom, independence, to express herself in the outdoors," she said. "If you start to throw flyers at her, whatever side you are on, they kind of just turn their nose up at it," Schmitt said. "They just want to ride." Cox also tried to brush aside criticism of Trump's handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Cox called it a "plandemic, not a pandemic," suggesting a misguided notion that the coronavirus crisis is politically motivated and will disappear. That message may resonate with some bikers, who echoed the sentiment that the coronavirus is not as serious as health experts have warned. "If you're going to get it, you're going to get it," said Linda Harrison, who came from Ohio. "Deal with it." But even at the Sturgis rally, where displays opposing Hillary Clinton were common in 2016, there was an undercurrent of exasperation with the president this year. Phillip Geary, a rallygoer from Washington, strolled the streets in a "Make America Kind Again" T-shirt. He said that he had gotten fist bumps amid the leather-clad crowd, and someone even bought him lunch. "I think there's more sentiment against the president," he said. "It's just beneath the surface, beneath the facade." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The lawyer for Sushant Singh Rajputs father has flagged the post mortem report of the actor which he claims does not mention the time of death. The post mortem report that I have seen doesnt mention the time of death which is a crucial detail. Whether he was hanged after being killed or he died by hanging can be cleared with the time of death, Vikas Singh was quoted as saying by ANI The postmortem was carried out at Mumbais Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital. A senior police official has said that cause of death is asphyxia due to hanging The actor was found dead in his flat in Mumbai of June 14. The Bihar government in its written submissions to the Supreme Court on Thursday said the Maharashtra Police neither registered an FIR on Rajputs death nor did it extend any support to Patna Police for investigating the case on account of political pressure. Last week, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a case into the death of Rajput naming his ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik Chakraborty and four other family members or known associates apart from unknown persons as accused. The case was handed over to CBI by the Bihar government after Rajputs father KK Singh and the Bihar police alleged a cover-up by the Mumbai police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SHELTON Police officer Caroline Moretti was fired Wednesday, the Shelton police chief said, for allegedly lying and for conduct unbecoming a police officer in connection with photos posted on the police unions Facebook page, which appeared to show officers changing their clothes outside. Chief Shawn Sequeira said an internal affairs investigation led to the firing of Moretti, who handed in her weapon and whose locker was cleared out Wednesday. If she was willing to lie (about me), what would make me think you could not do it to anyone? Sequeira said to Hearst Connecticut Media. She proved herself untrustworthy and was terminated. Police union attorney Barbara Resnick, speaking on behalf of Moretti, said there is no truth to the chiefs bald allegations of false statements and misconduct. This will continue to be laid bare in court, as has occurred so many times before with this chief, Resnick added. Morettis termination comes weeks after the firing of Lt. Dave Moore and officers John Napoleone and Michael McClain for dereliction of duty in an unrelated case. READ MORE: Three officers fired for dereliction of duty, chief says READ MORE: Internal affairs investigating six Shelton police officers put on leave Sequeira said Moretti lied more than 20 times during various internal affairs investigations into the parking lot scandal. Video evidence and audio-taped testimony was used in determining her discipline, according to Sequeira, and more officers are expected to be disciplined, some possibly fired in connection with the investigation into the parking lot photos. Resnick called this a sad day for the citizens of Shelton who have just lost another great officer who served them with the utmost dedication. Police union representative Mike Lewis said Moretti will grieve the firing, claiming she was not afforded her due process during the pre-disciplinary hearing. Moretti, who was hired by Sequeira, was on the force for three years. Recently she was lauded by the Shelton fire department for helping to pull a 91-year-old man out of a burning High Street home June 24. Sequeira told Hearst Connecticut Media she had not had any earlier disciplinary issues during her tenure. Sequeira said his office followed the proper protocol in the disciplinary process, and Moretti was afforded every opportunity to examine the allegations and offer her response before the final decision was made on termination. The police chief said in early June his department was investigating images of men and women with their faces blocked posted on the the Support the Shelton Police Union Inc. Facebook page, which the union described as town officers changing clothes in the departments parking lot. The pictures appear to show male officers changing their pants and female officers in bras as they change their shirts. READ MORE: After complaint female officers couldnt use restrooms, Shelton Police set up portables READ MORE: Possible indecent exposure investigation after photos allegedly show police changing outside In the termination letter, Sequeira said Moretti staged the photo of herself undressing in the headquarters parking lot. The letter states Moretti gave her phone to a co-worker to take the picture, then lied during the investigation by claiming the first time she saw the phone was when someone sent her a screenshot of it. Investigators obtained video evidence which proved that she voluntarily took part the clothes-changing scheme, Sequeira said in the letter. Sequeira said Morettis actions were disturbing, and she purposely staged a photo to be displayed in a demeaning and degrading manner that would impair the reputation of the department, then lied on numerous occasions during the investigation about the level of her involvement. Your injudicious decision to be involved in this type of conduct will not be tolerated, Sequeira wrote. In May, the police union filed a grievance alleging three female patrol officers were denied use of their headquarters restrooms while the 49 men had access. The police chief then limited use of headquarters locker rooms and bathrooms for both men and women and set up portable toilets for patrol officers in the parking lot. Police officers had access to restrooms in City Hall and the farmers market building during that time, and, according to the chief, could go home, if approved by a supervisor, to use a bathroom and change. Sequeira said Moretti said yes during the investigation when asked if she knew she had other options for bathroom use and changing. He said in the letter that her parking lot changing was done intentionally to discredit the image of the police department. The letter says while the administration respects an officers right to express concern over workplace conditions, you do not have the right to lie, including covering up your participation in a voyeuristic scheme regarding them. By you not telling the truth, it shows me that you dont have the moral and ethical characteristics to be a police officer, Sequeira states in the termination letter. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com Joe Bidens selection of Senator Kamala Harris to be his running mate is historic. She is the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be on a major-party ticket and, should Biden win, stands that much closer to becoming the first female president in our nations history. Its no surprise that many Americans are emotional about her being chosen. We asked readers what seeing Senator Harris on the Democratic ticket meant to them. She looks like me! and Its about time! punctuated the most enthusiastic responses. Others talked about the importance of seeing a Black woman in high office after years of experiencing discrimination and racism themselves. A selection of their responses follows. They have been edited for length and clarity. She represents my story my past and my future. Kamala Harriss nomination is everything to me, a first-generation Indian-American working mother, fighting for equity and justice each day through education while raising my biracial Indian and Mexican-American sons. She represents my story my past and my future. She is hope that one day my family and I will be fully visible and seen in our unique beauty. She gives me the courage to dream big! Anita Thawani Bucio, 39, Glenview, Ill. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Sat, August 15, 2020 14:45 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e428fd 1 National sailor,Riau-Islands,Riau-Islands-Police,Chinese-vessel,vessel,Batam,China Free The Riau Islands Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of three Indonesian fishermen who worked on Chinese fishing ship Fu Yuan Yu 829, suspecting that the bodies were illegally returned to Indonesia through Batam city. The case came to light after the police received a tip on Wednesday about three bodies being held in a wooden boat at Batu Ampar Port in Batam. The boat had reportedly transported the bodies from the Fu Yuan Yu 829 in the Outer Port Limit (OPL) waters between Indonesia and Singapore. We then found the bodies in the BP Batam Hospitals mortuary and identified them, Riau Islands Police Criminal Investigation Directorate head Sr. Comr. Arie Darmanto told The Jakarta Post on Friday. The three bodies have been identified as 23-year-old Dicky Arya Nugraha from Donggala regency in South Sulawesi, 22-year-old Syaban and 26-year-old Musnan, both from Bireun regency in Aceh. Read also: Sailors deaths highlight lack of legal protections for migrant workers They started working on the vessel in October 2019 and reportedly died of an illness on July 23 in Chinese waters. However, local police have yet to conclude the cause of death. We have asked the hospital to perform an autopsy to ascertain the cause of the death, Arie said. The police have also arrested two recruiting agency bosses and charged them under human trafficking laws and for allegedly sending dead bodies to Indonesia without permits. The victims bodies entered Indonesia without permits and the right procedure, Arie added. Riau Islands Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Harry Goldenhart said his office would arrange to contact the Chinese government to report the deaths. (aly) Haiti - FLASH : The Minister of the Interior revokes all the badges of the employees of the Ministry Audain Fils Bernadel, the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Collectivities, notes that individuals without titles or status use national effigies and the name of the Ministry to pretend themselves as people with links to the institution. These ill-intentioned individuals also use fake Institutional badges to perpetrate reprehensible acts. The Minister denounces these offenses with the utmost rigor and deplores the confusion that this is capable of generating. Faced with this situation, in order to ensure the safety of his staff, Minister Bernadel decided to revoke all badges of regular employees of the Ministry before resuming the secure process of their identification. This measure, which reinforces those taken in 2018 and 2019 by the Ministry, entered into force on August 13, 2020 and concerns officials, contractors, liaison officers and project managers in general. The Ministry will refrain from producing badges for Departmental Delegations, vice district Delegations and local elected officials. In addition, the Minister urges the National Police of Haiti to continue to track down all troublemakers and counterfeiters using false badges from the Ministry. HL/ HaitiLibre Making inroads to sell their wares By Jayanie Madawala Facing loss of income due to COVID those who turned to selling produce from vehicles parked on roadsides now face eviction by authorities View(s): View(s): Having lost their jobs due to the prevailing COVID situation, many who have sought an alternative income by selling lunch packets and other produce on roadsides are facing another hurdle; a crackdown by the authorities. Police and other authorities this week have started removing vendors,who were selling items from vehicles parked on the side of roads. Sheine Abeysekara (39) from Borella, who lost his job when the hotel he worked at was closed, said he initially started by selling around 10 packets of lunch on a daily basis and it had picked up to 100 packs a day. It was a good move as I was able to find a reasonable amount of money. However, if we are being asked to evacuate we request the government to find a remedy. We are not bothering the government by asking for jobs. If a solution cannot be found let us continue doing this, he said. Manjula Amarathunga (40), a resident of Horana said said she had used up her cash in hand the last few months. We have no income to pay for the lease of our vehicles. So I plucked Rambutan from the area and started selling them. However, the police and RDA officials have told us to vacate from the area we are selling these items. This is a time when people expect leniency and sympathy from governments, she added. Gayani Wedage (28) a resident of Piliyandala and an unemployed graduate said that her husband who used to hire his vehicle has no income now. So they sell produce from their vehicle parked on the radside. However she said the police as well as officials from a nearby Agrarian services centre have asked them to evacuate the spot. Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said parking vehicles on pavements is prohibitted under the traffic law. Sellers who sell goods in vehicles either blocking traffic and pavements would be towed away, he said. We have informed police stations to remove vehicles that were parked along roads in main cities resulting in traffic congestion on roads. The pavements are meant for pedestrians. He said the public was free to engage in their own trade as long as it was not an inconvenience to the public or created any traffic blocks. In a situation like this, we are not inhumane to interfere in their livelihood, he said. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council Deputy Mayor Premalal Athukorala said, they want to inspect the quality of the food that is being sold in accordance with the prevailing health guidelines due to COVID, while trying to find some suitable locations for the people to carry on with their business. Independence Day, in India, is celebrated on August 15 each year. This day is celebrated to commemorate the countrys independence from the British Rule. This is a day which is filled with patriotic fervour and to show their love for the nation, especially this year, there are many who are now taking to Twitter to flood the social media platform with Independence Day related posts. From expressing their love for the country to sharing patriotic quotes, people are tweeting all sorts of comments. There are also those whore sharing about those bravehearts whose sacrifices helped India gain its freedom. A Twitter user wrote, The goosebumps we get on seeing our Triranga standing tall & shining, something that cant be described in words! Remembering all the freedom fighters & our Forces for their contribution towards the Nation, and shared this image: The goosebumps we get on seeing our Triranga standing tall & shining, something that can't be described in words! Remembering all the freedom fighters & our Forces for their contribution towards the Nation. Jai Hind #IndependenceDayIndia#15August2020#_ pic.twitter.com/bKGAz0QmvI Md Injamul Haque (@TheInjamulHaque) August 15, 2020 Heres another expressing the same notion with this tweet: Thousands laid down their lives so that our country is breathing. This day never Forget their sacrifice... #HappyIndependenceDay#15August2020 pic.twitter.com/H2oqD3IvfZ Aya (@real_alya7) August 14, 2020 This user of the micro-blogging site, on this Independence Day, paid tribute to the corona warriors fighting on the frontline against the pandemic. They shared: It makes my heartbeat with a pride that iam a citizen of that such Great country Happy Independence Day #IndependenceDay2020 #15August2020 pic.twitter.com/uB00l9gytf mayur shirsath (@mayursh54830042) August 14, 2020 Independence day for a school kid summed up in these pictures, with this caption heres what an individual shared: Take a look at how others reacted: There Is Nothing More Beautiful & Electrifying Than Our Flying Tricolour Happy 74th independence day to everyone pic.twitter.com/kzVjHn02UF Jessica Patel (@bossgirl789800) August 15, 2020 Missing these "Boondi ke Laddu" which we used to get on 15 Aug and 26 Jan... #15August2020 #_ pic.twitter.com/MIR2Lg0AbK Shuchi (@ShuchiParashar3) August 15, 2020 #IndependenceDayIndia Happy 74th independence day to all my brothers and sisters . Stay high up and be proud to be an Indian . pic.twitter.com/V9vhdm6bc4 MANMATH PRADHAN (@MANMATHSUHANSI) August 15, 2020 On this special day heres wishing our dreams of a new tomorrow come true! May your #IndependenceDay day be filled with patriotic spirit.Wishing you a Happy Independence Day. # #HappyIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/kysnJPhkVv sainki gupta (@sainki_gupta12) August 15, 2020 What is your Independence Day 2020 tweet? Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich on Thursday joined other Senate Democrats in signing a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing concern about policy changes they say are causing mail delivery delays and that will make it more difficult and more expensive for citizens to vote by mail. New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, in an Aug. 7 letter to DeJoy, expressed some of the same concerns, and requested that DeJoy meet with her and other officials who run state elections. DeJoy has cut overtime for U.S. Postal Service workers and removed mail sorting machines from post offices around the country, including New Mexico, triggering criticism this week from the local postal workers union. DeJoy is also planning to raise the cost of election mail to First Class rates. Regardless of any problems that the Postal Service might experience, Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover said Friday that polling places will be prepared and secure. The letter from Senate Democrats to DeJoy reads in part, Since you assumed the role of Postmaster General, there have been disturbing reports regarding changes at USPS that are causing significant delays in the delivery of mail. Under normal circumstances, delayed mail is a major problem during a pandemic in the middle of a presidential election, it is catastrophic. The letter also noted that it has been the practice of the Postal Service to automatically treat all election mail as First Class, regardless of the paid class of service, and to provide the standard two-to-five-day First Class delivery window. State election officials have recently been informed by the Postal Service that election mail will no longer automatically be regarded as First Class, the senators letter said. This will cause further delays to election mail that will disenfranchise voters and put significant financial pressure on election jurisdictions. The senators posed a series of questions regarding the recent changes and asked that DeJoy commit to past practices. They asked for copies of any letters or guidance sent to state or local election officials regarding the service standards that will be applied to election mail. The postmaster general was asked to respond no later than Aug. 25. Last week, DeJoy publicly said the Postal Service has ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time. President Donald Trump has, however, since contradicted that assertion. During a Thursday interview on the Fox Business Network, the president freely admitted that the stalled stimulus relief bill was also starving the Postal Service of money, making it more difficult for them to process the expected surge of mail-in ballots. Trump continued making the false claim that Democrats are pushing for universal mail-in voting. If we dont make a deal, that means they dont get the money, Trump said on the Fox interview. That means they cant have universal mail-in voting; they just cant have it. U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., on Friday issued a statement saying the president was waging an assault on our democracy and threatening the integrity of Novembers election. He called on congressional Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to immediately stand up to the President and fund the Postal Service to protect the right to vote for New Mexicans and Americans across the country. Bernalillo County Clerk Stover said Postal Service officials in Albuquerque were extremely cooperative and easy to work with during the primary, and her office is well prepared for the general election. Im going to make sure that there are drop boxes for ballots at all 16 early voting sites and 71 sites on Election Day, Stover said. All drop boxes will be secure, locked and under the watchful eye of a poll worker at all times. She said she was also hoping to press the countys mobile voting unit into service, moving it to different sites around the county during early voting. You wont be able to vote there, nor will there be any voter information. It would strictly be a drop-off spot. A 44-year-old commercial driver, who allegedly had sexual intercourse with his 17-year-old daughter, has been put before the Accra Circuit Court on charges of incest. According to the prosecution, the accused person, Tony Abbey, aka Abdul-Rahman, sexually assaulted his teenage daughter for several months resulting in a pregnancy. When he realised that his daughter was pregnant, he caused her to abort the pregnancy and thereafter continued to sleep with her. The accused, who appeared before the court, presided over by Mrs Christiana Cann, pleaded not guilty to the charge of incest. Bail The court, however, granted him bail in the sum of GH60,000 with three sureties, one to be justified. With the justification, one of the sureties must provide proof of ownership of any landed property worth the bail sum. The prosecution was also ordered to file all the necessary documents that it will rely on during the trial before the next adjourned date. Hearing continues on Monday, September 7, this year. Facts Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire, said the victim was the complainant in the case. He said in 2017, the complainant went to Nima to stay with the accused person to enable her to attend school. According to the prosecutor, a year later the accused person began having sexual intercourse with the victim and she became pregnant. Abortion Chief Inspector Atimbire said the accused person aborted the pregnancy for the complainant and warned her not to disclose it to anyone. In March this year, the prosecutor said the accused person repeated the act with the complainant before she left for boarding school. He added that in June 2020, the complainant went to visit her mother at Ashaiman during school vacation where she disclosed her ordeal. The prosecutor said the complainants mother further reported the issue to the Department of Social Welfare after which the accused was invited and handed over to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU). Hospital Chief Inspector Atimbire noted that the complainant made a report and a medical report form was issued to her to attend hospital for examination and treatment. The prosecutor told the court that the case was referred to the Nima DOVVSU. The accused in his caution statement admitted the offence of incest, he stated. After investigations, the accused person was charged with the offence and arraigned. 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 As the nation marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II on Saturday, the government-sponsored national memorial ceremony for the war dead saw the smallest-ever number of family members in attendance. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, members of families who lost relatives in the war from 20 prefectures decided not to attend this year's memorial ceremony at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The number who attended was the lowest ever at about 200. In his address, the emperor expressed his condolences to the war dead, while also referring to the pandemic. It is extremely rare for the emperor to make remarks about hardships unrelated to the war during this memorial ceremony. The ceremony started before noon. After Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a speech, all participants observed a moment of silence at 12 p.m. About 5,000 family members usually attend this annual memorial ceremony, but according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, relatives in 20 prefectures such as Osaka, Nagasaki and Okinawa chose not to attend this year. The emperor, who attended the ceremony with the empress, reiterated the words, "reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse," which he stated last year in his first memorial after assuming the throne. He used the expression "deep remorse" that the Emperor Emeritus had included in an address for the 2015 ceremony marking the 70th anniversary. The emperor also said in the address, "We are currently confronted with the unprecedented difficulties" caused by the spread of the coronavirus. "I sincerely hope that we all work together hand in hand to overcome this difficult situation and continue to seek happiness of the people and world peace," he added. The Imperial couple attended an event held outside the Imperial Palace and the Akasaka Imperial Residence for the first time since February. This was also the first time the emperor has spoken about the virus in a public place. As participants in the ceremony included many elderly people, who are said to be at risk of developing severe symptoms if infected, thorough measures against the virus, such as asking attendees to wear masks and disinfect their hands with alcohol, were taken at the venue. The national anthem was not sung and only an orchestral performance was given. To reduce contact among the attendees, this year no arrangements were made to have people hand chrysanthemums to mourners who wish to offer flowers. For family members and others who were unable to attend the ceremony, the ministry streamed the event via YouTube. The oldest participant in this year's ceremony was aged 93, and the youngest was 12. No fathers or mothers of the war dead have attended the ceremony for 10 consecutive years, and only one participant was a wife whose husband died in the war. Base Camp Brewing closed its doors Aug. 9 because of the economic pain brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, but owner Justin Fay said Friday that doesnt mean the Southeast Portland brewery has poured its last pint. We are very much hoping we will be able to open back up, Fay said in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive. But we dont know the timeframe yet. Its obviously very dependent on the business atmosphere in Portland. The brewery, started by a group of Klamath Falls friends who decided to combine beer with their love of the outdoors, announced July 31 that it would be closing for the foreseeable future. Due to the changes brought about by COVID-19 and the current business climate in Portland we will be closing our doors for the foreseeable future. To our many friends and customers; thank you for your support! the company posted on Instagram. Fay, who conceived of Base Camp and assembled the team of friends to get it started, said the revenue hit has been too severe to keep operations going. Obviously COVID-19 has dramatically changed the business environment all over the world, and of course Portland is affected dramatically as well, he said. At least from what weve seen, people arent going out as much as they used to. Fay said Base Camp will continue to pay rent on the Buckman neighborhood brewery and taproom -- and that the attached food cart pod will continue to operate. The hopes are that we can reopen at the current location sometime down the line, he said, adding that he plans to set up online sales for the brewerys current inventory and merchandise. Until then, Fay continues to run Base Camps four-acre hop-growing operation in Ashland, and soon he will produce the first harvest after planting last year. My hope when I started the hops project is wed be able to use a lot of it for Base Camp, he said. That still is the hope, but we will be producing much more than Id be able to use at the brewery, so were looking to sell to local Oregon breweries as well. In an interview last year, Ross Putnam, who had run day-to-day operations at Base Camp for the past few years, talked about how the group of friends set up Base Camp back in 2012. When we were putting this all together, we wanted to do what we knew how to do. That was drink beer and hang out in the outdoors, Putnam says. So, pretty simple concept. They found an old electrical warehouse in inner Southeast Portlands Buckman neighborhood and got to work creating their dream. They fashioned it from reclaimed wood, recreation equipment, found items and whatever they could get their hands on. The result was a taproom that at first glance could be confused with an REI. Carabiners functioned as tap handles; a recovered canoe hung above the rustic bar; oversized artwork of outdoors adventures adorned high-ceilinged walls; and a fiber-optic laser map of the sky lit up the ceiling at night. Fay had gone through the fermentation science program at Oregon State University then brewed at Klamath Basin Brewing Co. Initially, he and Base Camp were focused mostly on lagers a few years ahead of the current lager resurgence. Timings everything in the beer world, and when we launched in 2012 there werent a lot of craft lagers out there, he said. Our first flagship brand was an Intense India Pale Lager. We launched, and we didnt have an IPA in the taproom. In recent years Base Camp branched out into a range of styles and became best known for its Smore Stout, served at the pub with a signature toasted marshmallow on the glass rim. The taproom, with its spacious outdoor area, fire pit and food-cart pod, was a popular spot for years, attracting a host of committed neighborhood regulars and drawing from Portlands beer tourism as the scene exploded around it, all while spreading the outdoor-life mantra. Some liken it to a ski lodge, but we just wanted to bring people together and be the starting point for folks adventures, Putnam said. Have a bit of inspiration to get outside and drink some good beer along the way with them. Base Camp endured some struggles as it matured, however. The brewery had tensions with street camping in the area, an issue that prompted an encounter between Fay and the police in 2016. Fay pleaded guilty to weapons and criminal mischief charges and took temporary leave from Base Camp. On Friday, Fay openly discussed that time and how his life has changed since. That was a very, very difficult time in my life, he said. I want to make sure its known Im very regretful for my actions. That was the lowest point in my life, and it precipitated me getting the tools to improve my life. I am sober and have been for a long time. What happened precipitated me getting help for alcohol, and it has put me in a much better place today. The closure has been extremely difficult, Fay said, but his growth over the past few years has helped him cope. This is another difficult time in my life facing changes with Base Camp and these world events, he said, but because of the work I did after getting arrested, I am much more capable and able to handle these stressors in a positive way. From the beginning of the COVID thing, its been really tough to have to let go of employees who have been with me for a long long time, he said. Its been very difficult emotionally. I think Base Camp has been a wonderful thing for so many people, and for our community, and I really hope that we can continue being a part of that down the line. And the feedback from Base Camp fans has helped carry him, too. Weve had an overwhelming amount of support, he said. People reaching out, telling us stories of how they first met their significant other at Base Camp, and a whole bunch of other significant life events. Its been wonderful to hear those stories and helps keep our fire lit to make all the effort we can to open back up and keep toasting marshmallows. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- Andre Meunier Subscribe to Andres text service and get ongoing alerts about beer releases and news from the Portland and Oregon beer scene. And check out Andres beer reviews on Untappd, where hes andremeunier13, and follow him on Instagram, where hes @oregonianbeerguy. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. More beer coverage: Ewan McGregor is set to pay half of his Star Wars royalties to ex-wife Eve Mavrakis as part of their divorce settlement, according to the judgement. The judge has signed off on the former couple's split following 22 years of marriage after the actor, 49, filed to divorce Eve, 53, back in January 2018. It is thought that Ewan will be forced to share royalties and residuals from the projects he worked on during the marriage which includes four Star Wars films, Angels & Demons, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Moulin Rouge. Finalized: Ewan McGregor is set to pay half of his Star Wars royalties to ex-wife Eve Mavrakis as part of their divorce settlement, according to the judgement (pictured together in 2015) Ewan is set to keep thirty of the couple's vehicles including cars and motorcycles which he collected throughout their marriage. Eve will pocket a $6.62 million house in Los Angeles as well as jewellery, bank accounts and five cars. She will also get $501,704 in cash to even out the asset split as well as a base child support of $14,934 per month and base spousal support of $35,868 per month, according to documentation obtained by TMZ. The exes are sharing joint legal and physical custody of their nine-year-old daughter Anouk. MailOnline has contacted Ewan's representatives for comment. Throwback: It is thought that Ewan will be forced to split royalties and residuals from the projects he worked on during the marriage which includes four Star Wars films (pictured in Star Wars Episode I in 1999), Angels & Demons, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Moulin Rouge The actor initially filed for a divorce from his wife back in January 2018. It was reported earlier this year that the former couple had submitted 'a judgement package to the court laying out details of their financial settlement', according to The Blast. Just over a year ago the pair's eldest daughter Clara, 24, referred to Ewan's girlfriend Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 35, as 'a piece of trash' on Instagram. Ewan and Eve, who wed back in 1995, also share daughters, Jamyan, 19, Esther, 18, and Anouk. The couple confirmed they had split in October 2017 and Eve was first pictured without her wedding ring around the same time. Attack: Just over a year ago the pair's eldest daughter Clara, 24, referred to Ewan's girlfriend Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 35, (pictured) as 'a piece of trash' on Instagram Ewan was allegedly contributing money to his estranged wife and children 'voluntarily,' though he frequently took issue with the amount he was being expected to put forth. French production designer Eve attempted to counter Ewan's argument by claiming the Star Wars alum was not paying her or her children nearly enough. Daughter Clara fired verbal shots at Winstead in July of last year after a fan of the actress tagged her in a photo of Ewan and Mary sharing a kiss at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2014. In the post's caption, the fan had referred to Winstead as 'the most beautiful and talented woman on earth' - something Clara was more than ready to refute. 'Most beautiful and talented woman on earth??? Oh man y'all are delusional. The girl is a piece of trash :),' wrote Clara in the post's comment section. Soon after her vicious reply, another Winstead fan urged her to 'say it to [Winstead's] face not [on] social media.' They added: 'It took TWO to undo this marriage. If a man OR woman is happy w/ their marriage no outside interference can destroy that!' Too much to bare: Clara fired verbal shots at Winstead in July of last year after a fan of the actress tagged her in a photo of Ewan and Mary sharing a kiss at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2014 (McGregor and Winstead pictured in 2018) To the fan's surprise, Clara firmly agrees with their assessment. 'Yup it took two!! Mary & my father :),' she wrote. In an interview with British newspaper The Times, Clara openly acknowledged the immaturity of her Instagram banter, but claimed that her rage was justified. 'It wasn't the most mature way to go about things, but I was angry and upset.' According to Clara, there were things going on behind-the-scenes that became 'a lot to deal with' and eventually sent her over the edge. 'There had been a lot building up to it and a lot to deal with - not to make excuses or anything - but, yeah, it wasn't my finest moment,' she admitted. Tension: 'There had been a lot building up to it and a lot to deal with - not to make excuses or anything but, yeah, it wasn't my finest moment,' she admitted (Ewan and Eve pictured in 2016) She also explained that she kept 'being tagged in the photograph' and was 'seeing negative things about [her] mom'. 'I said how I felt and I didn't want to apologize for it. It wasn't the right way to go about things, but it's a hard thing to wrap your head around when you feel you had this idea of what the family unit is and then to have that shift. It's very weird.' As for getting to know Winstead on a personal level, Clara stated that she was 'good' with keeping her distance from the Birds Of Prey star. 'I wish them all the best, but I'm staying out of that, for sure,' she concluded. WASHINGTON: In yet another scathing attack, US President Donald Trump has claimed that he has "more Indians" than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden`s running mate Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican heritage. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the New York City law enforcement union, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), that has endorsed the President in the race for the White House. "(If) Sleepy Joe Biden were to become President, he would immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in America... And probably she`s a step worse, Kamala. "She is of Indian heritage. Remember I said I have more Indians than her... I have more than she does," he added. Referring to Massachusetts` Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, Trump said: "I was sort of hoping he (Biden) was going to pick Pocahontas... She`s another beauty." "We got names for all of them. What`s better Sleepy Joe or Slow Joe?" the President asked, having his crowd cheer louder for the nickname they preferred, reports Fox News. In his address, Trump also attacked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, also a Democrat, and said he "has launched a crusade against the police". The President described how he watched a protestor dump a bucket of water on two police officers and said, "I wish they fought back". Trump`s latest attack on Harris came a day after he said that that the California Senator "doesn`t qualify" to serve as US Vice President, while amplifying the fringe legal `birther` theory that critics decry as racist. "I just heard it today that she doesn`t meet the requirements and by the way the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer. "I have no idea if that`s right. I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for Vice President. "But that`s a very serious... you`re saying that, they`re saying that she doesn`t qualify because she wasn`t born in this country," he was quoted as saying in a BBC report. On August 11, Biden picked Harris to be his running mate for the November 3 election, in a historic move that marked a breakthrough for Indian-Americans in US politics. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:41:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's central bank has introduced 1000-rupee banknotes with a feature enabling the visually impaired people to identify the note easily, a senior official of the central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank said. China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation printed and delivered the new 1000-rupee notes, according to the central bank. "We have maintained international standards and practice in the new note to ensure that the visually impaired people identify the note easily," Chinta Mani Siwakoti, deputy governor at Nepal Rastra Bank told Xinhua on Friday evening. The note has 'M' written on the lower right side of the note. In roman, the 'M' means 1,000 and it was used to denote the 1000-rupee notes, according to the Nepali central bank. The surface where 'M' is written is raised compared to the surface on other parts of the note so that visually impaired people can identify denomination of the note by touching on that part, according to the Nepali central bank. Siwakoti said that the central bank was preparing to test these notes among the visually impaired people on whether they could identify the denomination of notes. Old notes denominated 1,000 rupees, 500 rupees and 100 rupees also have some features to ease the visually impaired people to identify the notes. For example, 1000-rupee notes have three large points, 500-rupee notes have two points and 100-rupee notes have one point. "But, most of the visually impaired people struggled to identify these notes and the change was made," said Siwakoti. The Nepali central bank had awarded the contract to the Chinese company for printing and delivering over 300 million pieces of 1000-rupee banknotes. The Chinese company has won the majority of the contracts to print the Nepali notes in the last three years. The Nepali central bank takes around three years to bring new notes of all denominations. The 1000-rupee notes are the largest value notes in the Himalayan country. Enditem Showcasing the risks of reopening schools while coronavirus remains a looming threat, a handful of New Orleans area campuses began in-person classes recently only to encounter disruptions this week after students or staff tested positive for the disease. On Thursday, Discovery Schools, a charter organization in Jefferson Parish, shut down all four of its campuses amid positive cases, meaning the charter's 2,400 students will pick up their courses online next week. At St. Ann Catholic School in Metairie, a section of seventh graders was sent home to quarantine after someone tested positive. And at Archbishop Hannan near Covington, 39 members of the school community were forced to quarantine after one person tested positive, the Archdiocese of New Orleans said Friday. The shutdowns and quarantines cast a shadow over a new school year that will be anything but normal as schools balance the need for in-person classes for some families with the need to contain the spread of the deadly contagion. After four Discovery students tested positive, "I decided for the safety and morale of my faculty to take action on all campuses," Head Of School Patty Glaser said. "I want to make sure Discovery is not a spreader." Schools are entering session at a time when all 64 Louisiana parishes are considered hotspots for the disease. Jefferson Parish has the highest case count in the state. That parish reported 106 new cases Friday. New Orleans area public schools have largely responded by delaying start dates or pivoting to remote learning. But some independent charter schools, private schools and college campuses have adopted in-person classes that can give the disease more freedom to spread. Discovery Schools in Jefferson Parish to close until September after positive coronavirus tests Discovery Schools, a 2,400-student charter school network in Jefferson Parish, has opted to shut all the system's campuses down until Sept. 11 The announcement of the closure of all Discovery campuses came one day after officials sent 75 first graders home at Dr. John Ochsner Discovery school in Jefferson after several teachers were exposed and needed to quarantine. Discovery's schools had been open to students only since Aug. 5. Archdiocese spokesperson Sarah McDonald did not say if it was a student or staff member who tested positive at Hannan or how many of the 39 people now quarantining are students. On Thursday, the archdiocese said St. Scholastica Academy was altering its class schedule due to two cases at the all-girls high school in Covington. And earlier in the week, staffers and parents of students at Norco Elementary and Destrehan High schools in St. Charles Parish received notice from those schools that someone at the school had tested positive. Both schools received deep cleanings and remained open. The St. Charles Parish public school district's COVID-19 policy requires people who test positive to quarantine for at least 10 days. Those in close contact with those who test positive are also told to quarantine. Meanwhile, it's not just schools with students on campus experiencing disruptions. 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 At Immaculate Conception in Marrero, the disease showed up before the students did. That school pushed back its start date to next week after a teacher tested positive Wednesday and the whole faculty had to quarantine. And the University of New Orleans has also seen at least one positive case among its staff, said Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Carolyn Golz. "We have some situations, where we have one person who tested positive and they didn't know at that point," Golz said. Though students move into their dorms at the Lakefront university next week, their first week of class will be remote. Students will then have a mix of in-person and online courses. Students living on campus and needing to quarantine will have designated space to do so, Golz said, and will have meals delivered to them. Classes will again pivot to remote learning beginning Nov. 19 and through the rest of the fall semester. The area's larger public school districts, Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany, won't begin in-person classes until at least Aug. 26. But the experience of these other schools could offer a window into what they should expect when kids return. In St. John the Baptist Parish, public school officials recently decided to delay the start of in-person school until Sept. 8, noting the need for increased cleaning and preparations for teachers to oversee virtual courses. The districts approximately 6,000 students had been set to return to classrooms on Monday. Teachers will still return to their classes on Monday. The first day of St. John's virtual learning program is Aug. 31, school district spokesperson Jennifer Boquet said. Boquet said around 2,500 students have opted for the online-only program. Staff writer Bob Warren contributed to this report. South Africa: International travel restrictions, curfew, remain under level 2 While South Africa will move to alert level 2 of the national lockdown at midnight on 17 August 2020, current restrictions such as international travel will remain in place to minimise the spread of Coronavirus. In addition, the country will maintain its 50 people limit on gatherings, which among others, include funerals and religious events. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Cabinets decision to move the entire country to alert level 2 on Saturday night. The Presidents announcement comes as the country marked five months since it declared a national state of disaster to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. As we look back at the past five months, all indications are that South Africa has reached the peak and moved beyond the inflection point of the curve. Most of our health facilities have proven resilient, capable and able to withstand and deal with the surge, said the President. According to the President, modelled projections of infections, hospitalisation and deaths have had to be adjusted downwards, as the country is recording better progress in the management of the disease. The move to level 2 means that we can remove nearly all of the restrictions on the resumption of economic activity across most industries, said the President. In terms of governments risk adjusted strategy in dealing with the pandemic, alert level 2 means that there is a moderate COVID-19 spread, with a relatively high level of readiness in the health system. While the country moves to increase economic activity, the President stressed that some measures will remain in place to limit transmission and protect the countrys health capacity. Restrictions In this regard, spectators will not be permitted at sporting events, and the curfew between the hours of 10pm and 4am will remain in place. In an act to balance lives and livelihoods, the President encouraged people to stay at home if they can and, if possible, to work from home, especially if they are over the age of 60 or have underlying conditions. In order to keep the remaining restrictions in place and to maintain some of the essential elements of the health response, the President extended the national state of disaster until 15 September 2020. With this new phase of our response, we need to put in place the practices and forms of behaviour that we must continue to adopt for some time to come. This virus will remain with us for many months and I must applaud the many South Africans who have changed their way of life to meet that reality, said the President. With the potential of a second wave still on the cards, President Ramaphosa urged citizens to maintain the hygiene protocols of washing and sanitising of hands, observing social distancing and wearing masks. Familiarity with each other should not allow us to forget these precautions, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Leslie Odom Jr. (left) as Aaron Burr and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton in the filmed version of the original Broadway production of "Hamilton," which premiered on the streaming service Disney+ on July 3. Read more One thing I love about theater is the moment when the lights begin to dim and I turn my phone off. Not to silent, not to vibrate. Off. Its a moment of surrender that happens in too few other spaces and is one of many things Ive missed since the global pandemic left all the world stage-less. Yet a few weeks ago, as I sat at home, dimmed the lights, and settled in with my phone and earbuds to listen to the Wilma Theaters James Ijames-directed audio presentation of Aleshea Harris Is God Is, I felt that same surrender. I couldnt see the actors, but in a way they surrounded me. It felt closer to being inside a theater than anything had in months. Five months into the shutdown, there isnt a lot of good news for the arts, where budgets have been slashed and jobs lost. Yet creative people keep finding ways to create. Weve seen theater companies and individuals respond with innovations meant to keep performers safe and audiences connected now and in a possibly different-looking future. READ MORE: In Philly theater, union contracts and digital content are feeling out a way to coexist In some ways, theater has never felt more accessible. It cost $6.99 for an entire household to stream the filmed performance of Hamilton on Disney+ and as little as $10 to attend Is God Is during its four-day run. Earlier in the summer, Britains National Theatre was streaming some past hits on YouTube each week. This falls Philadelphia Fringe Festival (Sept. 10-Oct. 4) will be predominantly virtual, with some performers opting to have their performances free and just ask for donations, according to festival coordinator April Rose, who said that costs may also be lower for creators who wont have to pay rent for a venue this year. Running concurrently, and in part virtually, will be Free Fringe Philly, a separate festival unaffiliated with FringeArts whose participants wont sell tickets but will also be seeking donations. In the meantime you can head to YouTube, where you can find Speaking of Family , a web series from Philadelphia actor and producer Michelle Pauls that was shot entirely on Zoom. Playwright Richard Nelson has also used Zoom to produce two new additions to his plays about the fictional Apple family, to benefit the Actors Fund. The second, And So We Come Forth, is streaming from theapplefamilyplays.com through Aug. 26. So far theres been plenty to see without leaving home. But is any of this truly theater? And whats lost when were mostly experiencing it separately, often using the same devices theaters usually have us put away? Tech cuts both ways For Gabriela Sanchez, cofounder of Power Street Theatre in North Philadelphia, technology has both given and taken away. Doing the best we could with the resources that we had after city budget cuts wiped out funding for a planned childrens festival in Norris Square Park, the theater in June staged a 90-minute show, Nuestras Historias/Our Stories, on Zoom that was also available on Facebook Live, Sanchez said. It was really successful, with a couple of hundred people tuning in live to the pay-what-you-decide event and some 2,000 having seen it in all. We had people from all over be able to tune in. But while Nuestras Historias reached far more people online than likely could have attended a public performance, Power Streets focus is really centered around the richness of diversity in North Philly, Sanchez said. She worries that between people who may not have access to the internet or who right now might not have the emotional capacity to deal with navigating [it], that we missed our audience. Emotional bandwidth may be as important as the actual kind. Though theres a lot of effort happening to creating access people have different learning styles, said Sanchez, noting that she herself is dyslexic. Someone could have a computer and not know how to use it. Additionally, some people are already dealing with Zoom or Google Hangout meetings for work and may not want to turn to the same kinds of tech for leisure, said LaNeshe Miller-White, one of the founders of West Philadelphias Theatre in the X. There are things that I want to watch, but after Ive had three [virtual] things in a day, or more I want my computer to go away, said Miller-White, whos also the newly appointed executive director of Theatre Philadelphia. That organization, which markets the regions theaters and runs the Barrymore Awards, is also spotlighting a variety of virtual events on its website these days. Forced to cancel its two long-planned August productions in Malcolm X Park for safety reasons, Theatre in the X turned to a virtually staged reading of Viv Is for Vengeance, on Zoom. Lindsey Hope Pearlmans play is a comedic take on Euripides Medea, but featuring characters from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Pearlmans play, Miller-White said, grew out of a real incident, when they replaced the actress who played Aunt Viv with a different actress toward the end of the series. For the actors, this was like the first creative thing that they had done since everything started to change, she said of the reading. We prerecorded it, did some light editing, and then put it on Facebook Live so people could watch it together with the cast and chat about it. People needed that togetherness in that moment. Another digital production, a four-day Juneteenth celebration in partnership with Norristowns Iron Age Theatre, offered less immediacy. Miller-White said shes heard from people who havent yet finished watching the 12 short videos, which remain online. It was too much for them to handle, like, all three of those videos in one day on each day and especially with this subject matter, too, which is heavier, definitely, than Viv Is for Vengeance. Though theres definitely some digital divide happening with the portion of West Philly that we work with, a bigger problem has been getting word out about what the theaters doing, she said. In the past, people would have seen them rehearsing in the park or in attendance at other community events. To promote the Juneteenth project to people who didnt follow the theater on social media, they printed placards with QR codes and hung them up around West Philly. People could point their phones at the code, and the page with the videos would come up. That live connection' This idea about what is theater, and what can we make under the restrictions that were working under at this time that actually feels like theater, is for me the question, said Princeton-based producer Mara Isaacs, whose credits include the Tony Award-winning Hadestown. And ultimately, for me, its the relationship between the performers and the audience, that live connection is for me what is theater. So how do we make that in a digital space? One possibility: making the space more intimate while still maintaining social distance. Shes working with Christine Jones and Jenny Koons on a new digital project launching Thursday, Aug. 20, that will bring the Theatre for One concept, conceived by Jones as a portable venue designed for one actor and audience member at a time, into a virtual space. Commissioned by Arts Brookfield, Theatre for One: Here We Are will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and will run on Thursday nights for six weeks. Eight microplays, each several minutes long, and written, directed, and designed by BIPOC women (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), will be performed almost entirely by women. Among the playwrights: Lynn Nottage (Sweat), the first woman to win two Pulitzer Prizes for drama. Audience members, wholl sign in to a sort of chat room designed to mimic the experience of waiting in line for a physical Theatre of One performance, wont get to choose which play theyll see. Theyll wait in the chat room with others, then when their turn comes enter a separate theater space, where it will just be one viewer and the actor. They will be live. These are not recorded. Theyre ephemeral performances where the actor and the audience member can see each other, Isaacs said. (Registration for the free performances is at bfplny.com/theatre.) Theyre also short. What I learned as a theater maker, who is also a person dealing with the emotions of quarantine and its attendant stresses, is that the attention span for watching a play online is limited, Isaacs said. READ MORE: Is intermission dead? Lots of plays and musicals are skipping them What may outlast the pandemic Youre unlikely to find anyone steeped in live theater who isnt eager to get back to it when its safe to do so. But as the Wilma recently floated a proposal for a Globe-like theater-within-a-theater equipped with multiple cameras to capture performances, there was a sense that a post-pandemic future might involve more technical innovations and maybe a hybrid approach to reaching audiences beyond the physical theater. READ MORE: Wild design at Wilma borrows from Shakespeare's Globe for COVID-19 distancing Miller-White, whose budget is considerably smaller, would like to have at least parts of future Theatre in the X performances recorded. I wish we had good recordings of our past presentations, she said. Recording the companys outdoor performances might be challenging, but Im thinking of having things documented, even if its just small snippets of shows, because that would have been something really great to be able to put out now. The second-biggest impact of the Coronavirus outbreak in India after the toll on health has been the loss of employment. Data compiled my Moneycontrol based on industry estimates showed that 10.8 million jobs have been lost across sectors since the March 25 lockdown. This is the worst-ever level of job losses estimated to have hit India after liberalisation. Even the 2007-2009 financial crisis had a relatively smaller impact, with about 5 million jobs lost by salaried workers across India. The data Moneycontrol compiled showed that the loss of jobs was across traditional sectors such as travel/tourism and hospitality, which rely on people movement to sustain business, as well as startups and financial services. Travel and tourism COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The travel and tourism sector is among the worst hit by the pandemic. Industry sources told Moneycontrol that 5.5 million jobs have been lost in this profession so far, with the worst hit being travel agents and tour guides. Bhushan Tiwari, who has a travel firm under BT India Travels in Kolkata, had to lay off 90 percent of his 120-member team. I had no option. There was no business, so I was unable to pay the staff. We only have people in the finance and customer service department who are involved in refunds right now, said Tiwari to Moneycontrol. He is mulling shutting down the business by October unless there is a complete lifting of the lockdown. It is estimated that 20 million people work in the travel and tourism industry. The job roles involve sales, marketing, planning itineraries, customer service and on-ground tour guide services. Sources said that travel companies that also handle flight and hotel bookings are relatively better off than standalone, pure-play travel companies. Moneycontrol had reported earlier that 15 percent of the 20,000 travel desk roles in corporates have also been cut as companies resort to remote meetings to cut costs. Hospitality sector When hotels and restaurants across the country were ordered to shut from mid-March, initial estimates suggested that 70,000-100,000 jobs were in danger. Cut to August, industry estimates suggest that 3.8 million jobs have been lost in the sector. Mid-to-small size eateries are the worst hit since they do not have the infrastructure to offer online ordering or home delivery. In Mumbai itself, close to 60 eateries have shut down permanently so far. Niche restaurant Mirchi & Mime in Powai, Mumbai, which had hired hearing-challenged staff through tie-ups with local non-governmental organisations, announced its permanent closure last month. The restaurant had said on social media that it was closing owing to the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the subsequent breakdown of relations with its landlord over lease terms. Its not just eateries but also hotels that are facing challenges. While travel has resumed and hotel stays have been allowed from July onwards, guests have remained cautious. Further, no outsider is allowed to dine in restaurants inside hotels. Hotels have reported a 45.3 percent decline in their revenue-per-available room in the January to June period from a year ago, according to JLLs Hotel Momentum India. Hotels have also fired staff, including guest relations and room service personnel. The human resources head of a Gujarat hotel chain said that while some signs of revival have been seen in July, the numbers are nowhere close to last year. What do we do with so many employees when there is barely any travel happening? Business travel is also at bare minimum, said this official. The Indian hospitality industry market size is estimated to be $10 billion and it is said to employ 35 million people. Aviation A direct consequence of flight operations being shut from March 25 due to the lockdown was the revenue hit taken by airline companies. The revenue impact is still being felt despite domestic flights resuming, air bubbles being created for international travel, and the Vande Bharat Mission leading to resumption of some international flight services. IndiGo, Indias largest airline by market-share, said in July that it would let go of 10 percent of its workforce to offset the decline in revenues in the wake of the pandemic. As of March 2019, IndiGo had 23,531 employees. Similarly, Moneycontrol reported in March 2020 that GoAir is terminating the contracts of its expat pilots to cut costs and see through the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic on the aviation industry. While the aviation industry has an estimated 100,000 direct employees, the exact job loss estimates are not yet available. Automobile and transport sector While traditional automobile companies have avoided layoffs, HR consultants said that auto component makers have initiated job cuts due to falling demand for goods. The auto-sector staffing head of a large recruitment firm told Moneycontrol that prior to Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam, auto companies hire at least 100,000 people to meet the increase in production demand. However, this year, he said, his firm has more than 1,000 CVs of staff from component makers with no jobs in sight. The transportation sector has related jobs, including those for commercial drivers of trucks, autorickshaws, buses and taxis. With travel restricted and remote working being opted for by companies, almost 990,000 such workers are out of jobs. In fact, the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) & School Bus Owners Association have sought financial relief from the Maharashtra government amidst the lockdown. BOCI said that 1,50,000 bus staffers are currently in financial distress as they have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. Retail sector The retail sector, which includes high-street fashion as well as small stores, employs about 6 million people across India. In June, the Retail Association of India had estimated that a significant number of employees working in Indias modern retail sector could likely lose their jobs in the subsequent four months if the government did not intervene. The association had said that small retailers are expecting to lay off 30 percent of their manpower. In places such as Maharashtra, while malls have opened, footfalls remain low due to virus concerns and low spending ability amid pay cuts. Overall, job cuts in the retail sector are estimated to be 200,000. This includes 20 percent of workers who have gone back home and are unwilling to return. IT sector While it is has been affected relatively less than traditional sectors, the IT sector has let go off about 1,50,000 jobs so far, according to industry estimates. This includes traditional client-facing roles, where projects have been called off/new projects have dried out as well as BPO jobs. With remote working being implemented, BPO jobs have also moved to work-from-home. However, the inadequate infrastructure at home and lower number of business requests has led to jobs being culled across companies. The job losses in IT also pertain to customer-support and external technological support to other companies. The IT sector employs 5 million people in India. Added to this is the trouble for employees on the bench, who are being laid off. Moneycontrol had reported in July 2020 that IT major Cognizant has begun terminating bench employees as business has taken a hit after the Covid-19 outbreak. Similarly, French IT services provider Capgemini is now laying off bench employees in India as the pandemic has hit its business. The company is laying off employees who have been on the bench for more than two months. Startups Considering the size of this industry, startups were among the early victims of the pandemic. Industry estimates said that 100,000 employees across business segments such as transport, travel, accommodation and food delivery have been laid off due to a slump in revenue. Bengaluru-based food delivery major Swiggy had said in May that it would lay off 1,100 employees and shut down some of its businesses due to the crisis caused by Covid-19. Similarly, online food delivery and restaurant-booking start-up Zomato told employees in May that it would let go of 13 percent of the staff and cut the salaries of the remaining employees by up to 50 percent for six months. Ride-aggregation platforms Ola and Uber had also announced plans to lay off 1,400 and 600 employees, respectively, in May 2020. BFSI sector Due to the nature of the financial services business, which falls under the essential services category, the quantum of job losses was lower in the BFSI industry. Industry estimates said that 30,000 jobs have been lost so far in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector, with the majority of the roles being in sales. Most of the layoffs in the sector pertained to sales and inability to meet targets. However, the number of jobs lost were 30 percent higher than last year and this is simply because customers are not ready to spend, said the financial services hiring lead at a mid-sized HR firm. Within BFSI, the banking and non-banking financial companies segment constituted the majority of job losses. The BFSI sector employs nearly 9 million people in services such as branch banking, stock broking, insurance sales and mutual fund distribution. Revival in sight? The process of revival as far as employment is concerned is expected to take three to four months more. Hiring consultants told Moneycontrol that future layoffs can be curbed only if the lockdown is completely lifted and vaccine distribution is in sight. We dont want a scenario where a business reopens and employees fall sick as was seen in a past instance. This will only lead to a revenue slump and further job cuts across companies, said HR consultant Praveen Parthasarathy. If the COVID-19 pandemic has produced winners and losers, then young Canadian billionaire Tobias Lutke is definitely a winner. Since the start of the pandemic in March, the 40-year-old CEO of Ottawa-based e-commerce company Shopify Inc., has watched his personal worth rise from $3 billion (U.S.) in March to $8.5 billion today. Thats because Lutke controls 6.7 per cent of Shopifys stock, which has shot up from $460 last winter to more than $1,300 this week due to the companys boffo sales. Indeed, e-commerce has flourished during the pandemic due to people not venturing into stores. If you are a high income earner, even in the private sector, hardly any of them have lost work, says Jim Stanford, a Vancouver-based economist and director of the Centre for Future Work. So this recession is going to dramatically and directly exacerbate wealth inequality, there is no doubt about that. In fact, since COVID-19 deep-sixed the economy, one of the unforeseen consequences has been to make the poor even poorer and the rich even richer a reality that concerns many economists, especially as that could hamper our ability to recover from the recession. In my personal view and as an economist, the idea of having greater inequality has economic disadvantages to future economic growth, says James Orlando, senior economist at the TD Bank. There are so many positives to having a more equal society. Yet Lutke is a mere piker compared to how some of Americas billionaires have been flourishing during the pandemic. Jeff Bezos, the worlds richest man and CEO of Amazon, has a net worth of $189.4 billion. According to Bloomberg, since the start of this year, Bezos fortune has grown by $74 billion and in just one day last month jumped $13 billion. The Walton family, who owns the Walmart empire, has seen their wealth grow an extra $25 billion over the past year the same amount Facebooks CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, saw his wealth climb. All told, according to a report released last spring by the Americans for Tax Fairness, Americas billionaires saw their fortunes soar by $434 billion during the U.S. pandemic lockdown between mid-March and mid-May. At the top end, there is no impact from COVID-19 on their incomes at this point and in fact they are slightly better off, says David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Whereas at the bottom end, about a third of those folks are still without work or without hours. Canadas billionaire class is clearly not suffering either. The Thomsons, Canadas richest family who oversee the Thomson Reuters media empire, saw their wealth jump from $31.6 billion this past April to $37.7 billion today. The Westons, who control the Loblaws supermarket chain, watched their fortune go from $7 billion in April to $8.4 billion right now. In fact, Loblaws saw its grocery store sales jump 44 per cent during a two-week period in March, while the pandemic generating an extra $751 million in revenue during its first quarter. On the other hand, more than three million jobs were lost in Canada over March and April although some of that employment has since returned. An Ipsos survey carried out in April showed that 40 per cent of Canadians under the age of 55 had only one weeks worth or less of savings to cover costs like food or rent if they lost their jobs due to the pandemic. In the U.S., almost 40 million jobs were lost by the end of May. And 40 million Americans could be evicted from their homes by the end of this year due to the pandemic, according to one report, if state authorities dont step in. Why are the rich getting richer during the pandemic? For one, governments have responded to the pandemic by handing out money to citizens through programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) so they can pay their bills. (The money) is going to the poor people, but its not staying with the poor people, says Gary Stevenson, a British economist and a former Citibank trader, noting that citizens must use this cash to pay for food, rent, mortgages and other essentials. Thats when the rich receive this money, because they own apartment buildings, food companies, e-commerce companies and banks. So the government is coming in and subsidizing the poor, but the money doesnt stay with them but goes to the rich, who are just not spending any money, says Stevenson. They are accumulating the money in their accounts. The other reason is the performance of the stock market. In the U.S., Federal Reserve data shows that the wealthiest top 10 per cent of American households own about 84 per cent of the value of all households stock ownership. In Canada, the top one per cent of families hold about 25.6 per cent of the wealth roughly $3 trillion (Canadian) which is also at play in the markets. After crashing in March, the markets quickly rebounded and are now almost at their pre-pandemic levels. The huge discrepancies in wealth come from huge boosts in wealth and that comes in the ability to exploit financial markets, argues Louis-Phillipe Rochon, a professor of economics at Laurentian University. So if you look at where the financial markets were April 1 and today, there is a 30 per cent increase and that represents a tremendous boost in their wealth. If you are able exploit stock markets and the volatility in stock markets wisely, people are going to get very much richer. The trend of the rich getting richer, despite periodic recessions, has been going on since the 1980s. After income inequality in Canada fell from the 1930s until the early 1980s, it began an inexorable climb upwards. Inequality is now greater than the 1920s, says Dimitry Anastakis, a historian at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Today, the wealthiest 20 per cent of Canadians control 67.4 per cent of the nations wealth while the 20 per cent poorest control no wealth and are, in fact, underwater with debt. Anastakis says income inequality has grown over the past 40 years due to globalization, which hastened the deindustrialization of Canada and the U.S. This, in turn, led to a decline in unionization among blue-collar workers, which impaired their ability to garner a larger portion of the economic pie. At the same time, governments began cutting taxes for the wealthy and corporations, while offshore tax havens proliferated. Meanwhile, wages stagnated. Workers are making approximately the same real wages they did in 1975, effectively, says Anastakis. As a result, average people have increasingly resorted to credit to buy goods and services, which is why Canadians have accrued $2.3-trillion in consumer debt almost the highest per capita level in the world. Since 1990, the richest group of Canadians has increased its share of total national income, while the poorest and middle-income groups has lost share, says the Conference Board of Canada. Moreover, evidence suggests the rich emerge from recessions even wealthier. Emmanuel Saez, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, found that in the years immediately after the 2008-09 recession, the top one per cent of incomes grew by 31.4 per cent while the bottom 99 per cent of incomes grew only by 0.4 per cent. Meanwhile, the Conference Board of Canada found that corporate directors compensation in Canada jumped 33 per cent from 2008 to 2010. Still, the pandemic has not affected the wealthy evenly. Canadas dominant resource sector has been hard hit, especially with a drop in oil and gas prices. Industries such as hospitality, airlines and tourism have been crippled, as have many retailers. As a result, some CEOs have taken pay cuts. For example, Air Canadas CEO, Calin Rovinescu, was due to make $12.9-million in salary but has since fallen to $5.8-million due to the pandemics devastating impact on the airline. And in the oilpatch, many executives have taken pay cuts. The CEO of oil giant Cenovus Energy Inc., Alex Pourbaix, will have his annual base salary cut by 25 per cent, while other Cenovus team members took a 15 per cent cut. Notably, the companies that are prospering are less dependent on large labour forces and heavily invested in the online world and geared for a world where people work from home. Which is why Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google the so-called FAANGs are seeing revenues climb and increasingly dominate the stock market. Even for the FAANGs, its still a speculative machine, says Stanford. They may have a real core a profitability at the centre of it, but its a speculative herd mentality that drives up the equity values to ridiculous heights. Another reason for the growing disparity in wealth is due to stock buybacks which is when companies use their profits to buy up their own stock. Between 2010-2019, companies in the S&P 500 Index distributed $5.3 trillion (U.S.) or 54 per cent of their profits, to shareholders in the form of stock buybacks. One effect was to enrich corporate executives, whose income is often dependent on stock prices. William Lazonick, a Canadian-born economist and president of the Academic-Industry Research Network in Cambridge, MA, notes that stock buybacks mean average workers are not getting this money: instead its going to shareholders and senior executives. Moreover, he says this money is not being spent to ensure companies remain competitive by investing in R&D and productive capital or on technology or medicine which could help stop the pandemic. Basically with the people at the top its greed, says Lazonick. (Stock buybacks) are all they are concerned about. Look at Apple, which has had $344-billion in stock buybacks since 2013 and could have invested in all kinds of new technologies. Now, as the impact of COVID-19 continues to grind the economy, the question is whether growing wealth inequality will seriously hamper economic recovery? Given that economies generate a finite amount of wealth, if most of that money is hoarded by a small group of people and not spread equally among the broader population, the capacity for average people to buy goods and services declines. And if the pandemic is causing more of the wealth to end up in fewer hands, this could well mean there will be less cash in peoples pockets to get the economy moving again. Economists like Rochon feel its up to governments to intervene by redistributing the economys wealth to average citizens by placing higher taxes on the rich, and closing down things like offshore tax havens the wealthy exploit. Otherwise, he says, inequity will continue to worsen which will mean less chance for the economy to bounce back. And so the question is not whether we will have another (economic) crisis but when will this next crisis happen? he says. And thats because inequality is not being addressed. We need to have wealth taxes, we need estate taxes There is a level of inequality that simply crashes the system. British economist Gary Stevenson agrees, although he worries that so far Western governments have shown little inclination to redistribute wealth. So governments are in debt and running their wealth down and people are in debt and running their wealth down, and assuming that the wealth of the world has not somehow collapsed there must be one group that is accumulating wealth more quickly and thats the rich, he says. And if you cant convince the rich to spend their money, which they are not, I dont think you get spending back into the economy and then the economic crisis is not a temporary crisis its a permanent one. Predictably, the pushback to Zomatos seemingly progressive step typifies the usual response to any reproductive health reform with women at the centre. In a move aimed at busting the stigma and shame around menstruation, Indian food delivery giant Zomato announced a new period leave policy on 8 August, swiftly reviving the long-running discourse around the polarising subject. Allowing up to 10 additional leaves a year for menstruating employees, including transgender persons, the policy was extolled and denounced on social media timelines, exacerbating the gulf between those on either side of the debate. I, for one, was on the celebratory end of the spectrum as memories of my teenage body writhing in pain and hot water bags held against my throbbing abdomen came flooding back. (Or of the day when, at 16, I had to be carried by a male teacher to the medical inspection room, after fainting from a loss of blood.) But I wasn't surprised by this seemingly irreparable divide on opinions about 'period leave'. Predictably, the pushback to Zomatos seemingly progressive step typifies the usual response to most health reforms with women at the centre. And as observed in previous responses, the chorus opposing the reform comprises men and women. In this case, scores of people have already come forward to declare that menstruation has never stopped women from going to work in the past, so why introduce the room to rest now? It is this all too familiar confidence, which dictates that governments, institutions and men, understand a womans body better than the woman herself a fallacy that has come to colour the period leave debate as well. Unfortunately, several women have also joined this fold, which has made it easier to invalidate individual menstrual experiences. Moreover, women who suffer from debilitating period pain, or even disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis havent featured adequately in the discourse. Either they are absent from the narrative or the narrative is dismissive of their experiences, as if they are miserable for envisaging a corporate structure where their needs are automatically accounted for, in the form of menstrual leave. Among the misgivings expressed about providing menstruating employees the option to avail of period leave, is the increased possibility of discriminatory hiring policies within organisations. Many seem to be of the opinion that implementing such a policy would engender bias in promoting or employing women due to the reduced hours of work. However, in adopting this line of reasoning, the onus of not being discriminated against is placed conveniently on the menstruating person, and not the organisation itself. Needless to say, it is the company that will need to ensure that no menstruation-based differentiation is upheld within the workplace, because in the absence of an open dialogue within occupational hierarchy, women and transgender employees would continue to run the risk of bearing the unfair cost of having access to paid leaves for menstruation in an unconducive environment. Another interesting response that has more takers than it should, is the idea that women will somehow find a way to misuse the period leave policy. It is important to remember that this isnt an isolated thought it is the absurd yet dangerous supposition that women arent reliable sources of their own experiences and more prone to tell lies. This baseless assumption, which finds a whole chapter in Rebecca Solnits landmark collection of essays, Men Explain Things to Me, impedes feminist movements across the world, now including the menstrual movement, and was most recently observed in the #MeToo wave. Another telling takeaway from this dialogue has been just how central work is considered to mens lives, while on the other hand, women must go beyond the practice of going to work to prove they are as career-driven as if they are wired to find excuses to slack off at work. Additionally, over the past few days, a rather unsettling trend of disparaging privileged working women for hailing and demanding menstrual leaves for the private sector has gained considerable ground on social media. This sulphurous rhetoric, which most women experience in the real and virtual world for asking for something outside of whats been handed to them, has been decoded by Solnit in her book: Women get to choose between being punished for being subjugated and the continual punishment of subjugation. Similarly, in viewing paid leaves for menstruation as a luxury, critics of the policy have decided that urban women, who havent faced distinguishable oppression, are undeserving of it. Its almost as if the system recognises that womens lives are built around the struggle to secure access, but it keeps that access to rights, spaces, opportunities beyond their reach through conscious gatekeeping. Also in the large chorus of protesting voices, seem to be those who believe that taking a day or two off in the middle of the month will ghettoise women in the professional landscape. Meditations like such sometimes ignore the fact that our world is inherently gendered, and that the fallout creeps into each aspect of womens lives the workplace not being impervious to these prejudices. Therefore, furthering the notion that it is not these existing prejudices which can affect the trajectory of womens lives in the workplace and outside but just the things women do to circumvent them, makes it difficult to hold the system accountable. This reasoning is further explained in an essay on maternity rights in Feminist Perspectives on Employment Law by Anne Morris and Therese O'Donnell, which proposes that it is often assumed that any lingering inequalities must, by definition, result from the choices which women make rather than from conscious or unconscious bias. Morris and and ODonnells observation leaves us with troubling questions about what the road looks like for menstrual reforms: Will not having a period leave policy in place somehow remove the prejudices entrenched in the networks women function in, or make it easier for women to circumvent them? Can accepting biological differences do more good than relegating them to the background while pretending they do not impact our lives if left undisturbed? Or is there no bigger danger to the feminist movement than the period leave policy? (Photo : Unsplash) Warner Bros. Montreal is set to join the virtual fan experience, DC Fandome, with talks linking to a sequel Batman game rumored to be called "Gotham Knight". WB Montreal is confirmed to join the line-up after almost a year of teasing the new video game in their Twitter account. A dedicated time slot scheduled for WB Montreal as the first panels for the virtual fan experience, DC FanDome, set to launch on August 22, 10:30 am Pacific Time. Game Spot recognizes this as a promising opportunity for game developers to announce the possibility of a new game. WB Montreal would be given a 20-minute panel discussion to address the fans, and the rest is intended for a question and answer portion. Less than a week to wait for the DC Fandome and fans are eager to know if WB Montreal would actually release or create a new spin-off in the Batman video game franchise. Meanwhile, Arkham Knight's developer, Rocksteady, is set to launch a new anti-hero game, "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League" still in the DC Universe. Rocksteady's new Suicide Squad game is one of the two supposed video game titles that will be part of the DC FanDome in the coming week. ALSO READ: DC Fandome Coming this Aug 22 with its 'Most Epic Lineup Ever'-Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, James Gunn and More Confirmed WB Montreal's Foreshadowing of the Batman Game Since September of 2019, WB Montreal's Twitter page (@WBGamesMTL) has been teasing about a cryptic message saying that says "Capture the Knight" or "Cape sur la nuit" in its original French tweet. The series of tweets possibly relate to Batman, the Dark Knight and a new upcoming game. One particular tweet contains a video that projects different symbols believed to be the Dark Knight's possible enemies. Another tweet contained a photo of a half-cut symbol that includes a major detail comic fans recognize as the 'Court of Owls,' still with the caption, "Capture the Knight". The day after the said tweet, WB Montreal tweeted the full version of the picture with the caption "/redacted". The images released on the company's Twitter page is a huge reference and nod to the 'Court of Owls' that is featured in the Gotham Knights storyline that introduced in mid-2006. This release is under DC Comic's The New 52 arc that rebooted the whole universe. The series focused on the Bat-family that includes: Batman, Robin, Alfred, Batgirl, the Oracle, and more. Fans may perceive the tweets as a challenge in WB Montreal's games, but the developer has not released anything recently. The foreshadowing possesses a strong possibility of a new video game. Suicide Squad Game and The DC Fandome On the other spectrum of the DC FanDome's game news, Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League title is confirmed and announced, not kept under wraps by its developers. A similar time slot is scheduled for Rocksteady and the highly-anticipated Suicide Squad game. Twenty minutes for a panel discussion at 5 pm on the same day. Will Arnett will host the segment and is known to voice the Dark Knight in animated series, most notably, the LEGO Batman Movie. ALSO READ: New Call of Duty: Warzone Season 5 Gun Statistics: How AN-94 and ISO SMG Rank in 'Quickest to Kill' This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. People in Japan are commemorating the end of World War Two -- 75 years on. A government-organized ceremony was held in Tokyo on Saturday to honor those who died in the war. About 550 people attended the event held every August 15th. The number this year was the smallest ever because of the coronavirus. Attendance was less than one-tenth of last year's. At the stroke of noon, the participants, along with people across the nation, observed a moment of silence to remember approximately 3.1 million people who died in the war. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako took part in the memorial event. While the Imperial couple have been involved in events within the palace, this was their first time in public since the outbreak began in Japan. Emperor Naruhito said, "Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated. I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, together with all of our people and pray for world peace and for the continuing development of our country." Prime Minister Abe Shinzo reiterated Japan's commitment to making the world a better place. Abe said, "Under the banner of a proactive contribution to peace, we will join forces with the international community and play a greater role in solving the various challenges facing the world. We shall overcome the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and carve out the future of the nation for the sake of the generations alive now and the generations of tomorrow." As the anniversaries of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier this month also showcased, the people who experienced the war firsthand are growing older. About 80 percent of the relatives of the war dead who attended the memorial event are 70 or older. To symbolize the passing on of memories to a new generation, a 12-year-old student whose great-grandfather died in the war also attended. Events will be held nationwide throughout the day to remember the war dead and pray for peace. India-Japan naval exercises in the Indian Ocean have opened the door for more nations to work together as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is pushing into the Indian Ocean. Having military exercises is something that navies do a lot, but now the precedent is greater since both India and Japan are having problems with Chines expansion at their doorsteps. Both countries are preventing Beijing from muscling in like a gangster and stealing territory in the South China Sea, according to SCMP. The PLA and Indian forces were deadlocked along the Ladakh border in a battle that left a reported 20 Indian soldiers dead. Still, the Chinese did not reveal their dead in the battle. Another of Beijing's wrongdoings is attempting to co-opt the Senkaku Islands using ancient claims, but they are down-handed enough to get the Senkakus by using the same tricks they used to steal the Parcels. Both China and India are pointing fingers on who started the clash. Sun Weidong, ambassador to India says that Indian Forces crossed a point called the Line of Actual Control that is a border. But, Vikram Misri, ambassador to India said that China is pushing back the line at their peril, using force against a sovereign nation. Tokyo is warning Beijing not to cross the line with the Senkakus. True to form, the Chinese Foreign Ministry is using intimidation on the Japanese. The Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kano said that China will be judged by its intentions and its capacity. The Japanese have the Americans as allies with the USS Ronald Reagan's carrier strike group docked in Yokosuka, Japan. This is something that the PLAN is not willing to tussle with. Also read: Japan's Dispute Over Chinese Ships in East China Sea Near Senkakus Will Get U.S. Support China is singled out by US, Japan, India, and Australia Chinese naval attempts to secure the Indian and Pacific Oceans are forcing the navies of these nations to work as one under the U.S. Navy. With the extra support from its allies, the U.S. Navy has the resources to conduct a campaign against Chinese assets. The highlight of these tensions was the deployment of three carrier strike groups (CSGs) in operations centered in the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. Several of these joint naval exercises included the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force. With the Chinese push over the Senkakus, the Ministry of Defense set up coordination with the US, India, Australia, and other ASEAN nations as a block to stop the CCP from ruling the South China Sea. Chinese aggressiveness in both East and the South China Seas is pushing Japan and India as a joint force to counter the PLAN. When the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India in 2007, he called for more ties that meant to protect their common interests in the Indian and Pacific oceans. To the point, Indian and Japanese forces have become allies in events like Dharma Guardian land exercises, Shinyu Maitr aerial exercises, and the Malabar exercise with the U.S. military. According to Rajiv Bhatia, a former Indian ambassador, the naval operations were to wake up to China to go to the table. The QUAD China is no pushover with some touted offensive capacity but the resurgent operations of the quad, composed of America, Japan, Australia, and India will be something to think about. Beijing and CCP are making the East and South China Seas hotbeds and making it harder for all nations to not just sit around. Sooner or later, action will be inevitable as India-Japan Naval Exercises are dress rehearsals only. Related article: Indian Navy's Aggressive Deployment Serve as Warning to Beijing Over Border Disputes @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She's been linked to Lewis Burton in recent weeks. And Lottie Tomlinson made sure all eyes were on her in a slew of sizzling snaps uploaded to Instagram on Saturday. The social media influencer, 22, set pulses racing as she slipped into a patterned triangle bikini which flaunted her sensational figure. Stunning: Lottie Tomlinson made sure all eyes were on her in a slew of sizzling snaps uploaded to Instagram on Saturday The two piece teased a cheeky glimpse of her tiny palm tree wrist tattoo and glitzy belly-button piecing. She wore her platinum blonde locks in loose beach waves and finished the look with a light slick of make-up. Lottie's sun-kissed skin glistened as she posed up a storm for the mirror selfies. Strike a pose: The social media influencer, 22, set pulses racing as she slipped into a patterned triangle bikini which flaunted her sensational figure It comes after Lottie was said to be 'growing close' to Lewis Burton, who previously dated the late former Love Island host Caroline Flack. The pair are said to have bonded over the grief of losing their respective loved ones - with Lottie losing her mother and sister in recent years and Lewis losing Caroline in February. Lottie's sister Felicite, 18, died after an accidental drug overdose, three years after the death of her mother Johannah, who died of cancer. It's understood Lottie became better acquainted with Lewis at a house party in May hosted by Caroline's close friend Lou Teasdale, 36, which was held to mark three months since her tragic passing. A source exclusively told MailOnline: 'Lewis and Lottie have grown close after spending time together at a party at Lou's house. They have been meeting up in secret for weeks but their newfound friendship hasn't gone unnoticed by mutual pals. 'Not all of Caroline's friends are happy with how the situation appears to be developing but can understand that both Lottie and Lewis have been there for each other as a shoulder to cry on. 'Lewis spent last week in Marbella while Lottie was in St Tropez the weekend previous, they couldn't wait to be reunited with each other on Friday.' Tragic: Caroline Flack was found dead on February 15, the day after she had learned the CPS was charging her with allegedly assaulting model boyfriend Lewis (pictured in October 2019) A representative for Lottie Tomlinson declined to comment at the time. Lottie - who was known to be friends with Caroline through their links with The X Factor - recently posted a slew of sun-kissed swimwear snaps from her holiday to Mykonos, which Lewis liked on Instagram. This fuelled rumours they had 'grown close', after photos exclusively obtained by MailOnline showed Lewis arriving at his flat with Lottie at the end of July. Liked: Lewis gave a slew of Lottie's bikini-clad Instagram photos his approval after it emerged the pair had 'grown close' over the past two months Stunning: The pair are said to have grown close in recent weeks and Lewis has showed his support to Lottie by hitting the like button on some of her Instagram snaps While last Friday the pair were seen taking a sunny stroll and sipping on juices, just two days after the inquest into Caroline's death. Caroline died by suicide, aged 40, at her London home, days before she was due to face trial for assaulting Lewis, who she had been in a relationship with for just over six months. The TV presenter was arrested in December for assault and charged with attacking the model at her home in Islington. Lewis dropped his assault complaint against Caroline but prosecutors pursued it and the couple was told not to have any contact. The United Arab Emirates has made a huge mistake" in reaching a deal toward normalising ties with Israel, Irans President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in a speech furiously condemning what he called a betrayal by the Gulf state. The UAE-Israel agreement announced on Thursday, which U.S. President Donald Trump helped to broker, is seen as aimed at bolstering opposition to regional power Iran. In his televised speech, Rouhani warned the UAE against allowing Israel a foothold in the region. They (the UAE) better be mindful. They have committed a huge mistake, a treacherous act. We hope they will realise this and abandon this wrong path, Rouhani said without elaborating. He said the deal seemed aimed at ensuring that Trump wins another term in the U.S. presidential election in November and referred to the fact it was announced in Washington. Why then did it happen now? If it werent a wrong deal, why was it then announced in a third country, in America? So a gentleman in Washington wins votes, you betray your country, your people, Muslims and the Arab world? He added that the Emirates may also have thought that they could guarantee security by getting close to Irans enemies, but Iran had historically been the protector of its neighbours and ensurer of the security of the Persian Gulf. Irans powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement on Saturday the UAE-Israel deal, would accelerate the process of the destruction of the child-killing Zionist regime. (Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Frances Kerry) 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 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. Ireland has said it is set to return about 5.5 million stolen by Nigerias former head of state General Sani Abacha following an agreement with the Nigerian Government. In a statement made available by the Minister of Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee, she explained that the decision followed an order recently issued by a court in Ireland regarding the funds. According to her the return of the assets would be the first time the country would be taking such action, which is a demonstration of the countrys commitment to international cooperation in the fight against corruption and to assisting countries which have been adversely affected by corruption in the past. She said, I am very pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and Nigeria. This represents the culmination of a long process which began with an internationally led investigation. The Criminal Assets Bureau took part in this international operation which led to the freezing of over $1 billion in funds worldwide, of which approximately 5.5 million was identified in a Dublin based bank account. The return of these assets will be the first time that Ireland has taken such action and will be a concrete demonstration of Irelands commitment to international cooperation in the fight against corruption and to assisting countries which have been adversely affected by corruption in the past, and is in line with our international obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption. It demonstrates the intent of both States to uphold our shared values and our international obligations to eliminate corruption, she added. The Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau was said to have frozen the money in 2014 where it was kept in an Ireland bank account. Nigeria has continued to recover money stolen by Abacha during his military regime, about $3.6 billion has so far been recovered out of all that he was reported to have looted from the countrys treasury. Afghanistan: More action needed to stop killings of human rights defenders 14 August 2020 - The death of nine human rights defenders since the beginning of this year marks "the emergence of a truly alarming trend", an independent UN rights expert said on Friday, calling on Afghanistan to prevent any further killings. "Already by August, Afghanistan has far exceeded last year's figures", said Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. She issued a joint statement with three other UN Human Rights Council-mandated Special Rapporteurs, saying that "impunity allows the perpetuation of such crimes and implies a lack of recognition for human rights defenders' role in society". Noting that investigations in many cases have not yet yielded any results, they spelled out: "There needs to be full accountability for such egregious violations of human rights". No protection in sight Urging Afghanistan to take decisive action to prevent further killings of rights defenders, the UN experts drew attention to a recent spate of such deaths. Asmatullah Salaam, who worked on promoting the right to education in the province of Ghazni, was abducted and killed as he made his way to celebrate Eid with his family on 1 August. His death came not long after Fatimah Natasha Khalil, and Ahmad Jawed Folad were killed on their way to work at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, on 27 June. And human rights defender Ibrahim Ebrat was shot dead in Zabul in May. "In January, the Government of Afghanistan voiced support for the idea of creating a national protection mechanism for human rights defenders, but no progress has been reported and clearly defenders are still no better protected than they were before", said the experts. "We urge the Government to urgently put in place, as promised, an effective national protection mechanism." 'Disturbing events' must stop "Afghanistan must do better at detecting and acting on early warning signs, such as threats and intimidation, protecting others who find themselves at risk, and thoroughly investigating violence, including killings, when they happen", stressed the Special Rapporteurs. The independent experts said they are talking with Afghanistan authorities, and pledged to closely monitor the situation. "We cannot allow these disturbing events to continue", concluded the experts, who put their names to the statement. Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The 74th Independence Day celebrations in Kerala on Saturday were low-key due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran hoisted the flag in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is under self-quarantine. Surendran also received the guard of honour from a parade led by Shanghumugham Assistant Commissioner Aishwarya Dongre. The march past was avoided in view of the COVID-19 situation and the function ended within 10 minutes. One platoon each from the Border Security Force, Special Armed Police, Kerala Armed Police Fifth Battalion, Thiruvananthapuram City Police, Kerala Armed Women Police Battalion, NCC Senior Division Army (Boys) and NCC Senior Wing Army (Girls) attended the parade at the central stadium here. The band from the Special Armed Police and the Kerala Armed Police Fifth Battalion was also present. During the function, an Indian Air Force helicopter showered petals. As the COVID-19 health protocol was in place, children and elderly persons were not allowed. " celebrations are an opportunity to remember the long struggle for freedom which we achieved through sacrifice, tolerance and in a non-violent manner and also to pay homage to the heroes who led us to it," Surendran said in his address. He further said the country was able to become the largest democracy in the world because of its unity in diversity. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, in a message, urged people to move towards the day when the nation emerges as what he said was a spectrum of pluralism. "Let us move towards a day when all human beings will be equal," Vijayan tweeted. Minister K Krishnankutty hoisted the flag in Palakkad district while Minister J Mercykutty Amma spoke at the function at Pathanamthitta. Ministers E Chandrasekharan, M M Mani, P Thilothaman, Thomas Isaac and K Raju hoisted the flag at Kasaragod, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Kollam respectively. At Wayanad, district collector Dr Adeela Abdullah hoisted the tricolour as Minister Kadannappaly Ramachandran, who was scheduled to attend the event, went on self-quarantine on Friday evening. Meanwhile, an image of a youth under quarantine in Malappuram district, who was part of the rescue operations at recent plane crash site, hoisting the flag at a isolation centre has gone viral. (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.) - Vice Ganda recently revealed a piece of information about his fellow celebrity Aga Muhlach - He said that the veteran actor played an important role in his relationship with Ion Perez - It was Aga who became the way for the Unkabogable Star to meet Ion for the first time - According to Vice, he reminded the Seven Sundays star that he is very special to him PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Vice Ganda revealed to the public that Aga Muhlach played an important role in his on-going relationship with Ion Perez. KAMI learned that the well-known comedian made the confession during the Saturday episode of the noontime show entitled Its Showtime. Vice Ganda (Photo from Flickr) Source: UGC PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! The topic was brought up when Vhong Navarro greeted the lead actor of Miracle in Cell No. 7 (PH remake) on his 51st birthday. Vice then stated that he had a conversation with Aga during his special day. He reminded the handsome celebrity that he is very special to him. Apparently, the veteran actor became the way for the first-ever meet up of the Unkabogable Star and Ion a few years ago. Sabi ko, Kasi hindi mo alam, malaking bahagi ka sa buhay ko. Sabi niya, Bakit? Sabi ko, Natatandaan mo si Ion? Sabi niya, Sino si Ion? Sabi ko, Si Ion ang ipinakilala mo sa akin sa GGV a long time ago, the comedian quipped. Nasa audience si Ion, tapos kinuha [ni Aga], ipinakilala niya sa akin. Tapos, hindi ko na yun natandaan. After a few years, nandito na si Ion sa Showtime. Nandito na kami, nagkita. Tapos nung may eksena na, tsaka niya sinabi, Ako yung pinakilala sayo ni Aga Muhlach sa GGV, he added. PAY ATTENTION: Shop with KAMI! The best offers and discounts on the market, product reviews and feedbacks. Watch the video of the said GGV episode: Vice Ganda is undoubtedly one of the most popular celebrities in the Philippines. He and Ion Perez worked together in the blockbuster movie entitled The Mall, The Merrier. Just recently, his own digital network has been officially launched. He expressed his gratitude for those who support his new endeavor. The comedian also reacted after learning that ABS-CBN allowed the government to use its transmission for the benefit of students this coming school year. POPULAR: Read more news about Vice Ganda! Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! Source: KAMI.com.gh Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Driving around the Gold Coast, builder Brett Ivey knew he didn't want his future family home to be a cookie-cutter house like so many others on his route. As he went about his own designing and building work for clients, he mentally created a list of the three Gold Coast homes he liked the most. All three houses were quite different so when he discovered the same Gold Coast architect was behind all three, Ivey knew he'd found the right person to design his own home. Those three homes were designed by Matt Eagle, who has no real website, no Instagram, and, Ivey says, is "the real deal". The result, after 18 months of hard work, is a 1950s-style home in Miami a cool and open renovation of an old-school suburban house. The open-air plan using brick and other low-cost materials has created a welcoming home for Ivey's young family. Last week the Cantala Avenue house was named Australian House of the Year in the 2020 Houses Awards. Student leader arrested ahead of rally BANGKOK: Student leader Parit Chiwarak was arrested on Friday (Aug 14) on multiple charges including sedition, as tensions escalate ahead of a major pro-democracy rally planned for Sunday afternoon in Bangkok. politics By Bangkok Post Saturday 15 August 2020, 11:40AM Thai activist Parit Chirawak walks with his mother inside Samanrat police station in Bangkok on Friday after his participation in protests calling for government reforms, a new constitution and an overhaul of a law shielding the monarchy. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP The arrest took place at Muang Thong Thani as the Thammasat University student prepared to join an anti-government event in Nonthaburi. After a Metropolitan Police Bureau official read out the arrest warrant, four plainclothes officers picked Mr Parit up by the arms and legs to drag him into an unmarked car after he refused to go. Dozens of onlookers used their phones to take videos that were posted to Twitter, where #SaveParit started trending instantly, attracting 1.6 million tweets as of 9:30pm. He was taken to the Samran Rat police station where he faces charges including sedition, assault and holding an event that could spread a disease. Dozens of supporters were gathering outside the station in the rain on Friday night to demand Mr Parits release. They cheered when he appeared briefly in a second-storey window and waved to them. The allegations stem from a rally staged by the Free Youth movement at Democracy Monument on July 18. It was the first major protest against the government since the easing of restrictions imposed to stem the coronavirus outbreak. Mr Parit, known by his nickname Penguin, is also reported to be facing a lese majeste charge but it was not included in the charge sheet on Friday. The Free Youth and Free People movements issued a statement demanding the immediate release of the student activist, saying the police action underlined the intention of authorities to intimidate critics of the government. Soon after the arrest, a number of individuals and groups, including Thammasat University, stepped forward to offer to help Mr Parit seek bail. The arrest came a week after the seizure of human rights lawyer Arnon Nampha and Rayong student activist Panupong Jadnok, who are charged with the same offences as Mr Parit. They are currently free on bail after the Criminal Court declined a police request last Saturday to detain them for 12 days. One of the conditions of the mens bail is that they refrain from any acts similar to those that led to their original charges. The police say they have since breached those conditions and have petitioned the court to withdraw bail. A hearing is scheduled for Sept 3. Mr Panupong was at the Samran Rat police station on Friday night to show his support for Mr Parit. Rising tensions The political temperature has been rising all week as students continue to press their demands, which include House dissolution, the end of intimidation against critics of the government, and the drafting of a new constitution. The potential for confrontation has been increasing since Monday, when thousands who rallied at Thammasat University heard speakers issue an unprecedented 10-point manifesto calling for reform of the monarchy under the constitution. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that while people had the right to free expression, dragging the monarchy into the debate was out of line. He has also ordered an investigation into the funding of the Thammasat event, which included elaborate audio-visual displays. Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongreangkit said earlier on Friday that the protesters demands should be on the table for talks, as crackdowns will not solve the countrys political problems. He also called for all sides to be open-minded about finding a solution and criticised Gen Prayut for a lack of sincerity. The prime minister earlier said he wanted to set up a forum to listen to what the students had to say, but now the authorities have been brought in to tame them, the former leader of the court-dissolved Future Forward Party said. Mr Thanathorn made the remarks before the arrest of the student activist. Chulalongkorn rally Elsewhere on Friday, hundreds of protesters braved the rain to gather at the Faculty of Arts of Chulalongkorn University demanding the restoration of democracy, despite the universitys refusal for them to use the campus for a demonstration, citing safety concerns. The area around two royal statues was fenced off to prevent students from approaching it. Rain eventually forced the demonstrators inside the faculty building, where the crowd grew to about 800 as the evening wore on. (Photo : Screenshot from: Addison Rae Youtube Page ) TikTok's Highest Paid Star Addison Rae Account Gets Hacked; Suspects Posted Cryptic Bio (Photo : Screenshot from: Addison Rae Youtube Page ) TikTok's Highest Paid Star Addison Rae Account Gets Hacked; Suspects Posted Cryptic Bio One of the top famous and highest-paid TikTok star Addison Rae Easterling gets hacked on the platform. During the crime, the hackers were able to access Addison's TikTok account, posted a cryptic message on her bio, and made her account banned on the Chinese app. What happens now? Addison Rae was banned on TikTok? Addison Rae Easterling, one of the top familiar faces on TikTok was recently hacked by unknown suspects. The account already has over 55.5 milion followers and Addison was also recently recognized by Forbes as the highest-earning TikTok influencer. Here's what happened. On Friday, Aug. 14, Addison's TikTok account was temporarily banned over violation of community guidelines. It was after fans notice weird messages on account of the TikTok star. The name of the account was also replaced with "joeandzak1." Addison's bio on her TikTok account was also changed to a cryptic message saying, "plugwalkjoe zak n crippin." After a couple of hours, Addison announced her hacked account on Twitter. my tiktok is hacked :( addison rae (@whoisaddison) August 15, 2020 Three hours later, her TikTok account was finally recovered without the official picture and bio on the account. It was also back on operating again after its banned status. To make something good out of the hacked account issue, Addison tweeted a social media link for donations in certain social issues happening in the world like the Beirut explosion in Lebanon. Tiktok's highest-paid influencer One of the speculations that fans were talking about on the recent Addison hacked is the possibility that hackers may have thought to make money on her account. In the first week of August, Forbes described Addison as the highest-paid TikTok star. Forbes said that Addison earned up to $5 million for the 12-month period of June 2020. Easterling was followed closely by Charli D'Amelio, who has the most-followed account on the platform. Addison joined the platform in 2019 by posting dancing videos on popular songs. "I actually downloaded the app in July, made a post with a friend, and literally out of nowhere it got ... 93,000 likes, and I was like woah. I like this!" she said. Addison's controversy on 'Black Lives Matter' Though Addison is famous on TikTok for her dancing and makeup videos, she also has been famous due to a huge controversy concerning black people. On Jul. 9, The Sun posted that Addison was bashed due to her 'blackfishing' on the platform. 'Blackfishing' is the act of posing as a Black person through makeup or changing hair color. There was also a viral video hearing Addison saying the N-word, but no sufficient evidence to support it. What's worse was that the TikTok star was speculated calling 'Black Lives Matter' as 'cult.' ALSO READ: Controversial Chinese TikTok Clone, Zynn, Returns to Android and iOS; What are Zynncheers Points? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Jamie Pancho 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The political resurrection of Kamala Harris has been nothing short of remarkable. It is just nine months since her presidential bid fizzed, two months before the first primary, when she failed to raise funds or support, especially from African Americans. This week, after being selected by Joe Biden to be his running mate, she is making history and being embraced and celebrated as the daughter of a Jamaican man and an Indian mother, both immigrants, and thus the first black woman and first ever Indian American to be on a major party presidential ticket. Kamala Harris went on the attack against the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus and the economy. Credit:AP Together, Biden and Harris represent an utter repudiation of the Trump era. Their two faces the older white guy, the younger black woman signal the political transformation that is needed, that the next phase in American history will be forged by immigrants and people of colour. But getting there will require, initially at least, competence and experience, belief in government and the ability to right the multitude of wrongs wrought by Donald Trump. Were going to inherit a nation in crisis, a nation divided, and a world in disarray, Biden said in his email announcing Harriss selection. We wont have a minute to waste. In March, five people were shot in a late night gathering on the 2300 block of West Harold Street in North Philadelphia. Gun violence returned Friday night, with a 17-year-old male shot dead in the 2000 block. Read more Philadelphias shooting epidemic continued Friday night into Saturday morning with 10 reported shootings in a nine-hour period, leaving a 17-year-old male dead. From just before 9:30 p.m. Friday until just after 6 a.m. Saturday, police identified 11 total victims of gun violence in shootings across the city. In the only homicide, the 17-year-old was shot once in the chest on the street at 9:21 p.m. on the 2200 block of West Harold Street in North Philadelphia. Police said he was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:37. Police provided the following details on the other shootings: At 10:42 p.m. Friday, an 18-year-old was shot nine times on the 3100 block of G Street in Kensington. He was listed in critical condition Saturday at Temple. READ MORE: As shootings climb, Philly City Council asks: Where is the urgency? At 12:15 a.m. Saturday, a 28-year-old man was shot once in the left hand on the 4600 block of Newhall Street in Germantown. He was taken by private vehicle to Temple, where he was listed in stable condition. An hour later, a 27-year-old woman was shot once in the left foot and taken by private vehicle to Einstein Medical Center in stable condition. Around the same time, on the 3200 block of Jasper Street in Kensington, a 41-year-old man was shot four times in the left leg and twice in the right leg. He was reported in stable condition at Temple. Just after 2 a.m., also in Kensington, a 28-year-old man was shot once in the back on the 100 block of East Lippincott Street. He was also listed in stable condition at Temple. Two minutes later, another 17-year-old was shot once in the back and once in the stomach on the 500 block of West York Street in North Philadelphia. He was in critical condition at Temple on Saturday afternoon. At 2:37, also in North Philadelphia, a 40-year-old man was shot once in the back on the 2700 block of North Ringgold Street. He was in stable condition at Temple. Just after 4:30, a 26-year-old man was shot multiple times in both legs on the 2600 block of Bialy Street in Southwest Philadelphia. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and was listed in stable condition. And just after 6 a.m., a 22-year-old woman was shot once in the right shoulder and three times in the left leg, and a 30-year-old woman was shot once in the left arm on the 800 block of Sedgley Street in North Philadelphia. Both were in stable condition at Temple. Police reported no arrests and provided no other details in any of the shootings. Last weekend, at least 25 people were shot in the city, including two 11-year-olds, and six people at a playground near the Philadelphia Zoo in a spate of violence Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw called senseless. READ MORE: At least 25 people were shot in Philly last weekend, including two 11-year-olds, as gun violence keeps surging At the start of the week, more than 1,130 people had been shot in the city this year a 36% increase over the same span last year and an annual pace higher than any since at least 2007, The Inquirer reported. Homicides were up 31% at 259 people. The owner of a 'devil dog' who mauled a miniature pinscher to death is a senior manager at a government youth offending unit, MailOnline can reveal. Naomi Salawu was filmed dragging her giant bullmastiff away after it attacked student Renata Aladenika's dog on Woolwich Common on Sunday, August 9. Ms Salawu, holds a responsible position working as a social worker and manager of troubled youngsters at south-east London's Youth Offending Team. Naomi Salawu, pictured middle, was filmed dragging her giant bullmastiff away after it attacked student Renata Aladenika's dog on Woolwich Common on August 11 Ms Salawu, left, holds a responsible position working as a social worker and manager of troubled youngsters at south-east London's Youth Offending Team The mother-of-one, left, has a son with the grime rapper Giggs, also has a BA honours degree in criminology The mother-of-one, who has a son with the grime rapper Giggs, also has a BA honours degree in criminology. She declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Naomi Salawu has a son with grime rapper Giggs, pictured Her bullmastiff attacked a miniature pinscher Rocco, who was later put down due to his injuries, and was 'shaking him like a rag doll'. Renata was heard screaming 'he's dying' as Rocco laid bloodied and motionless on the grass after the bullmastiff had clamped its jaws around the tiny dog's neck. She said that the bullmastiff's owner apologised and said she would take Renata and Rocco to the vet before dragging her dog to her car and driving off. A source revealed: 'Her dog is big and powerful and doesn't seem to like other dogs. It has lunged at others in the past and the police were alerted last month after it went for another smaller dog. 'I see Naomi taking her dog for walks over on Woolwich Common, usually around 6pm or 7pm. When the dog is on the lead, you can see the animal's strength as Naomi is really straining to stop herself being pulled forwards. 'But there's been many times when I've seen the dog running around free, which is wrong when it's that temperamental around other animals. Ms Aladenika, 18, was walking Rocco in Woolwich Common when she claims a bullmastiff (pictured) rushed over, sank its teeth into her dog's neck and shook him 'like a rag doll' Heartbreaking photographs captured the devastated pet owner as she said goodbye to her 'best friend' Rocco - whose injuries were so severe he had to be put to sleep 'A lot of people in the area know Naomi, she works as a youth social worker and tries to steer young people away from gangs. She also has a son with the music producer and rapper Giggs.' Student Renata, 18, was walking Rocco on Woolwich Common, south London, on Sunday when the bullmastiff ran over and grabbed her dog by its neck and shook him around for a minute. Renata, from Charlton, south London, explained how she had taken four-year-old Rocco for a half-hour walk at around 8.50pm on as the weather was still warm in the evening. Ms Aladenika (pictured near where Rocco is buried) shared footage of the aftermath in a bid to unmask the owner who she claims offered to give her a lift to a vets but then fled with her dog Harrowing footage captured the moment Renata Aladenika (pictured) begged for help after her miniature pinscher was mauled to death by a leadless 'devil' dog in London on Sunday The pair had been making their way back home when another woman and the bullmastiff approached from the left. Reliving the horror, the student said: 'The other dog was off the leash so Rocco approached it and the dogs stopped and looked at each other. 'Rocco gave a little warning growl and the next thing I knew the dog had Rocco's neck in its mouth and was shaking him around. 'He was screaming for help. I could hear him yelping the whole time, and I was screaming trying to get him away. Ms Aladenika, from Charlton, south east London, said: 'It felt like this giant devil dog versus our tiny Rocco.' Pictured: Rocco before the attack 'The woman was telling the dog to let go. I was trying to pull him away but it wasn't working as the dog's jaw was very strong. 'He was a tenth of his weight, so he didn't stand a chance. To lose him like this was so traumatic. 'The dog wasn't on a lead. It was awful, he ran over and grabbed Rocco by the head and started shaking him. 'The owner tried to drag it away by the ear, but it must have been 70kg. 'She apologised and said she would give me a lift to the vet, but when she got into her car she just drove off. The teenager (pictured with Rocco) decided to video the aftermath so she would have evidence of who was responsible 'Rocco was my best friend. The house is so empty without him and it feels weird going to sleep without him on my bed.' Renata was later pictured saying goodbye to her 'best friend' Rocco at the vet when he was put to sleep because his injuries were so severe. Last night MailOnline revealed that just three weeks before that attack, a 44-year-old woman says she was bitten by the same bullmastiff as it attacked her border terrier cross. The woman, known only as Zoe, had to have an emergency tetanus jab the following day as bite marks on her hand and foot turned septic. She alerted the incident to the Metropolitan Police. The victim, known only as Zoe, 44, claims she was left with 'a hole in her arm' after she tried to separate the leadless bullmastiff from her border cross terrier (pictured) on July 16 She said: 'Suddenly when the Bullmastiff saw my little dog, it went for him and I had to grab it and actually pull it off mine. 'The dog snapped back and bit me on the arm and the foot. Whether it was going for me or my dog, it happened so quickly and so was hard to tell. 'Luckily my wounds did not require stitches or hospital treatment. Although they did turn septic 24-hours later and I had to pay for an emergency tetanus jab at a local chemist.' Zoe told how she had taken two-year-old Sid for a walk when the 'devil dog' lunged at her pet and she was bitten on the arm and foot. Pictured: Her injuries Renata said she decided to video the aftermath so she would have evidence of who was responsible for the attack. 'The way she ran away with her dog and left me to deal with Rocco alone was a cowardly thing to do,' she added. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.' KYODO NEWS - Aug 15, 2020 - 12:21 | Feature, All, Japan One out of seven young Japanese male bureaucrats under 30 intends to quit within a few years, according to a recent government survey. The outcome reflects dissatisfaction with their jobs and long working hours that make it difficult to manage work-life balance, while suggesting the urgent need to reform the way government officials work. Of male bureaucrats aged under 30, 14.7 percent of respondents said they are preparing to leave their current jobs or thinking about quitting in one to three years, the survey by the Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs showed. Asked why they want to leave, including those willing to stay longer but quit before mandatory retirement age, 49.4 percent said they hope to switch to more attractive jobs and 39.7 percent said they have not been paid enough. In addition, 34.0 percent said long working hours have made it difficult to balance their work and family life. Older male bureaucrats are less interested in finding some other job, with 6.0 percent in their 30s, 2.6 percent in their 40s and 3.3 percent of those aged 50 or above wanting to leave in several years. A similar tendency was seen among female bureaucrats as 9.7 percent of those under 30, 8.0 percent of those in their 30s and 3.9 percent each of those in their 40s as well as 50 or above said they want to leave within the next few years, the survey said. The Japanese government is increasingly concerned about the departure of young employees, so it has asked all of its agencies to step up the work style reform drive. "I'm sure every one of them became a bureaucrat to contribute to the public," said an official of the personnel bureau. "We will try to make their jobs more attractive so that they can stay for many years." The Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs compiled the results in June after the survey, conducted in the final two months of last year, received responses from about 45,000 government employees. Related coverage: 60% in Japan with cold-like symptoms went to work amid pandemic Husbands happy, wives stressed over parenting during stay-home spell School teachers in Japan work more than 11 hours a day: survey New law urges overworked Japan Inc. to rethink work styles Independence Day 2020: India will give befitting reply if enemy attacks us: Rajnath Singh India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Aug 15: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India will give a befitting reply if an enemy country attacks it. This message, by the Defence Minister, came amid the border row in eastern Ladakh. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Without naming any country, the defence minister, in a message to armed forces on the eve of the Independence Day, said anyone daring to occupy India's land has to suffer heavy consequences. He further went on to say that India believes in winning hearts and not land, but it does not mean the country will let hurt its self-esteem. Independence Day: Major Shweta Pandey to assist PM Modi unfurling tricolour at Red Fort "Today the country is confident that no force can occupy even one inch of land while you are deployed. If anyone dares to do it, then he has to suffer heavy consequences and will continue to suffer," Singh said. He said whatever India does in the realm of national security is always for self-defence and not to attack other countries. "If enemy country attacks us, then we will give a befitting reply like every time," he said. Lav Agarwal, face of India's COVID briefings, tests positive The Defence Minister assured the armed forces that government is doing all that is required to maintain their operational requirement. He also paid "special tributes" to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15. "This country can never forget their bravery and their supreme sacrifice. I want to assure their families that they are not alone, the whole country stands with them," he said. As many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese armies in Galwan Valley. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details. "Our forces are pioneers in the defending the nation. I assure you that the government is doing all that is necessary to keep your morale high and fulfill your operational requirement," Singh said. New Delhi: The Information and Broadcasting ministry has issued warning to three different television channels over content which an Inter-Ministerial Committee appointed by it felt was not as per broadcasting norms. In the first case, a television channel was issued a warning in an order dated November 29, after it showed disturbing visuals of incidents of suicide in Kerala without adequately morphing them, as recorded in the ministry order. In another instance, a warning was issued in an order dated November 29, to another channel which too allegedly did not adequately blur the visuals of a murder victim lying in a pool of blood. Another channel was also issued a warning by the ministry, over revealing the identity of a victim of sexual abuse and other content which did not confirm to the norms. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. After law enforcement officials recorded 97 drug overdoses and 22 deaths in Sullivan County between March and the start of August, local and state authorities asked for the publics help Friday in identifying the sources of illegal substances flowing into the community. These overdoses have generally been the result of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, according to Barry Staubus, the district attorney general for Sullivan County. Too many of our families have suffered immeasurable losses as a result of the drug epidemic that ravages our county, Staubus said at a news conference in Blountville. Between March 1 and Aug. 1, there was an average of one death per week attributed to drug use, according to figures distributed Friday. The Bristol Tennessee Police Department reported 16 cases and one death, and the Bluff City Police Department had two cases and one death. The Kingsport Police Department reported 57 cases and 12 deaths during this time period, while the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office recorded 22 cases and eight deaths. These figures are likely an undercount because some overdose cases go unreported, authorities said. Leaders with the Second Judicial Drug Task Force and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Drug Related Death Task Force did not name specific individuals or suspects they are looking for in connection with the overdoses. Instead, they made a general plea for assistance in identifying people who are involved with bringing drugs to the region that have resulted in overdose deaths. Since the start of this year, task force authorities have seized 1.1 pounds of heroin, 15.52 pounds of meth, 5.7 ounces of crack cocaine and 3 ounces of fentanyl, according to data provided Friday. Investigative efforts have also resulted in 10 arrests and the seizure of 28 firearms. Those with information can report tips to the Drug Task Force Drug Hotline at 423-323-8615. 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. RTHK: Protests, strikes continue in Belarus The main challenger in Belarus's disputed presidential election called for mass weekend rallies and factory workers walked off the job on Friday as defiance mounted against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko. In a video address to supporters, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya appealed for an end to a police crackdown on post-election protests, as people detained during the demonstrations began to emerge from jail with harrowing accounts of beatings and torture. Crowds of workers heeded calls from the opposition to down tools and AFP journalists saw hundreds of employees gathered in uniforms and hard hats outside the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) and the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ). The workers at the tractor factory -- which Lukashenko has held up as a national symbol -- marched through the streets of the capital chanting "Leave!" and "Long live Belarus!" Calls were growing for international action, with Germany throwing its weight behind a drive to level sanctions against Belarus as European Union foreign ministers met by video conference. "Belarusians will never want to live with the previous government again. The majority do not believe in his victory," said Tikhanovskaya, who left the country for neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday. "I ask the mayors of all cities to organise peaceful mass gatherings in every city on August 15 and 16," she said. In a statement published later, she announced the creation of a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power, asking foreign governments to "help us in organising a dialogue with Belarusian authorities". She demanded the authorities release all detainees, remove security forces from the streets and open criminal cases against those who ordered the police crackdown. Tikhanovskaya and her supporters dispute Lukashenko's claim to have won Sunday's election with 80 percent of the vote and thousands have taken to the streets of Minsk and other cities over the past six days. Police have used rubber bullets, stun grenades and, in at least one case, live rounds to disperse the crowds, with hundreds injured. Officials have confirmed two deaths in the unrest, including one man who died during a demonstration in Minsk and another who died in custody after being arrested in the southeastern city of Gomel. Opposition supporters were expected to gather on Saturday for the funeral of the man who died in Minsk and for a "March for Freedom" in the capital on Sunday. At least 6,700 people have been arrested since the start of the protests, but in a surprise move on Thursday officials announced they would start releasing detainees. The interior ministry said Friday that more than 2,000 had so far been set free. Detainees emerging from a detention centre in Minsk told AFP they had been beaten and deprived of food, water, sleep and medical care. Mikhail Chernenkov, a 43-year-old entrepreneur, said he was given electric shocks and beaten with sticks in a police station, showing AFP his bruised buttocks. "This is torture," he said, adding that like many others he was forced to sleep outside because cells were overcrowded. He also said he did not take part in the protests. In a statement, Amnesty International condemned "a campaign of widespread torture and other ill-treatment by the Belarusian authorities who are intent on crushing peaceful protests by any means." EU foreign ministers joined a hastily arranged video conference to discuss Belarus, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying she was "confident" they would back sanctions. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. In its first official account of the standoff between the two militaries, the ITBP revealed how its troops 'not only effectively used shields to protect themselves but also responded fiercely to the advancing PLA' The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel "fought the whole night" and gave a befitting reply to the Chinese troops during the recent skirmishes in eastern Ladakh, the border force said on Friday. It said a total of 294 ITBP personnel have been awarded the Director General (DG) commendation for displaying bravery during these skirmishes. In its first official account of the standoff between the two militaries, the ITBP revealed how its troops "not only effectively used shield to protect themselves but also responded fiercely to the advancing PLA (People's Liberation Army) troops and brought the situation under control". The ITBP said its troops "fought the whole night" in the area and they received the minimum casualties, while gave a befitting reply to the stone-pelters of the PLA. "At places, they (ITBP) gave a determined standoff for about 17-20 hours throughout. Due to the high-altitude training and manoeuver experience of the force in the Himalayas, the ITBP troops kept the PLA troops at bay and due to the all-out and befitting response of ITBP jawans at almost all fronts, many areas were safeguarded in the hyper-sensitive areas," it said. The ITBP added that recommendations for awarding gallantry medals to 21 troops posted in this area, led by a Commandant-rank officer, have been sent to the government. "Also, 294 personnel have been awarded with the DG's commendation rolls and insignias by ITBP chief S S Deswal on the eve of the Independence Day," the force said. It said the ITBP troops displayed the highest order of professional skills and fought shoulder-to-shoulder and also brought the injured Indian Army troops to the rear. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a violent faceoff with the Chinese troops in the eastern Ladakh area on the intervening night of 15-16 June. While China has accepted that it also suffered causalities during these clashes, it has not given out exact numbers. The force, officials said, retrieved the bodies and the injured Army personnel from the freezing Galwan river after the two sides had a violent fight. The ITBP added that six personnel of the force have also been awarded with the same DG commendation for showing courage in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. Also, among the Independence Day decorations are recommendations for the home minister's special operations medal to 358 ITBP and other paramilitary forces personnel for their dedicated services in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "The names of 318 ITBP personnel and 40 other CAPF personnel have been sent for award of Union home minister special operations medals for their dedicated services in the fight against COVID-19," it said. The force is operating over 10,000-bedded COVID-19 Sardar Patel hospital, the country's largest facility, at Radha Soami Beas in Delhi's Chhattarpur that opened on 5 July. It also set up the first coronavirus quarantine facility in the Chhawla area of Delhi in January, besides running Central Armed Police Forces Referral hospital in Greater Noida. The about 90,000-personnel strong ITBP is the primarily tasked to guard the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China that runs from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Watch Kim Kardashian Plead With North West to ''Be Quiet'' in Her Latest Makeup Tutorial Kim Kardashian's patience is once again being tested by North West. The 7-year-old happily derailed her famous mom's makeup tutorial on Friday, Aug. 14, when she kept interrupting Kim with various questions and concerns. Kim attempted to put her KKW Beauty body foundation to the test in a video posted to her Instagram, but North had other plans. "Excuse me, Mom?" she could be heard saying in the background. "Say be quiet for two minutes and say please." "Please be quiet for two minutes. Thank you!" Kim said with a sarcastic grin. As the cosmetics entrepreneur used the product to conceal a bruise on her arm she received after getting her blood drawn, she told North, "You said you'd be quiet for two minutes." "If you press on it will it hurt?" she asked, to which Kim responded, "No it doesn't hurt. It's a few days old." Kim Kardashian & North West's Cutest Pics Kim and Kanye West's eldest daughter then chimed in, "You should draw a face on it." "Draw a face on it?" Kim, 39, asked. "Why?" Toward the end of the video, Kim demonstrated how the foundation comes off with one easy swipe of a makeup removing wipe. "Isn't that so satisfying?" she said to the camera. Cue some sass from North, who said, "No." "North," Kim replied with a laugh, "Please stop with the commentary!" North has made several hilarious cameos in the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star's recent home videos. "I can't get away from her," she told Refinery 29 when asked to discuss the realities of social distancing with four young kids. "She's running the house, or so she thinks she is." Kim Kardashian, North West, Instagram Kim and Kanye recently returned from a family vacation with their little ones, North, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1. A source recently told E! News, "Being with the kids and family has been very good for them." We were told the couple is "keeping things fun and light for the kids" as the future of their marriage continues making headlines. Brussels, Aug 15 : Member states of the European Union (EU) have agreed to prepare counter measures in response to Turkey's naval activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Following an urgent meeting convened by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the 27 member states on Friday agreed that the recent naval mobilisations by Turkey would "lead to greater antagonism and distrust", reports Xinhua news agency. The members reiterated strong support for Borrell to re-establish dialogue and facilitate re-engagement with Turkey. Borrell will also prepare "options on further appropriate measures in case tensions do not abate", according to the Council of the EU. Stressing that serious deterioration in the relationship with Turkey is having far-reaching strategic consequences for the entire EU, the member states said a broader discussion about relations with Ankara will be held later in August. Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country resumed drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean, one day after Egypt and Greece signed an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries and setting up an exclusive economic zone between them in the Mediterranean Sea. Further escalating the tensions, Turkey on Monday sent its seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis, escorted by Turkish warships, to the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey said that the Oruc Reis, which has lowered 1,750 km of seismic cables into the Mediterranean Sea for a two-dimensional seismic survey, would be operating in the Mediterranean Sea until August 23. Greece, which also deployed warships to monitor the vessel, has called on Turkey to withdraw vessels from the area. The discovery of rich gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean in the last decade has triggered a race to tap the region's underwater resources and sparked tensions between Ankara and Athens. No dearth of medicines and PPE kits in Tripura, says CM Biplab WHO chief awarded for her role in combating Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu Bihar becomes 8th state to have Covid-19 tally of over one lakh A health worker shows the collected swab sample for Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for coronavirus test. Indias coronavirus tally on Saturday crossed 2.52 million after 65,002 cases and 996 deaths were registered in the last 24 hours. The total number of active cases have now reached 6,68,220 while the recoveries crossed 1.8 million. The death toll now stands at 49,036. India is constantly working towards increasing the number of Covid-19 tests conducted on a daily basis. As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), over 2.8 crore tests have been conducted so far. There are over 1,400 labs which are equipped to carry out testing across the country. Delhi, which has seen a reduction in its daily Covid-19 tally, has reduced the number of tests conducted per day. The state government attributed this dip in daily testing to public holidays and weather conditions. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic In the United States, the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in its recent advisory said that those recovered from Covid-19 need not quarantine or get tested again for up to three months as long as the symptoms dont develop again, the advisory said. With more than 5.4 million Covid-19 cases in total, United States still continues to remain worst hit from the pandemic. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 15, 2020) thanked Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu for his Independence Day wishes and said that Israel PMs special affection towards India is clearly visible. PM Modi on his official Twitter wrote, "Thank you, my dear friend Benjamin Netanyahu and the wonderful people of Israel for the Independence Day wishes. Israeli PMs special affection towards India is clearly visible." PM Modi added, "India is proud of its increasingly robust ties with Israel." Earlier in the day, Netanyuhu extended his Independence Day wishes and said, "Wishing my very good friend Narendra Modi and all the people of Incredible India a joyful Independence Day. You have so much to be proud of." He then wished in Hindi and wrote," " Thank you, my dear friend @netanyahu and the wonderful people of Israel for the Independence Day wishes. @IsraeliPMs special affection towards India is clearly visible. India is proud of its increasingly robust ties with Israel. https://t.co/dsufH1O2Fs Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2020 Several PM Modi's counterparts have extended their Independence Day wishes. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Popular tourist destinations on the Navajo Nation, including Canyon de Chelly, can welcome back tourists Monday under the tribes reopening plan. Much of the Navajo Nation has been closed since March as the coronavirus swept through the reservation that extends into New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. The tribe released a plan this week that allows hair salons and barber shops to open by appointment only, businesses to operate at 25% of maximum capacity, and the reopening of marinas and parks with safeguards. Overlooks and restrooms at Canyon de Chelly National Monument will be accessible to tourists. But visitor centres will be closed there and at Hubbell Trading Post National Monument and Navajo National Monument. Ranger-led hikes also wont be available. All three sites are managed at least partly by the National Park Service. Its really important for the National Park Service, especially in that area, to follow the lead the Navajo Nation has taken and slowly approach the three openings, agency spokeswoman Vanessa Lacayo said. Staff will be busy this weekend putting up signs, updating websites and social media accounts, and preparing for visitors at a time parks are usually bustling with tourists, she saidd. Gouldings Lodge near Monument Valley also was getting ready for tourists. It has for months mainly hosted people travelling through the reservation who werent able to visit the tribal park known for towering sandstone buttes, marketing manager Monica Lafont said. We have never really shut down. We just jumped into the mindset of 100% precaution, and our policy and procedures are enforced, she said. The tribes plan has four colour-coded phases for reopening red with the highest restrictions, orange, yellow and green, which has lowest restrictions. The tribe will operate in the orange phase starting Monday. Under that phase, casinos, flea markets, gyms and movie theatres will remain closed. Restaurants and banks still can provide only drive-thru service. Businesses and tribal executive offices have to show they have met certain standards based on data and input from health experts to open. Tribal President Jonathan Nez said the reopening plan was weeks in the making. The tribe has confirmed 9,412 positive cases of COVID-19 on the reservation since the pandemic begin. As of Friday, 478 people have died. The numbers are a vast change from earlier this year, when the tribe had one of the highest per-capita rates of infection in the U.S. The tribe has had fewer than 50 cases each day for the past two weeks, it said. The majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover. For some people it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others who contract the virus, especially those who are older or have underlying health conditions, it can cause more severe illness and death. Nez said the tribe wont rush to reopen fully, recognizing cases could spike if residents become complacent. The reservation will be under another lockdown this weekend that starts after sundown Saturday and ends early Monday. A mask requirement also is in place. Through contact tracing, we are learning more about the movement of the virus and we know that the fight is not over, but we have to find new ways to move forward, Nez said. Nez this week also urged all schools on the reservation, including those controlled by the states, the Navajo Nation and the federal government, to use online learning this fall to help reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. The Aug. 12 editorial, How did that get built, suggests that the proposed hotel design is an improvement over the original contemporary design. I disagree. Rejecting contemporary building design in favor of monotonous, repetitive, boringly safe designs in the name of fitting into the context of the historic fabric only creates a cityscape of buildings that no one pays attention to because they all look the same. Cities that have a vibrant mix of architectural styles in their non-historic districts are exciting to live in and visit because they engage the person experiencing them rather than lulling them to sleep. Please stop making the mistakes of other cities with a rich architectural history by watering down any new design. WILLIAM REEHL Retired architect Tupelo Bay Drive Mount Pleasant Road decision wrong For anyone who doubts the existence of systemic racism and white privilege in government, look no further than the decision rendered by Charleston County officials regarding the widening of S.C. Highway 41. Shame on everyone involved in penalizing residents in the Phillips Community. I grit my teeth every time Im stuck in rush hour traffic on Highway 41. Yet Im one of the ones who moved here and contribute to the traffic mess. Were the ones who should shoulder the burden of our actions. JANE PERDUE Kiln Point Drive Mount Pleasant Income tax for housing I am a strong supporter of affordable housing. However, I have serious reservations about the specifics of Charleston County Councils $130 million bond initiative toward that worthy goal. As a member of the James Island Public Service District, which depends largely on property taxes to fund essential public services, I know firsthand that many homeowners feel property taxes are already excessive. Many of those same homeowners recognize the need for affordable housing. But there must be better ways to finance it rather than increasingly burdensome property or sales taxes. Unfortunately, inherently regressive sales taxes seem to be seen as a panacea for all legitimate public needs. By regressive I mean a wealthy person pays the same sales tax on a loaf of bread or a new car as someone living in poverty. Meanwhile, there is a possible revenue source the state of South Carolina, as well as its various subdivisions, ignore as if it were unthinkable: income tax, both personal and business. As early as its special session next month, the state Legislature would do well to approve, and the governor to sign, legislation to allow entities such as Charleston County to employ income taxes to fund something so direly needed as affordable housing. EUGENE PLATT Senior Commissioner, James Island Public Service District Gilmore Court Charleston Ladies deserve respect I would like to comment on Maura Hogans Aug. 9 column regarding the importance of Spoleto in the musical history of Charleston. Since the founding of the St. Cecilia Society in 1766, music has been a major component of the cultural life of this city. At that time, the quality of the concerts staged by the society rivaled any found in New York, Boston or Philadelphia. As with most institutions, there are always high and low points, but they survive and endure. David Maves is quoted as saying that when he arrived in Charleston in 1976 to perform with the Charleston Symphony, There were two little old ladies at the violins that could barely move. Theyd both been there since 1937. Instead of denigrating those ladies, perhaps we should salute and celebrate them. Their contributions might have been humble, but at that time the Charleston Symphony was a community orchestra. Those ladies were determined not to let this cultural institution die and gave all they had to support it, including raising money. What if todays orchestra members had to make cold calls for funds to stage performances? In writing about the influence of Spoleto on the current state of music in Charleston, Ms. Hogan says, However, if you think such a stellar scene sprang wholesale from Charlestons native soil, you may want to hum a new tune. She is correct. Rather, it sprang from carefully cultivated earth where, for years, hundreds of ladies (and gentlemen) toiled to keep the music alive so that when the seeds of Spoleto were sown, they produced the bountiful harvest we enjoy today. Those two little old ladies are more than worthy of our admiration, respect and gratitude. MARGARET PINCKNEY HAY Paul Revere Court Charleston Suicide prevention charity Pieta House recorded losses of more than 710,000 last year after missing its targeted income from its annual flagship Darkness into Light event. That is according to the charity's annual report for 2019, which shows that Pieta House's income from Darkness into Light last year totalled 5.2m. However, this was a drop of 810,000 on the 2018 total of 6.1m. The drop in income from Darkness into Light combined with increased costs contributed to the 714,728 operating loss for last year. This loss followed a surplus of 726,832 in 2018 - a negative swing of 1.44m over the two years. As a result of Covid-19, Pieta House was forced to cancel Darkness into Light this year. Combined with the "profound" impact of the pandemic on the charity's finances, it announced cutbacks including wage reductions of up to 30pc, redundancies and a cut-back in services. Risk Yesterday, a Pieta House spokesperson said: "Due to the success of our 'Sunrise' appeal we were able to retain and redeploy almost all of the clinical support staff who had been at risk of redundancy and we were also able to restore staff pay with effect from June 1." He stated: "We raised 4m via the Late Late Show/Sunrise appeal but, given that 80pc of our funds come from the generosity of our supporters, we continue to fundraise and launched our FeelGood campaign at the start of July." The HSE has also increased its funding of Pieta House this year to 2.5m in response to the collapse in revenues streams. Established in 2006, the charity supports 9,000 people with its services across Ireland. One in four of the charity's clients has tried to take their own life in the past and 50pc of clients are recognised as being at high risk. Last year it cost 2.5m to run Darkness into Light, which involved 180,000 people walking for the event in 160 venues across the country. The charity last year generated 13.37m in income while its expenditure rose by 9pc - from 12.67m to 14.09m. In its annual report, Pieta House chairman Fergus Clancy said: "The experience of 2019 and particularly the early part of 2020 demonstrates just how inappropriate it is to have a national service like suicide prevention so heavily dependent on public fundraising." Mr Clancy said Pieta House receives 15pc of its annual funding from the State and the remainder from the Irish people. Mr Clancy stated: "The lack of State funding threatens continuity of service of very vulnerable clients and this needs to change." This year the charity aims to generate funds of 12.5m to support forecasted costs of 12.6m. When deciding who to vote for in November, consider: A vote for President Donald Trump is a vote for freedom and prosperity. A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for government control and poverty. A vote for Trump is a vote for a free market economy. A vote for Biden is a vote for socialism, Marxism and communism. A vote for Trump is a vote for law and order. A vote for Biden is a vote for defunding police, rioting, looting and violence. A vote for Trump is a vote for controlled legal immigration. A vote for Biden is a vote for open borders, where terrorists and gang members could infiltrate the country. A vote for Trump is a vote for lower taxes. A vote for Biden is a vote for much higher taxes. A vote for Trump is a vote for the oil industry and a vibrant Oklahoma economy. A vote for Biden is a vote for the end of the oil industry and a dead Oklahoma economy. A vote for Trump is a vote for a strong military. A vote for Biden is a vote for a weakened national defense. By Express News Service BHUPALPALLY (Telangana): All the 12 farmers trapped in floodwater in Kundanpally village under Tekumatla Mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Saturday afternoon were airlifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter. The incident happened on Saturday when the farmers, who are residents of Kundanpally village, went to their fields to pump out the excess water from their land. Meanwhile, the streams connecting Chalivagu had started overflowing due to the heavy rains and the floodwater had entered their agricultural fields. The stranded farmers immediately informed their family members of the situation. Following that the villagers alerted local MLA Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy and Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao. The MLA and the minister took up the issue with the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao. Rama Rao then urged the Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and Aviation Director Bharat Reddy to arrange a helicopter to rescue the farmers. An IAF helicopter then reached the spot and rescued the farmers. Britain's Royal Family leading UK commemorations on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day on Saturday - the day World War Two ended with Japan's surrender. Heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles led a two-minute silence at the National Memorial Aroboretum in central England. And a message from The Queen thanked those quote who fought so valiantly. Meanwhile Princess Anne chatted to military veterans over video links about their experiences fighting in the Far East. One was Sydney Pidgeon an Army Corporal. PRINCESS ANNE, SAYING: ''You thought you were going back into the front didn't you on August the 15th but you just arrived back in Burma.'' VETERAN SYDNEY PIDGEON, SAYING: ''While I was out there I got a leave to come back to the UK which I did, and then when I went back they said the war is over your group's come up, you're going home. The Red Arrows also flew across Belfast to mark the occassion Japan signaled its intention to surrender on August 15, 1945, after atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said on Friday that he would prepare an executive order protecting the state's essential workers, agricultural laborers, and personnel in meat and poultry processing plants, among others. Cooper's statement came after he and Attorney General Josh Stein were asked during a public online meeting if they kept the promises they made to the Latino community. In the presence of a thousand members of advocacy coalition North Carolina Congress Latino Organizations (NCLLO), Cooper then said he would prepare an executive order "to protect essential workers, agricultural workers, workers in meat and poultry processing plants and in other areas." Cooper said his office is now looking for the best way the order can be applied to ensure protective measures in agriculture and meat processing plants in particular. These two sectors are heavy with a Latino immigrant presence. He noted that the Republicans in the General Assembly have tried to limit powers that he could use to help people during the pandemic. "We have limited ways to enforce. I promise that I will do everything I can to shape these executive orders to be positive," Cooper said in a report. Ivan Parra, director of the NCCLO, said the Latino community had been hit hard by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Parra added that what Cooper said and promised were well received by essential and agricultural workers. During the NCCLO meeting, Cooper and Stein had tackled the commitments that they made as 2016 election candidates. Cooper, back in 2016, made several commitments to the Latino community. These were meeting with leaders of the Latino community during his first 90 days in the office, reinstating the Hispanic or Latino Advisory Council, strengthening relationships between Latinos and law enforcement, and improving health and human services agencies' capacity. Cooper's recent meeting with the NCCLO was held via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 699 members of the community were present. "We installed the advisory council, and we are working to meet Title VI health requirements," Cooper said. However, the Republican governor did not answer all the questions in this issue and said his office would follow up. Cooper said they would continue working on the expansion of health care services so more people would be covered. He added that they would add an interpretation into Spanish so that families understand how it works. On housing, Cooper said he will still work on affordable housing as many Latino community members live in mobile home parks. Latinos As Essential Workers According to the Center for Study of Latino Health and Culture, Latino workers make up a large percentage of the essential jobs and make them susceptible to catching the coronavirus. In California, Latinos are more likely than non-Latinos to have no insurance despite many being essential workers. Black and Latino workers also have higher rates of family financial insecurity and hardship. Around 45 percent of Black and Latino adults said their families experienced financial hardship in the past months. Also, Black and Latino households have much less wealth compared to White families, with as much as 10 to 12 percent at the median, respectively. Members of Latino community in North Carolina make up as much as 46 percent of COVID-19 cases in the state, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. However, the Latino community only present 10 percent of the state's overall population. Check these out: Latinos Are at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Due to Cultural Practices New Survey Shows Latinos Worry More Than Other Californians on COVID-19 Effects CDC: Hispanic, Latino Children Are More Likely to Have COVID-19 Employees of Grodno Azot, Zhabinka Sugar Plant, as well as the Minsk Gear Factory on Friday demanded fair elections and an end to violence. A former Soviet collective farm manager, Lukashenko is grappling to contain the biggest challenge in years to his rule of the country seen by neighbouring Russia as a strategic buffer against NATO and the European Union. Protests were joined by workers from another industrial plants that are the pride of Lukashenko's Soviet-style economic model, including the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) that makes trucks and buses. The protesters accuse Lukashenko of rigging last Sunday's presidential election to win a sixth term. The president, alleging a foreign-backed plot to destabilize the country, has dismissed the demonstrators as criminals and unemployed. An 86-year-old man was pronounced dead shortly after a neighbor pulled him from his burning home in Noro Friday morning, according to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office. Authorities had not publicly identified the victim Friday afternoon. The fire broke out about 4:30 a.m. at a residence in the 400 block of Pine Street, said Fire Marshal's Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue. A neighbor spotted smoke coming from the home, and alerted another neighbor who is a volunteer firefighter. The firefighter went to the back of the house and noticed the homeowner on the ground inside the residence, slumped against a screen door, Rodrigue said. The man was unconscious when his neighbor pulled him from the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Rodrigue said. An autopsy will be performed to determine his cause of death. The Norco Fire Department responded to the blaze, which appears to have started in the area of a kitchen table, according to surveillance video obtained by investigators. The fire damage was confined to the kitchen, but there was smoke damage throughout the house, according to Rodrigue. Though the fire has been classified accidental, officials are still trying to figure out what started the blaze. It's possible an unattended candle or stored flammable materials could have been the source, Rodrigue said. Midland County's positivity rate, or the percentage of diagnostic coronavirus tests that come back positive, has been trending in the right direction since mid July, says the county's medical director. Dr. Catherine Bodnar, medical director for the Midland County Department of Public Health, said the county's positivity rate, measured in rolling seven day averages, has been between 3% and 4%, with occasional upticks. "Since May, Midland Countys rolling seven day average positivity rate has been under 5% except for four days in May shortly after the flood when the rate topped off at 7.1%," she said. "Relatively few tests were done at this time. Since mid-July, the rate has generally fluctuated between 3% to 4%. This is important because a positive rate of less than 5% in a region is one indicator that the epidemic is under control. A sustained elevation over 5% or any elevation to 10% or higher is an indication that there may be a surge in cases in the region." The World Health Organization has stated a positive rate of less than 5% is one indicator that the epidemic is under control in a country. Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services has listed a positivity rate of 3% or less as its benchmark of indicating a lack of community spread. "The positivity rate gives you a marker on how your community is doing," Bodnar said. "If we start drifting up around 5% or surge to 10%, we're worried. As of Tuesday, the last date recorded on the state's MI Start Map, Midland County's seven day average of positive rate was at 4%, which is deemed medium risk. Medium risk is between 3 and 7%, and less than 3% is low risk, per state guidelines. Bodnar said it is important to note how positive cases are originating. "In our county, a large number of cases are related to cases and not just random cases, she said. That's why it's important for people to answer their telephones when a public health office is calling, she said. Health officials call people who have come in close contact with a positive person and advise them on what they should do, including whether to quarantine or isolate. Contact tracing is one way to minimize community spread, she said. "The way to open up (a community) is to do all the non-medical things we can do wearing masks, social distancing, wash and sanitize hands and contact tracing," she said. Bodnar said she would like to see more testing available in Midland County so that anyone who wants to be tested can easily be tested. She said the county's testing rate is about 40% of the state, and the 12-county Saginaw region, which includes Midland, Gladwin, Bay and Saginaw. The state/region rate is about 2,600 tests per million population per day, she said. "Midland County is doing a good job testing suspect cases because people with symptoms and close contacts of COVID-19 cases are able to be tested," she said. "Some testing sites have the capacity to test anyone who requests testing and other facilities are limited to those with symptoms and their close contacts." Bodnar said test results are coming back faster now then they were a few weeks ago, but it still is taking four to six days to get results from national labs. She said a vaccination for coronavirus probably won't eliminate the disease. She hopes for an antiviral medication that is effective against the virus much like those that work for influenza. At the entrance, there would be thermal screening and in the run up to the event, regular sanitisation is being carried out. Several medical booths have also been put in place. These booths would cater to those who is detected to having any symptoms relating to COVID-19. The government has also put in place several ambulances. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images The US has suffered a humiliating defeat at the United Nations as its proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran won support from only the Dominican Republic at the security council vote. The US resolution was never likely to be passed in the face of Russian and Chinese opposition. It was proposed as a ploy by the Trump administration to open the way to more drastic action against Iran. But the scale of the defeat on Friday underlined US isolation on the world stage ahead of a major diplomatic confrontation that threatens to consume the security council and further sap its authority. The US stripped anti-Iran rhetoric from earlier drafts of the resolution in the hope of recruiting more supporters, but its insistence that an extension to the UN embargo would be indefinite made that impossible. Estonia and Tunisia withstood eleventh-hour US pressure to support the revised draft, a measure of diminished American clout at the UN. Russia and China voted against the resolution, the US and the Dominican Republic voted in favour, and all the other council members abstained. Related: Trump's top Iran envoy quits as US bids to extend Tehran embargo In his response to the vote, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, lashed out at other member states. The Security Councils failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable, he said in a statement issued even before the result of the vote had been declared. US officials have said that following the defeat of the arms embargo resolution, they would embark within days on a legally controversial tactic in an effort to restore UN sanctions lifted when Iran signed a nuclear deal with major powers in 2015. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has a mechanism that allows any of the parties to the agreement to snap back UN sanctions on Iran. Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in 2018 but US diplomats and lawyers will argue it is still technically a party to the agreement and therefore empowered to snap back sanctions. Most of the rest of the world, including some of Washingtons closest allies, disagrees, but the Trump administration has so far shown itself ready to proceed virtually alone. Story continues The US goal this week has pretty obviously been to table a resolution that will fail, so theyve got an excuse for going to snapback next week, Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group. Its just a little bit embarrassing that it has failed so badly. The US special envoy on Iran, Brian Hook, announced his resignation days before the arms embargo resolution at the UN. If the US proceeds with its snapback plan, it could lead to a situation in which there is no agreement on the status of UN arms sanctions, with the US declaring they are in effect and most other countries insisting there are not. Frankly, were soon going to be entering what you could call security council in Wonderland, by which the US will claim that the snapback train is rolling and others refuse to accept that, Gowan said. There will be lots of procedural fights in the council. But basically there will be two realities. The UK could find itself trapped between those two realities, forced to choose between them. London so far has stuck closely to an agreed European line with France and Germany. It appears the UK has chosen to put its security relationship with Paris and Berlin ahead of its desire for a Brexit trade deal with the US, Gowan said. Vladimir Putin has suggested a videoconference summit on Iran, and the Elysee Palace in Paris signaled that Emmanuel Macron was open to the suggestion. Donald Trump said he had heard about the proposal but had not been told the details. Trump and Macron spoke by phone on Friday but the White House account of the call did not mention the proposed summit. Suzanne DiMaggio, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment Institute for Peace, said that the US focus was not on building coalitions on the issue but on provoking a diplomatic confrontation at the UN to please Trumps core supporters. She said the ultimate US aim was also to try to provoke Iran into a reaction, possibly leaving the JCPOA itself, or even expel international nuclear inspectors. It is a scorched-earth approach, destroying the JCPOA in order to make it difficult for a Biden administration, and for the Iranians, to return to it, DiMaggio said. Theyre not concerned with keeping a lid on Irans nuclear program. They really want to kill this deal. As tens of thousands of British holidaymakers raced to beat the quarantine deadline, a ferry captain planned a record-breaking North Sea crossing and demand for private jets soared. At 10pm on Thursday, the transport secretary announced that travellers arriving from France, the Netherlands and Malta after 4am on Saturday would need to go home and self-isolate for two weeks. Coronavirus infection rates in those countries as well as Monaco, Aruba and the Turks and Caicos Islands were unacceptably high, said Grant Shapps. With 30 hourss notice, travellers who wished to avoid quarantine faced a series of hurdles starting with getting online to change reservations on Channel crossings. At one point the Eurotunnel website had a queue of more than 5,000 customers waiting. By Friday evening, the Channel Tunnel car-carrying operator, which for the past few weeks has found itself to be the UKs favourite international transport mode, told prospective passengers: The service is already very busy this weekend and there is no additional capacity. Ferry operators saw a surge in demand after Mr Shappss announcement, with many Channel crossings sold out. For much of Friday, ferry firms faced uncertainty about the precise nature of the 4am deadline. Only in mid-afternoon did the Department for Transport (DfT) confirm that vessels needed to be docked in a UK port by that time in order for passengers to avoid quarantine. Stena Line, which sails overnight from Hook of Holland to Harwich, is seeking to make a record-breaking run on the 127-mile crossing. Its 10pm departure normally reaches the Essex port at 6.30am, but the captain is aiming to arrive at 3.45am. P&O Ferries has an arrival from Calais to Dover scheduled for exactly 4am, and is expected to make every effort to reach Kent ahead of the deadline. Ferries and Eurostar trains are operating at reduced capacity because of social-distancing rules, making it harder to accommodate the surge in demand. The cheapest tickets on Eurostars last departure from Paris, due to arrive at London St Pancras shortly before 11pm on Friday, were priced at 209 which was undercut by British Airways. BA added an extra late-evening rescue flight from Paris to London Heathrow, to help travellers return to the UK. Seats were priced at 150 (136). The airline also deployed larger aircraft on key routes from France to accommodate more passengers. For the final BA flight of the night from France, leaving Nice for Heathrow at 9.55pm, one ticket remained at 854 (772). Some passengers leaving the Cote dAzur airport were paying significantly more, as demand for business jets soared. The private jet provider, Privatefly, reported three times the number of bookings for flights from France, the Netherlands and Malta compared with the previous 24 hours. A one-way Nice to Farnborough flight with a six-seater jet was priced at 10,000 (9,040), including baggage a rate of over 1,500 per person. In summer, Saturday is the key day of the week for holidaymakers to travel out and back to France. Ministers were initially determined to bring in quarantine only at 4am on Sunday saving tens of thousands of holidaymakers the agony of choosing between cutting short their trips and making a dash for home. UK government sources said that the devolved administrations, including Nicola Sturgeons Scotland, had pushed for quarantine to apply from early on Saturday morning rather than on Sunday. Ultimately a decision was taken that it was better to have a four nations approach. In both a tweet and a Sky News interview after the announcement, the transport secretary mistakenly said that the rule would take effect for arrivals from Sunday. The sudden spike in bookings for Channel operators created by the last-minute dash is likely to be followed by a long slump. This announcement is dreadful news for Brittany Ferries, said the shipping lines chief executive, Christophe Mathieu. It threatens what little remains of an already disastrous summer season. The company is hoping that some British holidaymakers will continue with their plans, despite the need to quarantine. But Brittany Ferries has warned the move increases the likelihood of reduced services in future. Ontarians prefer a combination of in-school and at-home learning for students and want kids to start wearing masks in class starting in Grade 1, a new poll for the Star has found. Some 37 per cent of those surveyed last week by Campaign Research say they are very or somewhat confident in a safe return to school if kids attend full-time, with 57 per cent somewhat unconfident or not at all. And when it comes to masks which the province has mandated for students in Grades 4 and up more than a third of those surveyed felt children should don them starting in Grade 1, or when they are six years old. That is something that was a surprise to me I thought maybe Grade 4 or Grade 5, said Campaign Research principal Nick Kouvalis. I was surprised to see that plurality at Grade 1 ... people picked the lowest grade because they want to be careful. The public is just cautiously optimistic that things can go back to normal, but wants to proceed slowly, he added. More than 50 per cent of those surveyed said classes should have 15 students or fewer, with less than a third thinking 15 to 20 is best. Just seven per cent felt classes of 20 or more were appropriate. The province has come under considerable criticism for not limiting class sizes in elementary schools, where some grades can see up to 30 kids in a room. In response, Education Minister Stephen Lecce has announced funding to hire additional staff, and is now allowing boards to access more contingency funds as well, though boards say its not enough to get to 15. Campaign Research polled 1,031 people across the province last Monday to Thursday using Maru Blues online opt-in panel. For comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20. When asked their preference for the fall, just 14 per cent of respondents opted for in-class learning, 19 per cent cited online learning, and 53 per cent said a mix of the two. That is similar to Campaign Research polling last month, Kouvalis noted. The hybrid learning model which will be in place for high school students in large, urban boards only had the strongest support in Simcoe and York Region, which includes Lecces riding. The public was also somewhat split on whether school boards had enough time to prepare for reopening amid COVID-19, with 38 per cent saying yes, 46 per cent responding no and 16 per cent unsure. Respondents also approved of the quadmester or two courses at a time for teens, with 52 per cent in support of that model and just 15 per cent disapproving. Some 33 per cent were unsure. The highest rate of non-confidence in a safe return to school full-time was found among respondents in the city of Toronto, and the lowest in Halton and Peel regions. Boards themselves have been surveying parents about their intentions, and say that while its early, it appears about one-quarter are opting for their kids to learn online at home. The poll also asked about post-secondary education, where there is a clear division of opinion on whether it is safe to reopen universities with in-person classes, with 36 per cent in favour, 36 per cent against and 28 per cent unsure. However, in Northern Ontario, almost half or 47 per cent of those surveyed felt in-person university courses were best. When it comes to opening up student residences, however, just 29 per cent of respondents across the province approved, with 45 per cent saying such a move was not safe. 15.08.2020 LISTEN The Tiv Community in Bauchi State under the auspices of Tiv Community Forum (TCF), have appeal to the Executive Governor of Bauchi State Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed to repatriate all Tiv commercial sex workers who are currently in Bauchi state to their various states of origin. In a press statement issued in Bauchi on Friday and signed by the President of the group, Mr. John Akevi and Secretary General Asema Mark JP said the activities of the Tiv commercial sex workers in the state are irritating, embarrassing and has no economic value rather it constitutes nuisance and security treat. "It is on record that for the past 3 years the Tiv Community in Bauchi state have lost four precious lives as a result of prostitution. Two lives were lost in Bauchi, one in Miya, and one in Azare Local Government Areas of the state". "We are therefore, appealing to His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed to repatriated all Tiv commercial sex workers who constitute an eyesore to the society to their various states of Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Pleateu and Cross River". The statement noted, "It is so heart-warming, lightening and indeed refreshing to know that everywhere in Nigeria and beyond, the name Sen. Bala Muhammed is synonymous with good governance and excellence. "A name that represents an unwavering commitment to the delivery of political trust, performance, tremendous achievements and goodwill. However, the activities of Tiv commercial sex workers in the state is embarrassing to the Tiv Community in particular and the society at large wich, if not check, will tarnishing the good image and reputation of Governor Bala Muhammed led administration and consequently grind to a halt." Cayuga County has reported 20 new COVID-19 cases in August, and a majority of those are residents of two towns. Eight of the 20 positive cases live in Genoa and four are Fleming residents, according to new data released by the Cayuga County Health Department. Since the department last released town-level data two weeks ago, Genoa's case total increased from 13 to 21 and Fleming's rose from seven to 11. Genoa has the most confirmed cases among Cayuga County towns. The other cases reported in August are in six other municipalities. The city of Auburn and the town of Owasco each had two new cases. Four towns Aurelius, Niles, Scipio and Summerhill had one new case apiece. Since the health department reported the largest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in more than two months, there were five new cases over the last four days. Three men in their 20s, all of whom live outside of Auburn, tested positive on Tuesday. Contact tracing is complete for the new cases. After no new cases on Wednesday, there were two on Thursday a man and woman in their 20s. Both live outside of Auburn. There were no new cases reported on Friday. With 20 new cases in August, the county has already surpassed the total number of cases (19) in July. The health department and Kathleen Cuddy, the county's public health director, have said there is an undisclosed number of cases related to recent travel. Cuddy told The Citizen last week that in one instance there were individuals who returned to Cayuga County after attending an out-of-state wedding. While in quarantine, they tested positive for COVID-19. The health department's latest situational update on Friday revealed that the travel-related cases were tested within 24 hours after arriving in New York. There have been other cases that aren't linked to travel. The health department said essential workers, including health care professionals, have tested positive for COVID-19. And there have been "a few cases" attributed to community spread. Contacts with all cases have been identified and placed into mandatory quarantine, according to the department. Since mid-March, there have been 161 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cayuga County. So far, 153 people have been discharged from mandatory quarantine, which is required when someone tests positive for the virus. There are five active cases in the county and 27 people in mandatory quarantine. The COVID-19 death toll stands at three and there are no county residents hospitalized due to the virus. All but two of the 20 cases in August are younger residents. That has been an ongoing trend in Cayuga County. As of Friday, 94 of the 161 confirmed cases are under age 40. There have been 42 cases in their 20s, 33 in their 30s and 19 under age 20. The health department repeated its reminder to residents that they should practice social distancing and wear a face covering when safe distancing can't be maintained. Attendance at social gatherings should be limited and larger gatherings with more than 50 people are prohibited. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Protesters Stage Demonstration Outside Postmaster Generals Home Amid USPS Controversy A group of protesters on Aug. 15 staged a wake up call demonstration outside the home of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy amid intense scrutiny over the United States Postal Services (USPS) latest move to cut costs. The organizers of the protest, Shut Down DC, and other critics of USPSs move alleged that DeJoys decision to restructure the national postal service just months prior to the November election is designed to limit mail-in voting. DeJoy has fired or reassigned much of the existing USPS leadership and ordered the removal of mail sorting machines that are fundamental to the functioning of the postal service. Meanwhile, mail delivery is slowing down under other decisions made by DeJoy, such as eliminating overtime for postal workers, the group said in a statement. The protesters gathered on Kalorama Park in Adams Morgan in the District of Columbia and marched toward DeJoys home, eventually stopping in front of his condo building where they were seen chanting, banging on pots and pans, and blowing horns. Some protesters were filmed attaching fake absentee letters and ballots to the door of DeJoys apartment building. The protesters also chalked messages on the sidewalk and road in support of USPS but critical of DeJoy. DeJoy, who took over the administration of the postal service in June, announced on Aug. 7 sweeping changes to the leadership structure of the organization as part of efforts to operate in a more efficient and effective manner and better serve customers amid concerns over the financial position of the agency. Our financial position is dire, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, a broken business model, and a management strategy that has not adequately addressed these issues, DeJoy told the USPS board of governors during an Aug. 7 meeting. Without dramatic change, there is no end in sight, and we face an impending liquidity crisis. The organizational changes saw at least 20 postal executives reassigned to new roles. These cost-cutting measures have resulted in backlogs in the mail across the country, thrusting the agency into the spotlight over concerns that it may not be able to deliver ballots on time for the November election. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Democrat lawmakers have been pushing for expanded mail-in voting. This push has been met with opposition from President Donald Trump and Republicans, who argue that universal mail-in voting is ripe for fraud. Trump had been frank about his intentions about stalling Democrats funding proposals for USPS in the next stimulus package. Democrats have sought to add $3.6 billion for mail-in voting and $25 billion for the USPS in the new COVID-19 relief package. Now, if we dont make a deal, that means they dont get the money, Trump told Fox News. That means they cant have universal mail-in voting; they just cant have it. However, Trump then indicated on Aug. 14 that he would accept a $25 billion deal to fund the USPS if Democratic lawmakers would make concessions. On Aug. 14, USPS announced that it is seeking to raise prices on a number of its mail services starting about two weeks before the November election in order to address increased expenses and heightened demand for online shopping package volume due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected holiday ecommerce. A USPS representative told The Epoch Times that the changes will not impact election mail and are completely unrelated to the election. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Councils ethics committee on Thursday proposed forfeiting of daily allowance to the MLCs in case the House gets disrupted without effective proceedings for half of the total time allocated due to protest or lack of quorum. To set precedence, this committee solicits to recommend for necessary amendments in the Business Rules of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council providing therein that in case the House gets disrupted without effective proceedings for half of the total time allocated for the day due to protest or lack of quorum, none of the members shall be entitled for the session fee-remuneration payable for the day, a member of ethics committee said. A meeting of the Committee on Ethics of the Legislative Council was held under the Chairmanship of MLC Firdous Ahmad Tak here today. Legislators Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri), Mohammad Muzaffar Parray and Ghulam Nabi Monga attended the meeting. The committee will seek suggestions from all the members of the Legislative Council in this regard before proceeding further in the issue. In recent years, the proceedings in the Legislature across the country have come to be largely characterised as unproductive, in view of ceaseless disruptions by various members on different public issues, he said. While the expression of dissent within the confines of parliamentary etiquette is a legitimate form of protest, the manner in which it currently manifests itself in legislature, is far from acceptable, he said. The natural consequence of such behaviour is two fold. First, taxpayers money gets wasted due to non-functioning of the House and second, the legislative paralysis stultifies the overall governance in the country, he said. Threadbare discussions were held on agenda points of the meeting, including ethical conduct of the members of the Legislative Council. The Committee also decided that the agenda discussed in the meeting will be sent to the Members of Legislative Council for their views and suggestions. It decided to conduct a study tour of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and the Parliament House in the coming days. The members of the committee gave their suggestions on the agenda points and conduct of the members inside and outside of the House. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. MBABANE If you thought politicians benefit from the recent agreement between government and public servants of payment of CoLA was unfair, wait for this one. Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini is due for a review of his basic salary this year. This is on top of the three per cent cost of living adjustment and the once-off one per cent payment of his monthly salary. As a result, this has catapulted the PMs basic salary from E77 197.50 to E79 513.42 as the three per cent adjustment is E2 315.92. Annually, the PM will now earn a basic salary of E954 161.04 from the current E926 370.00. The once-off one per cent payment of his annual salary amounts to E9 263.70. This means the PMs back pay from April 1, 2020 will be E20 843.80, which is made up of the five months back pay (E11 579.60) and the once-off one per cent of his annual basic salary (E9 263.70). politicians The impending review is courtesy of Finance Circular No. 2 of 2013, which the current crop of politicians are being remunerated based on, after the implementation of Finance Circular No. 3 of 2019 the instrument that was designed to be the framework for their salaries was suspended due to concerns raised by some people who were supposed to benefit from it. The suspension has come at a potential huge gain for the prime minister, who is now looking at having his basic salary reviewed at least two times in his first five-year tenure. This is because Clause 4.1 of the Circular states the following: The basic salary of the Prime Minister of Swaziland will be benchmarked against similar sized (by GDP) SADC countries every two years; and discounted for economic conditions and the affordability of the Swaziland Government. The SADC countries that were used to benchmark the PMs salary are Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles. When the benchmarking was carried out, it was observed that, among the Heads of Government, the kingdoms prime minister earned marginally higher than the average of the comparator group. It was only the basic salary of the President of Mauritius that was higher hence it was excluded when the mean was calculated. Information sourced from Mywage.co.za shows that Eswatinis PM is still highly paid compared to his peers in the region. Mozambiques President Filipe Nyusi is said to be earning an annual salary of E827 347.00, which translates to E68 945.58 monthly. Botswanas President Mokgweetsi Masisi is said to be earning P783 564.00 annually, which is P65 297.00 monthly . Wikipedia lists the salaries in US Dollar currency annually and says Botswanas Masisi is at US$ 65 760; Lesothos prime minister is said to earn US$ 52 778; Eswatinis PM is placed at US$51 600; Mozambiques Nyusi is reportedly at US$ 46 800; and Seychelles president is reportedly paid US$ 33 300. Should Mandvulos salary be reviewed, and reviewed upwards, this would automatically result to an increase in his ex-gratia payment. The ex-gratia payment is a grant that is payable to former parliamentarians to assist with the costs of adjusting to non-parliamentary life. As per Finance Circular No. 2 of 2013, the ex-gratia payment is available to all parliamentarians who fail to be re-elected or re-appointed into the new Parliament. If the PM is not reappointed after the end of his five-year term, he would be paid an ex-gratia that will be a once-off payment equal to 12 months (one year) basic salary before taxation. Should he not serve his full five-year term, the ex-gratia payment would be pro-rated taking into account the actual period served. The Circular provides that under no circumstances will a part year served be considered as a full year. But should the PM be dismissed or removed from office due to misconduct or incompetence, the ex-gratia payment would be forfeited. Another implication of a review of the PMs basic salary is that it will have an impact on the salaries of the rest of the parliamentarians since they are linked to his. This is in accordance to what another part of Clause 4.1 states: All other parliamentarian salaries will be determined as a ratio of the prime ministers salary. structure The sliding scale ratio is a result of the authoritative hierarchy of the political structure. The custodian of Circular No.2 is the Ministry of Finance so they are the ones expected to determine the issues around the possible review of the PMs salary and benchmark it with his SADC counterparts. While a royal commission was appointed by His Majesty King Mswati III in 2018 to review politicians remuneration packages going forward, its leader Dr Phil Mnisi said they had no mandate on Circular No. 2 and, therefore, cannot comment on it. He pointed to the Ministry of Finance as the rightful authority over this Circular. We had addressed these things in our report (Finance Circular No. 3 of 2019) that was suspended. Our report is clear. But I cant comment on this Circular because we are not its architects; it was drafted by PwC. I dont have a mandate to comment on it; I can comment on Circular No. 3 but it is not operational. Minister of Finance is in charge of Circular No.2 so they should offer clarity, Mnisi said. The Mnisi-led royal commission had stated that Circular No.3 would be fixed for the next three years of the current (11th) Parliament. It said six months before the end of third year, these terms and conditions of the Circular may be reviewed by an independent commission, which would make the necessary recommendations, depending on the performance of the economy. It further stated that during the beginning of the fourth year of the 11th Parliament, a comprehensive review would be undertaken by an Independent Royal Commission appointed by His Majesty the King. Adding, the commission said the results of the review would constitute the Remuneration Framework for the 12th Parliament, attorney geberal, Emabandla and the Judiciary. Mnisi said he did not know the current status of the Circular since it was suspended. Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg referred questions to Setsabile Dlamini, the Communications Officer in the ministry. Setsabile said as a ministry they preferred not to say anything on the issue for now even though they are the custodians of the Circular. For now we choose not to go into the issue of the PMs salary review, she said and further reiterated the continued suspension of Circular No.3. On Thursday, a questionnaire was sent to the PM via WhatsApp asking, among other things, whether he would accept an upward review of his salary and whether the countrys economic situation was conducive for such a review. However, he had not responded to the questionnaire by last night even though WhatsApp message status information indicated that it had been read at 12:56pm on the same day it was sent. position Reacting to the possible review of the PMs basic salary, Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), lambasted this likelihood and said it appeared the Circular was drafted to suit the position of an individual. It was clear that the then incumbent PM was so influential to an extent that he could manipulate even well-established good practices in the review of wages, he said. The trade union leader said it was trite practice that workers in the same category must in principle be treated the same. It cant be that the Circular singles out the PM and leaves out the DPM (deputy prime minister) whom in my view is in the same space and political weight as the PM. Having said that, even if the Circular has included the DPM, it would have been improper for any review of their salaries at this stage when the economy is under such stress, Gina said. He said it would be advisable that the PM himself caused for the non-review of his salary if the story that has been shared to the public sector workers (that government has no money) is to be believed. The secretary general said there was a risk that if the salary was to be reviewed it would be appraised downwards. Comparison with the SADC countries, even if it were to favour a review upwards, can be challenged by an economy that cannot afford to sustain such an increase, Gina added. review Also expressing strong opinion on the possible review was Dominic Nxumalo, the Acting Secretary General of the Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA), who said in his honest opinion the countrys system of government had never been sensitive to the plight of ordinary people. He said the type of politicians the country has only focused on themselves and it doesnt matter what people say. I personally dont think the PMs salary needs to be reviewed under the current economic crisis. The politicians dont deserve the CoLA of three per cent to be awarded to public servants this month, Nxumalo, who is also former Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, said. He said as a progressive politician and speaking on behalf of SWADEPA, the solution to the countrys socio-economic and political ills is to democratise the current political system through operationalising the 2005 Constitution. Though in its current form it has numerous contradictions, the positive part is that Section 25 reintroduces political parties. Multi-party system is the answer to many problems we as a country face, Nxumalo said. He said taking action now and sitting down later to engage in serious dialogue was, in his view, the progressive way. Meanwhile, the architects of Circular No.2 recommended that the PMs salary should be de-linked from that of the highest paid civil servant (the secretary to Cabinet). PwC said to determine the PMs salary, there needed to be a consistent and defensive manner on which to base salaries. The notion of linking the parliamentarians pay to the senior civil servants poses a risk in terms of linking the pay to a single specific reference point, PwC said. They cited the United Kingdom which they said saw a similar risk where the pay and the grading of the senior civil servant were delegated to other departments rather than being determined centrally. They said this meant there now was more than one reference points on which to base the prime ministers salary. Hence PwC recommended that the prime ministers salary be benchmarked against other similar sized (by GDP) countries in Africa. Provisions of Finance Circular No.3 of 2013 4.1. Basic salary The inclusive remuneration structure includes a basic component (salary) which includes provision for an amount to which Second Schedule of the Income Tax Order 1975 applies. The basic salary of the Prime Minister of Swaziland will be benchmarked against similar sized (by GDP) SADC countries every two years; and discounted for economic conditions and the affordability of the Swaziland Government. The annual review of salaries will be applied based on the Civil Service annual review rates. All other parliamentarian salaries will be determined as a ratio of the prime ministers salary. The sliding scale ratio is a result of the authoritative hierarchy of the political structure. Police minister says country experiencing crime holiday adding that absence of alcohol helped reduce the numbers. Crime-plagued South Africa posted a drastic drop in criminal offences, including sexual assaults, during the first three months of its coronavirus lockdown. Crime rates dropped by up to 40 percent between April and June, when the country was placed under strict stay-home restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the virus, Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Friday. These statistics show major decreases in all crime categories compared to the same comparative period last year, Cele said. He added that the statistics paint a never-seen-before rosy picture of a peaceful South Africa experiencing a crime holiday'. A 40.4 percent decrease in the number of rape cases were reported during the three months, Cele told a news conference. Police minister said the figures showed that the absence of booze had helped reduce crime[Mike Hutchings/Reuters] Contact-related crimes, such as arson and malicious damage to property, registered a 29 percent drop. The countrys lockdown regulations included a ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes. Cele said the figures showed that the absence of alcohol had helped reduce crime. But he added that attacks on schools and liquor stores had risen, with burglaries reported at 2,692 education facilities and 1,246 shops over the same time period. South Africa, which has one of the highest crime rates in the world, is home to more than half of the continents coronavirus infections. To date the country has recorded almost 573,000 cases and more than 11,200 deaths. Canada and the United States have agreed to keep the border between the two countries closed to non-essential travel for another month to stem the spread of COVID-19, Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Friday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The agreement, which was first introduced in March and has been extended each month since, will remain in place until at least Sept. 21. "We are extending the reciprocal restrictions at the Canada-US border for another 30 days, till Sept. 21, 2020. We will continue to do what's necessary to keep our communities safe," Blair tweeted. The agreement, as it stands, exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as temporary foreign workers and vital health-care workers such as nurses who live and work on opposite sides of the border. Tourists and cross-border visits remain prohibited. The Canadian government has also moved to restrain the movement of Americans through Canada who are ostensibly on their way to Alaska. U.S. travellers destined for the northern state have been limited to five crossings in Western Canada and they must commit to taking a direct route. Canadian Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said on Friday that Canada will continue to monitor epidemiological data on both sides of the border before making a decision to open the country to more U.S. travellers. Tam said she didn't want to see a spike in cases related to the United States after Canada has been able to flatten the infection curve with aggressive public health measures. As of Friday afternoon, there have been 121,484 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,019 deaths, according to CTV. Over the past week, an average of 43,000 Canadians were tested daily, with one percent testing positive and an average of 376 new cases reported daily from across the country, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. On the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed many achievements of his government and it earned him praise on social media. In his speech, PM Modi mentioned how sanitary napkins have been made available to poor women at subsidised rates at various Jan Aushadhi centres. This govt is concerned about the health of poor sisters, daughters. We have done a huge job to deliver sanitary pad for only Rs 1 through #JanAushadhiKendras. More than 5 cr #sanitarypads have reached our poor women through 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Centers in recent times.#IDay2020 pic.twitter.com/a75W4doKMn All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 15, 2020 The subject of menstruation, a normal biological process that a woman goes through every month, is still a taboo subject in our country. Sanitary napkins are sold in black polythenes and there is next to no discussion regarding the subject in our society. Our PM addressing the topic is a big step towards breaking the stigma and he is reportedly the first PM in Indian history to have done so a public platform. Recently, the topic of menstruation has also been in news because of Zomatos decision to give period leaves to all women employees. Also Read: Just Like Sikkim Became 100% Organic, Same Way Ladakh Will Become 'Carbon-Neutral': PM Modi Twitter During the address at the Red Fort, while talking about women's health, PM Modi underlined that his government provided affordable sanitary napkins to poor women through Jan Aushadhi centres for just one rupee each. This government has been persistently concerned about better healthcare for poor sisters and daughters. We have done a huge job in providing sanitary pads at one rupee each in Janaushadhi Kendra. In a short span of time, more than 5 crore sanitary pads have been delivered to these poor women from 6000 Janaushadhi Kendras, he said. He has received praise from people from all over. Our @PMOIndia talking about sanitary pads in his Independence Day speech today is true progress...made menstruation a mainstream topic. Also kudos to the government who has so far distributed sanitary pads to about 5 crore women at Re. 1 Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2020 There was a time Sanitary Napkins were not spoken about even within four walls of homes in India & today Prime Minister Modi spoke about it from Red Fort on Independence Day. That is true Independence of breaking old shackles. Gaurav Pradhan (@OfficeOfDGP) August 15, 2020 I was just so blown away, when I heard the PM mention Sanitary Napkins in his independence Day address to the nation, thereby breaking all taboos surrounding menstrual cycle. https://t.co/PozAJBkoTh SinSinWati (@Sinsinwati) August 15, 2020 A taboo broken today straight from the ramparts of Red fort when PM Sh. Narendra Modi talked about accessibility to sanitary napkins. Hugely appreciable! This is New India! Happy Independence day BharatVasiyon. pic.twitter.com/p6Uv0ivVNT Muskaan Anand (@anand_muskaan) August 15, 2020 Shri Narendra Modi ji is the first Indian PM to talk from Red Fort about sanitary napkins. Something most men still squirm about. Talking about sanitary pads in his Independence Day speech today is true progress made menstruation a mainstream topic! @narendramodi@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/dzWwpFsY9o Prakhar Dwivedi (@dwivediprakhar1) August 15, 2020 Not to sound too biased, but which other PM in the history of this nation, would have had the AUDACITY to get in front of 1.3 billion people and talk of sanitary napkins as casually as @narendramodi did? (@Pandacorn_meh) August 15, 2020 We hope that more taboos related to women's health and hygiene are broken everyday. Fire in the early hours of Saturday destroyed a warehouse and three other shops near the Takoradi Central Market in the Western Region. The cause of the fire is yet to be established. When Graphic Online got to the scene this morning [August 15, 2020], the roofing of the four affected buildings had caved-in. The Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Emmanuel Bonney, said at about 00:32hrs this morning, the regional command received a distress call from its Market Circle Fire Post for support. He said even though there were fire engines already on the ground fighting the fire, the intensity required additional engines. That, he explained, We then mobilised seven fire engines from Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA), Air Force and Ghana Navy to assist. Mr Bonney said it took the fire fighters more than five hours to bring the fire under control, pointing out that This is because the warehouse which also serves a wholesale point has a lot of combustible materials. He said the combustible materials in the warehouse were helping the fire to spread to other nearby facilities. We were careful and tactical to safeguard the banks and the fuel station close by to avert apocalyptic situation in the metropolis, Mr Bonney explained, adding What we did was to contain the fire in order to save financial institutions and Total fuel station near the fire point and fleet of vehicles on the street. The Western Regional Minister, Mr Konina Okyere Darko Mensah visited the scene and described the incident as unfortunate. 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: Over 58,000 Indian workers have been given emigration clearance by the government in the last two years for employment in the Gulf countries. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for external affairs VK Singh also said the government has received complaints from Indian workers in Saudi Arabia about ill treatment by their employers. "The number of Indian migrant domestic workers who have been given emigration clearance for recruitment in Gulf countries since September 2014 till date is 58,163," he said. Singh said the Indian Missions in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates have received four complaints each of physical abuse and harassment of migrant domestic workers. The minister said complaints received by the missions are taken up with the local authorities. Listing steps taken to regulate migration, he said age restriction of 30 years has been made mandatory in respect of all ECR passport holders except nurses emigrating to ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries. He also said, since August the government has made emigration clearance of all female workers having ECR passports mandatory for overseas employment. According to the Emigration Act, 1983, Emigration Check Required (ECR) categories of Indian-passport holders need to obtain Emigration Clearance from the office of Protector of Emigrants (POE) for going to 18 countries which are mostly in Gulf region. To a separate question, he said total number of overseas Indians residing in 207 countries was 31.73 million out of which 13.45 million are NRIs and 17.85 million are Persons of Indian Origin. Singh said the government has received a total of 1,121 complaints against recruiting agents between 2012 to December 5 this year out of which 973 wre referred to state governments for action. Answering a question on difficulties being faced by divorced or separated women while applying for passport for their children, Singh said it is not mandatory for the applicant to provide names of both the mother and the father in the application form. He said in case of passport for minors, Annexure H is required to be signed and submitted on plain paper by both the parents or the guardian. However, if consent of one of the parents is not available, then an affidavit sworn before a judicial magistrate has to be submitted. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Schools and community groups are invited to take part in an innovative river catchment-based project that is happening as part of Water Heritage Day this August. Water Heritage Day will take place on the last day of Ireland's Heritage Week on Sunday, August 23. for this year's event, the Heritage Council has asked for projects and events to have an online presence during the current Covid-19 pandemic. The River Derry Bubbles Project is now in its fourth year and aims to raise awareness of the values, issues and threats associated with our freshwater resources. Sarah Rubalcava of Rubalcava Heritage Services and artist educator Maeve Hunter continue to develop this project. Rising near Hacketstown, County Carlow, the River Derry then enters County Wicklow as it flows through Crossbridge, Tinahely and Tomnafinnoge Woods and then onto Shillelagh, close to Kerry Foods. After this, the River Derry returns to County Carlow as it flows through Clonegal, passing Huntington Castle, and finally Kildavin where it joins the River Slaney. Between the times of 12 noon and 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, simply log on to Facebook and become a fan of the River Derry Bubbles Project page. Then just post your photos, stories, or drawings of the River Derry onto the page to help celebrate our local river and all that it has to offer. Videos will also be posted live during the day. The event is being funded by the Local Area Waters Community Office, with support from Tinahely Community Projects and Tinahely Tidy Towns. Members of the New York City police and fire departments have joined forces with a nonprofit organization to hold an alternative 9/11 tribute display after the annual ceremony was canceled due to coronavirus fears. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Friday announced it will plan this year's light memorial to honor the victims of the terror attacks on the 19th anniversary of the tragedy. The 'Tribute in Light' ceremony, normally organized by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, draws crowds of mourners every year to watch the iconic twin beams of light representing the World Trade Center towers illuminate the sky. The twin beams of the annual Tribute in Light commemorating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks shine amid the city's skyline in New York City in 2013 The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Friday announced it will plan this year's light memorial after the original organizers canceled the event due to coronavirus fears The foundation said the tribute is expected to continue as planned - with some minor tweaks - after organizers teamed up with members of the community to recreate the installation. Tunnel to Towers foundation president Frank Siller confirmed they have already secured the lights and are expected to confirm a location by early next week, The New York Daily News reported. Port Authority Police, along with members of the NYPD and FDNY, have also agreed to move the spotlights to Port Authority property near the World Trade Center. The lights are usually installed on top of the Battery Parking Garage that is located near the museum. 'Because Tunnel to Towers is fully committed to the idea that we must never forget, the Foundation is doing everything in its power to make sure that the Towers of Light will once again be illuminated,' the charity said in a statement. In a tweet shared on Friday, Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli praised the organization for stepping up to the plate after he had criticized the decision to cancel the event. Michael Frazier, a spokesman for National September 11 Memorial & Museum, made the announcement Thursday. He said the installation will return for the 20th anniversary in 2021 The 'Tribute in Light' illuminates the night sky on Sept. 10, 2017 'Final Update: Problem solved. We should all pay a debt of gratitude to the Tunnel to Tower foundation. They are getting the job done. The Tribute in Lights will happen!' he tweeted. Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, said the cancellation of the light tribute would only feel more 'demoralizing' for New Yorkers as they battle the coronavirus pandemic. He also criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio for not doing enough to save the ceremony. 'For all the nonsense the mayor has allowed in recent months, what is the problem with putting the lights up?' he told the paper. On Thursday, Michael Frazier, a spokesman for the September 11 museum, said organizers were particularly worried about the health risks to workers who would set up the display. The twin beams of light representing the World Trade Center towers won't be beamed into the sky during this year's memorial. They can generally be seen from 60 miles away To create the installation, known as 'Tribute in Light', 40 stagehands and electricians work in close proximity for more than a week. There were also concerns over gatherings in the streets and on rooftops to see the installation. 'The world's beloved twin beams of light regrettably will not shine over Lower Manhattan as part of this year's 9/11 tributes after concluding the health risks during the pandemic were far too great,' Frazier said in a statement. The Memorial & Museum is planning an alternative display that will include spires and facades of buildings in Manhattan being illuminated in blue, he said. The lights first appeared in March 2002, six months after the attack, when they were originally organized by the Municipal Art Society. They can be seen up to 60 miles away in the days leading up to 9/11 each year and extend four miles into the sky. The lights are typically turned on at dusk and would shine through the night until dawn on September 12. It has become one of the signature elements of the annual commemorations, and the memorial and museum took over the organization of the tribute in 2012. The full installation consists of 88 specially made Space Cannon lights, each with a 7,000-watt xenon compressed gas bulb, Scott Campbell of Michael Ahern Production Services, which produces the event, told the New York Times. It is powered by temporary generators, which are set out on the roof of a garage on Greenwich Street two squares of about 50-by-50 feet. The memorial will return next year, Frazier added, for what will be the 20th anniversary of the attacks. Last month, organizers also cited the pandemic in canceling one of the most poignant parts of previous memorials - the personal messages spoken by families of victims from 9/11 and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. They said recorded name readings from the museum's 'In Memoriam' exhibition will be used instead of having relatives read the names in person. Families are still invited to gather at an outdoor memorial this year but social distancing measures will be in place. The hours-long ceremony will involve the listing of the victims names and six moments of silence. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when terrorist-piloted planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. New York City has successfully kept the spread of coronavirus outbreak under control in the past few weeks after becoming the global epicenter of the outbreak at the end of March. The positive test rate in the Big Apple has stayed at 1 percent or below since June and no spike has been reported after progressing through all the planned phases of its reopening. New cases have increased among residents in their 20s, but fallen among people over 40. Debenhams's entire 14,000 workforce is bracing for bad news as the retailer calls in liquidation experts. The struggling British department store chain has appointed Hilco Capital to draw up contingency plans should an attempt to sell the business end in failure, according to Sky News. On Tuesday Debenhams said it would cut a further 2,500 jobs, while taking 'all necessary steps' to give the chain every chance of a viable future. It comes as Jet2 announces 102 pilots face the axe after flights were grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic. At least 4,300 major job losses have been announced this week, with employment seeing the biggest fall in a decade in the three months to June. The British department store chain has appointed Hilco Capital to draw up contingency plans should an attempt to sell the business end in failure, according to reports (file photo) The move from Debenhams, which has 124 stores and employs a reported 14,000 staff across the UK, follows the chain collapsing into administration four months ago. A source close to the company said administrators were required to have liquidators on standby 'in the unlikely event that all other options for the business do not materialise'. A spokesman for the retailer said: 'Debenhams is trading strongly, with 124 stores reopened and a healthy cash position. 'As a result, and as previously stated, the administrators of Debenhams Retail Ltd have initiated a process to assess ways for the business to exit its protective administration. 'The administrators have appointed advisers to help them assess the full range of possible outcomes which include the current owners retaining the business, potential new joint venture arrangements (with existing and potential new investors), or a sale to a third party.' Hundreds of jobs have already been lost at the more than 200-year-old retailer since the start of lockdown after it permanently shut 18 stores. In April, it hired administrators from FRP Advisory in a protective measure against creditors demanding their money. A HISTORY OF DEBENHAMS From the biggest department store group in the UK in the 1950s to bust: A complete timeline of Debenhams Shoppers are seen rushing into a Debenhams store in London's Soho at the first day of sales in 1977 1778 - Debenhams began as a draper business at 44 Wigmore Street in London. 1813 - Initially founded by William Clark, William Debenham became a partner in the business and changed the name to Clark & Debenham. 1837 - The business grew, opening branches in Cheltenham and Harrogate, before Clark retired and it became Debenham, Pooley & Smith. 1851 - It became Debenham & Freebody after Clement Freebody invested in the firm and it opened offices in South Africa, Australia, Canada and China. 1905 - It was incorporated as Debenhams Limited in 1905 and its new headquarters was completed in 1908 in west Londons Wigmore Street. 1920 - The company began buying existing department stores across the country, including Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. 1928 - Debenhams was listed as a company on the London stock exchange for the first time in 1928. 1950 - By 1950 Debenhams became the largest department store group in the UK. At the time it owned 84 companies and 110 stores and in 1976 it acquired Browns of Chester. 1977 - Browns of Chester was the only store to retain its name when all the other companys stores were rebranded Debenhams in 1977. 1980s - Debenhams stores were targeted by the Animal Liberation Front three times in the 1980s because of the sale of animal furs, which was stopped by the company as a result. Two members of the movement were jailed for planting fire bombs in the Harrow, Romford, and Luton stores, causing more than 8million of damage. In 2012, Green MP Caroline Lucas alleged an undercover police officer planted the bomb in the Harrow branch, causing an investigation in 2016. 1985 - The company merged with the Burton Group in 1985 but demerged in 1998. 2000s - Belinda Earl became CEO in 2000 and Debenhams opened its largest British store in Birminghams Bull Ring in 2003. 2009 - The company bought Principles after it went into administration and it acquired Magasin Du Nord in the same year. 2013 - Debenhamss pre-tax profits dropped from 115million to 85million in 2013 and CFO Sim Herrick resigned in 2014 after being criticised for financial decisions. 2014 - Sports Direct bought 4.6 per cent of Debenhams shares in January 2014, and Mike Ashley secured 21 per cent of the company in August 2017. 2018 - In March 2018, Debenhams reduced 320 store management roles across the business and Sports Directs shares increased to 29.7 per cent. The company announced its largest ever pre-tax loss of 491million in 2018 and the closure of up to 50 stores putting 4,000 jobs at risk. 2019 - It went into pre-pack administration on April 9, 2019, and on April 26 of that year, Debenhams announced it would close a further 22 stores after Christmas putting 1,200 jobs at risk. The company fell into the hands of its lenders, a group of banks and hedge funds led by US firm Silver Point Capital. 2020 - The high street retailer announced it was going in to administration in April 2020. The struggling department store called in liquidation experts in August putting a reported 14,000 jobs across the UK at risk. Advertisement Meanwhile, in June, the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) union said Jet2 was proposing cutting 102 pilot jobs after flights were grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday, the union said the Leeds-based carrier was pressing ahead with the cuts despite a range of alternative options put forward by Balpa. Several other airlines have announced job cuts after a collapse in demand caused by the pandemic, including British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. It comes as Jet2 announces 102 pilots face the axe after flights were grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic. Several other airlines have also announced job cuts (file photo) It was announced yesterday that John Lewis's Grand Central department store in Birmingham, above, which had been closed since lockdown, will never reopen, affecting 399 roles Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: 'This announcement is yet another which shows the desperate state of the British aviation sector. 'Despite enormous efforts to work with Jet2 to find ways of saving these jobs, the airline is insisting on 102 redundancies. 'This will be a particular kick in the teeth as many of those who may lose their jobs have recently joined the airline after having been dismissed from Thomas Cook which went into administration last year.' In other developments on the UK's high street this week: John Lewis confirmed 1,300 roles would be affected as all eight of its retail sites announced in July as at risk of closure will close permanently River Island said it would reduce its headcount by around 350 people by shaking up management at the retailer Jigsaw has said it could shutter up to 20 stores after seeing footfall plummet following the coronavirus lockdown Yo! Sushi revealed its plans to shut 19 of its sites and cut up to 250 jobs in a bid to protect its long-term future The Office for National Statistics said 730,000 people have been taken off payrolls since the beginning of the crisis in March But despite these potential job losses, casinos, bowling alleys, theatres, gig venues and wedding receptions have reopened from today Tattoo studios, beauty salons, spas and hairdressers can also now offer additional services, such as facials and eyebrow threading Mr Strutton called for support for the industry which has also been affected by the implementation of quarantines on travellers from various holiday destinations. He said: 'The Government has a significant role to play in supporting the vital British aviation industry. Its quarantine changes keep throwing every restart plan into chaos. 'If these quarantines are really needed, the Government must stump up the support to help the airline industry which is doing its best to get back on track but keeps being knocked back at every juncture.' River Island has seen revenues and profitability hit by a slump in store footfall after reopening sites following the coronavirus lockdown (pictured: the chain's Oxford Street store in London) It comes as shocking new data revealed that the number of people on company payrolls in the UK has fallen by 730,000 since lockdown - the biggest drop in employment a decade. Figures have started to show the huge impact of coronavirus on the labour market, with a wave of jobs being axed. In the three months to June, the number in work decreased by 220,000 - the largest quarterly slump since 2009. Total hours worked slumped by a fifth over the quarter to the lowest level since 1994. Biggest fall in employment for a decade as impact of Covid is felt Employment saw the biggest fall in a decade in the three months to June as coronavirus hit. Official figures showed the number in work decreased by 220,000 - the largest quarterly decrease since 2009. The 0.2 per cent drop comes after a long period after the credit crunch in which employment levels have hit repeated highs. The employment figures are still up 0.3 per cent year on year. And unemployment stayed flat, as the government's support schemes and a rise in inactivity masked the true effects of lockdown. Workers aged under 24 and those over 50 were the worst hit by the fall. The total hours worked slumped by a fifth over the quarter to the lowest level since 1994. Advertisement Meanwhile, the numbers on payroll tumbled another 114,000 in July, as the claimant count - which includes some people who are in work - increased again to reach 2.7million. John Lewis became the latest employer to cut a large number of jobs this week, as the chain announced its flagship 35million store in Birmingham will never reopen after closing during lockdown, putting 399 staff at risk. River Island also said it will slash 350 jobs in a major store management shake-up in another devastating blow for the high street. Sushi chain Yo! announced plans to cut up to 250 jobs and close 19 of its restaurants on Friday. Meanwhile, Jigsaw has said it could shutter up to 20 stores after seeing footfall plummet following the coronavirus lockdown. But despite the major losses in jobs since the start of the pandemic, the Bank of England has predicted Britain is on course for a rapid recovery. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: 'Our economy has been hit hard by the virus, but the statistics out today show promise of Britain bouncing back. 'The recovery won't be easy but if we all play our part, either by going back to work in our offices or enjoying a meal out, we can overcome this together and come out stronger than before.' Casinos, bowling alleys, theatres, gig venues and wedding receptions have also reopened from today, and unpampered Britons can finally get their facials. Businesses have said they are 'delighted' to be welcoming customers back through their doors as part of the latest easing of lockdown restrictions in England. Socially distanced audiences are allowed back into theatres and other indoor venues, while wedding receptions of up to 30 people will be permitted. The move to allow indoor performances follows a 'successful series of pilots', Downing Street said. Tattoo studios, beauty salons, spas and hairdressers can now offer additional services, including front-of-face treatments such as eyebrow threading. The lockdown restrictions were due to be eased on August 1, but a spike in coronavirus cases at the time resulted in a pause for two weeks. A casino staff member wipes the surfaces at The Rialto casino in London yesterday as enhanced safety and cleaning measures are put in place in preparation for reopening A young family enjoy a game of bowling this morning at Lane7 in Newcastle, after lockdown restrictions on bowling alleys were eased for the first time day across the country Wearing full personal protective equipment, Theresa Shangazhike, manager of the Spa Experience Wimbledon, gives her client, Lauren Shine, a facial treatment in Wimbledon Brits were also able to get back out into restaurants, cafes and pubs with a 50 per cent discount up to 10 on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday this month as part of the Chancellor's Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The hospitality venues reopened from 6am on 4 July, on what was dubbed 'Super Saturday', in a key test of the progress made by imposing draconian restrictions on March 23 to halt the spread of Covid-19. Mr Sunak announced the scheme as part of his Covid-19 mini-Budget to support the beleaguered hospitality industry. If two people eat out together, they count as two individual meals in the statistics. The average claim has been for around 5, bringing the total cost of the policy to around 50m thus far. Figures from HMRC revealed it has received 10,540,394 claims under the scheme up to August 9. Major potential job losses announced since March 23 Total: 173,148 August 14 - John Lewis - 1,300 at risk August 14 - Yo! Sushi - 250 August 14 - River Island - 350 August 12 - NatWest - 550 August 11 - InterContinental Hotels - 650 worldwide August 11 - Debenhams - 2,500 August 7 - Evening Standard - 115 August 6 - Travelex - 1,300 August 6 - Wetherspoons - 110 to 130 August 5 - M&Co - 380 August 5 - Arsenal FC - 55 August 5 - WH Smith - 1,500 August 4 - Dixons Carphone - 800 August 4 - Pizza Express - 1,100 at risk August 3 - Hays Travel - up to 878 August 3 - DW Sports - 1,700 at risk July 31 - Byron - 651 July 30 - Pendragon - 1,800 July 29 - Waterstones - unknown number of head office roles July 28 - Selfridges - 450 July 27 - Oak Furnitureland - 163 at risk July 23 - Dyson - 600 in UK, 300 overseas July 22 - Mears - fewer than 200 July 20 - Marks & Spencer - 950 at risk July 17 - Azzurri Group (owns Zizzi and Ask Italian) - up to 1,200 July 16 - Genting - 1,642 at risk July 16 - Burberry - 150 in UK, 350 overseas July 15 - Banks Mining - 250 at risk July 15 - Buzz Bingo - 573 at risk July 14 - Vertu - 345 July 14 - DFS - up to 200 at risk July 9 - General Electric - 369 July 9 - Eurostar - unknown number July 9 - Boots - 4,000 July 9 - John Lewis - 1,300 at risk July 9 - Burger King - 1,600 at risk July 7 - Reach (owns Daily Mirror and Daily Express newspapers) - 550 July 6 - Pret a Manger - 1,000 at risk July 2 - Casual Dining Group (owns Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge) - 1,909 July 1 - SSP (owns Upper Crust) - 5,000 at risk July 1 - Arcadia (owns TopShop) - 500 July 1 - Harrods - 700 July 1 - Virgin Money - 300 June 30 - Airbus - 1,700 June 30 - TM Lewin - 600 June 30 - Smiths Group - 'some job losses' June 25 - Royal Mail - 2,000 June 24 - Jet2 - 102 June 24 - Swissport - 4,556 June 24 - Crest Nicholson - 130 June 23 - Shoe Zone - unknown number of jobs in head office June 19 - Aer Lingus - 500 June 17 - HSBC - unknown number of jobs in UK, 35,000 worldwide June 15 - Jaguar Land Rover - 1,100 June 15 - Travis Perkins - 2,500 June 12 - Le Pain Quotidien - 200 June 11 - Heathrow - at least 500 June 11 - Bombardier - 600 June 11 - Johnson Matthey - 2,500 June 11 - Centrica - 5,000 June 10 - Quiz - 93 June 10 - The Restaurant Group (owns Frankie and Benny's) - 3,000 June 10 - Monsoon Accessorise - 545 June 10 - Everest Windows - 188 June 8 - BP - 10,000 worldwide June 8 - Mulberry - 375 June 5 - Victoria's Secret - 800 at risk June 5 - Bentley - 1,000 June 4 - Aston Martin - 500 June 4 - Lookers - 1,500 May 29 - Belfast International Airport - 45 May 28 - Debenhams (in second announcement) - 'hundreds' of jobs May 28 - EasyJet - 4,500 worldwide May 26 - McLaren - 1,200 May 22 - Carluccio's - 1,000 May 21 - Clarks - 900 May 20 - Rolls-Royce - 9,000 May 20 - Bovis Homes - unknown number May 19 - Ovo Energy - 2,600 May 19 - Antler - 164 May 15 - JCB - 950 at risk May 13 - Tui - 8,000 worldwide May 12 - Carnival UK (owns P&O Cruises and Cunard) - 450 May 11 - P&O Ferries - 1,100 worldwide May 5 - Virgin Atlantic - 3,150 May 1 - Ryanair - 3,000 worldwide April 30 - Oasis Warehouse - 1,800 April 29 - WPP - unknown number April 28 - British Airways - 12,000 April 23 - Safran Seats - 400 April 23 - Meggitt - 1,800 worldwide April 21 - Cath Kidston - 900 April 17 - Debenhams - 422 March 31 - Laura Ashley - 268 March 30 - BrightHouse - 2,400 at risk March 27 - Chiquito - 1,500 at risk Advertisement Britain's economy on course for rapid recovery from coronavirus crisis, predicts Bank of England chief By James Salmon Associate City Editor for the Daily Mail Britain's economy is on course for a rapid recovery from the coronavirus crisis, a senior Bank of England official predicts today. Chief economist Andy Haldane says strong consumer spending has already helped the UK claw back as much as half of the losses triggered by the pandemic. He insists 'now is the time to see the economic glass as half full rather than half empty' as official statistics reveal a sharp increase in the number of white collar workers returning to their offices. Responding to the figures, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: 'Our economy has been hit hard by the virus, but the statistics out today show promise of Britain bouncing back. 'The recovery won't be easy but if we all play our part, either by going back to work in our offices or enjoying a meal out, we can overcome this together and come out stronger than before.' Chief economist Andy Haldane says strong consumer spending has already helped the UK claw back as much as half of the losses triggered by the pandemic Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Haldane says the economy is expected to expand by more than a fifth in the second half of the year, which would be 'by far the fastest rise' since quarterly records began. He says: 'The foundations for an economic recovery a rapid one are already in place, hiding in plain sight. Economic activity in the UK is not falling like stone, in fact it has now been rising for more than three months, sooner than anyone expected. It has also recovered far faster than anyone expected.' His upbeat intervention comes after it was confirmed on Wednesday that Britain has plunged into recession, with GDP falling by a record 20.4 per cent in the second quarter of this year. But official figures also revealed that after collapsing in April the first full month of lockdown the economy expanded by 2.4 per cent in May and 8.7 per cent in June. An Office for National Statistics report yesterday suggested almost half of Britons commuted to work last week as pleas by Boris Johnson to return to the office appeared to be making an impact An Office for National Statistics report yesterday suggested almost half of Britons commuted to work last week as pleas by Boris Johnson to return to the office appeared to be making an impact. Under guidance, which came into effect at the beginning of the month, employers were urged to encourage white collar staff to go back to the office if it is safe to do so. Previously the advice was to work from home if possible. The ONS report showed 48 per cent of people commuted to work last week, up from just 29 per cent towards the end of May. It also showed that 23 per cent worked solely from home, down from a peak of 38 per cent in mid-June. And last week just 3 per cent of workers said they were furloughed, down from 15 per cent in May. Paris/Beijing: An unnamed Chinese collector has bought an 18th century palm-sized Chinese imperial seal for a record USD 22 million, over 20 times its estimated price. The sale took place in Paris on Wednesday after a heated bidding war, Drouot auction house said. The seal, made of red and white steatite, a type of mineral rock, was sold for USD 22 million (21 million euros). It was one of hundreds owned by Emperor Qianlong, one of the longest serving Chinese emperors. Art experts had said the seal could fetch between 800,000 and 1 million euros. The previous record set for an auctioned seal was USD 15 million in 2011. The latest seal sold was originally acquired by a young French naval doctor who visited China in the late 19th Century, and had remained in his family ever since, Drouot said. The seal in red and beige nephrite jade was used by Emperor Qianlong, the second longest serving emperor in Chinese history. Emperor Qianlongs reign in China, from 1736 to 1795, was only one year shorter than his grandpa Emperor Kangxis. During his period, Qing dynasty witnessed its peak of prosperity with a big population and a vast territory. The seal decorated with nine dragons, the symbol of imperial authority, was used to sign Qianlongs personal calligraphy and paintings as the characters Emperor Qianlongs paint brush were carved underneath the seal, Xinhua news agency quoted the auction house as saying. The seal was reportedly acquired by a French naval doctor who traveled many times to China in the late 19th century, and remained in his family ever since. Emperor Qianlong, an avid art collector who ruled China for much of the 18th Century, was an artist himself who would use seals to sign his works, and commissioned some for their intricate craftsmanship. Drouot said more than 1,800 Qianlong seals were made, out of which 700 disappeared. Another 1,000 are kept by Chinas Palace Museum in Beijings Forbidden City. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In a quiet but fantastic display of local governance, thousands of children come together in hamlets and villages across Karnataka in November every year. These Makkala Grama Sabhas help youngsters experience democracy at the grassroots, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi. In his village in Mandya, Pavan M saw his friends negotiating muddy lanes and deep pits on their way to school each morning. One day, Pavan found himself in a pit. What he did not imagine was that bringing up the issue of this road in a Makkala Grama Sabha meeting would change what had been a constant concern for years. This incident boosted my confidence to demand basic amenities when they are lacking. If we were able to achieve this, then there is no reason why we cannot come together and get solutions to the other problems we face too, he said. Many children like Pavan, who are often deemed future citizens of the nation are told to keep their opinions on public issues to themselves, until they grow up. This serves to not just muffle the opinions of children but also affects the attention given to childrens rights and issues. Almost two decades ago, when child rights activist Vasudeva Sharma N V and a group of social workers surveyed a dozen villages, they discovered that there was no proper data base of the demographic profile of children and their schooling status. Data on even more pressing concerns like child labour, child marriage, or details of children from the underprivileged communities did not exist. Realising this significant gap in information, the team got to work, collating basic data from Anganwadis, schools and other stakeholders. As they gathered these numbers, Sharma and his team found that the data was telling the stories of childrens situation. In 2006, the efforts of the team led the Karnataka government to issue a circular to all gram panchayats and the Makkala Grama Sabha began. Since then, every November, a day-long session is conducted in each village, where children engage with Panchayat Development Officers and Panchayat members on important issues. Karnataka is a pioneer in Panchayat Raj implementation, explained Uma Mahadevan, the Principal Secretary of Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. The state has over 6,000 functioning Grama Sabhas, which are unique because they are village assemblies and do not only consist of elected officials representatives can directly get in touch with those electing them, she said. In fact, the Panchayat Raj Act of 1993 calls for the inclusion of childrens voices in village assemblies and Karnataka is one of the first states to involve children in the process. Child participation is also a key principle in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely-ratified treaty on childrens rights. Matters of importance Mahadevi Hanumantha Kuri, a Class 8 student from Mutallageri in Badami taluk who attended a Grama Sabha session, explains that most issues brought up at the Sabha relate to school. Education is the most important thing for us, so the government needs to listen to the concerns we have about sanitation, lab facilities, transport, school infrastructure and safety. As students, we face these problems every day, and so we know these issues very well, she said. One example of a tangible outcome of the Makkala Grama Sabha was witnessed by Apoorva S L, a II PUC student from Sidlaghatta in Chikkaballapura district, who attended a session when she was younger. Many children travelled about 5 to 10 km to reach their school, where they had no access to drinking water facilities and had to go thirsty for a major part of the day. Even their toilets did not have running water. The Makkala Grama Sabha provided an effective platform for the children to voice their needs. Soon after, the village came together to provide these facilities to the children. It was nice to be able to ask for something and get a solution for it, she said. Like Apoorva, many children across Karnataka have been responsible for similar victories by bringing to officials attention issues that would have otherwise slipped their notice. From better-equipped science labs and libraries to safer toilet facilities and cleaner playgrounds, these young advocates have ushered in changes in how their schools look, function and teach. While many concerns revolve around school, Makkala Grama Sabhas also bring to the fore important child rights issues and help sensitise the community on the dangers to which children are left vulnerable. In many villages, for instance, girls are troubled by the harassment they face on their way to school. Others may discontinue their education after puberty due to lack of access to sanitary napkins and poor toilet facility. Though issues like these are great deterrents to the education of girls, they often go unnoticed, until they are voiced in a public platform, like the Makkala Grama Sabha. The results of these sessions also include long-term transformation of attitudes and social norms, explains social worker B Shailaja Kumar. Every child in the Makkala Grama Sabha gets a chance to speak. Watching my friends speak about their problems without fear was really inspiring and gave me the courage to speak and raise my issues, said Supriya N C, a I PUC student from Nallegarahalli, Chikkaballapura district. Many children like Supriya feel these meetings empowered them to discover, strengthen their right to participate and demand what is rightfully theirs. Empowering young voices The platform also sparks reflections on the nature of our democracy and our society, equality and equity, as was the case with Abhilash K V, an 18-year-old student from Sadali, Sidlaghatta. The government needs to listen to us. They need to build roads in our village, install street lights in every lane, and also give homeless people land and free housing. These may not be issues that affect me directly, but there are people in my village and community who need this help, and therefore I want to speak for them, he said. This network that empowers young children like Abhilash is not just limited to the villages, but also allows childrens voices to be heard at district and state levels. Through the Child Rights Parliament, young children from different districts have the opportunity to present their needs, debate and urge decision-makers to act on them. Child representatives congregate once a year to list out demands and some matters are escalated to the level of the Chief Minister, and some demands have even made their way into policy. In the last two years, children have been meeting at the Vidhana Soudha for this purpose. Children have the opportunity to interact with elected officials as equals. This enables them to exercise their right to participation. Even if this hasnt brought in change overnight, their voices are being acknowledged, and many village panchayats have taken action as well. This hasnt just strengthened local democracy but also empowered children by enabling them to become leaders, said Uma Mahadevan. Russian President proposed holding an urgent online meeting of the heads of the five states that are permanent members of the (UNSC) with the participation of the leaders of Germany and Iran to discuss Iran and the Persian Gulf situation. "Should the leaders agree in principle to have this conversation, we propose that the foreign ministries of the seven countries agree on a meeting agenda, make the necessary arrangements and schedule a video summit," Putin said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. He said that discussions on the Iranian issue within the are becoming more intense, while the situation is getting worse, as there are groundless accusations against Iran and draft resolutions are being drawn up aimed at destroying the previous unanimous decisions of the Security Council. remains fully committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, the conclusion of which in 2015 was a major political and diplomatic achievement and it made possible to avert the threat of armed conflict and strengthened the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Putin said. It is important to secure collective support for the implementation of Resolution 2231 that sets forth an legal framework for the execution of the JCPOA, he said. Putin also proposed to agree at the summit on parameters of joint work in order to facilitate the formation of reliable mechanisms for ensuring security and building confidence in the Persian Gulf region. This can be achieved by uniting the political will and creative energy of "all our countries and countries of the region," he said. "We urge our partners to carefully weigh our offer. The alternative is to further escalate tension, to increase the risk of conflict," Putin said, adding that is open to constructive interaction with anyone interested in pushing the situation away from the dangerous brink. --IANS rt/ (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.) To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Bid of US Fails to Get Extension of UN Arms Embargo on Iran By Margaret Besheer August 14, 2020 The United States failed Friday to get an extension of an expiring U.N. arms embargo against Iran, raising the likelihood that Washington will seek to force a "snapback" of all prior international sanctions on Tehran. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the U.N. Security Council for failing to uphold its mandate of maintaining international peace and security. "It rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year-old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific U.N. restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade," he said in a statement. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable." The resolution obtained only two votes in favor the United States and the Dominican Republic. Russia and China voted against the measure, and the other 11 council members abstained. A resolution needs at least nine positive votes and no vetoes to be adopted. China's U.N. mission tweeted that the vote result "shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail. Any attempt to place one's own interest above the common interest of the international community is a dead end." Iran's U.N. ambassador Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in a statement that any imposition of sanctions or restrictions by the Security Council would "be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited." The embargo against the sale or transfer to or from Iran of conventional weapons is set to expire Oct. 18, 2020, under the 2015 nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Washington has warned that an Iran free from restrictions would lead to further regional destabilization, intensified conflicts and a regional arms race. The U.S. also pointed to regional support it received for extending the embargo from Israel and concerned Arab Gulf states as a reason for the council to extend it. 'Snapback' option Initially, Washington wanted more than an indefinite renewal of the arms embargo, seeking additional sanctions and international interdiction rights. It backed down earlier this week, presenting a streamlined text calling only for continuation of the arms embargo. "Council members have been under no illusion about U.S. intentions in this game," said Richard Gowan, U.N. director of International Crisis Group (ICG). "Washington needed to table this resolution so it could claim to have given diplomacy a chance before making a bigger push to snapback sanctions on Iran, potentially killing off the 2015 nuclear deal once and for all." "Snapback" refers to the process that would trigger the re-imposition of previous U.N. sanctions on Iran. If the U.S. takes this route, it will be very controversial, because it is open only to members of the deal, and Washington withdrew from it two years ago. The U.S. argues it has the right to do it under the U.N. resolution that enshrined the agreement in international law, but as one diplomat put it, "you cannot have the cake and eat it [too]." "It is now very clear that there is no appetite for a U.S. push to snapback sanctions on Iran in the council," ICG's Gowan added. "Washington will push ahead regardless, but it should expect a profoundly skeptical response from other council members." Compromise elusive Council diplomats said JCPOA members Britain, France and Germany worked hard to try to find a compromise agreeable to the Americans on one side and Russia and China on the other, but that their positions were very entrenched. The three Europeans acknowledge that lifting the embargo could negatively impact regional security but say their priority is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. They have also stressed that European Union embargoes on conventional arms exports and missile technology will remain in force on Tehran until 2023. Germany's envoy said more time and discussions are needed to find an acceptable way forward for all council members. "We are ready to continue these discussions in order to find a pragmatic way forward, which addresses our collective concerns," said Deputy U.N. Ambassador Gunter Sautter. Earlier Friday, Russia's president acknowledged the growing tensions among the permanent five Security Council members over the Iranian issue. Vladimir Putin proposed urgently convening a video summit with them, plus Germany and Iran. "We call on our partners to carefully consider this proposal. Otherwise, we could see the further escalation of tension and an increased risk of conflict," Putin said in a statement. "This must be avoided. Russia is open to working constructively with anyone interested in taking the situation back from the dangerous brink." Under the JCPOA, the five permanent Security Council members, plus Germany, agreed with Iran to gradually lift international sanctions in return for limits on Tehran's nuclear activities, to prevent it from making a nuclear bomb. It also opened Iran's markets back up to many foreign investors. But President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in May 2018 and re-imposed unilateral sanctions. On Friday, he referred to the Obama-era agreement as a "horror show" and said his predecessor paid billions of dollars to Tehran and got nothing but "trouble" in return. In response to the U.S. withdrawal from the deal, Tehran resumed some of its nuclear activities, and in July 2019, it breached the deal by exceeding limits on both uranium enrichment and stockpile levels. Iran denies that its nuclear activities are for military purposes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Madrid Sat, August 15, 2020 10:16 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e37142 2 Editorial Spain,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free Spain said Friday it was closing discos and banning smoking in the street without social distancing, as it stepped up restrictions to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Health Minister Salvador Illa unveiled a raft of new measures to be enforced nationwide after as the country battles a surge in the disease, with nearly 3,000 new cases in 24 hours reported Thursday. In a bid to rein in the spread of COVID-19, discos, night clubs and dancing halls will be shut, restaurants and bars will be required to close by 1:00 am, with no new guests allowed in from midnight. The ban on smoking on the street -- which is in line with World Health Organization recommendations -- is already in place in two of Spain's 17 autonomous regions, Galicia and the Canary Islands. In retirement homes, visits will be limited and all new residents must be tested for the virus when they are admitted. Regional authorities will be required to carry out testing among groups of the population that are particularly at risk, and in the built-up areas hard hit by the disease, but the health ministry gave no timetable for these measures to come into force. A total of 28,605 people have died so far from coronavirus in Spain, which declared a state of emergency between March 14 and June 21 that allowed the central government to impose restrictions nationwide. With the state of emergency subsequently lifted, autonomy has been handed back to the regional authorities. The health ministry has had to negotiate with them to impose the new measures on a nationwide basis. Spain has a population of 47 million and the infection rate of 110 cases per 100,000 inhabitants is higher than in other European countries. A woman has survived a great white shark attack in Australia after her husband repeatedly punched it until it let her go. Paramedics were called to Shelly Beach at Port Macquarie, about 250 miles north of Sydney, on Saturday morning after Chantelle Doyle, 35, was attacked while surfing. She was airlifted to a local hospital with serious leg injuries, but has since been flown to a nearby hospital where she will undergo surgery. New South Wales state police said the couple were surfing when she was bitten on the right calf and the back of her thigh. Her husband then punched the 10ft shark until it let her go. Surf Life Saving chief executive Steven Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald: "This fella paddled over and jumped off his board on to the shark and hit it to get it to release her and then assisted her back into the beach. "Pretty full on, really heroic." He added: "We've had some really serious and tragic shark encounters over the past couple of months along the coastline, so to paddle out of your own safety zone, into an area where you know there is a large shark, I think is amazing...a tremendous act of bravery." New South Wales Ambulance duty operations manager Andrew Beverley praised the bystanders who carried out first aid on the woman. "They did an amazing job before we arrived," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. Beaches in Port Macquarie have been closed for 24 hours as authorities attempt to track the shark. There have been five fatal shark attacks in Australian waters this year, higher than the country's average of three deadly attacks a year. They gave tirelessly of their services throughout this time of crisis, pouring oil on troubled waters, sacrificing so much for the safety of their own community And last Friday, the Drogheda Male Voice Choir paid an emotional tribute to the many men and women of our frontline services, doing what they do best - giving thanks in beautiful song. To the uplifting strains of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', musical director David Leddy, accompanied by his sister Emer on piano, led the men in choral thanks, against the stunning backdrops of the viaduct and Millmount tower; inclement weather only adding to the poignancy and pathos. The men were joined by representatives of many frontline services including Garda, Army, Nurses, Doctors, Scientist (Tony Stringer), Carers, Boyne Fishermen's Rescue & Recovery, Postal Services, Oliver Plunketts GFC & Colmcilles GFC (both did home deliveries during lockdown) and Drogheda Fire Services. The video, which went live at 8pm on Friday, has already attracted almost 5,000 views in Youtube, and praise from as far afield as New York, where UN Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason said 'it was very emotional watching my town stand up in such a lovely way. Beautifully made and powerful messaging. Bravo to you and all involved'. 'We received magnificent help from Boyne Fishermen's Recovery & Rescue whilst we filmed the segment on Donors Green and also Captain Gerry Duff and his soldiers who gave us marvelous assistance along with the Drogheda Fire Service in making sure everybody was safely brought up to the tower,' said choir PRO Seamie Briscoe. 'The facilitation and help we received from the members of Drogheda Museum was outstanding. We would like in particular to mention, Tony Brothwood, Alan Garry and Donachadha McRaihhnaill & Barry Kerr and also the management and staff of the d Hotel who provided the catering on the morning.' If you would like to view the video, which will now raise money for the local Alzhemier's centre, visit 'Drogheda Male Voice Choir Covid Tribute' facebook page or Youtube Drogheda Male Voice Choir Covid Tribute. Captain Amarinder Singh Mohali: Warning of continued threat from Pakistan and China, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday said Punjab would always be at the forefront of fighting the enemy at the borders. With tensions at the borders continuing, India had to be prepared to deal with any eventuality, said the Chief Minister in his Independence Day address, after hoisting the tricolour here to mark the historic occasion. Advertisement Capt Amarinder SinghWhile Pakistan continues to resort to firing every day, China, on the other hand, talks about friendship but remains a danger to our nation, said Captain Amarinder, recalling the recent barbaric attack on Indian soldiers by the Chinese forces. India has always given Pakistan a befitting response, which is the only way to deal with them, he said, adding that China also needs to be handled with the same iron hand. Recalling the contributions of the millions of Indians to the freedom struggle, the Chief Minister said Punjabis had always been at the forefront of every battle. Advertisement Capt Amarinder SinghThe cellular jail in Kaala Paani (Andaman Islands) have the names of tens of hundreds of Punjabis etched in immortality, he said, adding that even though the I-Day celebrations this year were low-key due to the Covid pandemic, this was the time to remember the sacrifices of all those who had made freedom possible for us. It was also the time to salute the defence forces guarding the nations borders from the enemy, he added. Paying his tributes to Punjabs freedom fighters, Captain Amarinder reiterated his governments commitment to extend all benefits of freedom fighters to their next generations (grandchildren). Advertisement At the same time, Captain Amarinder saluted the Health Workers and Paramedics who were continuously fighting the invisible Covid enemy, along with the NGOs and religious organisations that have worked tirelessly to provide free food and medicine during the period of lockdown. Capt Amarinder Singh He also acknowledged the great work done by the farmers, who have produced the food that fed the nation during the lockdown period and government officials who are serving the people in these difficult times. Advertisement The Chief Minister recognised the people of Punjab for their cooperation in observing precautions that were helping in containing the pandemic, the students who had marvellously adapted to the online teaching methodology, as well as the teachers who were working day and night to create online content to ensure that the studies of their students do not suffer. He also lauded the industrialists who had shown remarkable resilience in recovering from the extreme slowdown caused by the pandemic, and the industrial labour which had placed its faith in the state of Punjab and returned to work with the same dedication as before after the initial panic which forced them to leave for their home towns through the trains arranged by the Punjab government. Project to preserve Black churches gets $20M donation; Mayfield church first to receive funds MINSK, Belarus - The partner of a man who died in the protests engulfing Belarus says she does not believe the official account that Alexander Taraikovsky was killed when an explosive device that he intended to throw at police blew up in his hand. Elena German told The Associated Press on Saturday that she is sure her 34-year-old partner was shot by police. German spoke a few hours before Taraikovskys funeral and burial, an event that could reinforce the anger of demonstrators who have protested what they consider a sham presidential election and the violent police crackdown on opposition. Taraikovsky died Monday as protests roiled the streets of the capital Minsk, denouncing official figures showing that authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, had won a sixth term in office. German was able to visit the morgue and see his body on Friday, four days after he died. She said she did not believe he had been holding an explosive. There is a seam in the chest area the hole was sewn up, but there is a black bruise; its small but we noticed. His hands and feet are completely intact, there are not even bruises, she said. Obviously, it was a shot right in the chest, she said. Belarus Interior Ministry has declined to comment on the situation, beyond its initial claim that a protester died because of a hand-held explosive. German said she intends to seek a full investigation. She has called on a Belarusian human rights organization for help, and wants international experts to take part in a probe. I am feeling outraged. Im angry. That is why I want to achieve justice, she said. In fact, I am very scared, she added. I was left alone, without support. I feel empty. About 500 people came to pay last respects to Taraikovsky, who lay in an open casket. As the coffin was carried out, many dropped to one knee, weeping and exclaiming Long live Belarus. German said Taraikovsky had worked hard at his automobile repair business and that neither of them had been interested in politics until the last presidential election. The familys views began to change after she and her husband attended a 60,000-strong campaign rally of main opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Then they decided to support the post-election protests. He was very indignant at the illegal detentions and was proud of the people. He said finally, finally! We discussed all the news every evening, she said. No matter how hard they try to put up some kind of barriers, turn off the Internet, disperse these rallies, we are not fools everyone understands everything, German said. -= Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this story. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday issued a veiled warning to China and Pakistan saying whoever challenged the country's sovereignty got a befitting reply as he made a push for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' with a 'Make for World' call and announced a National Digital Health Mission. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort. His speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort lasted for 86 minutes. Photograph: PIB Photo In his Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort for the seventh consecutive time, Modi, 69, also said mass production of vaccine for COVID-19 will begin in India once scientists give their nod and a roadmap was ready to ensure it reaches everyone in the country in the shortest possible time. Three vaccine candidates are in different stages of trials in the country, he added. The prime minister asserted that the COVID-19 pandemic cannot halt the country's march towards self-reliance, and presented a broad outline for spurring India's growth in diverse sectors. Citizens will be issued a health card that will have all their medical information under the digital health mission that will revolutionise healthcare in India, he said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during the 74th Independence Day celebrations. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo The annual Independence Day event at the main venue Red Fort which traditionally witnessed a bustling crowd was scaled down this year in keeping with prescribed COVID-19 safety protocols that also included social distancing for the visitors including ministers and diplomats. During his 86-minute address on the country's 74th Independence Day, Modi also underscored his government's commitment to holding assembly polls in centrally-administered Jammu and Kashmir after the ongoing delimitation exercise is over, and stated a new era of development has begun in the union territory after Article 370 was scrapped a year ago. Modi, who was dressed in his customary 'kurta pyjama' and sported a saffron and cream 'safa', said the armed forces have given a befitting reply to those challenging the country's sovereignty "from LoC to LAC", in a veiled reference to Pakistan and China. SEE: From LoC to LAC, befitting reply given to those who challenged India, says PM "From LoC (Line of Control) to LAC (Line of Actual Control), anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, the armed forces have responded in the language they understand," Modi said. "Whether it is terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting both with determination. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Fort in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Modi's comments came amid India's bitter border row with China along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and rise in incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC with Pakistan in the last few months. Referring to the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh in June, the prime minister said respect for India's sovereignty is supreme and the world has seen in Ladakh what its brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve. "I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort," Modi said, adding the whole country is united in protecting the sovereignty of the country. Twenty Indian army personnel were killed during the clashes on June 15. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details SEE: 'In coming 1,000 days, every village will be connected with optical fibre' Besides the announcement of the launch of a national digital health mission, Modi said all the six lakh villages in the country will be connected with optical fibres in 1,000 days to improve digital connectivity for the rural masses. "Every Indian will be given a health ID, which will work as each Indian's health account," Modi said, adding it would ease problems faced by citizens in getting healthcare access. "Every test, disease and diagnosis, and medical reports along with medicines will be stored in every citizen's health ID. These health issues will be resolved through this National Digital Health Mission," he added. The prime minister dwelt at length on his 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) campaign as he gave a call for reducing imports and pushing exports of finished products in place of raw material, saying the country will have to move forward with the mantra of 'Make in India' as well as 'Make for World'. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the Guard of Honour during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Fort in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is no longer merely a word but has become a mantra and captured people's imagination, he said. Unveiling his vision, the prime minister said the goal is to make India a global manufacturing hub while a Rs 110 lakh crore pipeline of national infrastructure projects is being created to boost the economy and create jobs. India received record foreign investment in the last fiscal when FDI rose 18 per cent, he said, adding companies were looking to invest in the nation even during the corona crisis. "How long can the raw material be sent out of our country and finished products imported?" he asked. "Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not only about cutting imports but also raising our capacity, creativity and skills." "Today world's biggest companies are looking at India," he said. "Now along with 'Make in India', we will have to move ahead with the mantra of 'Make for World'." SEE: Need to move forward with Make for World along with Make in India: PM The prime minister cited the example of India during the coronavirus crisis becoming an export surplus nation in the manufacturing of N-95 face masks, PPE kits and ventilators. Hailing the 'corona warriors', including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who have been continuously fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the country will achieve victory over coronavirus with the resolve of its over 130 crore citizens. Asia's third-largest economy's main focus will be the creation of a pipeline of national infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 110 lakh crore, Modi said. "About 7,000 projects in different sectors have been identified. This will be a type of infrastructure revolution." Stating that working in silos in the infrastructure space has ended, he said a large scheme to connect the country through a multi-modal connectivity infrastructure is ready. The National Infrastructure Pipeline project will play a crucial role in pulling the country out of the impact of COVID-19, he said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar on his arrival at Red Fort during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo On digital connectivity for rural masses, Modi said only five dozen village panchayats were connected with optical fibre in 2014. This has increased to 1.5 lakh in the last five years. "In the coming 1,000 days (less than 3 years), all the 6 lakh villages in the country will be connected with optical fibre network. Vocal for local, re-skill and up-skill campaigns will be the main pillars, he said. "I am confident that India will realise this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest until we achieve that goal," he added. The prime minister said India's policies, processes and products should be the best in the world and only then the idea of "shresth Bharat" (best India) will be realised. IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat, on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. Photograph: PIB Photo On foreign policy issues, Modi said today neighbours are not only those with whom India shares its geographical boundaries but also those with whom "our hearts meet". While talking about the need for overall economic growth and making the country self reliant, Modi, at the same time, said humanity must retain a central role in this process. He said many concerns are raised about the challenges for a self-reliant India, but asserted there are "crores of solutions" offered by the country's citizens to "lakhs of challenges". Making a mention of the ground-breaking ceremony for the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, Modi said the centuries-old issue has been resolved peacefully. CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. The city of Troy and city of Watervliet fire departments each received grants totaling $857,550.93 to fund operations, including personnel training and new emergency response equipment. Tonko submitted letters of support requesting consideration of funds for both Troy and Watervliet. The awards were provided through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. The city of Troy received $399,457.64 for new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units. The city of Watervliet received $458,093.29 to buy updated cardiac monitors and support paramedic training. Our firefighters are our first line of defense when tragedy strikes, regularly putting their lives on the line in the service of our communities, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko said. Unfortunately, many local fire departments are forced to operate with limited funding and outdated equipment. This budget issue has only gotten worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of many reasons Congress needs to move forward with our Heroes Act or some other means of funding to prevent major layoffs and cuts to essential services by local governments on the brink, Tonko noted. This smaller but still critically-needed funding will help to provide the resources necessary to keep our firemen and women safe while they fight to protect our families, homes and businesses. My congratulations to our local firefighters on these well-deserved awards and my heartfelt thanks for their dedication and sacrifice for our Capital Region, Tonko added. Local officials were pleased to see their departments receive this funding, especially during a financial crisis due to the pandemic. Todays announcement of federal funding for the Troy Fire Department is welcome news for the Collar City, enabling the purchase of new air packs for the Citys fire service. We thank Congressman Tonko, our federal representatives, and Department of Homeland Security for their support of valuable public safety grants that help protect our local firefighters, Troy Mayor Patrick Madden stated regarding the funds. We are grateful to Congressman Tonko for his support of our Assistance to Firefighters Grant application for the purchase of new SCBA units for our members, greatly adding to their safety, Troy Fire Chief Eric McMahon remarked. With the tough financial atmosphere that we are experiencing, this grant award could not come at a better time, McMahon added. Officials across the river in Watervliet echoed those thoughts. This grant couldnt have come at a more opportune time, Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli said. This equipment is essential to the needs of our residents and we would never been able to afford their replacement during these critical financial times. Captain [Tom] Eagan did an amazing job in preparing this application and should be congratulated. Watervliet is moving forward despite the pandemic, maybe not at warp speed but pretty darn close. The AFG has provided funding to us since 2002, Watervliet Fire Captain Tom Eagan said. This year we have been awarded funding for Cardiac Monitors/Defibrillators which allow us to assess various vital signs and provide ALS treatment for cardiac emergencies. Additionally, we will be able to send three members to an 11-Month Paramedic State Certified Paramedic Program and be able to fill staffing to allow for said training. Upon completion, the department will have an additional three members trained as paramedics available to provide for the ill or injured, Eagan continued. The AFG is vital to all departments big and small, allowing us to effectively respond to all types of emergencies with proper equipment and training. We thank the AFG and Congress for the support, Eagan added. This funding is part of round one of the competitive fiscal year 2019 AFG announcements. The fiscal year 2019 AFG Program will award approximately $315 million in competitive grants to fire departments, non-affiliated EMS organizations, and state fire training academies. U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand also commented on the local funds, encompassed within the $3,351,732.05 in federal funding allocated to fire departments across Upstate New York State. From the peak of the pandemic to normal times, our brave firefighters are always on the front lines, risking their lives to protect their communities, Schumer said. These courageous firefighters deserve all the federal support possible to help them do their jobs. Ive fought my whole career to bring more federal resources to support our brave firefighters, and Im proud to deliver this funding so New Yorks fire departments have the resources and equipment to do their jobs and make it through the ensuing economic crisis, Schumer added. Every day, first responders face dangerous conditions to protect our communities, and we must provide them with the resources needed to stay safe on the job during this health crisis, Gillibrand said. I am proud to have fought for this critical funding in support of New Yorks local fire departments. These federal dollars will help offset costs from the COVID-19 emergency and modernize equipment that will protect our firefighters health and safety as they do their jobs. I will always fight in the Senate for the resources that our firefighters need to save lives, Gillibrand added. The senators explained that the funding comes as localities face budget shortages and consider staff cuts, including in fire departments. Schumer and Gillibrand said the funding will go directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and state fire training academies. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 15) extended his greetings to citizens on 74th Independence Day. PM Modi took to social media to wish everyone on the occasion writing, "Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind." Prime Minister Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 74th Independence Day at the majestic Red Fort here on Saturday. He will unfurl the national flag and deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. #______________ __ ____ ____ __ ___ __________ __ ____-____ ___________ __ ____! Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind! Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2020 Union Home Minister Amit Shah too extended his wishes on the Independence Day and tweeted, "On this #IndependenceDay, let us take a pledge to fulfil PM Narendra Modi's dream of a self-reliant India and contribute to taking the country to new heights by using indigenous products." Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat have already reached the Red Fort. After paying tribute at Rajghat, PM Modi arrived at Lahore Gate of Red Fort at 7:18 am where he was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar. He will then address the nation. The Independence Day function at Red Fort this year will be relatively muted in terms of participation of people in view of the situation created by COVID-19. Compared to the past years, only about 20 per cent VVIPs or other participants will be able to witness the Prime Minister's speech. The arrangements have been made keeping in view social distancing norms. A coronavirus infection map of France has revealed that only Paris and Marseilles have major outbreaks while most of the country remains largely unaffected. France's two largest cities - which have made face masks compulsory in many public open spaces - have both been declared high-risk Covid-19 zones, giving authorities more power to impose stricter control measures. This means that councils can shut down bars and restaurants, close roads to traffic, and restrict access to public transport. A coronavirus infection map of France has revealed that only Paris and Marseilles have major outbreaks while most of the country is barely affected at all A family wearing face masks, walk past the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday A family on the Champs Elysee avenue wear their protective face masks after the city made them compulsary Areas including Essonne and popular holiday-destination Alpes-Maritimes both urge locals to be 'vigilant' about the spread. But various other cities including Limoges and Perpignan haven't seen a high number of cases at all. The government this week put France on its quarantine list meaning anyone landing in the UK from France must isolate for 14 days. The 11th-hour move - which kicked in at 4am this morning - sparked chaos for an estimated 500,000 British holidaymakers in France - some 160,000 of whom made a desperate bid to get home. Eurostar passengers arrive at St Pancras Station in London from Paris on the first train after a quarantine was put in effect for people returning from France Travellers from France arrive at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International after France was removed from the list of safe countries people can travel to without going into quarantine It came after the country reported a spike of just under 14,000 cases in a week. This jump included 2,669 new infections announced on Thursday, meaning France has suffered 21.0 cases per 100,000 people in seven days. This is above the threshold of 20 identified by Grant Shapps, Britain's Transport Minister, as the key to Britain's quarantine rules. France has also reported that the pace of growth in the disease has been fastest among people aged 15 to 44. Eurostar passengers were seen in St Pancras Station in London after they arriving from Paris. They will now need to quarantine Travellers arrive back in the UK from France at St. Pancras station in London after the quarantine came into force at 4am The country is likely to impose to tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions 'within days' for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too. 'Reciprocal arrangements are common in these situations and these are likely within days,' said the French government source. France is the world's most popular tourist destination, and the British are one of the biggest visitor groups, meaning the quarantine will have a devastating effect. Travellers arrive back in the UK from Paris. All passengers wear their protective coronavirus face mask while they travel Regions such as Brittany, Normandy, the French Riviera and Paris itself are normally packed with Britons in August. Clement Beaune, the French Transport Minister, said on Twitter that his government 'regretted' Britain's decision to impose quarantine, and confirmed they would 'reciprocate' with similar measures. Despite this, Mr Beaune said he was 'hoping for a return to normal as soon as possible.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 10:10:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has outlined a roadmap towards the December general elections, after a successful voter registration exercise, according to a release posted on its website Friday. The commission has set Oct. 5 as the date for the presidential and parliamentary candidates to file their nominations. Before this, the EC will undertake an exhibition of the electoral roll to offer prospective voters the opportunity to cross-check the accuracy of their details captured on the voter register and identity cards. The EC added that the distribution of the final voters roll to all participating political parties shall take place on Nov. 6. The 2020 general elections will start on Dec. 1 with special voting for security personnel, media, and officials of other organizations with official duties away from their polling centers on Election Day. The general public will cast their ballots on Dec. 7, with results declared the latest by Dec. 10. If none of the presidential candidates receives more than 50 percent votes required for winning the election, a round-off will take place on Dec. 28. The EC is undertaking the cleaning of the electoral register after completing its mass Biometric Voter Registration across Ghana on Sunday last week, with 16,963,306 citizens registered ahead of the general elections. Enditem The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has asked members of the public whose vehicles were seized for various traffic offences and m... The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has asked members of the public whose vehicles were seized for various traffic offences and moved to its Oshodi Yard not to entertain any fears. It was earlier reported that fire gutted no fewer than 11 vehicles at LASTMA Yard in Oshodi on Friday evening, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report but LASEMA confirmed that no life was lost in the inferno. LASTMA in a statement on Saturday titled, Purported Fire Outbreak In LASTMA Yard GM LASTMA and signed by its Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Olumide Filade, said seized vehicles were not affected in the fire. The statement read, The General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, has stated that the purported fire outbreak in LASTMA Yard started at the Abandoned Vehicle Yard and not on LASTMA Property as reported. Oduyoye further said that seven dead beat vehicles that had been abandoned and already in preparedness for disposal for years by crushing or other means got burnt, while he added that the cause of fire is still unknown but that the Lagos State Fire Service responded promptly, put out the fire and mitigated further spread or damage to property. Oduyoye averred that as confirmed by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, no injury or damage to any LASTMA property was recorded. He assured the public especially those whose vehicles were apprehended for traffic offences in the Oshodi Yard not to entertain any fear while LASTMA continues to be responsible and responsive to maintaining the free flow of traffic in Lagos State. State aid rules have become one of the most contentious issues in the EU-UK negotiations, a true dealbreaker. The EU insists on the adoption of the whole package based on the system of control applicable in the EU. The UK instead proposes a light touch approach, which means that how we spend our money should not be anyones business, especially the EU. So is state aid control really worth the trouble? Our view is that it is in both parties interests to find a compromise. While it is understandable that the EU is insisting on a robust system of control to preserve a regulatory level playing field, and to prevent a much looser UK system resulting in an anti-competitive impact on EU companies, the UK has no net gain in undermining a system which it shaped so heavily, and which guarantees effective scrutiny of some of the other big spenders, such as Germany, France and Italy. It is also a mistake to simply think that a no-deal fallback option to World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms would be beneficial to the UK. Bizarre narratives stating that EU state aid control would be unclear, expansive and fundamentally pliable, whereas WTO subsidy laws would be clear, have no problems of interpretation and be fit-for-the-job in fact almost perfect do not correspond to the real world. The WTO subsidy rules do not bite, their scope is limited and the only remedy available to both parties when things go wrong is to trigger defensive and retaliatory measures. Measures that, crucially, do not guarantee access to the other sides market one of the UKs objectives. The WTO Appellate Body, supposedly the world trade court, has now even been suspended. In 2017 the US, EU and Japan started talks which aimed, among other things, at strengthening the rules on industrial subsidies. Similarly, in June 2020, the EU Commission adopted a white paper on a level playing field regarding foreign subsidies. Certainly, the motivation of these initiatives is the need to address the specificities of Chinese capitalism and its trade-distorting subsidies. Still, their broad premise is that the current rules on subsidies in the WTO do not work properly in capturing and regulating subsidies. An agreement on state aid control would instead have the distinct benefit of facilitating an important trade deal with the EU and guaranteeing UK companies a significant access to what still is the biggest market for them. It would, however, be unrealistic to imagine an entire transplant of each and every EU rule to a third country such as the UK. The question would then be how to find a point of equilibrium. It should be expected that certain rules of EU state aid law, which may make good sense in the context of a single market, would need to be reassessed in the context of a bilateral trade relationship. The new generation of free trade agreements concluded by the EU (with Singapore or Vietnam, for example), despite borrowing heavily from the EU system of state aid control, provide that subsidies should not be granted when they negatively affect, or are likely to affect, competition and trade between the two contracting parties. These thresholds are certainly more appropriate to a trade agreement than the looser legal tests of effect on intra-EU trade used to capture state aid in the EU internal market. Even in a no-deal scenario, a domestic system of control on public spending should still be introduced. Current government thinking, that youd have a regime based on some administrative principles but it would all be very vague and non-statutory, with a watchdog-type body that would only provide persuasive force, unfortunately, does not make much sense. A system, intentionally vague, non-enforceable and administered by a seemingly weak institution, would simply not be good enough as it would most likely bring a high degree of uncertainty, which is not good for business. There is, finally, a very compelling reason why state aid rules are necessary in a modern democracy: fairness. The existence of rules on the transparency and accountability of spending decisions contribute to controlling lobbying industries and interests, while ensuring the adoption of more virtuous economic policies to support the growth of a green economy, facilitate research and development and innovation, and at the same time guaranteeing geographical solidarity between the different areas of the UK. No government can be against this, regardless of whether the rules to ensure it are EU-derived or not. Andrea Biondi is professor of EU Law at Kings College London and Luca Rubini is reader in International Economic Law at the Birmingham Law School French Prime Minister Jean Castex paid homage on Friday to six French aid workers killed last week in Niger, saying they were likely victims of the same kind of hate behind the 2015 terror attack on the Bataclan music hall in Paris. Castex bowed his head before the six coffins draped in blue aligned in a special room at Orly airport in a simple, solemn ceremony. The victims were killed last Sunday along with two others at an animal reserve, 70 kilometers (45 miles) from their base in the capital, Niamey. The six worked for Paris-based ACTED. Two others died with them - an aid worker from the Swiss organisation Impact International and an expert guide. It is not known who killed the unarmed humanitarian workers, but Castex said it was "probably the same hate and cowardice and inhumanity that happened in Niger and in the Bataclan". He said terrorism appeared the most likely motive. 130 people were killed when the Bataclan music hall and nearby restaurants were attacked in Paris in 2015. Islamic State said it carried out that attack. Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb said on Saturday that there is no shortage of medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE), amid the surge in coronavirus cases in the state. Unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles Parade Ground here on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, he lauded Covid-19 warriors for their services. Independence Day is being celebrated in the country in an unusual situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government is taking all measures to contain the spread of the disease. There is no dearth of medicine and PPE kits in the state, Deb said. He inspected the guard of honour of various contingents of the security forces and presented medals to the police personnel for their distinguished services. Only a few ministers and government officials were present on the occasion. The chief minister said the government has arranged for 2,129 beds for treatment of coronavirus patients and a medical college will be set up in Ambassa, the headquarters of Dhalai district. Inspected the parade & took salutation of forces during celebration of 74th Independence Day at Assam Rifles ground in Agartala. Also distributed various Police Medals and addressed beloved people of Tripura.#TripuraCelebrates15thAug#IDay2020 pic.twitter.com/nqkliDLPEW Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) August 15, 2020 The total number of coronavirus patients in the state rose to 6,952 with 164 new cases reported on Saturday, while the toll climbed to 50 as four more persons succumbed to the disease, a health department official said. Deb said the government is working to bring the entire state under the broadband network connection. The Centre has allocated Rs 3,193 crore for the 15-km long Agartala-Akhaura rail link project and the work for it is progressing well, he said, adding that a survey for an alternative railway line from Belonia in South Tripura district to Dharmanagar in North Tripura has been started. Tripura will emerge as a logistic hub in the north-east region as vessels will start ferrying goods soon through the India-Bangladesh protocol route on the Gomati river, he added. UAE telecom services operator Etisalat is ready to serve the New Normal pushing the fast forward button on digital transformation by focusing on partnerships, collaborations and investments with digital adoption being key for new digital services, said Dr Ahmed Bin Ali, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Etisalat Group. Bin Ali was speaking on behalf of Khalifa Al Shamsi, Chief Strategy and Corporate Governance, Etisalat Group at a virtual future foresight forum organised by UAEs Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) and UAE International Investors Council. The event which focused on The Telecommunications Sector and its impact on Future Foresight Post COVID 19, brought together all relevant strategic stake holders from the telecom and technology industry including senior executives from TRA, Ministry of Interior, Smart Dubai, Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai Future Foundation, Khalifa University, University of Dubai, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, Microsoft and Noon. Bin Ali highlighted the readiness and resilience of Etisalat during the pandemic; with the main focus aimed at supporting the entire community including business and individuals ensuring its network and services enable business and learning continuity. During the May-February period, Etisalats network witnessed an increase in traffic of more than 300 percent in communication and collaboration solutions where as in Internet gaming it touched 500 percent, he stated. With work and study from home becoming a norm there was a surge in traffic of more than 90 per cent in video streaming and social media, he added. According to him, Etisalat had worked closely with the Ministry of Education during the pandemic to provide zero rate access to educational URLs and free mobile data for students. There was also free access to the madrasa platform on eLife and remote learning apps. For the healthcare sector there was a telemedicine platform made available to support hospitals and clinics in providing remote healthcare services. The IoT/AI platforms were used for disease containment, AI video analytics including thermal cameras and wearable IoT solutions were among the other advance solutions used for the sector, said Bin Ali. "Thanks to the UAE vision and Etisalat's strategy of Driving the digital future to enable societies, our network joined one of the most robust and digitally equipped to address the unique requirements during this period making it possible for businesses to work remotely, millions of students to enjoy distance learning and all citizens having access to vital services," he noted. "Through our networks and dedicated teams we were geared to fully support and serve the community showcasing infrastructure preparedness and our ability to adapt and implement during today's extraordinary times," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 04:39:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Restrictions on non-essential land traffic along the border between Mexico and the United States will be extended until Sept. 21 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Mexican Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. According to the ministry, Mexico proposed the extension of the partial closure of the border for another month after reviewing the development of the pandemic in both countries. The measure, implemented on March 21 along the common border, restricts travel for tourism or recreational purposes but permits commercial, medical and essential work-related travel. "Both countries will try to coordinate health measures in the border region that will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. local time on September 21, 2020," the Mexican Foreign Ministry said via Twitter. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced on Thursday that Mexico had asked the United States to extend the measure as the pandemic was re-emerging in U.S. states bordering Mexico. "Right now, they have a resurgence (of the disease) in the south, so the border cannot be opened right now, and in some (Mexican) states, we are more or less going down," Ebrard explained. Under normal circumstances, thousands of people cross the common border every day for work, school and tourism purposes. By Sept. 21, the border will have been partially closed for six months. The United States is the country that has been the most heavily affected by the pandemic, with over 5 million cases and over 160,000 deaths, while Mexico has registered more than 500,000 cases and over 55,000 deaths. Enditem President Donald Trump arrives at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center to visit his sick brother Robert Trump in New York, N.Y., on Aug. 14, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Arrives at NYC Hospital to Visit Ailing Brother President Donald Trump arrived at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City on Friday afternoon after his brother, Robert Trump, was hospitalized. The White House confirmed Robert Trumps hospitalization, while the president confirmed it in a news conference earlier in the day. I have a wonderful brother, weve had a great relationship for a long time. Hes in the hospital right now, hopefully hell be alright. Hes having a hard time, Trump said to reporters. Trump was seen arriving at the hospital by media photographers. Trump had been scheduled to travel to his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for the weekend. He made a stop in Manhattan first to see his sibling. Neither Trump or White House officials said why Robert Trump was in the hospital. Robert Trump (L) joins real estate developer and presidential hopeful Donald Trump at an event in New York, N.Y., on Nov. 3, 1999. (Diane Bonadreff/AP Photo) More photos showed Trumps motorcade arriving in New York City with throngs of police officers. According to The Associated Press, Trump paid a visit to his brother and was wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. I hope hes okay, Trump told AP shortly arriving at the medical facility. Earlier this year, Robert Trump filed a lawsuit against niece Mary Trump, who was set to publish a book about the Trump family. He argued via lawyers that she violated a nondisclosure agreement from about 20 years ago. I and the rest of my entire family are so proud of my wonderful brother, the president, and feel that Marys actions are truly a disgrace, Robert Trump told news outlets earlier this year. Mary Trumps memoir was eventually released last month after a judge agreed to lift a temporary restraining order. The White House described her book as a work of fiction, denying some of the allegations contained within. Before that, Robert Trump told the New York Post that he supported his brothers campaign 1,000 percent in 2016. Fred Trump Jr., the presidents older brother, died in the early 1980s at the age of 43 after battling alcoholism for years. The early death had an impact on Trump, who said he never drinks because of it. He has two sisters, Elizabeth Trump Grau, who is a retired executive from Chase Manhattan Bank, and Maryanne Trump Barry, who is a retired federal judge. The White House has not responded to a request for comment. Other details were not provided. Announcement comes as country struggles to cope with economic shock linked with coronavirus and crude price drop. The government and prime minister of Equatorial Guinea have tendered their resignation to President Teodoro Obiang, who said they had not done enough to help the country at a time of crisis. The Central African oil producer is suffering a double economic shock linked to the coronavirus pandemic and a drop in the price of crude oil, which provides about three-quarters of state revenue. The head of state regretted that the outgoing government did not fulfil its policy objectives, which undoubtedly led to this crisis situation, read a statement on the government website on Friday. Francisco Pascual Obama Asue had been prime minister since June 2016. In February 2018, the president dissolved the government before reappointing the prime minister and the three deputy prime ministers to their posts. A new government is expected to be announced soon. Obiang, who has ruled the country since deposing his uncle in a 1979 coup, has been accused by critics of repressing political opponents. Speculation over the state of the 78-year-olds health in recent weeks has raised expectations the cabinet could be reshuffled to include those more supportive of his son, Vice President Teodorin Obiang, according to Tutu Alicante, the head of EG Justice, a US-based organisation. They were going to move progressively towards having a government, a cabinet, that would not stand in the way of Teodorin fully assuming the governing roles, Alicante was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. The younger Obiang was convicted of embezzlement in France in October 2017 during a trial in absentia. The court ordered the confiscation of assets worth more than 100 million euros ($118m). Earlier, Swiss prosecutors had confiscated a collection of his supercars under a deal ending a money-laundering inquiry. The cars fetched nearly $27 million ($32m) at auction last September. The economy of Equatorial Guinea has struggled to recover from a recession caused by a 2014 slump in oil prices and is expected to contract by a further 5.5 percent in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund figures. A heart-stopping video of an old mans rescue by a police officer is going viral. In what looks like a scene out of a movie, the officer managed to save the man from being run over by a train. The incident is from California where the police officer risked her own life to save that of a man who was stuck on the train tracks on his wheelchair. YouTube A video of the incident was shared by Lodi Police Department on Facebook and captures the exact moment the officer pulled the person from the tracks. Lodi Police Department explained, Officer Urrea was in the area of Lodi Ave and the railroad tracks when she saw a male in a wheelchair who appeared to be stuck on the tracks. She noticed that the railroad crossing arms started to come down and saw that a train was approaching. The police officer instantly got out of her vehicle and rushed to help the man, as the train's whistle rang in the background, hinting at its close approach, in the video she can be heard asking him, can you get up? A lot of things happened in the matter of next few seconds. Also Read: Locals Jump Into River In Jharkhand To Rescue Newlywed Couple Whose Car Fell Off Bridge Somehow the officer managed to get the man out of his wheelchair which was still struck on the tracks, the train came along the tracks at the exact moment at a high speed. She was thrown on the ground along with the man but she immediately regained her balance and held onto the mans hand to make sure he did not get injured. Officer Urrea risked her own life to save another and her actions prevented a tragedy today. We are extremely proud of Officer Erika Urrea and her heroism, the police department wrote. Also Read: Police Comes To The Rescue Of Mumbai Woman Who Was Thrown Out Of Her Apartment By Landlord YouTube The 66-year-old man, who Urrea saved, suffered a leg injury during the incident, was later transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. All people have praises for the officer. There might not have been a happy ending to this incident if the officer was not there at the right time. The last time Annette Greene can remember seeing an on-site school nurse was 1974. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The last time Annette Greene can remember seeing an on-site school nurse was 1974. She was thus surprised to hear Manitoba Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen claim during a news conference this week public schools would have easy access to nurses to help the fight against COVID-19 when students return next month. "In all my years as an educator and as a parent, and thats going on 30 years, I've never seen an in-house nurse, a nurse dedicated to a singular school," Greene, who teaches at Maples Collegiate in the Seven Oaks School Division, said in an interview Friday. "Not in my school and not in my division, and not in any of the metro Winnipeg divisions that I know of." During a media conference Thursday with Goertzen and Manitoba chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, the education minister responded to media questions about the availability of health-care professionals, claiming "many schools have nurses." "Many schools have many different resources when it comes to things that are outside of your traditional education system," Goertzen added. "I dont believe that every school would have a nurse, but certainly the divisions themselves would have that ability." Greene, along with NDP MLA Lisa Naylor and a chorus of teachers and educators, took to social media to push back. Many noted they had never encountered an on-staff nurse in the city school system. Radean Carter, senior information officer for the Winnipeg School Division, confirmed in an interview with the Free Press its schools have not had access to on-site nurses during her time with the division. Instead, divisions are served by a single health and wellness nurse, who provides "information, consultation and support to school personnel" for all students who qualify for health-care support, according to WSD policy documents. That group includes students with severe allergies and pre-existing health conditions, Carter said. Schools are directed to contact parents and emergency responders to address immediate student health concerns. As many on social media criticized the minister for being out-of-touch, Greene noted she'd like to see Goertzen and Roussin make school visits in the fall to have a better understanding of the on-site situation in the fight against the novel coronavirus. "We would welcome them, because I think we're seeing a lot of disconnect in their ideas and thoughts based on what we see first hand in the schools," she said Friday. Meanwhile, Carter noted having nurses in schools may not help educators face the challenges of managing COVID-19 in their buildings, but added it's still too early to say either way. "Until we actually get back to school, its hard to say what extra staff we might need. But in terms of the screening that needs to be done, we are really relying on families to do that," she said. "We cannot afford to have students or staff coming into our school with flu-like symptoms." 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. Parents are being asked to screen their children with the province's online tool for symptoms or risk factors associated with the novel coronavirus. The same screenings will also be taking place with students and teachers at Winnipeg's schools. As September looms closer, with or without available nurses, "I would like to see the province provide PPE (personal protective equipment) to educators I would like the province to say all teachers and students should be wearing this protective equipment because that is what's advised by our very own government," Greene said. Representatives for Goertzen's office responded to requests for additional comment late Friday, saying the minister was instead referring to improved mental health services. "The minister had just replied (Thursday) to the previous media question about mental health support provided at schools, and was continuing to refer to resources for students beyond the traditional education system including an investment of $4.4 million announced last December to improve access to mental health and addictions services beginning in certain areas of the province," a spokesperson wrote in an email. julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jsrutgers Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:00:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Canadian and the U.S. national flags are seen from the Canadian side of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on May 19, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) "We are extending the reciprocal restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border for another 30 days, till Sept. 21, 2020. We will continue to do what's necessary to keep our communities safe," tweets Bill Blair. OTTAWA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Canada and the United States have agreed to keep the border between the two countries closed to non-essential travel for another month to stem the spread of COVID-19, Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Friday. The agreement, which was first introduced in March and has been extended each month since, will remain in place until at least Sept. 21. "We are extending the reciprocal restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border for another 30 days, till Sept. 21, 2020. We will continue to do what's necessary to keep our communities safe," Blair tweeted. A deserted road toward the U.S. port is seen from the Canadian side of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on May 19, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) The agreement, as it stands, exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as temporary foreign workers and vital health-care workers such as nurses who live and work on opposite sides of the border. Tourists and cross-border visits remain prohibited. The Canadian government has also moved to restrain the movement of Americans through Canada who are ostensibly on their way to Alaska. U.S. travellers destined for the northern state have been limited to five crossings in Western Canada and they must commit to taking a direct route. Canadian Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said on Friday that Canada will continue to monitor epidemiological data on both sides of the border before making a decision to open the country to more U.S. travellers. Closed border crossing counters are seen in Surrey, Canada, March 20, 2020. (Photo by Andrew Soong/Xinhua) Tam said she didn't want to see a spike in cases related to the United States after Canada has been able to flatten the infection curve with aggressive public health measures. As of Friday afternoon, there have been 121,484 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,019 deaths, according to CTV. Over the past week, an average of 43,000 Canadians were tested daily, with one percent testing positive and an average of 376 new cases reported daily from across the country, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Chukwuemeka Nnaji, the president of Nigerian Traders Union in Ghana, on Saturday decried Ghanaian authorities closure of shops owned by Nigerians doing business in the country. Mr Nnaji, who made this known in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged the Federal Government to intervene in the matter. He said that shops belonging to Nigerian traders in Accra were locked up by Ghanaian authorities who demanded cash payment of one million dollars from them before the shops would be opened. According to him, an inter-ministerial Tasktask force went round on August 10 to identify shops owned by Nigerian traders and requested registration of business taxes, resident permit, standard control and Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) registration. Most of our members do not have the GIPC registration, because it requires one million dollars cash or equity and they gave us 14 days within which to regularise. As of Thursday, they had moved to another area and started locking up shops of Nigerian traders. Nigerian life in Ghana matters. This is livelihood of Nigerians being destroyed by Ghanaian Authorities. This is not being perpetrated by a trade union, but Ghanaian authorities. They demanded that we must employ a minimum of 25 skilled Ghanaian workers and must not trade in commodities that Ghanaian traders have applied to trade in, Mr Nnaji said. The humiliation of Nigerians is getting out of hand. We are calling on the Nigerian government to come to our aid. We have legally registered our businesses and we pay taxes, Mr Nnaji said. (NAN) News Corp has defended a cartoon which sparked widespread outrage with claims of racism after it was published in The Australian newspaper. The masthead published a cartoon featuring US Presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on Friday. The cartoon, created by Johannes Leak, depicts Mr Biden saying: Its time to heal a nation divided by racism ... So Ill hand you over to this little brown girl while I go for a lie down. The comic strip was called appalling, repulsive, disgusting and shameful. So how on earth does Murdoch editor Chris Dore justify publishing a racist and sexist cartoon about a US Senator who is likely to be the next Vice-President of the US? Murdoch is a Trump mouthpiece. But this is gross even by Murdochs gutter standards. pic.twitter.com/EWwsfEaKOq Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) August 14, 2020 Yahoo News Australia contacted the publication and its editor-in-chief Chris Dore on Friday. Mr Dore defended Mr Leaks cartoon to The Guardian, saying Johannes was quoting Bidens words and pointed to a tweet the 77-year-old candidate posted on Thursday. However, that tweet was quite clearly not referring to Ms Harris but a hypothetical little girl in America who would be inspired by her appointment as Vice President. Mr Dore did not respond further when this was put to him, The Guardian said. Not all staff at The Australian are onside with the editors defence of the cartoon though, with an employee telling Yahoo News Australia, the company deserves to pay. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden his vice-presidential running mate US Senator Kamala Harris, during their first press conference together in Wilmington, Delaware earlier this week. Source: Getty Images That employee also shared correspondence sent to everyone from the company by News Corp Australia executive Campbell Reid. In the email, Mr Reid deemed accusations Mr Leaks cartoon is racist as outrageous and said cartoons are meant to be provocative and confronting. The intention of Johannes's commentary was to ridicule identity politics and demean racism, not perpetuate it, Mr Reid said. Story continues This morning, little girls woke up across this nation especially Black and Brown girls who so often may feel overlooked and undervalued in our society potentially seeing themselves in a new way: As the stuff of Presidents and Vice Presidents. Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 12, 2020 Clearly context is everything in our business, and while we know our readers are widely read and informed not everyone will be across every piece of source material or relevant background, particularly when it comes to a cartoon. We certainly have to be aware of our content being misconstrued, sometimes unintentionally, often wilfully, based on readers not having the full context readily before them. It's worth remembering cartoons are meant to be provocative and confronting. He added The Australian utterly oppose racism in all its guises and attacks on Mr Leak are unwarranted. 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. By THE REDIFF NEWS BUREAU Last updated on: August 15, 2020 16:10 IST A look at the celebration of the 74th Independence Day. IMAGE: Policemen stand in a line during a flag hoisting function for Independence Day celebrations in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: Security Force soldiers offer sweets to each other during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at the Attari-Wagha border. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal salutes after hoisting the Tricolor during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Delhi secretariat in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo IMAGE: NCC cadets offer flowers to paramilitary jawans after attending the 74th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo IMAGE: BJP National President J P Nadda distributes sweets among CRPF jawans on the occasion of 74th Independence Day, in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hoists the Tricolor during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Road in Kolkata. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo IMAGE: Artists wearing face masks perform during the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, in Srinagar. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo Ace couturier Amit Aggarwal is launching a limited-edition collection to support the karigar community on the occasion of Indias 74th Independence Day. The collection titled INTERDEPENDENCE comprises of 12 shirts, and each shirt is named after the karigar who made it. All the revenue generated from the sales of the designers creations will be given to karigar families. Aggarwal released a statement saying, During these times, the feeling of freedom is deeply rooted in supporting and helping each other. Independence comes through the act of interdependence, realising the power of being together and caring of everyones lives as much as ones own. Posting about the collection on Instagram, Aggarwal wrote, Everything in nature is interdependent on everything else, part of a web so tightly woven that each phenomenon in the universe is both an effect and cause of all others. Celebrating Indias 74th year of independence, in an effort to support our karigars -the keepers of our traditions, we will be launching a limited-edition collection of 12 shirts on 15th August, 2020. We celebrate their contribution and our interdependence on one another. We created renewed piece, named after the karigar who has made, using fabrics and print patches leftover from production processes. The collection envisions a safe, and equal India, contributing 100% of revenue to our karigars. The collection went live on Saturday, after 12 PM, on Aggarwals official Instagram page and the pieces can be purchased directly from the handle. The shirts currently available on his Instagram page are the Mehboob, Manzoor, Jabbar, Sooraj, Zakir, Zaheer shirts, and cost around Rs 4,999 a piece. In honour of Independence Day, Aggarwal also posted a photo of Bharatnatyam dancers, wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day, he captioned the post with a Mark Twain quote about India, The cradle of the human race, The mother of history, The most valuable and constructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India. - Mark Twain. He went on to write, See above is beautiful formation of Bharatnatyam dancers seen practicing. The dance was a temple dance for women, Bharatanatyam often is used to express religious stories and devotions. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Property managers were at Western Heritage until COVID-19 struck western Nebraska in March. Everything we do is with our residents health and safety in mind. Since July 1st, one or two managers have been at Western Heritage every week visiting with residents as they played bingo or dominoes. They have been in the office collecting rent and holding briefings in order to continue the tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance program. Those onsite visits also included inspections in apartments, observations of maintenance needs and additional communication with residents, Bentley said in the release. There are 40 apartments that serve income-qualified, eligible residents, who are elderly or disabled. All of the apartments are one bedroom, with a community room that can be reserved for family functions as well as resident parties, BBQs and other events. The location features a resident-use only laundry facility that is operated by a contracted company. Food Bank is delivered in addition to special deliveries from Kings Daughters. A Black Hebrew Israelite congregation will receive a $3,500 grant from the private, nonprofit New York Landmarks Conservancy's Sacred Sites Grants to help save its historic - but water-damaged - Albany church. The Black Hebrew Israelite denomination, called the Church of God and Saints, was founded in 1896 in Kansas and teaches that Africans are direct descendents of the Israelites. Congregations soon spread across America, Cuba, the West Indies and six African nations. The Albany congregation became known for hosting cultural musical performances and readings, as well as the free services it offered the community such as wellness counseling and tutoring for youth and adults. Many of the Sacred Sites grantees are houses of worship that provide crucial social services, including free meals, addiction counseling and child care. Congregations often agonize over whether to cut such crucial services or pay for badly need repairs--especially during the pandemic's tough economic times. The Conservancy announced 21 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $337,000 that were awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York, including the $3,500 Albany grant for the church at 153 Jay St. The beautiful gabled building has suffered severe water damage and needs roof repair. The congregation is barred from worship in the sanctuary until the building is up to code. When the Conservancy's deputy director of grants drove from New York City to meet congregation members and take photos, someone had broken into the church. But help is coming. Sacred Sites Program director Ann-Isabel Friedman said this first grant will be used for an architect who will examine the church, prioritize the many repairs that need to be done and provide a list of contractors best suited for the work. "It's expected that the church will then apply for a second grant to get the money needed to repair the water damage then roof repairs," she said. The Church of God and Saints of Christ is part of the Center Square/Hudson Park National Register Historic District in downtown Albany. The neighborhood of brick rowhouses is part of the 90-acre Empire Plaza urban renewal area. The two-story red brick building was erected in 1885 as the Fifth Reformed Church. The Church of God and Saints of Christ bought the building in 1978. Our current grantees have social service programs that reach 53,000 people across New York State, said Conservancy president Peg Breen in a statement. Our grants help keep these institutions viable, allowing them to continue feeding programs, day care, thrift stores, and recovery meetings. In this time of extreme need, it is even more important to help these congregations continue to serve their communities. The Sacred Sites Program provides congregations with matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, technical assistance and workshops. Since 1986, this particular program has pledged 1,547 grants totaling more than $11.8 million to 824 religious institutions statewide. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. According to a press release, "Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $52 million, which has leveraged more than $1 billion in 1,550 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations and individuals. The Conservancys work has saved more than a thousand buildings across New York City and State." For more information, please visit https://nylandmarks.org/what-we-do/grants-loans/sacred-sites/criteria/ There was a time when it looked like Wisconsin would be the bright shiny political apple of 2020, but as humorist Will Rogers observed: Politics is applesauce. Announced almost a year and a half ago, the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee promised to shine a spotlight on battleground state Wisconsin, drawing more than 50,000 visitors enough to rank among the states 15 largest cities and hundreds of millions of tourism dollars. Democrats hoped the political bash would exorcise President Donald Trumps 2016 razor-thin victory here over Hillary Clinton, who crucially failed to visit the state during the general election campaign and lost by about 23,000 votes. Then COVID-19 struck, crushing the prospect of mass gatherings like the DNC. With the nation continuing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the DNC Committee announced first that delegates and then that most convention speakers including soon-to-be-nominee former Vice President Joe Biden and running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris would not be attending in person. A village of TV, radio, online and print journalists the size of Oconomowoc has been scaled down to a small reporter pool. The contraction dealt a major blow to any hopes of a traditional convention experience in Milwaukee and gifted more ammo to Republicans who say Biden is sleeping on Wisconsin. It certainly would have been an economic boon for Milwaukee, but that did not happen, Gov. Tony Evers, who will speak at the convention in person on Wednesday, told the State Journal. Would that have been preferred? Without, COVID-19, yes. Without question, but I think this also is sending a message to the country that, even in these difficult times, you can put health and safety first. State Democrats say theyre focused on the positives as the convention kicks off Monday. While the majority of speakers will be attending online, DNC secretary and Wisconsin native Jason Rae said the four-day event still will be anchored in Milwaukee and the goal of nominating Biden to take on Trump in November remains the same. While this doesnt look like a traditional convention that youd have before, Im really excited for how we will use this as a rallying tool to move our party forward, Rae said. For many, the DNCs COVID-19-related delays, reductions, relocation and adjustments have been understandable, but still painful. I wish they could have ripped the Band-Aid off ... but they pulled that Band-Aid off so slowly and painfully, said Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, D-Mason, a convention delegate. But it couldnt be helped. Trump doubles down While Biden appears poised to accept the Democratic nomination online from his Delaware home, Trump plans to add to his list of Wisconsin campaign stops with a rally in Oshkosh on Monday despite concerns raised by public health officials over holding such events during a global pandemic. Bidens campaign has held several Wisconsin-focused online events, but he has yet to formally visit the state this year. As the DNC kicks off on Monday, Trump will hold a campaign stop at Oshkoshs Basler Flight Service to talk about Bidens failures on jobs and the economy, according to a statement. Vice President Mike Pence, who also has made multiple stops in Wisconsin this year, is expected to visit the state on Wednesday. Evers said he expects both to wear a face covering during their visits, in accordance with the governors statewide mask mandate. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes on a Friday video call with reporters described Trumps visit as a desperate move that will put lives at risk. People have put their own lives on hold right now, Barnes said. With the presidents visit, they see a level of irresponsibility that should never be in the White House. Scott Spector, senior adviser to the Biden for President campaign in Wisconsin, said the different approaches by Biden and Trump to campaigning in 2020 sum up how each candidate is approaching the pandemic. President Trump and Vice President Pence seem to throw caution to the wind and are willing to put peoples health and safety at risk, Spector said. In addition, the Republican National Convention was originally slated next week for Charlotte, North Carolina, until Trump clashed with the states Democratic governor over pandemic-related restrictions. Trump moved the convention to Jacksonville, Florida, but later canceled that plan after a surge in positive coronavirus cases. Unconventional convention Traditionally, the pomp and circumstance that comes with national conventions includes grand stage speeches, raucous chanting and cheering from campaign button-bedecked party insiders and wall-to-wall media coverage. The DNC may have scaled back to a nearly all-virtual event, but state officials including Evers, Barnes, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Milwaukees own U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore are scheduled to speak from a stage in Milwaukee. The audience, including the delegates, are expected to participate online. Fox News Channel lead election co-anchor Martha MacCallum has covered national conventions since 2004. She recalled high-profile speeches at previous events from former president Bill Clinton, as well as a keynote address by then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 16 years ago. There is potential for these kind of moment-making events and whether or not that can be pulled off virtually I think is a very high bar for these speakers, MacCallum said. (Voters in the Nov. 3 election) have to sort of focus on what data points they receive. Some of that will come from this convention process, whatever it looks like, MacCallum said. Like everything in life in 2020, its going to look a lot different. Lost conversation? Isabel Klemmer, 18, of Mequon, said the Milwaukee convention would have been her first as a district-level delegate. Without the in-person networking or delegate voting that comes with a national convention, Klemmer, a delegate for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, said shes concerned delegates like her will have little influence over the partys platform regarding issues such as police reform and student loan debt. Were glad obviously that the conversation is happening, but were definitely hoping we can continue to apply the pressure and continue to take leadership from people who have been in this fight for a long time, Klemmer said. Were disappointed that wont be occurring and we were hoping that the DNC would try to facilitate some of those conversations more than they have. Sanders delegate William Walter, 26, from Germantown, said he understands Bidens decision to forego attending the DNC in person. I think it was the obvious choice, Walter said. Whether or not hes giving a speech from his home or standing in an empty arena in Milwaukee giving the same virtual speech that people will be watching ... that doesnt really matter to me where he physically is if the speech will be predominantly viewed virtually anyway. Feeling the energy Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said Democratic enthusiasm, driven largely by Democrats desire to limit Trump to a single term, is at an all-time high. He said comparing 2016 to 2020 isnt apples to oranges, its grapes to watermelons. The level of energy to make absolutely sure that Trump doesnt get a second term and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris head to the White House is an Everest among political anthills, Wikler said. Some Democrats have speculated that, given the events of this year, Milwaukee could be a front-runner to host the 2024 DNC, but Rae said any decision on the next convention will be made after this years event concludes. COVID-19 in photos: How Wisconsin is managing the pandemic (Bloomberg Opinion) -- One formerly obscure American presidential candidate, Warren G. Harding, won his place in history and his election by promising a return to normalcy after the disruption of World War One. Boris Johnson, fighting a far from glorious battle against Covid-19, knows that doing similar for the U.K. is key to his own future. Unless British children go back into the classroom next month, he will fail. Brits have been much slower to return to the workplace than comparable nations such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The countrys indoor social-distancing rule of two meters hasnt helped. A Morgan Stanley poll of office staff in all five countries suggests the U.K. likes the idea of staying home much more than its continental counterparts. This has panicked Johnsons government, which first urged workers to stay home but now fears that empty town centers and office blocks are harbingers of economic doom. In London, the Tube is operating at 25% of normal capacity, the buses at 52%. The economy suffered its biggest slump on record between April and June, shrinking 20.4% compared with the first quarter of 2020. Getting kids back into school after the summer break will be critical to getting their parents back in the office. Its impossible for both mum and dad to head off for the daily commute if theyre home-educating. Ministers have observed that many European countries have already reopened their classrooms. Sweden never closed them, and it has seen no upsurge in Covid cases among pupils or staff. British schools were open to very few key workers during the summer term, and to a few lucky age groups at the end of the school year. Mothers are often taking the home-schooling strain. No surprises there, but the damage to the economy is evident. The government is partly to blame. It was too successful in stoking parents fears when the schools were closed during the lockdown. The slogan stay home to save lives has lingered in minds even as more relaxed social distancing appears effective. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson seemed too frightened to challenge the resistance of teaching unions to reopening. Story continues And this isnt just about economics: There are even more compelling reasons to get kids back at their desks. A recent study from Edinburgh and Glasgow universities found 28% of children felt lonely during the lockdown, deprived of friends and structure to their lives. Without the resumption of formal education, a generation of children is likely to have its employment and earnings prospects blighted. The poorest and most socially disadvantaged will suffer most. Just look at the governments hapless attempt to devise a fair system for this years A-level results, which determine university entrance. Despite attempts to provide online education for all pupils during the last school term, an Institute of Education poll has found that 20% of pupils did less than an hour of study a day or no homework at all. Johnson warned last weekend that keeping schools closed a moment longer than is absolutely necessary is socially intolerable, economically unsustainable and morally indefensible. The sentiments were impeccable, but the prime minister needs to go further and treat parents and teachers to an honest, adult discussion about trade-offs between health risks and the mental well-being and prospects of a generation of children. Ministers have hitherto hidden behind bluster and a partial, highly optimistic reading of scientific reports into Covid transmission among young people. Reopening schools does involve risk. Yes, fatalities among healthy children of primary school age are statistically non-existent. Yes, the likelihood of them becoming super-spreaders is negligible too. But the same study cited by ministers to prove minimal risk suggests that some secondary school children may contract the disease, even if theyre usually mild cases, and could pass it to adults. It would have been better to admit that in the first place. Among civil servants and ministers, there are also fears that September may bring an upsurge in infections anyway. Later in the year, an influenza outbreak could coincide with a new Covid spike and lead to a second disastrous closure of schools. So, reasonable precautions must be taken. One sensible suggestion is for phased schooldays to limit the number of pupils on premises. The government policy to immunize everyone above the age of 50 and under 15 from the flu is also wise. Although ministers have oversold their program to track and trace the infected, it has improved and can now compare to the offerings of other European countries. Rigorous testing of teachers and pupils must be applied. Dividing children into separate year groups, or bubbles, will help. The Childrens Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, declared last week that schools should be the first to reopen and the last to close as classrooms are more important than restaurants and bars. Shes right, but the teaching unions continue to obstruct. The National Education Union has compiled a workplace checklist of 200 demands that must be met before a school should reopen. These include making sure all trashcans have lids and that garbage is double bagged. There are also requests for additional support for the well-being of staff suffering from workload concern. Teachers genuine worries have to be taken into account but competing militant union leaders have outdone each other in nitpicking and foot-dragging. A resurgent Labour opposition, hitherto a constructive critic of the government, has also been carping unhelpfully from the sidelines. Parties of the center left tend to rely on teaching unions for funds and activists. See how Joe Biden has surrendered to lobbying by these groups. There are genuine complaints to be made about ministerial incompetence, especially around the examination system. But Britain needs in the words of the Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields song to pick itself up, dust itself down and start all over again. This is about the future of millions of children, for whom education is not just a homework chore but the deciding factor in how their lives will pan out, long after Covid-19 is history. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Martin Ivens was editor of the Sunday Times from 2013 to 2020 and was formerly its chief political commentator. He is a director of the Times Newspapers board. 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. - Nasty C has revealed why he does not rap in Zulu in any of his songs - He kept Zulu off his albums in order to make his music more international - He also said that he has no intention to start any beef with A Reece and that he actually doesn't care about how if album release affects A Reece PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Nasty C has come under fire from some of his Zulu fans who want to know what the famous South African rapper does not have any verses in his own tongue. Coming from KwaZulu-Natal, Nasty C has been criticised for rapping mostly in English and his Zulu fans see it as a sign of disrespect that the doesn't embrace his culture more. However, Nasty C has his own reasons for not rapping in Zulu. "I want the world to know theres more than just Afrobeats in Africa. Even my Zulu verses, I kept them for my album. Everyone had been saying you from Durban, why do you never rap in Zulu?" he argued. Some people believe that he is on a collision course with A Reece by rushing his album out, Nasty C said that he simply does not care. READ ALSO: Somizi Mhlongo selflessly helps fan out with a few suits and shoes "I didnt even know he dropped that (teaser). I didnt know. I am not out here keeping tabs on other artists. But I know social media is like that. They are bored at home at the moment and nothing is going on in their lives, so they just want to see something happen. They just want to be entertained, but I am not worried about that kind of stuff. Each to his own, say what you want, I dont care really," he said. Nasty C is not bothered by the social media buzz claiming he is starting beef with A Reece. Photo credit: Facebook/@Nasty C SA Source: Facebook Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Cassper Nyovest recently couldn't help but agree when a fan pointed out that he had been a huge inspiration to A-Reece and Nasty C. The fan remembered that A-Reece had previously written a song all about Mufasa. The fan wrote, "Both Nasty and Reece inspired by Cass." Another fan said, "Reece has a whole song about Cassper." Cassper reserved his comment, but he retweeted both tweets meaning he definitely agrees. READ ALSO: The Khunes: 5 times Itu & Sphelele served up major relationship goals In other news, Nasty C has shared that a song produced by No I.D. will no longer be featured on his album, Zulu Man With Some Power. No I.D. is a famed American producer who has worked with the likes of Jay Z. Nasty does have other international collaborations on the album, including one with T.I. The song Nasty and T.I did together is called They Will and it has already been released. Speaking to Okay Africa Publication, 23 year-old Nasty confirmed that he and No I.D. worked on a song which wasnt selected for the album. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly News Dublin, Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Electronic Toll Collection Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Technology (RFID, DSRC, ANPR/ALPR, and Satellite-Based), Offering (Hardware, and Back Office and Other Services), Application, Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The electronic toll collection market was valued at USD 8.1 billion in 2019, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2020 to 2025 to reach USD 10 billion by 2025. The electronic toll collection market in APAC is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea are major contributors to the growth of the electronic toll collection market in APAC. The growth prospective of the electronic toll collection market in APAC is promising with a steady growth rate in the near future. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the market in APAC, however, a steady recovery by 2021 is expected with the significant infrastructural investments and government support. The major restraints for the growth of the market are implementation constraints in emergent nations. Issues related to interoperability and common standards act as major challenges for the growth of the market. The transponder-/tag-based tolling segment projected to hold a larger share of the electronic toll collection market during the forecast period. TransCore (US), Q-Free (Norway), and Star Systems International (Hong Kong) are the major companies that offer transponders for electronic tolling systems. TransCore (US) offers RFID transponders and readers, which are widely used in toll operations across the US. Interoperable multi-protocol transponders provided by the company use existing toll infrastructure, thereby eliminating risky and costly modifications for tolling agencies. Among applications, the highways segment to grow at a higher CAGR between 2020 and 2025. The electronic toll collection market is significantly driven by its adoption mainly in developing countries. Government initiatives to promote faster payments of toll fees through a digital mode and decongest highways would generate immense growth opportunities for the ETC market. For instance, in December 2019, the National Highways Authority of India initiated electronic toll collection at national highways through FASTag, an RFID tag. Many interurban toll highways, including Highway 6 (Israel) and Northern Gateway Toll Road (New Zealand), all over the world use DSRC-based ETC systems. RFID technology to hold the largest share of the electronic toll collection market during the forecast period. RFID technology utilizes its radio-frequency electromagnetic fields for the identification of objects that carry RFID tags. This technology is used in electronic identification, tracking, and storing information contained on the tag. Two-way radio transmitters/receivers called interrogators or readers send a signal to the tag and read its response. RFID readers scan the tag and then send that information to the database for storing. RFID is a prominent technology used in ETC systems owing to its low operational cost. North America projected to hold the largest share of the electronic toll collection market in 2025. North America is expected to continue to lead the electronic toll collection market by capturing the largest market size throughout the forecast period. The US and Canada are the key countries in North America with most vehicles per person, which is one of the most contributing factors to the growth of the electronic toll collection market. Additionally, both the countries have the largest networks of interstate and state highways wherein advanced toll collection systems are installed at many locations, and several toll installation projects are in progress for lanes with high traffic. Leading companies such as TransCore (US), Raytheon (US), and Conduent (US) in the electronic toll collection market have their base in North America while having operations in countries across the world. They contribute significantly to the growth of the electronic toll collection market in the region. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Electronic Toll Collection Market 4.2 Electronic Toll Collection Market in North America, by Technology and Offering 4.3 Electronic Toll Collection Market, by Application 4.4 Country-Wise Electronic Toll Collection Market Growth Rate 5 Market Overview 5.1 Market Dynamics 5.1.1 Drivers 5.1.1.1 Effective Solution to Reduce Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Environmental Pollution 5.1.1.2 Strong Government Support to Accelerate Electronic Toll Collection 5.1.1.3 Greater Convenience and Flexibility of Cashless Payments 5.1.1.4 Increased Use of Advanced Digital Technologies in Transportation Infrastructure 5.1.2 Restraints 5.1.2.1 Implementation Constraints in Emergent Nations 5.1.3 Opportunities 5.1.3.1 Growing Utilization of Blockchain Technology in Toll Collection Systems 5.1.3.2 Rising Number of Public-Private Partnership Agreements in Transportation Sector 5.1.3.3 Increasing Transition to All-Electronic Tolling Systems from Manual or Coin-Based Tolling Systems 5.1.4 Challenges 5.1.4.1 Issues Related to Interoperability, Common Standards, As Well As Selection of Toll Technology 6 Industry Trends 6.1 Value Chain Analysis 6.2 Case Study Analysis 6.2.1 Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Massdot) 6.2.2 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and National Highways Authority of India 6.2.3 Promotora Y Operadora De Infraestructura (Pinfra) 6.2.4 Government of Brazil 6.3 Region-Wise Recent Developments in Electronic Toll Collection Market 6.4 Toll Payment Methods 6.4.1 Introduction 6.4.2 Prepaid Toll Payments 6.4.3 Post-Paid Toll Payments 6.4.4 Prepaid/Post-Paid Combination 6.5 Parameters for Charging Toll Amount 6.5.1 Introduction 6.5.2 Distance Based 6.5.3 Point Based 6.5.4 Time Based 6.5.5 Perimeter Based 6.6 Covid-19 Overview 6.6.1 Overview and Statistics 7 Electronic Toll Collection Market, by Type 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Transponder-/Tag-Based Tolling Systems 7.3 Other Tolling Systems 7.4 Impact of Covid-19 on Types of Tolling Systems 8 Electronic Toll Collection Market, by Technology 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) 8.2.1 RFID Remains Largely Adopted Technology in Global Electronic Toll Collection Market 8.3 Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) 8.3.1 High Adoption of DSRC Technology-Based ETC Systems in Europe Boosts Market Growth 8.4 Other Technologies 8.4.1 Booming Trend of Gnss-/Gps-Enabled Electronic Toll Collection Techniques to Propel Market Growth 8.5 Impact of Covid-19 on Technologies of Tolling Systems 9 Electronic Toll Collection Market, by Offering 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Hardware 9.2.1 High Adoption of Advanced Tolling Systems to Boost Demand for Hardware Offerings 9.3 Back Office and Other Services 9.3.1 Increased Requirement to Process High Volume of Transactions Creating Demand for Back Office and Other Services 9.4 Impact of Covid-19 on Hardware and Service Offerings Related to Tolling Systems 10 Electronic Toll Collection Market, by Application 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Highways 10.2.1 Governments Plans to Promote Faster Digital Payments at Toll Plazas Accelerate Demand for ETC Systems on Highways 10.3 Urban Areas 10.3.1 Deployment of ETC Solutions to Ensure Congestion-Free Traffic Flow in Urban Areas Propels Market Growth 10.4 Impact of Covid-19 on Applications 11 Geographical Analysis 11.1 Introduction 11.2 North America 11.2.1 Impact of Covid-19 on Electronic Toll Collection Market in North America 11.2.2 US 11.2.2.1 US to Continue to Dominate Electronic Toll Collection Market in North America Throughout Forecast Period 11.2.3 Canada 11.2.3.1 Canada to Exhibit Implementation of ETC Systems on Major Highways and Bridges Connecting Cities 11.2.4 Mexico 11.2.4.1 Mexico to Carry Out Highway Development Projects to Connect Neighboring Countries Propelling Market Growth 11.3 Europe 11.3.1 Impact of Covid-19 on Electronic Toll Collection Market in Europe 11.3.2 Eu5 11.3.2.1 Collaborations Between Automotive Companies and Technology Providers Fuel Market Growth 11.3.3 Western Europe 11.3.3.1 New Installations and Modification of Electronic Toll Systems in Western Europe Foster Market Growth 11.3.4 Rest of Europe 11.4 APAC 11.4.1 Impact of Covid-19 on Electronic Toll Collection Market in APAC 11.4.2 China 11.4.2.1 China to Hold Prominent Share of Electronic Toll Collection Market in APAC in 2025 11.4.3 Japan 11.4.3.1 Technologically Equipped Ecosystem Offers Potential Growth Opportunities for ETC Market 11.4.4 South Korea 11.4.4.1 Major Developments Such As Hi-Pass Cards Foster South Korean Market Growth 11.4.5 Rest of APAC 11.5 Row 11.5.1 Impact of Covid-19 on Electronic Toll Collection Market in Row 11.5.2 Middle East and Africa 11.5.2.1 need to Streamline Traffic Flow on Highways and Urban Roads Propel Growth of ETC Market 11.5.3 South America 11.5.3.1 Developing Economies and Wide Network of Highways Creating High-Growth Opportunities for South America ETC Market 12 Competitive Landscape 12.1 Overview 12.2 Market Ranking Analysis (2019) 12.3 Competitive Scenario and Trends 12.4 Recent Developments (Top 5 Players) 12.4.1 Product Launches 12.4.2 Partnerships/Agreements/Contracts 12.4.3 Acquisitions 12.5 Competitive Leadership Mapping, 2019 12.5.1 Visionary Leaders 12.5.2 Dynamic Differentiators 12.5.3 Innovators 12.5.4 Emerging Companies 13 Company Profiles 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Key Players 13.2.1 Kapsch Trafficcom 13.2.2 Conduent Business Services, Llc 13.2.3 Efkon Gmbh 13.2.4 Transcore 13.2.5 Thales Group 13.2.6 Raytheon Technologies Corporation 13.2.7 Cubic Corporation 13.2.8 Siemens 13.2.9 Neology, Inc. 13.2.10 Feig Electronics 13.2.11 Vinci 13.3 Other Important Players 13.3.1 Toshiba 13.3.2 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. 13.3.3 Abertis 13.3.4 Q-Free 13.3.5 Quarterhill Inc. (International Road Dynamics Inc.) 13.3.6 Tecsidel, S.A. 13.3.7 Perceptics, Llc. 13.3.8 Star Systems International 13.3.9 G.E.A. 13.3.10 Electronic Transaction Consultants (Etc) Corporation 13.3.11 ARH Inc. 13.3.12 Sociedad Ibrica De Construcciones Elctricas, S.A. (Sice) 13.3.13 Autostrade Per L'italia Spa (Atlantia) 13.3.14 Jenoptik 13.3.15 Norbit 13.4 Key Innovators 13.4.1 Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co. (Fetc) 13.4.2 Toll Collect Gmbh 13.4.3 Geotoll 13.4.4 Indra Sistemas, S.A. 13.4.5 Kistler Group 13.4.6 American Traffic Solutions 14 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/unatky Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_59d.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_59d .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_59d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_59d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_59d.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The claim: President Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump donated money to past Kamala Harris campaigns. Harris donated that money. Since presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Bidens announcement of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, claims have abounded regarding her presidential eligibility and alleged quotes. Another claim asserts President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka, while private citizens, donated to Kamala Harris past attorney general campaigns. Red, bold words read Fun Fact at the top of a meme that asserts a grand total of $6,000 was given by the president and his daughter, who serves as a presidential adviser. Then, Kamala refused to spend the Trumps money, and instead donated it to a nonprofit that helps Hispanics and immigrants, the meme, which has received over 2,800 likes on Instagram, goes on to say. USA TODAY is awaiting comment from the Instagram user who posted the meme. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_335.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_335 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_335.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_335.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_335.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Fact check: Claims about Kamala Harris comments on radio program inaccurate, lack context Donating as private citizens Harris served as Californias attorney general from 2011-2017, when she was elected to the Senate. While Donald Trump has a history of derisive comments about Harris since taking office, political contribution data, reviewed by USA TODAY on the California Secretary of State website, show he gave $5,000 to Harris during her first bid for California attorney general in 2011 and $1,000 in 2013 during her reelection. Ivanka Trump contributed $2,000 in 2014 for Harris reelection campaign. Donald Trump declared his candidacy for president in June 2015. A spokesman for Harris stated she did not keep the 2011 and 2013 contributions, according to an interview with the Sacramento Bee, which is owned by McClatchy. Harris campaign spokesman Ian Sams told McClatchy that Harris donated the $6,000 Trump had contributed to a nonprofit that advocates for civil and human rights for Central Americans, wrote reporter Emily Cadei. But that donation wasnt made until 2015, a year after she won her reelection for attorney general and as she was launching her run for the Senate. Fact check: Kamala Harris quote about vengeance is fake, created by satire website In this Oct. 2, 2019, file photo, then -Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listens during a gun safety forum in Las Vegas. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden has chosen Harris as his running mate. In an affidavit obtained by Fox News during its investigation, the $5,000 donation was made at the behest of then-New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat. It is unclear whether the 2014 donation from Ivanka Trump similarly was donated or used for Harris attorney general campaign. The Washington Examiner, which, in addition to Fox News, brought the donations to light last year, also expressed uncertainty. USA TODAY has reached out to the Biden-Harris campaign for clarification but has not received a response. Fact check: Kamala Harris is a natural-born U.S. citizen and eligible to serve as president Our ruling: True We rate this claim as TRUE, based on our research. President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump donated to Kamala Harris campaigns for California attorney general , which she instead donated to a nonprofit. While the $6,000, as the meme suggests, was donated, Trump and Ivanka actually donated a total of $8,000 to Harris. It is unclear whether Harris returned Ivanka Trumps contribution or similarly donated it. The donations to Harris campaigns were given prior to Trumps 2016 election. 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: Donald Trump did donate to Kamala Harris past campaigns /* custom css */ .tdi_76_a47.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_76_a47 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_76_a47.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_76_a47.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_76_a47.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } A man who had no insurance drove to a local shop to get a bag of coal and was detected by the gardai. Jimmy Waldron, Palm Grove House, Cortober, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Roscommon, pleaded guilty at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court to having no insurance on June 8, 2019 at Station Road, Cortober, Carrick-on-Shannon. The 36-year-old father of three was detected driving without insurance after he had driven 300 metres up the road to get a bag of coal. The court heard he had a previous conviction from Carrick-on-Shannon District Court from April 2019 when he was disqualified for six months and ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service in lieu of five months in prison. He also has previous convictions dating back to 2010 and 2011 for drunk driving. Robert Lowe BL, stated Mr Waldron was apologetic and has three young children, one of whom travels to the UK regularly for treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta. Judge Kevin Kilrane noted the defendant was driving again on June 8, in effect, while on a suspended sentence. Mr Waldron said it was a cold and wet day and the house was cold and he took a chance to get a bag of coal from the shop. Judge Kilrane said it was the month of June, not the depths of winter. He questioned why he should not go to prison and said he has been given several chances and not taken them. Mr Waldron said he has over half of his community service completed and is going back to the start and is getting driving lessons so he can get his licence. His record is shocking. You may forget about your full test, that's the least of your worries, the judge said and adjourned the case until October 27 for a general probation report. The United States has signed a deal to sell 66 of the latest model F-16 jets to Taiwan amid the ongoing tensions between the Washington and Beijing, The Hill reported. The F-16 jets have been built by Lockheed Martin Corp. The sale announced on Friday was first floated in 2019 and will reportedly be completed by the end of 2026. As part of the announcement, 90 jets will be sold to Taiwan. According to The Hill, the purchase marks the first time since 1992 that advanced fighter jets have been sold to the island and is likely to spark reproach from China, which has repeatedly warned ... Major Shweta Pandey, an officer of the Indian Army, will help Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurl the national flag this year during the Independence Day ceremony at Delhis Red Fort on Saturday. Maj Pandey is the first woman officer to carry the national flag and lead a first-ever tri-services Indian Armed Forces Contingent during Russias Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow in June this year. Last year, three women Indian Air Force (IAF) officers had assisted PM Modi during the Independence Day ceremony. Flying Officer Preetam Sangwan had assisted the Prime Minister in the unfurling of the national flag, while flight lieutenant Jyoti Yadav and flight lieutenant Mansi Geda were positioned on either side of the saluting dais. Here is more about the officer: * Maj Pandey was commissioned in the army in March 2012 from the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Tamil Nadus Chennai. * Pandey is an Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) officer at the Indian Armys 505 base workshop. * She won the Garhwal Rifles medal for topping in tactics in the academy. * She is posted with 505 Army Based Workshop (ABW) in Delhi Cantonment. * The officer is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) expert and has completed both basic CBRN and staff CBRN courses from the College Of Military Engineering (CME) in Maharashtras Pune. * Maj Shweta holds a degree in computer science and has done her advance course in radars. She has won more 75 medals and 250 certificates in various national and international events such as speeches, debates, extempores, etc in school and college. * She is an alumnus of the City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow. * Her father Raj Ratan Pandey served as an additional director (finance) in the Uttar Pradesh government and her mother Amita Pandey is a professor of Sanskrit and Hindi. MOSCOW After claiming for weeks that Russia was plotting to overthrow him, President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus appealed to the Kremlin on Saturday for help against a wave of protests and strikes triggered by police violence after a disputed presidential election. Lukashenko spoke by telephone with President Vladimir Putin, Belarus state news agency Belta reported, and secured a promise of Russian security assistance should Belarus request it. The agency quoted Lukashenko as saying that Putin had pledged that, if needed, comprehensive assistance will be provided to ensure the security of the Republic of Belarus. The Kremlins own account of the leaders conversation, however, gave no indication that Putin had offered any concrete support or even a clear endorsement of Lukashenkos staying in power. The Belarus news agency said Putin had offered help to ensure the security of Belarus in the event of external military threats, which suggested that any help from Russia might not include security assistance against domestic threats like protesters. In its own statement on the talks, the Kremlin said that Putin had agreed with the Belarusian leader on the need to strengthen allied relations and prevent destructive forces from using the political turmoil in Belarus to harm the mutually beneficial co-operation between the two countries. Putin and Lukashenko, the Kremlin said, expressed confidence that all existing problems will be settled soon. As recently as last month, Lukashenko was accusing Moscow of engineering plots to overthrow his government and even of sending mercenaries to Belarus to disrupt the presidential election, which was held last Sunday. But Lukashenko, facing the gravest crisis of his 26 years in power after claiming a landslide victory in what Western governments and many Belarusians dismissed as a rigged election, now seems to have calculated that Russia offers the best hope for his survival. The European Union, outraged by a violent crackdown on protesters by Lukashenkos security forces, said Friday that it was preparing to impose new sanctions on Belarus, while the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania called on the country to conduct new free and fair elections. Lukashenko, who has often been called Europes last dictator, has danced between Russia and the West for decades, playing each off against the other as he struggled to keep his countrys decaying economy afloat and stay in power. In Minsk, the Belarusian capital, thousands of people brought flowers to the Pushkinskaya metro station to a makeshift memorial for Aleksandr Taraikovsky, a protester who died there during some of the heaviest clashes with the police earlier in the week. The protesters were peaceful, and there were no police officers at the site. But Lukashenko, speaking to officials in Minsk, warned that his government would not be lulled to sleep by peaceful protests, saying that it was under attack from internal and external foes who were spreading fake stories about his actions and the true scale of the protest movement. Belarusian state television, which has either ignored the protests or painted them as a foreign-born plot, became a focal point for protesters later Saturday. More than 1,000 people massed outside its Minsk offices, shouting We want the truth! and demanding fair coverage. Over the past three days, protesters and riot police officers have refrained from confronting each other, retreating from the violent clashes seen earlier in the week. He gave an order to allow us to get out and chant a bit, said Vitaly Karazhan, 33, referring to Lukashenko. At one point, he will have the riot police out again, he doesnt want to give up power and there is no other way for him but the bloody one. Karazhan, who works as a medical equipment engineer, said he feared that Lukashenko might ask the Kremlin to send reinforcements to support his own stretched and exhausted riot police squads. If it wasnt for Putin, he would have fled the country already, Karazhan said in an interview. Factories are on strike where is he going to get the money to feed his security apparatus? Karazhans sentiment was shared by other protesters, who said they were wary of Russian interference. A poster at the Pushkinskaya station read: We can sort this out without Putin. The Kremlin said that Belarus on Friday had released 32 Russian citizens who were arrested in late July when Lukashenkos security services claimed they had foiled a Russian plot to disrupt the presidential election with a mercenary force of around 200 fighters. The Russians release, the Kremlin said Saturday, showed that the two countries relevant departments code for security and intelligence agencies were now engaged in close co-operation. Lukashenko, signalling an abrupt tilt back toward Russia, told his officials in Minsk that he needed to speak with Putin because his countrys tumult was no longer just a threat to Belarus but endangered both countries. Lukashenko, in what seemed like an effort to blur his domestic troubles with alleged threats from outside, had said earlier that he was worried by NATO military exercises involving Poland and Lithuania, Western neighbours that have denounced his election victory as fraudulent. He said that there had been an escalation and buildup of the armed component by NATO along Belarus border that our military is worried about. He also accused protesters of following the playbook for a colour revolution, a reference to past popular uprisings cheered on by the West in Ukraine, Georgia and other former Soviet lands, and alleged that elements of external interference have already appeared. By casting his opponents as Western-backed agents of a would-be colour revolution, Lukashenko played into a conspiracy theory long embraced by the Kremlin that unrest in former Soviet territory is never really caused by locals but is always the result of machinations by Western intelligence agencies. The defence of Belarus today is no less than the defence of our entire space, Lukashenko said, referring to the so-called Union State, a loose confederation comprising Russia and Belarus that was announced in the late 1990s but has never been fully implemented. Lukashenko has in the past pushed hard to obtain cheap energy from Putin. Putin has in turn used Belarus dependence on Russian oil and gas to revive the moribund plan to unite the two countries. Lukashenkos turn to Russia for help Saturday, his latest pirouette in a dance that has been repeated time and again since he came to power in 1994, suggested that the Belarus leader has run out of new ideas for staying in control. When protesters took to the streets after the election, the security forces responded with shocking brutality, aggressively beating demonstrators, even after they fell to the ground, and using rubber bullets, tear gas and, in at least one confrontation, live bullets. The police violence, however, backfired, outraging even parts of Lukashenkos base. Strikes by workers in dozens of state-owned factories gained steam Friday and indicated that opposition to the president had spread far beyond Western-leaning youths in Minsk and reached deep into what had been the bedrock of Lukashenkos support. Read more about: As of the end of 2019, the capitalization value of the securities market at HCM City Stock Exchange (HOSE) had reached 3.28 million of billion of VND, or 54.3 percent of GDP with 2.3 million investors accounts. According to HOSE, by the end of 2000, or five months after the stock exchange became operational, there were less than 3,000 accounts with total trading value of VND90 billion. By that time, foreign investors had not joined the Vietnamese stock market. The market witnessed transactions by the first foreign investor on April 2, 2001, an investor with British nationality, who bought 100 TMS shares. In early July 2003, VFM, the first fund management company, was established, becoming the first professional institutional investor in the market. After five years of building the platform, by the end of 2004, the basic goods of the market were available at HOSE, from shares and bonds to investment fund certificates. As of the end of 2019, the capitalization value of the securities market at the HCM City Stock Exchange (HOSE) had reached 3.28 million of billion of dong, or 54.3 percent of GDP with 2.3 million investors accounts. During that period, the total number of investors transaction accounts soared by 10 times. However, the figure was very modest, just equal to 0.3 percent of the Vietnamese population. Only when businesses rushed to list their shares at HOSE and the then US President George W. Bush visited HOSE in late 2006 did the stock market become familiar to Vietnamese people. Just within two years, 2006-2007, the number of investors accounts soared from 31,316 to 349,402, a record high growth rate of 230 percent per annum. The number of securities companies and the intermediary finance organizations also soared from 13 in 2005 to 62 in 2007 and then to 91 in 2008. Together with the increase in the number of accounts, the trading volume and trading value also increased sharply in 2016 by 217 percent and 223 percent, respectively, compared with one year before. Foreign investors also showed bigger interest in the Vietnamese stock market with the number of their transaction accounts rising from 436 in 2005 to 2,100 in 2006 (382 percent), and to 8,441 in 2007 (302 percent). The proportion of foreign investors trading value in the total trading value of the whole market increased from 11 percent in 2005 to 15 percent in 2006, 22.37 percent in 2008 and 24.7 percent. Later, because of the global economic recession, the increase of number of foreign investors slowed down. In 2011-2015, the number of investors accounts increased by 7.5 percent per annum, reaching 1.5 million by the end of 2015. The figure increased sharply in 2015-2019 by 10 percent per annum, while the number of foreign investors increased by 15 percent after the government released Decree 60 and Circular 123, offering higher foreign ceiling ownership ratios in Vietnamese enterprises. Translated by Kim Chi Public investment to foster VN's growth, heat up local stock market Public investment is expected to be one of the major driving forces for economic development in the second half of the year. Securities investors have been advised to buy building-material manufacturing shares. A Drogheda-based group has appealed for the Metrolink line to Swords to link up with the Northern Line rail route to open up access to Dublin Airport and the city to whole of the North East. Responding to the recent announcement that a new LUAS line is proposed to link Finglas with the wider Dublin City LUAS network, the Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) have called on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to review the planned Metrolink line with a view to making a short extension to connect the service with the Northern Railway line. Chairperson of the group, Anna McKenna said: 'It is not too long ago that a short-sighted decision failed to plan to connect the original two LUAS lines. 'That was eventually resolved, but at a very significant additional cost for taxpayers. 'Let's not do the same with Metrolink - now is the time to include a much needed rail link to the airport and beyond that would facilitate communities from North County Dublin; through coastal East Meath; the emerging city of Drogheda and onwards to Belfast and hinterland.' Ms McKenna added: 'Linking Metrolink to the Northern Railway line would provide visitors arriving at the airport with a comfortable, convenient and seamless rail service to places like Drogheda and the Boyne Valley and all the way up to Belfast. 'For those in our communities and businesses in the North East and Northern Ireland, it would also provide a fast and reliable direct service from all stations on the Northern Commuter Line to Dublin Airport. 'Major provincial centres see Dublin suck business and jobs away from places like Drogheda.' She added: 'Providing better public transport links helps 'level the playing field,' especially when it comes to Foreign Direct Investment and Tourism - and Drogheda has been Ireland's 'Cinderella City' for too long. 'While the Financial Times has designated it as one of Europe's emerging cities, the IDA; National and Local Government have ignored the need to create much needed local employment here. For that reason, we have begun to spearhead a 'Plan for Local Jobs for the Greater Drogheda Area' initiative and linking Metrolink with the Northern Commuter Railway line is one of the key enablers for this plan. 'We are encouraging individuals, community and business organisations in Drogheda, South Louth and East Meath to submit their ideas for inclusion in the plan by emailing us at droghedacitynow@gmail.com,' The FDAs Do Not Use hand sanitizer list, once a roll call of Mexican-made hand sanitizers with methanol, now includes hand sanitizers from China, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and Utah. And methanols been joined by 1-propanol as a prohibited toxic ingredient. The National Center for Biotechnology Information said 1-propanol is used as a solvent in the pharmaceutical industry, and for resins and cellulose esters. As for the FDA, it said, 1-propanol, not to be confused with 2-propanol/isopropanol/isopropyl alcohol, is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizer products marketed in the United States and can be toxic and life-threatening when ingested. Thats also a threat with methanol, also known as wood alcohol. One difference seems to be that the FDA warns methanol can be toxic when absorbed into the skin, making it dangerous to people using hand sanitizer as its designed. The latest additions to the FDAs Do Not Use List (in alphabetical order of manufacturer): The FDA found methanol in Grupo Plast Y Kosas Ms Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Antiseptic topical solution 80% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer. Jalisco Paper Inc Restaurant Supplies Hand Sanitizer made the list by association, as its believed to be made in the same facility. Alcohol Antiseptic 75% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer by Mexican company Harmonic Nature tested as having 1-propanol. North Carolina company Open Book Extracts Always Be Clean Hand Sanitizer and Just Hand Sanitizer Single Use Packs are labeled as having methanol. Plastico Las Palmas SA made BV BYE Virus 99 and In Good Hands Hand Sanitizer Gel. The FDA found methanol in the former and believes the latter is made at the same facility. So, both go on the list, although neither has shown up on the U.S. market. Precision Analitica Integrals CleanCare Nogerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer failed FDA testing by having methanol but was subpotent in ethanol alcohol. Santa Cruz Biotechnology out of Texas recalled lot No. BF12530 of UltraCruz Hand Sanitizing Gel Antimicrobial because it was too weak in ethanol alcohol. Story continues Georgia company SG24LLCs SkinGuard 24 All-Day Hand Sanitizer says it has methanol on its label. Utah company Volu-Sols Volu-Sol Handrub Sanitizing Solution, also is labeled to contain methanol, the FDA said. Yangzhou Olande Cosmetic Co. Ltd out of China made Leafree Instant Hand Sanitizer, which the FDA says is labeled to be edible alcohol. It got put on the import block list Tuesday. Salmonella in shrimp ignites a recall at Costco, Fresh Market, BJs Wholesale and others The latest onion recalls (Costco, Trader Joes among them) in the salmonella outbreak The line of vehicles wrapped around Edgewood ISDs offices and down West Commerce Street. As the Wednesday morning sun grew stronger, the line stretched a bit longer. Families had come to district headquarters on the citys far West Side, as they have for months now, for food. Dried beans, onion, carrots, apples, a cantaloupe. Leticia Medina, who had walked to the distribution and whose 13-year-old son attends Wrenn Middle School, told me: I am down to the last meal. For months now, Edgewood ISD has offered these weekly food drives, and demand has steadily risen from 700 food boxes a week to closer to 1,500 food boxes. Maybe one day these food boxes will include meat and dairy, Edgewood ISD Police Chief Jesse Quiroga told me as officers prepared the boxes for distribution. You use the word poor or poverty, but you dont really understand it until you go into our communitys homes, he said. Food distributions have been a steady drumbeat throughout the pandemic a living, breathing symbol of economic vulnerability. But the weekly distribution at Edgewood is more than a reflection of poverty and hardship. It is a window into how failed policies narrow and confine lives and a starting point for thinking about how we make up for lost time and opportunity going forward. Failure has taken many forms this pandemic. In rushing to reopen the economy this spring, state leaders failed to control the spread of COVID-19 this summer. We have failed teachers, students, parents and grandparents in ensuring school campuses are safe from COVID-19 this fall. Before the pandemic, we failed to ensure internet access for all. Congress has failed to sustain the unemployed with supplemental benefits. Its all manifest in Edgewood, where Monica Solis, a single mother of three girls, turned to the food distribution line. She said she lost her job as an in-home care provider in April, and then lost supplemental unemployment benefits in July as Congress dithered. With three kids who cant attend school in person and shes fine with that since its not safe to go back she cant look for a job. And without supplemental unemployment, money is tight. Its a little tough at home, she said. With hundreds of daily COVID-19 cases being reported in San Antonio, Edgewood ISD has wisely opted for a digital start to the school year. Its providing a device for every student and Solis and Medina have checked out laptops for their kids from the district. But the catch is connecting to the internet. Only about 37 percent of households in the 78237 ZIP code, home to Edgewood ISDs headquarters, have broadband connections, according to data from CI:Now, a nonprofit in partnership with the UTHealth School of Public Health in San Antonio. How do we connect to students in every household? Edgewood ISD Superintendent Eduardo Hernandez said during a recent meeting with the Express-News Editorial Board. On ExpressNews.com: Options for starting school year range from bad to awful for San Antonio parents, educators Its proving tricky. And in a district where every student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, how are those basic needs going to be met with kids off campus? Its the living conditions that are a challenge for districts like mine before I can get to the academic pieces, Hernandez said. This is the education gap so pronounced by COVID-19. Wealthier families can form learning pods and hire teachers and tutors. Wealthy parents can work from home, buy laptops for their kids and never worry about food or internet access. But how is a student going to learn at home if food is scarce and there is no steady internet connection? We have failed all students in this moment, but especially those in districts like Edgewood. Much of our collective school conversation has been about when and how students will return to campus even though we havent made the sacrifices to make much of this safe. On ExpressNews.com: Unlike most San Antonio-area school districts, Boerne ISD classrooms are now open While this return-to-school discussion is important, a deeper discussion prioritizes safety first and then focuses on how we will make up for lost time and opportunity over the next 12 years. We owe every student trapped in this moment, but especially those on the wrong end of our digital and economic divides, every possible chance to make up for the time and experiences we have squandered. School is more than child care. Perhaps that happens by making future school years longer, or through state funding for innovative district-led camps. Perhaps the digital models developed now can be deployed to supplement traditional schooling in the future and Saturday tutoring on campus will become a staple. How do we bring equity to districts like Edgewood where a weekly food distribution line is a measure of our policy failures? How do we open opportunity rather than narrow it? jbrodesky@express-news.net New Delhi: The Centre has decided to withdraw the NSG cover of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and include incumbent Sarbananda Sonowal in the category. Gogoi alleged it was a "political" decision as he often criticises the Narendra Modi government for its "anti-people policies". The decision to withdraw NSG security cover to Gogoi was taken after a review meeting held on Wednesday, official sources said. The NSG has informed Gogoi about the decision and the state government will be communicated in due course of time, the sources said. They said the NSG cover was meant for the chief minister of the sensitive northeastern state and since Gogoi lost power, it would be extended to the incumbent in view of the threat perception. Assam Police will be asked to look after Gogoi's security as per requirement, the sources said, adding the veteran Congress leader will no longer be on the central list of protectees. The NSG is, however, yet to take over the security of Sonowal. "Last night I received a communication from the Union home ministry about withdrawal of National Security Guards personnel. No reason was mentioned. The letter was forwarded to me by the chief minister's office," Gogoi told PTI in Guwahati. He said when he contacted the DGP and the additional DGP (Special Branch), they were not aware of the development. "As per rule, a feedback goes from the state government. But the government is saying it does not know. How can it be possible that the intimation was forwarded by the CM Office and nobody knows about it?" Gogoi asked. He, however, said the commandos were still with him as they have not got any further orders. "I have never seen in my life that security cover was withdrawn from a former chief minister within just six months of demitting office. "I am constantly criticising the anti-people policies of the Modi government and the BJP-led government in the state. That is the only reason for withdrawing my security. Except politics, I don't see anything," he said. He cited example of another former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who also enjoys security by NSG personnel. "I was CM for 15 years and the UPA was in power for 10 years. We never did this to Prafulla Mahanta and he still enjoys the NSG security... Everybody knows how I controlled insurgency or jehadi problems in the state. How is it that till yesterday, I had threat and today not?" Gogoi said. Asked if he will appeal for a review, he said he will take a decision in a day or two. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bob Hawke's daughter Rosslyn Dillon wanted $4.2million from her father's estate, including $2.5million to buy a house in Sydney Bob Hawke's youngest daughter is still living in a vermin-plagued flat three months after settling a claim against the long-serving Labor prime minister's multi-million dollar estate. Rosslyn Dillon had wanted $2.5million to buy herself a house in Sydney's eastern suburbs so she could move out of her current one-bedroom flat. Ms Dillon described that unit, which is a 20-minute drive from the city, as infested with cockroaches and in need of repair. The 59-year-old is on a pension and one of her two sons helps pay the $500 weekly rent. Ms Dillon claimed the $750,000 her famous father left each of his three children in his will was not enough money for her to live on. Her legal challenge, in which she wanted $4.2million to cover expenses for the rest of her lifetime, was settled out of court in May with the terms to remain confidential. When Daily Mail Australia spoke to a frail-looking Ms Dillon this week she was still living at the old rented address. Mr Hawke and his second wife Blanche d'Alpuget sold their five-storey waterfront home at Northbridge on Sydney's lower north shore for $9.2million, two months before he died there, aged 89, in May last year. Ms d'Alpuget, who received the bulk of Mr Hawke's estate, now lives in a city apartment in the luxury One30 Hyde Park complex on Elizabeth Street, bought off the plan for $3.36million in 2015. Scroll down for video Bob Hawke's youngest daughter Rosslyn Dillon is still living in a 'cockroach-infested' flat in a suburban block of units (pictured) three months after settling a $4.2million claim against the late prime minister's estate. Ms Dillon had wanted $2.5million to buy herself a house Mr Hawke and his second wife Blanche d'Alpuget sold their waterside home at Northbridge (pictured) on Sydney's lower north shore for $9.2million just months before his death aged 89 in May last year. Mr Hawke was Australia's longest-serving Labour prime minister Mr Hawke's daughter Rosslyn Dillon was demanding a $2.5million house in Sydney kitted out with $4,000 worth of towels in her lawsuit against his estate. Mr Hawke and Ms Dillon are pictured at the memorial service for Hazel Hawke, his former wife and her mother Ms Dillon, who has had a sometimes fractious relationship with her stepmother, believed she was entitled to $2.5million to buy her own house in one of Sydney's better suburbs. Her current home is on the top floor of a brick block of 12 apartments built in 1940. The flat, which last sold for $480,000 seven years ago, has views to Sydney Tower and is described as having a northerly sunny aspect. It has not been listed on the rental market since 2013 when it was leased for $450 a week. In Ms Dillon's claim for $2.5million to buy something more upmarket she had estimated she would need $60,000 to renovate the bathroom and kitchen. Her affidavit listed further projected expenses of $50,000 for furniture, $16,000 for household appliances, $4,000 for linen and towels, $3,100 for kitchen appliances and $5,500 for other kitchen items. She also wanted $6,000 for new clothes and shoes and $30,000 for a new set of teeth. Bob Hawke and his second wife Blanche d'Alpuget are pictured on one of the balconies of their Northbridge home on March 28 last year. Mr Hawke, who liked to smoke a cigar while he was doing the crossword, died in the house on May 16 Bob Hawke and Blanche d'Alpuget bought an apartment in the One30 Hyde Park building (pictured) in Sydney for 3.36million in November 2015. Ms d'Alpuget now lives there Pictured: The view from Ms d'Alpuget's apartment building. She has declined to comment on challenge to her late husband's will by his daughter Rosslyn Dillon. 'I'm not well at the moment, I'm being treated for cancer,' Ms d'Alpuget said. 'I'm just focusing on my health now' Resolving the case before it went to hearing avoided a costly and lengthy legal process which would have publicly aired the Hawke family's private business. Ms Dillon had also alleged in her affidavit she was raped by Victorian Labor MP Bill Landeryou in the 1980s and that Mr Hawke covered it up to protect his political career. Her claim was settled before it was due to be mentioned in the New South Wales Supreme Court on May 21 and final orders were made on May 26. Ms d'Alpuget was a defendant in the matter along with the executors of her late husband's will. The 76-year-old writer revealed in April she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Darlinghurst. She has previously declined to comment on the court case. 'I'm not well at the moment, I'm being treated for cancer,' Ms d'Alpuget told The Australian. 'I'm just focusing on my health now.' Ms Dillon's flat is on the top floor of a brick block of 12 apartments built in 1940. The flat, which last sold for $480,000 seven years ago, has views to Sydney Tower. It is pictured in 2013 Ms Dillon's flat has not been listed on the rental market since 2013 when it was leased for $450 a week. She says it is in need of repair and is infested with cockroaches. It is pictured in 2013 Ms Dillon has also not commented on the settlement and her lawyers have not returned repeated phone calls and emails. Her youngest son Paul politely declined on behalf of himself and his brother David to discuss the court case, while their father Matt Dillon told Daily Mail Australia: 'I have no interest in making any comment either now or in future.' Ms Dillon's affidavit, filed in the Supreme Court in December and obtained by The New Daily, revealed she was on welfare which did not even cover her rent. 'I receive the government support pension,' her affidavit stated. 'It is my only income. 'My current gross monthly income is $1,852.40. I struggle to meet my necessary day-to-day living expenses and live from fortnight to fortnight. 'The rent on my apartment is $500 a week. My son David pays the rent. He is on the lease as I am unable to secure or meet the cost of accommodation on my income.' Ms Dillon suffers from depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia, which can feature a fear of environments such as open spaces. Australia's longest-serving Labor prime minister left $750,000 each to his three children Sue Pieters-Hawke, Stephen Hawke and Rosslyn Dillon as well as his stepson Louis Pratt. Mr Pratt is the son of Mr Hawke's second wife Blanche d'Alpuget (pictured) She claimed the $750,000 set aside for her in Mr Hawke's will was not enough to buy a Sydney home and would slash the pension that was her only income. Ms Dillon's older siblings Sue and Stephen, both aged in their early 60s, were left the same amount as her, as was Ms d'Alpuget's son Louis Pratt. Ms d'Alpuget, who mentioned Sue but not Stephen or Rosslyn in a tribute at a public memorial for Mr Hawke in June last year, was left with everything else in the estate. An auction of Mr Hawke's personal belongings including sporting memorabilia and cigar-smoking paraphernalia raised a further $671,630 in August last year. Ms Dillon's affidavit cited Australian Bureau of Statistics figures to estimate she would live 27.6 more years and would therefore need $1.2million to cover her expenses. She had about $21,000 to her name including $6,000 cash and $14,000 in Ansett superannuation from working at a VIP airport lounge in Canberra in the 1980s. Ms d'Alpuget was dragged into legal action her stepdaughter Rosslyn Dillon took against her late husband Bob Hawke's multi-million dollar estate. The case was settled out of court in May. Ms d'Alpuget and Mr Hawke are pictured at the Sydney Opera House for his 80th birthday Ms Dillion wanted $30,000 for a full mouth of implanted dentures to replace the ones she has been wearing for the past five years. 'I have no teeth of my own in my mouth,' she said. Rosslyn Dillon's long list of demands House in Sydney's eastern suburbs: $2.5million Stamp duty: $123,090 Conveyancing fees: $2,000 Kitchen renovation: $30,000 Bathroom renovation: $30,000 Kitchen appliances: $3,100 Linen and towels: $4,000 Kitchen items: $5,500 Household appliances: $16,000 Furniture: $50,000 Dental implants: $30,000 Clothes and shoes: $6,000 Computer course: $1,030 Funeral, burial plot, headstone: $26,000 Advertisement 'I had them all removed around five years ago at a cost of $8,000. I do have dentures, however they are uncomfortable and cause me pain. I cannot afford to have them replaced.' Having made no plans for her funeral, she demanded a 'reasonably priced' $7,000 service, and a $14,400 burial plot at Eastern Suburbs Cemetery with a 'modest' $5,000 headstone or $4,400 memorial plaque. Ms Dillon has no computer or access to the internet but wanted $1,030 to attend a computer course, and for her new home to have a sewing machine. Her mother, Hazel Hawke, died eight years after Mr Hawke married Ms d'Alpuget, his biographer and long-time mistress. Ms d'Alpuget previously dismissed Ms Dillon's legal challenge as being fuelled by grief at her father's death. Mr Hawke's oldest offspring, Sue Pieters-Hawke, told The New Daily her family knew of the rape allegations against Bill Landeryou and that they had distressed their father. She insisted the family was supportive of Ms Dillon at the time but that it 'didn't involve using the legal system'. Ms Dillon alleged in the affidavit she was raped three times in the 1980s by Mr Landeryou, a close friend of Mr Hawke. But as she turned to her father for comfort, she said she was met with a 'shocking and hurtful' response as he pleaded with her to stay quiet. Ms Dillon said in her affidavit Mr Hawke feared the rape allegations could derail his political career when he was on the cusp of becoming Labor leader. The Hawke family is pictured during the 1987 election campaign. Daughter Sue is cradling her daughter Sophie, Mr Hawke's wife Hazel is next to him and daughter Rosslyn is next to her 'You can't go to the police,' she claimed her father told her. 'You can't. I can't have any controversies right now. I am sorry but I am challenging for the leadership of the Labor Party.' Ms Dillon said she was 'shocked and hurt that [my father] asked this of me'. As a result of this alleged pressure from Mr Hawke, who had an approval rating of 75 per cent as prime minister in November 1984, Ms Dillon never went to the police. She said she was still 'haunted' by the assaults as she was never able to get 'closure' because of her father's demands. 'I thought to myself, I could not make any bigger sacrifice to [my father's] political career if I had tried,' the affidavit said. 'He asked me to let the matter go for him and I did so for him. Bob Hawke is pictured marrying his biographer Blanche D'Alpuget in 1995 in Sydney 'I am still haunted by the sexual assaults. I feel that I may have had a chance to get over these rapes if I was able to report the incidents to police.' Mr Landeryou was an MP in the Victorian Upper House and one of Mr Hawke's chief supporters in his bid to become prime minister. Ms Dillon alleged she was raped by Victorian MP Bill Landeryou (pictured) in the 1980s Ms Dillon had been using heroin in the early 1980s when her father intervened to get her a job in Mr Landeryou's office. It was then the sexual assaults began, she claimed. 'During the time I was employed there I was often alone in Landeryou's office,' she stated. 'At some time he started to touch me in a sexual way.' Mr Hawke was Australia's longest serving Labor prime minister, winning federal elections in 1983, 1984, 1987 and 1991. He married Ms d'Alpuget, with whom he had conducted a long-running affair, in 1995 after divorcing Hazel, his wife of 38 years. Mr Hawke died on May 16 last year and a private cremation was held on 27 May at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium before a public memorial service at the Sydney Opera House on June 14. Mr Landeryou, who died aged 77 on February 27 last year, had his own state funeral at St Monica's Catholic Church in Moonee Ponds a week later on March 7. Pick up a kids book in aid of frontline workers, and find yourself absorbed in a very prescient pandemic read Fiction 1. The Pull Of The Stars by Emma Donoghue is published in hardback by Picador. Available now Emma Donoghue wrote this startling and extraordinary novel before the coronavirus pandemic hit but it couldnt be more prescient. The Pull Of The Stars takes place across three days in 1918, where on a makeshift, thoroughly understaffed maternity ward in Dublin, Nurse Julia Power is trying to support pregnant women through labour, while Spanish Influenza goes about its insidious, fatal work. Eerie comparisons with Covid aside (like the often bizarre and confusing government messaging, outrage of public coughing, and conspiracy theories etc.) Julias observations on the odds pregnant women in poverty already face, and the havoc wreaked on their bodies from having too many children, too young, is devastating and fascinating to read. Donoghue deftly weaves in politics, policy, the impact of war, feminism, violence and the minutiae of changing bed pans and sterilising instruments, while dealing with dismissive male doctors and birthing babies. And thats all alongside the awful things happening in Irish convents and childrens homes. But throughout, the pragmatic, thoughtful Julia keeps the overwhelming darkness shes tackling, in abeyance just about. A powerful, persistent, highly detailed and incredibly moving book that speaks through time. Donoghue is an absolute marvel of a writer. 9/10 (Review by Ella Walker) 2. Miss Bensons Beetle by Rachel Joyce is published in hardback by Doubleday. Available now The latest book from the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is about an expedition to find the golden beetle of New Caledonia. Set in the stultified 1950s, Miss Bensons Beetle considers female friendship in the unlikeliest of situations. Miss Benson, a frumpy, middle-aged domestic science teacher hiding a lifetimes worth of emotional scars from herself, suffers one slight too many and behaves in a completely irrational manner. This prompts her to revive a childhood dream, in a now or never moment to find the golden beetle. She advertises for an assistant and an unlikely candidate steps forward Enid Pretty. The pair have nothing in common, but through a series of sometimes farcical, sometimes poignant adventures together, a redemptive bond is created between the women. But danger is never far away. To survive, the pair need to find their best selves. While a little uneven in tone, youll find yourself willing the pair to succeed, escape the chains of their previous lives, and find their true self worth. 7/10 (Review by Bridie Pritchard) 3. My Darling from The Lions by Rachel Long is published in paperback by Picador. Available August 6 My Darling From The Lions is the debut collection from poet Rachel Long. Founder of the Octavia Poetry Collective for Womxn of Colour, Long focuses on womens experiences, race and heritage, all intertwined in the recurring motif of hair and wigs, used in the title of one of the collections three sections A Lineage of Wigs. The collection also covers relationships, religion, family and school, skilfully highlighting the tension between the latter when describing day-long hair styling in Jail Letter: Mum, my scalp burns!/Ungrateful! Look at you, beautiful as Winnie Mandela!/I dont know who this is/but it doesnt sound like someone Ben Clark will fancy. Longs use of dialect is one of her strongest points (Gross, init, but I werent about to say no to 300 quid), while one of the most effective poems, 8, uses form to indicate a skipping and speeding memory of abuse. 6/10 (Review by Laura Paterson) Non-fiction 4. X+Y: A Mathematicians Manifesto for Rethinking Gender by Eugenia Cheng is published in hardback by Profile Books. Available now This book does not so much rethink gender as (temporarily at least), remove it from the equation, thus sidestepping any issues of gender-based discrimination. Where it is useful though, is in shifting the debate in a way that allows a comparison of characteristics often associated with male or female, while avoiding the need to constantly qualify any statements with the awkward tag of not all women or not all men. As the author herself states, this is a reframing of the debate, as inspired by her background in category theory. Her major shift is in the creation of the terms congressive and ingressive as useful shorthand for traits that might roughly be summarised as caring and sharing, as opposed to competitive and individualistic. In the end, however, Chens (very practical) solutions seem to rely on individuals without power, learning to be more assertive, and those with it, learning to act in ways that are more inclusive; rather than on any kind of structural change. 7/10 (Review by Lucy Whetman) Childrens book of the week 5. Thank You, Heroes: A Celebration Of Our Key Workers by Patricia Hegarty and Michael Emmerson is published in paperback by Little Tiger. Available now Bright, colourful and bold, this sing-song ode to frontline key workers is uplifting, inspiring and a celebration of the people who put their lives at risk for the benefit of the rest of us and its not just relevant to life in a pandemic. From hospital staff to delivery drivers, volunteers and care workers, this short, snappy, diverse book shouts loudly and proudly about those whose work wed be utterly lost without, and simultaneously captures a moment in time, recalling the Thursday night claps, teachers teaching over zoom, and supermarket workers wearing masks. Even better, all publisher profits on UK sales are being donated to NHS Charities. A fun read, and a brilliant cause. 8/10 (Review by Ella Walker) BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 25 AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION) 1. Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump 2. Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 3. Shadowplay by Joseph OConnor 4. Mythos by Stephen Fry 5. Why Im No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge 6. Becoming by Michelle Obama 7. Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection by Arthur Conan Doyle 8. The Worlds Worst Parents by David Walliams 9. Atomic Habits by James Clear 10. Dracula by Bram Stoker (Compiled by Audible) Lukashenko says to hold meeting on situation in Belarus at Defense Ministry on Sat Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will hold a meeting at the Strategic Control Center of the Defense Ministry to discuss an external interference threat on Saturday. "As for color revolution guidebooks, - it's a particularity, we will talk about it at the Defense Ministry's Strategic Control Center today - there are already elements of an external interference," the BelTA state news agency cited Lukashenko as saying. Police seize seven motorbikes in stolen collateral raid PHUKET: Police have arrested a motorbike repair shop owner north of Phuket Town for possession of a stolen motorbike and seized seven other motorbikes. The motorbike repair shop owner claims he did not know the motorbike was stolen, saying it was accepted as collateral for a loan given to one of his customers. By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 15 August 2020, 11:22AM The pickup truck was also seized. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The Honda PCX motorbike was recovered in the raid. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The pickup truck was seen on CCTV being used to steal the Honda PCX motorbike. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The motorbikes were seized in a raid early Thursday morning (Aug 13). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub) The motorbikes were seized in a raid early Thursday morning (Aug 13). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub) Maj Eakkarat Chartphai of the Phuket Provincial Police and other officers moved in and arrested Anek Thachumpha, originally from Lopburi, at a house in Moo 3, Rassada, early Thursday morning (Aug 13). In the back of a Toyota Mighty X pickup truck parked front of the house was a Honda PCX motorbike covered with a tarpaulin. The Honda PCX motorbike had been reported stolen by Kriangkrai Yaodam, 23, originally from Trang, on Wednesday morning, Maj Eakkarat explained. Mr Kriangkrai had called police just after 7am after he found that his motorbike had been stolen from the parking area at the apartment building where he stayed, also located in Moo 3, Rassada. Police checked CCTV footage in the area and confirmed that Kriangkrais motorbike was stolen by being loaded into the Toyota Mighty X pickup truck and taken to Aneks house. Anek told police that he had been given the motorbike from Phuket native Rawat Lek Makkhong, a customer at his motorbike repair shop. The deal was for Anek to hold onto the motorbike as collateral for a loan to Rawat of B5,000, Anek said. However, police also seized seven other motorbikes at Aneks house, Maj Eakkarat said. Anek was charged with receiving stolen property and taken to Phuket Provincial Police station for further questioning. Police are still looking for Rawat and checking whether the seven other motorbikes were also stolen. Greece is continuing to build up a wide-ranging diplomatic front against Turkey, which it accuses of illegal oil-prospecting in Greek-controlled waters. By John Car Athens, Greece The Greek foreign minister, Nikos Dendias, was scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday to seek Washingtons support in its struggle against Turkeys oil exploration efforts off the coast of Crete. Athens already has the fervent backing of Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, plus Israel and Egypt. Officials in Athens on Friday hailed the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates as boosting the Greek position. Oil-prospecting dispute Greek naval units also continued to shadow a Turkish oil-prospecting ship, the Oruc Reis, in the East Mediterranean, west of Cyprus. Athens claims the ship is infringing on Greeces maritime economic zone, which it negotiated with Egypt just last week. Greeces Defense Ministry denied claims that a Greek frigate was damaged in a vaguely-defined incident at sea. Turkish frigates are escorting the Oruc Reis, raising the potential for a clash. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has warned that Greece will not cede an inch of its maritime economic space. He says the Oruc Reis is in clear defiance of International maritime law. Diplomatic front Greek and French naval and air units have been war-gaming in the region over the past few days. So far, Greece has been fighting purely on the diplomatic front. But whether the tussle with Turkey over seabed resources will result in actual shooting is impossible to predict at this point. Treatment courts have seen success in Montana but faced significant struggles during the coronavirus pandemic, Lewis and Clark County officials told U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on Friday. Daines joined a roundtable with treatment court staff, graduates and veterans advocates at American Legion Post 2 in Helena. The group came to discuss the value of treatment courts and the struggles they faced during COVID-19 when many of the face-to-face interactions the programs are based on became impossible. I think this is such a great investment in taxpayer dollars because were literally seeing men and women on paths to incarceration get into these treatment courts that are on a new path, Daines said of treatment courts. Treatment courts are voluntary programs and participants make regular court appearances before Judge James Reynolds to discuss progress and maintain accountability. Treatment includes a variety of different therapies and regular attendance at meetings. Staff also assists with education and skill-based assessment, along with providing referrals for vocational training, education and job placement. It does not work to send them to jail, it only works to treat them, said Judge Reynolds, who presides over the 1st Judicial District Treatment Court. I wish I could handle another 100 cases. We should have more diversion, more treatment programs. A pair of graduates told the panel about the impact the court had in their lives. Ill be honest, without these people on this team I wouldnt be where Im at today, Dawn Knowles, saying other programs had not worked for her. Joseph Wolhers, another treatment court graduate and current pre-med student at Carroll College, echoed the effect the court had on his life. I can honestly say without the help of treatment court I would probably be dead right now, he said. I still apply what I learned to my everyday life. But as the COVID-19 pandemic led to shutdowns of many in-person meetings, the court faced significant challenges maintain communication with participants and found virtual session less effective. When court shut down people said OK, Ill stay at home, but I think people forget where that ripple effect goes is much much larger, said Evonne Hawe, addictions counselor with the court. Participants faced isolation and the fallouts from increased substance abuse such as increased domestic violence and missing appointments for drug testing, she said. They often struggled with virtual court appearances and dropped out. We lost a lot of people with the technology piece, Hawe said. Everything that happened by having to shut down created a huge the social isolation, thats the biggest trigger for almost anybody out there, she said. Retired Detective Dan OMalley described the team feeling that was fostered in the court as participants would go from anger toward the judge and law enforcement to viewing them as advocates for sobriety. You see that transformation after about 2-3 months that they buy into this team mentality, he said. OMalley agreed that isolation represents a huge challenge. When you get sober the biggest thing is to get around positive people, he said. Daines often appears or sends video messages to treatment court graduations. As a proponent, he says hes concerned that if virtual meetings wont work as well, how can treatment court staff learn and adapt during a pandemic. Both treatment court staff and Daines said they hoped to learn from the struggles of COVID and apply those lessons in the case of another or a continued pandemic to better help participants. I want to capture these learnings so we can do much better next time. We havent had a pandemic for a hundred years really hit our shores, and we need to learn from it, Daines said. Reynolds plans to retire in October putting the future of the treatment court somewhat in question. Treatment Court Coordinator Layla Eichler described his approach and ability to run the court with humanity that resonates with participants. While the team mentality is critical for the program, everyone is hopeful a future judge will be able to step in and successfully steer the program, she said. While the treatment court does serve veterans, it is not a veteran-specific treatment court, which has seen success in other areas. Veteran treatment courts leverage the community of veterans with treatments geared toward them, and although officials believe Helena would be a good place for such a program, resources have not been available. Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at 447-4076 @IR_TomKuglin Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The prime ministers of Sudan and Egypt on Saturday said they were optimistic that talks with Ethiopia on its controversial mega-dam construction on the Nile would bear fruit. Talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan were suspended last week after Addis Ababa insisted on linking them to renegotiating a deal on sharing the waters of the Blue Nile. Egypt and Sudan view the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dam as a threat to vital water supplies, while Ethiopia considers it crucial for its electrification and development. South Africa, which holds the presidency of the African Union and is mediating negotiations, has urged the countries to "remain involved" in the talks. On Saturday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli made his first official visit to Sudan since the formation of a transitional government in Khartoum last year. Following his talks with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a joint statement was issued saying that "negotiations are the only way to resolve the problems of the dam". The two premiers said they were "optimistic regarding the outcome of the negotiations" held under mediation by the African Union, according to the statement. "It is important to reach an agreement that guarantees the rights and interests of all three nations," it said, adding that a "mechanism to resolve (future) disputes" should be part of any deal. Earlier this month, Egypt's water ministry said that Ethiopia had put forward a draft proposal that lacked a legal mechanism for settling disputes. The GERD has been a source of tension in the Nile River basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011. Egypt and Sudan invoke a "historic right" over the river guaranteed by treaties concluded in 1929 and 1959. But Ethiopia uses a treaty signed in 2010 by six riverside countries and boycotted by Egypt and Sudan authorising irrigation projects and dams on the river. Madbouli was accompanied to Khartoum by a delegation including Egypt's ministers of water and irrigation, electricity, health, and trade and industry. During his visit, Madbouli is also expected to meet with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling sovereign council, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, council deputy chief and military general. Hamdok's office said the visit aimed to improve cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. When 23-year-old Shauna McMahon heard about the U.S. suppression of Chinese app TikTok, she was shocked. "TikTok isn't harmful -- people are just being creative on it!" said the young Irish woman. And McMahon is not alone in her thoughts. In the eyes of many European experts and TikTok users, the U.S. threat to ban the popular short video-sharing app under clearly false allegations is nothing but a move of protectionism to monopolize the tech economy. Such flagrant suppression, they said, will not only cloud the lives of hundreds of millions of ordinary people who have turned the app into a worldwide subculture, but also the very future of the global economy. Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2020 shows a mobile phone running the TikTok app in London, Britain. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua) FALSE ALLEGATIONS U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in early August banning any U.S. transactions with Chinese tech firm ByteDance, owner of TikTok, beginning 45 days later, citing national security concerns. However, probes into TikTok privacy and security policies have been conducted both in Europe and the United States, and no evidence of unlawful use of information was found. Baptiste Robert, a renowned French security researcher who has analyzed TikTok's app code, hasn't uncovered anything unusual. "TikTok does not behave suspiciously and does not filter unusual data. It's quite common in the app world for apps to obtain data from the user's device, and we would get similar results with codes of Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and others," Robert was quoted by Belgian newspaper L'Echo as saying. The ban is pushing the United States down the road of "isolation and discrimination against certain countries, instead of integration and free competition," said Carl F. Fey, professor of international business at Finland's Aalto University. "If the concern is truly the security of information, why not put in place stricter requirements on what information can be collected and how/where it can be stored?" Fey said in a statement to Xinhua, voicing concerns over Washington's aggressive approach against Chinese companies. Behind the ban is "a global race to access the younger generation," and the result of TikTok's ability to nab significantly higher participation of young people aged 16-24 than competing U.S. companies, said Barbara Giza, head of Faculty of Journalism at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw. Some European netizens also decry the ban's absurdity, saying it conceals deeper U.S. intentions. Members of local social media star "The Trending Gang" dance with fans during a TikTok filming session in Vilnius, Lithuania, Aug. 10, 2020. (Photo by Alfredas Pliadis/Xinhua) "No application may steal confidential information from you unless it's owned by the United States," wrote a user from Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Klix.ba news website. "This resembles cowboy behavior ... And the fact that Facebook is spying, collecting locations, recognizing faces, importing contacts from phones all over the globe concerns nobody," a Serbian reader wrote on RTS website. HITTING CREATIVE TIKTOKERS In just a few years, TikTok has become one of the most beloved apps among the global youth population, providing a platform for ordinary people to display their various talents through short videos. Data by U.S. market research company Sensor Tower showed that TikTok has been so far downloaded 165 million times in the United States and over 2 billion times globally. "I feel Trump just wants to get rid of it because he is scared about people having a voice against him," said Katie Mcpeake, a 19-year-old college student from Dublin. "The ban will make everything worse because this was a platform for people to express themselves," Mcpeake said. Michael Le from Britain, who has 36.3 million followers on TikTok, recorded a video in which he called the app the only positive outlet in the streak of tragedies that the world saw in 2020. "It built so many careers, including mine, and it's been able to give me the opportunity to support my family, to have a voice, and to bring joy to my fans," Le said. A man takes a selfie with his daughter during a TikTok filming session organized by local social media star "The Trending Gang" in Vilnius, Lithuania, Aug. 10, 2020. (Photo by Alfredas Pliadis/Xinhua) In Vilnius, rapper Sezzy, who has over 50,000 followers, told Xinhua TikTok is the best app for young talent right now, because "you can literally be at home, be talented and make the whole world watch you." Michal "Wiciu" Witkowski from Poland, who has garnered 790,000 followers, told Xinhua the ban will certainly affect the Polish community, hitting many creators and users. Panni, a 17-year-old boy from Hungary, said the ban is going to cause a big change in the lives of his generation because they all love the app and some even earn money by being influencers. Nicolas Kovacich, a 19-year-old student in Rome, said TikTok trends unite people, eliminate fake news content, and allow a free-form of communication that has a rare "positive social power." PROTECTIONISM IN ESSENCE "When it comes to seeking reasons to suppress foreign firms, the U.S. will surely go for invoking national security, personal rights protection and people's privacy," said Marios Mavrides, a Cypriot economist and member of parliament. The ban is not based on national security, but protectionism, said Mao Xuxin, principal economist at London-based think tank National Institute of Economic and Social Research. "As we know, TikTok follows the rules in the countries where it operates, and the practices that it adopts are the same as the U.S. social media companies like Facebook and Twitter," he noted. Mao added that the ban aims to increase the market dominance of U.S. tech giants, which are already under a year-long U.S. congressional investigation and scrutiny of the European Union. However, as an opinion piece in the Financial Times has pointed out, "the extent to which the U.S. tech sector has become dependent on China is under-appreciated." Photo taken on Aug. 12, 2020 shows a hand holding a mobile phone running the TikTok app in London, Britain. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua) Noting that "the two tech worlds are connected via a tangle of wiring," the opinion warned that "the great uncoupling would cause huge economic pain to hundreds of U.S. tech companies." Ling Liu, business lawyer at Eversheds Sutherland (Germany) LLP, told Xinhua that Washington has often abused the wide-ranging intervention power provided by U.S. federal law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to carry out its foreign economic policy. Such a ban on Chinese apps like TikTok "will accelerate debates over preventing the abuse of emergency powers under the broad guise of national security," Ling said. Discrimination of Chinese companies and their apps might face First Amendment problems, while the whole case may turn into a dangerous precedent against the open markets, he warned. For help forming a committee at your workplace, contact the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. Autoworkers continue to raise the alarm over COVID-19 infections at the Fiat Chrysler Belvidere assembly plant in northern Illinois, fearing danger to themselves, coworkers, their families and the wider community. Workers say they are not being informed of the real number of infections or affected departments, only gleaning information through word of mouth. They charge there is an unspoken policy of silence around infections and that management is attempting to silence those who voice concerns. A Belvidere assembly worker told the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter, We know there have been infections in the plant in certain departments, in the paint shop, but we dont know whos been ill. People are still getting infected. FCA Belvidere Assembly (Photo: WSWS) Theyre not offering any information to us. It feels like theres unspoken rule not to talk about it. You can sense the pressure. Its tense. People are afraid to report illness or injury. The worker also noted that administrative staff are working from home, but production workers are being forced to accept huge risks even as the resources available to them are cut: The admin offices in our building are closed. Theyre not in their cubicles. If you have a question or an issue for admin, you have to put it in a little box. Are those lives more valuable? I dont think so. Were putting our lives on the line and those of our families. Were taking all of the risks and theyre reaping all the rewards with propaganda filling in the gaps. Some people say theres no need for masks. Theyre wrong. The plant draws workers from a number of towns and counties in both Illinois and Wisconsin serving as a vector of COVID-19 infection for many communities in the two states. This week Boone and Winnebago counties launched a joint investigation into the infections at the plant. FCA claims it is following the same safety and sanitation protocols at Belvidere as it does across all FCA plants, a claim that Belvidere workers describe as a joke. A Belvidere worker whose team was exposed to COVID-19 told the Autoworker Newsletter, A team leaders wife who works at the plant part time was sick for an entire week. She got tested and was confirmed positive by the end of the week. The team leader called fellow employees on the weekend to let them know of potential exposure. The team leader called in the following week due to exposure, but FCA medical did not recommend that he get tested even though his spouse was positive. He got tested on his own accord and tested positive as well, meaning the whole team was exposed for about a week or so. Management was informed prior to our team being quarantined that the team leader would likely test positive and that we were potentially spreading the virus and nothing was done. We worked for three days during the waiting period for the team leaders results before management confirmed that he and his wife were positive, despite knowing he was in direct contact. For days, the whole team was in contact with multiple people. Were always short and we are having to train on a weekly basis. When management let us know the team leader tested positive, the news was delivered to us by a manager who yelled at us for being upset about the risks to our fellow workers. If we had not pressed the issue, we would not have been quarantined. I understand a lot of medical information is protected, but with a communicable disease, I think more transparency is needed. Another person on the team has tested positive and more are pending results. Another Belvidere worker spoke to the Autoworker Newsletter making a similar point. Usually if something happens and a member is sick or faces a difficulty, we are informed about it and we organize support for them and charitable organizations get involved. But not now? Its very strange. Workers complaining about the silence and intimidation in the plant around COVID-19 infections also note that the atmosphere can be oppressive. FCA Belvidere is known among autoworkers for being a place where union and management bully and threaten workers to keep profits up and the line moving regardless. A former FCA Belvidere worker speaking to the Autoworker Newsletter said, If you can work in Belvidere you can survive anything. The UAW there is like gangsters. They let management in the union hall on many occasions and theyre all buddy-buddy. It is so shameful. When I spoke up, I was threatened with being taken to a cornfield. I said, I dont care about your cornfield. We have rights. In the face of the seriousness of the pandemic and the economic pressures workers are facing, workers are determined to be better informed and reach out to their brothers and sisters across the auto industry and in other sectors as well. Belvidere public schools, where about 9,000 children are enrolled, will be doing remote learning for the first nine weeks of the coming school year. Teachers in the neighboring town of Rockford, Illinois have protested reopening of the schools and are pressing for fully online learning. The teachers union has agreed to half of that districts more than 28,000 students learning online, but older children will go to school two days a week. For working families, there is an element of unreality to the back to school plans. As in the early stages of the pandemic, there is no planning or response from the state, municipalities and corporations that would allow children to be supervised while learning online at home. Parents are pressured to put children in school because employers want to keep production going. Neither workplaces nor schools are safe and a socially explosive situation has emerged as opposition to the official policy of herd immunity, supported by Democrats and Republicans, is increasing. In the fight against life-threatening working conditions, autoworkers across the Midwest are opposing management and UAW and are taking matters into their own hands, forming rank-and-file safety committees to fight for the right to a safe workplace. These committees must link up with teachers, and students, healthcare workers, postal workers and letter carriers, meatpacking, transit and logistics workers in the US and internationally to ensure health and safety and complete access to all information on the spread of the pandemic. The watchword must be the right to life takes precedence over the profit drive of big business. Pubs in city centres are struggling to attract customers in the first month of being able to reopen, while locals in the countryside are seeing a good turnout. While offices have been quieter and people have become more hesitant about travel, or simply not allowed to due to the pandemic, usually buzzing areas have seen a knock-on effect. Mike Hill tells The Independent he is waiting for workers and tourists to start coming back to his small pub, The Rake, and beer shop in Borough Market, central London. In terms of the commerciality of it, the reality is were down 50 per cent on the sites at Borough, the Utobeer founder says. Hill says another of his sites in Stratford, east London, is also missing the people who work in and around the area. Greene King, a huge pub chain in the UK, says their city centre pubs are also feeling the absence of office staff, who often head to pubs for after-work pints. We continue to see a wide disparity between country pubs where customers are returning and those in central London, which rely on custom from tourists and office workers, Karen Bosher, a director for the pub retailer, tells The Independent. While most pubs are facing challenging trading, it is city centre ones, and in particular central London, which are being hardest hit as offices and theatres remain closed and the streets are quiet. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the English countryside, pub landlords have told The Independent they have seen had a good first month of being able to reopen, after staying shut for months due to the pandemic. Joe Tansley, who runs a pub in a village in Worcestershire, says he had 90 customers booked in on the day he spoke to The Independent in early August. For a small pub, that is brilliant, he says, adding he was also almost fully booked up for that weekend. Joe Tansley, a chef and pub landlord in Worcestershire, says he has renovated the outside of his establishment (Joe Tansley) Tansley, the chef and landlord, says he has not reopened the inside of The Bell and Cross in Clent yet, but has redone its outside with marquees so customers can sit separately from each other. His pub has been open since 4 July when pubs in England were given the green light to welcome back customers after months of closure due to Covid-19. Tom Ledsham, a landlord further north in the Yorkshire Dales, has also seen customers come flooding back since his doors have been open. We have never been busier, he tells The Independent. It is crazy. The New Inn in Clapham, in the Yorkshire Dales, initially only opened for hotel guests for the first weekend in July, which was a useful way to make sure all the Covid-19 procedures were working as they should, Ledsham says. From then, it has just been non-stop, he adds. We are out in the sticks, so we werent really sure what would happen. I think the big reason for that is people cant particularly go abroad, he tells The Independent. Were very lucky were situated in the Yorkshire Dales, which is a very desirable place to be, especially when you need to be socially distancing. You can walk up the fells and be very far away from everyone else. The New Inn has been non-stop since reopening, landlord says (Google Maps) Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, has noticed a trend in which city pubs are having a harder time at the moment than country ones. They are so quiet, the city centres, she says, adding the situation was really, really tough at the moment. She suggests a lack of confidence over transport during the pandemic may be playing a role, as public transport is a popular way to get into town or city centres, while people may be able to walk home from their local. McClarkin also senses a feeling of wanting to support your local during this time, which people may realise they have not used enough in the past. We are seeing far more confidence out in community pubs, she says, adding this seemed to be the trend across the country. The Rake has been missing office workers and tourists in central London (Google Maps) Greene King says the vast majority of its pubs around the UK have reopened, which has been allowed since 4 July, while 40 per cent in London are still shut as they are not currently viable. In central London, across the City and West End, our pubs are trading significantly behind the rest of our managed estate, Bosher, the managing director for premium, urban and venture brands, says. She adds: We are confident that once customers see first-hand the pub safe measures we have introduced in our managed pubs, they will feel reassured that the pub is a safe place to visit. Like many other pubs, The Rake in London has had to make changes to allow it to reopen safely during the coronavirus outbreak, such as introducing a one-way system and getting customers to write down their name and phone number on a card that is kept for two weeks in case they need to be traced. The tiny pub, which sits close to the Thames, has been open since early July, albeit on reduced hours. Landlord Mike Hill says it has been a good feeling to see customers coming back. Its very much business as usual, in reality, he tells The Independent. The problem is, theres just not enough of them. As the country celebrates its 72nd Independence Day, the government has been focusing much of its energies on teaching the importance of self-reliance to Indians as a way of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. But for many of the nearly 1.8 crore million women with disabilities living in India, self-reliance is still a distant dream. And with the coronavirus pandemic forcing women with disabilities into their homes, there seems to be no way out. While the lockdown has been hard on millions of Indians, experts claim that the experience of many disabled women, especially for those in the informal sector in both urban as well as rural and semi-rural India has worsened. Not only has the lockdown affected the livelihoods among households of persons with disabilities due to job loss, but the crisis has also led to a curtailment of access of disabled persons to essential services like education, healthcare, and even food. No access to essentials Disability and human rights activists have for years been seeking improved access for persons with disabilities. And while activists agree that the concerted efforts of civil society had been working and eventually translating into policy changes, many admit that the coronavirus pandemic had undone years of work. "I have been stuck at home for nearly six months now since the lockdown," Nidhi Goyal, founder and Executive Director of the not-for-profit NGO Rising Flame, tells News18. Being visually impaired, 32-year-old Goyal has had to rely heavily on her own family and privilege in order to get essentials since March 24 when India went into a sudden lockdown. "But for thousands of underprivileged disabled women stuck at home or alone with abusive or unresponsive family members, there is no way to achieve self-reliance," Goyal says. A survey conducted by Rising Flame in collaboration with other disability rights organisations such as Sightsavers asked 82 women from across 19 Indian states about their experiences since lockdown and found that a majority of them had been facing increasing challenges when it came to crucial areas like access - be it to education, healthcare, employment, and safety. 75 of the respondents claimed they faced discrimination and reduced access. According to Goyal, the problem arose due to the lack of understanding or sensitivity when dealing with the needs of persons with disabilities. "Wearing face masks is essential for preventing the spread of COVID-19. But what about deaf women who can only communicate through reading lips? How will they communicate with essential workers such as chemists when no one knows sign language?" Goyal asks. Public healthcare not inclusive Several women with hearing impairment who were surveyed for the report said that they faced issues understanding government advisories on coronavirus due to the lack of inclusiveness of the messages. A deaf woman from Delhi reported that she only found out about the coronavirus pandemic as well as lockdown and all precaution measures, not from government advisories but from ISH news - a platform dedicated to hearing-impaired persons. While the Arogya Setu app has been made mandatory for all persons and the government's go-to app when it came to dissemination of COVID-19 advisories and messages, several visually impaired women complained of the app being uninclusive. A shadow pandemic While the coronavirus pandemic has been spreading across the world, women's rights activists across the world have been drawing attention to the "shadow pandemic" that had also been growing alongside the coronavirus as a byproduct of the pandemic - domestic violence against women. According to Goyal, whose NGO works for disabled persons facing harassment or abuse at home, the number of SOS calls regarding an increase in cases of violence faced by women with disabilities has increased over the lockdown. And no one was talking about it. While the lockdown has led to an increased rate of domestic violence against women across the world including non-disabled women, Goyal feels that the pandemic has made it even harder for disabled victims to report such cases or seek redressal. And even if they are able to report a case, there is often no justice. The problem lies in the understanding of what abuse and violence mean when it comes to women with disabilities. "In most cases, violence faced by disabled women such as women using wheelchairs or needing constant assistance at home is not even counted as violence if it does not include physical assault," Goyal says. Having worked on several cases where victims have been denied medicines or even food by their essential caregivers, the activist says that it was hard to redress many of these crimes as they did not fall under domestic abuse. In some instances, victims have been locked up for days. "Yet no law specifically addresses these forms of abuse as violence," Goyal said. No social protection The coronavirus pandemic has also affected an important factor that affects the lives of women with disability - social capital and state ensured social protection. Disability rights activist Amba Salelkar feels that persons with disabilities in India still did not get guaranteed social protection. While the government had worked out certain cash transfer schemes in order to help people with disabilities amid the coronavirus pandemic, Salelkar felt that was important to ensure that efforts were made to build the social capital of women with disabilities. "Self-reliance, to me, is the ability to have choice and control over one's life. And for most women with disabilities in India, social capital is the only way to achieve choice and control," Salelkar tells News18. This social capital is ensured by social protection schemes by the government at central and state levels and that ensure that persons with disability are not left behind when it comes to education, healthcare, and other civic amenities. Thus the only way for women with disabilities to achieve self-reliance is by ensuring social protection that enables them to create social capital. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability which comes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Welfare received much praise after it released a Comprehensive Disability Inclusive Guidelines to ensure protection, safety and delivery of essential services of persons with disabilities to fight Covid-19. The guidelines, however, miss out on major aspects of social protection such as disability-specific guidelines for inclusive online education. Activists have also complained that despite the robust Right to Persons with Disabilities Act that the government enacted in 2016, not much has been done in terms of collecting specific data on the exact numbers of persons with disabilities and an analysis of the same through a gender lens. Like the name of the report by Rising Flame suggests, despite the government's efforts to achieve total self-reliance this Independence Day, the reality of Indian women with disabilities remained "neglected and forgotten". For decades the world has watched the Shakespearean power plays within the all-powerful Murdoch dynasty, the latest of which has left two brothers no longer speaking and yet another public airing of the intensely private family's dirty laundry. After James Murdoch departed the family firm earlier this month, it is his big brother Lachlan, 48, who is now the clear heir apparent in the succession plans of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who marks his 90th birthday in March. Lachlan, Rupert and James Murdoch. Credit:Jamie Brown So who exactly is Lachlan Keith Murdoch and what makes him tick? While he speaks with an American accent largely thanks to his many years of privileged schooling in Aspen and New York, finishing with his graduation from Princeton there is no disputing that his many years in Australia, and in particular Sydney where he met his wife Sarah, have left their mark. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A correspondent for InfoWars, the far-right website that peddles debunked conspiracy theories and fringe political commentary, was arrested on Friday at a house in Portage County after a grand jury handed up a secret indictment charging her with robbery and domestic violence, according to officials. Related: InfoWars correspondent Millie Weaver pleads not guilty to felony charges stemming from altercation with mother in Portage County Portage County Jail staff on Saturday confirmed that Millicent Millie Weaver, 29, is being held on charges of robbery, tampering with evidence, obstructing justice and domestic violence. Her boyfriend, 45-year-old Gavin Wince, is also being held on the same charges. Both are being held until a Monday morning arraignment hearing where a Common Pleas Court judge will set bond. Calls to the Portage County Sheriffs Office seeking information about the charges were not returned. Weaver broadcast a portion of her arrest on social media. A deputy can be heard in the video telling her that a grand jury indicted her as he asked dispatchers to send another car to an address on Yale Road in Diamond, where records show Wince owns a home. Weaver said in the video that she had no idea why she was being arrested, and that she was about to break huge breaking news. The video has been shared thousands of times and has kicked off a host of conspiracy theories about the reason behind her arrest. Weaver, who also creates videos under the moniker Millennial Millie, released a trailer last week of a new video that she claims may be the biggest whistleblowing event to date. The video appears to include interviews between Weaver and two people who claim to have first-hand knowledge of a clandestine attempt by government officials to use psychological warfare and mind-control tactics to carry out a coup against President Donald Trump, an iteration of the often debunked conspiracy theories about a so-called deep state. InfoWars was founded by Alex Jones, a gravel-voiced ex-radio host who is known for advancing false claims including that the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut was a hoax, and that a Washington D.C. pizza restaurant was the headquarters of a massive underground child sex-trafficking ring. Jones dedicated his Friday show to discussing Weavers arrest, claiming, without providing any evidence, that she was arrested for stealing government documents. Weaver, a former aspiring actress, joined InfoWars in 2012 and has increased her national profile. Her YouTube channel has more than 423,000 subscribers. Her Instagram account includes photographs of her inside the White House earlier this year, claiming that she was invited by White House Staff to tour the West Wing. Another photograph shows her sitting alongside Jones, fellow InfoWars correspondent Kaitlin Bennett, who is known as the Kent State gun girl, and political operative Roger Stone at a December 2018 congressional hearing featuring the CEO of Google. Read more stories State agents investigating after East Cleveland police officer shoots at man during foot chase Lakewood bar accused of violating coronavirus health orders Akron police release name of 8-year-old girl killed in shooting Ohio reports 1,117 new coronavirus cases, 40 deaths: Saturday update Brook Park water park needs numerous repairs before 2021 reopening Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Two reports caught my eye this week. One: In 2007, 90 percent of evangelicals said their church forbid (63 percent) or strongly discouraged (27 percent) homosexual behaviors. In 2020, that figure has dropped to 65 percent (33.7 percent forbid, while 31.4 percent strongly discourage). Two: In 2008, 34.4 percent of evangelicals between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five supported same-sex marriage. In 2018, that figure had risen to 56.1 percent. Could this data be related? Are evangelical churches changing their position on same-sex marriage to align with and attract younger adults? Are younger evangelicals changing their position on same-sex marriage because their churches are? Or are both happening? When perception is reality For twenty centuries, orthodox Christians have known that the Bible forbids same-sex sexual relations. (For more, see my website paper, What does the Bible say about homosexuality?) However, as we noted yesterday, we currently live in a post-truth culture that is convinced perception is reality and truth is whatever you believe it to be. Tolerance is the cardinal value of our day, while intolerance is the cardinal sin. This insistence on relative truth and subjective morality directly contradicts the fact that all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) through the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) as unchanging truth (Matthew 24:35). Jesus was clear when he told his Father, Your word is truth (John 17:17). Nonetheless, the perception is reality approach to truth is applied today to moral issues across the spectrum of life, from abortion to euthanasia. It flies in the face of logic (to claim there are no absolute truths is to make an absolute truth claim). And it is applied subjectively to behavior we wish to tolerate rather than objectively to all of life. (Otherwise, 9/11 would be Osama bin Ladens truth and racial sin would be the racists truth.) But theres another dimension to the story, one that evangelicals who affirm biblical morality may not always consider. Acceptances precedes obedience Dr. Preston Sprinkle, president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, notes that we are most likely to vilify the sins we are least likely to commit. He writes, In many ways, Christians have treated LGBT+ people the same way the Pharisees treated tax collectors. And so Jesus approach to tax collectors gives us a good model for how we are to embody the gospel toward LGBT+ people. How did our Lord treat them? His example shows us that, as Sprinkle notes, acceptance doesnt equal affirmation. Rather, acceptance precedes obedience. Matthew and Zacchaeus were both tax collectors when Jesus called them. His acceptance of them did not imply affirmation of their sins. Rather, it led to a relationship that produced obedience and transformation in their lives. Sprinkle adds that even if we could convince people to live by biblical morality, Were saved by faith, not sexual purity (his emphasis). Our job is to stand for biblical truth but to do so with biblical grace. Why we must not self-censor our gospel witness I am glad that two-thirds of evangelicals say their churches still affirm biblical morality with regard to same-sex marriage. I grieve for those churches who do not and wonder how many of their members are missing the truth they need on this and other crucial issues. For our sake and those we influence, we must not waver in our commitment to biblical truth. It has been noted that we dont break the commands of Godwe break ourselves on them. A man who jumps from the tenth story of a building doesnt break the law of gravityhe illustrates it. Nor should we withdraw from the declaration of unpopular truth. As Janet Denison notes in her latest blog, When the faithful self-censor our gospel witness, we give up the power to lead others to faith. Heres our best response: affirm and share biblical truth with biblical grace. Speaking the truth in love is our mandate and should be our mantra (Ephesians 4:15). People need to know what God says about sexuality and other areas of life, but they also need to know that we are sharing his truth out of gratitude for his grace. Why grace is given We are all broken sexually and in every other dimension of our lives. We were sinners when Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8) and we are still sinners today (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10). We are all in need of Jesus acceptance and transformation. When we give others what we have received in a spirit of compassion and gratitude, we glorify our Lord and invite others to join his family. As St. Augustine noted, Grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them. What grace will you pay forward today? Originally posted at denisonforum.org In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered a strong message to China and Pakistan as he said the armed forces have given a befitting reply to those challenging the country's sovereignty "from LoC to LAC". Though the reference to China and Pakistan was clear, he did not name the two countries in his 86-minute speech. "From LoC (Line of Control) to LAC (Line of Actual Control), anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, the armed forces of the country have responded in the language they understand," Modi said. His comments came in the midst of India's bitter border row with China along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. There has also been significant rise in incidents of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control with Pakistan in the last few months, according to officials. "Whether it is terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting both with determination," Modi said. Referring to the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in June, the prime minister said respect for India's sovereignty is supreme and that the world has seen in Ladakh what its brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve. "I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort," Modi said, adding the whole country is united in protecting the sovereignty of the country. The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last three months. The tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details. India and China have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks in the last few weeks for disengagement of troops in the eastern Ladakh region. However, the process has not moved forward as expected by India. The prime minister said India is connecting with its neighbours through partnership of security, development and trust. "Today, neighbours are not only those who share the same geographical boundaries but also those who meet our hearts," he added. During a visit to Ladakh last month, Modi had said the era of expansionism is over and that India's enemies have seen the "fire and fury" of its armed forces, signalling India's firmness in dealing with the border row with China. By PTI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Sri Aurobindo, a freedom fighter and spiritual philosopher, on his birth anniversary, saying he was synonymous with brilliance and courage. "Tributes to Sri Aurobindo on his Jayanti. He was synonymous with brilliance and courage. His thoughts and ideals, views on spirituality continue to motivate us. Here are my remarks at the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Auroville," Modi tweeted, sharing his 2018 speech on Aurobindo. The prime minister also remembered Aurobindo, who was born on this day in 1872, in his Independence Day speech earlier in the day. He was a revolutionary nationalist before he turned to spirituality. Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police WEST HARTFORD An individual who authorities said carjacked a vehicle Friday morning with an elderly dementia patient inside was charged with numerous felonies after investigators found the suspect in Hartford. It was about 11:45 a.m. when emergency calls came in about a carjacking in front of the West Hartford Post Office. Mayo Clinic researchers reported Friday a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other patients recover, in what appeared like a breakthrough in coronavirus treatment. Yet other health experts warn there is no definite proof that the treatment works, as evidence only suggests that it could be a successful cure. More than 64,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It's a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections. However, there's no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus amid concerns that if healthcare workers rush to it in the clamor for a treatment, theyll never get a clear answer on whether it's the best treatment or not. A former coronavirus patient donates convalescent plasma at the Oklahoma Blood Institute on August 12. The plasma from recovered patients would be used in an experimental treatment study for current coronavirus patients that is now showing success Preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma offers what Mayo lead researcher Dr. Michael Joyner on Friday called 'signals of efficacy.' There were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies, Joyner and colleagues reported. Experts are concerned, however, as this wasn't a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of a Food and Drug Administration program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That so-called 'expanded access' program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma - and not other care they received - was the real reason for improvement. Rigorous studies underway around the country are designed to get that proof, by comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead. 'For 102 years we've been debating whether or not convalescent plasma works,' said Dr. Mila Ortigoza of New York University, referring to plasma's use in the 1918 flu pandemic. This time around, 'we really need undisputable evidence,' he said. Ortigoza is co-leading one such study, which this week is expanding to three other states - Connecticut, Florida and Texas. Her team also is working to pool data with several other clinical trials in other regions, in hopes of faster answers. 'There's concern about when there will be a clear answer,' agreed infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeffrey Henderson of Washington University in St. Louis. Pictured, a murse holds bags of blood plasma donated by a COVID-19 survivor at at blood bank in Bogota, Colombia on August 14. Mayo Clinic researchers are reporting a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other patients recover. But it's not proof, and some experts worry if, amid clamor for the treatment, they'll ever get a clear answer Pictured, a doctor holds a bag of blood plasma donated by a COVID-19 survivor at at blood bank in La Paz, Bolivia. Experts have warned it may not be the best treatment He's hopeful the clinical trials will push forward but said the Mayo report is consistent with smaller, earlier plasma studies and 'an example of making the best you can of the data that's available'. When the body encounters a new germ, it makes proteins called antibodies that are specially targeted to fight that particular infection. The antibodies float in plasma - the yellowish, liquid part of blood. Because it takes a few weeks for antibodies to form, the hope is that transfusing someone else's antibodies could help patients fight the virus before their own immune system kicks in. The Mayo findings were posted online ahead of scientific peer review. They show that 20 percent of people given high-antibody plasma within three days of diagnosis had died within 30 days compared with 30 percent of people treated later with low-antibody plasma. The FDA has been closely considering if the evidence is good enough to allow so-called emergency use of convalescent plasma, a step that would make it even harder for more rigorous testing to be completed. FDA didn't immediately comment Friday. Tens of thousands of COVID-19 survivors have donated their plasma, and blood banks have issued calls for even more to meet the demand as the coronavirus continues to ravage the U.S. According to AABB, the American Association of Blood Banks, a quarter of hospitals it checks weekly are reporting waits of more than 24 hours in obtaining requested plasma. Beyond whether plasma generally helps, scientists want to know when it should be used - for the very sick or at the earliest sign of infection? And what's the right dose? COVID-19 survivors harbor widely varying amounts of antibodies, which Ortigoza said is difficult to measure before the donated plasma is used. She said another question is which of the many types of antibodies are the best to use. Joyner noted that the expanded access program wasn't meant to replace rigorous studies but was originally designed to track 5,000 people and see if plasma was safe. Instead, the program skyrocketed. 'There's probably reasonable, actionable evidence from our findings to really reaffirm' historic lessons of plasma therapy, that earlier use is better, he said. There are now more than 5,314,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States with 168,458 deaths. The news of the limited success of the blood plasma treatment comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested for the first time Friday that people who recover from coronavirus might have some immunity to the virus. But the agency's updated guidance hints that that protection may not last longer than three months. 'People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to three months as long as they do not develop symptoms again,' the CDC's recently updated guidance says. However, 'people who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.' The updated to the quarantine guidance was unannounced and seems to at once suggest that recovery provides some protection, but for a limited time, and that reinfection is possible. Mother intent on gender-transitioning 8-y-o son into girl awarded decision-making power over therapy, education Court orders father to pay for trans-affirming counseling; Save James Facebook page says it's costing $5K a month Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment UPDATE Aug. 22 at 11:30 PM ET: Curators of the Save James Facebook page said misinformation has been spread about the legal case involving James Younger, an 8-year-old boy whose mother is attempting to transition him into a transgender girl named Luna. "We want to make this abundantly clear. Judge Mary Brown has NOT given sole decision making to Anne! Judge Mary Brown has NOT given Anne sole decision-making ability over medical. The ONLY things that Judge Mary Brown ruled on was about therapy and education," the Friday post read. "She only said that her previous ruling forcing Jeff to do the therapy would continue and that Jeff CANNOT homeschool the boys like he wanted to. They have to return to their old school which has treated James as Luna. We apologize immensely for any misunderstanding as our goal is for the truth to be known. Any report that mentions custody or decision-making ability is NOT accurate." Original: A mother who's attempting to gender-transition her 8-year-old son into a girl has been awarded decision-making power regarding her son's healthcare and schooling, essentially reversing a previous ruling that granted the father co-parenting rights. In the ongoing case of 8-year-old James Younger, Dallas Judge Mary Brown canceled a hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday and removed his father, Jeffrey Younger, from having any say in his son's medical, psychological, and psychiatric care. Instead, the judge gave all decision-making power to Dr. Anne Georgulas, a pediatrician and non-biological mother of James and his twin brother, Jude, LifeSite News reported. Younger has also been ordered by the court to pay for trans-affirming counseling sessions, which he had previously objected to as he was not permitted to help select his son's counselors. Amid a nationwide outcry over the case, last October the contentious custody battle yielded a ruling where the parents were awarded joint conservatorship. But the decision this week reverses that ruling. In the October decision, Judge Kim Cooks, who was subsequently recused from the case, also ruled that Georgulas had overly affirmed James as female by taking him to LGBT parades, purchasing dresses and fake hair for him to wear, and enrolling him a school as a transgender girl named "Luna." Brown was appointed to the case in January after Georgulas' attorneys successfully motioned late last year to remove Cooks from the case because of a Facebook post the judge shared on her personal page. In the post, the judge shared a Dallas Morning News article about her ruling, where she added a statement pointing out that neither [the] Governor nor any legislature had any influence on the Courts Decision. As it presently stands, Georgulas will now be allowed to enroll James in school as "Luna" and pursue experimental transgender-affirming medical treatments. Younger is under a court-imposed gag order and is not allowed to speak to media. His friends and supporters, however, have organized a Facebook page called "Save James" along with a crowdfunding site to assist with ongoing legal expenses. The Save James page explains that the counseling sessions Younger is being forced to pay for cost $5,000 per month in addition to a $10,000 retainer. Court documents do not say anything about the cost of the trans-affirming therapy or retainer, but they do disclose Younger's desire to withdraw the boys from public school and homeschool them. Georgulas "has forced James to live as 'Luna' in a school surrounded by teachers and therapists who do not acknowledge that he has said multiple times to multiple people (without Jeff around) that he wants to be a boy and hates being forced to be a girl," a Tuesday post on the Save James Facebook page explained. Georgulas is not James' biological mother as he and his twin brother were conceived through the use of a donor egg and IVF reproductive technology. As news of the latest decision broke on social media, the #savejames and #savejamesyounger hashtags that surged last fall resurfaced. A "special evidentiary hearing" for the purposes of reviewing the orders is reportedly slated for next month, according to the Save James Facebook page. Younger has long referred to the medicalization of gender, specifically the administration of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones, as "chemical castration" and a vicious form of child sexual abuse. According to the terms of the October order, in addition to being prohibited from speaking to the media, Younger's website, Save James, had to be shut down. The Save James Facebook page aims to rescue both James and the thousands of other children facing medical gender-transitioning in similar situations but whose cases are not widely known. A-Level students in Wales can appeal downgraded results if they were lower than predicted by teachers This article is old - Published: Saturday, Aug 15th, 2020 Students in Wales will be able to appeal A-level grades on the grounds the ones they received on Thursday are lower than those assessed by teachers, the education minister has confirmed. There has been mounting criticism over Thursdays results, which saw 42 per cent of students across Wales were downgraded from their teachers predicated marks. This is despite a guarantee on Wednesday from Education Minister Kirsty Williams that no students final A Level grade will be lower than what they received in their AS Levels. This was along was an assurance that all appeals will be free for Welsh students. It followed concerns being raised after Qualifications Wales said final grades were likely to be lower than those estimated by teachers, which the exams watchdog said were too generous. Details of how that can take place have been released today, along with the grounds for appeal extend to cover this summers GCSE, AS and A levels, and the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate qualifications. The education minister said: Earlier this week I directed Qualifications Wales to broaden the grounds for appeal for A levels, AS, Skills Challenge Certificate and GCSEs. Today, they have now confirmed what this means for students. I accept that learners wanted and needed more clarity, and I believe this achieves that. Qualification Wales and the WJEC will share the full details, but appeals can now be made where there is evidence of internal assessments that has been judged by the school or college to be at a higher grade than the grade they have been awarded. There is a guarantee that no-one will receive a lower grade after appeal and all appeals are free. In a statement, Qualifications Wales say:- An appeal can now be made on the grounds that there is evidence of internal assessment that has been judged by the school or college to be at a higher grade than the calculated grade awarded. Internal assessment evidence will need to meet specific criteria, which is being finalised and will be published shortly. If the appeal is successful, the learners grade will be revised to be the same as their internal assessment grade, but no higher than the Centre Assessment Grade submitted by the centre. We are aware that some centres are concerned that the statistical standardisation model used to calculate the A level grades awarded, has not reflected the value added relationship that may exist at the centre between performance at AS and A level. We believe that this new ground for appeal will address this issue. WJEC will provide further details on the process to submit appeals which will be available early next week. The organisation adds: Earlier this week, the Minister for Education asked us to consider this summers appeal process, taking into account changes by regulators in England and Northern Ireland. This was with a view to ensuring that learners in Wales are not placed at a disadvantage in relation to learners in those other jurisdictions. We have worked closely with WJEC and considered the changes being introduced in England to find the best way forward for Welsh learners. As a result, we are extending the grounds for appeal for this summers GCSE, AS and A levels, and the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate qualifications. More details can be found on the Qualifications Wales website. While the political uncertainty over the desert state is over for the time being with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot winning a trust vote, the month-long high voltage political drama starting with the revolt of 18 MLAs of Pilot camp once again brought in sharp focus the need to further strengthen the anti-defection law. After the trust vote was over, Gehlot alleged that the BJP conspired to engineer defections in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh but got exposed in Rajasthan. Not only analysts and parties have drawn attention towards it but the matter has umpteen times also drawn the attention of the judiciary. "The Anti Defection Law has turned a retail activity into a wholesale affair. It has failed to curb the menace of defections since it was inserted into the Constitution, Congress MP Manish Tewari told DH. Also read I am the 'strongest warrior' of Congress, will protect party at all costs: Sachin Pilot Tewari, however, added, Conversely it has taken democracy out of the legislative institutions. It has made elected representatives the slaves of whip driven tyranny both on the treasury and Opposition benches. It does not allow legislators and Parliamentarians to vote according to common sense, conscience or Constituency. He said that the rigours of the 10th Schedule should be limited to only those instruments that impact the stability of the government or totally repealed. Concerns over horse-trading ringed loud when the Lok Sabha secretariat held deliberations with state legislatures in December last year in Dehradun where states underlined the need to amend and add more teeth to the 10th schedule. In November 2018, the Supreme Court, had while setting aside Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumars order to disallow 17 disqualified legislators to contest polls in the state Assemblys current term, also echoed the growing concern of horse-trading in politics, which has continued unabated despite a tough law introduced under 10th schedule to check Aaya Ram Gaya Ram politics. It felt that Parliament is required to reconsider strengthening certain aspects of the Tenth Schedule so that such undemocratic practices are discouraged. Also read Win in trust vote message for those trying to topple elected govt: Rajasthan CM The term Aaya Ram Gaya Ram (somebody came, somebody left) owes its origin to Haryana where MLA Gaya Lal had in 1967 changed his party thrice in one day, switching from Congress to United Front, then again to Congress and then finally to United Front. Twenty-three years after the Anti-Defection Act of 1985 came laying tough conditions like at least two-third members of a party have to be in favour of a 'merger' in another party or formation of a separate group from the parent body, the 2008 Operation Lotus exposed the chinks in the armour of this seemingly tough law. This successful circumvention of the anti-defection law, and opened a new door for the shortcut to power. Operation Kamal (Lotus), ensured how the BJP with 110 seats and running short of just three for a simple majority in the House managed majority after a number of Congress MLAs resigned, bringing the majority mark in the House. They later contested on BJP ticket. It played out again in Karnataka in 2019 when nearly a dozen and half MLAs from both parties from Congress and JD(S), got expelled and were elected again from the rival party. In MP, Kamal Nath government of Congress fell in March 2020 when Jyotiradiya Scindia quit Congress and joined the BJP, triggering the resignation of nearly two dozen MLAs, which reduced Congress numbers and brought BJP to power. There were also instances of defections by two-third of the strength of a party. Twelve of 18 Congress MLAs in Telangana quit the party and joined TRS in June last year. In July 2019, 10 of 15 Congress MLAs from Goa joined the BJP. In 2016, 43 of 44 Congress MLAs, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, had deserted the parent party and joined the Peoples Party of Arunachal. Defections did not spare even Rajya Sabha, where single members from parties straightway defected to the other party. Four of six TDP MPs joined the BJP in a go in June 2019. A person smokes on the first day of the ban on smoking on public roads in Galicia (Picture: Getty) Public smoking has been banned in two Spanish regions in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. Under a law which came into force on Thursday in the northwestern region of Galicia, smokers are forbidden to remove mandatory face masks to smoke in public if it is not possible to maintain a distance of two metres. It is believed to be the first such restriction in Europe. The government of the region said infected smokers could blow droplets carrying the virus while exhaling. The regional government of Spain's Canary Islands also banned outdoor smoking, which came into effect on Friday along with the mandatory wearing of face masks in all public spaces. Officials in regions including Madrid and Andalusia said they were considering similar smoking restrictions. People are seen walking in A Coruna, Spain (Picture: Getty) Spain's regions are responsible for healthcare policy, which has led to a mix of measures to curb the virus. The new rules come as Spain deals with a rise in COVID-19 cases since 21 June, when it ended its lockdown measures, one of the world's strictest. Spain, with a population of 47 million, leads Western Europe with more than 337,000 cases, compared with nearly 252,000 cases of Italy's 60 million inhabitants, which was the first European country to be rocked by the virus. While the smoking bans were applauded by many medical experts, some questioned its effectiveness. Fernando Garcia, an epidemiologist at the Carlos III institute for health, told AFP the measure was "a bit disproportionate" given the lack of evidence that "tobacco smoke can transmit the disease". The World Health Organization (WHO) has said tobacco users could increase the possibility of transmission of the disease since it involves contact of fingers with the lips. Outside Europe, South Africa has banned the sale of tobacco because it may lead people to drop social distancing while Jordan banned smoking in closed public spaces. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Portland police responded Friday to some protesters calls for direct action by repeatedly blocking and advancing on marchers as they made their way through North Portland neighborhoods. The tactics prevented people from gathering outside local police buildings, which have been the recent focus of raucous demonstrations. But the police use of force on what had been a largely peaceful march drew immediate criticism, including from Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, the councils leading advocate for police reform. Portland police pushed people, shot them with impact munitions and set off smoke devices after people threw some water bottles and paint toward officers. This brutality is unacceptable, Hardesty said late Friday on Twitter. This is the community the police are sworn to protect and serve. They must uphold Portlanders Constitutional rights. The North Portland march was one of several gatherings Friday against police violence and systemic racism. Others occurred downtown, the longtime heart of the demonstrations that began in late May. None of the other protests drew a police response. Among a small, loosely organized group of protesters, provoking police is seen as a way to force change. In recent weeks, those calls for direct action have resulted in demonstrations where crowds of a couple hundred people have gathered. Some people set off fireworks, lit small fires and tossed eggs. Police have regularly labeled the gatherings unlawful and broke up the crowds, sometimes with tear gas. But that scene did not unfold Friday. A march of about 300 people left Peninsula Park around 9:15 p.m. It was presumably headed to the police union headquarters 1 1/2 miles away. But marchers came to a sudden stop several minutes after it began. More than 20 police officers and several police vehicles blocked the group from moving on to Interstate Avenue. The police blockade of a peaceful march took demonstrators by surprise. Portland police used a loudspeaker to tell people the street was open to traffic and ordered people to leave. Police warned that if people stayed, they could be gassed or shot with less-lethal munitions. Police and marchers faced off for about 20 minutes. The groups stood about 50 yards apart, between a school, a commercial building and several homes. Protesters at the front of the march held handmade wooden shields distributed earlier in the night. Most people chanted to the beat of snare drums. Someone played a recording, Portland police your violence and terror arent wanted in our city. Marchers eventually started walking away and then turned south on Montana Avenue, a residential street. Police were waiting for the crowd when people arrived on Killingsworth Street, another main thoroughfare. About two dozen officers in riot gear blocked the march from going west. Protesters turned again to avoid police. The march eventually started moving east on Killingsworth, in the direction of a police precinct. Officers cut off the crowd at Mississippi Avenue around 10 p.m. Another standoff ensued. Police made no announcements for several minutes. Some officers pointed flash lights or other types of bright lights at protesters, who were mostly standing on the north side of the intersection. At 10:10 p.m., police used a loudspeaker to label the march an unlawful assembly. Police said people had thrown things at officers. An Oregonian/OregonLive journalist saw someone throw a water bottle and some type of white liquid toward an officer. Police called the liquid paint bombs. Around 10:15 p.m., an officer used a loudspeaker to tell protesters to leave immediately. Someone threw another water bottle as police were making the announcement. Police then immediately set off smoke devices, shot less-lethal munitions at people and advanced on the crowd. Officers sometimes shoved or pushed people to force them to move north. Police detained at least one person. Police forcefully pressed people several blocks north. Jonathan Taylor, of Vancouver, said he was driving his motorcycle on a Friday night cruise when he turned onto a side street and happened upon officers. He said he hit his horn and asked if he could go through. Taylor said an officer got out of a vehicle, threw a smoke canister at him, then pointed a gun at him. Taylor said he kicked the canister back in the direction of the officer. Taylor said the experience made him realize the outsized force police use at protests. I see the way they treat you guys. Its ridiculous, Taylor said, in reference to protesters. Now I understand what you guys are going through. Police retreated from the neighborhood around 10:30 p.m. after pressing the bulk of the crowd back to Peninsula Park, the original launching pad for the night. As people started to plan next steps, someone moved a dumpster into the middle of Albina Street and lit the contents ablaze. Then someone lit a second dumpster on fire in the same spot. The fires burned inside the dumpsters as people marched away. The crowd of about 200 people moved west on Rosa Parks Way. People only made it a few blocks before police met them on Michigan Avenue. Marchers turned onto Michigan as police trailed behind them on the residential street. An officer used a loudspeaker and repeated demands for people to leave. Lines of officers then started running toward people, at times setting off smoke devices. The crowd split into multiple groups as police and protesters wove through residential streets. Police retreated around 10:50 p.m. A group of 100 people soon started to marched north on Albina toward Lombard Street. The Portland Police Association building sits on Lombard and has been a frequent site of protests. It was likely the initial planned destination of the march. Police were waiting on Lombard for the crowd. Someone rolled out a dumpster into the middle of the street and set it on fire just before 11 p.m. Police soon moved closer to the crowd and ordered people to leave. Police cited the dumpster fires and paint bombs. After a few minutes, protesters backed away and started walking east, in the opposite direction. Another police blockade appeared within 10 minutes to prevent the crowd from marching on to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Police forced the crowd onto residential streets, including Rodney Avenue and Stafford Street. Officers at times chased people to make them move. They were trailed by police vehicles, with lights flashing. The police push divided the crowd. People started to gather again around Commercial Avenue and Buffalo Street after police left. About 150 people soon started marching around 11:30. The crowd chanted Black lives matter! as people walked. Marchers returned to Lombard and walked west for several blocks. When the march met a police line at Mississippi Avenue, people turned on Mississippi and faced off with police. Officers told people to move to sidewalks or risk arrest. Eventually, police retreated and the march briefly resumed west on Lombard. Police blocked the Interstate 5 overpass and ordered people to leave around 12:15 a.m. The two sides faced off. Protesters at first stayed on the sidewalk, then moved to the traffic lanes that police were already blocking. Police repeated demands to leave. No one left. Dozens of officers started running toward the crowd just before 12:30 a.m. The chase turned south on Mississippi Avenue, back into a residential neighborhood. Vehicles with flashing lights and sirens followed police. The cars continued to circle the neighborhood even after officers stopped engaging. Multiple witnesses wrote on social media that officers slashed tires of nearby vehicles during the pursuit. More than 50 people remained in the area around 12:45 a.m. Several live videos on social media showed the smaller crowd eventually made its way back to Lombard, where police again formed a defensive line to block people. The standoff continued past 2 a.m. The gathering was one of many that took place. The night came after one of the quietest nights in months at Portlands regular protesting locations Thursday. Protesters have gathered nightly across the city since May 28 after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Locally, protesters are pushing for a range of police reforms and cuts to law enforcement budgets. The turnout of the protests has diminished significantly since Gov. Kate Brown negotiated a deal with Vice President Mike Pence to remove federal officers, who had regularly used clouds of tear gas to disperse the crowds. They were replaced by Oregon State Police, who helped protect federal buildings from vandalism over the past few weeks. Yet since Oregon State Police announced Thursday they were pulling back, questions remain about whether federal officers will return to the nightly protests. No answers arrived Thursday, because only a few dozen people gathered outside the federal courthouse. The night was among the calmest since June, before the arrival of federal officers. Beth Nakamura of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. -- Jamie Goldberg; jgoldberg@oregonian.com; @jamiebgoldberg This deal came together as a result of negotiations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, facilitated and led by the United States. But it was the strategic policy shift undertaken by President Trump 3 years ago that laid the foundation for the breakthrough the world witnessed this week. The agreement would not have been possible without the leadership of a president who refuses to do things the same old way just because thats how it has always been done. Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government also announced 4,869 gram(village) panchayats, 33 development blocks and two districts(out of 27) as open defecation free (ODF). As many as 8,582 villages have so far been declared 'open defecation free' in Chhattisgarh, which is targeting to becoming an ODF state by October 2018. "The Prime Minister's 'Clean India Mission' (rural) isyielding exciting results in the state. Within just about two years of launch of the drive, we have made two districts along with 33 development blocks open defecation free," a senior official from Chhattisgarh's Panchayat and Rural Development Department said. Also Read: BMC ambassador: Salman Khan to helm its anti-open defecation campaign The state has 10,971 gram panchayats. While 8,582villages under 4,869 gram panchayats have so far been declaredas ODF, the aim is to cover remaining 11,127 villages of 6,102gram panchayats by October 2, 2018, he said. Bedsides, of the 90 Vidhayak (MLA) Adarsh Grams(adopted by legislators in their constituency to develop intomodel villages), 67 villages were declared as ODF. Similarly,15 model villages under Saansad (MP) Adarsh Gram scheme havealso been made open defecation free, he said. "Notably, the Centre has set the target under 'Swachh Bharat Mission' to declare the entire country as ODF by November 2, 2019, but Chief Minister Raman Singh is expectingto achieve the target a year before in 2018 in the state,keeping in view the enthusiastic response from people towards the mission," the official said. Also Read: BMC ambassador: Salman Khan to helm its anti-open defecation campaign As per official statistics, toilets have so far beenconstructed in atleast 15,79,102 households (in rural areas)under both 'Clean India Mission' and the MNREGA scheme. Around Rs 497.53 crore have been spent in the currentand previous financial years for the purpose, he said. All the concerned departments, including schooleducation, health, women and child development and publichealth engineering, besides panchayat and rural developmentofficials, have been asked to work in coordination to scalethe target within the stipulated time, he said. Moreover, public awareness campaigns are being held continuously in villages to encourage the people to build toilets in their houses, the official added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bridget O'Toole is adamant her husband Dermot would be alive today had a dangerous parolee been supervised properly and his breaches been dealt with correctly. When Gavin Perry failed to meet his parole officer on July 9, 2013, the supervision appointment was rescheduled for a week later, not two days as required by Corrections Victoria. The meeting never happened and Perry instead crashed into the O'Tooles' orbit. Bridget O'Toole is suing Corrections Victoria over their failure to monitor Gavin Perry, the man who murdered her husband, Dermot, while on parole. Credit:Simon Schluter On July 12, 2013, while high on ice, Perry entered the couple's Hastings jewellery shop with a knife and repeatedly stabbed Ms O'Toole. Dermot O'Toole went to protect his wife of 41 years but was stabbed and killed. I am proud to serve on President Trumps new White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative so that I can help protect and secure the gains Hispanic Americans have made under this administration. Hispanic Americans are now the second-largest demographic in the country. As New Mexicans know, we have always made up a plurality of this state, and many of our families, mine included, have been in this country since before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Latinos have nothing to gain from the radical movement now tearing down Americas history in the name of racial grievance. It is as much our history and our country that Joe Biden and his pals are coming for as anyone elses, attacking monuments to our ancestors who explored and settled this land. As President Trump made clear in his Independence Day address at Mount Rushmore, we must never surrender before a mob intent on recasting American history as a racial morality play. In several American cities, Democrats with Joe Bidens complete approval looked the other way as rioters attacked and burned Hispanic-owned business and Hispanic communities. Only President Trump stood with law and order against the violence. Democrats believe we should just forget all this because theyre promising handouts and an end to the enforcement of immigration laws. Well, not only have my ancestors been here for many decades, but like them, Im not interested in handouts. I came up from nothing, the son of a poor single mom, and I made it the American way the same way hundreds of thousands of other Hispanic Americans have made it thanks to the able economic leadership of this administration. Hispanic Americans reached their lowest unemployment rate ever their lowest poverty rate ever and their highest median income ever under President Trump. He didnt accomplish this by opening the border and giving people cradle-to-grave welfare. He lifted more than 600,000 Hispanic Americans out of poverty and, in 2018 alone, oversaw a net increase of 362,000 Hispanic homeowners through pro-growth policies such as broad tax cuts for the middle class, regulatory relief for small businesses, 9,000 newly-designated Opportunity Zones home to more than 9 million Hispanic Americans that attract investments and jobs, and trade and immigration policies that benefit Americans. The president is not finished, as he demonstrated with his recent executive order establishing the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative on which I will serve, along with a Presidents Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity. We are going to identify ways to get back to the unprecedented wave of prosperity Hispanic Americans were enjoying before the coronavirus pandemic mandated a partial shutdown of our economy, and were also going to find ways to further the goals of educational choice in Hispanic communities across the country. Im excited to be on the front lines of this effort. Hispanic Americans have made great strides over the past few years, but we can reach even greater heights with another four years of President Trumps empowering policies. COLUMBUS Chobani Yogurt has long been viewed as a model corporate citizen ever since they purchased an old Kraft dairy plant in 2005 and started the nations Greek yogurt craze. The company supports sustainable dairy farming and has committed to hiring immigrants. Theyve assisted the local community here in Chenango County, recently helping to pay for a new firehouse in nearby New Berlin. But the firm is also engaged in a three-year-old fight with the town of Columbus over the taxable value of their roughly 400,000-square-foot yogurt plant. Assessed at $27.4 million, they are in court arguing its only worth $13.1 million and should be taxed accordingly. If they win, property and school taxes for everyone else in this town of about 975 people, will rise sharply, said Supervisor Tom Grace. Its just been hanging over the town, Grace said of the tax battle. I cant see why they are punishing their home town over this. Tax appeals, or requests to lower the taxable value of properties whether they are homes, stores or industrial plants, have long been an issue, especially in New York with its tops-in-the-nation property and school taxes. Scores of homeowners each year file grievances with their municipalities in efforts to lower the taxable value of their homes and subsequently reduce their school and property tax bills. The same thing can happen with businesses, but they can have a much higher impact due to their size. And they can hire their own appraisers, lawyers and other experts and engage in lengthy court battles, known as certiorari cases, to bring the assessments down. Those strategies are beyond the reach of many homeowners. Because large plants like Chobanis are valued so much higher than homes, local coffers take a big hit when they win their appeals. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down many restaurants, hotels, malls, and other businesses, local leaders are worried there may be a new wave of such appeals that will further hammer their tax bases which are also suffering from declines in sales tax revenues. The worst of it could come next year after the pandemics economic impact can be more fully assessed. In the Capital Region, the Crossgates Mall cited COVID-19 as a factor in their ongoing effort to lower their valuation from $282 million to $143 million, which would halve their $7.5 million tax bill. The Macys department stores in both Crossgates and Colonie Center are seeking reductions on their store-owned properties too. The Colonie store, for example, wants their assessment to go from $11.8 million to $1 million. These appeals predate COVID-19. But the pandemic has added another argument for reductions. These cases cost homeowners real money since they have to make up the difference. In Waterford, the town just settled an appeal with the Momentive Performance Materials silicone factory, which will now be assessed at $90 million, down from its earlier value of $200 million. The company initially wanted it valued at $65 million but both parties came to an agreement this month, thus avoiding a protracted and costly court battle. The agreement though, will cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $400 annually in school taxes, which will now rise from $1,765 for schools going to $2,165, said Waterford-Halfmoon school Superintendent Patrick Pomerville. Everybody has to pick up the difference in the total tax bill, Pomerville said. Moreover, whats happening in Waterford and Columbus may be a precursor of things to come, given the fact that the assessments lag the reality on the ground. Property assessments are typically set on March 1, when the ownership and condition of property is verified. But the market value for the purposes of taxes is set at July 1. Making changes between March and July can be tricky. To lower the value, a property owner has to argue that a new permanent factor has come into play since March 1. Scott Shedler, president of the state Assessors Association, argues that the pandemic is a short-term interruption and shouldnt impact the permanent value of a business. But lawyers for properties such as Crossgates argue that pandemic has already changed their business outlook for the foreseeable future. Either way, observers expect a lot of tax appeals by businesses going forward. There will be a lag in assessment challenges and their impact on local tax bases, said Peter Baynes, executive director of the state Conference of Mayors. The taxable status date for most local governments is March 1, which in 2020 was immediately before the pandemic fully hit New York. Therefore, I would expect assessment challenges to have a significant impact on 2021 (and beyond) municipal budgets. This delayed impact is consistent with past recessions. Indeed, data from the state Department of Taxation and Finance shows a lot of appeals in 2009 and 2010, just after the 2008 financial crash. The number leveled off or fell after that. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Albany County, for instance, had 185 certioraris in 2010 compared to 80 in 2018. Saratoga County, where Momentive operates, went from 106 to 55 in that period and Schenectady went from 184 to 49. Rensselaer County went from 108 to 44 between 2010 and 2018. No matter what the future brings, big-dollar taxpayers like malls, silicone factories or yogurt plants will continue to have more wherewithal than the average homeowner when it comes to fighting their tax valuations. Chobani has used a national firm, Paradigm Tax Group, and specialized lawyers to contest their tax assessment. Their taxes are paid by a PILOT or Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement, said Grace. But the PILOT agreement, set by the county IDA, contained a clause that allows for the company to seek a reduction. Cases like this can quickly become complex and involve specialists who can explore every avenue for a reduction. One point of contention for example, is whether the series of silos at the yogurt plant should be viewed as real property or personal property. The argument for the lower-taxed personal property is they could be partially dis-assembled and moved. Such debates require lawyers arguing back and forth and engineering studies such as the $100,000 one that Columbus already did. They can wait us out forever, said Grace. Emails to Chobani, Paradigm and their lawyers were not returned last week. Advisors and lawyers who specialize in tax appeals are also developing new tactics, such as the dark store theory that is emerging in the courts, noted Mark LaVigne, deputy director of the state Association of Counties. Under that legal theory, a big box store such as a Walmart or Lowes could be valued at the same level as an empty store of the same square footage. The idea is to shift the taxable value away from the commerce it represents to the raw land, bricks and mortar in a given property. Thats has alarmed lawmakers enough to take action. The Assembly last winter passed a bill to prevent Dark Store assessments but it hasnt been picked up in the Senate. In another twist, the recent boom in upstate housing sales in places like the Catskills and Hudson Valley, fueled by people seeking refuge from the pandemic, could cause higher homeowner taxes. Thats because home assessments are based largely on the sales prices of comparable houses in a given neighborhood. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 13, 2020 / Noram Ventures Inc. ("Noram") (TSXV:NRM)(Frankfurt:N7R)(OTCPINK: NRVTF) is pleased to provide the locations of provisional drill holes for a Fall drill program on the Zeus lithium claystone property. The Fall drill program is designed to significantly expand the current resource size. From reconnaissance geological mapping and sampling, the favorable Esmeralda Formation claystone units are known to be present across the property, either at surface or under a thin veneer of alluvium. The current resource (>900 ppm cut-off) has a footprint of ~2.5 square kilometers, and the current drill program covers an additional ~2.5 square kilometers (see figure 1). Figure 1. Proposed drill hole locations for Fall drilling on eastern half of Zeus lithium property, Clayton Valley, Nevada. Albemarle's Silver Peak lithium evaporation ponds are immediately to the northwest, and Cypress Development's Dean lithium claystone deposit lies to the southwest. The footprint of the proposed drill holes is nearly equal to that of the current resources (0.75 million tonnes LCE as indicated resources, and 0.43 million tonnes LCE as inferred resources: see 2020-02-05 Noram Ventures news release). Noram's management is encouraged by the increased level of lithium exploration and development in Clayton Valley in 2020. President C. Tucker Barrie comments: "At Noram, we look forward to expanding our Zeus lithium claystone deposit with this Fall drill campaign. We see our neighbor Cypress Development with a new and expanded resource estimate for their claystone project next door, after posting a Pre-Feasibility Study earlier this year. We note that Pure Energy Minerals is advancing their lithium brine project immediately south of Albemarle's Silver Peak brine property. Clayton Valley has a sixty-year long history of producing lithium for the chemical and ceramics industries and now for the lithium ion battery and electric vehicle industries. We believe these projects have potential to continue this history of lithium production." Story continues The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by C. Tucker Barrie, Ph.D., P. Geo., who is a Qualified Person with respect to Noram's Clayton Valley Lithium Project as defined under National Instrument 43-101. About Noram Ventures Inc. Noram Ventures Inc. (TSX - Venture: NRM / Frankfurt: N7R / OTCPINK: NRVTF) is a Canadian based junior exploration company, with a goal of developing lithium deposits and becoming a low - cost supplier. The Company's primary business focus since formation has been the exploration of mineral projects. Noram's long term strategy is to build a multi-national lithium minerals company to produce and sell lithium into the markets of Europe, North America and Asia. Please visit our web site for further information: www.noramventures.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS /s/ "C. Tucker Barrie, Ph.D., P. Geo." President and CEO Office: (604) 553-2279 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding, among other things, the completion transactions completed in the Agreement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, regulatory approval processes. Although Noram believes that the assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, including that all necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained in a timely manner, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Noram disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Noram Ventures Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/601346/Noram-Provides-Proposed-Drill-Plan-on-Eastern-Half-of-Zeus-Lithium-Claystone-Property-Clayton-Valley-Nevada CLEVELAND, Ohio When Republican former Gov. John Kasich was floated as an idea for speaker at the Democratic National Convention, Ohios political circle met the pick with some skepticism. Ohioans largely grumbled at the thought of Kasich a politician with a conservative track record taking a speaking slot at what is supposed to be the keynote event highlighting Democrats before the onslaught of the final weeks of the campaign. Kasichs outright opposition to Republican President Donald Trump is seen as treasonous within the Ohio Republican Party. But Democrats largely remember Kasichs two-term rule, which was marked by conservative policies, including rolling back abortion access in the state and attempting unsuccessfully to weaken public employees collective bargaining rights. Just about everyone noticed his disinterest in being governor during his final two years in office, when he largely shifted focus to being a national figure a not-so-secret desire of his given his presidential run in 2016. Ohioans are bound to have solidified opinions on Kasich. He served eight years and was nakedly ambitious. So its unsurprising why his selection was met with befuddlement, especially when the state already has a popular statewide elected Democrat with broad appeal in Sen. Sherrod Brown. But Kasich is a national figure now, the de facto leader of the GOP diaspora who publicly criticize Trump the Never Trumpers with regular appearances as a talking head on CNN. Would he then, in theory, provide enough of a bump for former Vice President Joe Biden to appeal to the typically Republican suburbanites looking for permission to break rank and vote Democrat if only this one time? I will be speaking at the #DNC Convention because I believe that America needs to go in a different direction. I've searched my conscience and I believe the best way forward is for change - to bring unity where there has been division. And to bring about a healing in America. pic.twitter.com/sfnBGBF3kG John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 11, 2020 Kasich declined to speak with cleveland.com. Strategists, experts and politicos were mixed on what Kasich would actually bring to the DNC slate. Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said he liked the pick. Unlike some, Kasich has been anti-Trump from the start, Reid said, lending credibility to any pitch he makes against Trump through a Republican lens. Hes not there saying, Im a Democrat, Reid said. Hes there saying, Trump is bad for the Republican Party. I want him to lose and Im going to vote for Joe Biden to get rid of him. Reid, like others who spoke to cleveland.com, thought Kasichs main message would focus on the need for a return to functioning government. Thats been a linchpin of Kasichs political profile for the past three decades. As chair of the U.S. House Budget Committee, Kasich was one of the negotiators for the balanced budget in 1997, a significant feat given the partisanship in Congress. Ohioans have heard that refrain countless times. But T.J. Rooney, former chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said thats not the case for non-Buckeyes. To the average person to whom he is going to speak at the convention, theyre not worn out from him, Rooney said. And they want to see stuff happen. He embodies that in government when you work together good things come. Thats good. Thats fresh. Thats new. Al Cardenas, former chair of the Florida Republican Party and a vocal Trump critic, also said Kasichs appearance at the DNC has the chance to provide a unique perspective in a race thats been dominated by Biden and Trump. Any time you come forward against the nominee of your party, thats a big deal, Cardenas said. It also opens the door for others to follow suit. More importantly, youre trying the best you can if youre the Joe Biden campaign to add half a point here or a point there. As a Florida Republican, Cardenas has familiarity with a Republican governor breaking from his party on one of the largest political stages. In 2012, former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist spoke at the Democratic National Convention in favor of President Barack Obama. Cardenas said he doesnt know whether Crists appearance helped Obama carry Florida by less than a percentage point. But it apparently didnt hurt, he said. Can (Kasich) move a couple of points in a disaffected Republican base this cycle? Yes. Will he move 10% or 5% of the Republican vote? No. Thats not a logical goal, Cardenas said. Half a percent or 1% or 2% is huge in a state that usually decides its presidential election by a point or two. Crist, now a Democratic congressman, said he thinks he helped Obamas re-election campaign in Florida, even if only a little. But in close elections, every bit of support matters. I think thats going to have a profound impact on the race, even if it is just around the margins, Crist said. The margins matter. They mattered in 2016 and Im sure theyll matter in 2020. FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2016, file photo, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, left, and Donald Trump, right, speak to reporters after a Republican presidential primary debate in Manchester, N.H. Since Trump's election, Kasich has been the most frequent outspoken Republican critic of Trump. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)AP Kasichs potential to help along the margins of the race were a consistent theme among those who spoke with cleveland.com. Nobody thought Kasich would lead to a mass exodus of voters from Trump to Biden, but elections are won by convincing enough voters, not all of them. Take Michigan, where Trump beat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by fewer than 11,000 votes. Michael Traugott, University of Michigan political science professor, said Kasichs inclusion may help to convince enough voters, especially in the suburbs. This is a way for Biden, in effect, to attack one flank of Trump without having to do it personally, Traugott said. He can let Kasich deliver the message of the inadequacy of the Trump administration. I think that would appeal not only to independents, but also disaffected Republicans. Wisconsin is a similar case. Trump narrowly edged Clinton by fewer than 23,000 votes in 2016. There seems to be this appeal among Wisconsinites for political actors who are independent thinkers, said Kathy Cramer, political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His relative conservativeness and, yet, lack of support for President Trump probably will resonate with people who consider themselves conservative and arent thrilled with the state of the Republican Party today. Pennsylvania, the third of the Big Three that if Biden flips from 2016 would grant him the presidency, was also decided in favor of Trump by a slim 44,000-vote margin. Rooney, the former state Democratic Party chair, said Kasich provides conservative-leaning appeal to Bidens candidacy in places where Democrats struggle. Take Erie, Luzerne and Northampton counties, Rooney said. Those are the three counties that Hillary lost that Trump flipped from Obama four years prior. John Kasich could get elected to any office in any one of those three counties that he might ever seek. Still, there was a healthy amount of skepticism at what, if any, effect Kasichs speaking slot might have on voters. Ben Toll, political science professor at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., said he has a hard time seeing Kasichs speech being a significant factor in the election. The race is already well-defined and Kasich will be taking the stage the same night as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama, both hugely popular figures with dedicated followings. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a rising star in the party, will also speak Monday night. I dont see the conventions having a long lasting effect anyway, Toll said. Let alone when you bring someone in who is from the outside. I dont see the impact lasting. John Davis, a nonpartisan political analyst from North Carolina, said he was a big fan of Kasichs, but questioned whether people would even be interested in what Kasich has to say. It seems to me that this is a time in the history of our country where the John Kasichs are needed but the least likely time that they will be heard, Davis said. That is because of the partisan divide and the divide is being fueled by party leaders. Theres no interest in compromise. There is a partisan interest in only running over the other party. Chuck Coughlin, a longtime Republican strategist in Arizona, said Kasichs brand could potentially appeal to Arizona voters. The Southwestern state has a different perspective on the federal government considering its reliance upon it, so a good governance message tends to resonate. The state is also notable for politicians like former Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans who openly opposed Trump. But Coughlin questioned if the DNC was the right venue for the Biden campaign to utilize Kasichs message. Republicans are going to work overtime to paint the speeches as radical. I think everyone is saying it is the most progressive ticket in the Democratic Party, Coughlin said. Thats going to be the Republican narrative about these guys. Still, Coughlin did think Kasich was taking a big gamble by joining the list of speakers. Politics is a team sport, he said. You may not like the team and some of the players, but if you start arguing for the other team, youre a man without a country. Thats a really delicate walk to make. A previous version of this article mistakenly referenced John Harris instead of John Davis. It has been corrected. Read more politics coverage: A new campaign aims to oust Ohios top utilities regulator. Who is Sam Randazzo and how is he tied to FirstEnergy? Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose: no extra ballot drop boxes for November election Ohio politicians react to Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris as his running mate Never Trump groups look to flip Ohio for Joe Biden As many as 60 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) employees from a single platform at Bombay High have tested positive for Covid-19. Sources said the infected employees were being brought back to Mumbai and the management was contemplating closing the platform due to a large number of infected workers. However, ONGC has denied shutting down any platforms on the oil rig. ONGC said that it has been maintaining a stringent Covid-19 compliance operation system. Recently some employees of two offshore platforms (BHS and Neelam) have been found Covid positive, even though they have passed through a very stringent system of crew changeover procedure for over a month back when they had gone to the respective platforms, read a statement issued from ONGC. However, a source informed that atleast 60 workers were tested positive from BHS platform alone apart from Bedlam platform. Additionally, 31 of the ONGC workers had tested positive for Covid-19, last week. Most of them belonged to Neelam Complex offshore platform and were admitted to a Mahim-based hospital. A senior ONGC official said that during the lockdown, ONGC had picked up its crew from their vehicles up to the designated exclusive hotel near the hub-airports (in their respective cities) where they stayed in separate rooms before they flew to Mumbai. ONGC flew their employees and contractual staff travelled by special chartered aircraft were arranged for bringing the crew to Mumbai. After arriving in Mumbai, these crews were put in exclusive hotels in isolation. After five days of stay, their Covid-19 samples were collected by authorized labs and only after ensuring Covid negative results, they were again transported to Juhu helibase and were then flown to offshore installations. Similar actions are also being taken for the secondary workforce and contractual staff. This practice of crew change has been continued since then, said an ONGC official. The companys spokesperson said, It is pertinent to mention that due to the nature of the job and limited space on offshore installations, proximity is imperative in oil field operations. Despite that, because of adhering to stringent standard operating procedures, we have been successful in keeping our almost entire operation unaffected by the pandemic. However, some cases have surfaced in recent times. Particularly, the prevalent asymptomatic cases have made the situation more challenging. Some cases have surfaced after more than a month of crew joining the duties at installations. Therefore, it is very difficult to trace the origin of such infections The crude oil and gas corporation, however, denied shutting down its operation at any of the affected platforms and emphasized that the infected workers were both permanent and contractual. The spokesperson said that effective crew management is being done to ensure the safety of employees and the workforce who tested positive have been brought to the base and are being provided with required medical care and treatment. A plastic sheet has been recently placed to mark partition between the cockpit and the passenger area in helicopters that have been ferrying the Covid-19 positive patients. However, few pilots have raised concerns over their health. A retired helicopter pilot said, A helicopter is not designed like an aircraft to have no contact with any passenger. Hence pilots worrying for themselves while flying the infected is justified. However, the use of PPE surely helps reduce the stress of being infected by Covid-19 Yep, that's it. The title of this announcement from the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas is "Drug-Dealing, White Supremacist Stripper Sentenced for Obstruction of Justice." Here is the entire perfect press release from the DoJ: TEXARKANA, Texas A 28-year-old Dallas, Texas, man has been sentenced for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today. On March 6, 2020, a federal jury found Collin Garrett Hayden guilty of obstruction of justice, and he pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon in jail before the trial began. He was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III. According to information presented in court, in 2016, law enforcement began an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking from Dallas into East Texas. During the investigation, police intercepted Hayden and his roommate on an undercover recording offering to sell drugs to another individual. Further investigation revealed Hayden sold cocaine in the Dallas strip clubs in which he performed, and additionally sold methamphetamine to a Shreveport, Louisiana buyer. When Hayden learned of his pending federal charges, he turned on his roommate and threatened to kill him. Hayden later described his plan to have the roommate killed by members of Hayden's white supremacist prison gang. While in custody at the Titus County jail, Hayden obtained a shank-type weapon and threatened to kill any guards who entered his cell, all in retaliation for a guard reporting Hayden for attempting to illegally obtain a cell phone by bribe. Hayden was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 19, 2017, and charged with federal violations. The case was investigated by the Mount Pleasant office of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan R. Hornok and Donald Carter. HILLSBORO The Bank of Hillsboro, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, has donated $5,000 to Imagine Hillsboros Back to School Drive. The money will be used to supply children with clothing and new shoes for the upcoming school year. This will be Imagine Hillsboros fourth year holding the free clothing shop and we knew going into this year that we would be facing a lot of obstacles, said Back to School Committee member Pacey Collins. We were worried about being able to fund the shop, she said. We had resigned ourselves to the reality that we might have to turn some students away when we learned that the Bank of Hillsboro was going to make a $5,000 donation to the Back to School Shop. Well have enough to make sure that each student leaves the store better equipped to face whatever challenges await them in the upcoming school year. We are so grateful for the banks generosity. Bank of Hillsboro was able to offer the donation after applying for a $20,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The bank is offering a COVID-19 Relief Program consisting of zero-rate advances and grants to support all of its member institutions, such as Bank of Hillsboro, and the communities they serve. Bank of Hillsboro Senior Vice President and Head of Deposit Operations, Jason Miller, said that after recognizing the need in the communities they serve, they decided to apply for the grant and were thrilled when they received it. Were distributing a total of $20,000 to six different local nonprofits throughout our service area, said Miller. Imagine Hillsboro is a perfect example of a local nonprofit that has such a big heart for helping those in the community who need extra support right now, and there is nothing more gratifying than being able to stop by and tell them were giving them a donation that will hopefully help ensure hundreds of kids have a good start to the school year. Imagine Hillsboro was created as part of the MAPPING the Future of Your Community program, part of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. It takes a proactive approach towards revitalizing Hillsboro through community planning and economic development. Bank of Hillsboro is a 150-year-old bank headquartered in Hillsboro with additional locations in Alhambra, Altamont, Carlyle, Edwardsville, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Keyesport, Pana, Staunton and Vandalia. For more details, visit www.bankhillsboro.com or call 618-656-5804. We have stopped. No more removals in Montana, said David Rupert in an email. Rupert is manager of USPS Western Area Corporate Communications, based in Colorado. The boxes across the street from Testers office were duplicates. There are still boxes there. The list of 13 boxes isnt public info so I wont be sharing. The removal plan came to light Thursday after an order to remove 13 drop boxes in Missoula was leaked. Another order for the removal of five additional Missoula boxes was revealed Friday. Of the Missoula drop boxes, Rupert said low use determined which boxes were to be removed. In each case, residences and businesses can still send letters by leaving them in their personal mailbox for pickup. But neighbors said they preferred the security of the big blue drop box when it came to mailing important things like bills, and election ballots. 'Really?' The box at 225 W. Broadway, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Woody, is across the street from the Missoula County Courthouse and at the end of a block of stores, restaurants and a law office. Memorial services for former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu were held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and his home province of Thanh Hoa on August 15 afternoon. browser not support iframe. The memorial services was held at 12:30pm, August 15, at the National Funeral House, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi. The funeral ceremony started at 2pm on the same day at Mai Dich Cemetery, Hanoi. At the same time, memorial services also took place at the Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City and Hall 25B, Quang Trung Street, Thanh Hoa City, Thanh Hoa Province, Mr. Phieu's hometown. The memorial services started at 12:30 at the National Funeral Hall at No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi, with the participation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, permanent member of the Party Central Committees Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man. Former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former Presidents Tran Duc Luong and Truong Tan Sang, and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, among others, were also present at the ceremony. The memorial ceremony began at 12.30pm. Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Head of the Funeral Organizing Committee administered the memorial service. The family of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Photo: VOV According to Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, 946 delegations with more than 11,000 people paid tribute to former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Thanh Hoa. Many international friends, diplomatic delegations and international organizations sent condolences to the Party, State and the family of the former Party leader. Delivering the eulogy at the ceremony in Hanoi, PM Phuc said comrade Le Kha Phieu was an eminent and prestigious leader of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, and a loyal Party member who had devoted his lifetime to national independence and reunification, and socialism, for happiness of people, and international missions. Recalling the life and career of the late leader, the PM said in any circumstances and positions, comrade Phieu had overcome all difficulties and hardships to outstandingly fulfil his assigned tasks. PM Phuc highlighted comrade Phieus role as commander of the battles against the genocidal regime in Cambodia. As Party General Secretary, comrade Phieu had always played the pioneer role, protected the Partys unity and solidarity, and put the interests of the Party and the nation first. He was respected and loved by comrades and the people, and respected by international friends, the PM said. The late Party leaders son Le Minh Dien expressed thanks to incumbent and former leaders of the Party, State, Government and Vietnam Fatherland Front, officials of agencies, organisations and localities, foreign officials, international friends, the people and relatives for their sympathy. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on behalf of the National Funeral Organizing Committee, delivers the eulogy. The late Party leaders son Le Minh Dien expressed his gratitude to leaders of the Party, State, agencies, departments, branches, and international delegations who paid tribute to the former Party leader The late leaders coffin, wrapped in the national flag, was then moved out of the National Funeral Hall to the Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi. At the end of the memorial service, leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government, Vietnam Fatherland Front and former Party, State leaders, delegations, international organizations walked around the coffin to say goodbye to the former Party leader the last time. Former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu's coffin was moved from the memorial hall to the funeral car. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stood on both sides of the coffin while it was moving from the memorial hall to the funearl car. The coffin of the former Party leader was placed on the funeral car. The ceremonial team covered it with a national flag and put it into a glass box. The funeral cars slowly left the National Funeral House. Photo: Pham Hai People stood along some Hanoi's streets to say goodbye to former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu After passing through the inner city streets, the convoy took the remains of General Secretary Le Kha Phieu to Mai Dich cemetery. The funeral finished at 2.25pm at Mai Dich Cemetery. Photo Pham Hai The burial service was held at 14:00 the same day at the Mai Dich Cemetery. A view of the burial service (Photo: VNA) Incumbent and former Party and State leaders at the burial service (Photo: VNA) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other senior officials offer incense to former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu at the burial service (Photo: VNA) Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh speaks at the burial service (Photo: VNA) Honour guards cover the Former Party Leader Le Kha Phieu's grave with wreaths (Photo: VNA) Honour guards cover former Party Leader Le Kha Phieu's grave (Photo: VNA) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other incumbent and former Party and State senior officials throw flowers over the casket, bidding last farewell to former Party Leader Le Kha Phieu (Photo: VNA) Mourners throw flowers over the casket, bidding last farewell to former Party Leader Le Kha Phieu (Photo: VNA) Mourners throw flowers over the casket, bidding last farewell to former Party Leader Le Kha Phieu (Photo: VNA) Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh offers condolences to former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieus family at the burial service (Photo: VNA) From August 14-15, nearly 950 delegations with around 11,000 people have paid homage to the former Party General Secretary at the National Funeral Hall, the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City, and the 25B Hall on Quang Trung street, Thanh Hoa city, Thanh Hoa province. Nearly 30 diplomatic corps and international organisations, along with Party and State delegations of Laos and Cambodia also came to pay their respect to the late leader. Meanwhile, other foreign leaders and friends sent messages of condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State and people and the family of the deceased over the past days. Former Party General Secretary Phieu passed away at 2.52am on August 7 at his home. Over the course of his more than 70 years of revolutionary activities, comrade Phieu made substantial contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. He was awarded a Golden Star, an insignia for 70 years of Party membership, and many other Vietnamese and international orders and medals. During the two-day national mourning on August 14-15, national flags were flown at half-mast at offices and public places, and recreational and entertainment activities were stopped. VietNamNet Rong Village and unforgettable memories about former Party Chief Le Kha Phieu Houses have put up national flags. Incense sticks have been quietly lit on ancestral altars. Rong Villages people are grieving after hearing about the passing of former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Sun Weidong, Chinese ambassador to India on Saturday extended greetings to India on 74th Independence Day and said both countries must strive to prosper together in peace and develop a close partnership. Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong on Saturday extended greetings to India on 74th Independence Day and said both countries must strive to prosper together in peace and develop a close partnership. Sun tweeted congratulations to the Indian government & people on Independence Day 2020. He added that he wishes China & India, two great nations with ancient civilization prosper together in peace and develop with closer partnership. On Friday, the Chinese Embassy had issued a magazine titled China-India Review urging India to stop all provocative acts to ensure that such incidents will not occur again, months after the clashes at the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh between the two sides left 20 Indian soldiers dead and said the two sides need to build trust rather than suspicion. Also read: Independence Day 2020 Highlights: PM Modi bats for Atmanirbhar Bharat Also read: Nepal PM Oli wishes PM Modi on Indias 74th Independence Day Sun said that they urged the Indian side to conduct a thorough investigation, hold the violators accountable, strictly discipline the frontline troops and immediately stop all provocative acts to ensure such incidents would not occur again. He said there are ups and downs in any relationship and China-India ties should move forward rather than backward. Sun said that in any relationship, there are ups and downs, the recent border issue and the unfortunate incident between China and India should not detract from the forward-looking vision of the bilateral partnership charted by our two leaders, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the two countries need peace rather than confrontation. The envoy wrote that China and India need to build trust rather than suspicion, they need to respect and accommodate mutual core interests and major concerns and adhere to the principle of non-interference in each others internal affairs. China and India need peace rather than confrontation. We should take a long-range view and not allow our differences to become disputes. China and India need to find a fair and reasonable solution to the boundary question, which is mutually acceptable. Pending an ultimate settlement, we should renew our pledge to work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, he said. The statement comes after Indian Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri on Friday met Major General Ci Guowei, Director of Office of International Military Cooperation of Central Military Commission, China, and briefed him on Indias stance on the situation in eastern Ladakh and overall bilateral relations, the Indian Embassy in China said in a tweet. Earlier this month, India and China held Major General-level talks at Daulat Beg Oldi area to discuss disengagement by the Chinese side along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector, said Indian Army sources. The Chinese are sitting near the Finger 5 and Gogra post in Eastern Ladakh and are refusing to disengage completely from there. India has demanded complete disengagement of the Chinese troops at the earliest. India has also deployed more than 15,000 troops there along with heavy deployment of armoured regiments to counter any possible Chinese thrust. The Chinese have also come there with several armoured regiments. India and China have held five rounds of Lieutenant General-level talks between them for disengagement from the eastern Ladakh sector but not much success has been achieved in that direction. The two countries have been engaged in a standoff in the Eastern Ladakh sector for the past few weeks. Also read: Pompeo wishes Happy Independence Day to India Glass half empty: Italy, France seek premium wine output cut as virus hits sales FILE PHOTO: Brunello di Montalcino's red wine bottles are displayed in a wine shop of Tuscan town of Montalcino By Silvia Ognibene and Dominique Vidalon FLORENCE/PARIS (Reuters) - Leading producers Italy and France are looking to slash premium wine output from the upcoming harvest to shore up prices after the coronavirus pandemic hammered sales and led to a glut of stock. In Italy domestic demand for wine is expected to fall by almost a third after lockdown forced the closure of hotels, restaurants and wine bars for months, and with tourists still all but absent. Exports have also fallen and wine makers fear a loss of around 1 billion euros this year, or 9% of total sales. Rome, aiming for a production cut of around 5% compared to last year, has earmarked 100 million euros ($119 million) to compensate vintners who throw away between 15% and 50% of their grapes, but wine makers' associations say take-up is likely to exceed the available funds. For bottles classified as higher quality, such as Chianti Classico and Prosecco, growers can get 1,100 euros per hectare of land on which the grape harvest is partly destroyed. Some high-end consortia, like that producing Brunello di Montalcino, which sells for up to 200 euros a bottle, have set their own production quotas. Brunello growers have agreed to a 12.5% reduction in output for the upcoming harvest, with an industry source saying they had only sold half of their 2020 target. Applications for compensation must be made by August 10. "The 100 million euros earmarked by the government will certainly not be enough," Luca Pollini, chairman of the Avito association of high-end Tuscan wine makers, told Reuters. Tuscany also this week put on the table 6 million euros to help wine makers build extra storage space, but Pollini said a lot of vintners would rather throw away their grapes. The region alone already had excess stock equivalent to around 2 million bottles of wine from the previous harvest, he said. LESS FIZZ Overall, France expects wine output to rise by 6-8% this year but the harvest of champagne grapes which starts this month is set to be smaller than last year - though champagne houses and growers have yet to agree by how much. Story continues Champagne producers' group CIVC estimates that as many as 100 million bottles will go unsold this year, with turnover down by more than 1.7 billion euros. Its data shows that more than one billion bottles are piled up in champagne cellars, representing several years of potential sales. The Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC), which promotes the interests of major Champagne houses including LVMH's Moet & Chandon and Dom Perignon, wants the maximum yield for the 2020 harvest to drop by up to 40% compared to last year. However, growers - who will not be compensated for destroying their grapes - do not want to cut their yield by more than 17%, according to local media reports. UMC Chairman Jean-Marie Bailliere declined to comment on the negotiations but told Reuters he was confident a deal would be struck at a meeting scheduled for Aug. 18. Rome and Paris have also set money aside for producers who distil surplus wine into alcohol for use in hand sanitisers and perfumes, and France this week topped up financial support for growers to 250 million euros, saying cash needs were "pressing". The country's wine industry was already hurting as U.S. tariffs, part of a wider trade dispute between Washington and the European Union, curbed exports. Italian wines have not been subject to the tariffs but officials said fears that could change had boosted exports to the United States earlier this year, inflating stocks and depressing prices. "The weather has been favourable this year so the harvest should be good but the question for growers is whether they can sell their bottles at the right price," said Ottavio Cagiano de Azevedo, director general of the Federvini wine association. (Additional reporting and writing by Silvia Aloisi; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Kotoko International Airport will soon reopen after it was closed to all international passenger flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Per information available to Kweku Baako Jnr international flights will start flying in from 1st September 2020. The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, who was speaking on Joy FM's Newsfile programme, Saturday said his sources at the presidency claim it is only the airports that will be opened not the borders i.e land and sea. Ghana borders closed Ghanas international land, air, and sea borders were closed to human traffic on 21st March 2020. On May 31, 2020, President Akufo-Addo extended the closure of the borders to human traffic until further notice. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/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 With the successful launch and return of SpaceX's Crew Dragon in May, space travel is getting closer to becoming a reality for the average person. But spending extended periods outside Earth's gravity can have serious health consequences, including bone decalcification, muscle atrophy, and decreased oxygen to the brain. Astronauts in microgravity are also susceptible to Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), a condition associated with blurry vision, headaches, and seeing spots. Now a savvy young engineer has developed 'a mobile gravity suit' that could help future space jockeys fend off those deleterious effects. The suit uses portable vacuum system that applies negative pressure, shifting blood flow to the lower body and generating ground-reaction forces to preserve bone and muscle density. Scroll down for video Neeki Ashari, a graduate bioengineering student at University of California San Diego, designed her 'mobile gravity suit' while interning at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute. The trousers are fully equipped with their own portable vacuum system, pressure and thermal control system, safety shut-off system, and spinal loading system Neeki Ashari, a graduate bioengineering student at University of California San Diego, designed the space-age slacks while interning at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute in La Jolla. Ashari scored two NASA grants for her project, and assistance from Alan Hargens, director of UC-San Diego's Orthopaedic Clinical Physiology Lab and former chief of the space physiology department at NASA's Ames Research Center. 'We designed and developed the mobile gravity suit in the form of wearable trousers,' the pair detailed in a new report in Frontiers in Physiology. ' '[It's] fully equipped with its own portable vacuum system, pressure and thermal control system, safety shut-off system, and spinal loading system.' A portable vacuum system in the suit applies negative pressure, shifting blood flow to the lower body and generating ground-reaction forces to preserve bone and muscle density. 'Once space travel becomes commercialized, this device may ensure the health of future civilian space travelers,' Ashari said Here on Earth, we rely on gravity to provide resistance. Our body weight GRFs under our feet as we move. In space, though, there's no external resistance and bones are more prone to breaks and fractures. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station use treadmills and other exercise to simulate GRFs. But they only generate a fraction of what we get on Earth. Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) chambers do better, but they require users to remain stationary for hours at a time. And they're too cumbersome to be included on missions outside Earth's orbit. Ashari's pants allow a free range of motion and generate far greater GRFs than a standard LBNP chamber. 'The mobile gravity suit is a small, untethered, and flexible intravehicular activity (IVA) suit,' its creators write. 'This trouser-like suit is designed for astronauts to comfortably wear and begin applying the LBNP technique without reducing crew time.' Made of an airtight yet breathable Hyprotex fabric, the pants' exoskeleton envelops the user from the waist down, including their feet, maintaining the pressure and regulating temperature and humidity. Last year, the first all-female space walk was delayed because NASA couldn't find enough spacesuits to fit the women's bodies. Pictured are astronauts Jessica Meir, left, and Christina Koch pose for a photo in the International Space Station after the first all-female spacewalk that was delayed the first time due to spacesuit issues Last year, the first all-female space walk was delayed because NASA couldn't find enough spacesuits to fit the women's bodies. Ashari had the opposite problem with her gravity 'trousers': Their tailored volume limited sizing, meaning her test subjects were all women. When they're actually produced, Ashari says, the suits will be custom designed for each astronaut's biometrics. For commercial use, though, she foresees five different sizes: XS, SM, M, L, and XL. 'Once space travel becomes commercialized, this device may ensure the health of future civilian space travelers,' the report reads. 'It is important to develop effective devices, like the mobile gravity suit, that simulate the very conditions our bodies on Earth depend on.' Thousands more sales were made every week than before Covid-19 lockdown The stamp duty cut has added 30,000 to an average property's asking price with sales up by 20 per cent as Britons battle to buy homes before the six-month holiday ends. Thousands more sales were made every week than before the coronavirus lockdown, according to Bank of England statistics. It follows Chancellor Rishi Sunak raising the threshold on stamp duty last month from 125,000 to 500,000 for those buying homes in England and Northern Ireland until March 31 next year. The move was part of the Chancellor's crucial Covid-19 recovery package, giving buyers a six-month 'holiday' from paying the charge on most homes in a bid to kickstart the market and aide the recovery of the UK economy. Between 27 March and 13 May, thousands more sales were made every week than before the coronavirus lockdown, according to Bank of England statistics (file photo) Data shows the rise has particularly affected the north of England and Wales, with central London being the only area where asking prices are falling. But experts have warned the property market could crash towards the end of this year, with the current surge in sales possibly down to delays from lockdown and agreements made in advance of 2021. Pablo Shah, a senior economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, told The Times: 'We anticipated a 6 per cent rise in property transactions as a result of the stamp duty cut. 'The figures we see here are probably this plus sales which were delayed as result of the lockdown and those that are being brought forward from next year. What are the changes to stamp duty announced by Rishi Sunak? From July 8 until March 31 2021, buyers in England and Northern Ireland will pay no stamp duty on the first 500,000 of their purchase when they move home. The measure, which temporarily increases the 'nil rate' band of stamp duty from 125,000 to 500,000, will reduce the average stamp duty bill for a main home from 4,500 to zero. Buyers can potentially save up to 15,000. If you buy a property over 500,000 amount, then you can still save money and can take off 15,000 what you would have paid prior to the announcement. Buy-to let investors and people looking to purchase a second home will also benefit from the changes. But it has also been suggested that some sellers may now be tempted to put their asking prices up due to the tax savings that buyers will be making. Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland and people usually pay the tax on homes priced above 125,000. Advertisement 'The stamp duty cut is propping up the market this summer but it won't be sufficient to negate the effect of the end of the furlough scheme and mortgage payment deferrals later this year which is why we still believe that property prices will fall towards the end of the year and into next year.' The stamp duty cut, which temporarily increases the 'nil rate' band of stamp duty from 125,000 to 500,000, will reduce the average stamp duty bill for a main home from 4,500 to zero. It means buyers can potentially save up to 15,000. If you buy a property over 500,000 amount, then you can still save money and can take off 15,000 what you would have paid prior to the announcement. Property experts said the step could encourage some 'missing movers' back to the market. On the housing market, Mr Sunak said property transactions fell by 50 per cent in May and house prices had fallen for the first time in eight years. Aneisha Beveridge, Head of Research at Hamptons International, earlier said: 'The introduction of the stamp duty holiday has given a further boost to the housing market which was already showing strong signs of recovery even before its introduction. 'The number of people looking to buy a home has risen across every region in Great Britain since the announcement, with Southern areas recording the biggest increase. 'It's in these regions, where house prices tend to be higher, that buyers stand to gain the most from the holiday.' She added: 'But perhaps contrary to expectations, it's Northern markets which have performed most strongly. 'Price growth across the North has lagged significantly behind that of the South over the last decade, and with more capacity for prices to rise, perhaps this year will mark a turning point. It also demonstrates that there are longer-term factors influencing the market too.' Homebuyers rushed online to look for their next home within half an hour of the Chancellor's immediate stamp duty cut. Rightmove reported a 22 per cent jump in traffic to its site within 30 minutes of Rishi Sunak confirming the cut in his mini-Budget on July 8. The property search website said the cut would produce savings of up to 15,000 in some regions of the country. Deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Minnesota peaked at the end of May, nearly three months ago (see the deaths data table at the MDH Situation Update for COVID-19). The authorities have nevertheless regularly warned us that deaths are a lagging indicator. According to the authorities, deaths would ramp up again in light of an increased number of new cases, among other things. Yesterday, for example, the authorities attributed 8 new deaths to the epidemic and six of the 8 occurred among residents of long-term care facilities. As the old (Vietnam) antiwar crowd used to urge, we can declare victory and withdraw. War is over if you want it, but they dont want it. Its almost enough to make an auditor of average intelligence wonder if they know what theyre talking about. Unfortunately, no recent question at the press briefings conducted by the Department of Health has explored the issue. The relative inanity of the briefings continues unabated. Kevin Roche reviews yesterdays proceedings here. At about 21:00 of the audio recording below, Minnesota News Networks Bill Werner asked how Minnesota compares to its neighbors. Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann and state epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield were on hand to respond. They provided numbers comparing Minnesota (favorably) with Illinois and Michigan. How about any state that actually neighbors Minnesota? Lynfield didnt quite get there in her response to Werner. Werner followed up with a question about Wisconsin. Answer: we dont compare favorably she gave the numbers but that might be because of our superior number crunching. Really. Kevin adds: [N]one of Minnesotas actual neighboring states has worse statistics than ours, so I can understand your eagerness to go several hundred miles to the east to find one. But wait! Kevin has more: [Y]ou may have wanted to think that through more carefully; Michigan and Illinois are a troubling comparison. Both states had earlier and stricter lockdowns than Minnesota did, including much earlier mask mandates. So tell us, oh great and powerful Oz, how in those circumstances did they end with worse epidemic statistics than Minnesota? Kevin separately reviews a study of lockdowns here. Kevin links to a new paper on lockdowns sponsored by the OECD. In an email to me last night Kevin noted: Very credible set of researchers, obviously a credible sponsor. Basically said the primary reason lockdowns were ordered was herd mentality among governments, not a rational response to the situation in a particular country. Let me add one more time that those conducting these briefings should identify the COVID-19 comoribid conditions and warn those with such conditions to take precautionary measures. They could then set the rest of us free to look after ourselves, if only they didnt prefer one-man rule. Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus company is joining with Meals on Wheels Dundalk in appealing for contributions for the vulnerable, elderly and housebound in the area. In a novel appeal, people are being invited to donate non-perishable food and to leave it in a Bus Eireann bus which will be for the day in Dundalk bus station on The Long Walk, on Thursday from 10am to 6pm with the intention of filling it from top to bottom with donations from the public. 'Bus Eireann are very proud to support the Dundalk Meals on Wheels service at a time when it is so badly needed' said Sales Executive for Bus Eireann, Michael Colleran. ' COVID-19 has brought immense challenges to the Meals on Wheels service, making it difficult for the team to not only deliver the meals, but also to collect the donations which are so badly needed to keep this essential service operating. 'Bus Eireann carry over two million passengers in the North East every year, if even a small portion of these people come out to donate, we will succeed in this challenge.' Meals on Wheels have been running since 1972 in Dundalk and support over 80 people in the locality every day. They suggest bringing non-perishable goods for donation to 'Fill the Bus' such as: tea, coffee, powdered custard, tins of fruit, creamed rice, gravy granules, stock cubes, cooking oil as well as useful household products such as tin foil, Brillo pads, washing up liquid, disinfectant spray and disposable gloves. 'Bus Eireann connects people to who and what matters to them and we see this campaign as an extension of this connection within our community here in Dundalk,' continued Michael Colleran, 'Together with our media partner LMFM we are asking you to please come and join us in the Bus Eireann station and help us 'Fill a Bus' for those in need.' 'We would like to thank Bus Eireann for partnering with us on this campaign,' said John Hennessy of Meals on Wheels, Dundalk. 'These vital donations will be going directly to the people who need them and we are continually grateful to the people of Dundalk, supporting the most vulnerable in our society.' Walk into any branch of Boots and chances are that the pharmacy's own-brand anti-viral hand foam will be on prominent display. Hand sanitiser is today's must-have item, products are flying off the shelves and Boots is still limiting sales because of high demand. All hand-cleansers are not created equal, however. Many only work for a short period, some are anti-bacterial, so are not guaranteed to have an impact on the coronavirus, and most are alcohol-based, which can irritate the skin, especially for people with conditions such as eczema. Rash move: Many sanitisers are being withdrawn as they are irritants or ineffective, but Byotrols are used by the NHS Boots foam is long-lasting, works on both viruses and bacteria and is alcohol-free. It is produced by Byotrol, a fast-growing AIM-listed company based in Chester. Byotrol shares are 5.9p and have risen sharply since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted. But there is plenty more mileage in the stock, as attitudes towards hygiene shift and regulations tighten across the sanitisation sector. The industry is vast. According to independent consultants, global sales of antiviral and anti-bacterial products total about 50billion a year including sprays for kitchen counters, office worktops, factory production lines and hospitals. Byotrol operates within a small slice of that market, but its products are backed by rigorous scientific research and highly regarded by customers such as Boots, the NHS and Rentokil. Rigour is increasingly important in today's environment. US regulations have been extremely tight for years. Now the European Union and the UK are catching up, imposing restrictions on ingredients that may aggravate the skin, harm the environment or make exaggerated claims about their efficacy. Several firms have already had to withdraw products from the market. Others are expected to follow. Byotrol is well placed to benefit in this climate. Chief executive David Traynor studied geography at Oxford and spent the early part of his career in banking, but he has surrounded himself with high-calibre scientists and invests heavily in research and development. That means Byotrol scores well with regulators and customers. In America, for instance, Byotrol was the first company to obtain regulatory approval for a long-lasting germ-killing spray, Byotrol 24. Procter & Gamble subsequently launched a rival, but Byotrol was there first and the spray is so popular that it has temporarily sold out in the US market. Most of Traynor's sales are in the UK, however, and here the company focuses on four areas hand sanitisers, workplace cleaning goods, sprays used in GP surgeries and hospitals, and animal health products. Just as in the US, demand has been soaring across the board. Every company knows they have to ensure workspaces are as germ-free as possible so that employees can feel safe as they return to the office or manufacturing site. Surgeries, care homes and hospitals are more intent than ever on maintaining strict hygiene. Even pet owners are becoming more conscious of animal health. Byotrol sells sprays that disinfect areas where pets have been and eliminate odours from dog baskets and such like. Vets use Byotrol disinfectant to make sure their surfaces are clean at all times. The group even makes lavender-based shampoo for the retail group Pets at Home so pooches can smell sweet and stay germ-free. Byotrol also produces its own brand of hand sanitiser, Invirtu, which is also alcohol-free and a big hit with specialist retailers. Byotrol's financial year runs to March 31 and audited figures will be published in a few weeks'. Over the past few months, however, Traynor has issued three buoyant trading updates, each one prompting an upgrade in stockbrokers' forecasts. Analysts now expect turnover of 6million for the year to March 2020 coupled with a small loss, as surplus cash was ploughed back into the business. For the current year, sales of 11.5million are forecast, alongside profits of 1.5million. Looking ahead, group prospects are bright. Tougher regulations are curbing supplies of sanitisation products, while Covid-19 has provoked a step-change in demand. Byotrol has fared well with policymakers to date and is looking at environmentally friendly products for the future, such as cleaning solutions using seaweed, which apparently has antiviral properties. There are even suggestions that insurers might insist on certain approved products being used in workplaces, before offering policies to business customers. Midas verdict: Byotrol has made strong progress this year but the best is yet to come. Traynor has established a strong board too, a six-person team including an ex-AstraZeneca vice-president and two former senior directors from Unilever. At 5.9p, Byotrol shares are a buy. Traded on: AIM Ticker: BYOT Contact: byotrolplc.com or 01925 742000 Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to members of the National Cadet Corps, a youth wing of Armed Forces for school and college students, dressed in the colours of the Indian national flag, as he leaves after giving a speech to the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort monument on Independence Day in New Delhi. (Image: AP) The US Postal Service has sent warnings to 46 states that it may not be able to deliver their ballots on time for the November election, as Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, blasted the Trump-appointed postmaster general. Former president Barack Obama escalated the Democratic response to the mail slow-down on Friday, accusing President Donald Trump of trying to actively kneecap the Postal Service to suppress the vote. The nations mayors said Saturday that safe voting, including vote-by-mail must be a national priority. The Postal Services inspector general said Friday shes opened an investigation into complaints by Democrats about cuts to mail services that have slowed delivery of mail and may imperil vote-by-mail operations. The vast majority of states are set to allow mail-in voting in response to the coronavirus pandemic, even as Trump condemns the practice almost daily, saying its rife with fraud, though theres no evidence that is the case. Trump and his wife have requested mail-in ballots for Floridas primary election, which is Tuesday, CNN reported. Obama, whos rarely spoken out against his successor since leaving office, pointed to Trumps recent remarks linking his opposition to $25 billion in emergency postal funding to his fears about mail-in ballots. Trump has also said he wont approve a request for $3.5 billion for election resources. Thats sort of unheard of, right? Obama said in an interview with his former adviser, David Plouffe, on his Campaign HQ podcast. On Twitter, Obama urged people to vote early in states where thats an option. Voting in some states opens in mid-September. On Thursday, Trump said that not approving a financial lifeline for the postal service sought by Democrats would mean that you cant have universal mail-in voting, because theyre not equipped to have it. Congressional Democrats on Friday asked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a large donor to Trump and other Republicans, to provide more information on cutbacks he ordered at the Postal Service last month. In a letter, they said the service seemed to be reversing a longstanding policy of prioritizing election-related mail. The Postal Service should not make changes that slow down the mail or in any way compromise service for veterans, small businesses, rural communities, seniors, and millions of Americans who rely on the mail -- including significant numbers of people who will be relying on the Postal Service to exercise their right to vote, wrote Pelosi and five other top Democrats. Representative Bill Pascrell, a Democrat from New Jersey, went further. He asked that his states attorney general launch a grand jury investigation to consider criminal indictments against Trump and DeJoy for the subversion of New Jersey state elections. On Friday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he would order the November general election to be conducted mostly through the mail in a state that was one of the early US coronavirus hot spots. The escalation in the dispute came after the Postal Service warned election officials in 46 states and the District of Columbia that state deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots were incongruous with the Postal Services delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them, USPS lawyer Thomas Marshall said in letters released Friday under the Freedom of Information Act. The Postal Service says voters and election officials should allow at least seven days for a ballot to go through the mail. By that standard, more than 20 states would not leave enough time for even a one-way mailing, according to state laws compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Because many states require a voter to first request an absentee ballot by mail, the back-and-forth mailings could take 15 days or more, depending on the class of mail. The Postal Service changes and the Trump administrations decision to withhold funding is alarming and should be of grave concern to us all, particularly with the general election only months away, Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on Saturday. Fischer, a Democrat, is president of the nonpartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors. On Friday, Pennsylvania officials cited the USPS letter in a request for a judge to extend the deadline for the state to accept mail-in ballots, which is currently Election Day. The Postal Services announcement represents a significant change to the outlook for voting by mail in the general election, the state said in a legal filing. But prior to the letter, the Postal Service had not indicated the likelihood of widespread, continuing, multiple-day mail-delivery delays presenting an overwhelming, statewide risk of disenfranchisement for significant numbers of voters utilizing mail-in ballots. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said her state was prepared to handle the election. She said ballots were sent out three weeks in advance, and voters could either put them in drop boxes or leave them at voting centers. Colorados election model is well situated to handle both the delivery and return of mail ballots, Griswold said in a statement. Starting eight days before an election we encourage voters to use one of these two options rather than the mail to ensure their ballot is received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. WESTON With the district set to reopen in the coming weeks, the Board of Education reviewed the administrations proposed hybrid model for reopening on Thursday. At this point, all in this region are opening up hybrid, Superintendent William Mckersie said. Thats our strong recommendation, looking as we get into October to considering a full-day hybrid and keeping an eye on a full reopening. Mckersie said a phased approach was key to maintain the states low COVID rates as compared with the rest of the nation. Health had to be a primary concern, he said, in addition to academic learning and social and emotional learning because of the pandemic. Were in this situation with schooling because of public health, because of medical concerns, so that has to be our first concern, Mckersie said. At the middle school and high school level, students would be split into two cohorts alphabetically with each group alternating days for in-person learning in the morning. The second half of the day would see students engage in distance learning. This truly is a hybrid, Weston Middle School Principal Dan Doak said. Theres an option for everybody to attend both in-person classes in the morning every other day, or afternoon distance learning every day for everybody. Doak said the model helps the district avoid having to implement a lunch period, which would be challenging given the number of students and social distancing requirements. At the elementary level, students would be split into two groups alphabetically with each group alternating days for in-person learning in the morning. Board members questioned safety protocols put into place for students, including social distancing and having lunch in the classroom. BOE member Gina Albert said there may be some unease from parents regarding what work their child may be doing when they are distance learning in their groups. I dont think theyre going to be happy with their student having that morning at home when their cohort is not in school, she said. Health officials also warned data was showing an uptick of COVID-19 impacting youth. What weve been seeing in the public health side is that the positive cases that are coming before us through contact tracing are all in the younger age groups, Mark Cooper, health director for the Westport-Weston Health District, said. Thats really not the preschool ages, but 17 to the low 20s have been the majority of the cases weve seen in the last month or so. Cooper said there has also been an influx of people moving into the state that could affect the areas COVID rates. What Im also hearing on the state Department of Health level is that COVID-19 seems to be moving up the I-95 corridor and thats somewhat of a concern, he said. BOE member Victor Escandon said the district and board will have to make decisions with imperfect information. Despite this, he said, the board needed to still look toward implementing a systematic approach. That being said, in the very short term, I do very much appreciate the learning curve that everybody had to go through, he said. I think theres a bridge to get to that more systematic metric, and I think thats what were doing. dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com She's been enjoying a romantic staycation with her beau Ercan Ramadan. And Vicky Pattison made the most of her getaway as she put on a sultry display in a hot tub during her trip to the Copper Cabin in Storrington, West Sussex on Saturday. The former Geordie Shore star, 32, flaunted her ample assets in a blue tiger print bikini for the sizzling Instagram snap. Eye-popping! Vicky Pattison flaunted her ample assets in blue tiger print bikini as she posed in a hot tub during a romantic staycation with her beau Ercan Ramadan in Sussex on Saturday The TV personality wore her newly-dyed honey tresses in loose waves and opted for a typically glamorous make-up look as she enjoyed her evening in luxury. She made sure all-eyes were on her toned figure as she sipped on a glass of wine for the sexy snap. Vicky also gave her Instagram fans a glimpse of the idyllic destination which featured a cosy cabin nestled in woodland. Staycation: Vicky gave her Instagram fans a glimpse of the idyllic destination which featured a cosy cabin nestled in woodland Her and Ercan, 35, were also treated to a bottle of champagne as they enjoyed the plush interiors of the cabin. Their UK holiday comes after Vicky was last week accused of flouting lockdown rules by going out shopping just one day after returning from a trip to Portugal. Vicky took to her Instagram on July 11 to share that she was jetting off to Portugal, shortly after COVID-19 travel restrictions were eased. Relaxation: Her and Ercan, 35, were also treated to a bottle of champagne as they enjoyed the plush interiors of the cabin She revealed that her trip had come to an end 10 days later on July 21, when she announced on the image-sharing platform that it was 'good to be home' yet was spotted and snapped on that same day at Oxfordshire's Bicester Village. Travellers returning from Portugal and Spain were advised by the government that they were required to isolate for 14 days on returning to British shores, following a spike in novel coronavirus cases in both countries. The current rules stipulate that travellers who fail to quarantine over the required period of time face a 1,000 fine. However, TV personality Vicky was not only spotted shopping at the fashion outlet just one day after landing, neither she nor her beau were wearing face masks. MailOnline contacted representatives for Vicky Pattison for comment at the time. During their trip to Portugal, the couple spent time on a juice retreat, with Vicky sharing shots of herself posing in a bikini, while also showing off the scenery. Aerial photo taken on April 15, 2020 shows people working at the construction site of a 5G base station in Chongqing, southwest China. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) China has called on the international community to reject U.S. hegemonic interference in other countries' 5G cooperation, and uphold a fair, just, open and non-discriminatory business environment. According to media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed with the Slovenian foreign minister a joint declaration on 5G security during his visit to the country. Earlier in the Czech Republic, he also talked about joint efforts to build a clean network. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Friday at a press briefing that it is preposterous that, as the secretary of state of a country with cyber theft stains all over it, Pompeo should have the audacity to propose the building of a so-called "clean network." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press briefing in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "Now that the so-called 'clean network' seems to be Pompeo's pet phrase, perhaps he should explain to us, why is it that the shadowy figure of the United States can be found in cyber espionage activities from PRISM to Equation Group to ECHELON? Why is it that American intelligence authorities run a 24/7 surveillance of cellphones and computers all over the world, even eavesdropping on leaders of U.S. allies for over a decade? This is apparently the modus operandi of a hacker state," Zhao said. The U.S. claim of "protecting privacy and the individual liberties of citizens" is nothing but a high-sounding pretext, Zhao said, adding that from meddling in other countries' 5G rollout to openly coercing allies into excluding Huawei, certain U.S. politicians have no scruples resorting to state power as long as it can stop Chinese businesses from getting an edge in 5G. "I'm afraid what they have in mind is not a 'clean network,' but an 'American Network;' not a 'secure 5G network,' but a 'U.S. surveillance network;' not protection of 'privacy and liberties' of the individual, but consolidation of 'digital hegemony' of the United States," the spokesperson said. "We believe the world can see certain U.S. politicians for who they really are, reject U.S. hegemonic interference in other countries' 5G cooperation, and uphold a fair, just, open and non-discriminatory business environment," he added. Zhao said in an era of globalization, 5G development should follow the concept of international consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and politicizing relevant issues or creating cliques will not be conducive to 5G progress. "Such practices run counter to the fair competition principle and go against the common interests of the international community," he said. By PTI BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that preference would be given to local youths for government jobs in the state. He also said that his government was preparing a single citizenship database so that people of the state do not have to register for each scheme separately. Chouhan was addressing the state-level Independence Day function after unfurling the national flag at the Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal. "Madhya Pradesh youths will be given priority in government jobs. It is our duty to be concerned about the youths of our state at a time when job opportunities are scarce," he said. "We will put in place such a mechanism that will ensure employment to local youths on the basis of their mark- sheets of Class X and XII," Chouhan added. The chief minister said that the government will work for the development of skills among the state's youths. "For this, a skill development park, worth around Rs 600 crore, is being set up in Bhopal with the help of Singapore," he added. Chouhan said that 15 lakh migrant labourers of Madhya Pradesh returned to the state during the coronavirus-induced- lockdown. "Of them, the job cards of 14 lakh migrant labourers have been prepared in a bid to provide them employment near their residence," he said. Chouhan reiterated that the state government will strongly fight the case in the court in favour of increasing the reservation of Other Backward Class (OBC) from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. He said when he took over as the chief minister (on March 23 this year), the state had only one laboratory for COVID-19 testing and lacked other arrangements. He said the government worked on a war footing to put in place adequate arrangements against the pandemic. Members of the Chouhan-led cabinet and senior state government officials were also present at the function. The gathering was restricted amid the preventive measures for COVID-19. Earlier, Chouhan also inspected the parade. Most new cases were reported in Kharkiv region, Kyiv, and Chernivtsi region. Ukraine authorities as of the morning of August 15 reported 1,847 new active COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. Since the start of pandemic outbreak, a total of 89,719 people have been infected in Ukraine, that's according to the updated data provided by the National Security and Defense Council. Over the past day, 633 Ukrainians were successfully cured, bringing the total number of recoveries to 47,430. Read alsoZelensky demands more effective COVID-19 awareness campaignTo date, there are 40,245 active cases being treated in Ukraine, while 146,701 people are suspected of having contracted the coronavirus, including 2,061 over the past day. In the past 24 hours, another 33 citizens died of the COVID-19, which brings the overall death toll to 2,044. Most new COVID-19 cases were registered in Kharkiv region (254), Kyiv (232), and Chernivtsi region (170). Trend of COVID-19 spread in Ukraine On August 14, Ukraine reported 1,732 new cases, 1,592 on August 13, and 1,433 on August 12, which testifies to a steady rise of coronavirus spread. Government has promised that all road infrastructure projects currently underway in the country will be completed on schedule. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who gave the assurance says the construction of the Pokuase and Tamale Interchanges, as well as many other projects across the country, affirm the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administrations commitment to improving Ghanas road network. Dr. Bawumia was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the dualization of the Accra-Tema beach road and the construction of a three-tier interchange at the Nungua barrier. The year 2020 has been declared as the year of roads by His Excellency the President. To this end, road construction is going on everywhere in this country including the ongoing construction of four interchanges to reduce congestion in our major cities. There is no government in the history of the fourth republic that has started four interchanges in their first term. If President Akufo-Addo promises to construct roads, he delivers, Dr. Bawumia mentioned. The Accra-Tema Beach Road is a 26.6 km project with an estimated cost of US$100 million being constructed by Messrs Gansu International Corporation and Messrs China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited. It is expected to be completed in 24 months. The first lot of 16 kilometres begins from the Independence Arch to Nungua with the remaining 10.6 kilometres the second lot continues from Nungua to Tema Community 3. The Vice President also announced that the other phases of the Accra-Tema Motorway together with the Pokuase Interchange, Tamale Interchange and Obetsebi Interchange will all be completed on time. Tamale Interchange is the first interchange in any of the five northern regions. It is a historic interchange in the Northern Region. The Pokuase Interchange is the first four-tier interchange in West Africa and it is 75 per cent complete. By the grace of God, it shall be opened before the end of this year, he assured. Year of roads agenda Government has stressed a focus on fixing roads across the country in 2020 and beyond having identified what he described as critical roads across each of the 16 regions in the country. To this end, it has declared 2020 as the year of roads. Recently, most residents who have been outraged by poor roads have resorted to a series of protests to pile pressure on authorities to get their roads fixed. Some say they will even boycott the 2020 elections if their deplorable roads are not fixed. Last week, Parliament has approved a 28 million contract for the construction of pedestrian bridges at hazardous locations in the country. Three of the footbridges are to be located on the N1 highway at the Abeka traffic light, Tetegu Junction and Weija Junction. Also, the house Parliament has approved a 73 million facility for the construction of the Paa Grant Interchange and other roads in Sekondi and Takoradi. According to a report of the Finance Committee, the project is designed to improve vehicular movement in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly. Takoradi Harbour Road, Paa Grant Roundabout and structural work on the interchange are captured in the first phase of the project which was adopted by the house. Source: citinewsroom.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 For decades, the Democratic party has wanted to abrogate the Second Amendment, to ban the sale of guns of any and all calibers, sizes, shapes and potential uses. They have long sought to limit the amount of ammo per gun and were just foiled again on that score. The left has yet to realize the obvious, that criminals do not obey laws of any kind, least of all gun laws. So deluded are the gun-banning Democrats, they do not believe that Americans have the right to defend themselves against said criminals. These Democrats who want to run our lives all have armed security themselves, but we peons are, in their warped view, are to be forever denied the rights they bestow upon themselves. Like the imbecilic Beto ORourke before her, Kamala Harris advocates gun confiscation; she wants the tyrannical government she and Joe are promoting to go into our homes and seize our legally-obtained weapons of self-defense. Like Hitler, Stalin and Mao, seizing the firearms of the citizenry is the first step toward despotism. But the left misjudges the spirit of Americans who have escaped being indoctrinated by the anti-American, anti-constitutionalism that the left in academia and the media have been pushing for decades. Most of us take the Constitution and its accompanying Bill of Rights very seriously. Both have served this nation well for two-hundred and forty-four years. No self-righteous, virtue-signaling political lefty elitist is going to convince Americans who support the Constitution that the government has the right to confiscate their guns. Well before Bidens selection of Harris as his running mate, in the first half of 2020, gun sales have increased by 95%, (ten million guns), ammunition sales are up by 139%. The numbers eclipse all of 2019. The highest increase is among black men and women, 58.2%. Can you blame them? The wanton violence that has plagued Democrat-run cities like Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago (homicides up 139%), New York (13% increase in shooting incidents, 23% increase in homicides), Seattle, D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta, etc. over the past several months with the blessings of the Democrat governors and mayors that run them has taught law-abiding blacks that the police are being driven from these cities, betrayed by the elected leaders charged with enforcing the law. Violent crime has spiked in all those places. And to this day, no Democrat has spoken out against Antifa or Black Lives Matter, or the catastrophic damage they have wrought upon those communities, apparently in the mistaken belief that a majority of Americans are sympathetic to the specious causes of the vandals. The massive increase in gun sales would seem to belie that tenet. While it has long been mostly republicans who support gun rights and the NRA, the enormous expansion of gun ownership most certainly includes former Democrats who will not likely vote for Biden/Harris, both of whom favor confiscation like the rest of the left. For that reason and for her other past prosecutorial policies, not all blacks support Harris. So it is safe to conclude that the colossal increase in gun sales is perhaps the most telling poll of all. Guns and ammo are expensive and these numbers represent legal sales and do not account for the illegal acquisitions of guns. Bottom line? People no longer feel safe in their own communities and they are seeing the police they respect and rely upon be demeaned, defunded and directed to stand down while rioters and looters destroy their small businesses and downtowns. And through all this monstrous violence, the democrats insist on calling the vandals peaceful protesters. They are anything but peaceful. They are well-funded fascist groups who mean to destroy the United States as founded. The death of George Floyd was the spark that lit the fires, covid19 the gift that has kept on giving to those working hard to sabotage our great nation. The rise in gun ownership has spiked more than any previous time period and is the highest since the FBI began recording the statistics 22 years ago. The alleged lead by Biden in the polls most likely does not account for the huge number of Americans who may have voted Democrat in the past but are not going to vote Democrat again if it means being stripped of the guns theyve only recently purchased and now feel they need for self-defense. And all the while, the left has promoted and blessed the violence. They have actually encouraged it, theyve emboldened the rioters by refusing to call what they do by its name: brutal insurrection. From day one of the violence in Seattle and Portland, President Trump offered federal help but those cities mayors and each of the others whose cities were being ravaged declined his offer. As a result, half of all black-owned businesses in the affected cities have been destroyed by the rioting or lost to the lockdown. It is hard to take seriously the mantra that black lives matter when in fact they have become a mere political tool of the left. Most of the media failed to report on the cold-blooded murder of a five-year-old boy by his adult neighbor. Why? The child was white, the murderer black which does not fit the lefts narrative of the day. Mayors Bill de Blasio of New York and Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C. are all hat, no cattle, when it comes to actually caring about the lives being devastated by the disorder they have willingly allowed. As President Trump said last week, this election will determine the future of private gun ownership in the United States. Biden is clearly lost in a fog of confusion due to his mental decline and will say anything his handlers put on the teleprompter but Kamala Harris is as far left a candidate who has ever run for high office; she is Bernie Sanders in a dress. She and her fellow progressives mean what they say; they mean to effect a defenseless society. Will a majority of Americans choose to be disarmed like the Germans under Hitler, the Russians under Stalin and the Chinese under Mao or will they vote to preserve their constitutional right to bear arms? The astronomical surge in gun ownership these past months tells us that no, they will not vote to lose their Second Amendment right. Self-defense is a human right. The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals. --James Monroe The left, thoroughly deranged by Trumps 2016 victory, will gladly see our once civil society destroyed if its destruction will see Trump defeated. Their plan is doomed to failure. If gun sales translate to votes, it will ensure his re-election. Image credit: Pixabay public domain Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the government, saying it is standing contrary to the countrys democratic structure, constitutional values and established traditions. In a statement, she also said the biggest tribute to the soldiers killed in Ladakhs Galwan Valley will be to protect the countrys territory and thwart Chinese incursions. The Congress president did not attend the Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony and instead veteran leader AK Antony unfurled the tricolour at the party headquarters in Delhi. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was among the leaders present on the occasion but he did not speak to the media. The Congress also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking Chinas name in his Independence Day speech. We all are proud of our armed, paramilitary and police forces. We 1.3 billion Indians and all Congress workers are proud of them. Whenever there has been attack on us, they have given a befitting reply to the attackers, Congresss chief spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala, told reporters after the ceremony at the party headquarters. But we must also think why our rulers are scared of taking Chinas name. Today, on the Independence Day, when China has occupied our territory, every Indian should ask the government how it proposes to push the Chinese forces back and protect our territorial integrity. Why are those who are sitting in power scared of mentioning Chinas name? he asked. In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp message to China and Pakistan, declaring that the armed forces deployed along the borders with them are capable of giving a fitting reply to those trying to challenge Indias sovereignty. However, he did not take the names of the two countries. Today is the 60th day when our Colonel Santosh Babu and 20 other soldiers sacrificed their lives for the nations security in Galwan Valley (in a deadly clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh). I salute their bravery and urge the government to remember their valour and give due recognition to them. Our biggest tribute to them would be protecting the motherland and thwarting Chinese incursions, Gandhi said in her statement. Today every countryman needs to look within and think what does freedom mean? Are they free today to write, to speak, to ask questions, to disagree, to seek accountability? As a responsible opposition this is our responsibility to keep Indias democratic freedom intact, she said. We have tested our democratic values from time to time in the last 74 years of independence. Today, it seems that the government is standing contrary to the countrys democratic structure, constitutional values and established traditions. It is also a test for Indian democracy, added Gandhi. The Congress president expressed confidence that India will unitedly defeat the Covid-19 pandemic and overcome the economic crisis. On the 74th Independence Day, the Congress also launched a web-series titled Dharohar. Congress has been at the forefront in the efforts to create an India, which is a global leader in the industry, agriculture, science, technology, health, military, culture and all this without ever compromising on its secular and democratic nature, Surjewala and partys social media department head Rohan Gupta said in a statement. Dharohar will showcase the history of the Congress and its contributions to India right from the freedom struggle to the emergence of India as a superpower in 70 years of its independence, added the statement. In Kolkata, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the people must do all it takes to preserve the basic principles on which this country was founded. We salute all those who sacrificed their lives to make the dream of a free nation come true. Our freedom was hard-earned, and we must do all it takes to preserve the basic principles on which this country was founded, she tweeted. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said it will continue its fight to defend the Constitution of India, which was under severe strain. We pledge to continue our fight in defence of the Constitution and against attack on fundamental rights. This freedom was hard-earned and any attempt to curb it will be fought back, the CPI(M) tweeted. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted: Today is the day to renew our pledge to secure all types of freedoms economic, social, political for Indians of all regions, faiths, languages, genders and beliefs, especially in these times when our Constitutional Republic is under severe strain. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy hoped the Centre would have a change of heart, if not today in the future, and accord special category status (SCS) to his state in accordance with the promise made in Parliament. Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area 10 a.m.: The latest Houston, Texas numbers Texas surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths on Friday, marking the sixth-highest day for newly reported deaths since the pandemic began, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of state data. As of Friday evening, the statewide total had risen by 7,625 new cases to 538,187 cases total and the positive test rate remained mostly steady, going from 16.08 percent to 16.06 percent. The rolling average of viral tests is decreased slightly to 40,216. The Houston region's case count had risen by 2,076 to 129,323 cases total, and the 72 new deaths that were reported brought the region's death count up to 2,331. Harris County reported 1,149 new cases and is now at 90,574 cases total. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: As hospital counts drop, community spread numbers suggest Houston still isn't containing COVID Although the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is in its sixth week of steady decline, local officials and medical leaders are stressing that different metrics must be monitored and brought down in order to prevent Houston from overwhelming its healthcare system again, the Houston Chronicle reported. I do worry about people listening to this news and taking it the wrong way, saying, Whew thats over, now lets go back to life as normal, Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, CEO of Harris Health, the countys public hospital district told the Houston Chronicle. This is not the time. Read more on how community spread numbers suggest Houston still isn't containing COVID here on HoustonChronicle.com. NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Thursday, August 13 through Friday, August 14. It is still unclear how many of the state's new cases can be attributed to jail inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Houston Chronicle's analysis of COVID-19 case data now includes probable and pending cases. This change is based on interviews with multiple public health officials and epidemiologists, as well as in line with CDC guidelines on reporting. DSHS is now using death certificate data for its counts of COVID deaths, leading some Texas counties to have dramatically higher counts than others and some counties to have higher numbers than state figures. - Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi said the nationally tally of all confirmed cases shot from 29,334 to 29,849 - The number of deaths recorded in Kenya also jumped to 472 after seven more patients lost the battle in the last 24 hours - The new cases were 496 Kenyans while the rest were confirmed to be foreign nationals comprising 316 males and 199 were females The global coronavirus continues with its unyielding match in Kenya despite government intensifying its containment measures. The total confirmed cases and death toll resulting from the monster disease in the country also continue to increase significantly each passing day. READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta sends entire Cabinet on break Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi during COVID-19 updates. She confirmed 515 more people tested positive as on August 15. Photo: TUKO.co.ke. Source: Original READ ALSO: Bondo ACK bishop asks govt to stop daily COVID-19 update, says it causes trauma Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi said the nationally tally of all confirmed cases shot from 29,334 to 29,849 in the last 24 hours. At the same time, the number of deaths recorded in Kenya so far, jumped to 472 after seven more patients lost the battle over the same period. Mwangangi said the latest infections were as a result of tests that had been conducted on 6,353 samples collected adding that the cumulative tests as on August 15 was 387,670. READ ALSO: Senior DCI officer dies after car is swept by floods in Kericho READ ALSO: Larry Madowo funnily complains of hotel room neighbours having loud entanglement session at 2am "Today, we have recorded 515 new cases raising the countrys total to 29, 849.The new cases were drawn from 6,353 people whose samples were tested in the last 24 hours. This brings the countrys cumulative numbers of those tested to 387, 670," she said. Out of the 515 cases, Kenyans were 496 while the rest were confirmed to be foreign nationals comprising 316 males and 199 were females. According to the government, an eight-month old infant was among the new patients while the oldest was aged 92. In terms of recoveries, Kenya recorded additional 672 discharges out of which 605 came from the home care based programme bringing the total number of recoveries to 15, 970. READ ALSO: Raila haifai kugombea urais 2022, kura ya maoni yaonyesha Mwangangi added that there had been upsurge in number of mothers seeking antenatal care in hospitals for the first time since Kenya reported COVID-19 cases. "Initially people were afraid due to COVID-19 but between May and June there has been an improvement," she stated. Distribution by counties was as follows; Nairobi (251) cases, Kitui (41), Kiambu (33), Kericho (23), Kisii and Bomet (both 19), Nakuru (18), Homa Bay (16) Laikipia (120, Muranga (11), Migori (10), Nyeri (9), Uasin Gishu and Kajiado (eight), and Mombasa had seven. Lamu, Narok, Busia, Embu, Machakos,Nandi, Nyandarua, Wajir, and Kakamega registered cases below five. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. My husband's family took everything from me after he died and called my children garbage | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Department arrested a 30-year-old Colorado man in connection with a burglary at the West Nebraska Regional Airport. Vincent Hernandez, 30, has been arrested on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to information released by Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Deputy Troy Brown. Brown said Hernandez had been found hiding in the airport after deputies responded to a report of a burglary and vandalism at the airport. Deputies were called to the airport by director Raul Aguallo at about 5:32 a.m. Deputies investigating found no signs of forced entry, but found Hernandez hiding under the baggage claim conveyor belt after a search of the building. Hernandez is accused of having hidden in a bathroom at the airport until the building closed for the night. Three vending machines in the building had been completely destroyed. Hernandez is accused of destroying the vending machines, having dumped trash throughout the terminal and damaging equipment in the bathroom. Deputies allegedly located a syringe of suspected methamphetamine on Hernandezs person. The Scottsbluff Police Department assisted in the investigation. Mumbai, Aug 14 : Rabia Khan, mother of late actress Jiah Khan, says filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is a mouthpiece of Bollywood mafia. She has also claimed that Bhatt once threatened her. Jiah was found dead at her Mumbai residence in June 2013. Her family accused Sooraj Pancholi, Jiah's then boyfriend, for her death. About Jiah being declared depressed, Rabia told India Today Television: "Who said it? Except Mahesh Bhatt? At my daughter's funeral, he came to me and said that Jiah was depressed. I said, 'Excuse me sir. She was never depressed.' He told me, 'Tum chup ho jaao varna tumhe bhi injection deke sula denge' (You shut up, else you too will be put to sleep with an injection)." Earlier, Rabia had shared a post on social media demanding a CBI probe into the ongoing Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Talking about Mahesh Bhatt being vocal about Sushant's mental health, she said: "He is a mouthpiece of Bollywood mafia. He knows nothing. He is so pathetic that I have no words to express. He was intimidating when my daughter worked for him at the age of 16. He told me to leave her alone. How could I leave her alone? I will speak for justice. I will tell the world what these people are." Nearly 300,000 people have been arrested in South Africa for violating the lockdown laws that were introduced at the end of March to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, according to the figures released here. Minister of Police Bheki Cele announced the quarterly crime statistics on Friday. At the start of the lockdown, Cele had warned that people contravening the regulations would end up with a criminal record which would impact on issues such as their future job prospects. But at the statistics announcement, he said his colleague in the Ministry of Justice was looking at ways to avoid this. "Unfortunately, most of the people arrested will come out with criminal records and it is not our aim to criminalise South Africans. This is why the minister of justice and correctional services are looking at this issue," Cele said. He said about 300,000 people had been arrested in South Africa for violating the lockdown laws. "28,337 of those arrested were found guilty of violations ranging from liquor, gathering, transport, business and cross-border related offence," he said. During the lockdown, sale and transportation of alcohol, public gatherings of people, travelling without a permit for essential services, and inter-provincial travel were all prohibited. More than half of those arrested were not held in prison but were released with a warning to appear in court later to face charges. Cele said the initial ban on alcohol, which was reintroduced briefly before being reintroduced due to a spike in violent crimes, had seen a drop of more than 37 per cent during the three-month period in crimes such as murder, assault and robbery, which were often attributed to alcohol abuse. Cele also lamented the involvement of police force members in some of these crimes. "While we have a police service that strives for excellence, some within our ranks still choose to operate in darkness and in criminality. A total of 163 officers were arrested from the start of the lockdown for violating the very same regulations they were meant to enforce," the minister said. Toto Wolff has admitted he might step down as Mercedes' team boss. It is well known that the Austrian is discussing his future with Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius, amid rumours their relationship is shaky. Wolff denies that, but he does admit that after many years of leading the dominant works team to multiple titles, it "takes a toll". "As it stands, there is no reason not to continue with Mercedes," he said. "We will find out in which role." The immediate implication of that is that Lewis Hamilton has warned that Wolff's future will weigh into his own deliberations about a new Mercedes contract. "It's flattering that he says that," Wolff said in Barcelona, "but I don't think he needs me. "He has a great team that will always support him but as I said before, I haven't taken the decision yet. "I don't want to give it a spin that I am leaving because that's not the case, it's just that I'm in a moment of reflection." Wolff said the situation with coronavirus, F1's future, and his young family with wife Susie Wolff will all weigh into his ultimate decision. "I've been to God knows how many races, I think 120 races in the last eight years, and that is something we are thinking about," he said. It is not known what alternative role he is contemplating, but he admits that his non-Mercedes activities - including buying into the new Aston Martin project - "p**ses some people off". "There is no conflict of interest," Wolff insisted, "but if I were on the other side I would also pick on these things." (GMM) A five-year-old has been rescued by hero bystanders after a man allegedly tried to abduct the child in Canberra. The man allegedly picked up the child and ran towards an alleyway while its parents and members of the public gave chase. When confronted, the man then let go of the child and allegedly dropped a knife. Witnesses then restrained the man before police arrested him in Petrie Plaza at about 1pm. The man is assisting police with their enquiries. Until 2010, Ivory Coast was considered one of Africas most politically stable countries. The opposition in Ivory Coast is warning of more protests to denounce the presidents decision to seek a third term. Another day of demonstrations on Friday turned violent. Protesters accuse Alassane Ouattara of breaking a two-term limit, but he insists a new constitution allows him to run again. Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris reports. Malin Akerman looked nothing short of ethereal in a slightly plunging white maxi dress, which showcased her sun-kissed tan, on Thursday. As the 42-year-old Billions star met up with friends in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, she embodied bohemian style in her flowing frock. With her platinum blonde tresses cascading past her shoulders, the Swedish-American actress flashed a relaxed smile and appeared in high spirits. Stunning: Malin Akerman looked nothing short of ethereal in a slightly plunging white maxi dress, which showcased her sun-kissed tan, on Thursday Her effortlessly chic ensemble showcased her incredibly toned arms and gym-honed physique, as she frolicked around the lush greenery in a pal's driveway. As she strolled around without a CDC-recommended face mask, the beauty gave onlookers a look at her bright pink lipstick and minimal makeup. The bombshell has been married to British actor Jack Donnelly, since December 2018. Chic: As the 42-year-old Billions star met up with friends in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, she embodied bohemian style in her flowing frock She is also mom to son Sebastian, seven, with her ex-husband Roberto Zincone, who she divorced in 2014 after seven years of marriage. In mid-June, it was announced that Akerman will executive produce a new horror film starring her husband. Donnelly is joining Lydia Hearst and Kara Heywood in With Teeth that's set to shoot in New Mexico once coronavirus restrictions are lifted. Engaging: Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, she has kept her more than 483,000 Instagram followers entertained with silly selfies, including her 'covid hair' and sultry throwbacks The actress also served as a producer on the action comedy Chick Fight, now in post-production, in which she stars with Bella Thorne, Kevin Connelly and Alec Baldwin. Amid the ongoing pandemic, she has kept her more than 483,000 Instagram followers entertained with silly selfies, including her 'covid hair' and sultry throwbacks. On Monday, she reposted a quote saying she 'would rather have one small weird moment of real connection than hours of polite conversation.' A baffling new brainteaser is challenging eagle-eyed quiz aficionados to find the lone jellyfish lurking among a sea of plastic bags. The scene, put together by eco-friendly home products company Bahari, shows a blue sea with the occasional striped fish, and a jungle of white plastic bags floating about. But among the bags is one jellyfish, which has taken the average player 17 seconds to find - with the record currently sitting at 10 seconds. So, can you beat it? Scroll down for the answer... but no cheating! Can you see it? The scene, put together by eco-friendly home products company Bahari, shows a blue sea with the occasional striped fish, and a jungle of white plastic bags floating about Jane Walkinshaw, co-founder of the eco-friendly home products company Bahari says: 'Brainteasers like this are such a great way to challenge yourself, whilst also simply having a bit of fun! 'However, this one also highlights the sheer quantity of plastic pollution in our oceans, which we're dedicated to improving'. 'The fastest person in our team to find the jellyfish did so in just 10 seconds! Although the majority of us took around 17 seconds. 'We reckon if you do it less than 20 seconds, that's pretty good going'. See below for the answer Answer: But among the bags is one jellyfish, which has taken the average player 17 seconds to find - with the record currently sitting at 10 seconds Meanwhile an infuriating new brainteaser challenges you to find the halloumi among a table of tasty treats. The scene shows a delicious spread of BBQ classics including sausages, kebabs and burgers - as well as a single slice of halloumi. The puzzle, released by British retirement homes Audley Villages, will help transport some players to brighter BBQ days in the sunshine. Scroll down for the answer... but no cheating! The scene shows a delicious spread of BBQ classics including sausages, kebabs and burgers - as well as a single slice of halloumi. Can you find the cheese? Audley Villages created the puzzle after conducting research into the best ways to keep your mind active during quarantine. One of the recommended activities for boosting brain functions is painting and playing music is one of the simplest ways to boost brain health. Psychologist Dr Rachel M Allan explained: 'Playing a musical instrument utilises fine motor skills, requires following patterns, drawing from memory and engaging with multi-sensory feedback. 'It draws on many different high-level brain functions at the same time, which strengthens connections between different regions of the brain.' Even the most eagle-eyed players will struggle to spot the cheese tucked away in the scene. The answer shows how it can just be seen peeking out from underneath a plate of berries Elsewhere, as explorers are forced to halt their travel plans because of the ongoing global health pandemic, a tricky new brainteaser is sparking nostalgia for sunny beach days. Created by British airline Jet2, players are challenged to spot skis hiding among a sandy shoreline filled with red and white deckchairs. According to the illustrators, the tricky puzzle has stumped many and no one has been able to find the hidden items in less than 28 seconds. As people eagerly anticipate their next escape - could you be the fastest to solve the holiday themed brainteaser? Scroll down for reveal Jet2 has stumped the internet with a tricky brainteaser (pictured), challenging players to spot the skis hidden among the deckchairs While most people are familiar with skis, trying to find the essential snow slope accessories can be a battle - with similar looking items surrounding them. If you're struggling to find the hidden skis, try looking towards the crowd of deckchairs in the bottom left of the graphic. Jet2 who specialise in low-cost travel, designed the brainteaser to keep people entertained, while awaiting their next getaway. The 3rd largest registered airline in the UK, Jet2 operates to top ski destinations giving direct access to over 600 of the best ski resorts in Europe. Circled towards the bottom left of the graphic are the skis hidden among red and white striped deckchairs Another tricky puzzle recently baffling players challenges you to work out which one of these three cats will reach the bowl of food first - and it's surprisingly tricky to solve. The tangled labyrinth puzzle, created by British brand Natures Menu, is designed to keep your mind busy. The illustrators behind the maze claim the current record for solving it stands at 18 seconds. So, can you solve it quicker? Scroll down for reveal A new brainteaser, created by Natures Menu, challenges the nation to solve which cat will solve the maze and get to the food (pictured) While many pet owners will be self-isolating with greedy cats, the virtual mystery takes deep concentration to solve which of these moggies will be the first to eat. If you're struggling to solve the puzzle, consider which of the animals has the straightest path to the food. Natures Menu, who specialise in raw and natural pet food, created the graphic to mark National Pet Month this April. And if you're struggling to find the answer, then scroll down to see the path marked out in red. Cat B is able to get to food quickest, taking very few twists and turns to escape the labyrinth Another bafflling brainteaser has left the internet stumped - despite seeming easy to solve at first glance. The busy graphic, created by illustrator Gergely Dudas from Hungary, challenges the nation to spot a hidden bumblebee among a field of flowers and cartoon animals. Since being shared on Facebook, the viral puzzle has seen many claim they've spent more than 30 seconds trying to find the well-hidden insect. But while hundreds struggle to solve the brainteaser, could you be the one to set a new record? A new brainteaser, created by illustrator Gergely Dudas from Hungary, is challenging the nation to spot a bee hiding among a field of flowers and animals (pictured) While some of us are wary of getting too close to bees in fear of being stung, trying to find the insect in this busy puzzle requires you to look very closely. If you're still struggling to spot the bumblebee, try looking at the flowers closest to the raccoon eating an apple. Gergely, who is perhaps best known as Dudolf, boasts over 152,000 likes on Facebook for his illustrations and quirky brainteasers. His latest hiding bee puzzle has already been shared almost 1,000 times on the social media platform. Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, second from left, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), participates in a party meeting, Thursday. Yonhap By Do Je-hae The main opposition conservative United Future Party (UFP), formerly the Saenuri Party, is ahead of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in public approval ratings for the first time since the end of October 2016, according to a poll released Thursday. A Realmeter survey showed the approval rating for the DPK stood at 33.4 percent, 1.7 percentage points down from the previous week, while the UFP's approval rating had risen 1.9 percentage points to 36.5 percent. The results are drawing keen attention as it is the first time the support rate for the conservative bloc has overtaken that of the liberals since a corruption scandal led to the ousting of former President Park Geun-hye. Park's Saenuri Party was slightly ahead of the DPK in the third week of October that year, but in the fourth week, the liberal party started to overtake it, according to data from Realmeter. Until now, the liberal party had retained the lead in its opinion polls. Some turn to books for entertainment, others for diversion. But for writer Charlotte Wood, literature has never been about escapism. The novelist says books help her grapple with things she is trying to understand. "I love being surprised, being made to think of things in a different way than I might have before," says the award-winning author of The Weekend and The Natural Way of Things. "Fictions job is not to comfort us, but to discomfort us. It shakes us up." Writers and close friends Tegan Bennett Daylight and Charlotte Wood. Credit: Louise Kennerley When Wood reread Toni Morrisons Beloved recently, she felt it "was bodily, the effect that book had on me". "On my understanding of what it might be like to be a contemporary African American, to think that this is what our culture has come from. The legacy of slavery. When I say 'the legacy of slavery', those words dont make me understand anything, but when I read Toni Morrisons fiction, the physical humiliations and the cruelty and the terrible dehumanising of people when I read it in fiction, it gets into my body and my soul, for want of a better word, better than any lecture about slavery could have done. Its set in the time of slavery but it speaks to now in an urgent kind of way. And thats what great art does its timeless. STAMFORD What happens when a Stamford student tests positive for COVID-19? How will the hybrid model work? What will distance learning look like? Those are just some of the many questions parents have as the school district gets ready to embark on an unprecedented school year, in which a portion of students will be returning to classrooms in the fall, while others continue their education from home. Jennifer Forman, senior co-president of the Stamford Parent-Teacher Council, said during a virtual discussion on school reopening Friday that many parents are concerned about the proposed schedule for the hybrid model, which city schools have adopted for the fall. It would have children attend every other day, meaning one week, the child could be in class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by a week when they attend class on Tuesday and Thursday. Some parents spoke against the schedule at the most recent Board of Education meeting, saying the changes from week to week would make it harder for families to adjust to in relation to their work schedules. Families that participate in the hybrid model will be divided into two groups: blue and green. Each group will attend school in-person every other day. On days when the group is not in class, students from that cohort will participate in distance learning. Students in distance learning full-time an option open to parents will be grouped into classes that will include students from across the district in the same grade level. The school system has already put together a plan for the reopening, but parents still have many questions about how instruction will take place in the fall: Will students in the hybrid model be able to follow along through live streaming on home days? This is still being worked out, said Amy Beldotti, associate superintendent for teaching and learning, but a portion of the districts plan allows for this type of technology. We are still exploring ways for students to potentially be able to participate from home, she said, during a Board of Education meeting this week. We have not yet come to any final conclusion. The latest version of the plan says all teachers will utilize Google Meet as the approved video conferencing platform. The plan states students should dress appropriately when video conferencing, display their full name, and have their cameras on during instruction. Teachers are being encouraged to record the sessions and post them for students who could not attend. Is there enough bandwidth for every school to be streaming every class? City IT workers have told Superintendent Tamu Lucero there is enough, but capabilities have not been tested yet. We really wont know until we are back in our classrooms and everyones there, Lucero said at the PT Council meeting Friday. Thats something that we will be working on in the days before school starts. Why was the alternating-day hybrid schedule chosen, as opposed to a static schedule each week? Beldotti said the simple answer is that the alternating days model would create less of a gap between times students are in school buildings. We literally tried every single combination, she said. Under the alternating schedule, the green and blue groups would be in classrooms every other school day. I know its not ideal, but any hybrid model is not ideal to a family, especially a working family, Lucero said. She added, It allows children to be in school most consistently without huge gaps of five or six days not being in school. Can parents who select distance learning change their mind if they want to send their child back into school buildings? There will be a two-week period at the beginning of the school year in which a parent can opt into the hybrid model. Families can request a change later in the semester, but it could take a while to accommodate such requests. Why are students being asked to bring their own devices to school? Beldotti said students used technology such as Chromebooks during class regularly before the spread of COVID-19, and the school district would like to continue to do so. But the district would ask students to bring their own devices to class in the hybrid model. In the past, students would grab a device from a cart and return it at the end of class. That would mean everyone touching the Chromebooks all day long, and we want students to have one device that they have with them all day to limit the sharing of devices, she said. However, Beldotti said students at second grade or below would not be asked to bring a device to class. What is the process if a student tests positive for COVID-19? If a student tests positive at home, the district is asking the students family to contact them. A risk assessment would be conducted with help from the citys health department to figure out what students and staff that child was around and who may have been exposed. Students who show symptoms of COVID-19 inside school buildings will be taken to a designated isolation room, until a parent or guardian can pick them up. In high school and middle school, how will the district do contact tracing for potential exposure to the virus? This can get tricky, said Lucero. This whole idea of skipping class and going wherever you want in the building just cant happen, she said. Another problem? High school students mingling in the hallways instead of walking to and from class. Weve all been to the high school, Lucero said. And we all know that students like to stand around and chat with one another. Weve really got to talk to our students and work with our staff to make sure that everyone is continuing to move. Contact tracing, she said, will be done by looking at a students schedule. Lucero said students should honest when asked if they attended a class in order to properly trace possible exposure. With students in classrooms every day, when does the deep clean happen? Lucero said the guidance from the state is to move away from the idea of a deep clean that is done sporadically. Instead, she said, the district will implement a standard of cleaning every day to keep school buildings sanitized. A company is currently helping the district come up with a protocol for cleaning both inside and outside of school buses. Lucero said the same protocol would apply to cleaning of buses. You should be cleaning every day, she said. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com President Trump has revealed he is donating a quarter of his annual salary to the National Parks Service to 'repair and restore' public statues vandalized during anti-police protests. Taking to Twitter on Saturday morning, the Commander-in-chief shared a photo of a check made out to the government agency, writing: 'I promised YOU I would not take a dime of salary as your President. I donate the entire $400,000! It is my honor to give $100,000 to @NatlParkService to help repair and restore our GREAT National Monuments.' 'So important to our American History! Thank You!!' he added. Back in 2016, Trump vowed to forgo the annual six-figure presidential salary on account of his billionaire status, saying he would instead donate the money to enterprises of his choosing. President Trump has revealed he is donating a quarter of his annual salary to the National Parks Service to 'repair and restore' public statues vandalized during Black Lives Matter protests. A statue of Confederate General Albert Pike in New Orleans was vandalized July 9 A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia was plastered with graffiti The President has decried the vandalism, and signed an Executive Order in late June 'Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues' Each quarter, the Commander-in-chief usually announces where his funds are going. Back in May, he revealed that $100,000 of his 2020 earnings would go to the HHS to help in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis. Dozens of monuments have been defaced and destroyed across the country following the May 25 death of unarmed black man, George Floyd. A majority of those statues depict Confederate generals or historical figures with ties to colonization and the subjugation of people of color. However, churches and statues of Jesus Christ have also been defaced. Some protesters also tried to bring down a statue depicting President Abraham Lincoln freeing a black slave just blocks from the White House. Paint was splattered over the Jefferson Davis Memorial in Richmond, Virginia in early June A statue of Christopher Columbus is shown vandalized at Bayfront Park in Miami in June Trump shows off the executive order he signed to protect monuments and statues on the night of June 26 Protesters are pictured attempting to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson, which has stood in place outside the White House since the 1800s The President has decried the vandalism, and signed an Executive Order in late June 'Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues'. The order stated that 'Key targets in the violent extremists campaign against our country are public monuments, memorials, and statues. Their selection of targets reveals a deep ignorance of our history, and is indicative of a desire to indiscriminately destroy anything that honors our past and to erase from the public mind any suggestion that our past may be worth honoring, cherishing, remembering, or understanding.' It went on to say that Trump's Administration 'will not allow violent mobs incited by a radical fringe to become the arbiters of the aspects of our history that can be celebrated in public spaces. State and local public officials abdication of their law enforcement responsibilities in deference to this violent assault must end.' As part of the Order, Trump promised prison sentences of up to 10 years for those who damage them. He subsequently tweeted: 'I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues - and combating recent Criminal Violence. Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country!' In Minnesota, protesters pulled down a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the State Capitol in June Trump is even trying to incorporate his protection of public monuments into his re-election campaign. Last month, his campaign used an image of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil in a series of Facebook and Instagram ads. 'We will protect this,' the ads read, attached to the accounts of President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, with visuals of the giant Jesus statue that is a recognizable piece of Rio's skyline. The digital ads quickly disappeared after people poked fun at the fact the statue was not even within America's borders. 'We will protect this,' boasted the ad that included a picture of the Christ the Redeemer statue, which is in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Meanwhile, statues of Confederate Leaders and the explorer Christopher Columbus have been removed by city officials. The issue is quite contentious - with Trump hoping public opinion is on his side. In a late-June Morning Consult survey, 47 per cent of registered voters thought the statues should remain standing, while 36 per cent said they should be taken down. Just 10 per cent of Republicans said they supported the removal of Confederate monuments, compared to 60 per cent of Democrats. In the same poll, voters were split 40 per cent to 40 per cent when asked if statues of slave-owners should remain or be removed. TRENTON Two men face multiple charges after a shooting outside a capital city deli Thursday wounded a woman, police said. Roger Carter-Evans, 20, and Deshawn Davis, 18, both of Trenton, are each charged with counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. Carter-Evans, the alleged getaway driver, also faces four counts of complicity, according to police records. State Police Detective Carlos Estevez made the arrests, but a State Police spokesman deferred comment to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, which provided a copy of the detectives probable cause affidavit. The men are accused of being the assailants who opened fire and struck a woman around 12:27 p.m., outside the Peters Pizza and Deli, which is attached to the Kingsbury Towers and across the street from the Mercer County criminal courthouse in the North Ward. The woman was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of an alleged beef between the shooter Davis and one of two men who were targeted outside the deli, according to police records. The two men, who identified themselves by their street names Blik Em Down and Murskii, claimed in an interview with The Trentonian that the gunman was firing at them. The men could not explain why they may have been targeted. Reached by phone Friday, Blik Em Down said he did not recognize the names of the men who were allegedly behind the attempt on his and his friends life. According to the probable cause affidavit, Davis admitted firing two shots at the men because one of them physically assaulted him in the past. The shooters abandoned the silver Honda Civic, discovered in the parking lot of the Waters Edge nursing home on the 500 block of Union Street. Davis admitted leaving the gun inside the car, which was visible on the front passenger floorboard, according to the probable cause affidavit. Officers recovered the semiautomatic handgun, believing it was used in the shooting, pending ballistics. The woman was wounded in the knee and taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment. She was expected to survive, police said. Police interviewed the woman while she was being treated inside the deli, where she retreated from the gunfire. She told cops that she met up with a friend outside the deli, at the corner of South Warren and Market streets. She was talking to her friend when she saw two black men run by and heard at least one shot fired. As she ran inside the deli, she realized she was wounded, Trenton Police Lt. Jason Kmiec said. She provided a description of the suspects as two black men, one wearing a black top and the other rocking blue jeans, both with braids. Both shooting suspects have short, closely cropped hair, according to the booking mugs. The attempted murder charges related to the targeting of the two men, the affidavit says. However, additional counts of aggravated assault, besides those for wounding the woman, were not filed against Davis and Carter-Evans for allegedly targeting Blik Em Down and Murskii. The men did not identify themselves as shooting victims when officers canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses, Kmiec said. The men told a Trentonian photographer at the scene that they were shot at. Apparently not shaken up, the men asked for their photograph to be taken, In it, they threw up hand signs often associated with neighborhood cliques and street gangs. One of the men told The Trentonian that his father, Glenn Johnson, was gunned down in the city streets in 2011. The men acted like dodging bullets wasnt a big deal, saying they planned to smoke weed later in the night and head back out onto the hardscrabble capital city streets. We been out here all our lives. Thats nothing new, one of the men said. When you live out here, deep down inside, you gotta be strong. Its like nobody got hit, so its nothing to worry about. No fear, Blik Em Down said. Spare none. Kill em all. No fear lives here. Mayor Reed Gusciora expressed dismay over the mens cavalier attitudes toward the rampant gunplay, which has already claimed 24 lives in Trenton in 2020, including 18-year-olds William Irrizarry and Julius Vargas. Unbelievable, Gusciora said by text. They think they are playing Grand Theft Auto until they actually get shot. A committee asked to probe allegations of financial misappropriations and contract fraud in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) indicted the embattled Vice-Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, according to its report seen by PREMIUM TIMES. But Mr Ogundipe has continued to deny any wrongdoing, even after the Governing Council of the university controversially removed him on the basis of the committees report. The Council, chaired by lawyer and businessman, Wale Babalakin, on Wednesday announced the removal of Mr Ogundipe for alleged misconduct. The decision was taken at the Councils emergency meeting in Abuja during which the probe report was considered, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Mr Ogundipe also rejected his removal, saying the council did not follow due process in its actions. Apart from the indictments contained in the probe report, other allegations against the vice-chancellor include financial misconduct, forgery, information concealment, undermining of academic process and plot to appoint a professor by fiat, siphoning of UNILAG money through dubious contract awards, sponsoring or acquiescing unconstitutional actions of the UNILAG branch of ASUU, undermining of the office of registrar, involvement in the partial collapse of the universitys library building and masterminding of controversy leading to the cancellation of the university convocation ceremony. In the last three years, Council discovered that there was no financial accountability in the University, Mr Babalakin said in a Council document seen by this newspaper. The financial recklessness of the Management of the University is scandalous. He said after a series of attempts to rein in the management, the Governing Council decided to set up a committee to look into the finances of the University. A report of the committee seen by PREMIUM TIMES alleged that the Vice-Chancellor, the bursar and the immediate-past registrar spent N49,434,038.46 (forty-nine million, four hundred and thirty-four thousand, three hundred Naira, forty-six Kobo), N41,817,658.32 (forty-one million, eight hundred and seventeen thousand, six hundred and fifty-eight Naira, thirty-two kobo) and N16,123,509.00 (sixteen million, one hundred and twenty three thousand, five hundred and nine Naira) respectively on renovating their houses. This was done without any approval, the Council said. It was not even mentioned to anybody in Council. It was unilaterally done by the Management. The Bursars house can be built from scratch today for the N41,817,658.32 allegedly spent on renovating the house. READ ALSO: In defending himself against this allegation, Prof Ogundipe said, The renovation work includes both civil works and housing furniture. In accordance with the Memorandum of Appointment (MOA), outgoing VCs leave with their furniture. Consequently, the total furniture stated in the report should be broken down into renovations and purchase of furniture and equipment respectively. On assumption of office, after evaluation of the state of the property, the Works and Physical Planning Department identified certain deficiencies that needed attention. For example, leaking roof, old louvres (which gave an opportunity for rodents and snakes ingress). But the panel rejected this explanation by remarking that allocations for the refurbishment of principal officers quarters in 2017 and 2018 were zero and N50,000,000 respectively. Yet, a total of N 112,462,990.63 was expended on the refurbishment of principal officers quarters in 2017. From which account was N62, 462,990.63 sourced to top up the amount expended? The committee also accused the vice-chancellor of engaging in a long list of expenditures without any sort of approval. It said for those that had approval, the university management exceeded its expenditure limit. The Committee also found that the vice-chancellor paid the dean of student affairs N2.5million every month as security vote. The Council is not aware that any other university in Nigeria perpetrates this sort of unacceptable behaviour, the pro-chancellor said. I do not believe that even Ministers of the Federation collect security votes. But the vice-chancellor stoutly defended his action, saying, the funds were used in paying clandestine operatives who provide undercover security cover for the university. He said the expenditure was a long-standing arrangement in the institution. The committee, however, insisted that the long-standing policy of engaging security operatives without the knowledge of Council is a gross violation of Section 7(1) of the University of Lagos Act 1967, the Federal Government and University of Lagos Financial Regulations. Vice-Chancellor Ogundipe was also indicted over the payment of N117.9 million to two security companies without valid contracts. Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe Vice Chancellor. University of Lagos UNILAG [NAN Photos] According to the probe report, the N117.9 payments were in favour of Shelter Guards Limited and the Nigerian Legions, both entities alleged to have been engaged without valid contracts. In his response to the panel, Mr Ogundipe said the hiring of the companies without contracts is a convention instituted since 2004 during a period of several upheavals on campus which led to the breakdown of law and order, cultism was at its height, burglary and lots of insurgencies from neighbouring communities. The University was advised to engage different security outfits to augment the normal security unit in the University. These expenditures have been in existence since then. The panel countered his explanation, saying Convention cannot override statutory regulations. Engagement of the security outfits was done in total violation of the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and the University of Lagos Financial Regulation of 2016. In other cases, four payments for waste management, janitorial service and facility maintenance were also said to have been paid without valid contracts and approval of the tenders board. The amounts involved in these cases were over N228 million. Mr Ogundipe was also indicted for extra-budgetary expenditure regarding the 2017 UNILAG convocation ceremony. The original amount approved was N85 million but the VC was said to have spent N94 million. However, in denying any wrongdoing, Mr Ogundipe, according to the report, said the movement of the ceremony to the main Auditorium to give the ceremonies the grandeur befitting of the University meant more expenses on logistics which included providing free transport to ease movement from the gates to the venue. He also said the JAC strike of that year caused the university to change the date, thus having to reprint invitation cards and the brochures. He said the ceremonies were also split into two sessions per day to enable all graduating students to shake the chancellor, pro-Chancellor and vice-chancellor, thus dignitaries were provided with meals twice a day as against the once a day. Advertisements But the committee countered his defence. There was no memo to F&GPC requesting for approval of the extra-budgetary spending. This violated the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and the University of Lagos Financial Regulation of 2016., the panel said. Again in 2017, Mr Ogundipe was found to have spent N22.8 million without approvals to buy motor vehicles. He was also indicted for allegedly indulging in contract splitting for the purchase of two Toyota Avensis 2.0 for DVC (Management Services) and DVC (Development Services) in 2018. A total of N 52,080,000 was spent on the purchase of the two vehicles for DVC (MS) & DVC (DS). This amount was above the Tenders Board approval limit of N 50,000,000. The approval for the purchase of the two vehicles was given at the meeting of the Tenders Board of 19th February, 2018, the report said. The report also said Mr Ogundipe spent beyond his approval limit on allowances for staff travelling overseas. Apart from exceeding his limit, he also approved funds for local running in addition to estacode, according to the report which said such approvals were outside the extant rules. On this, Mr Ogundipe said: The Federal Government Financial Regulation (Chapter 14) does not state that local running should not be paid where estacode has been paid, adding that, Travels by University personnel is not a contract, therefore the issue of approval limits does not arise. But the probe panel did not find that position tenable. The committee said, Chapter 14 of the Federal Government Financial Regulation states that Duty Tour Allowances shall be paid to any officer on official tour within Nigeria. For local running, officers shall be entitled to 30 per cent of DTA in addition to airport and taxi fare at the prevailing rates. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission clarified that there are no added items like Local Running or Incidental Expense Allowances while abroad. All financial transactions in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) are guided by the provisions of the Federal Government Financial Regulations of 2009 and University of Lagos Financial Regulation of 2016. These documents do not categorically exempt approval limits on travel expenses. So, all travel expenses above N2.5million approved by the VC were clear violations of the above regulations. Apart from the indictments from the probe report, the Governing Council also accused Prof Ogundipe of other offences, according to documents sighted by PREMIUM TIMES. In one case, the Council accused the vice-chancellor of forgery. It said Mr Ogundipe, as chairman of the committee in charge of appointing a director of works for UNILAG, altered the figures of the interview to favour a candidate known as Tunbosun Oloyede. This candidate had come second to a candidate from the Lagos State Polytechnic. The Vice-Chancellor was caught red-handed with this alteration marks visible on the collated results. One nominee of the Senate who participated in the selection process confessed to this action claiming that he thought he (the vice-chancellor) was acting in the best interest of the University. Interestingly, the candidate in question had been found wanting by two Council Committees including the Fogam Report which was initiated by the present Council. In another case, the council accused the vice-chancellor of undermining academic process by seeking to appoint a professor by fiat. It said Mr Ogundipe wrote to the pro-chancellor requesting approval for the appointment of Dr Olukemi Fadehan as a Professor of Library Studies. I was taken aback by this suggestion, Mr Babalakin said. The matter had not been approved by the Appointments and Promotion Board. Furthermore, the University does not have a Department of Library Studies. How can we appoint a Professor to a department that had not been created? This is sheer recklessness in the University System. The Governing Council also alleged that the vice-chancellor had been siphoning UNILAG money through dubious contract awards. The University of Lagos has a Press, Mr Babalakin said. The press is capable of printing almost everything the University requires. In the last two years, the Vice-Chancellor has consistently awarded the contract to the University press and mandated the press to pay the contract sum to another entity. He has been using the press to siphon money out of the system. He will then pay 5% of the contract sum to the Press. This year, a disagreement occurred between the Management and the General Manager of the Press. General Manager complained to the Management and stated that he was no longer willing to make the University Press available to siphoning money to a certain Ms Abudu This further confirms the findings of the Professor Omolehinwas report mentioned earlier. Moments after the controversial removal of Mr Ogundipe, the Council announced the appointment of Theophilus Soyombo, a professor of social sciences, as interim vice-chancellor. However, notwithstanding the allegations, the vice-chancellor has denied any wrongdoing, saying his removal was illegal. I honestly believe that this action was carried out without due process and contrary to the universitys Act and other extant laws governing discipline, suspension and removal of the vice-chancellor of the university, Mr Ogundipe wrote in a letter to Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria, who he requested to sue the governing council, the pro-chancellor, and other officials who he said committed illegal and unconstitutional acts to purportedly remove him from office. The Senate of the University of Lagos, the UNILAG branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and other groups have condemned the removal of the Mr Ogundipe saying the law governing the removal of vice-chancellors and appointment of acting vice-chancellors was violated. On the removal of vice-chancellors and appointments of acting vice-chancellors, the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act says as follows: (8) The Vice-Chancellor may be removed from office by the Governing Council on grounds of gross misconduct or inability to discharge the functions of his office as a result of infirmity of the body or mind, at the initiative of the Council, Senate or the Congregation after due process. (9) When the proposal for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor is made, the Council shall constitute a joint committee of Council and Senate consisting of- (i) Three members of the Council one of whom shall be the Chairman of the committee, a (ii) Two members of the Senate, provided that where the ground for removal is infirmity of the body or mind, the Council shall seek appropriate medical opinion. (10) The Committee shall conduct investigation into the allegations made against the Vice-Chancellor and shall report its findings to the Council. (11) The Council may, where the allegations are proved, remove the Vice Chancellor or apply any other disciplinary action it may deem fit and notify the Visitor accordingly provided that a Vice-Chancellor who is removed shall have right of appeal to the Visitor. (12) There shall be no sole administration in any Nigerian University. (13) In any case of a vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, the Council shall appoint an acting Vice-Chancellor on recommendation of the Senate. (14) An acting Vice-Chancellor in all circumstances shall not be in office for more than 6 months. Many people believe the Governing Council did not comply with the above provisions in the removal of Professor Ogundipe and the appointment of Professor Soyombo as acting vice-chancellor. The Senate of UNILAG did not recommend his appointment as demanded by law. However, the Governing Council has stuck to its guns, saying it complied with due process in the actions it took. It is trite law that whatever a sub-committee of the Council can do, the full Council has the powers to exercise these powers, Mr Babalakin said. For example, the Council can decide to consider a contract award without reference to its Finance and General Purposes Committee that is a Sub-committee of the Council. In this case, the Council sat as a full Council and delegated its investigative power to a Sub-committee of Council. The only issue that has to be cleared or verified is whether the composition of the full Council satisfied the intention of the legislature which is that the Council Committee must have at least three members of Council and two members of Senate. The Council sitting as a whole has fifteen Council members and four members of the Senate. This means that Council sitting as a whole fulfils the conditions that there should be three Council members and two members of the Senate in the Committee. The pro-chancellor also said Mr Ogundipe was granted a fair hearing before he was removed. after the allegation was made against the Vice-Chancellor, a copy of the Dagaris report was sent to him on the authority of the Council by the Pro-Chancellor. He defended himself in a letter dated 13th May 2019 which was made available to Council members. He also orally addressed these allegations at a Council meeting held on Thursday, 13th May 2019. This definitely constitutes fair hearing under the law. Contrary to the assertion made in certain circles that the issue of disciplining the Vice-Chancellor was not in the Agenda of the meeting, the Notice of Emergency Council Meeting at which the Vice-Chancellor was removed stated categorically that the report that led to his removal was going to be discussed at the Council meeting. However, a number of people and organisations appear unimpressed by these explanations and similar ones. The UNILAG Alumni Association, led by John Momoh (a member of the Governing Council), insists the processes adopted in removing Prof Ogundipe and appointing Prof Soyombo as acting vice-chancellor are faulty. Without prejudice to the general powers of the University Governing Council to appoint and remove a Vice-Chancellor under the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 1 2007), and without apportioning any blame to either the Governing Council or the Vice-Chancellor, the University of Lagos Alumni is of the view that before the Council can exercise such powers, It must follow due process, particularly as mandatorily provided under section 3(8), (9) and (10) of the Act in the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and Section 3(13) in the appointment of an acting Vice-Chancellor Therefore, the Alumni counsels the Governing Council that the status quo ante the Council meeting of Wednesday, 12th August 2020, be restored while the Alumni continues with its efforts at ensuring that lasting peace and harmony reign on the Campus as between the Council and the University Management in particular, and all sections of the University community in general, including the Senate, students, staff, all Associations, particularly ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NAAT, etc, the UNILAG Alumni Association said in a statement on Saturday morning. Mr Momoh, the chairman of Channels Television, attended the August 12 Governing Council meeting and is said to have voted for the removal of the vice-chancellor. Mr Momoh could not be reached for comments Saturday afternoon. He did not answer or return calls and is yet to respond to a text message sent to him. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Soemarwoto (The Jakarta Post) Leiden Sat, August 15, 2020 08:38 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2e10b 3 Opinion #Indonesia75,Independence-Day,colonialism,Dutch-colonialism,King-Willem-Alexander,history Free On Aug. 17, 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed the independence of a new nation state, the Republic of Indonesia. They did it on behalf of the peoples, the inhabitants of the vast archipelago, whose ancestors had lived in societies rich in cultures and knowledge. Independence from what? The preamble of the Constitution of the new republic states "freedom is truly the right of all peoples, and therefore colonial domination throughout the world should be abolished, because it is contrary to the principles of humanitarianism and justice" (Hattas translation in Journal Asian Survey, March 1965, pp. 139-143). Independence means freedom, that is free from colonialism which by its very nature is inhumane. After the foundation of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) in 1602, for more than three centuries colonialism deprived peoples living in the archipelago known today as Indonesia of their human rights. At gunpoint, the peoples were denied the right to enlighten themselves and determine their own course of development. They were exploited, oppressed and enslaved to satisfy the greed of a tiny kingdom located 12,000 kilometers away. Colonialism was indeed a project of greed which had revealed an ugly form of human behavior. The project was not without resistance. The opposition had erupted into many wars of decolonization, spread over the archipelago over the time span of the more than 300 years of colonial domination. Streets in Indonesian cities are given names to remember leaders of the resistance and thereby the lives lost in the bloody purges by the colonial ruler. Remarkably, in the beginning of the 20th century, when the colonial ruler introduced the ethical policy, inserting elements of humanity such as education into the society to co-exist with colonialism, another form of resistance emerged: nationalism. Hatta identified it as a nationalism which was not determined by identical origin, identical language or identical religion, but formed by a common destiny and purpose. The peoples of various ethnicities, being oppressed by one foreign entity occupying their lands, became aware of sharing the same destiny and purpose. This was awakened by enlightening messages transmitted throughout the archipelago by the privileged few, who were allowed to follow education up to the tertiary level. It is a nationalism based on intellectuality, leading to intellectual activisms marked by significant milestones such as Boedi Oetomo in 1908 and Soempah Pemoeda in 1928. Dutch King Willem-Alexander (left) and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (right) address the press at the Bogor Presidential Palace on March 10. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan) The people of Indonesia will celebrate the 75-year jubilee of their independence. It must have caught the attention of the Dutch King Willem Alexander who made a four-day state visit to Indonesia last March. The king made the visit a remarkable one, by offering an apology. Apology for what? The apology concerns a period of five years from 1945 to 1949, a tiny snapshot of the whole time span of 350 years of colonialism. While in Indonesian society this apology was almost unnoticed, the reactions in the Netherlands have been overwhelming, from many layers of society. A sense of approval, relief, cynicism and anger were all present in the reactions. Interestingly, the apology has awakened a new voice in Dutch society, a voice presumably suppressed before, acknowledging the cruelty of colonialism, and therefore it should be apologized for. Others, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte, do not agree with this voice, arguing it is even farther away in the past and difficult to judge with the morals of the present, while there is no demand from the Indonesian side for a digging into the past and an apology. It is not about whether or not there is a demand, as there was no demand whatsoever from the Indonesian side for the apology by the Dutch king. Colonialism, as Emmanuel Macron rightly put it, is a crime against humanity. There is no lack of academic findings and narratives that support this view. There is no need for extra digging into the past. The contemporary Dutch have been vocal in condemning human rights violations committed by other nations of the world. While it may be genuinely well-intended, it accentuates the greatest irony in the history of mankind: The International Criminal Court sits in The Hague, but the host does not even dare to deal with severe cases of its own past committed during centuries of colonialism. In the Dutch media, the Dutch kings apology was reported as a total surprise to Dutch politics. But, in the wake of the antiracism movement following the killing of Afro-American George Floyd last May, which has recalibrated the western norms and values praising the symbols and figures prominent in slavery and colonialism, the apology should be lauded as an exemplary gesture, a small step toward an ultimate apology. That is an apology to humanity for the 350 years of Dutch colonialism. For the Dutch king to deliver the ultimate apology on Indonesias upcoming celebration of independence, it would be remembered in history as a noble service to mankind. *** The writer is an Indonesian senior scientist residing in Leiden. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. New Delhi, Aug 15 : As The Faceless Assessment Scheme, 2019 kicks off, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has stipulated that all communications from the department to the taxpayer, assessee, third-party will be in the name of the National e-Assessment Center (NeAC) and no communication of any nature such as above will be made by any of the Regional e-Assessment Centres (ReACs) across 20 cities in the country. The Income Tax Department has embarked on the journey of Faceless Tax Administration. The Faceless Assessment Scheme, 2019 has been announced by the Central Government. Further, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) in Delhi and various Regional e-Assessment Centres (ReACs) across 20 cities in the country for implementation of the Scheme. The CBDT has now given the detailed guidelines for the implementation of the Scheme and role of residual charges in this regard. On the functions of the faceless hierarchy, the guidelines say that the NeAC/ReACs hierarchy will be tasked with management of Faceless Assessment proceedings and will be broadly responsible for functions. All these functions will be through electronic means for which the NeAC will be the gateway and will function as such for all the flow of information. The officers and the staff in the ReACs will perform the functions relating to the assessment and verification function under the Income Tax Act, but all communications from the department to the taxpayer/assessee/third-party for the purposes of the Act will be in the name of the NeAC. No communication of any nature such as above will be made by any of the ReACs. The functions of the NeAC, ReACs [Assessment Unit (AU), Verification Unit (VU), Review Unit (RU) and Technical Unit (TU)] have been delineated in detail separately by the NeAC in consultation with the Board. The Assessment proceedings u/s 143, 144, 148 read with 143(2)/ 142(1) will be done by the AU, verification related to assessment by the VU, verification related to centralized dissemination of information by the Directorate of Systems, by the VUs, review of draft orders by the RU, technical support by the TU and passing and dispatch of the final orders by the NeAC. On the functions of the field formations outside the NeAC/ReACs hierarchy, the guidelines state that the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax will be the cadre controlling authorities for all the officers and staff in their area of jurisdiction in respect of all field formations including ReACs, central charges, international tax and transfer pricing charges, investigation directorate, exemption charges. The field formations outside the NeAC/ReACs Hierarchy will perform the functions in faceless manner to the extent possible. These include taxpayer outreach and taxpayer education, taxpayer facilitation, rectification proceedings, grievance handling and demand management, collection and recovery of taxes, audit functions including handling matters pertaining to Revenue and Internal Audit and taking remedial actions. The other functions include judicial functions including giving effect to the appellate orders of CsIT (A), ITAT, High Court, Supreme Court, Settlement commission, preparing scrutiny reports and filing of appeal wherever considered necessary; defending writ petitions, recommendation of SLPs, prosecution and compounding proceedings and related court matters, administrative, HRD and cadre control matters including related court matters, custody and management of case records and management and control of infrastructure. CBDT has prescribed that wherever communication under the income tax proceedings is required to be made with the taxpayer/assessee/third-party, the same shall be made through electronic means using the ITBA/ Department Portal. "The power of survey u/s 133A of the Act henceforth will be exercised by the Investigation Directorates and the TDS charges only. In cases of surveys of the International Taxation charge or any other charges, the same will be conducted in collaboration with the Investigation Directorates," the CBDT said in a circular. In order to implement the scheme, the Board has diverted the existing manpower at all levels of the department to the Faceless Assessment charges. The hierarchy in faceless scheme will work with 30 Chief Commissioners, 154 Principal Commissioners, 565 Additional/Joint Commissioners, 645 Deputy Commissioners/Additional Commissioners, 2830 Income Tax Officers and attendant staff. The Principal Chief Commissioners will now issue orders for diversion of posts up to all levels of staff to the newly created NeAC/ReACs in their jurisdiction. An exercise has been carried out to identify posts which can be diverted to NeAC/ReACs. At least one office in every building is retained in the residual hierarchy to ensure continued ownership and responsibility of case records. The jurisdiction of AOs posts selected for diversion to NeAC/ReACs hierarchy is proposed to be given to another AO/(s) (not diverted) in the same building to avoid any transfer of case records between buildings. In the residual hierarchy, each Range will have at least one DC/ACIT. The average number of ITOs in residual hierarchy is 4-5 per Range. The actual number of ITOs have been increased or decreased depending on the number of ITOs and buildings in jurisdictions that have been merged. While merging the jurisdictions, there might be shortages/excesses depending upon the charge and manpower management as per the enclosed list. In case of excesses/shortages in the rank of Addl. CIT/JCIT/DCIT/ACIT, the same may be added to/ drawn from Special Ranges and headquarters. In case of excesses/shortages in the rank of ITO, the same may be added to/drawn from TRO and headquarters. According to her son, Stephen Markman, she struggled with a mood disorder but found a healing outlet through her artwork, which included abstract collages and figurative painting. Wilner said that after she moved to assisted living, three of her paintings always graced the walls of her room. Her love of dance and visual arts was a constant throughout her life. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launches Indigenisation portal SRIJAN; DPSUs sign Contracts and MoUs with Industry Partners and Academia; Atmanirbhar Week celebration of MoD concludes India - Press Information Bureau Posted On: 14 AUG 2020 5:24PM by PIB Delhi On the final day of Atmanirbhar Week celebration of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today launched Department of Defence Production, MoD's portal SRIJAN which is a 'one stop shop online portal that provides access tothe vendors to take up items that can be taken up for indigenization. Four Contracts of Defence India Start-up Challenge under iDEX and four MoUs between industry partners and Defence PSUs were also signed in presence of Raksha Mantri. A number of Expressions of Interest/Requests for Proposal were also issued. Speaking on the occasion, Raksha Mantri said signing of these MoUs and contracts will lead us to Self-reliance in the technologies related to Defence Manufacturing. Shri Singh called upon the Indian industry partners to show complete commitment and take proactive participation in the pursuit of Indigenization and self-reliance in the Defence Sector. He said " Self-reliance in Defence manufacturing has been envisioned not only as domestic requirement but also with export perspective and can be made possible with concerted efforts. With these things in mind, the government has taken important steps like corporatization of Entities, reforms in FDI limits and recently released negative list of import." He said "Till sometime back, for our defence procurement, we have been looking towards the best technologies available in the world. But now our outlook has changed. We are thinking on how to manufacture latest equipment ourselves or through Joint Ventures or transfer-of-technology." Commending DDP for creating SRIJAN portal, Shri Singh said this will help industry partners to play active role in the goal of self-reliance in defence sector. Pursuant to Atmanirbhar Bharat announcement, Department of Defence Production, MoD has developed an indigenization portal, srijandefence.gov.in, as "opportunities for Make in India in Defence", which will give information on items that can be taken up for indigenization by the private sector. On this portal, DPSUs/OFB/SHQs can display their items which they have been importing or are going to import which the Indian Industry can design, develop and manufacture as per their capability or through joint venture with OEMs. The Indian Industry will be able to show their interest. The concerned DPSUs/OFB/SHQs, based on their requirement of the items and their guidelines & procedures will interact with the Indian industry for indigenization. The portal displays information in a structured way, which includes the item name, image and specification, values of imports, NATO Classification (indicative), etc. It also has a search facility. In the first stage, DPSUs/OFB/SHQs have displayed those items which they have imported in 2019-20 and going to import in 2020-21, for the annual value of the items as Rs 1 million and above. The number of items and their value of annual imports displayed year wise are as below. Year No of items displayed by DPSUs/OFB/SHQs Value of imports in Rs million 2019-20 1557 34035 2020-21 739 34514 There are over 3000 unique items with a value of over Rs 10,000 Crore that are available through the portal. DDP Signed 4 Contracts of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) 3 under Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) . iDEX aims to create an ecosystem which fosters innovation and encourages technology development in Defence by engaging R&D institutes, academia, industries, startups and individual innovators. The iDEX framework was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in April 2018. iDEX is being implemented by Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), a Section 8 company formed for this purpose, with Rs 50 crore support each from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), both of which are Defence Public Sector Units. More than 700 startups and innovators responded to the 3 rounds of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC), out of which over 55 startups/ individuals have been selected to receive innovation grants in 15 technological areas under DISC 1, 2 and 3, through the Prototype funding guidelines called "Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart" (SPARK), which entail provisioning of grants uptoRs 1.5 crore to the Startups on the basis of milestones through multiple tranches. For 44 winners identified under DISC 1 & 2, till date, 28 contracts have been signed and first tranche / second tranche has been released to the winners for prototype development. Under DISC 3, a total of 14 winners from three challenges (one each from Army, Navy and Air Force) were approved by the DIO Board on 03 Feb 2020. Out of the 14 winners, the first batch of four winners - three winners from Army challenge and one from Air Force challenge have been cleared for signing the SPARK Grant Contract. All the four Contracts have been signed today, the 14th August, 2020. DPSU MDL signed MoU for indigenous overhauling of main motor of SSK Class Submarines with M/s Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd. Presently overhaul of the Main Motor of SSK class submarines is carried out in Germany by a foreign firm. MDL is in the process of developing an Indian company, M/s Medha Servo Drives Pvt. Ltd, to undertake the same in India. This would be aligned with the aims and objectives of AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, apart from savings in time and cost (which are as yet not quantifiable). Success of this effort could even lead to indigenisation of the Main Motor of submarines, which would be an extremely significant achievement. It is envisaged that MoU with the firm would be signed during the period 0714 Aug 2020. Goa Shipyard Limited, GSL signed MoU with IIT Goa for Artificial Intelligence, IoT-CFD and other technology related fields. Key outcomes envisaged from the MoU with IIT-Goa are as follows:- Collaboration and undertaking joint research and development programs/projects in Naval ship building design, Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing and Composites. Share equipment, personnel and R&D facilities to facilitate research activities related to projects undertaken in the above mentioned technical areas. Evaluate and decide acquisition of new systems/equipment for Projects undertaken in the above mentioned technical areas. Facilitate internship of students of IIT-Goa with GSL. Technology up-gradation training programs for GSL personnel. To combine collective knowledge and technical expertise to develop new business opportunities in the above mentioned technical areas. An MoU on development of UAVs was signed between Defence PSU BEML and IIT, Kanpur. BEML signed another MoU on development of AI products with NASSCOM, Bengaluru . Hindustan Aeronautics Limited issued Expression of Interest for indigenization of 46 Nos. of items for Russian project under Make-II having total value of Rs. 100 crores. BEL Issued EOI/ RFP for Indigenisation of the following 5 items having total value of Rs. 31 Crore i) Brazing wire: Brazing wires are special alloys, presently being imported, are required for Vacuum Brazing Process. ii) Motion Platform, 6 degrees of freedom & Payload 1000-2000 kg: Critical sub-assembly for Vehicular Simulators, presently imported. iii) Dummy Weapons for Small Arm Simulators: Critical components for various Small Arms Simulators, not available indigenously. iv) Single Board Computer (SBC) - Printed Circuit Board (PCB): Presently these PCBs are imported. SBC is used in current and future projects, hence indigenization is required, for cost savings & long-term maintenance. And v) Design & Development of 62X Day Zoom Lens. There is a huge requirement for Army, MHA and Other agencies for long range day surveillance equipment. Day Zoom Lens is a part of this equipment being imported. Indigenization will achieve self-sustainability for manufacturing this item and avoids imported content. BDL Issued EOI/ RFP for Indigenisation of 11 items under Make-II having total value of 15 Crore. Components and sub-assemblies of naval products like, under-water connecters, contactors, Ring Laser Gyro, Pressure Transducer, Free Gyro, Heli Receiver, ATGM components & sub-assemblies like Amplifiers, Communication Unit, Transducer Sub-assemblies and Octol for War head of SAM missiles are ready for releasing RFP under Make-II. By indigenisation of the above saving of Rs. 15 crores will be achieved. During the week long Atmanirbhar Bharat celebrations new facilities were launched and/or upgraded, contracts and MoUs were signed and EoI/ RFP were issued. Concluding his remarks Raksha Mantri said the events during the week long celebrations have taken the country forward towards a new unity among industry, academia, Research and Development, management, manpower and technology will take the country to new heights." "The day marks not the end of Atmanirbharta Week but the beginning of a new Era of Self-reliance." he added. ***** ABB/Nampi/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA (Release ID: 1645805) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio)'s $506.23 billion conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A)(NYSE:BRK.B), disclosed its equity portfolio for the second quarter of 2020 on Friday. Despite having more than $130 billion to spend on stocks, the renowned guru and his two portfolio managers, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, only entered one new position during the three months ended June 30, which, surprisingly, was Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:GOLD). Other major trades for the quarter included reductions of the long-held JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) stakes. They also completely sold out of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) as the U.S. economy reeled from the effects of the Covid-19 lockdowns. As previously disclosed in April, the long-term investors exited the positions in major airlines Delta (NYSE:DAL), Southwest (NYSE:LUV), United (NASDAQ:UAL) and American (NASDAQ:AAL) during the quarter as well. Buffett also previously shared he boosted the insurance conglomerate's stake in Liberty SiriusXM Group (NASDAQ:LSXMK) by around 7.57% during the quarter. Other positions he added to were STORE Capital Corp. (STOR), The Kroger Co. (KR) and Suncor Energy Inc. (SU). The firm also trimmed or completely sold out of a slew of other holdings, including PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) and Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR). More recently, Buffett began expanding his Bank of America Corp. (BAC) position in July. He now holds an 11.92% stake in the Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank, which is valued at around $28.2 billion and was his second-largest position as of the end of the quarter. His largest holdings, accounting for over half of the portfolio, also include Apple Inc. (AAPL), The Coca-Cola Co. (KO), American Express Co. (AXP) and The Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC). Story continues The guru's $202.41 billion equity portfolio consisted of 44 stocks as of June 30. A majority of the portfolio was invested in technology stocks at 45.76%, while the financial services sector has a weight of 31.72% and the consumer defensive space represents 15.01%. Barrick Gold Like with airlines and technology, Buffett's move into gold goes against his past statements cautioning against investing in the commodity because it has "no utility." Gold miners, however, are currently benefitting from rising bullion prices, which are widening profit margins and stabilizing production costs. As such, Berkshire invested in 20.9 million shares of Barrick Gold, allocating 0.28% of the equity portfolio to the stake. The stock traded for an average price of $24.86 per share during the quarter. The Canadian mining company, which produces gold and copper, has a $47.94 billion market cap; its shares were trading around $26.99 on Friday with a price-earnings ratio of 10.69, a price-book ratio of 2.14 and a price-sales ratio of 4.14. The Peter Lynch chart shows the stock is trading below its fair value, suggesting undervaluation. 11962ec953eebfd019099d506e861036.png JPMorgan Chase In his largest transaction of the quarter, Buffett sold 35.5 million shares of JPMorgan, impacting the equity portfolio by -1.82%. Shares traded for an average price of $94.84 each during the quarter. After the 61.52% reduction, he now holds 22.2 million shares, which represent 1.03% of the equity portfolio. GuruFocus estimates Buffett has lost 10.53% on the investment since the third quarter of 2018. The bank, which is headquartered in New York, has a market cap of $312.11 billion; its shares were trading around $102.41 on Friday with a price-earnings ratio of 13.83, a price-book ratio of 1.33 and a price-sales ratio of 2.71. According to the Peter Lynch chart, the stock is undervalued. 41a7dd75c09984af71d854f1c306608d.png Wells Fargo Trimming the position by 26.49%, the Berkshire leader sold 85.6 million shares of Wells Fargo. The trade had an impact of 1.4% on the equity portfolio. The stock traded for an average per-share price of $27.42 during the quarter. Buffett now holds 237.5 million shares, accounting for 3% of the equity portfolio. According to GuruFocus, he has gained an estimated 57.24% on the investment. 303f189a8e40a45c9c69dbd715940dbb.png The San Francisco-based bank has a $104.24 billion market cap; its shares were trading around $25.30 on Friday with a price-earnings ratio of 29.1, a price-book ratio of 0.65 and a price-sales ratio of 1.36. Based on the Peter Lynch chart, the stock appears to be overvalued. 515cb44effdd216892bee09342aacabb.png Goldman Sachs After slashing the Goldman Sachs stake by 84% last quarter, Buffett pulled the trigger and divested of the remaining 1.9 million shares. The trade had an impact of -0.17% on the equity portfolio. During the quarter, the stock traded for an average price of $187.05 per share. GuruFocus data shows he gained 10.62% on the investment. 2bc560389ea4593e3f832006a7eeb097.png The investment bank based in New York has a market cap of $71.56 billion; its shares were trading around $207.97 on Friday with a price-earnings ratio of 15.84, a price-book ratio of 0.91 and a price-sales ratio of 2.07. The Peter Lynch chart suggests the stock is trading near its fair value. 64adca9bb009d284663ab3f9c12675d9.png See Buffett's full portfolio here. Disclosure: No positions. Read more here: Mohnish Pabrai Drives Away From Fiat Chrysler, Sets Sights on Retail REIT? Robert Olstein's Top 2nd-Quarter Trades Chuck Royce's Firm Reveals Top Trades of the 2nd Quarter Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. This drawing was created by Sandor Landeau, a noted artist who made La Crosse his home for a brief stint in the late 19th century. Landeau was born in Hungary in the early 1860s. Although he is primarily referred to as Sandor, his birth name was apparently Samuel. It is unknown when or why he changed his name. When he was a child, his family immigrated to the U.S. and settled near Cincinnati. He left his family to study art in Bloomington, Illinois, when he was a teenager. After a short time in Illinois, Landeau came to La Crosse for an educational opportunity as an artist, but his motives remain a mystery. In the La Crosse city directories from 1888 until 1893, Landeau is listed as having an artists studio on the third floor in the McMillan building at Fourth and Main. There, he taught art classes and even referred to himself as the professor. This pen and ink drawing by Landeau was made during his short stay in La Crosse and is signed S. L. Landeau 88 on the bottom right. The drawing is on the smaller side, measuring 7.75 by 9.25 inches, but it is incredibly detailed. It features a small flock of sheep grazing surrounded by a rock wall and woods. The bottom left reads, To Miss Hilda Borreson from S. L. Landeau. This note probably refers to Hilda Borresen (later Carr), the daughter of Emil and Nettie Borresen and Landeau replaced the final e in the familys name with an o. Emil Borresen was one of the pair who founded La Crosses State Bank and was serving as the banks vice president in 1888 when Landeau was in La Crosse. Through the support of benefactors from La Crosse, Landeau was able to travel to Paris to continue his studies. Some of Landeaus well-known La Crosse patrons were Louise Wood Withee, Dr. Edward Evans and lawyer John McConnell. While Landeau was studying in Paris, La Crosse residents Adolph Gundersen and Dr. Edward Evans visited him. Landeau is known for his religious scenes, portraits and marine scenes. He displayed artwork at many exhibitions and was awarded various prizes. In 1899, Landeau married Marie Louise Whitney. About 10 years later, they had a daughter, also named Marie Louise. The Landeaus traveled frequently and made many places their home over the years, including Rome, Paris and New York. Eventually, he settled in East Aurora, New York, around 1915, working with the Roycroft community of artists. He died in 1924. Landeaus works are included in several collections, including the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Although he was in La Crosse for such a short time, he was well-remembered. In a reminiscence in the La Crosse Tribune in 1925, Lillian Van Auken recalled Sandor Landeau as a guest in her familys home. She describes him as a short, thick-set and quiet young man with a large and impressive head and face. This drawing by Landeau is being preserved as part of the La Crosse County Historical Societys artifact collection and can be seen in the La Crosse County Historical Societys online database . Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A quartet of $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman pacing colts and fillies will be contested on Monday night at Northfield Park, and will determine the starting fields for Super Night, scheduled for Sept. 5 at Scioto Downs. A total of 14 pacing fillies are set to vie, along with 13 pacing colts in these OSS contests. Ohio-registered stallions represented include six by Well Said, four by Racing Hill and two each by Domethatagain, Mcardle, Nob Hill High, The Panderosa and Western Vintage. Stallions represented by one foal each include Arthur Blue Chip, Art Official, Bring On The Beach, Manhardt, Rockin Amadeus and Yankee Cruiser. The first OSS pacing filly division (Race 1) is the most competitive, with four previous OSS winners set to battle, including the multiple leg-winning Summer Touch, who captured Leg Two in 1:54.2 and Leg Three in 1:51.4. She will be joined by Leg One winner Lady Arthur (1:53.2), Leg One winner Leave Her Wild (1:55.1) and Leg Two winner Rainy Day Chic (1:54.1). The second OSS pacing filly division (Race 5) pits Leg One winner Winella Hanover (1:54.4) against Sentimental, who captured Leg One in 1:56.1 and Leg Two in 1:53.2. The first OSS division for pacing colts appears to be a wide-open event with no returning OSS winners. Barnard Hanover, a Ronnie Burke-trainee, will be the likely favourite via his 2nd and 3rd place finishes in previous OSS contests. The second pacing colt divisions sees a trio of previous leg winners in Hardt At Work, a Leg One winner in 1:55.1 and Leg Three winner in 1:52.2. In addition, Heart Of Chewbacca, impressive in his only OSS start captured Leg Three in 1:51.1, while Charlie May captured Leg One in 1:54.2 and Leg Two in 1:53. It appears that Ronnie Burke will have the favourite in each of these four divisions and have additional starters in each race too. Summer Touch is the likely favourite in the first filly event, with stablemate Free Thinker joining her in her quest for first place money. In the second filly division Burke harnesses likely favourite Winella Hanover along with stablemate Pinknperfect. Burke will also tighten the girth on Barnard Hanover in the first colt division, as well as likely favourite Heart Of Chewbacca and stablemate Hill Yeah in the second. (OSDF) You are here: Business Air China has resumed flying on the route linking Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Germany's Frankfurt that was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first direct route between western China and Europe that has resumed since a reward and suspension mechanism was announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The route is flown by an Airbus A330-200 every Thursday. The first flight took off at 12:35 p.m. Thursday, and the return flight brought 182 passengers back to Chengdu on Friday. Air China said it has formulated plans on epidemic prevention and control for the resumption of flights. China has resumed regular passenger flights to 20 countries, Wu Shijie, deputy director of the Office of Aviation Safety of CAAC, said on Thursday. In July, the country's civil aviation industry handled a total of 370,000 flights, with an average daily volume of 11,941 flights, according to CAAC statistics. BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai student activist vowed on Saturday to continue to protest against the government and demand reform of the monarchy after being detained overnight on charges related to a demonstration last month and released on bail. Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 22, was arrested on Friday and charged with breaching internal security rules and breaking regulations to stop the spread of coronavirus among other charges, by co-organising a protest on July 18. Since that protest in July, university and high school student groups around Thailand have rallied almost daily, demanding for the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who first took power in a 2014 military coup, and an end to the military domination of politics. Some students have also demanded reforms to the powerful monarchy, once a taboo subject. Parit told reporters at the court that he had been ordered not to re-offend as a condition of his bail, but that the director-general of the court had agreed that he could take part in a major protest planned for Sunday. "My arrest must not be wasted, people must talk more publicly about the monarchy," Parit said after reciting a 10-point call for monarchy reform issued earlier this week by one of the student group. "We have lifted the ceiling, there is no lowering it now." The monarchy is protected by a strict lese majeste law that punishes anyone who offends King Maha Vajiralongkorn or his family, but Prime Minister Prayuth said earlier this year that the king had asked for it not be used. Prayuth appealed for national unity earlier this week but also said some of the student activist demands on the monarchy "went too far." Last week two other activists were arrested and later released on similar charges to Parit, and Human Rights Watch said the criminal court has issued arrest warrants for 12 others for organising the July 18 protest. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Editing by Matthew Tostevin & Shri Navaratnam) Nearly half of the British public do not know what Victory in Japan (VJ) Day is, according to the findings of a poll taken shortly before its 75th anniversary. On Saturday, the country will pay tribute to the sacrifices made by those who fought in the Far East to bring about the end of the Second World War. #OTD 75 years ago, the Allies formally accepted the Japanese offer of surrender which would become effective on 15th August. The Second World War, which had claimed 450,900 British dead, would soon be over. Find out more here: https://t.co/TNWV8PzugD. #VJDay75 pic.twitter.com/DI97X6Ikv3 British Army (@BritishArmy) August 11, 2020 The conflict against Japan endured three months beyond Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8 1945, with brutal fighting only ending with the Japanese surrender on August 15. But a survey of 2,020 Britons aged over 16 from SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, carried out between July 27 and 29, found that 46% did not know what the VJ acronym stands for. Of these, just 5% said they would celebrate it every year after discovering what the day marked, the survey found. Meanwhile, more than half (52%) of those unaware of the significance of the day said they were not likely to do or feel anything towards the anniversary after finding out what it stood for. SSAFA suggested the findings pointed to VJ Day slowly being erased from British history. It highlighted that due to the earlier conclusion of war in Europe, some veterans returning from the Far East have referred to themselves as the forgotten army. This morning, as the sun rose on the 75th anniversary of Victory Over Japan Day, a lone military piper played When the Battles Oer on the deck of @I_W_M HMS Belfast, London. #VJDay75 #Neverforgotten pic.twitter.com/5dEDye9c0T Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) August 15, 2020 This years VJ Day commemorations have had to be adapted to accommodate restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues The royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, are all due to play a role in events planned on Saturday. This includes a service of thanksgiving and remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, a national two-minute silence, and a Red Arrows flypast. Sir Gary Coward, chairman of SSAFA, said: We should all be aware of our national history, especially when associated with an unrelenting campaign and huge sacrifice. VJ Day marks such an event. Lest we forget. A private ceremony was held at Kranji War Cemetery this morning to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who fought for our freedom in WWII. We owe to them a debt of gratitude. #NeverForgotten #VJDay75 pic.twitter.com/FXqjSi3Moj UK in Singapore (@UKinSingapore) August 15, 2020 He added: Many people celebrate Victory in Europe Day, but very few acknowledge or know about Victory over Japan Day. Thousands of Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen remained incarcerated in horrendous conditions and their many colleagues continued to fight bitter battles for freedom in the Far East well after VE Day. Without their supreme sacrifice, life would be very different to what it is now. On this 75th anniversary, we ought to take a moment to reflect on this and try to learn the lessons of this key moment in history. The huge losses on all sides must not be forgotten. Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 5:13AM Embed from Getty Images Epic Games just launched a lawsuit against Google and Apple, claiming the companies are engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. For Google's part, the lawsuit focuses on how Google makes it more challenging to sideload applications than installing them from the Play Store. A surprising claim in the filing describes how Google reportedly stopped OnePlus from preloading the Epic Games app. Fortnite uses a launcher app called Epic Games to release updates for it when it's installed from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Epic's site. According to the developer, it struck a deal with OnePlus to preload the app on new devices, but Google struck down the agreement. Epic Games even reportedly designed a version of Fortnite for some OnePlus devices to take advantage of the state-of-the-art framerate. The deal was supposed to cover a worldwide release, but Google supposedly only allowed OnePlus to release the app in India. According to the filing, "OnePlus informed Epic that Google was 'particularly concerned that the Epic Games app would have [the] ability to potentially install and update multiple games with a silent install bypassing the Google Play Store.' Further, any waiver of Google's restriction 'would be rejected due to the Epic Games app serving as a potential portfolio of games and game updates.' As a result, OnePlus mobile device users in India can install Epic games seamlessly without using the Google Play Store, while users outside India cannot." Other evidence points to the deal being in the works. Mishaal Rahman of XDA-Developers tweeted that OxygenOS Open Beta 14 for the OnePlus 7 Pro had the Epic Games app in India, but it never made a stable release. OnePlus and Epic Games still partnered on an advertising campaign highlighting 90Hz Fortnite on the OnePlus 8 series. Having an alternative app store isn't exactly unusual on Android, though. Samsung has its Galaxy Store, and several OEMs include Facebook Services on them, which updates different Facebook apps without having to go through the Play Store. Source: Android Police The United States is discussing the situation in Belarus with the European Union after last weekend's disputed election and subsequent crackdown on protesters, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday. Speaking in Warsaw, his last stop on a tour of central Europe, Pompeo said Washington was tracking the situation in Belarus and the aim of the contacts with the EU was to "try to help as best we can the Belarusian people achieve sovereignty and freedom". Security forces have clashed with protesters in Minsk and other cities in recent days after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide re-election victory in a vote on Sunday that his opponents say was rigged. The EU on Friday took the first step towards imposing new sanctions on Belarus, instructing its foreign policy arm to prepare a blacklist of responsible individuals. Speaking at a news conference with Pompeo, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said potential sanctions on Belarus should only apply to top officials. Pompeo also met Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and discussed defence cooperation, the COVID-19 pandemic, securing 5G networks and a new bilateral agreement on developing Poland's civil nuclear power program. Washington and Warsaw signed a defence pact, agreed last month, which sees the number of U.S. troops in Poland rise to at least 5,500. It will cost Poland around 500 million zlotys ($135 million) per year. The deal also involves training Polish forces in reconnaissance and command, with the possibility of more U.S. troops coming to Poland in case of an increased threat. Poland would be able to quickly increase the number of U.S. troops to 20,000 if needed. Czaputowicz said the presence of American troops is key for Poland's deterrence and defence potential as Poland is "closer to the potential source of conflict", a reference to the proximity to Russia and its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Search Keywords: Short link: Details added: first version posted on 14:40 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.15 Trend: Armenia continues its illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including the policy of illegal settlement, Trend reports on August 15 referring to the joint statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and Azerspace OJSC. According to the statement, as a result of monitoring carried out by means of the Azersky satellite of Azercosmos company, the fact of illegal settlement in the occupied Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan was revealed. The settlement, construction of which began in the late 2019, currently consists of 15 houses. The speed and construction progress give grounds to say that the settlement will expand. So, back in January 2020, 6 houses were here, in March - 10, and in April - 14 houses. "Within the framework of Armenian policy of artificial settlement in the occupied territories, illegal construction activities have been carried out in recent years, including construction of the "Arajamukh" residential complex in Jabrayil, "Ariavan" in Lachin, houses in residential settlements in Zangilan and in the village of Khanlig, Gubadli district," the statement reads. As the statement notes, the received satellite images show that the Armenia continues the illegal settlement on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which is contrary to international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols, as well as human right norms. According to the statement, this illegal activity is aimed at prolonging and consolidating the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh [region] and the adjacent districts of Azerbaijan, is aimed at the annexation of these territories and is aimed at the prevention of the return of Azerbaijani IDPs to their native lands. Armenia, carrying out illegal activities in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts of Azerbaijan in violation of both international law and the legislation of Azerbaijan, as well as Armenian individuals and legal entities, other persons and companies involved in illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, bear administrative and legal responsibility, the statement further points out. The right of the Azerbaijani residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts of Azerbaijan to return to their homes will be ensured, and the aggressor-Armenia will be held accountable for all its illegal actions, the statement says. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Photo: (Photo : Photo by Donatello Trisolino from Pexels) Now, more than ever, people are very dependent on computers. From work to school and even virtual gatherings, computers are used by everyone during the coronavirus pandemic. Some studies show that computer surfaces can be a transmitter of bacteria. Research even shows that keyboards can be dirtier than a toilet seat. According to the Vice President for Marketing and Sales of Vioguard, Mark Beeston, "For teachers and students using shared workspaces, the risk for infection of viruses like COVID-19 from using shared objects, such as keyboards, increases." Since children are about to return to school, they are expected to use computers, and if they are into remote learning, they will also inevitably use keyboards. Vioguard offers a solution that can help in destroying germs, bacteria, and viruses. That is to ensure that every computer is safe for kids to use. This technology is called Cubby and Cubby+. It uses UV-C light to disinfect the keyboard and mouse trackpad. READ ALSO: 4 Tips to Parents for Kids' Return to Schools During the Pandemic Keyboards vs. toilet seats A study conducted by researchers from the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia shows that keyboards have high levels of bacteria, specifically those shared by many people. Another study by researchers from the University of Arizona found that there are more bacteria in a shared desktop than in an average toilet seat. According to a study by the National Center for Health Research, most bacteria found in desktop computers live in the skin, mouth, or nasal passages of humans. This study means that these bacteria may be transmitted through human hands. How to avoid the transmission of bacteria or viruses? As the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) continuously reminds the public always to wash hands to avoid transmission of diseases. However, Vioguard offers an alternative that would be effective in disinfecting keyboards. In reducing the time spent or allotted to wiping down keyboards or a mouse, the UV-C solutions can come in handy. Beeston said in an interview with Parent Herald, "This system is 99.99% effective in killing harmful microorganisms within seconds, eliminating the need for manual disinfection and disposal of biohazard waste." READ ALSO: Grade 3 Teacher Raises Money for Students' Handwashing Station to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus Advantages of using Vioguard products According to WebMD, catching bacteria or viruses like the coronavirus can be avoided by disinfecting surfaces commonly used or shared by a lot of people. However, thoroughly cleaning up may take so much time, especially in a school where the primary concern is to conduct classes. Through the use of Vioguard products, there will no longer be disruptions in class due to clean up. Also, there are no harmful chemicals left when cleaning keyboards or other parts of the computer. According to the Vice President for Marketing and Sales of Vioguard, Mark Beeston, "Additionally, there is the issue of human error with other means of cleaning." With the Vioguard UV-C technology, even the cracks and crevices of the keyboard are cleaned. Vioguard believes that schools can benefit from using this product. Beeston said, "Ultimately schools can benefit from using UV-C to save time, money and resources." UV-C Technology only needs seconds to perform the disinfection, making it ideal for schools. It will not only be the right product for keyboards in schools, but it would be great for tablets or mobile phones at home as well. READ ALSO: Age-appropriate activities for kids to avoid too much screen time [Lovevery: a free all-in-one activity hub] Collector John Sullivan displays two local newspaper front pages announcing the end of World War II during a service in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 15 2005. (Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images) Australia Marks WWII Victory in the Pacific Australias role in defeating the evils of Nazism has been remembered on the 75th anniversary of the ending of World War II in the Pacific. A once-keen teenager, a nurse, and a mechanic are among the Australians recognised for helping stop the bully on the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Pacific. Les Cook tried to enlist at 16 but was told to instead try the boy scouts. A year later he was old enough and was off to war. On Aug. 15, a now-frail Cook laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in tribute to the near-million Australians who served in World War II, 39,000 of whom lost their lives. Why did Les join up? He puts it simply: It was the thing to do and you didnt give it a second thought, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. There was another reason too: To stop the bully. No truer words have been spoken. Terri Lessels was meant to attend the Aug. 15 event but was unwell and forced to stay home. She was part of the Australian Army Medical Womens Service and helped nurse the victims of war. Lance Cooke was a flight mechanic. He checked every spark plug to keep our pilots and navigators safe. As he said they were my mates, Morrison recounted. The trio is among some 12,000 surviving Aussies who represented their country in World War II. About 39,000 Australians lost their lives. A country of seven million united and became one in a mighty national effort to defend human civilisation from the bullies who sought to destroy it, Morrison said. Everyone played their part. Australia wasnt alone. We stood with allies and friends. The prime minister highlighted the Dutch, New Zealand, and the United States. Today we call to mind all who stood with usand who we stood with, he said. Among those remembered was Teddy Sheean, a sailor in World War II, who was this week approved by the Queen to receive a posthumous Victoria Cross, Australias highest military honour. The teenage seaman died in 1942 when the HMAS Armidale was sunk by Japanese bombers in the Timor Sea. The 18-year-old strapped himself to an anti-aircraft gun and fired at enemy planes as the ship went down. He is credited with saving the lives of 49 crew. VP Day | Wrap Citing the surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities in Maharashtra, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday termed the state as the "COVID capital" of the country. He stressed that testing need to be ramped up to check the spread of coronavirus and to bring the fatality rate under control. "We are not making any allegations. We are more interested in arresting the spread of Coronavirus than doing politics. I have been demanding that number of tests should be increased in the state," the former chief minister told reporters, after inaugurating a COVID care centre for journalists. "Conducting antigen tests is a good thing but the number of RT-PCR tests should be increased," said Fadnavis, the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly. He said the current ratio of RT-PCR and antigen tests is 1:2, which should be equal. "This way we can bring the cases and death ratio down," he said. "Maharashtra has become the COVID capital of the country, as the state accounts for 24 per cent of the total number of cases in India. The state also accounts for 41 per cent of the total deaths in the country," the former CM said. Maharashtra's coronavirus tally stood at 5,84,754 on August 15 while the fatality count rose to 19,749, as per the state government. Suggesting the way forward, Fadnavis said the government should create small facilities for better management of the situation instead of setting up jumbo facilities. When asked about the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, he said there is infighting among the ruling constituents. "Nobody knows what is going on. Especially, the developments related to transfers are unpalatable. Whatever we are hearing about transfers is even scarier," Fadnavis said. The BJP leader said he had come across reports quoting the director general (of police) that he will quit if asked to carry out some "wrong transfers". A controversy had erupted last month over the transfer of 10 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) in Mumbai, leading to revocation of the order within days of the state Home department issuing them. While the Shiv Sena heads the coalition government, the home department is helmed by the NCP. "In the current situation, transfers should be avoided, as it will save on expenses," he said. Meanwhile, Fadnavis said he had been directed by the BJP to work for the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar. "The BJP sends its leaders to different poll-bound states for extending their help. I have been told to go there (to Bihar) to help, so I will work as per the instructions given by the party," he said. Taiwan will never yield to Chinese provocation: MAC ROC Central News Agency 08/14/2020 05:24 PM Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) Following a statement by China's People's Liberation Army on military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's government said Thursday it will never yield to provocations by Beijing. At a press briefing that day, Chiu Chui-cheng (), deputy head and spokesman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the agency in charge of China affairs, called on Beijing to not act rashly as any intimidation will be strongly opposed. Chinese military exercises in the area undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and endanger the lives and property of Taiwanese people, Chiu said. Chiu made the statement in response to Chinese military reports Thursday that the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theater Command recently carried out military exercises in the strait and surrounding waters. Chinese media reported that command spokesman, Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, said the exercises, which involved "multiple units," were to boost joint operations capability and in response to the "current security situation" in the Taiwan Strait. China views Taiwan as part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Chinese media also noted "negative acts concerning Taiwan by some foreign nations recently sent seriously misleading signals to separatist forces and posed a severe threat to regional peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." Zhang was likely referring to a three-day trip to Taiwan by United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, the highest ranking U.S. cabinet official to visit the country since 1979. In that year, the two countries severed diplomatic ties, after the U.S. recognized the People's Republic of China. However, Zhang did not elaborate or give further details on the military exercises, according to Chinese media. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry Of National Defense (MND) said joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance is used to monitor the waters and airspace in the Taiwan Strait. The current situation is normal, the MND said, adding that cross-strait stability is the cornerstone of regional peace. Taiwan's military will continue to build a solid national defense force, capable and determined, to defend the country's freedom, democracy and sovereignty, and to contribute to regional security and stability, the MND said. However, when asked by CNA to verify if the reported drills took place, the MND replied that it does not comment on military exercises taken upon by other countries. Meanwhile, the increased frequency of Chinese military action around Taiwan has alarmed some observers, fearing the PLA could take more aggressive action against the nation. Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research, observed that in the past, the PLA announced its war games through non-military agencies, such as China's Taiwan Affairs Office. However, the recent drills were announced through a regional military spokesman, he said, speculating that by doing so, the PLA may be trying to project strength as well as downgrade Taiwan's status. Since February, PLA jets have repeatedly crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, with the latest incursion occurring Aug. 10, just one day after Azar and his delegation arrived in the country to highlight Taiwan's success in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. (By Lai Yen-hsi, Matt Yu, Emerson Lim, and William Yen) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception on August 14 for his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, who is visiting Vietnam for the national mourning of former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Sisoutlith offered his condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State, National Assembly, and Fatherland Front on the death of the former leader. He spoke highly of Phieus contributions to Vietnams struggle for national independence, construction, defence and development, to Laos revolutionary cause, and to the two countries special friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive partnership. The Lao leader said the former leaders death is a great loss for the Vietnamese Party, State, and people, while the Party, State, and people of Laos have lost a comrade and a very close friend. On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, Phuc thanked Lao leaders and people for their affection for the late leader, which demonstrates the special brotherhood between the two nations. The two PMs took the occasion to exchange views on the socio-economic situation in both countries and to review the implementation of agreements reached and the outcomes of the 42nd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee. They also looked into major joint projects, including the construction of Laos new parliamentary building and friendship hospitals. They discussed ways to further boost bilateral ties in the time to come and future strategies for the next five years and towards 2030. Sisoulith expressed his gratitude for Vietnams support for the fight against COVID-19 in Laos. Both leaders agreed to continue closely coordinating in combating the pandemic, particularly along border areas, and to develop plans to resume flights between the two countries and reopen border gates when the coronavirus is brought under control. They agreed to accelerate information and experience exchanges for the successful organisation of their national Party Congresses in 2021 and will step up cooperation in the fields of politics, defence, security, economics, trade, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Military equipment enables the G5 Joint Force Sahel fight against terrorism The Joint Force's missions include combating counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, and trafficking in the Sahel, a region that has seen an increase in violence since 2017. By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs, United States Africa Command NIAMEY, Niger Aug 14, 2020 NIAMEY, Niger -- The United States donated more than $8 million in military equipment to Niger in a ceremony Aug. 5. The equipment will aid the West African nation and its G5 Sahel Joint Force partners in the fight against terrorism in the region. "As we have seen with the recent deadly attack on innocent civilians in Niger, security continues to be a concern in the Sahel," said Mr. Jer Donald Get, deputy director security cooperation, U.S. Africa Command. "This donation is just one way AFRICOM supports our Nigerien and G5 Sahel Joint Force partners in their fight against terrorism." The equipment donated includes 15 Osprea MK7 MAMBA armored personnel carriers, four Osprea MK7 MAMBA armored command vehicles, three Osprea MK7 MAMBA armored ambulances, two Toyota land cruiser ambulances, and four armored vehicle mechanic tool sets. The U.S. will also provide maintenance support for the equipment. "This equipment delivery will continue efforts to grow and operationalize the G5 Sahel Joint Force as it takes great strides towards removing the scourge of violent extremism from this region," said U.S. Ambassador to Niger, Eric Whitaker. The G5 Sahel Joint Force member countries are Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The Joint Force's missions include combating counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, and trafficking in the Sahel, a region that has seen an increase in violence since 2017. The U.S. and Niger have developed a long-standing partnership that includes military training exercises as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for counterterrorism activities. "As demonstrated by our continuous support, the United States considers Niger an extremely important strategic partner, and one that is critical to the multi-national effort to defeat some of the world's most ruthless terrorist groups," said Whitaker. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In response to the selection of Kamala Harris to be Joe Bidens running mate in the 2020 elections, Jacobin magazine is doubling down on its message to workers and youth: Stay the course! In an article titled Joe Biden Has Found His Neoliberal Match in Kamala Harris, posted shortly after the announcement was made, author Branko Marcetic has much to say about Harris right-wing record. Even in a party that embraced Biden- and Clinton-style tough-on-crime policies, Harris stands out for her cruelty, Marcetic writes. And later, Harriss callousness toward the poor and powerless has been matched only by her sympathy for the rich and powerful. Marcetic adds: Watching Harris cackling like a cartoon villain about prosecuting parents of truant school kids is one of the more bone-chilling things youre likely to see in politics. Indeed, this is true. Harris is a despicable figure. However, for Marcetic such statements are only preliminary to reasserting the inevitable conclusion to which Jacobin and its co-thinkers in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) always arrive: promoting the lie that with enough pressure, these figures can be pushed to the left. He writes near the end, Both Harris, and to a lesser extent, Biden, have shown a limited but encouraging propensity to gesture leftward under pressure. The current unprecedented conditions, coupled with the still small but growing power of the US left, mean the next four years arent necessarily doomed to be a repeat of the Obama years. Let us pass over without comment the fact that Marcetic and his co-thinkers said the same thing about Obama before he came to office, and that the Marcetics of the past said the same thing about countless Obamas, Bidens and Harrises of yesteryear. But we might be permitted to ask: Is there any figure the Democrats could nominate that Jacobin and the DSA would not claim could gesture [!] leftward under pressure? If they selected Genghis Khan, Jacobin would perhaps find something positive to say about the role he played in uniting the tribes of Northeast Asia. Or perhaps Donald Trump himself, (who, it should be noted, donated to Harris campaign in 2016), if he were to jump political ship again and run on the Democratic ticket, would be discovered to have some saving grace. Political gymnastics in the service of the Democratic Party The aim of organizations like Jacobin and the DSA is always to maintain the political domination of the Democratic Party. Whether it is the idea that the Democratic Party is the lesser evil, advocating for its reform, or pressuring its representatives to the left, the goal is the same: to block what they fear the most--an independent working class mobilization. As the Democratic Party moves further to the right, the task of these figures becomes all the more challenging. They must attempt to maintain their political credibility among young people who are disillusioned with the Democratic Party while at the same time keeping workers and youth tied hand and foot to the political establishment. They are constantly calibrating their message based on what is necessary to sell it. Marcetic himself, for example, took a very different attitude toward Harris record just three years ago when she was first considering her presidential run. In his article: The two faces of Kamala Harris, Marcetic gave a glowing review of Harris tenure before pointing out some more problematic aspects of her career. He wrote at the time: Its undoubtable that there are many things in Harris history to be encouraged by, from her pursuit of corporate polluters and her implementation of policies to prevent recidivism in the past, to her more recent steadfast opposition to the Trump administration and her support of progressive legislation in the Senate. Marcetic then returned to the central theme: Harris has shown the capacity to be moved leftwards when pressured by activism. This is no small thing. It is notable that Jacobin chose to send this earlier more glowing assessment of Harris out to its email list, rather than Marcetics most recent piece. Perhaps it felt Marcetics more recent piece was a little frank in its assessment. Marcetic, however, has much experience in such dirty tactics. One of the crudest expressions of this can be found in relation to his assessment of Biden. He penned a recent article headlined, I literally wrote the case against Joe Biden. But Ive got some free advice for him. The article urged Biden to adopt a left program in order to win the support of young people. If Biden and Democrats of his generation, Marcetic writes, could cravenly sell out their principles for political expediency and pretend to be something theyre not once, they can do it again, only for the good. For the first time in a long time, the direction things are heading mean the politically expedient thing is also the right thing to do. Marcetic hopes that workers and youth will believe that Biden, a right-wing standard-bearer of the Democratic Party for 50 years, can be counted on to change course for the better because Biden once made a politically calculated shift (to the right) over four decades ago. These figures must take workers and youth for fools. Jacobin and the DSA will employ any and every dirty and unprincipled maneuver in the book. Anything to prevent the independent mobilization of the working class. Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential run: the lessons The clearest refutation of the basic claim of Jacobin and the DSA that popular pressure from below can transform the Democratic Party into an instrument of progressive changeand even socialismis the political trajectory of Bernie Sanders, the candidate whom they endlessly promoted as the best shot for change. Only last winter, Jacobin published an edition of its magazine under the headline, I, President of the United States and How I Ended Poverty: A True Story of the Future, with Sanders on the cover. A more recent issue published shortly before Sanders declared his campaign over bemoaned, If the movement coalescing behind Sanders fails to win this time, theres no guarantee it can be resuscitated under a new banner. In fact, its just as likely that well be left adrift for years, if not decades. But as Marcetics column makes clear, Jacobin is perfectly willing to take up the tattered and filthy banner of Biden/Harris with the appropriately worded reservations to cover their nakedness. Over the last four months, as the country has faced the worst health, economic, political and social crisis in its history, Sanders completed his abandonment of the so-called political revolution and embraced Joe Biden. It should come as no surprise that after Bidens announcement that Harris would be his vice presidential pick, Sanders quickly offered his endorsement, tweeting, Congratulations to @KamalaHarris, who will make history as our next Vice President. She understands what it takes to stand up for working people, fight for health care for all, and take down the most corrupt administration in history. Lets get to work and win. The last six months of the Sanders campaign have been an object lesson in Democratic Party politics. The last act of the Sanders campaign was the senators vote for the $2.2 trillion CARES Act on March 25, which he hailed on the Senate floor as a boon to workers. In reality, the bill was a boondoggle for corporate America that allowed for the Federal Reserve to funnel $4 trillion to keep the stock market afloat and cover any losses suffered by major corporations. On April 8, as coronavirus cases in the US were reaching their first peak and hospitals were being overwhelmed, Sanders announced that he was dropping out of the race, and he held his groveling online discussion with Biden on April 13, in which he endorsed his campaign. He followed this with an interview with the Associated Press in which he slandered as irresponsible any of his supporters who failed to campaign for Biden. The next month Sanders political team issued a threat to his delegates: they would be removed from their positions if they criticized Biden or other Democratic Party leaders. In response to the massive multi-racial and multi-ethnic protests against police brutality, Trump attempted on June 1 to carry out a coup involving the mobilization of active-duty troops to put down the protests and establish a presidential dictatorship. Sanders was silent. When he did finally address the situation, he called for police officers to receive a pay raise. Not Democratic Party politics, but the fight for socialism! The golden rule of Jacobin is not to discuss past failures. No lessons can be learned or conclusions drawn from any experience. It seeks to close workers eyes to the reality of the situation: that the crisis confronting mankind requires a direct challenge to capitalism and its state apparatus. Since the ending of Sanders campaign, the DSA has held dozens of call-in meetings and even published a book, all with the aim of urging workers and young people not to leave the Democratic Party. Eventually, it explains, such a break will be needed, but not now. For all of those youth and workers who are genuinely seeking fundamental change in society, the necessary lessons must be learned. There is no way forward with the Democratic Party! Instead of pinning ones hopes for the one-thousandth time on the idea that the next progressive Democrat might be different, workers and youth must orient themselves to the only social force capable of carrying out genuinely progressive change: the working class. Across the United States, workers in dozens of industries are beginning to organize independently. Thousands of teachers, education workers, parents and students are mobilizing to oppose the unsafe reopening of schools amid the pandemic, which rages out of control in the US. It is to these struggles that workers and youth must orient. Instead of settling for the so-called lesser evil, workers and youth must decide to fight on the basis of principle, not pragmatism. The fight to stop the pandemic and secure the rights of the working class will require the political mobilization of the entire working class against both corporate-controlled parties and the capitalist system they defend. The Socialist Equality Party is spearheading this fight. We are running our own presidential campaign, with Joseph Kishore and Norissa Santa Cruz for president and vice president of the United States. We are running to bring our socialist program and international perspective to the widest possible audience of working people and young people, both in the United States and worldwide. We call on all workers and young people to join this campaign and support this fight. In early July, Shannon Mayer started to feel a sudden tightness in her chest. "The next day it was really hard to breathe," the 31-year-old Chicago resident told CNBC. "I got scared." Mayer has asthma, but says she hadn't had an issue with it for years. So she decided to get a test for Covid-19. The results, she was told, would take five to 10 days, and she was instructed to quarantine while she waited. After a week, the results still hadn't been returned. And Mayer already felt better and suspected she wasn't infected, so she stopped quarantining. "Had I stuck with it, I would have been in my house for three weeks," she said. She was tested July 1, and her results didn't come back until July 24. Luckily, she was negative. Mayer's not alone. Bethany Silva, who lives in New York City, reported a 13-day wait for her results. For Lisa Miller, in New Jersey, it was a week. Health experts say two days or less is optimal for returning Covid-19 test results to make them useful for stopping transmission. If test results take more than three days, people are unlikely to self-quarantine and getting in touch with the people they interact with during that time potentially spreading virus can be difficult. "It's really clear that if tests take more than 48 hours, you've lost the window for contact tracing," Dr. Ashish Jha, professor of global health at Harvard University, said in an interview. "I think, basically, beyond 72 hours, the test is close to useless." A survey run by CNBC in partnership with Dynata, a global data and survey firm, suggests almost 40% of Americans had to wait more than three days for their results, rendering them by Jha's definition useless. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards That's certainly the way Mayer felt. "The whole purpose is to find out if I have it before it's over," Mayer said. "So that just completely defeated the purpose." The results varied state by state. Some, like Massachusetts and South Dakota, had average turnaround times of just over two days. Others, like Arizona and West Virginia, were closer to four and a half days, on average. Indiana's average test turnaround time was more than five days. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Jha said the variation is evidence of a fragmented testing strategy in the U.S. "It would take a national testing strategy to make sure that, if there's excess capacity in Massachusetts, but long lines in Florida, that Massachusetts could help Florida out," Jha said. "Largely we have not had a national testing strategy. The strategy out of the White House has been for every state to figure this out on their own." Even national labs struggled to keep up with demand when cases were surging across the Sunbelt, with Quest Diagnostics saying in mid-July that its turnaround times were more than a week for non-priority patients. It has since said it's increased capacity and that results now take an average of two to three days. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards A 17-year-old boy has been jailed for life for murder. This is after he was proven guilty of murdering a teaching assistant, Lindsay Birkbeck, and burying her in a shallow grave. The murderer, Rocky Marciano Price, who was unnamed previously because of reporting restrictions, was found guilty of murder on August 12 before being sentenced on August 14 at Preston crown court. He must serve at least 16 years in custody. The whole hearing took less then three hours and the jurors unanimously found the 17-year-old guilty. They stated that he intended to kill the mother of two in the woods in Accrington, Lancashire, last August 2019. Guilty of murder The court heard how Price attacked the 47-year-old victim in the woods close to her home before he moved her body in the bin to Accrington Cemetery where he buried her in a shallow grave. His victim was later discovered wrapped in two plastic bags on August 24, just 12 days after she went missing, and it prompted a search by police and members of the community. Also Read: Man Tortures Victims Mentally and Physically Before Stuffing Them in Freezer A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was neck injuries. According to a Home Office pathologist, severe compressive force seemed to have been used, which could have been done in numerous ways including through kicking or stamping or kneeling on the front of the neck. When the verdict was announced, Price did not show any emotion as he appeared through video link, nor did his parents in Preston Crown Court, as reported by The Guardian. Birkbeck had gone for an evening walk to a nearby wooded area known as the Coppice on August 12, 2019. She had invited her daughter, Sarah, and her boyfriend for tea, but when she did not return home they started raising alarm bells in the community. The victim's body was found naked and heavily decomposed in the cemetery by a dog walker. The jury heard how the dog walker's pet started sniffing at the bushes. The dog walker, Morgan Parkinson, went closer and he said he stood on something soft and squishy and he smelt something pungent. Birkbeck was later identified through dental records. Price is said to have learning disabilities and autism, he then admitted dragging the bin from the Coppice on August 17 with the victim inside, across Burnley Road to the cemetery. Price claimed he was not involved in her death and that a mystery man had approached him in the area offering a massive amount of money if he disposes the body, as reported by Dailymail.Co. Identifying the suspect On August 27, footage was released to the media showing Price on Burnley Road pulling the bin. He was identified by school teaches and the same day, attended Greenbank Police Station with his family where he was arrested, as reported by The Sun. Price's name was previously unreleased. However, trial judge Justice Yip ruled that public interest in knowing the murderer's identity outweighed concerns over his welfare. She later on added that she had no doubt that the murder was significantly remediated. Judge Yip said that Price formed the intent to kill the victim and he was deliberately targeting lone women. The attack on the victim was fast and brutal, proving that Price lay in wait with the intent to kill a passing woman. Related Article: Mother Charged With Murder for Smothering 4-Year-Old Daughter With Pillow @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Chennai, Aug 15 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Saturday assured the state that economic activities will soon improve and things will be back to normal as he addressed an audience on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. He also announced an increase in the monthly pension for freedom fighters by Rs 1,000 to Rs 17,000 and the family pension for freedom fighters by Rs 500 to Rs 8,500. Unfurling the national flag from the ramparts of Fort St.George state secretariat, Palaniswami said despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the state has been getting new industrial investments. He said the state will return to normal economic front soon. Listing various Covid-19 relief measures taken by the government, Palaniswami said the state has spent about Rs 6,650 crore towards combating the pandemic. He said the state has about 1,29,000 beds for Covid-19 patients and necessary medical professionals were being appointed. According to him, a total of 64,661 people from Tamil Nadu living abroad were brought back to the state under the Vande Bharat Mission and Operation Samudra Setu. He promised that the memorial for late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at the Marina Beach front will soon be inaugurated. He distributed various awards. The Kalpana Chawla Bravery Award was awarded to three women -- Senthamiz Selvi, Muthammal and Anandavalli -- all from Perambalur district. The special award for rendering advice for combating Covid-19 was given to Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation Sowmya Swaminathan. This is the make-in-Vietnam blockchain platform developed by FPT Group. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung said akaChain is able to support businesses in various industries to quickly establish a trading network and distribut applications via blockchain technology, as well as help businesses reduce time to perform important work-related duties. In addition, it can automate the client identification process; record credit scores, evaluate potential risks in the payment system, decrease bad debt cases, record bonus points in customer loyalty programmes, and trace data origin, among others. Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Hung hailed FPT for advancing into this new field, creating a blockchain platform to help Vietnamese businesses be ready to integrate in the digital economy in the future. He also called on digital technology businesses to continue to invest in researching the new technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so that Vietnam can catch up with the latest development trends of the world, towards the completion of national digital transformation goals. Helping my own kid with virtual schooling was confusing enough and then I ended up taking off work to help some neighborhood kids, too. Results? Some of those kids should be just fine, if I and other neighbors keep helping them (and we are working out a plan and schedule); but their siblings, of a different age and another school, probably will miss the entire year of education. Its as if these kids dont matter or exist at all. Bottom line: First, some students iPads still dont work with the educational programs; and second, its more than a matter of activating an iPad. This isnt like the classroom, where students are told Do this now. Its a complicated process kids need to be able to navigate, to choose a task from a myriad of confusing options, then choose the next one, then the next on their own. These boys whose family doesnt have internet brought their iPads to me for help. Because I work from home, I could help kids in spells all day long, each day. However, none of the neighbor kids iPads were connected with their schools, and it was an uphill battle to get that worked out. By law, schools arent supposed talk about students with anyone other than the parent. So I started the message to schools by saying, I realize you cant talk to me about the students, but I can tell you about the situation. The only way they will get any schooling done this year is if other parties outside the family help them. My request for help got different responses from the different schools one school was so quick to respond to every email and phone call that I was immensely impressed, and the other school sent me two replies basically telling me they wont deal with anyone but the parents (whom I had told them were not engaged in education). The school that worked with me to help those kids did that without violating any confidentiality law. They just sent me information that had to do with the classes and an iPad, not the kid, but it got us going. As for the other school would it have helped if I had sent them a screenshot of a message from the parents Facebook page: F&#@ the schools. If they dont want to do their jobs this year and take the kids, they better not dare come knocking on my door for anything. #moreteacherspaiddaysoff #covidconspiracy #worldgonetohell ? Some of the kids never did make any connection with their school or teachers. For those who did, as well as with my daughter, I had to keep checking that they were getting all their components completed, and joining in all the video chats. Imagine this: Im on the phone with someone, or concentrating on writing, with one or another frantic kid yanking my sleeve: Miss Holly? Miss Holly! I spent an entire day trying to get the iPads figured out for those kids, to no avail, and my daughters classes for her. The next day, I abandoned my job altogether to concentrate on their problems. I took one kid to his school for an IT worker to straighten out his iPad. It had not worked for the kid because it had a glitch. The IT worker fixed it, and after a great deal of effort at home, I got the kid caught up on all his classes. What was stupid on my part was not to take the other kids iPads with me also to that friendly IT worker. He probably would have helped them. Their own school would not let me bring in the iPad to be set up, and the kids parents didnt care. This has been a crazy, hair-pulling, fingernail-biting week for me, and I am in the category of second-best able to help kids during this time. The best case scenario for a virtual-schooling parent would be to be a well-educated, technologically sophisticated person who doesnt have a job or other obligations. I am college-educated, and I use technologies such as videoconferencing for my job. Im used to making my way around complicated websites and anticipating what needs to be done even when its not clear. Ive even interviewed school staff and written articles about how the virtual schooling works! Yet I still had a hard time with it. A local community activist told me that college-educated with technology-using jobs is only 10% of the local population, and if it was this hard for me, how hard would it be for adults who havent had to deal with anything remotely similar to this before? What now? This is the year that will separate the advantaged children from the disadvantaged. It will forever repress children who dont have the support networks to lift them up. In most of the dealings Ive had with the schools this week, Ive come to respect and appreciate what must be hectic, difficult and constant work on behalf of the staff. Even so, some kids need intense support. There should be an emergency-help program that pairs up caring adults with children whose teachers have not heard from them yet, or children who teachers feel arent getting the help they need. It could be school staff, or local residents who pass background security checks, but someone needs to be authorized to be the go-between for the schools and these lost children. If an adult calls or emails a school and says that this kids parents will not or cannot help, the schools need to have a way to reach that kid. Holly Kozelsky is a writer for the Martinsville Bulletin; contact her at 276-638-8801 ext. 243. Holly Kozelsky is a writer for the Martinsville Bulletin; contact her at 276-638-8801 ext. 243. 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. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 09:12:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close URUMQI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, all in the regional capital Urumqi, the regional health commission said Saturday in its daily report. The region also registered two new asymptomatic cases in Urumqi Friday. By Friday, Xinjiang had 438 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 126 asymptomatic cases, and 11,466 people were still under medical observation. From July 15 to Friday, a total of 384 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery, and 105 asymptomatic cases were dismissed from medical observation in Xinjiang. Enditem The Alumni association of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has faulted the removal of the embattled Vice Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, declaring that the Governing Council of the institution did not follow due process. In a statement Saturday signed by its president, John Momoh, at the end of a meeting which held on Friday, August 14, and made available to journalists on Saturday, the association noted that due process is mandatorily provided under section 3(8), (9) and (10) of the Act in the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and Section 3(13) in the appointment of an acting Vice-Chancellor. The statement said the meeting further resolved that it was not contesting the powers of the council in appointing or removing a Vice-Chancellor under the Universities(Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 1 2007), nor apportioning any blame to either the Governing Council or the Vice-Chancellor, but was of the view that before the Council can exercise such powers, it must follow due process. Without prejudice to the general powers of the University Governing Council to appoint and remove a Vice-Chancellor under the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 1 2007), and without apportioning any blame to either the Governing Council or the Vice-Chancellor, the University of Lagos Alumni is of the view that before the Council can exercise such powers, It must follow due process, particularly as mandatorily provided under section 3(8), (9) and (10) of the Act in the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and Section 3(13) in the appointment of an acting Vice-Chancellor. READ ALSO: Therefore, the Alumni counsels the Governing Council that the status quo ante the Council meeting of Wednesday, 12th August 2020, be restored while the Alumni continues with its efforts at ensuring that lasting peace and harmony reign on the Campus as between the Council and the University Management in particular, and all sections of the University community in general, including the Senate, students, staff, all Associations, particularly ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NAAT, etc, the statement said. The alumni association, in the statement, said it recalled all its assiduous efforts in the past two years to bring about an amicable resolution of the misunderstandings between the Council and the University Management and promised that it will not relent in its efforts at mediation. While the novel coronavirus circles The City of East Point, Atlantas premier station V103 Atlanta has joined forces with the City of East Point to host a virtual benefit concert that resident can enjoy from home while honoring first responders and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective is to provide a dual mission that supports East Point small businesses (keeping them and their staff in business) and uplifting the spirits of those on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19; as well as donating meals to first responders and frontline workers. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and as our nation frontline workers work to contain the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, a need for community morale uplift is necessary. First responders and frontline workers will be celebrated for their heroicness, fearlessness and drive to save the lives of East Point citizens. As of July 30, 2020, recent reports indicate that Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center South had 99 patients hospitalized and 65% of those patients with COVID diagnosis. The City of East Point will be partnering with local small businesses to deliver free meals to frontline COVID-19 employees, essential workers, and other people in need, while also supporting local restaurants. The citys hope with this initiative is to strengthen the state of mind of those who need it most in the community by helping each other amid the COVID-19 hardship. The Feed the Heroes free benefit will stream on V103s livestream and The City of East Points Facebook page on August 19, 2020 at 5 p.m. EST. It will be hosted by morning personality Big Tigger. This multi-hour, star-studded benefit will feature performances from Regina Belle, Ready for the World, Soul Cartel and headlining is American R&B group, Silk. All tax-deductible donations from the virtual show will go to Feed the Heroes and administered by naacpatlanta.org. Your donation will have double impact with 100% of proceeds where you are helping a small business while supporting the mission of delivering free meals to those in need. If you are not a first responder or a City of East Point employee and you would like to contribute, please visit naacpatlanta.org for additional information on how to contribute. The Grizzly Creek Fire burns in Glenwood Canyon. Interstate 70 east of Glenwood Springs has been shut down in both directions since Monday. Gov. Jared Polis visited the site Friday morning and expressed hope that the highway could reopen in two to three days, but local officials are cautious about setting a timeline. SAN MATEO (BCN) The San Mateo Police Officers' Association has raised over $100,000 for a rape victim in her 60s, the union said Friday. The police union set up a GoFundMe page and other fundraisers to collect money for the woman, who is sole provider for two young boys and her 90-year-old mother. On Tuesday, detectives of the San Mateo Police Department arrested Alejandro Vanegas Guevara, a 27-year-old Redwood City resident, on suspicion of a rape that occurred the evening of Aug. 5. Officers were called to a sexual assault report at 10:40 p.m. at South El Camino Real and Ninth Avenue, where the found the victim. Guevara is in custody at the San Mateo County Main Jail as detectives continue to investigate the case. "This heinous crime has shaken our community, however, the support she's receiving is the silver lining. We will be advocating for aggressive prosecution of the suspect, and have confidence he will be given the highest possible sentence afforded to him under California law," SMPOA President Rory McMilton said in a statement on Friday. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Lee Violett at (650) 522-7662 or lviolett@cityofsanmateo.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or by calling (650) 522-7676. For more information about the fund, visit https://sanmateopoa.org/crime-survivor-fund 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. Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mr Mensah Thompson says President Akufo-Addo and his Director of Communication, Mr Eugene Arhin, have disrespected Ghanaians by responding to an official petition for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, via social media. President Nana Akufo-Addo recently dismissed a petition by ASEPA for the impeachment Mrs Mensa for not filing her assets and liabilities on time after her appointment as the head of the election management body, as required by the Constitution. A letter addressed to Mr Thompson from the Presidents Executive Secretary Nana Asante Bediatuo, said: By letter dated 15 July 2020, the Chief Justice conveyed his determination of whether or not there was a prima facie case. The letter continued: The Chief Justice found that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) did not make any finding that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, had committed any criminal offence. Furthermore, the CJ did not find any statute that criminalises the non-declaration of assets within the time stipulated in the Constitution, the letter said. It also noted that: The Chief Justice then determined that no prima facie case has been made by your petition to warrant the impeachment of the Chairperson of the EC. In any event, the letter added, CHRAJ did not find any adverse findings against the Chairperson as the investigation was terminated and the complaint dismissed after the Chairperson declared her assets on 17 February 2020. Accordingly, I am directed by the President to inform you that your petition has been dismissed. However, Mr Thompson is not happy that the presidency served notice of the dismissal of the petition via Facebook when no official response has been forwarded to ASEPA. He told Accra100.5FMs Asonaba Kojo Nomafo Duku on Accra [email protected] that: Weve not been officially served any response from the presidency. We recently sent a reminder to the Chief Justice about the matter and received an official reply stating that his office had already dealt with the matter and forwarded an official report to the presidency. Mr Thompson said: After releasing our statement on Thursday about the presidency sitting on the report, Nana Akufo-Addos Director of Communication, Mr Eugene Arhin, then quickly put up a statement on his Facebook wall as a response to our petition. But does the presidency conduct its official business on social media? Mr Thompson asked. In his view, Both the President and his Director of Communication have disrespected Ghanaians by conducting such official business on social media. They have also disrespected the Constitution, he added. So, as I speak to you, we have not received any official response from the presidency to our petition. ---classfmonline Sonu Sood Mumbai: After Sonu Sood helped the people in the lockdown day and night, everyone is hoping that he will help everyone. In such a situation, there are some people who ask him help for unnecessary things. One such user wrote, @SonuSood Please help me to increase the internet speed of my mobile.. Its disgusting. Sonu was quick to respond with a tweet saying, Can you manage till tomorrow morning? right now busy with getting someones computer repaired, someones marriage fixed, getting someones train ticket confirmed, someones houses water problem. Such important jobs people have assigned to me. Advertisement Sonu Sood tweetSonu has been at the forefront of relief efforts since the coronavirus pandemic hit India. He has been arranging special buses, trains and flights for stranded migrant workers and students to return to their homes. Recently, he also launched an initiative to facilitate jobs for migrants in various regions across the country. Parliament has approved five agreements to securitize gold royalties of the country through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Agyapa Royalties Limited, pending the assent of the Minerals Income And Investment Fund Amendment Bill by President Akufo-Addo. This is despite the boycott of proceedings by the Minority which argued on the Floor that the agreements amounted to mortgaging the proceeds from the mineral wealth of the country. The agreement is in relation to a gold royalties monetization transaction where the government seeks to raise revenue for development on the back of royalties from the mining sector to the tune of US$1 billion. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei Kusawgu, John Jinapor, expressing the Minority's position on the matter described the governments decision as unfortunate. What they are doing is to mortgage 75.6% of our mineral revenue going forward forever for this so-called Agyapa Company. Mr. Speaker, the question is if President Akufo-Addo, Ghana was your company and you were the board chairman, would you bring this document for us to approve? You get US$200 million per annum and you insist that you want to take US$500 million and seize US$140 million per annum to a so-called SPV. Mr. Speaker, this is unfortunate. And like the learned former Deputy Attorney General said, this transaction is opaque. It does not meet best practices. This transaction is inimical to this country. It is detrimental to the forward march of this country. This is another AMERI in the making. This is another PDS in the making. He concluded by reiterating the Minoritys stane of kicking against the decision of the government. There is a quote that says that the world suffers a lot, not because of the violence of the bad people, but because of the silence of the good people. We are the good people in this chamber. We will not be part of it today or tomorrow and we shall amend it come 2021. But the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, justified the agreements and explained the rationale for the approach towards monetizing gold royalties. This transaction will enable the Republic to raise a substantial amount of non-debt capital. What they did with the road fund was debt. This is non-debt capital and it will not lead to an increase in Ghanas debt stock. This is innovative, ingenious raising of funds without adding to the debt stock of the republic. Mr. Speaker, secondly, as an equity market capital transaction, the transaction does not include a repayment obligation or requirement to make interest payments. What they did with the road fund was one of the most expensive transactions in terms of interest payment. The Minister continued: With the way we have structured this particular transaction, we will not be paying that 32% per annum that they did with the road fund. This will not include a repayments obligation or requirement to make interest payment. The transaction also capitalizes Ghanas revenue from gold royalties while reducing Ghanas budgetary exposures to fluctuations to gold prices and other external factors. Even though the Minority, since yesterday, [Friday] has expressed disapproval with this new development, the government believes this will go a long way to better the country. The Member of Parliament for the Sekondi constituency, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, earlier explained that the government is seeking to channel its portion of the royalties into better use for the benefit of the country. It is government's portion that it gets annually that it is seeking to set up an SPV pursuant to the Minerals Income Investment Act 2018 which set up the Minerals Income Investment Fund to put the SPV on the London Stock Exchange, raise equity of up to 49 percent, equivalent to about US$500 million, to enable government spend those funds without paying interest or increasing the debt stock of the country and use those revenues to fund its development agenda, he said on Eyewitness News yesterday. The Minority had also alleged that the company in question was originally known as Asaase Royalties Limited but the name was changed to Agyapa Royalties Limited under questionable circumstances. But responding to these claims, Egyapa Mercer insisted that the supposed change of name of the company was false. citinewsroom New Delhi, Aug 15 : Calling President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation "insightful", PM Modi said it will show the way ahead to build a united nation. PM Modi tweeted, "Insightful speech by Rashtrapati Ji. His remarks encapsulate the spirit of 130 crore Indians and highlight the path ahead to build a strong, prosperous and united nation." On Friday, ahead of India's 74th Independence Day, President Kovind spoke about 4 tough lessons learnt from 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The President saluted India's corona warriors and paid rich tributes to those who laid down their lives at Galwan Valley. Making a strong pitch for equality, he said, "Coronavirus does not recognize any artificial divisions created by human society. This reinforces the belief that we need to rise above all man-made differences, prejudices, and barriers." "The nation is indebted to doctors, nurses & other health workers who have been continuously on the forefront of our COVID fight. Unfortunately, many of them have lost their lives battling the pandemic. They are our national heroes," said the President Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Government has promised that all road infrastructure projects currently underway in the country will all be completed on schedule. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who gave the assurance says the construction of the Pokuase and Tamale Interchanges, as well as many other projects across the country, affirm the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administrations commitment to improving Ghana's road network. Dr. Bawumia was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the dualization of the Accra-Tema beach road and the construction of a three-tier interchange at the Nungua barrier. The year 2020 has been declared as the year of roads by His Excellency the President. To this end, road construction is going on everywhere in this country including the ongoing construction of four interchanges to reduce congestion in our major cities. There is no government in the history of the fourth republic that has started four interchanges in their first term. If President Akufo-Addo promises to construct roads, he delivers, Dr. Bawumia mentioned. The Accra-Tema Beach Road is a 26.6 km project with an estimated cost of US$100 million being constructed by Messrs Gansu International Corporation and Messrs China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited. It is expected to be completed in 24 months. The first lot of 16 kilometres begins from the Independence Arch to Nungua with the remaining 10.6 kilometres the second lot continues from Nungua to Tema Community 3. The Vice President also announced that the other phases of the Accra-Tema Motorway together with the Pokuase Interchange, Tamale Interchange and Obetsebi Interchange will all be completed on time. Tamale Interchange is the first interchange in any of the five northern regions. It is a historic interchange in the Northern Region. The Pokuase Interchange is the first four-tier interchange in West Africa and it is 75 per cent complete. By the grace of God, it shall be opened before the end of this year, he assured. citinewsroom The bizarre Cabinet View(s): My dear Mahinda maama and Gota maamey, I thought of writing to congratulate both of you, not only on the resounding victory the pohottuwa party recorded at the recent general election, but also on the choices you have made in selecting new ministers. From what we saw in the last few days, we are likely to see a government like no other! Both of you deserve all the credit you can get for your election victory. Everyone knew you would win but it was the scale of your victory that surprised everyone. Even Basil maama - who is more accurate than Sumanadasa on these matters predicted about 135 seats at most, so you did really well. Of course, you were helped by your long-term friend and ally, Ranil, whose actions ensured that the Greens remained divided until the election. As a result, some Green voters opted for the telephone while others kept away. All this meant that you nearly got the two-thirds majority you asked for. Indeed, it was the Old Fox, JRs PR system that ensured that the telephone got as many seats as they did. If not, you would have got the kind of majority that JR himself got in77. Still, I suspect that even you might be a bit sad that your great rival, the UNP, is now on its deathbed, gasping for breath. What the election also did was to get rid of a host of MPs who have been in Parliament seemingly forever. Most of them were from the Green camp the likes of Ranil and Ravi, for example but a few big names from the Blue camp were also sent home by the people, as was Sunil, the rathu sahodaraya. I suppose you realise that those who voted for you will expect you to deliver on your promises such as repealing the 19th Amendment. I am wondering what changes you have in mind, given that you can enact almost any change you want because you have a working two-thirds majority at your disposal. That is why your choice of ministers deserves even more praise than your election win. To start with, limiting the Cabinet to 26 ministers was a great idea, with you, Mahinda maama, holding several portfolios, even if you were compelled to enlist the service of some 39 state ministers. You have also kept it all in the family, havent you? Getting four Rs in the same cabinet must surely be a world record. It is also good to see young Namal get a leg up over his contemporaries, while he is still in his political diapers, so to speak, with a Cabinet portfolio, while seniors such as SB get nothing. You can make it a nice round number of five Rs in the Cabinet by including Basil maama. Now that you have a two-thirds majority, you can easily scrap that ban on dual citizens and get him in, couldnt you? Surely, he needs to be rewarded because he is the mastermind behind the pohottuwa, isnt he? There was another R but spelt differently who didnt make it to either the Cabinet or the State list. Rumour has it that he was offered the latter but refused. Anyway, he has been jumping from one camp to another. I will be surprised if he himself knew which side he was on, so you decided wisely. The biggest omission was Cheerio Sirisena. He wanted to live happily ever after in your government. Still, as both of you and Ranil too realised, he is a snake in the grass. Therefore, many feel that it is wiser to have him in the tent, hissing out his venom, rather than have him outside, hissing in. You have been smart enough, Gota maamey, to ignore your promises to change the system. In a Cabinet of 26 ministers, why else would you have one 81-year-old, 7 on the wrong side of 70 and another 7 over 60 years of age and no one from your own Viyathmaga? You have also sent a loud and clear message that loyalty to the Rs is the new criteria for climbing up the political ladder. That is why you have ignored very senior Blues such as SB, John and Yapa, giving them nothing, but elevated the relatively junior Ramesh and Prasanna to Cabinet rank. Appointing Sabry as Justice Minister was a masterstroke. Gota maamey, what better job can you find for the lawyer who defended you against all those charges? Even JR had his lawyer, brother Harry, only as his legal advisor you have done better. The wheels of Justice will surely turn smoothly now! What we enjoyed the most were the titles of State Ministers. It was as if whoever thought of them was playing a game of genu, pirimi, mal, palathuru. So, Duminda looks after the Wind, Dayasiri oversees Batiks, Arundika manages Palmyrah and so on. In some cases though, they got the subjects mixed up. For example, Sanath Nishantha, who doesnt need oxygen, should have been given the subject of Wind. Prasanna, instead of Shasheendra, should have been assigned Chillies because of his chillie-related skills. Nalaka, and not Cabraal, should have had Capital Markets because we saw his talents in that! Mahinda maama and Gota maamey, people voted for you with great hopes for a system change. Seeing your new Cabinet taking oaths some of them walking with difficulty they appeared like old wine in new bottles. We can only hope that in a few years, they dont leave the taste of rancid vinegar! Yours Truly, Punchi Putha PS: Gota maamey, you chose Ruwanweliseya and Mahinda maama, you chose the Kelaniya temple for your swearing-in ceremonies. I hope you realise that the Magul Maduwa - where ministers were sworn in was where our nation was betrayed to the British. We hope we wont be betrayed again! Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 02:19:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AMMAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Jordan said on Saturday that it would isolate Ramtha District in the northern parts of the country at the borders with Syria as more coronavirus infections are reported in the area. The remarks were made by Coronavirus Crisis Cell Operations Director Mazen Faraya, who said the district located in Irbid governorate would be isolated starting from Monday, according to a statement by the Prime Ministry. Faraya said the movement would be restricted between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Ramtha, where commercial activities can normally open outside the curfew hours. The army official said that this is a precautionary measure that aims at protecting residents of the district, avoiding spreading of the virus in other areas in Irbid, and maintaining the good levels of the epidemiological status in the country. Also on Saturday, Health Minister Saad Jaber said the country recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19, including nine local infections, increasing the tally to 1,339 since the outbreak of the pandemic in Jordan. China has supported Jordan's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 31, China donated a batch of medical supplies to Jordan to help combat the coronavirus. Enditem EU Mulls Sanctions On Belarus Amid Accusations Of 'Widespread Torture' By RFE/RL August 14, 2020 The European Union is ratcheting up pressure on Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in response to a brutal crackdown on protests triggered by elections the bloc described as "neither free nor fair." EU foreign ministers following an extraordinary video conference meeting in Brussels on August 14 said the bloc did not accept the results of the election and tasked the European Commission with drawing up sanctions proposals against Belarus. "The European Union considers the results to have been falsified and therefore does not accept the results of the election as presented by the Belarus Central Election Commission," the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service, said in a statement. Ahead of the meeting, Belarusian authorities began releasing hundreds of detainees rounded up since protests erupted following the August 9 vote. Many of those released described horrible conditions in detention facilities, beatings, and other mistreatment, while Amnesty International said the accounts suggested "widespread torture." At least two protesters have died and some 6,700 people have been detained since nationwide protests erupted after the August 9 vote. Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of the election with some 80 percent of the vote. Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who drew crowds in the thousands at campaign rallies across the country and has left Belarus for Lithuania since the vote, finished a distant second with just under 10 percent. EU foreign ministers demanded Belarusian authorities stop "the disproportionate and unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters" and release illegally detained persons. They said that work would begin immediately to develop a list of sanctions on Belarus targeting those responsible for violence, repression, and the falsification of election results. A decision on sanctions is expected by the end of the month. Ahead of the meeting, EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell signaled there would be a momentous change in the EU's relationship with Belarus. "Over the last months, the Belarusians have clearly shown that they long for democracy and respect for human rights," Borrell wrote in a blog post on August 13. "A substantial political change is a precondition for further development of the relations between the EU and Belarus." Meanwhile, the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland issued a joint statement offering to act as mediators "for the sake of a peace settlement of the crisis in Belarus." The statement called for the creation of a forum that could produce "a national dialogue." The Council of Europe also urged Minsk not to use violence against protesters or detainees. "Belarus needs to fully engage with civil society and this needs to start today," council head Marija Pejcinovic Buric said in a statement. She added that the Council of Europe is ready to help Belarus create and implement a reform plan. Amnesty International said detainees had given "horrifying testimonies" that they received severe beatings and threats of rape. "Former detainees told us that detention centers have become torture chambers, where protesters are forced to lie in the dirt while police kick and beat them with truncheons," said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The EU imposed tough sanctions on Belarus following a harsh crackdown on the opposition in the wake of a rigged 2010 election. Most restrictions were lifted in 2016 following the release of political prisoners that paved the way for a rapprochement between the EU and Belarus as the Eastern European country gained greater geopolitical importance following Russia's aggression against Ukraine. With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, Current Time, and Tagesschau Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-sanctions -belarus-lukashenka/30782989.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 CAIRO - Pope Francis on Saturday urged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to continue talks to resolve their years-long dispute over a massive dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile that has led to sharp regional tensions and fears of military conflict. Francis, speaking to a crowd gathered at St. Peters Square on an official Catholic feast day, said he was closely following negotiations between the three countries over the dam. Egypt and Sudan suspended talks with Ethiopia earlier this month after Ethiopia proposed linking a deal on the filling and operations of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to a broader agreement about Blue Nile waters that would replace a colonial-era accord with Britain. The colonial-era deal between Ethiopia and Britain effectively prevents upstream countries from taking any action such as building dams and filling reservoirs that would reduce the share of Nile water to downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. The Blue Nile is the source of as much as 85% of the Nile Rivers water. Sudan said Ethiopias latest proposal threatened the entire negotiations, and it would return to the negotiating table only for a deal on the dams filling and operation. The African Union-led talks among the three countries are scheduled to resume Monday, according to Sudans Irrigation Ministry. The pontiff called on all sides to continue on the path of dialogue so that the Eternal River continues to be the lymph of life that unites, not divides, that always nourishes friendship, prosperity, brotherhood and never enmity, incomprehension or conflict. Addressing the dear brothers of the three countries, the Pope prayed that dialogue would be their only choice, for the good your dear peoples and of the entire world. Egypts Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly meanwhile landed in Sudans capital Khartoum on Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials. He was accompanied by several top officials including irrigation, electricity and health ministers, according to the office of Sudans Premier Abdalla Hamdok. Hamdoks officer did not provide details on the visit, but it was highly likely the Ethiopian dam would be on the agenda. Years-long negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a deal on the dam. The dispute reached a tipping point earlier this week when Ethiopia announced it completed the first stage of the filling of the dams 74 billion-cubic-meter reservoir. That sparked fear and confusion in Sudan and Egypt. Both have repeatedly insisted Ethiopia must not start the fill without reaching a deal first. Ethiopia says the dam will provide electricity to millions of its nearly 110 million citizens. Egypt, with its own booming population of about 100 million, sees the project as an existential threat that could deprive it of its share of Nile waters. Sudan, geographically located between the two regional powerhouses, stands to benefit from Ethiopias project through access to cheap electricity and reduced flooding. But Sudan has raised fears over the dams operation, which could endanger its own smaller dams depending on the amount of water discharged daily downstream. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the filling occurred naturally, without bothering or hurting anyone else, from torrential rains flooding the Blue Nile. Sticking points in the talks include how much water Ethiopia will release downstream during the filling if a multi-year drought occurs, and how the three countries will resolve any future disputes. Egypt and Sudan have pushed for a binding agreement, while Ethiopia insists on non-binding guidelines. __________________ DEmilio reported from Rome. Read more about: Douglas Latchford, pictured with then Cambodian deputy prime minister Sok An, was once a revered figure in the antiquities world - Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP For decades Douglas Latchford, a flamboyant British antiquities expert, cultivated a legendary status as one of the leading dealers of Southeast Asian art. But last year at the age of 88, his respectable facade was shattered. The man so revered in international museum and gallery circles was indicted by US prosecutors, on charges of trafficking stolen Cambodian treasures. Then earlier this month came another unexpected turn, when Latchford died in Bangkok, his home since 1951. He left behind him a host of unanswered questions -- among them, whether justice will ever be served to the lands he allegedly plundered. Because the defendant died with his US Federal case pending, and therefore before a final judgement could be issued, the indictment will likely be dismissed, said Lynda Albertson, CEO of the Association for Research into Crimes Against Art (ARCA). Prosecutors might still pursue alleged co-conspirators, she said. But Langford's death meant that crucial information -- including the whereabouts of priceless relics from Cambodia and other Asian nations -- had been taken to his grave. Many artefacts were currently untraceable, in the hands of unidentified private dealers he had sold to. Where it gets more complicated is just knowing where those pieces are and the length of time it will take for them to bubble up on the market, she said. Latchford was long hailed as a respected expert in Khmer antiquities, co-writing renowned reference books on the subject. He had been praised as a protector of Cambodias relics after donating rare pieces to the national museum in Phnom Penh. The gift earned him the honour of the countrys equivalent of a knighthood in 2008. Latchford won praise and honours for repatriating a number of Khmer antiquities to Cambodia's National Museum in 2009 - Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP But US prosecutors painted a much darker picture of the dealer, alleging that he was a major player in a multibillion-dollar cultural property transnational criminal network. They depicted him as a conduit for Cambodian artefacts that had been illegally excavated from ancient jungle temples during political turmoil. Story continues The Cambodian government has complained that many statues were stolen during years of civil unrest, war and the genocidal reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. A 1996 law on cultural heritage protection forbade the excavation, looting, and improper export of antiquities. Announcing the charges against Latchford last year, US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: As alleged, Latchford built a career out of the smuggling and illicit sale of priceless Cambodian antiquities, often straight from archaeological sites, in the international art market. Prosecutors alleged that from about 2000 to 2012, he engaged in a fraudulent scheme to sell looted relics on the international market, creating false records and evidence to conceal that antiquities had been smuggled and illegally plundered. He was accused of falsifying invoices, shipping documents, emails and letters to hide his tracks and avoid import restrictions into the US. Key to his operation was a British auction house, referred to by prosecutors as Auction-House-1 which he supplied with Khmer relics, including some allegedly looted from the Koh Ker archaeological site. Latchford allegedly conspired with representatives from the auction house to conceal the real provenance of the antiquities, and create false export licences to sell the goods to museums and collectors in the US. Among the artefacts was the Duryodhana statue, a 10th century sandstone statue of a warrior that has since been returned to Phnom Penh. Brazen emails from Latchford to a Manhattan-based dealer were also cited as evidence against him. In one April 2007 message, he attached a photo of a standing Buddha statue that appeared to be covered in dirt. Hold on to your hat, just been offered this 56 cm Angkor Borei Buddha, just excavated, which looks fantastic," he wrote. "Its still across the border, but WOW. The Sunday Telegraph attempted to reach Latchfords family for comment. The dealer, a dual British and Thai citizen known to some by the nickname Dynamite Doug, always strongly denied any wrongdoing. In earlier interviews, he argued that Western dealers like himself had in fact rescued long abandoned works of art, which might otherwise have been destroyed in Cambodias civil wars. He defended his collecting practices as the norm at a time when standards of documentation were much lower. It is a controversial argument, one also put forward by friends after his death. His collection was substantially put together long before cultural heritage laws were introduced. The world was very different in those days, it is wrong to perceive his actions solely through a 2020s lens," one told The Art Newspaper. Others are determined to see the artefacts returned to their rightful owners. US investigators said last year they had successfully recovered three stolen pieces from Cambodia and another from India, valued at a total of $750,000. The Southern District of New York and the Manhattan District Attorneys Office confirmed on Friday they would continue looking into the case. Tess Davis, executive director of The Antiquities Coalition, appealed for witnesses to come forward in the hope that some looted works would one day be repatriated. "His collection is still out there, somewhere, and it remains the stolen property of the Cambodian people.," she said. "Possession of stolen property is a crime -- a continuing crime. This is not over. She added: "Now, from Cambodia, to Hong Kong, to Bangkok, there are many people out there who have much valuable informationI hope they do the right thing and come forward." Joe Bidens history-making pick of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate marked a turning point in his outreach to Black voters after missteps that had worried some supporters, prominent African American activists and donors told USA TODAY this week. Black leaders predicted the selection would generate new excitement for the ticket, bolstering Biden's bid to unseat President Donald Trump. I think Senator Harris provides that bump in terms of enthusiasm, which is critical for securing the Black vote, said Quentin James, co-founder of Collective PAC, whose mission is to help elect Black candidates up and down the ballot. Democratic activists had been urging Biden for months to step up his courtship of Black voters, who are crucial to his chances of prevailing in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan and of scoring upset victories in traditionally Republican states like Texas and Georgia. As Biden introduced Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, during their first joint appearance Wednesday, he said he hoped the decision would inspire girls across the country especially little Black and brown girls who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities. Are you registered to vote? Check now, request an early ballot Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden invites his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris to the stage to deliver remarks in Wilmington, Delaware. Harris, D-Calif., would be the countrys first Black woman vice president if their ticket wins on Nov. 3. Ariel Singleton, a 25-year-old organizer for Georgia STAND-UP, which is helping to register people to vote, said she feels a connection to Harris, who was a member of her sorority and is a graduate of Howard University, one of the country's historically black colleges and universities. It hits home. It looks like me. It feels like me, she said. It feels like its right there in my ballpark. The stakes for Biden in reinforcing his support with Black voters are huge. A Pew Research Center poll this week found Biden leading Trump with voters overall, 53%-45%, with a massive 89%-8% lead with Black voters. White voters preferred Trump by 54%-45%. Story continues But being the preferred candidate of Black voters isn't enough. To win, Biden will need to inspire supporters to cast ballots in an election in which the coronavirus pandemic has added to uncertainties about turnout. You have to win first: What Joe Biden's pick of Kamala Harris tells us about Biden LaTosha Brown, founder of Black Voters Matter, said women voters, particularly Black women, have been galvanized by Harris. Part of why people are excited, including myself, is that we know historically what this means for us, that it's not just about excitement about the candidate. It's also excitement about the possibilities when we see democracy, Brown said. Anytime that you see the ceiling break, you see more light getting through. 'You brought me back' On Thursday, when Biden formally accepts the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's virtual convention, hell do so six months after a primary victory in South Carolina in which he declared to voters there: You brought me back. Overwhelming support from Black voters in the state rescued his candidacy after a trifecta of losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. 11 names, 120 hours of interviews: Inside the grueling VP search that led Joe Biden to Kamala Harris The South Carolina win catapulted Biden to a series of victories in other primary states, enabling him to defeat Sen. Bernie Sanders, the early Democratic frontrunner. Bidens role as the former vice president to President Barack Obama, the first Black president, earned him a level of trust with African American voters, particularly older Black voters. But Biden, 77, has struggled to build the same level of support with younger Black voters, many of whom hold more progressive views than he does. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks after former Vice President Joe Biden introduced her as his running mate during a campaign event in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. Biden has also made some verbal gaffes that Trump and his allies have highlighted to argue that the former vice president is taking Black voters for granted. For example, Biden told radio host Charlamagne tha God in a testy interview in May that people on the fence about whether to vote for him or Trump aint Black. He later apologized. "I should not have been so cavalier. I've never, never, ever taken the African-American community for granted," Biden said. Last week, Biden stirred criticism when he was asked by a Black TV reporter if he would be willing to take a cognitive test amid ongoing attacks from Trump about his fitness. Biden pushed back by saying, That's like saying you, before you got on this program, you take a test where you're taking cocaine or not Are you a junkie?" Andra Gillespie, an associate professor of political science at Emory University, said Biden's blunder highlighted a concern that he had not demonstrated enough of "a level of growth or learning" from the Charlamagne interview. She noted that Trump has alienated many Black voters with policies such as overturning Obama-era fair housing rules and incendiary comments such as saying there were "very fine people on both sides" of clashes at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. But Gillespie, author of Race and the Obama Administration: Substance, Symbols and Hope, said Trump's record does not give Biden a "free pass to say and do anything he wants on race." "Vice President Biden shouldn't rest on his laurels just because there is a huge perceptual advantage that he has over Donald Trump with respect to civil rights issue," Gillespie said. 'No remorse' It was never a given that Biden would choose a woman of color for his running mate, although he had pledged to pick a woman. In addition to Harris, his list of finalists included white women such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich., and women of color including former national security adviser Susan Rice and Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. Media reports that spilled out of Bidens vice presidential selection process sparked concerns among Black supporters of the Democratic candidate. Reports had emerged that some Biden advisers were wary of Harris, concerned that she might be too "ambitious" and more focused on furthering her own presidential ambitions than on promoting Biden's agenda. According to POLITICO, former Sen. Chris Dodd, a member of Bidens vice presidential search committee, had criticized Harris for her clash with the former vice president at the first Democratic debate over his civil rights record. Dodd reportedly said: She laughed and said, thats politics. She had no remorse." Responding to those reports, more than 100 Black male leaders, including activists, preachers, rappers and celebrities, in an open letter Monday said the urgency for Biden to choose a Black woman had gone from something that should happen to an imperative. "Failing to select a Black woman in 2020 means you will lose the election," said the letter, signed by Black leaders including Rapper Sean Diddy Combs, radio host Charlamagne and political commentator Van Jones. "Why does Senator Kamala Harris have to show remorse for questioning Biden's previous stance on integrated busing during a democratic primary debate?" the letter asked. From rival to running mate: What 'fearless fighter' Harris brings to Biden's ticket The advocacy group She the People had also warned the Biden campaign of concerns. In July, the group made public a memo criticizing Bidens outreach to women of color after a series of listening sessions with politicians and activists. After Bidens selection of Harris, Aimee Allison, founder and president of the group, said she is no longer hearing the reservations and criticisms from women of color she had previously been hearing. Allison said the pick of Harris would enable the campaign to better connect with voters of color at a time when the country is facing a reckoning over race after the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. She could talk about all these things, and she does it fluently, and that's really what's needed to heal and unite people who are suffering under Trump, Allison said. Brown, the Black Voters Matter founder who supported Sen. Elizabeth Warren during the primary, said Black voters are now ready to coalesce around the Democratic ticket. If this ticket continues to respond to us, as it has responded by picking Kamala, and respond to our needs, and literally we start seeing ourselves in the policies, then what youre going to see is a remarkable turnout, Brown said. Nykidra Robinson, founder of Baltimore-based Black Girls Vote, said Bidens commitment to Black women shouldnt stop at selecting Harris as his running mate. If Biden is elected, Robinson said she will be watching to see if the Biden administration advocates for issues important to Black women such as pay equity, healthcare access, and more representation in positions of political power. We put his back up against the wall, Robinson said. This shows we (Black women) are being respected and honored the way we should. Mistakes of 2016 Fewer than 80,000 votes delivered Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin to Trump in 2016, ushering him to victory. Lower-than-expected turnout among Black voters hurt Hillary Clinton in all three states, prompting soul searching at the highest levels of the Democratic party. "The drop in black turnout (in 2016) was critical to the defeat in each of those three states, which were super close," said Steve Phillips, host of "Democracy in Color" political podcast. Phillips is also the author of the 2016 book "Brown is The New White," which argues that the Democratic party has erred by focusing too much on winning back white working-class voters who now form the core of Trump's base and not enough on building enthusiasm with voters of color. He says the strategy has cost the party opportunities in states like Arizona, Georgia and Texas. Phillips, a prominent Democratic donor, said he thought the pick of Harris would help spark enthusiasm. Reports that Whitmer had been interviewed by Biden in the final run-up to the decision had led to speculation that he might turn to her to reinforce his support with Midwestern swing voters. Phillips said he believes the Biden campaign needs to invest more resources in outreach to Black voters in cities like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Detroit and also in states like Georgia, which Democrats have a chance of flipping in November. James, who noted that Black women are the country's leading voting demographic, said the Harris pick could have an impact beyond those voters. It's not just about (Black women) voting but also about them bringing their children, their husbands, their parents, their communities with them to the polls, and they do that through volunteering, James said. Rep. James Clyburn, the House Majority Whip who gave Biden a campaign-saving endorsement ahead of the South Carolina primary, said the Democratic campaign in 2016 was guilty of taking Black voters for granted, despite warnings from many in the party. But Clyburn said choosing Harris was a great start to keeping Black voters engaged. "I think putting Harris on this ticket, I just think that was something that will be a significant benefit to the Democratic ticket, going into the fall election," he said. The South Carolina congressman warned that outreach can't stop there. He said that the campaign is going to need to enlist powerful surrogates and advertise heavily on Black-owned media. "We've got to run a campaign in the Black community to get the black community engaged and keep them engaged," Clyburn said. Where do Americans stand on election issues? Let them tell you 'War games': Experts examined the possible aftermath of the 2020 election. Their finding? Brace for a mess Contributing: Deborah Barfield Berry and Nicquel Terry Ellis This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris boosts Biden's outreach to Black voters in 2020 election Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 11:09:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for restraint and calm in Belarus as the country is engulfed in protests following Sunday's presidential poll, said his spokesman. The secretary-general is closely following developments in Belarus, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. The UN chief underlines the importance of enabling all Belarusians to exercise their civil and political rights, which include expressing their views peacefully in accordance with the law, the statement said. Guterres calls on Belarusians to address post-election grievances through dialogue to preserve peace in the country, it said. Earlier on Friday, Dujarric said the United Nations welcomed the reported release of some of the detainees on Thursday night and urged this to continue. "We take note of the statement of regret by the (minister) of interior of Belarus regarding the use of force and expect these incidents and claims to be investigated thoroughly," he told a daily virtual press briefing. The United Nations remains in touch with Belarusian authorities in New York, Geneva and Minsk regarding the unfolding situation, he said. Enditem New Delhi, Aug 15 : The government proposes to use vast stretches of land with Indian ports to set up manufacturing facilities under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' mission. Sources said that the ministry of shipping is evaluating surplus land with about a dozen major ports in India to evaluate whether it can be used for developing industrial clusters in areas where the country needs to build self-reliance. Major ports have over 1 lakh hectares of land, vast stretches of which can be used for development of industrial clusters. Across the world, land near ports is used for building industrial infrastructure that meet both domestic needs and export requirements. "This is a model that has been highly successful in the West. Port-led development model should not only help India build capacities for self reliance but also service a vast export market," said an analyst who did not wish to be named. As part of the initiative, the ministry of new and renewable energy sources is already in talks with the shipping ministry to explore green energy manufacturing facilities on port land to reduce dependence on Chinese imports. More such projects involving steel, power projects may also be considered. MINSK, Belarus (AP) Thousands of demonstrators in Belarus took to the streets again Saturday to demand that the country's authoritarian leader resign after a presidential vote they called fraudulent. In response, the president declared that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had agreed to provide security assistance to restore order if Belarus requested it. President Alexander Lukashenko spoke Saturday evening several hours after a phone call with Putin as he struggled to counter the biggest challenge yet to his 26 years in power. Saturday was the seventh consecutive day of large protests against the results of the country's Aug. 9 presidential election in which election officials claimed the 65-year-old Lukashenko won a sixth term in a landslide. Opposition supporters believe the election figures were manipulated and say protesters have been beaten mercilessly by police since the vote. Harsh police crackdowns against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, have not quashed the most sustained anti-government movement since Lukashenko took power in 1994. The demonstrators rallied Saturday at the spot in the capital of Minsk where a protester died this week in clashes with police. Some male protesters pulled off their shirts to show bruises they said came from police beatings. Others carried pictures of loved ones beaten so badly they could not attend the rally. Luksahenko did not specify what sort of assistance Russia would be willing to provide. But he said when it comes to the military component, we have an agreement with the Russian Federation, referring to a mutual support deal the two former Soviet republics signed back in the 1990s. These are the moments that fit this agreement, he added. Both the European Union and the U.S. government say the presidential election in Belarus was flawed. Lukashenkov's main opponent in the vote, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, fled to Lithuania the day after the election, knowing that several previous presidential challengers have been jailed for years on charges that supporters say were trumped up. Other potential challengers, blocked by election officials from running, fled the country before the vote. Story continues A funeral was held Saturday for Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died Monday in the capital of Minsk under disputed circumstances. Belarusian police said he died when an explosive device he intended to throw at police blew up in his hand. But his partner, Elena German, told The Associated Press that when she saw his body in a morgue on Friday, his hands showed no damage and he had a perforation in his chest that she believes is a bullet wound. Hundreds of people came to pay their last respects to Taraikovsky, who lay in an open casket. As the coffin was carried out, many dropped to one knee, weeping and exclaiming Long live Belarus! Video shot by an Associated Press journalist on Monday shows Taraikovsky with a bloodied shirt before collapsing on the ground. Several police are seen nearby and some walk over to where Taraikovsky is lying on the street and stand around him. The video does not show why he fell to the ground or how his shirt became bloodied, but it also does not show that he had an explosive device that blew up in his hand as the government has said. About 5,000 demonstrators gathered Saturday in the area where Taraikovsky died. They laid a mass of flowers in tribute, piling into a mound about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall, as passing cars blared their horns. Its awful to live in a country where you can be killed at a peaceful protest. I will leave, if power isnt changed, said 30-year-old demonstrator Artem Kushner. Earlier, the 65-year-old Lukashenko on Saturday rejected suggestions that foreign mediators become involved in trying to resolve the countrys political crisis. Listen we have a normal country, founded on a constitution. We dont need any foreign government, any sort of mediators, Lukashenko said at a meeting with Defense Ministry officials. He appeared to be referring to an offer from the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to help resolve the politcal crisis in Belarus, a nation of 9.5 million people. But he did discuss the situation in a call Saturday with Putin, the first publicly known direct contact between the two leaders since the election. A Kremlin statement said Putin and Lukashenko both expressed hope for a quick resolution to the tensions. It is important that these problems are not used by destructive forces aimed at causing injury to the cooperation of the two countries in the framework of the union state, the Kremlin said. Russia and Belarus reached an agreement in 1997 about closer ties between the neighboring ex-Soviet countries in a union that stopped short of a full merger, although that has collided with recent disputes between the countries and Lukashenko's suspicions that Putin's government wants to absorb Belarus. Protests about the political crisis in Belarus were also held Saturday in the Czech Republic and in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Moscow. The brutal suppression of protests in Belarus has drawn harsh criticism in the West. European Union foreign ministers said Friday that they rejected the election results in Belarus and began drawing up a list of officials in Belarus who could face sanctions over their role in the crackdown on protesters. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday that he was glad to see that some protesters in Belarus had been freed but that it was not enough. He also said the presidential election in Belarus fell short of democratic standards. We've said the elections themselves (in Belarus) weren't free. I've spent the last days consulting with our European partners, he said Saturday at a news conference in Warsaw with his Polish counterpart. Our common objective is to support the Belarusian people. These people are demanding the same things that every human being wants, Pompeo said. We urged the leadership to broaden the circle to engage with civil society. - Jim Heintz in Moscow and Matthew Lee in Warsaw contributed contributed to this story. The far-right groups had gathered, in part, in support of a Confederate sculpture in a nearby Stone Mountain park. Police have broken up duelling demonstrations about an enormous Confederate monument in a park near the city of Atlanta in the US state of Georgia. Several dozen far-right demonstrators, some waving the Confederate battle flag and many wearing military gear, gathered on Saturday in central Stone Mountain, where they faced off against a few hundred counter-protesters, many of whom wore shirts or carried signs expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement. People in both groups carried rifles. Far-right groups led by an Arkansas militia called Confederate States III% had applied for a permit to hold a rally in nearby Stone Mountain Park, in support a giant sculpture of Confederate leaders General Robert E Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and General Thomas J Stonewall Jackson. But the Stone Mountain Memorial Association denied the permit on August 4. Amid a national reckoning about racial justice following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, calls for the removal of Confederate statues and monuments have grown. Demonstrators gathered in Stone Mountain in support of a confederate monument and faced off against a few hundred counter-protesters [File: John Bazemore/The Associated Press] Stone Mountain Park was closed to visitors on Saturday and was set to reopen on Sunday. With police manning barriers to keep people from entering the park, demonstrators took to the streets of the adjoining city of Stone Mountain, which on Friday had advised residents to stay home and businesses to shut down. After several hours of mostly peaceful demonstrations, large numbers of police moved in to disperse the crowds when fights broke out just before 1pm, with people punching and kicking each other and throwing rocks. Within an hour, almost all of the protesters had left the area. The event was planned as a response to a march in the park by a Black militia group on July 4, in which demonstrators spoke out against the huge sculpture, which is carved into the face of a granite mountain. The park has historically been a gathering place for white supremacists, while the city of Stone Mountain has a majority-Black population. The clashes occurred following several hours peaceful demonstrations from both groups [File: Mike Stewart/The Associated Press] Michigan clashes Also on Saturday, members of the far-right Proud Boys group held a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan with counter-protesters gathering in response. The groups confronted each other and fistfights broke out before police arrived and ordered the crowds to disperse. A reporter for MLive.com, who was detained by police while recording live on Facebook, reported that some of the Proud Boys also used pepper spray during the clashes. The male-only Proud Boys has been called extremist by the Anti-Defamation League and described as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Proud Boys dispute those descriptions. I pay my respectful tributes to Sri Aurobindo, the great Indian freedom fighter, philosopher, Yogi, Guru, poet and nationalist on his birth anniversary today. He openly put forward the idea of complete independence for the country through the newspaper, Bande Mataram. pic.twitter.com/bBgeSKYxyA Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) August 15, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to philosopher and sage Sri Aurobindo on his 148th Birth Anniversary on India's 74th Independence Day. The Vice president also took to Twitter to pay his respect. Independence Day 2020 LIVE Updates Besides, Congress also tweeted to pay its tribute, saying "We remember Sri Aurobindo and his inspiring words and teachings." Who is Sri Aurobindo? Sri Aurobindo, born on August 15 1872 in West Bengal is also known as Aurobindo Ghose and also spelled as Aravinda. Ghose propounded a philosophy of divine life on earth and founded an ashram in Puducherry. Many remember him for his iconic poem Savitri, which is also considered to be one of his greatest works. Ghose's participation in the Indian freedom struggle against the British gave him popularity as he gradually evolved to become a spiritual and yogic guru. He came up with a new path of spirituality known as 'integral yoga'. Through his teachings he focused on increasing the level of consciousness of people and to make them aware of their true selves. Ghose had also authored several books focused on Indian culture, socio-political development of the country, spirituality, etc. Ghose died in Puducherry, India on December 5, 1950. Follow our entire overage on India's 74th Independence Day here. PM Modi addressed the nation at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. This is the seventh time when Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag on August 15 as the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will also receive the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Delhi Police. During his speech at the event, PM is expected to talk about a variety of issues ranging from country's on-going battle with COVID-19 to India-China border issue. The United Nations Security Council on Friday rejected a proposal by the United States that sought indefinite extension of an arms embargo on Iran. The Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UN and President of the council for August, Dian Djani, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the councils meeting on the issue. Mr Djani said China and Russia, two veto power holders in the 15-member council, voted against the US-sponsored resolution, while 11 countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Germany, abstained. Only two countries, the U.S. itself and the Dominican Republic, voted in favour, he said. The weapons ban is due to expire in October under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In a statement after the meeting, Chinas Permanent Representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, said the result of the voting showed that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail. Germany said it abstained because it was clear from the beginning that the proposal would fail due to opposition from China and Russia. While noting that it shared concerns about the forthcoming expiration of the ban, it said more time was needed to find a common ground on the issue. The Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the UN, Kelly Craft, said her country would stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo. Her Iranian counterpart, Majid Ravanchi, warned the U.S. against any further move for sanctions against his country. Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited. And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behaviour will bear the full responsibility, Mr Ravanchi said in a statement. Also reacting, U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, described the Security Councils decision as inexcusable, saying it had failed in its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. The United Nations Security Council is charged with the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. It failed today to uphold its fundamental mission set. It rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific UN restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade. The Security Councils failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable, he said. In a statement, Russias President Vladimir Putin proposed a summit with the U.S. and other parties to the Iran nuclear deal to avoid further confrontation and escalation at the United Nations over Iran. (NAN) Actor Sonu Sood on Thursday announced he will arrange travel of 39 children from the Philippines to New Delhi for their liver transplant surgery. The actor, who has catapulted to the national spotlight for his work in helping migrants reach their homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will be flying 39 kids, between ages one to five, to the national capital for their medical treatment. Talking about the same with Republic TV on Saturday, Sood said, "Unfortunately, we lost around 6 kids in the last 10 days and it was important for them to reach Delhi for surgery. I came across these little kids. Several underprivileged Filipino children suffering from a liver disease called biliary atresia were not able to travel due to the pandemic. I was after the whole mission. They are little angels. As we speak today, they are in Delhi having their surgery." "There's nothing more satisfying than helping others. Today, I feel I've got the real independence because I have a purpose. We should pledge to help others," Sood told Republic TV. Earlier, the actor along with his team rolled out a toll-free number and a WhatsApp helpline to connect with stranded workers and arrange their transportation. Sood recently launched an app to offer support to workers in finding job opportunities in various sectors across the country. Talking about the strange messages he receives, Sood said, "I also get strange messages and I really don't know what to do. I can feel them because maybe this is the only helpline they think they have." Can you manage till tomorrow morning? right now busy with getting someones computer repaired, someones marriage fixed, getting someones train ticket confirmed, someones houses water problem. Such important jobs people have assigned to me https://t.co/Ks4TF9yqHR sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 14, 2020 14th aug 2020 ,finally going back to India , from Manila.!all thanks to Sir @SonuSood and his team for working so hard for getting us back together.! And also making travel arrangements for 39 Filipino who were travelling to New Delhi for liver transplant We all are thankful to u pic.twitter.com/EHDFyUprZ6 karishma (@karishm11084452) August 14, 2020 (with PTI inputs) By Online Desk NEW DELHI: Indian soldiers have given befitting reply to those who challenged the country's sovereignty "from LoC to LAC", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, in a subtle message to Pakistan and China. In his seventh straight Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, the prime minister said the country is fighting terrorism as well as expansionism with determination. Asserting that the respect for India's sovereignty is supreme and that the world has seen in Ladakh what India's brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve, Modi said,"I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort." ALSO READ | Mass production of COVID-19 vaccine to begin in India once scientists give nod: PM "From LoC to LAC, anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, the armed forces of the country have responded in the language they understand," Modi said, adding the whole country is united in protecting the sovereignty of the country. The prime minister's comments came in the midst of India's festering border row with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and rising incidents of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese armies in Galwan Valley. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details. The expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) has been ensured in 173 border and coastal districts and nearly one lakh new cadets will get special traning under the mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. ALSO READ | 74th Independence Day: PM Modi announces launch of National Digital Health Mission One-third of the one lakh new cadets will be girls, the prime minister said in his Independence Day speech. "Now, expansion of the NCC has been ensured in 173 border and coastal districts. Under this mission, one lakh NCC cadets will receive special training. Of this, one-third will be girls," Modi told the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. (With PTI Inputs) Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14 : Merchandise exports from Kerala stood at $9.8 billion in 2018-19, while there remains an untapped potential of $6.7 billion more, according to a study by the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank). This was revealed in an interactive webinar titled "Potential for Enhancing Exports from Kerala", held here on Friday, to familiarise participants with potential export opportunities. The study pointed out that with a favourable policy framework and concerted efforts to boost exports, Kerala could target to achieve $54.7 billion in export revenues by 2024-25. The study identified a six-pronged export strategy for the state, built upon the essential dimensions of diversification of products and markets, infrastructure leverage and strengthening, capacity building, fiscal incentives, devising an export promotion campaign, and institutional streamlining. It also recommended diversification away from traditional export items for Kerala towards higher value-added products such as processed food, technical textiles, bulk drugs, and electronics and machinery. The study also suggests development of a branding strategy for products in which the state has Geographical Indications. Exim Bank Managing Director David Rasquinha, in his address, said that international trade is at the focal point of the narratives of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Vocal for Global', and there is a need to coalesce efforts at all levels of governance to prepare the domestic industry for achieving these objectives. HIGHLAND Four friends have found a way to pay tribute to the town's veterans with a Hometown Heroes display that provides a walkable opportunity for people to give their respects to both current and former members of the military. A total of 135 banners hang downtown on light posts on Highway and Jewett avenues, Fourth Street and Second Street, near American Legion Post 180 and around Main Square Park. The colorful banners contain pictures of individuals who have called Highland home and have served their country. The project was initiated by Highland residents Beth Gericke, Janet Foster, Lydia Lopez and Sandy McKnight. "We actually met through our boys," Lopez said. "And we all live in the same neighborhood." McKnight drew the idea from a similar display she had seen in a small town in Michigan that she thought would be a good fit for downtown Highland. "But what pushed me more to do it was Janet Foster's son, Kyle, is best friends with my son, Ryan," McKnight said. Kyle Foster, 21, is currently stationed with the Marines in Japan and is pictured on one of the Hometown Heroes banners. New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has said that she would, by August 17, decide if the countrys upcoming elections would go as per schedule or not. The kiwi nation is all set to vote for a new parliament on September 19. But the opposition has called for a delay in the vote citing coronavirus pandemic. Ardern, whose popularity has spiralled out manifold following a successful curb on the spread of COVID-19, is expected to go ahead with the prefixed date. However, the opposition has reportedly urged for delay hoping that the PM loses some of her lustre once hardship from lockdown gain momentum. Amid cancelled campaigns, the opposition has also accused the Kiwi leader of using the pandemic in her favour. Read: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Launches Re-election Campaign, Promises Jobs In addition, the New Zealand National Party has asserted objection on Ardern appearing on TV every day to reassure new Zealanders while their own leaders struggle to draw attention. New Zealand, which had reported no cases for 102 days straight recently saw a flare-up with seven cases being reported on August 15. Read: 'Battle Is Won But War Is Not Over': PM Ardern As New Zealand Enters COVID Alert Level 2 Parliament to dissolve on Aug 17 Meanwhile, the Kiwi parliament is all set to be dissolved on August 17. Ardern has previously said that she needed time to decide about the elections till then. However, she has given assurance that the election commission had already planned for the vote that must be held by November 21. Read: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Extends Lockdown In Auckland After New COVID-19 Cases This comes as Ardern extended the coronavirus lockdown in country's largest city Auckland after the nations first outbreak in more than three months was reported. According to the reports, under level 3 will of lockdown, people have been asked to stay indoors and all consumer-facing business establishments will be closed until August 26. In addition to this, level 2 restrictions that include social distancing and gathering limits, will also be extended until the same day across other parts of the country. Read: Ahead Of Polls, New Zealand PM Ardern Pays Visit To Radha Krishna Temple In Auckland Image credits: AP The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) is asking the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to review the current criteria for validating antibody Rapid Diagnostics Test kits (RDTs) for COVID -19 testing in the country. According to the group, the continuous use of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), the so-called gold standards, as a yardstick for antibody RDTs validation makes it almost impossible for any COVID-19 antibody RDTs to get approval from the regulator. We strongly advise that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and its partners review and use the appropriate method to evaluate and validate antibody RTDs for COVID-19 testing in order not deny Ghanaians the benefits of using RDTs for screening and diagnostic of the disease, it added in a statement dated August 13, 2020. The laboratory scientists recommended to the FDA to consider the use of a comparator gold standard; an intermediate method used to bridge the gap between RT-PCR and RDT for the validation of COVID-19 RDTs. Ghana currently uses Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to confirm COVID-19 cases but the laboratory scientists say, this mode of testing is not the best standard. There is a misleading misconception that Ghana is using the highest standards to validate COVID-19 RDTs because they are been compared to RT-PCR. This, in reality, is counterproductive and results in falsely skewed results that create the impression that the RDTs are of lower quality. The current results obtained may simply be due to the fact that the RDTs are compared to a far superior test methodology and not that the RDTs are necessarily not meeting the standard, the argued. GALMS has, therefore, reiterated its calls to the government, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to speed up processes to use the 130 GeneXpert testing devices to expand testing to other parts of the country as has been previously promised. Rapid test kits fail to meet standard requirement 34 companies in Ghana and other countries that presented COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests to the FDA had them rejected because they failed to meet standard requirement. The FDA said none of the kits passed the specificity and sensitivity tests, hence could not be adopted for use in Ghana. Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Delese Mimi Darko, all the companies that submitted the test kits for assessment and approval have been informed about the result of the assessments and they are expected to work to address the challenge with their kits. So far, all the 34 kits that have been submitted, not one of them has passed the testSo for everyone who submitted the kit, we have communicated [to them]There are two parts, the specificity and sensitivity, depending on which part has failed, we will tell you to improve on that part and the manufacturer understands what to do before resubmitting, she at the Ministry of Informations bi-weekly brief briefing on COVID-19 in Ghana. She further disclosed that the tests on the various kits show their sensitivity ranging between 4% and 54% while their specificity ranged between 85% and 99%. Delese Mimi Darko said the FDA requires that the kits must have a sensitivity and specificity rate of at least 99% before being approved. Source: citinewsroom.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 Trend The claim of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Treaty of Sevres is a historical fact and was drawn up on the basis of the most progressive ideas of that period is absurd, Azerbaijani MP, Corresponding Member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, professor Musa Gasimli told Trend . Gasimli made the remark while commenting on the Pashinyans speech at a scientific conference titled "Treaty of Sevres and the Armenian Question" and dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the signing of the treaty. According to the MP, the Ottoman Empire withdrew from the First World War on October 30, 1918, by signing the Armistice of Mudros [Greek harbor]. On April 23, about a month after the Allied forces occupied the Turkish Strait in Istanbul on March 16, 1920, the government of the Turkish Grand National Assembly was formed in Ankara under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Pasha. The Peace Treaty of Sevres was signed between the countries that won the victory and the Ottoman State on August 10, 1920, in the city of Sevres near Paris. Gasimli noted that the Armenians hoped then to realize their dream with the help of the Entente members. "But their hopes were not fulfilled. For example, the Armenian delegates were told by the British government that their ships could not sail the mountains and rocks of Armenia," he said. "The Treaty of Sevres was rejected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and was torn apart like a useless piece of paper. The Turkish people started the war for independence. Taking advantage of the fact that the Turkish people fought on several fronts, Armenian Dashnaks opened a new front against Turkey and carried out mass slaughter of the civilian population." "Once again, Armenians did not become a worthy adversary," the professor noted The Turkish army soon defeated the Dashnak forces and signed the Peace Treaty of Alexandropol (now Armenias Gyumri city) on December 2, 1920. Bowing its head to Turkey, Armenia was forced to take on a number of commitments, the MP stressed. "If Pashinyan had read these commitments, he would have changed his tone. I want to remind some of the treaty terms," he said. "Armenia undertook to pay compensation for damage caused during the war, but the Turkish government, showing nobility refused this compensation. In order to monitor the implementation of the treaty terms, a delegate from the Turkish government was to be assigned to Yerevan." "Further, the [Turkey-Armenia] relations were regulated by the Moscow Treaty of March 16, 1921, and the Kars Treaty of October 13, 1921. Armenia recognized the borders of Turkey, and the Turkish army left Gyumri," Gasimli said. He added that the modern international borders of Turkey were recognized by a convention signed in [Swiss] Lausanne on July 24, 1923. "At the conference in Lausanne, the representatives of the states that the Armenians were relying on did not even look towards the Armenian delegates, and they were forced to leave disappointed. Doesn't Pashinyan know this story?! I think he knows," MP said. "So what does Pashinyan want - for the Turkish army to come again and settle in Gyumri? Will there be a savior for Armenia then? Secondly, why does Armenian leaders so quickly 'forget' the documents signed by them? When you are enemy with someone, you must be worthy enemy," concluded Gasimli. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Member of Parliament (MP) for Ledzokuku constituency, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has called on Ghanaians not to make a mistake and vote former President John Dramani Mahama back in government. The MP strongly cautioned Ghanaians saying ''Ghana is too much to be used as an experiment'' by the former President. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Dr. Okoe Boye, who doubles as the Deputy Health Minister, advised Ghanaians to look nowhere else but vote massively for President Nana Akufo-Addo for a second term in office. He touted some achievements of the incumbent government saying the President's ''One District, One Factory'' policy has revived companies like Paramont distillery and Anglogold mining companies which were rendered defunct under the erstwhile Mahama administration. He further stated that due to the socio-economic interventions by President Nana Akufo-Addo, the country's youth are happy because there is a high employment rate through initiatives like the government's NABCO among others. ''It is an indication that the environment is now conducive and it is important to support such a government.'' Dr. Okoe Boye asked Ghanaians to rally behind the Akufo-Addo administration stressing ''the strongest brand going into this election, the biggest tool we have is the record of this government in the three and half years''. To him, ''the 2020 election will not be about outcries. The dictionary defines outcry as a loud noise or protest or wailing. It will be about outreach. One has to do with reaching out with a message, the other has to do with shouting and ranting and complaining. The 2020 election is not going to be about what I can do if you give me the opportunity but what I have done when you gave me the opportunity''. He wondered why Ghanaians would give former President John Mahama another opportunity to toy with the country. ''How can we be a people that will say you tried, let us allow you to try again?'' he questioned. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video UN Security Council Votes On U.S.-Backed Resolution To Extend Arms Embargo On Iran By RFE/RL August 14, 2020 A crucial vote on whether to extend an arms embargo against Iran is taking place at the UN Security Council as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog in Vienna. The August 14 Security Council vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution to extend indefinitely the embargo on Iran is widely expected to fail due to strong opposition from veto-wielding council members Russia and China. Pompeo, speaking before a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, reiterated the U.S. position that the United States will do everything in its power to extend the embargo, which is set to be progressively eased beginning on October 18. "It makes no sense to permit the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism to purchase and sell weapons systems," Pompeo told a news conference. "I mean, that's just nuts." Pompeo said he was urging the rest of the world to support the U.S. stance in the vote, which is taking place by e-mail under remote-working rules implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic. A result is expected late on August 14. Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 14 proposed that the next step should be an online summit for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany, and Iran, to discuss the Iran arms embargo. "Further growth of tensions and greater risks of a conflict are the alternative," Putin said in a statement posted on the Kremlin's website. "This march of events must be avoided. Russia is open to constructive cooperation with all those interested in moving away from the dangerous line." U.S. President Donald Trump was asked whether he would accept an invitation to such a summit. "I haven't been told of it," Trump said, speaking at a White House briefing. "I hear there's something, but I haven't been told of it yet." In the Kremlin statement, Putin added that Russia remained fully committed to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, in which Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018, saying it failed to address Iran's missile program or its support for regional militias and terrorist groups. The outcome of the Security Council vote is likely to set the stage for a showdown between the United States and Russia and China over whether international sanctions eased under the 2015 deal can or should be reimposed on Washington's demand. If the Security Council doesn't prevent Iran from buying and selling weapons when the embargo ends, Washington has said it will trigger a "snapback" of all UN sanctions on Iran. Russia and China have not only opposed extending the arms embargo, they also have questioned Washington's right to use a disputed legal move to force a return of UN sanctions on Iran. Pompeo and Iran hard-liners in Washington claim the United States remains a participant in the accord because it was listed as such in the 2015 resolution that enshrined the nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers and can therefore bring back sanctions since Iran has not fully complied with its nuclear commitments. Diplomats from several countries that are still committed to the nuclear deal have expressed concern that extending the arms embargo would lead to Iran's exit from the agreement. Pompeo said whatever the result of the vote, the IAEA plays a major role in the future of the nuclear deal that it monitors and said Iran must provide full and immediate cooperation with the IAEA. Pompeo is in Austria on the third leg of a four-nation tour of Eastern and Central Europe that has already taken him to the Czech Republic and Slovenia. He will wrap up the trip in Poland on August 15. With reporting by AP, Reuters, TASS, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/un-security- council-votes-on-u-s--backed-resolution-to- extend-arms-on-iran/30784118.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 Qatar Airways has extended its cabin crews' nightly curfew after some stewards allegedly broke the Gulf country's strict virus control rules, according to a memo seen by AFP Thursday. Qatar has imposed some of the world's strictest measures to combat coronavirus including a limit of five people at social gatherings and mandatory masks in public places. "It has been disheartening to learn that there have been several instances of failure to adhere to the government regulations... among our cabin crew team," the airline's senior vice president of cabin services wrote to crew on August 11. "We respectfully request that crew members refrain from participating in any gatherings or social events of any kind. "Crew curfew hours will also be extended to commence from 9 p.m. until 7a.m. with immediate effect until further notice whilst COVID-19 precautionary measures are in place." They had previously been required to return to their company-provided accommodation between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Before coronavirus, Qatar Airways cabin crews were a mainstay of Doha's small circuit of bars and clubs, drawn by special discounts for airline employees. While bars and clubs remain closed in Qatar, restaurants that serve alcohol have begun to re-open with several creating areas specifically for drinkers. Qatar has reported 114,281 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic -- more than 4 percent of its 2.75 million people -- but most have recovered and only 190 people have died. Also Watch: The Gulf airline, which flew to more than 170 destinations with 234 aircraft as of March, has been hit by airport closures and travel bans imposed to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease. It has previously warned cabin crew and pilots that they face sweeping redundancies and pay cuts as the airline battles the global aviation downturn. The International Air Transport Association warned in April that air traffic in the Middle East and North Africa would plummet by more than half this year. "For the ongoing protection of our cabin crew, colleagues, fellow residents and passengers, this temporary restriction is designed to limit any potential new cases of COVID-19," the airline said in a statement. "We appreciate the incredible continued efforts of our crew to go above and beyond during this challenging time and this temporary measure will further protect all individuals." FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The two shootings dominating the Democratic primary for sheriff in Broward County, Florida, couldnt be more different. The 2018 massacre that pushed former sheriff and current challenger Scott Israel out of office left 14 students and three adults dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a top-tier school in the wealthy Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland. A former student is awaiting trial. The campaign of Sheriff Gregory Tony, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis when he fired Israel in 2019, is haunted by his 1993 killing of an 18-year-old neighbour in a poverty-stricken section of Philadelphia when he was 14. A judge found he was defending himself and his brother, but he has been hammered for not disclosing the shooting to DeSantis or when applying for police jobs. Tony and Israel are the top contenders in Tuesdays primary, which also has four lesser-known, lesser-financed candidates. Tony and his political action committee have raised about $1.5 million, while Israel has gotten about $600,000, according to election records. The Democratic winner will be a strong favourite in the November general election as that party has a 50% to 21% advantage over the Republicans in registration. Tony and Israel are former Republicans. The sheriff runs a 6,000-employee operation with a half-billion dollar budget. Accusations of racism entered the contest recently when a Black campaign staff member for Israel called Tony, who is also Black, a racial slur referencing a slave who enthusiastically serves his white masters. Israel, who is white, fired the staffer. Israel, 64, eked out a win in 2012 and won handily 2016, but days after his second term began in January 2017 a gunman killed five people at Fort Lauderdales airport. Broward deputies quickly captured the killer, but Israel received criticism in an investigators report for failing to take charge at the chaotic scene that had passengers cowering in fear for hours amid false reports of a second gunman. Israel escaped that storm, but couldnt get past Stoneman Douglas. In the days immediately after the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting he portrayed his deputies as heroes and criticized the National Rifle Association during a nationally televised town hall as blocking needed gun regulation, a position he had long held. But school security video soon showed his deputies failed to enter the building to confront the shooter. Israel refused blame for their actions and said he had shown amazing leadership. It was then learned that before the shooting Israel had changed department policy from requiring deputies to engage active shooters to may. It is a policy many departments have so officers arent compelled to undertake suicide missions, but the die was cast. The slain students parents and conservative groups got promises from DeSantis that if he were elected he would fire Israel, which he did days after taking office in January 2019. Israel called the move a power grab and insisted, There was no wrongdoing on my part. I served the county honourably. DeSantis decision was upheld by the Republican-led state Senate, even though its investigator found DeSantis grounds didnt meet Florida law. DeSantis says he wont again fire Israel if he regains office. DeSantis surprised everyone by picking as Israels replacement Tony, a political unknown who lived outside the county. A former sergeant in the suburban Coral Springs Police Department, Tony had left the force in 2016 to run his consulting company, which trains officers to confront active shooters. Tony, the countys first Black sheriff, had been recommended by Andrew Pollack, whose daughter, Meadow, died at Stoneman Douglas. Pollack had become one of Israels most outspoken critics and a DeSantis ally. But Tony, 41, quickly made enemies with the primary deputies union, which said he fired and disciplined deputies accused of misconduct without due process and wouldnt communicate. Deputies also accused him of being slow to provide protective gear when the coronavirus pandemic erupted. That resulted in an angry confrontation between him and union leaders after a deputy died of the disease. He suspended the union president from duty; the union, in turn, voted no confidence in Tony. Then in May an investigative website, the Florida Bulldog, uncovered Tonys Philadelphia shooting. Tony never disclosed it on law enforcement job applications, checking no when asked if he had ever been arrested. He also didnt tell DeSantis or state investigators who vetted him for sheriff. Tony said he doesnt believe he was arrested, but 1993 newspaper accounts indicate he was held for several days. His former chief at Coral Springs told reporters he never would have hired Tony if he had known his history. Tony has said he is being targeted by the unions and entrenched special interests. He has said he is proud of overcoming a life that began in an impoverished, violent neighbourhood to become the countys top law enforcement job. He also still has the support of the group representing the Stoneman Douglas victims. A chastened Young taped a message soon after from Washington doing the almost unthinkable apologizing, sort of for a lawmaker whose gruff demeanor has fit nicely with the Last Frontier. Weeks ago, I did not fully grasp the severity of this crisis, he said, urging Alaskans to follow all federal guidelines to stop the novel coronaviruss spread. This pandemic is dangerous and is threatening, especially threatening, to our senior citizens, which I am one. Kabul, Aug 15 : Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified resulting in the deaths of over 50 people, including security personnel, as the government and the Taliban militant group were preparing for peace talks. Amid increasing fighting, the two sides have been accusing each other of sabotaging the peace process, Xinhua news agency reported. In the latest wave of violent incidents, Taliban militants attacked security checkpointsin Darazin area of Daikundi province on Saturday morning, killing five and wounding four others, provincial police spokesman Gul Aqa Sajadi said. Three militants were also killed in the gunfight that lasted for hours, the official added. The Taliban outfit, which accuses the government of sabotaging the peace talks, is yet to confirm the attack. Taliban militants have also blamed the government for intentionally delaying the release of prisoners to facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue. Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban political office in Doha has reportedly said that the intra-Afghan dialogue would take place within a week "if the Kabul administration set free all the 5,000 prisoners" demanded by the armed group. The exchange of 5,000 Taliban inmates with 1,000 Afghan troopers is part of the US-Taliban peace deal signed in late February to facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue, pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces and to end the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has released more than 5,000 prisoners but has still held 380 controversial inmates, although Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has inked the decree for their release. A senior government official, Wahid Omar said recently that the Taliban has "no political and cultural assets, except imposing violence" for the talk. The Taliban-led violent incidents, according to a statement of Interior Ministry released on Thursday, had claimed the lives of 121 civilians and wounded 336 others over the past two weeks. Observers predict more fighting and violent incidents ahead of the peace talks. A man allegedly kicked, headbutted and attempted to bite officers when arrested for attacking bouncers at a bar, a court has heard. Paul William Norman Mason appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday on nine charges following an incident on Thursday. The 32-year-old faces four counts of assault on police, two counts of assault, one of criminal damage, one of resisting police and a further charge of disorderly behaviour. A police officer told the court that at around 9.45pm a report was made of a man being disorderly outside Love and Death on Ann Street in Belfast city centre. He said the accused allegedly kicked a bouncer and was taken to the ground and held until police arrived. When officers attended he is claimed to have shouted RUC c**** and black b*****ds before limb restraints were used to arrest him. The officer said Mason also allegedly kicked a female constables arm, headbutted another constable and attempted to headbutt a third. He was then taken to hospital and during the journey he is said to have attempted to bite officers. Masons solicitor told the court he claimed he was assaulted by the doorman though he accepted that he was smoking cannabis at the time. But he said Mason, of Carntall Court in Newtownabbey, had little memory of what had happened, which the lawyer described as a very, very unsavoury incident. Granting bail, District Judge George Conner said it was a very violent incident and banned Mason from taking any alcohol. He was released on his own bail of 500, with a person to sign a surety of 500, imposed a curfew and ordered him to have no contact with any witnesses. The case was adjourned until September 9. In a series of tweets on August 14, actor Ankita Lokhande said that it was her, not late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was paying EMIs for a residential apartment in Malad, Mumbai. A news report earlier claimed, citing sources in the Enforcement Directorate (ED), that the late actor was paying instalments for the flat worth Rs 4.5 crore. The report suggests that the flat continues to be occupied by Lokhande. The ED is currently investigating the case related to the alleged embezzlement of Rs 15 crore from Rajput's bank accounts. In a series of tweets, Lokhande shared her flat's registration documents and bank statements to claim that she was paying the EMIs. "Here I cease all the speculations. As transparent as I could. My Flat's Registration as well as my Bank Statement's (01/01/19 to 01/03/20) highlighting the emi's being deducted from my account on a monthly basis. There is nothing more I have to say (sic)," she wrote. Rhea Chakraborty, who is the prime accused in the money laundering case, said during her questioning that Rajput could not ask Lokhande to vacate the property even though he was paying instalments for it, a report by India Today said citing ED sources. Also read: What Rhea Chakraborty told ED about her properties On July 25, Rajput's father KK Singh filed a complaint with Patna police against Chakraborty and a few others, including her family members, accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide. Singh alleged financial irregularities in bank accounts of Rajput, who was found dead in his suburban Bandra residence on June 14. In his complaint, Singh alleged that Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from Rajputs bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late actor. Based on the complaint, Patna police filed an FIR against Chakraborty, Rajput's girlfriend, and others. On July 31, the ED registered a money laundering case against Chakraborty and her family members. South Africa could experience its worst load-shedding in history unless Eskom takes drastic action to address the current energy crisis. This is the view of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) senior engineer Joanne Calitz, who recently released new research findings around energy in the country. Calitz said South Africans can expect heavy load-shedding to continue for at least two to three years, depending on the key decisions and actions taken by the relevant entities. This is in stark contrast to Eskoms prediction that South Africans could expect only three days of stage 1 load-shedding this winter. In July, stage 2 load-shedding returned to South Africa and quickly exceeded the three days predicted by Eskom. This week, Eskom implemented stage 2 load-shedding again due to increased pressure on the power generation system. This load-shedding has been caused by an increase in plant breakdowns during the night and early hours of the morning, Eskom said. A delay in the return to service of two power generation units at Duvha and Tutuka and the breakdowns of four units at the Kriel, Tutuka, and Kendal power stations has resulted in the need for load-shedding, the power utility said. Load shedding may continue for years Speaking to SABC News, Calitz said the CSIR expects a high probability of load-shedding for the next two years. She said 2019 was a very bad year for load-shedding, with unprecedented stage 6 load-shedding kicking in for the first time. However, in 2020 thus far, South Africa has surpassed 2019 levels despite the lockdown during which electricity demand plummeted. If the blackouts continue for the rest of the year, South Africa is set for its worst year of load-shedding on record. She added that unless drastic action is taken, load-shedding can continue over the next few years and even get significantly worse than now. According to the updated Energy Availability Factor (EAF) and demand forecast, South Africa should expect over 4,500GWh of load-shedding in 2022, compared to the 1,352GWh the country suffered in 2019. What should be done to prevent long-term load shedding Calitz said there are three interventions which are needed to help resolve the energy crisis in South Africa. The first is the DMRE Risk Mitigation Power Purchase Programme (RMPPP) which will procure around 2,000MW to 3,000MW of emergency power. She said this process should be fast-tracked to address the remaining capacity and energy gaps within the country and to ensure capacity can come online timeously. The second intervention is to accelerate the new capacity which is planned in the integrated resource plan. This new power generation capacity includes solar power, battery storage systems, and gas. The third is for businesses and homes to start to generate their own power through solar power installations on a large scale. Calitz said while it is currently happening on a small scale, it is not enough to relieve pressure on the grid. She suggested the launch of incentives and relaxed regulations to allow large energy users to generate their own power. CSIR senior engineer Joanne Calitz interview The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have called on Belarus to conduct a new, "free and fair" vote after the country's disputed August 9 presidential election. The vote handed strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term and sparked nationwide protests that have been brutally put down by security forces. A new vote should be held "in a transparent way with the participation of international observers," the leaders said in a joint statement on August 15 after a meeting in the Estonian city of Tartu. The three Baltic states urged Belarus to refrain from violence and release political prisoners and detained protesters. They also called for European Union sanctions on those responsible for the violence. The statement came as Belarus braces for massive weekend protests calling for the end of Lukashenka 26-year rule. Opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for peaceful rallies on August 15-16, after she was forced to leave the country for neighboring Lithuania after disputing Lukashenkas claim to a landslide victory. Protests since the controversial election have witnessed unprecedented scenes on the streets of Minsk and other cities, energizing opposition to Lukashenka despite a brutal crackdown. With reporting by Reuters BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.15 By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend: Azerbaijan didn't start negotiations to purchase anti-COVID-19 vaccine from Russia, Head of the Disease Control and Prevention Department of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) Yagut Garayeva said. Garayeva made the remark during a briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on August 15, Trend reports. According to her, Azerbaijan closely and carefully monitors the processes and information on the development of vaccines. However, these vaccines must go through three main testing steps before they are actually used, since we plan to purchase these vaccines only if they are completely safe and effective against coronavirus, Garayeva noted. Discussions are underway with international, well-known European companies in this direction, and for now, the results of the vaccine usage in Russia have yet to be received. The data is very promising, but it is too early to make concrete conclusions on the use of this vaccine," she stressed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:41:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2020 shows exhibits at an exhibition to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War at the Imperial War Museum in London, Britain. (Xinhua) LONDON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- In 1940, Donald Lashbrook from Exeter, Britain, left behind friends and family to embark for India to serve for the British Army in the World War II (WWII). He spent five years on the frontline in India, Afghanistan and Myanmar, as the British Army joined China and the United States in their fight against Japanese forces. On Aug. 15, 1945, the war was declared over and Lashbrook, then 25 years old, was able to return home. "VJ (Victory over Japan) Day came, it was all over. Everybody was 'we're on our way home,'" Lashbrook said in an archived audio interview that now features in the Voices of War soundscape collection at London's Imperial War Museums(IWM). His voice is one of the many personal accounts presented by the IWM in the exhibition that was set up to commemorate the WWII 75 years after its end. From May 8 to Aug. 15, the museum has been sharing the personal stories of people who stood together during a time of national crisis and their reflections on a time of both celebration and cautious relief in the summer of 1945. "With Voices of War, IWM will be bringing the stories and memories of those who lived through the conflicting jubilation, hope, sadness and fear that was felt during the summer of 1945 directly to homes around the country. We want the public to reflect on this important historical milestone as many others did 75 years ago," said Diane Lees, director general of the IWM. Anthony Richards, head of documents and sound collection at the IWM, played a key role in pulling together the audio and text archives. Spending years researching into private papers and interviewing relatives to help piece together a retelling of the personal lives impacted by war. The voices, testimonies of personal responses to moments in the war from people who were actually there, are selected as representations of three important anniversaries: on VE Day (May 8, 2020), the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (marked on Aug.6, 2020), and VJ Day (Aug. 15, 2020). Among the voices, there is recalling from one British soldier, who was bayoneted in the arm by a Japanese soldier, about how joyful he was when he finally went home from the battle in 1945: "There was a banner outside, you know, 'welcome home' and it took me quite a while to knock the door. Just the feeling of getting home really you know and you hadn't seen your family for nearly four years and it was a very joyous occasion really." There is also a voice from a former Japanese officer who took part in battle in both India and Myanmar but now, many years after the war, worked hard to promote reconciliation between former enemies, saying "We arrive now after the war because of the many, many, war dead. So we owe them. We owe the dead." Extensive research was required to put the collection together. For Richards, it meant that he had to dig through the museums' extensive archives, which held records of testimonies, interviews and documents going back to 1917 and beyond. To capture the voices of war, he also went out to people's homes and sit down with them for hour-long interviews and cover their entire lives and their experiences of warfare. The intention behind the Voices of War project, he said, was to try and break down the complexities of the end of the World War II through the personal stories of those who were directly impacted by it -- and to show people today just how awful war is. He sees Voices of War as a reminder of how badly war affects ordinary lives and that is something he feels we ought never to return to. "In a way, it tells you more about how awful war is than anything else. It's the effect of ordinary people in ordinary lives," Richards told Xinhua. Despite victory and the war coming to an end, the audio interviews also detail people's concerns and uncertainty on "rebuilding the world", something that according to Richards, resonates strongly with how people may feel today amid a global pandemic. "Looking at the wide variety of voices that we used for this project, I think they're interesting because they show how events at the end of the WWII were never as clear cut as people think they were," he told Xinhua. "Current events in the news today are immensely complicated, and there's multiple viewpoints...And things were not straightforward. People felt very confused. They didn't quite know what was going to happen," he added. Hearing the personal accounts of confusion and uncertainty, Richards feels that the voices from the exhibition -- although from a different era -- can be of inspiration to the people of today living through a global pandemic. "And obviously, it (global pandemic) is very different to a major world conflict. But there are parallels to be made there and I think we can take that away from the voices from 1945," he said. Enditem Appreciations View(s): A rose with a sandalwood soul Mulin Kurukulanatha Sandun gase saman walak ethenne. Nadun wanaye sihil suwaya soyanne I thought of starting with the above two lines which were the same lines used by my grandfather to address my much-loved grandma Mulin Kurukulanatha. I wonder how he could have been so accurate about her from the very beginning of their lives. Maybe it was because of their everlasting bond. Mulin was born in 1939 in Moratuwa to a Catholic family, the second child of Mr. Pieris and Roselin Perera. She lost her father in her early childhood. She had just one elder sister. She grew up studying in a convent where she enriched herself with an English medium education. Through her childhood and her teens, she became this amazingly beautiful person not just in her outlook but also within, humble and charming with an unusual sense of kindness. She started her career as a stenographer at the Social Services Department where she met her eternal love. Thissa Kurukulanatha came from a respectable Buddhist family, also living in Moratuwa. In 1963 before marriage she became a Buddhist. It was not so difficult for her to change as she had such a pure personality. They had two daughters- Danthika and Vishaka. She served in the Forest Department for years, where she was much loved by her colleagues for her simplicity and warm-hearted personality. She was a supportive spouse to her husband and an influential mother to her two daughters. She had amazing creativity in whatever she did. Whoever ate her food even once would never forget its taste. She used to sew elegant dresses for her daughters and later pretty little suits for us; her grandchildren. Her husband was an honourable personality who was a family counsellor and volunteered in social service. He was the founder of the Educational Social and Cultural (ESCO) Organization which became the torch for the disabled to discover their hidden skills. He made the platform for the disabled to open up and show their talents nationally and internationally co-operating with VSA arts and John F. Kennedy Center, USA. In 1990 he and my grandmother visited Japan with a troop of disabled people, on a special invitation from VSA arts. His infinite capacity for caring for the poor and disabled would not have been a success but for her support to him as a life partner. She was always there for him, through thick and thin. Even after he passed away, she continued his social and welfare work, holding the position of Secretary-General of ESCO for a few years. In 2019 she received an honourable mention at the Divisional Conference of the Civil Social Organization; praising her years of unconditional service to the society as being the strength to her husband and also her dedication and support at continuing his work. When it came to relationships, she never used the suffix in-law. She was a loving elder sister to her husbands four younger siblings and mother for her two daughters husbands. She always loved and cared for them as her own. In turn, she also was not an in-law -they treated her with utmost love and respect. After my grandfather passed away she used to live with her elder daughter who is my mother. I would spend time with her more often and she became my confidante. I am honoured to be a granddaughter of such a versatile lady, and I am so lucky that I was old enough to appreciate all her qualities. She used to share memories of her past with me. By that time, she was a fond mother-in-law of two doctors and a proud grandma of five grandchildren. She was happy. She was so peaceful, calm in her walk and always with a pleasant smile. She lived perceiving the reality and tolerating uncertainty. She was not self-centered but always gave priority to the happiness of others. She always accepted and loved others for what they were. She did not try to change anyone as every person is beautiful in their own way. To quote her exact words taste differs. She used to deeply appreciate even the smallest things in her life. She lived life to the fullest. But the time came. On May 31, as usual, she was holding my hand, smiling like a rose. I left her in bed as she was sleepy, not knowing that I would not be able to hold her hand ever again. It has been almost three months since she left us. The more we think the more we realize she was a rose with a sandalwood soul inside. She was as pretty as a rose and she was like sandalwood which imparts its fragrance to the axe which cuts it, without doing any harm in return. Navodi Gunarathne (granddaughter) Memories of tough work in the jungles and relaxing evenings Thosapala Hewage Thosapala Hewage, former Ambassador to Nepal and former Secretary to several Ministries, passed away in New Zealand during the height of the Corona lockdown in April. After retirement, he was living with his beloved wife Thilaka, son and daughter and their families in Auckland. Those (his pet name) and I became friends at first sight when we were introduced to each other by Thilakasiri Prathiraja, the first Chief Settlement Officer of the then Mahaweli Development Board and my superior at Galnewa settlement office. Mr.Prathiraja later became the Land Commissioner and retired as Land Secretary. We lived in cadjan huts on the banks of Kala Oya without having even proper toilet facilities at the very outset, around 1974. However, those were the days we enjoyed both our tough work in the jungles with farmers and evening get-togethers with sing-songs and dances. We were the pioneers of the Mahaweli Settlement Plan launched under the able leadership of R.S. Jayarathne, the then DGM-Settlement Planning, assisted by T.H. Karunatilake known as think tank. Later on, Mahinda Ralapanawa and D. M. Ariyaratne respectively took over the leadership. Both these clever task masters also made our rough life in the field interesting and enjoyable as they frequently visited us sometimes with literary giants like K. Jayathilaka and A. V. Suraweera. I remember once Mr. Ariyaratne challenging Maestro Amaradeva to sing a song with him. Jayalath Manoratne and dramatist Abeysundara were also working in my team in the H Area and we organised drama festivals at Bongamuwa, Kekirawa and some other places. After Y.G. Wijeratne took over as Chief Settlement Officer such get-togethers became a regular feature. The District Land Officers of the neighbouring districts were summoned from time to time for land kachcheries to select eligible farmers to receive Mahaweli lands in the H Area under the Kalawewa basin first. Those`s regular presence at those programmes made us good friends. Whenever we had to come to Colombo we used to pick-up Those at Rajangana where he fuctioned as Resident District Land Officer. Nostalgic memories of such encounters have an indelible place in my mind. One day when we were returning from Colombo at night our jeep had a tyre puncture on the Puttalam Road. Mr.Prathiraja was at the wheel and it was raining cats and dogs. Those and myself got out in the heavy rain and jacked up the vehicle making a desperate attempt to remove the wheel in question to replace it with the spare. Both of us used the wheel brace together with our full force but the wheel nuts refused to move. We were fully wet and thoroughly frustrated. Then a man approached with an umbrella a bus driver living nearby. After having a look at the wheel he said sarcastically Sir, you have fastened the nuts instead of loosening them. Those looked at me helplessly and we didnt utter a word after that. Our paths crossed several times during our lengthy public service career. When he became Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources I was Additional Secretary to the same Ministry. When he was made Secretary to the Ministry of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion I worked with him again as a consultant and Project Director of the projects funded by World Bank, ADB, and JAICA. Rohitha Bogollagama, able and clever negotiator took over the Foreign Affairs Ministry at a time when our multilateral as well as bilateral relations became very vulnerable, especially, at the verge of elimination of LTTE terrorism by our armed forces. Those and I were sent as Heads of Sri Lanka Mission representing the country abroad. He settled down in New Zealand after retirement and when vacationing here in 2018, requested me to assist him in launching his autobiography Emerging from the Backwoods.We organized the event at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute with the participation of our seniors, colleagues and friends. Nanda Abeywickrama, well respected former Ministry Secretary chaired the event. The then President`s Secretary Austin Fernando delivered the keynote address. It was a memorable day for me as I could meet and talk with most of my former bosses and colleagues during the event. Those and Thilaka thanked me profusely for managing the programme. Those`s autobiography itself will vouch for his genuineness and frankness. There were many other brief occasions when we ran in to each other unexpectedly. When I was Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the late Lakshman Kadirgarmar, a great leader who had a vision for the nation, summoned a meeting with couple of Secretaries to other Ministries which included Those as well. He stayed with me for more than ten days while attending an international conference in Havana as Secretary to the Urban Development Ministry, if I remember correctly, when I was the Head of Mission in Cuba. I took him to the Granma cabin cruiser on which Fidel Castro and 81 followers returned to Cuba from Mexico in 1956 and to the Museum of Revolution in Havana. While driving him from Havana to Santa Clara where the Che Guevara Museum has been located we had a wonderful time reflecting on our halcyon days. Those was one of those dwindling band of hard working public officers this country had in the recent past. The National Forestry Policy was drafted and finalized under his supervision as Director, Forestry Planning. There are several landmark achievements in his public service career. He was elected twice as Secretary to the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association which came under the chairmanship of veteran administrator/ diplomat Lionel Fernando. More than anything else Those was a friend in need and in my case he became a friend in deed. His honesty and integrity cannot be easily matched by his juniors or followers in the public service. There were situations challenging his reputation once or twice but he came out smelling of roses. Those used to call me whenever he returned to Sri Lanka from New Zealand and we would meet to have a chat. He was too busy during his last visit to Colombo due to some special medical treatments as his health was deteriorating by then. My advice to him was to return to his family in New Zealand as soon as possible which he followed promptly. After going there he succumbed to his illness sooner than I thought. When I called him a couple of days before he passed away, he said, Jayantha, they are doing their best but I feel my days are numbered! Albert Einstein said once we have been programmed before sending here. Those you have accomplished your task here to the letter and we are proud of you. We miss you badly during this extra little time of our lives and hope our paths cross again one fine day during our sojourn in Sansara! Until then, farewell Those!! Jayantha P.B. Dissanayake I owe her a great debt of gratitude Maureen Gunewardena Twenty years to the day on August 16, 2000, Maureen answered the call which comes eventually to us all. I was in the happy position of living and enjoying my childhood as her kid brother. Little acts of kindness such as joining in playtime at home and being consoled by her when parental admonition was directed at me for my naughty exuberance are etched in my memory even though seven decades have elapsed since those happy childhood days. In later life too, Maureen showed much concern for my wellbeing, particularly helping in weak subjects I encountered at the school promotion examinations. She even paid for my private tuition and it would be no exaggeration to state that without her support, both morally and financially in those crucial years I would not have succeeded in getting over the hurdles in later life. I had no brother so in a manner of speaking she filled the void of an elder brother to show me the way to a full adult life. Even in the matters of settling down she showed concern in a subtle manner sans coercion that I choose correctly. When I recollect all her benevolence and goodwill I have to acknowledge I owe her a debt of gratitude. Maureens own life was very illustrious and eventful. Having finished a brilliant school career at Holy Family Convent she went on to the University of Peradeniya and graduated with an Honours degree in 1953 at the very young age of 21, a somewhat rare achievement not equalled by many before or even after that date. After graduation Maureen took up an appointment at the Inland Revenue Department as an Assistant Assessor which was a prestigious appointment at the time she was the second lady staff officer in the history of the department. She retired 25 years later having reached the high office of a Deputy Commissioner. In 1957, she married Victor Gunawardene whom she had met during her undergraduate days at University. They had four daughters who did them proud, in professional and semi professional fields. During all these years of official executive commitments and bringing up children with all domestic chores, she did not fail to look after her ageing parents, which I must state, would have been a strain in later years, but which she was able to do thanks to the strong family support of her husband and children. Hers was a life of versatility and fulfillment for which I am certain she won the admiration of all who knew her in her lifetime and now would remember her with love and gratitude. A matter of some regret however is that she had to cope with more than her fair share in family responsibility as the eldest sibling and had little opportunity to enjoy her retirement and leisure. As illness afflicted her in the early 60s, her precious life was shortened, and even though family and friends fought hard to save her, the adverse impact of malignancy and surgical misadventure had its fatal consequences. Her husband having stoically faced the adversity has since passed away to join her in eternal bliss, so on this 20th anniversary of her passing, our comforting thoughts go out to their four daughters, an admirable united family. Ranjith Goonetilleke By Michel Rose and Tom Perry PARIS/BEIRUT (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing Lebanon's political leaders to install an interim technocratic government able to enact reforms, win back public confidence and persuade donors to release billions of dollars in aid. A French diplomatic source said Macron delivered his message to Lebanon's political parties on a visit to Beirut two days after the Aug. 4 port explosion that destroyed whole neighbourhoods, killed 172 people and made 250,000 homeless. The Lebanese government has since resigned amid angry street protests, though it continues in caretaker mode until a new administration is formed. Three Lebanese political sources said Macron, who was surrounded by crowds as he toured Beirut, was at the centre of international efforts to resolve the crisis. "There would be a first government whose mission would be to carry out urgent reforms," said the French diplomatic source familiar with Macron's thinking. "A government of technocrats, if you will, that can pass the reforms, manage emergency aid and respond to the aspirations of Beirut's people." Macron wants to use Lebanon's desperate need for international reconstruction aid as leverage to persuade its factions to choose a new administration led by individuals untainted by corruption and backed by foreign donors. The outgoing government comprised mostly technocrat ministers but these were nominated by sectarian leaders who exerted influence on them and obstructed reforms. Politicians fear reforms would end their system of patronage. The cost of rebuilding Beirut is estimated at up to $30 billion, money Lebanon does not have. "More than anywhere else, time is money in Lebanon," a French finance ministry source said, referring to the pressure on factions to access aid. That potentially gives donors huge influence, though attempts to use that to shape a new leadership faces big challenges. Story continues The sectarian factions that dominate Lebanese politics through a power-sharing system are reluctant to give up control. They hold sway over the main sectarian groups, including Christians, Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims and Druze. In Beirut, Macron stood amid rubble and hugged distraught Lebanese, vowing not to let future aid fall into corrupt hands. Though emergency relief has poured in, he said longer-term financial aid for the shattered economy, already on its knees before the blast, would require reform. As a last resort to spur action, he also raised the prospect of sanctions. "Since he came here, Macron is acting as if he is president of Lebanon now," said one senior Lebanese political source, adding that Macron was personally making calls to Lebanon's rival parties as well as other foreign powers. "Which is not bad because there is nobody today to play this role internally. Nobody trusts anyone." "STILL FAR AWAY" Protesters have demanded not only the removal of the political elite but also an overhaul of the power-sharing system, which many see as fuelling decades of cronyism. A second Lebanese political source said his party was open to supporting a deal that allowed Lebanon to benefit from the renewed international momentum created by the French initiative. But the source cautioned the process of forming a government would be slow: "We are nowhere near the formation of a government, or discussing it in detail. We're still far away." A Lebanese government source said Macron wanted two-time former prime minister Saad Hariri to head a government of technocrats. But President Michel Aoun and the country's Christian parties opposed the proposal, the source added. Macron wants broad international support for his mediation. He has already spoken to the leaders of Russia and Iran, his office said. Iran has close ties to a powerful Lebanese faction, armed Shi'ite group Hezbollah, which is also allied with Russian forces in Syria where they back President Bashar al-Assad. Hezbollah had influence over the former Lebanese government which did not include parties opposed to Hezbollah and Iran. U.S. support will be critical, both at a geopolitical level and within the International Monetary Fund. Lebanon entered talks with the IMF in May after defaulting on foreign currency debt, but the negotiations stalled in the absence of reforms. "It is important to be sure that everyone is on board, because if the Americans are not on board and they want to screw up the process, they can," the first political source said. The No. 3 U.S. diplomat, David Hale, who visits Lebanon this week, appeared to push in the same direction as Macron, underscoring America's willingness to support any government that is "genuinely committed" to reforms. Even before the port blast, France was leading diplomatic efforts to persuade Lebanon to push through reforms and secure foreign aid needed to offset a financial meltdown. Two years ago, Macron organised a donors' conference where $11 billion was pledged for infrastructure investment, but the money hinged on reforms which were promised but not delivered. If Lebanon's factions won't finally bend to donors' demands, French lawmaker Loic Kervran, who chairs the France-Lebanon committee, said sanctions could include asset freezes or travel bans on the elite, some of whom own upmarket property in Paris. "Lebanese politicians travel a lot, and they travel a lot to Paris," Kervran said. "It's an important pressure tool." (Additional reporting by Samia Nakhoul, Ellen Francis in Beirut; Editing by Richard Lough and Mark Bendeich) SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Oucica, a Sub-brand of Huntkey, expert of air purification solutions will release its desktop air purifier DJ010 in the late of August. Like its previously released air purification products, the DJ010 is still developed and manufactured by photocatalyst technology. Different from the previous products, DJ010 is smaller and more suitable for use in small spaces such as desktops and cars. https://en.huntkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/oucica-desktop-air-purifier.jpg What is Photocatalyst? Photocatalyst is a general term for photo-semiconductor materials with photocatalytic function represented by nano-sized titanium dioxide. It is coated on the surface of the substrate and produces strong catalytic degradation function under the action of ultraviolet light and visible light. Photocatalyst can effectively kill bacteria and virus in the air and decompose harmful substances in the air into water and carbon dioxide. It is a ideal solution for removing formaldehyde, deodorizing, anti-pollution and purifying air. Reasons to choose Oucica DJ010 Reliable and stable technology Oucica uses patented spraying technology to uniformly spray titanium dioxide on the surface of the substrate, which is firm and durable, and the addition of antibacterial metal to further enhance the performance of ordinary photocatalyst. No consumable material design When Oucica DJ010 works, the air will first pass through the preliminary filter, which can be washed with water. The photocatalyst filter can usually be used for a lifetime without cleaning. There is no problem removing it for cleaning if users want. Exquisite and compact It measures a dimension of 108*160mm, which is easy for users to carry and suitable for air cleaning for a space of 8-10cbm. It features a standby consumption of lower than 200mW, as well as a noise level of 38dB(A) at the maximum. For more product information, please visit: https://en.huntkey.com/ Specifications: Model: DJ010 Input: 5V/2A (Min. 4.6V, Max. 5.5V) Rated Power: 8W Standby Consumption: <200mW Noise Level (Max.): 38dB(A) Air Volume: 10cbm/h (Max.) Applicable Space: 8-10cbm Dimensions: 108*160mm About Oucica Oucica, a subsidiary of Huntkey, specializes in the development of photocatalyst air purifiers. To improve the air quality of working, living or studying, it has developed a series of air purifiers including model KJ380 for large spaces, CJ001 for car sterilizing and DJ010 for desktops. Contact Melody Kim +86-755-8960-6593 [email protected] SOURCE Huntkey Related Links https://en.huntkey.com/ CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police are asking the public to help find a man who went missing from a group home in the citys St. Clair-Superior neighborhood on Wednesday. Andre Ward, 35, has medical and mental health conditions including depression and was previously treated at hospitals twice this month, according to a police report. Ward left the home on East 63rd Street on Wednesday and has not been seen since, the report said. He was reported missing early Saturday. Cleveland police released a photograph of Ward, who is described as standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. Anyone who has information about Wards whereabouts is asked to call police. Read more stories Slain 80-year-old Lakewood doctor was inspirational, grandson says 8-year-old girl killed in shooting in Akrons Sherbondy Hill neighborhood Owner of Strongsville agency, employees charged with conspiracy in foreign adoption cases Man shot to death at gas station in Clevelands Mount Pleasant neighborhood Man dies in shooting during argument in Clevelands Ohio City neighborhood Venezuelas National Assembly has recently demanded information about an oil spill that has caused oil to wash up on the shores of the Falcon state. According to reports, Venezuelas national assembly is the only institution in the country that is not controlled by the government and thus is the only institution that can hold it accountable. Environmentalists have warned that if the spill gets worse and nothing is done then Falcon wetlands may be damaged. Source of oil spill remains unknown According to reports, several beaches in Morrocoy National Park have already been severely affected by the oil spill but still, no official information has been provided by President Nicolas Maduros government on the origin of the spill or on how big the spill is. Environmentalists have claimed that the oil washing up onshore is covering the beach and the rocks in an oily sheen. Read: US Prosecutor In Miami Targeting Venezuela Graft Is Leaving Read: Close Adviser To Venezuela's President Tests Positive For Coronavirus As per reports, Opposition lawmaker Maria Gabriela Hernandez who heads the National Assembly's environment commission has stated that she suspects the oil came from the El Palito refinery. Hernandez has demanded that the state oil company PDVSA give members of the national assembly access to its records regarding the maintenance of El Palito refinery. The exact date that the oil spill occurred is still not certain since no information has been released by the government but oil was first discovered near the shore and on the beaches on August 2. Josue Lorca, who is Venezuela's minister for eco-socialism has stated that with the help of 1,200 volunteers almost 90 per cent of the oil has already been cleared from the beaches. Read: US Oil Executives Held In Venezuela Hope To Be Released Read: Venezuela: Ex-US Soldiers Sentenced To 20 Years In Jail Over Failed Coup To Oust Maduro Oil spill in Mauritius On July 25, a large Japanese-owned ship called the MV Wakashio ran aground while carrying 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil. Due to the resulting oil leak, the Mauritius PM had declared a state of emergency on August 7 and has even called for international assistance. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 08:02 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2b8d9 1 Editorial Jokowi,State-of-nation-address,#Editorial,future,2045-vision,COVID-19,poverty,economic-crisis Free In his annual state of the nation address to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo made a big promise. In a Schumpeterian tone of creative destruction, Jokowi likened the current coronavirus-induced economic crisis to a computer crash and that today's stagnation could in fact be a chance for the country to restart the system. "All countries must undergo a brief shutdown, restart and reboot," Jokowi said. President Jokowi also challenged the nation to be more audacious in its ambitions. "Twenty-five years from now, when the Republic is one century old, we must make the great leap and become a developed nation," Jokowi said in his address, which should have been special as the country is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its independence. Also staying true to his Javanese predisposition for always being able to see the silver lining even in the darkest of clouds, Jokowi maintained that even while experiencing the deepest economic slump in recent memory, Indonesians should consider themselves lucky for having their economy only contract by 2.97 percent in the first quarter, much less than that of developed economies, many of which have slumped by more than 10 percent. We must praise the President for striking an optimistic tone, especially when there is not much optimism to go around these days. With more than 135,000 people contracting COVID-19 and more than 6,000 lives lost as a result of the pandemic and with the economy contracting 5.32 percent in the second quarter, it is easy to lose hope. But rather than taking a long-view of history and aiming for a long-term goal, it would be wise if the President chose to focus on the job at hand; dealing with the health crisis caused by the coronavirus, because unless we flatten the curve, unless aggressive containment measures are taken, COVID-19 will continue to ravage the population. In the long run, we cannot expect the economy to be up and running if communities, workplaces and schools remain in lockdown because of the high number of cases. Forget the goal of becoming a developed country in 2045, this year alone, millions of people could descend into poverty if the country's economy continues to deteriorate. People in his administration, even six months after the pandemic first started, have failed to deliver a basic message on how to combat the virus. While some high-ranking officials promote the use of unscientific methods, the President himself has at times delivered a mixed message. His focus on restarting the economy in the midst of a raging pandemic could have disastrous consequences with many more people dying from the pandemic. This has to change. The country's 1945 Constitution, written only days after the proclamation of independence on Aug. 17, 1945, mandates the formation of a republic that not only generates prosperity, but also protects all its citizens. President Jokowi should consider dealing with the health crisis as an implementation of this constitutional mandate. The future generations in a developed Indonesia will then remember him as a leader who set the nation free from the pandemic. Malda (WB): A group of agitated customers on Thursday pelted stones at a branch of a nationalised bank and smashed a closed ATM in the Ratua area of the district after officials informed them that they would be unable to dispense adequate amount of cash, police said. Several local residents of Ratua had queued up outside the Balupur branch of State Bank of India to withdraw cash from their accounts and as the branch opened, they were informed that every customer would be given only Rs 1,000, the police said. A section of customers first tried to reason with the bank officials urging to give at least Rs 2,000 in cash, which was going on for the last couple of days, but when they came to know that there was not enough cash in the branch, they started pelting stones at its premises. Also read | Demonetisation: Delhi BJP to distribute one laddoo per family for standing in ATM queue Police said a closed ATM near the branch was also smashed by angry residents. The staff of the branch downed shutters and informed the police.A large contingent of police personnel rushed to spot from Ratua police station and the branch resumed business after the situation was brought under control. Malda Superintendent of Police Arnab Ghosh said there was a commotion and tempers flared while withdrawing cash from the SBI, Balupur branch, but timely intervention by the police ensured that the situation did not escalate further. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident, Ghosh said. Also read | Government employee dies standing in queue in front of ATM in Hooghly For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mr Andrews attributed the initial spread of Victoria's second wave in June to gatherings of family and friends larger than the permitted limit of 20, which Professor Sutton said authorities would have to be wary of. "It's a fine balancing act ... we may move to a point where we can say that you can have visitors at home obviously, but we need to balance that against what that transmission risk is," the Chief Health Officer said. "I dont think well be jumping to 10 people immediately, I think it will be an incremental easing." Saturday's 303 new cases brought Victoria's seven-day average to 344 per day compared to 520 last Saturday. Mr Andrews said he was "hopeful about these numbers" but warned against complacency. "I'm incredibly cautious to not have anyone, not even one Victorian, come to the conclusion that ... 'we're on the run now, we can just let it all unfold'," the Premier said. "No, we've got to keep working hard every day - every day - in the choices we make." The Premier pointed to Victoria's 7875 active cases, including 1178 healthcare workers and 2041 cases linked to aged care, as a cautionary sign. About half of those aged care cases are elderly residents and Professor Sutton said they also made up the majority of Victoria's 661 hospitalisations. "[Aged care] is a very vulnerable population, we will see more deaths with those infections," he said. There were 45 Victorians in intensive care on Saturday including nine people younger than 50, according to government data. Professor Maximilian de Courten, a public health expert with Victoria University, said he believed Victoria was on track to ease restrictions on September 13 and he was hopeful daily case numbers would drop to double-digits within 10 days if Victorians stay vigilant. "I'm optimistic but I'm holding my breath for a couple more days of evidence to be certain," he said. Professor James McCaw, a Melbourne University epidemiologist whose team at the Doherty Institute prepares modelling for the Victorian government, said Victoria's effective reproduction rate was about 0.9 when calculated earlier this week, meaning every 10 coronavirus cases will infect nine others on average. He said he expected it will drop below 0.9 this week as Melbourne moves into a third week of stage four restrictions. An effective reproduction rate of 0.5 would mean daily case numbers halve every day and Professor Sutton said that was Victoria's aim. "If it's looking like it's getting towards 0.6 then we're doing very well," Professor Sutton said. "If it's sitting at 0.8, that's too slow. That means we're not doing enough." Professor Sutton added that mobility data from Google and Apple, such as how often Victorians were travelling or searching for directions, showed movement was now as limited as in mid-April when stage three restrictions drove case numbers down. Professor de Courten called on Mr Andrews to be more transparent about what an easing of stage four restrictions could look like in September. "You can sell a bitter pill when it has an end in sight," the public health expert said. Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien called Saturday's lower case numbers "pleasing" but also called for more transparency. Victorian opposition leader Michael O'Brien said Saturday's case numbers provided some hope. Credit:Luis Ascui "I think Victorians are being asked to make so many sacrifices at the moment, the least the government could do is bring us into their confidence and tell us: how does the easing out of stage four look?" Mr O'Brien said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 23:29:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) has published a list of the country's 100 recommended exhibition programs promoting traditional Chinese culture in 2020. The exhibitions feature different aspects of traditional Chinese culture and core socialist values, with themes ranging from poverty alleviation to the battle against COVID-19, and from ethnic culture to revolutionary history. This year's recommendation event has seen a record number of 240 candidate applications from cultural relic departments and museums nationwide since its launch in January, according to the NCHA. The NCHA has launched the event annually since 2015. Enditem Two people were arrested Friday outside a Providence courthouse during a demonstration calling for a moratorium on housing evictions. The Providence Journal reports about a dozen people attended the morning protest outside the Garrahy Judicial Complex downtown. The newspaper said the two were arrested as the group tried to enter the courthouse. Providence police say a male juvenile was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A 26-year-old woman was also charged with resisting arrest and obstruction because she tried to interfere in the juvenile's arrest, the department said. The protest was organized by PROVX, which is among groups concerned that the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic will lead to a flood of evictions. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said this week she's considering imposing an eviction moratorium. She previously launched a $7-million effort with the United Way of Rhode Island to help prevent evictions by mediating rent disputes and helping tenants pay back rent. The Journal reports there were 660 eviction cases in Rhode Island in June, down from more than 1,200 the prior June. King Canute did not actually command the tide to retreat from his throne, but Boris Johnson is having a very good go at it. In February, at the outset of the current crisis, the Government was warned in clear terms by its scientific advisers that aggressive isolation policies would 'merely push all transmission to the period after they are lifted, giving a delay but no substantial reduction in either peak incidence or overall attack rate.' In other words, once Covid-19 has become endemic, locking people down or keeping them apart can spread the infections over a longer period but will not reduce them. Lord Jonathan Sumption (pictured), an ex-Supreme Court judge has said the public is sick of the Government's pointless and clumsy gestures during the coronavirus crisis It followed that for these measures to have any appreciable effect over the long term, they would have to be kept permanently in place at ruinous economic cost until an effective vaccine became available. The warning came from Professor Neil Ferguson's team at Imperial College. They repeated it a month later in the notorious statistical modelling report which panicked the Government into imposing the lockdown. Across the world, this prediction is now being proved right. In Germany, hailed as the model state, infections are rebounding at a rising rate. The same is happening in Spain, France, Australia and other countries which had stricter or longer lockdowns than Britain. At the other extreme lies Sweden, whose policy has been grossly misrepresented by some UK media desperate to prove that it has failed. Sweden practised a variety of distancing measures, but had no lockdown and never closed its schools or its bars and restaurants. Deaths in Sweden have been lower in proportion to their population than Britain's and there is no sign yet of a second wave. It would be unwise to draw overconfident conclusions from a history that has not yet played out. But these facts suggest some provisional conclusions. They've turned a crisis into a calamity, prolonging and magnifying it The first is that there is very little that governments can do to arrest the spread of a highly infectious disease such as Covid-19, without putting our whole national life into cold storage. No society should want to do that. No society could afford to do it. All that governments can realistically hope to do is to prepare their health systems. This is one area where the British Government did well. They started with seriously inadequate intensive care capacity but dramatically built it up in a remarkably short period of time. Public health systems were never overwhelmed, save briefly and locally, either in Britain or in Sweden. In February, at the outset of the current crisis, the Government was warned in clear terms by its scientific advisers that aggressive isolation policies would 'merely push all transmission to the period after they are lifted, writes LORD SUMPTION. Pictured: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (C), Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance speak during a coronavirus news conference, March 19 Secondly, the Government's attempts to stop the spread of the virus by intrusive interference in the daily lives of healthy people has been profoundly damaging. They may have achieved something during the first six weeks or so when the NHS was building up its intensive care capacity, but that would have been unnecessary if the NHS had been properly prepared in the first place. Otherwise the Government's interventions have merely served to turn a crisis into a calamity, prolonging and magnifying its destructive economic, educational and social effects. The result in Britain is likely to be worse than in any other European country with the possible exception of Spain. It will be felt for years. I write this in France, just after Mr Johnson's announcement that anyone returning to England from France must endure 14 days quarantine. Travelling overseas is not 'risk free', is all that Downing Street can say to the hundreds of thousands whose holidays have been ruined. Of course it isn't. Life is not risk free. But we can do without the extra risks artificially piled on by our Government's clumsy, pointless and disproportionate gestures. Medical staff and workers take part in a national 'clap for carers' to show thanks for the work of Britain's NHS (National Health Service) outside of the ExCeL London exhibition centre, which was transformed into the 'NHS Nightingale' field hospital France is experiencing an upturn of infections. England is likely to experience one, too, with or without quarantine. The reasons have nothing to do with the movements of travellers or tourists. It is the ordinary consequence of the fact that the virus is endemic in both countries. Its impact has merely been deferred by the lockdown earlier in the year. In France, masks are seen almost everywhere, but social distancing has been a dead letter from the moment that the lockdown ended. The markets are crowded. Bars, cafes and restaurants are packed. Businesses and public services are operating normally. People have understood that it is not enough to be alive. You also have to live. Before the pursed-lipped puritans and sour-faced control freaks start saying that the upturn serves them right, let us look at the facts. The figures published by the French public health agency show that the increase in infections is heavily concentrated in the age groups between 20 and 40. The infection rate among the old has actually declined. This is exactly what ought to be happening. People in both groups are making rational risk assessments of their own. The young and healthy, for whom the symptoms are mild and the risk of death negligible, are getting on with their lives and making up for the weeks in which they were cruelly cooped up like battery hens. People queue in line to check-in for a British Airways flight to Heathrow Airport on Friday at Nice airport, southern France The old and vulnerable are shielding. The result is that the increase in infections has not been matched by an increase in either hospitalisations or deaths. This has happened without the need for laws to compel them or bossy Ministers to hector and upbraid them. The same pattern has been observed by public health authorities in other countries which have experienced an upturn in infections since their lockdowns. They include the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, which the British Government is now treating as if they were plague pits. And in places in England such as Preston and Leicester, which have seen local spikes and have been indiscriminately locked down for their pains. People are not fools they have lost respect for the messages from No 10 This crisis has produced more than its fair share of idiotic slogans, but 'Don't kill Granny' must rank as one of the most pernicious. It treats young people who are relatively invulnerable and are trying to live a normal life as if they were murderers. Of course Granny should be careful. She would probably be wise to isolate herself. But Granny is not heading for the beaches or going to raves. Many other governments have made the same mistakes as ours. But most have emerged with a better reputation. The governments which have retained the confidence of the public have been those which have avoided high-flown rhetoric and knee-jerk responses. They have explained the risks to the public in measured terms. They have formulated a clear and properly thought-out policy at the outset and stuck to it. In Britain, Ministers have lacked the moral courage and the political stature to do this. They have jumped up and down. They have charged from pillar to post. They have hurled slogans, threats and insults at us. They have tried to terrify us into compliance and then cajole us back to normality. They have made decisions on the hoof without any proper consideration of the economic cost, the social consequences or even the impact on other health issues. Until it was too late. They have been taken by surprise at every turn. The public have lost respect for the messages from No 10. They are not fools, and know a rudderless ship when they see one. Jonathan Sumption is a former Supreme Court judge and last year's BBC Reith Lecturer. Aaron Hutchinson with a treasured photo of him with his late dad, Raymond, who passed away in March A schoolboy from Enniscorthy whose dad passed away in March has raised over ten times the 500 target he'd hoped to deliver for the palliative care unit in Waterford. Aaron Hutchinson's dad, Raymond, was diagnosed with lung cancer and leukaemia in February and unfortunately, passed away on March 28. Aaron (12), said he decided to set up the fundraiser as a way of paying back the 'kind and caring staff' who looked after his dad. His campaign, set up through the GoFundMe platform, is under the title 'Haircut for Hospice' and it will see Aaron get his long hair cut. 'I've always had my long hair and always said I would never get it cut but I decided I would like to get it cut,' he said. Aaron is going to donate his hair to the Rapunzel Foundation, which makes wigs for children and adults who have lost their hair due to medical treatment or as a result of illness. He also wanted to raise money for the people who looked after his dad in Waterford Hospice. 'We all miss daddy so much and would really appreciate any donation big or small,' he said. In a heartfelt message on his GoFundMe page, Aaron outlined what both his parents mean to him and what his dad meant to the family. 'They were engaged for years and years and finally got married on March 13,' he said. 'We had a great day and daddy got to come home from the hospital and we had a big Chinese and watched TV,' he added. 'Daddy always preferred staying in than going to parties. He loved my mammy more than anything and they always minded each other, and the Waterford Hospice even organised for mammy to be able to stay by daddy's side in his last days, which we know she will always be grateful for. We have the best mammy and daddy ever!' Aaron is due to get his hair cut this, Friday, August 14, in Samis Hair Parlour in Enniscorthy. His target figure for his campaign was 500 but as this newspaper went to press he had raised an incredible 5,435. He and his family are extremely grateful to everyone who supported him. Cargo Inspection Market Research Report by Industry (Agriculture, Metals and Mining, and Oil, Gas, & Petrochemicals) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cargo Inspection Market Research Report by Industry - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913753/?utm_source=GNW The Global Cargo Inspection Market is expected to grow from USD 3,285.78 Million in 2019 to USD 4,236.60 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.32%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Cargo Inspection to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Industry, the Cargo Inspection Market studied across Agriculture, Metals and Mining, and Oil, Gas, & Petrochemicals. Based on Geography, the Cargo Inspection 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 Cargo Inspection Market including Aim Control Group, Alex Stewart International, Alfred H Knight Group., ALS Limited, Bureau Veritas, Camin Cargo Control., Cotecna, CWM Survey & Inspection, Intertek Group, Peterson and Control Union, SGS Group, and Swiss Approval International. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cargo Inspection 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 Cargo Inspection Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cargo Inspection Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cargo Inspection Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cargo Inspection Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cargo Inspection Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cargo Inspection Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913753/?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 Whats new: Hema, a Chinese supermarket chain operated by tech giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., said (link in Chinese) Saturday it is temporarily closing 21 stores in Shenzhen after three workers there tested positive for the coronavirus. Health authorities in Guangdong, the southern province where Shenzhen is located, said (link in Chinese) Friday the three infected workers included a 41-year-old brand sales promoter with symptoms, and two other asymptomatic colleagues. Additionally, three members of the sales promoters family tested positive for the coronavirus but were not showing symptoms, authorities said. The Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission said (link in Chinese) on Saturday it will conduct free nucleic acid tests for people who have visited the Hema supermarket since July 24. The background: On Wednesday, Shenzhens health commission said (link in Chinese) a sample taken from a batch of imported frozen chicken wings from Brazil had tested positive for the coronavirus. Local authorities have not said whether the new cases are linked to frozen food. As of Friday, Shenzhen had confirmed 465 Covid-19 cases since the pandemic started, three of whom were still in hospital, according to the local health authority. Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. To read the full story in Chinese, click here. Contact reporter Timmy Shen (hongmingshen@caixin.com) and editor Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) Support quality journalism in China. Subscribe to Caixin Global starting at $0.99. Ive worked with him and known him closely for over 20 years, Hagel said. I know what hes about. I know the kind of human being he is. I know the honesty he brings, the competency he brings. This isnt the first time Hagel has crossed the aisle to support a Democrat for office. He backed another one-time Senate colleague, Nebraska Democrat Bob Kerrey, in his 2012 Senate campaign against Republican Deb Fischer. Top GOP officials at the time downplayed the impact of Hagels endorsement by noting that he had alienated many Republicans with his sharp criticism of President George W. Bushs handling of the Iraq War and pointed questioning of Sarah Palins fitness to be the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee. Fischer went on to win that Senate race by a double-digit margin. Trump campaign officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Hagels backing of Biden, but Nebraska Republican Party Executive Director Ryan Hamilton questioned its effect. It accuses the officers Desmond Barney, Lincoln Lampley and Anthony Fox with willfully, unlawfully and feloniously causing Robinsons death, the Clarion Ledger of Jackson reported. All three worked for the Jackson Police Department at the time. The indictment alleges that the three officers removed Robinson from his vehicle, body-slammed him on the pavement and repeatedly struck him in the head and chest. Tropical storms seem unlikely threat to U.S. MIAMI Josephine continued to just barely hold on to its tropical storm status Friday as Tropical Storm Kyle formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast of the United States, packing winds near gale force but with no major population centers in its projected path. Kyle was about 185 miles southeast of Atlantic City, N.J, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was moving east-northeast at 17 mph and was expected to move quickly away from land over the next few days, the center said. February 28 was the last time I traveled anywhere out of my home state of Colorado, and for a guy who is used to traveling for work 2-3 times a month, six months is a long time to be home. And so when I saw that Omaze is raffling off a 2020 C8 Corvette Z51 a car that is already sold out, by the way all I could think about were the places I would take it. Now you might be thinking, is the Corvette really a car to take on long road trips? Yes it is. Ive driven the previous generation Stingray all over the place, including a five-hour jaunt to my wedding in Northern Michigan over six years ago, and it was one of the more comfortable cars Ive driven. So here are the three trips I'd take the C8 on if I won this raffle from Omaze. Wyoming and Montana Hop in the drivers seat and head north a little over an hour from where I call home and youre in Wyoming, home to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The first trip includes some sightseeing around Jackson Hole. From there, head even further north to the Big Sky state, finally finishing the trip on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. It would be a long trek, Montana is much larger than most people expect, but breaking it up and staying in some of the more beautiful places in the world will definitely help with that. The Loneliest Road in America Ive driven U.S. 50 once, from Sacramento to Denver, and that time it was in a Jeep Gladiator. I would very much like to experience it in a mid-engine performance car. Theres a lot of nothing along the way (hence the name), but the mountains and salt flats still offer a lot of beautiful scenery, and the speed limits are high. Banff As it sits right now, the Canadian Border is closed to us Yankees, but when it opens back up, a trip to Banff is definitely in the plans. There are miles and miles of mountain driving to be had, and while I think by the end of this trip I will be glad to park the C8 in the garage for a while, the photography opportunities are just too good to pass up. Story continues Win a 2020 Corvette Stingray Z51 and $20,000 - Enter at Omaze The biggest obstacle to completing any of these trips is winning the car from Omaze in the first place. Win or lose, you can at least feel good about entering, since this raffle supports UCLA Health. Check out what Omaze has to say about them: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center saved the lives of both our founder, Matt Pohlson, and Donut Medias editor in chief, James Pumphrey and now were joining forces to support this incredible hospital that means so much to us. Matt had flatlined and needed an ECMO machine (a system that provides cardiac and respiratory support, allowing the heart and lungs to rest prior to and during surgery), but he wouldn't survive the ambulance ride to the machine. So for the first time in Southern California, UCLA brought a mobile ECMO unit to a patient and they saved Matt. Since then, the mobile ECMO has become a more common practice and has saved over 50 other people! Your contribution will help build out this program, fund a new UCLA Health Ambulance and support other UCLA Health System initiatives that saved Matt and James. 15% of all contributions will support the UCLA Medical Center. The remaining funds raised cover fees and other costs like the prize, taxes, shipping and more. Also, check out some of the other car giveaways Omaze has instead. But if you want this mid-engine beauty, enter quickly as the deadline to enter is August 18, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability is subject to change. No donation or payment necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes. See official rules on Omaze. You Might Also Like The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has extended its sensitization campaign on aflatoxins to stakeholders in the Western North region and surrounding communities. The training programme for 30 Agriculture Extension Officers in Sefwi Wiawso was in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The training was to educate the extension officers, farmers, traders and the public on standards and the dangers and management of aflatoxins in grains. The participants were trained on the dangers associated with Aflatoxin contamination in grains and management methods to reduce it. They were taken through various ways Aflatoxins contaminates the grains and practices that could help to reduce the menace. The team also visited five communities in the Western North region, including Ahokwah, Juaboso, Anhwiam, Djato and Boinza. About 50 participants comprising farmers and traders of cereals and grains were present at the interactions in the communities. The campaign under the National Aflatoxin and Sensitisation Management (NASAM) Project is to provide solutions to combat the aflatoxin problem. Supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and her partners, the NASAM project aims to catalyse and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation by improving food safety and security through increased knowledge about aflatoxins, its impact and management. Aflatoxin refers to fungal contamination, which mostly occurs in foods such as groundnuts, rice, tree nuts, cocoa beans, spices and other dried foods, in areas with hot and humid climates before and after harvest. Aflatoxin, contamination remains a major food safety concern in maize and groundnut-based foods. High levels of aflatoxin present in grains produced in Ghana led to post-harvest losses, farmers selling their grains at lower prices and the inability of Ghanaian grains and derived food products to be sold on the international market. High aflatoxin levels also affect the health of consumers as it is known to be the cause of some diseases. GSAs mission is to contribute towards the growth of the industry, protect consumers and facilitate trade through standardisation, metrology and conformity assessment. 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag and deliver his seventh consecutive Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Delhis iconic Red Fort on Saturday. The Prime Minister will also receive the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Delhi Police. Major Shweta Pandey will assist PM Modi in unfurling the national flag. Here is how the 74th Independence Day ceremony will take place: * PM Modi will be received by defence minister Rajnath Singh and defence secretary Ajay Kumar as he arrives in front of Red Forts Lahore Gate at 7.18am from Rajghat. * Kumar will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Delhi area, Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, to the Prime Minister. * Lt Gen Mishra will then conduct PM Modi to the saluting base where a combined inter-services and police guards will present the general salute to him, following which he will inspect the Guard of Honour, positioned directly in front of the tricolour across the moat below the ramparts. * This year, the Indian Army is the coordinating service and the Guard of Honour will be commanded by Lt Col Gaurav S Yewalkar. The army contingent will be commanded by Major Palvinder Grewal, the navy contingent by Lt Commander KVR Reddy, Squadron Leader Vikas Kumar will lead the air force contingent and the Delhi Police contingent will be led by additional deputy commissioner Jitender Kumar Meena. * PM Modi will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort after inspecting the Guard of Honour and will be greeted by the defence minister, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. * Lt Gen Mishra will conduct the Prime Minister to the dais to unfurl the national flag after which the National Guard will give Rashtriya Salute to the tricolour. The unfurling of the tricolour will synchronise with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (Ceremonial). The ceremonial battery will be commanded by Lt Col Jitendra Singh Mehta and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG) Anil Chand. * The National Flag Guard comprising 32 men and one officer each from the army, navy, air force and Delhi Police will present Rashtriya Salute at the time of unfurling of the National Flag by the prime minister. Major Surya Prakash from the Army will be in command of this Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard. The naval contingent for the National Flag Guard will be commanded by Lt Commander Vivek Tingloo, IAF contingent by Squadron Leader Mayank Abhishek and Delhi Police contingent by additional deputy commissioner Sudhanshu Dhama. * PM Modi will address the nation after unfurling the tricolour. The cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) will sing the national anthem after the Prime Ministers speech. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered a sharp message to two of Indias neighbours, China and Pakistan, declaring that the armed forces deployed along the borders with the two countries have given a fitting reply to those who sought to challenge Indias sovereignty. Like in previous years, PM Modis 90-minute Independence Day address to the nation did not name Pakistan, or China. But as he wrapped up his speech that had extensively focused on the campaign to build a self-reliant India, the Prime Minister from the ramparts of the Red Fort underlined that the countrys sovereignty is supreme. The world has seen in Ladakh what our brave soldiers can do to deliver on this resolve. From LoC (Line of Control) to the (Line of Actual Control), the countrys armed forces have given a fitting response to countries that threatened the countrys territorial sovereignty, PM Modi said in his Independence Day speech. It was a reference to the standoff at the east Ladakh border that has continued for more than 100 days and violent scrap on June 15 when Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) soldiers blocked attempts by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to expand its territory. Also read | Time to move away from ordinary: 5 inspiring quotes from PM Modis Independence Day speech The Prime Minister, who wore a white and saffron turban with a kurta, said India is connecting with its neighbours, whether they are connected to us through land or the sea, with the partnership of security, development and trust. Today, neighbours are not only those who share the same geographical boundaries but also those who meet our hearts. Where there is harmony in relationships, there is amity, he said. The Prime Minister also said Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India has become the mantra of the 1.3 billion Indians who he said have taken the resolve to transform the country even while facing several setbacks, including the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters. I am confident that India will realise this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest till we achieve that goal, he said. India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey, he added. Several big companies of the world are turning to India and the will have to go ahead with the mantra of Make in India as well as Make for World, the Prime Minister stressed. PM Modi also launched the National Digital Health Mission, which he said will bring a revolution in the countrys health sector. You will get information about every test, every disease, which doctor prescribed you which medicine and when and your reports under one health ID, Prime Minister said. He had started his speech by paying his homage to all those who have laid their lives down in the line of duty, members of the armed forces and frontline workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister also pointed to the absence of the hundreds of school children who sit in front of the dais every year. He said the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed the celebrations as he also acknowledged the corona warriors and all those who have succumbed to the viral disease. Also read | Made in India Covid-19 vaccine soon: PM Modi in Independence Day speech In this extraordinary time of Corona, our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ambulance personnel, sweepers, policemen, servicemen, many people, are working round the clock, regardless of their lives, with the spirit of Seva Parmo Dharma (service is the highest duty), he said. In his Independence Day speech last year, PM Modi had talked about the decision to remove Jammu and Kashmirs special rights and ban against triple talaq among the bold moves of the first 10 weeks of his second term. Modi also talked about his aim to turn India into a $5-trillion economy within five years and announced the creation of a new post of chief of defence staff to ensure better coordination of the army, navy and air force, along the lines of western military forces. A multilayered security ring, including snipers from the National Security Guard (NSG), elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, has been thrown in around the Red Fort. More than 300 cameras have also been installed and their footage is being monitored round-the-clock. Around 4,000 security personnel stood guard at the Red Fort in adherence with social distancing norms. There was heavy security deployment along the route taken by the Prime Minister to reach Red Fort as well. Eight roadsNetaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishadaj Marg, Esplanade Road and its Link Road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBTand Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP flyoverhave been closed from 4am to 10am. Through the first seven months of 2019, Dr. Joyce DeJong reported 95 opioid-related deaths across the 12 Michigan counties she serves as medical examiner. During the same period this year, her office has tallied 137 such deaths -- an increase of 44 percent -- with another 22 suspected/pending cases that have yet to be finalized. It was the seventh consecutive day of large protests against the results of the August 9 presidential election in which election officials say Mr Lukashenko won a sixth term in office. Opposition supporters believe the figures have been manipulated. Despite harsh police action against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, the demonstrations have swelled into the largest and most sustained protest wave since Mr Lukashenko took power in 1994. Mr Lukashenko and Russian president Vladimir Putin discussed the protests in a call on Saturday, the first publicly known direct contact between the two leaders since the election. A Kremlin statement said Mr Putin and Mr Lukashenko both expressed hope for a quick resolution of the tensions. It is important that these problems are not used by destructive forces aimed at causing injury to the cooperation of the two countries in the framework of the union state, the Kremlin said. Advertisement Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko https://t.co/w5olrt1VaL President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) August 15, 2020 Russia and Belarus reached an agreement in 1997 about closer ties between the neighbouring ex-Soviet countries in a union that stopped short of a full merger, although that has collided with recent disputes between the countries and Mr Lukashenkos suspicions that Mr Putins government wants to absorb Belarus. A funeral was held on Saturday for Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died on Monday in the capital of Minsk under disputed circumstances. Belarus police said he died when an explosive device he intended to throw at police blew up in his hand. But his partner, Elena German, said that when she saw his body in a mortuary on Friday, his hands showed no damage and he had a perforation in his chest that she believes is a bullet wound. About 5,000 demonstrators gathered on Saturday in the area where Mr Taraikovsky died. They laid a mass of flowers in tribute, piling into a mound about 1.5 metres tall, as passing cars blared their horns. Its awful to live in a country where you can be killed at a peaceful protest. I will leave, if power isnt changed, said 30-year-old demonstrator Artem Kushner. The brutal suppression of protests in Belarus has drawn harsh criticism in the West. European Union foreign ministers said Friday that they rejected the election results in Belarus and began drawing up a list of officials in Belarus who could face sanctions over their role in the crackdown. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said Saturday at a news conference in Warsaw with his Polish counterpart that Weve said the elections themselves (in Belarus) werent free. Ive spent the last days consulting with our European partners. Our common objective is to support the Belarusian people. These people are demanding the same things that every human being wants, Mr Pompeo said. The arrest took place last month. Prague police have arrested a Russian diplomat over the illegal purchases of live ammunition, including for sniper rifles. The arrest took place last month, RadioCZ reported citing iRozhlas.cz. Sources in the Czech secret services told the news site that the diplomat in question was employed in the military section of the Russian Embassy in Prague. Read alsoBelarus hands 32 detained Wagner PMC mercenaries back to Russia Following his detention in Ricany for buying illegal ammunition for sniper rifles and other kinds of ammunition he was released in view of his diplomatic immunity. He then immediately left the country for Russia, iRozhlas.cz said. Russian intel in Czech Republic BIS, the country's counterintelligence agency, in 2018 shut down a group of Russian hackers, who were part of a wider international network. The group operated under the cover of two private IT companies, conducting hacking operations from the companies computers. These were transported to the Czech Republic by vehicles under Russian diplomatic cover, reports said. Originally, all of the group members were Russian citizens who came to this country some years ago and got citizenship. The mayor of Prague in April 2020 had to be taken under tougher police protection the day after Czech media reported on an alleged Russian plot to poison him. The Czech news website Respekt, citing anonymous intelligence sources, reported that an individual carrying Russian diplomatic documents and the lethal poison ricin had arrived in Prague on a mission to assassinate Hrib and another prominent Czech politician. Russian snipers at times of unrest The generally held belief in Ukraine is that pro-democracy protesters who had braved months of cold weather to challenge their corrupt government during the Revolution of Dignity, were shot down by riot police snipers with the likely involvement of Russian operatives, the Atlantic Council reported in February 2020. In Belarus, among the 33 Russian Wagner Private Military Company mercenaries detained in the heat of election campaign in late July, there were snipers, bomb experts, and IT professionals, RFE/RL's Krym.Realii project reported. For two hours it looked like police would have to use force to bring John Massel to his dangerous offender hearing. There were questions posed about how much force corrections officers should use to get him out of his cell at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre. And how much police should use to get him in the wagon and into the courthouse. In the end, Massel walked into the courtroom under his own steam, even smiling a little. Prisoners refusing to leave their cell to attend court is not a new phenomena. It has been used as a stall tactic at one Hamilton murder trial and as a way to protest delayed access to medication at another. In a few cases its been a matter of inmates with severe mental illness being uncooperative and violent and having to be half-carried into the courtroom. In Massels case, it appears he was protesting delays in his hearing. Which he did by further delaying his hearing. The Criminal Code of Canada insists an accused be in the courtroom for their trial. On Friday, when the standoff entered its second hour, Justice Kim Carpenter-Gunn signed an extraction order authorizing the use of force to get Massel to where he was supposed to be. It is thankfully rare for things to devolve to that point. Assistant Crown attorney Andrew Scott said hes never seen it happen. Scott wants Massel declared a dangerous offender and kept behind bars for an undetermined amount of time. Massel, 54, has a long history of violence: manslaughter, sexual interference, sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, assault, robbery, threatening death, assault causing bodily harm. His sexual assault victim was a 12-year-old girl. His own siblings have told a court they live in fear of him after he threatened to kill them and burn their homes down. He has been diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder and substance use disorder. One factor the judge must consider is whether his risk of violence will drop as he ages. Massel is representing himself at this hearing. It is his right to do so, but rarely is an accused actually capable of putting up a proper defence. Even lawyers hire lawyers when theyve been arrested. To help Massel, the court has appointed two amicus counsel from Toronto, John Fennel and Jessica Zita. They were to give their final submissions Friday, leaving Massel to then have his chance to make final submissions. But all that was derailed just before court opened when word came that Massel was refusing to participate. Everyone involved quickly agreed they would much rather coax Massel out than force him. Zita raced to the jail to try to sway him. But he wouldnt budge. Next, the lawyers decided that getting the extraction order and making sure Massel knew there was an order might do the trick. The day before he told Carpenter-Gunn he wanted to leave court. When she told him he couldnt, he accepted it without fuss. To deliver the news about the order, the court sent two special constables who have guarded Massel throughout the hearing. Apart from defence lawyers, special constables arguably develop the closest relationships with accused people in the court system. They drive them around, sit with them for hours, talk with them. Special constables often say they try to treat prisoners with respect so they will in turn respect them. That rapport and the order did the trick. Massel finally arrived in court. But because of the backlog of cases and shortage of courtrooms due to the pandemic, by then it was almost too late. Another case was scheduled to start. Now Massels hearing is put over until at least mid-September. Why the Kerala Gold Smuggling case is an act of terror Four who helped procure gold in Kerala smuggling case arrested India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: The National Investigation Agency has arrested four more persons in connection with the Kerala Gold Smuggling case. Those arrested are Mohammad Anwar, Hamzath, Kunjumon and Hamjad. All the four are residents of Malappuram District. During the custodial interrogation of the other accused, it was revealed that the four arrested persons had provided funds for procuring and smuggling gold into India. During the search operations conducted at six locations, digital devices and incriminating documents have been seized. Kerala Gold Smuggling: There is evidence says court while rejecting Swapnas bail plea So far the NIA has arrested 20 persons in connection with the case. While opposing the bail plea of Swapna Suresh, a prime accused in the case the NIA had said that. Gold and narcotics are the most preferred means of funding for terrorist activities. After the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, the agencies are on high alert regarding terror funding, the NIA had said while objecting to the bail plea. Kerala gold smuggling case has rocked the Vijayan govt| Know the full story | Oneindia News The NIA said that the accused persons used the lockdown period to smuggle the gold and this shows the intent of these persons to destabilise the economy. These persons smuggled 200 kilograms of gold on 20 occasions since June 2019, the NIA further submitted. UN chief welcomes Israel-UAE agreement 14 August 2020 - The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which suspends Israeli annexation plans over parts of the occupied West Bank, something the UN has consistently called for. "Annexation would effectively close the door for a renewal of negotiations and destroy the prospect of a viable Palestinian State and the two-State solution," Mr. Guterres said in a statement issued by his spokesperson on Thursday. The Secretary-General also expressed hope that the agreement "will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two State-solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements." "Peace in the Middle East is more important than ever as the region confronts the grave threats of COVID-19 and radicalization," he added. The Secretary-General will continue to work with all sides to open further possibilities for dialogue, peace and stability, the statement added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Proposal to change rules for central deputation of IAS officers affects states' administration: Mamata to PM Young India is showing the way: PM Modi on Covid vaccination Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav: PM to flag off seven initiatives of Brahma Kumaris Modi's 74th Independence Day speech highlights: Covid not an obstacle to hamper self-reliant India India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the tricolour at the Red fort to mark India's 74th Independence Day. This year's 'I-Day' celebrations have been overshadowed by the pandemic. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, on the 74th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about various issues ranging from management of the covid-19 pandemic, measures to boost domestic manufacturing as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, steps to revive the economy with a focus on middle class people . PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Independence Day 2020: PM Modi hoists National Flag for 7th time, first non-Cong PM to do so Here are the highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation: PM extends gratitude to corona warriors We will win the battle against coronavirus says PM In these times (of the novel coronavirus pandemic), many of our brothers and sisters have been affected. Many have lost their lives. I extend my condolences to these families. But I am confident that we will win this battle. Today, as we breathe in independent India, it is because of sacrifice of thousands. We are going through distinct times. I cannot see children in front of me today (at the Red Fort). Coronavirus pandemic has stopped everyone. In these times of COVID, 'Corona warriors' have lived the mantra of 'Seva Parmo Dharma' and served the people of India. I express my gratitude to them. We have set new goals for next year when we celebrate the 75th year of Independence says PM Modi. PM Modi says that we have faced many challenges this year like floods, landslides which have also resulted in the loss of lives. We have to become self reliant says PM Modi. An Atma Nirbhar Bharat should be our dream. It is not just a phrase, it is a manta says PM. 130 crore Indians have decided to become 'atmanirbhar' amid the coronavirus pandemic. This has become a mantra for 130 crore citizens. Atmanirbhar (self-reliant)' is mandatory. I am confident that we will realise this dream. The world is inter-connected and inter-dependant. India has a big role to play in such a scenario says PM Modi. The world has expectations from India. We must prepare ourselves to be able to meet these expectations. How long will be export raw material and bring back the finished products asks PM Modi. This is why we should become self reliant We have taken revolutionary steps in the farming and space sectors The world is interconnected and interdependent today. Thus, it is a need of the hour for India to contribute to the world's prosperity. Reducing imports is not what Atma Nirbhar only means. We have to increase our creativity, enhance skill development also We have proven that we are self reliant. During the pandemic, we were not able to get medical equipments from outside due to the challenges. India has made N-95 masks, ventilators etc. I commend this Let vocal for local be our motto Did anyone think that crores of Rupees would be transferred into the Jan Dhan accounts PM Modi talks about economic reforms taken up by his government. He is also highlighting reforms in the space and energy sectors. I am confident that measures like opening up the space sector will get employment for many and create opportunities for the youth . The entire world is watching our reforms such as one nation one ration card, one nation one tax says PM Modi."The world is watching the reforms we are undertaking," PM Modi says, adding that India has "broken all" foreign direct investment records. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had taken India's road infrastructure to the next level. Now we need to focus on multi-modal infrastructure. We need to stop working in silos. PM Narendra Modi is talking about various schemes taken up by the Centre in the last six years. Today Multi National Companies from across the world are coming to India You were able to sell your products in any part of the country. But, our farmers were not able to do that. We have ended this. They will now have more options to sell their produce. The Jal Jeevan Mission which I announced here last year is a success. It is giving clean drinking water to all says PM Modi. I am happy to say that more than 1 lakh houses are getting clean drinking water everyday says PM. The middle class is empowered today. Cheap internet, cheaper home loans are being offered for their empowerment Work on the optical fibre network will be completed in 6 lakh villages says PM Modi. PM speaks on cyber security. We are taking steps to ensure that our cyber space is safe says PM Modi. Only 5 dozen village panchayats were connected with optical fibre before 2014. In the last 5 years, 1.5 Lakh village panchayats have been connected with optical fibre. In the coming 1000 days, every village of the nation will be connected with optical fibre Education has a key role in the making of Aatmanirbhar, modern, new and prosperous India. So, we have brought the new education policy after three decades that has been welcomed throughout the country, which instils new confidence Whenever women received opportunity, they made India proud & strengthened it. Today, nation is determined to provide equal opprtunities of self-emloyment & employment to them. Today women are working in coal mines, our daughters are touching the sky while flying fighter plane We have set up committee to reconsider the minimum age for marriage of our daughters. We will take appropriate decision after the committee submits its report Today three vaccines are in testing stages in India. As soon as the scientists give a green signal, the country will begin their large scale production This one year is a year of the new journey of development for Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is the year of the rights received by the women and the Dalits in Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is also the year of a life of dignity for the refugees in Jammu and Kashmir Modi said that India is committed to protect its sovereignty. Today neighbour is not just the one with whom we share border but also those with whom our heart stays connected, where there is harmony in relations. I'm happy that in past some time India has further strengthened its relations with all countries in 'extended neighbourhood From LoC to LAC, whoever tried to raise their eyes towards the sovereignty of our country, our soldiers responded to it in the same manner Delimitation exercise is being carried out in Jammu and Kashmir, the country is committed for completion of this work so that elections are held and people's representatives are elected there There are more than 1300 islands in our country. Keeping in mind their geographical location and their significance in the development of the nation, work to begin new projects in some of these islands is underway In the next 1000 days, Lakshadweep will also be connected to submarine optical fiber cableFew days back the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram Mandir was laid says PM Modi. "Decreasing our carbon footprint and conservation of biodiversity will be done on a war-footing," says PM Modi in Independence Day speech. We should produce the best products and not do the ordinary says PM Modi. Let us take an oath that we move ahead and innovate. Let us be empowered and go vocal for local says PM Modi. PM Modi ends address with 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' Vande Mataram and Jai Hind On the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his greeting to all Indians before hoisting the tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. Independence Day 2020: PM Modi extends his wishes to Indias ahead of his speech at Red Fort Before his speech, PM Modi took to Twitter and said, "Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind!" He also received the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Delhi Police. It can be seen that a multilayered security ring, including snipers from the National Security Guard (NSG), elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, has been thrown in around the Red Fort. In his previous Independence Day's speech, PM Modi talked about the decision to remove Jammu and Kashmir's special rights and ban against triple talaq among the bold moves of the first 10 weeks of his second term. The Prime Minister also talked about his aim to turn India into a $5-trillion economy within five years and announced the creation of a new post of chief of defence staff to ensure better coordination of the army, navy and air force, along the lines of western military forces. Ministers are 'concerned' about Rolls-Royce's precarious financial position, City sources claim. Investment bankers said they have heard rumours the Government is 'starting to get worried' about the jet engine maker. The company in which the Government has a 'golden share' that gives it the right to block a takeover has been hit hard by the shutdown of the commercial aviation market. The illustrious firm's power-by-the-hour model, where it sells engines at a loss but is paid on how much they fly, has left it bleeding cash. Rolls-Royce is particularly exposed to the collapse in long-haul travel because it makes engines for bigger planes, such as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and Airbus's A350. Concerns: Investment bankers said they have heard rumours the Government is 'starting to get worried' about the jet engine maker As a result, Rolls-Royce shares have collapsed by more than 60 per cent since the start of the year and currently flirt with a 12-year low. The company's debt has also been downgraded to junk status and major long-term shareholders, such as American activist investor Value Act, have been selling their shares in the FTSE 100-listed firm. Several weeks ago Rolls-Royce admitted it may need to tap shareholders for extra cash, with reports suggesting it is looking for 1.5billion from an equity capital raising. Rolls-Royce is also looking to raise 1billion by reviving the sale of ITP Aero, its Spanish engineering division that makes turbine blades for engines. However, David Perry, an analyst at JP Morgan, has warned that 1.5billion from an equity capital raising may not be enough to save Rolls-Royce. In a note to clients he wrote: 'An 8billion hole will need much more than a 1.5billion rights issue ... we believe Rolls-Royce needs to raise at least 6billion (through equity sales and disposals) to put itself on a sound footing.' Perry added that the company's debt pile will be almost 19billion by the end of 2020. The Government's golden share in Rolls-Royce is linked to the company's role in building atomic reactors that power Britain's nuclear warhead submarines. That allows Ministers to veto any takeover of the business. In a previous note Perry suggested Rolls-Royce needs to issue 6billion of equity and that this might not be possible from institutional investors and 'we think there is high chance of Government intervention'. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy declined to comment. 3 churches sue Minn. governor over face mask mandate, attendance limits Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Three congregations in Minnesota have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Tim Walz over a recently issued order mandating the wearing of face masks and another order limiting worship attendance. Cornerstone Church of Alexandria, Land of Promise Church of Buffalo, and Lifespring Church of Crosby filed suit on Thursday. The churches lawsuit names Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and a few other local government officials as defendants. At issue are Executive Order 20-81 and statutes which mandate the wearing of facemasks for indoor spaces and does not offer an exemption for worship. Wearing a mask makes singing, verbally praying and receiving communion at church more difficult and, at times, impossible, the suit argues. The suit warns that the facemask mandate is a threat to religious freedom and chilling the plaintiffs and others constitutionally protected church attendance and religious activities, even if nobody is ever prosecuted for violating the executive orders. The churches are also concerned about Executive Order 20-74, which limits indoor church attendance to 50% capacity and outdoor worship attendance to 250 people or fewer. The plaintiffs church attendance is threatened by prosecutions under Executive Order 20-74 for violating the limitations on indoor and outdoor religious gatherings and the six-feet social distancing requirement, the suit adds. Minnesota criminalizing conduct of church attendees suppresses plaintiffs ability to worship and practice their religion in houses of worship and restricts the ability of the plaintiffs to associate with other members of the faith. Erick Kaardal, special counsel with the Thomas More Society, which is representing the churches, said in a statement that the governor gets an F in religious liberties. Other states, including Texas, Illinois, and Ohio have excluded churches from COVID-19 mask mandates, he said. Unlike Walz, those states have recognized that you cannot criminalize religious attendance at houses of worship for any reason. Governor Walz wants to prosecute Minnesotans for religious attendance. We are going to do our best not to see that happen. For his part, the attorney general said in a statement that he and his staff review every executive order for its compliance with the law and state and federal constitutions. I stand behind the legality and constitutionality of this executive order. We will defend it strongly in court just as we have so far successfully defended others in court, stated Ellison added, according to the Star Tribune. In June, the World Health Organization released a Q&A on COVID-19 and facemasks, warning that the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19. You should also maintain a minimum physical distance of at least 1 metre from others, frequently clean your hands and avoid touching your face and mask, explained WHO. Non-medical, fabric masks are being used by many people in public areas, but there has been limited evidence on their effectiveness and WHO does not recommend their widespread use among the public for control of COVID-19. Earlier this month, Pew Research Center released a report which found that 79% of surveyed respondents opposed giving houses of worship exemptions from COVID-19 lockdown orders. Respondents who identified as evangelical Protestant were more likely to support giving houses of worship more flexibility, nevertheless 62% of them also opposed exemptions. The survey also found that evangelical Protestants were less likely to believe that their churches should remain closed during the pandemic compared to other religious groups. Eighteen percent of evangelical respondents said their churches should be closed, versus 27% of Catholics, 40% of mainline Protestants, and 41% of black Protestants. Pew based its findings off a survey taken July 13-19 among 10,211 adults in the United States, with a margin of error for the full sample being plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. RACINE In a somewhat familiar move for the group, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty is again threatening to take legal action if Racine Unified School District doesn't make changes to its private school busing schedule. WILL is a conservative nonprofit based in Milwaukee that says it seek(s) to advance the public interest in the rule of law, individual liberty, constitutional government, and a robust civil society. WILL sent a letter to Racine Unified on Thursday claiming that the public school district is evading its legal obligation to private schools by providing school drop-off and pickup times to private school students that do not match up with those schools start and end times. The Racine school district is telling private school students that its plan for busing wont get them to school on time, said Sharon Schmeling, executive director for the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools in a press release from WILL. Missing school time is not acceptable. The district needs to rethink its approach and do what is in the best interest of children. Public school districts are required by state law to provide transportation to eligible private elementary and high school students who attend school within the district boundaries. To keep all students safe this fall in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Racine Unified has had to make some big changes, including to drop-off and pickup times, said Stacy Tapp, Racine Unifieds chief of communications and community engagement. This includes a proposal yet to be approved by the Unified School Board that would significantly change the start times of seven of its own elementary schools. We have worked closely with DPI in the development of this plan to ensure it follows state statute, Tapp said. We are prepared to begin busing more than 1,700 private and parochial school students next week. Different start-up plans Racine Unified is planning to start the school year virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but many if not all of the private schools within its boundaries are set to welcome kids back into their buildings. In its letter to Unified, WILL claims that the district plans to drop some students off at 9 a.m., for example, when their classes begin at 8 a.m., or to pick them up at 4 p.m. when school ends at 3:15. RUSD knows that it provides transportation for only a small fraction of the total student body at those schools, so that those students who rely upon RUSD for transportation will miss the first hour of school and then will have to remain at their schools for an hour after school is over to wait for transportation home, WILL says in its letter to Racine Unified. Tapp said that adding to its transportation challenges this year is its effort to ensure that routes remain consistent whether Unified students are attending in person or not. We have developed a plan that is flexible and provides as much stability for ALL families as possible, Tapp said. We recognize how difficult it is for a family to adjust start and end times in the middle of a school year this plan avoids that. In light of these challenging circumstances, we have asked the private and parochial schools to work with us this year to accommodate the necessary bus times and to ensure safety and stability for all students. Constitutional concerns WILL says that Racine Unified does not have the right to dictate start and end times for the private school for which it coordinates transportation. The organization added that these busing times also raise constitutional concerns as they might cause students to miss religious services at the start of the day. In the case that drop-off and pick-up times do not work for private and parochial school families, Tapp said the district is offering parents contracts, which reimburse eligible parents for some cost of transporting their own children to school. WILL says that this option does not meet the district's transportation obligations. Anthony LoCoco, deputy counsel for WILL, said that his organization was made aware within the past week that this was a concern at multiple private schools within Unifieds boundaries. My impression is that this was sprung on these schools at the last second and put them in a difficult position, LoCoco said. He added that WILL would like to see Racine Unified reconsider its transportation approach and go back to the drawing board so that private school students will be picked up and dropped off on time. As of midday Friday, WILL said it had not received a response from Racine Unified. "We encourage RUSD to resolve this matter in an equitable and expeditious manner and look forward to receiving its response," WILL said in its letter to Racine Unified. "Students will have enough challenges this year without having to worry about whether the bus is going to pick them up on time." Past legal threats At least twice in the past, WILL has threatened the district with legal action over private school busing. In early 2015, Racine Unified said it would stop transporting a group of Renaissance School students when the district found out that after it transported those students to a Mount Pleasant school each day, those students were then bused to another school in Kenosha, outside the district. After WILL said it would sue, Unified and Renaissance came to an agreement regarding busing for the remainder of that year. In fall 2015, after a threat of legal action from WILL, Unified agreed to stop charging a $300 fee to private school students who signed up late for busing. Love 2 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 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. VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis called for dialogue between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on Saturday, urging them not to let a dispute over a dam on the Nile lead to conflict. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is being built some 15 km (9 miles) from Ethiopia's border with Sudan, has become a major source of discord between the three countries. "I invite all parties involved to continue on the path of dialogue so that the eternal river will continue to be a source of life, which unites and does not divide, which nurtures friendship, prosperity and fraternity and not enmity, misunderstanding and conflict," the pontiff said. He was giving his Angelus message for Assumption Day, the most important Catholic feast dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Egypt, which fears the dam project could lead to water shortages upstream, has threatened to withdraw from the latest round of discussions. Sudan is concerned about the dam's safety. (Reporting by Giulia Segreti; Editing by Christina Fincher) - Frankie took to Instagram where he jotted a lovely note to celebrate his baby mama as she turned a year older - Corazon turned 27 barely two weeks after welcoming a bouncing baby boy - The two hooked up moments after Frankie parted way with his ex-wife Maureen Waititu Curvy Kenyan socialite Corazon Kwamboka turned a year older on Saturday, August 15, TUKO.co.ke has learnt. The new mum decided to mark her special day by thanking God for seeing her through and above all, blessing her with a baby in 2020. READ ALSO: Kalekye Mumo shows off her parents as they celebrate 50th wedding anniversary Frankie Just Gym It said Corazon is her beautiful lady. Photo: UGC Source: Instagram READ ALSO: Sema swag: Mike Sonko's matching face mask, hat lights up internet In a short post seen on her Instagram account, the mother of one shared a photo of herself holding her baby followed by the caption; ''Happy birthday to me. No blingy photo, because this my is the most fancy photo I will ever have. No expensive trip, because this new journey is the best trip Ill ever have to take. And honestly honestly; this is the best gift I get to have on a day like this. And also today was my original due date but he made an early debut,'' Her big day could not be complete without a message from a special someone in her life, baby daddy and lover Frankie Just Gym It. In a similar manner, the gym instructor who doubles up as a YouTube shared a photo of himself holding the curvaceous lass holding her baby bump and wished her all the best even as she ages. READ ALSO: Serge Aurier: Brother of Spurs star Christopher shot dead in France READ ALSO: Mwanamke Mkenya afariki dunia baada ya kugonjwa na lori Marekani He went all romantic by pampering her holding she is the most beautiful lady he has ever met. ''A new chapter has opened in your life today. Let us celebrate in grand style and enjoy this special day like tomorrow will never come. Help me wish this beautiful lady of mine a Happy Birthday,'' he wrote. Corazon's birthday came barely two weeks after she was blessed with a bouncing baby boy. As earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, the news of the delivery was announced on Frankie's Youtube channel on Sunday, August 9, with a video of the family in the hospital, before and after the birth. He revealed they had named the baby Taiyari Kiarie, who was delivered through a C-section and Frankie explained it was two weeks premature. The two hooked up moments after Frankie parted way with his ex-wife Maureen Waititu. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. I married a man every woman wanted - Pastor Joan Chege | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke A draft ordinance creating a Civilian Complaint Review Board that would investigate and propose disciplinary actions for police officers in Jersey City has been circulating City Hall. The ordinance, which was drafted by Ward E Councilman James Solomon with input from community leaders and representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union, would establish a nine-person panel to review any complaints made against police, and report its findings and propose disciplinary action to the citys public safety director. An independent, empowered Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) can establish trust between Jersey Citys neighborhoods and Jersey Citys many hard-working cops, Solomon said in a statement. Overseen by trusted community leaders and empowered not merely to observe but to change police misconduct, establishing a CCRB is a crucial step our city must take to demonstrate that our commitment to black lives is substantive, not superficial. " The creation of the CCRB would mark the third such entity tasked created to provide oversight of the citys police department. It would, however, be the most powerful. Under the draft ordinance, the CCRB would develop a system with the public safety director and bargaining unit for imposing disciplinary action. The public safety director would impose the the discipline, unless he or she found error with the CCRBs findings and would then appear at a public hearing to testify on his or her disagreement. The CCRB would also review department policies, operations, and procedures. The citys chief of police and public safety director would have 30 days to adopt recommendations made by the board. If they do not adopt the recommendation, they must attend a public meeting or inform the board in writing why the recommendation wasnt adopted. The board would comprise of nine members, all appointed by the mayor with input from the City Council. Three members would serve three-year terms; three would serve two-year terms; and three would serve for one year. The City Council would nominate three council members or their designees. The other six seats recommended to the mayor would include a member in good standing nominated by the following organizations: ACLU, Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition Movement, NAACP, Hudson Partnership Care Management Organization, Hudson Pride Center and Jersey City Together. The Jersey City Anti Violence Coalition Movement, along with more than 20 other organizations believe (based on historical data as well as recent events) that a Civilian Complaint Review Board is a critical component to fostering real transparency and accountability between the JCPD and the entire community they serve, Pam Johnson, the executive director of the Anti-Violence Coalition Movement, said in a statement. The proposed ordinance was given to members of the new ad hoc committee tasked with reviewing the police departments policies and procedures for enforcement and discrimination. The committee, which was formed in the wake of a national wave of protests against police brutality, consists of a retired judge, attorneys, members of the council, and community leaders. Council President Joyce Watterman also serves as an alternate committee member. The city established its Public Safety Advisory Board in 2014 to act as a system of checks and balances on the police department, but the entity has been criticized for not having enough power. Neil Brunson, who chairs the ad hoc committee, told the City Council during Mondays caucus that the proposed ordinance creating the CCRB is effective. There are some things that we as a committee will discuss but I find that it is effective, Brunson said. On a quarterly basis, the CCRB would publish the number of complaints it receives, discipline that is recommended, as well as alleged misconduct that took place. The race, gender, ethnicity and age of the complainant would also be published. The CCRB would have the authority to request and publish quarterly the number of stops made by an officer and the details of those stops. The number of times an officer uses force would also be shared. Members of the ACLU, Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition, the NAACP, and Hudson Partnership Care Management Organization helped craft the ordinance. Its unclear when the legislation will reach the City Council agenda for introduction. On Friday, Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association President Carmine Disbrow said Solomon is pandering to a very small group that thinks attacking law enforcement is a positive path forward. Positive community policing like what the JCPD, and by extension the POBA, has long prided itself on will continues to pay dividends, not legislation that endorses the idea of launching witch hunts against honorable men and women simply because they wear a badge, said Disbrow, who admitted he had not read the ordinance. If Councilman Solomon truly wanted to make a positive difference hed stop the grandstanding and engage the men and women that serve and protect Jersey City every day in constructive dialogue. In response, Solomon noted that the coalition that drafted the ordinance reached out to Disbrows union in June for its feedback. Over two months later, they have yet to reply, he said. Wild horses, bison and other large animals once moved freely in much of Europe. Now, these animals are changing a former military base outside of Prague, the Czech capital. Where Soviet soldiers once held military exercises, large cattle called tauros now eat invasive plants that began growing on the property years ago. The animals are turning the former Milovice military base back into a kind of grassland or steppe. Five years ago, conservationists released the large animals at Milovice. The animals job is to improve diversity among local plants. They do this by eating invasive plants while saving rare or endangered ones, said Dalibor Dostal, the director of European Wildlife, an organization supporting the project. Nobody expected that the whole process would go ahead so fast and the area would change so much in just a few years, Dostal said. He added the large animals are as important to saving the grassland as trees are for forests. This year, conservationists hope to increase the size of the wildlife sanctuary by one-third to 360 hectares. David Storch is a professor at Charles University in Prague. Storch, who was not involved in the project, described it as absolutely unique. He believes that it shows that nature can be saved not only by protecting it from human activities, but also by using large animals to shape the environment. While wild horses like to eat invasive grasses, European bison and tauros enjoy eating larger plants like bushes. The Czech project includes tauros that came from the Netherlands. There, a special breeding program attempted to bring back a creature that was like the aurochs, which are the wild ancestor of modern cattle. Aurochs died out in the 17th century. The wild horses came from Britains Exmoor National Park, while European bison came from Poland. The project now has 25 tauros, about 70 wild horses, and 27 European bison. The animals move freely. They can care for themselves, even in winter. After the animals release, the landscape quickly showed signs of change. Flowers started to appear as early as the second year of the project. Today, the whole area changes colors over the course of the year, depending on which flowers are in bloom. One of the rarest is the star gentian, also known as a cross gentian. The blue flower is now growing at Milovice more than anywhere else in the Czech Republic. Many other animals and insects are now plentiful at the former base. The Adonis blue butterfly has been seen there for the first time since 1967. Miloslav Jirku, a biologist with the Czech Academy of Sciences, has been involved in the project from its beginning. If we give nature a chance, if we give it time and space, it can take care of many things, he said. At the very beginning, I thought that lots of species that used to be here in the 1990s would have to be returned artificially. Today, a number of them are already here without us doing anything about it, he added. I'm John Russell. Karel Janicek reported on this story for The Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story conservationist n. someone who acts for the protection of wildlife or the environment diversity n. a mixture of different things sanctuary n. a place or safety absolutely adv. completely or totally unique adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else over the course expression: during or throughout bloom v. to produce flowers; be in flower artificially adv. not natural or real; made, produced, or done to seem like something natural State officials say Oregon care homes are on track to test all residents and workers for the coronavirus by a looming Sept. 30 deadline, even as the state so far has offered little direct help to get that testing done. Already nearly half of all staff and residents in Oregons nursing, assisted living and memory care homes have been tested at least once for the coronavirus since June 1, the Department of Human Services said. While thats a significant number in 10 weeks, that still leaves 32,000 of about 60,000 total residents and workers in need of testing with just seven weeks to go. Gov. Kate Brown set the plan in motion because people in care homes are particularly vulnerable to complications and death from the coronavirus, with broad testing helping prevent and curb the spread of disease. Elderly residents in care centers account for about half of the states 385 reported fatalities. The key objectives of the testing plan have been met and are on track to be achieved, the state human services department said in response to written questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Indeed, broad testing has already revealed outbreaks in six facilities that would not have been identified were it not for the governors order, the state said. In all, about 80 care homes now have at least one case of COVID-19, up from 16 when Brown declared everyone must get tested. 24 Family of Kevin Fortune, who died from COVID-19, seeks answers But since Brown issued her mandate two months ago, state officials have subsequently realized theyll need to play a bigger role to ensure testing is completed. They originally said facilities would be mostly on their own to line up tests to screen residents and workers, with state help only as needed and the state wouldnt necessarily reimburse facilities. Now the state has promised to pay for testing or reimburse costs for every facility in Oregon. But the Oregon Health Authority still has not hired contractors to do the work and only started looking for companies July 20, more than a month after Browns announcement. Complicating matters is limited testing supplies nationwide, delayed test results and, according to people in the industry, insufficient support from the federal government. Philip Bentley, senior vice president of government relations with the Oregon Health Care Association, the main senior care trade association, said the state could face a crush of tests in the last month of the project if the health authoritys contract isnt up and running soon. I dont think were at a point where we would be sounding any alarm bells, said Bentley, adding that the association believes its taken the state longer than we would have preferred to find labs to do the tests. State officials announced late Friday that they plan to hire Metro West Ambulance Services, a medical transport company, to do part of the work. 26 Healthcare at Foster Creek coronavirus outbreak Across-the-board testing is especially important now that the coronavirus is more readily present in the community than it was when Brown announced the testing plan. The more cases in a community, the more likely senior care homes are to get an outbreak, research shows. Its believed the disease is brought into the homes by workers who dont know theyre sick and then pass it on to vulnerable residents who have a far slimmer chance of surviving an infection than the workers. Obtaining test results can help facilities segregate residents with infections, ensure sick workers stay home and direct state inspectors to the facilities most in need of oversight. While new state regulations say staff must get tested, residents are allowed to refuse. More than a fifth of Oregons approximately 685 nursing, assisted living and memory care homes 154 said all staff and residents have been tested at least once since June 1, according to the Department of Human Services. Most have relied on agreements with local public health departments and their own contracts with testing laboratories. Just 38 facilities got direct help from the state. Health and human services officials said they asked the federal government for help, with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs ultimately conducting testing for those facilities. More than half of the facilities the state assisted had already identified outbreaks. Marjorie Sharp, who manages the assisted living home Haven House Retirement Center, in Fossil, said shes looking forward to getting all 30 or so staff and residents at the home tested in the coming days. The company agreed to get tested through the Wheeler County public health department, which Sharp said started collecting samples Thursday. The county is using its rapid test and should be done with gathering and testing samples by early next week, she said. We want to know what were fighting, Sharp said. As the pandemic has evolved over the last two months, state officials have pivoted from initial plans. They originally expected to ensure across-the-board testing in counties with the majority of senior care facility outbreaks with a special focus on nursing homes, where residents have the greatest medical needs. But theyve since decided to target homes that already identified outbreaks as well as those in counties on the states list of designated hot spots. Oregons top senior care official, Mike McCormick, has suggested that care homes not test everyone themselves but, instead, wait for the state to find contractors to do that work. The states contractors will be hired to test anywhere from 100 to 300 care homes, according to state records, including workers collecting samples and lab analysis. Were going to take care of everything, McCormick said in a July 24 webinar for care homes. While care homes will be reimbursed for the tests they do, some cant afford to pay costs upfront, said Bentley, the trade association executive. The association is eager to see the state-contracted lab process finalized and get them into the field, he said. Even facilities that have already begun testing have run into challenges. Among other things, obtaining test results can take a day to nearly two weeks, according to state and trade association officials, creating an unacceptably long window for undetected spread in a facility. The longer the turnaround time, the less valuable test results are in preventing new infections at a facility, the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority said in joint responses to written questions. Neither agency made officials available for interviews. 27 WWII vet turns 104 at Oregon Veterans' Home in Lebanon, Oregon Yet another challenge has been limited assistance from the federal government, Bentley said. Oregon hasnt had nearly as much spread of the coronavirus as other states, meaning federal officials are currently unlikely to send specialized testing machines that can provide results within minutes. The federal government has only in the last few weeks started to send the machines out to nursing homes in the country, prioritizing about 2,400 homes in disease hotspots and those that show particular risk of spread of disease. Oregon officials received 15 Abbott ID NOW rapid test machines from the feds this spring. The state sent those to community health organizations or hospitals in rural areas, rather than keeping them for care facilities. For now, most care homes have only been testing in response to suspected cases of the coronavirus, said Linda Kirschbaum, another executive with the association who has been working closely with the Department of Human Services. Kirschbaum said catching infections early is one of the most important safeguards to preventing the disease from spreading in a facility. We just want to make sure that theres consistent access to on-demand testing, Kirschbaum said, and a rapid response and turnaround for the testing. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin A man was rushed to the hospital late Saturday afternoon from Greenspoint after he was shot multiple times, police said. Houston Police said the shooting followed an argument near 1100 Greens Road. No further details were immediately available. In 1841, while teaching a Sunday school class at the East Cambridge House of Correction in Massachusetts, Dorothea Lynde Dix observed that not only were mentally ill incarcerated with the criminals, but that they were mistreated. She then traveled for two years throughout Massachusetts, documenting the horrendous treatment of the indigent mentally ill in institutions and private homes where people were paid by the state to take care of them. In January 1843, she submitted her report to the Massachusetts Legislature. Not Above a Whisper -- a drama built around the day Dixs argument was presented before the state legislature -- will be presented by the East Lynne Theater Company in a staged reading to be posted on YouTube online from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. ELTC artistic director Gayle Stahlhuth received a commission from the Smithsonian Institution to write the two-person play about Dix, which had its premiere at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. in April,1983, performed by Stahlhuth and her husband, Lee OConnor. During the next four years, they toured Not Above a Whisper to mental health organizations throughout the country to help raise money and awareness. Stahlhuth and OConnor will reprise the roles they first performed 37 years ago for the Cape May-based theaters staged reading. Viewing is free but donations are requested. While this month marks the 100th anniversary of the Aug. 26, 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, Not Above a Whisper takes place 77 years prior to that momentous act, and clearly demonstrates how hard it was for women to make their voices heard in government. The setting for the play, in fact, has DIx waiting outside the Massachusetts Legislature chambers, since women were not allowed to appear before the governing body in person. Her argument was delivered by physician, abolitionist and advocate for the blind Samuel Gridley Howe. The plays title comes from a comment Dix reportedly overheard from someone disparaging her findings, saying, And a woman made these terrible discoveries? It really should not be discussed above a whisper. Dix did not get everything shed asked for in her appeal, but a bill was passed to enlarge the Worcester Insane Asylum, due to her efforts. She eventually traveled to every state to compile evidence about the horrific conditions for the mentally ill, and in every state, she had to find a man to speak for her in state legislatures. Dixs campaign resulted in 15 states and Canada passing bills for better treatment and the creation of hospitals just for the mentally ill. In all, she was responsible for the building of 32 such institutions in the United States alone. She died in 1887. Stahlhuths plays and musicals have been produced in NYC and throughout the country. She specializes in biographical dramas. It was her production of Lou: The Remarkable Miss Alcott in 1982 that led to the Smithsonian commission for Not Above a Whisper. She also received commissions to write a musical about Walt Whitman for Pennsylvania Stage Company, a one-person play about Paul Robeson for TheaterWorks USA and a one-woman play, which she toured, about Edna Ferber, for the Illinois and Missouri Humanities Councils. Italian Dairy Products factory, one of the UAEs largest factories producing Italian cheese and other dairy items headquartered at Sharjah Food Park, said it has doubled up the total size of its factory to 26,000 sq ft with an eye on further expansion in the Emirati and Gulf markets. Sharjah Food Park, developed by the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA), is the regions first and largest dedicated facility for food industries, covering a total area of 11 million sq m, with an eye on importing, exporting, holding, and re-packaging foodstuff destined for various countries around the world. HFZA Director Saud Salim Al Mazrouei said the authority's commitment to support investments stems from the wise Sharjah leadership in terms of harnessing the potential to consolidate the emirates position as a global destination for businesses. "Weve come here today to acknowledge a great experience for a factory that succeeded for over a decade to cater to the needs of the Emirati market from fresh Italian cheese made with fresh Emirati milk. Indeed, its a world-class product made with pride in the UAE," remarked Al Mazrouei. It is one of the UAEs largest factories for producing Italian cheese, using fresh cows milk brought from the national farms in the UAE. The factory consumes some 4,800 tonnes of milk annually to produce about 500 tonnes of fresh Italian cheese such as mozzarella, burrata and scamorza, and ricotta. With this move, the company headquartered at Sharjah Food Park, is set to become one of the largest Italian dairy factories across the UAE. Al Mazrouei was speaking after touring the newly developed facilities along with a number of officials and directors of the free zone. He was later briefed about the different phases of dairy production in accordance to the highest international standards. He commended the factorys important role in providing high-quality foodstuff at affordable prices, thanks to the implementation of smooth and innovative mechanisms throughout the production process. The success of the Italian Dairy Products factory reflects HFZAs distinctive position at the global level as headquarters for the leading food companies in the region, underlining that food security and self-sufficiency in basic commodities are an essential pillar in HFZAs plan, remaked Al Mazrouei. The success of any investment is a testament to HFZAs distinction and commitment to bolstering its investors in every way. Italian Dairy Products General Manager Leo Condemi said: "Having witnessed the increasing demand for products made with high-quality local ingredients mixed with innovative Italian expertise, we made the decision to double up the factory area to meet such demands." Highlighting the strategic location of HFZA that connects three continents, in addition to the outstanding services provided to investors to facilitate exporting operations, Condemi remarked: "It was such a perfect choice to take HFZA as our headquarters in the region to be able to expand our businesses and penetrate other Gulf markets." "This new expansion will help us boost our production capacity and operational capability to meet the needs of the local market and other emerging markets according to our developmental plans," he noted. "Today, we are witnessing the expansion of our factory to 26,000 sq ft from 13,000 sq ft with its inauguration in 2009, and now we are looking ahead to penetrate new Gulf markets," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Mr Samuel Nartey George, Ranking Member on the Communications Committee of Parliament, has challenged claims that governments digitization initiative has resulted in 15 million Ghanaians owning mobile money accounts. He said one individual could have multiple mobile money accounts and so if the country had 15 million accounts it did not mean that 15 million Ghanaians had mobile money accounts. An individual can have two or three phones on two or three different networks, so counting persons with two or more mobile money accounts does not mean they are two different individuals, he said. Mr George was reacting to a statement attributed to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah during the International Youth Day celebration by the Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party that the Governments digitisation initiative had increased mobile money accounts to 15 million hence 15 Ghanaians are hooked onto the platform. The mobile money concept was introduced in Ghana by MTN in 2009, Mr George said at a press briefing in Parliament House. He said it was, therefore, not true that the introduction of mobile money interoperability was the reason the country had 15 million accounts as that was not supported by any fact from the mobile money operators. Mr George explained that the interoperability platform was a new addition to an already existing one and that it accounted to less than three percent to the growth of the industry. He said before the interoperability became operational one could send mobile money from an MTN customer to Vodafone customer through a token and the person would take the token to an MTN vendor to cash the money. He acknowledged that one could not send mobile money to Airtel Tigo or Vodafone cash wallet directly from an MTN but there was still the value chain of interoperability. Mr George said even before the full operations of the interoperability there were third party applications such as Slide Pay and Express Pay doing transfers between mobile accounts. Also one could connect his mobile money account to a bank account and was possible to move money from the bank account to mobile money account, he said. Mr George cited the Fidelity Bank, for example, which allowed customers to use ATM to withdraw money from mobile money accounts. He said it was, therefore, untrue the picture painted that interoperability is the all in all and has contributed to what we see as the growth in the mobile money industry. 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 Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) has secured 15th position among 40 central universities in the country, rankings of which were released by the union ministry of education Thursday night. In Bihar, CUSB has defeated Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU), Motihari, by scoring 63% while the latter stood at 23rd position with 59%. In the neighbouring state, Central University of Jharkhand has scored 40%. Ministry of education evaluates the performances of central universities based on several parameters, such as annual student intake in undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, M Phil levels, student diversity, quality of faculty, student-teacher ratio, teacher vacancies, visiting faculty and research work. Other parameters include National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), campus placement, number of students qualified in National Eligibility Test (NET) and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Based of the above parameters, CUSB has obtained 177.8/283.5 while MGCU has scored 142/241.5. In NIRF ranking 2020, CUSB has made its name in 150-200 rank band. Harish CS Rathore, vice-chancellor of CUSB, said, Securing 15th position among 40 central varsities is a big achievement for us as our counterparts were old universities. We would strive to maintain the position and get better ranking. Rathore said, My vision is to improve the quality of higher education in Bihar so that students need not to migrate to metro cities for pursuing good higher education specially the less privileged ones. Established in 2009, the varsity shifted to its 300-acre campus in Gaya in 2018. Prior to this, it functioned from rented buildings located in Patna and Gaya. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On This Day When Myanmar Cast Off Its Colonial Tongue Under Japanese Rule A Japanese postcard from the countrys 1940s Pacific War Burma Campaign, entitled "The delight of Burma." I veer between thinking Im an utter failure and believing Im special You should have set the bar a lot higher. You seem to have all the qualities a man could want. I dont get it. That was a text from P, the new one, referencing the way Ive been treated by men. And although I can veer wildly between thinking Im a complete and utter cadaverous failure, and believing deep down that Im special, I think he might have a point. (I am currently growing my hair long, lunging from considering I resemble Meghan Markle to Michael Jackson during his long trial.) Everyone who has been in my orbit family, employees, colleagues, friends, boyfriends, fiances, husbands I have treated with respect and generosity (at least initially until, like past-its-sell-by-date cream, I turn). I took men to Calvin Klein catwalk shows in New York, to a secret gig at Abbey Road Studios, to Marrakech. (Never, ever sign up to a naked hammam with a man. Ever. I still get flashbacks of the sight of him in a paper thong and shower cap.) To meet a member of Pink Floyd. To meet Donald Trump, Emma Willis and Nigel Farage (not all at once). To party with Ricky Martin and Giorgio Armani. On holiday with Blur. To the Dior couture show in Paris. When Trevor, he of the high-waisted trousers, dumped me for a stylist, my parting shot was buying him a mixing deck and turntables from a very expensive shop in Camden! And Im still doing it, if in a small way. I have just been contacted by a wonderful charity called Wild at Heart Foundation. It raises funds for small dog rehoming charities (the charities are small, not the dogs some are huge!). Its through them that I got Missy. I was sent to interview the founder, Nikki Tibbles, and while she was being made up for the photos, I was scrolling her website and came across a collie who had been in an outside kennel since her rescue from being abandoned on a farm in Ireland as a puppy. A few weeks later, I drove to pick her up. It took a year for her to bark, and 18 months before she would wag her tail. Even now, she wags all wrong: she pumps it up and down. But her fur is like silk and she is the most loving dog Ive ever known: she is Velcroed to my side every night. The reason the charity has got in touch again is to ask if I have anything designer to donate to an auction. Hmm. Lets look in my wardrobe, shall we? I have my black Prada skirt suit bought when an editor. Nah. Its super shiny from too many trips to the dry cleaner. I gave my Alexander McQueen military trouser suit worn to meet the Obamas to my friend Helen at Christmas: shes a huge fan of the label. My one Prada bag a gift from the designer is scuffed from 20 years of use. As editor, I got the large tote. My fashion editor got a smaller bowling bag and the fashion assistant a wallet. I have three pairs of shoes Ive not sold on Ebay: soles worn as thin as, well, me. The only good dress I have is the long Dries Van Noten slip with gold embellishment David bought me a couple of years ago*. I might need that for a future awards ceremony**. I have a Stella McCartney T-shirt with embellished collar; problem is, the collar attacks me every time I struggle into it, entangling my hair and sending me into a rage. I wish fashion designers made larger openings. I doubt Nikki Tibbles wants that. OK, so. The Dries it is. Just dont tell David *Plus one Brownie point. Although minus one Brownie point as its two sizes too big. **Who am I kidding? Ive been shortlisted as Newspaper Columnist of the Year six times, rocked up to the awards ceremony having hired a make-up artist and not won once. I blame the Russians. The Fashion Rehomed online designer and vintage sale in aid of Wild at Heart Foundation runs from 28 August until 14 September. Visit wildatheartfoundation.org/events/fashion-rehomed for more details Contact Liz at LizJonesGoddess.com and stalk her @LizJonesGoddess LISTEN TO LIZ JONESS PODCAST! Join Liz as she dissects her weekly You Diary, delves into the archives and screams, Why did I write that?! Find it now at mailplus.co.uk/lizjones, iTunes and Spotify. Food manufacturer Bernard Matthews has hinted at the comeback of Turkey Twizzlers. The news may come as a blow to TV chef Jamie Oliver who campaigned for them to be dropped from school menus for healthier lunches instead. He hit out at the spiral snack, which had only 34 per cent turkey in them at the time, in his Channel 4 series Jamie's School Dinners. Food manufacturer Bernard Matthews has hinted at the comeback of Turkey Twizzlers, pictured above He said at the time, referencing their 30 per cent turkey content: 'The prospect of what else is in them isn't particularly good'. School students staged protests against Jamie Oliver at the time as he convinced schools to switch to healthier dinners. But almost 30,000 people signed a petition in 2018 to re-introduce twizzlers. The news may come as a blow to TV chef Jamie Oliver who campaigned for them to be dropped from school menus for healthier lunches instead Kirsty Rogers started the petition on Change.org, writing: 'I used to live of turkey twizzlers used to make sure my mum stocked up lol. 'But to think my kids will never experience the taste of them makes me want to get this petition as far as possible'. In a video posted on their Facebook account, Bernard Matthews references the petitions to bring back twizzlers and promised 'the comeback of the century you have all been waiting for'. Marking the two-month death anniversary of Sushant Singh Rajput, his sister Shweta Singh Kirti, requested people to come together and collectively pray for the late actor on Independence Day. Shweta took to Instagram on Friday and informed everyone about the "global 24-hour spiritual and prayer observation". Sushant's fans have come out in support to the actor's family making #GlobalPrayersForSSR the top trend on micro-blogging site with over 110K tweets. Shweta had shared the details of the same on her Instagram account, requesting people to hold a collective minute of silence and prayer on Independence Day. She wrote, It has been 2 months you left us Bhai (brother) and we are still fighting to know the truth, to know what actually happened that day. I request you all to please join us for Global 24-hour spiritual and prayer observation for Sushant Singh Rajput so that the truth prevails and we find justice for our beloved Sushant #GlobalPrayers4SSR #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #justiceforSushantSinghRajput #godiswithus Check out her post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shweta Singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirti) on Aug 13, 2020 at 5:46pm PDT She also urged people to post their pic with folded hands and join the campaign. On Saturday, she shared a video of the family holding a prayer meet for the actor at the Patna residence after his demise. In the video, Sushant's father can be seen sitting on a chair beside the actor's portrait as other family members chant prayers for him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shweta Singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirti) on Aug 14, 2020 at 9:31pm PDT Meanwhile, Several Bollywood stars including Kangana Ranaut, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan, Parineeti Chopra, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Zareen Khan have also joined Sushant's family members in their campaign seeking a CBI probe into the actor's untimely demise. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15 By Asif Mehman Trend: In the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous appeals came from Azerbaijani citizens in Turkey on their coming back by cars, and during that time, special permits were issued and bus services were organized to bring them back, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said. Hajiyev made the comment during the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers on August 15, Trend reports. "Currently, no appeals on the subject have been received by the operational headquarters. If citizens wish to return to the country in their own cars, they should contact the embassies and the operational headquarters," he added. Thank heavens the popular dress trend this summer is for volume and roominess. Those flattering, capacious A-line shapes that sit away from the body are so accommodating when it comes to camouflaging that annoying 'Covid stone'. I, for one, am more than happy to see these relaxed, tiered shapes in tactile, natural fabrics. I simply will not have them classified as 'tents' and the sooner you park any misgivings about them resembling maternity wear and get into them, the sooner you will discover the fashion joys of volume. There's just something about these easy shapes that are aligned to our staycation requirements and relaxed state of mind. COS, which has such a great reputation for affordable tailoring in rich colours, is out on its own when it comes to architectural volume in soothing organic cotton. A stand-out star is its 'Watercolour print' dress in organic cotton that falls mid calf and the print swirls around the side too. It's almost like wearing art and on a grey, wet August day, there is something special, almost experiential, about wearing an eggy-yellow dress. When clothes affect your mood and there is a heightened experience wearing organic fabric, that's when you are on a winner. If you are one for architectural drama, check out the COS circle cut dress, A-line dress in a mint green/turquoise organic cotton (79). Now, more than ever, it's nice to have pieces with a built-in surprise element, like the dropped rear collar which adds a sense of fluidity, a subtle counterpoint to the to the mock-neck at the front. Expand Close COS circle cut dress / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp COS circle cut dress H&M collaboration The Swedish brand H&M stud its annual fashion calender with a number of seriously gorgeous collaborations and August 27 sees the arrival of its latest one, done with the super- talented Lebanese designer, Sandra Mansour. If you have not come across Mansour's work before, she has a reputation for attention to detail and craftsmanship. Inspired by strong female artists and the beauty of nature, the 'Fleur du Soleil' collection features intricate designs in a muted colour palette, with hand-crafted details like edgy ruffles and layers of romantic fabrics. Mansour explains how the inspiration for the H&M collaboration is nature and natural elements, especially the sunflower, which represents the cycle of life, and its dependency on sun and light. "Poetry and painters inspired the selection of fabric - the dark laces, jacquards, and embroidered organza. With the Fleur du Soleil collection, I want to talk to women around the world by sending a message of hope, something we really need right now," says Mansour, who uses volume and statement details in an earthy colour palette of mushroom greys, ivory and black. Video of the Day Expand Close H&M Love Heart dress / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp H&M Love Heart dress With my current interest in volume and oversized dresses, I immediately honed in on the thrown-on glamour of the oversized 'Love Heart' dress which features ruffled neckline (above). A pretty, vintage-feel ruffle cuff detail cinches off the billowing sleeves. There are always hero pieces in H&M collabs and I suspect that item will be the romantic tiered dress with layers of mushroom mesh. However, the collection is not all dresses and there are blouses and skirts, a tailored blazer, and a printed T-shirt and hoody. The launch of the collaboration was due to happen earlier this month but it was postponed until August 27 following last week's explosion in the Lebanese capital. In a statement this week, H&M said: "Due to the devastating news of the tragic events in Beirut, we have taken the decision to postpone the launch of our upcoming collaboration Sandra Mansour x H&M with the Beirut-based designer". Statement sleeves Who would have thought that statement sleeve would have invaded our affections quite so forcibly. What did we ever do without them? It's such a simple addition to a garment yet it adds so much to the total look. Even the humble cotton t-shirt got a total new lick of glamour by the addition of a short, oversized puff sleeve in a diaphanous organza. The Renaissance-inspired sleeve is a beguiling mix of strength and romanticism. Personally, I love how the simplicity of that working man's uniform - the collarless grandfather shirt neckline - is now part and parcel of the hero summer dress and its pared-back aesthetic sits perfectly alongside the drama of the big sleeves. I've seen lots of short, oversized, tiered denim dresses around but the big issue is the weight of the fabric. Expand Close Light blue dress from & Other Stories / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Light blue dress from & Other Stories If you like the colour but fancy a lighter fabrication, check out the light blue dress from & Other Stories picture above. The voluminous puff sleeve collarless dress costs 79. For those of you who are back in the office and might crave more subdued tones, it also comes in black and in beige. That's a wrap Let's park volume for a moment and if an easy wear wrap dress is more your thing, check out the House of Fabienne Chapot stock at Avoca. It is offering 60pc discount off on this chic label which comes from Amsterdam. Instagram is to Gucci-wearing buccaneers what The Lonely Planet is to shoestring backpackers. Inspiring everything from jealousy to your next #vacay, the platform is fast becoming where you go to decide where to go (plus: what to do when you get there). Whether youre after the coolest Byron Bay waterfalls, the best Nasi Goreng in Bali or the quirkiest place to pose on the French Riviera, Instagram has your back. Inspired by a FOMO-inducing scroll of said platform, and with the world in various stages of lockdown, DMARGE hit up Istanbul-based luxury yacht manager Candas Balci, to ask which lavish destinations his clients will be keenest to head back to as soon as normality resumes. While Candas told us its a very busy season in Turkey right now thats because his clients can only cruise locally. Once The Pandemic situation eases, Candas says the first places he believes The Super Rich will flock to are: the south of France, Italy, Ibiza, Sardinia and St Tropez. For one or two years they will stay locally on the Turkish coasts, Greek Islands maybe [which has a more relaxed policy currently in place for visitors] after that very busy days for Ibiza and St Tropez. Cannes, Antibes, Portofino, and Monaco are on Candas clients hit lists too. This in mind, DMARGE researched what youre likely to find in each location. Keen for a peek behind the veil? These are the destinations some of the worlds super-rich are keenest to head back to, and a brief rundown on each. St Tropez View this post on Instagram Sooner than later #sttropez #vivelesvacances #riviera #romyschneider A post shared by SVENJA KATHARINA FRISCH (@svenjakatharinafrisch) on Jul 9, 2020 at 3:04pm PDT Known for bars, yachts, clubs and beaches St Tropez hit the big time in the 1950s when Brigitte Bardot arrived to film a movie with her then-husband, Roger Vadim. The places youthful exuberance, arty independence and hedonistic living readily secured it a place in most travellers must see locale lists. The Instagram hashtag St Tropez suggests little has changed, with holiday goers enjoying the sunny French hotspotss natural beauty, local desserts, cakes, shops and sand (theres even a signature St Tropez tan), as well as wishing for a time when theyll be able to return (see: captions like: sooner rather than later and take me back). Antibes Its not just British retirees: the young and glamourous also visit Antibes some of them aboard superyachts (though the exclusive villas the place is known for are not to be sneered at). Antibes, a coastal city in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France, on the Cote dAzur between Cannes and Nice, is a place wed argue its hard not to have fun. Ibiza View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@javiittc) on Jun 17, 2020 at 12:35pm PDT Despite its reputation for sweaty trance music and cheap cocktails, Ibiza is also home to a refreshing landscape, excellent ports for superyachts and of course has exclusive clubs and music experiences most inner ear explorers would sell their soul for. Sardinia Known for, among other things, pristine waters, roast suckling pig and the mafia, Sardinia truly is a pleasure-seekers paradise. But that doesnt stop travellers from making hilarious faux pas (or engaging in some guilty holiday habits). Our favourites? The natural but staged photo View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@auroraacadau) on Jul 12, 2020 at 1:06pm PDT and the gratuitous selfie. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlos Lopes (@lpscarlos72) on Jul 12, 2020 at 5:11pm PDT Portofino View this post on Instagram A post shared by Travel Stories | Leisure (@travelstories.world) on Jul 8, 2020 at 10:37am PDT Lets be real for a second: Portofino is so fine, almost any holiday indulgence can be excused. In light of that, travellers penchant for posting envy inducing scenes, posing in cliche postures and generally living it up while you slave away in an office can actually be forgiven (though some could still do with a tutorial on how to hold court with a wine glass). Monaco Only in Monaco would videos emerge of a holiday goer walking on a treadmill on a superyacht whilst watching formula one. Your move, Contiki. Read Next The U.N. Security Council was finishing voting Friday on a U.S.-sponsored resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran, with veto-wielding Russia and China strongly opposed to it and likely abstentions from Americas European allies. The United States called for the vote on Thursday evening and the results will be announced on Friday evening. The U.N.s most powerful body has been meeting virtually, with a few exceptions, and changed its voting to email because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump administration has repeatedly said it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers to expire on Oct. 18 as it is set to do. President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2018 but the five remaining parties Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany still support it. The agreement is aimed at preventing the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons and diplomats from several of the other countries that are party to it have expressed serious concern that extending the arms embargo would lead to Irans exit from the agreement, and in turn to fast-tracking its pursuit of nuclear weapons. While voting on the U.S. draft resolution was underway, Russias Foreign Ministry tweeted Friday a proposal by President Vladimir Putin for a meeting of Heads of State of UN Security Council Permanent Members with participation of Heads of Germany and Iran. On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft said in an interview with The Associated Press that the United States is keeping the space open for talks with Britain, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China. She urged the three European nations that support the nuclear deal Britain, France and Germany to put in writing their ideas to extend the expiring arms embargo on Iran, indicating the Trump administration may be willing compromise on its demand for an indefinite extension. She said they had mentioned a six-month or one-year extension. European diplomats said the three countries share the U.S. goal of maintaining the arms embargo but need to find a compromise with Russia and China. The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said the Europeans had offered a compromise proposal but the U.S., Russia and China showed no willingness to compromise. In separate letters to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council last month, Russia and China were sharply critical of the U.S. effort to indefinitely extend the arms embargo, indicating they would veto any such resolution if it got the minimum nine yes votes in the 15-member council, which appears unlikely. Brian Hook, the outgoing U.S. envoy for Iran, told reporters Thursday that Iran backs Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and proxies elsewhere in the Middle East, and is responsible for over 600 American deaths in Iraq and thousands of wounded. He underscored the support for the indefinite arms embargo extension from the six feuding nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Russias Sergey Lavrov and Chinas Wang Yi said Trump since pulling America out of the nuclear deal has no legal right to try to use the U.N. resolution endorsing the agreement to indefinitely continue the embargo. If the resolution is defeated, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested the U.S. would invoke the snap back mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal that would restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran. Snap back was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the accord, under which it received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Obviously we will use the most important tool, whatever it is, whether its `snap back, whether it is hopefully just going into the council and extending this renewal, we will not take no for an answer, Craft said Thursday. Also Thursday, the U.S. circulated to council members a six-page memo outlining why the United States remains part of the 2015 Security Council resolution and still has the right to use the `snap back provision. It is clear that letting the arms embargo expire would be very bad for peace and security in the region and beyond the region, Hook told reporters Thursday. Allowing the arms embargo to expire on a terrorist regime would be negligent. It would be an act of gross irresponsibility. Craft said council members face a choice between sponsoring terrorism or promoting international peace and security. We have a moral responsibility to make certain that this murderous regime does not have access any longer to exporting and to arming its proxies, Craft said. TWIN FALLS The first students to enter a brand new charter school in Twin Falls will wear face masks. Pinecrest Academy principal Denise Schumacher is excited for the first day of school on Monday. She said the school is blazing new trails with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (with art coming soon). But the grand opening will feel a bit strange due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Schumacher said. I want all these kids to come on Monday all happy, she said. Theyre going to arrive and were going to have to take their temperature and they have to wear a mask. You want everything to be happy and fun but theres always that weight of COVID, she said. The school will open in a hybrid schedule, with about half of the students attending on Monday and Tuesday, and the other half attending on Thursday and Friday. Teachers will provide work for students to complete at home. The measure is in place to help with social distancing. All students and staff will be required to wear masks and temperatures will be checked daily. Pinecrest board chair Connie Stopher said the situation will be constantly monitored in consultation with health officials. I dont know that any system is perfect and this is new for everybody, she said. Were certainly taking it seriously because the health and safety of our students is our number one priority. Stopher said the pandemic has been tough for everyone involved. The board and staff have worked for months on developing the school, and they were looking forward to all of the normal events that mark the start of school. Well have all those experiences were missing out on eventually, she said. Its just going to be a little different for a little while. Schumacher said opening the school during a pandemic has been a little difficult. The school planned to take a maximum of 172 students this year, but about 40 families have dropped out due to the pandemic. Schumacher said she understands many parents are forced to make tough decisions about whats best for their children and family. As a parent of a kindergartner, do you want your child to go to school where theyre going to have to wear a mask and its scary? she asked. Some of the parents are saying, No, Im going to home-school my child. There was a plan to provide transportation to and from school, but the bus company canceled due to the pandemic. There was also a plan to offer meals through a federal program, but no providers were available. Both limited access to the school for some families. And while Pinecrest can offer some remote learning opportunities, school districts in the area simply have more resources available to them, she said. Still, Schumacher said she wont allow COVID-19 to be an excuse, and Pinecrest will continue to offer an engaging, STEM-based learning experience for students. The goal of the school is to encourage students to find their interests beyond the normal classroom, she said. The hands-on curriculum allows for creativity and exploration. Its the students taking command of their learning, she said. Stopher said STEM courses are taught in traditional districts, but few schools can integrate STEM into the entire curriculum. She said Pinecrest develops individual progress trackers for each student and offers a more personalized approach for student success. It really helps every student move forward, she said. Pinecrest is opening to grades K-5 this year and will add one grade level each year until its K-8. The school offers both half-day and full-day kindergarten. The full-day option costs $260 a month since the state doesnt fund it. The school is located in Twin Falls in the building complex near the First Presbyterian Church. The building has a gym, lunch room and several classrooms. Students also have access to nearby Twin Falls City Park. Schumacher said they hope to build their own school soon. Pinecrest Academy is an affiliate of Academica, a charter school network with schools across the country. The charter is approved through the Idaho Public Charter School Commission and is governed by its own independent school board. Charter schools in Idaho are free, public school options open to all students. They follow the same rules and regulations as public schools and participate in the same state mandated assessments. Interested families can still apply to join the school for the 2020-21 school year. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A woman from Alabama was given a life sentence after the murder of her 4-year-old daughter back in 2016. The mother, Stephanie Diane Smith, also known as Stephanie Diane Cooper, pleaded guilty on August 11. Murdered her daughter According to the report of NBC 3, Smith was brought to the courtroom in Athens, Alabama. Her pleading guilty spared her from receiving the death penalty. The plea means that she could be eligible for parole in the future, but it is not clear how much time she will need to serve before she becomes eligible. The New Courier reported that authorities initially could not determine the cause of death of the 4-year-old victim Zadie Wren Cooper, who died on July 7, 2016, at Huntsville Hospital. Three days before her death, Smith called 911 and reported that the child was not responding after she found her trapped between her bed and a wall. The family opted for a private autopsy for Zadie to help determine the cause of death, but while waiting on the results, Smith walked into a police station in Athens and asked to talk to a detective, nine months after her daughter's death. She then confessed that she used a pillow to suffocate her daughter to death. Also Read: Man Tortures Victims Mentally and Physically Before Stuffing Them in Freezer Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said during a 2017 news conference that Smith told them that she has mental issues and at the time she had some issues and she was not on her medication. Smith went into her daughter's room, put a pillow over her head as the child was sleeping on her back, and she smothered the child. When she came to her senses, she realized what she had done. She removed the pillow but the child was no longer breathing, that was when she called 911. According to Johnson, before Smith went to the police station, she sent text messages to five friends and admitted that she killed her daughter. Only one of the five friends shared the information with the police. Mental health issues Johnson also said that Smith suffered from numerous issues but he was not qualified to comment on Smith's mental health issues. Smith told investigators that she had not taken her medication for three days before the death of her daughter and admitted that she "sees red" and she does not know what happened until it goes away, as reported by Atlanta News. Johnson stated that Smith was in pain in the aftermath of her daughter's death and said that if she did not admit to what she had done, she might harm herself. According to court records, Smith and her husband, Joshua Cooper, were separated at the time of their daughter's death. The couple had been married for five years before filing for divorce in 2016. Cooper was the one who filed for divorce and he claimed that it as an "irretrievable breakdown of the marital relationship." He asked the court for joint custody of their daughter. Two months after Zadie's death, the court granted the divorce. Smith has been locked up at the Limestone County Jail since the 2017 confession. She is now scheduled to transfer to prison, even though it is not clear which one she will end up at. Related Article: One-Week-Old Infant Found Dead in Bucket of Tar, Parents Arrested @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Good news for Galaxy Watch3 owners in the US - FDA appears to have given the green light and it's now officially ECG-certified in the country. This was made clear with a firmware update that the US users started getting. The ECG monitor on the watch is one of its key features, just like Apple's Watch and the Galaxy Watch Active2, for example, and it's a shame that only a couple of markets can take the full advantage of the hardware. At least for now, only South Korea and the US have approved the ECG monitor. Additionally, the firmware adds VO2 Max measurements so you can check the maximum amount of oxygen consumption during training or resting. There's also a new personalized sleep score and Advanced Running Analysis feature that keeps you informed about your running and gives you helpful tips to improve your running form. Via US President Donald Trump on Thursday fanned the birther debate to target Kamala Harris, the same controversy he had used for years to question former president Barack Obamas eligibility for the American presidency. Harris is the first Black woman and Indian-American to run for vice-president. Since the announcement of her pick as Democratic candidate Joe Bidens running mate for the November 3 election, some fringe conservatives have questioned Harriss eligibility, arguing that while she was born in the US, her parents - mother from India and father from Jamaica - were not naturalised citizens of America at the time. Therefore, they argued, Harris may not be a natural born citizen as required by the US constitution to become president or vice-president. I heard it today that she (Harris) doesnt meet the requirements, and by the way, the lawyer who wrote the piece is highly qualified, very talented, Trump told reporters on Thursday when asked about questions being raised about Harris being an anchor baby, a term often used for children born to non-citizens during visits to the US with the aim of helping the rest of the family immigrate to America. Trump was referring to a column in the Newsweek that first floated this argument. I have no idea if thats right, Trump added. I would have assumed the Democrats wouldve checked that out before she gets chosen for vice-president. Thats very serious... theyre saying she doesnt qualify because she wasnt born in this country? the US president questioned. When told that Harris was indeed born in the US and that her parents may not have been legal residents or naturalised citizens at the time, he said. I dont know about it. I just heard about it. I will take a look. Harris, 55, was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, which makes her a natural born citizen, eligible to run for the White House or any other officer in the US. Her parents had met as graduate students at University of California, Berkeley. Harris sister speaks out in defence The Biden-Harris campaign hadnt immediately responded to Trumps tacit support for the unproven theory. Maya Harris, the younger sister of Kamala Harris, later tweeted, There are no gradations of birtherism. Youre either in or youre out. Trump started the birther debate in 2011 when he first seriously considered a run for the White House. He questioned Obamas eligibility for the presidency, wrongly alleging that he was not born in the US. Obama was born in Hawaii, but he felt compelled to release his birth records. Years later, Trump acknowledged that he was wrong. But in the intervening years, he used the same strategy to attack Ted Cruz, the last of his challengers in the Republican primaries. Cruz was born in Calgary, Canada, to a father who was from Cuba and a mother who was a natural born American citizen. Cruz lost the primaries and later went on to support Trump for the White House run. (Natural News) The fake news brigade is absolutely gushing over the appointment of Kamala Harris as Joe Bidens official running mate, highlighting all of her female-ness and ethnic-ness every chance it gets in order to set the stage for Kamala to become the lefts latest untouchable. Just like it did with Barack Obama, the mainstream media is taking every opportunity to point out that Kamala has slightly darker skin than many Americans, which automatically makes her an ethnic minority who cannot be criticized under any circumstances. And because she is also a woman, Kamala is even more so beyond reproach than even Obama. Even though women no longer even exist, according to the trans-embracing left, an apparent exception is being made for Kamala, who Susan Rice is predicting will now be a victim of racism and sexism every time someone criticizes her. Shes a great choice. Shes going to make a tremendous running mate for Joe Biden, Rice stated during a recent segment on NBCs Today program. Im very confident that the Biden / Harris ticket will be a winning one, which is what our country so needs right now. When asked by show co-host Savannah Guthrie what impact she believes Kamala will have on the race, Rice responded that black women are the backbone of this nation, not just of the Democratic Party. She then went on to declare that because of her kind-of black skin and lack of male genitalia (as far as we know), Kamala is sure to be victimized every time she is criticized by anyone. Yes, there will be those that employ racism and sexism, Rice told Guthrie, alluding back to claims made by failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton that she, too, was a victim of racism, which supposedly cost her the presidency. Look at Donald Trump yesterday, you know, calling her nasty. While admitting that Trump would have said that same type of thing about any person that Joe Biden selected on the ticket, Rice went on to paint Kamala as a unique type of victim due to her alleged minority status and the fact that she is not a biological man. There are those who will not retreat from that kind of divisiveness and hatred, and Donald Trump exemplifies it, Rice contends. You know, the Republicans, and Donald Trump in particular, have nothing to run on, except attacks, she added. They have set up to position their assault on whoever was to be the vice presidential select as left and socialist. Its not true. That is not who Kamala Harris is. Its not who Joe Biden is. So let them hurl their baseless attacks, its all theyve got. To keep up with the latest election news, be sure to check out Trump.news. If people can simply self-identify as whatever they want to be these days, then what does it matter the skin color or sex organs of Kamala Harris? It cannot be emphasized enough that these are the very same people who claim that there is no such thing as a woman, and that anyone can self-identify as whatever gender or even breed they wish. With that in mind, does it even matter who or what Kamala Harris is or claims to be? Try as they might to have it both ways, liberals need to get off the fence and decide whether or not skin color and gender truly exist. If they do not, as we have been continually told for years by the LGBTQ mafia, then Kamala Harris is basically just another rich white man like Biden, right? This would seem to be the only logically consistent conclusion based on prevailing LGBTQ doctrine. Let us know what you think in the comment section. Sources for this article include: Newsbusters.org NaturalNews.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:45:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen will participate in the 3rd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting via video conference on Aug. 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement on Saturday. Laos and China will co-chair the virtual meeting, the statement said. LMC consists of six countries, namely China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Under the theme "Enhancing Partnership for Shared Prosperity", the leaders will review the progress made pursuant with the directions set by the Sanya Declaration in 2016; Phnom Penh Declaration in 2018; and the Five-Year Action Plan on LMC (2018-2022), the statement said. The leaders will also chart future directions for widening cooperation, and further promote the mutual trust as well as strengthen partnership among the LMC countries. "The leaders will also focus on the LMC's collective efforts in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting the post COVID-19 socio-economic recovery," the statement said. "The 3rd LMC Leaders' Meeting will highlight the significance of sustained peace and long term sustainable development in the Lancang-Mekong region as well as promote peaceful co-existence among the LMC countries," it added. Lancang is the Chinese name for the upper reaches of the Mekong River, and the trunk stream stretches over 4,000 km through the six countries. Enditem Counsel General of Paraguay, Kanwar Muhammad Tariq here on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Professor Dr. N. B. Jumani, Acting President, international Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI). ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2020 ) :Counsel General of Paraguay, Kanwar Muhammad Tariq here on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Professor Dr. N. B. Jumani, Acting President, international Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI). According to press release, the issues pertaining to bilateral interest and possibilities of mutual cooperation between IIUI and universities of Paraguay were discussed. Kanwar appreciated the achievements of IIUI. He also hailed the university for catering the need of Islamic teachings as well as contemporary disciplines. He said IIUI was a great international hub of learning that was providing quality education to a large number of Muslim countries' students. On the occasion, Prof. Dr.Jumani gave a briefing about the history and general information of IIUI. He highlighted the goals and objectives of IIUI. He said the university was always keen to enhance friendly relations with universities across the world. He reiterated his resolve that IIUI would keep pursuing the aim of dissemination of islam's message of peace. He said the university looked forward to working with universities of Paraguay. Kamala Harris: More opinions on Bidens VP pick Kamala Harris was named as Joe Bidens running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. Read more about Harris, who was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic primary. Explore opinion pieces about Harris on the Democratic ticket: Listen to a July interview with Harris on Jonathan Capeharts podcast. Read a 2019 Post op-ed by Harris: Our teacher pay gap is a national failure. Heres how we can fix it. Sign up for The Odds newsletter for election updates from data columnist David Byler. The Samopomich Party will run for the local elections in Ukraine on October 25. The party has approved this decision during its 22nd congress on Saturday, according to its website. The party leader, Oksana Syroyid, said that it is the first time over the years of independence of Ukraine when the country does not have institutional power. "We have the parliament, we have the president, we have the government, but there is no institutional power, because the people who represent it do not make decisions independently. The oligarchs and Russia make use of this through promoting their agents and agenda," she said. Syroyid also said that Ukrainian non-oligarchic businesses need fair rules from the government. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_3f3.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_3f3 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_3f3.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_3f3.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_3f3.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Professor Habu Shuaibu Galadima, has said the challenges facing the country and Africa require new and innovative thinking. Professor Shuaibu made this statement at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NIPSS; the Dantiye Centre for Good Leadership and Journalism (DCLJ) and the JS Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative (CGPSI). He said, We must dig deep within ourselves and reach beyond our comfort zones for useful, practical and beneficial solutions. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_999.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_999 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_999.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_999.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_999.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Listing the challenges facing the country and the sub-region, he said, With the insurgency in the Sahel impacting parts of Nigeria and a number of other countries in the region; political tensions, often related to elections; disputes over trade and regional protocols; significant climate changes affecting the largely agrarian economies of the region; not to mention the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications for public policy, particularly public health, safety and the economy, the world is indeed going through a period that tasks the creative energy, innovative spirit and imagination of institutions such as NIPSS. He said the problems confronting the world also presented unique opportunities, adding that the MoU would provide the framework for the National Institute to seize the opportunities. Galadima said the focal objective of the MoU is to promote, establish and maintain cooperation and mutual assistance in the provision of training and strategic policy research and advisory support in the field of regional (Africa) and global issues. He said, We are confident that this partnership will also assist Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region in the quest to promote collaborative politics; the ECOWAS protocols on good governance; the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and the African Union Agenda 2063; the United Nations Agenda 2030; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also present at the signing was the Chairman of the Dantiye Centre, Emeritus Professor Munzali Jibril and the Chairman of the CGPSI, Dr. Jonathan Sandy, represented by Dr. Tony Karbo. The ceremony was witnessed by senior management of NIPSS; members of the Board of Trustees of the Dantiye Centre; affiliates of the CGPSI from Cote dIvoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, UK, USA and Australia; and members of the AU-Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), Lusaka. Background on the partners: The Dantiye Centre based in Kano, Nigeria, brings to the table some of the most versatile and illustrious experts in public policy and management, including Emeritus Professor Munzali Jibril (Chairman), former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), and former Provost of the Nigerian Defence Academy; and Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, former Minister of National Planning, who has just been appointed Honorary Economic and Regional Development Adviser to DCLJ, among others. The Centre for Governance and Security Policy (CGPSI) with headquarters in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is a regional consortium accredited to the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) and is headed by Dr. Jonathan Sandy, a former national security adviser in his country and a widely sought-after expert in political and economic governance, stabilization, peace safety, security and leadership. /* custom css */ .tdi_76_7ef.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_76_7ef .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_76_7ef.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_76_7ef.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_76_7ef.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Ram Mandir finds a mention in PM Modis Independence Day speech India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: During his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the Ram Mandir. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News He said that the construction of a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya started 10 days back. The Ram Janmabhoomi issue has prevailed for centuries. This has however now been resolved peacefully, the PM also said. The world saw what our soldiers did at Ladakh: PM Modi The conduct of the people has been unprecedented and this has been an inspiration for the future, the PM also said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5 laid the foundation stone at 12.44.08 for construction of grand Ram Mandir. Nine bricks have been kept here. They were sent by the devotees of Lord Ram from around the world in 1989. There are 2.75 lakh such bricks with the engraving Jai Shri Ram the priest presiding over the Bhumi Pujan said. Over the weekend in Belarus, demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko, and his dubious reelection earlier this month, showed no signs of slowing down. They gathered momentum as his challenger, 37-year-old Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who had been forced to leave the country, issued a video message calling for continued protests. She also formed a coordinating council, whose goal is a peaceful transfer of power. After cracking down on the protests with savage violence and reports of systematic torture of arrested protesters, the police began to stand aside and let the peaceful protests continue. Lukashenko, in the meantime, was reported to be on the phone with longtime ally - and foil - Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing his options, including potentially fleeing to Russia. This would be a repeat of 2014, when Putin helped then-President Viktor Yanukovych flee Ukraine after months of energetic protests. We know what followed: Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, which sparked a slow-moving war that continues to this day. Now Putin has a choice: Does he repeat his 2014 maneuver - letting Lukashenko flee while gobbling up Belarus, risking a backlash from the West - or does he allow the situation to play out and modulate his interference? The fate of Belarus depends on what he decides. Putin is in a strange spot, with protests on at least two sides: To the west, the people of Belarus - a former Soviet republic closely linked to Russia by the countries' shared history and culture, and tethered by a still-vague integration agreement - have taken to the streets. The protests have spread, from the country's intelligentsia to its miners, public transportation workers and even soldiers and police, who've begun balking at their role in keeping fellow Belarusians at bay. To the east, Khabarovsk - a major city near Russia's Pacific Coast and seven time zones from Moscow - has been in revolt for weeks after Putin removed a popularly elected governor and replaced him with a hand-selected loyalist. If he hasn't made it abundantly clear by now, Putin hates protests. Ever since he was a KGB officer based in Dresden, in East Germany, and watched as protests eroded the Soviet empire, he's viewed popular protests as harbingers of instability, violence and, worse, the collapse of the state. It was why, in 2005, Putin called the collapse of the Soviet Union "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe." Two years ago, he reprised the sentiment, saying he would undo the dismantling of the U.S.S.R. if he could. When George W. Bush became president, Putin saw American democracy-promotion turn into regime change. He's seen dissenters topple Moscow-friendly leaders in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine - former Soviet republics that Putin considered his, at least in terms of Russia's sphere of influence. After America's vocal support for these "color revolutions," he saw America act as the bellows in the Middle East, where initially peaceful protests of the Arab Spring turned to violent confrontation. By the time Ukrainians forced out Yanukovych, Putin decided he'd seen enough. He seized Crimea, backed an armed revolt in eastern Ukraine and intervened in Syria's civil war to help its president, Bashar Assad, claw back lost territory at any cost. Last year, he sent reinforcements to Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, who was facing unprecedented popular protests and a challenge from opposition leader Juan Guaido, who was briefly backed by the Trump administration. Bombing humanitarian aid convoys in Syria and shelling civilians in eastern Ukraine was, for Putin, a small price to pay to reestablish what is, for him, the most important norm: that of national sovereignty. But Putin means something very different by the term. For him, national sovereignty means that no foreign country can tell someone like him - or Assad or Yanukovych or Maduro - what to do inside his country, even the violent suppression of its citizens' dissent. In his view, the leader of a state is by definition legitimate, even if he (and it's always a he) was elected through fraud, and a popular uprising to topple him is, as Putin called protests that forced out Yanukovych, an "unconstitutional coup." In Moscow, at least some Putin allies have floated the idea of applying force in Belarus. "You know, it's about time for polite people to restore order as only they know how," tweeted Margarita Simonyan, editor in chief of Russia Today, the Kremlin-owned propaganda channel. She was referring to the "little green men" - alternatively known in Russia as "polite people" - the Russian soldiers who appeared in Crimea without identifying insignia to lay the groundwork for Moscow's annexation of the peninsula. And it's possible Putin may have been contingency-planning something of the sort: On July 29, 33 Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were reportedly arrested outside Minsk. (Others apparently disappeared into the woods.) Wagner is controlled by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, known as "Putin's chef," and who according to a now-dropped 2018 U.S. indictment also operates the Internet Research Agency, the troll farm implicated in Russia's interference in America's 2016 presidential election. Wagner sends mercenaries to do Russia's unofficial fighting in places like eastern Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Venezuela and the Central African Republic, among others - so what were they doing in Belarus? Were they there to create chaos, or prevent it . . . or were they, as Russian officials reportedly said, bound for Venezuela, using Minsk as a transit hub that remained open during the pandemic? It remains unclear but should raise eyebrows, given Wagner's involvement in covertly enforcing Russia's will abroad and their presence in Belarus so close to what was already bound to be a contentious election. Intervening in Belarus to help Lukashenko put down the protests against his rule would reinforce Putin's red line on toppling friendly dictators. Lukashenko is already playing on Putin's fears of a color revolution in Russia, saying publicly that, if these protests aren't stopped, "this wave will roll over there" - to Moscow. And even though Putin and Lukashenko have a love-hate relationship at best, propping him up would also send an unmistakable message to Europe, which is already busy crafting sanctions against Belarus, that Belarus is still firmly in the Russian sphere of influence - and Russia's buffer state between itself and NATO. America is too busy with its own troubles and led by a president who is almost comically enamored of Putin, so doing so carries little risk for Putin on that front. In the era of President Donald Trump, Putin knows he can be bolder and brasher with little consequence. But putting his thumb on the scale in Belarus carries other risks. Unlike in parts of Ukraine, where pro-Russian and genuine separatist sentiment could be found in 2014, Belarusians, increasingly, are against joining Russia, a topic that has been openly debated in both Russia and Belarus for years. Moreover, by invading Ukraine, Russia lost its closest ally, and both Russians and Ukrainians grieved the split between the two "brotherly" (Slavic) nations. Ukraine was always pulled in different directions by Europe and Russia, but the Russian invasion embittered Ukrainians to a degree that will be inordinately difficult to repair. Is Putin willing to lose Belarusians for a generation, too? And though American sanctions are unlikely, new European sanctions would certainly sting. Russia has far more trade ties with Europe than with the U.S., and the pandemic has not been kind to Russia's economy. Putin's path of least resistance may be simply letting the situation play out, without Russian intervention, and to make a deal with whoever is Belarus's president when the dust settles. And since no kind of cooperation offer is on the table from Europe - the lifeline thrown to Ukraine by the European Union that sparked the 2014 anti-Moscow revolution - Putin can afford to let things shake out in Belarus without getting his hands dirtier than absolutely necessary. What Putin does will help explain how he sees his present relationship with Europe and the United States. If he opts for the more restrained course, it would indicate that he thinks that he's in a position of strength, and that he no longer sees the West as the same threat it once was. Some of the recent chirping in Russian media suggests that this approach is being considered. If he opts to openly, aggressively intervene in the affairs of another neighboring, formerly Soviet state, it would be a reminder that, as much as Putin has adapted and transformed himself to hold on to power for two decades, an old KGB officer staring down a protest rarely changes his stripes. - - - Ioffe, a correspondent for GQ Magazine, is currently at work on a book about Russia. New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee's condition remains unchanged on Saturday (August 15, 2020) morning, stated the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. Issuing a statement, the hospital said: "He continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists." Pranab Mukherjee had was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition after a large clot was detected in his brain. He underwent an emergency life-saving surgery. Post surgery the former President continues to remain critical on ventilatory support. Mukherjee had tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19 on August 10 before his surgery. The veteran Congress leader had informed via a post on Twitter that he was at the hospital for a procedure when he was tested positive for COVID-19. He wrote: "On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for Covid-19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for Covid-19." Pranab Mukherjee was elected as India's 13th President, he served from July 2012 to 2017. Iran says it has the right to self-defense and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the nuclear deal United Nations: The United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly rejected a US resolution to extend an Iranian arms embargo on Friday, in a move with huge repercussions for the Iran nuclear deal. Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favour, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord in May 2018. The result increases the likelihood that the US will try to unilaterally force a return of UN sanctions, which experts say threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, signed in July 2015 and officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under the deal, negotiated by then US president Barack Obama, Iran committed to curtailing its nuclear activities for sanctions relief and other benefits. Since Trump pulled out and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran under a campaign of "maximum pressure," Tehran has since taken small but escalating steps away from compliance with the nuclear accord as it presses for sanctions relief. European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East. However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA. The US text, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear agreement. Iran says it has the right to self-defense and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the nuclear deal. Pompeo announced that members had failed to back the proposal around 30 minutes before Indonesia, the current president of the Security Council, announced that the official results included two votes against and 11 abstentions. Russia and China opposed the resolution. "The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail," China's UN mission tweeted. 'Snapback' Ambassador Gunter Sautter of Germany, which abstained, said "more consultations are needed" to find a solution that is acceptable to all council members. During a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders "discussed the urgent need for UN action to extend the arms embargo on Iran." Earlier Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on China, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf. The United States has threatened to try to force a return of UN sanctions if it is not extended by using a controversial technique called "snapback." Pompeo has offered the contested argument that the United States remains a "participant" in the nuclear accord as it was listed in the 2015 resolution -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms. European allies have been skeptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and warn that the attempt may delegitimize the Security Council. Anne Gueguen, France's deputy permanent representative, said her country had abstained and urged efforts to find a consensus. "The period before the expiry of restrictions should be used to consider, in good faith, all diplomatic options," she said. Nevertheless, the US is expected to deliver the snapback letter next week, AFP understands. Analysts suspect that Washington purposefully put forward a hardline draft that it knew Council members would not be able to accept. "The fact is that everybody at the UN believes this (resolution) is just a prelude to a US effort to trigger snapback and sink the Iranian nuclear deal," Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. Sisters K.T. Johnson and Krysta Holten run the stand, selling coffee, ham and cheese croissants, biscuits and gravy, and of course, their grandparents signature BBQ sauce. They did stiff business after putting the tent in order. Johnson said the sisters usually have a stand for the Winter Farmers Market and were enjoying their morning at the airfields. We do food for fun, Johnson said. For pilots Kasey Schwemmer and Patrick Cloyd of Wichita, Kansas, its the nature of the ballooning beast. We want to fly, so its frustrating, Schwemmer said. Its definitely a part of it. We both have been in ballooning a really long time, so its just part of it. Pilot Mark Whiting of Denver chose to look at Fridays experience with some levity. Well, there's enough wind that I dont have to use my fan to inflate the balloon, he said. Theres enough wind that if I did inflate it, its tied to that truck back there that weighs 7,800 pounds, and its tied to my vehicle that weighs 7,000 pounds, and it would pull both of them. ... This is about 17 tons of mass, and the only way to stop it is friction. The law cautions businesses in relying upon an undue hardship in refusing to provide an accommodation. The fact that the employer provides or would be required to provide a similar accommodation to other classes of employees shall create a rebuttable presumption that the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the employer, the law states. Employers cannot retaliate against any worker who requests or uses a reasonable accommodation by taking adverse action against that person. For example, the business cannot require an employee take leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Like with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Virginia law requires that employers engage in the interactive process to evaluate the needs of the employee and what accommodation can be provided. The law requires that companies post in a conspicuous location and include in any employee handbook information concerning an employees rights to reasonable accommodation. This same information must be provided directly to new employees when the worker begins and to any employee who tells her employer within 10 days that she is pregnant. British travellers rushed home from summer holidays in France on Friday, booking planes, trains, boats and even private jets to get home before a 14-day quarantine comes into force in response to rising coronavirus infections there. The government announced late on Thursday that it would impose a quarantine from 0300 GMT on Saturday on arrivals from France, giving an estimated 160,000 UK holidaymakers there just over 24 hours to get home or face self-isolation on return. The sudden rule change dealt a fresh blow to tourists, airlines and tour operators. The pandemic has left many travel groups cash-strapped and fighting for survival. Many British tourists headed towards the French port of Calais hoping to catch a ferry or a shuttle train home in time. "We've changed our plans when we heard the news last night. We decided to head back home a day early to miss the quarantine," one British woman at a service station on the motorway to Calais said after her week in southern France. Queues of cars built up in Calais through Friday afternoon. Ferry companies were adding extra crossings to help more people get home, Jean-Marc Puissesseau, head of the Port of Calais, told Reuters. PrivateFly, a British-based jet provider, said it had seen three times the normal number of enquiries and bookings. The new quarantine rules apply to France, the second-most popular holiday destination for Britons, as well as to the Netherlands and the Mediterranean island of Malta. Spain, Britons' favourite holiday destination, came under British government quarantine rules on July 26. "We've also had a number of enquiries from clients booked to travel to these destinations in the coming weeks to change their travel plans in order to avoid quarantine zones," PrivateFly CEO Adam Twidell said. France warned it would reciprocate, dealing a further blow to airlines' hopes of an August recovery given they may have to cancel yet more flights. Story continues Airline and travel shares tumbled. British Airways-owner IAG was down 6% and easyJet, which said it would operate its full schedule for the coming days, fell 7%. Tightening quarantine When Europe first went into lockdown in March, Britain was criticised for not restricting arrivals from abroad. But since June, it has introduced strict quarantine rules for arrivals from countries with infection rates above a certain level. This contrasts with an easing of rules at home, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered the gradual reopening of the economy to resume, weeks after pausing it. Transport minister Grant Shapps said the government needed to balance the need to open the economy and to contain the virus. The UK recorded 1,441 COVID-19 cases, the highest daily tally since June 14, official data showed on Friday. Shapps told BBC Radio he sympathised with travellers but that they should not be entirely surprised, given the fluid situation around the pandemic. "Where we see countries breach a certain level of cases ... then we have no real choice but to act," he told Sky News. Airlines UK, an industry body representing BA, easyJet and Ryanair, called on Britain to implement more targeted quarantines on the regions with the highest infection rates and to bring in a testing regime. An EU study showed that imported cases of COVID typically only account for a small share of infections when a pandemic is at its peak, but are more significant once a country has the disease under control. (REUTERS) COVID-19 to border aggression: The challenges faced by Indians in China India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: India's Ambassador to China Vikram Misri sad that Indians both in the country and China are facing twin challenges of a pandemic and aggression at the border. "As you just heard from the President's address, 2020 has been a very unusual year, including for us here in China. We here, and people in India, of course, have had to face up to the twin challenges of Covid-19 as well as aggression on our borders. Misri held talks with Major General Ci Guowei, Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Misri briefed him about India's stance on the border issue in eastern Ladakh. India briefs Chinas top military body about its stance on border issue Meanwhile Anurag Srivastava, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides agreed on the broad principles of disengagement and based on it some progress had been earlier made. I must add that translating these principles on the ground is a complex process that requires deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective side of the Line of Actual Control. It is natural that this can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions, he also said. He further added that we would like the ongoing disengagement process to be completed at the earliest. It is also important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed actions by both sides, Srivastava also added. Srivastava also said, "we, therefore, expect the Chinese side to sincerely work with us towards the objective of complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas as agreed by the Special Representatives. This is also necessary and essential in the context of overall development of our bilateral relationship. As External Affairs Minister had noted in a recent interview, the state of the border, and the future of our ties cannot be separated." Misri had earlier met with Liu Jianchaou, the deputy director office of the CPC Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission. During the meeting, Misri meet Jianchaou of India's stance on the situation on the borders on easter Ladakh and the overall bilateral relations. The meeting was important considering the influence Liu holds with the CPC's foreign affairs division. He would be able to convey the need to resolve the border row at a political level. Sources tell OneIndia that New Delhi is looking for another round of official talks through an established diplomatic channel. The talks are likely to take place next week, the official cited above also said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 15, 2020, 16:45 [IST] Firefighters battled a fire early Saturday morning on Roberts Mill Road. At 7:30 a.m, a 911 call was made reporting a house fire at 505 Roberts Mill Road. The Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded and arrived on the scene reporting a single-story house was fully involved with fire. Dallas Bay VFD requested a Mutual Aid response for additional manpower. The Mowbray VFD responded to the fire scene and Chattanooga Fire Department stood by at the Dallas Bay VFD station for any additional emergency calls in the Dallas Bay area. Since fire had consumed the entire home, firefighters conducted a defensive attack to contain the fire. No injuries were reported, but HCEMS was on the scene for potential injuries to firefighters. The cause of the fire will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. Damages are unknown at this time. I wonder how many readers will advise her to tone down her anger, or advise her on how not to alienate white voters from Middle America. Or maybe readers will advise her to wear less gold jewelry or more lipstick. I suppose I should be grateful you didnt ask her for a cookie recipe. Sari Boren Cambridge, Mass. To the Editor: Dear Senator Harris: I was an early supporter a huge fan, of your intellect, charisma, commitment. I stopped supporting you for president because of your debate performance. An awful lot of my Democratic friends felt similarly. Your attacks on Joe Bidens record on busing did not make you look good rather, it made him a sympathetic character. You appeared smug, and with the That Little Girl Was Me T-shirts coming out the next day, it all looked extremely contrived. Unappealing, at best. When you go after Mike Pence, and I hope you do, please keep this in mind. You are a brilliant debater, but consider how it plays in Peoria or in my case, Wisconsin. Now, go help Joe Biden win and save our nation. Kate Canfield Loftus Janesville, Wis. To the Editor: Like Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harriss biggest weakness is the perception that she is a political opportunist seeking the fame and notoriety that comes with being a major nominee, especially as the first woman of color to do so. President Trump is already attempting to exploit this by branding her as phony Kamala. My advice to Ms. Harris is to shape her own public conduct in the fashion of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Mr. Obama never made a big deal about being the first Black nominee, and neither should Ms. Harris about her groundbreaking nomination. Mr. Biden never acted as if he deserved the support of his voters, and neither should Ms. Harris. If Ms. Harris focuses on asking voters for their support and ignores the media hype about her race and gender, she will be successful. Garrison Brazeal St. Louis To the Editor: Ms. Harris, you and Joe Biden must distance yourselves from the far left on defunding the police, the violence in the cities and the absurd removal of statues of everyone who did not conform to 21st-century values. No waffling clear, concise statements of what is acceptable and not acceptable. Get out in front of these issues now! otherwise you will lose many moderates come November. Henry Lyons Allentown, Pa. To the Editor: I watched all the Democratic debates and was somewhat dismayed at Kamalas style. She did not come across as authentic. Yet when I watched her at Senate hearings, she was strong, articulate, focused and very self-assured. I sense that when it is about her, she feels the need to try to impress and dazzle. But when she is going after the bad actors, she is focused on the issue or on the person behaving badly, and she tackles it with facts and figures. Peadar ONeill, son of William who was convicted for taking part in the IRA attack on the Coastguard in Enniscrone 100 years ago The 26th of August may not immediately come to mind as a significant date in Irish history, but for the beautiful village of Enniscrone, that date will mark one hundred years since its Coastguard Station was attacked and completely destroyed by upwards of one hundred and fifty members of the North Mayo Brigade of the IRA. A century later there may be no physical trace left of the substantial building which once stood close to the Pier (during WW2 what remained of the structure was levelled and used in the foundation of what is locally known as the Burmah Road, which joins Cliff Road to Pier Road) but within Enniscrone itself, there are still those living who have a direct link with the dramatic events of Thursday 26th of August 1920. A file I recently discovered in the British National Archives Office contains the most extraordinary detail of the events which took place, and the individuals whose lives were about to change as a result of their involvement in this particular action of the War of Independence. Previous to the unearthing of this file, historians of the period could refer to various Republican accounts or newspaper reporting of the event. The excellent online resource of the Irish Military Archives has over 50 references to Enniscrone in the Military Service Pension applications released so far, and likewise the Bureau of Military History Witness Statements have 10 references. Possibly the most detailed account of the attack given by one of the participants, is the interview given by Matt Kilcawley from Enniscrone, which was conducted in November 1951. It was published in "The men will talk to me, Mayo interviews by Ernie O'Malley." "The operation was timed for 8.20pm and one Company was mobilised at 7pm. We entered Enniscrone with the people in threes and fours and some of the lads remained in doors of houses. "People walked past the walls of the Coastguard Station. It is near the Pier and there is a local house near the slip. "The Pier is a centre for gathering and for bathing also. "The original plan was not changed, and at ten past eight on the cliff road, mid way between the village and the pier, and at least 300 yards from it, the plan was to rush the Watch House which was independent of the Coastguard Station, and usually a Coastguard was there on watch with a telescope. "We came down the sea road, the Cliff Road, and we stopped near the boat house, and we checked up on the placing of the men. "There were quite a number of visitors about at the time, at least a couple of hundred of them. "Four men who were armed with revolvers jumped the wall and held up the two armed guards and got them, and then they pushed them in the front door of the station. "The arms of the garrison were on the first floor opposite the stairway over the entrance. When the two Coastguards had been held up, twelve men jumped over the wall and followed them in the door to get control of the arms room first. "Another group of men went to the rear of the building and stood to guard the doors which opened on to the sea and out offices, which were separated from the main building. They did duty there at night. "There was a wall to the rear with these openings so a group of us entered there from the sea and had the windows under fire. Cocks of hay gave an ideal approach to the openings, under cover. "I was with the group on the openings and a brother of mine was on the rushing party. "We carried the barrels down the leg of our pants, and/or you stuck it under the coat, and you walked stiff legged. "I have shot deer at night with a ball cartridge and a torch. A ball cartridge is deadly accurate up to seventy yards. "We had ball bearings of bicycles and scrap iron in our cartridges. The ball is effective now matter where it hits, and is over half an inch in diameter, and we would run it in candle grease. "There were two Marines on this corridor but one of our fellows got panicky and started to fire. One of the Marines blazed all around him with a revolver. "He did fire out at the fellows who were outside close to us before he was overpowered. They were shot at also, but no one was wounded. The rifles and the revolvers were taken out. "They had revolvers on the ends of their beds, four revolvers there. "On our way down to the station at Tighes corner, two Coastguards pulled up, a Marine and a Coastguard with supplies were captured and two more Coastguards were taken at Mahon's, the nearest pub in the village as they were drinking. "That disposed of ten plus four Marines. There were Officers in the building then for us to disarm, six rifles and six revolvers. The old rifles were much heavier than the Long Lee Enfield. "They took a .303 cartridge, and they were lovely rifles for sniping, and they were more accurate than the Short Lee Enfield. "At least six to eight revolvers, a big amount of ammunition. "They had bell-mouthed guns for signals and telescopes and binoculars, a big amount of .45 and .303 ammunition. Very pistols also. "There was a good deal of gelignite there, for after the RIC vacated the barracks, the gelignite was kept there for County Council work and detonators and fuses as well. "After clearing the arms out to my home place, one and a half miles away, we buried it. By the shore way you could come up under my home. "The other party then remained behind and burned the building with petrol and paraffin. "These had been brought down that evening. "Also there were men with ladders on the north side of the station. With crow bars and sledges with a view to getting on to the roof on the north side if we didn't get in the front door. "These tools had been hidden away the previous night and some of them were brought in that evening. "The local people were one hundred per cent reliable. "When the attack started a party moved in behind a ditch and hid in under the wall which was five feet high. ")We came up towards the village then for the public didn't know except for the sudden shots. "The furniture and stuff was taken out and their personal property was not destroyed. But any of the Station stuff was destroyed. We did not destroy either their boat or the boathouse and into this latter they stored their personal belongings. "The women, four of five of them, were very aggressive, the men were not. The building was completely destroyed and our fellows cleared away from it at 12 o'clock." I also discovered that amongst the Volunteers who took part in this attack, was Frank Shouldice, a native of Ballaghadereen, who had fought in the 1916 Rising (his sister Eva had been engaged for a period of time to Harry Boland). He had surrendered at the Four Courts, was deported to Stafford Gaol and then transferred to Frongoch. Arrested again in May 1918 under the "German Plot" he was held in Usk Prison from where he escaped in January 1919. In May of 1919 he took part in the burning of Ballaghadereen Courthouse. An unusual aspect to the life of Frank Shouldice was the fact that he ran a mobile cinema business, and for a period of time rented the townhall in Enniscrone for his cinema. A more familiar name from Ballina also appears on the list of Volunteers who participated that night, and in a sworn statement made before the Pension Advisory Committee on the 19th of March 1937, Phelim Calleary confirms that he had been armed with a revolver and had been one of the party who held up the Coastguard in Enniscrone. Three arrested and jailed after trial in Belfast Two days later, in the early hours of Saturday 28th of August a large force of RIC accompanied by British military arrived in Enniscrone. At 4am they headed first to the home of William O'Neill, a twenty year old local fisherman. He was sleeping when the RIC and military entered his bedroom. While searching the room, RIC Sergeant William Connolly from Sligo noticed a jacket hanging on the wall near the bed. He asked the now awake William O'Neill if it was his jacket and he replied that it was. On searching the jacket, Connolly found one revolver cartridge in the right hand pocket. William O'Neill was immediately arrested and charged with "Breaking and entering the Coastguard Station at Enniscrone" he made no reply. The next home to be visited by the RIC and Military that morning was that of nineteen year old blacksmith James Dowd. After an exhaustive search of the home nothing was found. James Dowd was arrested, and on being charged by RIC Constable Hugh Malley, James Dowd replied "I know nothing about it." The final home to be raided in Enniscrone that morning was of nineteen year old tailor Joseph Kelly. Once again nothing was found after searching the property. Kelly was arrested by RIC Sergeant William Connolly, and made no reply to the charges. A fourth man, Martin Tolan from Enniscrone had been arrested as he fitted the description of the leader of the attack, but no details of his arrest were included within the file. The four prisoners were immediately transported under heavy military guard to Sligo Gaol where they were held for identification purposes. While being held in Sligo Gaol, Tolan wrote to The County Inspector of the RIC in Sligo protesting his innocence and insisted that he had been in Belmullet that evening until 7pm. The District Inspector RIC Ballina confirmed by cipher that "Tolan was motoring at Ballina on the night of 26th of August and was held up by the police between 9.30pm and 10pm." Tolan was released from Sligo Gaol shortly after. The remaining three men were held in Sligo Gaol for a month, they were then transported by British Naval Destroyer to Belfast and imprisoned in Crumlin Road Gaol awaiting Court Martial. The Court Martial of William O'Neill, James Dowd and Joseph Kelly took place in Victoria Barracks Belfast at 11am on Tuesday 26th of October 1920. There were two Prosecution Witnesses, Chief Officer Coastguard Arthur Thomas Livermore and his wife Alice Livermore. Following the Court Martial, William O'Neill was sentenced to three months imprisonment. James Dowd and Joseph Kelly were sentenced to one years hard labour each, a sentence which was served in Cardiff Prison. Joseph Kelly died on the 18th of December 1977 aged 77. William O'Neill died on the 26th of March 1969 aged 69. James Dowd died on the 9th of November 1964 aged 64. While researching this event I was struck by two things; The first one being the fact that an operation on this scale could be launched successfully by upwards of 150 men, and that there were no casualties on either side, is incredible in itself. Secondly, as someone who now lives in Enniscrone, I can't help but think of what it must have been like for three young men (two of them teenagers) to be taken in the dead of night, transported to Sligo Gaol and then by British Naval Destroyer to Belfast, which was at the time, a crucible of sectarian hatred and conflict in 1920.I am indebted to Peader O'Neill of Carrowhubbock South, Enniscrone for sharing with me the story of his father, William O'Neill. Frank Fagan lives in Enniscrone and is a Volunteer in the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina. He would like to hear from anyone who has family connections with, or stories from the War of Independence and Civil War, from all sides and none. He will be happy to assist and guide those family members through the available archives. He can be contacted at frankfagan1963@gmail.com Days after Natasha Suri tested COVID-19 positive, her actor sister Rupali Suri took to social media to confirm having contracted the coronavirus. Rupali wrote on her Instagram stories that she had developed symptoms like fever and loss of smell. "I am detected covid positive. I had series of symptoms like fever, choked nose and throat, loss of smell and so on. But in all this I continued my yoga and breathing exercises... of course not in a vigorous way. But to keep myself sparked up it's a mind over body game. It's a serious illness. It can shake you up. But, positive mind can defeat positive Covid," the actor said on Friday. She added that she is in constant touch with the doctors and they have asked her to be home quarantined. "I am taking all the medications prescribed and actually am in good spirits. On August 9, Natasha had said she had gone to Pune and fell sick on her return to Mumbai. Follow @htshowbiz for more Ukraine "has taken note" of Belarus' move. Lukashenko "has made a choice in favor of Russia" by handing over to President Vladimir Putin the group of Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Private Military Company detained outside Minsk late July on charges of plotting to destabilize the country amid the election campaign. That's according to Eugene Yenin, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, who spoke with Ukraine 24 TV channel. He has noted that the Ukrainian side had been working toward having mercenaries handed over to Kyiv. "Belarus is a party to the Minsk Convention on legal assistance in criminal cases As far as I know, the Ukrainian side has submitted relevant documents for consideration by the Belarus side and based on those documents, the so-called extradition vetting had to be launched, which is about checking whether there are grounds for extradition or not," Yenin said. Read alsoUkraine's chief prosecutor not officially invited to Belarus on PMC Wagner members' extraditionRussia does not hand out own citizens, Yenin recalled, speaking with Ukraine 24 TV channel, noting that initially, "we did not rule out the possibility that Lukashenko would play the issue and use it as a bargaining chip, first of all with Russia and now we have seen that he's made a choice in favor of Russia." Also, Yenin took to Facebook to say Ukraine has "taken note" of Belarus government's decision to extradite mercenaries back to Russia rather than hand them over to Ukraine to be probed for crimes they committed in the Donbas warzone. So far, these individuals have managed to escape responsibility, but this is not the end of the story (after all, there is still Interpol) "The Ukrainian side (first of all, the central competent body of Ukraine for extradition) has made appropriate efforts to prosecute offenders suspected of committing grave crimes in Donbas. So far, these individuals have managed to escape responsibility, but this is not the end of the story (after all, there is still Interpol)," Yenin wrote on Facebook. "Also, I'd like to recall the reciprocity principle it often plays an important role in decision-making on international legal assistance and extradition," Yenin noted, adding that Belarus, as a state bordering Ukraine, "ranks 2nd in the number of legal assistance and extradition requests among all of Ukraine's international partners". I'd like to recall the reciprocity principle it often plays an important role in decision-making on international legal assistance and extradition Wagner PMC mercenaries in Belarus On July 29, fighters with PMC Wagner were detained in Belarus. Thirty-two were apprehended outside Minsk, and one more was detained in the south of the country. Among detainees were those who had fought against Ukraine in Donbas, Ukrainian authorities said. Belarus' law enforcement agencies reported that they had been tipped about the deployment of more than 200 foreign fighters to destabilize the country during the presidential election campaign. Belarus asked the Ukrainian authorities to verify the detainees' involvement in crimes committed in Ukraine. Operation Legend Expanded to Memphis and St. Louis Today, the expansion of Operation Legend was announced in Memphis and St. Louis. Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The Operation was first launched on July 8 in Kansas City, MO., and expanded on July 22, 2020, to Chicago and Albuquerque, and to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020. Operation Legend is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. The most basic responsibility of government is to protect the safety of our citizens, said Attorney General William P. Barr. Today, we have extended Operation Legend to Memphis and St. Louis, two cities experiencing increases in violent crime that no resident of those cities should have to accept as part of everyday life. For decades, the Department of Justice has achieved significant success when utilizing our anti-violent crime task forces and federal law enforcement agents to enforce federal law and assist American cities that are experiencing upticks in violent crime. The Department of Justices assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets. As part of Operation Legend, Attorney General Barr directed the ATF, FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service to significantly increase resources into Memphis and St. Louis in the coming weeks to help state and local officials fight high levels of violent crime, particularly gun violence. Memphis is currently experiencing a significant increase in violent crime, with homicides currently up more than 49 percent, reported gun crime up 23 percent, and aggravated assault shootings up over 19 percent over 2019. Similarly, homicides are up in St. Louis nearly 34 percent and non-fatal shootings are up over 13 percent. In Memphis, the Department of Justice will supplement state and local law enforcement agencies by sending 16 federal investigators to the city on temporary assignment for 90 days, followed by 24 permanent agent assignments from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Under the leadership of Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, these investigators will complement the work already underway by existing joint federal, state and local task forces focused on combatting violent gangs, gun crime, and drug trafficking organizations. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $200,000 to support Operation Legends violent crime reduction efforts in Memphis in addition to the prior BJA grant funding award of $1.4 million to Shelby County to provide manpower, technology, equipment, and support for the sustained efforts Legend Task Force, including overtime funding for the Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MGU) and partner agency officers; a prosecutor for the Shelby County District Attorney Generals Office to handle operation arrests vertically through the state criminal justice system to ensure that arrests are followed by strategic prosecution; vehicles for MGU operations; and technological solutions to enhance investigation and prosecution of violent offenders. The COPS Office has also made approximately $9.8 million available to the Memphis Police Department to fund the hiring of 50 officers. The Department has also provided assistance to Memphis through the Joint Law Enforcement Operations (JLEO) fund to assist reimbursement of local law enforcement serving as federal task force officers with FBI, ATF, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The city will receive $100,000 from ATF to help local agencies defray costs associated with installing or maintaining shot detection technology. In St. Louis, under the leadership of Jeffrey Jensen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, federal agents from ATF, DEA, FBI, and USMS, along with approximately 50 additional agents from Department of Homeland Security, will work cooperatively with the St. Louis Police Department to combat gun and gang violence, as well as assist the U.S. Marshals Service in violent fugitive apprehension efforts. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $1 million to support local law enforcement in shot spotter responses and violent crime investigations in St. Louis. With Department of Justice funding, the city is also receiving two Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Missouri Attorney Generals Office to support violent crime prosecutions. This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday (August 15, 2020) hosted the 'At Home' reception at the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan on the occasion of Indias 74th Independence Day. The 'At Home' reception is being attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla among other VVIPs. Others who are attending the function are EAM S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. Earlier this morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag and delivered the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort to mark the occasion. The 74th Independence Day function was relatively muted this year in terms of participation of people in view of the COVID-19 crisis. It is noteworthy that President Kovind had on Friday given a strong warning about the antics of China in eastern Ladakh in his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day. Recalling the sacrifice of Indian soldiers in the Galvan Valley clashes, the President said that if any attempt is made to create unrest on the border, the countrys armed forces will give a befitting reply to the enemy. President asserted that the bravery of soldiers has demonstrated that India is also capable of giving a befitting response to any attempt of aggression, though India believes in peace. Addressing the nation on the eve of 74th Independence Day, President Kovind took a jibe at China saying that "some in our neighbourhood tried to carry out their misadventure of expansion" at a time when "world community needs to fight together against the greatest challenge before humanity". He said, "Even while the world community needs to fight together against the greatest challenge before humanity, some in our neighbourhood tried to carry out their misadventure of expansion. Our brave soldiers laid down their lives defending our borders. Those worthy sons of Bharat Mata lived and died for national pride." He added, "The entire nation salutes the martyrs of the Galwan Valley. Every Indian feels grateful to their family members. Their bravery in combat has demonstrated that while we believe in peace, we are also capable of giving a befitting response to any attempt of aggression. We are proud of the members of our Armed Forces, paramilitary forces and police personnel who protect the borders, and ensure our internal security." Praising the medical fraternity, the President said that all Corona Warriors deserve high praise as they went much beyond their call of duty to save lives and ensure essential services. A game of political chicken came to an end in New Brunswick on Friday but its unclear who won. Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers in the afternoon pulled his party out of talks that had been instigated by Premier Blaine Higgs and were ostensibly aimed at avoiding an election during the COVID-19 crisis. The breakdown in negotiations raised the spectre of an early election in the East Coast province amidst the coronavirus pandemic. In a Monday letter to Vickers and the leaders of the two other opposition parties, Higgs, who is leading a minority Conservative government, had proposed they come to an agreement that none of the parties would trigger an election in the next two years, or until the coronavirus had abated. In return, all parties would agree to a legislative agenda for those two years. It was an extraordinary proposal from the premier of a province that hasnt seen a minority government in 100 years. But Higgs also attached a tight deadline of Friday to the negotiations, meaning all parties had to work out two years worth of legislative plans in two-and-a-half days. To Mario Levesque, an associate professor of Canadian politics at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., that was overly ambitious. How they can agree on an agenda for two years in two and a half days is beyond me, he said Thursday, while talks were still ongoing. I think hes deliberately setting it up to fail. Unless they agree to whatever he wants, in which case he wins, right? Because he gets the items addressed that he wants and he gets an agreement and hes laughing for the next two years. By Friday afternoon, Vickers known to many Canadians as the sergeant at arms who once responded to a gunmans attack on Parliament Hill had had enough. In a hastily arranged news conference, he announced he was pulling his party out of the talks, saying that he entered the negotiations in good faith, but that it had become clear the talks were a power grab by Higgs. The Opposition parties were expected not only to agree not to bring the government down, but to give the Premier more power. The Premiers proposal would be to give the Premier absolute power and remove the ability of the Opposition to hold the government to account, Vickers said in a statement shortly after. Vickers offered, as an example, being given a proposal and a time frame of one hour to review it and come back with suggestions. This is a proposal that would see a minority government stay in power for a period of two years without official Opposition, he said. At stake is the political landscape of New Brunswick. Currently in the legislature, the ruling Conservatives hold 20 seats, the Opposition Liberals hold 20 seats and the Green Party and the Peoples Alliance party have three seats each. Three seats are currently vacant, with byelections scheduled for the fall. In arranging the negotiations, Higgs had pitched a power-sharing agreement with a shared legislative agenda that would keep his party in power essentially without opposition until the next fixed-election date in 2022. That was the carrot. The stick was the potential backlash from the public directed at whichever party was deemed responsible for forcing an election in the middle of a pandemic one that the majority of New Brunswickers dont want, according to a recent poll. As soon as the talks ended Friday, the finger pointing began. Vickers who had said he felt like he was negotiating with a gun to his head reiterated a July promise that his party would not bring Higgs government down in 2020, saying the earliest action that could be taken would be in March 2021, during the spring session of the legislature. Higgs blamed the Liberals for walking out of the talks when, he said, progress was being made. At one point yesterday, I was really excited about where this was going, and the potential, he said. So its very disappointing to be standing here at this point in time. I expected to be working most of the night and through the weekend. The foundation of the talks was to have been a confidence and supply agreement, which would have laid out the framework for a consultation process to ensure that all parties would have input into matters of confidence in the legislature, such as the throne speech and the budget. The early ideas on that framework were what Vickers had taken back to his caucus before pulling his party from the talks. Higgs, who has said he merely sought stability in government, had particularly harsh words for the Liberals. (Now) Youre going to have the opposition spend every waking hour with the one sole strategy: to take out the government because theres no creativity. Theres no involvement to try to help in a strategic way. The only strategy I saw was, How do we take out the government? How do we get back in? Higgs said that he wasnt planning on calling an election in the next 48 hours, but that whether he decided on an election or not after the weekend, he would accept responsibility for the decision. In a statement, Kris Austin, leader of the Peoples Alliance party in New Brunswick, expressed disappointment in the failure of the talks, saying he was skeptical of the sincerity of the Liberals from the first day. But he also put the ball in the premiers court. Despite the breakdown in talks, the ultimate decision rests with (Higgs) on whether there will be an election during a pandemic, he said. Whether or not the failure to create a power-sharing agreement leads to an early election is still up in the air, and at Higgs discretion. Green Party leader David Coon said the minority government in New Brunswick, after a couple of rough early patches, was working. In the last six months or so, the kind of collaboration needed to make a minority government work was starting to occur more meaningfully, he said. He cited situations in which his party had made amendments to government bills that had been accepted, and successful negotiations on bills introduced by his party. Whether that kind of co-operation has been shattered may be a question for Higgs to ponder over the weekend. His choices are now whether to call an unpopular election early, or whether to continue to negotiate a minority government with the Liberal assurance that they wont bring down his government until March at the earliest. Thats a big question, said Coon. It depends on what the premiers thinking is. And hell probably take a walk in the woods this weekend since theres no snow this time of year and, and consider his options and let the province know on Monday. SM Steve McKinley is a Halifax-based reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: stevemckinley@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @smckinley1 Read more about: Just four days ago Sarang Joyo went missing from his home in Karachi. Joyo, a research associate by profession, was actively campaigning for the release of the many missing persons of Sindh. Struggling for Joyo's release, his cousin and friend along with a dozen of Pakistani minorities stood outside Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Asad Majeed Khan's residence demanding to share information about people responsible who took away Joyo and other missing men. A US-based Sindhi organisation along with Balochis, Gilgiti's and Pashtuns held a protest named 'Stop enforced disappearances in Pakistan'. On Pakistan's Independence Day, the protestors raised flags, held placards with pictures of the missing men and chanted anti-Pakistan slogans, asking 'Where are the missing men?' Raja Joyo, Sarangs cousin suspects, like many other missing ethnic minorities, his loved one too was snatched by Pakistani security forces hunting separatists, who for decades have waged a campaign for greater autonomy or independence. "Where is our democracy in Pakistan, why the judiciary is unable to say against anything about ISI, about the military agencies, why?' Joyo told ANI. During the protest outside Pakistani ambassador's house, Munawar Laghari, Executive Director of Sindhi Foundation told ANI, "Enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity and we are continuing our struggle, until the world, especially the United States and the United Nation, they declare Pakistan as a terrorist state." While interacting with ANI, Laghari narrated how his community members were brutally thrashed before their respective members were forcibly being taken away by the ISI. "In the past seven weeks, 92 people have disappeared in Pakistan. And what nobody knows is where they are!" said the Sindhi leader. Protestors say China's stakes are rising in Pakistan. Together the two nations are building a false narrative against India. And one such classic sample is raking up Kashmir issue at the United Nations. Not just that, Pakistan has repeatedly blamed India for fanning militancy in Pakistan, a charge New Delhi has consistently denied. A political activist from Gilgit Baltistan has condemned Chinese saying Beijing must be stopped by the international community."China is taking the lead in formulating Pakistan's foreign policy, as well as economic policies. This is a huge alarm for the rest of the world," Senge H Sering, the director of Institute of Gilgit Baltistan told ANI. Frequent protests are being held in different cities and towns of Sindh province to highlight the atrocities committed by the security agencies in the knowledge of the federal government. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. On August 14, the United States said that it had seized four Iranian fuel shipments. Reports suggest that the shipments were on their route to Venezuela. The US had also confiscated the cargoes with the aim of disrupting a key supply line for both Tehran and Caracas. This was done in retaliation to the defiance of sanctions imposed by the US on both countries to choke oil exports. The sanctions were imposed to deprive them of their main source of revenue. Reportedly, US had also threatened to sanction any ship owners and vessels involved in oil trade with Tehran and Caracas. Read: Officials: U.S. Seizes Iranian Oil Heading For Venezuela Tensions increase between Iran and the United States According to reports, US President Donald Trump said that Iran should not be sending shipments to Venezuela and the shipments are bound to Houston in Texas. He added that they might have already arrived. The US Justice Department reportedly said that the cargo is in US custody with the assistance of foreign partners. He added that the amount confiscated from four tankers was about 1.116 million barrels of fuel. The details of the seizure have not been disclosed. However, Venezuela had already paid for the fuel. Read: Iran Threatens 'dangerous Future' For UAE After Israel Deal According to reports, the four tankers that carried the cargoes were owned and managed by companies controlled by Greece-based firms Vienna LTD and Palermo SA. Late on August 14, threats of legal action and sanctions by the United States forced these Greek ship owners to surrender Iranian fuel to the US. Further, reports suggest that the operation took place in international waters without the physical presence of any authorities from the US. There was no assistance from any foreign government. The owners of the four seized vessels have reportedly agreed to transfer fuel so it could be shipped to the United States. Read: UN Security Council Rejects US Proposal To Extend Arms Embargo On Iran Also Read: UN Soundly Defeats US Demand To Extend Arms Embargo On Iran (Image Credits: AP) Education technology start-up Unacademy is finalising a deal to raise around $150 million led by Japanese investment giant SoftBank. This will further boost the startup's pre-money valuation to $1.3 billion, second only to Byju's, which recently raised capital from Mary Meeker's Bond Capital at a valuation of $10.5 billion, the Economic Times reported. Also Read: Independence Day 2020 PM Modi speech: Key highlights The ed-tech startup's funding comes on the back of its strong growth caused by a spike in the number of online learners in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unacademy claims to have garnered more than 2 lakh subscribers, compared to 90,000 in February, which resulted in an 80 per cent growth in revenues in April. The fundraising will also be significant as it will mark the first fresh investment by SoftBank in a domestic firm since it backed Lenskart in December last year. Unacademy last raised $110 million from tech-giant Facebook and PE firm General Atlantic in February this year, at a valuation of $510 million. The company's existing investors will participate in Unacademy's latest funding round but didn't share exact details, sources told the publication. Sequoia Capital, Blume Venture, Steadview Capital and Nexus Venture Partners have been early backers of the firm. Unacademy will also pip rival Vedantu, whose valuation had risen to $600 million after it raised $100 million led by Coatue Management. Ed-tech is one of the few Internet sectors that have benefitted from the coronavirus pandemic, with major players like - Byju's, Unacademy, Vedantu, WhiteHat Jr. in the fray. Even after the passing of the pandemic, these ed-tech firms are hopeful of higher retention of online learners. SoftBank Vision Fund CEO Rajeev Misra, in April 2020, said that the firm was looking to make around 15-20 investments over the next three months and was actively scouting for investments in India. The potential funding from SoftBank is likely to come after Unacademy saw a spike in online learners amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Also Read: Gold prices may hit Rs 65,000 level by Diwali; silver likely to touch Rs 90,000-mark Also Read: Jio-RCom spectrum sharing deal not linked with AGR liability, says report Apple Inc stock has moved close to a $2 trillion market cap, a milestone that has been achieved only by Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company. Shares of Apple Inc saw strong rally this year as consumers snapped up new iPhones, iPads and Mac computers to stay connected during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Last week, the stock rally was fueled by report that the company is readying a series of new subscription bundles for its digital service called "Apple One". On Friday, Apple Inc shares closed trade at $459.63 apiece, down 0.09 per cent, with a market cap of $1.97 trillion. As per market estimates, to reach the psychological level of $2 trillion, Apple Inc stock price need to reach $467.8. Apple was the first company to reach a market value of more than $1 trillion. It touched that milestone in August 2018, while it passed the $1.5 trillion market cap mark in early June. It was followed by Microsoft, Amazon.com and Google-parent Alphabet who later joined the trillion-dollar club. Apple is set to launch bundled services for the subscription of news, music, games and fitness services at a discounted price to its subscribers by October 2020, according to a Bloomberg report. As per the report, the technology giant may be readying a new exercise app that would compete with Peloton (PTON), which would help the company generate more recurring revenue. Apple reported revenue of $59.7 billion and profit of $11.25 billion during the third fiscal quarter of 2020, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This was against $53.8 billion in revenue and $10.04 billion profit reported in the same quarter last year. The company, however, did not provide any guidance amid the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Apple to launch new subscription packs to offer news, music, games and more Also Read: Apple, Google drop popular game Fortnite from app stores over payments Netflix show White Lines has been axed after just one series. Actor Daniel Mays, 42, who played DJ Marcus Ward in the series, shared the news on his Instagram page as he confirmed the show wouldn't be returning. It comes days after his co-star Angela Griffin speculated that there wouldn't be a follow-up series because the 'White Lines hotlines' were 'quiet', during an online Q&A for Theatre Royal Haymarket, according to the Sun. White Lines no more! Netflix show White Lines has been axed after just one series Daniel admitted that although he felt the series was 'tied up' at the end, he also believes that it had the potential to be renewed for another season. Sharing a snap of himself in character on the photo-sharing platform, Daniel wrote: 'Following the reports in the press over the past couple of days and for all those asking me on here, it's with a heavy heart I post the White Lines season 2 ship has well and truly sailed.' 'Huge thanks, respect and admiration to Netflix for the ride of a lifetime. Speculation: It comes days after his co-star Angela Griffin speculated that there wouldn't be a follow-up series because the 'White Lines hotlines' were 'quiet' 'Love to the incredible cast & crew and to all the amazing fans for watching around the globe. Your support for the show meant the world to us. So THANK YOU! Farewell Marcusyou were my favourite.' 'Part of me thinks it was tied up, you found out who killed Axel, so it works as a limited series but it clearly also had scope going forward for much more,' he explained. Marcus also told NME that he believes the coronavirus pandemic may have affected the decision to pursue a second series of Alex Pina's latest project, because it is filmed all over the world and there are currently so many travel limitations in place. Caption: Sharing a snap of himself in character on the photo-sharing platform, Daniel wrote: 'Following the reports in the press over the past couple of days and for all those asking me on here, it's with a heavy heart I post the White Lines season 2 ship has well and truly sailed' It comes after Daniel's co-star Angela hinted that the drama White Lines, about an unsolved murder in Ibiza, had been dropped. The former Corrie actress made the revelation during an online Q&A for Theatre Royal Haymarket, according to The Sun. Angela said: 'Will there be a series two of White Lines? I don't think so. I wish there was but it's very quiet on the White Lines hotline.' 'My gut feeling is that it was left in a place where it is nicely tied up. I think that is where it is going to stay. Sorry to say.' Sad news: Daniel admitted that although he felt the series was 'tied up' at the end, he also believes that it had the potential to be renewed for another season Series one featured debauched sex parties, drug-fuelled raves and centred around the unsolved murder of a British DJ. Back in May, Line of Duty star Daniel, said White Lines depicts the dark underbelly of Ibiza's world famous party scene in 'brilliantly bonkers' fashion. He said: 'I would say his heart is definitely in the right place, but it's just having lived that hedonistic lifestyle for 20 years out in Ibiza, it's sort of eroded him. 'He's probably the best comedic/tragic character I've ever taken on and as an actor you're able to play in both those tones which is great Hedonism: Back in May, Line of Duty star Daniel, said White Lines depicts the dark underbelly of Ibiza's world famous party scene in 'brilliantly bonkers' fashion 'White Lines is without a doubt one of the best, most imaginative, brilliantly bonkers scripts I've ever had a chance to work on.' Off-screen, Laura Haddock and her co-star Tom Rhys Harries set tongues wagging after embarking on a romance after meeting during filming. Things appear to be hotting up between the pair as they were spotted house-hunting together last month in Oxfordshire. He said: 'I would say his heart is definitely in the right place, but it's just having lived that hedonistic lifestyle for 20 years out in Ibiza, it's sort of eroded him' The couple, who played brother and sister in the hit Netflix series, were spotted as they viewed a stunning farmhouse, which is on the market for 1.2 million. In White Lines, which was filmed last autumn, Laura played Zoe Walker, who discovers the seedy side of Ibiza as she investigates the murder of her DJ brother Axel, played by 28-year-old Tom. News of their relationship only emerged earlier this month, less than a year after the collapse of Lauras six-year marriage to Sam Claflin, who starred in The Hunger Games films. Together they have a son, four-year-old Pip, and a daughter Margot, two. New love: Off-screen, Laura Haddock and her co-star Tom Rhys Harries set tongues wagging after embarking on a romance after meeting during filming When they announced their split last August, Claflin, 34, wrote on Instagram: Laura and I have decided to legally separate. We will move forward with nothing but love, friendship and a deep respect for one another whilst we continue to raise our family together. Laura and Sam first met in 2011 at an audition and Sam, whos also been in Peaky Blinders, described their marriage in 2013 as easily one of his greatest achievements. Before White Lines, Laura appeared in the first Inbetweeners film and last years BBC crime-drama The Capture, playing lawyer Hannah Roberts. Tom has appeared in the Inbetweeners sequel and Sky drama Britannia. Mumbai: Tightening the noose around people who misused banking channels to park unaccounted money, the Reserve Bank on Thursday imposed certain restrictions on withdrawal if more than Rs 2 lakh has been deposited after November 9 in an account which has a balance of over Rs 5 lakh. As per a RBI notification, withdrawal or transfer of funds will not be permitted in accounts without quoting of PAN or submission of Form 60 (persons who do not have PAN). The Reserve Bank also said monthly withdrawal limit of Rs 10,000 will be maintained even if a 'small account' has witnessed increase in annual permissible deposit of Rs 1 lakh. The notification follows after it was brought to the notice of the RBI that "strict compliance" with KYC (Know Your Customer) provisions is not being ensured in some cases. Read | Demonetisation: Axis Bank suspends 24 employees, 50 accounts for suspicious transactions In respect of KYC compliant accounts where the required Customer Due Diligence (CDD) procedure has been complied with, RBI said banks and NBFCs should ensure compliance regarding quoting of PAN/obtaining of Form 60 for all transactions. "No debit transaction, transfer or otherwise shall be allowed in accounts which do not comply with the above mentioned requirements. "To begin with, this rule shall be strictly applied in accounts where both the thresholds listed -- (i) balance of rupees five lakh or more; and (ii) the total deposits (including credits by electronic or other means) made after November 9, 2016, exceed rupees two lakh," RBI said. RBI further said if any account is rendered ineligible for being classified as a small account due to credits/balance in the account exceeding the permissible limits, withdrawals may be allowed within the limit prescribed for small accounts. The monthly limit for withdrawal and transfer from a small account is Rs 10,000. Also, aggregate of all credits in a financial year cannot exceed Rs 1 lakh. Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts (Jan Dhan accounts are akin to BSBDAs), which are not KYC compliant accounts are to be treated as 'small accounts', the RBI added. Government demonetised old Rs 500/1000 from November 9. Earlier, RBI had asked banks to strictly follow norms while allowing deposits in dormant accounts. There have been reports some people misused Jan Dhan and dormant accounts to deposit unaccounted money following demonetisation. For all the Latest Business News, Economy News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Trend The claim of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Treaty of Sevres is a historical fact and was drawn up on the basis of the most progressive ideas of that period is absurd, Azerbaijani MP, Corresponding Member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, professor Musa Gasimli told Trend . Gasimli made the remark while commenting on the Pashinyans speech at a scientific conference titled "Treaty of Sevres and the Armenian Question" and dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the signing of the treaty. According to the MP, the Ottoman Empire withdrew from the First World War on October 30, 1918, by signing the Armistice of Mudros [Greek harbor]. On April 23, about a month after the Allied forces occupied the Turkish Strait in Istanbul on March 16, 1920, the government of the Turkish Grand National Assembly was formed in Ankara under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Pasha. The Peace Treaty of Sevres was signed between the countries that won the victory and the Ottoman State on August 10, 1920, in the city of Sevres near Paris. Gasimli noted that the Armenians hoped then to realize their dream with the help of the Entente members. "But their hopes were not fulfilled. For example, the Armenian delegates were told by the British government that their ships could not sail the mountains and rocks of Armenia," he said. "The Treaty of Sevres was rejected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and was torn apart like a useless piece of paper. The Turkish people started the war for independence. Taking advantage of the fact that the Turkish people fought on several fronts, Armenian Dashnaks opened a new front against Turkey and carried out mass slaughter of the civilian population." "Once again, Armenians did not become a worthy adversary," the professor noted The Turkish army soon defeated the Dashnak forces and signed the Peace Treaty of Alexandropol (now Armenias Gyumri city) on December 2, 1920. Bowing its head to Turkey, Armenia was forced to take on a number of commitments, the MP stressed. "If Pashinyan had read these commitments, he would have changed his tone. I want to remind some of the treaty terms," he said. "Armenia undertook to pay compensation for damage caused during the war, but the Turkish government, showing nobility refused this compensation. In order to monitor the implementation of the treaty terms, a delegate from the Turkish government was to be assigned to Yerevan." "Further, the [Turkey-Armenia] relations were regulated by the Moscow Treaty of March 16, 1921, and the Kars Treaty of October 13, 1921. Armenia recognized the borders of Turkey, and the Turkish army left Gyumri," Gasimli said. He added that the modern international borders of Turkey were recognized by a convention signed in [Swiss] Lausanne on July 24, 1923. "At the conference in Lausanne, the representatives of the states that the Armenians were relying on did not even look towards the Armenian delegates, and they were forced to leave disappointed. Doesn't Pashinyan know this story?! I think he knows," MP said. "So what does Pashinyan want - for the Turkish army to come again and settle in Gyumri? Will there be a savior for Armenia then? Secondly, why does Armenian leaders so quickly 'forget' the documents signed by them? When you are enemy with someone, you must be worthy enemy," concluded Gasimli. TOKYO - Japan on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing deep remorse over his countrys wartime actions at a sombre annual ceremony curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Naruhito pledged to reflect on the wars events and expressed hope that the tragedy would never be repeated. There was no word of apology from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gave thanks for the sacrifices of the Japanese war dead but had nothing to say about the suffering of Japans neighbours. Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated, Naruhito said in a short speech at the event in Tokyo marking the 75th anniversary of Japans surrender on Aug. 15, 1945. Amid virus fears and worries about the fading memories of the fast-aging war generation, about 500 participants, reduced from 6,200 last year, mourned the dead with a minute of silence. Masks were required, and there was no singing of the Kimigayo national anthem. Naruhito has promised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who devoted his 30-year career to making amends for a war fought in the name of Hirohito, the current emperors grandfather. Abe has increasingly sought to whitewash Japans brutal past since taking office in December 2012. He hasnt acknowledged Japans wartime hostilities during Aug. 15 speeches, which had previously been a nearly 20-year tradition that began with the 1995 apology of Socialist leader Tomiichi Murayama. Abe, in a largely domestic-focused speech, said the peace that Japan enjoys today is built on the sacrifices of those who died in the war. He pledged that Japan will reflect on lessons from history and will not repeat the war devastation. He listed damage inflicted on Japan and its people, including the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, massive firebombings of Tokyo and the fierce battle of Okinawa. Abe pledged to play a greater role in tackling global problems. Under his goal of turning Japan into a beautiful and normal nation, Abe has steadily pushed to cleanse Japan of its embarrassing wartime history and build up its military by stretching the interpretation of Japans war-renouncing constitution. It includes acquiring greater missile defence capability in the face of a growing military threat from North Korea and China. Remembering those days, I strongly feel we should never wage war, said Shoji Nagaya, 93, who travelled from Hokkaido in northern Japan to commemorate his brother who died of illness while serving in China. But politicians today seem to have different views than ours, and I really hope that they will not head to a wrong direction. Abe stayed away from the shrine that honours convicted war criminals among the war dead. He sent a religious offering through a lawmaker, a gesture meant to avoid angering China and South Korea, which consider the Yasukuni shrine a symbol of Japans militarism. Abe last visited Yasukuni in December 2013. Four members of his Cabinet did visit the shrine, the first ministerial visit in four years. Among them was Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who repeatedly visited the shrine on different occasions, including his last visit as serving prime minister on Aug. 15, 2006, that sparked criticism from China and South Korea. We decide how we want to pay respects to the war dead. This should not be a diplomatic problem, Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi, an ultra-conservative who shares Abes historical views, told reporters after praying at the shrine. Repeated Yasukuni visits by Japanese government officials indicates that on the issue of history, Japan has not completely abandoned militarism, said Wang Shaopu, a Japanese studies professor at Jiao Tong University and honorary president of the Japan Society of Shanghai. Japans invasion of China has brought huge disaster to the Chinese people. Under these circumstances, if Japan doesnt face up to historical issues, how could we be sure that japan will follow the path of peace in the future? Kosaburo Tanaka, a martial arts association manager, travelled from Osaka to give thanks for Japans postwar peace. Japan hasnt been in any war over the last 75 years and we were able to live peacefully. I think thats all because of the spirits that rest here in Yasukuni. They protect the peace. Nobuko Bamba a retiree whose grandmother, uncle and aunt died in the March 10, 1945, U.S. firebombing of Tokyo, thinks both sides of history should be remembered. There are many people who dont know anything about the war, not only the suffering of the Japanese people, but there are also things that Japanese people did, bad things, Bamba said. Unless we teach these things to future generations, I dont think war would end. She prayed for her uncle, whose remains have never been found. ___ Associated Press journalists Emily Wang and Chisato Tanaka in Tokyo, and AP researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Read more about: Vietnam on Saturday morning documented another imported patient and one death related to the coronavirus. The new patient is a 41-year-old woman with a permanent address in the northern province of Nam Dinh. She had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Russia and declared free of the virus on June 24. She arrived in Vietnam from Russia on the repatriation flight VN5062 on August 10. After landing at Van Don International Airport in the northern Quang Ninh Province, she was immediately transferred to a quarantine facility in Nam Dinh. The woman tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday and is now quarantined and treated at Nam Dinh Province General Hospital. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Healths special COVID-19 task force in Da Nang announced the death of patient No. 702, Vietnams 22nd virus-related fatality. He was 63 years old, resided in Da Nang and had pre-existing conditions including end-stage renal failure, hypertension and heart failure. His cause of death was identified as septic shock, multiorgan failure, and pneumonia due to COVID-19 against the background of end-stage chronic renal failure. Vietnam has logged 930 COVID-19 cases, including 329 imported patients quarantined immediately upon arrival, since the pandemic first hit in January, the Ministry of Health said on Saturday morning. A total of 461 local infections have been documented since July 25, when the country recorded the first local case after 99 days of no transmission in the community. Over 115,800 people are under quarantine for close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrival from virus-hit regions. Nearly three-quarters of them are practicing self-quarantine at home. There are 471 COVID-19 patients still under treatment in Vietnam, including 141 who have tested negative for the virus at least once since receiving treatment. Twenty-two COVID-19 patients have died in the Southeast Asian country, most of whom had severe underlying conditions. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! (L) U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Vice President Mike Pence speak at the daily coronavirus briefing at the White House in Washington on April 19, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) (R) Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center in Wilmington, Del. on July 28, 2020. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Trump Pitches Capital Tax Cut to 15 Percent, Bidens Rate Is More Than Double President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would like to see the capital gains tax slashed to 15 percent, while his rival in the race for the White House, presumptive Democrat nominee Joe Biden, has called for it to be lifted to a number that would be nearly triple Trumps proposed tax rate. Trump told Fox Newss Maria Bartiromo in a phone interview on Thursday that, if re-elected for a second term, he would push to slash todays long-term capital gains tax rate, which for income in excess of $441,451 from assets held longer than one year is now taxed at 20 percent. Bidens plan calls for taxing long-term capital gains and qualified dividends at the same rate as income tax, so at 39.6 percent on income above $1 million. Currently, capital gains between $40,001 and $441,450 are already taxed at 15 percent, while those less than $40,000 enjoy a 0 percent tax rate, so some argue Trumps proposal would benefit primarily wealthier Americans and its impact as a stimulus measure during the COVID-19 crisis would be limited. If you look at the distribution of capital gains, its mostly going to folks who are probably doing fairly well or doing better than a lot of folks who are vulnerable right now, Garrett Watson, a senior policy analyst for the Tax Foundation, told Cheddar. Trump talked up his capital gains tax on Monday, however, insisting it would create jobs. Looking very seriously at a capital gains tax cut and also at an income tax cut for middle-income families, Trump said, adding, I think it will be very exciting. A capital gains tax is going to be a lot of people put to work. Proponents of capital gains tax cuts argue that, for various reasons, the move spurs capital formation and business investment, which, in turn, creates jobs. Wed like to take it back to 15 percent, where it was for quite a long time because it helps jobs, investment, productivity, and wages, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told reporters on Wednesday. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study cited in a policy note by the Institute for Policy Innovation estimated the impact of a proposal to slash the top capital gains rate to 15 percent. In response to a rollback of the capital gains tax to 15 percent, the model finds that the taxable bond rate rises, the cost of capital to the corporate sector and non-corporate business sector falls, and the tax-exempt bond rate rises, the authors wrote, adding that The evidence from the past 20 years shows compellingly that past reductions in the capital gains tax rates (1978, 1981, and 1997 for instance) stimulated the financing and start-up of new businesses, while new business activity stalled after increases in capital gains taxes (1969 and 1986). The findings of a recent Princeton University study (pdf) were supportive of the view that capital gains tax cuts mean more business investment. Taken together, the findings are consistent with a class of the traditional-view models predicting that lower capital taxes spur equity-financed investment by increasing the marginal returns on investment, the study notes. Critics argue capital tax cuts are a windfall for the rich, reduce budgetary inflows, may have a neutral impact on capital investment and job creation, and have not been shown to spur economic growth significantly. Donald Trumps decision to pitch a capital-gain tax cut to benefit the wealthy few, when every other aspect of the economy is in free fall, is a slap in the face to the middle class families struggling to get by, said Michael Gwin, a Biden spokesman, in remarks to The Wall Street Journal. Given the current pandemic-driven economic malaise, it is also unclear how much business investment would be encouraged through the capital-forming mechanism of a capital gains tax cut. Some economists argue the bigger problem now is depressed demand due to a historic surge in joblessness and a collapse in spending due to fear about the future, conditions for which supply-side measures may be less effective than direct stoking of demand via things like cash payments to American families. Cutting taxes on savings and investments is maybe important and a reasonable goal for tax policy, but it doesnt seem to have much relation to the current economic situation, Kyle Pomerleau, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told the Cheddar. I think providing economic relief to households makes more sense. Yet while the pandemic-driven policy climate seems to favor demand-side measures like cash to families over supply-side steps like cutting corporate taxes, Trump said that vowing to raise taxes is unlikely to be popular with voters. In the old days when you were a politician, you talked about tax cuts, Trump said. You didnt talk about tax increases. Ive never heard of a politician that got elected, We are going to increase your taxes.' Bidens planned policies, which include raising taxes on people making over $400,000 a year, would increase taxes by $4 trillion over the next 10 years, according to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center. They want to tax $4 trillion, its going to be the biggest tax increase in history by far, Trump told Fox News. Theyre big taxers. Its just something that wont work. Well haveyou will see a depression the likes of which you have never seen. Youll have to go back to 1929, I guess it doesnt get too much worse than that. BEIRUT - There can be no financial bailout for Lebanon, a senior U.S. official said Saturday, calling on the countrys political leaders to heed popular calls for change, real reform and an end to endemic corruption. David Hale, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, said the U.S. and its allies will respond to systemic reforms with sustained financial support. He also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the Aug. 4 blast that killed nearly 180 people and wounded thousands. He said an FBI team is arriving this weekend to take part in the probe at the invitation of Lebanese authorities. Hale arrived in Beirut on Thursday, where he met with volunteers helping out at the site of the blast, as well as the countrys top political and religious leadership. America calls on Lebanons political leaders to finally respond to the peoples longstanding and legitimate demands and create a credible plan accepted by the Lebanese people for good governance, sound economic and financial reform, and an end to the endemic corruption that has stifled Lebanons tremendous potential, he said. But as the dozens of young activists and volunteers I met so bluntly demanded, there can be no bailout, Hale said in a recorded message posted on the U.S. Embassy website Saturday. Hales comments were in line with Washingtons message before the visit. But he didnt detail whether the U.S. and Western allies are ready to support a government in which Lebanons powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group has clout. After visiting the site of the blast, Hale called for the state to exercise control over its borders and ports, in a clear reference to claims Hezbollah group controls them. We can never go back to an era in which anything goes at the port or borders of Lebanon, Hale said. Washington and its allies consider the Iran-backed group Hezbollah a terrorist organization, and have accused it of abusing government funds and undermining state authority. There was speculation in the local media that Hale would be pushing for a government that excludes the group. In a clear message, Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah said his group is pushing for a national unity government that has wide political representation and backing. Seeking a neutral government, he said, would be a waste of time. Popular anger has been building up in Lebanon against the ruling elites corruption, mismanagement and political uncertainty many blame for pushing the country toward bankruptcy and poverty. The blast only increased the publics rage. The cause of the fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate at Beiruts port remains unclear. Documents have emerged showing the countrys top leadership and security officials were aware of the chemicals stored at the port. Many Lebanese are calling for an independent international probe, saying they dont trust the long-entrenched political factions to allow any results to come to light that are damaging to their leadership. Under pressure, Lebanons government resigned Aug. 10 and is serving in a caretaker capacity. So far, there are no formal consultations underway on who will replace Hassan Diab as prime minister and no likely candidate has emerged. But the flurry of diplomatic visits appeared designed to influence the forming of the new government. Western leaders have said they will send aid directly to the Lebanese people and that billions of dollars will not be pumped into the country before major reforms take place. Hale said the United States has so far donated $18 million to the Lebanese people in terms of food and other essential and is preparing to work with Congress for an additional $30 million to ensure the flow of grains after the capitals silos were destroyed in the blast. The aid, he said, will be handled directly by the World Food Program. This is a moment for Lebanon to define a Lebanese not a foreign vision of Lebanon, Hale said. What kind of Lebanon do you have and what kind of Lebanon do you want? Only Lebanese can answer that question. Coinciding with Hales visit was that of the Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif who said Western nations are exploiting Lebanons disaster to push their political dictates. Iran is Hezbollahs main foreign backer and has provided the group with financial and technical support throughout the years. On Friday, the United Nations launched a $565 million appeal for Lebanon with immediate humanitarian assistance and initial recovery efforts. Last week, international donors pledged nearly $300 million of emergency assistance to Lebanon. Najat Rochdi, U.N. humanitarian co-ordinator for Lebanon, called for more funds to cover the critical needs of shelter, food, health and education. Rochdi said most donors have asked that aid be channeled through the U.N., which she said would be co-ordinated with Lebanons armed forces to ensure access. We will be very strict about the use of humanitarian assistance. We will be monitoring closely every single delivery of our humanitarian assistance, she said. We will be accountable not only to donors because our accountability goes also to the affected population. Also on Saturday, families and friends buried Ralph Malahi, a 23-year old firefighter who was among 10 firefighters killed in the explosion. Malahi was given a heros funeral in Beirut. Lifting Malahis coffin, thousands paraded through different parts of the city, firing weapons into the air in commemoration. Malahi is the seventh firefighter to be retrieved from under the debris in the port at the scene of the blast. Three remain missing. Malahis mother, weeping, blamed the government for her sons death. Why did you not evacuate the port? she said, in reference to the governments knowledge that highly explosive material was stored at the port. ___ Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report. Chief Lanre Razak, a top leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state and member of Governors Advisory Council is dead. He was 73 years old. Chief Bayo Osiyemi who posted on Facebook, Razaks obituary on Saturday said Razak died of COVID-19. He died in the early hours of Saturday. Lagos State boisterous politician and the Balogun of Epe, Chief Lanre Rasaq is dead. He succumbed to the coronavirus pandemic on Lagos after a long battle with it. Chief Rasaq was a member of the states Governors Advisory Council (GAC) and was a one-time chairman of Epe local government before he was elevated to becoming the state commissioner for transportation in the military administration of Col Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Big and burly, KLM, as he was widely known, was a member of several social organisations. He ran a flourishing construction company which was involved in many housing programs of govt on private-pinlic partnership basis, Osiyemi wrote. Razak had his political base in Epe where he earned the title of Balogun of Epeland. He was also honoured with the title of Fiwagbade of Lagos. In 1999, he joined the All Nigeria Peoples Party, where he contested the governorship election against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He later crossed over to the Peoples Democratic Party. But in 2011, he joined the Action Congress of Nigeria and played prominent role in the progressive camp. He was being promoted of recent as a possible replacement for Senator Bayo Osinowo, who died of COVID-19 recently. Related UN Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images) UN Fails to Approve Iran Arms Embargo Extension US promises to stop at nothing to extend it: ambassador to UN The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt a U.S. resolution to extend arms embargo on Iran which will expire in October. The United States vowed to take action to extend the embargo to prevent Iran from purchasing and selling weapons to terrorist organizations across the Middle East. The U.N. Security Council met on Thursday evening to vote on a U.S. resolution that would indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran. Voting was conducted via email due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. In the results announced on Friday evening, the resolution failed to garner a minimum of nine yes votes in the 15-member Security Council. China and Russia opposed extending the weapons ban, eleven members abstained, including France, Germany, and Britain, while Washington and the Dominican Republic were the only yes votes, according to Reuters. In this photo released Tuesday, July 28, 2020, by Sepahnews, a Revolutionary Guards speed boat fires a missile during a military exercise. Iranian commandos also fast-roped down from a helicopter onto a replica of an aircraft carrier in the exercise called Great Prophet 14. (Sepahnews via AP) The U.N. Security Council failed to uphold its fundamental mission of maintaining international peace and security, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. It rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific U.N. restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade, Pompeo said in the statement. Many Middle East countries, including the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Israel, appealed directly to the Security Council to extend the arms embargo on Iran, but their requests were rejected, according to the statement. These countries know Iran will spread even greater chaos and destruction if the embargo expires, but the Security Council chose to ignore them, Pompeo said in the statement. The United States will never abandon our friends in the region who expected more from the Security Council, Pompeo said. Pompeo said in Vienna on Friday, where he met with the U.N. nuclear watchdogs head, Rafael Grossi, and with senior Austrian officials that allowing this arms embargo to expire on October can also pose a threat to the European people as well. We cant allow the worlds biggest state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell weapons. I mean, thats just nuts, Pompeo said at a joint press conference in Vienna. It doesnt make sense for the European people either, and we think anybody thats within missile range will be at greater risk because of the air defense systems, for example, that the Iranians will be able to purchase if this arms embargo expires on October 18th, Pompeo said. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft speaks during a Security Council meeting at U.N. Headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on Feb. 28, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft strongly criticized the Security Council for its decision. It validates the worlds number one state sponsor of terror, just to save face and protect a failed political deal made outside the Council. A flawed deal, under which Iran remains in significant non-performance of its commitments, Craft said in a statement. She also called those Security Council members who opposed the resolution or stood silently to speak to the victims of terrorist attacks conducted by organizations or regimes supported by Iran in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and other Middle East countries. The United States has every right to initiate snapback of provisions of previous Security Council resolutions. In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo, Craft said in the statement. The United States could now trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback, even though President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018. Diplomats have said the United States could do this as early as next week but would face a tough, messy battle. Irans U.N. Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi warned the United States against trying to trigger a return of sanctions. Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited, he said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed a video summit with the United States and the remaining parties to the nuclear dealBritain, France, China, Germany, and Iranto try to avoid further confrontation and escalation at the United Nations over Iran. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Its not his first effort to cripple the Postal Service, one of the most essential and popular institutions in America. His statements Thursday came after he installed a Republican megadonor, Louis DeJoy, as the new postmaster general. In turn, DeJoy has unseated dozens of veteran postal officials. He and his minions have banned overtime and told carriers to leave mail behind at distribution centers, letting it pile up for days. Sorting machines that speed mail processing have been removed. A Restaurant in China was apparently a bit overzealous in complying with a government campaign against food waste and has asked his guests to weigh themselves before eating. As Chinese state media reported, reaped the beef specialized Restaurant in the city of Changsha in the Online networks a lot of criticism. On Saturday, the Restaurant apologized. Like the China News Service reported, had called the Restaurant on Friday to step on the scale and your weight in a Smartphone App to enter. This would then be displayed to you on the weight based on court recommendations, including the number of Calories. On the photos, which were published in local media, were in the Restaurant the plates with the inscription "Operation to see the empty plate". This is a reference to a country-wide campaign of the government. There is always something left The Chinese President Xi Jinping had urged this week the population, no food to waste, as the Coronavirus have resulted in pandemic and severe Flooding in the past month, to a rise in food prices. In response, restaurateurs called on their customers to order less dishes. It belongs in China, in the case of group meals, good sound, always something to eat on the plates to leave otherwise the host would lose face, because he has not ordered enough. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 12:19 A fire outbreak which started around 12:30 am on Saturday, August 15 on the Kingston Avenue at the Takoradi Market Circle has destroyed about five stores. First Samuel, a popular provision shop at the market was also affected by the inferno. Western Regional Fire Service PRO, DO3 Emma Bonney told Citi News several groceries were destroyed in the fire-outbreak which took five hours to putout. He said, they deployed about seven fire tenders before they were able to bring the inferno under control. This comes barely a after fire destroyed a number of structures at a kiosk estate at Shiashie in Accra on Friday. Part of the Electoral Commissions Greater Accra Regional office was also gutted by fire on Friday. ---citinewsroom Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year prison sentence on convictions for rape and sexual assault against two women, made a brief appearance Friday in a Buffalo courtroom in the US Harvey Weinsteins lawyers and Los Angeles prosecutors have agreed to postpone extradition proceedings that would send the imprisoned former film producer from New York to California to face sexual assault charges, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year prison sentence on convictions for rape and sexual assault against two women, made a brief appearance Friday in a Buffalo courtroom via video conference from prison. The extradition hearing was postponed to 11 December. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office agreed to the delay because of the pandemic, a spokesman said. Weinstein, 68, survived a bout with the coronavirus earlier this year while serving time in a maximum-security prison near Buffalo. Weinstein only answered a few yes or no questions during Fridays hearing, said Kaitlyn Munro, a spokeswoman for Erie County District Attorney John J Flynn. He is facing similar sexual assault charges in Los Angeles, as well as lawsuits by multiple women who accuse him of sexual abuse. He has denied all the allegations against him. A Weinstein spokesperson declined to comment. Weinstein is imprisoned at the maximum-security Wende Correctional Facility east of Buffalo. By Neha Malara and Akanksha Rana (Reuters) - "Fortnite" creator Epic Games found support from its legions of gamers, Tinder-owner Match Group and Spotify for suing Apple and Google after the tech giants dropped the popular video game from their app stores for violating payment guidelines. Epic Games started a social media campaign against the iPhone maker by releasing a parody of Apple's iconic "1984" commercial in its video game, and soon the hashtag "#FreeFortnite" was trending on Twitter. Gamers with hundreds of thousands of YouTube followers took to the video-streaming platform and other social media platforms to share their thoughts on the situation and show their support. "This is insane, we are watching actual history take place because we just don't see this anymore," a YouTuber with the handle "thatdenverguy", who has more than a million subscribers, said. "Tim Sweeney and everybody at Epic, we stand with you and thank you for standing up for something bigger than Fortnite here that helps us out." Google declined to comment, while Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. In a statement on Thursday, Apple said "Fortnite" was removed because Epic had launched the payment feature with the "express intent of violating the App Store guidelines" after having had apps in the store for a decade. Developers have long criticized Apple's commissions of between 15% and 30% on many App Store purchases, its prohibitions on courting customers for outside signs-ups, and what some developers see as an opaque and unpredictable app-vetting process. Facebook , which has long been at odds with Apple over privacy issues, seized on the backlash to attack the commissions too. It said Apple had declined a request to waive the fees for the social network's new online events product, framing the decision as a refusal to assist small businesses. Story continues Analysts believe users of Apple devices spend the most on gaming through their purchases on the App Store, which is the largest component of the company's services segment revenue of $46.3 billion per year. "We are somewhat surprised that Epic is the one that has chosen to mount the challenge as Epic also operates a digital store where they take a cut of third-party sales," Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani said. Apple, Google and Facebook are among major American technology companies that have come under fire for their alleged abuse of market power and just last month their chief executives were grilled by lawmakers in a five-hour long congressional hearing. Companies, including music streaming service provider Spotify Technology SA and the owner of Hinge and other dating apps Match Group Inc , issued statements supporting Epic, with Match accusing Apple of using its "unfair policies to hurt consumers, app developers and entrepreneurs." Gene Muster, a managing partner at Loup Ventures, said developer benefits have enabled the App Store to be a trusted source of software and content for nearly 1.4 billion active Apple devices. "Lowering or eliminating the fee would jeopardize the integrity of the App Store," he added. Launched in 2017, "Fortnite" has amassed a huge following among young gamers and its popularity has pushed the valuation of Epic Games to over $17 billion in a funding round earlier this year. The free-to-play battle-royal videogame competes with Tencent Holdings Ltd's <0700.HK> "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds". In both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, "Fortnite" had about 2 million downloads in July 2020, according to mobile analytics firm SensorTower. But Apple users spent about $34 million, while Android users spent only $2 million, according to its data. (Reporting by Neha Malara and Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru; Writing by Subrat Patnaik; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Sweta Singh and Daniel Wallis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dina Afrianty (The Jakarta Post) The Conversation Sat, August 15, 2020 13:59 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e3fb9a 3 Opinion women-empowerment,gender-inequality,Women,#Indonesia75,The-Conversation,Islam Free Women were central to the fall of Soeharto, and there is no doubt that women have continued to experience important gains since Reformasi began in 1998. Indonesia has already had a female president, and currently has a female foreign minister in Retno Marsudi and a finance minister in Sri Mulyani. They are, respectively, a world-class bureaucrat and an economic reformer. Women, young and old, in villages and cities, are actively contributing to their families, communities and nation. They are sole heads of households, socially active, volunteering and organizing in many fields of life. However, 75 years after independence, Indonesia still has significant gaps in equality. In areas from the economy to social justice, women remain disadvantaged. For example, their participation rate in the labor market has been largely unchanged (at only about 51 percent of women aged 15 and older) in the past 20 years. There are also the well-documented and significant issues of underage marriage for girls and violence against women. I examined the rise of public piety and its impact on policy reform for equality in Indonesia over the past two decades. Despite the measurable disadvantage of women, there is a trend in policy advocacy to advance religiously inspired policy agendas some led by Islamic women to push back progress and limit womens freedom of choice. Religious conservatism and political Islam Pew research revealed in 2018 that Indonesians were highly religious. Some 93 percent of the population believe in religion and see it as an important aspect in their lives. This is not necessarily in itself controversial. However, what has become clear since Reformasi is a trend of politicians and diverse civil society actors including faith-based and womens organizations exploiting public piety to advance a social agenda based on conservative religious norms. As a result, there are many examples of the continuing encroachment of religion into public discourse, to the extent that it explains and indeed defines a whole social, economic, political and legal outlook. Specifically, part of this agenda is the pursuit of a religiously inspired perspective founded upon the separation of social roles for men and women. Women are, of course, implicated. Prominent examples are the promotion of Muslim clothing, the growing popularity of the Indonesia without dating movement, the promotion of polygamy, and calls to denounce feminism due to Islamic values. This is a social trend taking place in many Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Where Islam is the hegemonic religion, women are clearly at risk of being forced to follow a singular form of Islam based on a patriarchal construction of the ideal Muslim woman. Activism against gender equality These examples of popular Islamic social movements show a voluntary commitment to a specific value set. They signal a commitment to a total world view that entails particular roles and behaviors of women. That some women have supported this shows that in Indonesia today women are seemingly capable of making choices about their roles in life and society. The issue with this set of personal choices and collective action is that they have also formed the basis of efforts to influence society more broadly. That is, it sits at the heart of challenges against policy initiatives intended to benefit women and to advance equality in political and legal forums. A particular set of values identified with by one group is being imposed on Indonesian women as a whole. The most thorough form of activism has been preaching for the state to regulate womens bodies, including womens reproductive rights, morality and sexuality. The passing of the Anti-Pornography Law in 2008 was a prominent early example. It was followed by attempts to criminalize homosexuality, which affects the choices of women as much as men. There has been persistent and highly organized opposition against bids to improve equality in the Constitutional Court. The passing of Marriage Law revision by the House of Representatives, which raised the minimum age for marriage for females from 16 years old to 19 last year, faced similar opposition. The opposing camp were heavily motivated by and promoted religious doctrine in defense of the indefensible. Most recently, there has been concerted and vocal opposition to an anti-sexual violence bill. Again, the opposition case was built upon Islamic teaching. Campaigns by not only politicians but also highly organized civil society groups, such as the Family Love Alliance, relentlessly promote conservative social values. They rejected a policy framework that could benefit women and, in particular, women with disabilities. The bill introduces a comprehensive criminal justice response to sexual violence, which includes sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, forced contraception, forced abortion, rape, forced marriage, forced prostitution, sexual slavery and abuse taking place in private and public domains. Refusal to pass the bill means violence against women will continue to be normalized. Whose choice? It is hard for many to oppose religious standards when the public highly embrace faith. Advocates of equity-driven public policy are also derogatorily characterized as proponents of foreign or Western ideology and incompatible with Indonesian values. The challenge is for public contestation in Indonesia to properly reflect the needs of all Indonesian women rather than the choices of a particular group. Democracy ensures an open space for this kind of debate. But there is a real danger that beneficial outcomes for struggling Indonesian women will be lost in the noise of the current gendered, religiously driven argument. *** Dina Afrianty is Research Fellow at La Trobe Law School, La Trobe University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. If you managed to accumulate some reasonable savings on your account, you are certainly asking yourself a question of where it would be the best to allocate them in order to be capable of achieving the highest possible profit. You may take various options into account: investing on the Forex market, opting for cryptocurrencies, buying gold, or investing in real estates. If you have found yourself in such a situation, it is worth considering starting a fruitful cooperation with Antis Capital. 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The proximity of the sea, available foodstuffs from all over the world, great weather, and the bustling nature of the city attract more and more people to settle there. Thanks to said fact, you can be sure that even while living in Dubai, you will still be able to safely supervise your business and enjoy dream weather all year round. How to start cooperating with Antis Capital? Antis Capital is open to any form of cooperation. Its goal is to support each and every client in expanding his or her investment opportunities and multiplying his or her profits. Due to the international scale of the project, the company is motivated to support its clients in obtaining all kinds of documentation, certificates, visas, and the remaining permits enabling them to invest in Dubai. Antis Capital offers professional assistance of its legal department during the entire process of buying and acquiring real estates in Dubai. 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Regardless of whether you choose to buy a real estate in Dubai or to invest in cryptocurrencies, our knowledge and professional support will surely help you achieve significant profits. About the originator of Antis Capital Philip Belov was born in Russia, in the city of Chita, situated next to the border with Mongolia and China in 1987. From an early age, he traveled with his parents to various exotic countries. Said trips motivated him to embark on longer trips. In later years, he also visited North America, Asia (Korea, Thailand, and Sri Lanka), Western Europe and the United Arab Emirates. When he was young, he moved to China with his parents, where he graduated from an international high school and then studied computer science at the Beijing Institute of Technology. Later on, he moved to Dubai, where he live from 5 years. As he said, he had been fascinated by the world of cryptocurrencies from few years. Nowadays, he focuses on investing in IT structures and technologies. The first bot he made was used to handle accounting in a telemarketing company. In 2019, after noticing the potential of cryptocurrencies, he began working on Antis BOT together with his friends specializing in the field of IT. The team was working on the device for almost one and a half years. Antis BOT is an artificial intelligence that can carry out transactions on the cryptocurrency market without any human intervention whatsoever I've never covered a war, and at this point in my career I'm not anticipating it though merely typing this could be a terrible jinx. My natural disasters pandemic-class excepted have been fairly low-level, in part because of the luck of timing that had me on vacation when Hurricane Irene struck upstate in August 2011. My only significant contribution to the Times Union's coverage of that catastrophe is the picture of my 11-year-old son pointing over his shoulder in getta-loada-this style at the copy of the paper's front page displayed on the wall of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., alongside other great print coverage of the storm's passage. But when it comes to covering true chaos, my upper limit is the state Senate coup of 2009, a peril less to life and limb than to sanity and one's faith in representative democracy. This is a roundabout way of saying that I genuinely thought that the first time I was likely to feel the sharp tang of tear gas hitting my sinuses was four years ago at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and not 10 weeks ago in Albany. But life takes a crooked path. As the two major parties prepare for this month's largely squelched conventions, I'm feeling strangely nostalgic for the experience of covering the RNC and the Democratic gathering in Philadelphia the following week. The work involved long days and little sleep, the anxiety of dropped Wi-Fi and the ruination of a pair of loafers that developed hobo soles, painfully revealed as I walked across the sizzling and vast parking lot of Wells Fargo Center to hear Gov. Andrew Cuomo deliver a speech to delegates. I still have those shoes, as well as a heavy necklace of lanyards from the two conventions. They are, in a way, artifacts of the sort of hope that national political conventions seem to engender, no matter how lousy the candidates. In Cleveland, that sense of hope was tinged with the sort of anything-goes giddiness that attends the surprise nomination of a candidate with zero experience in elective office. My colleague Karen DeWitt and I recorded a podcast with U.S. Rep. Chris Collins of Buffalo, who was basking in his status as the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president. They had called him crazy, but in Cleveland he was a star. Nowadays, they call Collins a felon and a former member of Congress after his guilty plea to insider trading and lying to federal investigators but back then, he was full of hope. Surely Carl Paladino, perhaps the most hangdog gubernatorial candidate in modern New York history, never revealed to reporters anything close to his Cleveland level of ebullience. In Philadelphia, the anticipation of better things was somewhat more muted, probably due to the fact that the party was coming off eight years in the White House and its favored candidate, Hillary Clinton, came with more baggage than a Samsonite warehouse. And unlike Cleveland where politicians wary of Trump, such as Reps. John Faso and Elise Stefanik, simply stayed far away the City of Brotherly Love welcomed a significant wedge of the party still seething with frustration that Bernie Sanders had lost out. Their belief in the certainty of Clinton's election could be seen in their willingness to periodically disrupt the proceedings. Though I have seen a lot of Susan Sarandon movies, I have never seen her looking as disappointed as when she and a large contingent of Sanders supporters decided to occupy the media tent after Nina Turner, a Sanders surrogate, was denied a speaking slot. The media were nonplussed. If you had told Sarandon that Trump was going to win the election three months later in large part because Clinton had been torn down from the left and the right, she likely would have said you were bonkers. Lack of foresight is a common failing of the hopeful. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. As the summer of 2020 winds down, hope is not an emotion that many people are feeling in great abundance. There's been too much loss mortal, economic, social for that. When attending a mass gathering could end up sickening you, your family or your neighbors, there are no lanyards snazzy enough to make a convention worth the risk. The virtual party gatherings will begin with the Democrats sort of in Milwaukee this week and the Republicans kind of in Charlotte, N.C., next week with Trump perhaps giving his acceptance speech from the White House, or the Gettysburg National Military Park, or maybe someplace less in conflict with federal law and presidential decorum. They won't be like normal conventions; they will be fear conventions. For Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the proceedings will need to invite voters to think about how far we've fallen from where we were four years ago, and imagine how much worse things can get. For Trump and Mike Pence, the effort to conjure up a progressive dystopia worse than the current medical-economic-social one will be all-important. In Cleveland, Trump spoke of "American carnage." I'm not sure he'll be deploying that phrase this time around. Emily Dickinson called hope "the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul," the bird with a song "sweetest in the gale." Don't expect it to do much warbling over the next two weeks. cseiler@timesunion.com 518-454-5619 A woman argues with a protester during a rally in support of Confederate monuments in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Lynsey Weatherspoon/Getty Images) Police Arrive in Force to Disperse Rally for Georgia Confederate Monument Police officers in riot gear arrived in Stone Mountain, Georgia, after hours of heated interactions between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators on Aug. 15. Despite the closure of Stone Mountain Park, where ralliers planned to gather in support of the Confederate monument, hundreds turned out. Demonstrators from several groups showed up, including the Three Percenters. Many carried guns and said they wanted to protest in support of the First and Second Amendments. Counter-demonstrators included Black Lives Matter activists and so-called anti-fascists, some of whom were armed. After about five hours of tense interactions, including several scuffles, police officers in riot gear appeared and officials ordered people to leave. Ralliers and counter-demonstrators fight over a Confederate flag in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images) Chris Hill of the Three Percenters, left, argued with counter-demonstrators organized by F.L.O.W.E.R. during a rally in support of Confederate monuments in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images) A Black Lives Matter activist shouts at a rallier during an event held in support of Confederate monuments in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images) It is time for you to disperse, or you will be arrested for disorderly conduct, Stone Mountain Police Chief Chancey Troutman said through a loudspeaker. Please leave at this time. Georgia National Guard troops were also present. Maj. Gen. Thomas Carden, adjutant general of the guard, told WSB-TV that the clashes exceeded the threshold that local authorities were comfortable with. So theyve decided to disperse the crowd and arrest those that are noncompliant, he said. Peace is always the strategy. At the end of the day, people have had the opportunity to have their voices heard. In a statement later on Aug. 15, Mayor Patricia Wheeler and city manager ChaQuias Miller-Thornton said the demonstrators didnt have a permit to gather. However, in pursuit of the safety and protection of the citys citizens, visitors, all law enforcement officers, and property, and to deter acts of riot, the citys police chief made a decision to allow the protestors to assemble and/or parade while maintaining police presence, they said. The goal was to allow all sides to have an opportunity to express their constitutional right to freedom of speech, without a major disruption of peace. The gatherings ended with no injury, no arrests, and no property damage, the statement says. Minor altercations did occur within the course of the event, however, it was the position of the Stone Mountain Police not to escalate or to engage until the situation needed to be control by such force, and until there was sufficient law enforcement presence at the scene to adequately and effectively engage. Members of militias stand in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images) A counter-demonstrator, right, accuses ralliers of racism for holding an All Lives Matter banner during an event held in support of Confederate monuments in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images) A counter-protester burns a Confederate flag in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Lynsey Weatherspoon/Getty Images) Chris Hill, part of the Three Percenters Security Force, told independent reporter Ford Fischer that his group went to the town to basically stand in defense of people that want to preserve Stone Mountain, want to preserve southern heritage, and let people know theyre not hateful or racist. Hill told The Epoch Times in an email that our response was to provide security for anyone who showed up. Counter-demonstrators, who outnumbered the ralliers, chanted no justice, no peace and Nazis go home. At one point, a black man shouted at a white rallier, accusing him of being racist for standing next to an All Lives Matter banner. The group set fire to at least one Confederate flag. Few physical interactions appeared to take place, and no guns appeared to be fired. An all-black militia that has been appearing in different states in recent weeks was reportedly set to travel to Stone Mountain in a reprise of a visit last month, but its leader said this week they would be staying home. Weve already made history, why would we walk back into a kill box? he said in a video message. Chan Ping-yau has been a fish farmer for more than 35 years and currently owns one of Hong Kongs biggest fish farms, a floating complex that covers some 10,000 square metres (108,000 sq ft). Over the decades, the farm has faced many challenges including severe typhoons. But the 2020 coronavirus pandemic is proving to be a major blow for an industry already in serious decline. Despite this, Chan says he is determined to live out his days on the sea. The Ford Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP) in Louisville with nearly 9,000 workers has reported 32 new COVID-19 cases last Thursday. Workers at KTP assemble the Super Duty trucks, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Expedition. The news was reported through the United Auto Workers union acting as the human resource department information portal for Ford. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, announced a record high 1,163 COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday. Kentucky is on the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut tri-state list for a two-week mandatory quarantine requirement for travelers. Worker comments revealed that they were not surprised by the announcement of the thirty-two COVID-19 cases considering the lack of effective safety measures. One worker posted on the local unions Facebook page, Yeah, they really care about our health and safety. A skilled trades worker at KTP spoke to the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter about the lack of information on coronavirus infections at the plant saying, I have not heard anything from either management or UAW. Adding, I used to get emails about it, but not lately. The widening scale of the COVID-19 crisis in manufacturing has also revealed itself at the nearby Louisville Assembly Plant, which produces the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs. It reported 25 new cases of COVID-19 at the plant that has over 4,000 employees. In comments to local media that reflect the UAWs disregard for the lives of workers and their families, Local 862 president Todd Dunn callously attempted to shift the blame onto workers that were on vacations and traveling during the scheduled plant shutdowns for the outbreak stating, I think just out of the sheer numbers and the travel. I mean, it was somewhat expected, I think, by everybody. According to a Ford Labor Relations Bulletin posted on Facebook, addressing all workers on the A-crew shift at KTP, some will be forced work mandatory shifts of up to 11.5 hours beginning August 16, a Sunday. The company is placing the blame on volume, but it is likely intended to make up for the lack of manpower due to the rising numbers of those out because of illness. Workers social media comments revealed their hostility to their being forced to work longer hours in unsafe conditions with one worker writing ironically, Wonderful. This past July 13, Ford announced a hiring campaign for hourly production team member positions at KTP, where the starting hourly wage is a poverty-level $16.67 per hour at up to 10 hours per day, with no overtime pay for time worked after 8 hours, and no medical coverage until after 90 days on the job. With the number of coronavirus cases increasing at the factory, this would likely allow the company to save money on insurance costs if a worker does become ill before working 90 days. One worker commented on the job listing posted on the Facebook page of UAW Local 862 and Fords description of the position, This does not accurately describe the situation a new worker will be walking into. A fellow worker expressed the reality that new workers were facing when they replied, Sshhhhh, you will ruin the surprise. Todd Dunn was quoted on his expectation of a return to pre-COVID-19 production levels in a July 10 article in the Detroit Free Press. He noted the engine shortage caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in Mexico and the resulting government-mandated 50 percent staffing reduction at Fords Chihuahua Engine Plant. Its always a challenge because were back to pre-COVID sales. In the same article an industry analyst described the integrated nature of the industry and Fords exploitation of Mexican workers, Because labor costs are lower south of the border, he explained, auto companies use fewer robots and more workers who pack tightly into factories. The local media reported that workers have spoken to them on condition of anonymity because of fear of retaliation for commenting on the loosening of safety measures. Management no longer requires a plant shutdown for cleaning after positive cases of COVID-19 are discovered and management has failed to implement proper social distancing. One worker stated, Right when we came back it was shut down for 24 hours if we get a positive case. Remarking on the current situation he added, But the second we got that first positive case, nothing happened. There was no shutdown. The worker continued, They would shut down the line in that area and do spot cleaning, which is just cleaning that persons [workspace], and thats it. Ford KTP workers have taken the measure of the UAW and largely abstained from voting in the local union elections after the UAW rendered support for the companys back-to-work drive. One worker noted the low turnout in a Facebook posting writing, Not a lot of enthusiasm for the candidates, it seems. A Facebook comment posted by a worker at trucking firm YRC expressed agreement with the Autoworkers Rank-and-file Safety Committee Network statement, in particular that the companies are fraudulently hiding behind HIPPA privacy regulations to cover up COVID cases. Exactly what I have been trying to explain to this company for months now, however, they keep screaming HIPPA laws. The worker insisted that what autoworkers are demanding is common across industries, I explain, we dont care who it is, or their medical history, we just want to know if there are any positive cases, but they still wish to keep it from us. Workers at plants and across the auto industry are beginning to take forward the formation of rank-and-file safety committees independent of the unions. The WSWS will do everything in its power to help workers form these committees and forge links with workers across industries and internationally. The Autoworker Newsletter urges workers at Fords Louisville factories to join workers at Ford factories in Detroit and Chicago and other auto plants in forming rank-and-file safety committees independent of the unions to protect their lives and those of their families. Contact us at autoworkers@wsws.org. Kevin Clinesmith will plead guilty to altering an email, believed to be from the CIA, for wiretapping a Trump adviser. A former FBI lawyer will plead guilty to falsifying a document as part of a federal probe into the origins of an investigation into possible contacts between Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia, the former FBI officials lawyer said on Friday. Kevin Clinesmith is accused of altering a government email about a former Trump campaign adviser who was a target of FBI surveillance, according to documents filed in Washington, DCs federal court. His lawyer, Justin Shur, told The Associated Press news agency that Clinesmith intends to plead guilty to the single false statement count and that he regrets his actions. The case against Clinesmith was cheered by President Donald Trump and his supporters as they look to the Durham investigation to lift Trumps wobbly re-election prospects and to expose what they see as wrongdoing as the FBI opened an investigation into whether the Trump campaign was coordinating with the Kremlin to sway the outcome of the 2016 election. The fact is they spied on my campaign and they got caught, Trump said at the White House on Friday. Deep regret While Trump appears set to tout the results, the five-page charging document is limited in scope and does not allege criminal wrongdoing by anyone other than Clinesmith, nor does it offer evidence to support Trumps assertions that the Russia probe was tainted by widespread political bias in the FBI. It does make clear that the FBI relied on Clinesmiths misrepresentations as it sought to renew its surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email, Justin Shur, a lawyer for Clinesmith, told Reuters news agency in an email. According to criminal information filed in federal court in Washington, DC on Friday, Clinesmith altered an email from another unnamed government agency, believed to be the CIA, to say that an unnamed individual, believed to be Page, was not a source even though an email from the other government agency did not say that. It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues as he believed the information he relayed was accurate. But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility, Shur added. Clinesmith wrote texts expressing opposition to President Trump, which said he is likely to tout Clinesmiths anticipated guilty plea as evidence the Russia investigation initiated by the administration of President Barack Obama was illegitimate and politically motivated. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday, US Attorney General William Barr predicted there would be a development on Friday in the investigation by John Durham, a Connecticut-based federal prosecutor whom Barr named to investigate the origins of federal investigations into alleged contacts between Trump advisers and Russia in 2016. The Durham investigation, which is also examining the intelligence communitys assessment about Russian election interference, has caused concern among Democrats, who view it as a politically charged exercise meant to relitigate an already closed investigation. They fear criminal charges or public reports issued so close to the 2020 election could be timed to affect Novembers vote. The investigation has proceeded alongside a parallel effort by Senate Republicans to discredit the Russia probe and as Barr has escalated his own criticism of the FBIs probe. Documents released in recent months have called into question the reliability of information the FBI relied on, particularly from a dossier of Democratic-funded research, as the agency applied for applications to surveil Page. Durham had no comment, a spokesman told AP. It remains unclear what additional charges, if any, Durham might bring, though he has been closely scrutinising how intelligence agencies arrived at the conclusion that Russia had interfered in 2016 to benefit Trump. Valid, with errors A Justice Department inspector general report that previously examined the FBIs actions found that the probe was opened for a valid reason but also identified significant errors in surveillance applications that targeted Page. Durham is a veteran prosecutor with a history of special assignments from Washington, including leading a Justice Department investigation into the CIAs harsh interrogation techniques of terror suspects and the destruction of videotapes documenting those interrogations. Barr appointed Durham just weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his nearly two-year investigation. Mueller found significant contacts during the 2016 campaign between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them. Former special counsel Robert Mueller found numerous contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia during his years-long investigation [J Scott Applewhite/AP Photo] Mueller also examined multiple episodes in which Trump sought to affect or choke off the Russia investigation, but he did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice. Barr quickly signalled his scepticism with the Russia investigation, concluding that Trump had not obstructed justice even though Mueller had pointedly left that question unresolved. More recently, Barr stepped in to dismiss the criminal case against former Trump administration NSA Michael Flynn even though Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, and Barr overruled prosecutors to seek a lighter prison term for Trump confidant Roger Stone. An appeal of the Flynn dismissal decision is now before a federal appeals court, and Trump commuted Stones sentence last month. Afghan government announces release of 80 from final 400 Taliban prisoners Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 8:45 AM The Afghan government says it has begun releasing the final batch of Taliban prisoners in an effort to pave the way for peace talks with the militant group. Javid Faisal, the spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council (NSC), announced on Friday that the final group included 400 Taliban inmates, of whom 80 had been released a day earlier. Faisal said all the inmates in the group were accused of serious crimes, including brutal attacks that claimed the lives of Afghans as well as foreigners. The Afghan government official did not mention when the remaining 320 would be set free, but said the release would "speed up efforts for direct talks with the Taliban and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree on Monday to release the final batch of Taliban prisoners. In February, the Taliban and Washington signed a deal in which Afghan peace talks were to begin in March, but discussions were delayed by disagreements over the terms of a prisoner swap. The deal, which sets the stage for the withdrawal of all US-led foreign forces from Afghanistan, required Kabul to free some 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held by the Taliban. The Taliban said they have already fulfilled their side of the exchange. Authorities, however, had refused to free hundreds of inmates who are accused of serious crimes . Official data shows that bombings and other assaults by the Taliban have surged 70 percent since the militant group signed the deal with the United States. Last month, Ghani said more than 3,500 Afghan troops and nearly 800 civilians had been killed since the deal was signed in Doha. The negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban are reportedly set to start in Qatar this week NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The African Development Bank joined a number of development leaders in calling for greater support of youth entrepreneurship during a virtual event organized by the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The webinar was timed to coincide with International Youth Day, which fell on Wednesday 12 August, 2020. Africa is young, and we need to do whatever it takes to empower our youth because they are the future of the continent, said the Banks Acting Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Wambui Gichuri, a featured speaker. Entrepreneurship is an essential part in addressing Africas employment challenge and where we need to put our focus. The webinar, themed Investing in Africas Future: Youth Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship, invited a range of private and public sector representatives to discuss the challenges young African entrepreneurs face, and more broadly the continents economic future, in light of the ongoing pandemic. The event was part of an ongoing series the Foundation has been hosting. The population of Africans aged 18-35 is expected to hit 830 million people by 2050, creating a youth bulge which experts predict could create a corps of young workers to fuel the continents long-term economic growth, but also poses immense job-creation challenges. Africa is the epicenter for the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time to come together and rethink and reimagine our commitment to young African entrepreneurs, said Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, the Foundations CEO and panel moderator. Investing in our future means awaking the entrepreneurial spirit of every young person on the continent. Also on the panel was 22-year-old Leroy Mwasaru, founder of Greenpact, a Kenyan alternative renewable energy startup. An alumni of the Elumelu Foundations Entrepreneurship Program, Mwasaru expressed a desire to see greater communication and sharing of lessons learned among small and medium enterprises. The Entrepreneurship Program, which offers job skills, mentoring and funding to African entrepreneurs, in 2019 agreed a partnership with the Bank, which has provided $5 million in seed capital for the initiative. The Banks Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development, also on the panel, praised the role of such partnerships in creating jobs on the continent: The Banks investment enabled the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship program to scale up and reach an additional 1,000 entrepreneurs in 38 African countries, said Director Martha Phiri. Let us give skills to our youth and also provide them with the necessary support to prove their business concepts, so that they can start, grow and scale their businesses in order to create jobs not just for themselves, but for others. Phiri also mentioned the Banks AfricaVsVirus (https://bit.ly/3fWhTef) ideathon, which will provide training, mentoring and investment opportunities to African youth who developed the most promising solutions to address COVID-19 pandemic related challenges. Joining Gichuri, Phiri and Mwasaru on the panel were: Shoroke Zedan, Chairperson, World Skills Egypt; Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, Founder of Wecyclers Nigeria and Ebube Emodi, Tony Elumelu Foundation Events Manager and Executive Associate. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires MU researchers aim to improve classroom behavior, student well-being and performance COLUMBIA, Mo. - Nearly half of all new teachers leave the profession within their first five years, and sometimes their departures have less to do with teaching and more to do with managing disruptive student behavior. Decades of research have shown traditional disciplinary actions, including in-school or out-of-school suspensions, fail to improve student behavior. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri are aiming to improve classroom behavior and student well-being with the help of $4.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The grants were awarded to the Missouri Prevention Science Institute, a multidisciplinary center housed in the MU Office of Research and Economic Development. Wendy Reinke, a professor in the MU College of Education and co-director of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute, received a $3.2 million grant to implement the Classroom Check-Up, an online resource she developed with videos and strategies to help early-career teachers implement effective classroom management practices. Some of the topics include establishing clear expectations early, teaching students what appropriate behaviors look like and encouraging positive reinforcement. The intervention will support teachers in rural, suburban and urban Missouri school districts. "This online platform can reach more teachers who find themselves struggling with classroom management, and supporting these teachers can have a trickle-down effect that leads to improved academic and behavioral outcomes for their students," Reinke said. "Some teachers see thousands of kids over the course of their career, so we try to give them the skills to improve those lives they touch." Aaron Thompson, an associate professor in the College of Human Environmental Sciences and associate director of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute, received a $1.3 million grant to implement an intervention aimed at helping students with challenging classroom behaviors learn how to set goals and monitor their own progress toward those goals. "What I believe this intervention does is put students in a situation where they are being asked to be engaged with the solution to the problem," Thompson said. "We have to help them see that certain behaviors can help propel them toward the things they want in life. As we empower kids and promote that student autonomy, they will take more responsibility for their actions." Thompson will work with school districts in Centralia and Ashland to implement the intervention in middle school classrooms. "My goal is to promote a process where school support personnel, teachers and students are working together to solve problems in the classroom," Thompson said. ### Funding for both grants was provided by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences to the Missouri Prevention Science Institute, a research center at MU aimed at increasing interdisciplinary research productivity, meaningful community engagement, diversity and inclusivity excellence, and addressing the contextual factors that contribute to and drive poor mental health outcomes in youth. This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. "Nothing is being done, we're completely living in limbo." Those are the words of a resident of Yeats Heights who said he and fellow residents are enduring ongoing harassment and anti social behaviour by a neighbour in the estate. The man at the centre of complaints recently received fines in court for trespassing and for public order offences in Yeats Heights last year, and was told by Judge Kevin Kilrane that if he continued the behaviour he would go to prison. Although the residents are in fear of the man, their ire is firmly directed towards the HSE and mental health services who, they believe, are not engaging fully with the man. The 44 year old man lives in a house in the estate rented for him by the HSE for the past 14 years. Speaking to The Sligo Champion, the resident said he and neighbours have experienced sustained harassment by the man. "He has trespassed on my property and it's only a matter of time before he does damage to himself or others." At earlier court appearances this year Judge Kilrane noted that the man was scaring his neighbours, hiding in bushes and putting them in fear. The resident, who is aged in his 60s, told The Sligo Champion that though the man was told if he continued his behaviour he would go to prison, the harassment has continued, with gardai being called five times over the past week. "The gardai have attended and warned him but once they leave the area he is out the window shouting again. What's going on is horrifying, everyone is passing the book. We've written to the HSE and received no response. It's the lack of care and a classic case of people doing nothing." Residents say they're at their 'wits' end'. "He has a key worker and they told me to 'turn a blind eye', it's not good enough. I'm 65 and retired, I shouldn't have to put up with this. Last night he was out [verbally] abusing me at 10pm at night." The resident has said things have got considerably worse over the past 12 months and though the man has even spent a week in prison for his behaviour things have only continued to get worse. Asked what residents would like to happen, the resident says he and others want the HSE and mental health services to step in and engage with the man. "We've had no word from the HSE and other services. "The landlord of the house has contacted the HSE about this, the house has been damaged and the landlord doesn't have a key for the property, he has heard nothing back. Nothing is being done and we're in complete limbo." At an early court appearance this year, a HSE worker told Judge Kilrane the man was cocooning due to Covid-19 and was 'finding it tough'. His legal representative told the court his client had not drank since an earlier incident this year and spends his money on gaming equipment. In the universal struggle to find a life partner, generations of young Native Americans have had an added burden that was put upon them long before they were born. In 1934, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act, a law the Bureau of Indian Affairs established with the intent to bolster tribal authority on their own lands. Yet it mandated that tribal governments should be organized constitutionally, and dictated that individuals must have a certain fraction of Indian blood, or blood quantum, to be enrolled as a member in a given tribe. Many scholars argue that blood quantum requirements were calculated to reduce tribal enrollment over time. Moreover, they call attention to the U.S. governments detrimental use of the term blood quantum during the 19th century and early 20th century to associate a Native persons level of intelligence with their supposed amount of Native versus Euro-American or other blood. Blood quantum is determined by the amount of Indian blood of a persons ancestors. For example, if someone had one parent who was full-blooded and one who was non-Native, that person would have an Indian blood quantum of . If that person were to have a child with a non-Native or person of another tribe, this child would be regarded as having a blood quantum of within his or her tribe. This blood quantum system has many pitfalls such as, an increasing number of Native Americans are of more than one tribe or race and so have or less Indian blood, and different tribes require different degrees of blood quantum for enrollment. Consequently, Native People who wish their children to be enrolled as a member of their tribe must choose a partner with enough of their tribes blood for their offspring to qualify. Many Indigenous People consider the blood quantum system of tribal membership unsustainable. If these requirements are maintained for much longer, some fear tribes will cease to exist. For Reservation Mathematics: Navigating Love in Native America, photojournalist Tailyr Irvine interviewed Indigenous residents in Missoula and on her Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana. They share their deep personal, social and political concerns about the blood quantum system, which can impact Native Americans most personal decisions including with whom they have children. Through seven intimate stories, Irvine shows how blood quantum requirements are increasingly putting pressures on Native Americans lives. While their perspectives on the blood quantum system range greatly, one message is clear: a persons Native identity cannot be calculated by fractions of blood. This project was produced for the National Museum of the American Indian Developing Stories: Photographers in the Field exhibition entitled Reservation Mathematics: Navigating Love in Native America. To see the complete exhibition you can go online to AmericanIndian.si.edu/developingstories. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Government wheat purchases in major production areas declined this summer as many farmers sold into a better performing open market in the past weeks, experts revealed recently. According to statistics released by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, government wheat purchases in major production areas were 42.8 million metric tons as of Aug 5, a drop of about 9.38 million tons compared to the same period last year. Henan province, where the purchases fell the most, only saw 9.12 million tons of wheat sold to the government. It was followed by Anhui, Hebei, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. "The well-preforming market resulted in a higher price in the open market than the government acquisition price," Hu Bingchuan, a researcher from the Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in a recent interview with ThePaper.cn. He said the government acquisition price is a preferential policy to ensure basic profits of farmers in major production areas, which also plays an important role of maintaining stable grain production. According to Sublime China Information Co, China's online commodity pricing platform, the prices for wheat offered by many wheat powder companies this summer was between 2.4 yuan ($0.35) and 2.8 yuan per kilogram, higher than the government acquisition price of 2.32 yuan per kg. Xu Xueping, an analyst with SCI, told ThePaper.cn that increasing wheat prices this summer might be influenced by stronger market demand and rising corn prices in July. Both corn and wheat are major food supplies for livestock, he said, and higher corn prices forced livestock producers to purchase more wheat as a substitute, which boosted wheat prices. According to Hu, some farmers and agricultural product agencies had higher expectations for the wheat market in the second half of the year and hoarded their produce for a higher price, which also contributed to the drop of government wheat purchases. "Fluctuations in wheat prices have been witnessed regularly in recent years. But in general, it wasn't and will not pose a threat to our food security," he said. According to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, government wheat acquisitions were 42.9 million tons in 2018, a drop of 21.5 million tons compared for 2017. In 2019, however, purchases bounced back to 64.3 million tons. Summer grain is the first season of China's annual grain production, which accounts for more than one-fifth of the annual grain output. In mid-July, the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that China's summer grain output reached a historic high of 142.8 million tons this year, an increase of 1.2 million tons compared with the same period last year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-14 21:27:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Teachers of the Confucius Institute of Chinese Opera (CICO) of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton perform during an event marking the 10th anniversary of the CICO in Binghamton, the United States, on Oct. 18, 2019. (Xinhua) China said that the U.S. move is borne out of "ideological prejudice and self-interest" and "have brutally interfered with and obstructed normal bilateral cooperation projects". BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday expressed its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the request of the United States to register the Confucius Institute U.S. Center as "a foreign mission," saying it has demonized and stigmatized the normal operation of China-U.S. cooperation projects. "Out of ideological prejudice and self-interest, some U.S. individuals have brutally interfered with and obstructed normal bilateral cooperation projects, including Confucius Institutes, which is totally unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing in response to a relevant statement by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Zhao said Confucius Institutes in the United States were established in cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, friendly consultation, equality, and mutual benefit to universities of the two countries. The operation and management of Confucius Institutes are open and transparent, and strictly abide by local laws and regulations of the universities, the spokesperson said, adding that the institutes have made positive contributions to cultural exchanges between China and the United States, and have been generally welcomed by the universities and all walks of life in the United States. Noting that the U.S. statement has cited a large number of "so-called" reports with no foundation in facts, Zhao urged the United States to abandon the Cold War zero-sum mentality, immediately correct mistakes, stop politicizing related educational exchange programs, stop disturbing normal people-to-people exchanges, and stop damaging mutual trust and cooperation between China and the United States. Zhao said China reserved the right to react further. Shielded Vacations Shielded Vacations program which was developed by our medical staff and health experts, commented Oliver Reinhart, CEO of ATELIER de Hoteles. ATELIER de Hoteles, the Mexican hotel chain famous for its innovative Handmade Hospitality, announced that its properties, both in Cancun and Playa Mujeres, are ready to restart operations. Following the latest recommendations and reports by both local and federal authorities and official health departments, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), for preventing infection from COVID-19, ATELIER de Hoteles has adopted new and strict sanitary measures as part of its program called Shielded Vacations. In ATELIER de Hoteles hygiene and cleanliness have always been an integral part and fundamental to the luxury service for which we are famous, and the new protocols and official regulations regarding care and prevention are just a logical extension of our Shielded Vacations program which was developed by our medical staff and health experts, commented Oliver Reinhart, CEO of ATELIER de Hoteles. With this in mind, ATELIER de Hoteles has made the http://www.atelierdehoteles.com.mx/shielded-vacations website available to guests, where they can consult the programs actions in detail, especially the following: Upon arrival there will be sanitizing mats for shoes, and guests suitcases will be nebulized. In order to reduce physical contact, resorts in Playa Mujeres will offer a novel mobile application for checking-in, consulting restaurant menus, chatting with the e-concierge and ordering suite service. Anti-bacterial gel dispensers will be placed in all public areas and all food and beverage outlets. A Health Squad will be created for cleaning and disinfecting rooms, public areas, offices and areas with heavy foot traffic. Anti-COVID-19 spraying will be implemented in all suites, both before guests arrival and constantly thereafter in restaurants, gym, spa and other public areas. Safe distancing will be applied in all food and beverage outlets. An obligatory hand washing program, every 30 to 45 minutes, will be introduced. Use of "Global 9" and "USA Clean Line" chemical and detergent products for washing and disinfecting all areas. In addition to our own processes, we strictly adhere to operating regulations of the Distintivo H hygiene certification and we are also in the process of obtaining the new Quintana Roo Certification for Sanitary Protection and Prevention in Tourist Establishments, implemented by the Quintana Roo State Tourism and Health Services Departments, declared Mascia Nadin, Director of Operations at ATELIER de Hoteles. About: ATELIER de Hoteles is an innovative and ground-breaking Mexican hotel chain born in 2015, with contemporary Mexican art setting it apart and acting as the common denominator in its concepts, which include strategy, passion and commitment. ATELIER de Hoteles offers in its four brands, ATELIER, ESTUDIO, OLEO and MET, relaxed luxury with the highest in service standards in its properties, currently located in the Hotel Zone and Playa Mujeres, both in Cancun, Quintana Roo, and with openings planned in the near future for the most important beach and business destinations in Mexico. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 18:03 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e4ff87 4 National Lampung,polygamy,police,domestic-violence,Polisi-Lampung,KDRT Free The Trimurjo Police in Lampung have arrested a man for allegedly stabbing his wife after she refused to allow him to live a polygamous lifestyle by marrying another woman. The suspect, a resident of Tempuran village in Trimurjo district, Central Lampung regency, was arrested by the police on Thursday, Trimurjo Police officer Adj. Comr. Kurmen Rubianto said as reported by tribunnews.com. During the arrest, the police confiscated a cleaver and a sarong as evidence. The arrest occurred following a report to the police from the victims relatives on Monday. The wife reportedly suffered wounds to her leg. She was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Read also: Lampung man allegedly murders own baby after wife refuses to have sex with him Kurmen said the police charged the suspect under Article 44 of the 2004 Domestic Violence Law, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. The suspect claimed that he attacked his wife because she refused to allow him to remarry and instead asked for a divorce. I was disappointed that she asked for a divorce. I dont want to divorce her, he said. (mfp) LUDINGTON, MI - New attractions have popped up in Ludington during this second half of summer and tourism officials are betting theyll be a draw for locals and visitors alike. The first is a little touch of Up North royalty. The Princess of Ludington made its debut with Ludington Harbor Tours last month. Those island hoppers among you might recognize her vintage lines as a former Arnold Transit ferry for Mackinac Island before she headed west to be outfitted as a carferry in the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. Donald Trump has enlisted a new coronavirus task force advisor following tensions between the president and doctor Anthony Fauci, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to surge throughout the US. Scott Atlas, a healthcare policy expert at the conservative Hoover Institution at Stanford University, was announced on Monday as a new addition to the White Houses coronavirus team Scott is a very famous man whos also very highly respected, Mr Trump said in a press conference on Monday. Hes working with us and will be working with us on the coronavirus. And he has many great ideas. And he thinks what weve done is really good, and now well take it to a new level. Although Dr Atlas official role was announced on Monday, he has reportedly been counselling Mr Trump informally for weeks after the president spotted him on Fox News, according to a report by The Times. The White House has not said whether Dr Atlas is being paid to undertake his role on the task force. The appointment comes as Mr Trumps relationship with a number of the current members of the task force continues to break down, namely Dr Fauci and Dr Deborah Birx. The president has regularly criticised the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on a number of occasions over the last few months, saying that has made a lot of mistakes and is a little bit of an alarmist. Dr Fauci has contradicted Mr Trump on a number of occasions on issues regarding the pandemic including testing and the severity of the pandemic across the country. The White House also attempted to discredit Dr Fauci last month by saying that several White House officials are concerned about the number of times Dr Fauci has been wrong on things. More recently, Mr Trump has aimed his disapproval at Dr Birx, calling her pathetic after she said in an interview that coronavirus had become extraordinarily widespread at the beginning of August. Mr Trumps criticism of Dr Birx marks the first time hes publicly attacked the doctor. Rush Limbaugh, a talk show host to who was awarded the presidential medal of freedom by Mr Trump, praised Dr Atlas because he was countering Fauci, according to The Times report. Dr Atlas has frequently expressed views in line with Mr Trumps regarding the reopening of schools amidst the pandemic, which has become a major feature of the US ongoing debate about re-opening the country. Of course, we can [reopen schools.] Everyone else in the world and the western world, our peer nations are doing it. We are the outlier here, Dr Atlas told Fox News last month. There are virtually zero risks to children of getting something serious or dying from this disease, he claimed. Over 380,000 children have tested positive for Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic, according to a report by American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association. Teachers also fear they will be put at high risk if in-person schooling reopens too soon and without appropriate safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Last month, the president of the largest US teachers union double-dog dared Mr Trump to sit in one of their classrooms during the pandemic when schools reopen. Were talking about second graders. I had 39 sixth graders one year in my class. I double-dog dare Donald Trump to sit in a class of 39 sixth graders and breathe that air without any preparation for how were going to bring our kids back safely, National Education Association (NEA) President Lily Eskelsen Garcia told CNN. Mr Trump has persistently called for the reopening of schools this fall, condemning the Centre for Disease Controls guidelines for re-opening as tough and expensive and previously threatening to cut federal funding if districts ignore his demands to reopen. Dr Fauci reiterated his concerns about the viruss spread yesterday. Bottom line is, Im not pleased with how things are going, he reportedly said during a National Geographic panel. The US set a new record this week for the number of coronavirus cases as the number of infections surpassed five million, which equates to one out of every 66 residents infected with the disease, according to an analysis by Reuters. Randy Propps, a West Virginia native, is a law enforcement veteran. He spent 26 years with the Florence County Sheriff's Office and an additional 17 years as the director of security and emergency preparedness at McLeod. Florence native William Schofield is a Navy veteran. He served in the ceremonial honor guard in Washington, D.C., where he conducted military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and also worked in the public affairs office for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He also served overseas for two deployments. He said he returned to Florence to get custody of his daughter and to be a single dad. Schofield added that his father encouraged him to run for Council District 8 seat instead of the school board. What do the candidates plan to do if elected? All three candidates recently spoke at a meeting of the Florence County Republican Party. Brand spoke to the Republicans about the need for continued economic development he agreed that as an investment banker he could work well with developers and healing the rift between the city and the county so as to keep the community growing and moving forward. BANGKOK (AP) A student leader of Thailands anti-government movement vowed to continue his protesting after being released on bail Saturday, a day after his arrest on a sedition charge. The arrest Friday of Parit Penguin Chiwarak came as the government tries to deal with a wave of pro-democracy protests, mainly consisting of students who have rallied in schools and on campuses in many Thai cities. The students are demanding the dissolution of parliament, fresh elections, a new constitution and an end to intimidation of the governments opponents. Parit was defiant as he spoke to a crowd of journalists and supporters after being freed by the Bangkok Criminal Court. He had been allowed to walk free on condition he did not repeat his alleged offenses. He immediately spoke in more provocative terms than he had at the July 18 protest for which he was charged with sedition. Parit read out a list of proposals for reforming the monarchy that was first launched at a university rally on Monday, rocking the country because public criticism of the royal institution is virtually unprecedented and traditionally taboo. It is unclear if all members of the protest movement support the proposals. I dont regret being arrested because ever since joining the movement I knew it might happen, but it wont be in vain. Everyone should have the courage to talk about the monarchy, he said. Mainstream media in Thailand have by and large refrained from reporting the demands about the monarchy because of their sensitivity. A strict law against defaming the monarchy carries a punishment of three to 15 years in prison, and criticism of the monarchy can also be prosecuted under several other statutes mainly covering national security. After his release, Parit declared on his Facebook page that he would see his followers at a major rally planned for Sunday in Bangkok. The sudden and brazen criticism of the monarchy has drawn swift reaction from the government and its conservative supporters, with many warning the students to change course. It presents Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha with the challenge of how to avoid a violent crackdown that might only draw more supporters to the protest movement. Story continues Parit said he would not be deterred. There is a police unit unit 904 trailing me, so I am not sure about my safety, he said. But tomorrow there is a big rally so I needed to get bail to be out, to lead it. The protests have heaped pressure on Prayuth and his government at a time when the economy is struggling to cope with the huge economic impact of the coronavirus. On Thursday, he made a televised appeal for people to unite and reject the politics of division in order to revive the economy. Prayuth, a former army chief, came to power in a coup in 2014. He retained it in a 2019 election widely seen as so heavily rigged in his favor that victory was all but guaranteed. ___ Associated Press writer Busaba Sivasomboon contributed to this report. Emergency services at scene of house fire where woman 50s passed away An investigation is underway after a woman (50s) died following a house fire in Dublin last night. The alarm was raised at Stannaway Avenue, Crumlin at around 9pm and the woman died at the scene after firefighters from the Dublin Fire Brigade rushed to the scene. Her body was found inside the house. Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death and are working towards establishing the cause of the fire. Dublin Fire Brigade units from Dolphin's Barn and Donnybrook attended the scene. Yesterday evening, Firefighters from Dolphins Barn and Donnybrook extinguished a house fire in the Crumlin area. Unfortunately, the remains of a female were found by Breathing Apparatus crews. Our thoughts are with the ladys family, friends and neighbours at this time. pic.twitter.com/J7jE4UoBH6 Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) August 15, 2020 "Unfortunately, the remains of a female were found by Breathing Apparatus crews," read a statement from the Dublin Fire Brigade. "Our thoughts are with the ladys family, friends and neighbours at this time." The scene has been preserved and her body will be removed to the Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall. The State Pathologist has been notified and is to conduct a post mortem examination. According to gardai, the results of this examination will determine the course of the investigation. "Gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact the incident room at Crumlin Garda Station. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crumlin Garda Station on 01-666 6244, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station," said a spokesperson. Sinn Fein Dublin City Councillor Daithi Doolan said that the community in Crumlin is "in shock" following the "terrible tragedy". "This fire was a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the family and friends of the poor woman who lost her life. "I would also like to express our deep gratitude to the emergency services who responded to last night's fire. "I hope the family get the support they need to get through this extremely sad time," he said. Gov. Ralph Northam expects Virginia to receive up to $2.7 billion less in revenues than previously projected for the two-year state budget because of the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but he expects to avoid laying off state employees or cutting essential public services. Northam is preparing to lay out the new revenue forecast for the General Assembly when it convenes in special session on Tuesday. Lawmakers will revise the budget they approved in March on the same day the governor declared a public health emergency that froze more than $2.2 billion in new spending. The governor proposes to eliminate most of that spending from the two-year, $135 billion budget, but he and his advisers say the state has benefited by waiting for better information instead of making cuts at the beginning of the crisis as some legislators advocated. This starts with sound fiscal management and smart investments in our future, Northam said Friday. Careful planning has kept us from having to gut critical services or lay off state workers, like other states have done. The governors revised revenue forecast includes bad news for Virginias transportation program, which fell short in revenues by $121 million in the last fiscal year and expects a shortfall of $750 million in the next two years because of big drops in fuel and sales tax collections. The new spending that the governor will cut includes personal priorities such as expanding early childhood education and a new tuition-free plan for community college students who provide service to the state. His advisers say his goal is to avoid cutting base budget spending for existing programs and the state employee workforce. His top priority is not to get into the base, Matt Mansell, director of the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, said in a briefing, adding that abandoning the early childhood and community college initiatives was a very difficult decision to make. However, Northam also will rely on an unexpected windfall in July tax collections and other one-time revenues to pay for $175 million in new spending, primarily to boost Virginias trust fund for affordable housing and expand broadband telecommunications networks that have become crucial to business and education during the coronavirus crisis. He proposes $71 million in new spending on housing and $47 million in new spending on broadband, on top of money already part of the base budget. Virginians are hurting, and the commonwealth is stepping up, Northam said Friday. Our country is battling both a health crisis and an economic crisis at once, so Virginia is advancing new programs to help people stay in their homes, care for the ones they love, and feel safe in the community. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly to advance long overdue police reform and pass record investments in affordable housing and broadband, so we can continue to support Virginians during this unprecedented time, he said. House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, responded Friday, I commend the Governors commitment to provide broadband access for Virginia students who need it most, investing in public housing, halting evictions and utility cutoffs, passing sweeping criminal justice reform and much more. Virginians expect their elected officials to step up for them in this unprecedented moment, Filler-Corn said. We will deliver. Northam also will propose more than $15 million in new spending for historically Black colleges and universities, including $6.5 million for Virginia State University in Ettrick, and almost $10 million for cultural initiatives such as education in African American history and the American Civil War Museum in Richmond. Police reforms, Lee statue He also proposes to spend $3.6 million as a down payment for new criminal justice and police reforms expected in response to Black Lives Matter protests that began with the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. The final cost of the reforms hasnt been determined. His plan includes $1.1 million to take down the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from its 130-year perch on Monument Avenue, pending the resolution of a lawsuit by Richmond residents that prompted a Richmond judge to impose a 90-day injunction that prevents the state from removing the monument. Northam also proposes to restore planned new spending for land conservation, rehabilitating deteriorated dams, improving water quality and creating an office to promote offshore wind energy development. He has included about $4.7 million in direct aid to education, primarily to recruit and retain early childhood educators, and $2 million for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to encourage employers to bring new jobs to the state. Wilders records As promised, he also restored $400,000 to the Library of Virginia so it can process gubernatorial records and make them public, beginning with those from the administration of Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, who recently accused the library of racism for failing to make records available from his term 30 years ago as the countrys first elected African American governor. On the policy side, Northam plans to support a slew of legislation for criminal justice and police reforms, change the state law to allow greater transparency on disease outbreaks in long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, and provide postage-free mailing of ballots for absentee voting. Northam has one-time funds available to pay for these initiatives partly because of a $329 million increase in state tax collections in July, or a 24.1% increase over the same month last year. The increase is due partly to the extension of the tax filing deadline from May 1 to June 1 because of the coronavirus, but the state also saw a big increase in quarterly income tax payments by self-employed people and investors. Cash is king Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne said the state also was helped by steady payroll income tax payments and higher sales tax collections because fewer retailers were required to make accelerated payments in June, the last month of the previous fiscal year, and deposited tax receipts in July instead. The state also will have additional cash on hand because of $307 million that wasnt spent last year after Northam stopped all discretionary spending and froze hiring because of the public health emergency. Virginia also will receive an additional $331 million in federal Medicaid money under the Families First Act approved by Congress in March, but the state will have to pay an additional $91 million as its share of the costs of the health care program for poor, elderly and disabled Virginians. Cash is king, said Grant Neely, the governors chief communications officer. However, the governor does not want to spend all of the cash the state has available because of uncertainty about the pandemic and accompanying recession. His budget proposal would leave a balance of about $500 million in mid-2022. Its not there to support ongoing programs, Layne said. Northam is basing his revised budget on a standard recession forecast that would reduce revenues by $1.3 billion the first year and $1.4 billion in the second year. The forecast does not reflect the additional $329 million collected in July. The forecast was produced with recommendations by the Joint Board of Economists and Governors Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates. In comparison, a pessimistic, worst-case forecast would have cut revenues by $5 billion, Layne said. That would have been just a total collapse of the economy. Nobody is anticipating that, he said. In this article: Guardians of the Galaxy, Wind River, Drag Me To Hell. Explore royal history, the Wild West, outer space or inner space as TopFilmTip brings you the best films on TV for Saturday, 15 August. Some films may require a Sky subscription. Culture clash precipitates breathtaking forbidden love as English widow is tasked with educating royal children Anna and the King 11:00am Film4 Helen Mirren stars as Monarch suddenly despised by media and public alike before finding redemption in a metaphorical stag The Queen 11:35am ITV1 The Rock rescues gangster's son from Christopher Walken's jungle gold mine in toxic fruit feeding, rebel rousing fun The Rundown 12:40am Sony Movies Taxmans regimented routine existence chaotically coalesces into meaningful life amid enigmatic narration Stranger Than Fiction 2:45pm Sony Movies American actor Burt Lancaster on the set of Lawman, directed by Michael Winner. (Photo by United Artists/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) Unwilling to compromise, duty bound sheriff hunts murderers to morally grey ground of obsession in deconstructionist western Lawman 3:55pm ITV4 Backpacking douche discovers monster's retreat, woos Dracula's daughter and throws killer party in Genndy Tartakovsky's Hotel Transylvania 4:10pm ITV2 Veg-obsessed, gadget-inventing duo eat gorgonzola, chase pests and save the day in Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 4:30pm BBC One Two troubled teens go on survivalist run in health and safety ignoring, character led, scout versus scout kitsch-em-up Moonrise Kingdom 5:00pm Sony Movies Wry, rage fuelled relationship avoider incorporates accidental adoptee in transdimensional villain vamoosment The LEGO Batman Movie 5:55pm ITV2 Due to lack of most basic text messaging to warn the public, a malicious monkey proceeds to liquefy Americans internal organs Outbreak 7:25pm 5 Star Hedgehog munching detective duo and gypsy woman hunt warmongering genius in anachronistic adventure Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 8:00pm ITV2 Dark, violent, charismatic sci-fi as a group of space faring travellers must survive an alien onslaught with murderer in their midst. Pitch Black 9:00pm SyFy Story continues Numerically-challenged chap and big-eyed girl find friend-sex and flash mobs in atypical, quick-quipping comedy Friends With Benefits 9:00pm Comedy Central After only five minutes in France Liam Neeson cracks precipitating a stabby, foreigner punching Shoot-A-Thon for justice in daughter fridging fun Taken 9:00pm Channel 4 Callow FBI investigator and laconic hunter assist tribal police in solving savage murder mystery amid snowbound mountains in sublime crime thriller Wind River 9:00pm Film 4 Sexy/schlubby self-proclaimed crime fighters battle beach corruption in wry, junk-trapped, tongue-in-cheek hilarity Baywatch 9:00pm E4 Bunch of A-Hole misfit miscreants chase infinity stone in over-literal, not-faking-laughing, Groot-grooving fun Guardians of the Galaxy 10:20pm BBC One Bio-IT-integrated arms engineer and badass marines face robotic AI-onslaught in visually stunning frenetic ballistic fun Kill Command 10:45pm Horror Channel Brad Pitt uses brain and brawn to beat Zeke in global pandemic surviving, unrelenting zoombie mountain massacring marvel World War Z 10:45pm Channel 4 Time travelling detective para-doctors paradoxes to stop elusive bomber in high concept, cerebral sci-fi treat Predestination 10:50pm Sony Movies Insidious (Credit: Blumhouse) Astral projecting parents pursue comatose kid further from ceiling squatting crimson faced demon- haunted house horror Insidious 11:05pm 5 Star Bank loaning lady incurs gypsy debter's curse in Sam Raimi's corpse juice swallowing, eyeball caking, gum gnawing horror Drag Me to Hell 11:10pm Film 4 As Germany invades Norway on eve of war, the ultimate decision to fight or capitulate rests with one man in detailed and deft period drama The King's Choice 00:00am BBC Two Mel Brooks lays on the parody, penis humour and creepy comedy in hefty doses in reanimated treat Young Frankenstein 00:15am BBC One Everything coming to streaming in August: New on Sky Cinema in August Coming to Disney+ in August New on Netflix UK in August New on Amazon Prime in August The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested a labourer, Lawalli Bala, of Rikina village in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State for alleged homosexuality. Mr Bala was alleged to have sodomised 12 underage children in the night when parents of the children were sleeping. Mitika Mafa-Ali, the NAPTIP zonal head in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Sokoto. Mr Mafa-Ali said the suspect, aged 30, was a labourer working for the parents of the children. He allegedly took the advantage to lure the children into homosexuality in the night when the parents are asleep. He said the suspect was arrested following a tipoff and that he had confessed to the crime. The zonal head added that investigation was in progress and that the suspect would soon be charged to court. Speaking to NAN while in custody, Mr Bala said he came to Rikina village from Zamfara and was assisted and sheltered by the childrens parents. The suspect confirmed abusing the children as they mostly sleep together in the night. He attributed the incident to satanic influence, adding that he was introduced to homosexuality when he was in Niger and continued with act as a source of pleasure. One of the victims told NAN that he is 14 years old, and in primary 4 at Rikina Primary School. The victim said the suspect traced them on their various sleeping places. A parent, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the case had earlier been reported to the local Hisbah Officials before it was taken over by NAPTIP. He said the incident was devastating as the suspect was considered as member of the community with all forms of assistance rendered to him. (NAN) Lemn means 'why' in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, where celebrated poet Lemn Sissay's mother was from. Why - and the search for the answer to why - became the word that defined Lemn's young adult life. Why was he taken from his mother? Why was he told his mother abandoned him? Why were his name and his identity stolen from him? Why does a government imprison a child? Lemn's mother Yemarshet Sissay, who had come to Britain on a student visa, fell pregnant at the age of 17 and ended up in St Margaret's, a home run by nuns for unmarried mothers in Lancashire, where on May 21, 1967, she gave birth. When he was two months old, the baby was placed into the care of Wigan social services. On his file, it was asked whether being Ethiopian meant "he is a negroid or not". Against Yemarshet's wishes, her son was fostered by a childless white Christian couple, Catherine and David Greenwood. The arrangement, Lemn's mother believed, was a temporary one. Wigan social services, however, told the Greenwood family to view the fostering as an adoption. The child was given the name Norman Mark Greenwood and brought up in Lancashire, the only black boy in the village of Ashton-in-Makerfield. "It was like," he told The Guardian in 2009, "being in a wild anthropological experiment." It was a childhood where strangers spat down on him from buses. This was Britain in the toxic wake of MP Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 Rivers of Blood speech, an anti-immigration/integration call to race hatred. Lemn was physically and racially abused at school. He was called 'Chalky White' and 'Chocolate Boy'. His foster parents told him he had chocolate skin. They also told him at an early age that he was alone in the hospital when he was born "because no one would adopt a 'coloured' baby". They told him that his mother didn't want him and that they chose him after praying to God. At the age of 12, the Greenwood family, who now also had three biological children, accused their foster son of not loving them. When Norman denied their sudden and confusing charge, he was abruptly sent out of the room to pray for the right answer, for the truth. "I studied the question for a day and a night," he writes in his memoir My Name Is Why. "I prayed to God, and I read the Bible to see if a passage would answer the question." "I mustn't love you," he said to the Greenwoods the next day. "But I will ask God for forgiveness ... and learn to love you." Within hours, they had the terrified young boy put in a care home, Woodfields. He can remember the rattling keys that staff had attached to their waists, in this old Victorian home that smelt of bleach and had linoleum floors. Lying in bed not long after his arrival, he was beaten near-unconscious by another boy with the ripped-out side of a shelf. For the next five-and-a-half years, he was housed in four virtual child prisons in Atherton, Lowton and Leigh. It was five-and-a-half years of institutional cruelty, maltreatment and dehumanisation in the northwest of England. Lemn didn't met another black person until he was 17. His first black friend, Roukiya Osoye, would bring grapes into the care-centre for him. As soon as Roukiya left, Norman would be strip-searched like a hardened criminal. In the notorious Woodend Assessment Centre, he would be marched up and down long corridors, watched in the showers, reminded that he was abandoned. Before Christmas in 1983, he got to see his birth cert and found out he was Lemn Sissay. Horrified, he also found out in a letter from a social worker that his mother had been begging for his "safe return to her" since his birth. "How can I get Lemn back?" she wrote in 1968. "He needs to be in his country, with his own colour, his own people. I don't want him to face discrimination." "They lied to me. Someone did love me. My mother," Sissay writes in My Name Is Why. "My birth mother did nothing wrong. She was not poor. She was not destitute. She did not abandon me. She did nothing other than find herself pregnant while in England and ask for help." It took 34 years for Wigan Council to hand over his official files, in 2015. He took them to court for stealing his childhood, for stealing his mother. The legal case was settled out of court. He received a full apology. Lemn found his mother when he was 21. He never met his father; a pilot for Ethiopian Airlines, he died in a plane crash in 1973. In the poem My Dad Is A Pilot, he wrote of his father: "He passed my past. He flew right past. And then he passed away." In his mid-teens, Lemn walked barefoot around Lancashire, even in the snow, as an act of rebellion against being called Chalky White "and against received ideas". "No one was offering me what I needed, which was love. I found myself becoming invisible. It was my way of rebelling without hurting anyone else," says Lemn, who would be later spat at, punched and called the N-word by members of the National Front. I ask Lemn what age he was when he first heard someone tell him that they loved him. He doesn't answer for about 20 seconds and eventually says: "I don't know. That's a very good question. My foster parents did tell me they loved me, but then they did what they did. They showed me that love is a dangerous thing." Last year, Lemn told Church Times how he met his foster mother in 2009, after she contacted him on Facebook. He forgave her. "I didn't realise that forgiveness would allow me to empathise with her. It's important not to want a result. That's a trap." "Forgiveness is an act of strength inside the person who is forgiving," he says now. "When I forgave my foster family, I realised that it doesn't have the power over me that it did." Post-care, living in a flat in Manchester, he used his dole money to get a socialist printer to print his poetry into little booklets, which he sold to people in the city. When did Lemn write his first poem? "I know that I wrote a poem when I was 12," he says. "I felt safe. It felt like it was something that was bigger than me. It was patriarchal and matriarchal." Was poetry a coded message from his subconscious? "It could well have been. A secret letter from my future. Poems were a way of me saying, 'I was here then, feeling this'." In the poem Mother, Lemn addressed a few questions at his birth mum: "Mother, what will you say to me?/Mother, will you read my poetry?/Am I just what you want me to be?/Mother, will you see it through my eyes?" In 1988, Lemn, aged 21, published his first book, Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist. In 2010, he was awarded an MBE for services to literature. In 2017, he performed his stage show, The Report, at the Royal Court. It was centred around the harrowing 25-page psychologist's report on his mental-health challenges brought on by the abuse he suffered as a child. He wrote in his blog: "The files expose the institutionalized voyeurism which was dependent on isolating the child and making them feel they should never speak of their experience in adult life. "This event at The Royal Court tears down the walls of the padded cell - there was a padded cell in one of my children's homes. What if the person in that cell knew the walls would come down one day? "I am the evidence. I must speak? It is pure slander." The Live Aid concert in 1985 was to help the millions affected by the famine in Ethiopia at that time. How did Lemn, an Ethiopian, feel about it? "What Bob Geldof did was what a hero does," he says. "I think what Geldof did is connected to the Famine in Ireland. That's obvious to the Irish. But do you think it is obvious to the English? Do you think they teach the Famine in university or college in England? They have no idea about the Famine here. It is just part of the English cultural knowledge of their environment. So when an Irish person talks about that in relation to today's politics, the English just have no f*****g idea. "And that leads directly to the border issues regarding the EU. This is important. "I saw what Geldof did. And I thought, what a guy'. He said no taxes to Thatcher. That was so important - he didn't let Margaret Thatcher take taxes from the money raised for the famine in Ethiopia. "And when Geldof did it for Ethiopia, Mengistu was in power. He was a horrible, violent leader who organised a thing called the Red Terror, which was the murder of thousands and thousands of people. Geldof coped with all that, between both countries. That has to be the greatest thing that one person has done in my lifetime. "I don't think Geldof has got the recognition for it from the English - or from the Irish as well." However, Lemn describes Band Aid's song Do They Know It's Christmas? as "unfortunate", given that Christianity is the main religion in the country. "I mean, Ethiopia is in the Bible. It is probably the most devout country I have ever been to." Speaking of songs, Lemn later says that he loves Black Boys On Mopeds, Sinead O'Connor's song about the death in England in 1989 of 21-year-old black man Nicholas Bramble: the police chased him on his moped, thinking, mistakenly, that he had stolen it. In the chase, he lost control, crashed and died from his injuries. I mention that I was in New York in 1988 with Sinead. One night, she had gone ahead with her manager in one cab while I hailed a cab without success with a black friend. "They won't stop if I'm with you," he told me. I didn't believe him until I saw it happen with my own eyes. "That has happened to me," Lemn says. "I was with some friends. I had to hide in the bushes until the cab came and then I just jumped in." Lemn says he senses racism when he goes to "Ethiopia, Eritrea, Australia, Nigeria, Cameroon. It's everywhere. It is brutal. It is what leads to wars, and ultimately to genocide." "That's why the Jewish community are incredibly aware that if you take somebody's name away, or you make a person less human, by any means, that is the first step towards genocide. "The day comes when a government says that they should be all taken to that part of the country, so that we can't see them, and why don't we put them in a building that is secure? And then the language starts changing towards them: they're migrants; they're less human. "That's why human rights organisations fight for them, because they are aware of where this leads." Lemn, who has written plays like Something Dark and Why I Don't Hate White People, says: "We are living in a society which defines racism by various clear, identifiable parameters. But most racism, like most sexism, is unspoken. "If you were Irish in the 1980s and you walked into a pub, watch what happens when your mouth opens. It's not what people say. It's their actions. It is split-second moments of denial of your validity as a human." That's what happened with George Floyd, he says: "That's the worst side of the word not being spoken but the racism being evident: the idea that he could be so violent that he had to be killed by violence." Black Lives Matter, he says, is about convincing people that, 'Hey, you may have missed something here'. He continues: "What Black Lives Matter is saying is: 'You're wrong'. That guy over there is a teacher. That other guy is a lawyer. That one over there has the potential to be a chemist. That young man over there has just travelled from one part of the world to another without his mother and father who he has lost - and he needs help. He is vulnerable." Lemn says he spent his childhood being told that black people are all muggers, robbers, thieves. "I know that thinking. I was angry. I had my family stolen from me. So, I was angry. I suddenly realised that I couldn't counter people's assumptions about who I was." He believes that the central thing about racism is that it stops humanity. "It stops you from seeing a person, from empathising with them, communicating with them. "I was beaten up on the street by skinheads. I fought. I marched. The one thing I would physically fight over is that - if you would call me an N-word in the street. That happened a lot, with right-wing people. I would physically fight. I wouldn't any more because I value my safety. "There is no need for someone to say they are not racist. Just be not racist. "How do we become less racist? It is a really big question. We need to talk to each other more. The more we communicate with each other, the less there is to be frightened of. In fact, you'll find that it actually improves your quality of life, because all racism is based on fear. "So, the less racist you are, the less fearful you become." My Name Is Why by Lemn Sissay, published by Canongate, is out now The rationale behind the globe's most expensive coronavirus face mask is art rather than ostentation, according to the Israeli jewelers crafting the $1.5 million object for an anonymous United States-based client. According to Isaac Levy, owner of the Yvel jewelry brand, the face mask is made out of 18-carat gold and bejeweled with 3,600 black and white diamonds and would be fitted with an N99 filter to provide a higher level of shielding. Photographs were released online by the Israel-based jeweler of the claimed highest priced face mask across the globe, reported The Times of India. The face mask was crafted by Orna and Isaac Levy in Israel. Designer Levy said that the mask will be functional. According to Levy, "It is a mask like any other mask, even more protective, just a little bit heavier, a little bit more expensive,'' reported First Coast News. The white gold mask weighs a total of 270 grams. Regarding the face mask's anonymous Chinese billionaire client, co-owner Levy stated, "Money maybe doesn't buy everything, but if it can buy a very expensive Covid-19 mask and the guy wants to wear it and walk around and get the attention. He should be happy with that,'' reported AsiaOne. Various types of masks offer different levels of shielding. Surgical grade N95 respirators provide the highest level of defense against the novel coronavirus illness, followed by surgical grade masks, reported The Guardian. This costly face mask being crafted will provide the highest level of filtration (N-99). Also Read: New Normal Lifestyle in the Advent of COVID-19: What Happens Now? The press release by the jewelry brand indicated that the designed face mask "is made of 250 grams of pure 18k gold, and set with no less than 3,608 natural diamonds, with a total weight of about 210 carats," reported Tatler Philippines. The Chinese businessman who commissioned the peculiar face mask merely had two requests for the remarkable artistry: that the mask was slated to be complete before the end of 2020 and that it would be the most premium priced face mask globally. Levy does not think that the client will be donning the face mask in his supermarket errands but will likely use it here and there. The co-designer described the Chinese businessman as an art collector. The client hails from Shanghai. However, the craftsmen have clarified that since the face mask will weigh 270 grams, it would not be comfortable to wear. Levy said that he felt gratitude for the chance as the face mask provided them adequate work for their employees in order to provide them jobs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He appointed 25 diamond setters and jewelers to work in shifts for the expensive project. Regarding the mask production, according to Levy, "the deadline for the delivery of the mask is set for December 31. Under no situation will it be delayed." The production of the piece is serving as a lifeline. "In these tumultuous days, every order we receive helps to preserve the company's day-to-day operations and provide a way of living to its people," Levy noted. Related Article: Dr. Anthony Fauci's Family Bombarded by Death Threats, Harassment @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A view of the "Police Line- Do Not Cross" tape marking the parameter of a temporary field hospital to treat covid-19 patients set up in Central Park by "Samaritans purse" a charitable organization working with Mount Sinai. on April 07, 2020 in New York City, United States. COVID-19 has spread to most countries around the world, claiming over 80,000 lives with over 1.4 million infections. Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images A North Carolina man was charged last week in the shooting death of a 5-year-old boy. Local news outlet WRAL reported that Cannon Hinnant was riding his bike in his parent's yard when he was shot in the head by 25-year-old Darius Sessoms. Hinnant's father told the outlet that his family had lived next to Sessoms and his parents for eight years with no incidents before the attack. The Wilson Police Department said in a press release that Sessoms was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and is being held with no bond. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A 25-year-old North Carolina man has been charged by police in the shooting death of his 5-year-old neighbor. According to a press release issued by the Wilson Police Department, Darius Sessoms was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder last week in the death of Cannon Hinnant. On August 9, around 5:30 p.m, law enforcement responded to the incident at Wilson, North Carolina residence. The 5-year-old was rushed to a local hospital where he died from his injuries, according to the press release. Local news outlet WRAL reported that the boy was riding his bike in the yard with his siblings when he was shot in the head. Austin Hinnant, the victim's father, told WRAL that he heard gunshots and before his son appeared to have fallen off his bike. As he was trying to revive his son, he saw Sessoms pacing with the gun before he fled the scene. "I was looking at him as I was picking up Cannon," Hinnat told the outlet. "I was so full of rage, but I couldn't leave my son's side. I wanted to be with my son." The shocking attack came after Hinnant's family lived next to Sessoms and his parents for eight years, even hosting them for dinner recently with no confrontations, according to the outlet. The local news outlet reported that the motive for Sessoms' crime is currently unknown. Sessoms' parents told the outlet that they believe his son was hallucinating from narcotics. Story continues The 5-year-old boy was laid to rest on Thursday, according to WRAL. Read more: 9 accusers bring new lawsuit against Epstein's estate, alleging sexual abuse dating back to 1978, including an accusation that Epstein raped an 11-year-old New York City's spring coronavirus outbreak was roughly as deadly as the 1918 flu pandemic that killed 50 million people North Korea's leader is tapping his own private food reserve to feed the country, and it could be a worrying sign Read the original article on Insider The Duchess of Sussex said that it was devastating to return to the United States and see the state of affairs it was in. Speaking at a virtual event organised by The 19th, a US non-profit, non-partisan newsroom, Meghan said it was so sad to see where our country was in that moment. But she said that she was inspired by the response to the death of George Floyd, and was looking forward to using her voice in a way I havent been able to of late. Meghan added: To come back and to just see the state of affairs, I think at the onset if Im being honest it was just devastating. It was so sad to see where our country was in that moment and if theres any silver lining in that I would say that in the weeks that were happening after the murder of George Floyd, in the peaceful protests you were seeing, in the voices that were coming out, in the way that people were actually owning their role and acknowledging their role that they played, either actively or passively, in the discrimination of other people, specifically of the black community. It shifted from sadness to a feeling of absolute inspiration because I can see that the tide is turning. Its not new to see this undercurrent of racism and certainly unconscious bias, but I think to see the changes that are being made right now, its something that I look forward to being a part of and using my voice in a way I havent been able to of late. African American Mr Floyd died after a police officer held him down by pressing his knee into his neck for almost nine minutes, in Minneapolis on May 25. The incident was captured on video and sparked a wave of anti-racism protests in the US and across the globe, including in the UK. Meghans comments come after it emerged she and Harry had bought a property in the celebrity hotspot of Santa Barbara for a reported 11 million. The couple had been house-hunting for some time after relocating to the US from Canada just before the coronavirus lockdown. Story continues Harry and Meghan have moved to Santa Barbara with son Archie (Toby Melville/PA) Harry and Meghan plunged the royal family into a period of crisis when they announced earlier in the year they wanted to step back from their positions as senior royals and become financially independent. A summit of senior royals was convened by the Queen at Sandringham to discuss the issue, with Harry sitting down for talks with his grandmother, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge. It was later announced they would no longer be working members of the monarchy, split their time between Canada and the UK, with the majority spent in North America, and no longer be known as HRH. In this book we take a journey into American culture through the eyes of Mu Naw from Myanmar, and Hasna from Syria. Mu Naw arrived in 2007; Hasna in 2016, both as refugees and both unwittingly arriving as America is arguing the depth and breadth of immigration. Author Jessica Goudeau employs a storytelling tactic called "narrative non-fiction," derived from immersive reporting but containing scene-setting the author may not have witnessed. For example, one chapter concludes with "Then she snapped the towel once briskly and laid it over the wooden dowel to dry." That came not from direct observation but from hundreds of hours of conversations with the two women, both of whom settled in Austin, Texas. Another potential reader hurdle is that Goudeau agreed to use pseudonyms for the two women she expertly draws out in this book. While the absence of pictures and real names makes it more difficult to mentally and emotionally connect with the two main characters, Goudeau rises to the reporting and writing challenge, showing how seemingly ordinary tasks such as struggling to operate a shower control amplifies loneliness and the loss of everything the refugees once knew. (Newser) Welcome to Harrison, Arkansas, where visitors are greeted by a "White Pride" billboardand a roiling argument about whether it should stand, CNN reports. "It's an entrance to our town, the first thing people see when they drive in is this billboard," an attorney for the Harrison Community Task Force on Race Relations tells KARK. "And that's not the message our community wants to convey." Posted near the town's Ku Klux Klan headquarters, the sign reads "WhitePrideRadio.com" and "AltRightTV.com" and shows a white family holding a US flag beside a red cross with a dove and a flame. Up since 2013, it's now making headlines amid the nation's furor over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. story continues below The town's race-relations task force, made of clergy and volunteers, has posted an online petition to have the "racist" sign taken down. Indeed, the sign's KKK links seem clear: Alt Right TV was started by the Knights Party, once known as the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and the billboard stands on land owned by a lawyer whose father, Pastor Thomas Robb, leads that very group. But the sign company says it's protected by the First Amendment, per KY3, and the petition admits there are no legal grounds for removal. Filmmaker Rob Bliss recently stood in front of the billboard holding a "Black Lives Matter" sign, which triggered remarks from passing drivers. "Have a little pride in your race brother!" cried one. (Meanwhile, Dolly Parton has voiced support for BLM.) The latest Norman themed artwork, by Dan Leo, references the stag on the town seal and coat of arms The New Ross Walls project - which is coming to life on a large scale on walls throughout the town - has been funded to the tune of 25,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development. Additional funding of 5,000 has been provided by Wexford County Council's Arts Department and New Ross Municipal District which contributed 20,000. The latest Norman themed artwork - the second in a series of five in conjunction with Waterford Walls - is a deer on the gable end of the Hilary Murphy building on John Street. The colourful work by Dan Leo brightens up the north end of the town, referencing the stag on the town seal and 'coat of arms'. Leo was inspired by the story of fallow deer which were introduced to Ireland in the Norman times (1169 AD) and currently have a population of about 10,000. The first mural, on Deegan's wall on South Street, was created by Holly Pereira. The next artwork - located on the Sherry Fitzgerald Radford wall - will feature Isabel de Clare but in a very unique, visually arresting way. Breen's DIY wall's mural may be delayed as the artist lives in Holland - currently a non Green list country and the final mural will be on JD North's wall. A tour of the murals and route, exploring the theme behind each of them, will be given by Myles Courtney from New Ross Street Focus on Culture Night, Friday, September 18. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, the critical role of schools and educators as sources of support, connectedness, and stability has never been more visible. And, as students, families, and educators face the uncertainties and disruptions that have arrived with the pandemic, social and emotional learning (SEL) has never been more important. The simplest way to think about it is that, when all our emotions are even and life is good and theres nobody triggering you, there are no stressors in your environmenttheres a lesser need for SEL skills, says Marc Brackett, the lead developer of RULER, the evidence-based approach to SEL developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Brackett is founding director of the center, professor in the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine, and author of Permission to Feel (Celadon, 2019). You always need [the skills], because life has its ups and downs, he adds. I always say, if youre lucky enough to go on vacation and youre lying on the beach chatting with your friends and reading a book, you dont really need emotional intelligence in that moment. But when somebody walks by and kicks the sand in your face, thats when you need these skills. Connecting that example to current events, Brackett says, I equate the coronavirus and also the racial injustice with this idea that the sand has been stirred, and were activated right now for legitimate reasons. Theres real anxiety around the coronavirus; theres real anger around racial injustice. And so now is when we have to really put our emotional intelligence to the test to achieve the outcomes that we want. RULER is an acronym referring to five principles of emotional intelligence: recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions. The RULER approach ranks among the highly regarded models designated by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning as CASEL SELect programs, and it has deep roots in Bracketts life experience. Brackett recalls a difficult childhood marked by abuse and horrific bullying, and credits his uncle, educator Marvin Maurer, with offering him a true lifeline. When I was 10 or 11, my uncle was developing a program to teach kids about feelings, Brackett says. He literally sat with me and talked to me about my emotions, and that led to us 10 years later starting to write a curriculum together. The whole RULER model really came out of my uncle being this amazing middle school teacher in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. In 2003, Brackett brought the beginnings of RULER to his studies as a postdoctoral fellow with noted emotional intelligence pioneer Peter Salovey, who is now president of Yale University. RULER is labeled an approach as opposed to a program, Brackett notes, because there is no toolkit to develop SEL. It really needs to be a systemic approachthe way leaders lead, teachers teach, students learn, and families parent. And so we address all those people in our teaching of RULER. Many other SEL models are classroom programs more heavily focused on specific lessons. Though RULER does have a curricular component, Brackett says, What we find is very important is that the adults who are raising and teaching kids, they have to be the role models for children, so they have to learn the skills themselves and use them in their interactions. If adults are incapable of talking about what makes them feel alienated or anxious, then they will never be comfortable having those conversations with kids. As a result, RULER training begins with adultsoften one leader and two educators or mental health professionals from a schoolwho attend the RULER Institute in person or online. That team then helps train the schools staff, well before implementing RULER in classroom instruction and adding family engagement and education. RULER has been adopted by more than 2,000 schools across the U.S. and around the world, including the New York City public school system, the largest in the country, with 1.1 million students. In the view of Dawn Brooks-DeCosta, principal of Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School in New York City, RULER builds a common language. It helps build community, empathy, compassion, and an avenue that allows for student agency, voice, and expression, she says. It promotes teacher and parent self-care and strategies to manage stress levels. These are all important, now more than ever, in helping to create a supportive, caring environment where students can learn, teachers can teach, and parents feel a part of the school communityacknowledged and supported. Though RULER training and implementation may look a bit different in a distance-learning climate, Brackett believes its important not to lose sight of the skills. The global situation today is crazy, but we have to learn to live with that crazy, Brackett says. Relationships are relationships whether theyre in person or online. How I feel as a student is how I feel as a student, whether Im sitting in my home on my computer or in my classroom. While there are different strategies that we might need to use to teach these skills, the skills are the skills, and they matter. As one RULER school principal says, The school is not the climate, the people are the climate. I really appreciate that, because school is about people interacting and how we make them feel and how they make us feel and how we infuse these principles into learning. So, I feel strongly that you can do RULER just as well in a virtual world. In addition to shifting all RULER Institute trainings for educators online due to the pandemic, the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence has created a School Resources for Navigating Emotional Times page that links to numerous resource guides, tips, articles, and free webinars to address the emotional needs of educators, students, and families. CASEL has also stepped up to provide support and resources via its CASEL CARES initiative. Visitors to CASELs website and social media channels will be connected to a curated guide of free SEL resources related to Covid-19 and school closures for educators, parents, and caregivers. And, each Friday, CASEL features a new free webinar given by experts on SEL topics. To read about the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence's free SEL course for Connecticut school staff, click here. Return to the main feature. New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market Research Report by Packaging Type, by Ingredients, by Products Type, by Distribution Channel - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913736/?utm_source=GNW The Global Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market is expected to grow from USD 3,985.91 Million in 2019 to USD 5,892.67 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.73%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Packaging Type, the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market studied across Metal Can and Plastic Bottle. Based on Ingredients, the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market studied across Starter Cultures and Yeast Extract. Based on Products Type, the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market studied across Energy Drinks and Recreational Drinks. Based on Distribution Channel, the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market studied across Convenience Stores and Supermarkets. Based on Geography, the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea 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 Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market including Coca-Cola, Lactalis, Nestle, PepsiCo, Starbucks, Suja Juice, Sunny Delight Beverages Co., Talking Rain, TeaZazz, and Unilever. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea 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 Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Carbonated Ready-to-Drink Tea Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913736/?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. __________________________ Listening to Leo Varadkar on RTE, "guaranteeing" outbreaks of coronavirus in schools when they open, reminded me of the mayor in Jaws. Mayor: "Get those kids back in the water." Sheriff: "There's a shark out there." Mayor: "We'll just have to live with it." Sheriff: "People will die." Mayor: "Yes, but tourism will survive!" Meanwhile, acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said "children don't transmit very effectively to other children or adults". As a parent, I found that comment alarming. He should know that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report published last week states: "Children are more likely to have a mild or asymptomatic infection, meaning that the infection may go undetected or undiagnosed." It also states: "When symptomatic, children shed virus in similar quantities to adults and can infect others in a similar way to adults." In fact, there are numerous documented studies outlining the scale of risk associated with reopening schools. In Israel, where class sizes are big (like Ireland), the virus spread to students' homes, other schools and neighbourhoods, ultimately infecting hundreds of students, teachers and relatives. Across the country, thousands of students and teachers were quarantined. Israel's deputy director of public health services, Dr Udi Kliner, said that "schools, not restaurants or gyms, turned out to be the country's worst mega-infectors". A large new study from South Korea shows that children between the ages of 10 and 19 can spread the virus at least as well as adults do. Cases among children in Germany have increased by 50pc since they reopened schools, and researchers in Berlin tested more than 3,700 coronavirus patients and found that children carried the same viral load as adults. Our Government seems unaware of these facts given the 'roadmap' for school reopening does little to mitigate them. Aerosol transmission, for example, is not acknowledged, despite emerging evidence that the virus can travel up to four metres (16 feet) across an indoor space. This raises questions about proper ventilation, face masks, and the efficacy of the roadmap's 'pods' - none of which are adequately addressed. Another gaping omission from the roadmap is how to accommodate the many children who have underlying health conditions or whose family members are high risk. What virtual/remote alternatives will be provided for those children who cannot attend school but remain entitled to an education? What about the risks associated with multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) which is a Covid-related disease affecting children? Although the numbers are small, if contracted, it affects the heart and other major organs in the body and in a few cases it has proved fatal. Have teachers been made aware of the prevalence of this disease in children and how to spot it? Community transmission is another key risk factor. The safe opening of schools was always contingent on levels being low. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) warned Micheal Martin: "We have to prevent the reimportation of the virus and unless we do that, we are not going to be in a position to reopen our schools and get the economy up and running again." Ignoring public health advisers, the Government allowed, and continues to allow, tourists from the US, the most infected country in the world, unfettered access to our communities, thus reimporting the virus. Banned by other EU countries and Canada because the infection rate was out of control, Ireland said "failte". Even when New York banned flights from Texas, where in one day 10,000 new cases were recorded, flights from Dallas landed here with no mandatory requirement to quarantine, and no testing. With an R-rate now of almost 2, how can it possibly be deemed safe to reopen schools? The Government's claim that "only 2pc" of cases are related to foreign travel is disingenuous. As Dr Gabriel Scally warns, if we're not quarantining and testing at source, the evidence trail is lost until it's seeded in the community. Instead of changing strategy, Mr Martin wants us to learn to live with the virus. However much money we throw at adapting our environments, as long as coronavirus is in our communities it will infiltrate our schools, nursing homes and workplaces. The only sustainable option is to adopt a zero-Covid approach, which is to eradicate the virus from our shores, as New Zealand has attempted. That requires mandatory quarantine so that all imported cases are detected on entry, thus preventing community transmission and allowing schools, pubs, theatres and businesses to open at full capacity, safe in the knowledge that the silent assassin is not lurking in the shadows. It's crucial that schools reopen but it has to be done safely. After three months of being homeschooled by me, my child wrote a poem entitled The Witch which he insisted I send to his teacher. It was probably about me but I can't be sure. In the words of the WHO's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, "Treat the decisions about where you go, what you do, and who you meet as life-and-death decisions - because they are." Until the Government can guarantee that reopening schools is safe, my child's not getting back in the water. Dublin continues to be the worst hit by Covid-19, with 51pc of the total number of confirmed deaths from the virus. A new information bulletin from the Central Statistics Office has analysed data on Covid deaths and cases from February 28 to August 7. Its figures showed the week ending up to and including August 7 was the 10th week in a row that Dublin had fewer than 100 weekly cases since the start of March. In relation to confirmed cases, healthcare workers continue to make up almost a third of all cases. Men made up 62pc of cases for the week ending August 7. More than three-quarters of cases were linked to an outbreak in that week and almost half (46pc) were linked to an outbreak in the workplace.The 25-44 age group showed the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases at 9,315. Separately, new research into a childhood disease linked with Covid-19 has found that it causes changes in white blood cells. University of Limerick was one of three universities involved. Children are less likely to suffer from Covid-19 and appear to only have mild symptoms when infected. But in some children a rare but severe illness appears to follow the viral infection. Rare Paediatric inflammatory multi-system syndrome is associated with Sars-CoV-2 and known as PIMS-TS. It is similar to Kawasaki disease, a rare illness affecting young children. Because PIMS-TS is so new and Kawasaki disease is so rare, very little is known about either and how to treat them. The University of Limerick has worked with University of Birmingham and University of Warwick to examine blood samples from children admitted with both diseases to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital during the UK's coronavirus lockdown. It found there were large changes in white blood cells, known as monocytes, in patients with both diseases but there were slight differences between the responses from PIMS-TS and Kawasaki disease, which meant they are not the same. Sample Dr Eanna Fennell, a post-doctoral fellow in the Health Research Institute and the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick helped to lead the analysis of the blood cells. Dr Fennell said that while the research was carried out on a small sample of patients, it could help contribute to finding a way to treat the disease. Advertisement She had scarcely travelled anywhere at all. Yet, recently separated from my father and keen for adventure, my mother, Mary, decided to whisk my sister and me to Athens. It was the late 1970s. I was 17 years old and promptly fell in love at first sight. Not with a dark-eyed local boy, but with Greece itself. That first experience of clear, bright Aegean light and delicious warmth from the Mediterranean sun has remained with me ever since. Inspired: Novelist Victoria Hislop has been made an honorary citizen of Greece for promoting modern Greek history and culture through her writings. Pictured is Rethymno harbour in Crete Victoria and mother Mary, who ignited her lifelong Greek passion My mother approached that first visit with her usual energy. We ticked off with appreciation every archaeological site in the guidebook, going round on buses, frequently getting lost, trying to decipher street signs in an unfamiliar alphabet and almost melting in the August heat. It was hot, confusing and noisy, but I adored everything about it. After wed unpicked what we could of Athens, we took a ferry to the island of Paros, which was all whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. Having spent most previous summer holidays on the pebbly beach at Bognor Regis, the soft white sand was a revelation. My mother lit the spark which ignited my lifelong Greek passion and inspired my bestselling novel, The Island, set on Spinalonga, a tiny island off the coast of Crete, which was the last leper colony in Europe. I thought of Mum last week when my phone rang at 10am on a quiet Thursday morning. I answered the unknown number that flashed up on my screen and heard the unexpected words: I have the Prime Minister for you. The person on the line was speaking Greek so I knew it wasnt going to be Boris Johnson. Then I heard what, for me, has become a familiar voice: that of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek PM (I know his authoritative tones from the Greek equivalent of the Today programme which I tune into each morning). Mr Mitsotakis was calling to offer me Honorary Citizenship of Greece for promoting modern Greek history and culture through my writings. To say I was thrilled is an understatement. But it was a pity that I couldnt share it with my mother. The call came in July, almost precisely four months after she died in a care home, aged 92. Crystal clear: Victoria lived semi-permanently in Crete for 18 months, working on scripts and production for a TV series. Pictured is the water off Loutro, Crete BARGAIN GREECE SAVE 175: Seven-night half-board holidays at Villa Costa in Kefalonia, including flights, are available from 599 pp with Sovereign (sovereign.com). Book for October 6. SAVE 816: Enjoy a weeks stay at the two-bedroom Villa Toroneos (sleeps four) in Halkidiki, complete with a swimming pool, from 1,629 through James Villas (jamesvillas.co.uk). Book for September 7. SAVE 381: You can enjoy seven nights half-board stay at TUI Blue Atlantica Grand Mediterraneo Resort in Corfu, with flights included, from 799 pp with TUI (tui.com). Book for August 28. SAVE 1,190: Athanasia, a six-bedroom villa with a pool, which sleeps up to 13 family and friends, is available in Paxos for seven-night stays from 3,500 with Ionian Villas (ionian-villas.co.uk). Book for September. SAVE 253: Treat yourself and your family to an all-inclusive weeks trip to Blue Lagoon Resort in Kos. Prices start from 594 pp with First Choice (firstchoice.co.uk). Book for October 14 for the best deals. There are lots of holiday deals to Greece this September and October SAVE 191: Olive Mill, a five-bedroom villa (sleeps ten) in Kefalonia has seven-night holidays starting from 6,212 with Olivers Travels (oliverstravels.com) in September. SAVE 40%: Opt for self-catering at Zakynthoss Pension Porto Tsi Ostrias, with your flights included, going for 269 pp at Travel Supermarket (travelsupermarket.com). Book for September 7. SAVE 36%: Don't worry about costs spiralling with an all-inclusive stay at Lindos Imperial Resort and Spa in Rhodes. Including flights, this is available from 349 pp with Travelzoo (travelzoo.com). Look at September, October, April and May. SAVE 15%: Greek Villas has 15 per cent off for families this October half-term when they use the code FAMILY2020. The company has villas across the Greek Islands with prices starting at 950. Stay, for example, at Paleros on the Ionian Coast at Naira III, which sleeps eight (thegreekvillas.com). SAVE 255: You can have yourself a weeks B&B break at the Ilaria Hotel by the sea in Laganas on Zante. Prices start at 319 pp, with flights included, when booking through holiday firm Travel Supermarket (travelsupermarket.com). Check out trips for September 3. HUGO BROWN Advertisement Mum was there at the very beginning of my connection with Greece and years later accompanied me on my research trips to Crete. It was a huge pleasure when I had finished writing The Island to dedicate it to her, and I love to think there are at least five million copies of the book around the world dedicated To my mother, Mary. A funeral was out of the question (only two people were allowed to attend a cremation at that time), so we had what we cheerfully called a Zoomeral and gathered together on many different laptops to celebrate her life. I asked several of my Greek friends to cast some flowers into Mirabello Bay, a place in Crete my mother had loved, and it gave me a real sense of peace that so many people had wished her goodbye. I am overlooking the bay as I write this. After that first holiday with Mum I became what you might call a philhellene, visiting Greece every year, delighting in the huge variety of landscapes and the glorious summer climate. Of course, there were endless trips to unspoilt beaches and secluded bays, so perfect for the many holidays with my husband Ian when our children (who still love coming to Greece in their late 20s) were toddlers, splashing about in those safe waters. And, yes, there were just as many visits spent enjoying ancient Greek culture Athens, Corinth and especially Crete, where there are thrilling remains of Minoan palaces dating from 4,000 years ago. We also made spring-time trips, when walking was the major activity. In Crete, the mountains and gorges are spectacular, as are the huge meadows of wild camomile and irises, not to mention the waterfalls where you can swim. Then, in 2001, everything changed on a family holiday to Crete. The children were still young and much keener to stay on the beach than look at pots in a museum. I spotted a place that seemed to offer a compromise: a short boat trip to an island where it was possible to swim off the rocks, combined with a stroll around a Venetian fortification and a small settlement, once the site of a leprosy hospital. We set off, the children lured by the prospect of ice creams, and were soon on the ten-minute boat trip across to Spinalonga. As we disembarked, I was struck by the unexpected beauty of this little island. I had anticipated that a place where people went with an incurable disease would be depressing, but I could see that here were all the characteristics of a thriving community: remains of shops, pretty houses, a bakery, a little church, a cafe. It was clearly a place where people went to live, not just to die, and it filled me with optimism and admiration at how they had survived. I decided I wanted to write a story about a group of patients and how it must have felt to be sent into exile, almost in sight of loved ones on the mainland. My mother was always supportive of everything I did but was bemused that I was writing a novel for the first time, and even more so that it was about leprosy. I went back to Greece many times over the next few months to research it, and this time it was me who took my mother along. We ambled about, driving to remote hillside villages, soaking up the atmosphere and the timeless landscapes of Crete. It was very different from our frenetic time in Athens all those years before. I would tease my mother because she continued to be beautiful in later life and often attracted the attention of elderly Greek men. If we were in a taverna, they would sometimes send over a carafe of wine. Often, I used her as a decoy, pretending to take a photograph of her when I was actually taking a snap of some wonderful Cretan face in the background, whose photo would later inspire a character of mine. The Island was published in 2005 and to my delight it became a bestseller in English and was followed by translations into more than 35 languages, including, most exciting of all, Greek. Colourful history: Victoria recalls visiting ancient sites in Crete, including the remains of Minoan palaces (pictured) Ancient art: 'I began to feel a sense of coming home whenever I got to Crete,' writes Victoria. Pictured - Frescoes in the palace of Knossos A Greek TV adaptation then followed and I lived semi-permanently in Crete for 18 months, working on scripts and production for the 26episode series. It was a time of full immersion, in the language, in the music, in the culture, in the mentality and in the Greek way of living. I began to feel a sense of coming home whenever I got to Crete. I learnt Greek with a local teacher and my knowledge of its culture, music and poetry started to expand. I bought a house on the island and got to know many Greek people. They started to treat me like one of them which meant being taken to places that were off the tourist track. Tasteful: Victoria loves the simple delights of Greek cuisine. One of her favourites restaurants is Portes in Agios Nikolaos CRETE DEALS FOR LATER THIS YEAR SAVE 249: Seven nights half-board at St Nicolas Bay Resort, including flights, from 1,495pp with Prestige Holidays (prestigeholidays.co.uk)From September 1 to October 31. SAVE 436: Seven nights half-board at Aquila Rithymna Beach, including flights, from 618pp with TUI (tui.co.uk). Book for August 27. SAVE 40%: Nana Princess (nanaprincess.reserve-online.net), a beachfront resort in Cretes Hersonissos, is offering discounts on all suites booked between August 26 and September 7. Seven nights B&B with BA Holidays (britishairways.com) is from 1,539pp, including flights. SAVE 40%: Seven nights all-inclusive at the Radisson Blu Beach Resort, including flights, from 824pp with Best at Travel (bestattravel.co.uk). Book for September 18. SAVE 20%: Seven nights B&B at Elounda Gulf Villas, flights not included, from 735pp with CV Villas (cvvillas.com). Book for October 11. Advertisement I remember a visit to a restaurant down a side street in Agios Nikolaos (not in a fashionable spot close to the sea) and eating food that was so authentic and freshly cooked it was like being in someones home (its called Portes . . . I am happy to share the secret). Beaches were the same. Local friends took me to their personal favourites, one called Voulisma, which has a shack at the far end where only souvlaki and Greek salad are served, but they are the best in the world. The Greeks are nothing if not welcoming. If you turn up in a busy restaurant, you are never turned away; they just move a few tables around to fit you in. If you go to a wedding, there arent a few hundred guests, but a few thousand (though, of course, that is much reduced this year). I began to adore this inclusiveness. A key ingredient in the Greek personality is their tradition of philoxenia, friendship to the foreigner/stranger. I have experienced this so many thousands of times and know the levels of hospitality and generosity that Greeks are capable of. Now they have invited me to be one of them the ultimate act of friendship. Since The Island, Ive continued writing about Greece. Cartes Postales From Greece told of 21st-century Greece, with young people in a mood of desperation because of the debt crisis. Those Who Are Loved describes how 1940s Athenians starved in a famine. Greece (a country with a population of less than 11 million little more than Greater London) has endured extraordinary hardship and turbulence during several decades of the 20th century but in spite of these crises, always survives. I am aware of so many echoes in our language. There are thousands of words with Greek roots in English. One word I have felt the force of during lockdown has been nostalgia. The word nostalgia comes from the Greek nostos meaning homecoming and algia meaning pain, and this was what I felt during these past months the ache of absence, of missing the place where I wanted to be. Today, not only am I in Greece, the country to which my mother had introduced me, but Greece chose this moment in my life to adopt me. It makes me, and would have made her, incredibly happy. WASHINGTON The U.S.-Canadian border will remain closed to nonessential traffic through Sept. 21, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced Friday. "We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of #Covid19," Wolf said on Twitter. "Accordingly, we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through September 21." The decision means the border with Canada, as well as the border with Mexico, will have been largely closed for a full six months. The two nations agreed in March to close the border for a month, and have extended the closure on a monthly basis ever since. The latest extension of the border closure comes as no surprise. It comes as several U.S. states battle summertime Covid-19 outbreaks. Meanwhile, Canada has largely contained the spread of the novel coronavirus. That being the case, the Canadian public has shown little interest in reopening the border anytime soon. An Ipsos-Reid poll released in mid-July indicated that 85% of Canadians surveyed want the border closure to continue through the end of the year. The chairs of the House Northern Border Caucus U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York's North Country have pressed for loosening the tight border restrictions, but to no avail. We would love for the border to reopen but we certainly expected this decision," Higgins said Friday. "Unless and until our president takes this pandemic seriously and employs policies that protect Americans and support assistance to help communities, Im afraid we are facing a long, tough road ahead. The extended closure means land borders between the two countries are only open to: Commercial truck traffic People traveling for medical purposes, or involved in emergency response or public health Those traveling to educational institutions Those traveling for work Close family members who want to visit relatives in Canada and who agree to to quarantine for 14 days Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 South Korea's first military communications satellite, the ANASIS-II, sits atop SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket as it is readied for launch at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, July 20 (local time). Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Lack of infrastructure and low demand cited as lingering problems By Jung Da-min South Korea's recent announcement of a deal on new missile guidelines with the United States lifted a decades-long restriction on South Korea's use of solid fuels for its space launch vehicles. Expectations have since risen that South Korea will be able to launch its own low-Earth orbit military spy satellites atop rockets produced by domestic manufacturers. The presidential office said the lift of the ban would help advance the South Korean military's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities by enabling launch of low-Earth orbit satellites atop solid propellants. It said such satellites would provide around-the-clock military surveillance, dubbed the "unblinking eye." Cheong Wa Dae said the lifting of the ban would also help businesses and individuals in the country's private sector, especially talented young experts, to actively jump into space projects, as it secures an institutional foundation that supports construction of space industry infrastructure. Such a rosy picture for South Korea's space industry, however, is not likely to be realized in the near future as there are many hurdles ahead for South Korea to develop its own rockets and establish them in the market, according to defense industry watchers. First of all, they said South Korea would have difficulty in competing with other countries which could provide more advanced technologies and services at lower prices with their already established space industry infrastructure. "The South Korean government should consider if it is worth it to develop the country's own solid propellants when it could use those developed by foreign manufacturers like SpaceX, which would cost far less," Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, told The Korea Times, referring to the U.S. space giant. SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket recently carried South Korea's first military communications satellite, ANASIS-II, into space. "And the thing is that even if South Korea develops its own rockets, they would not be able to excel more than aerospace giants like SpaceX in terms of technology," Shin said. So far, the South Korean government has a 3 trillion won ($25.2 billion) budget for the development of space rockets, spending 1 trillion won for the Naro-1, South Korea's first carrier rocket, and 2 trillion won for Nuri, the country's second carrier rocket. The KARI developed both rockets. "The costs spent by the South Korean government to develop the two rockets were 10 times higher than those spent by SpaceX," Kim Seung-jo, former president of KARI, said in a recent interview with ChosunBiz. "But the South Korean government's outcomes in its rocket projects were far behind the Falcon9 rocket produced by SpaceX." Kim said the government-led industry structure was the reason for the high costs and the low speed of the space rocket developments. He pointed out that when the government leads space development projects, they receive more criticism for failures such as unsuccessful launches especially since the projects are funded by taxpayers but more failures in the early stages of development could save more in the long run, as researchers learn a great deal through each challenge. South Korea's first military communications satellite, the ANASIS-II, sits atop SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket as it is readied for launch at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, July 20 (local time). Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration A lack of infrastructure is also one of the hurdles. South Korea now has the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jolla Province, operated by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). But the spaceport could only be used for low-Earth orbit satellites that reach altitudes of between 500 kilometers to 1,500 kilometers, not for those that reach geostationary orbit of around 36,000 kilometers. When launching a satellite into geostationary orbit to rotate along with the Earth, launching it from a spaceport that is close to the equator could save a lot of energy used for propulsion. For the ANASIS-II, which reached geostationary orbit 10 days after launch, it had been launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida which is close to the equator to gain a propulsion advantage from the speed of the Earth's rotation. For South Korea, there is a need to build a sea-based spaceport near the equator or conduct launches at spaceports in other countries that are close enough to the equator like the U.S.'s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. There is also an issue of low demand for rockets manufactured in the private sector. For space manufacturers based in the U.S., for example, they receive a lot of requests to launch their rockets including those from the country's space forces and from other businesses. But the situation is different in South Korea especially when it has yet to build its own satellite-based radio-navigation system such as the U.S. government's Global Positioning System. The KARI is currently designing plans to develop the Korean Positioning System but industry watchers say it wouldn't be developed until at least 2035. Under such circumstances, operating liquid propellants and solid propellants at the same time could be a waste of money, when both sectors require many rounds of test launches to be established in the market. Kim Hyun-chong, the second deputy director of the National Security Office, gives explanations about revisions on missile guidelines with the United States during a press briefing on at Cheong Wa Dae, July 28. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok Assault: Christian Brueckner, 43, was sentenced to 15 months for child abuse The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was jailed for sexually abusing the five-year-old daughter of a former girlfriend, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Christian Brueckner assaulted the youngster in a public park before taking graphic photographs that were later discovered on his digital camera and laptop as police investigated him over a separate claim of domestic violence. The sex attack took place in 2013 when Brueckner was living in Braunschweig, northern Germany, and around the time that police searching for Madeleine who vanished from her familys apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007 had been given his name by a caller to the German equivalent of the BBC Crimewatch programme. Brueckner, 43, who is serving a prison sentence for drugs offences, was publicly revealed as a suspect by German police in June. While in Braunschweig, Brueckner ran a kiosk selling drinks and snacks. He was accused of assaulting the woman he lived with, Nakscije Miftari, who was not the mother of his victim. During a raid on his flat, police seized a laptop and other devices on which they found the photographs. Analysis of the images allowed the officers to identify the scene of the attack and the girl, who had moved to another part of Germany with her mother. While in Braunschweig, Brueckner ran a kiosk selling drinks and snacks. He was accused of assaulting the woman he lived with, Nakscije Miftari, who was not the mother of his victim. The house where he lived in Braunschweig is pictured above By then, however, Brueckner had fled to the Algarve in Portugal, where he had been living intermittently since the mid-1990s. German authorities issued an EU-wide arrest warrant, but it was four years before officers in Portugal seized him after responding to reports that he had exposed himself to children at a park about 40 miles from Praia da Luz. Brueckner, who is referred to as Christian B by German justice officials, was extradited back to Germany, convicted and given a 15-month jail term in March 2017. Thomas Klinge, the Chief Prosecutor in Hanover, said last night: I can confirm that there was the child abuse case. Christian B was sentenced in 2017 for one year and three months. Friedrich Fulscher, Brueckners lawyer, declined to comment. Brueckner was subsequently convicted of the rape in 2005 of a 72-year-old American woman at her apartment in Praia da Luz close to where Madeleine, then aged three, disappeared two years later Brueckner was subsequently convicted of the rape in 2005 of a 72-year-old American woman at her apartment in Praia da Luz close to where Madeleine, then aged three, disappeared two years later. He was given a seven-year sentence. His lawyers have sought to have the rape conviction overturned due to a procedural error when he was extradited from Portugal to Germany in 2017. The European Court of Justice has issued a non-binding written opinion rejecting their bid, with a final judgment expected in weeks. Last month, German police searched a hut on an allotment near Hanover and excavated a cellar. After Madeleine disappeared, Brueckner moved back to Germany and began living in the hut and working as a mechanic. Officers have yet to search a second hut, also used as a home by Brueckner, on an allotment in Braunschweig. Underscoring his focus on 'Make in India' and extending it to 'Make for World', the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a major push to infra sector while addressing the nation on 74th Independence Day . "Along with Make in India, we have now to take forward the mantra Make for World," said the PM. The PM highlighted the need to give a new direction to the overall infrastructure development of the country. Also Read - 74th Independence Day | India to get cybersecurity policy soon: PM Modi "This need will be met from the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project. The country is going to spend more than Rs 110 lakh crore on this. About 7,000 projects of different sectors have also been identified," said the PM. The move is expected to boost infra stocks, including Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Nirlon, HG Infra Engineering, Indian Hume Pipe Company, Bharat Road Network, Generic Engineering Construction and Projects, Anubhav Infrastructure and Jaihind Projects. PM also emphasised the need for integrated infrastructure with smooth connectivity between roads, railways and waterways. "Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had taken Indias road infrastructure to the next level. Now we need to focus on multi-modal infrastructure. We need to stop working in silos," said the PM. Fraudsters in the Stavropol Territory are asking for money the heads of enterprises on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Territory, the Governor of the Stavropol Territory Vladimir Vladimirov wrote on Instagram. Attackers call and send letters with a request to help financially in providing regional medical institutions with new equipment. Several such attempts have already been registered in the region, AiF-Stavropol informs. "I appeal to all managers: if you receive such a document, don't even read it - call the police immediately," Vladimir Vladimirov wrote. Jerusalem, Aug 15 : Israeli army aircraft struck posts and facilities in the Gaza Strip that belong to Islamic Hamas movement in response to launching incendiary balloons from the coastal enclave into Israel. Security sources in Hamas told Xinhua that Israeli reconnaissance drones and warplanes fired missiles on Friday night. Residents in the besieged coastal enclave said that they heard several explosions in southern, central and northern Gaza right after drones and warplanes hovered over the territory and began a series of airstrikes. Paramedics who arrived at the targeted areas told Xinhua that two civilians, including a female child and a woman, were slightly injured in central and northern Gaza, where ambulances evacuated them to hospitals for treatment. Over the past days, unknown masked young men have been launching incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip into Israel and some of the balloons carried small amounts of explosives. Launching incendiary balloons into Israel caused large fires in the agricultural fields and farms in southern Israel and the vicinity of the border areas between Gaza and Israel. In response, Israel has closed Kerem Shalom, Gaza's main goods crossing, halted fuel supply and reduced Gaza's fishing zone. The Israeli government has held Hamas responsible for launching the balloons that caused fear to the populations and severe damage to the agriculture sector. Hamas officials had stated over the past few days that Israel didn't abide by the calm understandings sponsored by Egypt, Qatar, and the UN two years ago. The Gaza Strip, home for more than 2 million Palestinians, has been under an Israeli blockade for around 14 years right after Hamas seized control of the coastal enclave and routed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas out of it. Facebook has become the latest company to rally against Apples fees for in-app purchases. The social network announced a new update, aimed at small businesses, which will allow companies to charge for online events. With the update, which was first previewed in April, business owners could plan an online event, like a cooking or workout class, and charge their followers for access. But Facebook says business owners wont be able to benefit from the feature as much as they should due to Apples developer policies. While Facebook says it doesnt plan to take any cut from small business event revenue for at least the next year, it notes that Apple will still take its standard commission on purchases made via Facebooks iOS app. We asked Apple to reduce its 30% App Store tax or allow us to offer Facebook Pay so we could absorb all costs for businesses struggling during COVID-19, Facebook wrote in a blog post. Unfortunately, they dismissed both our requests and SMBs will only be paid 70% of their hard-earned revenue. The social network said it plans to alert its users in its app that Apple gets a 30 percent cut of their purchase, and that its submitted the update for Apples approval and is awaiting a response. Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Facebook wants to disclose Apple's 'App Store tax' to users. On Facebooks Android app and website, events will use Facebook Pay so business owners will get the full amount, according to the company. What we are pushing on is that all tech companies who can afford to do so join us in supporting small businesses, Facebook VP Fidji Simo said during a call with reporters Friday. The move makes Facebook the latest tech giant to pile onto Apple as it faces antitrust scrutiny over its App Store policies. It comes one day after Fortite maker Epic sued the iPhone-maker after it kicked Fortnite out of the App Store over its attempt to bypass Apples 30 percent commission. Since then, Spotify and Tinder-owner Match Group have issued statements in support of EPics fight against Apples unfair policies. But this is far from the first time a disagreement between Facebook and Apple has played out publicly. Apple has repeatedly criticized Facebook over its privacy policies and Apple briefly bricked Facebooks internal apps after the company was caught violating its rules for enterprise apps. Simo said the new event feature is meant to help businesses that have been hurt most by closures due to COVID-19. The feature will use Facebook Live, and is also being tested with Messenger Rooms. It will be available in 20 countries, including the United States, UK and Australia, to pages that meet its monetization rules. NEW DELHI: India is all set to receive two wide-bodied Boeing 777-300ERs from the United States to serve as 'Air India One' that will be used to fly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and other top Indian dignitaries. Top government officials told PTI that a team of senior officials of the central government have gone to the United States to receive the delivery of Special Extra Section Flight (SESF) or VVIP aircraft 'Air India One'. The officials added that another custom-made B777 plane is likely to be received from Boeing in September. "Some senior officials of the central government are also part of the team that has gone to the US to receive the plane from Boeing," said an official of the national carrier. It was expected that the delivery of these two planes, which are earmarked for VVIP travel only, would be done by July. However, due to COVID-19, their delivery has been delayed by a few weeks. During the travel of the VVIPs, the two B777 aircraft will be operated by pilots of the Indian Air Force and not of Air India, said another official. Currently, the prime minister, the president and the vice president fly on Air India's B747 planes, which have the call sign ''Air India One''. Air India pilots fly these B747 aircraft for the dignitaries and the Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) maintains them. When these B747 aircraft are not flying the dignitaries, they are used by the Indian national carrier for commercial operations. The new planes will be used for travel of the dignitaries only. These two aircraft were part of Air India's commercial fleet for a few months in 2018 before they were sent back to Boeing for retrofitting them for VVIP travel. The B777 planes will have state-of-the-art missile defence systems called Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS). In February, the US agreed to sell the two defence systems to India at a cost of USD 190 million. The Centre has already initiated the process of divestment of its stake in Air India, which has a debt of over Rs 60,000 crore. However, the process has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Postal Service alerted 46 states and Washington, D.C., that it cannot ensure ballots sent by mail in the general election will arrive in time to be counted, the Washington Post reported Friday. Why it matters: The written warnings, issued at the end of July, indicate that USPS believes it may not be able to manage the sudden surge in mail-in voting due to the coronavirus, "adding another layer of uncertainty ahead of the high-stakes presidential contest," the Post writes. As the November election inches closer, USPS operations have recently been reduced due to cost-cutting measures and organizational overhauls ordered by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Late mail deliveries could disqualify votes across most of the U.S. including in battlegroup states like Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The results of the presidential race could be delayed for days after Nov. 3 if states choose to extend their mail-in voting deadlines. What they're saying: The letters, sent by USPS's general counsel Thomas Marshall, caution that states' "deadlines for requesting, returning or counting ballots were 'incongruous' with mail service and that voters who send ballots in close to those deadlines may become disenfranchised," WaPo writes. The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, Martha Johnson, a spokeswoman for the USPS, said in a statement, according to WaPo. The big picture: In response to USPS's warnings, some states have begun altering their election deadlines. Pennsylvania's officials asked the state Supreme Court to order that mail-in ballots remain countable as long as election officials receive them up to three days after the election. President Trump vowed on Thursday to block demands to fund mail-in voting and the USPS, claiming without evidence that absentee ballots produce widespread voter fraud. Democratic leadership told DeJoy in a letter Friday that the $25 billion requested for the USPS came from the agency itself and not from Democrats for universal mail-in voting, as Trump claimed on Thursday. "On Tuesday two days before the President made his admissions your General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Thomas J. Marshall, sent two letters to Congress," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote. "The first admitted that the Postal Service now lacks the funding necessary to fulfill its core mission. His letter included this stark warning: 'We are currently unable to balance our costs with available funding sources to fulfill both our universal service mission and other legal obligations.'" The letter demanded that DeJoy provide documents and answers by Aug. 21 on changes they say could damage the Postal Service's ability to process mail-in ballots. Go deeper: House Oversight chair introduces bill to preserve USPS services For the third time in less than two months, city officials have reprimanded the Archdiocese of San Francisco for violating coronavirus health orders, including yet another infraction from the North Beach church at the center of a secret wedding scandal that gained international headlines last month. Even after that unflattering attention, pastors at other San Francisco churches continued to hold indoor prayer sessions despite mandates requiring only small outdoor religious services. And one priest failed to wear a mask while conducting Mass with unmasked altar servers, according to a letter the City Attorneys Office sent to the archdiocese on Wednesday. The letter was obtained by The Chronicle through a public records request. The newest admonition detailed complaints and violations at four churches, ranging from improper indoor prayer services to unmasked priests to singing to another reported church wedding. SS Peter and Paul Church was singled out for the third time after a volunteer told inspectors at the end of July that the parish allowed up to 12 people at a time inside for prayer, Deputy City Attorney Megan Ryan wrote to the archdioceses general counsel, Paula Carney. Ryan and Carney spoke by phone Monday about the repeated infringements of coronavirus health orders, and Ryan recounted their conversation in the letter. The city has not punished the organization, City Attorney spokesman John Cote said, preferring an approach that stresses education and compliance over sanctions. If they act in good faith to ensure compliance, we will continue that process, Cote said. If we get to a point where additional enforcement is needed, we are prepared to take appropriate steps to protect public health and safety. We dont telegraph enforcement actions in advance. Archdiocese spokesman Mike Brown said the organizations response will come in an official reply to the City Attorneys Office. We will be responding directly to the City Attorneys Office, correcting some of the misinformation they have received and restating that the archbishop has been very clear in his instructions to pastors that they are to follow their local countys safety guidelines, he said. Requests for comment from the pastor of SS Peter and Paul Church were not returned. The new complaints and violations occurred after The Chronicle published a July 26 article about SS Peter and Paul Church hosting an estimated 100 people for a wedding in early July where guests were directed to enter the house of worship through a hidden entrance in an underground parking garage. A city attorney representative crashed the wedding and forced it to be held outside and with fewer guests. At least eight of the guests, and the bride and groom, subsequently tested positive for coronavirus. In June, San Francisco officials sent the archdiocese a cease-and-desist order to stop large indoor gatherings, threatening the organization with a temporary restraining order if it didnt comply. Amid the violations, the archdiocese has reluctantly said it would acquiesce to health mandates. At first it claimed confusion over rules and conflicting guidelines, but a July 30 memo from Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to the archdioceses priests made clear his disagreement over the religious restrictions and surveillance of his churches, saying he feels there is a double standard. He said the citys allowance of indoor retail at 50% capacity and street protests were much riskier than controlled and distanced indoor services. At larger retail outlets it is quite possible for people to spend an hour or more in the store, while we can keep our services to under an hour; moreover, the employees in the store are indoors continuously for many hours at a time, he wrote, adding that churches could also be kept more sanitary than retail stores. Cordileone also lamented that restrictions were placed on religious services while pre-planned and scheduled street protests have been allowed to continue unhindered. The archdioceses troubles began on June 29 when the City Attorneys Office sent a letter citing an alarming failure to follow common-sense safety protocols. The letter cited a number of churches, and said that SS Peter and Paul Church had repeatedly violated the order to limit religious gatherings to outside and no more than 12 people. The letter said that the office received complaints about the church holding six public Masses. On June 30, Carney, the archdioceses general counsel, responded that despite confusion over the health orders, the archbishop had made it clear to parishes that large indoor gatherings were barred. The next day, The Chronicle ran a front-page article about the dispute. Just days later, despite the warnings and coverage, SS Peter and Paul hosted the wedding. On July 7, the city attorneys office admonished the archdiocese for the wedding. After The Chronicle reported on the illicit wedding on July 26, it appeared that the two sides had reached an agreement. But Wednesdays letter detailed further issues among the archdioceses 89 parishes subsequent to the controversial nuptials. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The letter cited a July 26 Mass, live-streamed over the internet, where the priest was not wearing a mask while three altar servers had no face coverings. They also noted singing in the electronic service, which the City Attorneys Office said was particularly concerning as a method of virus transmission. On July 28, a city inspector found 25 to 30 people gathering inside Star of the Sea for a scheduled group prayer event, according to the letter. The churchs website, the letter noted, advertises twice-daily prayer sessions and a holy hour on Tuesdays. That parish had previously been identified by city officials as one holding indoor religious gatherings. The Rev. Joseph Illo of Star of the Sea ruffled feathers last month when he called the pandemic a political ploy, chastising his parishioners for putting fears over faith and skipping Mass to avoid the remote possibility of dying from COVID. In the following weeks church bulletin, he apologized, saying he was truly sorry that some were scandalized by what they felt was a priests insensitivity to their suffering. The citys letter also noted that it received a complaint of a planned 100-person Aug. 8 indoor wedding at St. Vincent de Paul church. An inspector visited the church the day of the wedding and learned the couple had changed venues as they had more guests than were allowed. Large group indoor gatherings continue to pose a most serious public health risk to congregants and San Franciscans at this time, Ryan wrote. Unfortunately, the public cannot come inside houses of worship right now, either for services or to pray. In his July 30 memo to priests, Cordileone stressed the importance of following safety practices to curb the spread of the virus and for pastors to not downplay the severity of the pandemic. This is real, it is dangerous, and it has to be taken seriously, the archibishop wrote. The resurgence is due in no small part to people becoming lax once the shelter-in-place rules began to be lifted. Please urge these practices upon them; absolutely do not give them the impression that the coronavirus is not a serious threat to the physical health of our community. Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni Reminiscing 20 years of Fashion Mastery with Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology View(s): When a person visualizes fashion, the first thing that pops into their heads are the fashion capitals of the world; Paris, Milan and London. Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology combines the best aspects of all worlds, as it radiates inspiration taken from these famed fashion capitals, and gives the Sri Lankan community a chance to pursue education in the field of fashion design. It has been 20 years since now Managing Director Niroshani Leanage urged her mother Chairperson Roshani Leanage to establish Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology to open up a pathway for Sri Lankan students to get a taste of the wonders of fashion. The Managing director enthusiastically shared her recollections of the journey during the past two decades. What drove you to launch this fashion institute? Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology started in 2000; a time where a formal education pathway for fashion designing was absent within the country. It started of as a BOI (Board of Investment) company since international expertise was mandatory for such an initiative. Ties were established with our close neighbor India (JD Institute of Fashion Technology) to bring in the required expertise into the field. LIFT was registered under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission since the day of its inception. This is purely a family venture where my mother Roshani Leanage invested in my passion for introducing a formal fashion design education pathway to Sri Lankan students. What was your initial reaction when it dawned that it has been 20 years since LIFTs journey began? Time has indeed passed at a rapid pace. Looking back at our history, and comparing to where we are now, it has indeed been a complete satisfactory journey. It is an overwhelming and joyful feeling when it dawned that we have reached the 2nd decade milestone. Even-though we are unable to have a grand celebration for the 20th year anniversary due to COVID-19 restrictions, LIFT shall regardless remain committed to uphold its Sri Lankan identity when it is teaching students internationally acclaimed concepts. Personally, I am very satisfied. What has been the secret for this prolonged longevity of LIFT in the Sri Lankan context? The corporate culture which has been established throughout the years supported by the steady committed management structure and employee base who have dedicated most of their lives for the growth of the institute has been a core ingredient for the success of Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology. The contribution of the trustworthy International partners should never be overlooked. Ultimately, the customers; our beloved students and their parents who showed faith in LIFT to educate their children have been the core pillars for our consistent growth. What are the highlights of LIFT during the past two decades? What were the significant ups and overwhelming downs that you fondly recall? Let us look at the timeline of LIFT, and recall the journey as it is, and identify the memorable moments. In 2002, LIFT hosted its inaugural fashion show at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium under the theme, Our Heritage, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. The event performances were choregraphed by Rahul Dev Shetty who is a leading Choreographer from India. The event showcased many Sri Lankan and Indian Models who took the spotlight on the ramp. The inaugural event was witnessed by 5000 invitees. That led to a series of fashion events and exhibitions in the years that followed. Two grand fashion shows were hosted in Cinnamon Grand and Oberoi Hotel in 2003. Later on, another exhibition was hosted in 2005 at Galle Face Hotel. The trend continued as another exhibition was held in 2006. Galle Face Hotel accommodated yet another exhibition in 2007. In 2009, LIFT experimented with a new idea, and hosted a two day event called Chic This fashion event was held in the Hilton Hotel, and was organised in collaboration with the Cinnamon Round Tables. LIFT started off the new decade in 2010 by hosting its Decade of Celebration fashion show where three Miss Indian winners graced the event with their presence. Thereafter, LIFT hosted a Graduate Fashion Show in 2012. 2013 was a significant year. It was the year which LIFT carried out the Camouflage initiative in aid of children of the fallen war heroes. Furthermore, a Fashion Award Ceremony was hosted for LIFT students along with the participation of graduates of the University of Northampton UK. Thereafter 2014 and 2015 hosted yet another Fashion Awards and Graduate Fashion Show respectively. 2015 was yet another significant year. There-onwards LIFT partnered with the French Spring Festival annually. This was a great opportunity for the students, to mingle and to get to know many artists and celebrities by participating in various events. In 2016, LIFT hosted an open air fashion show and the ModArt Beaujoulais nouveau, organised by the French Embassy was held at The Waters Edge. 2017 saw to the launch of IGFS (International Graduates Fashion Spectacle). This was held in partnership with the French Embassy in Sri Lanka, welcoming fashion graduates from across the world, to showcase their talents and to represent their nation on a single platform. This grand spectacle was witnessed by graduates from France, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Hungary, Bangladesh, India, Germany and LIFT and ModArt students from Sri Lanka. 2018 witnessed two grand events. The first was a turning point for LIFT. Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology took the lead to host the Fashion Nouveau, which is the first ever online fashion exhibition in Sri Lanka. It showcased trends, couture designs and fashion collections. The other memorable event is the return of the IGFS for its second edition. 2019 hosted Exposition de Mode, which is the Fashion Exhibition for the French Spring Festival and the Chocolate meets Fashion project; which was an external project conducted with the collaboration of Hilton. This event showcased spectacular garments designed out of chocolate. In 2020, on the year of the celebration, Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology, with the ample support of the Sunday Times, organised an all-island art competition. The event was open for all children from across the country who fell under the set 3 age categories. The winners of this competition was awarded with cash awards and scholarships, which are what the children require to progress towards a better future. While on the topic of the downs not much has been able to deter the growth of Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology. The most predominant down witnessed in recent times is the common denominator for the down of all the industries across the globe. That is the inconvenience of the global pandemic. However, Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology was up for the task, even before the country went into lockdown. The proper protocols were followed, and decisions were made to ensure that the students do not lose time that can otherwise be spent on their education. Lecture sessions were restarted with only a hiatus of a week. LIFT has a sophisticated and engaging online platform where students were able to follow their relevant course modules and conduct their relevant projects and examinations in the comforts of their own homes. How has Lanka Institute of Fashion given something back for the Sri Lankan society? Lanka Institute of Fashion has duly played its part for the betterment of the society on regular basis. The CSR projects conducted by the institute encompasses a multitude of different fields. As mentioned earlier, LIFT played an important role in the Camouflage project. This was organised by Viru Daru of the Sri Lanka Army in association with LIFT. The purpose of this endeavor is to raise funds for the betterment of the children, of the fallen war heroes of the country. Other than that, the students of Lanka Institute of Fashion conducted a special Craft Workshop for students of the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind. The students of LIFT further participated in Eric Sooriyasenas Batik Competition. This was organized by Erik Sooriyasena as an effort to raise funds for the Chilaw Hospital Cancer Unit and for the victims of the Easter attack. What are the opportunities created, and the influence given to the students of Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology? Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology connects students to the fashion capitals of the world whilst firmly inculcating the Sri Lankan identity. This gives them the required exposure to the French culture while operating in the local culture, thus giving them a holistic view into the global industry. Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology, and ModArt International Sri Lanka in particular gives students the opportunity to take part in annual study visits to Paris. This allows the students to get a first hand experience on what is taught within the premises, and gain inspiration for their future coursework. Additionally, the students of ModArt International have the choice of pursuing their higher studies in Paris whilst gaining the recognition as a student of the European Union. This grants the student all the student benefits that come along with the title. LIFT is the only campus which facilitates visits to the International Trade Shows, such as Premiere Vision (The Global Event for Fashion Professionals) and other similar exhibitions. The students have the opportunity to follow their study courses online due to the sophisticated digital platform from anywhere in the world. The quality of the product delivered to the students are assured through specialized training to the staff, and by maintaining the staff student ratio of 1:16. This ratio aspect is followed by most of the leading specialized European Training Centers. The students of Lanka Institute of Fashion was graced with the influence of many great inspirational figurines during the past two decades. Leigh Cook, a notable designer for Hermes, shared his wisdom to the students through a talk show. Hemant Trevedi, a leading designer in India, choreographed many Fashion Shows hosted by Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology. The dignified French Street Artist Daco once did a demonstration of wall art for the students. The Belgian Artist Fabienne Francot had conducted many workshops throughout the years. Furthermore, former Miss India winners Symran Kayur and Lakshmi Pandith showcased student designs on the ramp at LIFTs 10th year anniversary celebration fashion show. What are the notable international partnerships established by Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology? In 2004, Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology started associating with the University of Northampton, UK to offer advanced entries to fashion design degrees. This enabled the students to transfer to the University of Northampton to pursue a Bachelors degree in fashion design. That permits them to take part in the London Graduate Fashion Week through the university. Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology launched the ModArt International Paris Franchise in Sri Lanka in 2014. This collaboration enabled LIFT to offer the Bachelor in Fashion Design to the Sri Lankan students. It is a highly demanded 3 year course. This collaboration withstood the challenges of time, strengthening as the years progressed given to the fact that both the corporate cultures of ModArt International Paris and Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology were in sync and is quite similar in nature. All green solutions of Midland (Michigan) is an organisation which provides sustainable consumer centric ideas to the apparel industry. A seminar was conducted in 2019 to launch the partnership between both parties and to discuss the ideas for implementation. This was highly beneficial for the students as well as to the apparel industry professionals. Additionally, Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology partnered with Taf.tc Singapore (Textile and Fashion Industry Training Centre). This was similar to an internship program conducted in order to facilitate a student transfer programme, offering international students to study in Sri Lanka at ModArt International Paris. Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology signed up in the ModaPelle Academy Milan for the professional training of leather design, shoe ware and accessories. What is the message that you wish to deliver to the Sri Lankan society? Education is a necessity. Receiving the ideal education at the ideal time, having a clear focus and selecting what you personally want to pursue is highly advised. LIFT shows significant concern whilst enrolling students. It aspires to evaluate students based on whether they posses a vision for their future. In the end, Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology will guide its students to achieve the vision for their future which they have envisioned. - by Randheer Mallawaarachchi Before and after the 1951 revolution that brought democracy to Nepal, the history of social movements also moved along a parallel line. In the aftermath of the 1951 democracy, various social movements forced the government to begin a systematic development planning focusing on issues of the common people. [Read the previous part of this series in detail.] The political developments that followed gradually inspired new social movements across the country, proving social movements would go hand in hand. The rise of Panchayat Nepals first experience of democracy was short-lived when, in 1960, King Mahendra seized all power from the people-elected government, dismissed the legislative body, and banned all the political parties. A new constitution was issued in 1962, establishing a party-less Panchayat system of four tiers, from local to the national levels, with the king as head of the autocratic system. The intention of the constitution was supposed to launch proportionate development activities in zones, districts and villages or cities. Despite hopeless political developments, social movements continued, and some changes were seen in the legal system also. In 1963, the king introduced the Muluki Ain (loosely translated to the National Code) that made all castes and ethnicities equal, at least legally, and declared that there would be no discrimination on the basis of castes and tribes. Likewise, Land Reformation Act was promulgated for social reforms, on the basis of which half of the land owned by people would be provided to peasants who had been cultivating them. However, at the grassroots, both of these laws were not effectively implemented. But, elites and neo-elites emerged as political influences and created a huge polarisation between them and the common masses. Their footholds in Kathmandu meant a regional bias in development as Kathmandu and major cities could see economic development while other areas became marginalised and underdeveloped. Culturally, Nepal adopted the Ek Bhasha, Ek Bhesh (one language, one dress) policy with the vision to bring unity and uniformity in Nepali culture. It, however, brought marginalisation of other cultures, languages and ethnicities. The resurgence of democracy Around four years after King Birendra ascended to the throne, Nepali Congress leader BP Koirala and his associates declared their intention to seek compromises with the Nepali monarchy in 1976. However, when he returned to Nepal with Ganesh Man Singh, they were arrested and trialled. It provoked mass movements in the Kathmandu city and Koirala was released in 1977 on health reasons. In April 1979, Kathmandu and other urban centres were rocked by massive students protests. They ended when the king declared a referendum on the Panchayat system. The referendum held in May 1980 resulted in the favour of an improved Panchayat system. Subsequently, King Birendra announced three political reforms: regular elections, a legislative council to recommend the prime minister, holding the council of ministers responsible towards the national legislature. By 1990, the public discontent increased to launch a mass protest, which later resulted at the end of the Panchayat system. Overall, significant social changes were not seen between 1963 and 1990, but the restoration of multiparty democracy opened doors to various reforms in all sectors. The Maoist insurgency After the restoration of democracy and the introduction of the multiparty system, the country adopted the free market policy and promoted economy, development and welfare through privatisation. This change also promoted a considerate number of development activities than in the Panchayat system, but the traditional feudal system, the polarisation between the rich and the poor, and caste and ethnicity-based discrimination still posed a serious problem. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), commonly known as the Maoists, announced an armed movement in 1996, calling it peoples war, raising the voices of the oppressed and the marginalised. Arguably, the war also advocated for social changes. The movement started in the rural areas of western Nepal; many people from the oppressed and marginalised castes and creeds joined it, with a hope that the insurgency would topple the hierarchical differences and end social discrimination. While the movement advocated against discrimination, it also weakened and marginalised locally active democratic institutions including elected bodies. Consequently, people feared going to villages and it resulted in population upsurge in urban areas due to migration. The governments within the period proposed reforms and amendments to be more inclusive but in vain. The government, therefore, looked to eliminate the insurgency and labelled the movement as an act of terrorism. The second Peoples Movement After the 2001 royal massacre, in October 2002, Parliament was dissolved and new elections were planned. However, due to the growing impact of armed conflict and the inability to contain the insurgency meant the elections could not be held. Subsequently, King Gyanendra, who was more confrontational as opposed to his brothers neutral attitude, intervened in the political sphere and declared the state of emergency in November 2001, that ultimately led to anti-monarchy protests. The protests became intense with the king forming new governments and taking over every year. In April 2006, mainstream political parties, apparently supported by the Maoists, commenced the second Peoples Movement. After mass protests in urban centres and villages alike for 19 days, King Gyanendra declared the restoration of democracy. The restored parliament nullified all the political powers of the palace. Meanwhile, the Maoists ended their decade-long underground guerilla warfare and entered the mainstream politics after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the then-new government, which included the election of the Constituent Assembly. The election of the first Constituent Assembly was held in 2008, in which the Maoist party became the biggest force although it lacked the majority strength. The assembly, in its first meeting, unanimously voted that the country would be now a republic and the 240-year-long monarchy was overthrown. The assembly was inclusive as many representatives of Dalits, women, ethnic/indigenous groups, Terai and other geographically marginalised regions. Moreover, identity-based movements flourished in the next decade, through which the oppressed and the marginalised groups negotiated for inclusion and the end of any form of discrimination in the country. But, more about that in the third article of the series Press Release August 14, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 876: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the Murder of Randy Echanis 8/14/20 We lost another peace advocate. Brutally. Frail old man, tortured, stabbed, and shot in the wee hours of the morning, body forcibly taken from grieving family. His neighbor was also found lifeless with his hands tied. Just when we thought we've seen the worst. Bagama't hindi na nakakagulat ang mga ganitong karumal-dumal na mga pangyayari sa ilalim ni Duterte. Sa pinakaliblib na lugar man yan, sa matao at maingay na syudad, sa kalaliman ng gabi, sa katirikan ng araw, sa gitna ng isang pandemya. Lahat puwedeng patayin ng kulturang marahas na ang naghasik ay isang pangulong berdugo. Nakakagalit, nakakakilabot, lalo na kung maiisip mong kamakailan lang ay binitawan ng pangulong ito ang mga ganitong kataga: "Yung mga kalaban ko sabihin ko sa military, do not use the needle, bayoneta ang gamitin mo." I am deeply disturbed with the way police authorities are handling the murder of Anakpawis National Chairperson Randy Echanis, from the initial denial that the deceased is the same person, arresting a paralegal, threatening his widow's lawyer, preventing supporters to hold mass, to denying his family their right to grieve. What gave the PNP the authority over the body of a deceased, even for the purposes of a criminal investigation? Duterte's Terror law? But what makes this more disturbing is the Palace's seeming haste to distance itself from the case, with the Presidential Spokesperson and formerly so-called human rights lawyer quickly dismissing allegations that it is a state-sponsored killing, even going to the extent of red-tagging the slain peasant leader with "ang CPP-NPA, sila-sila nagpapatayan." Patay na nga, biktima pa rin si Ka Randy ng red-tagging at mula pa sa isang opisyal ng gobyerno. Masyado naman pong obvious. In an ideal world, the spokesperson will say, "This is wrong. We will ensure an independent, impartial probe. We condole with the family in their time of grief." But we are very, very far from that ideal world. Our president is not an epitome of all things just and right. Our state security forces haven't been exactly making us feel secured. And the law is being weaponized to ensure that no space left for legitimate dissent in this country. At kung ganyan din lang naman na puwedeng patayin na lang na parang hayop ang mga itinuturing ng rehimeng ito na kaaway, bakit may Anti-Terror law pa sila? The Anti-Terror Law, it seems, is there to legitimize all the atrocities that are being committed and will be committed against critics. Kailangan may pantapal na legal sa mga kademonyohang ginagawa sa sambayanan. Tipikal sa isang rehimen na takot sa sariling multo. A regime that relentlessly seeks to terrorize -- even in death! -- those who stand for truth and social justice. As Ka Randy's life of fighting for the people is immortalized in the continuing struggle for truth, justice, and peace, another frail, old man but absolutely loathsome and in no way honorable, is desperately clinging to the last vestiges of his power. Nalalapit na ang araw ng paghuhukom at pananagutan. (Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 876 here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._876) M S Sriram By Aryabhateeya was composed in 499 CE by Aryabhata in Kusumapura, which is identified with Pataliputra (essentially modern Patna). This text heralded the advent of siddhaantic astronomy in India, which gives a systematic mathematical treatment of astronomical problems. Aryabhateeya is very brief and has only 121 stanzas. It has four parts, one of which is devoted to mathematics. It is in this part that the computation of the sine function (jyaa in India) is discussed. The jyaa is far more convenient than the Greek chord for astronomical computations, and is essentially the modern sin theta. Aryabhateeya states: The globe of the Earth stands (supportless) at the centre of the circular frame of asterisms surrounded by the orbits (of the planets); it is made up of water, earth, fire and air and is spherical. It is one of the earliest texts anywhere to discuss the rotation of the earth: Just as a man in a boat moving forward sees the stationary objects as moving backward, just so are the stationary stars seen by people at Lanka (on the equator), as moving exactly towards the west. Aryabhateeya introduces the concept of a mahaayuga of 43,20,000 years, in which all the planets (the Sun and the Moon are also considered as planets) make an integral number of revolutions around the earth. The number of revolutions in a mahaayuga is specified for each planet. From this, the mean position of the planet at any time can be calculated. Then, epicycle models are used to calculate the true positions of the planets. Aryabhata has his own version of the epicycle theory, which differs in details from the Greek versions. Thanks to the jyaa, the true positions can be found from simple formulae, in contrast to the method of Ptolemy, the most important Greek astronomer who lived in the second century in Alexandria. Ptolemys methods for calculating the true positions of planets and other astronomical quantities are far more complicated, involving cumbersome geometrical reasoning and use of several tables. Apart from the planetary positions, Aryabhateeya gives algorithms for finding solutions for problems associated with the daily movements of the planets and the stars on the celestial sphere, relation between the time and the shadow of a gnomon, parallax, lunar and solar eclipses, and so on. Aryabhateeya laid the framework for the future development of mathematical astronomy or the siddhaantas in India. Aryabhateeya is very cryptic, whereas the latter texts are far more detailed. However, they are also mainly algorithmic. There would be commentaries on the main texts, which would give detailed explanations, and derivations and proofs too at times. Some of the most important texts in the siddhaantic tradition after Aryabhateeya were Pancasiddhaantikaa of Varaahamihira (around 520 CE), Mahaabhaaskareeya and Aryabhateeyabhaashya (629 CE) of Bhaskara-I, Braahmasphutasiddhaanta of Brahmagupta (628 CE), Siddhaantasiromani of Bhaskara-II (1150 CE), and the Kerala works that we will discuss shortly. Siddhaantasiromani is a landmark in the history of Indian astronomy, with a marvellous auto-commentary that explains all the concepts with proofs. One can clearly discern a continuous evolution of ideas and improvements in calculational procedures in the siddhaantic tradition. Apart from the theoretical treatises, there were karana texts that excelled in giving simplified procedures for calculations using tables and elementary arithmetical manipulations, without giving up accuracy. These made it possible for a variety of pancaangas (almanacs) to be prepared throughout India. There is also the vaakya system where the positions of the Sun, the Moon and the planets can be determined at any time, using tables of vaakyas (words and phrases that can be translated into numbers), and some bare arithmetical calculations. Madhava (late 14th century), Parameshvara, Neelakantha Somayaaji, Jyeshthadeva, Sankara Variar, Acyuta Pisaarati, and Putumana Somayaaji are some of the important figures in the Kerala school, which made very important contributions to mathematics and astronomy during the 14th to 17th centuries. In an earlier article, we mentioned the first significant steps in calculus taken by Madhava and the astronomer-mathematicians who followed him in Kerala. In astronomy, Neelakantha Somayaaji (circa 15th-16th century CE) made important innovations in planetary models and spherical trigonometry. He made a detailed scientific analysis of the earlier theories for the motions of the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, especially the first two. From this, he came to the conclusion that the planets move in eccentric orbits around the Sun, which itself moves around the Earth. This model is implicit in his Tantrasangraha (1500 CE), but described in detail in his famous commentary on Aryabhateeya, and other works like Siddhaantadarpana and Grahasphutaanayane Vikshepavaasanaa. His model (in the illustration above) was before the famous heliocentric model of Copernicus (1542 CE). The Copernican model has some flaws that are absent in Neelakantha's model, which is very similar to Tycho Brahes one (1580 CE). Candrasekhara Simha Saamanta (1835-1904) from Orissa made extensive observations of the Moon and the planets using simple instruments designed by himself. Based on these, he made many innovations within the siddhaantic tradition. These are described in his monumental treatise named Siddhaantadarpana. His planetary model is similar to that of Neelakantha and Tycho Brahe. (This is the fifth article in the series on Indias contributions to science and technology) M S Sriram Theoretical Physicist & President, Prof. K.V. Sarma Research Foundation (sriram.physics@gmail.com) KITCHENER Investigators are working around the clock to identify and find out more about the man who died in a fiery car explosion in front of the courthouse in downtown Kitchener on Friday. The major crime unit has taken over the investigation, said Cherri Greeno, spokesperson for the Waterloo Regional Police Service. The investigation is very active. Officers are working around the clock to determine the identification and possible motive. Police are waiting for results from the coroners post-mortem to possibly confirm the individuals identity. They are not looking for any more suspects. We believe the person in the vehicle is the person responsible for the incident, said Greeno. Waterloo Regional Police say there is no further concern to public safety after searching and clearing two residences connected to the vehicle explosion. The searched homes were on Hearthwood Drive and Grand Flats Trail in Kitchener. The Waterloo Regional Police Services Explosive Disposal Unit, with the help of the Peel Regional Police Explosives Disposal Unit, searched the areas and found them clear on Friday. Houses near the residences in question were also evacuated during the search. Any area that officers had concerns about would have been evacuated. That would include residences as well as the courthouse, said Greeno. Greeno said that any further information, including from witness statements, video surveillance or other sources, will contribute to identifying the man in the vehicle and his motive. A suspected improvised explosive device is determined to be the cause of the explosion. Police say the man in the vehicle was responsible for the explosion, but will not yet call the event a suicide. Right now we are looking at all possible motives, said Greeno. Any information on the investigation will be released to the public via social media channels and media releases, she said. It was a shocking incident, said Greeno. We recognize the public concern and interest. The man died in the vehicle explosion Friday morning, while parked on Duke Street near Frederick Street beside the courthouse. Witnesses said they heard a loud noise like a gunshot, and then saw the vehicle go up in flames. RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region Suspected bomber dies in vehicle explosion outside Kitchener courthouse Firefighters were able to put out the fire, and the Waterloo Regional Police Explosive Disposal Unit was on scene until late afternoon. On Saturday, all that remained of the site of the explosion was a scorch mark on the road. Bits of asphalt looked melted, and stray metal seemed glued onto the road from the heat. The courthouse itself was built to withstand explosions from within. Made of mostly concrete and shatterproof glass, it is designed to collapse on itself and then stabilize. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoutlith offered his condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State, National Assembly, and Fatherland Front on the death of the former leader. He spoke highly of former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieus contributions to Vietnams struggle for national independence, construction, defence and development, to Laos revolutionary cause, and to the two countries special friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive partnership. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA) The Lao leader said the former leaders death is a great loss for the Vietnamese Party, State, and people, while the Party, State, and people of Laos have lost a comrade and a very close friend. On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked Lao leaders and people for their affection for the late leader, which demonstrates the special brotherhood between the two nations. The two PMs took the occasion to exchange views on the socio-economic situation in both countries and to review the implementation of agreements reached and the outcomes of the 42nd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee. They also looked into major joint projects, including the construction of Laos new parliamentary building and friendship hospitals. They discussed ways to further boost bilateral ties in the time to come and future strategies for the next five years and towards 2030. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith expressed his gratitude for Vietnams support for the fight against COVID-19 in Laos. Both leaders agreed to continue closely coordinating in combating the pandemic, particularly along border areas, and to develop plans to resume flights between the two countries and reopen border gates when the coronavirus is brought under control. They agreed to accelerate information and experience exchanges for the successful organisation of their national Party Congresses in 2021 and will step up cooperation in the fields of politics, defence, security, economics, trade, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges./. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 15:59:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Pingju opera actors perform onstage at Shijiazhuang Grand Theater in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 14, 2020. The theatre on Friday launched an art promotion campaign which presents 18 classic plays and operas to the audience at preferential prices. For each show of the campaign, the seat occupancy rate must be controlled under 50 percent as required by local COVID-19 regulations. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua) Santacruz-based uniform manufacturer Mahesh Parmar is faced with a dilemma he has thousands of school uniforms stocked in his godown and shops, but barely any customers so far. In November 2019, Parmar had started planning for the upcoming academic year (2020-21). With thousands of pre-orders lined up, he hoped to begin selling uniforms from April, as most schools reopen either in April or June. However, with the growing cases of Covid-19 in the city and the resultant lockdown, Parmar was unable to sell most of the uniforms this year. I have been in this industry since 1983, but we have never seen such bad days. Our entire business requires investment from our own pockets first, which is later recovered when the uniforms are sold once schools begin. But since schools havent reopened physically yet, almost all of our business has gone down the drain. Our stocks are lying in godowns or shops, unsold, said Parmar, owner of Arsey Uniforms. As schools in Maharashtra remain closed for nearly five months, connected businesses are witnessing challenging times. These businesses include uniform vendors, book distributors, stationery shop owners, and school bus operators. While many schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) boards began their new academic year virtually in April, schools under the state board reopened online in June. The initial few months, however, have gone into figuring the new teaching-learning medium, as a result of which most students are yet to buy school essentials. There are multiple issues which have led to low business. The lockdown and resultant restrictions meant shopkeepers could not sell their products. But even after they reopened, demand had fallen as most parents chose to make do with existing stationery and notebooks. As far as textbooks are concerned, students have access to PDF copies, which they often use for online learning, thus leading to a dip in demand for physical copies, said Narendra Nandu, president of the Bombay Booksellers and Publishers Association. As several parents are already facing financial challenges, buying school essentials is not their top priority. We bought a few textbooks and are using leftover notebooks from the last year. This year, we did not buy new uniforms because the school has not made it mandatory to wear them for online classes, said Sanika Jain, a Borivli based parent. At Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial School in Vile Parle, students are required to attend online classes wearing their uniforms. It is not mandatory for parents to buy a new set. They can use the old ones if they wish to. If they want to buy a new one, we have facilitated it, said Kavita Sanghvi, principal. Uday Nare, teacher at Hansraj Morarji Public School, said students can wear what they like as long as the clothes are not too informal. We have just asked them to wear decent clothes. There is no compulsion to wear a uniform, he said. Early this month, the School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) also urged the state government to provide a relief package, claiming that more than 50,000 school buses and around 1.5 lakh bus staffers were in financial distress. Its a bleak situation, with transport fees not coming in. In the absence of business, staff associated with buses cannot be retained, said Anil Garg, president, SBOA, in a statement. Volunteers collect seaweed mixed with leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier that had run aground at the beach in Bois des Amourettes, Mauritius. (AFP) Tokyo: The Japanese owner of a cargo ship that leaked massive amounts of oil after running aground off Mauritius has pledged to "sincerely" respond to requests for compensation over damage to the marine environment. "We are deeply conscious of our responsibility as a party directly involved in the case," said Kiyoaki Nagashiki, president of Nagashiki Shipping, which owns the stricken bulk carrier. "Regarding compensation, we plan to deal with the issue sincerely based on applicable laws," the head of the Okayama-based company said in a statement released Thursday. "We will continue to do our utmost to collect the leaked oil and to minimise the impact of the environmental pollution," he added. Mauritius declared an unprecedented environmental emergency last week as the MV Wakashio, which ran aground on July 25, began seeping oil into a protected marine park boasting unspoiled coral reefs, mangrove forests and endangered species. The vessel is at risk of breaking apart after leaking more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel into the sea, but Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Wednesday said almost all the remaining fuel on the vessel had been pumped out from the carrier. The "ecological crisis" was beyond the scope of the tiny Indian Ocean nation's capabilities, Jugnauth added, and he appealed for urgent international help. France and Japan are among nations that have answered the call, along with thousands of ordinary Mauritians who volunteered day and night to clean sludge from the picturesque tropical coastline to which their economy is deeply tied. Police have launched an investigation into the spill and have seized the ship's black box, log book and other items as part of their inquiries. Aerial images showed huge stretches of crystal-clear seas around the marooned cargo ship stained an inky black. A 19-year-old Hyde Park man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 65-year-old man who was found with a kitchen knife lodged in his back earlier this month, Boston police said Saturday. Jeff Penn was arrested around 5 p.m. Friday and is charged with assault with intent to murder victim over 60 and assault and battery by with a dangerous weapon. He is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court, police said. On Aug. 7, officers responded to a call for a person shot with a nail gun in the area of 9 Christy Lane in Hyde Park. When officers got to the scene, they found the 65-year-old man bleeding from a stab wound. The man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. The victim was later determined to have been stabbed with an apparent kitchen knife which remained lodged in his back, taking on the appearance of a nail, police said in a statement. Detectives identified Penn as the suspect and obtained search warrants for two vehicles, Penns residence and for Penn himself, police said. Officers surveilled the car the suspect was believed to be driving at the time of the incident. The officers conducted a traffic stop, and Penn was taken to the police station, the statement said. LOS ANGELESA leading art publication, The Art Newspaper, reported this week that creators of erotic art remain frustrated by the social media platform Instagram, which has banned offensive artwork. Even though Instagram bans graphic content by creative visual artists, the platform appears to permit envelope-pushing sexual material by its highly trafficked influencers and celebrities, the article notes. While artists and photographers are often prevented from displaying works depicting nudity, Kim Kardashian can show her bare breasts without any problems at all, according to the Art Newspaper report. Pictures that are deemed offensive typically fall into three categories: violent, shocking or sexually suggestive, wrote Art Newspaper correspondent Aimee Dawson. Artistic depictions of nudes regularly fall into the latter group, whichconsidering how foundational the practice is in the fieldis a huge problem for art world Grammers. Instagram is a two-headed monster, said Jac Lahav, curator on the online exhibit Instagrams Shadow. One side is an amazing venue for visual creativity and community outreach. The other side is one of celebrity, excess, and a mainstream cis-sex-sells mentality. The online exhibit highlights artwork that has been shadowbanned by Instagram, along with text detailing the platforms policies toward nudity and sexual images. Anti nudity policies have far reaching effects. Instagram bans genitalia and pubic hair for their sexual nature, going against the historical artistic value found in the natural human form, the exhibits text reads. The nudity vs. obscenity conversation gets murkier because Instagram distinguishes between male and female nipples. Male nipples are allowed to be posted, but female nipples are banned. While some artists have taken to self-censoring their work, even those measures can still fall victim to the Instagram censorship algorithms, according to the publication. Self-censorship is not a failsafe solution. The artist @dirk_dzimirsky was blocked despite the fact he covers the nipples in his work, Dawson wrote. He says now he cant even post links to non-nude art if there is nudity somewhere on that website." Censorship and shadowbanning the practice of quietly suppressing certain posts from appearing widely in user feeds have long been all-too-familiar to adult industry Instagrammers, however. Last November, as AVN reported, more than 1,300 adult performers said that their Instagram accounts which can be major sources of income and publicity were simply deleted from the Facebook-owned platform without warning. Photo by Omkar Patyane / Pexels Getty Images En espanol | In February, Social Security officials calculated that a woman who was sent monthly checks for decades was 114 years old. The problem? The lifelong New Yorker died more than 40 years ago and may never have seen a penny of her retirement checks totaling nearly a half-million dollars. In one of the largest cases of its kind, authorities said the Social Security checks payable to her allegedly were cashed by her nephew. He is George William Doumar, 76, a small-business owner in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Doumar also collects the Social Security benefits due him, authorities say. The nephew allegedly didn't stop with Social Security checks. Though long gone, the late aunt was issued a $1,200 stimulus payment from the Treasury Department on May 1 and Doumar cashed it, according to a probable cause affidavit attached to a criminal complaint, issued Aug. 11. Authorities plan to seek restitution for the total amount Doumar allegedly stole: $460,192.30. Here's the math: Deduct the stimulus check, and the Social Security checks payable to the late aunt totaled $458,992. The checks were issued for nearly 42 years, so that's about $912.50 a month, on average. 'Nice to have extra cash Doumar told federal investigators that he did not need the checks, but it was nice to have the extra money coming in every month, the affidavit says, and he used the windfall to pay his mortgage, car loan, medical bills, utility bills and other expenses. Now, Doumar is facing felony charges in federal court in Portland, Oregon. The counts carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. He is to make his first court appearance Aug. 24. Both Doumar and his aunt, who is not named, lived in Brooklyn. She never married or had children, and before she died in New York at age 65 in 1971, she named Doumar the sole beneficiary of her life insurance payout, the affidavit says. Authorities noted that he attended her funeral, it says. Doumar, in a brief telephone interview with AARP on Aug. 13, said: I'm ashamed of myself there's no question about it but I have no comments on it. I really don't feel like talking about it now. I feel bad enough about it without talking about it." He also said he was in the process of hiring an attorney, declining to say how he would plead in the emerging case. Doumar and his counsel could have an uphill climb when they appear before a judge since, according to the affidavit, he admitted to the wrongdoing. The jig's up In July, Doumar got the last Social Security check meant for his late aunt. On July 14, he was interviewed at his home by federal agents and when asked about her, he sighed, slumped his head and stated, that's a long story what happened was, well she's passed and yes, I've been collecting her Social Security, the affidavit says. He stated there were times over the years when he stopped cashing the checks, but realized if he stopped, then he would be caught, so he continued cashing them, it says. What led to this bizarre turn of events? Here's what emerges in the 16-page affidavit and statements from Oregon's U.S. attorney and other government officials. Ranking Member on the Health Committee in Parliament, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, considers the running mate of the National Democratic Congress, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as more intelligent than the Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. Hon Akandoh, was categorical that the learned professor is more capable to handle the affairs of this country than what the government of the New Patriotic Party is currently doing. "You see, handling a university is one of the most challenging things to do, so if you are able to steer the affairs of a higher academic facility where I schooled like the University of Cape Coast, then you can run this country... "She is a powerful woman, and if you are able to handle a very controversial university like our universities in the country, then you can handle this country properly. "I was therefore very much surprised when I heard my leader of parliament say Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang cannot handle this country as president in the absence of the president. Having dealt with this woman as a minister and having worked with Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, I can tell you on authority that this woman is more intelligent than my leader, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu," he told Kwame Nkrumah On Okay FM's Ade Akye Abia program. The NDC Member of Parliament for Juaboso, also sounded very confident that the opposition party will win the 2020 general elections so Ghanaians can experience the able leadership of the learned Professor. "...thus I know Ghanaians will give NDC the chance again to rescue this country from the shackles of bad leadership and lead the country to the promised land," he added. Watch Video Below Majority leader and Minister for parliamentary affairs Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has watered down any possible impact the nomination of the former VC for the University of Cape Coast Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang will make in the December 7 Elections.According to the Suame MP, there are other more qualified women in the NDC who have enough political experience to take up the role of running mate to former President Mahama.Speaking to the media, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu wondered whether the former Education Minister can hold the mantle as president should the position become vacant through death after winning the election with Mahama.When I first heard, I thought he was going to settle on Dr. Duffuor or Nii Moi because they are economists and finance experts of considerable standing so either of them could have done it. If he wanted a woman, I thought that we have some women of some demonstrable competence who have risen through this house to establish themselves. One such person could be Hanna Tetteh who has been a member of this House, Foreign Affairs Minister, and some other areas so she has learned the rules. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Westerly, RI (02891) Today Lots of sunshine. High 46F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. By Associated Press KABUL: A female member of Afghanistan's peace negotiating team was lightly wounded in an assassination attempt, officials said Saturday. Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said Fawzia Koofi, who is also a former parliamentarian, was attacked Friday afternoon near the capital Kabul while returning from a visit to the northern province of Parwan. Koofi is part of a 21-member team charged with representing the Afghan government in upcoming peace talks with the Taliban, following a US deal with the militants that was struck in February. The head of the Afghan peace delegation, Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, tweeted that Koofi had survived the attack and was "in good health." Fawzia Koofi and her sister Maryam Koofi stopped at a market in the Qarabagh district when gunmen attacked them, Arian said. Both Taliban and an Islamic State group affiliate continue to carry out attacks against Afghan government figures, but Zabihullah Maujhid, a Taliban spokesman, denied the group was involved. Koofi is also a women's rights activist who has been a vocal Taliban critic. A message on her Facebook page said she suffered a wound to her right arm. "Thankfully not a life-threatening injury," it said. Arian said police were launching an investigation. No further details of the assault were available, he said. The US peace deal aims to recruit the Taliban to fight Islamic State militants in Afghanistan, a mutual enemy. The Taliban and IS are staunch rivals. The peace deal also paved the way for U.S. and NATO forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan and for the Taliban and Afghan government to begin direct talks. The Afghan government said on Friday that it had released the first 80 of a final 400 Taliban prisoners ahead of direct negotiations between the two sides. Prisoner releases on both sides are part of the agreement signed in February between the U.S. and the Taliban. It calls for the release of 5,000 Taliban held by the government and 1,000 government and military personnel held by the insurgent group as a goodwill gesture ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations. Talks are expected to be held in Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office. Several Afghan leaders told The Associated Press talks could begin by Aug. 20. She relocated to Bologna, Italy, with her family in January last year. And on Saturday, Australian radio personality Kate Langbroek cut a glamorous figure for a night out in Florence with friends. A black and white photo shared to Instagram saw the 55-year-old posing in a dainty frock, at the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. La Vita e Bella! Radio star Kate Langbroek (pictured), cut a glamorous figure for a night out in Florence, in a photo shared to Instagram on Saturday, after celebrating her 55th birthday in the Italian countryside Kate's eye-catching dress featured sheer detail and tulle, which she teamed with heeled boots. She styled her brunette locks out, and gazed at the sky, taking in her surroundings. Referring to her dress, Kate wrote in the post's caption: 'What, this old thing?' alongside the hashtag 'Florence'. Birthday celebrations: Earlier this month, the radio star celebrated her 55th birthday in the Italian countryside. Pictured with husband Peter Lewis and their four children, Lewis, 17, Sunday, 14, Artie, 12, and Jan, nine Earlier this month, Kate celebrated her birthday with her husband Peter Lewis and their four children, Lewis, 17, Sunday, 14, Artie, 12, and Jan, nine. She shared a photo to Instagram at the time of the family nestling in close to one another, in a sunflower field in the Italian countryside, ahead of a special dinner. 'The Italians call sunflowers "girasole" .. the "tour of the sun"... Such a beautiful name for a beautiful, strange and bountiful flower,' Kate wrote in the post's caption. 'Anyway, here we are before our combined birthday dinner (me and son Lewis) - celebrating feeedom (however and wherever it may be found) and our own tour of the sun.' A new life abroad! Kate relocated to Bologna, Italy, with her family in January 2019. It was initially supposed to be for just 12 months, or a 'gap year' Kate and her family relocated from Melbourne to Bologna, Italy, in January 2019 for what was supposed to be a 'gap year'. She briefly returned to Melbourne in June with son Lewis. After completing their 14-day hotel quarantine, Kate revealed they had returned to visit her sick father, Jan. Elvis 43rd Death Anniversary View(s): The 43rd Death Anniversary of the late King Elvis Presley is commemorate today, 16th August by his fans world over. Its not fun when they say, Elvis Is The King Forever. Not only he was crowned Artiste of the Century, but later RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) proclaimed Elvis as the Greatest Recording Artiste of All-Time, and presented with 120 Gold and Platinum Certifications to his estate, Graceland. It is the largest collection ever awarded to a single artiste or group. In the meantime, BMG International also presented an extensive array of Global Certifications that confirmed Elvis having sold more records than any other artistes or group. On august 15th 1977, after having breakfast Elvis went to play with his little daughter Lisa Marie, in the lawn. Later in the afternoon, he was playing racquetball with his cousin Billy Smith and his wife Jo. After dinner, he went to bed, but unable to sleep, around 4 am on the 16th, he was sitting at the piano playing some Gospel songs. Little later he told his girlfriend Ginger Alden he was going to the bathroom to read the bathroom had a reading room, two TVs among other gadgets. It was Ginger who found Elvis dead on the floor in the bathroom, with a book fallen from his hand. Right from the start, confusion surrounded the cause of his death. The Selby Country Medical Examiner announced it was due to heart attack caused by talking excessive prescribed drugs. Traces of over 12 medications were found in his system, with Cadeine at ten times the recommended level. Elvis flower-covered casket was carried into the mausoleum at Forest Hill Cemetery for burial. Local florists were flooded with over 500 orders for flowers, which had covered the lawn in front of Graceland. The three trucks did more than 100 rounds, and took over five hours to move all the flowers to the cemetery, but Vernon (Elvis father) requested that each fan who came to visit the tomb should be given one flower, and within a few hours they were all gone. A commemoration ceremony is organized by the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club of Sri Lanka. A half hour radio programme is set to air today to mark the late Kings demise. For more details about Elvis, do get in touch with Jayaratne Prera, the President of the Elvis Presley Fan Club on 2795997. TDT | Manama This years Ashura commemoration rituals will be a virtual ceremony, amid the deadly pandemic, without the usual parades and passion plays re-enacting the martyrdom, it has emerged. The day of Ashura, which falls on the 10th of Muharram, is a solemn day of mourning the martyrdom of Hussein in 680 AD at Karbala in modern-day Iraq. The day is usually marked with mourning rituals, and passion plays re-enacting the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. However, the deadly pandemic has derailed all those plans this year with the Kingdom facing the risk of a second wave of the outbreak as global nations continue to ease restrictions. Top Supreme Council of Health and Jaffari Endowments officials thus concluded that continued commitment to preventive measures and restriction on gatherings are crucial in fighting the virus effectively. The SCH chief stressed that the regional and global health conditions are still at stake, citing the World Health Organisations warning of the second wave of COVID-19. The decisions came during a meeting held yesterday to discuss the precautionary measures to be implemented during the Ashura Commemoration season. Board of Directors of the Jaffari Endowments Council, led by Yussef bin Saleh Al-Saleh, and President of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) and Chairman of the National Medical Taskforce to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, took part in the meeting. The meeting viewed that Bahrain is at the risk of a second wave of COVID-19, which could be avoided only through awareness and continued commitment to preventive measures as suggested by the National Medical Taskforce. On this note, the SCH chief stressed that the Ashura commemoration should be restricted to remote broadcasting and that only the mourning staff should be present at the Maatam (Community Centre). Mourning staff, SCH Chief said, should adhere strictly to all coronavirus preventive measures including wearing masks and practising social distancing norms. Community centres are also required to record the names of the participating staff and ensure their safety by conducting pre-emptive checkups in coordination with the Ministry of Health. 20 minute broadcast The National Medical Taskforce officials said that live broadcast sessions should not exceed 20 minutes to protect the safety of those present at the community centres. The meeting also called on placing Ashura images and manifestations only at the permissible space and within the vicinity of the community centres. The Jaffari Endowments Council stressed the need for banning gatherings outside community centres and on public roads, and the closure of women community centres and home Majlises while suggesting to commemorate Ashura at home with family members or through social media platforms. Among other guidelines, the organisers of the community centres are urged to operate loudspeakers only during the live transmission of Ashura rituals, which should not exceed 20 minutes. Based on studies showing gatherings as one of the causes of the COVID-19 outbreak, the meeting also suggested home delivery of food as an alternative to community banquets. The National Medical Taskforce said its betting on the awareness and commitment of the Bahraini people in preventing the spread of the virus in the Kingdom. Yussef bin Saleh Al-Saleh pointed out that the current circumstances require more cohesion and solidarity, praying to Allah the Almighty to lift the pandemic and to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain from all evil. Aegon Life Insurance, pioneer of digital insurance in India, today announced the launch of its #TensionSeAzaadi Independence Day special campaign. Created by Brandmovers, the campaign expresses varied emotions of freedom embraced by the people in modern-day in the current uncertain times. The campaign reflects the brands essence to provide a tension-free future with effective insurance solutions. Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Mr. Harish Kurudi, Vice President and Head Products & Marketing, Aegon Life Insurance shares, Independence in current times has a whole different meaning than what it was years ago, and it keeps evolving with changing times. While there are many ways to achieve freedom, the current unforeseen COVID19 pandemic has urged people to sit back and think about security for themselves and their loved ones. Protection through life insurance is one way of securing family finances and ensuring tension-free life, thus obtaining #TensionSeAzaadi. He further added, Aegon Life has always designed product solutions as per the customer needs and as the situation demands. Our industry-first Life Insurance with COVID-19 Hospital Cover policy on Flipkart app provides a life cover of up to Rs. 50 lakhs and hospitalization cover of Rs.5 lakhs on a positive diagnosis of Covid-19. The policy is designed to provide maximum benefits to the insured. The film showcases a juxtaposition of the meaning of Azaadi during the time of COVID-19. It is a light take on some of the less serious but essential things that constitute a safe and financially secure future. The film pits various wants and needs against each other and ends with a note that these wants, and needs may never cease, but the idea of a better, safer future is a genuine need. Sharing more light on the campaign, Mr. Suvajyoti Ghosh, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Brandmovers said "Aegon Life's Life Insurance with COVID-19 Hospital Cover helps a lot of us, and we decided to highlight that in a way that doesn't make anyone step out of their safe zone. Of course, there is always a risk of putting out a message conveyed through non-actors, but we believe that the insight will hit the right chords. Especially in times when everyone is looking for safety and the freedom to resume their lives." CareerJunction has released its latest CareerJunction Index (CJI) report, which reveals a significant decline in hiring activity in the IT and telecoms market. The CJI is based on data gathered from the CareerJunction website and monitors the labour market in South Africa by examining supply and demand trends. According to the report, hiring activity decreased significantly for ICT professionals since the onset of the national lockdown in March. Job posts for architecture and engineering professionals have also declined rapidly over the last few months. While recruitment activity slowed in the IT and telecoms market, demand for medical and health professionals has almost doubled since May. Other fields have also started to show recovery, with hiring activity steadily growing in the business and management, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, and medical sectors. Since May 2020, the demand for business, management, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics professionals grew by more than 40%. Strong ecommerce growth The growth in warehousing and logistics was expected with the increased use of ecommerce in South Africa. Nedbank CIBs Ridwaan Loonat explained the lockdown has accelerated the adoption of ecommerce in South Africa. Ecommerce currently accounts for 16% of global retail sales and is expected to grow to 22% by 2023. In South Africa, this number is between 1% and 2%. While South Africa is lagging behind global ecommerce standards, the country is well-positioned to show strong ecommerce growth in future. Loonat said the country has a strong logistics sector, which means it has the capability to support strong ecommerce growth. Demand for professionals in South Africa The charts below show demand for professionals in prominent sectors of the economy. The red charts indicate a big downturn in demand, orange charts show low demand, and green charts show increasing demand. Big downturn in demand Low demand Increasing demand The Senate Intelligence Committee last year called on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, it emerged Friday. The committee sent a bipartisan letter in July 2019 asking federal prosecutors to question Bannon, a former Trump confident, about potentially lying to lawmakers during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. It also voiced concerns that Trump family members such as his son Donald Trump Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner lied about their dealings with the Russians. The Senate Intelligence Committee last year called on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, pictured, fearing he lied to lawmakers during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election The two-page letter - signed by then-chairman Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr and its ranking Democrat Sen. Mark Warner - has not been made public but was seen by the Los Angeles Times. It is not known how the Department of Justice responded but Bannons lawyer William Burck told the Times that he had not heard from them about the claims. News of the letter, sent to Deborah Curtis, a top prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C., comes as the Intel committee is set to release the final report of its own probe. The letter suggested that testimony provided by Bannon and others appeared to contradict information provided by former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates to former special counsel Robert Mueller during his investigation into Russian election interference. The referral was sent after the Mueller report was released. 'As you are aware, the Committee is conducting an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election,' the letter stated, according to the Times. 'As part of that inquiry, and as a result of witness interviews and document production, we now have reason to believe that the following individuals may have committed a criminal act.' The letter then names Bannon, as well as private security contractor Erik Prince - brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos - and Sam Clovis, who served as co-chair of Trumps campaign. It suggested that Bannon may have lied about his interactions with Prince and about a meeting in the Seychelles before Trump's inauguration with hedge fund manager Rick Gerson, and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of a Russian sovereign fund. The letter also questions testimony supplied by the president's son Donald Trump Jr. Jared was also named in the bipartisan letter from the Senate Intelligence Committee Prince claimed to Mueller's investigation that he met Dmitriev and Gerson by chance in the Seychelles and that he then briefed Bannon on the meeting. Bannon denied that ever happened. Mueller concluded that the Seychelles meeting was organized and had not happened by accident as Prince claimed. It was suspected that the meetings were arranged to set up back-channel communications between the Trump administration and Moscow, however there were no charges ever filed. The letter does not make clear what the committee believes Bannon may have lied about regarding the meetings, the Times reports, but he and Prince have already given conflicting reports of what happened. In relation to Clovis, the committee asked the department to investigate whether he lied regarding his interactions with Peter W. Smith. The two-page letter, sent in July 2019 to the Justice Department was signed by then-chairman Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr (right) and its ranking Democrat Sen. Mark Warner (left) Smith is a Republican donor who led a secret effort to obtain former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons missing emails. The Intel committee letter also references testimony from Trump Jr., Kushner, former communications director Hope Hicks and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, the Los Angeles Times states. It says they particularly wish to know why their testimony contradicts with that of Gates. It expressed concerns about the reasons why Trump Jr. held a meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer who had emailed him to say they had 'dirt' on election rival Hillary Clinton. Gates had said people within the Trump campaign knew about the meeting with the lawyer. The letter suggested testimony provided by Bannon and others contradicted information provided by former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, pictured, to former special counsel Robert Mueller Yet, Trump Jr. initially claimed the meeting was organized to discuss American adoptions of Russian children, He was later forced to admit he agreed to meet the lawyer thinking they had information to incriminate Clinton after his emails were revealed. The first son was allegedly told the information was 'part of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump'. Kushner, Hicks and Manafort also all denied knowledge of the agenda for the meeting but Gates told Mueller they had been told by Trump Jr at a meeting a few days beforehand that 'he had a lead on negative information about the Clinton Foundation'. The Times said that Trump Jr. stays firm by his statements about the meeting. 'We are fully confident in the testimony and information provided by Donald J. Trump, Jr.,' said Alan Futerfas, a lawyer for the presidents son. Burr has since stepped down as the chairperson of the Intelligence Committee following an investigation into insider trading at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Florida senator Marco Rubio has taken his place as acting chairperson. 'The Committee will not discuss referrals,' a spokesman for Rubio told the Times of the letter. 'And those who in order to score cheap political points are speculating on or claim to know the identities of those referred are committing a grotesque injustice.' Two Trump associates have already been charged with lying to Congress, which is a felony - Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, and Roger Stone, his longtime political adviser. Cohen pleaded guilty while Stone was convicted at trial. Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso on Saturday underlined the "progress" made in his country, a former French colony, in 60 years of independence despite most of its five million inhabitants living below the poverty line. During a ceremony to mark the anniversary, Sassou Nguesso, who has been in power for 35 years, spoke at length about the infrastructure built in the central African country since it gained independence from France. "At independence, our country did not have a single kilometre of asphalt pavement... today, we have a total of 3,111 kilometres (1,933 miles) of asphalt roads, with crossings on practically all our major rivers," he said in a speech to the nation. He also pointed to an increase in large hospitals -- from one in 1960 to eight today and a dozen under construction -- and advances in education with more than 2,000 schools built across the country. His enthusiasm was not shared by all, however. "When President Sassou is satisfied with road construction, it's a joke," said Roch Euloge Nzobo, coordinator at the local NGO Human Rights and Development Circle. "In 60 years of independence, Congo does not even have a motorway," he told AFP, adding that "corruption is endemic" throughout the country. Sassou Nguesso, whose re-election in 2016 has been contested and has caused unrest, has already been nominated as the candidate of the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) in the next presidential ballot, due next March. The oil-rich country is currently facing several political and socio-economic challenges. After the fall in oil prices in 2014, the country's economy has been further weakened by the coronavirus pandemic. Congo has registered 3,700 cases, including 51 deaths, since March 14. The Republic of Congo, also called Congo-Brazzaville, is struggling to implement the 48 measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a three-year agreement signed in 2019 to revive its economy. "Today, our budget revenues have fallen by 50 percent and the bulk of retirement pensions has also decreased by 50 percent," noted Ludovic Ngatse, the country's budget minister. Search Keywords: Short link: Rebecca Gibney has returned to the small screen for Halifax: Retribution, a reboot of '90s drama Halifax f.p. which is set to air later this month. And the 55-year-old said her favourite part was slipping back into her character's high end fashion. The actress, who plays forensic psychiatrist Jane Halifax in the upcoming mini series, told The Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday she loved, 'to actually be able to put on a Hugo Boss coat and really nice shoes'. She's back! Rebecca Gibney (pictured) has returned to the small screen for Halifax: Retribution, a reboot of '90s drama Halifax f.p. which is set to air later this month '[It] was like "Oh this is nice, I forgot about this," she added of returning to the show, which originally aired from 1994 to 2002. Rebecca says she watched back older episodes recently and felt a little overwhelmed, but says she relished taking on the role again as a mature woman. 'When we first talked about bringing her back I went and watched some of the old ones and I was like "Oh my God". Dressy: The 55-year-old said her favourite part was slipping back into her character's high end fashion. The actress told The Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday she loved, 'to actually be able to put on a Hugo Boss coat and really nice shoes' Star power: Rebecca plays forensic psychiatrist Jane Halifax in the upcoming mini series, which is a reboot of the show which originally aired from 1994 to 2002. Pictured with co-star Anthony LaPaglia 'I mean they were great but I was only about 30 when I started playing a forensic psychologist. 'Really, I've probably only just qualified now at my age. Well, to be a proper one,' she joked. It comes after it was claimed Rebecca is set to become one of Australia's highest-paid soap stars after she snagged a deal worth millions for her appearance on the Packed To The Rafters reboot. Throwback: Rebecca says she watched back older episodes recently and felt a little overwhelmed, but says she relished taking on the role again as a mature woman. Pictured on Halifax f.p. in the 1990s Experienced: 'I was only about 30 when I started playing a forensic psychologist. Really, I've probably only just qualified now at my age. Well, to be a proper one,' she joked. Pictured with former co-star Hugh Jackman on The actress is said to be pocketing more than $300,000 just for appearing on the show after she signed on for the newly revived series, which is set to air sometime in 2020. According to Woman's Day, the New Zealand-born actress will 'not only return as a lead, but has also signed on as an executive producer'. Rebecca became a household name after she played the lovable Julie Rafter on Channel Seven's Packed to the Rafter between 2008 and 2013. Halifax: Retribution airs at 8.45pm pn Tuesday, August 25 on Channel Nine A leading smart system is monitoring about 300 wild Asian elephants in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province. The Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and Inspur Co., Ltd have joined hands to develop a world-leading system for the conservation and ecological protection of Asian elephants. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing, this system enables around-the-clock monitoring of the animals, effectively mitigating human-elephant conflict. An aerial photo taken on Aug. 9, 2020, shows a wild elephant walking through a cornfield in Menghai county in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province. [Photo/Xinhua] An Inspur spokesperson said that it sets an example of how technology can be leveraged to protect endangered species, promote harmony between humans and nature and drive sustainable development. The Asian elephant is one of the endangered species in Asia designated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for its small population size. In 1983, there were only about 193 Asian elephants in China. With the establishment of the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Yunnan province and effective conservation measures, the number of Asian elephants in China has grown to nearly 300 in 2020. About 95% of the Asian elephant population live in the reserve, China News Service reported. Found only in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the southern border of Yunnan province, Asian elephants play a crucial role in protecting wildlife resources in their habitats and maintaining local biological diversity and ecological integrity in tropical forest ecosystems. As the Asian elephant population grows, the work of the reserve also faces new challenges. On the one hand, more and more Asian elephants are roaming beyond protected areas into human communities, consuming foods, and raiding crops and farm facilities, which exacerbates human-elephant conflicts. On the other hand, the behavior patterns, living habits and ecological environment of Asian elephants that often stray into human settlements are also changing. Scientists need more data to learn about the new habits and behaviors of Asian elephants and provide a scientific basis for long-term conservation strategies. An infrared camera shows two wild elephants walking on a road in Menghai county in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province, Aug. 8, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Traditional observation methods relying on manpower are no longer adequate to meet sustainable development demands. It has become a priority to utilize the power of technology to preserve the elephants, minimize their confrontations with humans and study their evolution in real-time without causing disruptions. Guo Xianming, deputy director of the research institute at the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, told China News Service on Aug. 12 that the habitat of Asian elephants in Xishuangbanna is a tropical rainforest with complicated landforms and impassable roads, which is not conducive to observation and tracking. Traditional monitoring and prewarning work mainly relies on human observation of elephant feces and footprints. With the assistance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), they can track the elephant's treading track on foot, predict their paths, and give warning to surrounding residents. "However, the work mode relying solely on human prewarning is not only a hidden safety hazard, but cannot guarantee all-weather real-time monitoring," Guo continued, "It is easy to misjudge, and there will be delays in the delivery of warning information." Currently, 300 Asian elephants are protected by the ecological protection system built by Inspur and Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve. The system collects real-time behavioral data and trajectories of Asian elephants in the rainforest. This technology enables smart identification in milliseconds with an accuracy of over 96%. Even at night, an Asian elephant can be identified by its tail or its back. At present, this recognition accuracy is still improving, and it is at the international leading level. The system can offer a scientific basis for developing the Asian Elephant National Park, transforming elephant habitats, optimizing food sources, improving crop distribution, and other protective measures. Based on the gathered data, it can provide a useful reference for habitat conservation in the future. According to the company, since the system was put into operation in May this year, there have been no incidents of casualties due to human-elephant conflict in the prewarning area covered by the system. This successful use case will be replicated in the future protection of rare and endangered species, such as the Yunnan golden monkey, black-necked crane, muntjac, and other animals. "We strive to inspire a better world through intelligent computing. Humans, animals and nature share the same breath. Technology will unveil a new age of harmonious coexistence," said Peter Peng, CEO of Inspur. Critical Care Anywhere Philips REDI Kit Manage ICU Surge August 13, 2020 New initiative can provide critical care patient monitoring anywhere, anytime to help meet the urgent challenges of ICU capacity Helps mitigate the impact of natural disasters and pandemics like the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today introduced its Rapid Equipment Deployment Kit for ICU ramp-ups, allowing doctors, nurses, technicians and hospital staff to quickly support critical care patient monitoring capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently successfully in use in the first health systems across the US [1], the Rapid Equipment Deployment Kit combines Philips advanced patient monitoring technology with predictive patient centric algorithms enabling care teams to quickly scale up critical care patient monitoring capabilities within a few hours [2]. As health systems in the U.S. continue to experience surges in critical care and emergency care demand related to the COVID-19 crisis, the kit provides hospitals a way to quickly and easily expand their critical care capacity. Innovative approach to help manage capacity surge in the ICU The Philips Rapid Equipment Deployment Kit is a fully configured and ready-to-deploy ICU patient monitoring solution, which includes 20 ICU monitors, 20 measurement servers and one central management monitoring station. The kits are pre-built, pre-configured and pre-packed into sturdy cases that can elevate a hospitals general care area to a critical care level in a matter of hours [3]. Kits are complete with step-by-step instructions allowing the pre-configured system to be deployed by hospital staff, with remote technical and clinical support from Philips. Kits can be transferred from hospital to hospital as needed. Once a crisis/surge passes, the kits are disinfected, packed up and stored to have available in preparation for future emergencies. Story continues The current health crisis has demonstrated a clear need for us to deliver innovative solutions to our customers that provide a complete critical care monitoring solution with all of the equipment they require on demand. This eliminates the need to source and configure individual pieces of high-demand equipment during a crisis, said Peter Ziese, General Manager of Monitoring Analytics at Philips. To help ensure economical and more efficient use of hospital resources, the Rapid Equipment Deployment Kits provide the speed, flexibility and ease of implementation for advanced critical care patient monitoring that many of our customers must have during this most pressing time. Philips critical care patient monitoring solutions In June, Philips announced it had received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for Philips IntelliVue Patient Monitors MX750/MX850 and its IntelliVue Active Displays AD75/AD85, for use in the US during the COVID-19 health emergency [4]. These patient monitoring solutions support infection-control protocols and remotely provide critical patient information when caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The MX750 and MX850 monitors are the latest additions to Philips portfolio of integrated patient monitoring solutions to help support improved clinical and operational workflows. Updated features, include enhancements to monitor and assess clinical and network device performance, and additional functionalities to strengthen cybersecurity. Visit Philips critical care patient monitoring for more information on the Rapid Equipment Deployment Kits in the US market and Philips full suite of critical care patient monitoring solutions. Philips COVID-19 solutions portfolio Philips has a comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions to help support the delivery of high-quality care to COVID-19 patients. Solutions include secure, connected and intelligent approaches to diagnosis, treatment and predictive monitoring in the hospital, plus screening, remote patient monitoring and care at home. With healthcare under more pressure than ever before, Philips telehealth and AI-enabled data analytics can help support workflows, facilitate remote collaboration and optimize resources. Philips COVID-19-related solutions are designed for rapid deployment and scalability. For more information on how Philips is addressing COVID-19 globally, please visit the Philips centralized COVID-19 hub . [1] Philips Rapid Equipment Deployment Kits are available in the US market only. Kits are available in the US market only. [2] Compared to Philips' standard delivery time of 12-16 weeks. Average time for delivery is 7 days as of July 2020. [3] Compared to Philips' standard go-live of 5-7 days upon arrival. Average time for go-live is 5 hours as of July 2020. 4] The status of the Emergency Use Authorization can be found on the FDA website . The IntelliVue Patient Monitors MX750/MX850, IntelliVue 4-Slot Module Rack FMX-4 and IntelliVue Active Displays AD75/AD85 have neither been FDA cleared or approved for the indication to assist in for monitoring and recording of, and for generating alarms for, multiple physiological parameters of adult, pediatric, and neonate patients having or suspected of having Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) The IntelliVue Patient Monitors MX750/MX850, IntelliVue 4-Slot Module Rack FMX-4 and IntelliVue Active Displays AD75/AD85 have been authorized for the emergency use by FDA under an EUA The IntelliVue Patient Monitors MX750/MX850, IntelliVue 4-Slot Module Rack FMX-4 and IntelliVue Active Displays AD75/AD85 have been authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of medical devices under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. For further information, please contact: Kathy OReilly Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +1 978-221-8919 E-Mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Attachments Saskatchewan PNP invites 533 immigration candidates Saskatchewan held its biggest PNP draw since February on August 14. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Another 533 Canadian-immigration hopefuls have received invitations to apply for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) held its latest invitation round on August 14. Candidates were invited from the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand. The number of invitations fell short of being the biggest draw of the year, which was 646 invitations on February 13. However, it is the biggest draw since February 27, which issued 576 invitations, and therefore the biggest draw since the coronavirus lockdown in March. In order to be invited in this draw, candidates from both sub-categories needed to have submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with the SINP. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs The SINP uses the EOI system to select the candidates that have the most potential to thrive in the prairie province. Candidates need to demonstrate their commitment to building a life in Saskatchewan by showcasing their work experience, education, language ability, age, and connections to the province. The SINP uses these five factors to assess candidates and give them a score out of 100 on the International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid. The highest-scoring candidates are then issued an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan. The minimum score required in the August 14 draws was 69 for both sub-categories. Express Entry sub-category In the latest invitation round, Saskatchewan issued 286 invitations to candidates who had profiles in the federal Express Entry pool. The federal Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for three of Canadas main economic-class immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. If candidates in the federal Express Entry pool also filled out an EOI for Saskatchewan, and they scored 69 on the SINPs Points Assessment Grid they may have been invited in the latest draw. Express Entry candidates who apply for and receive a provincial nomination from the province of Saskatchewan are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System score. This award effectively guarantees that they will be invited to apply for permanent residence in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw. Occupations In-Demand sub-category The Occupations In-Demand sub-category is open to immigration candidates who do not have a federal Express Entry profile. There were 247 Occupations In-Demand candidates invited to apply for a provincial nomination, and like the Express Entry sub-category, candidates needed a provincial score of 69 in order to be chosen. To see the complete list of the 46 occupations included in this draw, go to the government webpage. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved By Taiye Olayemi Leading tourism operators on Friday revealed the top 10 destinations suitable for holiday relaxation and couples honeymoon within Nigeria. The travel experts made the revelation during the 9th Naija Seven Wonders webinar session themed: Places to Visit in Nigeria: Issues of Access and Security. It was organised by Ikechi Uko, AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market promoter. Top on the list are: *Obudu Resorts, Cross River; *Whispering Palms, Badagry, Lagos; *Ikogosi Warm Springs, Ekiti; *Ifie Mangrove Park, Warri; *Abraka Turf Club, Warri; *Inagbe Grand Resort, Lagos; *Nike Lake Resort, Enugu and *Ilase Island Resort, Lagos. Chichi Umeasiegbu, Chief Executive Officer, Global Links, said lots of Nigerians were still ignorant of the existence of some fascinating romantic tourism destinations within the country. She said this made many Nigerians embrace international sites, such as Dubai or Cape Verde. She urged Nigerians to visit most of the local sites to boost the growth of Nigerias tourism industry. According to her, the Abraka Turf Club usually hosts a polo tournament every Easter period and aside this, the place is suitable for honeymoon activities such as swimming, horse ride and different forms of fun could be achieved there. Ifie Mangrove Park is another beautiful place for honeymooning, picnicking, wildlife exploration, kids excursion and all; this place accommodates a 400-year-old tree with medicinal properties. Obudu Resort with its natural pools, fresh breeze and serene ambience offers the appropriate environment for couples to unwind, she said. Also, Franklin Ihejirika, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Frank News, suggested visitation to Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, Ikogosi Warm Spring and Inagbe Grand Resort to explore the luxury of honeymoon experience. He said it was high time people began to acquire the right information about Nigeria tourists sites to encourage tours within the country. Nigeria has a lot to offer in terms of tourism and hospitality. Ikogosi Warm Spring is unique for its feature of the confluence of cold and warm water, this is nature at its best. There are well furnished chalets for guests, no security problem, it is well protected, it is a beautiful place for parties, picnics, and all. This is also applicable to the Inagbe Resort which is known for its beautiful natural landscape, he said. Mr Apata Nunayon, Environment and Tourism Supervisor, Badagry Local Government, said the ancient town of Badagry had lots to offer tourists ranging from festivals, slave history, museums, beaches and all. Badagry remains an important destination to be visited, western education took its roots in Badagry with rich slave history, the First Storey Building in Nigeria can be found in Badagry and that was the place Christianity was first preached. There are also lots of festivals in Badagry which tourists can attend, like: Black Heritage Festival, Diaspora Festival, Miss Tourism, Badagry Mega Concert, Coconut Festival. Badagry is very peaceful and secure, he said. Mr John-Likita Best, Vice President, Federation of Tourism Association (FTAN), North Central, wooed tourists to Plateau State, adding that the state has the most unique and spectacular waterfalls in Nigeria. Plateau State tourism potential is still virgin. Investors and tourists are advised to come and explore. The Shere Hills and Zungu Waterfalls are fascinating, the weather in Plateau is an amazing feature to experience, he said Related Flags of the United Nations and the United States of America are seen in New York City. (AFP) United Nations: The United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly rejected a US resolution to extend an Iranian arms embargo on Friday, in a move with huge repercussions for the Iran nuclear deal. Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favour, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord in May 2018. The result increases the likelihood that the US will try to unilaterally force a return of UN sanctions, which experts say threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, signed in July 2015 and officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under the deal, negotiated by then US president Barack Obama, Iran committed to curtailing its nuclear activities for sanctions relief and other benefits. Since Trump pulled out and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran under a campaign of "maximum pressure," Tehran has since taken small but escalating steps away from compliance with the nuclear accord as it presses for sanctions relief. European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East. However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA. The US text, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear agreement. Iran says it has the right to self-defense and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the nuclear deal. Pompeo announced that members had failed to back the proposal around 30 minutes before Indonesia, the current president of the Security Council, announced that the official results included two votes against and 11 abstentions. Russia and China opposed the resolution. "The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail," China's UN mission tweeted. 'Snapback' Ambassador Gunter Sautter of Germany, which abstained, said "more consultations are needed" to find a solution that is acceptable to all council members. During a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders "discussed the urgent need for UN action to extend the arms embargo on Iran." Earlier Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on China, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf. The United States has threatened to try to force a return of UN sanctions if it is not extended by using a controversial technique called "snapback." Pompeo has offered the contested argument that the United States remains a "participant" in the nuclear accord as it was listed in the 2015 resolution -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms. European allies have been skeptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and warn that the attempt may delegitimize the Security Council. Anne Gueguen, France's deputy permanent representative, said her country had abstained and urged efforts to find a consensus. "The period before the expiry of restrictions should be used to consider, in good faith, all diplomatic options," she said. Nevertheless, the US is expected to deliver the snapback letter next week, AFP understands. Analysts suspect that Washington purposefully put forward a hardline draft that it knew Council members would not be able to accept. "The fact is that everybody at the UN believes this (resolution) is just a prelude to a US effort to trigger snapback and sink the Iranian nuclear deal," Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. Few industries have been hit as hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as the independent music sector. While artists, venues, tour promoters, and booking agents have attempted to pivot with alternatives like drive-in concerts or live streams, those are not viable, long-term substitutes for the real deal. And with indie acts unable to tour and local venues shuttered indefinitely, the threats to the industry, both financially and culturally, are immense. Independent venues are where bands find their voices. I call it the vocabulary of an artist, says Frank Riley of High Road Touring, which up until very recently was booking treks for acts like Patti Smith, Wilco, Brittany Howard, Robert Plant, Portugal. The Man, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Lucinda Williams. Artists listen like everybody else does, and they incorporate sounds and meaning and develop it into their own language. They need this pathway in order to find their voices and to be heard. You think about bands like the Rolling Stones they started in clubs. We all know where the Beatles started at the Cavern in Liverpool. Prince in Minneapolis found his footing and developed his whole career at First Avenue that's an independent club. Think about CBGB: Blondie, Talking Heads, the Ramones, Tom Verlaine, Television, the list is endless. All of these people develop. This is where these artists come from. That is why Riley, an industry lifer who spent his youth at Zeitgeist-shaping independent clubs like CBGB and launched his career during the early-80s golden age of indie rock with bands like the Replacements, Television, Husker Du, the Meat Puppets, and Violent Femmes, co-founded NITO, or National Independent Talent Organization. A non-profit coalition of independent talent agencies (whose combined members booked more than 40,000 concerts and grossed $500 million in ticket sales last year), NITOs purpose is promoting the welfare of indie musicians and advocating for the survival of the live music community. This week, NITO held its fourth Town Hall meeting in Los Angeles; the event was hosted by Congressman Peter Welch (the original Democratic sponsor of the House version of the Save Our Stages Act) and Charlie Anderson, a senior adviser for Senator Michael Bennet, author of the RESTART Act. Story continues [1/2] On Wednesday, NITO lent its support to @LiveEventsCo & @CAEventsCoal, who presented ONE VOICE: A Day for Action at Xbox Plaza at @LALive. The event honored the 12 million workers in the live event industry currently affected by the COVID-19 shutdown. : @VillaVisuals pic.twitter.com/djglzHwng8 National Independent Talent Organization (@NITO_Live) August 14, 2020 Speaking with Yahoo Entertainment/SiriusXM Volume, Riley gets candid about exactly whats at stake if independent clubs and agencies go away for good and what music fans can do to help NITO ensure that does not happen. Yahoo Entertainment: First off, please explain what NITO is, and what this non-profit sets out to do. Frank Riley: It includes artists, producers of shows, roadies, tour managers, agencies, managers, the whole independent ecosystem coming together and having one voice. We went out and hired a lobbyist, a company called Greenberg Traurig, to speak to Capitol Hill on our behalf, and that was the beginning and that's been our intention. We've branched out in larger ways we're now 92 independent agencies, hundreds of artists. What underlines or makes common all of our members is that we're shuttered businesses. We're pretty much 100 percent underwater, no income, very vulnerable. We're not subsidized by corporations. We don't have outside income. We work on behalf of artists, and that's how we generate our income. And how artists generally make most of their living is out on the road touring. The coronavirus has obviously spelled disaster for the indie music community as a whole. Yes, as it pretty much eliminates the idea of live performances. There's a couple of exceptions, some drive-in concerts out there, some streaming events and other things going on, but those are minuscule in terms of what we do generally. So, the intent of our lobbying is to provide subsidies for the artists, for the agencies, and for the managers and the other people associated with live shows and live touring so they can survive through this period and come out on the other side, and become the viable businesses that they were before this disaster. Besides the obvious financial concerns here, there is so much to lose culturally and socially if these smaller venues go away. Can you explain whats at risk? The independent community is a place where music begins, generally. It's a sustaining area for lots of artists that aren't superstars. It's the pathway forward for musicians who want to be [professional] musicians. Almost any band or artist has some start in the independent venue, a small club generally in their location, their locality, where they live, and then they branch out. There's a ladder of development for artists that exists throughout America and around the world. You start off small, you gather a small following in your own local area, then you move forward into a more general area. If you start at CBGB, you know, the pathway is up to the Mercury Lounge in New York City, up to the Bowery, then out through the Irving Plaza. You can see the ladder. Most of the venues that are below theater capacities are independent, and there's an endless number of them that are the stepping stones to development of a career. You do not arrive on the Staples stage or the Forum stage fully formed on your second show. It's a process of development. It's a process of learning your craft. It's a process of building an audience, and the independent talent organization is an integral part of that development. Artists are discovered by independent agents, generally; they're developed through that network. And what happens if that network closes down or does not exist, is a diversity of voices with intriguing and innovative ideas that come together to form something new and viable and wonderful does not exist. So what are you hoping Congress will do to help? Well, if there's a bill coming, it's likely to be a compilation of pieces of separate bills, and what that big bill hopefully will include are pieces of provisions that would support the independent venues, the independent agencies, the artists, and all the people that help produce shows. So it would be a small subset of a much larger bill. We fit underneath a category called small businesses. We're unique in that we're completely shuttered. That's the term that they use. The independent music communitys businesses are by and large down to 90, 95, 99, or a hundred percent. It's actually more than 100 percent, because there's expenses involved and they're moving backwards. So we're losing money while not earning money. And the deeper that hole gets, the less likely it is that that organization will survive. That's what's at stake here. So that larger bill in Congress would hopefully have some money allocated to our wellbeing and survival. But Ive got to say one thing here really quickly: We're not looking for a handout. We are the victims, like everybody in America, of a catastrophic event that nobody has control of. But unfortunately, our business was one of the first businesses to shut down because we're about public gatherings, and we'll be one of the last businesses to reopen because audiences need to be safe. Artists need to feel safety. We're all responsible for each other. And if we're responsible for each other, we're not going to do things that would jeopardize the wellbeing of anybody in our audiences. That's not our intent. We're about happiness and joy and community and the best parts about being a human being. We don't want any part of the bad parts. As you mentioned, there are some other ways that the concert industry is trying to stay afloat, like drive-in shows and live streams. Do you think these are practical solutions for the long term, or even the short term? They appear to be Band-Aids on a gaping wound. Weve got think about this in a wider way. Bands generally do not live together. So to do a show, they have to go through some quarantine process or some kind of vetting or safety protocol, in order to come together. And not everybody wants to put themselves in those situations where there is additional exposure, where there is the possibility of getting something that you don't really want to get. And so then what you have is a limited pool thats predetermined to the locality where the show is presented. So if you think about going out and playing a show in Colorado, they'd have to come together, they'd have to get out to Colorado, they'd have to play the show, and then they'd have to return. It would have to be financially viable and that doesn't seem very likely. But what about drive-in shows specifically? It works for a time or two. It's novelty. It gets people out and gives a little bit of the joy of communal gatherings and some live music. But it isn't necessarily the full experience all the way. And what about live streams? They are becoming more sophisticated and creative, sometimes taking place on socially distanced soundstages or in empty traditional venues that are closed to the public at the moment. I think streaming is going to become is a supplemental adjunct to live performances. For the time being as a standalone event, a lot of them are really well-produced, but lot of them don't have very good sound. A lot of them don't have a lot of very good visuals. Hearing and seeing something through a computer we all know this is not ideal. Its a substitute. It's not the full experience. Part of the full experience is the community that shows up and interacts with the situation within a venue. When you limit that kind of community, you're limiting some part of the experience. The possibility has been raised of concert venues reopening with live audiences, but with extremely reduced capacity. What about that? Venues that are filled a quarter- or half-capacity, if these were normal times, those would be considered bomb shows. Those would not be acceptable. So thinking that that is going to represent anything other than opening the bar up and selling some drinks and keeping the lights on in the venue is a mistake. That's all it's going to do. This is sort of not completely authoritative by any means, but I was told a month or two ago that Dayna Frank, the president of NIVA [the National Independent Venue Association], asked her group on a Zoom call, How many of the independent venues would be willing to open up on a reduced capacity? And she got no yeses. Zero. None. Now, there are smaller venues out there that could open up the bar and serve drinks and serve that function to their audience, but in terms of paying bands and generating some income that way, its not going to happen for a time. And also, in order for us to get started, we need a certain amount of time to put things together, to route a tour, to get an artist who lives in Boston out to San Francisco and all the spaces in between. So this isn't an immediate thing. If you're coming from the U.K., you don't show up here tomorrow and start your tour. It's kind of be routed and booked and promoted, and tickets have to be sold. It's a process, and it's an ongoing process, and there's no way it's less than six months. It might be a year, or a year and a half, for some artists to get back on the road in a productive way. All of this is sounding pretty dire. How can music fans help the cause? We need all the support that we can get. On our website, nitolive.org, there's a call to action. There's a button there, you press it, you put in your zip code, and it generates the Congressperson that represents you and the senators from your state it automatically generates a note to them. Numbers matter in Congress, because numbers are votes. So it's personalized and you can tell them your story, which is even better. It generates the letter to these Congress people and in turn it illustrates your support for your local venues, your local community, and what that means to you generally. It's what we really need. That's the place to start. Today on #VolumeWest - @lyndseyparker chats w/ Frank Riley of the #NationalIndependentTalentOrganization (@NITO_Live) about the work this non-profit is doing to help independent musicians and venues across the country. To learn more visit https://t.co/5cere8Id3H! 8pm ET / 5pm PT pic.twitter.com/8KQvCFiYE0 SiriusXM VOLUME (@siriusxmvolume) August 14, 2020 So, bottom line: Do you have hope that the independent touring industry can survive this pandemic and rebuild again? As the president of NITO, I have to have hope. I believe in the cause. I believe in the people that I work with. We all believe that there's hope. But the truth of it is, without some federal intervention, without some federal subsidy, we may see up to 90 percent of our venues closing and being repurposed into eateries or whatever. We'll see the loss of independent agencies that represent artists. We'll see artists moving to other sources of income. There's a disaster looming in front of us. But if our voices are loud enough, if Congress will hear us, if there's some reason in leadership in D.C. in the near future and in the far future, we will get through this. Because no matter what happens, there will be live music. There will be musicians. There will be sources of joy and community. There has to be otherwise, what's the point of being a human being? That's what I believe. So I do have hope. But it's a perilous situation, and I can't overstate the danger that's looming in front of us. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Follow Lyndsey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, Spotify. The above interview is taken from a portion of Frank Rileys appearance on the SiriusXM show Volume West. Full audio of this conversation is available on demand via the SiriusXM app. President Donald Trump on Thursday promoted a false and racist theory that Sen. Kamala Harris, the first woman of color on a major political party general election ticket, and who was born in California, is not eligible to be vice president because her parents were immigrants. At a White House briefing, Trump amplified the baseless theory that's gained traction in some right-wing circles since Harris was announced as Joe Biden's running mate on Tuesday, including being embraced by his own reelection campaign legal adviser. Despite Trump and his allies pushing the claims about Harris, experts said the false theory has absolutely no basis in the U.S. Constitution, and Harris, born in Oakland in 1964, is a U.S. citizen eligible to serve as president or vice president. "I heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements," the president said when asked by a reporter, while also boosting the credentials of the author of a widely panned op-ed highlighting the theory as a "very highly qualified, very talented lawyer." "I have no idea if that's right, I would've -- I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president. That's very serious," the president said, echoing previous racist attacks the president made on former President Barack Obama, falsely questioning his birth certificate and the legitimacy of the first Black U.S. president. PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at the White House, Aug. 13, 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Kate Shaw, a professor at the Cardozo School of Law and an ABC News Supreme Court contributor, said it's an "absolutely baseless argument" and that the concerns don't compare to questions raised in the 2016 campaign about Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. "She was born here and has lived her whole life here; she's a natural born citizen, eligible, full stop," Shaw said. "The questions around the eligibility of Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada, were legitimate ones, though I thought he was eligible. These aren't." Story continues Sheldon Goldman, a distinguished professor of political science emeritus at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, called the argument being made about Harris' eligibility "100% bogus." "The 14th Amendment provides a clear definition of citizenship. Anyone born in the United States is an American citizen regardless of where their parents were born," Goldman told ABC News. The Biden-Harris campaign quickly condemned the false theory, and Trump for giving it oxygen at Thursday's briefing, pointing to his history of spreading a similar false and racist theory about his predecessor. "Donald Trump was the national leader of the grotesque, racist birther movement with respect to President Obama and has sought to fuel racism and tear our nation apart on every single day of his presidency," Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement to ABC News. "So it's unsurprising, but no less abhorrent, that as Trump makes a fool of himself straining to distract the American people from the horrific toll of his failed coronavirus response that his campaign and their allies would resort to wretched, demonstrably false lies in their pathetic desperation." PHOTO: Sen. Kamala Harris speaks after Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden introduced her as his running mate during a campaign event at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Del., Aug. 12, 2020. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Before Trump pushed the false theory questioning Harris' citizenship, it gained traction after a widely panned Newsweek op-ed by conservative law professor John C. Eastman, who argued that Harris might not be a "natural born citizen," despite being born in California, because Harris' parents weren't naturalized citizens at the time at the time she was born. But Bernadette Meyle, Carl and Sheila Spaeth Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, told ABC News that argument has "no basis in constitutional law," saying it's been settled law since the Supreme Court decided the issue in 1898. "The language of the Fourteenth Amendment stating 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' was debated for a period following the Amendment, where some claimed that this phrase meant to incorporate descent and parents' citizenship into the Amendment in terms of considering whether someone should be considered a citizen by birth ... however, Trump in his 2016 campaign tried to make the argument that the Newsweek article is making, then later seemed to drop it. It has been a claim brought up several times by right-wing thinkers over the past decade or so. It has, however, no basis in constitutional law." Trump campaign legal adviser Jenna Ellis shared the op-ed on Twitter on Tuesday morning and later, when asked about pushing the false theory herself, told ABC News: "It's an open question, and one I think [Sen. Kamala D.] Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible." The Trump campaign did not respond to ABC News requests for comment on Ellis' statement. On Friday, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, told "CBS This Morning:" "At the end of the day, it's something that's out there" before saying, "I personally have no reason to believe she's not," referring to Harris' eligibility. Trump now encouraging questions over Harris's citizenship echoes how he rose to political prominence, in part, by making false allegations about Obama's birth certificate as part of the "birther" conspiracy movement. In recent years, however, Trump has attempted to publicly distance himself from the false birther theory he had long-championed. In September 2016, then-Republican presidential nominee Trump acknowledged for the first time -- five years after the former president released his long-form birth certificate -- that Obama was born in the United States. Still, in late 2017 the president continued to question its authenticity behind closed doors, according to The New York Times. Trump floats false, racist birther theory about Kamala Harris originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The United Nations Security Council on Friday rejected a resolution tabled by the United States that would extend the current arms embargo against Iran. The draft resolution failed to get the required nine votes in favor of adoption. China and Russia opposed and eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The U.S. and the Dominican Republic were the only votes in favor. China's Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said in a statement after the vote that the result "once again shows that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail." The U.S. has become increasingly isolated over Iran at the Security Council since President Donald Trump pulled it out of the Iranian nuclear deal in May 2018. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement ahead of the council announcing the results of the vote. France, Germany and the United Kingdom who, along with China and Russia, signed the deal with Iran have voiced support for extending the conventional arms embargo but their priority is to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The United States may now trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback, even though the U.S. abandoned the accord in 2018. "In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo," U.S. Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said in a statement, suggesting the move could start as early as next week. Diplomats have said such a move would put the fragile nuclear deal further at risk because Iran would lose a major incentive for limiting its nuclear activities and plunge the Council into one of its greatest ever diplomatic crises. Iran on Saturday hailed the rejection of the bill, saying its foe had "never been so isolated." "In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted hours after the vote. Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi warned the U.S. against trying to trigger a return of sanctions. "Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited," he said in a statement. "And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behavior will bear the full responsibility." Under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the July 2015 nuclear deal, the arms embargo against Iran expires on October 18. 2020. The U.S. draft resolution sought to extend the embargo indefinitely. (With input from Xinhua, AFP) Usually veteran rapper Slim Thug treats his million-plus Instagram followers to scenes from #BossLife. Glossy, tricked-out cars from his collection. His white-brick Pearland mansion. Curvy women. His sons. His branded merch. Blunts smoked in beautiful places. But in the video he posted March 25, the 39-year-old a 66 weight lifter looked strangely small and tired, and his tone was somber. So check this out, he said. No games being played. The other day I got tested for the coronavirus. And yesterday it came back positive. This deep into the pandemic, its hard to remember March, a more innocent time back when few people knew anyone whod been infected, and when nobody yet realized that COVID-19 was disproportionately hitting Black people. Slim was the first Houston celebrity to announce testing positive for COVID. Yall gotta take this serious, he told the world. Its real. Now Playing: "No matter what kind of house you live in, you still get bored," Slim Thug said, during an interview with Lisa Gray. He was the first Houston celebrity to announce he had COVID. Now he warns people to mask up. Video: Lisa Gray So much love Slim first heard of the novel coronavirus in January, when a financial advisor mentioned that it could affect the stock market. After a spring break trip to Mexico, he read about how it was racing through China and Italy. He told people to take the lockdown seriously and stay home. When he picked up food at the drive-thru, he wore a mask and gloves. Then, over a weekend, he began running a fever. He knew his family would tease him they think hes a hypochondriac, always running to doctors but he called his sister anyway: I think Ive got coronavirus. No, you dont, she told him. That Monday, March 23, his doctor gave him a quick-turnaround test. Twenty-four hours later he knew. The fever passed, no big thing. The doctor told him to stop smoking and to quarantine. So he holed up in the mansion, alone hes single and friends and family left food and home remedies, like turmeric tea, outside his door. I had so much love from everybody, he said. On March 26, he posted a video of himself, outside by the pool, soaking up sun, recovering like a boss. But the home-alone routine got old fast. He dropped his first album in ages Thug Life, in part a salute to Tupac Shakur but there were no tours, no club dates. He shopped online. He smoked a lot. He ate. By mid-April he was posting video of cars from his collection. There was the 75 El Dorado, a classic Houston slab, with a green candy paint job and wire rims poking out. And there was his prize, The Mack, a swoopy 59 Cadillac convertible that looks a little like the Batmobile. They all sparkled. A hose lay in the driveway. Look at everything, quarantine-clean! he said. Were ready to go somewhere. But we aint going nowhere. No matter what kind of house you live in, he says now, you still get bored. One small time Hes been out of quarantine for months now, and the COVID infection left no long-term after-effects. His voice is the same. Hes back at the gym now, wearing his mask and gloves; and back to running 3 miles a day. But he still doesnt feel its safe to visit his mom and sons. He misses them. He knows he was lucky. COVID killed a guy he used to see every day at the gym. And it walloped his friend Scarface, who rapped with the Geto Boys: Scarface had pneumonia in both lungs, and his kidneys failed. Now hes on dialysis four days a week. So sometimes Slim speaks out. Hes become an official city spokesman for COVID prevention, part of Mayor Sylvester Turners #MaskUp campaign. (He also appeared alongside the mayor at Houstons George Floyd rally.) A couple of weeks ago, Slim announced that his BossLife line will bring out reasonably priced masks and hand sanitizer. City of Houston video screen grab This is one small time in our lifetime, he says. I just say, take the precautions until we get over this hump. A few days ago, he posted a video of a crowded party, one with more cleavage than face masks. I saw it after Id interviewed Slim, and asked his publicist, LaTorria Lemon, what was up with that photo was it a throwback, taken last year? Or was he reposting someone elses video? Im pretty certain he had his mask on if he was present, she replied, as he ALWAYS wears his mask. Marcy de Luna contributed to this story. lisa.gray@chron.com, twitter.com/LisaGray_HouTX About 5,000 residents on Hon Tre Island off the southern Vietnamese province of Kien Giang lived with no power for 18 hours on Saturday after one transmission tower that is part of a sea-crossing power line was damaged in an alleged collision. The accident occurred at transmission tower No. 25 at about 0:00 am Saturday, according to the Peoples Committee of Kien Giangs Kien Hai District, which administers Hon Tre Island. The entire concrete foundation of the tower has been tilted, with the suspected cause being a collision with a large maritime vehicle. As an immediate response, the Peoples Committee of Kien Hai District requested the Kien Giang Power Company to urgently shut down the entire power line, which transmits electricity from the mainland to Hon Tre Island. As a result, about 5,000 residents of more than 1,000 households on the island have been affected by the power cut. According to a leader of the Kien Giang Power Company, this is considered a serious incident, and finding its cause and a thorough resolution could take some time. As of Saturday afternoon, the power line has been temporarily reconnected to serve the needs of residents on the island, the Kien Giang Power Company's director Hua Thanh Nhan said. Warning lights at night will also be installed around other sea crossing transmission towers, especially those near the shore that are prone to collisions with ships, according to Nhan. "When controlling maritime vehicles near the high-voltage towers, people should be attentive to avoid dangerous collisions. It is very hard and expensive to overcome the consequences of such an incident," Nhan said. Hon Tre was connected to the national power grid for the first time in 2015 when the sea-crossing electricity transmission line from the mainland to the island, with a total length of 13 kilometers, was inaugurated. The line, worth VND69.5 billion (US$3 million), consists of 27 towers, including 25 built with a concrete foundation and steel pillars on the sea. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Officials at the Irish stock exchange are understood to be monitoring developments in Brussels and Belarus as the European Union prepares to impose sanctions on the government of Alexander Lukashenko. Yesterday evening, EU foreign ministers, including Ireland's Simon Coveney, took the first steps towards new sanctions on Belarus. Ministers are understood to have agreed to ask officials to draw up a list of individuals to be blacklisted. Belarus has a relatively closed economy and is one of Ireland's least important trade partners - the country buys little from us and its main exports include tractors and linen. However, there are more than $3bn (2.5bn) of Belarus government-linked bonds listed on Euronext Dublin, which operates the Irish stock exchange. The Belarus bonds include $2bn of sovereign debt, borrowed by President Lukashenko's government through the Irish structure, and $700m of bonds issued by the Development Bank of Belarus, a state-owned entity. Belarus's entire foreign debt is $17bn, according to the country's finance ministry. Depending on what sanctions the EU could introduce, trading in bonds could be restricted or subject to enhanced scrutiny. Euronext declined to comment yesterday, but it is understood compliance staff at the market operator are monitoring the political situation in order to respond to any rule changes that arise. Friday's swift decision to explore sanctions came after at least nine EU member states and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pushed for an EU-wide response to Belarus's disputed election result and the subsequent violent crackdown on protesters. EU sanctions, if they are imposed, can range from sweeping restrictions on trade with a country to targeted measures such as a blacklist of senior people in or close to a country's government. Those people can be banned from entering the EU and have any assets in the Union frozen. Financial structures that support medical services or other vital infrastructure, which can include proceeds of government bonds, are unlikely to be affected by sanctions. A final decision on EU action could still take weeks. Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark called in a letter for "restrictive measures" against those responsible for the official election result. The result, which is widely regarded as rigged, gave 80pc of votes cast to long-time president Alexander Lukashenko. Protests following the result have seen beatings of protesters by security forces, who detained around 6,700 people. "We would need to find a careful balance between pressure against and engagement with Belarus President Lukashenko," said the letter, seen by Reuters. "We believe the EU should assume the role of a mediator as soon as possible." Germany, Austria and Sweden had already called for immediate sanctions. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted: "We need additional sanctions against those who violated democratic values or abused human rights in Belarus. I am confident today's... discussion will demonstrate our strong support for the rights of the people in Belarus to fundamental freedoms and democracy." The EU first imposed sanctions on Belarus in 2004 and tightened them in 2011 over abuses of human rights and democratic standards. But many were lifted after a release of political prisoners in 2016. Mr Lukashenko's government denies electoral fraud. Additional reporting Reuters Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna and Head of the National Security Bureau (BBN) of Poland Pawe Soloch discussed the security situation in the region, in particular the recent events in Belarus. They met in Warsaw on August 14 during Stefanishynas working visit to Poland, the BBN press service reported. During the meeting, the sides discussed the security situation in the context of recent events in Belarus, as well as prospects for further bilateral and multilateral cooperation on Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU and NATO as part of the recently created platform "Lublin Triangle", consisting of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. The BBN head welcomed the granting of an Enhanced Opportunities Partner status to Ukraine, stressing that Poland actively supported this decision. According to him, NATO Allies highly appreciate the significant contribution of Ukraine, in particular within the framework of NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as the involvement into the NATO Response Force (NRF) and Alliance exercises, which indicates Ukraine's active participation in Euro-Atlantic security. As reported, Stefanishyna participates in events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw the victory of the Polish army together with the Ukrainian Peoples Republic (UPR) army over the Bolsheviks. ish External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday thanked the foreign ministers of Russia, Bhutan, the Maldives, Lithuania and Latvia for their wishes on India's 74th Independence Day. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, in a tweet, said since independence, India has strived to be, and now become, an enduring example of democracy and development, for the region and the world. Responding to his tweet, Jaishankar said their bilateral relationship is a shining example of 'Neighbourhood First'. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia also greeted Jaishankar on India's Independence Day. He thanked Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for his wishes and said India greatly values the exceptionally close and time-tested relationship. Bhutan Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji tweeted, "I take this privilege to wish every Indians, a very #HappyIndependenceDay. I pray for your great country to grow from strength to strength." Replying to Dorji, Jaishankar said, "Your warm sentiments reflect our unique relationship." His counterparts in Latvia and Lithuania, Edgars Rinkevics and Linas Linkevicius respectively, also greeted him. Jaishankar expressed his thanks to the two leaders.Also Read: Donald Trump's net worth sees steepest fall since he took office; this is how much he lost Also Read: Coronavirus update: Russia starts production of COVID-19 vaccine WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that a complaint has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased the common stock of Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak or the Company) (NYSE: KODK) between July 27, 2020 and August 7, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period), alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the Complaint). If you purchased shares of Kodak during the Class Period, or purchased shares prior to the Class Period and still hold Kodak, and wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact Seth D. Rigrodsky or Timothy J. MacFall at Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1220, Wilmington, DE 19801, by telephone at (888) 969-4242, by e-mail at info@rl-legal.com, or at http://rigrodskylong.com/cases-eastman-kodak-company. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements, and omitted materially adverse facts, about the Companys business, operations and prospects. As a result of defendants alleged false and misleading statements, the Companys stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. According to the Complaint, on July 27, 2020, Kodak issued a statement to media outlets based in Rochester, New York, where it is headquartered, on the imminent public announcement of a new manufacturing initiative involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the response to COVID-19. Following media publication of Kodaks initial statement about the deal, the Company claimed this information was released inadvertently. On the same day, to further a scheme to profit from the use of material non-public information about the deal before its official disclosure, Kodak granted its CEO and Executive Chairman, Defendant Jim Continenza, 1.75 million stock options at a conversion price of between $3.03 and $12 per share. Additionally, the Company awarded 45,000 stock options each to its CFO, Defendant David Bullwinkle, Vice President Randy Vandagriff, and General Counsel Roger Byrd. On the day these options were awarded, Kodaks stock price closed at $2.62 per share, well below the lowest conversion price, meaning these options were out of the money when they were awarded. That would immediately change to an astronomical degree the very next day. Story continues On July 28, 2020, the price of Kodaks shares jumped 200%, from $2.62 per share on July 27, 2020 to $7.94 per share, following news that the Company had won a $765 million government loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to produce pharmaceutical materials, including ingredients for COVID-19 drugs. Shares continued to surge by over 300% the next day to close at $33.20 per share on July 29, 2020. This massive stock price increase allowed Defendant Continenza and other Kodak insiders to enrich themselves spectacularly from the compensation scheme, as their stock options were now very much in the money. Continenza alone saw the value of his options go from zero to $50 million in just 48 hours. On August 5, 2020, several Congressional committees sent a joint letter to Defendant Continenza seeking documents about the loan, insider trading, and stock options for their review of DFCs decision to award this loan to Kodak despite your companys lack of pharmaceutical experience and the windfall gained by you and other company executives as a result of this loan which raised questions that must be thoroughly examined. The committees also sent a document request to the DFCs Chief Executive Officer on the same day, inquiring about the Kodak loan, which the letter noted was an organization that was on the brink of failure in 2012 and was unsuccessful in its previous foray into pharmaceutical manufacturing. Finally, in response to increasing public awareness and Congressional and regulatory scrutiny of Kodaks fraudulent scheme, the DFC paused the deal. On August 7, 2020, after the market closed, the DFC announced, On July 28, we signed a Letter of Interest with Eastman Kodak. Recent allegations of wrongdoing raise serious concerns. We will not proceed any further unless these allegations are cleared. On this news, shares of Kodak fell almost 28%, closing at $10.73 per share on August 10, 2020, on heavy trading volume. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 13, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Any member of the proposed class may move the court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Delaware and New York, has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of investors and achieved substantial corporate governance reforms in numerous cases nationwide, including federal securities fraud actions, shareholder class actions, and shareholder derivative actions. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. CONTACT: Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Seth D. Rigrodsky Timothy J. MacFall (888) 969-4242 (516) 683-3516 Fax: (302) 654-7530 info@rl-legal.com http://www.rigrodskylong.com The sense aboard the bus that people are not quite ready for tourism was accentuated as the vehicle traveled along its condensed route. The Washington Monument stood surrounded by only a handful of admirers; there were no visitors at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, unless you count a cyclist whizzing past it; and the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial, which normally would be flush with onlookers, was sparse. At Union Station, which used to be the buss most popular stop, there was a long line of taxis sitting empty, waiting for travelers to emerge. By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and China have delayed a review of their Phase 1 trade deal initially slated for Saturday, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters, citing scheduling conflicts and the need to allow time for more Chinese purchases of U.S. exports. No new date for the initial six-month compliance review between U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He has been agreed, the sources said. The officials were expected to hold a videoconference on Saturday, the six-month anniversary of the trade deal's Feb. 15 entry into force as the coronavirus pandemic began spreading globally. One source familiar with the talks said the delay was related to a conference of senior Communist Party leaders at the seaside town of Beidaihe on China's northeast coast. The postponement did not reflect any substantive problem with the trade deal, the source said, adding: "The new date has not been finalized yet." U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his view that the trade deal was "doing very well," but did not comment on the delayed meeting. The White House referred queries on the talks to Lighthizer's office, which did not respond to a Reuters query about plans for the review. Another source familiar with the plans said that U.S. officials wanted more time to allow China to increase purchases of U.S. goods agreed in the deal, to improve the political optics of the review. China's imports of U.S. farm and manufactured goods, energy and services are well behind the pace needed to meet a first-year target increase of $77 billion over 2017 purchases. But as China's economy has recovered from a coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, purchases have increased. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the sale of 126,000 tonnes of soybeans to China, marking the eighth consecutive weekday with large sales to Chinese buyers. Story continues U.S. oil traders, shipbrokers and Chinese importers also told Reuters that Chinese state-owned oil firms have tentatively booked tankers to carry at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude for August and September, indicating a ramp-up in energy purchases. Trump administration officials have signaled that they are satisfied with the pace of purchases in recent weeks and have no plans to abandon the trade deal, which also includes some increased access for U.S. financial services firms in China, strengthened intellectual property protections and removal of some agricultural trade barriers.. Delaying the meeting, even briefly, could allow China to complete more purchases, which would help Lighthizer persuade Trump to stick to the deal. Signs of Chinese compliance could also help blunt criticism from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who last week said the agreement that Trump has called a historic win is "failing." "I think Trump is a little afraid that this triumph of his will be hung around his neck, but more purchases and a bit of a delay would clearly help," said Mary Lovely, a senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "But he does own it, so they're going to have to put the best face on it," she said of the Phase 1 deal. The trade agreement has emerged as a lone source of stability amid significant strain in the U.S.-China relationship over the coronavirus pandemic, human rights crackdowns and U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies and phone apps. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and David Lawder; Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Dan Grebler and Daniel Wallis) Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Classes begin Monday, and a cyberattack against the University of New Mexico School of Law is still causing havoc with some professors lesson plans, according to the dean. Some professors are fine, because their important documents were cached in their computer or saved elsewhere, said School of Law Dean Sergio Pareja. But others cant see their course notes, prior tests, articles or drafts of research papers, he said. This data, he said, it is important. The law school was victim of a ransomware cyberattack last month, which school officials said has blocked access to law school-specific email accounts and a file-sharing system. Ransomware is a software that disrupts computer systems and stops those affected by it from accessing computer files, systems and networks, according to the FBIs website. The agency said the attacks are typically followed by a demand that the victim pay a ransom in order to regain access to their computer system. Cinnamon Blair, a spokeswoman for the university, said UNM wasnt going to say if it had been given a specific ransom demand or talk specifically about its response to the attack. We are currently working through a number of data recovery efforts in response to the ransomware, and need to defer providing additional details that could negatively impact these efforts, she said in an email. We will provide additional information when we have completed our remediation and recovery efforts. A cyberattack against a major institution isnt rare. There were 15 such attacks in New Mexico last year, the FBI previously told the Journal. Ransomware has disrupted school districts in Gadsden, Taos and Las Cruces, as well New Mexico Highlands University, San Miguel County government and the city of Farmington. In the city of Farmingtons case, hackers unsuccessfully tried to get the city to pay about $35,000 in bitcoin, according to the police, to restore access to its computer systems. The city had staff work around the clock to restore services within 90 days, at an estimated cost of $200,000, according to a police spokeswoman. The University of California-San Francisco fell victim to a cyberattack earlier this summer. The school said in a statement that it was attacked in early June and the attackers launched malware that encrypted certain records within the School of Medicine. The data that was encrypted is important to some of the academic work we pursue as a university serving the public good, the school said in a statement. We therefore made the difficult decision to pay some portion of the ransom, approximately $1.14 million, to the individuals behind the malware attack in exchange for a tool to unlock the encrypted data and the return of the data they obtained. The FBI, in a recent alert about ransomware cyberattacks, said paying the money emboldens the criminals and doesnt guarantee the victim will get their computer systems back. Frank Fisher, an FBI spokesman, said he couldnt confirm or deny a federal investigation into the cyber attack against UNM. Ollie Henry, wife and former co-host to the late Stuart Henry on Radio Luxembourg has died in Wales. Ollies become a radio host after her husband Stuart was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As the disease progressed, Stuart found lengthy speech increasingly difficult, so Ollie helped by reading his news bulletins. As such Ollie would be in the studio during Stuarts Radio Luxembourg shows, and would sometimes add commentary. These interactions led to to led to them becoming a double act which became known as the Stu & Ollie Show. You may not have heard of Ollie Henry unless you used to listen to her read the news when our dearly beloved friend and... Posted by Tony Prince on Thursday, 13 August 2020 Former Luxembourg DJ and Programme Controller Tony Prince wrote about Ollies broadcasting in his book The Royal Ruler & the Railway DJ: In her own right Ollie would not have made a Radio Luxembourg DJ. Her accent was too plum, her demeanour too sophisticated for rock n roll radio. But with her comments and her style steered by Stuart, Ollie somehow worked out quite well on the former Station of the Stars. Announcing the sad news on Facebook, Tony Prince said: I have the saddest of news to impart. Yesterday the wife of that beautiful man in the centre of this photo passed away. Ollie Henry died in Wales and I send her partner Tom, who treated Stuart at the end of his days, my deepest sympathy. Every one of us who knew Ollie knew a beautiful human being, she loved and cared for Stuart through the happy days of Radio 1 and then came to live in Luxembourg where Stuarts MS was diagnosed. A staring peace this day descends, the sun for sorrow will not show his head. God bless you Ollie. (portions of this article have been edited via the On The Radio website) Tourists visit the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan, in 2016. (Carl Court / Getty Images) One of the biggest perks of editing the L.A. Times' letters page is having access to an abundance of historical primary source material written by our readers. I am at once amazed and humbled when I read a letter that begins with "as a Holocaust survivor" or "as a child of the Great Depression" or "as someone who marched for civil rights," just to name a few examples. So too was I riveted by some of the reader responses to our Aug. 8 letters on the 75th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In sharing their responses to those letters, a few readers identified themselves as World War II veterans or young civilians at the time and vividly recalled their reactions to the bombings. Here is what some of them said. Sherman Oaks resident Emil Lawton recalls preparing for an invastion of Japan: Thanks to the L.A. Times for publishing the letters on the atomic bomb. It may be of interest to read about the experience of a veteran of the war in the Pacific. I was a combat information officer aboard a munition ship that survived a Kamikazi attack off Okinawa. I was also privy to classified information about the projected American and Japanese casualties during a planned invasion. In fact, after we returned to San Francisco, I had seen the secret briefings about which beach we would hit with our landing craft. Our ship was being equipped for the invasion when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. The sense of relief was immeasurable. We had not expected to survive. Frank Seiden of Camarillo defends President Truman: I was 16 when the bombs were dropped, and I remember the awe and horrified amazement when the photos and films were shown. We had been fighting a war against two military regimes that had no respect for human life. People today who are two or more generations away from that time cannot judge the decision that President Truman had to make. Some of the letter writers expressed this very well but omitted one important fact in that decision: The military provided Truman with estimates of losses from the bombs and from an invasion of Japan. Story continues From an invasion they expected millions of casualties for both the U.S. and Japan, including many hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of civilian deaths. Their estimate for the bombings was far less than that. Truman chose the lesser of two evils. Larry Naritomi of Monterey Park was one of a few readers to question Truman: The letter writers were at best obfuscating the facts when you consider that the use of the atomic bombs was considered militarily unnecessary by seven out of the eight five-star armed forces officers at the time. Among the dissenters was Truman's military chief of staff. Hindsight or none, Truman decided not to follow the recommendations his military leadership. 15.08.2020 LISTEN A Security Analyst, Adam Bonah says the recent revelation of an increase in fraud cases by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is a minute of a larger problem. The BoG in its 2019 Banking Industry Fraud Report indicated that 2,295 cases were reported which is by 120 cases higher than the previous year. The report, however, revealed that cyber fraud cases reported saw a decline although accounted for the highest value of attempted fraud amounting to GH50.54 million. In an interview with Citi News, Adam Bonah was of the view that these reports from the central bank are just a few of the cases that have been identified. Even with the reports that the Bank of Ghana has published, I can confidently say that this is probably a tip of the iceberg. Because with most of these financial cyber fraud issues being reported, people get scammed and most often, these banks dont report them for fear of probably getting backlash from customers. And so for me, these are issues that we need to take seriously, he noted. He further admonished the general public to be vigilant in order not to fall prey to scammers who are after their hard-earned cash. Among other things, he said, The other thing has to do with using strong passwords. A lot of us tend to use either childrens names, date of birth, family names and all that. That can easily be decoded. In these days, you dont need well-educated people to go into the cyber fraud space and be scamming people. So we have to begin to think out of the box and begin to come up with weird combinations that will be difficult for someone to decode. And when have these combinations in terms of passwords, make sure you are not keeping them in a place where anyone at all can see and tell that this is a password to your ATM card, banking card or bank account, he advised. The report New figures released by the Bank of Ghana show that fraud cases in the banking sector increased to 2,295 from 2,175, representing 5.5 percent in 2019. The marginal increase in the number of fraud cases according to the central bank could partly be attributed to the improved efforts by the Financial Stability Department to identify, monitor and to ensure compliance with reporting of fraud cases in the industry. Giving more details, the document said the various forms of advanced technologies adopted by financial institutions made the banking sector more susceptible to various risks such as phishing, identity theft, card skimming, vishing, email fraud and more sophisticated types of cybercrime. Similar to the year 2018, in 2019, suppression of cash and deposits accounted for the largest portion of the total number of fraud cases reported to the Bank of Ghana, the report said. The report stressed that about 94 percent of the fraud cases reported as suppression of cash and deposits were perpetrated by staff (either contract or permanent) of the financial institutions. The alarming rate of involvement of bank staff in the perpetration of fraud in the banking sector, calls for significant reforms in the engagement, remuneration and disengagement processes of employees and contractual staff of financial institutions, the report noted. In 2019, the industry reported a total fraud value of approximately GH115.52 million. Approximately, 28.96 percent that is GH33.44 million of this amount was reported as losses and 71.04 percent that is GH82.06 million was unsuccessful or recovered. The reported total loss value is made up of GH10.35 million and the remaining balance of GH23 million. citinewsroom In the latest deadly shooting, a 28-year-old man was found unresponsive in the drivers seat of a parked vehicle in the 1100 block of West 110th Place in the Morgan Park neighborhood. He had suffered wounds to the arm and chest, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Saudi-led coalition involved in a war in Yemen announced on Saturday the interception of some bomb-laden drones launched by Houthi militias, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The coalition's spokesperson, Col. Turki Al Maliki said that the drones were launched in Yemen's capital city Sanaa and were destroyed in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The incident was reported two days after the announcement by the coalition of the interception of a drone and two missiles launched by Houthis towards Saudi border city Khamis Mushait. The coalition completed in March its fifth year of war in Yemen in support of the Yemeni elected government against the Houthis. On the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seventh Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, celebrations will remain subdued owing to the coronavirus pandemic On 15 August, 1947, the British Raj came to an end in India, ending 200 years of colonisation. Commemorating the nation's freedom from the British rule, the country is celebrating its 74th Independence Day on 15 August. However, celebrations this year are muted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event at Red Fort, unlike other years, saw a reduced list of dignitaries in attendance, police personnel in protective gear and no participation of school children. This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seventh Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. The ceremony included a guard of honour by the armed forces and Delhi Police to the PM, unfurling of the national flag, firing of the 21-gun salute and the singing of the national anthem, apart from the speech. The event concluded with the release of tri-coloured balloons. History of Independence Day The British East India Company first arrived in India in 1619, setting up trading posts in the port of Surat, Gujarat. It slowly established itself at a position of authority with the victory at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Battle of Buxar in 1764. Following the triumphs, it started expanding its power to other parts of the country through wars and annexations. Rebellions against the British started as early as the 1750s and in 1857 came the Indian rebellion which would later develop into a full-fledged battle for freedom. From the 1920s, Mahatma Gandhi was established firmly as the leader of the Indian Independence movement. The period also saw such leaders like BR Ambedkar championing for the rights of lower castes. When the Quit India movement launched in 1942, Britain which was fighting against Germany, promised to grant India independence after the World War II. By the end of the war, Britain was unable to resist the overwhelming demand for Indias independence. Subsequently, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, proposed the Radcliffe Line and submitted his plan for both the west and east borders on 9 August, 1947. The end of the British colonial rule for India came into effect at the stroke of midnight on 15 August, 1947. Significance of Independence Day The day is a reminder of the sacrifices of the freedom fighters who stood up against the British oppressors to end the colonial rule. The first Prime Minister of Independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted India's tricolour flag at the Red Fort on 15 August, 1947, a practice that continues till date. The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have released a new cybersecurity advisory about a new Linux malware developed and deployed in real-world attacks by Russias military hackers. As per the advisory, the malware dubbed as Drovorub is designed to target Linux systems, and is part of cyber espionage operations being carried out by Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) 85th Main Special Service Center (GTsSS) military unit 26165, whose activity is sometimes identified by the private sector as Fancy Bear, Strontium, or APT 28. What Is Drovorub? Drovorub is a Linux malware developed for use by the GTsSS. Its a Linux malware toolset consisting of an implant coupled with a kernel module rootkit, a file transfer, and port forwarding tool, and a Command and Control (C2) server. When deployed on a victim machine, Drovorub provides the capability for direct communications with actor-controlled command and control infrastructure; file download and upload capabilities; execution of arbitrary commands; port forwarding of network traffic to other hosts on the network; and implements hiding techniques to evade detection. It persists through reboot of an infected machine unless UEFI secure boot is enabled in Full or Thorough mode. The Drovorub malware suite is comprised of four separate executable components: Drovorub-agent, Drovorub-client, Drovorub-server and Drovorub-kernel module, the advisory reveals. Communication between the components is conducted via JSON over WebSockets. The Drovorub-agent, Drovorub-client, and Drovorub-server require configuration files and an RSA public key (for the Drovorub-agent and Drovorub-client) or private key (for the Drovorub-server) for communication. A successful attack using Drovorub allows attackers to execute different malicious processes, such as taking remote control of the victims computer and stealing documents that contain commercial secrets and employee personal data. The malware implements a sophisticated evasion method, it influences advanced rootkit capabilities to remain under the radar. Through their joint alert, the FBI and NSA hope to raise awareness in the U.S. private and public sectors so IT administrators can quickly deploy detection rules and prevention measures. This Cybersecurity Advisory represents an important dimension of our cybersecurity mission, the release of extensive, technical analysis on specific threats, NSA Cybersecurity Director Anne Neuberger said. By deconstructing this capability and providing attribution, analysis, and mitigations, we hope to empower our customers, partners, and allies to take action. Our deep partnership with FBI is reflected in our releasing this comprehensive guidance together. For the FBI, one of our priorities in cyberspace is not only to impose risk and consequences on cyber adversaries but also to empower our private sector, governmental, and international partners through the timely, proactive sharing of information, said FBI Assistant Director Matt Gorham. This joint advisory with our partners at NSA is an outstanding example of just that type of sharing. We remain committed to sharing information that helps businesses and the public protect themselves from malicious cyber actors. Steve Grobman, Chief Technology Officer at cybersecurity company McAfee LLC, told that the technical information released by the NSA and FBI on APT28s Drovorub toolset are highly valuable to cybersecurity defenders. Drovorub is a swiss-army knife of capabilities that allows the attacker to perform many different functions, such as stealing files and remote controlling the victims computer, Grobman explained. In addition to Drovorubs multiple capabilities, it is designed for stealth by utilizing advanced rootkit technologies that make detection difficult. The element of stealth allows the operatives to implant the malware in many different types of targets, enabling an attack at any time, the McAfee exec added. The United States is a target-rich environment for potential cyber-attacks. The objectives of Drovorub were not called out in the report, but they could range from industrial espionage to election interference, Grobman said. To prevent attacks, the government agencies recommend U.S. organizations updating any Linux systems that they have (at home or office) to a version running kernel version 3.7 or later. More information is available on NSAs fact sheet. With only a few weeks to go until school starts in Connecticut, many parents remain conflicted about whether its safe to send their children back and are exploring the option of hiring an educator to teach distance learning curriculum in small learning pods or one on one. As a result, the burgeoning demand a national trend has created a new niche for teachers who dont feel safe returning to the classroom. The alternative learning concept also has led to parents forming learning pods also known as pandemic pods: where they take turns teaching the school curriculum to avoid the cost of a teacher or tutor. Tough decision Denise DOnofrio of Orange, who loved her job teaching English in a Bridgeport high school, has decided not to return, in part to protect her students and to accommodate her two school-aged children at home whose school schedule could shift at any moment because of the fluidity of the pandemic/school situation. But she still loves teaching and so, after making the decision to leave, has decided to go private, offering her services to parents interested in pod-style learning or individual instruction, based on the given districts distance learning curriculum. The demand is high and so is the parent response in these parts, she said. She offers flexibility with hours and settings, her house or theirs, and said she can teach her own children at night and on weekends. Im not concerned about my own health Im more concerned about my kids (at home) and hundreds of students, DOnofrio said. I dont teach from the front of the classroom. Im constantly moving, blending in, and that style doesnt fit with social distancing protocols. I wouldnt be putting my best self out there. I dont want what I do to go to waste, said DOnofrio, who is passionate about teaching in the inner city and in the teen age group. Shes been teaching K-12 in Bridgeport for 15 years. She worries about all those students counting on her, expecting her to return in fall many of whom text her for that extra connection and worries they will feel she abandoned them. Its not just teaching for me. Im disappointed, DOnofrio said. Its not a good position for teachers. She also recognizes the situation for teachers is different in an urban setting, where they sometimes have to break up fights ignoring social distancing and where mask mandates might be difficult to maintain. The teacher-for-hire model isnt cheap at $75 to $100 per hour for individual gigs, with a reduction for pods. The learning pod trend is a stark sign of how the pandemic will continue to drive inequity in the nations education system, the Washington Post reported. DOnofrio, however, said shes flexible for families with lower incomes. Like most shifting into the ever-growing pod/individual learning industry, DOnofrio will use the distance learning plans put out by the school system and she would students them master each skill, then send any undone work as homework. Its a waste of time to hire me to watch them do work, she said. COVID-19 perceptions University of New Haven assistant professor of public health and chairman of the universitys Department of Health Administration and Policy Karl Minges said the infection rate for the virus is low in Connecticut less than one percent for weeks now but the perception by parents with concerns about returning to school might be influenced by two factors: watching national news coverage showing some states in the double-digits for infections and the high mortality rate in the Northeast during the beginning of the pandemic. Their reaction might not be based in Connecticut data, said Minges, who will send his child to kindergarten this year, but said pods are a good alternative. He said parents from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts also may have a strong memory of the pandemics impact when the Northeast was experiencing the highest rates of positive tests, hospitalizations and fatalities per capita. So, I think parents are going to be more cautious in this region, Minges said. For those who are concerned and can afford it, the pod idea makes sense, Minges said, because it will reduce the number of contacts a child has with peers and teachers, and thats effective if everyone is following protocols such as face masks, hand washing, social distancing and regularly cleaning surfaces. He said the level of risk for young children is extremely low and they may get sicker with a cold or flu than with COVID-19. He said they also are less likely to be transmitters than older children and teens. I think the pods could be helpful with the younger age groups, if it makes parents feel comfortable, he said. Minges said he would recommend pooled sampling testing five percent of students and staff before starting school so they can later determine if theres an upward trend. He said it wouldnt be practical to test everyone. This will help us make a community-based decision, he said. Meet the demand In response to the high demand for help with distance learning, the JCC of Greater New Haven will offer a new program in which those who opt for distance learning can do the curriculum at the center, with help, and add additional enrichment activities. JCC Executive Director Scott Cohen said that under the program, students in kindergarten through seventh grade will attend from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will get help with distance learning curriculum provided by schools. In addition, they will have other activities, such as exercise, arts and crafts and STEM projects, all done with safety protocols such as social distancing and, in many cases, outdoors. They will staff the program with as many educators as possible, as well camp counselors, he said. The cost will be $900 per month for five days or $45 per day and will be prorated for those attending fewer days if they were to choose a hybrid learning model. Parents need to work, Cohen said. People are concerned about the virus spread. Theyre concerned theres going to be a resurgence. Cohen said although there is a low infection rate in Connecticut, parents feel better with them outside in small groups. Parents weigh options Around the country and the state, the debate over schools reopening continues. Parents and teachers remain concerned that the virus will see a resurgence because school essentially is a large gathering the No. 1 enemy in preventing spread of the virus. Most area schools have completed reopening plans that include wearing of masks by students and staff, social distancing, eating lunch in the classroom and sticking with a cohort or homeroom classroom throughout the day. Many parents who had no choice but to oversee distance learning when schools were closed suddenly this year in March have expressed pain and failure in overseeing the work, especially those parents also working from home. Some parents have expressed grave concerns about the practicality and feasibility of young children wearing masks all day and, for some, its the make or break issue. Other parents say they cant get their kids back to a normal school routine fast enough for both learning and social development but they are thinking about contingency plans in case the virus sees a resurgence. Some have said they fear that school attendance will lead to kids contracting the virus and bringing it home to vulnerable family members. The outcry extends to teachers who, in July, were joined by education advocates from around the state in a trip to Hartford to request that legislators and officials slam the brakes on an in-person return to school amid the ongoing pandemic. Sarah Gallipoli of Orange has two school-aged children, ages 7 and 9, and said the pod system is a great alternative for parents, but for now she is sending her children back to school. I dont have a choice, said Gallipoli, who along with her husband is an essential worker who cant work from home. If they went to remote learning Id put them in a pod. A pod, or what I call my plan B, appeals to me. Gallipoli said she worries about her kids getting sick, but she doesnt let it control her, and feels better about sending them to school after they went through summer camp and didnt get sick. Shes already warned them that school is going to be different this year. This is not a normal situation, she said. I applaud our community and our teachers. We have to remember to keep being kind. Emily Banach of Woodbridge is sending her first-grader back to school if the schools plan stays the same, but said shes thrilled the JCC is there as backup in case the school goes to a hybrid or all distance learning model. Banach works as a social worker in a different school and her situation could change, too, independent of her sons. She said when schools were closed in March she still met with students remotely and didnt have time to work a lot with her son. I think things are going to be fluid all year, she said. Its really hard for working parents to find the balance. Erin Roesler, who is a human resources director in North Haven and lives in Cromwell, said her district offers a hybrid model in which students would attend school two days a week or a remote program with teacher support that essentially is a beefed-up distance learning plan. She and her husband chose the latter for their first- and fifth-graders, figuring that would provide consistency and continuity if the school model were to change. Roesler, who manages her companys response to the coronavirus, said she has no faith that her first-grader or others in her class will be able to follow the safety protocols consistently and she worries that could lead to staff, teachers, grandparents and others getting sick. Roesler said she and her husband can work from home and so they can help the kids through remote instruction. It was frustrating and there was a learning curve, but both of my kids did pretty well with distance learning, she said, noting they all got into a nice routine. Woodbridge resident Sarah Beth Del Prete, a real estate agent, and her husband, Dan Del Prete, a New Haven firefighter, have seven children, and have decided the five school-aged children will take part in distance learning because there are so many unknowns about the virus and school. Her mother is a retired teacher who lives with them and will pitch in with the distance learning curriculum. Sarah Beth Del Prete said her family is like a pod in itself, and it might be crazy running the five around to different pods, although shes interested in exploring that model if there are any other big families in a similar situation. She said her children got closer during the recent distance learning, kidding by calling it distracted learning, and said the family is worried about the virus because they have a 5-month-old and her mother is in a high-risk age, although healthy. Since theyve already taken so many precautions, including Dan sleeping for three months in a dormitory, they have chosen to continue their quarantine, she said. Although the distance learning curriculum became hard to follow precisely at times, the family had a lot of supplemental learning activities such as electing a kid president at home, including campaigning and the kids are less stressed without the after-school crunch of homework and extracurricular activities. She said they are all getting along better, too. To do all the precautions and send them back didnt make sense to us, Sarah Beth Del Prete said, noting there are so many unknowns about the virus, including its long-term effects and the length of antibody protection, A lot of it is fear-based. We dont have to take that risk, so we continue to self-quarantine. Melissa Johnston of Orange said she and her husband have decided to keep their boys, ages 6 and 9, home for distance learning to be extra cautious, in part because they know little boys arent super-careful with hygiene and distancing rules. She works from home and her husband, who is not working, is super-dedicated to the kids. Although she worries about socialization, the two brothers are close and distance learning worked well. I realize that many in our community dont have choices, Johnston said. The fact that Orange is allowing parents to change their minds and have children back in school the following Monday, helps, she said, so there was no Herculean pressure with the decision. I dont think distance learning is as good Id rather they be there in person, but I want to take that extra level of caution, she said Johnston said the pod concept is interesting, but there would be many details to work out about families being on the same page with distancing outside of the pod. Not home schooling The pod system with distance learning curriculum is not home schooling and not an online school. National education expert Lisa Collum said distance learning overseen by parents or teachers is not home schooling because parents are the facilitator, not the teacher. As a facilitator, parents are making sure assignments are turned in, uploaded, downloaded and more, she said. Collum, an author, educator, school owner and mother of four, bills herself as a motivational leader on a mission to make your quarantine schooling as effective as possible. When planning learning pods where an educator is in charge or parents take turns overseeing the group, Collum gives these tips: Find families that are following the same safety precautions, such as wearing masks and not traveling. Plan for as much outdoors as possible, switching with families and creating a schedule. Keep groups small, three to five kids, so it is manageable and safe, but they get to socialize. Create learning centers such as backyard for arts and crafts or the garage for reading, and establish safety practices such as hand washing and social distancing. Finding teachers As a result of the national demand for pod learning, agencies offering teachers are emerging. At SchoolHouse At-Home Teaching, started in January before the pandemic, teachers are in high demand right now from parents who are creating the pods throughout the country, said spokeswoman Krystina Milteer. The website, Selected for families, opens on the homepage with a happy woman and young child reading on the floor and the bold words: Hire a professional teacher for your learning pod. The website promises: Professional teachers support and manage your childs education needs at home. They claim on the website to have a database of 35,000 teachers who have been vetted, references checked. The year is 1947 but the date isnt August 15. The Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons on July 4, 1947. It was formally passed after receiving the Royal Assent on July 18, 1947, when it became the Indian Independence Act, which was defined as "An Act to make provision for the setting up in India of two independent Dominions, to substitute other provisions for certain provisions of the Government of India Act, 1947". What was the hold-up then? The answer lies with the last Viceroy of India Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was entrusted with the task of drawing up a plan for the transfer of power as well as the partition. As mentioned in Freedom at Midnight, a 1975 book by French author Dominique Lapierre and American writer Larry Collins, Mountbatten had announced the date of transfer and partition at a press conference on June 4, 1947. About 300 journalists all the way from the USSR, China, Europe and the USA to their Indian counterparts were in attendance. It was only the second time that a Viceroy in British India had addressed a press conference and it also happened to be the last. Track live updates of Independence Day celebrations here On Feb. 20, 1947, British Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee had told the House of Commons about his governments intention to transfer power "into responsible Indian hands by a date not later than June 1948". However, the date Aug. 15, 1947, was chosen and announced by Lord Mountbatten. The choice of date is said to be Mountbattens own initiative, often referred to as a spontaneous one. The advanced date did come as a surprise to many but had a deeper significance for the British and Mountbatten himself. This is where the Japan link comes in. Aug. 15, 1947, happened to be the second anniversary of Imperial Japans surrender to the Allies in World War II. Referred to as the Victory over Japan Day, it officially marked the end of the war, months after the fighting had stopped in Europe. Japans surrender was also special for Mountbatten because of his active participation in the war against the Japanese as a British Royal Navy officer in Burma (now Myanmar). That reason aside, the book also has the last Viceroy recollecting, I had to force the pace. I knew I had to force parliament to get the bill through before their summer recess to hold the thing together. We were sitting on the edge of a volcano, on a fused bomb, and we didnt know when the fuse would go off. Also read Mass production of Covid-19 vaccine to begin once scientists give nod: PM Narendra Modi Churchill disagreed with the name Independence Bill Writing to then British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party Winston Churchill had objected to the bill drawn up to grant independence to India being called the Independence Bill. "The essence of the Mountbatten proposals and the only reason why I gave support to them is because they establish the phase of Dominion status," wrote Churchill in a letter to Attlee on July 1, 1947, just three days before the Bill was introduced in the House of Commons. "Dominion status is not the same as Independence, although it may be freely used to establish independence. It is not true that a community is independent when its Ministers have in fact taken the Oath of Allegiance to The King. Calling it a measure of grave constitutional importance, Churchill said that a correct, formal procedure and nomenclature must be observed. The correct title would be, it seems to me, The Indian Dominions Bill," Churchill continued, asking Attlee to consider alternatives. "I should, however, be quite willing to support it if it were called, The India Bill, 1947 or The India Self-Government Bill." India and Pakistan attained freedom from the British colonial rule on August 15. They celebrated their first Independence Day on the same day in 1947. Pakistan, however, celebrates its Independence Day on August 14. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his sixth Independence Day speech, trademark safa, at the Red Fort, fresh from his re-election with a thumping mandate. He touched on a host of issues, right from his government's landmark decision on Jammu and Kashmir, the state of the economy, the water crisis, plastic usage and the digital economy. It is notable that PM Modi, even though spoke about Jammu and Kashmir and the Triple Talaq Bill, did not mention Pakistan in his speech. Meanwhile, his Pakistan counterpart, Imran Khan's speech on August 14 in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was predominantly about the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India, on August 5, 2019, revoked Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and later bifurcated the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Article 370, Triple Talaq and the $5 trillion economy Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his sixth Independence Day speech spoke about his government's landmark decision on Jammu and Kashmir, the state of the economy, the water crisis, plastic usage and the digital economy. "The old system in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh led to corruption, nepotism but there was injustice when it came to rights of women, children, Dalits, tribal communities. The dreams of sanitation workers were incomplete. How can we accept this?" said PM Modi. He said that Article 370 and 35A being revoked is a step towards realizing Sardar Patel's dream. Modi pitched the abrogation of Article 370 as a step towards 'one nation, one Constitution', and that a fresh approach on the matter was necessary as several efforts made by previous governments had failed to yield the desired results. On the Triple Talaq Bill, PM said that Muslim countries removed the archaic triple talaq, but we hesitated to give the same rights to our Muslim women. "When we can ban Sati, make laws to prevent female infanticide, why can we not empower Muslim women by removing triple talaq?" asked Modi. "Those who give protection to terrorism and support it must be exposed. Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka also are affected by terrorism. All countries in the world need to come together to fight this menace," he said, excluding the western international neighbour. "To some, the target of nearly doubling the size of the Indian economy to $5 trillion in five years may seem difficult. But when we have in five years (of BJP rule) added $1 trillion as compared to $2 trillion size achieved in 70 years of independence, then this target is achievable," he said on India's economic developmental goal. He also pointed out that Rs 3.5 lakh crore was allocated for the Jal Jivan Mission. "It is unfortunate that a lot of people lack access to water even after 70 years of Independence," PM said. PM also focused on the population explosion, which still remains to be a big problem India is facing. Society must be enlightened on the ill-effects of population explosion, and the governments of India must work together so we don't leave behind a broken, unhealthy society, he said. Imran Khan's Speech: 'Azad Kashmir' on the table Pakistan, on the other hand, observed India's Independence Day on Aug. 15 as a "Black Day" last year, with flags flown half-mast on government buildings in protest over the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Prime Minister Imran Khan used his address celebrating Independence Day to accuse India of planning military action in the disputed Kashmir region. Khan made his maiden trip as PM to Muzaffarabad on that day and told the regional Parliament that India had planned a more extensive action than that of February 2019, when its fighter jets struck inside Pakistan, following an escalation in tension between the nations. He vowed to become the voice of Kashmir and raise the issue at every global forum, including the United Nations, as he questioned the silence of the international community on the situation in the region. "The world's eye is on Kashmir and on Pakistan...I will be the ambassador who raises Kashmir's voice at every international forum," he said. In his speech, Khan said PM Modi has "committed a strategic blunder, he has played his last card. It will cost a lot to Modi and the BJP because they have internationalised the issue of Kashmir." "Whatever was done during the curfew by India, we will tell the international community that you are responsible. Whichever forum we get, I will be the ambassador and bring up Kashmir at every forum," Khan said. "They have made a more horrendous plan to divert world attention from their move in Kashmir, they plan action in Azad Kashmir," Khan said, referring to the portion held by Pakistan. "The Pakistani army is fully aware that they (India) have made a plan of taking action in Azad Kashmir," he said. "You take action and this is my message: every brick will be countered with a stone," Khan said. "We will respond to whatever you do, we will go till the end." "Our message to international organisations that were formed to prevent wars is that if this war takes place, you will be responsible," Khan said. Khan even compared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the German Nazi Party. "Independence Day is an opportunity for great happiness, but today we are saddened by the plight of our Kashmiri brothers in occupied Jammu and Kashmir who are victims of Indian oppression," Khan said in an earlier statement. RTHK: Iran hails UN vote, says US 'never been so isolated' Iran on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has "never been so isolated". "In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted hours after just two of the Council's 15 members backed a US resolution to extend the embargo. "Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them," he added, in reference to failed efforts by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to rally support for a US resolution. Iranian state television's website said the only other country to back the US resolution was the Dominican Republic, citing unnamed sources. The embargo on conventional arms sales to Iran is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic republic and world powers. "Last night, Iran's active #diplomacy, along with the legal force of (the nuclear deal), defeated the United States again at the Security Council," Mousavi tweeted. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018, escalating tensions between the longtime enemies. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Grand Duchy ranks ahead of other countries on a global scale for the number of coronavirus tests carried out in relation to the population. Luxembourg's testing by far outnumbers its neighbours, but now several data sites have reported the Grand Duchy is a world leader in coronavirus testing. Our World in Data, a site run by the University of Oxford, confirmed Luxembourg ranks top internationally for screening. According to figures announced on August 14 , Luxembourg has carried out more than 727 tests per 1,000 inhabitants, ahead of the United Arab Emirates (582 tests / 1,000 inhabitants), Bahrain (555), Malta (313) and Denmark (310). Worldometers The Worldometers site also places Luxembourg at the top end of the international ranking. Luxembourg sits in second place for number of tests per million inhabitants, behind the Faroe Islands, belonging to Denmark. Finally, in a report published on 10 August, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) made a point of praising Luxembourg's screening strategy. Based on figures for the week of July 20, the Grand Duchy held the highest test rate in Europe, with with 10,659 tests per 100,000 inhabitants. This equates to 15 times the European average, 5.7 times higher than Denmark, the country occupying second place in the ranking. President Alexander Lukashenko spoke several hours after a phone call with Mr Putin and after protesters again demanded that he resign after 26 years in power. Thousands of demonstrators rallied Saturday at the spot in the capital of Minsk where a protester died this week in clashes with police. Some stripped off their shirts to display deep bruises they said came from being beaten by police. Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko https://t.co/w5olrt1VaL President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) August 15, 2020 It was the seventh consecutive day of large protests against the results of the August 9 presidential election in which election officials said Mr Lukashenko won a sixth term in office in a landslide. Opposition supporters believe the figures have been manipulated. Mr Luksahenko did not specify what sort of assistance Russia would be willing to provide. But he said When it comes to the military component, we have an agreement with the Russian Federation in the framework of the countries union agreement. Advertisement These are the moments that fit this agreement, he added. Despite harsh police crackdowns against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, the demonstrations have swelled into the largest and most sustained anti-government movement since Mr Lukashenko took power in 1994. People carry the coffin of Alexander Taraikovsky (Sergei Grits/AP) Earlier, 65-year-old Mr Lukashenko on Saturday rejected suggestions that foreign mediators become involved in trying to resolve the countrys political crisis. He discussed the situation in a call Saturday with Mr Putin, the first publicly known direct contact between the two leaders since the election. A Kremlin statement said Mr Putin and Mr Lukashenko both expressed hope for a quick resolution to the tensions. It is important that these problems are not used by destructive forces aimed at causing injury to the co-operation of the two countries in the framework of the union state, the Kremlin said. Russia and Belarus reached an agreement in 1997 about closer ties between the neighbouring ex-Soviet countries in a union that stopped short of a full merger, although that has collided with recent disputes between the countries and Mr Lukashenkos suspicions that Mr Putins government wants to absorb Belarus. People wave flowers at the farewell hall during the funeral of Alexander Taraikovsky (Seregi Grits/AP) Advertisement Later, in a meeting with defence ministry officials, Mr Lukashenko declared Listen we have a normal country, founded on a constitution. We dont need any foreign government, any sort of mediators. He appeared to be referring to an offer from the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to become involved. Mr Lukashenkos main election opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, fled to Lithuania the day after the election, knowing that several previous presidential challengers have been jailed for years on charges that supporters say were trumped up. A funeral was held Saturday for Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died Monday in the capital Minsk under disputed circumstances. People hold old Belarusian National flags and gather at the place where Alexander Taraikovsky died (Dmitry Lovetsky/AP) Belarusian police said he died when an explosive device he intended to throw at police blew up in his hand. But his partner, Elena German, told The Associated Press that when she saw his body in a morgue on Friday, his hands showed no damage and he had a perforation in his chest that she believes is a bullet wound. About 5,000 demonstrators gathered Saturday in the area where Mr Taraikovsky died. They laid a mass of flowers in tribute as passing cars blared their horns. Its awful to live in a country where you can be killed at a peaceful protest. I will leave, if power isnt changed, said 30-year-old demonstrator Artem Kushner. The brutal suppression of protests in Belarus has drawn harsh criticism in the West. European Union foreign ministers said Friday that they rejected the election results in Belarus and began drawing up a list of officials in Belarus who could face sanctions over their role in the crackdown. FILM fans may be able to spot Tom Cruise rehearsing for his latest role in South Oxfordshire. A 135m temporary motorcycle track has been built in this field by the production company behind his 2018 hit film Mission: Impossible Fallout. The film starred Cruise as Ethan Hunt, leader of the fictional IMF team trying to recapture three plutonium cores from a sophisticated crime gang. The 58-year-old Hollywood star has already been seen practising his stunts elsewhere in an Oxfordshire field during lockdown. He reportedly raced around a dirt track on a motocross bike before piloting a helicopter. Now Jupiter Spring Productions is using this field near an old quarry for rehearsals. It has created the 3m wide track on scaffolding which slopes upwards from 6m to 10.7m at its highest point. A planning application submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council by Planit Consulting, of Godalming, said: There will be no filming taking place at the site and therefore no requirement for the creation of temporary film sets. It also means that there will be no busy filming days. Instead, the site is to be used to rehearse a particular scene for a film. The use involves placing two cranes, a zip wire and approximately three telehandlers on the quarry site and creating a new section of temporary trackway on the adjacent field to the east. At the end of the temporary period, all temporary structures will be removed and the land left in a condition to be agreed with the landowner. Shrubs along the top of the quarry in the north-east corner of the site will be removed to facilitate the installation of a zip wire, which will be connected to two cranes at either end of the site. The release of the seventh film in the Mission Impossible series has been delayed until November next year after the coronavirus pandemic forced filming to relocate from Venice to the UK and eventually halted production indefinitely. It is hoped that shooting can begin again next month. In June, first assistant director Tommy Gormley told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: We were right at the epicentre when it all kicked off, so we had to shut down in Venice where we were four or five days from shooting. We hope to visit all the countries we planned to and look to do a big chunk of it back in the UK on the backlot and in the studio, so September through to the end of April/May is our target. We are convinced we can do this. Some things are very challenging, such as stunt scenes, crowd scenes etc., but we cant do a Mission Impossible movie and not have a fight scene or car scenes in it. Co-star Simon Pegg, who plays the character of Benji Dunn, told Variety magazine that the plan was to begin with the outdoor stuff. That feels fairly doable and obviously there will be precautions put in place, he said. People that are involved in any close proximity stuff it will have to be determined that theyre safe to do that. I dont know what the testing situation is, how that works, or whether theyll be able to be tested regularly. Vanessa Kirby and Rebecca Ferguson will be reprising their roles in the film, which will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who also made the last two installments, Rogue Nation and Fallout. The quarry was used last year to shoot a scene for 1917, a British war film directed, co-written and produced by Sam Mendes that was released later in the year. Cruise also stars in a sequel to his 1986 film Top Gun, which has also been delayed until next year due to the pandemic. MANILA The Philippine unit of Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday it will permanently shut one of the countrys two oil refineries, blaming a pandemic-led slump in margins, with other regional closures likely to follow, according to analysts. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp said its 110,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Tabangao facility in Batangas province, which began operations in 1962, was no longer economically viable and would be turned into an import terminal. Singapores complex refining margin, the bellwether in measuring profitability at Asian refineries, has been mostly negative since March prompting many refiners to cut output or temporarily shutter operations. In the United States and Europe, refiners are permanently halting processing or weighing lasting shutdowns. We definitely see the possibility of more closures in Asia over the next 6-12 months," said Mia Geng, consultant at FGE, adding that refineries in Japan, Australia and New Zealand could be likely candidates for closure. Given the uncertainties in demand and our subdued margin outlook, it would be challenging for those less complex and efficient refineries to continue running." The oil refining industry is well on track to registering more than 1 million bpd of global closures this year alone, although not all of them will come into effect in 2020, according to consultancy JBC Energy. The picture is fairly telling, with even the most complex refining margins down to just around 10% of their former levels, while steam cracking economics are currently at least around the 50% (of former levels) mark," JBC said in a note. Asia oil refining margins https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jznpnkrxxvl/Pasted%20image%201597285885308.png The permanent closure of Tabangao comes after both of the Philippines refineries halted operations as coronavirus lockdowns pummelled oil demand. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global, regional and local economies, and the oil supply-demand imbalance in the region, it is no longer economically viable for us to run the refinery," Pilipinas Shell Chief Executive Officer Cesar Romero said. The other local refinery, Petron Corps 180,000-bpd facility in Bataan province, has been on a scheduled turnaround since May and will restart on Sept. 1. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi sought to allay concern over domestic fuel supply saying Pilipinas Shell is expected to fill its market share through imports of refined products. Wood Mackenzie research director Sushant Gupta said the challenging environment would put pressure on weaker Asian refineries, particularly ones in mature markets, or with little or no integration with petrochemicals. We could see closures becoming a reality in many markets," he said in a note. 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 At the end of 2019, OnMilwaukee's Lori Fredrich shared plans for Paloma Taco & Tequila, 5419 W. North Ave. The cute and casual Mexican joint opened in July and has so far been well received in the neighborhood as well as social media. On a recent Tuesday night, the place was hopping around dinner time with every socially-distanced table taken on the patio. The masked-up staff was friendly and super accommodating, checking in regularly with those somewhat awkwardly waiting for a table on the sidewalk. There is also a walk-up window for to-go orders and socially-distanced tables and bar seating inside the cute and cheerful cantina. The two-sided menu has one page dedicated solely to drinks and the flip side lists all of the food options. Tacos make up at least half of the food menu and are ordered a la carte on corn or flour tortillas or a bed of lettuce. Most stand-out for us was the flavorful and tender spicy chicken. Although it could have been warmer, the chicken was slow cooked to perfection and topped with a generous amount of Chihuahua cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and crema. The vegetarian crispy sprout was also well done, with flash fried Brussel sprouts (they reminded us of the equally-as-yummy sprouts at Camino) mixed with elotes corn salad and Cotija cheese. Tortas, burritos, tuna tostados and vegan (tofu) offerings are also available. Prices range from $3.50-$4 per taco to $12 for a burrito or torta. A couple of my dinner mates started with the house-made taquitos which they reported as crispy and satisfying with tender chicken and crema sauce. Chips and salsa are not automatically served, but available for $3. Paloma is also dog-friendly and features the Fat Puppy on the menu which is a flour tortilla slathered in peanut butter and banana. Cocktails include five or six different margaritas, numerous Old Fashioneds including a spicy Mexican version, homemade hard lemonade, a Mango Mamba and more. They also have a dozen different tequilas, a large selection of bottled beer, wine, champagne and dozens of other spirits made globally and locally. Non-alcoholic beverages include Jarritos or Two Brothers sodas, Jamaican Hibiscus Tea, Topo Chico mineral water and Valentine Coffee. Paloma Tacos & Tequila, owned by industry veteran Pattie Ford, has a great vibe and solid cuisine that reminded us of the locally-owned BelAir Cantina chain. Best of all, it's a community-centric space that seems to welcome everyone. Paloma Taco & Tequila's hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. For takeout, call (414) 810-0404. For more information, visit the website. By Gloria Bonilla Santiago In most of our cities, children have been told that if they go to school, do well and get into college, then a good job and happy life will follow. The closer you look, the more this promise begins to seem more like a fantasy. No one denies that education is important and, for many kids, the only way out of poverty. Its just that the path to achievement and advancement is easier for some than for others. Children of color face barriers to success every single day, from a very early age, that white children never even have to think let alone worry about. For years, the saying everyone has a right to a quality education overlooked one reality: What was being said wasnt being done. When I arrived in Camden in the 1980s, I was appalled to see that this right was being wronged by a terribly inequitable system. There were numerous neighborhood public schools. But they barely gave Black and brown children a chance to succeed. Kids were shoe-horned in overcrowded classes and taught by teachers who lacked personal interest in their students. When June came, many of these children were being socially promoted without ever earning that promotion. It was frustrating to those of us who had to watch good kids, smart kids, enrolled in neighborhood garage schools that allowed anyone to graduate, whether or not they deserved it. I saw dilapidated school buildings. Principals who were collecting big paychecks for little performance. Kids being handed diplomas without being able to read them or to write or solve basic math. This form of systemic racism was blatant and, for a long time, accepted form of perpetual social inequality that would have decades of consequences to the students. Something had to change. In many urban communities, we built charter schools as models to end educational and social inequalities, designing a learning model that would be equitable and provide students with the opportunity to academically succeed. Public charters came to the fore to begin to reshape the paradigm. At LEAP Academy in Camden, for instance, we created and implemented a new integrated community hub school model one that made administrators, teachers and family members equal stakeholders in a students success. We extended both the school day and the academic year. We established metrics for teachers and made them accountable for exceeding expectations implementing pay for performance metrics to reward those who helped their students thrive. We took into account that inner-city parents needed to be part of the solution and we provided access to some basic services, like medical care, education support and neighborhood-based employment opportunities. We designed a school that became a community hub unto itself. We built an environment and climate that lifted our children up giving them access, love and support to get into college and build a career. These children are graduating with the necessary skills and competencies to stand up to any type of racism or prejudice. They are resilient, strong will minded and self-assured of who they are. Our Community Hub charter model lifted all parties students, teachers, administrators and parents and the neighborhoods. We stressed access to a college-prep curriculum at all grades -from infancy to college pipeline, incorporating local colleges as partners with open access to dual enrollment courses where all our students are enrolled in college courses before they graduate high school. We never let any family believe college was going to be too hard or cost too much money for their child. To remove financial barriers, we raised money for scholarships, helped students identify schools to apply to very early and even converted each students 12th-grade curriculum to all college classes through partnerships with Rutgers University, Rowan University, and Camden Community college as well as Cabrini University. Our record has spoken for itself. In June, LEAP Academy marked its 16th straight class of students to achieve 100% graduation and college placement. Critics of charter schools see us as a threat to the traditional school model. They say we rob funding from district schools, take jobs from unionized teachers and spark student migration, leaving seats in neighborhood schools. Lost in that criticism is the fact that we deliver better results for urban students and families at a third less cost per student that traditional public schools receive. Moreover, we are building good working relationships with our citys school district sharing best practices and finding ways to work together. You see, delivering a good education that is free of racist and biased practices to those who live in low-income districts is something that we should all strive for charter or a traditional school. Each student who leaves a Camden school for a seat at a good college represents a victory over the systemic racism that has been present in urban education for way too long. While our society is reckoning over race, we are providing an example of how to create opportunities for Black and brown children. By doing so, we give them an opportunity to reach their true potential and liberate themselves to reach for their stars. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago is the founder and board chair of LEAP Academy University Charter School in Camden and a Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor in the Graduate Department of Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers University. She also directs the Community Leadership Center at Rutgers-Camden. 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. National Technical Institute (NTI), a leader in the HVAC/R, plumbing and electrical trade school sector, is pleased to announce their recognition as one of the top 500 fastest growing companies for 2020 according to Inc 5000. The company has experienced significant growth and is actively responding to the increasing demand in the technical trade school market. NTI ranked #419 in the Inc. 5000 listing of the top Fastest Growing Companies in the United States. The companys revenue grew a staggering 1,096%. NTIs fast paced instructional programs provide students with competencies required to maintain, repair and install a variety of mechanical systems and equipment, including air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, electrical, and plumbing systems. The program includes instruction through hands-on experience and laboratory training. Graduates can earn a technical certificate at any one of their campuses in Las Vegas and Phoenix. All of us at NTI are honored to be named in the Inc. 5000 list. Our growth is a strong indicator that students are seeking meaningful careers with high industry demand, states Christopher Roth, CEO of NTI. We have experienced significant growth because we are the HVAC/R, plumbing and electrical trade school of choice, helping students achieve their goals and thrive in a growing economic sector. Our programs are training students who are essential workers which, in many cases, is in even higher demand since the pandemic, Roth said. A fast-paced and flexible training program, coupled with high-percentage job placement, are among the few reasons NTI has achieved this record growth. Education is not a singular pathway, and a four year college degree is not the only option, states Roth. The national trade industry is facing a massive shortage of licensed plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians. This shortage of skilled labor is creating high demand for trained professionals, and this demand translates into increased salaries and job security for our graduates. According to the Department of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook, demand for both plumbers and HVAC workers is growing at a much faster than average rate. In fact, by 2026, the Department of Labor predicts that the economy will add an additional 100,000 jobs in plumbing and HVAC-related fields. NTI is helping to fill to the void of this labor shortage by offering fast-track programs for students to graduate with job-ready trade skills, without the massive burden of a 4-year degree debt. Our NTI graduates are well-prepared to apply for a job, and hit the ground running with vast opportunity for financial prosperity, as well as true enjoyment while earning, states David Lee, COO of NTI. NTI will continue to grow, evolve and keep pace with the needs of our students and the trends in our industry, asserts Roth. The recognition bestowed upon us by Inc 5000 will serve as a driving force for our team to educate and prepare our students academically, technically, and professionally to meet the growing industry demand. About National Technical Institute (NTI) National Technical Institute (NTI) is a trade school dedicated to students pursuing a career as a service and installation technician in the Plumbing, Electrical & Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) sector. The campus includes over 14,000 square feet of classroom and state-of-the-art HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing training labs. NTI provides career ready, hands-on training to equip students with the skills that employers are desperately seeking. NTIs unique curriculum and hands-on labs consist of all new and relevant Plumbing equipment, as well as HVAC mechanics, Electrical lab and trainers; and the only real-life hands-on HVAC Installation training facility in the state of Nevada. NTI expanded into the in Phoenix, Arizona market in 2019. [Tonights DNC Schedule, Streaming and Speakers.] The Trump campaign is launching an aggressive four-day digital advertising campaign that will take over some of the internets most conspicuous real estate during the three marquee days of the Democratic National Convention, which most viewers will watch online. Adhering to the presidents penchant for focusing attention on himself during major Democratic events, the Trump campaign will be taking over the banner of YouTube for 96 hours starting on Tuesday, the second day of the convention, an expensive and far-reaching digital gambit. The campaign will also blanket the home pages of The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and FoxNews.com with Trump campaign ads. Even non-D.N.C. programming will be inundated with Trump ads, as the campaign has bought premium, or unskippable, ads on sites like Hulu. The campaign amounts to high-seven figures, a significant sum to spend online in such a short period of time, and could top $10 million based on the engagement metrics of some ads (a few digital ads are sometimes charged extra based on engagement). The takeover of the YouTube banner and the news sites home pages are national buys, while the spending for Hulu and others will be in swing states. One month since Alabamas mandatory mask order went into effect, coronavirus numbers across the board are in decline. All of those are really positive numbers that were excited about in one sense and just sometimes scared to death to talk about it in another because we know we just cant let up, Madison Mayor Paul Finley said this week. We want to make sure we continue to do the things that have gotten us to this point so far. From the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 to the number of those in the hospital to just the number of cases each day, the decline is reflecting that the states strategy of a statewide mask requirement is making a tangible difference in slowing the spread of the virus. The mask order is having the desired effect, according to Dr. Karen Landers of the Alabama Department of Public Health. The order is important but the compliance is key, Landers said Friday. We can have an order but we have to have compliance with the order. The trend we are seeing is preliminary and we dont want to say absolutely we achieved this goal, were getting lower, lets just abandon the process and go back to everything we were doing. The trend is really about what I expected if we could get good compliance. Im very pleased as we looked across the state and talked to many of our partners in other communities that the compliance has been good. The trend is about what I would have expected. Because were going down doesnt mean we need to abandon but rather be consistent and also re-double our efforts in order to preserve our healthcare system from COVID-19 as well as other diseases that need to be treated. Related: See AL.coms coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. The apparent benefits of wearing masks perhaps indicates that it will remain a part of everyday life for the foreseeable future. The statewide mask order expires Aug. 31. Jefferson County health officer Dr. Mark Wilson said Friday that he expected the mask order in the states most populous county to remain in effect for several months through the winter flu season. The mask, though, is making a difference, Landers said. She pointed Friday to the decrease in the percent of positive COVID-19 tests across the state from a high of 16.7 percent on July 18 to 11.1 percent on Friday. ADPH also reported 700 new cases on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day that the state has had fewer than 1,000 daily new cases consecutively since mid-June. Indicators show that multiple activities we are taking to reduce the spread of this disease such as social distancing, respiratory hygiene and face covering is having an impact, she said. We do appear to have a flattening and minimal decline but nevertheless a decline -- in our numbers of hospitalizations. I do believe were going in the right direction with this. In north Alabama, hospitalizations have clearly declined in the Huntsville Hospital healthcare system from a high of 228 COVID-19 patients on July 30 to 168 patients on Friday. In Madison County, inpatients have gone from 130 since July 30 to 97 on Friday. Were down substantially since July, Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers said this week. Clearly masking has had a pretty good impact on this. Spillers also set a goal to help ease the strain on hospital resources: About 60 COVID-19 inpatients across the system with about 30 of those in Madison County. Hopefully, if people will continue to do what they have been doing, well achieve that in a few weeks, he said. STAMFORD The Ferguson Library is looking for 25 small businesses to sign on for a year of free assessment and strategies designed to help them weather the COVID storm. The librarys revamped Entrepreneur-in-Residence program (EIR) hopes to optimize the success of new and existing small businesses and startups, said Elizabeth Joseph, associate director for community engagement. We really will be providing more structure to our program this year, she said. We want people to use it as a springboard for ideas, for pivots and that sort of thing. The EIR program matches business owners and founders with professionals who are recognized for small business savvy and connections. The service funded by a Connecticut State Library grant provides counseling, referrals and assistance with financial and legal documentation, business plans and pitch decks among other things. This years program is supplemented by monthly workshops and topical presentations, some of which are open to the general public. The library is particularly interested in working with restaurants and other brick-and-mortar retail sites and business and start-up owners in immigrant communities, Joseph said. Interested owners will commit to a yearlong relationship beginning with an introductory session assessing client needs. Those who are selected will be required to submit feedback forms, including current and forecasting reports. In September, the library will host a public presentation on using Google tools, YouTube, data analysis tools and collaboration tools for small business. The library has seen a surge of interest in its programming since the state shutdown with residents activating library cards and perusing online movies and e-books and attending live online story sessions and more. We find a lot of people gravitate to things that comfort them, Joseph said. Through EIR library leaders hope to help local business owners prosper despite added challenges the year has brought. The Ferguson continues to provide print and digital tools entrepreneurs need to create financial statements, business plans, SWOT analysis and pitch decks. We really hope people will look at the library with new eyes, Joseph said. For more information about the EIR program, contact Elizabeth Joseph at ejoseph@fergusonlibrary.org or 203-351-8224. (Newser) Like acorn-fed Iberian ham? Well, now you can try US versions of the Spanish delicacya development that culinary purists are none too thrilled about, the Guardian reports. "The real problem is that we are a nation of idiots who have given away our heritage that our governments have done nothing to protect, and then the media present the people exploiting it as great innovators," says Constantino Martinez, a ham industry consultant in Spain. "Their real game is to get access to the American market on better terms and at better prices than Spanish producers." For those who don't spend big bucks on hamlike up to $4,500 per leg in 2019Insider explains that jamon Iberico is made from black Iberian pigs, a rare breed that's fed mostly acorns. story continues below Then they're hung and dry-cured for up to three years, giving them a unique acorn-inspired flavor: "Taste is nutty," says Claudia Romeo, an Insider video producer. "It's really nice, and especially the fat. ... It's very nice and greasy." The two American companies, Acornseekers and Iberian Pastures, will market their product with the slightly altered names jamon iberico americano and Ibericus meat. And Iberian Pastures will feed their pigs pecans, peanuts, and sunflower instead of acorns. That's "not the same thing at all," says Martinez, who argues that jamon Iberico should be a protected denomination like champagne or Japanese wagyu. But America tends to be casual about such things; for example, it sells a homemade version of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese by calling it parmesan. (Read more delicacy stories.) Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: Such is the desperation of people living in Nakaayal village, which becomes virtually inaccessible during monsoons, that they threatened mass suicide by self-immolation at sub-divisonal magistrate's office of August 15, Independence Day. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, officials from the district administration rushed to the village on Friday on the eve of Independence Day. The village residents, located just 9 km from Haldwani city in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, agreed to cancel the dreaded step for now after they were promised results within a month. Vivek Rai, sub-divisional magistrate who visited the village said, "We spoke to the residents about their concerns. We are looking into the matter to soon resolve the issue." PC Pande, the village pradhan told The New Indian Express, "The officials came and initiated talks with us. They promised us that the requisite paper procedure will be completed within a month and soon afterwards work will start to build a bridge and road." All this village needs is a two kilometer road and a bridge over one of the tributary rivers to connect it to mainland. Residents of the village said that even after 73-years of Independence, they still feel trapped with road and a small bridge. Interestingly, the government officials could not dare to drive through the flowing river which cuts off the village in monsoon season. It was only after the village residents demonstrated using tractor to cross the river, the officials drove through. Residents recall various incidents of medical cases like pregnancies in which either they transferred the patient a fortnight earlier to Haldwani or lives were lost. Around 75 families with total population of 450 live in the village. During the rains, the families resort to prayers with hope that the rage of the monsoon is not such that it swells the water of the 2 tributary rivers of Gaula-- Sukhi and Paada cutting them from the rest of the world making the village an open air prison. Amount of Rs 29 crore had been already sanctioned by the state government in 2013 but of no avail. Residents added that it is only when they protest or threaten some sort of radical move including group suicide, self-immolation, the government officials wake up from their slumber to pacify the situation for that moment. They sat on protest on June 6, 2017 demanding immediate action in the matter after which officials from administration the disposal within 90 days. Later in the years 2018 and 2019 too they travelled to Dehradun to get things move ahead to see the project light of the day. The residents recall a horrible incident last year in monsoon when a bus full of 50 children from the village, had a close shave in high currents of Sukhi river. "The bus was about to flow away and drown with 50 children but it was Almighty who miraculously saved our children. Even death and cremation needs approval of these two rivers to be performed," says Kalawati Pandey (50), a resident of the village. The people of the village in Lalkuan state assembly constituency also directly blamed the Bhartiya Janta Party MLA and the government. Right from MLA to MP to Chief Minister to Prime Minsiter, all representatives ranging from their constituency to state and country belong to one party but no sign of vikas is visible in the village as promised. Everyone, right from cabinet ministers to MLAs to administrative officials came to us in Lok Sabha as well as state assembly elections as we announced buycott. They all promised many things including the road and the bridge but nothing has been done so far, added Lakshmi Dutt Bhatt (63), a resident. Global Disruption of Three Terror Finance Cyber-Enabled Campaigns The Justice Department today announced the dismantling of three terrorist financing cyber-enabled campaigns, involving the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamass military wing, al-Qaeda, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). This coordinated operation is detailed in three forfeiture complaints and a criminal complaint unsealed today in the District of Columbia. These actions represent the governments largest-ever seizure of cryptocurrency in the terrorism context. These three terror finance campaigns all relied on sophisticated cyber-tools, including the solicitation of cryptocurrency donations from around the world. The action demonstrates how different terrorist groups have similarly adapted their terror finance activities to the cyber age. Each group used cryptocurrency and social media to garner attention and raise funds for their terror campaigns. Pursuant to judicially-authorized warrants, U.S. authorities seized millions of dollars, over 300 cryptocurrency accounts, four websites, and four Facebook pages all related to the criminal enterprise. Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/) after the conclusion of the case. It should not surprise anyone that our enemies use modern technology, social media platforms and cryptocurrency to facilitate their evil and violent agendas, said Attorney General William P. Barr. The Department of Justice will employ all available resources to protect the lives and safety of the American public from terrorist groups. We will prosecute their money laundering, terrorist financing and violent illegal activities wherever we find them. And, as announced today, we will seize the funds and the instrumentalities that provide a lifeline for their operations whenever possible. I want to thank the investigators from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the prosecutors from the D.C. United States Attorneys Office and National Security Division for their hard and innovative work in attacking the networks that allow these terrorists to recruit for and fund their dangerous actions. "Terrorist networks have adapted to technology, conducting complex financial transactions in the digital world, including through cryptocurrencies. IRS-CI special agents in the DC cybercrimes unit work diligently to unravel these financial networks," said Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin. "Today's actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to holding malign actors accountable for their crimes. The Department of Homeland Security was born after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and, nearly 20 years later, we remain steadfast in executing our critical mission to safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values, said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf. Todays announcement detailing these enforcement actions targeting foreign terrorist organizations is yet another example of the Departments commitment to our mission. After launching investigations that identified suspected online payments being funneled to and in support of terrorist networks, Homeland Security Investigations skillfully leveraged their cyber, financial, and trade investigative expertise to disrupt and dismantle cyber-criminal networks that sought to fund acts of terrorism against the United States and our allies. Together with our federal law enforcement partners, the Department will utilize every resource available to ensure that our Homeland is and remains secure. These important cases reflect the resolve of the D.C. United States Attorneys Office to target and dismantle these sophisticated cyber-terrorism and money laundering actors across the globe, stated Acting United States Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. While these individuals believe they operate anonymously in the digital space, we have the skill and resolve to find, fix and prosecute these actors under the full extent of the law. IRS-CIs ability to trace funds used by terrorist groups to their source and dismantle these radical groups communication and financial networks directly prevents them from wreaking havoc throughout the world, said Don Fort, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. Today the world is a safer place. As the primary law enforcement agency charged with defeating terrorism, the FBI will continue to combat illicit terrorist financing regardless of platform or method employed by our adversaries, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "As demonstrated by this recent operation, the FBI remains committed to cutting off the financial lifeblood of these organizations that seek to harm Americans at home and abroad." Homeland Security Investigations continues to demonstrate their investigative expertise with these enforcement actions, said ICE Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Matthew T. Albence. Together with law enforcement partners, HSI has utilized their unique authorities to bring to justice those cyber-criminal networks who would do us harm. Al-Qassam Brigades Campaign The first action involves the al-Qassam Brigades and its online cryptocurrency fundraising efforts. In the beginning of 2019, the al-Qassam Brigades posted a call on its social media page for bitcoin donations to fund its campaign of terror. The al-Qassam Brigades then moved this request to its official websites, alqassam.net, alqassam.ps, and qassam.ps. The al-Qassam Brigades boasted that bitcoin donations were untraceable and would be used for violent causes. Their websites offered video instruction on how to anonymously make donations, in part by using unique bitcoin addresses generated for each individual donor. However, such donations were not anonymous. Working together, IRS, HSI, and FBI agents tracked and seized all 150 cryptocurrency accounts that laundered funds to and from the al-Qassam Brigades accounts. Simultaneously, law enforcement executed criminal search warrants relating to United States-based subjects who donated to the terrorist campaign. With judicial authorization, law enforcement seized the infrastructure of the al-Qassam Brigades websites and subsequently covertly operated alqassam.net. During that covert operation, the website received funds from persons seeking to provide material support to the terrorist organization, however, they instead donated the funds bitcoin wallets controlled by the United States. The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia also unsealed criminal charges for two Turkish individuals, Mehmet Akti and Husamettin Karatas, who acted as related money launderers while operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Al-Qaeda Campaign The second cyber-enabled terror finance campaign involves a scheme by al-Qaeda and affiliated terrorist groups, largely based out of Syria. As the forfeiture complaint details, these terrorist organizations operated a bitcoin money laundering network using Telegram channels and other social media platforms to solicit cryptocurrency donations to further their terrorist goals. In some instances, they purported to act as charities when, in fact, they were openly and explicitly soliciting funds for violent terrorist attacks. For example, one post from a charity sought donations to equip terrorists in Syria with weapons: Undercover HSI agents communicated with the administrator of Reminder for Syria, a related charity that was seeking to finance terrorism via bitcoin donations. The administrator stated that he hoped for the destruction of the United States, discussed the price for funding surface-to air missles, and warned about possible criminal consequences from carrying out a jihad in the United States. Posts from another Syrian charity similarly explicitly referenced weapons and extremist activities: Al-Qaeda and the affiliated terrorist groups together created these posts and used complicated obfuscation techniques, uncovered by law enforcement, to layer their transactions so to conceal their actions. Todays complaint seeks forfeiture of the 155 virtual currency assets tied to this terrorist campaign. ISIS Campaign The final complaint combines the Departments initiatives of combatting COVID-19 related fraud with combatting terrorism financing. The complaint highlights a scheme by Murat Cakar, an ISIS facilitator who is responsible for managing select ISIS hacking operations, to sell fake personal protective equipment via FaceMaskCenter.com (displayed below) The website claimed to sell FDA approved N95 respirator masks, when in fact the items were not FDA approved. Site administrators claimed to have near unlimited supplies of the masks, in spite of such items being officially-designated as scarce. The site administrators offered to sell these items to customers across the globe, including a customer in the United States who sought to purchase N95 masks and other protective equipment for hospitals, nursing homes, and fire departments. The unsealed forfeiture complaint seized Cakars website as well as four related Facebook pages used to facilitate the scheme. With this third action, the United States has averted the further victimization of those seeking COVID-19 protective gear, and disrupted the continued funding of ISIS. The claims made in these three complaints are only allegations and do not constitute a determination of liability. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. Further, charges contained in criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit (Washington, D.C.), HSIs Philadelphia Office, and FBIs Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles field offices are investigating the case. Assistant U.S Attorneys Jessi Camille Brooks and Zia M. Faruqui, and National Security Division Trial Attorneys Danielle Rosborough and Alexandra Hughes are litigating the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Bria Cunningham, and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. Additional assistance has been provided by Chainalysis and Excygent. This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Inside Missguided Wednesday, Channel 4 Rating: The Life And Times Of Captain Sir Tom Thursday, ITV Rating: I am old enough to remember a time when clothes were not throwaway items. Hems were taken up, hems were taken down. If we, as children, ever received a compliment from my mother it would be: Thats worn well, said with great satisfaction. A trip to C&A on Oxford Street was a thrilling day out, an event, as was any purchase, as it was so rare. I can recall getting new shoes and sleeping with them on my pillow so as not to be separated from their shiny, buttery, new leathery smell for a single second. We were recently looking through some old photographs, where it was pointed out to me that the dressing gown I had as a teenager is still the dressing gown I have today. For your information it is St Michael, as was. And when it was manufactured Im assuming no one involved in its production said, This will look lovely in a landfill in a few weeks time. Missguided boss Nitin Passi and staff. This is pure PR. I suppose one should have expected as much, as why would Missguided agree otherwise? But now we have fast fashion. I am well acquainted with fast fashion, as theres a 20-something female in this household and Im up and down all day taking in parcels from Asos or Topshop or Boohoo or whatever. As I march about in my 40-year-old dressing gown it still washes well! I try not to be too judgy. But mostly fail. More tat youll wear only twice? I may say. Cant help it. So I thought Id watch Inside Missguided, the new documentary series taking a look behind the scenes at one of fast fashions biggest players, in the hopes of getting more of a handle on this phenomenon. It is narrated by the companys campaign manager Treasure (no surname), from their headquarters in Manchesteeeeeeer!!!! Its not glamorous, but its where the magic happens!!!! And we make millions every weeeeek!!!! Treasure is a loud, sweary blonde who, fair play, seems to work crazy hours while loving every minute of it as the company aims to become bigger, better, sicker, faster!!!!!! than any of their many competitors. However, you cant help but note the mission statement on the office wall that reads to empower young women to look and feel confident on every occasion and wonder if this applies to the supply chain. Given the cost price of a dress is, as we later saw, 7.40, and given most factory workers are young women, I would guess not. Based on the first episode (of four), this is pure PR. I suppose one should have expected as much, as why would Missguided agree otherwise? But it could have shown some spine, surely. There was no questioning at all. There was no mention of Kim Kardashian successfully suing them for knocking off her designs. There was no mention of the environmental damage. There was mention of the fact that the company lost 46 million in 2017/18 hang on, arent we making millions every weeeeeek!!! but no mention of why. The CEO and founder, Nitin Passi, floated in and out yet was never asked where the clothes were made, by whom, and in what conditions. Instead, this focused on their marketing strategy, which seems to depend on influencers and trying to persuade Love Islander Molly-Mae to promote their clothes for six months. She was offered wait for it 350,000 plus a new Land Rover. Hang on. Have I been too hasty? Am I too old to be an influencer? St Michael is gone, but maybe I could suggest myself to Cotton Traders, say? I wouldnt even demand the car. Just the cash would do. The Life And Times Of Captain Sir Tom began with: One day, a man went to walk to raise money for the NHS and we know the rest. But are we tired of this story? Not at all. And this documentary on Captain Sir Tom Moore he enjoyed being knighted very much was every bit as charming as Sir Tom himself. Actually, I knew he was a good man, had there been any doubt, when we saw him finish eating and then hold out his plate for the dog to lick. That is very much the measure of a good man, in my book. Captain Tom Moore, on the day he received his knighthood from the Queen. This documentary was every bit as charming as Sir Tom himself Here, Sir Tom shared his life, from his very happy childhood in Keighley, where his birthday present might be a piece of wood and some nails and a hammer or a bigger hammer. (Probably doesnt shop at Missguided, our Tom). He talked about his wartime experiences in Burma (unpleasant) and his love of motorbikes and his beloved wife, Pamela, who eventually suffered from a degenerative brain disease and whom he visited in hospital every single day, without fail, for five years until her death. Also the measure of a good man, in my book. The one other talking head was historian Dominic Sandbrook, who put his popularity down to this: People looked at him and said: There is a Britishness that reminds us we will prevail. Hes like a secular version of the Queen. Maybe she could boot out Prince Andrew and set him up in Royal Lodge Windsor? I think the nation could get behind that. Definitely. Thousands of Albanians formed an enormous queue of cars at the Greek border Friday as they rushed to re-enter the country for work ahead of new virus rules, police said. Around 4,000 cars were jammed in a 20-kilometre-long (12-mile-long) line at the Kakavia border crossing in southern Albania, in a build up that has been growing since Greece announced tougher entry requirements at the start of the week to contain a surge in infections. The changes came as thousands of Albanians who live and work in Greece, mainly in the agriculture sector, were preparing to return after summer holidays at home. Under Athens' new rules, daily arrivals from Albania will be capped at 750 after August 16. Albanians will also have to have to present a negative COVID-19 test carried out within 72 hours of their arrival and self-isolate for seven days. Currently, those entering from Albania take virus tests at the border and provide contact information in case they are positive. Some cars have been waiting for three days already, according to an Albanian police source, who told AFP that "Greek health teams are working with a reduced number of staff" and that the border post is closed at night. Albania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Greek authorities were trying to ease the logjam by increasing the number of tests from 200 to 300 per hour. Police broadcast images of officers distributing water bottles to families struggling in the heat, while Albanian President Ilir Meta said he was "worried" about the situation. Infections have been on a steady rise in Albania, where some 220 people have died from COVID-19, according to the official toll. Doctors warn the situation is deteriorating while the authorities have blamed citizens for failing to respect safety instructions. bme/rus/pvh/dl Three Rivers Land Trust was awarded a $584,100 grant from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for the purchase of a conservation easement on a 320-acre farm in Cabarrus County. The property adjoins a 60-acre farm that has been permanently conserved. Projects like this one are a priority for our organization because we focus on protecting productive farmland, said Executive Director Travis Morehead. Over 95% of the soils on this farm are prime or statewide important farmland soils. Since 1995, we have protected over 15,000 acres of farmland in our 15-county region. The primary products produced on the farm are beef and poultry. In addition, the farm focuses on agritourism and includes a popular wedding venue. The farmer and his wife, along with his two sons and their spouses, all work on the farm and all have roles to play. The entire family agreed that they wanted the land to stay a farm for perpetuity. Aissata Diop, a Senegalese mother of four, living in Pikine on the outskirts of the capital city Dakar, had long heard that consuming garlic and lemon could have health benefits. So, when her friend, Ramatou, displayed a message on her phone saying that drinking a daily bowl of boiled garlic and lemon could keep people from contracting COVID-19, Aissata wasted no time stocking up on her daily market run. Charles Nagbe, a Liberian carpenter plying his trade in Treichville, a southern neighborhood of Abidjan in Cote dIvoire was also intent on not getting infected. He remembered some information he came across online saying that rinsing the mouth with or swallowing a reasonable quantity of liquor can kill the virus before it infects the body. Unable to afford pricey imported liquors, Charles sent for Koutoukou, a local brew with a very high level of alcohol content distilled from palm wine. Both Aissata and Charles believed they would be spared COVID-19. While drinking a garlic and lemon mixture or limited amounts of alcohol may not be harmful to the human body, they provide a false sense of protection against the virus. Aissata and Charles are not alone. Desperate to protect themselves from infection and for a cure, people around the world are trying all sorts of herbal or chemical concoctions and prescription pills such as chloroquine. Yet, these are just a tiny sample of the misleading or outright false bits of information, including hoaxes and myths, going around since the onset of COVID-19. To stem the tide of misinformation, including in African countries, several initiatives by the United Nations, international news organizations such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Agence France Press (AFP), nonprofits such as Africa Check and others are offering tools to provide credible information and to help people check the reliability of COVID-19-related information. Across the continent, artists and community activists are also joining the fight against misinformation. Infodemic Were not just fighting an epidemic; were fighting an infodemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) remarked earlier this year, referring to fake news that, he said, spreads faster and more easily than the virus. Drawing from the words information and epidemic, the word infodemic, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, describes a rapid and far-reaching spread of both accurate and inaccurate information about something, such as a disease. From the origins of the virus, to how to avoid catching it, to how it propagates, and how to cure it, unproven and misleading theories abound, making the current infodemic a serious obstacle to the efforts being made to stop the spread of COVID-19, the WHO warns. Spreading online, through messaging apps and from one person to another, misinformation often operates through digital tools that generate and propagate false stories stitched together from altered video, pictures or sound. One of these stories so troubled Ms. Yemisi Adegoke, a Lagos-based BBC reporter, that it prompted her to suggest a more systematic way for the broadcaster to tackle the infodemic with its listeners in Africa. She is now one of the producers of the news organizations COVID-19 misinformation hub , a centralized online space where people can check whether viral information is credible or not. I worked on a story about a man whose photo was used in a social media post. It was said that he picked up Nigeria's first COVID-19 case at the airport and had driven him from Lagos to a neighboring state, Ms. Adegoke remembers. As the story went virals. Adegoke told Africa Renewal in a telephone interview, she tracked him down and found out that although the man pictured in the story was indeed a cab driver he had not been to Lagos in three years. Yet, the rumour had spread all over the internet and through messaging applications, and as a result, the man had received death threats. As shown by the Nigerian cab driver story, misinformation about COVID-19 can sometimes be built on some measure of truth or fact. An April 2020 study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom found that little information was usually fabricated entirely. The study sampled 225 that have been proven by fact-checkers to be false or misleading pieces of information in English published all around the world from January to March 2020 and noticed that more than half (59%) was existing information that was either spun, twisted, recontextualized, or reworked, the study pointed out; making it often difficult to separate lies from truths. Verified - a UN initiative To help people gain access to credible information, in May the UN Secretary-General launched Verified , an email and social media initiative that invites people to register and become information volunteers tasked with dissemination of trusted and UN-verified content. The campaign provides a daily feed of easy-to-share simple messages aimed at countering falsehoods or filling critical information gaps. Subscribers receive content in their inbox and are encouraged to pass it along including via their Facebook and other social media accounts. On 27 July 2020 Verified shared a roundup from the previous week on debunking false claims about vaccine trials, fake cures and an anti-mask group removed from Facebook for spreading misinformation about coronavirus, the email reads. #DontGoViral - Artists join in Another initiative to help fight COVID-19 misinformation in Africa is the UN Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCOs) #DontGoViral campaign that engages African artists. Started in April 2020, #DontGoViral crowdsources creative content that addresses the need for culturally relevant, open-sourced information about COVID-19 in local languages. Ugandan musician and member of parliament, Bobi Wine openly licensed his hit song Corona Virus Alert for the launch of the campaign and encouraged other artists to contribute. The bad news is everyone is a potential victim/But the good news is that everyone is a potential solution/Sensitize the masses to sanitize/Keep a social distance and quarantine/The coronavirus is sweeping over mankind/Everybody must be alert Bobi Wine and his collaborator Nubian Li sing on their catchy dancehall-inspired track. To date, #DontGoViral is reported to have received more that 500 submissions from all over the continent, with a playlist maintained and updated on YouTube. The content is as varied in its countries of origin as it is in creative categories, with contributions including music, poetry, paintings and multimedia presentation. From Liberia, George Weah, the countrys president is featured fronting a youth band and singing a slow tempo gospel-inspired song titled Lets Stand Together To Fight Corona. From Malawi, the Vilipanganga Poetry Movement has used poetry to address COVID-19 myths and conspiracy theories while sharing information about mitigation and containment measures. In Nigeria, the Proshare Foundation turned to animated stories to highlight modes of virus transmission. The bad news is everyone is a potential victim/But the good news is that everyone is a potential solution, Bobby Wine and Nubian Li sung. After all, we cannot cede our virtual spaces to those who traffic in lies, fear and hate, Secretary-General Guterres said at the launch of Verified. For more information on COVID-19, visit www.un.org/coronavirus Africa Renewal Gangster Vikas Dubey is now dead and the filmmakers have got a story to tell to the audience. Hansal Mehta confirmed that he will direct a web series on the life of the gangster. Rahul Raut wrote, An edgy political-thriller web-series to be made on the alleged encounter of UP's notorious gangster, #VikasDubey.. #Shahid and #Omerta fame @mehtahansal will direct the show that explores the nexus of politics, crime, and lawmakers. Produce by Shailesh Singh, it rolls next year! An edgy political-thriller web-series to be made on the alleged encounter of UP's notorious gangster, #VikasDubey.. #Shahid and #Omerta fame @mehtahansal will direct the show that explores the Nexus of politics, crime and lawmakers.. Produce by Shailesh Singh, it rolls next year! Rahul Raut (@Rahulrautwrites) August 10, 2020 Hansal tweeted: He was the main accused in the killing of eight policemen in Bikru village near Kanpur. After Dubey escaped, the Uttar Pradesh police began a hunt to track him down. On July 10, Dubey was killed by the special task force of the Uttar Pradesh Police in a shoot-out. Now that Hansal Mehta is making a film on him, it will be interesting to see who will play Vikas Dubey. In a statement to a leading agency, Mehta said, It is a reflection of our times and our system where politics, crime, and lawmakers form a curious nexus. It is early to discuss approach but it will be approached responsibly and as a fascinating recounting. I see an edgy political thriller emerging out of this, and it will be very interesting to tell this story. Heres the list of 5 Bollywood actors who we think are perfect for the role of Vikas Dubey for the Hansal Mehta movie. Sanjay Mishra Sanjay Mishra has given so many applause-worthy roles and we feel that he will be an ideal fit for the role of Vikas Dubey. Seeing his personality, we can totally vouch for him for playing the character of Vikas Dubey. Pankaj Tripathi Pankaj Tripathi is a man who can pull off any character with ease. He is someone who gives 100% to the character and his journey in Bollywood is something that aspiring actors follow and swear by. Manoj Bajpayee Manoj Bajpayee is also one of the actors who has always played his roles realistically and with conviction. Well, the actor has already denied playing the role of Vikas Dubey but we would want to see him pull off this role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui Nawazuddin has already set his bar high with the character of Ganesh Gaitonde. He can totally nail the character of Vikas Dubey because we have seen him play the role of gangsters. Abhishek Banerjee If you have seen Ajji and Paatal Lok, you can imagine him playing the character of Vikas Dubey as he will pick up the mannerisms and the attitude of the gangster. Who do you think is apt for the role from our list? Katie Price has reportedly been banned from having s.e.x for two weeks, as doctors advised her to lie down and not move following her foot operation. The former glamour model, 42, recently broke both her feet whilst on holiday in Turkey with new boyfriend Carl Woods and her children. And it seems as though poor Pricey just cant catch a break, as shes not allowed to engage in any intimate behaviour with Carl while her feet heal from the five-hour op. And her new man Carl now has to become Katies full time carer as she wont be able to get out of bed for a fortnight, reports The Sun. A source told the publication: Katies been told she has to lie down and not move for two weeks when she gets home. She will have to keep her legs elevated to give her the best chance of recovery and that means no s.e.x or moving around. Carl will basically be her full time carer the only time shes allowed to move is to go to the toilet. Its going to be a real test but Katie will be following doctors orders. Katies already got her kids on wax duty, as she revealed her kids help her out with her waxing routine because they love playing with it. Katie recently returned to the UK following her chaotic trip to Turkey to get new teeth fixed, only for her to return with two broken feet. Katie and her children Junior, 15, and 13-year-old Princess, along with Carl had spent the past week in Turkey. The trip had been full of highs, but ended on a low when she sustained the injury at a theme park. Katie revealed in a video on her YouTube channel that she had jumped over a wall to take a shortcut, not realising how big the drop was on the other side. She suffered hairline fractures in her heels and will need surgery in the coming weeks. Katie was seen screaming in pain as doctors tended to her injuries and wrapped her feet and lower legs in plaster. She says shell need a wheelchair and a mobility scooter to help her get around as she is unable to put any weight at all on her feet. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Chandigarh, Aug 14 (IANS) Directing police to take strict action against the miscreants responsible for hoisting a 'Khalistan' flag in the Moga administrative complex, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday appealed to youngsters not to get swayed by the vicious propaganda of anti-India elements like terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and his Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). "You try to come to Punjab and I will teach you a lesson," the Chief Minister warned Pannu, adding that any attempt to disturb the state's peace would be dealt with an iron hand. Amarinder Singh said he directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure that the two miscreants identified in the Moga incident are arrested at the earliest so that deterrent action can be taken against them, as per the law. Punjab Police has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for the duo, whose CCTV grabs have been released. Meanwhile, during his weekly #AskCaptain session, the Chief Minister urged all youngsters to not pay any heed to Pannu. "Some get emotionally swayed by such vicious propaganda," he cautioned. Reacting to Pannu's call for raising black flags to mark India's Independence Day, the Chief Minister said the Punjabis in India were prosperous people and not interested in indulging in such acts at the behest of someone sitting in Canada or the US. "Why should they (the people of Punjab) do it, if you have the guts, you come and do it," he dared Pannu, adding that if the SFJ leader wanted, he could make his Khalistan at the place where he was hiding out. "Pannu does not even look like a Punjabi, and does all this only for extracting money," he warned youth. Congratulating the people on the eve of Independence Day, Amarinder Singh said the unparalleled sacrifice and valour of Punjabis and Sikhs was acknowledged by the whole world. The tales of their bravery could be found everywhere, he said, adding that the Andaman Islands' 'Kaala Pani' was replete with their examples, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre also bore testimony to their sacrifice. Nobody knows how many people died at Jallianwala Bagh, he said, adding that there was a need to ascertain the number. After Independence too, Punjabis have always led from the front in all the wars fought by India, be it in 1962, 1965, Bangladesh war, or Kargil or even the recent skirmishes with China, Amarinder Singh said, recalling that Punjab's brave son from Mansa town Gurtej, of 3 Punjab, was brutally attacked but he took down 12 Chinese before making the supreme sacrifice. There is no region or state in the country where Punjabis have not excelled, be it industry, agriculture or services, he added. --IANS vg/vd President Muhammadu Buharis administration appears more determined than ever to rely on repression as a means of responding to dissent and public criticism. Its record of failure to uphold human rights and the rule of law has been too consistent: empty promises, more excuses, ambivalence, intolerance, and state-sanctioned brutality. Last week, the administration yet again unleashed its security forces in riot gear on #RevolutionNow protesters who were simply calling on the government to respect human rights, obey the rule of law, and address heightened insecurity, poverty, corruption, and poor infrastructure in the country. The peaceful protests took place in several parts of Nigeria, including Abuja, Lagos and Osogbo. This is not the first time Mr Buhari and his administration have brutally attacked peaceful protesters. But no security agents have ever been held to account for abuses against protesters. This state-sanctioned brutality is entirely inconsistent with the attitude of a government supposedly committed to transparency and accountability, and the fight against corruption. Rather than addressing the concerns of the protesters, the Buhari administration would seem to trivialize their demands when it called the protests a childs play and an irritation. The implicit message is that the administration is insensitive to peoples opinions and concerns. To be clear: its neither a childs play nor an irritation to demand an end to corruption, which is clearly contributing to serious human rights violations, fuelling injustice, inequality and deprivation, and allowing politicians to profit from their crimes. Its unfortunate that the Buhari administration is sending security forces not after those who commit acts of grand corruption and appalling abuses, but after those who call for human rights and rule of law reforms. For example, while his administration treats protesters with overt hostility, it seems to revere repentant Boko Haram militants, including by granting them amnesty and accepting them unconditionally. Under Mr Buharis watch, a bill is being pushed in the National Assembly full of members from his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to give the militants foreign education. This is even as millions of Nigerian children and youth are out of school and roaming the streets. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is central to human rights law, but its one right the Buhari administration flagrantly violates as a matter of routine. The administrations bad faith is underlined by its smearing of protesters. The attack that the Buhari administration has consistently launched on protesters is not merely an attack on the right to protest and Nigerias constitutional foundation. It is an attack on the rule of law, and on Nigerias voluntary international human rights obligations. The administration continues to violate human rights with impunity. Omoyele Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, and Amnesty Internationals prisoner of conscience, is facing severe restrictions on his rights and cant travel outside Abuja. Mr Buhari and his administration are treating dissent and public criticism as insult, and adopting probably the most repressive laws in Nigerias history, such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 that give officials massive discretion to further restrict human rights and undermine the operations of religious, community and civil society organizations. Mr Buhari and his administration are punishing journalists for their reporting, silencing individuals for posting opinions on social media, shutting down debate and the flow of information on flimsy grounds. This prevailing impunity is allowing and emboldening many states governors to adopt similar repressive tactics, and undermine peoples access to justice. Mr Buhari and his administration have shown hostility to Nigerian judges and indifference to court judgments and orders, thereby seriously undermining their standing and authority, and the notion of access to justice. His administration simply ignores court judgments and orders. Mr Buhari has literally normalized disobedience to court orders, and state-sanctioned brutality against peaceful protesters. Thats why his administration has been unable to deliver on his oft-repeated anti-corruption promises. Its facile for the administration to claim to be committed to the rule of law and the fight against corruption while it is routinely stopping people from freely expressing themselves, including through peaceful protests. The Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guarantees human rights, including the right to protest. Nigeria has also ratified most of the major human rights treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The administration has three core obligations regarding human rights: namely, the obligation to respect, to protect, and to fulfill them. It has an obligation to take positive measures to establish and maintain an enabling environment for the exercise of human rights, including the right to protest. It is crucial that individuals exercising this right be able to operate freely without fearing that they will be subjected to threats, intimidation, or violence, including arbitrary arrest or detention, or torture and other ill-treatment. What matters is not the rights that exist on paper in the constitution or treaties, but whether they can be exercised and enforced in practice. It is up to Mr Buhari and his administration to recognize this and to make it happen. A good starting point would be to stop witch-hunting protesters, see protests as a powerful mechanism of public accountability and engagement, allow Mr Sowore to enjoy his human rights and reunite with his family; and repeal the CAMA 2020 and bring it in conformity with the countrys international obligations. As for the people, this isnt the time to give up. There is a bumpy road ahead, and as such, they should continue to speak truth to power. They should defend and claim their rights, if they are ever going to be able to stop their government and politicians behaving with impunity. The country stands at a crossroads. The international community should do all it can to support and show active solidarity with the peoples demand for human rights and the rule of law. Olaniyan is author of Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa and legal adviser at Amnesty Internationals International Secretariat, London. The United Arab Emirates has made a "huge mistake" in reaching a deal toward normalising ties with Israel, Irans President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in a speech furiously condemning what he called a betrayal by the Gulf state. The UAE-Israel agreement announced on Thursday, which US President Donald Trump helped to broker, is seen as aimed at bolstering opposition to regional power Iran. In his televised speech, Rouhani warned the UAE against allowing Israel a foothold in the region. They (the UAE) better be mindful. They have committed a huge mistake, a treacherous act. We hope they will realise this and abandon this wrong path, Rouhani said without elaborating. He said the deal seemed aimed at ensuring that Trump wins another term in the US presidential election in November and referred to the fact it was announced in Washington. Why then did it happen now? If it werent a wrong deal, why was it then announced in a third country, in America? So a gentleman in Washington wins votes, you betray your country, your people, Muslims and the Arab world? He added that the Emirates may also have thought that they could guarantee security by getting close to Irans enemies, but Iran had "historically been the protector of its neighbours and ensurer of the security of the Persian Gulf. Irans powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement on Saturday the UAE-Israel deal, would accelerate the process of the destruction of the child-killing Zionist regime. New Delhi: Education has a crucial role to play in making India self-reliant and prosperous and the new National Education Policy has been introduced with this objective, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. Addressing the nation on India's 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister said the NEP seeks to strengthen research and innovation in the country to help it progress in a competitive world. "Education has an important role to play in making India self-reliant, happy and prosperous. With this objective, we have been able to give the country a new education policy after over three decades," PM Modi said. "This will shape the India of the 21st century. We will soon have citizens who shape a new India, ones who are global citizens but know and understand their roots. The new education policy also focuses on research and development to make India a key research and development destination for the world," he said. "The policy lays special emphasis on the National Research Foundation because innovation is important for the country's progress. Only when we strengthen innovation and research will our country remain competitive and move ahead. The more innovation is strengthened in the country the more progress it will make in a competitive world," he added. Approved by the government last month, the NEP replaces the 34-year-old National Policy on Education framed in 1986. It is aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower. The Prime Minister also underlined the opportunity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic for the education sector in the form of online classes. "Did anyone even think that online classes would reach our villages so quickly? Sometimes an opportunity can show itself even during a disaster. Online classes have become a culture during the times of COVID," he said. Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16, when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as part of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. A nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25. The prolonged closure of educational institutions has mandated a shift from classroom teaching to online learning. According to the HRD Ministry, the closure of schools has impacted over 240 million children in the country. Inc. magazine today revealed that ExcelHealth Inc. dba iReliev is No. 3374 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. "Its once again a great honor to be recognized by the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing, privately held companies in the nation, said Mike Williams, CEO and Founder of ExcelHealth Inc. dba iReliev Products. ExcelHealths growth is a testament to the ever-increasing consumer demand for all-natural pain relief. People are tired of relying exclusively on opioids or high-priced chiropractors to get relief. The iReliev brand of products is changing the way people get fast effective relief, on their terms, in their home, when they need it most. We could not be more blessed to have this opportunity to serve our customers. Its a dream come true. Pain relief is personal to Williams. At the age of 14, Mike's mother was diagnosed with a chronic illness called Multiple sclerosis. Over the next several years, Mike saw firsthand how difficult chronic pain can be mentally and physically on an entire family. Seeing his mother experience constant pain from her condition made him develop extreme compassion and empathy for people dealing with chronic pain. In 2014, Mike started iReliev. Since then, iReliev has helped over 100,000+ people take control of their pain - all without the use of prescription drugs. Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. The companies on this years Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism. ExcelHealth Inc. is known for its brand of all-natural pain relief products called iReliev. The company's portfolio of products are clinically supported, doctor recommended, and FDA cleared. As an emerging leader in pain relief, ExcelHealth closely aligns its products with clinically supported modalities in its line of TENS units, muscle stimulators, hot and cold therapy, massage, and topical analgesic products. iReliev is improving lives by developing highly portable and effective pain relief modalities that work when and where consumers need it most, in the home or on the go. With a commitment to improving pain relief for over 1 million adults by 2025, iReliev is redefining the future of health and wellness. For additional information, visit http://www.iReliev.com About Inc. Media The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the Inc. 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/. A group of University of Manitoba-affiliated lawyers has sent a confidential letter to the Law Society of Manitoba, outlining their shared and all-but-certain belief the schools former law dean misused faculty funds. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A group of University of Manitoba-affiliated lawyers has sent a confidential letter to the Law Society of Manitoba, outlining their shared and all-but-certain belief the schools former law dean misused faculty funds. Noting their duty to report, the six signatories two of which are currently practising law in the province came forward with concerns Friday about conduct that both raises a substantial question about another lawyers capacity to provide professional services and the individuals "honesty, trustworthiness and competency as a lawyer." Jonathan Black-Branch's five-year term as dean of Robson Hall was abruptly cut short in recent months, with no explanation provided to his colleagues or the public. (University of Manitoba photo) The lawyer in question is Jonathan Black-Branch, who took over the post of dean of Robson Hall in 2016. Black-Branchs five-year term was abruptly cut short in recent months, with no explanation provided to his colleagues or the public. In the Friday letter, which was obtained by the Free Press, the lawyers cite details from the U of Ms newly released 2019-20 Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act report. The report details a single internal investigation, which found a senior employee committed wrongdoing, "with respect to the purchase of goods and services, conflict of interest, and mismanagement and misuse of funds." Findings also indicated the unnamed employee directed others to commit wrongdoing, according to the Winnipeg-based institution. "We believe it is reasonably likely, albeit not certain to us, that the investigation concerned Dr. Black-Branch," states the letter penned by the U of M-affiliated lawyers. "These reasons include Dr. Black-Branchs own earlier mentions last fall that the central administration of the university was intensively looking into his management of certain programs and his sudden and unexplained leave of absence and later complete departure from the university." Black-Branch did not respond to repeated requests for comment before deadline Friday. The former dean went on leave from U of M in early May and it remains unclear why. At the time, former associate dean Bruce Curran assumed the role of acting dean until July 1, when prominent lawyer and businessman David Asper was appointed to the position. Curran and Asper have both declined to comment on the matter, instead redirecting a reporter to the universitys communications office. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Prominent lawyer and businessman David Asper was appointed to the position of acting dean on July 1. One source with close ties to Robson Hall who told the Free Press they are "100 per cent" certain Black-Branch is the senior employee implicated in the whistleblower report described the former deans management style as "forgiveness is easier than permission." The staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal at work, said the internal investigations aim was to find out where upwards of $1 million went. Black-Branch is alleged to have spent university funds on everything from repeated business-class travel upgrades to his own personal Ivy League training, the source said. Another source corroborated details about a shift in how expenses were approved this year. Typically, both sources said, staff would give expenses to the financial officer for approval, and then, to the dean for another approval round. In recent months, Black-Branch stopped giving the second approval, they said. According to the whistleblower report, the U of Ms internal review revealed the schools "internal control weaknesses" related to discretionary funds, the non-purchase order invoice process and the monitoring of spending patterns of expense claim submissions. We believe it is reasonably likely, albeit not certain to us, that the investigation concerned Dr. Black-Branch. Letter penned by U of M-affiliated lawyers A third source who worked with Black-Branch said he was often away on international travel and hard to contact, making it nearly impossible for him to complete his duties as dean. The individual said the situation makes them feel "incredibly ill" since the allegations against Black-Branch undermine both the facultys work and integrity. The sources who spoke to the Free Press said the university has asked faculty members not to speak to reporters. "It just stinks of a big stupid cover up," said the first source, adding its clear Black-Branch was not properly supervised. "We have a public trust as a law school, we are part of a taxpayer-funded institution, we have a dean whos purporting to lead and advance the minds of the next generation of practicing lawyers across Canada and if hes unethical and misappropriating funds, its simply not right to have that go unaccountable for." The U of M declined multiple requests for an interview. "The university is committed to taking measures in order to safeguard the funds entrusted to it and to ensure processes, procedures, and related accountabilities are in place," wrote spokesman John Danakas in an email Friday. A group of lawyers has linked an internal University of Manitoba investigation into misused funds to the former dean of Robson Hall law school. (Trevor Hagan/Winnipeg Free Press files) Danakas said the university takes public accountability "very seriously" and part of that means abiding by requirements in legislation related to confidentiality and privacy. "Failure to do so can have serious consequences for the institution," he wrote. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The whistleblower report states the university accepted the reviews recommendation it initiate further analysis of the schools control issues through a separate audit or review processes. The Office of the Auditor General of Manitoba is also currently considering a potential audit of the U of M. At present, Black-Branch is listed as a practising lawyer in Manitoba on the law societys website. Up until July 1, he was also listed as a bencher; the acting law dean automatically assumes a position on the society's governing body. Deirdre O'Reilly, communications officer for the Law Society of Manitoba, said in a statement Friday the society may choose to investigate any conduct that calls into question the integrity of a lawyer. Complaints and investigations are confidential, OReilly said, adding the lawyer subject to a complaint or investigation is entitled to practise law pending a determination of the allegations of professional misconduct, unless they have been suspended to protect the public. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday Turkey will not back down to threats of sanctions nor to incursions on its claimed territory in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is in a standoff with Greece. "We will never bow to banditry on our continental shelf. We will not back down against the language of sanctions and threats," Erdogan said. The Turkish Oruc Reis survey ship will continue energy exploration until Aug. 23, he added. Search Keywords: Short link: If youre a public school student in Hudson County, odds are you wont be back in school this September. As of this week, a majority of Hudson Countys districts have announced plans to begin the fall school semester completely remotely. Union City, Guttenberg, North Bergen, West New York, Harrison, and Kearny announced new plans for all-virtual learning in September. The Hudson County Schools of Technology will also begin the school year with remote learning. Bayonne was Hudson Countys first district to plan for fully remote learning, with the Board of Education approving a fully distant start to the semester late last month. Earlier this month, the Jersey City Board of Education voted for a similar plan. I cannot in good faith ask our employees and children to return to a full in-person schedule after Labor Day, Jersey City Superintendent Franklin Walker said two weeks ago. At the time, those plans defied Gov. Phil Murphys mandate that all public schools in the state have at least partial in-person learning in the fall. But on Aug. 12, Murphy reversed course, announcing at a press conference that all schools could begin fully remotely if core health and safety standards cant be met on Day One. Now, more districts are following in Bayonne and Jersey Citys footsteps. Some of the municipalities are backtracking on earlier plans for hybrid learning models: North Bergen, Kearny, and Harrison previously planned to hold classes in schools part-time. But after Murphys announcement, the districts are shifting course. Many of the new plans call for districts to re-evaluate their plans midway through the semester, and potentially return to school for hybrid classes before winter break. Ralph Passante, coordinator for data and community engagement for Union Citys school district, cited a recent uptick in coronavirus cases in New Jersey as a reason for the switch. We just felt that, as much as our primary mission is to provide a top-notch education to our students, our primary responsibility hand and hand in that is protecting the well-being of our students, our staff, and our community, he said. As of Friday, Hoboken, Weehawken, Secaucus, and East Newark had not posted all-remote reopening plans. Previously, the districts had called for hybrid plans, with some in-person schooling. Representatives for Hoboken, Secaucus, and East Newark could not be reached for comment. Eric Crespo, superintendent of Weehawkens school district, said the district is still planning to use a hybrid model in the fall. But he emphasized that the plan was subject to change. What September, say, 10th looks like? Thats anyones guess, he said. Well keep watching, analyzing, communicating with our health department, and communicating with our families. Jersey Journal staff writer Teri West contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sofia Christensen (Agence France-Presse) Port Elizabeth, South Africa Sat, August 15, 2020 11:37 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e3b1ce 2 Art & Culture circumcision,South-Africa Free South African 17-year-old Sinoyolo was looking forward to becoming a "man" this year. His uncle had made arrangements for him to travel to the mountains overlooking the South African city of Port Elizabeth in December for his initiation. Known in the local Xhosa language as "Ulwaluko", the secretive rite of passage marks a boy's transition into adulthood. Every June and December thousands of initiates between 15 and 17 years old spend at least three weeks secluded in the bush, where they are circumcised and taught to be responsible men. But this year, for the first time in living memory, the ritual has been called off because of the coronavirus. "If we send them there and find that one boy is positive (for the virus), it means all 20 of them will be infected," said Afra Msutu, a Xhosa chief. "When you go to the mountains and get circumcised, for the first seven days you are very vulnerable," he added, noting that initiates stay in close quarters with access only to a traditional doctor. "We decided it would be too risky and that we might lose more boys than we usually do," Msutu said, referring to the fact that dozens of initiates nationwide die from botched circumcisions each year. Most of the fatalities occur at the hands of unqualified organizers who fail to provide proper care, leading to dehydration and infection. Sinoyolo, whose full name has not been disclosed to protect his identity, admitted to the misgivings he had felt over his Ulwaluko. "I was a little bit scared because most of the guys who went to the mountain said it was very hard there," Sinoyolo told AFP in the Port Elizabeth township of Kwazakhele, where he grew up. "I think it's a good idea to put it on pause for now because this virus is strong, it has killed many people." Read also: 'Circumcision season': Philippine rite puts boys under pressure A 'true man' The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa suspended June initiations in April, around one month after the country went into lockdown. Msutu said that "unprecedented" decision was later extended to the whole year after it became clear the pandemic would last months. South Africa has the world's fifth highest number of coronavirus infections, with more than 568,000 confirmed cases and at least 11,000 deaths. Msutu noted that interrupting an initiation session because of a coronavirus outbreak would be humiliating for the boys. "When you are up in the mountain you are not supposed to come back (early) even if you are sick," he said. "We did not want to risk the community calling our 2020 boys 'weak' because they did not finish." Sinoyolo agreed, nodding vigorously at the chief's words. For him, the fear of not being recognized as a "true man" justified the wait and trumped any concern about pain. "It's our traditional thing," Sinoyolo said, eyes shining at the thought of finally being treated as an adult. "Fathers don't like sitting with you until you are circumcised... they keep you apart," he said. "The older guys are also doing things you are not doing and calling you childish, so I want to upgrade my level." Sinoyolo said he would use the extra time to "think" and mentally prepare for the challenge ahead. Chief Msutu, 42, was dismayed over the postponements. "When I talk to my fathers, the elders, no one has ever experienced anything like this," he said. "Everyone is shocked." But he noted that the decision to suspend Ukwaluko had been unanimous. "As much as it is exciting to go to the mountains," he said, "the vital point is that you must come back alive." What resources do some of the worlds pre-eminent cultural institutions have to offer on Egypt and the Arab world during the Covid-19 pandemic, asks David Tresilian More and more museums and other institutions worldwide have been putting resources online for people to access during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. At a time when it is advisable to leave the house as little as possible and then only for essential errands, these can constitute necessary reminders of the world outside, perhaps also stimulating a determination to visit or revisit at least some of the institutions concerned when the crisis is over. Some museums have added to existing offerings on their Websites, while others have designed virtual visits at a time when it is impossible to envisage physical ones. They suggest new ways of thinking about online offerings and go far beyond the basic information on opening hours that used to make up much of museum Websites even a decade or so ago. Improvements in technology and connection speeds have revolutionised peoples expectations of museum content on the Internet, and the present lockdowns have encouraged more and more people worldwide to explore it. And even if they cannot be entirely satisfactory substitutes for the experience of physically visiting a museum who can forget the excitement of standing just feet away from the golden mask of Tutankhamun? digital resources can be extensions of it. Under the circumstances of global lockdown, they can also be valuable educational tools and not only for children confined at home during school closures. Adults can find much to engage them during the lockdowns too. A Weekly survey of selected museum Websites on Egypt and the Arab world suggests that while some institutions have been reaching out further to existing audiences and finding new ways of engaging with new ones, others have been more conservative in the ways they are using their online presence. British Museum: One institution that has extensive online offerings, even to the extent of making its site a stand-alone destination almost independent of the physical museum, is the British Museum in London. A note on the Museums homepage tells visitors that its collection of 4.5 million objects can be explored online for free, but rather than follow this link perhaps the best way of going on a virtual tour is to do so gallery by gallery at https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries. This allows visitors to select the specific rooms or galleries they are interested in and then be taken directly to these locations. Anyone who has used Google Street View will be familiar with the technology, and the British Museum has cooperated with Google in its virtual tours. Ancient Egyptian sculpture is on the ground floor of the Museum in Room 2, presumably because of weight, while an overall presentation of its ancient Egyptian holdings, including an extensive collection of mummies, is on the first floor in Rooms 61 to 65. Entry to the British Museum is free, unlike some of the other museums surveyed, and perhaps this explains why almost all of the Museum can also be visited on line. The Museum has extensive collections from the ancient Middle East, including from ancient Assyria in modern-day Iraq thanks to the pioneering work of British archaeologist Henry Layard in the mid-19th century. This material, including the famous friezes from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II (883859 BCE) at Nimrud and material from Nineveh, can be visited in Rooms 6 to 10. Less weighty items from the ancient Middle East can be visited in rooms upstairs in Room 52 (ancient Iran), 53 (ancient South Arabia), 54 (ancient Anatolia), 55 and 56 (ancient Mesopotamia), and 57 to 59 (the ancient Levant). Among the recently renovated rooms in the Museum are 42 and 43, which house the Islamic world collection. These rooms were redesigned and refurbished in 2018 in association with the Albukhary Foundation in Malaysia, and they provide a comprehensive presentation of material culture produced from the 7th century to the present day from West Africa to Southeast Asia, taking in important centres in the Arab world, Iran, South and Central Asia and Mughal India. In addition to offering a virtual tour, the Museum Website also contains information about the redesign of the two rooms and the origins of the collection. The British Museum Website scores highly for its inclusion of absorbing additional material. It highlights specific objects, such as a set of Mameluke ivory panels bearing the name of the sultan al-Malik al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun (r. 12931341 CE) (https://islamicworld.britishmuseum.org/collection/RRM10263/), while also providing details of their provenance (found/acquired, Egypt purchased from Rev. William John Loftie, 1880), something which some museums are sometimes loath to do. It provides video content that must come as a boon to those studying the collections. There is a fascinating short video on the 19th-century excavations carried out by Ernst Herzfeld and Friedrich Sarre at Samarra in Iraq, for example, showing their relation to objects now in the British Museum. The site contains other content on contemporary art practices in the Arab and Islamic world and on matters of training and conservation. There are videos made at the Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo in partnership with the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts, an initiative of the UK Prince of Wales, and the Cultural Development Fund in Egypt. One of these is on jewellery making, another on pottery, and another on glass-blowing at the Hassan Hodhod workshop in the Northern Cemetery in Cairo. Hassan Hodhods glass workshop is opposite the funerary complex of the Mameluke sultan al-Ashraf Qaytbay (which appears on Egypts LE1 note), and some Weekly readers will have memories of visiting it. The sultans funerary complex can be clearly seen in the background to the video. Louvre: Among the pages presenting the Musee du Louvre in Paris on the Museums Website is one that tells visitors about its 800-year history from royal fortress to public museum, taking visitors to a YouTube video showing the historical development of the site. The Louvres Website serves mostly as a source of information on the institution, with little of the rich content that distinguishes the British Museum site. Could it be that old habits die hard in the Louvres case? Starting its history as a fortress, the Louvre seems to have conceived of its Website in the same light. It gives little away of the richness of the Museums contents. With the exception of one temporary exhibition, it is not possible to take a virtual visit of the Louvre, meaning that it is impossible for visitors to the Museums Website to enjoy the kind of experience offered by the British Museum site. The presentation of the Louvres departments seems to have been done with professional audiences in mind, rather than with attention paid to the needs of many ordinary visitors. There is a lot of text, but few images. The Department of Near Eastern Antiquities (https://www.louvre.fr/en/departments/near-eastern-antiquities) highlights 182 objects from the Louvres collection, but the presentation is that of a traditional exhibition catalogue relocated onto the Web the site does not take advantage of the possibilities offered by digital presentation and the write-ups, with technical descriptions and scholarly bibliographies, seem to be directed mostly at professional audiences. Parents looking for ways of interesting their children in the Louvres collections are unlikely to find the resources they need which is an enormous pity, given their famous richness. The Department of Egyptian Antiquities (https://www.louvre.fr/en/departments/egyptian-antiquities/overview#tabs) similarly presents valuable information on the history of the collection and scholarly write-ups of 207 highlights. But the site offers few opportunities for visitors to interact with the objects, to see them in three-dimensional space, to rotate them, to walk around them, to watch video presentations of them, unlike on the British Museum site. More promising is the Department of Islamic Art, which in addition to a text explaining the Department and the presentation of highlights (70 this time), also has videos showing the building of the Departments galleries and decisions on exhibition design (https://www.louvre.fr/en/opening-new-department-islamic-art). Overall, the Louvres site exhibits extraordinary curatorial expertise, with an emphasis on the needs of professional and scholarly audiences. But there is little interaction with the general public. Metropolitan Museum of Art: Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York some months ago for the first time in years, the present writer discovered that this institution, which used to be free, has now become rather expensive for out-of-state visitors. But the Website is still free to visit, and it also of course invites, rather than discourages, casual visits. Arriving at the Metropolitan Museums Website, visitors are drawn to the promising words whats on line in the manner of the British Museums desire to further relations with a digital public. But the Metropolitan Museum does not offer virtual visits, so visitors are not able to enjoy the objects in gallery space and have to be content instead with looking through photographs and reading write-ups. It has invested in additional digital content where star exhibits are concerned, however. Every visitor to the Metropolitan Museum will remember the Temple of Dendur, a Ptolemaic temple that once stood on the banks of the Nile south of Aswan and was given to the United States by the Egyptian government in 1965 in recognition of US contributions to the UNESCO International Safeguarding Campaign for the Monuments of Nubia that were threatened by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. This Temple now stands in its own dedicated wing of the Metropolitan Museum, and the Museums Website includes a video taking visitors around it (https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/curatorial-departments/egyptian-art/temple-of-dendur-50/related-content) The Metropolitan Museum has added to its standard presentation of curatorial departments consisting of write-ups of the history of the collections and highlights from them by adding video content. The Islamic Arts Department, for example, redesigned in 2011, has archived video material recording past programming, including debates and lectures, along with more eye-catching material such as a video showing the dismantling of the Museums famous Damascus Room, a wood-paneled reception room from an 18th-century house in the Syrian capital Damascus, before its re-installation in the redesigned galleries (https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/curatorial-departments/islamic-art/damascus-room). An additional feature of the site is the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, signaled as a resource for visitors on the institutions homepage and positioning the site as a whole towards the educational end of the spectrum. While the British Museum site is perhaps especially strong on the experiential and interactive opportunities that a digital presentation can offer, the Louvre is more soberly educational. Perhaps the Metropolitan Museum site comes out somewhere in between, with the Heilbrunn Timeline constituting a kind of online illustrated encyclopaedia of art-historical themes and periods. The Islamic Art section of the Timeline (https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/essays/#!?dept=Islamic-Art) contains 105 essays on everything from standard chronological categories (like Art of the Mameluke Period) to sometimes intriguingly obscure themes (like Fatimid Jewellery), all illustrated with objects taken from the Museums collections. It is signaled on the Metropolitan Museums homepage as an ongoing project and flagship resource containing over one thousand essays and counting. Berlin Museums: The Staatliche Museen zu Berlin-Stiftung Preuischer Kulturbesitz brings together the many museums on Berlins Museum Island in the German capital Berlin, one of the worlds pre-eminent cultural districts and soon to be crowned by the nearby Humboldt Forum housed in a reconstruction of the former palace of the Prussian Hohenzollern Dynasty. These museums include the Neues Museum, restored in 2011 by British architect David Chipperfield in work that drew admiring attention worldwide, the Pergamon Museum, and the Museum of Islamic Art. The Neues Museum houses the Staatliche Museens ancient Egyptian collections, while the Pergamon Museum hosts the Museum of Islamic Art, one of the worlds most important. Among the star exhibits at the Neues Museum, originally built in 1855 to host the Prussian Egyptian and papyrus collection, is a famous bust of the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti, along with material from the ancient Meroitic kingdom in Sudan and an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian papyrus. Visitors to its Website (https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/aegyptisches-museum-und-papyrussammlung/home.html) can opt for virtual tours of the Museum through the Google Arts and Culture App using the same technology as at the British Museum, including an online audience with Nefertiti in her room on the Museums first floor. There are other rewarding online exhibits, all available in English, including on the Cult of the Dead, Cat Content (on the ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bastet), and the monotheistic pharaoh Akhenaten (the Pharaoh Erased from History). There are invitations on the Museum site to follow news and access additional materials on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. The Pergamon Museum (https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/pergamonmuseum/home.html) is named after a massive reconstruction of the Pergamon Altar, a Hellenistic building from Anatolia that was shipped to Berlin in 1879. The south wing of the Museum hosts the Museum of Islamic Art, including a reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way at Babylon, today in southern Iraq, that was built in 575 BCE by order of king Nebuchadnezzar II. It was excavated in the early 20th century by German archaeologist Johann Koldewey, and it can be visited through the Pergamon Museum Website using the Google Arts and Culture App. The other main exhibit at the Pergamon Museum is a section of the facade of the Ummayad Mshatta Palace 30 km south of the Jordanian capital Amman. It dates to the reign of the Ummayad caliph Al-Walid II (r. 743-744 CE) and was excavated in 1840. The facade was a gift from Ottoman sultan Abdelhamid II to the German emperor Wilhelm II in 1903, and it can be visited online by following the link at https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/pergamonmuseum-staatliche-museen-zu-berlin. Overall, the material on the sites of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin-Stiftung Preuischer Kulturbesitz is of exceptional quality and is available throughout in German and English. Hours of engaging activity are guaranteed for all. Online Egyptian masterpieces Many museums worldwide are closed during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, but some of their Egyptian masterpieces can be enjoyed online. The Rosetta Stone: Part of a granite stela produced in 196 BCE, the Rosetta Stone bears a decree concerning the 13-year-old Egyptian king Ptolemy V Epiphanes in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, ancient Egyptian demotic, and ancient Greek. The translation of the decree into ancient Greek on the Stone allowed French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs at the beginning of the 19th century. The Stone was discovered at Rosetta (Rashid) by troops belonging to the invading French army of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, and it was surrendered to the British government in 1801 after the French defeat and transferred to the British Museum. It can be viewed at https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA24 The Saint Louis Baptismal Basin (Baptistere de Saint Louis): This inlaid brass basin was made in Egypt under Mameluke rule between 1320 and 1340 CE, making it too late to have been brought to France by the French king Saint Louis XI after the 12th Crusade. This saw the defeat of the Crusaders at the Battle of Mansoura in 1250 CE at the hands of armies directed by Ayyubid Egypts only female ruler Shajar al-Durr. Today one of the masterpieces of the Department of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, the Basin was used to baptise French royal children from Louis XIII in 1601 onwards. It was last used in 1856, when Napoleon-Eugene, the son of French emperor Napoleon III, was baptised in it at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. It can be viewed at https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/bassin-dit-baptistere-de-saint-louis Bust of Nefertiti: Now in the collections of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin where it is on display at the magnificently restored Neues Museum, the painted bust of Nefertiti, wife of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten, is believed to have been made in 1345 BCE. It was discovered by a German team led by archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt in 1912. Together with the famous golden mask of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, the bust of Nefertiti is one of the best-known objects from ancient Egypt civilisation and can be viewed as part of a virtual visit at https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/an-audience-with-nefertiti/ZQKiSnxV4cRAIw?hl=en *A version of this article appears in print in the 13 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The message, had we wanted to hear it from the beginning, was that we were always going to have to find a way to live with it. Even if our governments had done everything right. Even if peoples behaviour had been perfect. Even if wed somehow managed to douse all the outbreaks nearby, COVID-19 was likely never going away. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The message, had we wanted to hear it from the beginning, was that we were always going to have to find a way to live with it. Even if our governments had done everything right. Even if peoples behaviour had been perfect. Even if wed somehow managed to douse all the outbreaks nearby, COVID-19 was likely never going away. It was easy to forget that in those middle weeks, when Manitobas curve bent downwards until it was as flat as the prairie. Our numbers dropped, and our sense of caution fell with them. We went out to restaurants, while Torontos stayed shuttered; we felt, not entirely without merit, a flutter of pride to have controlled this thing. So it was easy then to imagine ourselves an island, even as cases ballooned just across our southern border. We stopped tuning in to chief public health officer Brent Roussins daily updates which, in the early days of COVID-19, had been appointment viewing. Then the doctor stopped doing them every day, which was itself calming. But that was just the intermission in this story. It was never going to last, because the virus is not going away. The fact is it spreads too easily, and too often without symptoms. By the time we began to fight back, it was already too widely disseminated to eliminate from the world completely. That is not to say we will handle it the same way forever. In early August, journalist Sarah Zhang, writing in The Atlantic, noted experts say the most likely scenario is that "the pandemic ends at some point," due to acquired immunity, "but the virus continues to circulate in lower levels around the globe." In other words, it is simply with us now, like a deadlier version of the flu, or a cold. We may yet wrangle active cases in Manitoba down to zero, but it will come back at various points down the road, cropping up from time to time, just another in a wide range of biological threats that health authorities monitor, and the rest of us accept. So we have to learn to live with it, and not just in the short- or medium-term. The biggest concern will be how we can protect seniors and others with high-risk factors, not on a timeline of weeks or even months, but just as likely forever; another will be to wrap our minds around how to accept the viruss presence in our larger world. In the summer, it has been easy. One great safety lesson of the pandemic is that outdoor activities are, if not zero-risk, at least much lower-risk than gathering indoors. And Manitobans know how to make the most of the fevered blink of our summers: we went to the beach. We sipped beers at The Forks. We breathed a little more free. But winter is coming, and that will be harder. We need to understand what will be required, and how to balance the need to live in society with the need for safety. And we need to have a public dialogue that bluntly confronts the fact that a new ongoing risk has entered the spheres of our lives, and will have to be accepted. What we still dont know, what we have not fully explored, is what living with it actually should look like, or could look like. We have a sense of the basics: masks are a good idea, especially in indoor spaces. Social distance where you can. Stay home if youre sick, and wash your hands. We know all this now, even if its unevenly applied. But that doesnt really answer the core question, which is how much risk we have to be prepared to accept. This is something that, as of yet, few leaders seem to have tackled frankly, honestly, and with compassion; the soundbites that have come out referencing this often come across as flippant, lacking the depth of a full explanation. This, to me, seems the core of the tension in every public debate about reopening strategies. Parents and staff are rightly concerned about back-to-school plans; in the U.S., where some schools have already resumed classes, cases have spiked among children. Some schools were forced to close within days of opening. On the other hand, schools cannot remain closed and offer online learning forever, and theres no way of knowing right now how long we will be in the same holding pattern as we are now, with outbreaks cropping up from time to time, with numbers that sink and then climb. Of course its right for parents and school staff to be afraid, concerned for themselves, vulnerable relatives, and their children. On Wednesday, Premier Brian Pallister responded to concerns about rising cases: "We cant get into fear," he said. "Fear cant be our master here. Fear and panic are not a plan." That is true, but it doesnt salve the psychology of the moment to which we are now pinioned, still hearing the sirens of emergency that blared at the pandemics beginning even as government pushes to further reopen. More must be done to explain how we can open further now, with active cases higher than when we all stayed home. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Last week, the province launched an ad campaign, plastering billboards and social media with a slogan ("Ready. Safe. Grow") and a hashtag (#RestartMB). The campaign is, clearly, targeted at broadcasting the economic and social reopening of the province, even as our case numbers jump by a fistful each day. When asked about it, Pallisters office said the campaign has a focus on public safety and economic growth. The public safety aspect is not immediately evident; the economic angle seems unnecessary to promote. Manitobans want life and work to be more fully restored, but what we still arent clear on is how that ought to look. This is the next phase of the dialogue that needs to happen. In the early days of the pandemic, Manitobans did the best we could on everything asked of us: for the most part, we stayed home. We came apart but helped each other out. We listened to every public health order and kept the infection curve down. Now, it is time for leaders to convene a new and more earnest conversation. We got through those first days with a collective determination, a mass understanding that what we did was what needed to happen; now, we have to get back on the same page, one that helps us look frankly and come to terms with the truth of this moment. The virus is never going away. We have to live with it. What we still dont know is what that really means. melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca When I was working as governor on important education legislation, I knew that any feedback I got from him was honest and represented what he thought was best for the children of our state. Even as we miss him, we should all follow the example he set by being kind and humble every day." For years, S.C. Rep. David Mack, a Democrat from North Charleston, sat next to Breeland on the floor of the S.C. House. Breeland was a confidant and friend. Behind that incredible smile was a giving heart, Mack said. He loved people. He blessed so many people as an educator and later as a legislator. We thank God for the time Floyd Breeland got to spend with us. Rest in peace, my brother. For Charleston native and Columbia lawyer Edwin Givens, Breeland was like an uncle, a longtime friend of the family. I could talk to him about things that sometimes I couldnt talk to my dad about, Givens wrote on Facebook. Later he added in an interview, He was a selfless person just someone who was always willing to serve. He never sought the limelight. He accomplished so much by not seeking the limelight but getting the job done. Bollywood actress Vidya Balan went vocal for local today encouraging people to support Indian weavers by posting a few pictures in an elegant bright pink silk saree with golden earrings on Instagram. She make a strong appeal to keep the Indian Hand loom legacy alive. The Kahaani actor shared a picture of herself on Instagram, donned in a bright pink saree. She teamed up the elegant saree with golden earrings. Taking it to the captions, Balan urged people to celebrate Independence Day, with the unity in diversity of Indian Silks from Assam to Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu. The 41-year-old actor nudged people to encourage and embrace the treasure trove of Indian Silks while using hashtags #Vocal4Handmade and #IWearPureSilkHandloom. As the nation is celebrating its 74th Independence Day, scores of Bollywood celebrities are putting forward their wishes and their ideas to celebrate the day. Earlier today, senior actor and BJP MP Hema Malini extended her wishes to citizens through a video message and hailed the front line warriors battling corona virus, for their tireless effort in serving the people of the country. The actor-turned-politician, before concluding the video message, put forward an appeal to every Indian citizen to work for a team India, and help to make the country Atmanirbhar (self-reliant). Also Read :Ishaan Khatter to star in war based movie Pippa Also Read: Sushant case: Maharashtra, CBI, Sushants father to file reply in SC Besides, actor Priyanka Chopra also gave tribute to all fearless women in Indian history who have contributed to the struggle of the countrys independence. Other big names in the entertainment industry, from veteran actors Dharmendra Deol, Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar to music maestro AR Rahman also extended their warm wishes on social media to mark the occasion. I remember thinking when Elijah Cummings died, At least we still have John Lewis. But the day has finally come, and we have lost John Lewis, an incalculable loss. I say we, because John Lewis was ours, a statesman, a countryman, a man of the people, a native son. John Lewis has become one of the chosen few who take a special place of honor in the history of this country by unselfishly devoting himself to the highest principles this country aspires to. He believed in the greatness of our country, despite grave injustices, many that affected him personally, because he knew that the prospect of greatness rests in the motivations of human decencyand despite inevitable human flaws in our founding fathers, he knew that the words, carefully wrought, in the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. meant something deeper than just a political statement. He undoubtedly recognized that the work of the founding fathers sanctioned a nation morally based, watchful of injustices. To that end, he urged us now to redeem the soul of our nationhe urged this right up until his dying dayand he asked that we do it together. He lived by the words, honor, peace and respect, his gentleness wrapped around him like a cloak of protection for his soul as he engaged in peaceful non-violent protests, (good trouble) always peaceful, regardless of the consequences, beatings or jail (police records show he was arrested over 40 times throughout his life). He engaged in many of these civil actions while serving proactively in the House of Representatives for 33 years. By his own actions, he showed us what we must do to be the best people we could be to save a world mired in unreasonable brutality and unfairness. We can show respect for fairness by marching together in protest of injustices and we may have to march again. We can speak out, and speak out again, to right the wrongs of injustice until the Beloved Community is whole, peaceful and loving.and he asked that we do this together. John Lewis has shown us through his actions that it is in the toughest of times that one must try harder. Remarkably, he did all this work while holding no ill will toward those who oppressed his people in appallingly burdensome ways, subjugating them without cause. Instead, he stood on the pillar of justice to render their deeds. It is fitting that we laud John Lewis as a hero, and to show our respect we must pay attention to his directives in his last written message to the country Lewis reminded us, When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act. Inherent within all the accolades following his passing some so moving and beautiful that tears cant be held back is that, in all of his actions, from his first march to his last speech, John Lewis gave us the perfect prescription, a veritable map, of how to be the kind of neighbor, activist, civic leader, teacher, parent, citizen that can contribute to the well being of our country. We have the tools; they are there in our own best selves there for the taking. He reiterated this in his last message to us, Though I am gone, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. And he asked that we do this together. We cannot ignore this or look away from it, because we the people were designated as caretakers of a more perfect union as President Obama said in his eulogy, We were born with instructions to form a more perfect union. It is the great experiment of a nation run by its own citizens, set as an example for the world, to honor fairness, humanity and the god given right of equal freedoms. In his eulogy, President Obama offered a description of John Lewis that typifies the generosity of spirit that personified this great statesman He (John Lewis) 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. John Lewis asked that we redeem the soul of our nation through our own best selvesand he asked that we do this together. Sandra Pfeifer is a social issue documentary filmmaker and media artist who has lived in Southern Illinois for 40 years. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the Conroe Professional Firefighters Foundation to cancel major fundraising events this year, leaving the nonprofit at a projected loss of at least $50,000. The foundation, a 501 (c)3 since 2018, regularly contributes to the community through multiple donations. But its efforts have fallen victim to COVID-19 since its fundraising is dependent on social events like Junes Fire Up the Bands concert and Octobers haunted house. The foundation took both events off its 2020 calendar. Weve had to put pause on all that stuff, said Conroe Fire Department Lt. Lloyd Sandefer, president of the Conroe Professional Firefighters Association. Last year, Fire Up the Bands raised $43,000 and the Halloween haunted house brought in $7,500, according to Sandefer. And, he added, the upward trend from previous years suggested numbers would have been higher this year. September plans were shelved for a fun run, which would have been a family-friendly 3K run at Grand Central Park. Were not having fun this year, he said, before noting no money had yet been invested in that event. The money collected by the foundation benefits charitable organizations like the Conroe Noon Lions Club. It also goes to youth scholarships at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, along with donations to individual livestock projects by the children of Conroe firefighters. One major recipient is the foundations benevolence fund, which provides Conroe firefighters with medical or disaster relief. The foundation, however, is working to carry on with one essential part of their altruism. Operation Warm, an annual jacket giveaway for elementary students, has prompted foundation board members to look to different ways to raise money. No-contact fundraising, like a raffle, Sandefer said, are some of the creative methods currently being looked at. Were gonna always try to do our part, give back to the community, especially during these times when people are in desperate need of things, he said. In January, Conroe firefighters handed out 300 coats. The foundation had some of the strain it has faced this year eased by First Financial Bank, Sandefer noted. The bank serves as title sponsor for Fire Up the Bands. Their $10,000 check to underwrite hosting expenses remained intact, Sandefer said. They know how important it is and the mission behind it, so they stuck with it. That was a really good thing and were grateful for that, he said. The pandemic has put Conroe firefighters on the offense. From the onset, Conroe Fire has been following specific measures to keep COVID-19 at bay like cleaning equipment between emergency calls. Weve been trying to stay vigilant, watching after our own personnel, our men and women. And taking care of them if something does come up, Sandefer said. It has paid off as only one of 130 firefighters has tested positive, according to Sandefer. The firefighter managed to make a full recovery and is back at work, he pointed out. People interested in making donations can do so with checks written out to the Conroe Professional Firefighters Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 306 Conroe, Texas 77305. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx The Justice Department has sent subpoenas to NASA, Boeing and Doug Loverro, who led the agency's marquee space travel program until he resigned abruptly in May. They are looking into possible federal procurement law violations The U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal probe into whether NASA's former head of human spaceflight gave Boeing Co improper guidance during a lucrative lunar-lander contract competition, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. The Justice Department has sent subpoenas to NASA, Boeing and Doug Loverro, who led the agency's marquee space travel program until he resigned abruptly in May, as part of a grand-jury investigation into the possible violation of federal procurement laws, the sources said. In the probe, opened in June, prosecutors are focusing on communication between Loverro and Boeing space executive Jim Chilton in late January, during a blackout period for the Human Landing System competition, one of the sources said. Representatives for Boeing and Loverro declined to comment. NASA declined to comment on personnel matters and the status of any investigation, but said the agency was confident in its procurement processes. The probe was earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal. The investigation, and an earlier probe by a NASA watchdog, has cast a shadow over one of NASA's most ambitious endeavors: sending humans back to the moon from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly half a century. In this NASA handout, the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is seen after it landed in White Sands, New Mexico In April, NASA bypassed Boeing - an industry juggernaut with deep ties to space travel - and awarded contracts worth a combined $1 billion to Elon Musk's SpaceX, Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, and Leidos Inc affiliate Dynetics to build lunar landing vehicles that can carry astronauts to the moon by 2024. Investigators are looking into communication between Loverro and Boeing space executive Jim Chilton (pictured) in late January, during a blackout period for the Human Landing System competition Boeing was removed from the competition, NASA said in April, without explaining why. Two people briefed on a NASA watchdog investigation told Reuters Boeing's removal was over its contact with Loverro. The sources said NASA's Office of Inspector General found that Loverro told Boeing during a blackout period the company's proposal was incomplete and discussed aspects of the bid that were missing. After discussions with Loverro, Boeing officials submitted another version during the blackout period, raising legal concerns among agency procurement staff, one of the people said. Loverro abruptly resigned in May after less than a year on the job, telling employees in an email seen by Reuters that he took certain 'risks' to meet NASA's 2024 moon deadline. 'It is clear that I made a mistake in that choice for which I alone must bear the consequences,' Loverro said, without explaining the mistake he was referring to. The suspect The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Kolade Emmanuel Balogun, who was charged to court for offences bordering on internet fraud. The charge against the suspect read; That you, KOLADE BALOGUN (a.k.a Willam Davis, alias Behemoth) sometime in March 2020 or thereabout at Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court attempted to commit an offence of cheating by impersonation, pretending and representing yourself to be a white man called Willam Davis, alias Behemoth to an unsuspected white woman on dating site called SeekingArrangement as it is contained in your Gmail account: Willamdavis@gmail.com and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria. Balogun was found guilty of the charges against him after being arraigned before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin. The Judge who sentenced the convict on Thursday August 13 after he pleaded guilty to the charge against him, said he should pay a fine of N50,000 and control traffic at a junction behind the Kwara State Ministry of Physical Planning for three months commencing from August 17 to October 17, 2020. He also ordered that other items like phones and laptops recovered from him, should be forfeited to the Federal Government. Scholars, faith leaders sign Philadelphia Statement supporting civil debate, rejecting 'cancel culture' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A group of scholars and faith leaders, including prominent Southern Baptists like Albert Mohler and Russell Moore, have signed a statement supporting discourse and opposing cancel culture. Known as the Philadelphia Statement and made public Tuesday, dozens of individuals from different religious and academic backgrounds have signed the declaration. The statement denounces the existence of social media mobs, cancel culture, and campus speech policing as a threat to the freedom of expression and overall public discourse. Truly open discoursethe debates, exchange of ideas, and arguments on which the health and flourishing of a democratic republic crucially dependis increasingly rare, reads the statement. If we seek a brighter future, we must relearn a fundamental truth: Our liberty and our happiness depend upon the maintenance of a public culture in which freedom and civility coexistwhere people can disagree robustly, even fiercely, yet treat each other as human beingsand, indeed, as fellow citizensnot mortal enemies. It warns that any society which allows people to be shamed or intimidated into self-censorship of their ideas and considered judgments will not survive for long. As Americans, we desire a flourishing, open marketplace of ideas, knowing that it is the fairest and most effective way to separate falsehood from truth. Accordingly, dissenting and unpopular voicesbe they of the left or the rightmust be afforded the opportunity to be heard. They have often guided our society toward more just positions, which is why Frederick Douglass said freedom of speech is the great moral renovator of society and government. Signatories include Russell Moore, president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky; Ayaan Hirsi Ali, research fellow at the Hoover Institution and founder of the AHA Foundation; Robert P. George, professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University; Robert Shibley, executive director of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education; Rabbi Pesach Lerner, president of the Coalition for Jewish Values; and Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, among others. According to Merriam-Webster, cancel culture is aimed at boycotting or demanding the censorship of another person, usually a public figure, for past controversial statements or actions. The dictionary website traces the term back to the #MeToo movement and African-American twitter users, who wanted to cut support to celebrities who had committed past wrongs. There is a performative aspect to canceling, one that (it could be argued) paradoxically amplifies that which it seeks to squelch, if only for the moment, notes the dictionary website. To cancel someone publicly often requires broadcasting that act, which then makes the target of ones canceling a subject of attention. The objective behind canceling is often to deny that attention, so that the person loses cultural cachet. In July, Harpers Magazine published an open letter signed by over 150 writers, journalists, academics, and other public figures denouncing modern curbs on free speech. Titled A Letter on Justice and Open Debate, notable signatories included Gloria Steinem, Noam Chomsky, J.K. Rowling, Malcolm Gladwell, and Margaret Atwood. The way to defeat bad ideas is by exposure, argument, and persuasion, not by trying to silence or wish them away. We refuse any false choice between justice and freedom, which cannot exist without each other, stated the letter. We need to preserve the possibility of good-faith disagreement without dire professional consequences. If we wont defend the very thing on which our work depends, we shouldnt expect the public or the state to defend it for us." Life saver: Frank Pantridge is recognised internationally for transforming the treatment of heart attacks with his invention, the portable cardiac defibrillator On this, the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, it is only right to remember the story of one of Northern Ireland's greatest war heroes, Professor Frank Pantridge MC. Hillsborough-born Pantridge attended Friends' School, Lisburn before going on to study medicine at Queens University, Belfast. When the Second World War broke out, in August 1939, he immediately volunteered for the Royal Army Medical Corps. Eighteen months later, he was posted to the Singapore, where he was assigned as medical officer to the Gordon Highlanders. On February 15, 1942, when Singapore fell, he was taken prisoner of war and, on April 28, was transported to Thailand to join the thousands of other prisoners already slaving on the infamous Thailand/Burma railway. Pantridge suffered badly from beriberi during his time on the railway and, in August 1943, he became very ill. Despite this serious illness, he was determined that he would not die, repeating to himself each day: "I will not leave my bloody bones in Burma." Expand Close Terrible regime: Prisoners of war working the Thailand/Burma railway / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Terrible regime: Prisoners of war working the Thailand/Burma railway On August 15, 1945 - exactly 75 years ago today - Japan surrendered. The Second World War was finally over. Four weeks later, the hospital ship SS Oranje docked in Singapore. On board was a former colleague of his, Dr Tom Milliken, from Bangor. Millikin recalls: "The upper half of Frank's body was emaciated skin and bone; the lower half was bloated with the dropsy of beriberi and he weighed under five stones. He was a physical wreck, but the eyes said he was indestructible." Milliken arranged for him to get on board a ship due to depart for Southampton. On October 17, 1945, Frank Pantridge arrived back home. Tears welled up in his eyes when the Liverpool-to-Belfast ferry entered the mouth of Belfast Lough and he saw his beloved Northern Ireland again. Despite still being very weak, his priority was to resume his medical career. He managed to get a houseman's position in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast at a salary of 1 per week, plus free board and lodgings. Expand Close Life saver: Frank Pantridge is recognised internationally for transforming the treatment of heart attacks with his invention, the portable cardiac defibrillator / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Life saver: Frank Pantridge is recognised internationally for transforming the treatment of heart attacks with his invention, the portable cardiac defibrillator Pantridge began to devote his attention to the heart, embarking on a study of the effects beriberi had on the heart. He chose pigs for his study, as a pig's heart resembles that of a human more closely than any other animal. To carry out studies on animals, you needed a licence, but such trivia never worried him. In 1948, the young doctor left Northern Ireland to take up a fellowship at Ann Arbor University in Michigan. While he was there, Harry S Truman, was elected President of the United States, a fact that delighted him; he was always grateful to Truman for dropping the atomic bombs in August 1945. He said at the time: "President Truman saved my life." After spending a year in the US, studying the workings of the heart, he returned to Belfast in 1949, where he was appointed a registrar at the RVH. It was well known that most sudden deaths from heart problems occurred as a result of ventricular fibrillation. Pantridge was convinced that, if an electric shock could be applied to the chest as soon as possible after a cardiac arrest, the patient might be saved. He started looking for a way to take the large and bulky defibrillators that were available in hospitals out to patients. Along with Dr John Geddes and a bio-engineer, Dr John Anderson, Pantridge set about making a defibrillator that could be fitted into an ambulance. Expand Close Harry S Truman / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harry S Truman In 1965, they produced the world's first portable defibrillator, running off car batteries. The following year, the first ambulance with a defibrillator onboard took to the streets of Belfast, making it the safest place in the British Isles to have a heart attack at that time. During the late 1960s, Pantridge lived on the outskirts of west Belfast - a five-mile journey from the RVH. He would drive through Andersonstown, despite warnings about taking such a dangerous route; in true fashion, he chose to ignore these. Several times, he was stopped by young men who wanted his car. His response was always the same: "I'm a doctor in a hurry to get to the hospital to look after your relatives. If you don't get out of my way, the continuity of your anatomy will be in grave danger." They always got the message. "My car was never hijacked," he recalled. Pantridge became so well known in the USA as the "father of emergency medicine" that he could have run for political office. In 1999, he was invited as a guest of honour to Uruguay for the First Uruguay Congress of Pre-Hospital Coronary care. He said at the time: "I seem better known in South America that I am in Northern Ireland." Pantridge was made a freeman of the Borough of Lisburn, an honour that entitled him to "drive sheep through the borough". Some of his colleagues said that they wouldn't have put it past him to rustle a few sheep and take up the privilege - just for the hell of it. Frank Pantridge was certainly a genius, but he could haggle over details almost endlessly. He did not marry and much of his social life was centred around meeting friends and acquaintances over a drink after work. This "lubrication of the synapses", as he called it, often seemed dramatically to unleash his academic ingenuity. His love of a drink occasionally got him into trouble, though. One evening, on his way home from a boozy dinner, he was stopped by the police and breathalysed. He demanded to see the calibration curve on the instrument to ascertain its accuracy. The police were amazed; they had never been asked this before. As he was unable to give a urine sample, they took him to the station for a blood test, where he insisted that they take it from an artery, as his veins were in bad shape. Pantridge insisted that a surgeon colleague in the hospital come and take the sample, but as he was not there and so much time had elapsed, the police gave up. One of his colleagues at the RVH is quoted saying: "Frank had a veneer of arrogance at times, but this often concealed an innate shyness. On a good day, Frank looked as though he owned the world. On a bad day, he looked as though he didn't care who owned it." The world owes a great deal of gratitude to this humble Hillsborough man. Adapted from Frank Pantridge MC: Japanese Prisoner of War and Inventor of the Portable Defibrillator by Cecil Lowry, published by Pen & Sword Military, priced 19.99 By PTI MUMBAI: Actor Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda-starrer social-comedy "14 Phere" will go on floors in November, production house Zee Studios announced on Friday. The film, which will be shot in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Lucknow, will be released on July 9, 2021, the studio said in a statement. Devanshu Singh will direct the movie from a script by Manoj Kalwani. Massey said the film talks about some pertinent things relevant in current times. "The script hit me hard, the ideology of the film and the main thought behind the story is something that has been with me, individually. When I heard the script, it felt like two halves becoming one, I would have been a fool to let go of this film," Massey said. Kharbanda describes "14 Phere" as a socially relevant script with an element of humour. "I absolutely love the character of Aditi that I will be portraying in this film. I am super excited to get started in bringing Aditi to life. I'm looking forward to sharing screen space with Vikrant who's a terrific actor," Kharbanda said. Zee Studios CEO Shariq Patel sai that currently the team is working on pre-production, and prepping to go on floor in November. "'14 Phere' is an important film that beautifully captures the heart and heartland of India - it's a quirky, contemporary, emotional and relevant film which also highlights how weddings, most often, happen between two families, not just two people. We needed a fresh, new pairing and we couldn't have been happier to have Vikrant and Kriti on board," Patel said. Irish actor Barry Keoghan pictured with Petre Sandru, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland and members of the Just Ask Youth Group in Dublin at the launch of the 2020 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund in Dublin Fingal youth projects can now apply for funding to the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund which was launched recently by Irish actor, Barry Keoghaan. BAFTA nominated Irish actor and well-known young Hollywood star Barry Keoghan was back in Dublin recently to launch the 2020 Coca-Cola Thank you Fund. Marking a decade of support for youth-orientated non-profit groups across the island of Ireland, this year's Fund has been reimagined to help groups respond to the impact of COVID-19. During the peak of the pandemic Coca-Cola provided relief funds to those most at risk from the immediate challenges of the crisis leaving 50,000 available through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund this year. In recognition of the vulnerable and marginalised young people that have been disproportionately affected by the economic and socio-economic impact of the pandemic, Coca-Cola Thank You Fund grants totalling 50,000 will be awarded to charities, community and voluntary organisations and NGOs seeking support for initiatives targeted at supporting young people aged 16-25. Dublin based social enterprise, Recreate Ireland were Coca-Cola Thank You Fund recipients in 2019, receiving a grant for the development of their outreach project 'Plastic Planet,' transforming single-use plastics into new works of art. The National Gallery of Ireland also received funding for their 'Creative Careers' project - series of arts programming by young people, for young people aiming to inspire and empower the next generation. Originally from Summerhill in Dublin's north inner-city, Barry Keoghan was involved in his own local community group before his meteoric rise to fame and credits the skills and supports he received during this time for his success today. Encouraging community leaders in Ireland to take action and apply for funding at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou. Barry said: 'I think we're all a little overwhelmed at the moment, but for someone who's only support is their local youth group, this is a particularly difficult time. 'I know my own local community project in Dublin had a massive impact on me. It gave me the confidence to get to where I am today, so to have that connection taken from you when you need it most is scary. None of us really know what lies ahead, but youth groups provide a lifeline for young people right across Ireland - they're the bridge between night and day at times, and the grants available through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund will help them to provide the services that are changing the course of young Irish people's lives for the better.' Petre Sandru, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland, said: 'In recent months as the health crisis and its impact continued to evolve Coca-Cola remained focused on supporting our people, customers and the communities we serve. 'From providing funds to social enterprise, FoodCloud, to help deliver 100,000 meals to communities in need to donating media space and securing PPE for the HSE, 'The Coca-Cola Company alongside our bottling partners Coca-Cola HBC Ireland has been focused on helping vulnerable groups in our communities.' Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Friday visited the family of late Honorable member of the States House of Assembly, Musa Mante Baraza. Mante Baraza was in the early hours of Thursday, attacked and shot dead in his residence by unknown gunmen. Governor Mohammed deplored the act of murder, saying his administration would not rest until the culprits have been apprehended. I assure that Bauchi Government will work with the security agencies to unravel the perpetrators of this detestable act. No stone will be left unturned, he said in a statement late Friday. Today, I led a delegation to pay condolence to the family of the late Hon. Musa Baraza, who until his death, was an honourable member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly. Hon Baraza was a dedicated and humble man. And his death is a significant loss to the state. It is also our prayer that Allah SWT comforts his family, his colleagues, and forgive his sins and grant him AlJannah Firdaus. Ameen, Mohammed continued. A member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Honourable Musa Mante was on Thursday gunned down by unknown attackers at his residence in Baraza, Dass Local Government Area of the state. Mante, who represented Dass constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, was murdered around 2 am this morning, even as the same gunmen abducted his two wives and a year-old-daughter. Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ahmed Wakili confirmed the incident, saying that the police has intensified efforts to rescue the victims and arrest perpetrators. Meanwhile, Mantes body was further deposited at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi. The deceased lawmaker was buried Friday, according to Islamic rites. The new Sligo Oyster Farm Tours will give people an insight into the history of Sligo's oysters, how they are farmed and the process of preparing them for consumption. The tours were launched last Tuesday with a special event. The tour begins with a 15-minute Wild Atlantic Way rugged coastal walk with tour guide and owner of Sligo Oyster Experience and WB's coffee house, Aisling Kelly Hunter. Along the way participants will learn ancient Sligo folklore and the history of Sligo's native oysters, before arriving at the Coney Island Oyster Farm where they will experience oyster farming and the process of cultivation first hand. The group will be guided through the history of oyster harvesting along the Wild Atlantic Way and learn about the methods which are still in use today. Aisling will also introduce the group to coastal foraging by showing them where edible sea vegetables grow along the coast, such as sea kale and samphire. The tour concludes with a visit to the Sligo Oyster Experience Cart where the group are treated to an oyster shucking demonstration before indulging in unlimited Sligo oysters with all the condiments, including a delectable seaweed dressing. Aisling said, "I came up with the idea to run tours after my husband, Glenn, who is an oyster farmer, introduced me to oysters, their history and harvesting in Sligo Bay. My background is in business and tourism and I saw a niche in the market for a unique experience showcasing this wonderful tradition. The tour really gives people an opportunity to appreciate Sligo. The Sligo Oyster Farm Tour adds an exciting 'hands-on' element. People really get to see how the oysters are grown, the impact the weather has on the farm and the hard work involved from the beginning of the process to the final product. I feel like the appreciation of the tasting experience that follows is heightened greatly by this element." Noel Carter, whose oyster farm forms part of the tour, said: "Aisling hinted at the possibility of doing some farm visits and it was only a matter of time before her enthusiasm was going to get the better of everybody and we had to give in. It's no problem giving in because she's obviously very committed to tourism and I've no doubt that her energy is going to make it a huge success." John Neary, Wild Atlantic Way/Failte Ireland said: "It's wonderful to work with people like Aisling, who have the enthusiasm and passion for what they do. I look forward to working with Aisling. I think it's going to be a huge success. This is an authentic, real experience." Mairtin Walsh, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, added: "I think this is going to be a great success. Now the oyster is getting the recognition it deserves. People are going to find out more about oysters and really enjoy them." Exclusive: Report of US seizure of Iranian fuel cargoes false Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 5:44 PM A report that the United States has seized Iranian fuel cargoes aboard ships bound for Venezuela is false, an informed Iranian source has told Press TV. The informed source explained on Friday that the fuel shipments in question had already been purchased and paid for and that neither the vessels carrying them nor the shipments themselves were related to Iran. The Wall Street Journal had on Thursday cited US officials as saying that the US government had for the first time seized vessels allegedly carrying Iranian gasoline to Venezuela. It said the US had recently seized four vessels, called Luna, Pandi, Bering, and Bella, on the high seas and they were being transferred to Houston, Texas. Iran's Ambassador to Venezuela Hojjat Soltani had already rejected the report as another "lie" and an instance of "psychological warfare." "Neither the tankers are Iranian, nor their owner or flags have anything to do with Iran," he said in a Twitter post on Thursday. Soltani said that the fake news aimed to cover up the failure of the US administration's policy toward Iran. Iran sent five ships carrying Iranian fuel to Venezuela in May and June to help revive oil refineries in the South American country, which is suffering from a severe fuel shortage as a result of US sanctions. The Iranian shipments sent on Iranian-flagged vessels and operated by Iranian crew drew the ire of the United States, which has imposed draconian sanctions on both Iran and Venezuela with the aim of choking off their oil revenues. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Derren Brown has admitted that he was 'pretty insufferable' in the early days of his career. The star, 49, who has had a screen career spanning two decades, has since become Britain's best-loved magician, but admitted he originally only wanted to impress people with his magic skills. However the master illusionist insisted he just 'likes being liked' and that has been 'good enough' for him despite his award-winning success. Icon: Psychological illusionist Derren Brown, 49, has revealed how all he has ever wanted is to be liked and said he was 'pretty insufferable' trying to impress in his early 20s Speaking to The Mirror, Derren said many people go into magic in order to 'impress' and because they are 'insecure' which he said does not make someone 'likeable'. He added: 'We don't like people who are trying to impress us. I think I was pretty insufferable in my early 20s, just wanting to do tricks all the time to impress people.' 'Getting a bit known made that easier for me,' he said. 'I just like being liked, and that has been good for me.' Star: Brown said he cannot watch himself back on TV in the early days with his 'deep voice' that he described as 'odd' and 'weird' And the star said he cannot watch himself back on TV in the early days with his 'deep voice' that he described as 'odd' and 'weird'. He said: 'I find anything I've done or said more than 10 minutes ago embarrassing. With the TV generally.' Brown has been famous since his 2000 series Mind Control for Channel 4. But it was a controversial on-air game of Russian roulette in 2003 that made him a household name. Quiet: Brown said his natural shyness can appear to others as 'arrogant' said it is 'disconcerting' when he becomes a target of another's fantasy He has hypnotised people to rob a security van, 'assassinate' Stephen Fry and made front page news for predicting the National Lottery results in 2009. Brown said his natural shyness can appear to others as 'arrogant' said it is 'disconcerting' when he becomes a target of another's fantasy. However he also revealed that he has made friends over the years by recognising people in the audience and talking about the show afterwards. South London-born Brown studied at Bristol University where his fascination with magic began. During his student days he attended a show by Martin Taylor which inspired him to start performing tricks in bars and restaurants where he put on his first show in 1992. Magician Jerry Sadowitz, who Brown met at the International Magic Shop in London, put him in touch with a production company which led to the hit Channel 4 show. His show, 20 Years of Mind Control Live, airs on Channel 4 on Sunday. Tripoli, Libya(PANA) - Libyan and Tunisian officials have held a meeting in Tripoli to discuss the reopening of their borders and conclusion of an agreement to facilitate transit between them Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes. When he catches the eye of a shopworn news director (Rene Russo) who welcomes the chance to raise her station's ratings, Louis goes to increasingly greater lengths to catch the "money shot." After setting up, click NIGHTCRAWLER!After setting up, click HERE to join the party! JOIN US TONIGHT at 10 PM EDT (I am not home until after 9 PM nowadays) TO WATCH Please stand by for the updated link around 9:30-9:45 PM EDT, its blank for now pending post approval I hope some of you can join me at this later hour. I look forward to it! hjalmartazar I'm so sorry I haven't been able to be on ONTD this week & make any earlier announcement posts or polls. Last week I was in the middle of almost 24 hours worth of online training modules crammed into 2 days of training for my new temp job working for the C****s B****u. (Im not supposed to share detailed info online). I started working in the field this week between my already 40/hr week "essential worker" day job, & let's just say I've been a little overwhelmed. With that said though, I truly enjoy looking forward to these Netflix Parties at the end of my week to help unwind & socialize with my internet friends.1) Using Chrome Browser, Click here & click on the "Install Netflix Party" button. Once you are redirected to the Chrome Web Store, click "Add to Chrome" to finish installing Netflix Party.2) On movie night, the host ONTDer will open a video in Netflix to watch and start playing the video.3) To create a party, the host will click on the red "NP" icon located next to the address bar. Then click "Start Party" to get the party started, and share the party URL in an ONTD post to invite everyone to join!4) To join a party click on the party URL, which will redirect to Netflix's website.Then click on the "NP" button next to the address bar, and you should automatically join the party.The host ONTDer will have full control of playback, and all attendees can chat in the sidebar A medic holds a sample taken for Covid-19 testing in Da Nang, July 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong. A 63-year-old man has died of Covid-19 while a woman who returned from Russia relapsed after once recovering from the disease in June. Vietnams 22nd fatality occurred in the pandemic epicenter, Da Nang, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday morning. He died of septic shock, multiple organ failure, pneumonia caused by Covid-19 and end-stage renal failure. The man had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for the last three years and was a regular visitor to the Da Nang Hospital for dialysis. He was diagnosed with Covid-19 on August 5 while at the hospital. The new patient, numbered 930, is a 41-year-old woman who had Covid-19 in Russia and recovered, and flew to Vietnam on August 10 on a repatriation flight that landed at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh Province. While quarantined at a military facility in nearby Nam Dinh Province, she tested positive for the new coronavirus a day after arriving. Two days later more tests confirmed the infection. Vietnam has had 930 Covid-19 cases, 328 of them imported. Now 471 patients are in hospital. She's jetted off to Greece for a sun-soaked getaway amid the easing of lockdown restrictions. And Jess Wright looked nothing short of sensational as she showed off her physique in a white lace bikini while soaking up the sun in Mykonos on Saturday. The former TOWIE star, 34, appeared happy and relaxed as she reclined on a sun lounger at her luxury resort. Stunning: Jess Wright looked nothing short of sensational as she showed off her physique in a white lace bikini while soaking up the sun in Mykonos on Saturday Jess oozed confidence as she modelled the sexy white two-piece which featured an intricate pattern and a pretty scalloped trim. The TV personality added a simple white mini sarong to her look, while she accessorised with oversized rounded sunglasses. She swept her raven locks into a sleek bun for her relaxation session and added a touch of bling with gold jewellery. Clearly enjoying her relaxing break, Jess flashed a smile to the camera while she clutched on to her refreshing beverage. Paradise: The former TOWIE star, 34, appeared happy and relaxed as she reclined on a sun lounger at her luxury resort Loved-up! Jess later thanked the hotel staff for taking such good care of them with an 'appreciation post' Sweet: Jess, who was wearing a chic white shirt cove-up, held her beau's hand in the snap The reality starlet has been keeping her fans up-to-date with her holiday as she's shared a plethora of stunning snaps on her Instagram. On Friday, she looked sensational as she showcased her incredible figure in a pink bikini while enjoying the morning sun on the Greek island. Making the most of her tropical getaway, Jess threw her arms up in the air while displaying her slender pins and taut midriff in the slinky two-piece. Earlier this month, Jess left her brother Mark's wife Michelle Keegan in awe as she asked her to be one of her 15 bridesmaids for her wedding to fiance William Lee-Kemp. Lovely: The reality starlet has been keeping her fans up-to-date with her holiday as she's shared a plethora of stunning snaps on her Instagram Beach babe: On Friday, she looked sensational as she showcased her incredible figure in a pink bikini while enjoying the morning sun on the Greek island The beauty took to Instagram to share a sweet clip of her presenting her loved ones with socially-distanced invitations consisting of a flower balloon and personalised poems. Actress Michelle, 33, was dressed in a satin robe as she gasped from her doorstep and admitted: 'I'm actually shaking!' The former Our Girl star was caught off-guard as she sported sleepwear and went make-up free in front of her 2million home in Chigwell. Michelle couldn't contain her delight as she covered her mouth in shock before gushing: 'Aww Jess, I want to hug you!' Living her best life: Making the most of her tropical getaway, Jess threw her arms up in the air while displaying her slender pins and taut midriff in the slinky two-piece The bride-to-be kicked off the video by teasing her by unique floral invites by The Bloom Room before visiting her sister Natalya's home. The model, 19, broke down in tears as her eldest sibling asked if she could be her Maid Of Honour. Reading out the message by Word It Rhyme, the youngest member of the Wright clan said: 'So Natalya's, as I become I as I become a bride I need you by my side, please be my maid of honour.' Influencer Jess later went behind the wheel as she explained her lengthy mission while sporting disposable gloves. How sweet! Earlier this month, Jess left her brother Mark's wife Michelle Keegan in awe as she asked her to be one of her 15 bridesmaids for her wedding to fiance William Lee-Kemp The brunette revealed she originally planned to share the invitations over a meal as she explained: 'I'm on my way to deliver my bridesmaids a poem and a balloon flower thing to ask them to be my bridesmaids as I can't get them all together to ask them. 'Originally I wanted to have a dinner and surprise them with these flowers, but please of the pandemic, that's not possible. I'm delivering it on their doorsteps with gloves, standing at least two metres away, if not more.' The media personality cut a chic figure in bridal white as she visited many of her pals in front of their homes and in the middle of the street. On her decision to switch up her plans, the TV star wrote: '2020 has been a strange year for us all. Woman on a mission: The beauty took to Instagram to share a sweet clip of her presenting her loved ones with socially-distanced invitations What a surprise: Actress Michelle, 33, was dressed in a satin robe as she gasped from her doorstep and admitted: 'I'm actually shaking!' 'I got engaged just before this pandemic, & when rules were eased, told my (many) nearest & dearest that I wanted them to be my bridesmaids, from a distance. 'I hope everyone is keeping safe & we get through this soon & a big thank you to all our NHS & key workers for supporting us.' Jess will need to enjoy her downtime to its fullest before diving into wedding preparations for her nuptials to her businessman fiance William in June 2021. Foreign leaders send condolences over former Party leaders passing Indonesian Government, President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua, and leaders of several foreign political parties have sent condolences to the Vietnamese Party and State leaders and family of former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Le Kha Phieu over his recent passing. At the tribute-paying ceremony (Photo: VNA) In the message, the Indonesian Government affirmed that the former Party leader made great contributions to the struggle for national independence and dedicated his whole life to the Vietnamese people. In a message to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, Chairman of the Presidium of the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Kazuo Shii spoke highly of the late Vietnamese leaders dedication to the national independence and development, as well as ties between the two Parties and friendship between the two peoples. President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua Gustavo Porras Cortes also cabled condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State and people. President of the Labour Party of Mexico Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Mexico, and the Central Committee of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador conveyed condolences to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong. General Secretary of the Marxist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Nayef Hawatmeh and head of the External Relations Committee of the Moroccan Party of Justice and Development El Orani Slimane also sent condolences to the CPV Central Committee. Chairman of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party Mamdouh Habashi expressed condolences to the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations. On August 14, ambassadors and representatives from international organisations paid tribute to the late leader in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City./ The Red Arrows fly over the Titanic slipway, the Titanic Museum and the Samson and Goliath cranes in Belfast as part of their UK-wide flypast to mark VJ Day (Brian Lawless/PA) The Red Arrows flew over some of Belfasts famous landmarks as Northern Ireland marked the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. The spectacular flypast of the Titanic building and the Harland and Wolff cranes came after several memorial events took place across the region to commemorate the end of the Second World War. Earlier, at Belfast City Hall, a two-minute silence was held during a socially distanced memorial event at the Cenotaph. In Co Fermanagh, a piper played in front of Enniskillen Castle at dawn ahead of a service in the grounds of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. Six Second World War veterans were invited to the event, including 100-year-old Burma Star recipient Thomas McBrien. The service involved a flypast by a US Navy aircraft. Unfortunately, the clouds prevented anyone getting a clear view of the Poseidon P-8 aircraft as it passed. Expand Close Burma Star recipient Thomas McBrien at a commemorative event in Enniskillen (Roy Crawford/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Burma Star recipient Thomas McBrien at a commemorative event in Enniskillen (Roy Crawford/PA) First Minister Arlene Foster was among those who addressed the event in the heart of her own constituency. A piper also played outside Hillsborough Castle early on Saturday, while a beacon was scheduled to be lit later in nearby Lisburn. In Belfast, Lord Mayor Frank McCoubrey laid a wreath at the Cenotaph after the Last Post was played by a bugler. After the short service at City Hall, Mr McCoubrey said it was frustrating that health restrictions had prevented the occasion being marked with a major event, but said it was important to avoid mass gatherings. Its the 75th anniversary of the official end of World War Two, it was very solemn, he said. Were in difficult times at the moment and there wasnt very many people here but I think it was very, very important that we came out and remembered those who sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom. Ive no doubt, with the importance of the day, if it hadnt been for the position we are in at the moment with Covid, there would have been far more people here today from across the city. Hyderabad, Aug 15 : One of the three cubs born to a Royal Bengal tigress at the Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) here has been named after late Colonel Santosh Babu, the braveheart who laid down his life during a violent clash with the Chinese troops in Ladakh. NZP authorities made the announcement to mark the 74th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. NZP Curator N Kshitija, who hoisted the national flag, announced that one of the male cubs was named 'Santosh' in honour of the late Army officer. Rich tributes were paid to Santosh Babu, who hailed from Telangana. Tigress Asha had given birth to three male cubs during the lockdown. The two other cubs are named 'Surya' and 'Sankalp'. The curator said NZP was known as one of the green and best zoos in the world, made possible due to the untiring efforts of its officers and staff. She presented appreciation certificates and cash rewards to employees who had rendered excellent services during the year. Meanwhile, Santosh Babu's widow Santoshi on Saturday formally joined as the Deputy Collector. She met Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and submitted her joining report. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had handed over the appointment letter to Santoshi on July 22. He had also asked his Secretary Smita Sabharwal to be with Santoshi till she gets proper training and settles down in her job. On June 22, the Chief Minister had visited the family of Santosh Babu in Suryapet town to console his parents and other family members and handed over Rs 5 crore as ex gratia. He had also handed over to Santoshi the letter of appointment to Group 'A' job and documents pertaining to allotment of a house site measuring 711 square yards in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The Colonel and 19 other soldiers were killed in the clashes with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh on June 15. The Colonel is survived by his wife, a nine-year-old daughter, and a four-year-old son. A lot of people must be worried that former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith reportedly will plead guilty to one offense, implying that he has cut a deal with prosecutor John Durham. Judging by the ridiculous coverage, progressive media heavyweights are panicking. Jerry Dunleavy of the Washington Examiner explains what Clinesmith has to answer for: Kevin Clinesmith, who worked on both the Hillary Clinton emails investigation and the Trump-Russia inquiry, will admit that he falsified a document during the bureaus targeting of Carter Page, according to multiple reports. Clinesmith, 38, claimed in early 2017 that Page was "not a source" for the CIA when the CIA had actually told the bureau on multiple occasions that Page was an operational contact for them a falsehood used to obtain a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act renewal against Page. Durham submitted a five-page filing to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday, noting Clinesmith was being charged under 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3) for False Statements. (snip) Clinesmiths responsibilities during the Trump-Russia investigation included communicating with another specific United States government agency, which is believed to be the CIA, as well as providing support to the FBI special agents working with the Justice Departments National Security Division to pursue FISA warrants and renewals against Page. (snip) In June 2017, Clinesmith was tasked by a special agent for the bureau with determining whether Page had ever been a source for the CIA. A liaison at the CIA reminded Clinesmith that the agency had already told the FBI in August 2016 that Page had been an "operational contact" for the agency for years and that Page had provided the CIA with information, but Clinesmith falsely relayed to the FBI agent that the CIA had explicitly told him Page was never a source," according to a DOJ inspector general report released in December. Clinesmith then altered an email from the CIA to claim that Page was not a source." The FBI agent relied upon that fraudulent information when signing the final Page FISA, and the FISA court was never told about Page's potentially exculpatory work for the U.S. government. On or about June 19, 2017, within the District of Columbia, the defendant, Kevin Clinesmith, did willfully and knowingly make and use a false wiring and document, knowing the same to contain a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and entry in a matter before the jurisdiction of the executive branch and judicial branch of the Government of the United States, Durham said in the federal court filing. If he is allowed to plead guilty to one simple offense, there is danger that Clinesmith will embarrass leading media outlets, corrupt bureaucrats and Obama administration officials with some facing potential criminal legal liability. Lindsey Graham believes he has a lot to trade in return for leniency: Lindsey Graham, a powerful Republican ally of the president, told Fox News on Friday night that he thought a house of cards was about to topple. (snip) Graham told Trey Gowdy, host of the Hannity show on Friday, that the news about Clinesmith's pending plea marks a 'great day for the rule of law.' He added: 'Something tells me that Mr Clinesmith knows where the bodies are buried, and if I were in the FBI working on Crossfire Hurricane [the Russia investigation], I would be very worried right now.' Recall that the impetus for appointing Robert Mueller as front man for special counsel investigation led in practice by Andrew Weissman came from leaks to the media of former FBI head James Comey briefing Donald Trump about the lurid and fictitious Steele dossier. Media were players, not just observers. The medias reaction to the news of the intended guilty plea shows them scrambling. At the very top of its article on the news, the New York Times editorialized in a sub-headline: Prosecutors did not reveal any evidence of the kind of broad anti-Trump conspiracy among law enforcement officials that the president has long alleged. Translation: nothing to see here. The missing word is yet. The Times also featured a comment from Clinesmiths lawyer: Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email, Mr. Clinesmiths lawyer, Justin Shur, said in a statement. It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues as he believed the information he relayed was accurate. But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility. Apparently picking up on the completely implausible statement of the lawyer, NPRs coverage was even more disgraceful. Mollie Hemmingway called out the taxpayer-funded outlet: NPR, which was a co-conspirator in the Russia collusion hoax, redefines Clinesmith pleading guilty to falsifying evidence against Trump affiliate Carter Page as something "related to information-gathering." Our media are completely and utterly corrupt. https://t.co/m0Y0zqFC8A Mollie (@MZHemingway) August 14, 2020 I am reasonably confident that Clinesmith is doing his utmost to minimize the length and unpleasantness of his incarceration as a guest of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This picture, via Facebook, does not reveal the kind of guy who would do well if sent to a prison with hard cases: Facebook via the Daily Mail Fresh facts have emerged on why President Muhammadu Buhari delayed the appointment of four Supreme Court Judges, despite recommendations by the National Judicial Council (NJC) since 2019. According to SaharaReporters, the NJC had in October 2019 forwarded four names of judges for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court. The names recommended to the President include Adamu Jauro (North-East), Emmanuel Agim (South-South), C. Oseji (South-South); and Helen Ogunwumiju (South-West). Despite the recommendations last year, President Buhari refused to forward the names of the justices to the Senate for confirmation. According to a Presidency source, Buhari refused to send the names because the North-West geopolitical zone did not have a candidate on the list. The President swore not to confirm the list until the candidate from the North-West was recommended by the National Judicial Council for appointment to the Supreme Court. The NJC just recommended the appointment of four other justices including Justice Mohammed Garba, who headed last years Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as Supreme Court judges. With this new development, President Buhari has decided to send the names of the eight Justices to the Senate for confirmation. Since the eight Justices will now be appointed at the same time, the Southerners among them who ought to have been appointed since last year will be on the same level with the Northerners recently appointed. KanyiDaily had reported on Friday, August 14, 2020, Buhari finally approved the appointment of four Supreme Court Judges from Northern Nigeria, including Justice Mohammed Garba who upheld his second term election. The four new Supreme Court judges include Justice Mohammed Garba (from the North-West geo-political zone); Justices Tijjani Abubakar (from the North-East Zone); Justice Abdu Aboki (North-West Zone) and Mohammed M. Saulawa (North-west Zone). BENGHAZI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2020) Libya is negotiating supplies of the vaccine against COVID-19 with Russian pharmaceutical companies, Saad Agoub, the health minister of the eastern interim government, told Sputnik. The world's first COVID-19 vaccine, named Sputnik V, was registered in Russia earlier this week. The Russian Ministry of Health has said that Sputnik V had undergone all necessary checks and proven to be capable of building immunity against the virus. "We are negotiating via the Health Ministry's channels with several local and international representatives, who are linked to vaccine manufacturing in Russia as well as in Great Britain, the US, and China," Agoub said. According to the Johns Hopkins University database, Libya has a total of 7,327 coronavirus cases, with a death toll of 139. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 14, 2020 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China AFP: On August 13, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and the US issued a joint statement announcing the normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel. Israel will stop annexation of Palestinian lands. What is China's position on this issue? Zhao Lijian: China has noted relevant reports as well as the joint statement saying that Israel will stop annexing part of Palestinian territories and is committed to reaching a comprehensive, fair and enduring solution to the Palestinian issue. China welcomes measures that will help alleviate tension between countries in Middle East and promote regional peace and stability. We hope that relevant parties will take concrete actions to return the Palestinian issue back to the track of equal-footed dialogues. China's position on the Palestinian issue is consistent and clear. We will continue to firmly support and play a positive and constructive role in the Palestinian people's just cause to regain their lawful national rights and build an independent state. Al Jazeera: Arab States have long been supportive of the Palestinian cause. They proposed many peace deals. China has been fighting for the just cause of the Palestinian people on the international stage. Is China concerned that the UAE's move this time will affect the implementaiton of relevant peace deals? Does China believe that the UAE's move will hurt the interests of the Palestinian people? Zhao Lijian: I just made clear China's position. China's position on the Palestinian issue is consistent and clear. We will continue to firmly support and play a positive and constructive role in the Palestinian people's just cause to regain their lawful national rights and build an independent state. Reuters: The United States said on August 13 it was requiring the Confucius Institute US Center that manages Chinese-backed Confucius Institutes in the United States to register as a foreign mission. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement said the CIUS was an entity advancing Beijing's political propaganda. What's the ministry's comment on this? Zhao Lijian: The Confucius Institute US Center (CIUS Center) has issued a statement in response. I want to stress that the US move is demonizing and stigmatizing the normal operation of a cooperation project between China and the US. We deplore and firmly oppose that. The Confucius Institutes have long served as a bridge and bond between China and other countries in education and cultural communication and exchange, which enables people in other countries to learn the Chinese language and understand China. All the Confucius Institutes in the US are jointly established in American universities based on their voluntary application and in line with the principle of mutual respect, friendly consultation, equality and mutual benefit by the Chinese and American universities. The operation and management of the Confucius Institutes are open and transparent in strict compliance with local law and regulations of these universities. Their contributions to the cultural and people-to-people exchange between China and the US have been widely applauded by the universities and others in the US. I must point out that for some time certain people in the US, driven by ideological prejudice and selfish gains, have been grossly and unscrupulously disrupting and obstructing China-US cooperation projects, including the operation of the Confucius Institutes. This is just unacceptable. Some in the US are trying to revive an anachronistic cold war, but such attempts will never succeed since the international community has seen them through. We urge the US to discard cold-war mentality and zero sum game mindset and immediately correct its mistake. It should stop politicizing relevant education exchange projects, disrupting normal cultural and people-to-people exchange between China and the US and eroding mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides. We reserve the right to make further reactions. CCTV: According to media reports, visiting US Secretary of State Pompeo signed with the Slovenian foreign minister a joint declaration on 5G security. Pompeo said on Twitter that this reflects "our common dedication to protecting privacy and the individual liberties of citizens". Earlier he also talked about joint efforts to build a clean network in the Czech Republic. Does China have any comment? Zhao Lijian: Now that the so-called "Clean Network" seems to be Pompeo's pet phrase, perhaps he should explain to us, why is it that the shadowy figure of the US can be found in cyber espionage activities from PRISM to Equation Group to ECHELON? Why is it that American intelligence authorities run a 24/7 surveillance of cellphones and computers all over the world, even eavesdropping on leaders of US allies for over a decade? This is apparently the modus operandi of a hacker state. It is just preposterous that as the secretary of state of a country with cyber theft stains all over it, Pompeo should have the audacity to propose the building of a "Clean Network". The US claim of "protecting privacy and the individual liberties of citizens" is nothing but a high-sounding pretext. If those in the US think they can fool the world with this, then they must have gravely underestimated people's insight. From meddling in other countries' 5G rollout to openly coercing allies into excluding Huawei, certain US politicians have no scruples resorting to state power as long as it can stop Chinese businesses from getting an edge in 5G. I'm afraid what they have in mind is not a "Clean Network", but an "American Network"; not a "secure 5G network", but a "US surveillance network"; not protection of "privacy and liberties" of the individual, but consolidation of "digital hegemony" of the US. In an era of globalization, 5G development should follow the concept of international consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Politicizing relevant issues or creating cliques won't be conducive to 5G progress. Such practices run counter to the fair competition principle and go against the common interests of the international community. We believe the world can see certain US politicians for who they really are, reject US hegemonic interference in other countries' 5G cooperation, and uphold a fair, just, open and non-discriminatory business environment. New York Times: The agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has the potential to increase the tension between the UAE and Iran. Does China plan to moderate or try to moderate between the UAE and Iran, given that China is one of the few countries that are friends with both of them? Zhao Lijian: I have made clear China's position. China attaches high importance to peace and stability in Middle East and will continue to play a positive and constructive role in this respect. Beijing Daily: We noted that the China-Africa Webinar on Solidarity against COVID-19 was held on August 11. could you give us more details on this meeting and update us on the latest progress in anti-epidemic cooperation between China and Africa? Zhao Lijian: On August 11, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Chinese Mission to the African Union co-organized the China-Africa Webinar on Solidarity against COVID-19. Officials from the Chinese foreign ministry and the AU Commission, experts on disease control and representatives from renowned think tanks attended the virtual meeting. The Chinese side elaborated on the progress in implementing the outcomes of the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 in June, which the African side spoke highly of. They also expressed readiness to work with the Chinese side to fully follow through on the outcomes of the summit, firmly uphold multilateralism and international fairness and justice, jointly fight against the virus and bring benefits to the African and Chinese people. Since the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 was held two months ago, the two sides have coordinated closely to implement the consensus of the leaders and the outcomes of the summit, with new progress achieved in China-Africa cooperation in various fields. Chinese and African leaders have maintained close exchange and the interaction between political parties, legislature and localities on the two sides have gradually been resumed. China continues to provide urgently needed anti-epidemic supplies to the African side and Madame Peng Liyuan has donated anti-epidemic supplies to 53 African countries through the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD). China has sent medical expert teams to 11 countries in Africa and more will be dispatched to Guinea and South Sudan, among others. A list of paired-up Chinese and African hospitals is being compiled. China has implemented the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and signed agreement or reached consensus on debt payment suspension with over 10 African countries. The implementation agreement on the construction of the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been signed with preparatory work underway. Many Chinese companies have flown their employees back to Africa by charter flights to resume work and production, and Chinese investments in Africa have grown despite COVID-19. Going forward, China stands ready to work with Africa to advance epidemic control and resumption of work and production in a coordinated manner and fully implement the outcomes of the extraordinary summit, in particular strengthening exchange and cooperation on vaccine development and deployment, trade and investment facilitation, localization of industries, and e-commerce so as to address the concerns and meet the needs of the African side. We will join hands to see to it that the China-Africa cooperation prevails over the epidemics and continues to recover and move ahead. APP: My first question is about Pakistani nation celebrating its independence day. I wondered if you have any comment? Also, there have been reports of the arrival of a batch of ventilators in Pakistan as part of China's aid to the country. Could you share more about Chinese support for Pakistan in fighting COVID-19? Zhao Lijian: As today marks Pakistan's Independence Day, I would like to take this occasion to send our congratulations. I have every confidence that Pakistan will achieve greater progress in national development and the friendship between China and Pakistan will see more fruitful chapters. A handover ceremony for 1,000 ventilators given by China to Pakistan was held at the Islamabad International Airport on August 13. Muhammad Afzal, chairman of Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), expressed thanks for the government and people of China. Afzal said at the ceremony that the huge amount of assistance flowing in from China helped Pakistan to contain the epidemic. China also helped with the locust swarms in Pakistan. These have added a new dimension to bilateral friendship. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Pakistan have been standing together and offering each other mutual assistance, a telling example of the two peoples' profound, deep and honey-sweet traditional friendship. China attaches high importance to supporting Pakistan in combating the epidemic. Anti-virus cooperation between the two sides shows that solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to deal with global challenges. Statistics show that the Chinese government has provided Pakistan with seven batches of anti-epidemic supplies this year, including such items as masks, protective gowns, testing reagents, ventilators, protective goggles, surgical gloves and thermometer guns, altogether weighing up to 100 tonnes. China will continue to fight COVID-19 alongside Pakistan and expand cooperation in areas like material assistance, experience-sharing and R&D of traditional medicine and vaccine until we vanquish the virus. Kyodo News: The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army has recently carried out combat exercises. From the Foreign Ministry's standpoint, what signals do you think such exercises have sent out? Zhao Lijian: The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command has already issued a press release on their exercises. I can give you some information. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command recently systematically sent troops from multiple military branches into multiple directions and organized consecutive, realistic drills in the Taiwan Straits and its northern and southern ends. The drills further tested and improved the troops' joint combat capability. Recently, a certain major country has been continuously making negative moves on the Taiwan question, which has sent seriously wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces and severely threatened peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the patrol and exercise activities by the PLA are necessary operations aimed at the current security situation in the region and safeguarding national sovereignty. The troops will always be on high alert, take any necessary measures, resolutely counter any provocative actions that could result in "Taiwan independence" and separate the country, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Xinhua News Agency: US President Trump said in an interview that Hong Kong would lose its ability to attract business and serve as one of the world's chief financial hubs if it is to be run by the Chinese government. What's your comment? Zhao Lijian: China has repeatedly stated its position on US fallacies regarding Hong Kong. I would like to stress that Hong Kong earned its position as an international financial hub through the hard work of generations of Hong Kong people with the strong support from China's deepening opening-up. It is the natural result of our firm commitment to the basic state policy of "one country, two systems". It is not a gift from any country that can be taken away on a whim. Bloomberg: Can you comment on the upcoming trade talks between the US and China that are scheduled to happen soon? Can you give us any details on the agenda? What does China hope to achieve? Is there any discussion about altering the text of the phase one agreement given the coronavirus? Zhao Lijian: The Commerce Ministry has responded to the relevant question. I can recap some of the main points here. Since the phase one trade deal was signed in January, the Chinese side has been fulfilling its commitment in real earnest with relevant authorities putting in a large amount of work to ensure implementation. The COVID-19 pandemic and US restrictive measures including stronger export control against China have had some impact on China's import of certain goods and services. Under current circumstances, the two sides need to work together and strengthen cooperation to overcome the challenge. We hope the US will stop restrictive measures and discriminatory practice against Chinese companies to create conditions for implementing the phase one trade deal. As to the China-US high-level trade talks you asked about, once there is confirmed information, relevant authorities will release it in a timely manner. Reuters: We heard yesterday that there were some chicken wings imported from Brazil that were infected with COVID-19. I want to ask if China is going to be carrying out extra checks or imposing additional restrictions on imported food? Has the foreign ministry been in communication with any other countries about the import of frozen meat or other produce and possible measures to stop the import of COVID-19 in food items? Zhao Lijian: The virus is an enemy of all mankind. Since COVID-19 broke out, China, Brazil and other countries have taken active prevention and control measures to safeguard people's life and health. While continuing prevention and control efforts on an ongoing basis to guard against resurgence, countries are striving to resume work and production so as to bring socioeconomic development back to the right track. Regarding the issue you mentioned, we noted relevant reports and are verifying the situation. The Chinese competent authority has stayed in contact with the relevant country on the issue in a friendly and science-based manner. We will advance the resumption of work and production while maintaining ongoing epidemic control measures and properly resolve the relevant issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus Releases Alleged Russian Mercenaries Detained In Purported Plot By RFE/RL's Russian Service August 14, 2020 Belarus has released 32 Russian citizens who were detained near Minsk last month and accused of being mercenaries plotting to "destabilize" the situation in Belarus around the August 9 presidential election. The Russian Prosecutor-General's Office posted a statement on August 14 that the men had been released and returned to Russia. He added that they will not face criminal charges in Russia, even though mercenary activity is illegal under Russian law. A 33rd man who was arrested at the same time was not released because he also has Belarusian citizenship, in addition to his Russian passport. Ukraine had sought the extradition of 28 of the men, saying they had fought on the side of Russia-backed separatist formations in parts of eastern Ukraine. The men were detained at a resort near Minsk on July 29 and identified as employees of the Russia-based Vagner private security contractor. Minsk claimed the men were in Belarus to conduct a "color revolution" as Lukashenka sought a sixth term as president in a highly contentious political campaign. Moscow claimed the men were traveling through Belarus on their way to Istanbul before flying to "a third country." At the time the men were detained, Belarus claimed that up to 200 other Russian mercenaries were in the country as part of the purported destabilization plot. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-releases-alleged -russian-mercenaries-detained-in-purported -destabilization-plot/30784340.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 Malaysian government is continuing its persecution of broadcaster Al Jazeera for producing a short documentary film that exposed the brutal treatment of migrant workers by authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has come after a series of government attacks on journalists and activists in recent months. Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based news network, reported a police raid on their offices in capital city Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday last week. Malaysian police, as part of an ongoing investigation into seven journalists from the network, seized two computers from the offices. Criminal Investigation Chief Huzir Mohamed revealed that police had also raided two local TV stations, Astro and Unifitv, which aired the documentary. The 25-minute program, titled Locked Up in Malaysias Lockdown, was broadcast on July 3. It shone a light on the mass arrest and mistreatment of thousands of undocumented migrants in Malaysia, carried out under the pretext of containing the virus and protecting public health. Shortly after the program aired in Malaysia and internationally, the government announced an investigation of Al Jazeera for sedition, defamation, and transmitting offensive content, supposedly in violation of the countrys Communications and Multimedia Act. Officials criticised the film as being inaccurate, misleading, and unfair. The film documented the increased military presence across Kuala Lumpur throughout the lockdown. Poor migrant neighbourhoods, in particular, were locked in by barbed wire and barricades, patrolled by armed troops. Mobile phone footage showed that testing for COVID-19 in these areas was utilised to identify illegal foreign workers and transport them to other locations; operations which the film described as raids. More than 2,000 migrant workers have so far been arrested and sent to detention centres, that are fast becoming hotspots for the virus. A Pakistani man tells the films presenter about the physical abuse he suffered from Malaysian security forces when he was arrested with his wife and two children. Large groups of migrants, including children and the elderly, were forced to sit on the ground under the sun for hours, handcuffed and chained together, waiting for their documents to be verified. Malaysias economy relies substantially on a workforce of 2.2 million migrant labourers, while 4 million more are estimated to reside there illegally, accepting the most exploited and dangerous jobs to eke out a living. Defence Minister Ismail Saabri Yaakob is shown replying to a suggestion that the governments treatment is unjust: Cruel? Not true They have no rights to be in our country because they entered illegally. In a statement defending the journalists, Al Jazeera noted that its 101 East series, an Asia-Pacific current affairs show that presented the film, has a reputation for producing in-depth journalism of the highest quality. Many of its programs have been internationally recognised with prestigious awards from across the globe. On July 10, however, the seven staff members responsible for the film were summoned to Bukit Aman Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for interrogation. National Police Chief Abdul Hamid Bador told reporters that the journalists were called in as witnesses, not suspects pertaining to the investigation, according to Reuters. After the police questioning, Al Jazeera expressed grave concerns that its staff and the individuals interviewed in the program had faced abuse, death threats, and the disclosure of their personal details on social media. A Bangladeshi worker named Mohamad Rayhan Kabir, 25, who appears throughout the film, was arrested on July 24 and has been denied access to his lawyers. In the film, Rayhan expresses disgust at Malaysias handling of migrants: This is not the way to treat a human This is a total, a clear act of racism A clear act of humiliating people. Having issued a search notice for Rayhan just four days after the program aired, the Immigration Department then revoked his work permit. Its director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said that Rayhan will be deported and blacklisted from entering Malaysia forever, without specifying whether he had committed a crime. Last weeks police raid was condemned by Al Jazeera as a troubling escalation in the Malaysian governments crackdown on press freedom. Giles Trendle, managing director of Al Jazeera English, called on authorities to cease this criminal investigation into our journalists Our staff did their jobs and theyve got nothing to answer for or apologise for. Journalism is not a crime. However, the police-state treatment of Al Jazeera is only the latest example of a broader clampdown on freedom of speech and media independence, which has been intensified under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who came to office in March. In May, journalist Tashny Sukumaran, a correspondent from Hong Kong-based paper South China Morning Post, was questioned by police after reporting on the aggressive roundup of migrant workers during Malaysias lockdown. Refugee activist Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias was also called in about a Facebook post on the governments neglect of, and indifference towards, the living conditions facing migrants and refugees. Satellite television provider Astro was recently fined by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for broadcasting a 2015 Al Jazeera documentary about the notorious 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman, allegedly for containing offensive content. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose party is allied with the ruling coalition, was implicated in the murder. Meanwhile, popular online news portal Malaysiakini and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan are facing rare contempt of court charges from the attorney-general over remarks posted on the websites comments section critical of the Malaysian judiciary. The mounting campaign against media freedom has provoked international outrage among press organisations and civil liberties groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Muhyiddins government to stop treating journalists as criminals. Similarly, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) sent out a plea in a written statement last month: It is urgent for Malaysia during the pandemic to prioritise the publics right to know and for the media to be able to report freely and fairly without the threat of persecution. The coronavirus pandemic has provided the government an opportunity to limit reporters access to events and newsmakers. Zurairi AR, assistant editor of the Malay Mail, has said that media outlets which are not state-owned remain barred from regular briefings. The PM and most of the ministers have largely avoided press conferences, choosing to instead hold special addresses broadcast through TV, making conversation with the government largely one-way, he remarked. The assault on free speech in Malaysia is taking place within the context of an ongoing political crisis. Muhyiddin presides over a highly unstable governing alliance, Perikatan Nasional (PN), with the slimmest of parliamentary majorities. The suppression and intimidation of critical voices in the media, as well as political opponents, is aimed at silencing any political opposition. Police have sent the findings of their Al Jazeera probe to the Attorney Generals Chambers, which will determine whether to bring charges against the networks staff. Last Thursday, immigration authorities declined to renew the visas of the two Australian reporters, Drew Ambrose and Jenni Henderson, who directed the film. The warship is pulled from alongside the naval dockyard at Haulbowline Island by a tugboat before gently gliding under its own steam through the shimmering waters of Cork harbour. Under the gaze of St Colmans Cathedral and the picturesque seaside town of Cobh, the LE George Bernard Shaw turns its bow towards the ocean for another patrol over the horizon in the area of the Atlantic known as the cocaine highway into Europe. The ships powerful engines pick up speed as it traverses the channel at the harbour entrance overlooked from either side by the old forts of Camden and Davis propelling it into the mercifully flat expanse of the ocean. The sky is azure; the sunshine glorious. The first thing that our military mariners learn when they go to sea is not to take the Atlantic for granted; rather it is a mercurial beast, with mountainous waves and swells that can push a ship and its crew to the limits of their endurance. The Irish Independent has been given exclusive access and a bottle of sea sickness pills to spend several days on the 67m patrol vessel to witness first-hand what the Naval Service calls a maritime defence and security operation. Whenever we have visitors, the weather is good and the ocean is calm, but this is the exception and it is deceptive, the captain, Lieutenant Commander Phil Dicker, tells us as he supervises the bridge. Out here we have some of the roughest, stormiest seas in the world, with waves of over 24 metres in the north-west Atlantic regularly recorded in huge swells, which can make life pretty uncomfortable boarding a yacht carrying a drug shipment in a force-seven gale is not for the faint-hearted. The veteran sailor, who has more than 20 years service, knows what he is talking about. On a winters night in 2008, he took part in a major operation resulting in the seizure of over 750m worth of cocaine when the Naval Service intercepted the yacht Dances with Waves in the midst of gale-force winds and seven-metre waves 240km off the south coast. Expand Close The LE George Bernard Shaw / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The LE George Bernard Shaw It was one of Europes biggest maritime seizures of a drug that has been the source of violence and devastation on the streets of Irish towns and cities. The captain sets a course that will take the patrol 200 miles south-west of Fastnet Rock to the edge of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which has some of the worlds richest fishing grounds, and is the busiest shipping lane between the Americas and western Europe. The 90-metre warship was commissioned last year and is the newest addition to the fleet, the fourth of its class, purpose-built for the Irish Naval Service. The ships are named after famous Irish literary figures: the others are the Samuel Beckett, the James Joyce and the William Butler Yeats. The George Bernard Shaw carries enough fuel, safety equipment, support systems and essential supplies to ensure its 55 personnel are self-sufficient for up to four weeks at sea. It also bristles with enough firepower to start a small war. About an hour off shore, Lt Cmdr Dicker issues the order to the gunnery crews to prove the ships weapons which, in laymans terms, involves test-firing them. After establishing a safe cordon around the ship and with no other vessels on the horizon, the ship erupts in gunfire. The primary weapon, the powerful Oto Melara 76mm cannon at the bow, fires a deafening fusillade that obliterates a target buoy several kilometres away. It can accurately fire up to 85 rounds a minute at a target 20km away. Expand Close Paul Williams with the crew of LE George Bernard Shaw / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Paul Williams with the crew of LE George Bernard Shaw For a while, the George Bernard Shaw feels like it is engaged in a full-scale battle as its two deadly 20mm Rheinmettall cannons join the barrage in chorus with two more 12.7mm heavy machine guns and four smaller general-purpose machine guns. There is no doubt that this is a ship not to be tangled with. Its engines also make it one of the fastest ships operating in the Atlantic, delivering up to 23 knots with an operational range of 6,000 nautical miles. The on-board generators can supply enough electricity to power a small town. The ship is also equipped with an array of information technology and state-of-the-art detection and tracking systems capable of monitoring the movements of all vessels within the EEZ. It also collates intelligence that is pooled and shared by various agencies including the Air Corps Maritime squadron, who support their Naval Service colleagues operating two versatile Casa 235 aircraft. This is our day-to-day business in the navy where we patrol the Irish EEZ and beyond when we are required to. Our role is to protect the vast natural resources within that 200-mile radius which belong to the Irish State, including fossil fuels, fisheries, renewable energy. Fish conservatively worth up to 2bn a year are extracted within our waters every year, so our job is to ensure that this resource is adequately policed and protected, says Lt Cmdr Dicker as the firing ends and the voyage resumes. The Irish Navy is the States only law enforcement agency out here and we are its sentinel on the high seas; the ship is the equivalent of the garda patrol monitoring the road and who is using it. This is our beat and we are the roadblock, using a ship that is an agile and resilient resource with a crew that possesses all the expertise and the firepower, if necessary, to carry out whatever mission we are assigned. The ship has a responsibility to uphold Irish and EU sovereignty, but today the emphasis is on drug trafficking, which is one of the Naval Services top operational priorities. Over the past 12 years, its men and women have been directly involved in the interception of more than 2bn worth of cocaine. A big part of what we do involves drug interdiction operations and we are on constant alert for suspicious vessels. The crew members on watch are encouraged to be curious just like the dedicated garda and investigate any ship on our screens that is acting out of the ordinary, says Lt Cmdr Dicker. If we spot something suspicious, as we regularly do out here, the information is relayed back to Naval Ops in Haulbowline for a full background check on the vessel to see if it is on any international suspect lists. Unless I am specifically told not to intercept the vessel, I will go and find out who it is and what they are up to as a matter of course. Today we are headed into the southerly most part of our area of operations, which is the main route for cargo ships between Western Europe and North and Central America. Consequently, it is also the main cocaine smuggling route into Europe. It is the international drug dealers Route 66 or cocaine highway and they tend to hide in plain view. Unsung heroes The Naval Service is a member of a Joint Drugs Task Force with the gardai and customs, which in turn plays a key role in the EU-funded Maritime Analysis Operations Centre (Narcotics) Maoc (N) which is based in Lisbon and headed by former garda assistant commissioner Michael OSullivan. Maoc is responsible for co-ordinating the collective police, naval, air force and customs resources of seven nations to combat the trafficking of cocaine along Europes western coastline, which is also the main source of supply for Irish gangs such as the Kinahan cartel. Expand Close Military exercises: Alex Pluchart on machine-gun duty on board LE George Bernard Shaw. Photo by David Jones / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Military exercises: Alex Pluchart on machine-gun duty on board LE George Bernard Shaw. Photo by David Jones In a recent interview with the Irish Independent, OSullivan described the Irish Naval Service as the unsung heroes in the fight against international drug trafficking The Irish Navy go out there on the high seas in all weathers at short notice to track suspect vessels we are monitoring we would be blindsided without them, the former drug squad detective said. As it continues its journey, the George Bernard Shaw receives an urgent message from Naval HQ ordering them to locate and track a suspicious ship that is crossing the Atlantic from the US and headed for Western Europe. While it later turns out to be an exercise, the vessel of interest suddenly elevates the patrol to mission status. The suspect ship is outside the EEZ, in the southwest approaches to the zone. The requirement for the operation is for us to maintain a covert presence and we are now working up to the highest state of readiness that the ship comes to, says the captain. We have proven our weapons, weve proven all our systems on board and made sure our boats and machinery are working correctly so that the platform, as we term it, is fit to fight. The first phase of the operation is for the George Bernard Shaw to locate the vessel and covertly monitor its progress over the horizon using high-tech radar systems. As this is an intelligence-led operation, sent down from Maoc and the Joint Task Force, the Naval Service must be prepared to board the vessel and arrest the crew if ordered to do so. Alternatively, they will hand it over the covert surveillance to one of their other navy partners. The service conducts operations like this on a regular basis but for security reasons they are rarely made public. Over the next 24 hours, the crew prepares for every eventuality. Every member can multitask. Cooks double as machine gunners, while electricians are also members of armed boarding crews. Surveillance team The second phase of an operation like this is the boarding phase, which will involve an armed team in high-speed rhibs [rigid-hulled inflatable boats] and they will go covertly to maintain the element of surprise, get on board very quickly, secure the crew and the ship, says Lt Cmdr Dicker. The next is the search phase, where we conduct an initial search to determine if there is an illegal cargo on board, and then we are into the diversion phase, which is to put a crew on board to bring the vessel back to port. At the same time, a second navy ship would be dispatched to the area with members of the gardai and customs to make formal arrests. As the shadowing operation takes the warship deeper into the Atlantic, the specialist armed teams practise their shooting skills and boarding drills. As the operation enters its third day, the ship receives new orders: find out what flag the vessel is flying. This will require sending a surveillance team under the cover of darkness. The George Bernard Shaw is now more than 300 miles from Cork. At 10.30pm, after the sun has dropped down below the horizon, the boarding crews depart the mother ship in two high-powered rhibs and disappear into the eerie darkness. The boats will travel up to 16 miles over the horizon and creep up on the target ship, obtain images and return without the suspects ever knowing they were there. It is a nervous time as the George Bernard Shaw remains in total darkness and in radio silence, waiting for the teams to make it back safely. Expand Close An armed team in a high-speed rhib, accompanied by a dolphin, head off to inspect a suspect vessel. Photo by David Jones / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An armed team in a high-speed rhib, accompanied by a dolphin, head off to inspect a suspect vessel. Photo by David Jones We are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean if something goes wrong here, there is very few people I can call. It is a time when we need absolute focus, says the captain. Then, about 90 minutes later, two tiny dots of light can be seen in the dark distance signifying that the surveillance teams are on the way home with information to send back to base and to their partners in Maoc. The exercise that has just taken place is similar to an operation co-ordinated by Maoc two years ago that led to the seizure of over two tonnes of cocaine by the UKs National Crime Agency off the coast of Cornwall. A Naval Service vessel and an Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft shadowed a catamaran carrying the cocaine from South America for a British crime syndicate as it sailed close to Irish waters. When todays mission is over, the captain radios the skipper of the suspect ship to inform him that he had been used in a surveillance exercise. He asks if they had detected either the George Bernard Shaw or the rhibs; they had seen nothing out of the usual. Lt Cmdr Dicker is happy with the outcome. That for us is mission accomplished. It means that our level of readiness and training are up to standard for the real thing. 'I'd love to see Gordon Ramsay fry an egg in a force-10 gale and then fire a machine gun up on deck' Petty Officer Aileen Hanna, the head chef on the LE George Bernard Shaw, has laid down the gauntlet to fiery celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay: could he could cook for the ship's crew in the middle of an Atlantic storm? The senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) has the distinction of becoming the Naval Service's first female chef after joining up 18 years ago, following in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, who were also in the navy. But PO Hanna is also a trained machine-gunner, which makes her more than a match for Ramsay, who is famed for his temper tantrums in the kitchen. Expand Close Quick-fire meals: PO Aileen Hanna, Able Cook Alex Pluchart and Able Supply Zoe Gallagher on deck. Photo by David Jones / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Quick-fire meals: PO Aileen Hanna, Able Cook Alex Pluchart and Able Supply Zoe Gallagher on deck. Photo by David Jones Every day on patrol, seven days a week, Aileen and her able cooks Alex Pluchart and David Onderko - both of whom are originally from Poland - prepare an average of 120 meals for a hungry and very appreciative crew of officers, NCOs and sailors. Having spent four days at sea, we can understand why the cook is the most important person on the ship, even in the eyes of the captain. The grub is as good as anything served in a top-notch civilian eatery. "It doesn't matter what sort of weather we are in, we still have to be in here working every single day. After 18 years of experience, I know how to make an omelette in a force-10 gale, but it's not nice," PO Hanna says. "The food is what keeps people going when things are tough. It is not an easy life at sea. There are fabulous moments and I have great memories, but it is hard work and it is our job to keep morale up. "We cater for different tastes and needs; we are the hub of the ship and we take pride in that. People can't go out and order a chipper or luxuries like that, so we try to make things as nice as we can here." But like everyone else on board, PO Hanna and her staff are also trained to do other important jobs on board. "We need to be able to do almost everyone else's job on board. I fire machine guns, I handle the ammo, I do firefighting, I do damage control; you need to be able to multitask on board an Irish Navy ship. It keeps the job interesting. I love it. "I would love to see Gordon Ramsay cooking in a force-10 gale down in the galley, frying an egg and then make his way to the deck and fire off shots like Alex does," she smiles confidently, standing next to Alex, who has just fired 100 rounds from her general purpose machine gun. Now there's a challenge for you, Gordon. WASHINGTON The Pentagon is forming a new task force to investigate UFO sightings that have been observed on several occasions by U.S. military aircraft. The creation of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, or UAPTF, continues an effort begun in recent years to investigate unexplained aerial incidents encountered by the U.S. military. "The Department of Defense established the UAPTF to improve its understanding of, and gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAPs. The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security," the Pentagon wrote in a statement late Friday. "The Department of Defense and the military departments take any incursions by unauthorized aircraft into our training ranges or designated airspace very seriously and examine each report. This includes examinations of incursions that are initially reported as UAP when the observer cannot immediately identify what he or she is observing," the statement added. The new task force will be overseen by the Department of the Navy and will report to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. The U.S. Navy has previously led efforts to look into unidentified aerial phenomena since the service branch has reported several encounters involving their aircraft. In April, the Pentagon declassified three videos captured by U.S. Navy pilots that appear to show unidentified flying objects. Two of the videos contain U.S. service members commenting on how quickly the object moves while another speculates that the unidentifiable object could be a drone. "Dude, this is a f--king drone, bro," one pilot is heard saying. Another says "there's a whole fleet of them." "They're all going against the wind. The wind's 120 knots to the west. Look at that thing, dude!" the first person says. "It's rotating!" President Donald Trump has previously described the U.S. Navy footage as "a hell of a video" and told Reuters that he wonders "if it's real." In June, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted that the Pentagon as well as intelligence community leaders should provide a public analysis of the encounters. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 15:02 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e439e3 1 Health HaloDoc,health,#Indonesia75 Free Healthcare platform Halodoc will offer free teleconsultation services on Monday as part of Indonesia's 75th Independence Day celebration. In a statement, Halodoc chief marketing officer Dionisius Nathaniel described the current pandemic as a challenge that "we must win together". So, in addition to providing its Chat Dengan Dokter (Chat With a Doctor) service for free, the platform will also offer special prices for users who book rapid or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests through its mobile app or website on Aug. 17. Available one time per user via the Halodoc app or website throughout the day on Monday, the chat service allows new or existing users to consult with general practitioners or medical specialists, including gynecologists and psychiatrist. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 testing promotion includes discounts of up to Rp 150,000 (US$10.17) and is applicable at over 250 of the company's hospital and lab partners across Indonesia. Halodoc cooperates with more than 20,000 licensed doctors and over 2,500 hospitals and pharmacies in more than 100 cities. According to Dionisius, the company has organized more than 150,000 rapid and PCR tests as of the month of July. Halodoc also allows users to purchase medicine or supplements and have them delivered to their doorstep, as well as book their visit to a hospital to avoid long lines. (kes) __________ Editor's note: Paragraph two in this article has been corrected. Fire has gutted over 100 wooden and metal structures used as dwellings and commercial purposes by some residents of Shiashie, a slum community near East Legon in Accra. Personal properties worth several thousands of Ghana Cedis were destroyed as many were left homeless. Divisional Officer Grade II (DOII) Ellis Okoe Robinson, Head, Public Relations, Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), told the Ghana News Agency. He said the GNFS had a distress call around 2145 hours and promptly got to the scene and brought the fire under control at 0032 hours, thus preventing it from spreading to other parts of the community. He said with five firefighting pumps, the inferno was completely extinguished at 0257hrs. There was no casualty. The cause of the fire was under investigation, according to the officer. 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 T he RAFs Red Arrows have soared across UK skies as part of VJ Day commemorations. The UK-wide tour was arranged to mark 75 years since the day that Japan ceased fighting on August 15, 1945, marking the end of the Second World War. The planes were seen soaring over Belfast at around 2.15pm, leaving the famous red, white and blue smoke trails in their wake as it passed the landmark Titanic building and the Harland and Wolff shipyard. However, due to poor weather, the flypasts over Edinburgh, London and Cardiff were cancelled. The Red Arrows fly over Belfast / PA Instead, the Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft landed to refuel and meet three Second World War veterans. The three veterans were 96-year-old Whitson Johnson, Albert Lamond, 94, and 93-year-old Bernard Barney Roberts. Mr Johnson served in the RAF from 1942 to 1947, deciphering codes in support of the Fourteenth Army in the Far East and also spent time in Bombay, Calcutta, Chittagong, Hmawbi and Burma. The planes flew to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day / PA Royal Navy serviceman Mr Lamond served from 1943 to 1947 as a signalman. He fought at Sword Beach during the D-Day campaign and was later attached to the Pacific fleet that joined with the American navy under the command of Admiral Halsey in the Far East. Mr Roberts also served in the Royal Navy, from 1942 to 1947, initially serving on a minelayer to protect the Arctic convoys from German U-boats before fighting in Italy and North Africa. The planes left their smoke in their wake as they soared over the Titanic slipway / PA In London at around 5.30pm, the Red Arrows are scheduled to fly directly over the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to three Burma Star recipients, with Chelsea Pensioners to gather in front of the hospital to watch the Hawk jets as they fly overhead. Also today, a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight planes soared over the nation to commemorate the anniversary. Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster Bomber flew over the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson read the Exhortation. The Red Arrows flew over Belfast around 2.15pm / PA A series of events have been put on to mark the occasion including the televised remembrance service, where a two-minute silence was led by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at 11am. Richard Day, 93, from Boreham Wood, north London, who was involved in the decisive Battle of Kohima in north-east India, which marked a turning point in the Far East land campaign, was among about 40 veterans at the ceremony of remembrance. The planes were spotted during a remembrance service / PA Mr Day, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, served in the forces which relieved Kohima and Imphal and told of how he contracted malaria and dysentery at the same time, while fighting a highly determined enemy. He said: I think the worse part was crossing rivers at night, it was cold at night then all night in wet clothes and wet equipment, still having to move about. They (the Japanese) were very determined for their emperor. It was a glory for them to die for their emperor. They didnt appear to have any fear at all. VJ commemorations 2020 1 /24 VJ commemorations 2020 Pipe Sergeant Neil Esslemont of RAF Halton Pipes & Drums in front of Tower Bridge in London on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays a wreath during a national service of remembrance Getty Images Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London PA A wreath laid by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace PA The Prince of Wales lays a wreath during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day PA Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber fly over the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire PA Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London PA Major General Chris Ghika CBE the General Officer Commanding London District laying a wreath at the Horse Guard Memorial in London PA Piccadily Circus screens display VJ Day 75 Imagery MoD Crown Copyright via Getty Im Saturday marks 75 years since Japan surrendered to the Allied forces on August 15 1945, ending the conflict's hostilities PA Veterans arrive to attend the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire PA Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter arrives at a service of remembrance in Staffordshire PA Planes fly over a remembrance service in Staffordshire PA Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes at the VJ Day 75 commemorations PA Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a national service of remembrance in Staffordshire Getty Images Boris Johnson lays a wreath Getty Images A portrait of Captain Sir Tom Moore, by artist Alex Chamberlin, is unveiled at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ day PA Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber take to the skies PA Charles and the duchess laid poppy posies and wreathes at the Kwai Railway Memorial, while veterans looked on from benches dotted around the memorial, to maintain social distancing. The princes wreath read: In everlasting remembrance, Charles, while the duchesss poppy posy read: In everlasting remembrance of your service and sacrifice. Red Arrows prepare to depart Prestwick Airport The Covid-19 pandemic has meant tributes to mark the landmark anniversary have been organised online and in television, with the Duke of Cambridge to appear on screens across the country in VJ Day 75: The Nations Tribute, a pre-recorded BBC programme filmed at Horse Guards Parade. Developed with the Ministry of Defence and involving 300 members of Armed Forces personnel, the programme scheduled to broadcast at 8.30pm promises a host of famous faces reading tributes, military bands and dramatic visual projection, with the duke to give a special address thanking veterans and the wartime generation. If The Birdman of Alcatraz could only see his prison island now. On the grounds surrounding the fortress-like cellblock that once housed convicted murderer Robert Stroud, one might be able to spot nesting peregrine falcons and their fledgings, record numbers of breeding Brandts cormorants, pigeon guilemots and even a young bald eagle. Golden Gate National Recreation Area biologists spied the juvenile eagle this week in the island's trees, "a first for them," according to a post on the GGNRAs Instagram account. Bald eagles are not rare in California. They can be found near lakes, reservoirs and rivers across the state, but until now, not on Alcatraz, or at least not in many years. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the popular tours of The Rock were halted five months ago. The sudden absence of human crowds undoubtedly contributed to the upswing in avian activity. But the birds wont have the island to themselves much longer. On Monday, Aug 17, limited tours of the historic landmark will resume. Visitors are invited back on the island, but they will have to stay outside. They wont have access to the main cellblock, where the likes of Al Scarface Capone, Machine-Gun Kelly and the first Public Enemy No. 1, Alvin Karpis served their sentences. Alcatraz averaged nearly 6,000 visitors a day before the epidemic. However, the ferries to the island operated by Alcatraz Cruises will now limit passengers to 150 per trip rather than the capacity of 600-700. Ferry passengers will have their temperatures taken before boarding. Masks are mandatory while aboard, but not on the island unless social distancing cannot be maintained. A new downloadable audio tour of the islands outdoor attractions is reportedly being developed for visitors to replace the prison audio tour. And, of course, for the ornithologically inclined, there's never been a better time for bird watching. ALSO: There are hidden buildings and tunnels below Alcatraz's prison yard, study finds Alcatraz, a Civil War fort that was converted to a federal maximum security prison in 1934, quickly gained the reputation for being Americas toughest penitentiary. It was said to be unescapable, a claim still disputed as the prisoners involved in the infamous 1962 Escape from Alcatraz Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin remain on the U.S. Marshals Services wanted list. The official report on the case concluded that the three inmates drowned in the San Francisco Bays frigid waters. Saddled by high operating costs and deterioration of structures from years of salt spray, Alcatraz closed for good in 1963. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate Barack Obama was never a traditional American president. After all, he was the only president ever to come to the White House manifestly disliking and being embarrassed by the country he was elected to lead. With that as a background, maybe we shouldnt be surprised that hes publicly meddling in the upcoming election in a way that even Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton didnt try. (Former Republican presidents have more graciously stayed out of the fray.) Both of Obamas lines of attack are serious. First, hes explicitly saying that Trump is trying to throw the election by putting his managerial skills to work to address a postal system that is in complete disarray. Second, hes attacking his own former Vice President, who is now waiting in the wings to be officially crowned as the Democrat partys presidential candidate. The United States Post Office is a mess. In 2018, the Post Office had a net loss of $3.91 billion. In 2019, the net loss had more than doubled, reaching a staggering $8.81 billion. Even considering the claim that some of that money was a result of bookkeeping changes, the net loss was still almost $2 billion greater than in 2018. Thanks to the Wuhan virus, 2020 is promising to be the worst year ever. At the end of April, the Post Office said that its first-quarter losses were already $4.5 billion. In the second quarter, the Post Office lost another $2.2 billion. It is a barely functional institution. Nevertheless, Democrats are insisting that, come November, all voting in America must be done via the U.S. Mail, with states mailing ballots to every registered voter and the voters mailing them back. Others have pointed out that this will be a disaster, so I wont belabor the point. Its enough to say that the possibilities of fraud on a hitherto unknown scale are enormous. Moreover, with the Postal union just having endorsed Joe Biden, if Trump voters are forced to vote by mail, they'll have a reasonable fear that their ballots will never get counted. Donald Trump, looking at this mess, decided to do what hes done for decades: Install new management to make a business better. This isnt just his avocation; its also his constitutional job. In June, Trump appointed Louis DeJoy, an experienced businessman, as his Postmaster General. DeJoy immediately set about trying to slow the financial bleeding. Democrats, of course, complained. Things really went postal, though, on August 7, when DeJoy reassigned or removed 23 senior postal officials. Management shuffles are a logical step to take when an organization is dysfunctional. In our politicized age, this was going to be a hot potato under any circumstances. Still, Obama, who should be staying out of things, turned it into a nuclear potato by accusing Trump of deliberately sabotaging the election: Barack Obama slammed President Donald Trump for trying to actively kneecap the postal service to disenfranchise voters. Obama did not say Trumps name but did refer to the president in his interview on the podcast of David Plouffe, his former campaign manager, in some of his harshest, direct criticism of Trump to date. What weve seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a President who is explicit in trying to discourage people from voting, Obama said. What weve never seen before is a President say, Im going to try to actively kneecap the postal service to encourage voting and I will be explicit about the reason Im doing it. Thats sort of unheard of, he added. Ironically, Obama meddled on the same day that Dr. Fauci finally admitted that, if people could shop, they could also do in-person voting. But that wasnt the end of Obamas meddling. There was a leak on Friday (that Obama might have planted) that Obama is unhappy with Bidens candidacy: [A] number of anonymously sourced quotes from Obama leaked out throughout the 2020 Biden campaign where the former president allegedly expressed doubts about his former running mates fitness for office. Dont underestimate Joes ability to f--k things up, one Democrat who spoke to the former president recalled him saying. When lamenting his own diminishing relationship with the current Democratic electorate, particularly in Iowa, Obama reportedly told one 2020 candidate: And you know who really doesnt have it? Joe Biden. It sounds to me as if, with Kamala Harris now in place in the campaign, Obama is attempting to remove Biden from the picture entirely. Obama was never really going to let a senile man head the Democrat party ticket, and he may now be getting his ducks in a row to ease Biden out. Put simply, Russia couldnt have done a better job at interfering with a presidential election than Obama has done. Four years ago, his interference was covert and illegal. This year, its overt and disgusting. Image: Obama and Biden, by Obama White House; U.S. Government work, public domain. The Southgate extension is to follow a southeasterly course through the Dan River and Haw River basins to an endpoint near Graham. Emily Sutton, the Haw Riverkeeper who, like Pulliam, defends water resources, said the decision marks the first time shes seen the state deny a 401 certification through the federal Clean Water Act. Its not over, yet, but this is a pretty historic move, Sutton said. N.C. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) argued the permit denial was a mistake. While the Southgate line is linked to the Mountain Valley Pipeline, that project is nearly complete and any North Carolina permit approvals could have been made conditional on (its) completion, Berger said in a news release. Berger said studies determined the Southgate project could have been built safely with limited negative impacts to the environment. Construction would have created 1,100 jobs and an estimated $6.3 million in tax revenues, Berger said. The senator further blamed N.C. Gov. Roy Coopers administration for hindering economic development in rural areas like Rockingham County. In March, Chinese-born British author and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo left New York City in a rush. Shed been a visiting professor and writer-in-residence at Columbia University, and, just before the Covid-19 lockdown, she started to get very worried, she explains on a Zoom call from Berlin. I thought they were announcing closing borders, she says. And I changed my ticket, actually, to leave earlier. I left everything, so the rental flat is still full of clothes. And my office, full of books. Everythings thereincluding some chocolate she remembers leaving on the table. I thought, Oh Im just going to be back. Maybe a week or something, you know? Months later, home, for Guo, remains in wild, disconcerting flux. In a way, though, she is more prepared than most for the isolating geographical complications of a pandemic. Questions of identity, language, and what makes a homeboth internally and externallyare central to the 47-year-olds impressive body of work, which includes six books written originally in English, seven books originally in Chinese, and 11 films. Her new novel, A Lovers Discourse, which will be published by Grove Atlantic in October, returns to familiar topics for the author. Its an examination of linguistics, love, and the connections between people, often disrupted by country. She began exploring these themes in A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers, the first novel she wrote in her second language of English, which she largely taught herself. (That book was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2007 and has been translated into more than 20 languages.) Both A Lovers Discourse and A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary were inspired by the work of Roland Barthes, whose 1977 book A Lovers Discourse: Fragments Guo studied in her 20s while attending the Beijing Film Academy. Dictionary is told from the perspective of a young Chinese woman who moves to London and falls in love with an Englishman as she attempts to learn English. Discourse tackles similar themes, and is composed largely of conversations between a Chinese graduate student (like Guo once was) and an Australian man (Guos partner is Australian), who fall in love in Brexit-era London. In the book, the Chinese character, shes a new immigrant, Guo says. The man is Anglo-Saxon, widely European. As a white man in Britain, he naturally fits in, in terms of language and identity, whereas she struggles to find her way as an outsider. Searching for identity and connection, the unnamed narrator of Discourse moves through various rolesimmigrant, academic, lover, wife, mothereach of them allowing her to sample a sense of purpose, place, comfort, and belonging, or lack thereof, while giving Guo a chance to explore the nuances of feminism, power, language, and strangely subjective cultural expectations. What her character is truly after is authenticity, Guo says. The idea of authentic home and the idea of authentic love. Whether youre married or not. I really think its what we miss in modern life. The author calls her books documentary novels, and notes that she was almost offended when A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers was classified as fiction: In China, you dont separate fiction and nonfiction. Im not used to this idea: Are you a fiction writer? Are you a poet? I thought, Oh, but you cant categorize me. But the social reality of categorizationthat the groups to whom one belongs, where one belongs, and why can so easily define youisnt just a matter of her work. When Guo was a newborn in China, her parents, unable to care for her, gave her to a peasant couple in the mountains to raise. At the age of two, she was given back to her grandparents, who lived in small fishing village. Then, at seven, she rejoined her parents, living on a Communist-era compound. (She chronicles these early life experiences and others in her 2017 memoir, Nine Continents.) Art helped her survive these disconnections, and she left China in 2002, coming to London on scholarship to the National Film School. Shes since lived in Berlin, Switzerland, Paris, and the U.S. Ive been drifting along in all these countries as a short-time resident, she says. This is a habit as a person, a nomad, continues to drift and to look for a perfect home. Because I think, once you lose your original home, you just dont have one. Even after nearly 20 years in Europe, the author grapples with where she truly belongs: I became a legalized European, then Brexit happened, and now I am only British. Now, suddenly, Im a foreigner in Europe. At first, upon news of impending lockdown, Guo returned to her flat in East London, which she shares with her partner, a philosophy professor, and their seven-year-old daughter. In June, when travel restrictions were lifted, the family went to Berlin, with hopes of returning to London in a month. (Guo intends to go back to New York City at the end of August to start her new residency at Baruch College.) But the American Embassy where she needs to get her scholar visa has been closed indefinitely, she says. Travel bans between Europe and the U.S. continue. Home is as confusing to her, right now, as it is to her characters. In A Lovers Discourse, theres a scene in which the protagonist and her partner go to get the birth certificate for their child, who, by virtue of being born in London, is English, even though neither of her parents are. The clerk asks if they want an original copy, as well as the original certificate. The narrator is perplexed: How can a copy be original? The original copy I will produce here is original, the clerk explains, adding that future copies will be produced elsewhere, and therefore will not be original. This foregrounds a series of questions Guo continues to ponder throughout the novel: What is originaland does it matter? What is authentic? And how has colonialism influenced our thinking? Who owns the land originally? Guo asks. Before that, who was killed in order to allow that? I think we move around, we just think, Okay, we might not be original now, but we might be original 10 years ago or 10 years after. Where youre born is, after all, a very accidental human consequence, she says, and is more political than anything. We could be born in a war zone in Vietnam as American, or French in Burma, she says. Through the couple in A Lovers Discourse, Guo presents a countering, modern idea: We should abandon the idea of traditional land. Adopt a new concept of home and identity. Meanwhile, Guos own feelings continue to evolve. In my novel, theres a strong sentimental value to the new home, she says, an idea that the nature, the human geography, should be something close to your original homeland. But nowadays, after a pandemic, you think, Well, its not about that sentimentality, its about sustainability. The idea of home is even more pressing and also may demand to be more local. At the same time, she finds herself pulled back to New York City, arguably the least familiar of her many homes. As an artist, Guo posits, perhaps your home is the work you do, and your need to follow your drive to create wherever it takes you. I try to live as this process of my character going through different languages and different lands, she says. It became so obvious: language is a writers identity. Theres only one loyaltyto the language Im writing in now. Jen Doll is the author of the YA novel Unclaimed Baggage (FSG) and the memoir Save the Date: The Occasional Mortifications of a Serial Wedding Guest (Riverhead). The Democratic National Convention will open Monday in a spirit of unity and shared purpose, with the party's often-warring moderate establishment and galvanized liberal wings agreeing for now to set aside their differences to defeat President Donald Trump in November and deliver the White House to Joe Biden. That's not to say that divisions and disagreements don't exist. They do and likely will be back if Biden wins, potentially complicating his efforts to govern. Still, the overall mood on the eve of this year's convention contrasts with that of four years ago, when Hillary Clinton arrived in Philadelphia still dealing with the grievances of a long and rugged nominating contest against Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. That Democrats today appear far more unified is testament in part to the work of Biden, Sanders and their teams over the past several months to avoid a repeat of the 2016 experience. But the unity owes much more to the occupant of the White House, whom many Democrats fear could inflict lasting damage to the country and its democratic institutions if he gains a second term. "Four years ago, you could point to Donald Trump as the wolf at the gate, but it was still theoretical," said Pete Buttigieg, the former South Bend, Ind., mayor who ran unsuccessfully against Biden in the primaries. "Now the wolf is through the gate, eating the chickens." For the Democratic rank-and-file, the goal of preventing Trump from winning a second term overrides almost everything else between now and November. It was that sentiment that ultimately helpeddeliver the nomination to Biden. The candidate, whose nomination will be made official Tuesday, was seen as better positioned to win a general election than Sanders, who had harnessed the power ofliberalactivists enough to be the front-runner for the nomination until a weakened Biden saw his candidacy resurrected by Black voters in the South Carolina primary. Photo by Andre Chung for The Washington Post Since the unexpectedly rapid conclusion to the primary battle, Democrats have been sobered toward unity by the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump's mismanagement of the crisis and the challenges all that presents to the country. They are aware that, if Biden wins in November, he and the party will inherit a set of emergencies unlike anything seen since the days of the Great Depression or before. In that case, the party's future could depend on how effectively a prospective Biden administration harnesses the power of government to deal with the pandemic and the related economic emergency and also to address issues of racial justice and reconciliation that many in the party now see as more urgent than ever. For all those reasons, the majority of Democrats believe it is in their interest to come together - at least until November. The issue differences between the energized liberal wing and more dominant centrist wing have been harmonized ahead of the convention throughwhat William Galston of the Brookings Institution calls "pretty skillful internal party management by the Biden forces." But, he added, "I think that's a truce, not a peace treaty." Meanwhile, the nomination of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as Biden's running mate highlights but will far from satisfy the aspirations of women, minorities and more broadly a younger generation of Democratic leaders to have a larger voice in all deliberations. Those who went through the 2016 Democratic nominating process agree that the atmosphere inside the party today is far better than it was four years ago. "There's been much closer cooperation," said Jeff Weaver, a top Sanders adviser who was with the senator through both campaigns. "There's been much more openness on the part of the Biden campaign to welcome the progressive wing into their electoral coalition. There's been much more openness to try to find policy common ground there that's possible." Robby Mook, who was Clinton's campaign manager in 2016, said there are major differences between the eve of this convention and four years ago. One is Trump's presidency, another the personal relationship between Biden and Sanders, which is better than the one between Sanders and Clinton, and then the impact of the pandemic in focusing people's attention. But Mook also cited a fourth difference, which is the result of Democrats having to stage a virtual convention rather than a traditional gathering. "There's no convention," he said. "In 2016, they [the most ardent Sanders supporters] had a stage on which to play. That stage is gone." The issues in 2016 were complicated by a persistent belief by the Sanders forces that the Democratic National Committee had worked to assure Clinton's nomination and to frustrate Sanders's candidacy. DNC officials insisted that wasn't the case but that never satisfied Sanders's team or supporters. "One of the things that has made it easier for folks to come together after the primary was that by and larger the process itself was an evenhanded application of the process," Weaver said. "There were bumps in the road . . . but in terms of all the candidates being treated equally, there was no finger on the scale for one candidate or the other." Biden's senior advisers give considerable credit to Sanders and his willingness to come together quickly once it was clear that Biden would be the nominee. Lines of communication between the two camps were openeven before that and more serious talks began after the March 17 primaries that sealed Biden's victory. Both sides agreed that it was not in the interest of the party to let things fester to the convention if the common goal was to defeat Trump. Some leaders of grass-roots activist organizations credit Biden for recognizing the need to accommodate the left. "The Biden team was clear you needed to engage those folks," said George Goehl, executive director of the grass-roots organizing group People's Action. "That was very practical political thinking." As a way of quickly sending a signal to the left, Biden adopted ideas favored and advanced by either Sanders or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in her presidential campaign. One was to lower the age for Medicare eligibility to 60 and another was to strengthen Biden's previous position on student debt forgiveness. A major piece of the strategy was the Biden campaign'screation of issue task forces composed of elected officials and others who represented the full breadth of the party. Perhaps the most symbolically significant pairing was the task force on climate, which included former secretary of state John Kerry, an establishment Brahmin and close friend of Biden, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., the star of the party's insurgent wing. Democrats this year have put together the most liberal platform in the party's history, including ideas that were advanced by Sanders in his 2016 campaign but rejected then by many in the party's center-left cohort. Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, argues that Trump has been an agent in helping to make some liberal ideas appear more mainstream. She cited shifts in attitudes on policing and racial issues, universal health care coverage, support for a $15-an-hour minimum wage and expanded unemployment insurance as examples of policies that enjoy broader support than in the past. "What I'm saying is the country has become more liberal in response to Trump," she said, adding, "The party is not left. It has become more liberal. There's a strong wing of the party that is left. It is not a majority. Whenever we have a swing state or a statewide race, the moderate wins or the non-left candidate wins. Left candidates win in urban districts, in very Democratic districts." Even with some dissenters, the nomination battle appeared to settle for now where the majority of Democrats stand. "We had a battle in the primary between reform and revolution and reform won," said Rahm Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago who is in the moderate wing of the party. "Primary voters and activists are more pragmatic than the leaders of the movement." Emanuel argued that Democrats have now have an opportunity to expand their coalition by attracting onetime Republicans disillusioned by their own party, but not if Democrats move too far to the left. That intraparty truce likely holds through Nov. 3, but not necessarily beyond. "I think progressives are going to fight like hell to get a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress and then we're going to fight like hell to get big, bold policies passed," said strategist Rebecca Katz. Though Biden and Harris will have articulated their policies during the campaign, a prospective Biden administration would still face intraparty debates over the details of those policies, from health care to climate to policing, even the scope of an economic recovery plan. Biden, for example, opposed Medicare-for-all, preferring to add a public option to the Affordable Care Act. But Democratic voters came down in a different place. Averaging the results of exit polls across 22 contests last winter, 58 percent of Democratic primary voters and caucus-goers supported a single-payer system while 37 percent opposed it. Even if Medicare-for-all lacks necessary support in Congress, Biden would need to be mindful of those sentiments as he confronts a health-care system whose inequities have been exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, sees policing as a potential flash point, arguing that the Black Lives Matter movement has called for changes far more expansive than those embraced by Biden in the campaign. "At the end of the day you've got a large progressive wing of voters who want a complete restructuring of criminal justice system and police accountability and you've got the left who says we want to defund the police and the candidate saying 'I'm going to give police $300 million more,' " she said. Galston describes the fault lines as following typical parameters of dispute between a realist faction and an aspirational faction. "The realists are saying we may only have one shot at this and we'd better figure out how much we can get and push for that and no more," he said. "And the aspirational faction will say incremental steps won't be enough and we live in a time when all of the old policies and verities and assumptions have gone out the window." Articulating that aspirational sentiment, Reggie Hubbard, congressional liaison and senior strategist for MoveOn, said, "We need bold solutions here. There's no piecemeal compromise to fixing health care right now. There's no piecemeal for economic insecurity. . . . People are just going to push more to the left." Buttigieg said some of the differences could be more easily resolved than might have been the case before the pandemic. "Some of these battle lines fall away a bit because the enormity of the challenge means that some of the pragmatic decisions will turn out to be bold," he said. "Positions that might have been considered far to one side before could stitch together a coalition of left, right and center." Goehl said that if there is a Biden administration, the party's left wing doesn't just want to advocate for specific ideas but wants to be included as part of the governing process. "Will Democratic centrist forces that are often too cozy with big ag and the big banks be at the central table?" he asked. "Are they going to be there with folks from social movements in a real way? Who's going to be at the table when decisions get made?" The left wants to be represented in Cabinet and White House appointments as well, if Biden wins, arguing that liberal activists are supplying energy and ideas that speak to and for a younger, more diverse generation that is rising within the party coalition. How they are integrated into the party's hierarchy will be another test. "I think that younger voters and people of color and women are asserting themselves as voices that not only deserve to be listened to but deserve to have real power in the party," said Democratic pollster Geoff Garin. "By any measurement, those groups are all critical to the success of Biden in the short term and the Democratic Party in the long term." With considerable focus on Black voters, one important constituency, Latinos, often feels left to the side. During the primaries, Sanders did particularly well with Latino voters, especially younger ones, in part because he paid attention to them. "What explains Bernie's strong numbers is he did a lot of outreach," said Democratic pollster Matt Barreto, who is working with the Biden campaign. "Not every Latino that Bernie got to vote for him was a super progressive. For some that was the only outreach they got." Barreto said Biden's campaign is now working harder to appeal to younger, more liberal Latinos and to newly naturalized citizens, two groups where advisers believe he has room to grow before November. Ocasio-Cortez, though she has sometimes clashed with party leaders, will have a speaking slot at the convention, albeit short, as are nearly all but the handful of major speeches. That decision was applauded by some Latino strategists who see her as a way to generate more enthusiasm for Biden among younger Latinos. "If there was ever a surrogate who was underutilized to appeal to younger Latinos, it's AOC," said Albert Morales, a Democratic pollster. "She's brought a new generation of young people to politics." Democratsare optimistic about November, but Trump dashed similarhopes four years ago, asparty officials and strategists are mindful. Given the focus of all parts of the party on defeating the president, what would happen if Biden were to lose the election? "All of the willingness to put disagreements aside will go by the boards," Garin said. "And I think the center and the left of the party will really have it out." But he offered a closing thought: "Having said that, when you think about the two political parties today, the Democrats are in 100 times better shape than the Republicans." Still, much depends on the outcome on Nov. 3. - - - The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:50:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed after Taliban militants stormed security checkpoints in Marawara district of eastern Kunar province on Saturday, spokesman for the provincial police Farid Dehqan said. According to Dehqan, a group of Taliban insurgents attacked security checkpoints in parts of Marawara district in the wee hours on Saturday but fled away after facing resistance from the police. However, two policemen were killed in the fight which lasted for a while, he added. Dehqan also claimed that the Taliban fighters had also suffered casualties but could not give an exact figure. Similarly, clashes between security forces and the Taliban had left three militants dead and injured four others in Dehyak district of eastern Ghazni province late Friday, said an army statement on Saturday. The Taliban outfit has yet to make comments. Enditem The UK marked the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in World War II on Saturday with a series of events to pay tribute to those who fought during the six-year campaign. Heavy clouds on Saturday however, meant that the Royal Air Forces aerobatics display team, the Red Arrows, could not do their designated flypasts of the UK's four nation capitals for the first time since the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The poor weather meant they couldn't fly over London, or the Scottish and Welsh capitals, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Only residents in the Northern Irish capital of Belfast were able to see the aerial display. In London, UK defence secretary Ben Wallace met Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to three Burma Star recipients, after the scheduled flypast was cancelled. Chelsea Pensioners are military veterans who live in a special retirement home for former British Army soldiers in the Chelsea district of London. Following the surrender of the Nazis on May 8, 1945, which is called Victory in Europe Day, Allied troops carried on fighting the Japanese until an armistice was declared on Aug. 15, 1945 after the US dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan formally surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, but many Pacific War veterans felt their efforts were not fully recognized in the fog of the mushroom clouds. They dubbed themselves the forgotten army. WASHINGTON: The US and India share close bonds of friendship and democratic traditions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said as he greeted Indians on the occasion of their 74th Independence Day. "On behalf of the government of the United States of America and the American people, I extend greetings and best wishes to the people of India on your Independence Day," Pompeo said in his India Independence Day greetings message on Friday. "The United States and India have shared close bonds of friendship and democratic traditions since India gained its independence seventy-three years ago," he said. Over the years, the relationship has grown into a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, involving ever closer cooperation on issues vital to global security and prosperity in the 21st century, Pompeo said. The US and India work together on defence, counterterrorism, trade, investment, energy, the environment, healthcare, agriculture, science and technology, education, space, the oceans, and much more, he said. "As I remarked earlier this year, the United States and India see each other as great pluralist democracies, global powers, and good friends. I wish the people of India a happy Independence Day," Pompeo said. Belarusian authorities have released about 1,000 people detained amid demonstrations contesting the results of the presidential election, in an attempt to assuage public anger against a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests and avoid Western sanctions. At least nine European Union countries and the blocs executive arm have called for new sanctions on Belarus ahead of emergency talks among member states on Friday. Any EU decision on sanctions would require unanimity. A final decision is expected later this month. Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark called in a joint letter for restrictive measures against officials responsible for the election result, which gave President Alexander Lukashenko 80%, and for crackdown on protesters. Germany, Austria and Sweden have already called for sanctions straight away. Diplomatic sources said the main sceptic was Hungary, which has previously called for all EU sanctions on Minsk to be lifted. The head of the EUs executive arm, Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted: We need additional sanctions against those who violated democratic values or abused human rights in Belarus. I am confident todays ... discussion will demonstrate our strong support for the rights of the people in Belarus to fundamental freedoms and democracy. The bloc first imposed sanctions on Belarus in 2004. It stepped them up in 2011 over abuses of human rights and democratic standards, including vote rigging. Any new EU sanctions would most likely take the form of travel bans and asset freezes on individuals. The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) in Nha Trang city, partnering with New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine and the global health non-profit organisation PATH, expects to conduct testing on small groups of volunteers in October-December this year. Phase 2, comprising larger groups of people, and Phase 3, comprising up to thousands, will be conducted at the beginning of 2021. The institute plans to submit documents for approval to the health ministry as early as April next year and claims to be capable of producing 30 million doses a year. COVID-19 vaccine development at Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 Company (Vabiotech) under the Ministry of Health (Photo: VNA) By October 2021, the vaccine could be distributed to the general population. IVAC is researching an egg-based vaccine, making use of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. According to Duong Huu Thai, head of IVAC, the production of its COVID-19 vaccine will be similar to the production of influenza vaccine. The live NDV-Lasota-S virus given to IVAC from its US partner in May is injected into a membrane of fertilised hens egg and cultivated, then the propagated viruses are extracted from the membrane to be inactivated while still maintain their physical properties. The now inactivate virus, unable to cause disease, will still trigger the bodys immune response that can target the coronavirus. The vaccine candidate has shown initial positive results in animals, Thai said, but it was too early to claim success. In research, no one can claim to be successful until [the vaccine development] reaches the mass production stage, he said. Another firm, Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 Company (Vabiotech) under the Ministry of Health, partnering with the UK-based University of Bristol since February, said after trials on mice demonstrating strong immune response to coronavirus, especially after the repeat shot, it aims to conduct trials on small groups of people at the beginning of next year. Vabiotech is developing its vaccine candidate using the protein subunit method, using only part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to stimulate the immune system to release antibodies. To deal with the diverse mutations of SARS-CoV-2, we have chosen the antigen that proved to have mutated the least, said Do Tuan Dat, Chairman of Vabiotech, explaining that the vaccine, if successful, would help achieve immunity against various different strains of the virus. The company said it is optimising production procedures for large-scale production of the vaccine and could produce up to 100 million doses a year. Two other companies in Vietnam are researching a vaccine, including the Centre for Immunisation Vaccines POLYVAC partnering with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, which is still waiting for approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology for its research. The last is Nanogen Biopharmaceutical company in HCM City, using protein from the SARS-CoV-2 strain found in Chinas Wuhan where the virus is thought to have first emerged together with the mutated strain D614G, the dominant strain rapidly spreading across the world, including the ongoing outbreak in Vietnam. The health ministry has asked the two companies to start preparing for large-scale manufacturing in case their vaccines are approved. Nguyen Thu Van, member of Scientific Council under the Ministry of Health, said a Vietnamese-made COVID-19 vaccine could be obtained by the end of 2021. If Vietnam can achieve that goal, that timeframe is already expedited. Usually, it takes at least five to six years to produce a new vaccine, Van said. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Vice Director of the Administration of Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry of Health, said in a meeting last month that even with an expedited timeline, "the vaccines quality must still be ensured and the product must be able to prevent coronavirus infection based on ethical principles in medical research". Vietnam health authorities have many times insisted that a return to 'normal' can only be achieved with a COVID-19 vaccine, and the country is aiming for self-reliance to make sure of sufficient distribution to all its population of 95 million. The local research developments come as Russias President Vladimir Putin claimed Tuesday his country had created the worlds first COVID-19 vaccine, an announcement that met with safety concerns over a lack of testing. Vabiotechs Dat told Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper that they have not considered buying the vaccine from Russia, as they need more data on clinical trials, which Russian scientists have not publicly shared data on. He also said that data for vaccine development in the UK and the US is public and readily accessible, aiding Vietnam in the making of its own vaccine./. Machine Gun Kelly has said he may never be single again after finding love with Megan Fox. The 30-year-old rapper and actor has been romancing the Transformers star, 34, since May, and has now seemingly suggested he thinks their love will last forever, as he admitted there'll be 'no dates' with other women in his future. Kelly - whose real name is Colson Baker - appeared on an episode of Thirst Tweets for BuzzFeed Celeb, and read one message in which a fan asked if they could take him out for dinner. Machine Gun Kelly has said he may never be single again after finding love with Megan Fox. The rapper answered fan questions on an episode of Thirst Tweets for BuzzFeed Celeb To which he responded: 'I'm locked in already right now. No dates for me. Probably ever.' Kelly's declaration of lasting love comes after it was recently claimed the couple are 'very passionate' about each other, after meeting on the set of Midnight in the Switchgrass. The movie's director, Randall Emmett, revealed the pair are 'very happy' in their romance, which he described as 'sweet and beautiful' to see. He said: 'They're very passionate about one another and very happy, and I mean, it's really sweet to see that I had a little hand in that. MGK responded to his admirer: 'I'm locked in already right now. No dates for me. Probably ever.' Love: The 30-year-old rapper and actor has been romancing the Transformers star, 34, since May Kelly's declaration of lasting love comes after it was recently claimed the couple are 'very passionate' about each other, after meeting on the set of Midnight in the Switchgrass 'The chemistry [on set] was second to none, but I just thought, I'm a great director! I didn't know there were these undertones and all that, and now, we spend a lot of time with them since they've been together and it's really sweet and beautiful, and I'm really happy for both of them.' Randall and his fiancee Lala Kent have been on double dates with Megan and Kelly and the filmmaker joked the new couple are 'glued to each other'. He added: 'Let me tell you the joke I make about our double dates, and they know I say this to their face: Going on a double date with Megan and Colson, it's like an individual date and a double date. 'The first half is very 'double date.' Everybody is conversing, we're having fun, we're laughing. The second half, they don't even know our name. They're just glued to each other!' Mumbai, Aug 15 : As India celebrates its 74th Independence Day on Saturday, Slumdog Millionaire fame Dev Patel recalled how his affair with the country began while shooting for the film here. "I had been to India a couple of times as a child but my real exposure to the country happened when I shot for 'Slumdog Millionaire'. My love affair with India started while working on the film. I did not understand Indian culture properly while growing up in London. I feel blessed that through 'Slumdog Millionaire I got the opportunity to witness India's beauty and its people in a detailed way," Dev told IANS. British filmmaker Danny Boyle's 2008 film, "Slumdog Millionaire", casts Dev in the title role, recounting the travails of an orphan who grows up in the slums of Mumbai and uses his common sense and general awareness to win the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" The global hit won eight Oscars and helped Dev earn a name for himself. "'Slumdog Millionaire' changed my life in many ways. There were not many roles for us in the West that time. I think what it did for me is what it also does for the industry. Winning several Oscars was a big thing. I think there was a tectonic plate that shifted, which was incredible. It gave me exposure to a big world out there and started my obsession with India," he shared. Dev, who has shot several films in India since then, is eagerly waiting to shoot again in the country for his next film. "I was actually in India just before things got really crazy with the coronavirus. I was about to shoot a film in India. I really would love to be in India when the borders open up again and it becomes safe for everyone to travel, especially for the film crew," he added. Dev has recently donned the hat of narrator for the National Geographic series "India From Above", which showcases unique stories from India from an aerial perspective. The two-part series uses drone cameras to let people see the country's geographical, cultural, technological and historical aspects from the aerial view. (Simran Sethi can be contacted at Simran.s@ians.in) India's 74th Independence Day is on the 15th of August. Major political figures and ministers have spoken on the occasion, and extended their greetings to the nation. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. Remembering a quote of Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he tweeted. The only alternative to coexistence is destruction. Jawaharlal Nehru. Best wishes on Independence Day. Extending the wishes to the country on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind! At the same time, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, said that on 74th Independence Day, all Indians should take a pledge to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat. On this Independence Day, let us take a pledge to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of a self-reliant India and contribute to taking the country to new heights by using indigenous products. Best wishes on Independence Day, Shah said in a tweet. Today we are very proud that the dream of independent, strong and capable India dreamt by our freedom fighters is being brought to reality by PM Narendra Modi. On one side poor and deprived classes were given homes, electricity, health insurance while on the other, India was made a stronger nation, he added. In an earlier tweet, Shah had also saluted all the freedom fighters who had laid down their lives in the Independence struggle and those who had made the supreme sacrifice for its security and unity. Earlier, Modi also extended his greetings to the people of the nation on the occasion. Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind! the Prime Minister tweeted.Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the people of the nation on the 74th Independence Day on Saturday. PM Modi will proceed to the Lahore Gate of Red Fort where he will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He will then address the nation. Also Read: Amit Shah tests negative for Covid-19 Also Read: Rytu Bharosa Kendras should solve farmers problems: AP CM Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hoisted the national flag at his residence on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day on Saturday. The Defence Minister said, We will get freedom in its true meaning when India becomes self-reliant. So today we need to take a pledge to make India self-reliant. He will then proceed to the Lahore Gate of Red Fort where he will receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will address the nation. Rajnath Singh will be joined by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar. The Independence Day function at Red Fort this year will be relatively muted in terms of participation of people in view of the situation created by COVID-19. Compared to the past years, only about 20 per cent VVIPs or other participants will be able to witness the Prime Ministers speech. The arrangements have been made keeping in view social distancing norms. Also Read: Indian ambassador meets Chinese Major General Ci Guowei, talks tough on eastern Ladakh When Li-Meng Yan was asked to pop into her bosss office on the final day of last year, she had no idea such a routine summons might be the start of events that would lead to her fleeing her family, her work and her country in fear for her life. The Chinese-born virologist was based at a prestigious Hong Kong university, one of the worlds leading centres for researching infectious diseases and a key part of the World Health Organisations (WHO) global epidemiology network. Her professor asked her to find out what she could about a mysterious cluster of virus cases that had erupted in the Chinese city of Wuhan and through her medical and scientific contacts she claims to have stumbled upon a cover-up of epic proportions. Yet her evidence about human transmission was ignored, her claim that Beijing was deliberately distorting details of the origins buried, her warning they had already sequenced the genetic code of a deadly new coronavirus (crucial for developing diagnostic tests and vaccines) swept aside. So, as the death toll rose, Dr Yan felt she had a moral and scientific duty to blow the whistle on how the Communist regime deliberately covered up the eruption of this devastating disease. I realised this was an emergency for the world, she says. I could not stay silent. I could see China was covering up the truth and I had to do something since I was a professional who could explain it. Chinese-born virologist Li-Meng Yan's professor asked her to find out what she could about a mysterious cluster of virus cases that had erupted in the Chinese city of Wuhan Now the brilliant 36-year-old scientist is in hiding in the US, and we spoke on Skype. Details of how she secretly collated evidence in her laboratory at night, then finally even abandoned her husband to flee abroad when she learned the security net was tightening, make her story sounds like a movie thriller. She fears the disease may have been created on purpose, linked to reckless experiments on bat coronaviruses carried out in military laboratories. Certainly, the origins of this mysterious virus remain clouded in confusion. Yet one thing is incontrovertible: Dr Yan was a fast-rising Chinese scientist, based at a major laboratory with work published by leading academic journals, who suddenly fled to the US in April. And if her astonishing core claims are correct, they provide damning evidence into the extent of the Chinese Communist Partys cover-up of the pandemic. A bookish single child born to an engineer father and a teacher mother in Qingdao, she was inspired to study medicine by her grandfather, a doctor involved in Chinas fight against leprosy. He always told me you should help other people, so it was good to focus on science and knowledge, says Dr Yan. She spent seven years studying for a medical degree in Changsha before moving to Guangzhou to gain a PhD from Southern Medical University in her planned specialism of ophthalmology the treatment of eye disorders then on to the University of Hong Kong for further research. There, she met and eventually married a fellow researcher. Encouraged by his boss, a prominent virology professor, she switched specialisms five years ago to join their team at the universitys School of Public Health. For five years she studied influenza, vaccines and later SARS-Cov-2 the strain of coronavirus that causes disease at this world-renowned unit. Then came that fateful summons at lunchtime on December 31 from Professor Leo Poon, the head of the public health laboratory sciences division who helped unravel the genetic code of the coronavirus behind the 2003 Sars epidemic. He said he had been asked to investigate the virus in Wuhan for the Hong Kong government, she says. I asked why and he said China was not even sharing the information with Hong Kong. So he wanted me to do a secret investigation. This request took place on the same day Taiwanese experts first alerted the WHO about a strange new respiratory disease in Wuhan. Dr Yan says her professor had already confirmed from his own contacts that the outbreak involved a Sars-like virus. I felt very alarmed, she says. She believes she was chosen as her first language is Mandarin, not the Cantonese more widely spoken in Hong Kong, and she had friends working in hospitals and laboratories across China after her studies in several leading medical universities. She started approaching friends and contacts for information through WeChat, the Chinese messaging and social-media platform. One exchange I have seen shows a source confirming on December 31 unknown Sars suspected appeared in Wuhan. Dr Yan was based at a prestigious Hong Kong university, one of the worlds leading centres for researching infectious diseases and a key part of the World Health Organisations (WHO) global epidemiology network Another well-placed contact in Beijing said he could not say anything in public or he would be punished, although he added later that everyone laughed when officials publicly claimed there was no evidence of human transmission. Dr Yan claims she quickly established there were family clusters of cases, which implied human transmission, and that Chinese scientists had sequenced the genome. This tallies with Chinese media reports I have seen that were later censored. The sequence was finally published on an open-access platform on January 10 by a Shanghai professor, whose laboratory was quickly shut down for rectification. Based on my evidence and experience, I knew there was human transmission and more cases than the government was admitting, says Dr Yan. They didnt want public discussion. They had the genome sequence. But they were telling people not to worry. But soon her contacts began clamming up. Among 300 members of one WeChat group were doctors working in a Wuhan hospital. When asked about human transmission, one responded only with an emoji featuring a mask over the mouth. This coincided with the arrest of local doctors who were accused of spreading false rumours after attempting to warn people to take precautions. Even a close friend working as a doctor in Wuhan was too fearful to discuss the cases. There were no isolation facilities people were being treated in open wards among other patients, says Dr Yan. There was no protection for medical staff but they could not talk about it. My friend was scared she might get infected and give it to her family. Dr Yan says on January 3, Prof Poon asked to be put in direct contact with her key Beijing source, who was saying the situation was terrible, and then asked her to resume normal research work. Yet doctors were being told to only diagnose Wuhan victims with links to Huanan Seafood Market, which was blamed for the virus crossing over to humans through the wild animals on sale. They wanted to say the disease came from the market, says Dr Yan. On January 16, she says Prof Poon asked her to investigate racoon dogs as a potential host species, which she told him was strange considering they were rarely eaten in the region nor seen often in the animal markets. He told me not to cross the red line or I would be disappeared, says Dr Yan. This was the invisible line we all keep in our heads since our government is so sensitive about looking bad. Touch it and you are in trouble. Chinese public health officials who pointed the finger at the market on January 1 eventually admitted four months later that the virus did not erupt on the site after a series of studies challenged their claims. Dr Yan says she could see there was a cover-up with terrible things happening. The market was a smokescreen. I knew I had to somehow deliver a message to the world but I didnt want to be disappeared before I could deliver my warning. The timing was significant. In public, officials downplayed the threat as millions of people began moving around the country for their Chinese New Year festivities and Wuhan held a mass banquet for residents. The WHO had also failed to alert the world properly. Although Dr Yan lacks first-hand evidence on the origins of Covid-19, she believes it is derived from the Zhoushan viruses, which were extracted from bats between 2015 and 2017 Dr Yan says her first move was to contact Lu De, an anti-Communist Party YouTube broadcaster, who aired her claims on January 19. The next day China tripled its number of confirmed cases and admitted human transmission. Three days later, Wuhan was locked down. She wrote up her notes for Lu De late at night after everyone had left the laboratory. I was so nervous, she admits. I did not dare send it by email so would take pictures of each page and send them. A few days later she also anonymously published information online that claimed Covid-19 was created in a laboratory rather than being a natural zoonotic outbreak (diseases that jump from animals to humans). Dr Yan kept feeding information to Lu De about Chinas continuing cover-up over the origins and extent of the crisis. But she feared he lacked the expertise to explain her concerns, while she could see her information was not reaching the wider world. In April, the broadcaster suddenly warned Dr Yan that she was in danger, with security services closing in on his source. As a result, she tried to persuade her husband they must flee but he was furious over her actions, fearing Beijings power, and refused to join her. We had been together for seven years. I thought we had a sweet married life, going to work together and living together, but I realised he was totally scared of the Communist Party. On April 28 she boarded a flight to Los Angeles with minimal luggage to avoid suspicion, knowing she would never see her parents again or be allowed to return to her birthplace. I could hardly breathe I was so scared, she says. When she landed, she begged US border officials not to send her back to China, explaining she had come to tell the truth about Covid-19 and her background. They allowed her to remain and she says she has briefed their intelligence agencies. Within hours of her departure, Chinese authorities ransacked her home and office, questioning her family and threatening her friends. Her parents have tearfully accused her of lying and betraying the nation. Dr Yan also says she was smeared on social media with fake accounts designed to destroy her reputation. Although Dr Yan lacks first-hand evidence on the origins of Covid-19, she believes it is derived from the Zhoushan viruses, which were extracted from bats between 2015 and 2017. The virologist argues that studies published earlier this year indicate these viruses have similar genetic sequences to Sars-Cov-2 and could have provided the backbone for construction of a virus that may even have been deliberately released. It is known the scientists in Nanjing military laboratories carried out risky experiments such as injecting ground-up bat intestines containing Sars-like viruses into baby rat brains. This is reckless, says one expert. You could be injecting multiple viruses at once, risking re-combination on top of selection for a virus that can transmit across species. Yet even this Western scientist, who is very sceptical over Chinas stance on the virus, does not believe this theory will turn out to be the source of this pandemic. For its part, the University of Hong Kong insists that Dr Yans statement does not accord with the key facts as we understand them, saying that her claims have no scientific basis but resemble hearsay. And Prof Poon says: Yan was a post-doctoral fellow in my lab. Her research had nothing to do with human-to-human transmission. He adds that all mainstream scientists have failed to find any solid evidence that Sars-Cov-2 was man-made. Yet Dr Yan remains defiant. My parents have told me not to harm my country. But I had to do this as a doctor and as a scientist. I have to tell the world about the cover-up. If I did nothing, how would I live with myself? MONACO A world record broken after 16 years. An eighth fastest run all-time in another event. A European record run by a teenager. Several world-leading performances. Some of the world's top track and field athletes showed at Monaco on Friday what their sport has missed in the biggest international meeting so far of an outdoor season all but wrecked by the pandemic. Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda was the standout star of the first full Diamond League meet winning the 5,000 meters in 12 minutes, 35.36 seconds to break the world record set in 2004. Cheptegei raced clear on a balmy night at Stade Louis II to finish 1.99 seconds inside the 12:37.35 mark set by Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia. Cheptegei, who is the 2019 world champion over 10,000, took 22 seconds off his lifetime best at 5,000. "Monaco is a special place and it's one of these places where I could break the world record," said Cheptegei, who has trained in Uganda instead of Europe this year. Among the world-leading times in 2020, world champion Donavan Brazier, who runs for Pete Julians Portland-based, Nike-sponsored training group, clocked 1:43.15 in the mens 800 that was 0.08 ahead of fellow American Bryce Hoppel. Noah Lyles shaped as the star attraction, and the American world champion at 200 ran the world's best time this year to win in 19.76. "I got high expectations for myself so I'd say the race got the Noah stamp of approval but I wouldn't say it got the Noah satisfaction stamp," said Lyles, whose brother, Josephus, was runner-up in 20.30. The track meet known as Herculis is renowned for fast times, especially in middle distance running, and produced a world record for the third consecutive year. Yet that seemed less likely in an Olympic season when all athletes' plans and preparations were upended by the coronavirus and the Tokyo Games were postponed. World champion Karsten Warholm asked Monaco promoters to add a mens 400 hurdles race and got a sponsor of his to cover the costs and repaid them by equaling the eighth-best time in history. The Norwegian clocked 47.10 seconds and has three of the 10 fastest runs all-time. His best is 46.92, second all-time, run last August at Zurich. Another young Norwegian, 19-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen, set a European record in the 1,500 at 3:28.68 0.13 faster than Britains Mo Farah at Monaco in 2013. It still left Ingebrigtsen runner-up in a standout race won by Kenyan world champion Timothy Cheriuyot in 3:28.45 that was 0.04 outside his lifetime best. Jake Wightman became the second fastest British 1,500 runner rising above greats Steve Cram and Sebastian Coe by placing third in 3:29.47. In the womens 5,000, world champion Hellen Obiri broke clear in the last 200 meters to win in a world-leading 14:22.12. Jessica Hull of Julians Portland training group finished fourth in 14:43.80, followed by Shannon Rowbury, also of Julians group, fifth in 14:45.11. Orlando Ortega of Spain timed 13.11 in the 110 hurdles, with world champion Grant Holloway of the United States fourth in 13.19. Armand Duplantis of Sweden won the pole vault at 19 feet, 8 1/4 inches 7 inches below his world record clearance in February after his main rival, world champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S., was a late scratch because his poles had not arrived. Up to 5,000 socially distanced fans were allowed into the 16,000-capacity stadium by the Mediterranean Sea. "After training so long on my own, it is really good to finally see a stadium with fans. It's amazing," Cheruiyot said. The cut-down Diamond League circuit is set to continue on Aug. 23 at Stockholm. -- The Associated Press While Manitoba students in grades 5 to 12 will be strongly encouraged to wear masks when school reopens Sept. 8, those who ride on the school bus, along with their drivers, will be required to wear them. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (523 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us While Manitoba students in grades 5 to 12 will be strongly encouraged to wear masks when school reopens Sept. 8, those who ride on the school bus, along with their drivers, will be required to wear them. That is among the wide-ranging protocols the province released Thursday in a document entitled "Welcoming Our Students Back: Restoring Safe Schools." The practice guidance and protocols were developed after the province received more than 77 draft plans from school divisions and independent schools around the province and in consultations with associations such as the Manitoba Teachers Society, the Manitoba Association of School Boards, the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools and the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents. Students in earlier grades can also use non-medical masks if they or their parents or caregivers so choose, the document says. Non-medical masks should not be worn by anyone who is unable to remove one without assistance or by those with breathing difficulties. The province will provide masks to school divisions for distribution to students and staff, as well as other personal protective equipment. What has helped make Manitoba more successful than many other jurisdictions in battling COVID-19 has been following the advice of provincial and federal public health officials, and that includes a strong recommendation to wear masks, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said during Thursdays news conference. The protocols include steps to be taken in the event a student does test positive for the virus. "We know that we need to anticipate COVID-19 cases to occur in schools, and so weve been planning in that regard," Manitobas chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said during the news conference. "Public Health would work very closely with school administrators in identifying close contacts, notifying them and advising them to self-isolate," Roussin said. "The areas of school where exposures took place will be cleaned and disinfected and those areas will not be used again until its determined safe to do so." As well, school communities will be notified when a student at their school is a confirmed case, once close contacts have been identified, he said, but closing a school would be a last resort and only with evidence of transmission among multiple groups of students or staff. Other measures outlined in the document include: Kindergarten to Grade 8 students will return for five days of full, in-class instruction per week, while students in grades 9 to 12 will return for up to five days per week of in-class instruction if high schools can effectively implement physical distancing and the use of cohorts. (A cohort is a group of students who stay together, mostly for the classroom but can be increased to 75 for recess and other activities). Students should expect some remote learning, along with in-class instruction, while students with special needs in all grades will return for five days of full, in-class instruction per week. Schools must schedule outdoor play to maintain cohorts of children and staff, maintain separate containers of equipment for each class or cohort, and clean between recess periods. They must mark zones, manage group sizes and avoid contact among groups. Non-medical masks can be removed during outdoor play to provide a mask-free break. See Kinew Page A2 Kinew pushes for mandated masks Students must bring their own lunches, or provided lunches must be individually wrapped in disposable containers. If weather permits, lunch breaks may be held outside. Schools can continue to offer breakfast and lunch programs with necessary adjustments to ensure health guidelines are in place. No family-style, buffet, or potluck meal service is permitted at this time. "When I look at this now through a parents eyes, and I am a parent who has a son who will be going to high school starting Sept. 8, there are always lots of questions, as there should be," Goertzen said. Brandon School Division Supt. Marc Casavant said he was in meetings most of the day Thursday and didnt have a chance to review the document, but said he would be able to comment more when the division releases its own reopening plan today. Other divisions around the province will be releasing their plans next week. Cale Dunbar, the president of the Brandon Teachers Association, said he too had not had a chance to review the document Thursday. He did say, though, that while he was happy to hear the wearing of masks was encouraged, he was surprised it wasnt mandated by public health. "It was just kind of bizarre that the government kind of made a really, you know, strong recommendation but not a mandate around masks," said Opposition Leader Wab Kinew. "I dont know why they wouldnt just, you know, say it outright," he said. "It seems like thats where everyones at. Theyre expecting to wear masks over age 10. I think it would have just probably saved a lot of confusion just to go outright and make that a mandate." The entire document can be found online at engagemb.ca/welcoming-our-students-back-restoring-safe-schools. In addition, a telephone town hall for parents, caregivers and students is scheduled for Aug. 18 with Roussin and Goertzen. brobertson@brandonsun.com Actress Jessica Marais reunited with her ex-boyfriend Jake Holly, as she mourns the death of her mother, Karen, who passed away last week. The Packed to the Rafters star, 35, shared a photo with Jake to Instagram on Saturday, where they nestled in close to one another at a Sydney beach. Jessica's friend and former co-star Hugh Sheridan confirmed the heartbreaking news of her mother's passing in an Instagram post on Tuesday. Reunited: Actress Jessica Marais (left), 35, reunited with ex-boyfriend Jake Holly (right) at a Sydney beach, in a photo shared to Instagram on Saturday, as she mourns the death of her mother Karen last week In the photo, Jessica wore a grey sweater and pink beanie, and wrapped her arms around Jake who took the shot. Jake shared the same photo to his Instagram Stories, captioning it: 'I can see her in your eyes, always good seeing you Jess x,' alongside a red rose emoji. On Tuesday, Hugh Sheridan, 35, confirmed the passing of Jessica's mother Karen in an Instagram post that said: 'I'm grieving for my dearest and sweetest friend, who has now lost both of her parents far too young.' Heartfelt: Jake shared the same photo to his Instagram Stories, captioning it: 'I can see her in your eyes, always good seeing you Jess x,' alongside a red rose emoji Rest in peace: Jessica is pictured with her late mother Karen (left) at the Logie Awards on May 1, 2011 Tribute: Last Saturday, Jessica had shared this childhood photo to Instagram of herself with her mother and sister at the beach. She did not disclose her mother's death in the caption, but several of her friends understood the significance of the post and offered their condolences Last Saturday, Jessica had hinted at a death in the family when she shared a childhood photo to Instagram of herself with her mother and sister at the beach. While she did not disclose her mother's death in the caption, several of her friends understood the significance of the post and offered their condolences. Jessica was just nine years old when she watched her father, university dean Tony Marais, collapse and die of a heart attack. Sharing the love: Jessica's friend and Packed to the Rafters co-star Hugh Sheridan (pictured with Jessica) confirmed the heartbreaking news in an Instagram post on Tuesday 'I can't tell you how s**t I feel knowing I can't hug you right now': Hugh (left), who lives in Los Angeles, shared his condolences and vowed to return to Australia 'very soon' to support Jess In 2011, Jessica told News.com.au that she was haunted by her father's death, and lived in fear of losing other loved ones in the same way. But she credited her mother with helping the family 'pull through a very hard time'. The Logie winner added: 'It's sort of something you relive I think, everyone that has lost someone... you relive it every day. It feels fresh, but obviously time does heal a lot of wounds and I'm definitely much better at coping with it now.' It has certainly been a tough year for Jessica, who shares an eight-year-old daughter, Scout, with her ex-fiance, actor James Stewart. Tragedy: Jessica was just nine years old when she watched her father, university dean Tony Marais, collapse and die from a heart attack. Pictured: the Marais family Struggles: It has certainly been a tough year for Jessica, who shares an eight-year-old daughter, Scout (centre), with her ex-fiance, actor James Stewart (left) Four months ago, emergency crews were called to her home in Sydney's eastern suburbs for a welfare check. On the afternoon of Saturday, May 2, she was walked to an ambulance where she was put on a gurney and taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. A witness told Daily Mail Australia she was not wearing any shoes, her hair was a 'dishevelled mess' and she was in a 'visibly distressed state'. Fortunately, she appeared happy and healthy several weeks later as she spent time with Hugh and other supportive friends. Troubles: In May, emergency crews were called to Jessica's home in Sydney's eastern suburbs for a welfare check. She was escorted to an ambulance and taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. Pictured at the 2017 Logie Awards in Melbourne In June, Jessica shared a heartfelt open letter to Instagram about 'loneliness and growth' following her hospitalisation. In 2014, Jessica spoke about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 'I was diagnosed at one point with bipolar. I have developed ways to talk myself down from any ledges I find myself on,' she told The Australian Women's Weekly. 'There's probably one day a month when I am an absolute mess. In my case it's hard to separate what is due to trauma or stress and what is due to a simple chemical imbalance.' British travellers returning home from parts of Europe and beyond began having to quarantine on Saturday under new restrictions, while Russia said it has produced the first batch of its controversial coronavirus vaccine. The UK opted to remove France, the Netherlands, Malta and three other countries from its list of places exempt from self-isolation rules, as a second wave of virus infections threatens more disruption and economic chaos on the continent. The move announced late Thursday sparked a 36-hour scramble for plane, train and ferry tickets among some Britons desperate to get back before the 4 am (0300 GMT) change. All arrivals from the blacklisted states after the deadline must quarantine for 14 days, with the measure already in place for people coming from several other countries including Spain and Belgium. French student Antoine, 23, cut short his holiday to rush back to Bristol, in southwestern England, where he is at university. "I'm a waiter in a small cafe near college, I can't afford to spend 14 days in the house," he said at London's St Pancras railway station after arriving on a Eurostar train. France is facing a resurgence of the disease that emerged in China late last year and has so far infected over 21 million people globally and killed more than 760,000. French authorities have reported more than 2,500 new cases on each of the past three days -- levels not seen since May when the country emerged from lockdown. With cases still rising around the world, Moscow said the first consignments of its "Sputnik" vaccine had been produced, just four days after President Vladimir Putin announced Russia had won the global race to approve a vaccine. It has drawn a sceptical response from Western scientists and the World Health Organization, which have said the vaccine still needed a rigorous safety review. - 'Slow the spread' - France has vowed to impose a "reciprocal measure" on Britain's quarantine move, leaving French holidaymakers set to face tough choices in the coming days. Story continues The Netherlands said it would advise against all but essential travel to the UK, but will not introduce self-isolation measures for arrivals. Germany added most of Spain -- where cases have surged in recent weeks -- to its list of regions from where arrivals must show a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for two weeks. The restrictions include the island of Mallorca, a highly popular resort for German sunseekers. Austria urged its citizens to return from popular Mediterranean destination Croatia before similar rules come into effect Monday, while Serbia introduced mandatory testing for travellers from four neighbouring countries. And thousands of Albanians queued for miles in their cars at the Greek border before tougher entry requirements designed to brake mounting infections began. The United States also said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout most of September to slow the spread of the disease. - 'Promising' vaccines - A slew of data Friday revealed the scale of the economic impact of the virus and punishing lockdowns, with Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark all booking hefty hits to GDP in April-June. Denmark and Hungary both reported their worst slumps since the early 1990s and Poland entered its first recession since the end of the communist era. Hopes to break the cycle of outbreaks and lockdowns decimating economies have turned to a vaccine, with Britain announcing it has secured access to another 90 million doses of two "promising" vaccines. Vietnam said it was looking to buy a bulk order of Russia's vaccine. And Washington said it would distribute any inoculation proven to be effective to all Americans for free. Mexico announced it and Argentina aim to have a vaccine available for Latin America -- now the region with the worst virus toll and most cases -- early next year under a production agreement with drug giant AstraZeneca. Elsewhere, New Zealand is battling its second outbreak of infections and extended a lockdown of its largest city Auckland by at least 12 days, after officials detected a variant of the virus previously unseen in the country. South Korea tightened restrictions in Seoul and its surrounding areas Saturday, as the country reported the highest number of new daily infections since March. But in the US -- which has more registered infections than any other country in the world -- museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions in New York will be allowed to reopen later this month following a five-month shutdown. Meanwhile, about 5,000 pilgrims attended the annual Assumption mass in the underground basilica in France's Lourdes Roman Catholic shrine Saturday -- with strict health measures in place. "It's weird. There aren't many people this year," said Michel Clavel, a retired 66-year-old truck driver, who comes every year for the pilgrimage which usually attracts about 250,000 worshippers. burs-jj/txw In an alarming development, new research suggests that Greenlands ice sheets have possibly shrunk past the point of return. According to a study published in the Nature Communications Earth & Environment journal on Thursday, the remaining ice in Greenland will continue to melt irrespective of whether the world is able to cut down on Global Warning emissions in the future. Read: Alpine Glacier In Italy Threatens Valley, Forces Evacuations Past the point of no return The study observed 234 glaciers across the Arctic spanning 34 years till 2018. As per reports, the researchers have concluded that the annual snowfall on the glaciers is no longer enough to replenish the ice that melts during the summer. The glacier melting caused by global warming and climate change has caused the oceans to rise on an average of one millimetre per year. According to the study, if all the ice in Greenland melts and is released into the ocean, the global sea level will rise by roughly 6 meters which will be enough to flood many low lying coastal areas. However, this eventuality still remains decades away but scientists are worried about the Arctic heating up twice as fast as the rest of the world for the last 30 years. Read: Pluto's Glaciers May Be Growing Due To Change In The Dwarf Planet's Seasons: Study Greenland is strategically important to the US military and its ballistic missile early warning system. Earlier last year, US President Donald Trump had offered to buy Greenland from Denmark but his offer was promptly rejected. Studies have suggested that in the current environment Greenland will only gain mass (as in ice) once every 100 years indicating the difficult process of re-growing glaciers once they lose ice in vast quantities. Arctic Ice Split Captured In Satellite Images Meanwhile, recent images released by the Planet Earth-observation company show the Milne Ice Shelf in the Arctic as broken. According to reports, the ice platform that split from the ice shelf formed a free-floating bloc some 80 sq km (30 sq miles) in the area. The split occurred sometime between July 30-31. The last fully intact ice shelf in the Canadian Arctic, the Milne Ice Shelf, recently collapsed, sending large ice islands out into the Arctic Ocean. Planet's Dove satellites captured before and after imagery on July 26 and July 31, 2020. https://t.co/oTJ4WZXqHH pic.twitter.com/dBsTv8VJmt Planet (@planetlabs) August 10, 2020 Read: Study: Glaciers, Not Flowing Rivers, Sculpted Mars Valleys Read: Arctic Ice Split Captured In Satellite Images, Ice Segments Drift Towards Ocean Taiwan formally signed an agreement to buy 66 of the latest model F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp., a move likely to further inflame tensions between the US and China. Taiwans purchase of the F-16s marks the first sale of advanced fighter jets to the island since President George HW Bush announced approval for 150 F-16s in 1992. A $62 billion figure announced by the Pentagon on Friday is the upper limit of numerous contracts if all potential foreign customers placed their maximum desired number over the decade. The move is likely to be denounced by Beijing, even though the US first signaled its plans to approve the sale a year ago in an informal notification to Congress and it could still be years before the jets are delivered. The announcement said that work on the 90 jets potentially to be sold under Fridays announcement would be complete by late 2026. Company officials have previously said they project a market for as many as 400 of the new F-16s. When the planned sale was announced in August last year, a spokeswoman for Chinas Foreign Ministry told reporters that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan severely violate the one-China principle. The spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said at the time that her government was urging the U.S. to refrain from selling the fighter jets to Taiwan and stop arms sales to, and military contact with, Taiwan. Otherwise, the Chinese side will surely make strong reactions, and the U.S. will have to bear all the consequences. Since then, ties with the U.S. have only frayed further, with the two nations in a series of disputes ranging from the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic to 5G technology and Beijings tightening grip over Hong Kong. The Trump administration last month rejected Chinas expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, reversing a previous policy of not taking sides in such disputes. The U.S. Navy sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the South China Sea on Friday to conduct maritime air defense operations. In addition to Taiwan, Morocco is buying 24 F-16s jets in the first tranche of 90 aircraft that the Pentagon said was valued at $4.9 billion. The Pentagon announcement didnt name Taiwan or Morocco, but they have been identified in a previous statement and were confirmed Friday by a person familiar with the contract. The new F-16s are being assembled at Lockheeds new facility in Greenville, South Carolina, which opened in April 2019. The contracting mechanism used by the Pentagon will facilitate faster contract awards and greater pricing clarity for our foreign military partners, Brian Brackens, an Air Force spokesman, said in a statement to Bloomberg News before the contract announcement. Taiwan and Morocco are expected to be the first two partner nations that will utilize this contract, Brackens said. The Taiwan F-16s will be equipped with a top-line fire control radar made by Northrop Grumman Corp. Called the APG-83, it would allow precision-guided munitions to be fired at greater distances, said an official familiar with the details. Lockheed Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Possenriede told analysts on a July 21 earnings call that the company was anticipating a quite large F-16 order that should get announced sometime this quarter in which the marquee customer is Taiwan. The additional 90 F-16s would add to Lockheeds current 38-aircraft backlog. The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service. Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts. Three people were killed in Albuquerque in separate incidents over a 24-hour period on Friday and a fourth person was fighting for his life as homicide detectives worked to piece together evidence in each of the cases. The most recent case involves a man who was apparently shot on the 7800 block of East Central at around 10 p.m. Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Daren DeAguero said the man was transported to University of New Mexico Hospital, where he died of his injury. DeAguero said in a news release late Friday that no suspect was in custody in that incident. Double stabbing Roughly three hours before that incident at about 7 p.m. officers responded to a domestic dispute at the Chelsea Village apartments near Louisiana and Montgomery NE, DeAguero said. Police found a man and woman with stab wounds at an apartment. The woman died at UNMH and the man is in critical condition, he said. DeAguero said homicide detectives are investigating and gave no other details. Gunshot victim The first incident involved a gunshot victim who was taken to an Albuquerque Fire Rescue station near Central and Pennsylvania. Investigators were on scene at the fire station at 123 Dallas NE at about 1:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Tanner Tixier, another APD spokesman. He said officers were trying to determine where that shooting occurred. Initial dispatch information stated that a female had shown up to the AFR Station with a wounded male victim in her vehicle, Tixier said in a news release. That male victim eventually died as a result of his injuries. Police have not released the names or ages of any of the victims, nor have they released suspect information. "Khuda Haafiz" (film streaming on Disney+ Hotstar) Cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Shivaleeka Oberoi, Annu Kapoor, Shiv Panditt, Aahana Kumra, Nawab Shah Direction: Faruk Kabir Rating: * * and 1/2 (two and a half stars) By Vinayak Chakravorty This time, Vidyut Jammwal keeps his shirt on for most parts. He is not much in the mood to fight either -- well, not at least to unleash the familiar choreographed martial arts blitz. In "Khuda Haafiz", Vidyut is a coy Lucknow boy who remains in non-violent mode for almost half the film. Many might look at that situation as drastic image makeover for an actor whose career has so far banked on celebrating brute force. Others -- hardcore fans - would be disappointed if they logged in only to watch him fight. Sure, there is the mandatory beating to a pulp once Jammwal gets going with the action jam. But by the time it happens, it becomes obvious that neither the film nor its hero will cater any sort of surprise cinematically. In a line, this is a story about the old-school hero rescuing his damsel in distress. Writer-director Faruk Kabir sets out to fill a 130-plus minute runtime with that idea. The screenplay presents Vidyut as Sameer Chaudhry, a softspoken guy who never leaves behind his Lucknowi tehzeeb. Sameer marries the half-Hindu, half-Muslim Nargis (Shivaleeka Oberoi), according to his family's wish. Mandatory melodrama plays out, before giving way to anxiety soon enough. The year is 2008 and the global recession renders both of them jobless. Through an employment agency in Lucknow, the couple applies for jobs in the sultanate of Noman. Nargis gets her work visa and flies off, while Sameer must wait for a few more days. Twist in the tale comes when Nargis makes a frantic phone call to Sameer stating that things don't seem right. Sameer arrives in Noman to bring her back home, but is shocked to realise she is now in the clutches of a powerful gang of flesh traders. The narrative uses vintage Bollywood formula, in the way the story is moved forward. The lazy early portions give way to a second half that predominantly loads the action quotient. There is little scope for smart twists in this story, but the intermittent spin does throw up the odd dead body to keep the plot going. If you aren't tired yet of good old Bollywood masala, writer-director Kabir's storytelling works adequately despite the occasional absurdities and the overall predictability of the script. Kabir's storytelling reiterates the basic cliche that commercial Hindi cinema will always primarily be about making the contrived look exciting. The peace-loving Sameer's split-second transformation into a Hulk who seethes with rage and revenge, is an example. Despite being a regular smalltown boy, Sameer has an innate capacity to take on professional thugs, and crush their bones with elan. The biggest reiteration of stereotypes, though, must lie in the casting. Watching the very desi Nawab Shah being passed off as the Algerian bad guy of the piece is amusing. The very Indian Aahana Kumra and Shiv Panditt play out local cops. Also, if the story is set in a foreign land and the hero is an Indian in trouble, there has to be a Muslim (preferably Pakistani) with a heart of gold to aid him. "Khuda Haafiz" finds that stock character in Annu Kapoor's friendly taxiwaala Usman Ali. Still, Kapoor rises above the stereotype he plays out. Along with Vidyut, he remains pick of the cast. "Khuda Haafiz" talks of joblessness and recession, and tries spotlighting crime against women of the most sinister kind in a thriller format. That should have made the film an engaging watch for an audience of 2020. It isn't the case, mainly because the film is fixated on being dated rather than entertaining with a cutting-edge assuredness. (Vinayak Chakravorty can be reached at vinayak.c@ians.in) -- Syndicated from IANS Miley Cyrus has changed her hair more often than Hannah Montana changed into her alter ego, Miley Stewart. Always up for a change, Cyrus has rocked different colors, different lengths, curls and even mini horns. Shes currently sporting a mullet, which her father teased her for. She had a hair role model for the look. Miley Cyrus | Mike Coppola/FilmMagic Cyrus spoke to Zach Sang for his Just the Interviews podcast on Aug. 14. Sang could get away with asking about her mullet because theyve been speaking for so many years. Cyrus told him the full story of her hair. Miley Cyrus does not have a Billy Ray Cyrus mullet During his heyday in the 90s Billy Ray Cyrus rocked a mullet. Hes still a little possessive about it and says his daughter doesnt have his mullet. The mullet is an important part of family history, Cyrus told Sang. My dad actually invented a very specific mullet called the Kentucky Waterfall. And mine, my dad, I asked him if that was the kind of mullet I have. My dad told me the name. Its something English. The reason Miley Cyrus changes her hair so often Cyruss haircuts arent just for shock value either. She certainly gets a lot of media attention for them, but most of them represent personal moments for Cyrus. Miley Cyrus | Robert Kamau/GC Images RELATED: Miley Cyrus Was Traumatized By Something She Saw at Disneyland During Hannah Montana In a lot of cultures theres a spiritual connection between your hair and removing it and allowing that to be a shedding of a path, Cyrus said. So any time Im evolving, I get out the scissors. Im very much a I wear my heart on my sleeve, you know where Im at. Im pretty open in that way. You can usually tell by my hair whats going on. The inspiration for this mullet Cyrus may not have a Kentucky Waterfall like her country star father, but she was inspired by musicians. Her mullet is pure rock n roll. Miley Cyrus | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs RELATED: The Musical Movie Moment Miley Cyrus Called Worlds Colliding: I Actually Lost My Mind When I cut my hair, I told my mom, Make me look like Rod Stewart, Cyrus said. Thats not a joke. I called myself Young Rod for three weeks until It got a little longer. But it also does represent that 70s Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Debbie Harry. Other rock stars inspire Miley Cyruss music too Cyrus released her new single, Midnight Sky, on Aug. 14. She told Sang there is another classic rock star who inspired her latest. This is my third beard. I grew my first in the late 1970s to see what would happen, and was astonished at the effect. Among many other results, people feel quite free to make personal remarks about you in a way they otherwise wouldnt. Many of my more old-fashioned colleagues were more or less horrified, as was Lady Thatcher, who sometimes had to endure me as a lowly member of the press party on her flights abroad. She never said anything. You could just feel the frozen disapproval emanating from her. One of my editors in that era was less restrained, remarking that he thought I looked like the Yorkshire Ripper. One morning I just left off shaving, and my third beard began, a good deal paler than its forerunners. I think I might just be buried in this one But on that particular paper, editors lasted little longer than summer showers, and he was soon gone. This hostility was not such a surprise. In my childhood, beards were almost unknown, and were worn mainly by tramps, poets and artists, types of person not much respected in the bit of the middle class I came from. Thanks to the war, it was still, just, the age of the moustache, a militaristic type of facial hair that has always seemed far odder than a beard to me though not as odd as the lonely tufts of hair grown on the cheekbones of some naval officers in those days. For even the Navy, the only one of the Armed Forces that allows a full set, had become almost beard-free. When I spent a weekend in a Polaris submarine, I think I had the only beard in the boat, and in another warship I was told that beards were discouraged because they were unsafe. They messed up the workings of the breathing apparatus sailors had to wear in case of a fire aboard. In my childhood, beards were almost unknown, and were worn mainly by tramps, poets and artists, types of person not much respected in the bit of the middle class I came from Beards, in short, belonged in the past, and were expected to stay there, on the portraits of Victorians or of Elizabethan buccaneers. Yet I could never quite square this anti-beard sentiment with the majestic whiskers of the late King George V, whose portrait was to be found in about half the coins in my pocket, when I was still a schoolboy. I cant recall getting rid of the first one. I think I decided it would get in the way of my career, such as it then was. I was often tempted to grow it again, especially during the long winters of Moscow, where I soon afterwards went to live. Russia was a country of beards, if ever there was one. Yet there was a terrible discouragement. My licence to live and move and have my being in the USSR was a precious slip of green paper, my multi-entry visa. This was obtained only after a long and testing process. And the photograph of me which it featured showed me without a beard. The Soviet Unions terrible bureaucracy would have required me to change that document, a daunting inquisition, if I had let my whiskers grow again and to change it back if I ever changed my mind. It was simpler to stay smooth-chinned. Peter Hitchens, far left, and then Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, far right, in Washington DC in 1995 But I can very well recall launching my second beard, in Cuba, another hairy nation. I was stuck in Havana, where I had gone to watch thousands of Cubans taking advantage of a 1994 Castro decree allowing them to leave their imprisoned island. It was a worrying thing to see, as they set off on pathetic balsa and Styrofoam rafts, hoping to make it across the dangerous sea to Florida. But when I had written and sent my story, I found I myself could not get out, as it was very hard to arrange the complicated embargo-busting journey back to my then home in Washington DC. There were no direct flights in or out, and it took ages to design and pay for the complex Latin-American zigzag from this Marxist outpost back to the heart of American Imperialism. Id run out of razor blades, and it seemed like a good way of commemorating my enforced stay during which I also took the astonishing train ride to Guantanamo, and peered down into that then little-known US base through huge Soviet binoculars. By the time I made it back to Washington, the beard was already well advanced and I decided to keep it. It gave me added confidence in the several confrontations I had there with the equally bearded Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, and I treasure a picture of me interrogating him at some press conference. We had lots of clashes, all of which annoyed him. Was this the one at which he announced that the new Sinn Fein office in the US capital was not just a bureau but an embassy, and I asked him if it would, in that case, have a military attache? Perhaps. He looked suitably cheesed off. On deck: Peter aboard Polaris submarine HMS Repulse, with the Isle of Skye behind He replied by saying through clenched teeth Isnt it time you were decommissioned, Peter?, after which I began to take certain precautions. Soon afterwards, I returned rather reluctantly to England. After five years away in Russia and America, this was much like returning from orbit to the surly bonds of Earth. As an expatriate I had felt weightless, unrestrained by the normal rules. Now I was back to the pressing cares of normality again, and a whiskery face seemed frivolous. So I began again the boring daily ritual of soap and razor which, when you think about it, is one of the oddest things that men do. But something in the atmosphere of the past few months changed all that. Not since my revolutionary years in the 1960s (when I made do with sideburns almost as big as bananas and looked a bit like a poundshop Bob Dylan) have I felt so fiercely out of step with convention, so unwilling and unable to conform with the expected. And one morning I just left off shaving, and my third beard began, a good deal paler than its forerunners. I think I might just be buried in this one. Stratospheric figures were flying around the Dail. The then Taoiseach was bamboozled with the numbers. In the wake of the high-profile signing of Ray D'Arcy by RTE, one of his backbenchers wanted to know how a DJ in RTE was "being paid 500 million a year". Fortunately, Labour Party Minister Brendan Howlin was on hand to correct the Fine Gael TD that the salary was a less seismic, albeit still substantial, 500,000. While the correction was greeted with laughter in the Dail chamber, there was an intense silence when a far more significant writedown was put to Enda Kenny that morning of December 10, 2014. Social Democrats joint-leader Catherine Murphy raised the sale of a company by the State bank, mopping up the mess that was Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society. "Why did IBRC choose to accept a bid from Denis O'Brien's Millington for Siteserv, when it was actually the lowest of the bids and resulted in a loss to the State of 105m?" Expand Close Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy and former IBRC Chairman Alan Dukes / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy and former IBRC Chairman Alan Dukes Kenny pledged to come back with answers. Nearly six years and a commission of investigation costing a potential 70m later, there's no answer. What's more, it's not clear there will ever be an answer or if the answer is anything more than 'that's business'. Businessman strikes deal to buy company. It is what it is, as the ultimate dealer himself, Donald Trump, might say. Now the shambles falls upon the desk of Taoiseach Micheal Martin. He is both directly responsible now for the commission's work, and a star witness later this year. It's tricky territory. Intrigue Siteserv was a company that provided services, such as barriers around roadworks and scaffolding for construction sites. It borrowed 150m from IBRC, it couldn't pay it back so it was sold off. Millington, controlled by businessman O'Brien, bought it in 2012 for 45m. The deal saw the writing off of 105m of debts. A billionaire businessman and a deal worth tens of millions with a State agency made for a prime political controversy. To add to the intrigue, services companies linked to Siteserv and O'Brien were awarded contracts to install water meters. The political heat continued for the next six months until the government set up a Commission of Investigation in June 2015 to examine transactions that led to a loss for IBRC of 10m. The first module of the commission under Judge Brian Cregan was specifically focused on Siteserv. Five years on, the investigation is still going on. Martin's position on the Siteserv deal has ranged from raising questions to demanding an inquiry, then complaining about the costs and length of time the inquiry was taking. Last summer, Martin observed the inquiry was taking longer than the entire period IBRC existed. "From a democratic and a financial perspective, something needs to be done - because the public deserves answers," he argued. The then opposition leader pondered if the Dail could undertake an independent evaluation into the inquiry and decide whether it should continue on or find another way to get answers. Whatever the "something" is that needs to be done is up to Martin as Taoiseach. His tune has changed. Ten days after coming into Government, he told the Dail that it was "unclear" if the investigation will reach a conclusion by the end of the year. "The minute a Taoiseach of the day says to a tribunal that he or she will cut its resources or undermine it, the charge will come from the other side of the House that the Taoiseach is interfering and undermining an independent tribunal," he said last month. The commission was supposed to issue its final report by December 2015, at a cost of 4m. Now, Martin's official estimate is the cost could hit 30m. Aontu TD Peadar Toibin suggested the final bill will hit 70m. "Its costs are expected to be between 60pc and 70pc of the value of what it is investigating," he said summing up the bizarre scenario. Toibin has a point. It is understood there are well over 10 legal firms involved in representing interested parties at the commission, so those bills will have to be paid too by the taxpayer. Unlike the tribunals of the past, the commission sits behind closed doors. The commission has been bogged down in legal wrangling around access to the records of private companies. Martin was among the cheerleaders for the inquiry to be established. He made a statement to the Cregan Commission last year, the Irish Independent has learned. About 50 witnesses are believed to have appeared before the investigation so far. Martin is understood to be on the list of the next batch of witnesses. He is due to appear in the autumn, if he is ultimately called. Central to his testimony will be an alleged meeting with former IBRC executive and senior Department of Finance official Neil Ryan in early 2015. Martin can be cross-examined by other parties at the tribunal, who will be interested in what he knew when he was raising questions, especially if he was briefed on the financial affairs of individuals. Catherine Murphy, who started the ball rolling, will not appear at the inquiry as she is worried she will be forced to reveal the sources of her information about O'Brien's finances. The Commission couldn't guarantee such questions by lawyers for other witnesses. Here lies a Catch 22. While the Commission continues to rack up the bills, as Taoiseach, Martin cannot be seen to interfere. However. he is also a witness and was raising questions about a deal undertaken under the watch of his now coalition partners in Fine Gael. Impropriety Then Finance Minister Michael Noonan insisted the deal was above board. However, the minister was not aware of the Siteserv deal until it had already been done. At the time of the deal, the IBRC didn't have to inform the Department of Finance of such commercial transactions. Noonan later met with his former Fine Gael Cabinet colleague, then IBRC chairman Alan Dukes, to discuss the issue and whether it needed an outside inquiry. Dukes told Noonan the board of IBRC had reviewed the transaction. "The board had assured him, and he was assuring me, that what happened was in the best interests of the State and consequently the taxpayer," Noonan said at the time. Tensions between the Department of Finance and the IBRC were also present. Dukes has "categorically rejected" any suggestion of impropriety on the bank's sale of Siteserv to a company controlled by O'Brien. The reputations of not just Fine Gael in government but two former party leaders, who are held in high regard, are wrapped up in the affair. Martin will recall how tribunals of inquiry have caused immense difficulties within coalitions during his career. The Beef Tribunal on malpractice in the beef processing industry was established by the Fianna Fail and Progressive Democrats coalition in 1991, only after PD leader Des O'Malley threatened to pull out of the government if it wasn't set up. When that tribunal reported in 1994, the handling of its publication and findings by then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds sparked fallout that contributed significantly to the collapse of his coalition with the Labour Party. Martin was a key defender of Bertie Ahern when he was being investigated by the Planning Tribunal. The revelations about his personal finances strained the relationship with his coalition partners, again the PDs, in the 2007 general election and discomfort for the Green Party in the subsequent administration. Ultimately, Ahern ended up resigning prematurely over the scrutiny. Martin is now a central protagonist in an affair that drags on with no clean end in sight. India has as much commitment to make its security apparatus and Army strong as it has for establishing peace and harmony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, stressing that mammoth steps have been taken to make the country self-reliant in the defence sector. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives to take part in the 74th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Fort in New Delhi, on Saturday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo In his Independence Day speech, Modi said recently, import of more than 100 military equipment has been stopped. "From missiles to light military helicopters, from assault rifles to transport aircraft -- all will be made in India. "Our Tejas is getting ready to equip itself as per the modern requirements, for putting up a show of its majesty, speed and strength," he said. Tejas is the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft which has been also been inducted in the Indian Air Force. Modi noted that border and coastal infrastructure play a pivotal role in national security. "Emphasis is being laid on connectivity in every direction, be it the Himalayan peaks, or the islands of Indian Ocean. "New roads are being constructed everywhere, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, keeping in mind national security," he stressed. Karan Johar has returned to social media with a post dedicated to Independence Day. His last post on Instagram was two months ago, on June 14, on the day of Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Karan shared the photo of the Indian National Flag, and wrote, "To our great nation....a treasure trove of culture, heritage and history.... #happyindependenceday ... JAI HIND." Janhvi Kapoor and Neha Dhupia were among the first to comment on his post. The filmmaker had quit social media in the face of heavy trolling after the death of Sushant reignited the nepotism debate in the industry. Karan and Janhvi were among several Bollywood stars from film families who were brutally targeted online. On June 14, after the news of Sushant's death broke, Karan had posted, "I blame myself for not being in touch with you for the past year..... I have felt at times like you may have needed people to share your life with...but somehow I never followed up on that feeling...will never make that mistake again...we live in very energetic and noisy but still very isolated times ...some of us succumb to these silences and go within...we need to not just make relationships but also constantly nurture them....Sushants unfortunate demise has been a huge wake up call to me ...to my level of compassion and to my ability to foster and protect my equations.....I hope this resonates with all of you as well....will miss your infectious smile and your bear hug..." The backlash began almost immediately, after people accused his production house and Yash Raj Films of being biased towards star kids. Karan has also not posted anything on Twitter ever since. A close friend of his had revealed last month that Karan is in a deep state of shock due to the heavy criticism that he has been receiving ever since the demise of Sushant. He added that the brutal hatred he received after Sushant's death had left the Dharma Productions head "shattered." President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe says the freshly-compiled voters register could lead to the governing New Patriotic Partys (NPP) losing the upcoming December 7, 2020, general elections. He says the NPPs arguments against the old register, which it claimed was bloated, have been proven to be flawed, given the figures provided by the Electoral Commission (EC) after the registration exercise. On The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr. Cudjoe reiterated his critique of the party and the electoral management body for deceiving Ghanaians as well as wasting national resources for a venture he feels was of no relevance to the countrys electoral reforms. Franklin Cudjoe thus ridiculed the NPP for rather losing some numbers in a few of its strongholds and failing in its bid to intimidate registrants in the areas which are key to the oppositions National Democratic Congress (NDC) chances in the polls, because the reasons given for the compilation of the new electoral roll were fundamentally illogical and baseless. He asserted that the NPP has gained nothing from the compilation of the new register. I want to now believe that the NPP must move away from this long-held belief that the register was bloated. It was not based on science, logic or statistics. In fact with the border towns that they claim, apart from the voter suppression and intimidation we saw by the military, even Ketu South turned margins that are consistent with times. I will be worried for the NPP to probably take lessons from this register. What has actually happened is that some of their strongholds have either marginally or drastically reduced. Look at Ahafo-Ano and some parts of the Ashanti Region. Anytime the NPP has been in power and actually promoted the conduct of the new register, they lose the election. If anybody has benefitted from this register, it is certainly not the NPP. So if you think it is just numbers that will let you win an election, the data has not borne us out, he noted. Statistics must shape policies The voter registration exercise ended with 16,963,306 persons registered to vote . These provisional figures, as announced by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, are pending processes of deduplication and adjudication. It includes the 30,814 persons registered during the two-day mop-up registration exercise over the weekend. But arguing that the numbers recorded during the mass voter registration exercise would not have been so different if the old register was used, Franklin Cudjoe said the current turn of events means the time has come for Ghana to begin taking policy decisions that are well-grounded in sound statistics I think this country must allow sound statistics and policy to drive conversations. Look at the data, it does not serve anybody in terms of suggesting that the register was bloated. What we have done is that the EC managed to pull the wool off our eyes and in the end wasted US$ 120 million more than they would have really had. We have conferred on ourselves that we are statistically inept. citinewsroom The agreement comes as Vietnam deals with a fresh Covid-19 outbreak that has claimed 22 lives so far, after losing no life the first time around. Vu Tuan Cuong, head of the health ministry's Vietnam Drug Administration, made the proposal for obtaining the vaccine and it was approved by the ministry. The ministry said it has also registered to buy the vaccine being developed by the U.K. and is cooperating with other vaccine producers worldwide, including in the U.S., to register for their vaccine and to seek assistance in the production of Covid-19 vaccine in Vietnam. Do Tuan Dat, head of the Vaccine and Biological Production Company No.1 (VABIOTECH), which is working on developing an indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, said his company had no plan to order the Russian Covid-19 vaccine yet. He said it was necessary to understand how effective the vaccine is before making a decision on purchasing it. Dat added that the company would approach all countries that have successfully produced vaccines with widely publicized research showing good results. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, Reuters reported. The vaccine, called "Sputnik V" in tribute to the worlds first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, has raised concerns among some experts who fear Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety, the Reuters report said. Vietnam's acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long had said at a recent meeting that Vietnamese labs were working hard to get a Covid-19 vaccine ready for clinical trials on humans at the end of this year. Covid-19 vaccines produced by four Vietnamese institutions Vaccine and Biological Production No. 1 (VABIOTECH), the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC), the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), and Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology have shown initial positive results. The ministry had said earlier that Vietnam aims to have a Covid-19 vaccine by 2021. Since July 25, when Vietnam's first local Covid-19 transmission in over three months was recorded in Da Nang, outbreaks have occurred in 15 localities, with 461 domestic infections as of Saturday morning. Since then, Vietnam has reported 22 deaths. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 15:03:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close South Korean President Moon Jae-in delivers a televised speech to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule, in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 15, 2020. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Saturday that his government was ready to sit face-to-face with Japan at any time to resolve a long-drawn-out issue over the South Korean victims of forced labor by Japan during World War II. (South Korea Presidential Blue House/Handout via Xinhua) SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Saturday that his government was ready to sit face-to-face with Japan at any time to resolve a long-drawn-out issue over the South Korean victims of forced labor by Japan during World War II. "Our government is ready to sit face-to-face with the Japanese government at any time," Moon said in his televised speech to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. "The government respects the judiciary's ruling, and has consulted with Japan's government on a smooth resolution, to which the (South Korean) victims can agree," Moon said. Moon noted that South Korea currently left the door of consultations with Japan "wide open" over the forced labor issue. Four South Korean victims, who were forced into heavy labor without pay during the colonial era, field a damages lawsuit in 2005 against a Japanese steelmaker. Among the four victims, Lee Chun-sik is the only surviving plaintiff because of old age. It was followed by other wartime forced labor victims and their families lodging compensation suits against Japanese companies. South Korea's Supreme Court delivered a ruling in 2018 that ordered some of Japanese companies to pay reparation to the victims. Japan has claimed that all colonial-era issues were settled through a 1965 bilateral treaty that normalized diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo, but the South Korean top court ruled that the state-to-state deal did not involve individuals' right to reparation. Referring to the surviving plaintiff Lee Chun-sik, Moon said, "We will confirm the fact that protecting the dignity of an individual will never be a loss to the country." In an apparent protest against the South Korean top court's ruling, Japan tightened control in July last year over its export to South Korea of three materials vital to producing memory chips and display panels that are the mainstay of South Korea's export. In August last year, Japan dropped South Korea off its whitelist of trusted trading partners that are given preferential export procedure. In response, Seoul removed Tokyo from its whitelist of trusted export partners. Meanwhile, Moon made peace overtures towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "A true liberation is that the dreams and lives of each person are guaranteed in a peaceful, safe and unified Korean Peninsula. Our push for peace and inter-Korean cooperation is aimed to let people of the South and the North live safely together," Moon said. Moon expressed his hope that the two Koreas could cooperate more closely in areas such as healthcare, forestry, agricultural technology. "Inter-Korean cooperation is the best security policy to avoid dependence on nuclear and military power for both Koreas," Moon noted. Moon vowed to set foundations for the true liberation by permanently getting rid of war threats on the peninsula as agreed upon in the Panmunjom agreement. The Panmunjom agreement was signed by Moon and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit in April 2018 at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. It led to the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, but denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since the second Kim-Trump summit ended with no agreement in February 2019 at the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. In June 2020, the DPRK destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office building that opened in September 2018 for the round-the-clock communications between the two Koreas, and has cut off all communication lines with Seoul since. Before the demolition, the DPRK repeatedly lashed out at South Korea in protest of anti-DPRK propaganda leaflets sent by defectors and activists across the inter-Korean border. Enditem With a few courageous Clicks has rescued a Surfer in Australia his comrade in front of a great White shark. The young predator had attacked the 35-year-old woman on Saturday morning while Surfing off Port Macquarie, police said. Her companion had taken such a long time on the three-Meter-long animal, until it had drained from the woman. The surfer was taken with severe leg injuries in a local hospital and is now in a bigger hospital to be flown, where it should be operated. "I think this is a great, ... an incredible act of bravery," said the chief of the rescue service, Steven Pearce, the action of the Surfers. "We had in the past few months, along the coast to some really serious and tragic encounters with sharks." The beaches in Port Macquarie, about 400 kilometres North of Sydney, were locked up for 24 hours. This year there has been in Australia so far five fatal shark attacks on humans. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 10:20 Kerala observed a low-key Independence Day on Saturday, with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and seven other ministers in quarantine over fears of the coronavirus disease. In a first, collectors in some of the districts in the state unfurled the national flag to mark the occasion. At many district headquarters, ceremonies were held with strict containment measures and a limited guest list. At several places, only the state government officials and police personnel, attended the events. In state capital Thiruvananthapuram, tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran hoisted the national flag in the absence of the chief minister. Pandemic situation has thrown many challenges before the country. We will overcome this with unity and hard work. In such trying situations we have to ensure that people wont starve. The state government has taken enough measures to check this and it has become a model for others, the CM said in a Facebook post to greet the people on the occasion. Vijayan and seven of his cabinet colleagues have been under quarantine after they came in contact with district officers, involved in the rescue operations at the Air India Express plane crash site, who tested positive for Covid-19. Malappuram district collector K Gopalakrishnan, SP Abdul Kareem and many senior officers tested positive on Friday, a week after they took part in rescue operations. The Dubai-Kozhikode repatriation flight overshot the runway and crash landed, claiming 18 lives, on August 7. While Governor Arif Mohammad Khan also visited Kozhikkode last Saturday, he did not go under quarantine and hoisted the national flag at Raj Bhawan. In a statement, the Raj Bhawan said that his interaction with the infected officials was minimum. Meanwhile, the state government lifted the lockdown imposed to arrest the spread of Covid-19 in Thiruvananthapuram after 39 days. The restrictions will continue in containment zones. At least one-third of the states total active cases (14,094) are from the state capital. A bridesmaid holds on to the bride's face mask while newlyweds pose for pictures following their wedding ceremony in Rustburg, Va., on May 9, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images) Kentucky Photographer Wins Right to Refuse Service to Same-Sex Couples A federal judge in Kentucky has blocked the city of Louisville from enforcing an anti-discrimination law against a Christian wedding photographer, allowing her to refuse to work same-sex weddings on the grounds that her work is an expression of free speech, and compelling it would be unconstitutional. A government can no more compel that speech than it can compel a freelance speechwriter to write for a political candidate she opposes, U.S. District Judge Justin Walker wrote in a decision on Aug. 14, explaining his rationale for issuing a preliminary injunction (pdf) in favor of photographer and blogger Chelsey Nelson. Walker essentially sided with Nelsons portrayal of her work as a form of storytelling and expression of free speech, ruling that it would violate her constitutional right for Louisville authorities to force her to express celebratory messages about same-sex weddings through photographs and blog posts. Under our Constitution, the government cant force them to march for, or salute in favor of, or create an artistic expression that celebrates, a marriage that their conscience doesnt condone. America is wide enough for those who applaud same-sex marriage and those who refuse to, Walker wrote in the ruling. Nelson filed a lawsuit against the city of Louisville in 2019 (pdf), in which her attorneys said that because Chelsey believes that God created marriage to be an exclusive covenant between one man and one woman, Chelsey cannot tell stories promoting or celebrating any wedding or marriage not between one man and one woman, such as same-sex marriage, polygamous marriage, or open marriage. Her lawyers argued that Louisvilles law threatens Chelseys storytelling and livelihood, referring to the citys rule known as the Fairness Ordinance. Passed in 1999, it prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation for housing, employment, and public accommodations. Walkers decision prevents the city from enforcing this rule against Nelson while her lawsuit makes its way through the courts. His preliminary injunction indicates he thinks the courts will ultimately determine that the Louisville law violates Nelsons free speech rights. Because the Accommodations Provision compels Nelson to express herself in a manner contrary to her conscience, the Court presumes that the provisionas applied to Nelsonis unconstitutional, Walker wrote. To be sure, without discovery or even an answer from Louisville, its premature to say Nelson will definitely prevail. But its highly likely. While Walker sided with Nelsons argument that her work is a form of expression of free speech and so merits protection from Louisvilles law, he rejected the idea that the ruling flung open the door to discrimination. To be clear, most applications of antidiscrimination lawsincluding Louisvilles Fairness Ordinanceare constitutional. Todays ruling is not a license to discriminate. Nor does it allow for the serious stigma that results from a sign in the window announcing that an owner wont serve gay and lesbian customers, Walker wrote. In Louisville, since 1999 and still today, Marriott cannot refuse a room to a same-sex couple. McDonalds cannot deny a man dinner simply because he is gay. Neither an empty hotel room, nor a Big Mac, is speech. And it is unnecessary today to decide any questions unrelated to speech. Jonathan Scruggs, a lawyer from the Alliance Defending Freedom who argued in favor of Nelson during court proceedings, hailed the courts decision. Just like every American, photographers, and writers like Chelsey should be free to peacefully live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust punishment by the government, Scruggs said, Kentucky Today reported. The court was right to halt enforcement of Louisvilles law against Chelsey while her case moves forward. She serves everyone. She simply cannot endorse or participate in ceremonies she objects to, and the city has no right to eliminate the editorial control she has over her own photographs and blogs. The Department of Justice earlier weighed in, issuing a statement of interest in February. The central question presented in this case is whether the government can compel a wedding photographer to photograph, provide photography editing services for, and blog about weddings of which she does not approve, and does not wish to photograph or to promote, wrote Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. The answer is no. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted, Mr. Marshall wrote. Many states have long allowed voters to request a mail ballot close to the election, but the Postal Service suggested that the large volume of voting by mail at a time of widespread delivery delays meant that states would be better off building more time into their systems. Mr. Marshall said Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Rhode Island should not have any trouble, based on their laws, while he requested more information from Vermont and Washington, D.C. The other 45 states, he told them in the letters, face the risk that the timetables set by their laws could leave some voters unable to get their ballots postmarked by Election Day or received by election boards in time to be counted. The letters prompted some states to consider changes that would give voters more time to vote by mail or ensure their ballot would be counted. And their release intensified the criticism directed at the Postal Service and Mr. Trump by Democrats and voting rights advocates, who say the president is deliberately stoking unfounded concerns that voting by mail will lead to fraud and miscounts as a way to cast doubt about the outcome of the election. Word that the letters had been sent across the country, first reported by The Washington Post, came as the Postal Services inspector general said she had begun an investigation into the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, a Republican megadonor and Trump ally who was appointed in May. Study shows frequently used serology test may not detect antibodies that could confirm protection against reinfection of COVID-19 HOUSTON -- Two different types of detectable antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) tell very different stories and may indicate ways to enhance public health efforts against the disease, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (S-RBD) are speculated to neutralize virus infection, while the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) antibody may often only indicate exposure to the virus, not protections against reinfection. The results, published today in JCI Insight, highlight findings from a quantitative serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD and N-protein for the detection of circulating antibodies in 138 serial serum samples from confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients and 464 healthy and non-COVID-19 serum samples that were collected between June 2017 and June 2020. Results showed that 3% of healthy and non-COVID-19 samples collected during the pandemic in Houston were positive for the N-protein antibody, but only 1.6% of those had the S-RBD antibody. Of samples with the S-RBD antibody, 86% had neutralizing capacity - meaning they could prevent reinfection of COVID-19, but only 74% of samples with N-protein had neutralizing capacity. When positive for both, 96.5% exhibited neutralizing capacity. "These findings suggest that detection of N-protein binding antibodies does not always correlate with presence of S-RBD neutralizing antibodies, and that the presence of the S-RBD antibody is the best indicator of any potential protection against reinfection," said senior author Raghu Kalluri, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of Cancer Biology. "We caution against the extensive use of N-protein based serology testing for determination of potential COVID-19 immunity, and we believe that accurate and reliable S-RBD serological testing is needed to carefully identify individuals with neutralizing antibodies in order to help advance recovery efforts around the globe." At present, some commercially available serological tests confirm only the presence antibodies to the N-protein, with over 200 commercial and hospital laboratory testing facilities currently using these tests. While these tests indicate exposure to the virus, they do not seem to suggest immunity to reinfection. These findings reiterate the need to educate on what an antibody test result mean for each patient, and that public health efforts should focus on ways to encourage patients to continue vigilant safety precautions even with the presence of N-protein antibodies. "In addition to serological assessment of the general population, we are hopeful these results will aid in rapid assessment of the efficacy of vaccine candidates as they are translated into the broader population," said lead author Kathleen McAndrews, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in Cancer Biology. ### Luis L. Ostrosky-Zeichner, M.D., and Ramesh Papanna, M.D., of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health) McGovern Medical School, contributed some samples to the study. A full list of co-authors can be found in the paper. About MD Anderson The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 50 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. It has ranked as one of the nation's top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 16 times in the last 19 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672). This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment (LB1140, 1144, 1148, 1188), introduced by Sen. Sara Howard, the Health and Human Services Committee and Sen. Tony Vargas, would provide legislative oversight of the state's YRTCs, require a plan and establish the position of superintendent of schools to administer educational programs. Some of the bills that failed or died * Red flag gun bill (LB58), proposed by Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, would allow a court to intervene in extreme cases where people have demonstrated they are a danger to themselves or others, have access to a firearm and have made threats of violence. It was advanced to the first round, but not debated and died at the end of the session. * Expanding Legislature (LR279CA), from Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk, was blocked by a filibuster led chiefly by urban senators. Scheers plan would have asked voters to give the Legislature permission to expand to 55 senators, and would have required a vote to subsequently do so. While backers said more senators would reduce the size of some rural districts, opponents said any new districts would go to urban areas. Death sentences in Koh Tao killings commuted BANGKOK: The two Myanmar men ssentenced to death for the murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao in 2014 have had their sentences commuted to life in prison under a royal decree, the lawyer representing the two men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, said on Friday (Aug 14). murdercrimeMyanmarpolice By Bangkok Post Saturday 15 August 2020, 10:06AM Win Zaw Htun (left) and Zaw Lin leave the courtroom on Aug 29 last year after hearing the Supreme Court uphold their death sentence for the Sept 2014 murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill / Bangkok Post Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and the killing of David Miller, 24. The victims battered bodies were found on a beach in the diving resort island of Koh Tao in September 2014. Defence lawyers have said the evidence used to convict the two men were unreliable as authorities had mishandled DNA and did not allow independent analysis of the samples. They also argued that confessions by the pair were obtained under duress. Defence appeals were exhausted in August. Many supporters of the two men argue that they had been framed and that they had initially confessed to the crimes under duress. The police investigation and handling of crucial DNA evidence were also widely criticised. The death sentences will be reduced to life imprisonment under a royal pardon, their lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat told Reuters, reports the Bangkok Post. The two are eligible under a section in the royal pardon decree to get their death sentences reduced to life imprisonment, Mr Nakhon said. They will also have a chance to get their sentences reduced further on good behaviour. The decree published in the Royal Gazette on Friday said the pardons were granted to commemorate His Majesty the Kings birthday on July 28. It was not immediately clear how many other prisoners were eligible for pardons or reduction of sentences under different criteria listed in the decree, the Bangkok Post noted. Mumbai: Rs 41 lakh in legal currencies were seized by Mumbai police in Karanja, Mumbai on Friday.Commenting on the incident, DSP Ratnakar Nawale said that during checking the police intercepted 3 cars in which 11 people were travelling from Nagpur to Karanja. The police have seized Rs 41 lakh seized, and arrested 11 people arrested. Police and Income Tax have been on vigil after since the demonetised move was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8. Efforts to nab the culprits involving into converting of black money into white money. More details awaited For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Worse, it is barely. According to the German travel warning for Spain, the summer season in the country before the end, before it has even started. The hardest hits of Mallorca and the neighbouring Islands, which has declared the German Robert Koch Institute, is also a risk area. There is the worry that an Exodus of tourists, without the can survive the economy of the island group is growing. "This is very bad news," said the President of the Majorcan hotel Federation (Fehm), Maria Frontera, in a first reaction. The British quarantine for Spain-returnees, since the end of July, got the Islands to feel painful. It rained cancellations. But the British, on the Balearic Islands are the second largest group among the travelers. Most of them come from Germany. In the past year, 4.5 million Germans were among the total of 16.4 million visitors. Hans-Christian Roler Political correspondent for the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb, with its headquarters in Madrid. F. A. Z. "The arrivals of Germans will be equal to zero," says Maria Frontera. The German travel company, TUI, and said all the scheduled package holidays to Spain, anyone Who wants to, may be sooner than planned to fly home or to the Canary Islands to rebook. The group of Islands in the Atlantic ocean, is the only one of the 17 Autonomous regions of Spain, which has not previously been declared to be a risk area. On Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca were opened, only just over half of the Hotels. A good third of the beds were occupied. According to the local press to consider reports of numerous houses to close after a few weeks again, in order to keep the losses within limits. Important that the hospitals had not reached the limits of their capacity, and many of the Infected showed no symptoms, says Ivan Murray, who has worked as a geography Professor at the University of the Balearic Islands with the tourism. "It is a very hard blow that is exacerbating the crisis still further. What company bankruptcies and the loss of jobs, said Murray. In the Balearic Islands, three out of four jobs by the vacationers are subject to. The German travel warning hits Spain hard. The country the worst economy threatens due to Corona crisis since the civil war. Twelve percent of the economic output and hundreds of thousands of jobs depend on the tourists: Almost 84 million foreigners travelled to 2019 to Spain. Almost as many as Germany has inhabitants. The world was Spain after France, so far the most common country of Travel. For the Germans it is the most favorite country, Italy. In the past year, more than eleven million Germans were to the British, the second largest group among the travelers. At the time, the 18 million British holidaymakers spent alone, 18 billion euros. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 07:19 In a press conference Friday, Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a plan to tighten police control of the city, increase surveillance and further limit access to the downtown. One thousand police officers are being deployed into downtown Friday evening. Lightfoots plan represents a new stage in the class war in which the Democratic Party is using the looting as pretext for a massive buildup of the police apparatus. Whether it's in our downtown commercial district or in one of our other 77 neighborhoods, there can never be any place in Chicago where businesses are afraid to open, where residents and visitors are afraid to travel and shop, Lightfoot said during a noon hour press conference. Police will use every legal tactic necessary to protect retail throughout the city Police Superintendent David Brown said, including enhanced tactics like disabling vehicles by puncturing tires and setting up roadblocks. The city also announced the purchase of 500 more body cameras for police officers. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Last month, Lightfoot entered into an agreement with the Trump administration to send a surge of 200 federal agents to Chicago, allegedly to fight crime. Officers have also been put on 12 hour shifts with no days off until further notice. A 20-person task force has been created in the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to monitor social media discussions about organized gatherings. An FBI joint task force has been established to locate and prosecute alleged looters. The plan reportedly includes creating a new hardened city landscape, including concrete barriers to movement. A division of labor is established between the mayors office, CPD, Cook County Sheriff and Illinois State Police, operationalizing quick deployment of police. State police will be deployed to shut down access to certain areas of Chicago and county sheriffs will go to neighborhoods for violence reduction. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the city for information on how social media is monitored. Bridge and train access into the wealthy downtown area and its commercial corridors will continue to be restricted through the weekend. Since Monday morning, the bridges into the Loop have remained up, expressway exits blocked and train access to downtown stations restricted, turning the central business district into a virtual gated community for the ruling elite. This has increased the burden on overnight workers and those who rely on public transportation. Last Sunday, a CPD officer shot 20-year-old Latrell Allen in the Englewood neighborhood, who, police claim, fled after being stopped and then fired on officers. A confrontation at the site of the shooting ensued with more than 100 CPD officers facing off with residents. The officers that shot Latrell Allen last Sunday were not wearing body cameras. Later that night, hundreds of people flooded the downtown area breaking into several high-end retailers. Four hundred police officers were deployed in response and Illinois state police blocked off ramps from expressways and the bridges across the Chicago River were raised, except for the one on LaSalle Street for police and emergency vehicles. Over 100 were arrested and 43 have reportedly been charged with felonies. Further looting took place Monday in the West Side neighborhood of West Garfield Park after which police shut down a square mile of a commercial district. To Block Club Chicago, Chris Patterson of the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago said of the looters: They got no job, they got no money. Theyre gonna get in trouble because they have nothing else to live for, so what they got to lose? They need to put more money into helping people get jobs. Then it wouldnt be like this. Representatives of business organizations and real estate interests, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Retail Merchants Association and Sudler Property Management have issued public statements demanding Lightfoot crack down on crime and improve the perception of safety for wealthy residents. Aldermen Hopkins publicly criticized CPD for its slow and insufficiently brutal response. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx issued a statement referring to extraordinary times and stating her intention to prosecute aggressively after being publicly criticized last week by Lightfoot and officials. A Sun Times report declared the city at a crossroads warning that corporate headquarters, which receive millions in tax subsidies, may flee because they no longer feel safe. United Airlines announced it would be temporarily moving its command center staff to a suburban location. A recent Crains editorial board statement declared the city is threatened with economic collapse. It is not only, or even primarily, in response to looting that the citys ruling elite are demanding a crackdown that Democratic city leaders are moving aggressively to implement. There is widespread social anger over the inequality and relentless police violence in the Chicago area, which is home to more than 15 billionaires. Protests against police violence and police presence in schools have continued from May after the murder of George Floyd, into recent days after the shooting of Allen. This week, high school students marched to demand cops be removed from their schools. The explosive social conditions in Chicago are the result of a four-decade-long class war overseen by the Democratic Party. Working class neighborhoods have been reduced to poverty and destitution by the shutdown of factories and decades of budget cuts, which led to the closure of public schools, recreation centers, public housing buildings and health clinics. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically worsened every indicator of social misery. Tens of thousands are out of work, while others are forced to labor for profit in unsafe workplaces according to the bipartisan policy of herd immunity pursued in reopening the economy. Opposition to the opening of schools is mounting, and where school is to be online for some weeks, there is no plan to allow working families to stay at home in order to supervise the children learning remotely. In Chicago, as in every American city, working and lower middle class families are facing impossible conditions. While the ruling Democrats claim there is no money for health, social, education and social services, there are endless resources available for state repression. This article by Paul Szoldra and Jeff Schogol originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. The Pentagon is on the lookout for pilots in the Alien Air Force. David Norquist, deputy secretary of defense, has officially established the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, which will focus on learning more about the nature and origin of what officials are calling UAP (as opposed to the more familiar UFO). "The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security," Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said in a statement. The new office will be led by the Navy's office of the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. Sorry, Space Force. The safety of our personnel and the security of our operations are of paramount concern, Gough said. The Department of Defense and the military departments take any incursions by unauthorized aircraft into our training ranges or designated airspace very seriously and examine each report. This includes examinations of incursions that are initially reported as UAP when the observer cannot immediately identify what he or she is observing. The Pentagon in April publicly released unclassified videos showing the so-called unidentified aerial phenomena, confirming three separate encounters between UFOs and American aircraft that took place in 2004 and 2015. DOD is releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos, Gough said at the time. The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as unidentified. Bryan Bender of Politico and Helene Cooper of The New York Times reported last year that Navy pilots had reported seeing unidentified aircraft flying near U.S. warships in 2014 and 2015. These seemingly otherworldly flying machines had no visible engine exhaust, yet they could reach altitudes of 30,000 feet and remain on station for 12 hours. The Defense Intelligence Agency looked into unidentified aircraft from 2008 until 2012 under the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, which was meant to see if U.S. adversaries had developed advanced technology. Ultimately, the program was ended after a 2009 review found it was not producing data of value. Retired Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was responsible for most of the programs funding. Im glad the Pentagon is finally releasing this footage, which further illustrates the need to study this phenomena, Reid told Task & Purpose in April. This only scratches the surface of the research and materials available and in need of release. The United States should be taking a serious, scientific look at this and any potential national security implications. The American people deserve to be informed. The creation of the task force represents a growing concern among the Pentagon and some lawmakers that China and Russia have developed technologically advanced aircraft that are for more advanced than previously thought. That is why the fiscal 2021 Intelligence Authorization Act includes a provision requiring the Director of National Intelligence and defense secretary to provide lawmakers with an unclassified report about whether unidentified aircraft that Navy pilots have reported seeing indicate a potential adversary may have achieved breakthrough aerospace capabilities that could put United States strategic or conventional forces at risk. The Defense Department has been particularly envious of Chinas advances in hypersonic technology, which the U.S. military initially decided not to weaponize years ago. Defense officials have accused China of stealing the U.S. militarys data on hypersonics to develop their own program. President Donald Trump has boasted that the U.S. military is now developing a super-duper missile that can fly at 17 times the speed of sound. Still, many UFO enthusiasts have expressed hope that the Pentagons new willingness to talk about unidentified aircraft is the first step toward the U.S. government revealing what it knows about alien visitations to Earth. Task & Purpose asked Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman on Feb. 19 if the Defense Department had any evidence that aliens had visited this planet. I have nothing for you on that today, Hoffman replied. Still, the Pentagons recent revelations about UFOs have arguably been the least weird part about 2020 and thus far have failed to make much of a dent in the news cycle. That is just a sign of the times, X-Files creator Chris Carter later told Task & Purpose in May. We are living in a tabloid culture, so the UFO story feels like more tabloid news when it should be front-page news, Cartier said. More articles from Task & Purpose: What should US troops expect if Joe Biden is elected president? Kim Jong Un appears ready to drop the hottest diss track of 2020 Greek and Turkish warships involved in 'mini collision' amid tensions in the Mediterranean Watertown, NY (13601) Today Scattered flurries and snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 5F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Women's groups and associations in the Upper East region have pledged to support Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), to win this year's presidential polls in December. They however entreated her not to forget about them when eventually the NDC wins power come December 2020 because they believe that just like a mother will never forget about her children in times of need, Prof Opoku-Agyemang will also not forget about them. The groups made the pledge when the NDC running mate met them at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall at Bolgatanga on Saturday, August 15, 2020 as part of her two-day visit to the Region. Her visit was to show appreciation to the people of the region and also to get a feedback from them on the critical issues that required urgent attention in the next NDC government. The groups include the Zongo Community Ladies, the Upper East Region branch of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association, Bolgatanga Foodstuff Sellers Association, Sumasum Weavers Association at Bolgatanga, the Regional branch of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, Women for Women Leadership Association at Bolgatanga and the John Mahama(JM) Ladies group. The Zongo Community Women's Organizer, Ms Efia Akazorloba, the Women's Organizer of the Food Stuff Sellers Association, Ms Juliana Akugre and the Vice Chairperson of the Sumasum Weavers Association, Ms Patience Atinga were among some of the women who spoke on behalf of the women's groups and associations. Needs They among other things entreated the NDC running mate to ensure that when the party comes to power Prof Opoku-Agyemang would impress upon the leadership to support the women with skills training and equipment to be able to establish their respective businesses. They also told her to make it possible for their fellow women and girls to be given the necessary training and support to prevent them from engaging in the Kayayei business. According to them, most of the girls in the Kayayei business who are from the North eventually end up being pregnant. This they noted is because they dropped out of school as a result of poverty in order to engage in the trade to fend for themselves. Reaction Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said she was excited about the overwhelming support she got from the women and pledged her commitment to bring them on board saying how can I forget about you but I am sure you are saying that because of previous experiences; please let us work together". According to her she had heard of their respective concerns and that she will ensure that it is factored into our Central plan of activities". Prof Opoku-Agyemang is expected to later pay courtesy calls on Paga Pio, Charles Awamampaga and the Navro-pio, Pe Denis Balinia Adda ll as well as engage traders at the Navrongo market. She is also expected to visit the people of Wiaga and Kanjarga in the Builsa North and South Districts respectively to end her visit. The NDC Running mate is being accompanied on the tour by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Isaac Adongo and the Deputy National Campaign Manager of the NDC, Mr Alex Segbefia among other party functionaries. 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 Afghan authorities said on Friday they have started to release 400 Taliban prisoners, the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a danger to the world. The Afghan government and the Taliban are set to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed, in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners. A group of 80 prisoners had been released on Thursday, National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said, tweeting that it would speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire. The release of 400 militants was approved at the weekend by a gathering of thousands of prominent Afghans who said they wanted to pave the way for talks to begin in Doha, Qatar, and a possible ceasefire. But the decision has caused heartache for the families of those killed by the insurgents. If (the Taliban) cant bring peace and they attack again, thousands of people will be killed and their families will be tormented, said Bashir Naween, whose brother was killed in a 2017 truck bombing near the Germany embassy in Kabul, an attack involving one of the militants due to be released. The prisoners include at least 44 insurgents of particular concern to the United States and other countries for their role in high-profile attacks, according to an official list seen by AFP. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said earlier this week he had lobbied for a former Afghan army soldier, who went rogue and killed three Australian colleagues, to stay in jail. Ghani warned on Thursday that the hardened criminals were likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world. Until this issue, there was a consensus on the desirability of peace but not on the cost of it, Ghani said in a video conference organised by a US think tank. We have now paid the major instalment on cost and that means peace will have consequences. A prisoner swap formed part of a deal signed by the Taliban and the US in February, which saw Washington agree to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in return for various commitments from the insurgents including a pledge to hold peace talks with the Afghan government. The government was excluded from that deal, which stipulated Kabul release 5,000 militants in return for 1,000 Afghan government prisoners held by the insurgents. The Taliban have warned of possible attacks against the freed prisoners by Islamic State jihadists in coordination with Afghanistans spy agency. A 21-year-old man, found hiding up a fire escape after he snatched a woman and carried her off in full view of a CCTV camera, was starting a life sentence after admitting raping her twice and trying to kill her. Aaron Murphy admitted two counts of rape and one charge of attempted murder when he appeared before a judge and was immediately sent to jail. His victim 49-year-old victim, believed to be a total stranger, had been approached by Murphy who tried to touch her and then grabbed her and carried her out of the porchway to a lock of flats and out of sight of the camera. Aaron Murphy, 21, pictured, approached a woman outside a block of flats in Harrow, north west London, before dragging her away and raping her Murphy raped the woman twice and attempted to murder her during the attack in May At the time of the attack, Murphy, who was privately educated in Jamaica, was on bail for the sexual assault of a 51-year-old woman. He also sexually assaulted a school girl when he was aged 14. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said today'A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he raped and attempted to murder a woman in Harrow. 'Aaron Murphy, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday afternoon. 'He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of attempted murder at the Central Criminal Court following the attack in May. 'Police were called at 02:54hrs to Havelock Place, Harrow on Thursday, May 21 to a report of a disturbance. Officers responded within six minutes and found a woman visibly distressed and suffering serious injuries. She reported that she had just been raped and beaten by a stranger in the road. A London Ambulance Service crew also attended and the victim was taken to hospital. 'During crime scene inquiries the next day, members of the public alerted officers at the scene to a man acting suspiciously. Officers conducted immediate searches for the suspect and found Murphy hiding up a fire escape on a nearby block of flats. He was arrested on suspicion of rape and taken into police custody. Aaron Murphy, pictured, was jailed for life after he admitted raping a woman twice and attempting to murder her during an attack in Harrow, north west London in May 'During his police interview, Murphy admitted that he intended to kill the victim after he had raped her twice, violently beating her up. It was only the sound of the police sirens that made him stop and run away. 'CCTV nearby showed Murphy running up behind the victim and approaching her.. He then grabbed and dragged her away into a service road to an underground car park. The victim sustained a fractured cheek bone, two swollen and bruised eyes, purple bruising all over face and neck and scraped knees. 'He was charged with attempted murder and two counts of rape on May 22. He was deemed to be a dangerous offender and was jailed for life with a minimum tariff of nine years. He will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.' Detective Sergeant Michael Daly, the officer in the case, said: 'Murphy is clearly a very dangerous individual and prison is the only place for him. When describing to officers his sick behaviour, he was callous and uncaring, unbothered by the devastation and ordeal he has just caused. 'The judge recognised the dangerousness of Murphy by sentencing him to life imprisonment and commented that no other sentence would adequately protect the public. 'I commend the members of the public who helped us quickly identify and locate the suspect and the investigation team for their excellent work, which has also been recognised by the judge. 'Although the victim is still recovering from her physical injuries, she will have to live the rest of her life with the trauma of what happened that night. Despite this, she has been extremely brave throughout the investigation and I hope that knowing he is behind bars will give her some comfort.' Judge Sarah Munro QC, sentencing, said Murphy had 'clearly enjoyed reliving' what he had done through viewing CCTV footage of the attack in court. The judge said: 'You made it clear to me you did not want any representation. I strongly advised you that you should have representation. Today I repeated that advice. 'I offered you one last chance and you were adamant that you did not want it. I should add that your father and aunt wanted to attend to support you. Ms Campbell has addressed me about some background in this case. 'Ms Smullen has sought to present this case as fairly to you. I also gave you the opportunity to address me but you declined to do so. '[The victim] tried to fob you off. You then kissed her and grabbed her from behind in a bear hug as she tried to get into a block of flats. 'She said her husband was waiting for her. She gave you a cigarette. She was completely at your mercy. 'You then sent upon her hitting her savagely around her head, face and neck and grabbing her round the neck in an attempt to choke her.' (Natural News) As of Wednesday, some 165,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19. I have made the case in the American Journal of Epidemiology and in Newsweek that people who have a medical need to be treated can be treated early and successfully with hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and antibiotics such as azithromycin or doxycycline. I have also argued that these drugs are safe and have made that case privately to the Food and Drug Administration. (Article by Harvey Risch republished from WashingtonExaminer.com) The pushback has been furious. Dr. Anthony Fauci has implied that I am incompetent, notwithstanding my hundreds of highly regarded, methodologically relevant publications in peer-reviewed scientific literature. A group of my Yale colleagues has publicly intimated that I am a zealot who is perpetrating a dangerous hoax and conspiracy theory. I have been attacked in news articles by journalists who, ignorant of the full picture, have spun hit pieces from cherry-picked sources. These personal attacks are a dangerous distraction from the real issue of hydroxychloroquines effectiveness, which is solidly grounded in both substantial evidence and appropriate medical decision-making logic. Much of the evidence is presented in my articles. To date, there are no studies whatsoever, published or in pre-print, that provide scientific evidence against the treatment approach for high-risk outpatients that I have described. None. Assertions to the contrary, whether by Fauci, the FDA, or anyone else, are without foundation. They constitute misleading and toxic disinformation. What do you need to know to evaluate these smears against hydroxychloroquine? The first thing to understand is that COVID-19 has two main stages. At the first stage, it is a flu-like illness. That illness will not kill you. If you are a high-risk patient and begin treatment immediately, you will almost certainly be done with it in a few days. When not treated, high-risk patients may progress. The virus then causes severe pneumonia and attacks many organs, including the heart. In this second stage, hydroxychloroquine is not effective. So, if you are told that hydroxychloroquine doesnt work, ask this question: In which patients? Does it not work in those who have just started to have symptoms, or those sick enough to require hospitalization? The second thing to know is that most low-risk patients survive without treatment. Low risk means you are under age 60 and have no chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, have no past treatment for cancer, are not immunocompromised, etc. High risk means you are over 60 or you have one or more of those chronic conditions. High-risk patients need immediate treatment when they first show symptoms. One should not wait for the COVID-19 test result, which can take days and can be wrong. Again, when Fauci and others say that randomized controlled trials show no benefit for hydroxychloroquine, you must ask: In which group of patients? Every randomized controlled trial to date that has looked at early outpatient treatment has involved low-risk patients, patients who are not generally treated. In these studies, so few untreated control patients have required hospitalization that significant differences were not found. There has been only one exception: In a study done in Spain with low-risk patients, a small number of high-risk nursing home patients were included. For those patients, the medications cut the risk of a bad outcome in half. I reiterate: If doctors, including any of my Yale colleagues, tell you that scientific data show that hydroxychloroquine does not work in outpatients, they are revealing that they cant tell the difference between low-risk patients who are not generally treated and high-risk patients who need to be treated as quickly as possible. Doctors who do not understand this difference should not be treating COVID-19 patients. What about medication safety? On July 1, the FDA posted a black-letter warning cautioning against using hydroxychloroquine outside of the hospital setting, meaning in outpatients. But on its website just below this warning, the FDA stated that the warning was based on data from hospitalized patients. To generalize and compare severely ill patients with COVID-induced pneumonia and possibly heart problems to outpatients is entirely improper. In fact, the FDA has no information about adverse events in early outpatient use of hydroxychloroquine. The only available systematic information about adverse events among outpatients is discussed in my article in the American Journal of Epidemiology, where I show that hydroxychloroquine has been extremely safe in more than a million users. It is a serious and unconscionable mistake that the FDA has used inpatient data to block emergency use petitions for outpatient use. Further, already back in March, the FDA approved the emergency use of hydroxychloroquine for hospitalized patients, for whom it is demonstrably less effective than for outpatients. If hydroxychloroquine satisfied the FDA criteria for emergency inpatient use in March, it should more than satisfy those criteria now for outpatient use, where the evidence is much stronger. I can only speculate about the cause of the FDAs recalcitrance. Hydroxychloroquine is an inexpensive, generic medication. Unlike certain profit-generating, patented medications, which have been promiscuously touted on the slimmest of evidence, hydroxychloroquine has no natural financial constituency. No one will get rich from it. Further, it seems quite possible that the FDA, a third of whose funding comes from drug companies, is under intense pressure from those companies to be extremely conservative in its handling of hydroxychloroquine. If hydroxychloroquine is used widely and comes to be recognized as highly effective, the markets for expensive and patented COVID-19 medications, including intravenous drugs that can only be used in the hospital, will shrink substantially. Whatever the reason for the FDAs stonewalling on hydroxychloroquine, this much is certain: Americans are dying unnecessarily, the economy is in disarray, and the threads that bind our society together have frayed. I am speaking out, but where is everyone else? Where are our elected officials, including those who are themselves physicians? Some, including Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, have been discussing evidence of the drugs effectiveness, but where are the rest? This issue should not be a partisan one. If our elected officials are not willing to pry open the FDA, we must elect new officials. Why are we silent? The time to speak is now. Read more at: WashingtonExaminer.com How can you tell if someones from Melbourne? Easy. Theyll tell you. In the same way that vegans love telling people that theyre vegan or how someone whos just taken up CrossFit wont stop yapping on about it, theres nothing Melburnians love more than bragging about their city. Particularly around Sydneysiders. Much of Australias modern history has been defined by the great rivalry between its two biggest cities hell, Canberra only exists because Sydney and Melbourne couldnt settle their fight over who should be the capital. A huge point of pride for Melbourne is its title of worlds most liveable city. Most Australian capital cities consistently rank pretty highly in these liveability rankings, but Melbourne has been the most awarded, notably taking the top spot in The Economist Intelligence Units (EIU) Global Liveability Ranking for seven years in a row between 2011 and 2017. But with Victoria currently locked down with stage 4 social isolation requirements and Melbourne solidly the current epicentre of COVID-19 cases in Australia, has Melbourne taken itself out of the running in 2020? Or is this global pandemic so terrible that everyones going to be doing badly, and Melbournes still in with a chance? RELATED: CBA Graph Highlights Priceless Change In Victorias Lockdown 2.0 Priorities DMARGE spoke exclusively to Dr Lucy Gunn, Senior Research Fellow at RMITs Centre for Urban Research, who explained how the events of 2020 might affect Melbournes ranking. Its been a challenging year and ideally any organisation measuring liveability should be acknowledging this when presenting their results. Neighbourhood liveability and access to important places such as doctors clinics / healthcare [or] supermarkets is more important than ever given the current stage 4 social isolation requirements happening in Victoria and the limitations placed on movements. In regards to rankings, it is difficult to comment each country and city is approaching the pandemic situation differently and these pandemic responses are extraordinary, immediate, and hopefully short-term. The rankings for all cities in the EIU index are likely to be affected but in different ways subject to the differing global responses and the differing opinions of the EIU raters. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Melbourne (@visitmelbourne) on Jun 16, 2020 at 12:14am PDT Dr Gunn relates how some of these liveability indexes use methodologies that could be open to bias or misrepresentation. Briefly, a few things are important here: first, how the index is constructed subjectively measured data (i.e. data based on the opinion of someone (e.g. EIU uses the opinion of an EIU rater) is inherently flawed because it relies on the opinion of those creating the data; objective measures are more stable and dont change according to peoples opinions. A good example of this is the liveability measures from the Australian Urban Observatory. They were carefully chosen to reflect areas that influence the health and wellbeing of city residents here in Australia they are objectively measured and offer a clear picture of liveability and the infrastructure that could be improved to support it, the data and maps clearly show where there is inequity in liveability across each of the 21 largest cities in Australia. Second, the purpose and audience for an index are important the purpose for the EIU index is for executive remuneration and work-based immigration it isnt designed for a broad audience, its not designed to help city planners or the general public understand liveability as a means for improving it. Finally, some liveability indexes are composites of a number of different measures (the EIU is an example). This obscures the impact of the underlying measures. Essentially a city may perform well on one measure and poorly on another cancelling out or compressing the overall effect. This makes it difficult to understand what the individual issues are. Nevertheless, there is still value in composite indexes because they focus attention on high-level issues that can be delved into using the individual measures on which the index is comprised. So while it makes for a good headline or talking point, the EIUs Global Liveability Ranking (as well as other corporate rankings, such as Mercers Quality of Living Ranking or Monocles Quality of Life Survey) dont necessarily represent how good a city is to live in. Its exceedingly difficult to make a broad, objective comparison between world cities. What The Australian Urban Observatory Thinks What is intriguing is the Australian Urban Observatorys results. They dont explicitly delineate Australias most liveable city but instead rate each of Australias 21 biggest cities on nine separate indices liveability and walkability, where they make no comparison between different cities and instead examine suburb-by-suburb data, and then seven indices where they make explicit rankings: social infrastructure, public transport, food environment, alcohol environment, public open space, local employment, and housing affordability. Shockingly, Melbourne doesnt rank first in any of those seven indices. In fact, Melbourne only makes the top three in one of those indices ranking second for social infrastructure (which is a measure of how much access residents have to community services and resources e.g. healthcare, childcare, aged care, sporting facilities and cultural amenities). Ironically, Sydney ranks first in this category, yet Sydney also makes the top three in other categories (2nd for public transport and 3rd for food environment). The city that makes the top three in the most categories is Canberra, and the city with the most #1 rankings is Launceston. View this post on Instagram A post shared by City of Launceston (@launceston_official) on Dec 30, 2019 at 6:08pm PST So does this mean Melbourne doesnt deserve its liveable reputation? Not at all. Some of these indices are up for interpretation. For example, the alcohol environment category measures the average distance between peoples homes and their nearest bottle shop, with cities that have a higher average distance given a higher ranking. The rationale is that access to alcohol is linked to harmful alcohol consumption and alcohol-related violence, but for many people, greater access to alcohol would be considered a positive as opposed to a negative. Like any exercise in data analysis, one needs to look critically at the results of these rankings rather than boiling things down to a simple exercise in whoever gets the most #1s wins. What these rankings dont take into account is The Pandemic which is where Melbourne may see the biggest hit to their liveability reputation, at least in the eyes of the public. City Liveability Rankings Post-2020 While Melbourne might be suffering particularly badly right now compared to other Australian cities, a little bit of perspective is worthwhile. Australia as a whole has been quite fortunate when it comes to COVID-19 many other liveable countries and cities are faring far worse than we are. For example, Switzerland: the richest country in the world, whose largest city, Zurich, topped the most recent Monocle liveability index, has 37,403 active COVID-19 cases as of the 14th of August, while Australia has but 22,358 cases. Considering Australia has almost three times the population of Switzerland, thats not bad. Virtually every country on earth has been affected by the pandemic, so it will be hard to say how the 2020 rankings will reflect this global crisis. Indeed, Dr Gunn reckons that the events of 2020 will have an impact on how these organisations determine liveability going forward. In time, I think that other aspects related to liveability will play a role in its measurement. The measurement of disasters (e.g. bushfires, floods, pandemics) and of our environments and biodiversity will also help decision-makers, those in government, and health and emergency services prepare and understand risks associated with these big issues [But] to have the greatest effect, these aspects need to be measured objectively. Time will tell if Melbourne tops the rankings this year the jurys still out, however. Read Next On Thursday, President Trump finally said it out loud: He objects to emergency bailout funding for the U.S. Postal Service because it would facilitate an expansion of mail-in voting by states worried about the public health. That a president would openly talk about resisting funding to secure American voting in the midst of the worst pandemic in a century is as stunning as it is shameful. Its nothing less than an attack on democracy. While he has been veering between blocking such funding or merely holding it hostage for his other demands on Congress, Trump made his clearest and most ominous statements during a Thursday morning interview with Fox Business. They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots, Trump said of Democratic demands. If they dont get those items, that means you cant have universal mail-in voting because theyre not equipped to have it. He later suggested he could reach a deal as part of a larger negotiation as if having a well-executed election were a legitimate bargaining chip for a president. Or, perhaps more cynically, Trump may be angling to turn his unfounded warning that mail-in voting would bring chaos and fraud delaying and potentially muddying the outcome into a self-fulfilling prophecy. All they have to do is make a deal, he said at his Thursday afternoon news conference.If they make a deal, the Postal Service is taken care of, the money they need for the mail-in ballots would be taken care of if we agree to it. That doesnt mean we are going to agree to it, but all they have to do is make a deal. The operative word is if. If Trump were genuinely concerned about the sanctity of mail voting, then he would be pushing for funding to give the Postal Service and the states the resources they need to distribute, collect and process the ballots in a timely manner. Yet its important to juxtapose this handcuffing of the Postal Service with myriad other Republican attempts to suppress the vote. Among the tactics: ID laws, overly aggressive purging of the rolls, partisan gerrymandering of districts, closures of polls and a halt to early voting. Former President Barack Obama weighed in with a tweet that noted the day-to-day cost of undermining postal mail. Everyone depends on the USPS. Seniors for their Social Security, veterans for their prescriptions, small businesses trying to keep their doors open, Obama wrote Friday. They cant be collateral damage for an administration more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus. Americans who depend on postal mail deserve to have a champion in the postmaster general. Instead, that position is filled by Louis DeJoy, a Trump campaign megadonor who reportedly has tens of millions invested in the Postal Services competitors. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has called for an investigation into DeJoys holdings. The suspicions that DeJoy is doing Trumps political bidding have been elevated by a series of policy changes that have slowed mail delivery in some areas. DeJoy insisted in a letter to postal employees that such problems were unintended consequences of a transition that will make the service more effective and fiscally stable. His explanation might be more plausible to accept if not for Trumps blatant attempts to challenge the legitimacy of the election before a single vote is cast. American democracy is being tested as rarely before in its history. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Schools always have been more than a place of learning, yet during this moment, their importance is even further magnified. Schools provide a constant for students, especially those with a difficult home life. The reality is that even schools perceived to be top tier are struggling. Every school is operating on a thread. Some of us might be more privileged than others, but there always is a struggle. In talking about school funding, we need to go beyond thinking about students as numbers, figures and statistics. When I was in middle school, we got a pep talk from our principal who was preparing us for our yearly standardized tests. If we scored well, our school would become accredited, and gain more funding and opportunities. If we did not score well, we were reduced to being the struggling school. Our principal told my peers and me that we were just numbers. She said that she and the teachers loved us but that everyone else would see us just as numbers. So we had better make our numbers good ones. Lawmakers must remember that we are not just numbers. We are somebodys children and grandchildren. We have dreams and aspirations. YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia is elaborating social assistance and integration programs for those Lebanese-Armenians who will express desire to leave Lebanon and settle in Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia Zaruhi Batoyan informed. ''Following the Beirut explosion naturally our compatriots in Beirut and particularly the citizens of Armenia would expect the assistance of the Republic of Armenia. Now, when the Government has provided 1st aid to Lebanon, the 1st steps are done and we must be ready to that if our compatriots living there decide to leave Lebanon for some reasons, they should come to Armenia so that they get new opportunities for living free, happy and prosperous in Armenia'', Batoyan said. The Minister noted that everything must be done so that after they arrive in Armenia, they should not think of moving to other countries like it happened with many Syrian-Armenians. ''For this goal it's necessary to first of all elaborate social assistance and integration programs and review the old ones. Works in this direction have started and the ministry participates in the discussions'', Zaruhi Batoyan said. On August 4, a major explosion in the Port of Beirut sent an immensely powerful shockwave across the Lebanese capital, killing at least 220 people, injuring 7000 and causing massive destruction. Around 300,000 people were left homeless. It resulted in US$1015 billion in property damage. Among the victims are 13 Lebanese-Armenians who died in the blast, and 300 other representatives of the community were injured. The blast has been linked to a port warehouse where about 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored in unsafe conditions. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Armenia has sent 3 airplanes of relief aid to Lebanon. These airplanes brough back nearly 100 Lebanese-Armenians who had housing problems in Beirut following the blast. Editing and Translating by Tigran Sirekanyan A total of 54 people linked to the Auckland cluster are now in managed quarantine to control the spread of the virus and a total of 86 per cent of these peoples close contacts had been reached within 48 hours by contact tracers. The number of positive COVID-19 cases linked to the Mt Wellington Americold site has grown to nine people, while eight more people are awaiting test results and contact tracing is being conducted. An Americold cool storage facility in Australia. Credit:Pat Scala Dr Bloomfield said they had been doing environmental testing at the Americold facility in Mt Wellington. "That is being processed today. I have also had contact from my counterpart in Victoria who has linked me with their lab there, that is doing some genome sequencing on some [coronavirus] cases of employees in an Americold cool store there in Melbourne, just again to see if there is any possible linkage there. So we are looking at that possibility, its part of the overall puzzle and we are leaving no stone unturned," he said. The possibilty that the virus is linked to the Melbourne facility is just one of the avenues being examined by New Zealand authorities as they scramble to determine the source of the outbreak. Dr Bloomfield said that genome sequencing indicated there was no link between current community outbreak in New Zealand and the outbreak earlier this year. Loading Mr Winnall said there had been two positive cases of coronavirus linked to the firm's Melbourne storage facility three weeks ago but after working with the Victorian health authorities, the company had ensured there was no transmission in the workplace. While there is no known link between the New Zealand and Melbourne cases, the Department of Health and Human Services Victoria (DHHS) is aware of four cases linked to Americold in Laverton North, a rural-urban fringe suburb of Melbourne. DHHS is working closely with the facility to ensure public health actions are being undertaken, including contact tracing, cleaning and quarantine. "Victoria is assisting New Zealand with their queries," a DHHS spokesperson said. Mr Winnall said there was no evidence that New Zealand's new cases had been sparked by frozen sea freight. "Since Wednesday and the first press conference held by Dr Bloomfield, he has mentioned the potential of this coming in on frozen sea freight because they are looking at all alternatives. There is absolutely no evidence that anyone has put to me that substantiates that [theory]," Mr Winnall said. "There is no inbound freight from the Melbourne facility to the Mt Wellington facility. To my knowledge, there is no relationship between the other facilities in Auckland [the company has four sites in Auckland] and the Mt Wellington facility." The company, Mr Winnall said, was fully supporting the New Zealand Ministry of Health investigation at the site and said he was eagerly awaiting the results of swab testing of surfaces at the Mt Wellington site. Health Minister Chris Hipkins said it was very heartening that the outbreak and cases all remained connected to one cluster and pleaded with all Auckland residents to follow the rules of the level three lockdown. We all want to be out of level three as quickly as we can, people following the rules is the best way to ensure that, he said. We want to get businesses open and operating again, we want to get people back to work as quickly as we can. Loading New Zealand processed 23,846 tests on Friday, a new record for the country, and has conducted more than 49,000 tests over the last three days. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has to decide by Monday whether or not to delay the countrys national election, which is due to be held on September 19. Ardern said on Friday that New Zealand was 'going hard and going early' after learning from the coronavirus outbreak in Australia, as she extended stage-three restrictions in Auckland by a further 12 days and kept the rest of the country under stage-two restrictions. "We have always taken a precautionary approach because if you make a wrong move, with COVID, we can see very easily the long term impact of that particularly in terms of how long, as a consequence of the wrong move, you can spend with restrictions. Australia has demonstrated that to us, we are looking at the experience of others in making our decisions, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:39:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The special forces approved by the Nigerian defense headquarters will tackle the insecurity in the southern part of Kaduna state, the state governor Nasir El-Rufai said. The special forces drawn from the Nigerian Army arrived at Kafanchan, in the Jema'a area of the state in northern Nigeria on Friday, which had over the years witnessed a series of attacks leading to civilian deaths. In a statement made available to Xinhua on Saturday, El-Rufai expressed optimism on the deployment of the special forces to southern Kaduna to contain security challenges in the general area. The governor said his administration would continue placing priority on security as the backbone of sustainable development. Earlier on Friday, John Enenche, Nigeria's defense spokesperson said this move is expected to achieve the desired result with the provision of credible and actionable intelligence specifically from primary sources. Enenche urged the locals to cooperate with the military by supplying credible and reliable information that would help the troops in their operations. The spokesperson said the current Operation Hadarin Daji have continued the aggressive clearance operations in the entire northwest zone of the country. "For the past one month we have witnessed a downward trend in the activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the general areas of Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, and adjoining states," he added. Northern Nigeria has seen a series of armed attacks in recent months, leading to the deaths of troops and civilians. Security forces are engaged in several operations in that part of the country to root out illegal armed groups. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 18:23:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHENYANG, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A museum in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, hosted commemorative activities Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Visitors to the 9.18 Historical Museum offered floral tributes at the tombstones of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. On Sept. 18, 1931, Japanese troops captured the northeastern region of China, and in July 1937 launched a full-scale invasion. Seventy-five years ago, on Aug. 15, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. The museum organized a series of events, including a lecture and education activities, to help visitors better understand the history. "If it were not for the sacrifices of our ancestors, we would not be living such a happy life today," said Liu Yihuan, a young volunteer who took part in the performance. "We aim to remind people of the history and the value of peace through these events," said Fan Lihong, curator of the museum. Enditem It took until Friday for Lightfoot and Brown to announce detailed plans to prevent another such episode: Police will start a 20-person unit to monitor social media around the clock; they will redeploy faster in the face of a looting threat; they will work with the city to put in place measures for a geographic lockdown, such as raising bridges over the river; and they will work with state and federal partners to maximize the criminal cases looters will face. TDT | Manama Bahrain yesterday reported yet another COVID-19 death, a 56-year-old expatriate man, raising the total number of casualties in the Kingdoms coronavirus battle to 168. Kingdoms ministry of health announced the death on its Twitter account, without disclosing any further details. The officials on the Twitter handle also wrote condolences to the family of the deceased. There are currently 85 COVID-19 patients in the Kingdom receiving treatment, out of which 40 patients are in a critical condition, Health Ministry said. As of yesterday, there are 3,415 active coronavirus patients in the Kingdom, of which 3,375 patients are in a stable health condition. Health ministry further tweeted that it carried out 9,394 COVID-19 tests yesterday to raise the number of tests conducted in the Kingdom after detecting it first case in February to 954,192. Some 326 new patients were detected yesterday, the ministry said adding that 143 of them were expatriates workers, 182 were contacts of active cases, and one is travel related. The ministry also announced 289 new recoveries yesterday increasing the total number of people cured of their infection in the Kingdom to 42,469. Through contact tracing, the Ministry of Health confirmed 2,750 COVID-19 cases this week, which includes 1,611 Bahrainis and 1,139 expatriates. Some 1,068 of the weeks cases were close contacts of active Coronavirus cases. contact tracing The ministrys contract tracing page further said it found a total of 711 positive cases in tests conducted after developing symptoms. In one such case, a 39-yearold Bahraini woman, who tested positive after developing symptoms, emerged contracting the virus to 11 others in four households, all of whom were immediate and extended family members. In a similar case, a 22-year-old Bahraini man produced a cluster of 21 cases, all of whom were expatriates who work together. Twelve of the cases were living in the same accommodation. In yet another case, a 55-yearold Bahraini woman, tested positive after developing symptoms, was linked to 11 family-related positive cases from 4 different households, of which two people were over 80-years of age. A total of 9 cases had direct contact with the index case, while two were secondary infections. Random community screening conducted this week found that an 11-year-old Bahraini girl infected with the virus was linked to 8 additional positive cases from 5 households, all of whom were family members having direct contact with her at a family Eid gathering. The cluster includes the indexs grandmother, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. In another incident, the minister, through contact tracing app, detected 19 cases from 9 households linked to an Eid gathering when a 41-year-old male citizen tested positive after developing symptoms. Testing conducted last week also detected the infection in a 15-person family household after a 26-year-old expatriate woman linked to the family tested positive. The cases include both immediate and extended family members. One woman, who declined to give her name, said she narrowly avoided being taken into custody when one officer pushed her with a baton as police tried to secure the scene. The woman said a friend jumped between her and the officer. Several other police officers detained him and one used a chemical spray on her, she said. All of a sudden, the police got aggressive with us, the woman said at the scene, as she used ice and water to try to soothe burning from the substance. Kamala Harris Officially Introduced as Joe Bidens Running Mate Los Angeles resident and California Sen. Kamala Harris was formally introduced as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens running mate today, hailing the women she said have paved the way for her to be on a presidential ticket. Joe, Im so proud to stand with you, Harris said in Delaware during her first appearance alongside Biden following his Tuesday announcement of his choice of running mate. And I do so mindful of all the heroic and ambitious women before me whose sacrifice, determination and resilience makes my presence here today even possible, Harris said. This is a moment of real consequence for America. Everything we care about our economy, our health, our children, the kind of country we live in its all on the line. ADVERTISEMENT Harris, 55, is the first Black and South Asian woman to run on the ticket of a major political party. A former state attorney general and San Francisco district attorney, Harris will also be the first California candidate on a major political partys presidential ticket since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Although her personal and political roots are in Northern California, Harris is a resident of the Brentwood area of West Los Angeles. Harris wasted no time Wednesday attacking President Donald Trump, criticizing his response to the coronavirus pandemic and blaming his for plunging the country into economic turmoil. He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground, Harris said. Because of Trumps failures of leadership, our economy has taken one of the biggest hits out of all the major industrialized nations, with an unemployment rate that has tripled as of today. This is what happens when we elect a guy who just isnt up for the job, she said. Our country ends up in tatters, and so does our reputation around the world. Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Harris since Biden made his announcement Tuesday. He denounced her during a White House press briefing Tuesday afternoon as nasty, pointing to her comments during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. ADVERTISEMENT During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, Trump continued his criticism, saying Harris is the most liberal person supposedly in the Senate, and thats pretty liberal. Im not sure thats what the country wants, he said. I figure if it is, weve got problems. But I would be surprised if it is. She wants to raise taxes. She wants to get rid of your Second Amendment no guns for protection, no nothing. Shes very strong on the Second Amendment, getting rid of it, he said. And very bad for the military. She wants to cut the military. She wants to cut funding for the military and the vets. I dont quite get the choice, but well have it out. We have a great vice president named Mike Pence and he will take care of business just like he did last time against a different candidate, Trump said. On Twitter Wednesday morning, Trump wrote that Harris started out strong in the Democrat primaries, and finished weak, ultimately fleeing the race with almost zero support. Thats the kind of opponent everyone dreams of! Harris countered in her speech: Lets be clear. This election isnt just about defeating Donald Trump or Mike Pence. Its about building this country back better, and thats exactly what Joe and I will do. New Delhi, Aug 15 : The Arvind Kejriwal government has specially invited seven corona warriors, who had risked their lives to help Covid patients, to an event to be held at the Delhi Secretariat on Saturday on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. The Delhi government has sent special invites to these corona warriors for the Independence Day programme in appreciation of the work. The corona warriors will represent the people working in their fields during the event to be held on August 15. Among the invites is Rajeev Singh Parihar, ADM ,Central District. He was the nodal officer on Covid duty. He was responsible for the movement of migrants to other states through buses and trains. He was also responsible for shifting the migrants to hunger relief centres and was in-charge of supervising the provision of food and all other amenities to migrants staying there. Hirdesh Kumar is a resident of Dwarka and was posted at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) on Covid duty. During his duty, he was made the in-charge for the flu and testing clinic at the RGSSH. Another invitee is Sonu who started his duty as a nursing officer on April 2 in the Covid ward of the LNJP Hospital. After his second round of duty, he himself tested positive for Covid-19 on May 31. He was under home quarantine for around 17 days. But that did not stop him from serving people as he was back on duty immediately after recovering. Delhi Police constable Pradeep Chauhan is also among the invitees who is currently serving as a wireless operator in the Central Secretariat. He has been serving in the police department for the past 10 years. He was infected with Covid-19, but joined duty as soon as he recovered. Tej Bahadur is a CATS ambulance driver at the GTB Hospital. He was on the duty of transporting Covid positive patients to the hospital. During the process, he had to be in close contact with the patients and sometimes even lifted them up. Another invitee is Dina Nath Yadav who is a civil defense volunteer (CDV) in East Delhi. He was on the duty of distributing food to the poor at a hunger relief centre during the lockdown. During duty, he also got infected with Covid-19. Ashok Kumar is a supervisor of sanitation workers in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and is serving in the DEMS department. Latest updates on Independence Day 2020 " " Cord blood specialist Dr. John Wagner holds baby Adam Nash on Oct. 17, 2000. Adam's cord blood was transplanted to his sister Molly (left), which cured her Fanconi anemia. Mark Engebretson for the University of Minnesota/ Getty Images In the first section, we talked about how similar CBE stem cells are to embryonic stem cells. However, they aren't the same thing as embryonic stem cells. CBE stem cells have even more potential for use than stem cells taken from adult bone marrow because a perfect match between the donor and the recipient isn't necessary. So how likely it is that your child would need to use his or her cord blood? What about using any cord blood? The numbers vary widely. According to a recent article in the medical journal "Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation," the likelihood that a person would need an autologous CBE transplant (his or her own cells) during his or her lifetime is about 1 in 435, and the likelihood that he or she would need an allogeneic CBE transplant (cells from a donor, either a relative or stranger) is 1 in 400. But other studies have put both the odds of needing an autologous or an allogeneic transplant at anywhere from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 200,000, depending on whether the family has a history of a disease that's treatable with CBE stem calls. In short, researchers can't yet be sure, because CBE stem cell transplantation is still experimental. Advertisement Since 1988, there have been several successful allogeneic CBE transplants between siblings. However, even stem cells between siblings only have a 25 percent chance of being a match. In addition, according to the National Marrow Donor Program, only about half of the donations to public banks are suitable for storage. In some cases, the cord blood isn't stored because it doesn't contain enough stem cells. Adults can't usually receive cord blood transplants because there aren't enough stem cells for a person who weighs more than 100 pounds. Some parents mistakenly believe that their child could be treated with his or her own cord blood if he or she contracts leukemia later on. But leukemic cells are present at birth, so the cord blood would be tainted. The same goes for many other disorders. Currently, researchers don't have uses for autologous CBE stem cell transplants. There have been several allogeneic uses of CBE stem cells for leukemia and other cancers, as well as immune disorders. They have also been used to treat conditions such as Type 1 diabetes. Groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics advise parents to donate their baby's cord blood to public banks, citing the current statistics. Some physicians suggest privately banking a baby's cord blood only if the family has a history of a CBE-stem-cell-treatable disease. But many private banks and cord-blood banking advocates say that private banking is worth it, because we can't yet know how CBE stem cells will be used in the future. Should you save your baby's cord blood? Right now, the answer looks to be yes ... but in public banks so that everyone can benefit from its potential use. For more articles on pregnancy and baby-related stuff, see the next page for links. If he swore on a Bible it might burst into flames. If he were a Pinocchio his nose would circle the globe. Without word of a lie, when Donald John Trump speaks its not only diapers that are full of it. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If he swore on a Bible it might burst into flames. If he were a Pinocchio his nose would circle the globe. Without word of a lie, when Donald John Trump speaks its not only diapers that are full of it. Author and scholar Eric Altermans latest book, Lying in State, is a seething indictment of Americas 45th president and the politicians and moneymen whom Alterman says back him as Trump brazenly feeds the worlds social media with his lies, polluted ideas, ignorance and irresponsible speculations. Worse yet, Alterman believes Trump is helped along in this pandemic of disinformation by Russian hackers, media toadies and the lunacy of conspiracy theorists. Alterman, the author of 11 books, is a long-time liberal-minded columnist for the Nation, the oldest continually publishing weekly magazine in the U.S. It endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. Alterman also is distinguished professor of English at City University in New York. His academic credentials include an M.A. from Yale and a Ph.D from Stanford. His latest well-written, believable book also criticizes many presidents before Trump as liars (and gives examples of such) and labels Trumps Republican Party as a self-serving predator corrupted by a relentless appetite for power, and intimidated by his scorn for the least opposition. In the telling, Alterman is alarmingly candid. He believes getting rid of Trump and his bunch is only the beginning of a long road of changes required in American politics. Atop Trumps record-breaking mendacity, to Alterman this president as a thinker is about as deep as a wading pool, so self-righteous he should be writing editorials for the National Rifle Association and so far right politically he might well be unable to drive his own car because he cant bring himself to steer left. Its fun to sit here up in Canada and poke fun at the most powerful human being in the world. But in Lying in State Alterman sees Donald Trumps presidential lies and misleading statements (up to 20,000 by one tally) not as comedic relief, but as the instinct of a very sick and dangerous human being. He believes Trump aches to transform the worlds biggest democratic republic into a personal plaything that sounds very much like fascism. That would mean an ultra-nationalistic government of lone and absolute power headed by a dictator. (Think Mussolini in 1930s Italy). All presidents, says Alterman, have blatantly lied to their public time after time some for convenience, some for strategy, some for survival, some for vanity, some to conceal their mistakes, some to hide illicit sex, but none (with the exception of John F. Kennedy and sex) with the frequency of Trump. To the Donald, lying is a way of life. And Alterman sees Trump as such a wacky human that its easy to think that, in his eyes, this president was brought up angry with a set of anti-social instructions fuelled by the crippling elements within him of overwhelming grandiosity and underwhelming empathy. (The late, great Canadian media thinker Marshall McLuhan along with George Orwell would have loved a sit-down with Trump operatives on their silly assertion there is something called "alternative facts." To quote the late Sen. Patrick Moynihan, "people are entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts." McLuhan and Orwell would be sure to also have a lot to say about so-called fake news.) A typical description of Trump by Alterman is far from a character reference: "Donald Trump was, and is now widely known, (as) a terrible businessman, a con man, a racist provocateur, a serial adulterer, an admitted sexual predator and credibly accused rapist, an absent parent, and an egomaniacal liar about all of it." Lying in State is a trustworthy body of work because the information, conclusions and historical review it provides is backed by stated scholarship there are 64 pages of references in support. The examples of presidential lying and deception Alterman cites include Franklin Delano Roosevelts Yalta, the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Kennedys Cuban missile crisis, the war on terror, Nixons Watergate, Lyndon Johnsons Vietnam, Bill Clintons impeachment and the Bush war in Iraq. Lying in State is a lengthy indictment of rotten behaviour. Sadly, because Trump allegedly reads very little, he probably has learned nothing from the bad habits of his predecessors. Alterman concludes that Trump is a "frankenstein monster" whose "lies have not only eaten Americas soul; they have undermined its values and threatened the future viability of its democratic republican form of government." Of all the lies and deceits Alterman mentions perhaps this simple event is the most memorable. Alterman describes an army of fantastic lies that Trump-paid trolls launched on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter in the 2016 election about opponent and Democratic nominee for president Hillary Clinton. They said she was running a child pornography site from inside a Washington pizza parlour. The scary part, even scarier than Trump, is that in a later poll across the nation nearly half of Trumps voters said they had believed it. (That half is around 30 million people.) Caveat emptor. Barry Craig, a retired investigative reporter, is so very glad he became a Canadian. When the axe dropped on the re-election bid of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State recently, it cut so deep that healing from it before the governorship poll in September 19 would be a miracle akin to zero coming up on a roulette table with the last try. Last Thursday, the long-drawn Edo House of Assembly crisis reached a crescendo with the impeachment of the factional speaker, Frank Okiye, by 17 lawmakers. It is a 24-member House with Okiye and nine others loyal to Obaseki hitherto calling the shots while the remaining 14 lawmakers were not inaugurated and their seats controversially declared vacant by the Okiye-led minority. Alas, three of Okiyes nine supporters, including the deputy speaker, Yekini Idiaye, later joined the 14 lawmakers to make a total 17, yet, Idiaye was promptly and crudely impeached by Okiye and his six-man team. It was all part of the mischievous machination of a power-drunk governor. But events played out contrary to Obasekis draconian plot. Shortly after the inauguration of the 17 lawmakers, Obaseki caused the roof of the Assembly complex to be removed while heaps of sand and gravels for a purported renovation were dumped at the gate, therefore, preventing entry or any decent sitting by the lawmakers. The lawmakers, then, beseeched the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to intervene and he wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, asking him to provide adequate security for the lawmakers to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order. The timely call by the AGF sounded the death knell on Obasekis second term bid and for those, who believe in karma served as a comeuppance for his blase injustice against legitimately elected lawmakers. For many weeks after the Assembly ought to have been inaugurated in 2019, Obaseki refused to initially order a proclamation, in line with constitutional provisions, to clear the way for the inauguration and constitution of the seventh assembly. This reluctance, which would later snowball into an open confrontation, was reportedly predicated on the governors belief that he did not have enough foot soldiers in the Assembly as against the number loyal to his predecessor and former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. His deliberate dithering caused further depletion in the number of the lawmakers loyal to him and he vowed that the doors of the assembly would remain shut for as long as he desired. This elicited outrage from well-meaning Nigerians, who warned him against what he was doing as unconstitutional and that it had dire political consequences. Still, no amount of intervention or appeal could sway Obaseki. Like a dog fated to loss and misfortune, it would not hear the whistle of the hunter. Obaseki had made up his mind to deny the good people of Edo State adequate legislative representation while fighting his benefactors to the finish. When he eventually inaugurated the house, he exempted a majority of the duly elected lawmakers and enabled illegality to run and reign. He forgot that the bread always falls on the buttered side; that he who sows the wind will inevitably reap the whirlwind. Now that he is self-destruct and fighting the battle of his political life, with the consequent distraction from electioneering, Obaseki has, conversely, traded a sound, issue-based campaign for brigandage, where he is a neophyte. September 19 is almost a foregone conclusion for Obaseki. It takes not much to see this. What should have been a two-horse race between him and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC has become a home run for the latter, who opinion polls and popular sentiments favour. The consensus now is that despite his incumbency, Obaseki is the architect of the misfortune that has truncated his re-election bid in midstream. Without any political structure or understanding of the political terrain, Obaseki, then an aide of Oshiomhole was piggy-backed to the Government House by his principal, who swore by everything he held sacred that Obaseki would take the state beyond the point he did. In his eight years as governor, Oshiomole did his best, wresting the state from the misrule and wanton mismanagement of state resources from the PDP government that had been in power since the return to a democratic dispensation in 1999. He assumed office at a time the state revenue was so low but with high expectations from the people. But with sheer commitment and sound economic policies, the fortunes of the state were turned around. Within his first term, Oshiomhole raised the IGR of the state from N300milion to over NI.6 billion; and embarked on a massive infrastructure renewal of the state, building hundreds of kilometres of new roads, schools and hospitals among others. During electioneering in 2016, even Obaseki said, Given the high level to which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has taken Edo State, going forward, the state needs a governor that is game-ready, one that will hit the ground running. I believe I am that person by the grace of God. He also promised to build, consolidate, sustain and improve on the achievements recorded by Oshiomholes government. That, perplexingly, was the point of departure. Obaseki was never grounded in the politics of the state, in fact, there were insinuations that he barely knew his way around Benin City, the state capital much less the hinterlands, but Oshiomhole did not listen to all of the leads that forewarned him. In his estimation, the re-engineering of the state economy, which Obaseki and the team at the Edo State Government Economic and Strategy Team (EST) effectuated was enough to convince him that he could be trusted. Oshiomhole, a redoubtable labour activist, who had spent over three decades in the trenches advocating and agitating for better remuneration for Nigerian workers, stomped the nooks and crannies of the state, propagating the ideals of his presumptive successor, assuring the people that he was qualified and capable of taking the state to another level of development. Oshiomhole campaigned as though his life depended on it and Obaseki won without any input into the entire electioneering process. All that was required was his presence and at best, a vote of thanks. Now that he was actually expected to experience what it means to campaign for a governorship election, he has short-circuited the process and done his second term bid a devastating damage that has ultimately foreclosed whatever chances he and his soap-opera cheer-leaders thought he had on September 19. Written by Temilorun Asorobi. *Asorobi, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed shock and grief over the tragic death of the forest officer. Territorial fight between the two tigers in the area last week had led to death of one and injury to another person. Bhopal: An elephant deployed in tiger tracking in Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh on Friday attacked the local forest ranger BR Bhagat, killing him. The pachyderm, which had been deployed in tiger tracking in Hinouti range of Panna Tiger Reserve for the past one week, suddenly became aggressive and killed the forest officer with his tusks, official reports said. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed shock and grief over the tragic death of the forest officer. Territorial fight between the two tigers in the area last week had led to death of one and injury to another person. The Panna Tiger Reserve authorities had launched an exercise to track the wounded tiger for its treatment. In April, with the pandemic raging, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit charging that Chinese communist officials are responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians. In a July 30 Senate Judiciary committee hearing, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein blasted the lawsuit. We launch a series of unknown events that could be very, very dangerous, said. Feinstein. I think this is a huge mistake. As this plays out, American courts are handling another lawsuit, this one from a Chinese company. Build Your Dreams (BYD), which bagged a $1 billion mask deal with California, is suing VICE Media for a story charging that BYD has a history of supplying allegedly faulty products to the U.S., ties to the Chinese military and Communist Party, and possible links to forced labor. As Aaron Keller of Law & Crime notes, Chinas Uighur Muslim minority allegedly performs forced labor for BYD. The company claims the story is false and seeks $75,000 in damages and permanent injunctive relief enjoining VICE Media from continuing to publish or republish the statements adjudicated to be defamatory. Feinstein did not say if the BYD lawsuit was a mistake and possibly dangerous. On the other hand, she did not hesitate to praise the Chinese government. Where I live, we hold China as a potential trading partner, Feinstein said in the hearing. As a country that has pulled tens of millions of people out of poverty in a short period of time. And as a country growing into a respectable nation among other nations. And I deeply believe that. Ive been to China a number of times. Ive studied the issues. That is indeed the case. During a 2006 visit to China, Feinstein told James Areddy of the Wall Street Journal that she had been coming to China for 31 years, so Im not a newcomer. The former San Francisco mayor described former premier Zhu Rongji as a good friend. But its also the case that Feinsteins husband, Richard Blum, has profited handsomely from the greatly expanded China trade she supported, Ben Weingarten noted in the Federalist in 2018. And as the San Francisco Chronicle reported, a longtime spy on Feinsteins staff even attended Chinese Consulate functions for the senator. Feinstein promoted Chinese membership in the World Trade Organization. That action removed the annual congressional review of Chinas record on human rights and weapons proliferation. Feinstein has not documented any improvements in Chinas human-rights record, and she has remained rather quiet about pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong. This year, for the first time in three decades, the Chinese government banned demonstrations in Hong Kong recalling the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Even lighting a candle seems to be a defying act, Hong Kong pro-democracy leader Lee Cheuk-yan told CBS News. We have the right to believe in democracy and freedom. Feinstein is not on record saying that the crackdown could be a huge mistake, but in the senators view the Missouri lawsuit could be very very dangerous. She has studied the issues and deeply believes that a predatory communist dictatorship is a respectable nation. If people in Hong Kong found that very strange, it would be hard to blame them. Meanwhile, at this writing the Missouri and BYD lawsuits remain unresolved. Lloyd Billingsley is a policy fellow at the Independent Institute. Flickr The largest operator of private nursing homes in Canada has received millions in federal wage subsidies for its home healthcare subsidiary while it has also given millions to its shareholders in monthly dividends. Extendicare said its home-care subsidiary, ParaMed, applied for and received $21 million under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) after it experienced significant declines in demand for home health care services during the pandemic. Extendicare executives said the subsidiary will be applying for more wage subsidies and they expect the next payment, if approved, to be in line with the $21 million already received. Revenue, however, was up for Extendicare as a whole, driven, in part, by government funding to help combat COVID-19 and growth in their retirement living operations. The company has paid close to $20 million in total dividends since January, according to its most recent quarterly report. Nearly $10.5 million of that was paid since the beginning of April, when COVID-19 devastated nursing homes throughout Ontario. It does appear quite unseemly that taxpayers are giving millions of dollars to this company and its turning around and paying it out to its wealthy shareholders, said Arthur Cockfield, a Queens University professor and tax law scholar. Average taxpayers are subsidizing these wealthy corporate interests. Unlike the federal governments COVID-19 loan program for large corporations, CEWS places no restrictions on companies that give their shareholders a dividend. The CEWS program is designed to help businesses and other entities keep workers on their payrolls as revenues are clobbered by the economic turbulence caused by the pandemic. Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, is among the recipients of the federal wage subsidy. Extendicare said the $21 million was to help ParaMed keep its 9,000 employees, many of them nurses and personal support workers, on the payroll after the subsidiary suffered a drop in revenue in March and April. The home-care business was impacted by the province reducing elective surgeries and some patients choosing to self-isolate and suspend their ParaMed services. Keeping our team in place ensures we can respond quickly to increases in demand for home healthcare services and return to normal volumes as the pandemic recedes, Extendicare President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Guerriere told investors Friday. Businesses have a responsibility to their shareholders to maximize the performance of their companies, said David Soberman, a professor at the Rotman School of Management. If a company has a right to a subsidy, it should take it because its competitors likely will also seize the opportunity, he said. In a case like Extendicares, the wage subsidy meant employees with the subsidiary continued to get paid, while the government earned tax money from the dividends, Soberman said. If their workers are laid off, youre going to have to pay out benefits to those workers and the company may generate less profits, and on top of that, youre not going to have the taxation that comes on the dividends that were paid, he said. People are only seeing the bad side of this, which is it looks like these very capitalist-type enterprises are accessing subsidies to pay dividends to shareholders, and I think thats just a very warped view of whats going on. Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, said, The publics money should not be going to companies that are paying dividends to shareholders because they can obviously afford to not have the subsidy. If you have the money then you dont need the publics money. That should be the rule across the board. Shareholders take a risk when they buy shares and to have them relying on dividend payments consistently, then that is just their mistake. For Queens professor Cockfield, the government should take a more holistic approach when distributing subsidies, considering a companys overall financial footing rather than assessing the revenues of individual subsidiaries. Canadas Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility, offering pandemic relief loans for companies with annual revenues of more than $300 million, will not give money to companies that pay dividends. The Canada Revenue Agency would not release information on Extendicares CEWS subsidy. It said those privacy considerations will change in a few weeks when the governments amendment to the Income Tax Act authorizes the Minister of National Revenue to name any eligible employer that applies for CEWS. Extendicare is among the 285,940 employers that applied for and received the CEWS, which gives employers with revenue losses money to help pay workers wages, allowing businesses to rehire staff and prevent job losses. Extendicare owns 58 nursing homes across Canada with about 35 in Ontario where roughly 100 residents died after a COVID-19 diagnosis, according to government data. It also manages numerous Ontario nursing homes, many of which are not-for-profit. More than 1,840 residents of Ontarios 626 nursing homes died from the virus. One home, Extendicare Guildwood in Scarborough, had 48 deaths, according to health ministry figures. The province appointed Scarborough Health Network to partner in the management of its operations. So far, 11 nursing homes that struggled to get the virus under control are now co-managed by seven hospitals. In early June, Extendicare said it had started testing its staff two to four times a month to increase our ability to identify asymptomatic staff early and remove them from the home to self-isolate. (Most homes were starting to test staff twice a month.) As of June 10, Extendicare said the testing found 56 cases of asymptomatic staff in Ontario homes which avoided 13 possible outbreaks. We remain vigilant in our ongoing battle to keep the novel coronavirus out of our homes and communities. Our focus remains firmly on doing everything possible to protect the health and well being of residents, clients and staff, Extendicares Guerriere told investors. Extendicare said it applied for the CEWS money in late July to cover ParaMeds declining revenues in March and April. When COVID hit, the Ontario government made policy changes that gave nursing homes financial stability. Its Emergency Measures Funding Policy gave homes 100 per cent of their usual occupancy funding until Dec. 31 regardless of the actual occupancy achieved. The provincial government said it also added another $61 million to the long-term care sector to help with expenses to prevent and contain COVID-19. Some industry leaders are calling for civil liability protection from lawsuits for issues related to COVID. Premier Doug Ford has mused about passing legislation to protect businesses but later said he is not supporting bad actors in long-term care. Seniors advocate Laura Tamblyn Watts, of CanAge, said home care is an important part of Ontarios health system so it is understandable that Extendicare is trying to maintain its workforce when the industry is already short-staffed. What is difficult to understand, is how large for-profit corporations that provide long-term care are receiving government subsidies and paying out substantial dividends, while at the same time claiming they are underfunded and need protection from class action lawsuits due to negligence during COVID, Tamblyn Watts said. Each of these things can be understood individually but together they make very little sense. Public kept in dark about CEWS payments Despite promises of transparency, the public is still in the dark about which companies have the federal wage subsidy and how much. The $21 million in subsidies given to a subsidiary of Extendicare is just a few drops of the billions of dollars that has flowed from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program. The subsidies to Extendicares home health care subsidiary, ParaMed, were disclosed in the companys second quarterly results. The law passed in April to create CEWS empowers the government to publish the names of employers receiving the money. The Canada Revenue Agency, which is administering the program, is still finalizing the details on how we will publish this information, a spokesperson said. We plan to publish the list of CEWS recipients by the end of August, the spokesperson said. The government has paid nearly $27 billion to more than 285,000 unique applicants since Aug. 9, according to federal statistics. Of those applicants, 210 each received more than $5 million in subsidies. The CEWS program is designed to help businesses, non-profits, political parties and other entities keep workers on their payrolls as revenues are battered by the economic turbulence caused by COVID-19. Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan was on Saturday conferred with the Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers special award, in recognition of her advisory role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic in the state. Swaminathan received the award from Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the 74th Independence Day celebration at Fort St George here. The WHO representative has been offering suggestions to the state health department to step up measures in fighting the pandemic. Later, speaking to reporters, Swaminathan thanked the state government for selecting her and advised people to follow the pandemic protocols while venturing out. Maintain a six feet social distance, do not go out without wearing masks and be careful while venturing out, she said. According to the World Health Organisation, Swaminathan has 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate her research into impactful programmes. Meanwhile, the Chief Ministers Best Practices award was bagged by the department of treasuries, while the Greater Chennai Corporation received the second prize for conducting fever clinics across the city to break the transmission chain of Covid-19. Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation received the certificate of appreciation for various steps undertaken to ensure uninterrupted availability of drugs for combating coronavirus. (CNN) Health experts say there's no evidence the coronavirus can be transmitted through food. You might have seen reports this week that Chinese authorities said a surface sample from a batch of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil tested positive for coronavirus. But don't panic. Yes, the virus was detected on the food product in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, according to a statement from the municipal government. Officials did not name the brand. But test results for people who might have had contact with the chicken wings have so far come back negative, the statement said, and tracing is underway for products from the same brand that have already been sold. Meantime, one expert said tests of the chicken might have detected genetic material from dead coronavirus, which can cause false positives. Here's the bottom line: Doctors and health experts have repeatedly said the coronavirus is not likely to be transmitted by food. Dr. Ian Williams, chief of the Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which investigates foodborne and waterborne illnesses, previously said there was no evidence that Covid-19 is "foodborne-driven or food service-driven." "This really is respiratory, person-to-person," Williams said. "At this point there is no evidence really pointing us towards food (or) food service as ways that are driving the epidemic." Covid-19 is largely spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks when they're within 6 feet of another person, according to the CDC. The best ways to prevent the spread is by social distancing, wearing a mask, thoroughly washing your hands and covering a cough or sneeze. Williams' point was reiterated more recently by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture, which said in a joint statement in June there is "no evidence" people can contract the virus from food or food packaging. Now, per the CDC, it is possible you could get Covid-19 by touching a contaminated surface, including food packaging, and then touching your face. But you can reduce the risk by washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling food packaging. Unlikely virus will persist after shipping, WHO says International experts also seem to agree. "People should not fear food or food packaging or the processing or delivery of food," Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Programme, said Thursday. "I would hate to think that we would create an impression that there's a problem with our food or there's a problem with our food chains," he said. "There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in transmission of this virus, and people should feel comfortable and feel safe." The WHO previously said it is "highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging," reiterating Covid-19 is a respiratory illness primarily spread person-to-person. Additionally, it's unlikely the coronavirus would be transmitted through goods manufactured elsewhere, per the WHO. "Even though the new coronavirus can stay on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days (depending on the type of surface), it is very unlikely that the virus will persist on a surface after being moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperatures," the WHO said. If you're still uneasy, know that your body has another line of defense. Even if the coronavirus got into your food, your stomach acid would kill it, according to Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University. "When you eat any kind of food, whether it be hot or cold, that food is going to go straight down into your stomach, where there's a high acidity, low-pH environment that will inactivate the virus," she said. In the case of the chicken wings in Shenzhen, David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert at the University of Hong Kong, said they were likely contaminated during packaging. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're infectious. The tests could be picking up the RNA -- the genetic material -- of dead coronavirus, he said, which has been known to cause false positive results in patients who have recovered from Covid-19. The citys annual flooding woes can be attributed to the loss of more than three-fourths of its wetlands due to rapid urbanisation and illegal encroachments, a member of the national wetland conservation governing body said on Saturday. Afroz Ahmad, member of National Wetland Committee and advisor to Maharashtra governments environment and forest departments, presented his views while inaugurating Wetlands of Sindhudurg, Indias first wetland website (sindhudurgwetlands.in) that documents inland wetland sites across the south Konkan district. The website provides information on environmental and socio-cultural aspects of wetland conservation as well. The environmental scientist highlighted how Mumbai had witnessed wetland reclamation, more than any other major Indian city over the past 50 years. Mumbais shoreline itself, which has a 6-metre depth, is also termed as a wetland. Reclamation there has made the city vulnerable. Moreover, river floodplains and catchment areas have already been built upon. This is the reason why maximum flooding takes place. There is no water absorption anymore, said Ahmad, co-author of the Centres guidelines for Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Ahmads assessments were in line with a study by Wetlands International South Asia (WISA) that showed Mumbai had lost 71% wetlands from 1970 to 2014, followed by Ahmedabad (57%), Bengaluru (56%), Hyderabad (55%), Delhi and National Capital Region (38%), and Pune (37%). Comprehensive wetland inventories are not yet available, but some datasets indicate Mumbai witnessed very high wetland loss through reclamation but so have other major cities. Post 1970s when cities started expanding, they started eating into the wetlands, said Ritesh Kumar, director, WISA. According to the National Wetland Atlas 2011 (Maharashtra), made under the 2010 wetland rules, Mumbai had 475 wetlands 412 in the suburbs and 63 in south Mumbai spread across 14,045 hectare (ha). However, under the amended 2017 rules, Mumbai will have only one major notified wetland spread across four zones at Powai Lake (181.9ha), according to the state environment department. It is advisable that all wetlands, including those identified in the atlas, and lakes be protected as heritage sites. Develop brief documents and action plan for their management immediately, said Ahmad. He added that with 373 wetlands covering an area of 13,979ha comprising 33% creeks and 31% rivers, Sindhudurg was among the first districts in India to develop community-driven wetland brief documentation committee and listing wetlands taluka-wise as an inventory. The findings are available on the website, which will be a handy tool for policy makers and state officials to oversee conservation. It can also help in developing appropriate area-centric policies for tourism, skill development and resource utilisation, said advocate Omkar Keni, one of the website contributors. The Sindhudurg model, which is now on a public platform, needs to be replicated for Maharashtra and across India, said Dr Ahmad adding, With the pandemic giving its message to India to not toy with nature, conservation is the need of the hour as natural wetlands are being lost rapidly. WHY KONKAN NEEDS TO PROTECT ITS WETLANDS Natural wetlands are permanently or seasonally saturated in water and create habitats for aquatic plants. They retain large volumes of water and their slow release makes them important for combatting extreme weather conditions like floods and droughts. Wetlands also contribute to water purification, water regulation, biodiversity, aesthetics and recreation, according to the United Nations. According to the National Wetlands Atlas, published by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2010, the Konkan region of Maharashtra has 4,799 wetlands. However, experts said they are at threat across the state due to natural factors. Owing to low organic matter, there are limitations in the form of soil, mostly of basaltic origin and lateritic soil, along the Konkan region. Due to this, they have poor water-holding capacity while seasonal river systems have small length. The soil explodes in the form of springs during heavy rain events. Wetlands in such areas are indispensable and deserve top priority, said Dr Ahmad. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The BBC has announced a special performance to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. The occasion, three quarters of a century on from the formal end of the Second World War, will feature a variety of special performances, with famed actors portraying key Second World War figures. Sheridan Smith (Funny Girl) will pay tribute to the iconic Vera Lynn as part of the BBC's concert show, which runs from 8.30pm to 10pm this Saturday. Other actors involved include Hugh Bonneville, Paterson Joseph and Martin Shaw, while the event will be hosted by Joanna Lumley. Lumley's father was an officer with the 6th Gurkha Rifles. Other performers during the evening include Willard White, Ruby Turner, Bryn Terfel, Nicola Roberts, and Braimah Kanneh-Mason, presenting tunes that were popular during the war. Lynn passed away earlier this year at the age of 103, having shot to fame through her iconic number "We'll Meet Again". FILE PHOTO: A seagoing barge is loaded with crude oil from the Eagle Ford Shale formation at the newly expanded crude dock at the Port of Corpus Christi By Devika Krishna Kumar and Chen Aizhu NEW YORK/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil shipments to China will rise sharply in coming weeks, U.S. traders and shipbrokers and Chinese importers said, as the world's top economies gear up to review a January deal after a prolonged trade war. Chinese state-owned oil firms have tentatively booked tankers to carry at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude for August and September, the people said, moves that may ease U.S. concerns that China's purchases are trending well short of purchase commitments under the Phase 1 of the trade deal. China had emerged as a top U.S. crude buyer, taking $5.42 billion worth in 2018 before trade tensions brought flows to a near halt. In January, China pledged to buy $18.5 billion of energy products including crude oil and natural gas over its 2017 level, implying total value of about $25 billion this year. Its U.S. crude purchases through June 30 amounted to $2.06 billion, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, reflecting the COVID-19 pandemic downturn and the limited impact of the Phase 1 deal. However, there has been a recent spike in purchases by China's state-owned oil and gas firm PetroChina <601857.SS> and its largest refiner Sinopec Corp <0386.HK>, the people said. A review of the U.S.-China trade deal initially slated for Saturday will be delayed due to scheduling issues, and no new date has been agreed yet, Reuters reported. Already, a monthly record 32 million barrels of U.S. oil are set to reach China in August, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. TANKER BOOKINGS SOAR New tanker fixtures, or tentative bookings, to China have jumped even as current oil pricing in other parts of the world may be more favorable for its buyers, said the people, who could not be identified because they are not authorized to speak with the media. The two Chinese companies each have booked five to six supertankers, that each can hold 2 million barrels of oil, for August and September loadings. U.S. crude exporters Occidental Petroleum , Equinor and Vitol, each chartered one or two vessels, shipping sources said. Story continues PetroChina plans to buy 3 million tonnes (about 22 million barrels), or nearly $1 billion worth, of U.S. crude by year-end, according to a person briefed on the matter. "The demand in China has strengthened since COVID-19 restrictions started to be lifted," an Equinor spokesman said, declining to comment on volumes or bookings. Sinopec, PetroChina and Occidental did not respond to requests for comment. Vitol declined to comment. The new deals are intended to show China still aims to meet its purchase target, the people familiar with the matter said. POLITICALLY DRIVEN "It's politically driven for sure because there are a plethora of barrels being offered to Asia cheaper than what WTI lands," one trader said, referring to U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude. Chinese buyers have snapped up other commodities. On Thursday, they booked deals to buy 197,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans, the seventh weekday in a row that the government has reported a sale to the worlds top buyer of the oilseed. "It's a mandate from higher up, even though PetroChina's own refining system does not favour U.S. crude as it's quite fully committed to imports from the Middle East and elsewhere," one of the sources said. PetroChina so far has booked about 10 million barrels of U.S. oil loading in August and September, Emma Li, Refinitiv's senior crude analyst said. "The crude of choice for China is now apparently U.S. crude, which supports the U.S. markets and possibly helps weaken Europe and Asia" oil markets, said Scott Shelton, energy specialist at broker United ICAP. (GRAPHIC: U.S. crude exports to China jump - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jznvnkwnrpl/Pasted%20image%201597416377164.png) (Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York and Chen Aizhu in Singapore; additional reporting by Shu Zhang in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Pune-based IT consultant Abhinav Sable, who had to face a 20 percent pay cut at his workplace due to the coronavirus lockdown, is wondering whether to renew his Rs 20 lakh medical insurance that attracts a Rs 30,000 premium per year. As per Sable, his health insurer does not offer an option to pay on a monthly basis and Rs 30,000 is a high amount considering that his finances are in a precarious position. A subscription-based insurance model that is now coming into the insurance industry could offer some respite to the customers battling job losses and pay cuts amid the coronavirus outbreak. This model involves paying on a monthly, quarterly basis like you would pay for your Netflix subscription or like a bank loan EMI. Insurance corporate agent Vital is of the view that having a subscription model would make health insurance more affordable for customers. Vital is also a health and wellness marketplace. Jayan Matthews, co-founder and CPO at Vital told Moneycontrol that while the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has allowed monthly mode of payment, not all insurers offer it. Vital is offering a monthly subscription model for health insurance premium payment. When you break down premium payment to a monthly mode, the adoption rate is higher among customers. This is why the average ticket size of health insurance products is Rs 3 lakh in the industry while ours is Rs 10 lakh, he added. Now, how will this benefit customers? Instead of paying a large chunk of money once a year, a customer can pay very thousand rupees every month and get a Rs 15 lakh or 20 lakh cover. Add a deductible and the premium comes down further. For example, if you take a Rs 20 lakh health policy from Vital (39-year-old) for yourself, spouse and two children, you would need to pay only Rs 790 per month. This is subject to a one-time deductible of Rs 35,000. Deductible is the amount that you as a policyholder need to pay a fixed amount before your insurance payout for a claim. For example, if there is a Rs 35,000 deductible and a claim of Rs 2.35 lakh is incurred, the policyholder will pay Rs 35,000 while the insurer will pay Rs 2 lakh. Buying a product on easy monthly subscriptions ensures that a policyholder is covered even if there is a financial stress. At a time when COVID-19 cases and allied hospitalisation is on the rise, insurance is a must-have product. Insurtech firm Toffee Insurance has launched the Toffee Plan which is a monthly insurance subscription plan for a single person or a family that provides the benefits of life insurance, health insurance and household insurance in one bundle. Monthly subscription starts at Rs 600. The solution by Toffee Insurance is backed by Tata AIG General, Religare Health, ICICI Prudential Life, and IndiaFirst Life Insurance and offers health cover from Rs 3 lakh for each family member, life cover starting from Rs 50 lakh and household insurance starting from Rs 1 lakh. COVID-19 led hospitalisation is also covered. Among insurance companies too, the shift has begun. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has launched a premium instalment facility available with their health insurance product Health Guard. Here, customers having net premium of Rs 12,000 or more would be able to opt for the monthly instalment option. Similarly, customers with net premium of Rs 6,000 or more can opt for the quarterly & half-yearly instalment options. Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance said that this should hopefully encourage more customers to opt for health insurance which according to him should be a critical part of financial planning of every family. Even a year ago, customers would postpone buying health covers saying that the employer provides medical insurance for self and family. Now that the job market is uncertain and close to 11 million Indians have lost their jobs since the March 25 lockdown, it only makes sense to opt for a subscription model. When it comes to the insurance industry, it is necessary that all companies offer this option so that customers are comfortable buying a policy. If insurance penetration has to be sincerely boosted, this is one of the ways. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) speaks during a rally against the government shutdown outside Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Read more One political label has been prized for decades in a congressional district just north of Philadelphia. Its not Republican or Democrat. Its moderate. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican seeking a third term in the Bucks County-based 1st District, relies on that label, frequently emphasizing his independent streak. Its easy to see why: Hes one of just two congressional Republicans in the country running for reelection in a district carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016. Brian Fitzpatrick, ranked No. 1 most independent congressman ever in U.S. history, declared his first digital ad of the general election campaign. Moderation can be a sliding scale for voters. Conservative Republicans dismiss Fitzpatrick as a RINO a Republican In Name Only. Liberals see him as deeply in league with President Donald Trump. Christina Finello, the Democratic nominee, said Fitzpatrick has been voting against things people need to survive the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats narrowly outnumber Republicans in the district, a solidly middle-class swath of suburbia that includes part of Montgomery County. And heated debate over whether a Fitzpatrick deserves the moderate tag is familiar ground for local voters, dating back to when his late brother, Mike Fitzpatrick, represented the district. Whether Brian Fitzpatrick survives whats likely to be a challenging reelection campaign while Trump continues to repel suburban voters will offer clues about if and how Republicans can hold on to power in the suburbs. Anybody that claims Im not a moderate and not an independent thinker is living on another planet, Fitzpatrick said in an interview Thursday, touting his involvement with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Rick Bloomingdale, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, said the success of moderate politicians in the region dates to the late 1970s. Pete Kostmayer, a Democrat, served seven terms in the House, followed for six terms by Republican Jim Greenwood. They werent ideological warriors. The district didnt expect or want them to be. The same could be said for the men who followed: Mike Fitzpatrick and Democrat Patrick Murphy. The AFL-CIO this month endorsed Fitzpatrick, the only Republican the labor group backed for U.S. House in Pennsylvania and just one of eight GOP endorsements out of 189 overall. Bloomingdale cited Fitzpatricks support for unionized federal employees rights, dredging jobs on the Delaware River, and protections for union organizing. All that made it pretty easy to endorse Fitzpatrick, Bloomingdale said. To do otherwise would be the act of a fair-weather friend, he said. Fitzpatricks moderate bona fides have been a source of frustration among progressive groups eager to retake a seat held by Republicans for a decade. Fitzpatrick withstood the 2018 Democratic wave that washed out Republicans in the Philadelphia suburbs. In an interview, Finello rattled off positions taken by Fitzpatrick that she said show hes no moderate, starting with his support for Trumps 2017 tax cuts which disproportionately benefited wealthy Americans and swelled the federal budget deficit. She condemned Fitzpatrick for voting against the Heroes Act, a second coronavirus economic relief package the House passed in May. The Republican-controlled Senate didnt advance the bill, and negotiations between the White House and congressional Democrats have gone nowhere. Finello said Fitzpatricks vote means he opposed oversight of federal aid to make sure it went to struggling small businesses rather than corporations. The bill also included money for state and local governments, continuing supplemental unemployment benefits, and extending moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures. Were talking right now in August, the fourth straight month where roughly a third of Americans have missed a housing payment, voting against things people need, she said. Fitzpatrick noted that 14 Democrats voted against the bill. He said he supports more funding for state and local governments, the Postal Service, small businesses, and unemployment benefits. But he opposed a provision in the bill that aimed to reduce the prison population to fight the spread of the virus. He also opposes Trumps call for a payroll tax cut, saying it would jeopardize Social Security and Medicare. And on a day when Trump openly admitted that by withholding funding for the Postal Service, it would be unable to handle an anticipated surge of mail voting, Fitzpatrick said the USPS should be fully funded. READ MORE: USPS says Pennsylvania mail ballots may not be delivered on time, and state warns of overwhelming risk to voters And Fitzpatrick noted that he backed major policy initiatives advanced by Democrats after they retook the House, including Democratic priorities like strengthening protections for voting rights, closing the gender pay gap, and expanding antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Thats union rights, environmental rights, gun safety, LGBT rights, Fitzpatrick said. These are major, major initiatives. In June, he was one of just three Republicans who voted for the police reform measure passed by the House after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It all adds up to a record the Lugar Center and Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy rank as the most bipartisan of any member of the House. The centers index is based on how often a member of Congress introduces bills that succeed in attracting cosponsors from members of the other party, and how often they in turn cosponsor a bill introduced from across the aisle. Fitzpatrick has voted with Trump 64% of the time on legislation on which the president has a clear position, according to the website FiveThirtyEight. Just two House Republicans have voted with Trump less frequently, according to the analysis. Democrats counter that Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, has failed to deliver on a defining issue: standing up to Trump. You cant deny the fact hes been complicit with Donald Trump on his most important initiatives, and has been silent as a lamb when his own FBI directors have been attacked, when our military leaders have been attacked by this president, said Murphy, who unseated Mike Fitzpatrick in 2006 but lost the seat back to him in 2010. (Mike Fitzpatrick died in January.) Murphy, asked if he thought there were any moderate Republicans in Congress, pointed to Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only one who voted to convict Trump at his impeachment trial. Where was he on that vote? Murphy said of Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick said he will wait until the election to decide whether to vote for Trump or presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The debate over Fitzpatricks independence is something of a redux of his 2018 campaign against Democrat Scott Wallace. Progressives were incensed then when Everytown for Gun Safety, the antigun violence group cofounded by Mike Bloomberg, endorsed Fitzpatrick. Everytown cited Fitzpatricks vote against a bill backed by the National Rifle Association that would require states to recognize concealed carry permits from other states but progressives questioned his commitment to the issue. The Bucks County branch of Moms Demand Action, an arm of Everytown, dissolved in protest. Ali Glickman, of Solebury Township, cofounded Orange Wave for Gun Safety along with other former Moms Demand Action volunteers. She said that Fitzpatrick is no moderate, and that regardless, voting for Republicans wont help on issues like gun violence. The only way to advance the cause is to elect Democrats like Finello, she said. If we dont have the majority, it doesnt really matter, period, Glickman said. While Finellos campaign frequently mocks Fitzpatricks claims of independence, Finello said she doesnt focus on labels. Im focusing on what people are talking about right at this moment, she said. People are concerned right now about how theyre going to pay their rent when theyve lost their job. Theyre worried about whats happening when they have to send their kids back to school. Advertisement Heavy rain with the risk of thunderstorms is expected to continue over the rest of the weekend, with warnings of potential flooding and travel disruption. The Met Office issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms across large swathes of England and Wales stretching across the weekend and into most of Monday. The warning says that spray and sudden flooding caused by the rain may lead to difficult driving conditions or road closures. The south of England and Wales are likely to be the wettest areas over the whole weekend, with other parts of the country seeing dry and warmer weather. The Met Office said 24.1mm of rain fell in an hour in Canterbury, Kent, on Saturday, which could lead to some surface flooding. Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist for the Met Office, said the weekend was a 'messy picture'. She added: 'The main thing over the next three days is the risk of thunderstorms in the south. 'Saturday night is going to be pretty mild and then Sunday across the south it's a picture of sunshine and showers - those showers could be thundery at times. 'That risk is really within the warning zone - central and southern England and Wales could see some heavy downpours tomorrow. 'Further north it's going to be a bit drier with cloudy skies across the east coast.' Bad weather including heavy rain and low cloud caused the cancellation of three commemorative flypasts by the Red Arrows. The RAF display team had planned to fly over London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast to commemorate 75 years since VJ Day. However, only the Belfast flypast took place as the other events were cancelled due to the bad weather. In addition to the rain, forecasters expect the rest of the weekend to be much cooler after a week of hot and humid weather. The Lake District town of Keswick in Cumbria saw the mercury rise to 24.8C on Saturday. However, this was milder than much of the week, where temperatures above 34C (93.2F) were recorded for six days in a row. A woman is rescued from flooding in Bishop's Stortford. Multiple roads in Bishop's Stortford are suffering from flooding again today.Heavy rain has drenched Hertfordshire again this morning which has caused many roads to flood. Heavy rain caused roads to flood in Chelmsford, Essex this afternoon Heavy rain caused roads to flood in Chelmsford, Essex this afternoon. People worked out on the dried-out grass in Wimbledon Common as Saturday morning brought wet, overcast weather Thunderstorms and torrential downpours are set to sweep across the UK in a three-day deluge. Pictured: People working out on the dried-out grass in Wimbledon Common The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for vast swathes of England and Wales on both Saturday and Sunday - just as thousands of holidaymakers rushed back from France after the country was added to the UK's quarantine list The south of England and Wales are likely to be the wettest areas, with frequent lightning, gusty winds and heavy downpours with 30 to 40mm of rain possible in less than an hour, according to the Met Office. Five flood alert warnings have been issued across the West Midlands by the Environment Agency. Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: 'Up until Monday, thunderstorm warnings cover much of England and Wales, with parts of southern England and South Wales seeing the greatest likelihood of impacts. 'The storms will not affect all areas, but where they happen there will be frequent lightning, gusty winds and intense, heavy downpours with 30 to 40 millimetres of rain possible in less than an hour and, in a few unlucky spots, a small chance of 60 mm falling in a short period. The poor weather is only set to continue with flooding (pictured) potentially leading to road closures, while extreme weather may damage buildings and cause power cuts and cancellations to train and bus services This week brought soaring temperatures (parched grass in Wimbledon Common, pictured) before revellers were forced to pack away their barbecues as storms moved in Cyclists stop to enjoy the view of Derwentwater near Keswick, in the Lake District as skies remain clear for the time being The south of England and Wales are likely to be the wettest areas, with frequent lightning, gusty winds and heavy downpours with 30 to 40mm of rain possible in less than an hour, according to the Met Office. Pictured: The Lake District today A cycling passes a stag in Bushy Park, South West London, as people are allowed back into enjoy the park before the bad weather moves in A dog jumps in the water on Derwentwater near Keswick, in the Lake District before thunderstorms and heavy rain move in 'With the continuing hot weather, large swathes of the UK continue to be at risk from thunderstorms, and potentially the impacts from heavy rain, into the early part of next week.' Spokesman Oli Claydon, added: 'The overnight temperatures remaining quite high will mean quite a close, muggy feeling that is in tune with thunderstorms being forecast all the way through to Monday. 'Some areas could see up as much as 40-50mm (1-2in) of rain in two to three hours [today], with 50-70mm (2-2in) possible in three hours on Sunday. A shopping cart is seen in a flooded car park after heavy rain, in Hertford, Hertfordshire, as a car stops before entering the pool yesterday The M25 was brought to a standstill by floodwater on Thursday, with only one slightly treacherous in use anti-clockwise and a BMW driver forced to abandon their car in the clockwise lane People were out and about in the heavy rain and mist on Friday morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire after a night of storms People sheltering under umbrellas from the rain on Wimbledon Common on Thursday after many days of high temperatures. The forecast is for cooler weather with thunderstorm warnings and flash floods Thunderstorms and heavy rain have battered parts of the south of England, forcing parts of the M25 and M23 to close for safety reasons on Thursday 'There's continued thunderstorm warnings through to Monday at the moment.' Saturday's outlook should be bright in the West but with thick cloud coming in from the North Sea in the North East, the Met Office said. Mr Claydon added: 'One thing to note with this kind of weather is it is important to keep an eye on the forecast as it can change quite quickly. 'The nature of thunderstorms means it is quite tricky to be more specific as to exactly where. We can expect them anywhere in those yellow warning areas.' Neil Davies, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Isolated thunderstorms could bring sudden surface water and river flooding, which may lead to flooded properties and severe travel disruption in some areas. Further surface water and river flooding is also a possibility until Sunday.' The weather will be an added kick in the teeth for the thousands of Britons who made a mad dash across the Channel last night in a desperate bid to make it home before the government's 14-day quarantine kicked in at 4am. Friday morning saw a misty, hazy start after a night of storms over the farmland in the Oxfordshire countryside There were treacherous conditions on the A14 near Cambridge on Thursday as torrential rain and dark skies made driving hazardous From 4am onwards, all those arriving from France must quarantine for 14 days after the country reported a spike in coronavirus cases. The 11th-hour move sparked chaos for an estimated 500,000 British holidaymakers in France - including a couple who forked out 1,000 for business class Eurostar seats and a family who drove for 12 hours to get home. One mother was forced to leave two of her children behind with her husband when she fled France on the last Eurostar train. The woman - who had to return to the UK before quarantine began due to her job - was only able to get tickets for herself and her baby. She now fears her two daughters - who will return on Monday - may not be out of quarantine when their school goes back. The woman, who did not provide her name, told Sky News: 'This has completely ruined our summer. I don't know what I'm going to do now. I am so upset about this.' There are also fears that the new rules will cause thousands of children to miss the start of the school year as pupils who do not return to the UK by Tuesday night will still be self-isolating at home when the majority of schools go back on September 2. But with limited capacity on flights, ferries and the Eurotunnel, many will have no choice but to stay in France or pay high prices for some of the remaining tickets. Some tourists had less time to avoid quarantine after the Scottish and Welsh governments demanded the rules be introduced a day earlier. Meanwhile, France is likely to impose to impose tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions from Monday for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too. Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri on Saturday said that 2020 has been a very unusual year for India as it had to face the "twin challenges" of COVID-19 as well as aggression on the country's borders. Addressing a large gathering of Beijing-based Indian community at the India House here on the country's 74th Independence Day, Misri talked about the problems faced by the Indian expatriates in China. Many family members of the expatriates are stranded in India due to visa-related issues following the COVD-19 pandemic and disruption of flights. After hoisting the national flag and reading of President Ram Nath Kovind's Friday's address to the nation, Misri touched upon the "aggression at the borders," in an apparent reference to the situation at the Sino-Indian borders in eastern Ladakh. "As you just heard from the President's address, 2020 has been a very unusual year, including for us here in China. We in India have had to face the twin challenges of COVID-19 as well as aggression on our borders," Misri said. "I find that the situation today that faces us, all of us Indians, is not dissimilar to the one that we faced during our struggle for independence. "It is axiomatic therefore that the effort that will be required now by us to overcome the challenges that lie before us is not unlike what our nation and our people and compatriots deployed during the struggle for independence," he said. The same sacrifices too will be required. This is a challenge therefore that one can only face unitedly. All sections of society will need to come together for this, he said. The country has already begun facing up to this challenge, he said. Despite being preoccupied with facing up to the epidemic, the government has not taken its foot off the accelerator in terms of reforms and the last seven months have actually seen a slew of very important reforms in the fields of education, taxation, labour, agriculture and other associated fields, he said. "This reform movement and its spirit, I am confident, will help our country overcome present challenges," Misri said. Touching upon the problems faced by Indian expatriates in China, he offered to help them in whatever possible way. "For us here in China, things have changed also in imperceptible ways and I am sure in certain cases the changes are impacting your daily life," the envoy said. He said the Indian Embassy and various consulates in the country are ready to help the Indian community. "Any difficulties and problems you have, we are there to help you find solutions to the extent possible in current circumstances," he said. "The government of China itself is undergoing a time when it is deploying different policies in order to respond to the evolving situation. We have to adjust ourselves to those policies and do the best by our citizens," he said. "In this moment, many of you are also dealing with pressures of business and with separation of families, with loved ones stranded in India. This is a phase that we have to get over in united fashion. My message to you is - stay strong, stay safe. We are there for you", Misri said. Also read: 74th Independence Day: PM Modi says 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' 32 times in speech; no China, Pak mention Increasing incidence of neurological disorders and rising awareness of neurodegenerative diseases are set to drive the Brain Monitoring market. . The global brain monitoring market size is estimated to be USD 8. New York, Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Brain Monitoring Market by Product, Disease & End User - Global Forecasts to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04766032/?utm_source=GNW 6 billion by 2025, from USD 6.3 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 6.2%. The brain monitoring market is mainly driven by factors such as the increasing incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders, rising awareness of neurodegenerative diseases, growth in the number of traumatic brain injuries, and rising applications of brain monitoring in clinical trials. The increasing demand for non-invasive and minimally invasive devices, the expanding therapeutic applications of brain monitoring devices, and the growing healthcare market in emerging economies are also expected to provide opportunities for growth for players in the market. On the other hand, the high cost of complex brain monitoring procedures and devices, unfavorable reimbursement policies, and the shortage of trained professionals to effectively operate brain monitoring devices are restraining the growth of this market. The devices segment is expected to account for the largest share of the brain monitoring devices market in 2019. By product, the global brain monitoring market is categorized into devices and accessories.The devices segment is expected to hold the largest share of the brain monitoring market in 2019. This is mainly due to the rising incidence of neurological, neurodegenerative, psychotic, and sleep disorders; the need for early diagnosis; the availability of innovative portable and wearable home-based monitoring devices; and increasing patient awareness. The electrodes segment to register the highest growth rate in the forecast period. The electrodes segment is expected to register the highest growth rate in the forecast period.Technological advancements have enhanced the tissue interface of electrodes and facilitated the development of cost-effective, high-performance electrodes in this market. In addition, the introduction of disposable electrodes has also greatly driven their adoption and the growth of this market segment. North America to be the largest regional segment in the brain monitoring market during the forecast period. Based on the region, the global brain monitoring market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia, and the RoW.North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global brain monitoring market in 2019, while Asia is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. Growth in the market in Asia is due to the growing geriatric population, the availability of low-cost labor and skilled manpower, increase in disposable incomes, rising prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, and increasing government emphasis on healthcare reforms in the region. Breakdown of primaries The primary interviews conducted for this report can be categorized as follows: By Company Type: Tier 1 (25%), Tier 2 (46%), and Tier 3 (29%) By Designation: C-level Executives (30%), Directors (36%), and Others (34%) By Region: North America (50%), Europe (24%), Asia (15%), and the RoW (11%) The brain monitoring market is dominated by a few globally established players such as Natus Medical, Inc. (US), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan), Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), GE Healthcare (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Compumedics, Ltd. (Australia), Medtronic (Ireland), CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (US), Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Advanced Brain Monitoring (US), Masimo Corporation (US), Spiegelberg GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Cadwell Industries (US), NeuroWave Systems, Inc. (US), Nonin Medical, Inc. (US), Integra LifeSciences Corporation (US), Neurosoft (Russia), and Rimed (US) Research Coverage: The report segments the brain monitoring market based on region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW), product (devices and accessories), disease type (traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, dementia, headache disorders, sleep disorders, Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, Huntingtons disease, and other diseases), end-user (into hospitals, neurology centers, diagnostic centers, ASCs & clinics, and other end-users), The report also provides a comprehensive review of market drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the Brain Monitoring market. Key Benefits of Buying the Report: The report will help the leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market and the sub-segments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the Brain Monitoring market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04766032/?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 Chinese investments in Indian startups have fallen this year following changes in foreign direct investment (FDI) rules that made prior government approval mandatory for investments from countries that share a land border with India. Chinese investors had invested $166 million in Indian startups between January and July compared with $197 million in the year-ago period, data from deals analysis firm Venture Intelligence showed. Chinese investors had put in a total of $641 million in Indian startups last year. The drop in investments follows the stricter government rules around foreign investments from neighbouring countries that came into force in April. The change was mainly aimed at restricting investments from China. The investment head of a large Chinese investor said he will not invest further in India until there is more clarity. He declined to be identified. Chinese investors who had been looking at companies in the consumer Internet space, as well as some elements of deep tech, wanted to close those deals as soon as possible, said Siddarth Pai, founding partner of 3one4 Capital. After the Press Note 3 announcement was made, a number of these deals got put into the backburner because of the uncertainty generated by it, he added. However, Pai added that Chinese investors continue to remain excited about the India startup opportunity. I dont foresee their enthusiasm going away anytime in the future unless of course, there are political considerations that come into the picture from either side, said Pai. It is not just Chinese investors who have paused new investments. Given the regulatory uncertainty, some startups are saying no to Chinese investments. Varun Saxena, the founder of homegrown short-video app Bolo Indya, said his company has decided not to take any Chinese investments till the regulatory scenario becomes clearer. That may, however, not be an easy solution for the startups either. Even American and European investors who are investing in India are facing hurdles because several of them have raised some amount of money from Chinese firms. Merely as a result of minority participation from certain Chinese limited partners whose interests in these pooled investment funds are simply passive with no ability to control or direct the operations of the funds, such private equity funds despite not having their origin under any land border country, are also being required to needlessly seek prior government approval before making an investment in India. In fact, several applications from various private equity and VC funds for seeking clarifications/approval are currently pending with the government, said Vaibhav Kakkar, partner at law firm L&L Partners. The government hasnt yet clarified on the thresholds that will be used to determine which investments need to go through an approval process. Many investments have been delayed due to this lack of clarity. Chinese investors have played a significant role in funding Indian startups over the past few years. Venture Intelligences data shows that they spend $1.34 billion and $1.38 billion on Indian startups in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Between 2019 and 2020, big-name startups like Udaan, Delhivery, Swiggy, BigBasket and Meesho have had funding rounds including Chinese companies like Tencent, Hillhouse Capital, Fosun Group, Tencent, Alibaba and Shunwei Capital. Uttar Pradesh is one of the fastest growing states in terms of green building projects as the state has more than 570 such projects covering over 1,400 million sq ft area, according to the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). The IGBC, formed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001, said as on date, India has 5,975 projects, spanning 7.55 billion sq ft of green buildings and green-built environment that are adopting its "green rating" programmes. India has also bagged the prestigious distinction of becoming one of the top five countries in the world in terms of built-up area of green projects, it said. These projects, from both the government and private sector, have adopted IGBC's many rating systems, including homes, new buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, factories, campuses, townships, cities, and others, it added. "Uttar Pradesh has been one of the fastest growing states in terms of green building projects. The acceptance among the developers to adopt sustainable design, construction and certification has been widespread," Sachin Sharma, Chair, IGBC Western UP Chapter, said. "The support from the state government has been exemplary. The state has more than 570 green building projects covering over 1,400 million sq ft of green footprint. We are happy to contribute to India achieving this significant milestone," Sharma said. He said the IGBC has also trained over 40,000 professionals on green building concepts, in line with 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Vocal for Local' initiatives of the Centre. "These professionals have gone on to offer consultancy for certification, energy audit, simulation study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and various other environmental services which enhance building efficiency," Sharma said. However, he urged the government to consider additional incentives, such as reduction in development charges and rebate in property tax to projects which are rated by IGBC. The IGBC said it has launched 26 holistic Green Rating programmes that cater to the design, construction and operations of almost all project typologies. Also read: Anika Lokhande refutes claim that Sushant Singh Rajput paid her EMIs; shares bank statements Also read: China's clean plate campaign: Restaurant apologises for weighing customers The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding accountability from government as far as the PDS deal is concerned. The NDC insists government must give a detailed account of revenue collected by the Power Distribution Services (PDS) during its operation from March to October 2019. Addressing a press conference Monday, the partys National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi said: from our checks, the total amount of monies PDS collected of electricity consumers in the form of electricity bills was over 1.5 billion but we have not heard any official communication from the Akufo-Addo government even though Its been well over a year since the notorious PDS concessionaire arrangement was terminated because of a fraudulent demand guarantee. For this matter, Ghanaians and electricity consumers ought to know the amount of money we paid to that fraudulent entity called PDS he said. Kweku Baako, reacting to this on Joy Newsfile programme, said the opposition party's demands are justified and 'legit'. "In principle, I'm with them on that score; you cannot be against it; its a legitimate line of enquiry. It is the responsibility of the incumbent administration to provide the answers," he stated. He further stated that the Boakye Agyarko bribery allegation which was dealt with by parliament, cash for seat saga and others are pluses (in terms of how they were promptly addressed) "but there are minuses" he said and explained that some of those minuses perhaps if you were transparent and open about them, peoples criticisms might be minimized so there is a challenge". Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/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 (Photo : NASA) Auroral beads seen from the International Space Station, Sept. 17, 2011 (Frame ID: ISS029-E-6012). NASA has found the answer on a unique form of the aurora that seemed like a beaded necklace using advanced computer models with the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms or the THEMIS mission. Since 2007 when THEMIS was launched, scientists continuously take measurements to find what triggers substorms and auroras. While scientists have seen that magnetic reconnection causes substorms, these recent findings highlight the vital trends on smaller scales as seen on the auroral beads. Auroral beads drape across the night sky like green jade beads, which led scientists to understand the auroras and what triggers them. These bead-like-lights precede large auroral displays after electrical storms or substorms occur in space, a Phys.Org report showed. Scientists were initially unsure if these beads are connected to other auroral displays or if disturbances nearer to Earth's atmosphere have caused them. However, Vassilis Angelopoulos, principal investigator of THEMIS at the University of California in Los Angeles proudly confirmed that these beads are formed as part of a process that precedes the substorm in space. "This is an important new piece of the puzzle," he said. Now published in the journals Geophysical Research Letters and Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, the new models created from observations from three THEMIS spacecraft or the ground show that auroral beads are caused by turbulence in the fourth state of matter, the plasma. Plasma is comprised of gaseous and highly conductive charged particles that surround the Earth. This will ultimately help scientists better understand the full range of swirling structures seen in the auroras. Slava Merkin, a scientist at NASA's Center for Geospace Storms at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, said the study requires highly sophisticated algorithms and massive supercomputers. Meanwhile, THEMIS scientist at the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Panov said the mission has found turbulences in space that causes the sky to light up with "glowing auroral necklace." Panov said lighter and more agile electrons cause these turbulences. They move with particles that weigh 2,000 times heavier and may proceed with full-blast auroral substorms. Auroral Beads: What triggers them NASA found in a recent study that when charged particles from the Sun are trapped in Earth's magnetosphere and collide with each other in the upper atmosphere, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen molecules glow, which is what we see as Auroras lighting up the sky. THEMIS scientists have shown how auroral beads form by creating a model of the near-Earth environment. According to the model, while streaming clouds of plasma are belched by the Sun, their interaction with the Earth's magnetic field creates buoyant bubbles of plasma at the back of the planet. This is like how lava lamp shows the buoyancy imbalance between the bubbles and heavier plasma in the magnetosphere creates a long stretch of plasmas measuring 2,500 miles wide. THEMIS project scientist David Sibeck who works at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland said that they have just realized that "computing power is good enough to capture the basic physics in these systems." After these new findings, scientists now want to understand what triggers the beads to become full-blown substorms. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A few happenings from St. Catharines city council this week... Residents who are using their homes for Airbnb, Homeshare and other short-term rentals got a stern warning from Mayor Walter Sendzik this week. If you do have a short-term rental in our community, it is illegal and we are going to find you, he said during his opening comments at Mondays council meeting. The warning came as complaints continue to pour in from residents whose neighbours are renting out their homes. Despite the pandemic, this summer continues to wrestle with short-term rentals in our community. Issues such as noise complaints, partying into the early morning hours, illegal parking and more, Sendzik said. City council takes these issues seriously and continues to share information with staff about these illegal operating properties within the city. The city has been reviewing short-term rental use for months in an effort to come up with a policy that is fair and easy to follow, and that the city can implement and enforce. It still has to come before council. Sendzik said hes been urging planning services to move forward with the next steps as soon as possible so the city can deal with it. Currently, bed-and-breakfasts are the only form of short-term rentals permitted in residential zones in St. Catharines. Sendizk encouraged residents to contact the city for short-term rental problems like parking enforcement, illegal open air burning and property standards, and to contact police for other issues that arise such as large parties, any violence or illegal substance use. Council supports challenge of eviction legislation St. Catharines council is supporting the City of Torontos legal challenge of Ontario legislation that critics say makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants. With the housing crisis and the global health pandemic, I personally dont believe that tenants should be stressed out about being evicted from their places, St. Georges Coun. Kevin Townsend said. He tabled the motion asking his fellow councillors to get behind Toronto councillors, who voted 22-2 in support of a legal challenge of Bill 184, section 83. Townsend said its important for tenants and landlords to work together to find resolutions, but everyones situation is different during this time. We have businesses that are reopening and trying to recoup their losses, we have the majority of Canadians who are still not back to full-time work, he said. Everyones situation at home is different from one another, and I strongly do not believe that eviction should ever be the solution, especially during a global health pandemic. Seven councillors backed the motion unanimously, while five declared conflicts because they are landlords and one declared conflict due to employment that involves finding landlords for housing and homelessness services. More hours of direct care sought for long-term care residents City councillors are asking for more direct care for long-term care home residents. Council passed a motion from St. Georges Coun. Sal Sorrento encouraging the provinces Ministry of Long Term Care to provide a minimum of four hours of direct care for each resident each day. It was part of a multi-part motion that included supporting the current provincial review of the long-term care system in the hope of identifying further changes to protect and serve residents. The requests were being sent to all local municipalities and Niagara MPPs and MPs and appropriate ministers. Mr. Mayor, this is simply correspondence, were paying attention to the care of our seniors, Sorrento said. The motion asked the ministry to support mandatory COVID-19 testing for all staff providing services in assisted living, life lease or retirement housing workplaces, and supported the building of new long-term care beds. Council plans to appeal to the federal and provincial governments to provide funding as quickly as possible for additional personal support workers, nurses and COVID-19 personal protective equipment, as well as increase staffing to adequate levels. New waste bylaw passed despite potential tree wars A nearly two-decade-old waste bylaw has been repealed and replaced by an updated model. The bylaw prohibits use of certain lands for the disposal of waste and establishes maintenance standards. I think it will help us with a couple of problems that have come up, especially on industrial sites around the community, and I think it will provide our bylaw officers and our legal department the means to address some of these issues, said St. Patricks Coun. Karrie Porter. Assistant city solicitor Sandor Csanyi told council the bylaw includes more extensive and refined definitions and more prescriptive and effective enforcement measures. Council unanimously passed the updated bylaw, though Sorrento tried unsuccessfully to convince fellow councillors to remove a section about trees first. The section requires every owner or occupant of a property to remove dead, diseased or decaying hedges, plantings, trees or other landscaping that may be a hazard in the opinion of a bylaw officer. Sorrento said he was concerned about tree wars between neighbours, adding the city doesnt have a private tree bylaw and dead tree problems should be left to insurance companies and litigants. I have a concern that at some point in time if there is a neighbour war going on and theres a tree that is dead, it costs an awful lot of money to remove trees, upwards of $3,000 depending on the size of tree. Csanyi said the bylaw will allow officers to require homeowners to clean up trees if they are a hazard to the surrounding environment. The objective here is to put more tools in the officers toolbox to make sure these private properties are not neglected. ISTANBUL (AP) The number of new COVID-19 infections in Turkey hit its highest level in 45 days on Saturday, the country's health minister said as he announced 1,256 new cases. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter that the number of seriously ill patients, mostly with underlying medical conditions, was also on the rise with 668 people. The ministry said 21 people died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the confirmed death toll to 5,955. More than 248,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Turkey since March. Experts say, however, that all confirmed officials are undercounts due to limited testing, missed mild cases, possible government manipulation and other factors. Mask wearing in public is mandatory in much of Turkey but the country has lifted many of the restrictions previously put in place to curb the spread of the virus. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak L O L Reply Thread Link Okay this is actually bizarre and the level of obsession is Tho if there was actually a graphic novel of the BRF (like the crown but not the crown) I would read the fuck out of that so Im trash too Reply Thread Link I wish this comic had more hot goss instead of just romanticizing Harry's racist ass. Reply Thread Link Omg lmfao Reply Thread Link lmao who the fuck is this Reply Thread Link this looks more like charles lmao Reply Parent Thread Link it's supposed to be! and it's VERY generous! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Those ears are 100% Prince Chuck. Reply Parent Thread Link DEAD LMAO Reply Parent Thread Link lmfaoooo no man in that inbred family has that much hair Reply Parent Thread Link They make it sound like leaving the royal family was an epic dramatic adventure. It could've been real simple but they all are petty AF including these two lol Cringe AF Reply Thread Link i hate rich people lol Reply Thread Link Wouldn't put it past them tbh Reply Parent Thread Link or a family youtube channel Reply Parent Thread Link Now do Katie Holmes Epic Escape from Tom & Scientology. Reply Thread Link I didn't know that I needed this Reply Parent Thread Link Now that I would read Reply Parent Thread Link The only storyline I will accept is the windsors take on the whole family. They should do a graphic novel adaptation of that Reply Thread Link I hope we get another season Reply Parent Thread Link OMG can we please make this gif a regular thing? Because lmaooooo. It applies to so much Reply Parent Thread Link Then, the announcement came. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the royal family and work to become financially independent..." https://t.co/2W7XK0JrW1 pic.twitter.com/ZC6AXb2cLU Insider (@thisisinsider) August 13, 2020 Lmao Liz. Lmao Liz. Reply Thread Link lmao they did liz so dirty! Reply Parent Thread Link Liz has not lived ninety-something years on this planet for them to make her look like James Corden in a powdered wig! Reply Parent Thread Link omg it's Kingpin with a wig Edited at 2020-08-15 03:18 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link oh my god she looks like Shrek Reply Parent Thread Link Normally Im like leave shrek alone! But she does lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn LIZ Reply Parent Thread Link also Diana really unfairly leaned on Will emotionally, he def went through major shit that Harry was protected from because of his age I honestly didn't know this until the last couple of years and like ... yikes, Di. Your son should not be your confidant in your messy divorce from his father! Reply Parent Thread Link Wow.That moment has given him a pass for every screwup, lack of maturity and all of his disgusting racism for the rest of his life. Reply Parent Thread Link finding out how much will was dragged into the dissolution of his parents' marriage and the aftermath really made me see him differently not that i'm his #1 fan now, but as an oldest child who often felt like a marriage therapist.... it sucks enough when it's not being played out for the world to see Reply Parent Thread Link didn't they say he often stayed up nights comforting her while she cried over charles and pushing tissues under the door for her? i find that kind of horrible and manipulative tbh, you shouldn't involve a kid like that in your personal mess between you and his father Reply Parent Thread Link William was basically Diana's confidant, and iirc he would get into bad fights with Camilla's daughter after Diana's death with both blaming the other's parent for the infidelity and such. Diana at best traumatized her son, at worst emotionally abused him. I sympathize with her situation and her alleged depression and mental health issues but you don't do that to your child. With the family's "never complain, never explain" bullshit, we'll probably never know how deep his trauma goes. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Di abused Will. I stand by that. She parents Ified him and had him promising her hed protect her when he was like 10/11 years old. No child should be their parents support system through a divorced and not one as young as William was. Reply Parent Thread Link It will never cease to be beyond bizarre that the majority of people ignore that William also lost his mother and had the bonus trauma of being a pawn in the marriage and divorce, to the point it's taken him like two decades to get to a lukewarm relationship with his father. Just because William may be more quiet/reserved/private doesn't mean he hasn't suffered and everyone acting like Harry is the only son who lost his mother and childhood (to the point people have actually said Diana's death affected Harry more/William hasn't really suffered) is really, really fucked up. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Two years, I think? William is born June 1982, Harry September 1984. And yes, the stories about William comforting her when she was crying over things in her life or promising he'd reinstate her HRH definitely make it sound like he was put into a caretaker role for Diana which is inappropriate for a child, especially when William was only 15 when she died. Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you! I cant believe people just forget that William also lost a parent. And his trauma must run deep too considering how Diana used him as a therapist when he was way too young for that (sadly, I also have experience in that). I remember reading a speech William gave a few years back (before his wedding and before having kids) where he talked about how the word mum or mother had lost all meaning for him and it was devastating. The fact that everyone only focuses on Harry is bizarre to me Reply Parent Thread Link it's probably showing only harry because it's a story centered on him (and his wife) I'm convinced william's issues with charles are rooted in all the emotional baggage he's carrying from his parents' divorce. it must have been so hard to deal with shouldering your mother's feelings about your father. it's unfair to the child imo. Reply Parent Thread Link it reminds me of how paris jackson talked about how michael would basically confide in her about his problems too. he died when she was, what, 10 or 11? like obviously both of these adults had their own set of issues but they needed to be consulting therapists, not setting their kids up for a lifetime of residual emotional trauma. Reply Parent Thread Link There was once a great racehorse in 18th-century Britain named Potoooooooo, who was famed for his endurance and speed. He won over 30 races defeating some of the best racehorses of the time, and many of his victories were at distances over four milesmore than twice the distance of a typical race. Potoooooooo also had significant influence on the thoroughbred breed, having been sired by a horse named Eclipse, who was a great racehorse himself. Standing 163 cm tall, the bright chestnut Eclipse had remained an undefeated champion throughout his 18-race career. Potoooooooo ensured the continuation of the Eclipse lineage down to the present day. Potoooooooo himself sired as many as 165 winners. The question thats likely on your mind is: why was the horse named Potoooooooo? There is an amusing story behind it. Potoooooooos original name was Potatoes. The story goes that Potoooooooos owner, Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon, asked the stable boy to paint the horses name on his feed bin. The poor boy, barely able to read and probably a little thick in the head, was unsure how to spell Potatoes. He wrote Pot and then followed it with eight consecutive os. When the Earl found out, he was so amused that he decided to keep the name. The horse ran under the name Potoooooooo for a few times before it was shortened to Pot8os. Potoooooooo raced for seven years from 1776 to 1783, acquiring 34 wins from an estimated 40 races. He raced mostly in 4 mile races on Newmarket's Beacon course. In 1778 at age five, Potoooooooo was sold to Richard Grosvenor, 1st Earl Grosvenor and subsequently raced under Grosvenor's yellow and black silks. Potoooooooo retired in 1784, and was transferred to Oxcroft Farm near Balsham, Cambridgeshire, for the sole purpose of impregnating mares so as to pass his good genes. He sired hundreds of offspring, at least 165 of which went on to become race winners. His best son was a horse named Waxy, who won 9 (10 according to a different source) out of 15 races he took part. Incidentally, Waxys name was derived from a variety of potato. Potoooooooo died in November 1800 at the age of 27 and was buried at Hare Park. Some 200 years later, his skeleton was uncovered when a tree blew over. The skeleton is now on display at the Kings Yard Galleries of the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket. References: # Kristen Kovatch, Potoooooooo: The Legitimate Story of a Racehorse, https://www.horsenation.com/2014/11/18/potoooooooo-the-unbelievably-legitimate-story-of-a-racehorse/ # https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/pot8os THROUGHOUT my working life the Limerick Leader has always been there when it came to press launches and events. Over all the years there was always one person that was always at the other end of the phone, and that was of course the wonderful Eugene Phelan. About 11 years ago, as one used to do in Limerick of a Friday night after work, we headed to the White House Bar. On many occasions I would bump into Eugene and this particular evening he asked me to start writing a column on 'out and about' in Limerick or wherever, for the Leader. Two things came into my mind. First of all, who would I talk about? And secondly, obviously I'm not a journalist. I'll always remember his response "you can talk can't you? And we'll get through the rest of it together". It was something I would never have thought I was capable of but over a decade later I'm still writing my weekly column and thoroughly enjoying it. As I say goodbye to a good friend and colleague, I wish Eugene the very best in his retirement. So, Mr Phelan, I will miss you and let's hope we can have a drink soon again when the world gets back to normal! In memory of Maureen ON another note, I am so looking forward to August 17 as the Flying Boat Museum in Foynes will honour Maureen O'Hara's memory with a special event. She was one of the worlds most beautiful film stars and Ireland's first Hollywood superstar, and was years ahead of her time. I'm sure everyone has seen 'The Quiet Man' at this stage. She was an amazing woman with 60 movies in a career that spanned eight decades. Another one of her great classics which is shown annually around Christmas time is Miracle on 34th street which was made in 1947. So for more information on this unique and fantastic event that is taking place, have a look on www.foynesflyingboatmuseum.com | By Lou Cortina Explore. Excite. Inspire. These are the main goals of the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) CURE Scholars Program, an initiative launched in 2015 to help West Baltimore students pursue and excel in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education with an eye on exploring career opportunities in the research, STEM, and health care fields. UMB CURE was honored in the Inspire domain on Aug. 15, winning a 2020 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The award recognizes colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from under-represented groups to enter the STEM fields. UMB and 49 other recipients will be featured in the magazines September issue. Aniyaa Green (left) and Dayon Wilson (right), CURE Scholars in cohort 1, make a gel for a gel electrophoresis during the Biotechnology Bootcamp at Baltimore City Community College (photo taken in July 2019). Its truly an honor to be recognized as an inspiring STEM program, said UMB CURE executive director Gia Grier McGinnis, DrPH, MS. Its a reflection of UMBs commitment to producing the next generation of health care and STEM leaders through engaging year-round programming, high-quality mentoring, and strong social support services. UMB Interim President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, said the award is well-deserved. The UMB professionals who run the program, mentors, community partners, and scholars families all work together to create meaningful opportunities, inspire, and engage what I hope will be the next generation of health and science leaders, he said. The scholars inspire the UMB community in return as we see what amazing results come from being given the opportunity to shine. UMB CURE is the first National Cancer Institute (NCI) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) pipeline program to offer year-round mentorship, STEM programming, tutoring, and hands-on learning opportunities to middle school students. The program identifies sixth-graders with an interest in science from three West Baltimore schools, then supports them through middle school, high school, and beyond. CURE Scholars are selected based on their commitment to a long-term program and not on academic performance measures. Through rich scientific opportunities, they gain presentation experience, academic growth, self-confidence, and the motivation necessary to succeed. Bret Hassel, PhD, a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a member of the UMB CURE leadership team, was thrilled to learn the program had been recognized by INSIGHT Into Diversity. The well-deserved recognition of the CURE Scholar Programs local impact has inspired and will continue to inspire peer programs across the country, said Hassel, who was a key contributor to the award application along with Jena Frick, senior media relations specialist in UMBs Office of Communications and Public Affairs. These efforts are essential to provide a biomedical workforce that reflects the makeup of our population and will benefit from the enhanced creativity and productivity that are fostered by diverse perspectives. In the application, Hassel wrote, UMB state-of-the-art research and clinical facilities and faculty expertise in education, biomedical research, patient care, and community service provide an ideal environment for students to gain hands-on experience in biomedical research under the mentorship of near-peer trainees and health care professionals. With diversity and inclusion as a focus of institutional excellence, UMB has developed a STEM education pipeline composed of 10 programs that span middle school through postgraduate training. The application noted UMB CUREs success through five years, with 144 students entering the program in sixth grade and 150 student and faculty mentors volunteering to provide after-school, weekend, and summer STEM programming. The scholars have developed capstone projects and given presentations on STEM topics at national meetings as well as to city, state, and National Institutes of Health officials. The programs retention rate is more than 80 percent, with the students showing academic improvement and entering top-tier high schools, the application noted. In recognition of its strong STEM education pipeline, UMB was selected to host the first-ever Diversity Pipeline Programs Meeting in 2019. This meeting brought together leadership, staff, and trainees from programs across the country to identify best practices and develop capacity-building opportunities that will promote the engagement of under-represented students in STEM fields nationwide. The program also has fostered strong community support, with the CURE Parent Organization gaining representation on the UMB CURE Advisory Board. UMB CURE also will be introducing a Career Navigators component in fall 2020 that is geared toward 11th- and 12th-grade students and is partially funded by the Jack and Jill of America Foundation and the Edward St. John Foundation. Career Navigators will support scholars in submitting college applications, navigating financial aid forms, acquiring internships and apprenticeships, and connecting with STEM professionals working in their area of interest. We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for under-represented students, said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity. We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond. BJP sources said Fadnavis has been roped in by the party leadership for the poll preparedness New Delhi: Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to play a key role in his party''s preparation for the Bihar assembly polls, a significant development that comes amid some disquiet in the saffron alliance in the state. BJP sources said Fadnavis has been roped in by the party leadership for the poll preparedness and had recently attended a Bihar core committee meeting of the party. "He has already begun his work and will play an active role. A formal announcement regarding his responsibility may be made later by party president J P Nadda," a BJP source said. The development acquires importance as two BJP allies, Chirag Paswan-headed Lok Janshakti Party and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), have been at loggerheads in the state. The LJP has conveyed to the BJP leadership, the sources said, its uneasiness about the manner in which the issues raised by it have been dealt with. Chirag Paswan had recently met Nadda and spoken about a host of issues, they said. The BJP has been playing a balancing role between its two partners. It has already announced that Kumar will be the NDA''s chief ministerial candidate. BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav has so far been the main pointsman of the party for Bihar affairs. He is also the BJP in-charge for the state. Party sources said Fadnavis may be made the Bihar election in-charge once the Election Commission announces the schedule. The BJP has a practice of entrusting its key leaders with the responsibility of handling state elections. Yadav was the party''s in-charge for Maharashtra assembly polls last year. Late BJP leader Ananth Kumar was the party''s in-charge for the Bihar assembly polls in 2015. The development also comes at a time when Bihar and Maharashtra governments have been trading charges over the handling of the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case by Mumbai Police. The matter has taken on an emotive dimension in Bihar, the home state of the actor. A s far as parents worst nightmares go, terminal illnesses are pretty high up the list, with drug dealer boyfriends not far behind. In Babyteeth, the critically-acclaimed Australian film which won adoration at last years BFI Film Festival, the parents of 16-year-old Milla (played by Eliza Scanlen) are suddenly faced with both. In the debut feature from Shannon Murphy, Anna (Essie Davis) and Henry (Ben Mendelsohn) find their seemingly stable lives upended when the terminally ill Milla brings home a troubled 23-year-old named Moses (Toby Wallace), who proceeds to stay. Already facing the agony of potentially losing their child, the couple find Moses chaotic arrival forces them to confront their own flaws and contradictions as parents. Davis, known internationally for her role in the groundbreaking horror The Babadook and a pivotal turn in Game of Thrones, was attached to Babyteeth early on, before a director had been found to adapt Rita Kalnejais script. Davis says she knew upon meeting Murphy, who has directed episodes of Rake and Killing Eve, that they shared a creative language. Essie Davis: "In every role I play, I go places I don't particularly want to go; my worst parts of my imagination." / Rachell Smith I bawled my eyes out several times reading (the script), says Davis over the phone from Tasmania, while taking a break from recording the audiobook for Richard Flanagans newest novel. (Murphy)'s a really good, strong storyteller, and when I talked to her about what I loved about it, she was like 'That's what I wanna make too'. Its a beautiful script and a pretty powerful story, and I felt like together we made something extraordinary. Davis describes her lockdown as "strange, weird, scary," but she's thankful to be in Tasmania, perhaps currently one of the safest places in the world. With two of Davis' films, True History of the Kelly Gang and Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, only getting a short release in cinemas before the coronavirus shutdown ("Everything I did just all came out at the same time, and then the cinemas shut down a week after pretty much everything that I was doing, Davis laughs), Babyteeth's UK cinema release is a happy return to almost-normal. At the cast read-through during pre-production, the whole table was devastated by the end, says Davis. The producers, all of the heads of department who were in there watching - It was just silence, red eyes, and everyone had to go and walk away and spend an hour by themselves afterwards. While sick teenager stories are a dime a dozen, no film has approached the themes quite like Babyteeth. It's intoxicating in the way it immerses viewers within a fractured family dynamic, and its absurdly funny in moments, with Murphy traversing the various tones with an absorbing novelistic approach. Humorously blunt title cards announce new chapters, creating a sense of time slipping away as Anna, a classical pianist, and Henry, a psychologist, spiral together and apart, both handling and mishandling their precocious daughters reaction to her diagnosis. The kind of hypocrisy that exists within (Babyteeth) - it's a dilemma, says Davis. Youre parents watching your child fall in love with a drug addict, and yet all of you are on drugs of some kind, and that kind of jigsaw together of human failings and human vulnerability and the stupid mistakes that we make that are life lived." Davis was fascinated by each characters faults and frustrations, and the inevitable ways in which we fail the ones we love. Things that you sometimes wish you had never done, or sometimes you go, Well, I did that, it's not going to hurt anyone - all of those lovely observations, I think that Rita really nailed in the storyline. A heartbreaking shift comes partway through the film as Milla, whose love for her parents manifests as much in tenderness as it does in rage, asks Anna to play piano to accompany her violin. Anna, whose music is her soul, says Davis, refuses, her furrowed brow betraying her emotional exhaustion. A chasm between mother and daughter is felt almost physically in the scene, as Milla tosses her violin violently aside and leaves the room. Anna has that incredible love of music - music is her soul, says Davis. And she thinks that if she gives that away, offers that up as her sacrifice, then she can save her daughter. Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn in Babyteeth / Lisa Tomasetti She's prepared to give away part of herself to save her daughter, and she really thinks that that could possibly happen. Its that kind of magic realism, and yet living this practical world, and treating your little girl like she's a little girl, even though she's also a teenager finding first love, and that's such a complicated place to be." Davis says it was easy to slip into a family dynamic with Scanlen, Mendelsohn, and Wallace, despite only having a week of preparation before shooting. We'd rehearsed scenes together, and some of the scenes were quite complex, like when Moses is breaking into the house, with the four of us all talking over the top of each other. We actually practised that as if it was like trying to work out a piece of music, of who sort of overrode the next person and how quickly the rhythm needed to change it, says Davis. That kind of joy of working together, how to play a piece of music together essentially within that scene, is very uniting. Essie Davis, Toby Wallace, Eliza Scanlen and Ben Mendelsohn in Babyteeth / Lisa Tomasetti Shooting together in a ridiculous heatwave in Sydney, Davis says the four actors created a unit of trust. We were in the right place, the right hierarchy of where we all were in each other's lives, and it was kind of lovely, she says. With two children of her own, was assuming the role of someone faced with losing their child painful? Yeah, Davis says matter-of-factly. It's my job. It's what I do all the time, in every role I play; I go places I don't particularly want to go, my worst parts of my imagination. She laughs. It's a fairly torturous job, but it also has great joy, and you learn a lot by visiting places you don't want to go. Babyteeth is in UK cinemas now. Allied Maritime and Air Forces Cooperate the Baltic Sea NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Aug 14 2020 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- On their transit to Riga, NATO ships with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) sailed into the Baltic Sea and conducted air-maritime integration operations with the NATO fighters and NATO AWACS aircraft. On Thursday August 13, Allied ships and aircraft conducted air-maritime integration training in the Baltic Sea seizing an opportunity to enhance their interoperability and networking skills and test their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). On their way to a port visit in Riga, the SNMG1 ship HMCS Toronto and the NRP Corte Real sailed into the Baltic Sea where they conducted air defence training with NATO air forces. SNMG1 is a very high readiness group of ships , which patrols the waters of northern Europe from the Baltic to the Atlantic. A NATO AWACS aircraft was on-station to provide surveillance of the ships' movement as Spanish F-18 and French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets conducted an overflight of the ships. The Spanish and French fighters are with NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission and conducted the air-maritime interoperability activity as a training event. NATO AWACS aircraft and NATO Control and Reporting Centres in the Baltic region controlled the multi-national activity proving connectivity and communications links. "Close coordination between AIRCOM and MARCOM brought together this great interoperability and integration training," said Allied Air Command Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, US Brigadier General Andrew Hansen, who oversaw the air-maritime integration activities at the Operations Centre in Ramstein. "We demonstrated NATO's responsiveness, the increasing interconnectivity between our airmen and sailors and our ability to operate under combined and joint TTPs," he added "This event has been a fantastic demonstration of our multi-domain capabilities in support of effective NATO deterrence and defence and underscored Air Power flexibility in identifying and committing enablers quickly and effectively," General Hansen concluded. "NATO's purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all member nations. Frequent military planning, training and exercising ensures NATO remains fully prepared to undertake any mission required to provide the collective defense for which the Alliance is solely designed," said German Navy Rear Admiral Hans-Jorg Detlefsen, Commander Maritime Air, the senior officer overseeing the activities at Allied Maritime Command. "In this regard; I can say that was great to see our ships and maritime air forces working well synchronized with Allied air force assets," Admiral Detlefsen added. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Teens sue Ariz. Medicaid program, claiming discrimination for not funding trans surgeries Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Two teenagers in Arizona have sued the state's Medicaid program, arguing that the state was violating their civil rights by declining to pay for gender transition surgeries. Reportsindicate that approximately 100 residents of the Grand Canyon state may be affected by this lawsuit, which is aiming to create a class action for Medicaid recipients under the age of 21 wishing to have their breasts amputated, euphemistically referred to as "chest reconstruction." Presently, Arizona's Medicaid agency bans such surgical procedures. This particular class is defined in the lawsuit as "individuals who have been unable and will be unable" to acquire coverage through the state's Health Care Cost Containment System "for medically necessary male chest reconstruction surgery because of the [prohibition], and as a result, have faced or will face delayed or denied access to these medically necessary treatments." Under the banner of anti-discrimination provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the claimants argue that a 1982 state ban on using Medicaid funds is an affront to their civil rights. The lawsuit goes on to argue that two biological females who came out as transgender a few years ago experienced challenges as puberty started changing their bodies and that they had to rely on breast binders and heavy hoodies, which is not easy in the Arizona summer heat, in order to appear more masculine. Categorically excluding surgical treatment for gender dysphoria impermissibly discriminates against transgender people, said Asaf Orr, director of the Transgender Youth Project at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. There is no legitimate justification for Arizonas refusal to provide this critical care to transgender Medicaid recipients. Instead, excluding that care creates unnecessary barriers that prevent transgender young people from thriving in every aspect of their lives and can cause lifelong harms. Presently, 22 states and Washington, D.C., cover transgender medical practices through government agencies. Eighteen states have no explicit policy and 10 states prohibit it. The lawsuit comes amid fluctuating laws, policies and regulations pertaining to transgender-identifying people. In June, the Health and Human Services Department returned to its previous policy definition of "sex" as solely biological, male and female. The Obama-era HHS had added "gender identity" as part of its definition of sex. Days later, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized "transgender status" as a legitimate category as it relates to sex discrimination employment law in Bostock v. Clayton County. The decision consolidated three cases, two of which centered around gay employees being fired and one transgender-identified male who presented as a woman being fired. How the interpretation in Bostock will be extended and applied in other areas of law remains to be seen. Last month, several Democratic state attorneys general filed a suit against the Trump administration in an effort to stop the revision of the HHS policy returning agency language and standards to the biological definition of sex. Transgender activists have long claimed that experimental gender-transition medical practices and procedures such as cross-sex hormones and surgeries are necessary medical care for their mental health and well-being. Earlier this month, the American Journal of Psychiatry published a correction to a study that was released last year claiming that gender-transition surgeries proved beneficial to the mental health of patients who had undergone such procedures. Upon further review of the data, the study demonstrated no advantage of surgery in relation to subsequent mood or anxiety disorder-related health care visits or prescriptions or hospitalizations following suicide attempts," the correction note from the authors read. Seven seasons in and NCIS: New Orleans remains one of CBS top-rated shows. This includes the unique advantages this show has that the other iterations of the brand dont. For instance, NOLA has New Orleans as its backdrop. However, it doesnt come without a little contention. Part of the NCIS: New Orleans appeal is that it fils on-location Cory Hart as D.I.A. Agent Winchester, Necar Zadegan as Special Agent Hannah Khoury, and Scott Bakula as Special Agent Dwayne Pride | Sam Lothridge/CBS via Getty Images RELATED: Has NCIS: New Orleans Star CCH Pounder Had the Same Traumatizing Job Experience as Alum Shalita Grant? Out of all the NCIS franchise shows, NCIS: New Orleans is the only one that films on-location. With Scott Bakula lurking (who plays the shows leading man Dwayne Pride), The Big Easy just got a little bit cooler. According to The Cinemaholic, the shows soundstage where much of the interior is shot is located in Jefferson Parishs Harahan. NCIS: Los Angeless films on Paramount Studios in LA and NCIS is in southern California. Some spots featured in various NCIS: New Orleans episodes include Cafe Du Monde and nearby Jackson Square, the centerpiece of the Treme neighborhood known as Louis Armstrong Park, plus the citys most famous mile-long strip known as Bourbon Street, according to Louisiana Travel. Louisiana representative asked officials for new rules followed NCIS: New Orleans behavior RELATED: NCIS: New Orleans: Will There Be a Season 7? Heres Everything We Know In a 2018 report detailed by The Advocate, the NCIS: New Orleans production crew upset residents via multiple incidents around town. Neighbors werent notified ahead of time that filming would occur in their area and it caused an uproar. Some complained of large trucks blocking off parts of the street, loud generators running, and the case of a teenager berated by a security guard for parking his car in a legal space the production company wanted for a truck, the outlet reported. Likewise, House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans said the crew behaved rudely when asked about filming. Abramson spoke with state and local officials, asking for new rules to be put into place following the incidents. It led me to realize that theres probably a gap in our program where theres a lack of relationship between the production companies and the local community to make sure this goes a little more smoothly, Abramson said. Its not about compensation. Its about convenience and respect. Since that meeting, Abramson learned that NCIS: New Orleans wasnt the first production to cause a stir among residents. He noted one project taking over the main road which caused local businesses to close until filming resumed. Due to all of the complaints, Abramson asked for new rules and even fines to prevent things like this from happening again. The reason production companies like to film in Louisiana RELATED: NCIS: New Orleans: Can Tourists Visit the Set? One reason many productions film in Louisiana is the states Motion Picture Production Program (formerly the Motion Picture Production Tax Credit). The website says the program provides motion picture productions up to a 40% tax credit on total qualified in-state production expenditures, including resident and non-resident labor. Its a controversial program with arguments that the state cant afford such a cut for film producers. Those for the program say it pushes Louisiana into the spotlight, creating more jobs. As for NCIS: New Orleans, itll continue filming all around the city when season 7 resumes. Hopefully, now itll come without complaints. NEW DELHI (AP) Indias prime minister said Saturday his country has done well in containing the coronavirus pandemic and announced $1.46 trillion in infrastructure projects to boost the sagging economy. The key lesson India learned from the pandemic is to become self-reliant in manufacturing and developing itself as a key supply chain destination for international companies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. "The coronavirus epidemic is a big crisis, but it cant stall Indias economic progress, Modi said in a speech from New Delhis 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort to mark the 73rd anniversary of India's independence from British rule. He wore an orange and white turban with a long scarf around his neck. He also said that three vaccines are in different phases of testing in India and mass production will begin as soon as scientists give the green light. Modi said that detailed plans are in place for large-scale production of a vaccine that will be made available to every Indian. India has confirmed more than 2.5 million virus cases, third behind the U.S. and Brazil. Its death toll of over 49,000 is fourth in the world. Modi also announced a national digital heath plan under which every Indian will get an identity card containing all health-related information. The celebrations were curtailed on Saturday because of the pandemic, with invitations going only to 4,000 guests instead of the usual 20,000, media reports said. The International Monetary Fund projected a contraction of 4.5% for the Indian economy in 2020, a historic low, but said the country is expected to bounce back in 2021. Modi said the government has identified 7,000 infrastructure projects to offset the economic impact of the pandemic. Infrastructure will not be created in silos anymore. All infrastructure has to be comprehensive, integrated and linked to each other. Multi-modal connectivity infrastructure is the way forward, he said. He said that India saw a record 18% jump in foreign direct investment in the past year, a sign that international companies are looking at the country. Story continues Modi didnt refer to China directly, but India is trying to capitalize on its rival's rising production costs and deteriorating ties with the United States and European nations to become a replacement home for large multinationals. Referring to border tensions with China, he said Indian forces had given a befitting response in the mountainous Ladakh region where thousands of soldiers from the two countries have been in a tense standoff since May. India said 20 of its troops died in hand combat with Chinese troops on June 15. "Whether its terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting the challenges bravely," Modi said in apparent references to threats from neighboring Pakistan and China. As the Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday extended status quo on the shifting of executive capital of the state from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam till August 27, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government came out with a proposal to complete all the unfinished works in Amaravati and develop it as a metropolitan region. Works worth thousands of crores which were under various stages construction in Amaravati had come to a halt after Jagan took over as the chief minister on May 30, 2019. These included an eight-lane seed access road connecting the highway with Amaravati, internal roads, trunk lines, building of culverts, buildings for secretariat, assembly and high court complexes, besides residential quarters for lawmakers, ministers, all-India service officers, state government employees and permanent permanent official buildings and quarters for judges. Jagan had proposed to form three capital cities with executive capital at Visakhapatnam and judicial capital at Kurnool, while retaining Amaravati only as a legislative capital. With farmers of Amaravati, who had given nearly 34,000 acres of land for the capital city, moving the high court challenging the Jagan governments three capitals plan, the court on August 4 ordered a status quo on Amaravati till Friday and again till August 27. The petitioners pointed out that the previous government had spent more than Rs 10,000 crore on various projects in Amaravati and all this expenditure would go waste if the administrative capital is shifted to Visakhapatnam. The high court asked the Jagan government as to what the government would do with the already constructed buildings and infrastructure. On Wednesday, Jagan held a high-level meeting of the Amaravati Metropolitan Region Development Authority (AMRDA), formed in place of earlier AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) and directed that the authorities chalk out an action plan on Amaravati and mobilise financial resources to complete all the pending works. The chief minister instructed that all the construction works be resumed. He asked them to prepare a development plan for Amaravati, which will be our legislative capital, state municipal administration and urban development minister Botsa Satyanarayana said. The AMRDA authorities told the chief minister that it would require at least Rs 14,000-Rs 15,000 crore to complete all the works. Jagan told them to find ways to mobilise additional resources in coordination with the finance department, so that all the building and road infrastructure works be completed. The minister said the farmers of Amaravati would get value for their developed plots which they had got in lieu of the lands they had given for the capital city. He appealed to the farmers and realtors who had invested in Amaravati to give up their apprehensions on the three capitals, as the government was keen on developing Amaravati as a metropolitan city. It is our responsibility to develop entire Amaravati and no injustice would be done to any farmer, he said. An official familiar with the development said the government was contemplating putting up all the completed building infrastructure and developed lands for sale to generate money. One of the real estate projects - Happy Nest, a residential complex of 1200 high-end apartment units in 12 G+18 towers in 14.3 acres at Nelapadu village - will be completed at the earliest and put up for sale. This is expected to generate huge revenue, the official said. Meanwhile, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday that projects worth Rs 41,675 crore were grounded for developing the government and public infrastructure in Amaravati and various buildings were completed to the extent of 45 to 80 per cent. The land bank available with the state government in Amaravati would bring a revenue of Rs 90 lakh crore to Rs one lakh crore. Once fully developed, Amaravati city would emerge into such a vibrant city where the government would have its wealth to the tune of Rs 2-3 lakh crore, he said. SAO PAULO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Votorantim SA, one of Brazil's biggest diversified holding companies, posted a second-quarter net loss of 645 million reais ($118.88 million), hit by coronavirus lockdowns in Peru and impairment charges. The company had posted a net income of 225 million reais a year earlier. Isolation measures imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic nearly halted operations of mining company Nexa Resources in Peru, helping reduce Votorantim's revenues by 4% from a year earlier, to 7.6 billion reais. Chief Financial Officer Sergio Malacrida said Nexa is slowly resuming operations in Peru, but he could not anticipate when it will be fully operating. It took a nearly 270 million reais impairment charge for reduced cash generation expectations for its cement plants in Turkey and Bolivia. On the other hand, Votorantim's orange juice unit Citrosuco, aluminum company CBA and cement operations in Brazil and in the U.S are having a good performance, despite the crisis. "I see that results are likely to improve by year end, but the scenario there still is a huge amount of uncertainty in the way," Malacrida said. Votorantim's net debt ended June at 17 billion reais. This is equivalent to 3.92 times adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), up from 3.55 times in March. Even amid the unclear environment, Malacrida said Votorantim continues to seek investment opportunities. The holding is interested in sanitation assets and may seek partners to do some investments. A new law passed in June is expected to prompt states and municipalities to privatize water and sewage companies and to universalize services in Brazil, luring more than 600 billion reais in investments. ($1 = 5.4257 reais) (Reporting by Carolina Mandl Editing by Alistair Bell) On Thursday, Aug. 13, a procession moved through Flemington from the Hunterdon County Library on Route 12 to Marinellis and then to 55 Main. The caravan moved to honor two local businessmen. Jonas Gold from 55 Main and Vito Marinelli from Marinellis were recognized by members of the United States Marine Corps, wearing dress blues, and members of Operation Jersey Cares. The two were honored for feeding veterans and active military during the pandemic. Operation Jersey Cares is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that those who are deployed, as well as those who have served, are supported. To date, the organization has shipped more than 1,000,000 pounds of needs to deployed servicemen and women. Operation Jersey Cares also works to help troops as they return from tour, enter civilian life and need guidance, support and/or a hand up with their current financial or medical situation(s). Dana Gooditis, OJC secretary/fundraising said, We were contacted to help fulfill the need of our veteran and active military communities during the pandemic. Due to COVID-19, the meals provided to these heroes had stopped, and they were now in search of support. OJC reached out to Jonas Gold from 55 Main, Flemington, and Vito Marinelli from Marinellis in Flemington to seek their support. They responded quickly, and through the leadership of Jonas Gold, together they were able to provide hot meals for those who have, and continue to, protect and serve our great nation. According to Gooditis, To date, these men have prepared more than 1,500 meals. Some meals went to veteran homes, while other meals went to our active military. Gooditis noted, Jonas and Vito did not stop their outreach on the Raritan Township limits, but rather saw the need and jumped into action to help those throughout New Jersey and New York as well. Jonas even teamed up with restaurants in Times Square to feed those active National Guard stationed in the city. For more information on Operation Jersey Cares, go to https://operationjerseycares.org/. 2018 PM Modi visited his parliamentary constituency Varanasi where he spent time with children of a primary school to mark his 68th birthday. The students were provided with solar lamps, stationary, school bags and notebooks. Later, the PM offered prayers at the citys Kashi Vishwanath temple. He also watched a film Chalo Jeete Hain inspired by his life along with a few school children. The day was made special when the Navajivan Trust, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, published the Gujarati version of the Exam Warriors by PM Modi. He is the third PM of India to be published by the Trust. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The government aims to connect all villages through optical fibre network in the next 1,000 days, prime minister Narendra Modi said in his speech while addressing the nation on 74th Independence Day. "The government has connected 1.5 lakh Gram Panchayats through optical fibre network so far," said PM Modi. "We aim to connect all villages via optical fibre network, targetting to complete fibre network in India's 6 lakh villages in the next 1,000 days." The digital revolution has been playing a key role in India and in COVID times, digital activities increased significantly. In fact, the digital revolution is expected to boost India on all fronts and is also a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat project. "This is the time to take a new pledge as we approach our 75th year of Independence. India has taken a pledge to become Aatmanirbhar. Aatmanirbhar Bharat has become our mantra," PM Modi said. "The biggest announcement made by PM Modi has been about laying optical fibre in all Indian villages (6 lakh) in next 1,000 days. This will lead to a digital revolution, enable India to technologically leapfrog & transform lives of its citizens," said Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, GOI. In India, there are around 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and over 6.5 lakh villages. Hence, the project of laying an optical fibre network could be beneficial for companies like Himachal Futuristic Communications (HFCL), Aksh Optifibre, Finolex Cables, Sterlite Technologies, Birla Cable, Vindhya Telelink, Paramount Communications etc. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first ever undersea optical fibre cable project for Andaman and Nicobar Islands which will provide high speed broadband connections in the union territory at par with services in the mainland. The Prime Minister had laid the foundation for 2,312-kilometer Chennai - Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI) connecting submarine optical fibre cable project on December 30, 2018. Mrs Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wougon, has donated relief items to the more than 200 victims of the fire outbreak at Shiashie in her constituency. The inferno occurred at Shiashie Soweto, a slum, at around 2030 hours on Friday, August 14, destroying about 200 households. The MP donated food items, clothes, sanitary products and GH100.00 to each household. In brief remarks during the presentation, Mrs Alhassan announced that she had created a 20,000.00 seed Fund to provide further support to the victims and called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to donate into it. "With this Fund, I call on all well-meaning residents in the Constituency and the country at large to come to our aid with their donations to support the victims of this disaster," she said. Mrs Alhassan promised to be in touch with the victims, saying; "You shouldn't lose hope, for I'm there for you and will continue to be with you in this moments of distress". She said she would further engage the affected persons until their immediate needs were provided adding; "My office is readily available to help you". Some victims of the inferno expressed their appreciation to the MP and appealed to other philanthropists to go to their aid. 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 Thompson also was instrumental in the creation of what is known as the McPier authority, which brought McCormick Place and Navy Pier under one governmental unit. Thompson formerly took classes at a previous incarnation of Navy Pier and saw the rundown jetty renovated to ultimately become the states top tourist destination. It was a product of an end-of-session deal with Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1989 that came with $150 million in state pier repair money. When the week started, it looked like the market has enough strength to push benchmark indices above crucial resistance levels, but bears took control in the second half of the week and pushed Sensex below 38,000 while Nifty50 closed below 11,200 levels. The S&P BSE Sensex wiped out gains made in the week gone by and closed with a minor cut of 0.4 percent while the Nifty50 fell 0.3 percent for the week ended August 14. The real action was seen in the broader market space which outperformed the benchmark indices. The S&P BSE Mid-cap index rose 1.5 percent, and the S&P BSE Small-cap index closed with gains of 1.3 percent for the week ended August 14. There are as many as 41 stocks in the S&P BSE 500 index which rose 10-40% in the week gone by, including PVR, JSW Steel, IFB Industries, Divis Laboratories, GMM Pfaudler, Bharat Forge, Ashok Leyland and eClerx Services. Close Related stories Daily Voice | Lav Chaturvedi of Reliance Securities lines up 3 segments that stand to reap the most ... BHEL joins as sixth stock on F&O ban list of NSE for today Trade Spotlight | What should you do with Prestige Estates, Apollo Hospitals, Gujarat Ambuja Exports... Indian market started the week on a positive note but the sharp sell-off in the second half of the week largely on concerns of escalating US-China tensions, the possibility of no rate cut from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2020, and muted earnings capped the upside. Markets opened on a positive note at the start of the week but did not have any clear headway. Indices saw a sharp selloff led by financials in the second half on Friday on signs of escalating US-China tensions. Profit booking was witnessed as investors turned cautious, although this could just be a correction in the recent rally, Umesh Mehta, Head of Research, Samco Group told Moneycontrol. Foreign Investors are positive on the India story for a long term horizon and retail investors are moving towards broader markets, which were undervalued, rather than rushing towards the already bloated large caps. This is leading to the outperformance in mid & small caps compared to Nifty50 by 2-2.5%, he said. Mehta further added that investors should ideally wait for a decent correction before buying and at the same time traders should have a stock-specific approach going ahead and not get into volatile overbought stocks just to make a quick buck. Sectorally, the action was visible in the S&P BSE Capital Goods index which was up 6.1 percent for the week followed by the S&P BSE Industrials (up nearly 5%), and Metals (up 3.5%). Experts are of the view with news flow has been positively related to some of the sectors that have attracted strong buying interest in the week amid expectations of normalization in the economy. All economy-related sectors like Auto, Industrials and Capital goods are coming into investors radar as there is an expectation of normalization of the economy around year-end and the first half of next year, Sacchitanand Uttekar DVP Technical (Equity), Tradebulls Securities told Moneycontrol. The talks of progress in the vaccine for Covid-19 are increasing positive sentiment among market participants. Any pickup in demand will lead to earnings recovery and we might see many of the stocks in these sectors getting re-rated down the line, he said. Technical View: Nifty formed a bearish candle on the daily charts on Friday and a Spinning Top kind of a pattern on the weekly charts. A long negative candle was formed on Friday, which indicates a downside breakout of the recent sideways range movement. This pattern signal beginning of profit booking from the highs in the market. Analysts are of that as long as Nifty trades below 11200 levels, the possibility of further profit booking cannot be ruled out. Crucial support is placed at 11,000-11,950 levels. The positive sequential movement like higher tops and bottoms continued in the market and the recent swing high of 11373 of 11th Aug could now be considered as a new higher top of the sequence. Hence, one may expect further weakness in the short term, Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst, HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol. San Francisco, Aug 15 : Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the EV maker is working on a neural network (NN) training computer called Dojo to process vast amounts of video data. "Tesla is developing a NN training computer called Dojo to process truly vast amounts of video data. It's a beast! Please consider joining our AI or computer/chip teams if this sounds interesting," Musk said in a tweet on Friday. A neural network is a type of machine learning which models itself after the human brain, creating an artificial neural network that via an algorithm allows the computer to learn by incorporating new data. Musk said 'Dojo' would be available in a "limited public release in 6 to 10 weeks." "Project Dojo" was revealed during the recent Tesla Autonomy Investor Day held recently, Musk mentioned "Dojo" as the key to labeling visual data, which is currently a very difficult task. "Project Dojo" is Tesla's attempt to create a computer that can engage videos of driving to become more proficient at the skill. "Dojo" is made in order to train a host of multiple AI that will enable Tesla electric cars to drive on their own. According to Musk, the goal is to take in huge amounts of image and video data and perform unsupervised learning. "Project Dojo" is likely to be unveiled during next year's road to autonomy Tesla event. Protesters from conservative groups flock Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District, Saturday. Yonhap Police said Saturday that they will probe all participants of demonstrations held in downtown Seoul on the day to look into whether they violated a court decision related to COVID-19 and other regulations. The number of participants reached more than 20,000 people, according to an estimation by police and demonstration organizers. Ahead of the demonstrations, a Seoul court mostly upheld the local government's order to ban large gatherings in light of public safety concerns, and police have warned they will not permit unlawful protests. Despite concerns over fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus and the court decision, far-right groups, such as the April 15 Rigged Election association, and unionized workers held packed demonstrations late in the day amid heavy rains. The government announced the new COVID-19 confirmed cases earlier in the day before the groups' demonstrations. New COVID-19 cases in the country reached a five-month high of 166 due to a surge in confirmed cases in greater Seoul. The daily tally marks the second day in a row that infection numbers reached triple digits, with the total caseload in the country hitting 15,039, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Members of Sarang Jeil Church and other protesters gathered in front of Donghwa Duty Free in Seoul's Jongno-gu District, Saturday, condemn the Moon Jae-in administration and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's power abuse. Yonhap Of the new cases, 155 were local transmissions, with churches being cited as outbreak clusters. Reflecting the rise in numbers, the government raised the three-tier social distancing scheme in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province from Level 1 to Level 2, effective Sunday. The move bans all large-scale indoor and outdoor gatherings. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo warned that health authorities have not been able to track 14 percent of all new cases confirmed to a source and that the country may be close to experiencing another large-scale outbreak. Sarang Jeil Church, led by far-right pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, and the Freedom Union went ahead with a rally to blast the government and the ruling Democratic Party near Gyeongbok Palace. Health authorities have said that over 130 people who go to the church in Seoul have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. The church and the Freedom Union, consistently blasting many of the incumbent administration's policies, urged followers on YouTube to join the protest. Participants in protests led by the far-right groups shouted "President Out," denouncing the government's property policy and recent sexual abuse cases involving ruling party members. Besides churchgoers, a protest organized by former lawmaker Min Kyung-wook, who leads the April 15 Rigged Election association, was held, with about 1,000 supporters joining. Protesters demanding President Moon Jae-in resign march along Sejong-daero Road in Seoul's jongno-gu District, Saturday. Yonhap With an increase of 65,002 COVID-19 cases and 996 deaths reported in India in the last 24 hours, the coronavirus count in the country crossed 25 lakhs on Saturday. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the tally rose to 25,26,193, including 6,68,220 active cases, 18,08,937 discharged and migrated, and 49,036 deaths. The number of active cases in Maharashtra, the worst-hit state by the pandemic stands at 1,51,865, while 4,01,442 patients have recovered in the state. The toll due to the disease is presently 19,427 in the state. Active cases in Tamil Nadu stands at 53,716, while 2,67,015 patients have been cured and the disease has claimed 5,514 lives in the state. In Andhra Pradesh, there 89,907 active cases while 1,80,703 patients have been cured so far. The infection, however, has led to the death of 2,475 patients. In Delhi, there are 11,366 active cases and 1,35,108 recovered patients. The toll due to the disease stands at 4,178. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 2,85,63,095 samples were tested for COVID-19 up to August 14. Of these, 8,68,679 samples were tested yesterday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that government's roadmap to bring coronavirus vaccine to all Indians in shortest possible time is ready and as soon as scientists give a green signal, the country will begin their large scale production. Today three vaccines are in testing stages in India, he said while delivering Independence Day speech from the iconic Red Fort. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Wednesday, Aug. 12 11:02 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover accident causing injuries on an Ingersoll Township roadway. 9:43 p.m. A 21-year-old Ingersoll Township woman reported receiving a phone call from her 45-year-old Porter Township mother stating she was assaulted by her boyfriend/roommate, a 49-year-old man. The woman sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The man was subsequently arrested for domestic violence and transported to the Midland County Jail. 9:30 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township residence in reference to a 9-1-1 hang-up that was transferred from Isabella County, where a man said he had been assaulted. A deputy made contact and the man, who said he had been assaulted in Isabella County. He did not have any injuries that required medical attention, he refused an EMS evaluation and was advised that if he wished to file a complaint regarding the assault, he would have to contact Isabella County. 9:08 p.m. Officers responded to a report of fraud in the 700 block of Village East Drive. 8:21 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and Airport Road. 7:19 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Rodd Street and Ann Street. 3 p.m. Officers responded to a report of fraud in the 800 block of Fitzhugh Street. 12:41 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of South Saginaw Road and Eastlawn Drive. 10:18 a.m. Deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in Geneva Township. A sad day at Paris's Orly Airport as six young humanitarian workers were flown home from Niger. Meanwhile one of the two Nigerien victims of the same attack was laid to rest. All were killed by suspected jihadists at a wildlife park last Sunday. In DR Congo, our reporters assess security concerns at Virunga National Park. There have been scores of kidnappings there in recent times which has seen visitor numbers plummet.And mobile testing centers are trying to curb a coronavirus surge in Cameroon. In the capital Yaounde not everyone was receptive of the Government initiative though. HK officials can leave meetings with lawmakers who engage in disrespectful, unlawful deeds: guideline Global Times By Liu Xin Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/14 23:45:31 Hong Kong media have revealed a new guideline that allows government officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to leave meetings with district councilors when the latter engage in things that violate the "one country, two systems" principle and the national security law for Hong Kong. Experts said that the move aims to prevent pan-democracy district councilors from engaging in political stunts, and some also urged the Legislative Council (LegCo) to bring similar measures to end some pan-democracy lawmakers' intention of paralyzing the LegCo at a crucial period. The internal guideline was sent to government departments and the Home Affairs Department of the 18 districts by Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR, Hong Kong media reported on Friday. It lists several circumstances where government officials can leave the meetings with district councilors: when councilors insult officials attending a meeting; and councilors intentionally display slogans or music that violate the "one country, two systems" principle and the national security law for Hong Kong. Officials can also be absent from meetings when the agenda exceeds the district councilors' authority. The move was made against the backdrop of pan-democrats winning 388 seats against the 63 of the pro-establishment camp, and took control of 17 of HK's 18 district councils in the election in November 2019. Some of the councilors acted beyond their authority by "summoning" government officials for meetings and attempted to push for their political agenda. For example, the Central and Western District Council put forward an incidental motion accusing the "lax supervision" of the Commissioner of Police in January. Chris Tang Ping-keung and the team left the meeting, according to Hong Kong media. "District Councils are never the organ of power, and councilors' responsibility is to offer advice to the government to know residents' opinions. However, after radicals of the pan-democracy group entered the councils after November, they escalated their power by forcing government officials to attend meetings and vote, pushing political motions and staging political performances," Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Friday. Some pan-democracy councilors are politicizing the district councils, which may hinder their services for the residents, Wong said. After the passing of the national security law for Hong Kong, and with the new guideline, district councilors should shift their focus from political confrontations to topics centering on residents' livelihood, Wong noted. The new guideline could also offer reference to the operations of the Hong Kong Legislative Council as the National People's Congress Standing Committee voted unanimously this week to extend the sixth Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) lawmakers' terms of office by at least one year until the new LegCo begins, due to the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, observers said. They noted that the LegCo will have to deal with heavy tasks in next year's term, like mulling coronavirus prevention measures when high incidence seasons of fall and winter approach, reviewing the government's financial budget and discussing bills that affect the city's economic development and social welfare. All these agenda should not be messed up by some pan-democracy political farce. Pan-democracy lawmakers should also stop making political stunts to attract public attention or seek personal political gain, Li Xiaobing, expert on Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs, from Nankai University in Tianjin, told the Global Times. Pan-democracy lawmakers reportedly tried to paralyze the LegCo, leading to the suspension of proceedings several times. For example, due to the intentional delay of pan-democracy lawmakers, the election for chairman of the House Committee of the LegCo lasted more than six months and did not yield any result after 17 meetings, Hong Kong media reported. Li and Wong think that the LegCo needs to improve its regulations in accordance with the new momentum, and lawmakers should also fulfill their responsibilities. Hong Kong pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu told the Global Times that the guideline would also be regarded as a warning to pan-democrats. He called on the Hong Kong government to take tougher measures if pan-democracy district councilors do not stop making political farce. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three Mississippi police officers have been charged with killing a Black man by body-slamming him to the ground and then beating him last year, the authorities said on Friday. The three officers Desmond Barney, Lincoln Lampley and Anthony Fox were indicted this month on charges of second-degree murder in the death of George Robinson, 62, of Jackson, Miss. The officers, who were all members of the Jackson Police Department at the time, caused Mr. Robinsons death by pulling him from his car, throwing him headfirst onto the roadway pavement, and then striking and kicking him multiple times in the head and the chest, according to the indictment, issued by a grand jury in Hinds County, Miss. The indictment said the officers actions evinced a depraved heart, regardless of human life. Jody E. Owens II, the district attorney in Hinds County, said the officers saw Mr. Robinson sitting in his car on Jan. 13, 2019, when they were canvassing a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jackson after a pastor, Anthony Longino, was fatally shot in a botched robbery outside his church hours earlier. A motor home, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon, a Porsche 911 Cabriolet and a Bugatti Chiron were all involved in a car crash causing damage worth 3million. Two cars collided before hitting into two more cars during a traffic hold-up on the Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps. The motor home was moving slowly up the mountain pass causing a delay in moving traffic. A Porsche 911 Cabriolet (silver car) collided with a Bugatti Chiron when they both tried to overtake a motorhome on the Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps The Porsche sustained the most damage in the accident and the Mercedes driver was rushed to hospital but no one was killed The Bugatti Chiron (pictured) busted its grille, front bumper and hood. A brand new Chiron is worth $3million brand new About the supercars Porsche 911 Cabriolet Power Output Rating: 450PS Top speed: 190mph Acceleration: 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds Bugatti Chiron Horsepower: 1,500HP Top Speed: 304mph Acceleration: 0 to 60mph in 2.5 seconds Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon Horse power: 241HP Top Speed: 155mph Acceleration: 0-100mph in 6.1 seconds Advertisement When the Bugatti driver and the Porsche driver decided to overtake the motorhome at the same time they collided. Then the Porsche hit the Mercedes and the Bugatti hit the motor home. The total damage of the accident came to 3.7million francs (3 million) reported local news publication 20 Minuten. Nobody lost their lives but the Mercedes driver was rushed to hospital for serious injuries. The Porsche sustained the most damage and the Bugatti Chiron saw its grille, front bumper and hood busted. Both the Bugatti and the Porsche had their front airbags deployed, as a video shared on Instagram showed. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world with many residents owning upscale cars so it is no surprise that the nation is no stranger to exotic car crashes. Although Switzerland has a reputation for supercars none of its cities are part of the world's top ten supercar capitals. London has the most supercars in the world with 6,146,924 of them, followed by Moscow with 5,909,934 cars and then Los Angeles with 4,073,263. Bugattis have a 45 per cent popularity rate among millennials, a 47 per cent popularity rate with generation X and only a 39 per cent popularity rate with baby boomers, according you YouGov. Porsches rank much higher throughout all age ranges hitting 65 per cent with millennials and 56 per cent among baby boomers. On Instagram the most popular supercar is a Lamborghini followed by an Audi and then a Ferrari, according to Compare the Market. The city of Grinnell has begun a lengthy recovery process in the aftermath of the derecho that swept across Iowa on Monday, killing two residents of Poweshiek County and causing widespread damage to the area. Poweshiek County Emergency Management told KCCI on Thursday that a 41-year-old woman had died in Malcom after being injured by debris during the storm, and a 40-year-old man in Brooklyn had died of electrocution by a downed power line. The Poweshiek County Emergency Management office did not immediately return The S&Bs request for comment. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration for Poweshiek County on Tuesday in addition to 19 other counties. The declaration activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, which provides for grants of as much as $5,000 for households with earnings up to twice that defined by the federal poverty line. The grants can cover repairs, replacement of spoiled food, and emergency housing costs, or for reimbursement of storm-related expenses (receipts are required). Applications for grant funding are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Fridays Campus Conditions Update email from College President Anne Harris announced that some areas of Grinnell have regained power as Alliant Energy directs technicians to different parts of the city, and that removal of large tree debris has begun in earnest in residential areas. Harris urged the community to continue to practice social distancing and PPE use during the recovery period, writing, We have endured a great upheaval, and conditions were so intense as to forget there is a pandemic also active in our world. As power is restored to the campus, faculty are being asked to vacate academic buildings in order to allow for safety checks by Facilities Management and a purge of the air inside the building once the HVAC systems are confirmed to be fully functional. The email noted that residence halls, which function differently than academic buildings during a power outage, do not need to be cleared at the current time, and that students living on campus should stay in or near their halls until they receive further information. A former F.B.I. lawyer intends to plead guilty after he was charged with falsifying a document as part of a deal with prosecutors conducting their own criminal inquiry of the Russia investigation, according to his lawyer and court documents made public on Friday. The lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, 38, who was assigned to the Russia investigation, plans to admit that he altered an email from the C.I.A. that investigators relied on to seek renewed court permission in 2017 for a secret wiretap on the former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Mr. Clinesmiths lawyer said he had made a mistake while trying to clarify facts for a colleague. Mr. Clinesmith had written texts expressing opposition to President Trump, who immediately promoted the plea agreement as proof that the Russia investigation was illegitimate and politically motivated. He opened a White House news conference by calling Mr. Clinesmith corrupt and the deal just the beginning. Mr. Trump has long been blunt about seeing the continuing investigation by the prosecutor examining the earlier inquiry, John H. Durham, as political payback whose fruits he would like to see revealed in the weeks before the election. Due to the significant reduction in demand for our civil products and services, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we no longer have the workload necessary to sustain operations at the site. In an attempt to stem further layoffs [at the company] and retain as many employees as possible, we have taken swift and decisive action to reduce spending, he said. However, the severity of the economic fallout from COVID-19 made the closure of our Crosspointe facility unavoidable. Employees at the plant were told Friday, he said. This news will understandably be very worrying for our colleagues, and our number one priority is to provide support to them and their families at this time, Campbell said. The layoffs in June were a result of what Rolls-Royce described as an immediate reduction in workload as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were hopeful that those reductions would be sufficient but, since that time, its become clear that the economic downturn from the pandemic will depress orders for years to come. We simply dont have enough workload to sustain the facility. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has rejected dialogue with foreign mediators in order to settle the situation in his country. "Abroad Belarus is being offered some mediation, a foreign government is being created for the country. Listen: we have a normal government created under the Constitution. We don't need any foreign governments or mediators," Lukashenko was quoted by the BelTA state news agency as saying at a meeting at the Defense Ministry's strategic control center on Saturday. "It seems to me, no offense to those republics, that I want to say: tidy up your own mess," he added. "We don't need any government abroad, wherever it is, and it will never run our country. Haven't they learnt history?" Lukashenko said. "You know as well as I do what is going in this country. Slowly they are beginning or continuing to destabilize our society. Now they have reached our work collectives. I already said this many times, I simply want to say once again: nothing will come out of it. We will not give our country away to anyone. We will keep the situation [under control]. "I am not saying there is room for some placidity, complacency. No, we have never been complacent. You know that such is our life and fate that, being at the center of Europe, we always have to be prepared to give a timely response to any challenge," Lukashenko said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 20:31:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DUBLIN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China has become Ireland's fifth largest trade partner in the world and biggest trade partner in Asia, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office of Ireland. In the first half (H1) of this year, Ireland exported a total of 5.73 billion euros (6.78 billion U.S. dollars) worth of goods to China, up nearly 39 percent compared with the same period last year while its total goods imports from China were valued at 2.81 billion euros, up 14.36 percent year-on-year. Ireland's H1 2020 exports to and imports from China both ranked in fifth place among all its trade partners around the world. In terms of exports, China ranked after the United States (24.93 billion euros), Belgium (9.13 billion euros), Germany (8.86 billion euros) and the UK (6.81 billion euros). In terms of imports, China was behind the UK (9.64 billion euros), the United States (6 billion euros), France (3.45 billion euros) and Germany (3.23 billion euros). China is also Ireland's largest trade partner in Asia. In the first six months of this year, Ireland's exports to China were 3.6 times larger than its exports to Japan (1.58 billion euros), the second largest trade partner of Ireland in Asia, and nearly 33 times larger than its exports to India (174 million euros) thanks to a large growing middle-class population in China. Ireland's imports from China were more than three times larger than the combined value of the goods it imported from Japan (626 million euros) and India (253 million euros) in the first half of this year. In H1 2020, Ireland exported a total of 81.96 billion euros worth of goods and its goods imports were valued at 41.12 billion euros. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars) Enditem Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusmans plan to renovate a vacant jail building to house incarcerated people with coronavirus will cost a total of $9.3 million, including $2.3 million in local taxpayer money, the Federal Emergency Management Administration said this week. The money would be spent transforming 125 cells in the building -- which a federal judge described five years ago as an unsafe shambles -- into housing for recent detainees and those with confirmed cases of the virus. Gusman quietly unveiled the plan by posting a notice on the Sheriffs Office website last month that didnt explain his funding sources. His attorney has described the alterations needed as "relatively minor." But a FEMA spokesperson confirmed the agency will chip in $7 million to renovate the jail, which is meant to be used only on a temporary basis, as part of its assistance to local governments during the pandemic. The project will provide funding to bring minimal operation of the previously closed Templeman V facility, said the spokesperson, Melissa Wilkins. FEMA remains committed to assisting the state of Louisiana throughout their COVID-19 response and for future needs. Under federal law, the remaining $2.3 million of the project cost must come from local sources. Gusman hasnt confirmed the money will come from Sheriffs Office funds, but the city said it won't be contributing. A spokesman for the state said the local cost share "remains the responsibility of the applicant for the funding," although it's possible that federal CARES Act money could be used. Critics have questioned the cost of the project, the lack of public discussion around it and whether alternatives like reducing arrests for minor offenses would give the Sheriffs Office more breathing room in its 1,438-bed main jail, which had fewer than 850 inmates on Friday. The Sheriffs Office hasnt answered repeated questions this month on how many inmates currently have the coronavirus, but the agency said in a Thursday update to a federal judge that its in the middle of a round of mass testing. Even before the coronavirus, the physical footprint and inmate headcount of the jail have been hotly disputed topics for years. Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman hopes to renovate vacant building for inmates with coronavirus With little public fanfare, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman has launched a project to renovate a long-vacant jail building to hold up to After Hurricane Katrina swamped the citys jail archipelago, Gusman proposed building a new complex with 4,300 beds. The City Council approved only a fraction of that capacity for the main new jail. In December, the City Council approved an ordinance that allows Gusman to continue using another facility, the Temporary Detention Center, but caps his overall inmate population at 1,250 people. The ordinance also stipulates that the vacant building Gusman wants to use for inmates with coronavirus, known as Templeman V, must be decommissioned or demolished, unless he receives approval from the city or City Council. The Sheriffs Office hasnt explained how it intends to comply. The FEMA spokesperson said the project is still in its development phase, although it expects to approve funding by the end of this month, "given the emergency need for this action." 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 "Once completed, the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office proposal will be reviewed by FEMAs Environmental and Historic Preservation group," Wilkins said. FEMA said the renovation project could span until Dec. 31, two months later than the end date given in the Shreiff's Office notice. Gusmans attorney told a federal judge in a letter this month that Templeman V will only stay online for as long as the public health crisis lasts. Experts say that even if an effective vaccine is developed quickly, producing enough and convincing Americans to take it could mean that reaching herd immunity takes years. The FEMA spokesperson said it would be up to local authorities to decide when the crisis is over. The State and Local Public Health Officials will determine when COVID has become manageable in the Orleans Parish area, Wilkins said. Meanwhile, Gusman and Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration this week inched closer to a showdown in court over the sheriffs plan to build a new facility to house scores of men and women with serious mental health problems. Gusman, inmate advocates and the federal judge overseeing the sheriffs reform agreement with the federal government say a new building is necessary to provide adequate care for the inmates awaiting trial who have mental health problems. In June, the city -- which under state law has to provide Sheriffs Office facilities -- asked a judge to scrap the current plan for a mental health and medical clinic building, citing its cost and the historic revenue shortfalls it faces as a result of the pandemic. +2 Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to regain control of jail, but remain under oversight Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman can have his jail back, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, but the lockup will remain under a court-mandate The city elaborated on its request in a brief this week. While the city has orders from the court to build the new facility, its attorneys said a 1995 federal law called the Prison Litigation Reform Act explicitly prohibits the court from ordering the city to build a new jail building. The city included letters of support for scrapping the plans from state Sen. Troy Carter, Rep. Gary Carter, Rep. Royce Duplessis, Rep. Aimee Adatto Freeman, Rep. Mandie Landry, Rep. Candace Newell and Rep. Matthew Willard. The city said it prefers to continue using a temporary building until it has finished retrofitting parts of the main jail building. The overall building and operating cost would be far lower, the city claims. However, the sheriff said theres not enough space in the main jail building and its sightlines would prevent guards from closely monitoring suicidal inmates. U.S. District Judge Lance Africk has referred the citys request to Magistrate Judge Michael North, who intends to hold a hearing with testimony. North has yet to set a hearing date. The major gold miners stocks have skyrocketed since mid-Marchs stock panic, attracting in a deluge of new capital inflows. That recently catapulted this normally-contrarian sector to extremely-overbought levels, necessitating a rebalancing correction. The gold miners are just finishing reporting their operating and financial results from the challenging last quarter. Was gold stocks huge upleg fundamentally justified? The leading and dominant gold-stock benchmark and trading vehicle today is the GDX VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF. Launched way back in May 2006, GDXs first-mover advantage has grown into an insurmountable lead. With $16.8b of net assets this week, GDX commands a staggering 31.7x more capital than its next-biggest 1x-long major-gold-miners-ETF competitor! GDX is really the only game in town. The major gold miners performance as seen through this GDX lens has been breathtaking. Over several weeks into mid-March, GDX collapsed 38.8% to $19.00 per share. Widespread fears of the devastating economic impacts of governments draconian economic lockdowns to fight COVID-19 fueled a full-blown stock panic. Gold and its miners stocks were temporarily sucked into that ultra-rare epic fear maelstrom. But that anomaly birthed a major new upleg in gold stocks, which staged a violent V-bounce and were off to the races. Over the next 4.8 months into early August, GDX skyrocketed 134.1% higher to $44.48! Riding that massive gold-stock upleg was exceedingly lucrative. But such big and fast gains werent sustainable. They left this sector extremely overbought, GDX stretched over 1.45x its 200-day moving average. So in this past week or so, the overheated gold stocks entered a correction with GDX plunging 12.2% in just 4 trading days. These periodic selloffs are essential to keep bull markets healthy, bleeding away the excessive greed and euphoria that mushrooms late in gold stocks hot runs. The majority of that huge post-panic upleg accrued in Q2 proper, where GDX soared 59.2%. How the gold miners did last quarter is crucial. Q220 proved curious for this industry, with powerful bullish and bearish forces warring. Average gold prices blasted up 30.9% year-over-year to $1714, which is an incredible boon for gold miners financial results. Yet at the same time, many gold mines around the world were forced to shutter for weeks on end last quarter by governments heavy-handed national economic lockdowns to slow COVID-19s spread. That odd juxtaposition of the best of times and worst of times made for one fascinating quarter. Q220 narrowly edged out Q311, when golds mighty previous secular bull peaked, as seeing the best average gold prices on record! Yet many gold miners couldnt fully capitalize on that phenomenal windfall since national governments were forcing them to mothball mines. Ive been on tenterhooks awaiting the results. While sentiment fueled by golds own price action drives gold stocks major uplegs and corrections, it is still very important to study the miners fundamentals. Their collective quarterly results reveal how this industry as a whole is faring. And individual companies quarterlies help stratify this sector, illuminating the fundamentally-superior stocks best for trading. They generally enjoy higher potential gains at lower risks. So for 17 quarters in a row now, Ive painstakingly analyzed the major gold miners latest quarterly results right after they are reported. While GDX contained a crazy 53 component stocks this week, Im limiting my analysis to its top 25 holdings. These are the worlds biggest and best gold miners, which command a dominant 85.8% of GDXs total weighting. The lions share of capital chasing gold stocks ends up in them. These elite gold miners trade in the US, Australia, Canada, China, and the UK, making amassing this data somewhat challenging. There are different financial-reporting requirements around the globe, and even within the same country miners report different data in different ways. In the few cases where half-year results were all that was offered, they were split in half to approximate what those companies did in Q2. This table summarizes the operational and financial highlights from the GDX top 25 in Q220. These elite gold miners symbols are listed, some of which are from their primary foreign stock exchanges. That is preceded by their ranking changes in terms of GDX weightings from Q219. Then their current weightings as of this week follow those stock symbols. GDX essentially weights gold stocks by market capitalizations. So relative ranking changes help illuminate outperformers and underperformers over the past year. That data is followed by each miners Q220 gold production in ounces, and its year-over-year change from Q219s results. Then comes cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs per ounce along with their YoY changes, revealing how much it costs these elite miners to wrest their gold from the bowels of the earth. Next quarterly revenues, earnings, operating cash flows generated, and cash on hand are listed along with their YoY changes. Blank data fields mean companies hadnt reported that particular data as of the middle of this week. Blank percentage fields indicate those changes would either be misleading or not meaningful, from comparing two negative numbers or when data shifts from positive to negative and vice versa. Because of that epic tug-of-war between record-high average gold prices and COVID-19 shutdown orders plaguing mines, the gold miners have never seen a quarter like Q220. Their operational results indeed proved weak with many mines hobbled by arbitrary decree. Yet gold was so darned high their financial results still came in strong! That showed this sectors massive gains last quarter were fundamentally righteous. Interestingly the capital concentrated in these GDX-top-25 major gold miners actually moderated a bit, slipping from 88.6% in Q120 to 85.8% in Q2. That is a healthy sign that participation in the massive post-stock-panic gold-stock rally is broadening. Speculators and investors werent just buying the biggest gold miners via GDX, but moving into the individual smaller mid-tier ones lower down in GDXs weightings. The more stocks participating in bull-market uplegs, the healthier that bull and the greater its ultimate staying power. Excessive concentration as evident in narrow breadth leading uplegs is very unhealthy. That is exactly what has happened in the general stock markets since mid-Marchs stock panic, with big gains almost totally driven by the handful of market-darling mega-cap techs. Gold stocks dont share that risk. But unfortunately last quarter proved weak operationally for these elite GDX-top-25 major gold miners. They collectively produced just under 7.6m ounces of gold in Q220. That not only plunged 11.0% YoY from Q219s total, but was the lowest quarterly output this group has seen in the 17 quarters Ive been working on this research thread! But that output drop fully resulted from governments economic lockdowns. Each quarter the venerable World Gold Council publishes the best-available global gold fundamental data in its must-read Gold Demand Trends reports. The latest one covering Q220 was released at the end of July. It revealed overall world gold-mine output collapsed 10.0% YoY last quarter to 25.0m ounces. That was an extreme outlier, radically worse than the 2.8%-YoY average quarterly growth over the past decade. The GDX-top-25 major gold miners shrinking production of 11.0% last quarter was right in line with what this entire industry suffered at the hands of alarmist bureaucrats. The WGC reported countrywide gold output in Q2 plummeted 62% YoY in Mexico, 59% YoY in South Africa, and 45% YoY in Peru! For these elite gold miners, Mexico was the main problem. Its government shuttered gold mining for 60 days in Q2! Last quarters production declines largely resulted from COVID-19 lockdown orders, with miners slammed in proportion to their operations in affected countries. Hardest hit was Buenaventura, the worst performer in GDX-rankings terms and Perus largest publicly-traded gold miner. Its Q2 gold production cratered 46.2% YoY due to its Peruvian mining concentration! That governments State of Emergency forced mines to close. Pan American Silver, which is now overwhelmingly a mid-tier gold miner, was hit hard too with gold output plummeting 37.5% YoY. There were no operational problems, PAAS just had the misfortune of having most of its mines in countries imposing the most-extreme economic lockdowns in Q2. 43% and 31% of this companys 2019 sales came from Peru and Mexico! But they werent the only ones attacking miners. The far-larger Agnico Eagle also mines in Mexico, but most of its gold is produced in a couple different regions of Canada. That country also imposed COVID-19 shutdowns on gold miners, but quickly came to its senses. Gold-mining operations are usually remote, with access highly limited and tightly controlled. And workers often travel to mine sites to work long multi-week shifts. Mining gold is pandemic-resistant. Still, AEM reported During the second quarter of 2020, seven of the Companys eight mines experienced either temporary shutdowns or reduced mining activities related to government mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Thats why its Q2 output fell 19.7% YoY, a huge red flag any other time. Even Newmont, the biggest and most-diversified gold miner, saw five of its mines forced into care and maintenance in parts of Q2. Normally such sharp output drops would cause serious concerns, since production is the lifeblood of this industry. The more gold miners produce, the greater their profits supporting higher future stock-price levels. But profits leverage to gold works both ways, so when output falls future earnings potential drops dramatically. Thankfully those COVID-19 disruptions were temporary, quickly reversing as lockdowns lifted. Most of the major gold miners reported operating tempos at shuttered mines were back up near full speed by the end of Q2. A surprising number of these companies believe they can make up enough lost output in the remainder of 2020 to achieve the lower ends of their full-year guidances! So the GDX top 25s gold production should rebound sharply in this current Q3, and surge back to if not above normal levels in Q4. Odds are Q220s widespread economic lockdowns shuttering gold mines wont be repeated. COVID-19 is so virulent and tenacious that governments are realizing we are all going to have to learn to live with this virus. The economic, social, political, and health damage caused by national lockdowns is extreme and far-reaching, vastly worse than anything COVID-19 could do. So future shutdowns will be narrowly targeted. Dangerous outbreaks arent going to happen way out in the mountains where small groups of workers are blasting out gold. In their Q2 results, the major gold miners universally reported implementing all kinds of mitigation efforts to detect any COVID-19 infections and stop them from spreading. That included setting up separate living quarters for any necessary quarantines. The gold miners are fighting this virus head-on. In gold mining, output and costs are inversely proportional. The more gold mined, the more ounces to spread this industrys big fixed costs across. Those generally dont change much from quarter to quarter regardless of prevailing gold prices. Individual mines require the same levels of infrastructure, equipment, and employees to feed their fixed-capacity mills quarter after quarter. So lower outputs mean higher unit costs. And that doesnt even include all the new costs for managing this pandemic, something the gold miners have never had to do. Testing for the virus, quarantining the afflicted, and relentlessly social distancing and cleaning to limit its spread all require more resources and people. So gold-mining operating costs had to increase with these many new COVID-19 burdens, completely independent from gold production. Cash costs are the classic measure of gold-mining costs, including all cash expenses necessary to mine each ounce of gold. But they are misleading as a true cost measure, excluding the big capital needed to explore for gold deposits and build mines. So cash costs are best viewed as survivability acid-test levels for the major gold miners. They illuminate the minimum gold prices necessary to keep the mines running. The GDX-top-25 gold miners reported average cash costs of $646 in Q2, up 4.7% YoY. Surprisingly given the serious lockdown disruptions to operations, that wasnt a new high. The 17-quarter cash-cost range has run between $594 to $658. And obviously with gold averaging that record $1714 in Q2, there is zero existential threat to this sector. Cash costs are really only relevant when gold prices plumb secular lows. All-in sustaining costs are far superior than cash costs, and were introduced by the World Gold Council in June 2013. They add on to cash costs everything else that is necessary to maintain and replenish gold-mining operations at current output tempos. AISCs give a much-better understanding of what it really costs to maintain gold mines as ongoing concerns, and reveal the major gold miners true operating profitability. These elite GDX-top-25 major gold miners reported average AISCs of $984 per ounce in Q220, which was a new 17-quarter high. That surged 13.1% YoY from Q219s levels, roughly proportional with these miners 11.0%-YoY gold-output decline. The additional cost increase beyond that was probably mostly related to those extensive COVID-19 mitigation efforts. But these relatively-high AISCs were skewed by BVN. Buenaventuras Peruvian operations suffered so much under that countrys draconian shutdown orders that AISCs doubled as production was slashed in half! The resulting $1598 BVN reported is incredibly extreme and not reflective of normal operations. Exclude that anomaly, and the rest of the GDX top 25 averaged $952 AISCs. While still the top of the 17-quarter range, that would only be a 9.4% YoY jump. But even at $984, naturally the gold miners are exceedingly profitable with gold averaging $1714. That implies this industry earned $730 per ounce last quarter, a princely sum. Those are easily the highest unit earnings since I started this research thread in Q216. That is up a stupendous 66.2% YoY from Q219! Gold-mining earnings are exploding per this industry-wide profitability metric, a super-bullish omen. Quarterly profits skyrocketing 2/3rds higher, certainly some of the best sector performance in all the stock markets, sure justifies GDXs 59.2% gain in Q2! And gold stocks massive outsized earnings growth isnt over. Most of the quarterly reports I read from these major gold miners again said production had already mostly rebounded after Q2s lockdown decrees. So GDX-top-25 output in this current Q3 will likely rise 10%+. Of course that will proportionally lower AISCs, which could retreat 10% to $886 per ounce. So far in Q3, golds $1888 average price is proving a major new record high. But gold is extremely overbought, and really needs to correct. So lets assume it drops far enough in the remainder of Q3 to hammer its average price down to $1825. These conservative assumptions yield potential Q3 earnings of $939 per ounce. If that happens, the GDX top 25 as a whole would see profits soaring 59.0% YoY in Q320! That sure as heck fundamentally justifies big ongoing gains in the major gold stocks. They likely have to correct first and work off their serious overboughtness for a spell. But following that healthy sentiment-rebalancing selloff, this bulls next upleg should also see massive gains on such strong fundamentals. They are very bullish. On the hard financial-results front under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles reported to securities regulators, or their foreign equivalents, the major gold miners achieved an amazing quarter financially. The GDX top 25s total revenues surged 19.8% YoY to $12.1b! That outstanding sales growth jibes with average gold prices soaring about 31% YoY while gold-mining output fell 11%. 20% is huge top-line growth. Last week I published a similar quarterly-results essay looking at the 25 largest companies in the flagship S&P 500 broad-market stock index. Even including those mega-cap techs thriving in this crazy stay-at-home world, the SPX top 25 saw total revenues plunge 9.6% YoY. So the major gold miners sales soaring 19.8% YoY is phenomenal outperformance that should really catch the attention and capital of traders. In actual bottom-line accounting-earnings terms, these GDX-top-25 gold miners collectively reported $2.1b in profits. That skyrocketed a gargantuan 268.3% higher YoY! That compares to the S&P 500s top 25 companies, the biggest and best in the US stock markets, suffering a 16.6% YoY profits decline. Gold-mining earnings are highly leveraged to prevailing gold prices, and todays records are fueling huge profitability. Related: The U.S. Has The Tech To Go Green, But Will It Use It? High gold prices also drive big operating-cash-flow generation. The GDX top 25s total OCFs soared 59.8% YoY in Q220 to $4.6b. The major gold miners use the surplus cash their mines spin off to boost their future output, by expanding existing mines and building new ones. Not surprisingly the gold miners soaring operating cash flows dwarfed the 13.5% YoY OCF growth seen in the S&P 500s top 25 companies. The gold mines producing so much cash helped catapult the GDX-top-25 gold miners cash hoards an astounding 89.6% higher YoY to $15.1b! Their collective treasuries were almost as high as theyd ever been over the last 17 quarters, only slightly bested by Q120s $15.3b. It wasnt just OCFs that filled miners bank accounts. They also prudently tapped lines of credit to build their liquidity to weather Q2s lockdowns. But if government officials indeed realize garroting their own economies through national lockdowns is a foolish overreaction, a cure far more damaging than the COVID-19 disease, the gold miners lockdown fears will fade. That will leave them flush with cash to expand their outputs, both organically and through mergers and acquisitions. They will also likely pay down those lines of credit, improving their balance sheets. So Q220 proved really interesting for the major gold miners, with much-higher prevailing gold prices more than offsetting gold-mine shutterings imposed by national governments. Outstanding financial results easily overshadowed forced weak operational ones. The externally-decreed production shrinkage has already mostly reversed according to the major gold miners quarterly reports. That is super-bullish for this sector! Given the enormous earnings these higher prevailing gold prices are generating at the major gold miners, additional massive gains in their secular bull are certainly fundamentally-justified. Even though GDX just enjoyed that huge 134.1% post-stock-panic upleg, this gold-stock bulls next upleg is likely to prove really big too. But we first have to get through healthy gold and gold-stock corrections following extreme overboughtness. All bull markets naturally flow then ebb, taking two steps forward before retreating one step back. Their price action gradually meanders around uptrends. This normal upleg-correction pattern keeps sentiment balanced, extending bull markets longevity. And it is a huge boon for traders, offering excellent mid-bull opportunities to buy relatively low before later selling relatively high. That greatly expands bulls potential gains! The bottom line is the major gold miners reported outstanding Q2 results. Their operations did get hit hard by governments draconian national lockdowns to slow COVID-19s spread. Output fell sharply, boosting operating costs proportionally. But record-high quarterly gold prices far more than offset that decline in gold production. Revenues, earnings, operating cash flows, and cash all soared dramatically last quarter. Once those lockdown orders were lifted, the gold miners wasted no time in spinning back up their affected mines. Most of them were already running near normal output levels when Q2 results were reported. So Q3 will see higher production and lower costs, amplifying gold-mining profitability with gold trading at major new all-time-record-high average prices. Further big gold-stock gains remain fully justified fundamentally. Adam Hamilton More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: In route news, American wont be coming back to Oakland or to a number of other airports as a federal requirement ends; Mineta San Jose tries to lure back international airlines with fee waivers; another European carrier will return to SFO; Hawaiis planned Sept. 1 reopening for tourists now appears unlikely; AA extends change fee waiver; Southwest gives Rapid Rewards members a new option for their unused travel credits; Spirit has a big short-term mileage bonus offer; United will open up non-hub routes to Florida and will remove some seats from its E175s. American Airlines suspended its last flights out of Oakland International (to Phoenix) in June, and now it looks like it wont be coming back. The airline said in a recent filing with the state of California that its 17 employees at OAK who have kept their jobs under terms of the federal CARES Act will be let go on Oct. 1 after that protection expires. The airline said its Oakland service had not been profitable, and that it will continue to serve the Bay Area through San Francisco International and Mineta San Jose Airport. AA previously stopped flying out of OAK during the Great Recession in 2008 but returned in 2016. Americans withdrawal from OAK is just one part of a much larger route abandonment that were likely to see in October. An AA executive told CNBC this week that the airline will probably end service at as many as 30 smaller to midsize airports after Sept. 30 (although he didnt name them) and other airlines are likely to do the same. Remember that when the federal government bailed out the airline industry (and many other businesses) with the CARES Act earlier this year, it included a provision that barred airlines from ending all service to any of the cities that were on their route maps at the time. But after the terms of the CARES Act expire Sept. 30, carriers will be able to halt service to any airport that is not performing up to their expectations. San Francisco International is due to welcome back another foreign carrier this fall. TAP Air Portugal said this week it expects to resume service in October to SFO with two flights a week to Lisbon. TAP also will revive twice-weekly Chicago OHare flights in October and add a third daily New York JFK flight. In September, it will lay on a second daily Newark-Lisbon roundtrip. TAP is waiving change fees for August bookings, applicable to travel through October. At Mineta San Jose, meanwhile, airport officials are reportedly trying to entice airlines to resume suspended international routes by offering a financial incentive: the waiver of millions of dollars in fees. According to local media reports, the airport wants to see a return of international service from seven carriers: Air Canada, Alaska, ANA, British Airways, Southwest, Volaris, and Hainan Airways and is willing to waive a total of $3.2 million in landing fees and international arrival fees for three to six months if they come back. British Airways tentative winter schedule already includes a revival of SJC-London Heathrow service with a daily 787-8 flight. Speaking of San Jose, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are continuing to work on its closer partnership as Alaska prepares to join Oneworld within the next six months or so. In the latest developments, Alaskas code will be going onto some 60 AA domestic routes this month, including San Jose-Chicago OHare and SJC-Dallas/Ft. Worth. Heres a full list of the new code-share routes. On the international side, AA is expected to put Alaskas code onto its Los Angeles-Sydney flight when it resumes currently set for late March. Things continue to look bad for Hawaiis plan to open up the islands to tourism in September, replacing its current mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors with a requirement of a negative COVID-19 test result before departure from home. The changed policy had been scheduled for Aug. 1, but was put off for a month after officials noticed an uptick in coronavirus cases. Hawaii Governor David Ige said this week that a continuing surge in new COVID cases and hospitalizations makes it likely that the Sept. 1 date will have to be postponed once again. He said another complicating factor is the inability of many travelers from the mainland to get tested and obtain results within 72 hours of departure. Hawaii's original restrictions also required all inter-island travelers to quarantine for 14 days; that rule was eventually lifted, but it was reinstated this week for individuals traveling to Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Lanai or Molokai from any other island including Oahu; it does not apply for those traveling inter-island to Oahu. Airlines continue to update its customer policies to reassure and lure passengers who need an incentive to book travel. American Airlines this week became the latest carrier to extend its waiver of change fees, which now applies to customers who purchase tickets by Sept. 30 for travel through the end of the year. The offer includes AAdvantage award tickets, and it allows customers to change their origin and destination cities when they rebook. At Southwest Airlines, customers who are sitting on travel credits from tickets that were purchased but not used now have the option of converting those funds into Rapid Rewards points. The customer must already be a member of the loyalty program; the offer applies to travel funds that expire Sept. 7, 2022. You can check the expiration date by going to View Travel Funds on Southwest.com. The advantage of converting: Unlike travel credits, Rapid Rewards points dont expire. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE weekly email alerts. And Spirit Airlines is trying to prime the bookings pump with a bonus mileage offer for members of its Free Spirit loyalty program. Members who book a flight by Aug. 18 for travel through Feb. 9 will get a credit of 2.5 miles for every mile flown, vs. the usual rate of half a mile per mile flown. Elite-level members and Spirit cardholders will get five miles credit for each mile flown. United Airlines released some route news this week, including plans to add Southwest-style "point-to-point" service to Florida this winter from a number of non-hub cities east of the Mississippi, as the carrier sees a growing demand for leisure travel and family visits. The new flights will be phased in during November and December, including service to Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando from Boston, New York LaGuardia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. You can find the schedule details here. United also has scheduled some new regional service beginning in October, all of it operating as United Express/Skywest. It includes routes from Denver to Alamosa, Colo.; Rochester, Minn. and Sioux City, Iowa; and from Houston Bush Intercontinental to Abilene, Tex. and Chattanooga, Tenn. To satisfy so-called scope clause restrictions in its labor contract with pilots who are facing a loss of up to 3,900 jobs in October United has to reduce the seat count in a number of its Embraer E175 regional jets, which are operated by regional partners, from 76 to 70. The current E175 configuration has 12 seats in first class, 16 in premium economy and 48 in the main cabin. Reconfigured aircraft will have six fewer coach seats, although some may have more capacity in premium economy. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here. Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE weekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. They are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District, headquartered at the Funk WPA, the first to get the link. The other WPAs involved are Johnson, northeast of Holdrege, and Cottonwood and Linder, northeast of Bertrand. The goal is to use Platte diversions, when possible, to maximize available habitat during waterfowl migration periods, particularly in spring. During the stop at Victor WPA, which has 234 wetland and upland acres, Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District Project Leader Brad Krohn said its still a mystery where the water goes and where the wetland is on the property. This area is as tricky as any of them, he said. I dont know if you could pump enough water for ponding here ... We want to figure out where the water is going so we get the most benefits. Part of the site is being grazed by cattle owned by Jeremy and Karen Nelson. Most diversion project funds were provided by USFWS, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Nebraska Environmental Trust and Nebraska Water Resources Cash Fund. On Monday, a large swath of the US Midwest, including portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin, was hit with a powerful derecho storm that claimed four lives and left over 1.5 million residents without power in its aftermath. A derecho is a long-lived, straight-line, widespread windstorm. The name of the storm is derived from the Spanish word for straight, which describes the direction of its wind path, in contrast to the spinning wind path of a tornado. The storm causes other destructive weather events in its orbit, including tornadoes, flash floods, and hurricane-force winds. Derechos develop into mesoscale convective systemssimilar to a small scale tropical stormand excessive heat in an area especially fuels their formation due to the convective currents which are more likely to form under these conditions, measured as convective available potential energy (CAPE). According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Scientists have evidence that global warming should increase CAPE by warming the surface and putting more moisture in the air through evaporation. Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University, described Mondays storm as one of the worst weather events of 2020 for the US. Wind gusts peaked at over 110 mph in parts of Iowa, higher than some Category 1 hurricanes, indicating that it could be one of the strongest such storms in recent history. A devastating derecho in 2012, which swept from Iowa to the East Coast of the US, reached peak wind gusts of 91 mph, leaving 22 dead, 4.2 million without power and causing $2.9 billion worth of damage. Ella Shears, left, and Mary Walker watch workers remove branches on a power line in their neighborhood, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) From Nebraska to Indiana 1.5 million residents were left without power in the aftermath of Mondays storm, including 360,000 in the Chicago metropolitan area, and thousands still may not have power restored until early next week. On Thursday, over 250,000 residents in Iowa still did not have power. Restoring power has been complicated by the extensive damage of the storm, which wiped out homes, flipped vehicles, and downed large trees in both rural and metropolitan areas in the storms path. Many tornadoes developed out of the storm, with 25 counted across the state of Illinois alone, including one which touched down at the far north end of the city of Chicago before turning into a waterspout in Lake Michigan. A total of four deaths have been reported so far, and the total extent of injuries and deaths is emerging as residents have been trapped in vehicles and buildings damaged by the storm. In Iowa, two volunteer firefighters were killed, a 41-year-old man who was attempting to restore power and a 41-year-old woman who was struck by a tree. A 63-year-old cyclist was killed after a tree struck him during the storm. In Indiana, a 73-year-old woman died in Fort Wayne after the high winds destroyed her trailer home. She was found by firefighters under debris clinging to a five-year-old boy, who survived. As with the notorious wildfires which swept through Northern California in recent years, residents were given very little warning by local officials that the massive storm was approaching, with many only hearing alerts just moments before the storm hit. The state of Iowa suffered the worst damage. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig estimates that 10 million acres of farmland have been damaged by the storm in the largest corn-producing state in the country. This accounts for nearly a third of the 31 million acres of land used for growing crops. Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds issued disaster proclamations for 25 counties following the storm, and announced Friday that the state will submit a federal disaster declaration request on Monday, a full week after the end of the storm, in order to secure Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief aid. Former US President Barack Obamas administration cut FEMAs budget significantly over the course of his eight-year term. His last White House 2017 budget plan before leaving office proposed $600 million in cuts to the agency, or 35 percent of funding compared to 2016 levels, in spite of the widespread recognition of the need for more funding due to the effects of climate change. In 2014, the Obama administration diverted funding from FEMA, which is under the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to provide $1.4 billion for the detention of an influx of immigrant children coming from Central America. This move set the precedent for US President Donald Trump to further cut FEMA to the bone and divert hundreds of millions of dollars from the agencys disaster relief funds over the course of his presidency toward deportation hearings, increasing detention center beds and militarizing the US-Mexico border. The ruling classs criminal response to the storm and utter lack of preparation occurs as the US remains the worlds epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. The displacement of thousands from their homes due to power outages or storm damage and a flood of recovery workers into the region will ensure the spread of the virus through the Midwest and beyond. In several impoverished smaller towns and suburbs across the Midwest, nearly 100 percent of residents lost power. In the working class Chicago suburb of Harvey, Illinois, 9,200 of 10,000 residents were without power; Linn County, Iowa saw 88,000 of 112,000 residents lose power; and in Tama County, Iowa 6,000 of 7,000 residents lost electricity due to the storm. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the second largest city in the state, city spokesman Greg Buelow told Fox News that scores of patients in need of oxygen tanks and nebulizers were rushed to hospitals, which are in danger of becoming overwhelmed by the influx of COVID-19 victims after the economic reopening across the US has driven an upsurge in cases in recent months. The city itself has been placed under an indefinite curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. since the storm ended. Several other patients reported to hospitals after the storm due to chainsaw injuries from needing to remove debris themselves, pointing to the crippling of social and emergency support services for the working class as local, state and federal officials have carried out bipartisan budget cuts for decades. Workers who have lost everything in the storm will be crowded into shelters and aid centers where social distancing will be impossible, putting thousands more at needless risk of contracting COVID-19. For many families who have lost businesses and jobs, in addition to the devastating financial impact of personal property loss due to the storm, there is little to no hope of receiving any substantial aid in the form or FEMA relief or unemployment benefits to help them start rebuilding their lives. As in their response to the pandemic, the wildfires that have ravaged the West Coast and the hurricanes and floods that have devastated the country, the American ruling class and its political parties show reckless disregard for human life and the environment. Even as over 170,000 Americans have needlessly died during the pandemic, nine of the 10 wealthiest billionaires have increased their fortunes by 22 percent since March. Great resources and wealth created by the labor of the working class have been diverted to Wall Street, the banks and corporations, and the military-police apparatus in the name of preserving the wealth of a handful of elites at the expense of millions of lives. The grounded Japanese oil tanker near the protected coral reefs off the Mauritius shore has now split apart. According to reports, officials announced the disastrous development on August 15 and informed that as a consequence of the ship splitting apart, the residual fuel in the ship released into the pristine turquoise waters. Read: Mauritius Residents Cutting Off Hair To Make Nets And Tubes To Soak Catastrophic Oil Spill Tanker Splits apart As per reports, photos provided by the official clean-up crew backed by Mauritiuss government show the ship, which was carrying 4,000 tones of oil, broken in two pieces. Tugboats have already been deployed and are hard at work while oil barriers and a skimmer ship have also been placed nearby. Environmental groups monitoring the situation in Mauritius have stated that the damage done by the leaking oil could be irreversible. As per reports, the Japanese ship MV Wakashio struck a coral reef on July 25 and after days of pounding by rough waves, the tanker began leaking fuel into the water. By August 6, roughly 1,000 tonnes of fuel began to leak. Read: Venezuela's National Assembly Investigates Mysterious Oil Spill, Demands Information Nagashiki Shipping company, which owns the vessel, has is reported to have claimed that only residual amounts of fuel remain on the ship after the most oil was pumped out earlier this week. The company has also launched an investigation into why the ship was so close to the coral reef when, as per records, the ship was meant to be at least 10 miles from shore. The Mauritius government has declared an environmental emergency and has also stated that it is seeking compensation from the company. After the emergency was declared, thousands of volunteers rushed to the shore in an effort to create makeshift oil barriers made out of fabrics stuffed with sugarcane leaves and even human hair. Mauritius' economy heavily relies on tourism and has been suffering from the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (With AP Inputs) Read: Mauritius Seeks Compensation As Oil Spill Cleanup Continues Read: Distressing Pictures: In Indian Ocean, Mauritius Struggles To Combat Calamitous Oil Spill MINSK, Belarus They emerged dazed, shaken and in tears from the detention center in Minsk, to be met by waiting relatives. They displayed the black-and-blue bruises on their bodies, saying police had beaten them mercilessly. One teenager asked his weeping mother to look away. Authorities in Belarus have freed at least 2,000 of about 7,000 people who had been pulled off the streets by riot police in the days following a disputed election that kept the countrys iron-fisted leader, President Alexander Lukashenko, in power. As they reunited with loved ones early Friday, they told of being struck repeatedly with truncheons, being threatened with gang rape and held amid harsh conditions and overcrowded cells. The accounts are fueling outrage at home and have European countries weighing new sanctions against officials in Belarus. They were beating me without mercy, Alexei Shchitnikov told The Associated Press upon his release, his face disfigured by bruises. The 47-year-old company director displayed a cross drawn on his back, an apparent marking by police that he should be given rough treatment. They were behaving like bandits and real beasts, he added. The people will remember Lukashenkos victory for a long time. Student Sasha Vilks showed a reporter his legs and his back deeply bruised from truncheon blows, but told his weeping mother not to look. They called us terrorists and beat us severely on our legs and our backs, the 19-year-old told the AP. They would beat us first and then ask questions. He said he was kept lying face down for hours in handcuffs and didnt see the faces of his tormentors, who wore balaclavas. Some of them were walking around, saying Give me someone to beat. It was really scary, he said, breaking into tears. Tatyana, a 21-year-old bookseller who didnt give her last name because she feared police reprisals, said she was threatened with gang rape. It was a real hell, she said. When I was on a police bus, they threatened to rape me with a truncheon. The more I cried, the more they beat me. They kept repeating, You love the president!' Shuddering, she added: They were indiscriminately beating everyone there, men and women. On the police bus, I saw them break one mans rib and he was crying in pain. The demonstrations began after officials announced that Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, had won 80% of the vote in Sundays election a result that protesters denounced as rigged. During the four nights that followed, black-clad riot police detained thousands of largely peaceful demonstrators in Minsk and other cities after firing tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. At least one person was killed. The graphic descriptions of savage beatings and other abuse by police has brought tens of thousands into the streets of the Belarusian capital in the biggest challenge in his tenure. Yegor Martinovich, an award-winning journalist and the editor of the popular Nasha Niva independent online newspaper, was among those detained in the crackdown and said he was beaten ferociously while in custody. They beat us all with truncheons and kicked us while putting us on and off police vehicles, he told the AP. They made us lie on the ground for half a day, our faces down. They were hounding us with dogs, insulting us and refusing to give us food. They had just one response to all of our pleas: Youve got your revolution!' Martinovich said several people in his cell were covered with bruises from being hit over and over. When the beaten people were suffering from thirst, a guard would give a bottle of tap water for all of us, he said. The authorities cracked down on peaceful protesters with all the repressive power of the authoritarian state, and the consequences of that could be unpredictable. As the jails filled quickly to capacity, police crammed more people into cells intended for only a few inmates. Martinovich said he and 27 others were put in a cell intended for 12 people, and they had to take turns sleeping. When he was released, guards put in 10 more. Others at a Minsk jail said dozens of men and women were packed into cells intended for only two inmates. Many others who were not taken into custody also were hurt. Eduard Kukhterin, a 56-year-old publisher, was struck by rubber bullets in the back and arm while entering his apartment building near a street clash. A police bus arrived and those black-clad thugs jumped on the pavement and started firing at people as if it were a shooting range, he said. It looked like a horror movie, but its Belarus today. Kukhterin said he couldnt go to a hospital for a bullet stuck in his arm because doctors warned him they would have to report it to police, who would detain him. The national police chief later apologized to those who were targeted indiscriminately, and the Interior Ministry, which earlier shunned questions from anguished relatives trying to locate their loved ones, opened a hotline Friday. Lukashenko blamed protesters for triggering the crackdown, saying some of them assaulted police, who were justified in their response. Police also broke into apartments to seize protesters. Stas Gorelik, who is working on a doctorate at George Washington University, was visiting his parents in Minsk when he was arrested by the Belarusian security agency, which still goes by its Soviet-era name, the KGB. Stas face was broken and blood was dripping down his face when they took him away, said his father, Lev Gorelik, who went to the apartment where his 32-year-old son was staying with his girlfriend. His pillow was also drenched in blood. He said they couldnt find him for three days until they learned he was at a KGB jail, facing charges of organizing mass riots, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The KGB has denied Gorelik access to a lawyer. Its hard to explain such brutality he was only doing science and never engaged in activism or politics, the anguished father said. Human rights activists are preparing an appeal to the U.N. Committee Against Torture over the violence against protesters and the abusive treatment of detainees. All those detained were severely beaten before, during and after their arrest, said Valiantsin Stefanovich of the Viasna rights center. We have documented massive abuse and torture they were drawing crosses on peoples backs with truncheon blows, they were forcing people to engage in mass prayers and making them crawl on the ground naked. In 20 years of work as a human rights defender, I have never seen such abuses and humiliation, he said, adding that law enforcement agents have received a carte blanche for violence. By allowing the crackdown, observers say Lukashenko appears to have burned his bridges to the West and made himself entirely dependent on law enforcement agencies. The people from the KGB and other security agencies have played an increasingly important role in Lukashenkos entourage, and they have been able to enforce their forceful scenario, Stefanovich said. And the longer it goes, the less clear it becomes who depends on whom. The U.S. and the European Union imposed some sanctions on Belarus in the early 2000s when Lukashenko earned the nickname of Europes last dictator by stifling dissent, but some were later lifted. Throughout his rule, he has tried to blackmail Russia, his main ally and sponsor, by appearing to reach out to the West to win more subsidies. But EU foreign ministers again are taking the first steps toward sanctions in light of the post-election crackdown. This outburst of cruel and unmotivated violence has put Lukashenko back in the Europes last dictator niche, said Minsk-based independent analyst Alexander Klaskovsky. The sanctions and the rising tensions inside the country will leave the president with very little room for maneuver. Mstyslav Chernov in Minsk contributed. Getty The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian century of conflict is back on the agenda in recent months because of converging controversies and developments. First, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been flirting with annexation of part of the West Bank, which Israels peace partners and adversaries warned could spell the end to a workable Palestinian state there. At the same time a proposed one state solution by writer Peter Beinart and others has led to renewed controversy in pro-Israel circles in the United States. Then on Aug. 13, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the United States put out a joint statement that would halt Israels annexation plans and lead towards bilateral relations between Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem. But the agreement does not solve the question of what happens to the oft-discussed two-state solution. Jared Kushner Is Working On More MidEast Pacts With Israel Trumps Peace Plan Rescues Benjamin Netanyahu. For Now. The recent developments expose the fallacy of the Manichean binary of either two states or one, which ignores the reality on the ground. There will never be two states or one, but rather a solution that looks more like 1.5 states, which means an Israeli state and a Palestinian autonomous area with aspects of statehood. The two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been the mythical final status unicorn that peacemakers have been searching for over the last three decades. Since the First Intifada and the Oslo Accords of the 1990s there have been numerous interim periods of negotiations, road maps and meetings, all of which failed to lead to a Palestinian state. At the same time Israels continued construction of settlements in areas where the Palestinian state is supposed to arise have made disentangling Israel and the Palestinians increasingly unlikely. The reason the two-state solution is unlikely is because over the last decade and a half, when things were supposed to trend towards this final status, they trended away from it. The Palestinians received a self-governing autonomous area in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. This was controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) until elections in 2005 divided the area into Hamas-run Gaza and the PA-run West Bank which is largely controlled by the Palestinian faction Fatah. Story continues Meanwhile Israel continued building more settlements, roads and infrastructure in the West Bank, growing the Jewish population there to some 450,000 in 200 communities and an additional 300,000 in Israeli-annexed Jerusalem. Considering the trauma and difficulty Israel faced withdrawing just 7,000 people from Gaza during the disengagement in 2005 and the subsequent rocket fire and three wars in the Gaza Strip, Israel wont take that path again. What makes it most unlikely is also time. The Oslo period of the West Bank being controlled by an autonomous Palestinian PA, with its own security forces and all the trappings of a pseudo-state, has now lasted longer than either the British Mandate of Palestine or the Jordanian and Egyptian control of the West Bank and Gaza. That means most Palestinians under the age of 40, which is the vast majority of the population, have only known the Palestinian Authority self-governance era. I spent five years teaching at Al-Quds University in the West Bank. My students were mostly the Oslo generation of Palestinians. They were kids during the First Intifada and came of age during the Second Intifada. They saw dreams of statehood reduced, but they have no connection to Israel, unlike their parents generation, who lived under direct Israeli rule from 1967 to 1993. I learned from them that neither a one-state solution, nor a full two-state solution was likely to happen. It seemed to be a reality that many on the ground accepted as well, without wanting to admit that a full-fledged Palestinian state wouldnt come into being anytime soon. This matters when people discuss the idea of a one-state solution. The one-state concept is based on the theory that since Palestinians wont likely get a state, they should demand equal rights inside an Israeli state. This is based on a reading of history taken from the 1990s when many looked to South Africa as a successful model of conflict resolution. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned in 2014 that if there were not two states, then Israel would become an apartheid state. The logic of Kerrys argument, which is held by many Israel critics, is that the only solution to an apartheid state is sanctions on Israel that would result in pressure on Israel. This hoped-for solution of the critics is that sanctions would result in Israel replicating the 1990s end of apartheid and transition to full democracy, which is a one-state solution. This is the logic that underpins much of the one-state thinking, and it is a logic derived primarily from rose-colored visions of past success stories rather than the reality in Israel and the West Bank today. The problem with the one-state argument is that in areas where Israel does govern Palestinians and offers them rights to vote, the results do not end in the supposed post-apartheid harmony. In Jerusalem, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians can vote in municipal elections and only around 2 percent vote. Under the myth of one state, Israel would annex everything in the West Bank and Hamas-run Gazaand then what? There is no evidence Palestinians and Israelis want to share a government. The idea of re-integrating Hamas-run Gaza into Israel is farcical and would involve violence and civil conflict. For all these reasons the only real solution, which already exists on the ground, is a 1.5-state solution. This means that Palestinians continue to enjoy many of the trappings of a state, including the bilateral relations the Palestinian Authority already enjoys with 137 countries. The Palestinians have more international relations with their non-state than Kosovo does, and Kosovos independence was created by forcefully ousting the Serbian government with NATO and European Union backing. We have to understand the pursuit of a two-state solution as part of a 1990s post-Cold War era when conflicts were being solved globally through negotiations under the new liberal world order that was largely led by the United States and the West. From East Timor to Bosnia, from the Baltic states to peace in Northern Ireland, there was a wave of democratic peace-making. Even with difficulty South Sudan became independent and Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in the early 2000s. That era of emerging independent states has now ended. A Kurdistan independence referendum was not recognized globally and demands for Catalan independence and Scottish independence have gone nowhere. Self-declared states such as Somaliland, Northern Cyprus South Ossetia, the Donetsk Peoples Republic and other quasi-states have not received broad international support. Some of them are recognized only by Russia, in the case of a series of statelets that emerged with the end of the Cold War on Russias borderlands, while others were carved out of existing states by ethnic or tribal conflict or the breakdown of states like Somalia. Others, such the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq, have many trappings of a state but are only autonomous regions. Yet, they exist and tend to control their own borders and have small armies and flags. A two-state or one-state solution cannot be imposed on the Israelis and Palestinians. The era of peaceful democratic transitions to new states has largely ended with the current rise in authoritarian regimes globally and Americas global retreat from endless wars and humanitarian interventions. In addition any peace plan that envisions the Palestinian Authority becoming a full-fledged state in the areas that it controls in the West Bank, a kind of Swiss cheese of enclaves, ignores reality. You cant run a state when it isnt contiguous. Thats why East and West Pakistan broke apart and it is likely why Hamas runs Gaza and Fatah runs Ramallah. A better discussion to be had with Israelis and Palestinians is how to work the current problem within the parameters that exist. No annexation by Israel and no full statehood for the Palestinians. This leaves a solution that is in-between. Those who talk about peace and peace process dont like complex solutions. They want the South African or Northern Ireland model. They dont like the Bosnia or Kurdistan Regional Government models, where you have states that either lack recognition or are merely autonomous but behave like states. The Kurdistan region of Iraq, for instance, has more powers that are state-like than Ramallah. It has two airports, borders that it largely controls, oil it exports, a flag and large army. The Palestinians are blockaded and divided. Bosnia is independent but still divided. Most conflicts around the world today stem from border disputes that began with the end of the colonial era or the end of the Cold War. Similarly with Israel and the Palestinians, the inability to get to a final status is a result of the conflict in 1948 when Israel became independent, and the 1990s when the Oslo Accords were put into motion. While international law likes neat and clean borders, reality on the ground across the world is not so simple. It is not helpful to try to shoehorn Israelis and Palestinians into one state that they dont want to live in together, nor to try to forcibly pry them apart and cause new conflicts in the process. Agreeing on an autonomous quasi-state or 1.5-state solution formula is better. Thats largely what exists already. It is also a compromise that may gain tacit acceptance among Israels potential new peace partners in the Gulf. Providing Palestinians more freedom of movement or control over their own borders and affairs could be a good step towards a more workable and peaceful solution that isnt perfect for either side, but is preferable to the conflicts that would result from demanding a final state of one or two states. 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. Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan was on Saturday conferred with the Chief Minister's special award, in recognition of her advisory role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Swaminathan received the award from Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the 74th Independence Day celebration at Fort St George here. The representative has been offering suggestions to the state health department to step up measures in fighting the pandemic. Later, speaking to reporters, Swaminathan thanked the state government for selecting her and advised people to follow the pandemic protocols while venturing out. "Maintain a six feet social distance, do not go out without wearing masks and be careful while venturing out", she said. According to the World Health Organisation, Swaminathan has 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate her research into impactful programmes. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Best Practices award was bagged by the department of treasuries, while the Greater Chennai Corporation received the second prize for conducting fever clinics across the city to break the transmission chain of COVID-19. Medical Services Corporation received the certificate of appreciation for various steps undertaken to ensure uninterrupted availability of drugs for combating coronavirus. (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 Kosovo-Serbia dialogue has carried forward for nearly a decade. This series of negotiations aimed at normalizing relations between the two Western Balkan neighbors has been staged intermittently since 2011, and it has emerged as a touchstone for Western policymakers. A resolution is key to regional stability: Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, and Belgrade has worked to undermine Pristina ever since, lobbying other countries to refuse to recognize Kosovo, or in some cases to withdraw their previous recognition. Currently the dialogue pairs Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and the European Union acts as the main facilitator. EU involvement in this process is easy to understand, given that mutual recognition is a precondition for both of these countries to eventually join the bloc. The incentives for Kosovo to reach an agreement with Serbia are obvious and go beyond the possibility of EU membership. Reaching such a deal could open the door for Kosovo to finally join other international organizations, such as the United Nations and Interpol. However, it is less clear what incentives Serbia has to normalize relations with Kosovo. In fact, there are both political and personal disincentives for Vucic to see a deal reached. Lets take a look first at the political panorama. According to a 2018 public opinion poll, a slight majority of Serbian citizens want Serbia to join the European Union, citing the promise of better job opportunities and free movement throughout the bloc. However, in a 2019 poll, a clear majority of Serbian citizens said that they do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. This is a big problem. The progress that Serbia has made in its EU accession negotiations will be moot if it cannot successfully complete the thirty-fifth and final chapter: normalization of relations with Kosovo. Vucic therefore has to reconcile two mutually exclusive positions. If forced to choose between pursuing EU membership and non-recognition of Kosovos independence, Vucic has made it clear which one he would choose: In reply to a possible offer to recognize Kosovo and that Kosovo enters the UN, and we (Serbia) receive nothing in return except EU membership, our answer would be no. While the chances are slim of Serbia being offered literally nothing except EU membership for recognizing Kosovo, this statement shows how costly Vucic perceives normalization of relations with Kosovo to be, and how reluctant he is to move forward with it. From his perspective, the ideal outcome is probably one where an agreement is not reached but it is Kosovo who backs away first, likely due to what it perceives as Vucics exorbitant demands. This would allow Vucic to garner favor with nationalistic Serbian voters while simultaneously placating those who favor EU membership. He can deflect the blame for the deals failure on the other party. It might be even more important to note that a deal with Kosovo could threaten Vucics personal interests as well. Vucic has successfully consolidated power in Serbian politics since 2017. According to a recent Freedom House report, Serbia has devolved from a semi-consolidated democracy to a transitional/hybrid regime under Vucic, fueled in part by his attacks on independent media outlets and on non-governmental organizations that have been critical of his government. Vucic has consolidated power to the point where he is undisputedly the single most powerful person in the country. EU membership would threaten the basis of that power. Membership necessarily entails a litany of democracy and governance reforms that Serbia would need to undertake, and such reforms would undo the apparatus that Vucic has constructed for himself. Admittedly, the EU has struggled to confront authoritarian power grabs among member states, but there is reason to believe that it may be changing course and finally treating democratic backsliding like the serious threat that it is. The main incentive for Serbia to reach a deal with Kosovo is to clear the way for it to eventually join the EU, but for Vucic, EU membership is a potential personal threat. This does not mean that a deal wont get done just because Vucic doesnt want it to happen. The political pressure to pursue EU membership by any means necessary could increase to the point where it is insurmountable. Additionally, despite his cozying up to other major players in the region, such as China, Vucic is well aware that the European Union is by far Serbias largest foreign patron, and that the only long-term path for Serbia to be secure and prosperous is through EU membership. Regardless of whether or not a deal with Kosovo happens in which Serbia recognizes it as a sovereign nation, the tensions within the Vucic regime are on full display. Austin Doehler is a visiting scholar at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. The views expressed are the author's own. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:39:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases registered in Iran rose to 341,070 on Saturday, after an overnight reporting of 2,245 new patients, official IRNA news agency reported. Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing that 161 people died from the coronavirus overnight, taking the total death toll to 19,492. Out of the 2,245 new cases, 943 patients have been hospitalized, she added. As of Saturday, 295,630 patients have recovered, while 3911 others remain in critical condition in ICU. And 2,836,252 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in Iran so far, according to the spokeswoman. As stated by Sadat Lari, 15 Iranian provinces are currently in high risk of infection, while 11 others remain in alert situation. Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19. Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China. In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem LAS VEGAS - As President Donald Trumps reelection campaign challenged Nevadas new voting law in court, the president and Republicans argued the rules would facilitate fraud and illegal voting. Chief among their criticisms was a provision allowing ballot harvesting. The Nevada lawsuit highlighted a practice that has long fueled Republicans suspicions about mail-in voting. Although widely practiced and rarely found to be abused, the rule permitting a third party to collect and return multiple ballots remains a source of partisan dispute. Those fights are likely to continue up to Election Day as states adjust their laws for the pandemic. One of the few recent instances of fraud related to ballot collection happened in North Carolina in 2018, resulting in a congressional election being overturned. More than half of states allow a third party to collect ballots. And political groups and campaigns from both parties have run ballot-collection programs aimed at boosting turnout and ensuring voters who are older, homebound, disabled, or live far from U.S. postal services can get their ballot returned. This is not new ground, Nevadas Democratic Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson said in a statement. Allowing someone to assist a voter in turning in their ballot helps protect vulnerable populations, including our tribal and rural communities. Trump and the GOP contend ballot harvesting opens the door for fraud and have fought to restrict it. This has escalated as states prepare for greater reliance on absentee voting or vote-by-mail amid COVID-19. The issue has taken on heightened importance because there are so many people that are either confined to their homes or fearful of going to out to the post office because of the coronavirus, said Wendy Weiser, director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. This year, Republicans and Democrats have squared off in lawsuits over the third-party collection of ballots in Pennsylvania, Florida and Minnesota. In Wisconsin, a conservative law firm known as the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty requested that election officials outlaw the process. Though that states laws dont specifically address ballot harvesting, officials said they werent aware of any efforts to systematically collect absentee ballots in the state and did not impose a rule prohibiting it. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year struck down a 2016 law passed by Republicans in Arizona that made it a felony for someone besides a voters family member or caregiver to return an absentee ballot. While the appeals court sided with Democrats who had sued to challenge the law, the ruling is on hold while the states Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, the ballot collection restriction remains in force for the 2020 election. In Nevada, an easing of ballot collection rules was included in a new law that calls for automatically sending ballots to all active voters this November. Trumps reelection campaign, the Republican National Committee and Nevada GOP filed a lawsuit last week asking a judge to strike down the law. The complaint makes a brief mention of ballot harvesting, alleging without supporting evidence that it is among changes that facilitate fraud and other illegitimate voting practices. Nevadas Democratic attorney general asked a judge this past week to dismiss the lawsuit. A hearing has not yet been held. Election security experts say voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail. They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina as one of the few instances where there were reports of fraud related to ballot collection. A state probe there found that a Republican political operative illegally gathered ballots and workers testified that they were directed to collect blank or incomplete ballots, forge signatures and fill in votes. Officials overturned the election. North Carolina is among 10 states that generally only allow a family member or caregiver to drop off someones ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Nevada is among 26 other states allowing voters to more broadly designate someone to drop off their ballot. About a dozen of those states have imposed limits on how many ballots a person can submit. Minnesota limits a person to collecting and returning three ballots, for example. California since 2016 has allowed for someone to collect an unlimited number of ballots from voters, though it does bar someone from being paid based on how many ballots they return. Californias law became the source of controversy and GOP criticism after Democrats used the practice to their advantage in 2018, flipping Republican-held congressional seats after a flood absentee ballots came in before the deadline and were counted after Election Day. Richard L. Hasen, a law professor and elections expert at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, said that despite then-U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan declaring it bizarre, there was no evidence in those contests that any ballots were tampered with. On the one hand, theres going to be much more need for the use of absentee ballots because of the potential safety concerns of voting in person, Hasen said of the 2020 election. On the other hand, there are going to be more people who are going to be receiving absentee ballots and more potential for interfering with them. Hasen said thats particularly true for states like Nevada that plan to send ballots to voters in the mail regardless of whether they requested one. Nevadas law does not include limits on how many ballots can be collected or restrictions on payment. It does allow someone to be charged with a felony for blocking the ballot from being submitted or failing to return it after being entrusted to do so. In addition to expanding ballot collection, Nevadas law also allows voters who are over 65, have a disability or are unable to read or write to have someone assist them in physically marking their ballot. Those provisions have also drawn criticism from Trump. Nevada requires anyone assisting a voter in physically marking a ballot to include a written statement with the name, address and signature of the person who assisted the voter. ___ Associated Press writers Sam Metz in Carson City, Nevada, and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report. The moon is drifting away. Every year, it gets about an inch and a half farther from us. Hundreds of millions of years from now, our companion in the sky will be distant enough that there will be no more total solar eclipses. For decades, scientists have measured the moons retreat by firing a laser at light-reflecting panels, known as retroreflectors, that were left on the lunar surface, and then timing the lights round trip. But the moons five retroreflectors are old, and theyre now much less efficient at flinging back light. To determine whether a layer of moon dust might be the culprit, researchers devised an audacious plan: They bounced laser light off a much smaller but newer retroreflector mounted aboard a NASA spacecraft that was skimming over the moons surface at thousands of miles per hour. And it worked. These results were published this month in the journal Earth, Planets and Space. Of all the stuff humans have left on the moon, the five retroreflectors, which were delivered by Apollo astronauts and two Soviet robotic rovers, are among the most scientifically important. Theyre akin to really long yardsticks: By precisely timing how long it takes laser light to travel to the moon, bounce off a retroreflector and return to Earth (roughly 2.5 seconds, give or take), scientists can calculate the distance between the moon and Earth. Arrays of glass corner-cube prisms make this cosmic ricochet possible. These optical devices reflect incoming light back to exactly where it came from, ensuring that retroreflectors send photons on a tight, neat flip turn. The materials were transported by an IAF C-17 transport aircraft that landed in Beirut earlier in the day on Friday.(Photo: MEAIndia/Twitter) New Delhi: Following the massive explosion on August 4 in the Lebanese Capital Beirut allegedly due to a stored explosive chemical catching fire, India on Friday despatched 58 metric tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid and relief material to the west Asian nation. The materials include emergency medical supplies, wheat flour, sugar and pulses, and also relief materials like blankets, dignity kits and sleeping mats which are required as large number of people have been rendered homeless. The materials were transported by an IAF C-17 transport aircraft that landed in Beirut earlier in the day on Friday. In the wake of the spike in the Covid-19 cases in Lebanon, India has also separately sent Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including surgical gloves and surgical gowns which is expected to reach Beirut in the coming days, the MEA said. In a statement, the MEA said, In response to the massive explosion in Beirut on 4 August, we had offered our assistance to Lebanon and sought from them an assessment of their requirement. Based on this, today morning an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft was deployed to deliver 58 MT of emergency humanitarian aid on behalf of the Government of India to Lebanon. MEA also added that, The aircraft landed in Beirut a few hours back and the aid has been handed over by our Ambassador to senior officials of the Lebanese Armed Forces which is coordinating all the relief efforts. The aid contains emergency medical supplies, wheat flour, sugar and pulses, and also relief materials like blankets, dignity kits and sleeping mats, which are required as large number of people have been rendered homeless. India had last week sought an assessment of the extent of damage from the Lebanese Government to decide the extent of assistance to Lebanon. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Belseran Christ (The Jakarta Post) Ambon Sat, August 15, 2020 08:25 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2d123 1 National illegal-trade,protected-animals,Maluku,BKSDA,Environment-and-Forestry-Ministry Free The Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has thwarted attempted illegal trade involving birds and reptiles originating from the Maluku Islands. The protected animals were seized in three regions, namely North Sumatra, Jakarta and East Java. Among them are 25 Moluccan cockatoos a vulnerable species endemic to Seram Island, three endangered white cockatoos endemic to Indonesia's tropical rainforests, two near-threatened blushing cockatoos from Tanimbar Islands, 16 red lories, a black-winged lory, five chattering lories and four coconut lorikeets. The captured animals also included 42 blue-tongued lizards and 27 Amboina sailfin lizards from Ambon Island, a top official at the BKSDA Maluku, Meity Pattipawae, said on Wednesday. Meity further explained that all of the smuggled animals had been repatriated to Maluku using two commercial airlines and were about to be released into the wild. "The animals considered to be in healthy condition will be immediately released in the Mount Sahuwai Nature Reserve in West Seram regency and the Manusela National Park in Central Maluku regency," she said, adding that those in need of rehabilitation would be treated at a number of facilities in Ambon and Seram Island before being released. BKSDA Maluku head Danny H. Pattipellohy revealed that hundreds of the animals were intended to be sold for up to Rp 5 million (US$337) per animal. "From the information that weve received, a cockatoo is sold at Rp 500,000 to Rp 800,000 in Maluku, but by the time it is traded in Java, the price could soar to Rp 5 million," he said. BKSDA offices across the country, he further said, would ramp up their efforts to stop such illegal trade. Indra Exploitasia, the director of the Environment and Forestry Ministry's biodiversity conservation, had separately committed to protecting animals prone to hunting and thwart any attempt to trade them in illegal markets "in order to maintain the balance of their ecosystem." (vny) A former Nigerian Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has dragged his successor, Abubakar Malami, before a London court over alleged false evidence presented against him in the P&ID case. In a court filing seen by this newspaper, Mr Adoke is seeking an order for the redaction of certain witness statements attributed to Mr Malami in the P&ID trial. The P&ID saga became a full-blown crisis for Nigeria last year when a U.K. judge ruled P&ID could enforce an arbitration tribunals 2017 ruling, now totaling $9.6 billion including interest, which found the country breached the agreement. Nigerias chances of annulling the giant penalty lie on proving the 2010 gas supply arrangement was a sham designed to fail by P&ID and government officials. READ ALSO: There is good reason to believe that ministers at the highest level were involved in a corrupt scheme to steal money from Nigeria by entering into the contract which is the subject of this proceedings and failing properly to defend the subsequent arbitral proceedings, Mr Malami had said in court filings submitted on March 24. In his fresh application, Mr Adoke re-produced this statement and other claims made by Mr Malami in his application, adding that they amount to malicious representation. Fresh Application Details of the draft order showed that Mr Adoke is seeking for the redaction of the 4th witness statement of Honorable Abubakar Malami filed on 5th December 2019. He also requests the Nigerian government, through the attorney-general, to delete statements in paragraphs 11.4, 23, and 24.4 of the 4th witness statement of Honourable Abubakar Malami filed on 05/12/2019 on behalf of the claimant/respondent in the Arbitration in the manner set out in the schedule thereto. The former minister also seeks similar redaction in the 6th witness statement filed by Mr Malami on March 6, particularly in paragraphs 19.3, 105.1, 105.4, 112, 114.2, 114.4, and 115.6.3 on behalf of the claimant. The former minister also seeks order for cost against the claimant on an indemnity basis. In presenting the grounds upon which the applications are made, the former minister said the statements are false, defamatory, scandalous and malicious, adding that they amount to an abuse of the process of the court. Mr Adoke also claimed that Mr Malami was aware, at the time he made the statement, that the statements were false as he (Malami) had in his capacity as attorney-general advised the Nigerian president and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he (Adoke) did not do anything fraudulent in the OPL 245 saga but only carried out the instruction of former president Goodluck Jonathan. Mr Adoke argued further that the statements were therefore meant to maliciously interfere in the fair hearing of a separate case involving him before a High Court in Abuja. Mr Adoke further gave an elaborate explanation of his involvement in the P&ID case, adding that there is no direct evidence implicating him in the case. Background Earlier in July, Mr Adoke had in a letter written by his lawyer, Paul Erokoro, said Mr Malami had written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to absolve him of any wrongdoing in the OPL 245 transaction. In your letter of 20th September, 2017, addressed to the Acting Chairman of EFCC, you had explicitly advised that a review of the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement did not disclose a case against Mr. Adoke, the letter read. In effect, you had, as Attorney-General, exonerated Mr. Adoke of any wrongdoing in relation to the OPL 245 settlement agreements, contrary to your evidence in the English Court. Mr Adoke is, however, being prosecuted by the EFCC for his role in the OPL 245 scandal. In his witness statement filed at the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Mr Malami had described Mr Adoke as corrupt, adding that he was implicated in the OPL 245 case and played a role in the P&ID arbitration. In his response at the time, Mr Malami had accused Mr Adoke of peddling falsehood. He also accused Mr Adokes lawyer, Mr Erokoro, of conflict of interest. He said: Mr Adoke seeks to wash his hands off any involvement in settlement negotiations with P&ID, falsely stating that all settlement negotiations with P&ID took place after he had left office as the-then Attorney General of the Federation. This is simply untrue, as settlement negotiations took place in 2012, 2014, and during Spring 2015 when Mr Adoke was the-then Attorney General of the Federation. It is noteworthy that Mr Adoke is being represented by Paul Erokoro SAN. Mr Erokoro SAN has in fact recently provided a sworn witness statement concerning certain factual matters on behalf of P&ID in the proceedings in London (in which he made no mention of the matters which he has raised in his letter). Mr Erokoro is also the lawyer representing Mr James Nolan of P&ID in the criminal proceedings on foot against Mr Nolan in the FRN. It remains to be seen how Mr Erokoro SAN could be seen as impartial and not conflicted, given his various roles closely connecting him with P&ID. According to details contained in the new application filed by Mr Adoke, the case is expected to be handled without a hearing by Ross Cranston, a high court judge. Monsoons Cause Havoc in India as Climate Change Alters Rainfall Patterns By Anjana Pasricha August 14, 2020 Searching through the rubble of a tea plantation that collapsed after heavy rains lashed India's southern Kerala state last week, rescuers counted 55 casualties. The resulting landslide buried homes of several workers in the hillside's debris several children were among the victims. It was the latest monsoon-related disaster that has taken at least 150 lives in India, where environmentalists say climate change has altered the pattern of the monsoon season it now brings short, intense bursts of rain instead of the steady showers that historically rejuvenated soil from June to September. In the north and east of the country, an estimated 8 million grappled with a trail of destruction as swollen rivers inundated vast swaths of farmland and villages, destroying thatched homes and crops in two of India's poorest states, Assam and Bihar. Among those who saw their land disappear under water was Raj Kumar, who travels every summer from New Delhi, where he works as a driver, to sow his fields in a village in Bihar. His 1-hectare plot of land that he planted with rice in early July was flooded with 6 feet of water after the nearby river overran its banks. "My entire crop is lost. It is the second year this has happened," the distraught Kumar said, blaming a nearby road that he said was built on land that had acted as a buffer between his fields and the river. WATCH: As Climate Change Alters Rainfall Patterns, Monsoons Cause Havoc in India The devastation did not spare neighboring countries. In Bangladesh, nearly one-fourth of the low-lying country was inundated last month, while mountainous Nepal is coping with landslides and flash floods. Along with India, the toll from flooding in the three countries is more than 400. Wildlife was not spared. In India's northeastern state of Assam, eight rare one-horned rhinos were among the 100 wild animals that drowned as overflowing rivers raced through the famed Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary last month. Environmentalists say large-scale flooding has become a regular feature in South Asia in recent years as rising temperatures increase the number of "extreme rainfall events." "If you have more than 100 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours, it is called an extreme rainfall event, but the problem is that we are getting 100 millimeters of rainfall within an hour now," said Chandra Bhushan, who heads the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology in New Delhi. "Even the definition of extreme rainfall events will have to change considering the quantity of rain, the intensity of rainfall we are experiencing now," he said. Although the floods affected or displaced millions, in a country badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic it was not easy to provide relief. "It is a crisis within a crisis," according to Tritha Prasad Saikia, the joint director of the Assam-based North East Area Affected Development Society, a voluntary group that helps vulnerable communities. "This year due to the lockdown transportation, communication, accessing markets to procure relief items, and gathering funds from big organizations, have all been difficult," Saikia said. India's mega cities have not been spared the consequences of the changing monsoon pattern. Vehicles in Mumbai were submerged and people waded through knee-deep water when the heaviest rain in a single day in 15 years lashed the city earlier this month. It did not take its 12 million residents by surprise streets turning into rivulets has become a familiar pattern every monsoon. Experts say unsustainable development has intensified the problem caused by heavy deluges. A huge influx of people into cities during the last three decades has led to unregulated construction buildings have mushroomed along wetlands and water bodies that once absorbed excess rainfall. "In cities like in Mumbai there are a number of streams or small rivers called the 'nullahs.' But all these have been heavily encroached," said T.I. Eldho who heads the Civil Engineering Department at the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai. "So what happens is that all the traditional outlets for water have been drastically decreased," he said. Eldho, who has studied urban flooding, cites a prime commercial and residential complex in the Bandra-Kurla, built in the Mumbai neighborhood by reclaiming low-lying land on either side of a river. Environmentalists say it has worsened the city's drainage woes. Environmentalists say much of India's urbanization is happening on areas unsuitable for construction, such as flood plains. The floods are costly catastrophes they have caused $50 billion in economic losses in the last three decades, according to an Asian Development Bank study. "If you account for total natural disasters that have happened and extent of loss and damage, then floods rank on top," said Abhinash Mohanty at the Council for Energy, Environment and Water in New Delhi. He points to a World Bank study that concluded that between 1970 and 2009, floods were responsible for two-thirds of losses from natural disasters in India. Experts say in the short term, India must ensure timely warnings to allow people to prepare for flooding. In the long run, though, it must quickly implement measures to protect traditional drainage areas along riverfronts and rejuvenate lakes and swamps that have been built over in cities. "The amount of money that we require to protect the environment is far lesser than the money we are losing because of these incidents," Bhushan said. The starting point, he said, is "recognizing that there is a problem." "Unfortunately," he said, "governments and people have got too used to this." Environmentalists warn that if calls for more sustainable development are not heeded, scenes of large-scale inundation and loss of lives could recur with depressing regularity extracting their heaviest toll on the poorest communities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine security forces were on alert Saturday for possible reprisal attacks after arresting a key leader of an Islamic State-linked militant group accused of kidnapping and beheading several foreigners. Abduljihad Susukan, a member of Abu Sayyaf, was detained in the southern city of Davao and flown to the capital Manila on Friday, where he was being held at the national police headquarters. He has been charged with 23 murders, five kidnappings and six attempted murders, a police statement said. Listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of Islamic militants blamed for the country's worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries. "The Philippine National Police along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines remain alert and vigilant to prevent and respond to any reprisal attack," police spokesman Brigadier-General Bernard Banac told AFP. The Philippine military said Susukan was behind the April 2016 beheadings of Canadian tourists Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, after Manila and Ottawa rejected the kidnappers' ransom demands. In 2017 Susukan's group also beheaded Jurgen Kantner, who was abducted from his yacht off the southern Philippines the previous year, said military spokesman Brigadier-General Edgard Arevalo. "There is a strong possibility" that Susukan was also behind the 2015 beheading of Malaysian hostage Bernard Then, who was abducted in Malaysia's Sabah state, Arevalo told AFP. The authorities said Susukan had gone to Davao, near where the Canadians were abducted, to get a prosthetic arm after losing one in a clash with security forces. Police said they found him in the home of Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari, who is awaiting trial for an attack carried out by hundreds of his armed followers on the southern city of Zamboanga in 2013 that left more than 200 people dead. Despite the charges, Misuari has government permission to live at his home and travel. President Rodrigo Duterte enlisted Misuari's help last year to negotiate peace with various armed groups in the country's troubled south as well as to help negotiate the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages. cgm/amj/leg Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday evening (PDF) that would require the Chinese owner of TikTok to sell off the its business in the United States in the next 90 days. The order cites national security concerns following a report by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and would undo the ByteDances 2017 acquisition of lip-syncing app Muscial.ly, which later evolved into TikTok. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement The order directs ByteDance to divest all interests and rights in any assets or property used to enable or support the operation of TikTok in the United States, and any data obtained or derived from TikTok or Musical.ly users in the United States. CFIUS conducted an exhaustive review of the case and unanimously recommended this action to the President in order to protect U.S. users from exploitation of their personal data. Microsoft has been in talks to buy the app. Trump had previously issued a still-pending order to ban transactions with ByeDance and WeChat owner Tencent in the United States and said that there was a Sept. 15 deadline for a sale. He has also insisted that the US Treasury should directly benefit from any acquisition. There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States, the order states. It also requires ByteDance destroy the data of US users, while giving US officials authority to inspect its books and systems during sale negotiations. As CNBC states the order was seen as good news for TikTok because the prior executive order could have forced U.S. based app stores to stop distributing the TikTok app if ByteDance did not reach a deal to divest from it in 45 days. In other words: the latest order creates a more clear path forward for ByteDance to negotiate a sale to a US buyer. The Trump administration used a similar tactic last year when it used the CFIUS to force the Chinese owner of Grindr to sell the dating app to an American company. When reached for comment, a TikTok spokesperson referred to the company previous statement in response to Trumps prior executive order. We're committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform for many years to come, the spokesperson said, Microsoft didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and Republican challenger Yvette Herrell have agreed to at least two televised debates in a closely watched race in southern New Mexico. And they may be looking for more. Torres Small and Herrell said this week they agreed to participate in a KOB-TV debate, and another sponsored by KOAT-TV and the Albuquerque Journal. Both say theyd like to add some more debates in the El Paso, Texas, market, which is home to many residents in the southern part of the 2nd Congressional District. The scheduled debates come two years after Torres Small defeated Herrell by less than 4,000 votes in 2018. But the two never faced off in a televised debate and Herrell, a former state lawmaker from Alamogordo, faced criticism for avoiding such debates and focusing on conservative media appearances. This time, however, Herrell immediately challenged Torres Small to debate shortly after winning her heated GOP primary in June. This week, Herrell released her first television ad, where she speaks in front of chile and oil fields to reintroduce herself to general election voters. In Congress, Ill work across the lines that divide us to safely reopen our economy, and Ill promote innovation in health care to drive down costs and keep our families safe, Herrell says in the new ad. The tone is different from her Republican primary campaign where she emphasized her strong support for President Donald Trump and touted her endorsements from U.S. House Freedom Caucus members some of the most conservative members of Congress who have refused to work with Democrats on many issues. Torres Small has released a series of ads where she supports putting politics aside and working with Trump to pass a COVID-19 relief package. Ill work with anyone who wants to deliver for New Mexico, Torres Small said. The Las Cruces Democrat rarely mentioned Trump during her 2018 campaign. The sprawling district is home to a lucrative oil region, but also has some of the most impoverished communities in the U.S. The district has the highest percentage of Hispanic voters in New Mexico, which is also the state with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents. A third teenager has been charged with the churchyard murder of Steven McMyler last Thursday. Mr McMyler, 34, was kicked in the head in Wigan Parish Church's yard and was pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old youth from the Merseyside area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Saturday. Jordan Short, 19, of Rushey Hey Road, Kirkby, and a 13-year-old boy, also from Merseyside, have already appeared in court this week and were further remanded in custody. Greater Manchester Police said three men - aged 30, 19 and 18 - who were previously arrested on suspicion of murder have been released under investigation. In a statement issued yesterday, police said: 'Shortly before 7.50pm on Thursday, August 6, police were called by the ambulance service to reports of concern for a man outside the church on Bishopgate, Wigan. Stephen McMyler, 34, pictured, died outside Wigan Parish Church, in Bishopgate, Wigan, on Friday 'Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Steven James McMyler sadly died at the scene.' Paying tribute to him, Mr McMyler's family said: 'Steven was an extremely likeable lad, and everyone who came across him loved him as much as we all did. 'He was a popular lad, and he lit the room up as soon as he walked in. Everybody thought the world of him, as he had a heart of gold. 'We can't believe what has happened, and we are struggling to come to terms with this terrible tragedy.' Police said enquiries were continuing and repeated an appeal for witnesses. Mr McMyler was treated at the scene by emergency services but later died. Detectives are now appealing for any information about the identity of four men who were seen at Wigan Wallgate Station 30-60 minutes earlier. Three men - aged 30, 19 and 18 - were arrested on suspicion of murder and an 18-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Detectives are now appealing for any information about the identity of four men, pictured, who were seen at Wigan Wallgate Station 30-60 minutes earlier Police believe four men, pictured, 'may hold important information regarding this incident' and are appealing to the public to contact them if they know anyone pictured All four have been released on bail under investigation. Detective Inspector Wes Knights, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'This devastating incident has left Stephen's family feeling broken and they deserve answers. 'While we have made good progress in the very early stages of this investigation, we are keen to ensure we hear from every possible witness of this incident. 'We are particularly keen to identify and hear from four men who we believe may hold important information regarding this incident and I plea with the public to contact us if they recognise any of these men. In a moving post on Facebook, Stephen's partner Alex Hughes said they were due to go on holiday to Tenerife on Friday, but instead she found out he had died. She said: 'Thank you for the last 12 months of my life. I know recently we had our ups and downs, but my god we had some laughs. 'My best mate, and I'm sorry that this has happened, you'll always have a special place in my heart. And I promise to always be there for your family and friends, and little girls.' A dedicated portal has been set up for the public to share information with the Police as they continue to appeal for anyone who knows these four men, pictured, to come forward Police believe there had been a 'earlier altercation' at the church and released the images of the four men, pictured, that they would like to speak to Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4815 quoting incident 2974 of 06/08/2020. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A dedicated portal has been set up for the public to share their information with the investigation team. Anyone with any mobile or local CCTV footage of the incident or of other suspicious activity in the area that night can upload media to https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4z0iy2ckk0blkms/AACqaid19ZEML9CrQOdyFLhNa?dl=0 The founder and co-ordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens has taken a swipe at the Sanitation Minister for claiming that Accra is 85% clean. According to Awula Serwah, the Ministers claim is astonishing looking at the filth that has engulfed the capital. Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah earlier this week said governments promise to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by 2020 is 85% complete. In an interview with during a cleanup exercise in parts of Nima Tuesday, she stated that government has done its best to make Accra clean. When we dont do these things of throwing rubbish into the drains, the drains will be clearer and neater and our homes will also be clean because the Assembly has been tasked to send round the tricycles to pick up our waste. So I am telling you and I know you will quote it that, we are 85% through [with making Accra the cleanest city]. You all saw the 100% we achieved during the lockdown. So the question is, who makes Accra dirty?, Madam Dapaah said. Speaking on Starr FMs Analyses program Saturday morning, Awula Serwah said the ministers claim could have been a dream and not a reality. It was astonishing, because going round Accra I dont think anybody gets that impressionmaybe she was talking prophetically. Maybe she was talking about what could be and not what is there already. ---starrfmonline Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Caroline Giovanie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 14:05 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e4092e 1 Environment EU,European-Union,sustainability,ASEAN,environment Free Since 2014, the European Union (EU) has funded virtual integration programs in ASEAN with over 250 million euro (US$296 million) in addition to over 2 billion euro to individual projects. This year, the EU is allotting 800 million euro to ASEAN states to address the economic, social and political consequences brought by the pandemic, with a focus on sustainability. On Thursday, EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesmans announced the programs the EU will support, which are listed below. 1. Smart Green Cities Program This project aims to promote sustainable urbanization within ASEAN cities through carbon footprint reduction and sustainable development. Expected to start soon this year, the project aims to contribute to the long-term goal of supporting the environment while still allowing for urban development in cities. Specific issues such as plastic waste will be targeted due to its significant damage to the environment. Read also: North Bali Eco Hub: A new sustainable community project with a grand vision 2. Farmers Organizations Support Program (AFOSP) This program is going to implement sustainable forest governance and management across the ASEAN region through the push for sustainable timber trade and licensing. The program also aims to improve the livelihood and food security of local small-scale farmer in rural ASEAN countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar, whose production methods are suffering from the pandemic. This is done through financial endowments to the farmers, strengthening their organizational methods for more effective production and influencing local, national as well as global policies that support sustainable farming. 3. ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions Program This program is raising awareness about and implements the international standards of Supreme Audit Institutions. With the aim of providing transparency and accountability toward the countries governments, the project will focus on correcting where public funds are spent to prevent fraud. This will ensure that citizens taxes are being spent on public facilities that are needed the most. In addition to this, standards that are followed by multiple countries will ensure that everyone will be able to have their tax money spent on similar and appropriate public expenditure. (wng) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke of Indias deepening ties with the Gulf countries and thanked them for letting Indians stay for an extended period amid the coronavirus pandemic. India is grateful to them for honouring New Delhis request, he said in his 90-minute address to the nation from Red Fort. Indias ties with the Gulf countries, crucial to meet New Delhis energy needs, had improved manifold in recent years, PM Modi said. The explicit expression of gratitude to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar comes amid the governments consistent efforts to strengthen ties with the Gulf across sectors. PM Modis remarks, as also Indias unequivocal statement welcoming UAEs accord with Israel, contrasted sharply with Pakistans guarded response to full normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel. Pakistans approach (to the accord) will be guided by our evaluation of how Palestinians rights and aspirations are upheld and how regional peace, security and stability are preserved, Islamabads statement said, Indias statement, issued after UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan briefed his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, was unambiguous and welcomed restoration of full diplomatic ties between New Delhis two strategic partners. New Delhi also maintained its traditional support for the Palestinian cause and hoped for early direct negotiations for an acceptable two state solution. Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke to Jaishankar on Saturday to brief him on the accord. Also Read: From Red Fort, PM Modi delivers one message to 2 neighbours, China and Pak Since he took over as PM, Narendra Modi has made cementing relations with Gulf countries his topmost priority. He was the first prime minister to visit Abu Dhabi in 2015 after 34 years. The next year, he traveled to Saudi Arabia, the flag bearer of Sunni Islam. The two Sunni countries along with Kuwait and Qatar are at the heart of PMs Middle East diplomacy as New Delhi realises the role these countries play in its energy security, the well-being and progress of the Indian diaspora safety as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the 57-member grouping of Islamic countries. An Indian diplomat said the statements by New Delhi and Islamabad on the UAE-Israel accord reflecting their different priorities. While India has found partners for peace in the Middle East, it is for Pakistan to answer whether it will partner on-going Shia revolution in Iran or restoration of Ottoman empire in Turkey or revival of Muslim Brotherhood in Qatar. It is quite evident that the UAE-Israel accord will restore peace in the normally restive region as opposed to polarisation that Pakistan has exploited in the past using either Palestine or Kashmir as per its political convenience, said a senior Indian diplomat. It was a reflection of the strength of ties between India and the Gulf countries that Pakistans repeated requests to convene a meeting of the OICs Council of Foreign Ministers have not been accepted so far. The Saudi-led OICs refusal drove foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to tell a TV channel that he would ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir. The Imran Khan government, which came under attack from opposition parties for Qureshis remarks, is learnt to have hugely upset the kingdom. Pakistan is planning to send its Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to Riyadh to try to repair relations but is yet to get confirmation from Saudi Arabia for an appointment with the Saudi leadership. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Prince of Wales chats with veterans after the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Oli Scarff/PA) The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the indefatigable heroes of the Forgotten Army on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. In a speech at a ceremony marking the occasion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Charles said: Today we remember and give thanks for the extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and tenacity demonstrated by those who fought in the Asia-Pacific theatre of the Second World War. Together, they comprised a force whose courage was as remarkable as its diversity. Hundreds of thousands of troops from India, Burma, China and across Asia, were joined by hundreds of thousands more from Europe, Africa, Australasia and North America. Together, they served with the greatest distinction. Without them, the war could not have been won. Charles addressed up to 40 invited veterans drawn from the four corners of the Commonwealth during the socially-distanced ceremony. He said: On this day in 1945, the surrender of Imperial Japan and the cessation of fighting in the Asia-Pacific region, brought an end to six bitter years of global conflict. Victory in Europe had been achieved that May, of course, but while millions in Europe rejoiced, in South East Asia and the Pacific our long-suffering service personnel, with their Commonwealth and Allied partners, continued the fight for three more months. It was their extraordinary endurance and fortitude which secured the end of the war, and which was later confirmed by the ratification of the Japanese surrender on September 2 1945, in Tokyo Bay, on board the USS Missouri an event my father (the Duke of Edinburgh) witnessed whilst serving with the British Pacific Fleet. Expand Close Charles and Camilla paid tribute on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day (Molly Darlington/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Charles and Camilla paid tribute on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day (Molly Darlington/PA) From the vantage point of the 21st century, it is hard for us to appreciate fully the suffering endured by those who fought, or were caught up in, this theatre of war. Drawing on his time as Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command, my great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, helped me begin to understand the quite atrocious conditions experienced by our forces throughout South East Asia. But those of us not there at the time really can only begin to understand. Lord Mountbatten told me of his experiences of that gruelling campaign in which our troops faced not only a determined opponent, but at the same time had to contend with an incredibly hostile jungle environment and the ever-present scourge of disease which claimed nearly a quarter of a million Allied casualties. At this point we should also reflect on those unfortunate prisoners of war, who suffered so dreadfully. Over a quarter of all Allied prisoners of war lost their lives in captivity. Expand Close Charles chats to a veteran after the service (Oli Scarff/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Charles chats to a veteran after the service (Oli Scarff/PA) The courage and fortitude shown by all those who fought in the region was exemplary. Field Marshal Slim observed that victory was reliant upon their courage, their hardihood, their refusal to be beaten either by the cruel hazards of Nature or by the fierce strength of their human adversary. No fewer than 29 Victoria Crosses were awarded during the Burma campaign the highest tally of any theatre of war; another measure of its exceptional nature. It is also of the greatest importance to remember the courage of the many ethnic groups in Burma who fought so bravely in the most appalling circumstances. Their resolve, like that of all British, Commonwealth and Allied forces, was unbreakable, and, to this day, stands as an example to us all. Of course, this was a war that affected not only those who fought, but had a devastating impact on the countless civilians who found themselves caught up in the conflict. Indeed, for many in Burma those who lived through the war, as well as for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren conflict, tragically, continues to blight their lives to this day. Today, as we mark 75 years since VJ Day check out these amazing 'Then and Now' shots of some of the inspiring people who served in the Far East, from our partners at @DCMS. We are so thankful to all who served and sacrificed. #VJDAY75 pic.twitter.com/I3LLCMW3xH Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) August 15, 2020 So, as we gather in this most fitting of settings in front of the Burma Star Memorial Grove, it seems to me to be vital that we remember all those who were so profoundly affected by this conflict. Those who so gallantly served, a number of whom we are fortunate to have here amongst us and those who gave and endured so much, in so many other ways. To all of you, we owe the greatest debt of gratitude, which can never be fully repaid. Charles said he felt most privileged to have been asked to become the patron of the Burma Star Memorial Fund last year, which takes on the mantle of the Burma Star Association, from Saturday. He added the fund would uphold a lasting memorial by offering a multi-national scholarship programme open to young people in the 30 nations which served on the Allied side in Burma. Charles said: In doing so, it is hoped that we will keep alive the indefatigable spirit of those who took part in the Burma campaign and, through education, share the most precious dividends of peace and freedom. Attending a reception after the #VJDay75 service, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall speak to veterans and their families. pic.twitter.com/6s83jEFfO6 The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) August 15, 2020 Today, 75 years after that hard-won victory over tyranny, I am proud and humbled to be able to join you all in expressing my profound respect and admiration to the veterans and survivors of that interminable and terrible campaign. Above all, however, let us remember all those who never returned, and would never grow old. We pray that their stories will be passed on to the generations of today and tomorrow so that we can learn from their example. All too often, those who fought in the Far East have been labelled the Forgotten Army in the Forgotten War. Many of the soldiers, nurses and other personnel felt anger and disappointment at how they were treated when they finally returned home from a war which, from the publics point of view, had ended on the May 8 1945. He added: Let us affirm they and the surviving veterans are not forgotten. Rather, you are respected, thanked and cherished with all our hearts, and for all time. We salute all those who remain among us, and offer our most heartfelt and undying gratitude for those who are gone before. Your service and your sacrifice will echo through the ages. US bans private charter flights to Cuba to increase pressure on Havana Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 5:36 AM The United States says it is suspending all private charter flights to Cuba, in yet another move to intensify economic pressure on the government of President Raul Castro over human rights accusations and its support for the Venezuelan government, which Washington seeks to overthrow. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the measures on Thursday, accusing the government of Castro of using tourism and travel funds to finance what he called abuses and interference in Venezuela. "Dictators cannot be allowed to benefit from US travel," he said. The order will suspend all charter flights between the US and all airports in Cuba, except for authorized public charters to and from Havana. But it will allow authorized charter flights "and other travel deemed in the interest of the United States," according to the US Transportation Department. For most existing charter flights the suspension becomes effective on October 13. "This administration will continue to target and cut the revenue the Cuban government earns from landing fees, stays in regime-owned hotels, and other travel-related income," Pompeo. Cuba's top diplomat on relations with the US, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, however, said the measures will have "little practical impact." Cuba's Foreign Ministry also slammed the new bans, saying the Trump administration "seeks to satisfy the electoral political machinery of south Florida." Florida a key battleground which President Donald Trump hopes to win in the November presidential election is home to conservative Cuban-American groups, who welcome Washington's hardline policies toward Havana. Cuba has been under a US economic blockade for over 60 years. The two countries severed relations in 1961 during the Cold War. Washington, under former President Barack Obama, restored diplomatic relations with Havana in 2015. US commercial flights to Cuba also resumed in August 2016 for the first time in more than 50 years. Trump, however, began to roll back the historic rapprochement as soon as he took office in early 2017. In October last year, Washington banned charter flights to Cuba except for Havana and this May, it set a limit of 3,600 flights per year to the Cuban capital. Back in June, the Trump administration added seven Cuban companies and hotels to its list of sanctioned entities. And last month, it announced sanctions against Havin Bank LTD, a London-based Cuban entity also known as Havana International Bank. Washington has also imposed several rounds of crippling sanctions against Venezuela, aimed at ousting Maduro and replacing him with opposition figure Juan Guaido. The sanctions, which include the illegal confiscation of Venezuelan assets abroad and an economic blockade, have caused enormous suffering for millions of people in the country. In recent months, calls have been growing inside the US and abroad for Washington to lift its unilateral sanctions on various countries, including, Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Cuba and North Korea, amid their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Jake Barnett Barnett is a Salem native and a 2016 graduate of Salem High School. He is a senior in the Clinical Neuroscience program at Virginia Tech. On Feb. 23rd, 2020. Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging near Glynn County, Georgia, when he was murdered by two white men who had been following him. It took three months for the video to be released, and only then were the suspects of his murder apprehended. On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old woman, was shot by Louisville Police after they entered her apartment in plainclothes, serving a no-knock warrant. Taylor was shot eight times while she slept. The police entered the house looking for a suspect that had already been apprehended. On May 25, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyds neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street. Floyd had been arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby market. W.E.B Dubois, the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard, thought that when a self-respecting person is oppressed or becomes a victim of injustice, they can become a voice for those oppressed, they should reaffirm their self-respect through protest. Martin Luther King Jr. was also famous for his prophetic language and his passion for civil rights. Both of these individuals were met with violence and outrage, just like the current protests in our country. MLK Jr. was murdered in an attempt to silence his peaceful message. Protests and riots against police brutality and excessive force, therefore, consumed America. Viral videos have been saturating social media, presenting images of police destroying medic stations and pushing down old men. Videos of police kneeling in solidarity with protestors and genuine progress being made toward reform in some areas have also been shared. Protests are controversial in their very nature; they are, by definition, a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something. When the police and the protestors kneel together, it should be clear that there is actual reform needed. Claiming that the protests and riots accomplish nothing is ignorant of the history and consequences of being a peaceful black man in the United States. It would not be a stretch to assume that some people would rather have the demonstrations be peaceful so they could sooner be ignored. Of course, there are good police officers, and there are bad ones. People have been using the Bad apples argument for years. Maybe the actual bad apple is the justice system that creates poorly trained constituents. Correcting the immediate problem starts with good cops standing up for their profession and calling out the low standards and lack of accountability. The current state of political discourse on the issue is focused on radicalizing both sides, painting the perceived villain of the abusive officer, or the anarchist rioter. Looking through the polarizing lens of American politics has created these false images that do not represent the vast majority of either side. It is time to stop falling victim to the politics and move toward the goal of an all-encompassing, bi-partisan, top-to-bottom, diverse, standardized, and multi-modal approach to fixing the American justice system. And that starts with defunding the police. To defund the police does not mean to reduce safety by a complete lack of law and order. It is instead a strategic method of reallocating money, resources and responsibility. This shifts the burden of safety toward a community-based model, providing support and prevention that works in a more context-dependent manner. Crime does not happen in a vacuum; a substantial portion of crime is a consequence of an upstream breakdown in the social system. Meeting needs before they present as crime would prevent the cost and trouble of policing. If we look at the problem of the judicial process as something more than a police brutality, we can see that the culture forms the justice system. What we are seeing currently is just a symptom of deep seeded disruption of communities that has taken place over decades. To defund the police would mean reforming the allocation of money to departments and specialists who are more qualified to handle situations in which the police are often tasked. Social workers, therapists, healthcare systems, and any other department can help with problems in humane ways. This is just one approach toward forming a more effective justice system, but one thing is sure: change must occur. Following the announcement that the store was going into liquidation, workers began picketing outside 11 stores around the country to stop stock being removed until an agreement was reached for workers to receive more than the basic level of redundancy required by law. Staff have been picketing for the past four months, while no progress has been made in negotiations. Finance firm, KPMG were appointed as liquidators back in April and have since threatened injunctive action against the picketing staff in order to allow stock from the stores to be cleared. TD for Cork-North Central, Mr Barry said Government politicians who said they would be involved in brokering a settlement for workers should explain themselves. "In the case of Debenhams, the key leverage the workers have is preventing the removal of the stock from the 11 stores until there is an agreement reached to honour the four weeks pay per year's service enhanced redundancy terms that was agreed between the company and MANDATE during the last round of redundancies in 2016. Advertisement "If the workers stand aside and allow KPMG remove the stock and dispose of it without an agreement, their four month long battle for justice ends without success." In a Facebook post, Mr Barry also confirmed that some staff were planning a picket outside the KPMG offices next Tuesday. "The threat from KPMG does not come as a surprise. However the government has a case to answer. In a round of meetings workers had with a number of Ministers, including the Tainaiste and the Taoiseach, every indication was given that behind the scenes efforts would be made to broker an offer above and beyond the statutory minimum. "These Ministers should account for their efforts or lack thereof and not take advantage of the Dail recess and go into effective hiding on the matter," added Mr Barry. As New Jersey schools reopening plans remain a polarizing issue, parents, teachers and administrators can all agree on at least one aspect: remote learning desperately needs an upgrade. No one was prepared parents werent prepared, schools werent prepared, W. Steven Barnett, Founder of Rutgers National Institute for Early Education Research, told NJ Advance Media. There is no way in which it went well. It was a disaster. We reconvene once hes checked on the runaway horse, which has left hoof-holes all over the place. He was unable to wrangle it; horses are his wife Leslies thing. Where were we? Wood had been sharing some great gossip about a couple of actors with big egos, ("just monsters!") but the specifics are best kept off the record. Sydney actors, he reckons, are often worse than Melbourne thespians, although he concedes theres a lot of egos in the business. But funnily enough, Im always surprised when I come up against an ego, because most of the people I know, including myself, have a bit of an inferiority complex. Wood has just published his autobiography, and there are a few anecdotes in there that I imagine kept his publishers lawyer busy, such as his recounting a certain TV executive calling one of the Blue Heelers cast members a bitch and Woods own observations on why the long-running series was cancelled. But mostly How I Clawed My Way To The Middle is full of fond reminiscences of Melbournes theatre scene and his career across stage and TV; after more than 50 years in the business, Wood has seemingly worked with every actor in Australia, from his earliest days at NIDA, after he won a scholarship there in the late '60s, to his prime-time, Logie-winning TV years. The fried calamari with chili. Credit:Simon Schluter Hes best known, of course, for his epic 13-year stint as Sergeant Tom Croydon on Blue Heelers, and before that as magistrate Michael Rafferty on Raffertys Rules for four years. Long before TV, Wood was a veteran of the stage, starting out in amateur theatre even as he worked day jobs as a bricklayer, a railways clerk and at the abattoir where his father worked. The title of the memoir reflects Woods self-deprecating manner and candour, very much in evidence during our lunch. I dont think there is much beyond the middle here youve got to climb higher up the ladder and go to Hollywood or London and I never wanted to do that, he says. I mean ... there are times when Ive regretted not having gone to the UK and tested myself against people like Albert Finney. I went through a period where I was the go-to person to do all the roles he did in London, so it wouldve been nice to see how I couldve gone against someone like him. Loading He cant imagine, though, the route that many young Australian actors take these days, heading to LA for pilot season. The level of rejection would just cripple me. Its very brutal, he says. One always feels quite dejected when you audition for something and don't get it. If I auditioned for 100 television shows and didnt get any of them, I think Id be suicidal by the end of it! Right now, of course, Wood, like most of the industry, is in a state of limbo. When the first lockdown began, hed been starring David Williamsons Crunch Time, the playwrights final play before his retirement. The run at the Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli was cut short and plans for touring the work shelved. The gig after that, too, in an arena show of The Wizard of Oz, was also put on the backburner. If it wasnt for his memoir advance, he says hed have no money coming in. Everyones in the same boat, of course. But I think the governments been appalling in their handling of the theatre industry; its been ghastly. But then of course, were surplus to requirements to people like Scott Morrison unless he needs you for an ad, he says. Its depressing, he says, that the arts still have such a minimal impact on politicians. The veal scallopini from Wood's favourie local eatery. Credit:Simon Schluter Particularly conservative politicians. They dont see the arts as necessary at all, which is so wrong-headed. "They think of something like painting as something for other people, but you know, every advertisement, every billboard and newspaper ad theyre all made up by people who have some sort of artistic ability, that have started off doing art classes and become commercial artists. The arts inform everything about our life and our community. And giving money to international companies to make movies here, he says, isnt the answer. Giving money to people from Hollywood? Here we go again, the great Australian cultural cringe, he says. Although I think Im very much a product of the cultural cringe!" By the time weve finished our respective meals, our chat has traversed everything from cars (I like Jaguars - at the moment I have a 1965 Mark 19, which I found in a paddock), his work as a TV writer (I worked mainly on Cop Shop and Prisoner and a stint on The Sullivans. Once I walked into the lounge room and my youngest daughter, about eight, was watching Prisoner, and I said 'what are you watching this rubbish for' and she said, well, you write it!), pets (he and his wife once had nine cats), voice-over work (My most famous is the superannuation one, compare the pair) and reality TV. I find it totally unwatchable, Wood says. Theres nothing real about it! Even when I did Who Do You Think You Are, which was a wonderful experience, they wanted me to burst into tears. Hes dismayed by the lack of local drama, and has been using lockdown to work on a TV series, with actor and writer Linden Wilkinson. Its a comedy, set in a retirement village for old actors, he says. Weve worked our way through two episodes and were kicking around ideas. Hes also working on a play based on stories he heard from police consultants in his Blue Heelers days. He hopes the planned tour of the comedy revue Senior Moments, in which he co-stars with Max Gillies, will go ahead in January, and that Crunch Time will get another staging. Receipt for lunch with actor John Wood. South Africa: SA may be over the peak for now, but it's not over: Mkhize Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has expressed cautious optimism as the countrys COVID-19 cases take a dip and government bolsters efforts to prevent further transmission of the deadly virus. Mkhize was speaking during an official welcoming of the first members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) surge team that has arrived in South Africa to reinforce the national COVID-19 response on Friday. We have seen in the past few weeks that were getting the country over the surge, said the Minister. The country is now recording an average of 3 000 daily cases from about 12 000 per day about a month or so ago. On the other hand, the number of tests has also been reducing. We started calling each other to ask if were missing something and what has happened to the tests? Our starting point was to talk to the laboratory services and ask if they have enough diagnostic kits to conduct the tests and they assured us that they have, he said, adding that there is no backlog. The major provinces that were carrying the highest burden of the virus are on a downward trend, while some have plateaued. Were very optimistic, but were very cautious about it because we dont know why that happened. While the surge was anticipated, the surge has happened in numbers that are much less than originally planned, he said. However, he believed that the lockdown had an impact in slowing down the spread. Nevertheless, were saying we remain cautious as we have so many more months to still traverse and be sure were over the problem. Mkhize said it looks like the country is over the peak even though the predictions project that there is still another two months of concern about a possible surge. We have received queries as to why there would be a need for the surge team if we are past the peak. The explanation is that we can never take anything for granted, wed rather err on the side of caution, he said. We have not passed anything yet; well only know when were many months away from the positive cases being reported in the country. He urged people to keep up the levels of containment and continue to be vigilant. We do understand that there is a need for us to ensure that we balance the lives and the livelihood and we actually need to help communities to get into normality. But at the same time we do know that as we ease the restriction, so will the rate of infections increase, he added. He said people must adopt a new culture of social distancing and using of masks to prevent the person-to-person spread and avoid a resurgence that may wreak havoc. With the 572 865 recorded infections in the country since the first case was reported in March, South Africa remains the fifth-highest positive cases in the world. Mkhize said he was pleased that the WHO 16 team members would soon come to 43. He said the team has begun an orientation to ensure there is the optimal alignment of programmes. The work of battling a pandemic does not begin and end and therefore we will be encouraging fluidity and agility and welcome the fact that they will be looking at our situation with fresh eyes and may be able to identify blind spots or offer a perspective we might not have considered. The experts are bringing a broad range of technical know-how that includes surveillance and streamlining of epidemiological systems; WHO global COVID-19 response guidelines; case management and expertise in communications and stakeholder engagement to increased community buy-in of public health measures. Mkhizes urged all professionals, academics, frontline workers and members of society to embrace WHOs interventions. Meanwhile, he said, the government would focus on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development and quality of care. South Africa and many other nations have shown that it is possible, through multi-sectoral collaboration, to slow down the rate of infection and rebuild livelihoods after the initial devastation, he said. The biggest challenge is how to rebuild the economy to eliminate unemployment, poverty, food security, hunger and starvation. With this team buttressing our efforts we should further look for opportunities to emancipate the impoverished, the oppressed and the vulnerable using innovations that have emanated from the crisis. He said the team has shown the true meaning of Ubuntu for coming to South Africas rescue. If history will be altered, it should not be because some won and some lost because of the pandemic. It should be that we all held each others hands and pulled each other through the storm. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. LOS ANGELES - Firefighters struggling to contain three wildfires near Los Angeles faced another challenging day Saturday as forecasters warned that the risk of new fires was high with temperatures expected to spike and humidity levels to drop across California. A huge forest fire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles flared up Friday afternoon, sending up an enormous cloud of smoke as it headed down to the desert floor and the California aqueduct in the Antelope Valley. Fire crews managed to stop its movement there but additional evacuations were ordered for the western Antelope Valley. In one dramatic moment, several firefighters ran to safety when a longhorn bull that was apparently escaping the blaze charged at them. The so-called Lake Fire was just 12% contained as of Saturday morning, and after threatening more than 5,400 homes, it had charred more than 23 square miles (59.5 square kilometres) of brush and trees. Fire officials said 21 buildings had been destroyed, including at least five homes. The blaze was in the Angeles National Forest near Lake Hughes. Firefighters were struggling in steep, rugged terrain amid scorching temperatures. The National Weather Service warned temperatures could hit 111 degrees (44 Celsius) in the Antelope Valley Saturday, and winds gusting 15-20 mph (24-32 kph) was expected later in the afternoon. In addition to that, we have a very unstable air mass over the Lake Fire thats going to allow for a pyrocumulus (cloud) development later today so that will create extreme fire behaviour, NWS meteorologist Matt Mehle said. Record-breaking heat is possible through the weekend, with triple-digit temperatures and unhealthy air predicted for many parts of the state. There also was a chance of isolated thunderstorms worsening the fire threat by creating dry lightning and strong downdrafts, fire officials said There was no containment of a blaze that blackened foothills above the Los Angeles suburb of Azusa. It churned through 2.3 square miles (5.96 square kilometres) of brush on Thursday and was moving away from homes. Evacuation orders issued to residents were lifted early Friday. Azusa police said they were looking for a homeless man suspected of starting the fire. He was identified as Osmin Palencia, 36, and was last known to be living in a riverbed encampment near the site where the fire started. Police said Palencia was believed to be violent and urged people to use caution if they see him. Another blaze came dangerously close to a neighbourhood in the city of Corona, east of Los Angeles, before crews controlled it. And a Northern California fire in the community of Sloughhouse, near Sacramento, burned about 500 acres (202 hectares) before firefighters stopped its forward spread. This weeks wanted The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated. John M. Martin, 26, of 1001 N. Jackson St., Pittsfield, is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on charges of theft, obstructing identification, obstructing a peace officer and possession of methamphetamine. He is a white male standing 5 foot, 10 inches and weighing 165 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Tydon A. Austin, 19, of 3401 Gaines Mill Road, Springfield, is being sought on a warrant accusing him of aggravated discharge of a firearm, criminal damage and unauthorized use of a weapon. He is a Black male standing 5 foot, 8 inches and weighing 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. . Submit tips anonymously at tipsubmit.com, by calling 217-243-7300 or by text messaging CRIMES (274637) with payout as the first word of the tip. Jacksonville Police ACCIDENTS Wayne E. Russwinkel, 76, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of failure to yield after police said he drove into the path of a car being driven by Richard Gardner, 59, of Jacksonville, who was part of a funeral procession at 1:40 p.m. at West Morton Avenue and South Main Street. Two passengers in Gardners car, Lucy G. Gardner, 88, of Jacksonville and Joanne K.L. Jackson, 65, of Kokomo, Indiana, were taken to Passavant Area Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to a police report. THEFTS, BURGLARIES Property was taken from a storage shed in the 1000 block of East Morton Avenue, according to a report filed at 6:12 p.m. Thursday. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer The top legislator made the remark during a reception in Hanoi on August 15 for President of the Cambodian NA Samdech Heng Samrin and a high-ranking Cambodian delegation on the occasion of their trip to Vietnam for the national mourning of former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. She expressed deep thanks to the senior Cambodian leader for having sent a message of condolence and directly attending the memorial service for the late Party chief of Vietnam, hailing the noble move as evidence of the close bond, solidarity and traditional friendship between the two countries Parties, States and people. The host lauded Cambodias efforts in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that the two countries continue working closely and promptly inform each other on disease prevention and control guidelines and measures, especially in border provinces, while strengthening health quarantine coordination to prevent the spread of the pandemic and maintain bilateral border trade activities. NA Chairwoman Ngan voiced her wish that the two legislatures foster closer coordination to help the two countries Governments soon complete all remaining affairs related to the work of border demarcation and landmarker planting. She thanked and highly lauded Cambodia for its active contributions to Vietnams ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 and to the overall success of the 36th ASEAN Summit, asking the country to continue backing ASEANs common stance and supporting Vietnam in its responsibilities as Chair of ASEAN, Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. Vietnam pledges to continue supporting and working closely to help Cambodia successfully organise the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM 13) next year, the top legislator stated. For his part, President of the Cambodian NA Heng Samrin extended his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese Party and State leaders, the Vietnamese people and relatives of former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, hailing the late leader as a good friend of Cambodia who regularly pushed for the enhancement of relations between the two countries. The guest applauded the traditional friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and their peoples, pledging continuous efforts to sustainably develop Vietnam-Cambodia ties for the benefit of both countries peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. He congratulated Vietnam on having successfully organised the 36th ASEAN Summit in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and voiced his belief that the Vietnamese NA will also successfully organise the AIPA 41. The Cambodian NA is willing to support and cooperate with the Vietnamese legislature to contribute to the success of the event, he affirmed. On the occasion, President of the Cambodian NA Heng Samrin thanked Vietnam for financing the construction of an office building for the Secretariat and agencies of the Cambodian NA, stating that the Cambodian side pledges to manage and use the funding in a transparent manner as well as ensuring the quality of the facility. Twenty years after first being approved by voters, the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program stands as one of the most popular and effective initiatives in this citys history. In 2015, when it last went before San Antonio voters for a five-year renewal, it passed with more than 78 percent support. Its popularity has grown with time, for a simple reason: It has addressed a crucial issue (the long-term viability of our water supply) with strategic precision. It has protected property over the aquifers recharge and contributing zones but hasnt done it by imposing unwanted regulations on property owners. It gives voters the power to allocate sales tax dollars for the purchase of conservation easements from property owners, who have the power to negotiate compensation for the lost development value of their land. It respects the will of voters and the property rights of homeowners. Its a very clean process, said Bonnie Conner, a former North Side councilwoman and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the EAPP. There are no special interests, and thats one of the things I like about it. The EAPP is going through a period of uncertainty. City leaders promise that it will continue, but its source of funding will change and its revenue will be reduced. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, a longtime champion of the aquifer program, wants to redirect the 1/8-cent sales tax thats been divided between the citys aquifer and linear creekways programs to a workforce development plan designed to prepare San Antonio for a post-COVID-19 economy. The aquifer program, which currently generates about $20 million a year in revenue, likely will see its funding scaled back to $10 million a year in revenue the city receives from the San Antonio Water System. This change in funding, and the fact that it wont be locked in by the mandate of voters, has some environmental activists worried. The Alamo Group of the Sierra Club recently stated on its website that it would not support these rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul proposals until funding for the aquifer program is identified and secured. While we wait to see how the EAPPs future takes shape, its worth looking back at how such a well-constructed program came together. Conner was there for the early conversations. A Southern California native who taught for 21 years in the San Antonio area, Conner, in her retirement years, became heavily involved in civic affairs. She served on the Open Space Advisory Board and became part of an ad hoc group devoted to finding solutions for protecting the aquifer. It was a group of people that knew San Antonio was going to grow and if we didnt take care of what we have, at some point it would be too late to do that, Conner said. We tossed around a lot of different ideas. We turned to the Trust for Public Land for advice and the Nature Conservancy. Conner got elected to the City Council in 1999, with water protection as a signature part of her platform. A year later, the council put the aquifer protection program on the ballot. At the time, city officials estimated that 1,375 acres were being developed each year over the Edwards recharge zone. The situation was urgent. If we dont do it now, Conner said in 2000, its never going to get done. Four sales tax propositions were on the ballot in San Antonio in 2000, but only the EAPP proposition passed. Nonetheless, it didnt fully escape public skepticism. Roddy Stinson, then a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, had this to say in 2001: A major reason (the EAPP) passed was a steady stream of pie-in-the-sky propaganda that flowed out of City Hall mostly through the mouths of then-Mayor Howard Peak and District 8 Councilwoman Bonnie Conner. Stinson and others questioned whether the program would meet lofty promises to purchase 10,000 acres over the recharge zone in five years. In fact, only 6,553 acres were purchased during that period. By 2005, however, a change in state law allowed the city to acquire property outside Bexar County. Over the next 15 years, the city managed to protect more than 150,000 acres of land, much of it by purchasing conservation easements in rural communities in Medina and Uvalde counties. Its a win-win, really, Conner said. The owner keeps their property and the aquifer is protected. The success of the program ultimately created a different kind of skepticism, from those who wonder when well know that weve reached the finish line. Some suggest that the city is paying rural property owners to refrain from developing land they had no desire to develop. It also has spurred debates about how much of the vast contributing zone north of Bexar, Medina and Uvalde counties must be protected. Those debates are sure to continue. But voters will no longer have the power to weigh in on the scale and duration of the program. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Judge denies request for police action against church holding indoor services Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A judge on Tuesday denied a California countys request to order a local sheriffs office to prevent a church from holding worship services in defiance of a temporary restraining order. Superior Court Judge Vincent O'Neill Jr. rejected Ventura County's request to direct Sheriff Bill Ayub to close Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park after it held three indoor services despite a restraining order issued by the court last week. ONeill reportedly argued that the county sheriffs office needs to be seen in a neutral role and that the countys residents depend on the sheriffs office to keep the peace, according to Ventura County Star. The judge, however, granted the county's request for a contempt-of-court hearing. Last Friday, the Ventura County Superior court granted a temporary restraining order requiring that Pastor Rob McCoy and Godspeak Calvary Chapel adhere to public health orders issued by the state and county requiring that church services be held outdoors. Ventura County officials filed a legal complaint against McCoy and the church for holding in-person services of up to 200 people following the churchs decision to return to normal services after adhering to social distancing regulations. McCoy announced his intentions to continue holding services despite the restraining order, set to expire on Aug. 31. I wish it didnt have to come to this, I really do, but we will be violating the judges order, he said in a video message to his congregation. We will be open this Sunday. McCoy told the Ventura County Star that it is impractical for the church to hold services outdoors and that banning indoor worship services violates religious freedom rights. The pastor called ONeills ruling "measured and balanced." Meanwhile, County Counsel Leroy Smith told the newspaper that he is pleased with the approval of a contempt-of-court hearing that has been scheduled for Aug. 21. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31 to decide whether or not the order should be replaced with an injunction that could last months. In Ventura County, there have been 8,740 cases of coronavirus and 93 reported deaths. The churchs defense attorney, Robert Tyler, argued during the hearing that no cases of COVID-19 have been reported at Godspeak Calvary chapel. "The lack of evidence the county is relying upon is astonishing," Tyler was quoted as saying. In April, McCoy made headlines when he resigned from the Thousand Oaks City Council after serving on the board since 2015. His resignation came hours before he held a Palm Sunday communion with members to mark the beginning of Holy Week. The communion came at a time in which gatherings of more than 10 people were banned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ventura County is among several counties on the California County Monitoring List. Under an executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom, indoor worship services are banned in counties on the monitoring list. Ventura County has been on the monitoring list since July 13. Elsewhere in California, Harvest Rock Church received a cease-and-desist letter on Monday from the city of Pasadena demanding that the church halt its in-person worship services. Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry submitted a request for an injunction last month against Newsoms order. The church, led by author and international chancellor of Wagner University Che Ahn, contends that the governors order essentially prohibits home Bible studies and fellowship. While Gov. Newsom encourages tens of thousands of people to gather for mass protests, he bans all in-person worship and home Bible studies and fellowship, Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement. Liberty Counsel is representing Harvest Rock Church in the legal matter. Such repression is well-known in despotic governments, and it is shocking that even home fellowship is banned in America, Staver said. Neither history of the church nor the Constitution is on the side of the governor. For counties not on the state monitoring list, indoor worship is permitted in limited capacities with no singing or chanting. At least three churches have filed a lawsuit against the statewide ban on singing in church. Components for the manufacture of an explosive device are believed to have been discovered at the Good Shepherd Hostel in Kilkenny. A male in his 30's was arrested last night in Kilkenny and remains in custody at Kilkenny Garda Station. The suspect was arrested in relation to the possession of explosives that occurred at a property on Church Lane, Kilkenny at approximately 7pm. Gardai were alerted to unusual activity at the property and the services of the Technical Bureau and the Army EOD team were requested. Upon inspection of the property, the area was sealed off and one man was located nearby with injuries to his hands and face. He was taken to St. Luke's General Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. He has since been released from hospital and was arrested and is currently detained at Kilkenny Garda Station under Section 30 Offences Against The State Act, 1939. The grim discovery on Friday evening follows an investigation by gardai into reports of an explosion in the city on Wednesday night. A loud bang was heard in the Church Lane area by residents. The army EOD unit attended the scene on Friday night and the Garda Technical Unit are in attendance. The city of Portland has allowed three business districts to pool money for enhanced services, such as transportation and extra police, but has failed to conduct even cursory oversight of those districts, according to a city auditor report. The result is that people living in and using public spaces in those districts can face unequal treatment because of privately funded security services, according to the report. That can create extra hardship for people living outside because the districts pay for extra Portland police officers, private security and an assistant district attorney -- and no city officials review if those enhanced security forces are acting within an appropriate scope of duties. The auditor also said that at least two of the districts are largely controlled by property and business owners, so renters have little say in how the Enhanced Service District in which they live is controlled. Enhanced Service Districts are zones where businesses pay an extra fee that is collected by the citys revenue department. That money is then redistributed to a nonprofit organization that runs the district. In Portland, that nonprofit is the business association that represents the service district zone. Downtown Portland Clean & Safe is the oldest and best-known of the enhanced service districts, formed in 1988 and run by the citys chamber of commerce, the Portland Business Alliance. At the time of its creation, neither Portland nor the state had rules governing how enhanced service districts should work or overseen. The Lloyd District followed in the early 2000s. Thomas Lannom, revenue division director, said that city officials didnt see a need for formal governing structures since there were only two districts. For decades, the city has lost money collecting the fees from businesses for the districts on the high-level administration of the districts with the idea that it is saving money on the public services the businesses are paying for. Lannom said that is why the city has not fulfilled all the duties the auditor said it is supposed to. Then the Central Eastside Industrial District formed. Lannom said in a response to the audit that city officials now recognize that there should be rules for how districts are created and managed. We support the auditors recommendations and agree with Director Thomas Lannoms assessment that Council should pursue establishing more formal oversight of enhanced security districts, said a statement from Mayor Ted Wheeler. As of now, the city approves the districts, collects the fees from district members and redistributes it. The rest is hands off. Too hands off, according to the auditor. According to the audits review of contracts, the city is supposed to oversee the scope of services provided, review an annual budget and monitor the use of funds via audit. One districts contract says that the mayor, serving as the police commissioner, will obtain and review reports of police and private security officers actions. The police commissioner is also supposed to review complaints against officers within the district and the investigations into those complaints. None of that has been done, according to the auditor. However, the mayors office said Friday that those report reviews had been done and recently forwarded them to the auditors office to clarify that point of the audit. This has resulted in years of complaints about how homeless people are policed within the districts. Many advocates say that homeless people living in those areas are subject to a higher level of arrest for low-level crimes than those in other parts of the city. The fact our local government allows any private entity to patrol, control and dominate public space seriously undermines the ability for all community members to exist in our sidewalks, streets, parks and plazas, which are supposedly open and accessible to all, said a statement by Stop the Sweeps, an advocacy coalition made up of nonprofits Western Regional Advocacy Project, Sisters of the Road and Right 2 Survive. Clean & Safe and Central Eastside both use funds to pay for extra security. That includes both private security firms and Portland police officers assigned to the 213-block Clean & Safe district who work together to assign duties and dispatch calls. The Lloyd district does not use its funds for security. But it pays for an assistant district attorney to prosecute crimes within in the district and coordinate safety programs. Portland police provide an administrative staff person to that assistant district attorney and Clean & Safe pays for another assistant in the district attorneys office. These enhanced law enforcement or criminal justice services create a risk of disparate outcomes compared to other parts of the city, said the auditor report. A crime such as public consumption of alcohol that may be ignored in another part of town may result in different consequences in a district with security officers and extra police presence or the districts access to a district attorney and community courts. Clean & Safe Executive Director Maureen Fisher said that the districts enhanced services are beloved by members who live and work in the district. While the audit focused on the citys lack of oversight, the the Portland Business Alliance and Clean & Safe both participated. We fully support the city looking at ways enhanced services districts can be better and fully serve everyone, said Clean & Safe Executive Director Maureen Fisher. We were actively engaged in the audit process and support improvements that help make this distinct program better. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The Strategy to Stop Fake NewsSue the Media Commentary An important legal settlement was reached recently that pretty much flew under the radar. This settlementa $250 million defamation case against The Washington Postcould go a long way toward curbing irresponsible journalism. Its a sign that at least some Americans are going to fight back against fake news. The lawsuit was brought by the family of teenager Nick Sandmann who was wrongly painted as a racist who had taunted a Native American elder named Nathan Phillips. Remember the photograph of a fresh-faced Catholic high school kid from Kentucky reportedly confronting an older man who was chanting and beating a drum at a demonstration in Washington, D.C.? Initial stories accompanying that photo were completely wrong. Heres what really happened. After attending an anti-abortion rally near the Lincoln Memorial in January 2018, Nick and his fellow classmates, many wearing Make America Great Again souvenir hats, were waiting for their bus. The area was teaming with other activist groups, including Phillips Indigenous Peoples March and the radical Black Hebrew Israelites. (The latter is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.) A video nearly two hours long that surfaced later revealed the Black Hebrew Israelites had been taunting the Kentucky kids and hurling disgusting racial and homophobic slurs at the teens for more than an hour. Suddenly, Native American activist Phillips appears banging a drum and chanting. He approaches a bewildered-looking Nick, and as they stare into each others eyes, news cameras capture the momentary collision of two cultures. A reporter for The Washington Post got no comments from Nick about the incident but quoted Phillips saying Nick was the aggressor, the students smile described as a derisive smirk. Phillips called the group of students beasts and said they acted like a lynch mob. I seen the angry faces, Phillips said. Everybody knows the right to life and (pro-choice), its been like this and theyre hateful to each other, he said. The unbalanced article, and a simultaneous CNN report, went viral around the world. Newsflash: A disrespectful Trump-inspired kid had all but spit in the face of an elderly man! TV and print pundits, celebrities, the bishop of a Kentucky diocese, and several politicians, including Native American Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) condemned Nick for having displayed blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance for a Native American Vietnam War veteran. The kids were at fault, Haaland said. You could tell that by the hats they were wearing. Turns out Phillips is not a Vietnam Veteran as he has repeatedly claimed. Hes been called a professional provocateur and the full video proved Phillips statements about the students chanting, Build that wall! were incorrect. The bottom line: Nick Sandmanns life was turned upside down by biased assumptions that his hat or the rally hed just attended made him the face of evil, as his attorney later put it. After shoddy journalism was picked up by other lazy reporters who never bothered to get both sides of the story, this 16-year-old became a despised villain. Now, 18 months after that fateful day, The Washington Post has admitted no wrongdoing but has agreed to a secret out-of-court settlement with Nick. CNN reached a similar agreement in January on its $275 million libel suit. That doesnt mean the Sandmanns got nearly that much money, but these settlements are a clear signal to news executives everywhere that at least some fake news will not go unchecked and that mere apologies or corrections dont cut it. It will be interesting to see what happens with the still-pending suits Nicks family filed against those who repeated the original one-sided story, including Gannett, ABC, CBS, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone magazine. The media enjoy many legal protections against their mistakes, and that is why so few people who feel wronged by biased or fake news decide to sue. In Sandmanns case, they found a willing advocate in bulldog attorney Lin Wood, who doesnt shy away from tough cases. As a practicing journalist, for decades, I never thought Id be advocating lawsuits against colleagues. But it seems clear that the only way to derail this trend of sloppy reporting is to hit news organizations where it hurts mostin the wallet. Diane Dimond is an author and investigative journalist. Her latest book is Thinking Outside the Crime and Justice Box. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. An important legal settlement was reached recently that pretty much flew under the radar. This settlement a $250 million defamation case against the Warshington Post could go a long way toward curbing irresponsible journalism. Its a sign that at least some Americans are going to fight back against fake news. The lawsuit was brought by the family of teenager Nick Sandmann who was wrongly painted as a racist who had taunted a Native American elder named Nathan Phillips. Remember the photograph of a fresh-faced Catholic high school kid from Kentucky reportedly confronting an older man who was chanting and beating a drum at a demonstration in Warshington, D.C.? Initial stories accompanying that photo were completely wrong. Heres what really happened. After attending an anti-abortion rally near the Lincoln Memorial in January 2018, Nick and his fellow classmates, many wearing Make American Great Again souvenir hats, were waiting for their bus. The area was teaming with other activist groups, including Phillips Indigenous Peoples March and the radical Black Hebrew Israelites. The latter is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. A two-hour-long video that surfaced later revealed the Black Hebrew Israelites had been taunting the Kentucky kids and hurling disgusting racial and homophobic slurs at the teens for more than an hour. Suddenly, Native American activist Phillips appears banging a drum and chanting. He approaches a bewildered looking Nick and as they stare into each others eyes news cameras capture the momentary collision of two cultures. A reporter for the Warshington Post got no comments from Nick about the incident but quoted Phillips saying Nick was the aggressor, the students smile described as a derisive smirk. Phillips called the group of students beasts and said they acted like a lynch mob. I seen the angry faces, Phillips said. Everybody knows the right-to-life and (pro-choice), its been like this and theyre hateful to each other, he said. The unbalanced article, and a simultaneous CNN report, went viral around the world. Newsflash: A disrespectful Trump-inspired kid had all but spit in the face of an elderly man! TV and print pundits, celebrities, the Bishop of the Kentucky diocese and several politicians, including Native American Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., condemned Nick for having displayed blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance for a Native American Vietnam War veteran. The kids were at fault, Haaland said. You could tell that by the hats they were wearing. Turns out Phillips is not a Vietnam veteran as he has repeatedly claimed. Hes been called a professional provocateur, and the full video proved Phillips statements about the students chanting, Build that wall! were incorrect. The bottom line: Nick Sandmanns life was turned upside down by biased assumptions that his hat or the rally hed just attended made him the face of evil, as his attorney later put it. After shoddy journalism was picked up by other lazy reporters who never bothered to get both sides of the story, this 16-year-old became a despised villain. Now, 18 months after that fateful day, the Warshington Post has admitted no wrongdoing but has agreed to a secret out-of-court settlement with Nick. CNN reached a similar agreement in January on its $275 million libel suit. That doesnt mean the Sandmanns got nearly that much money, but these settlements are a clear signal to news executives everywhere that at least some fake news will not go unchecked and that mere apologies or corrections dont cut it. It will be interesting to see what happens with the still-pending suits Nicks family filed against those who repeated the original one-sided story, including Gannett, ABC, CBS, the New York Times and Rolling Stone magazine. The media enjoy many legal protections against their mistakes, and that is why so few people who feel wronged by biased or fake news decide to sue. In the case of the Sandmanns, they found a willing advocate in bulldog attorney Lin Wood who doesnt shy away from tough cases. As a practicing journalist for decades I never thought Id be advocating lawsuits against colleagues. But it seems clear, the only way to derail this trend of sloppy reporting is to hit news organizations where it hurts most in the wallet. www.DianeDimond.com; email to Diane@DianeDimond.com. A former Georgia State Patrol officer has been charged in the murder of a 60-year-old driver who was shot dead during a traffic stop over a busted tail light last Friday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Jacob G. Thompson, 27, on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault in connection to the incident in Screven County. Thompson has been booked into the Screven County Jail and was fired from the Department of Public Safety, Georgia State Patrol, according to a release from the GBI. Jacob G. Thompson, 27, was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in connection to the incident in Screven County On August 7, Thompson fatally shot 60-year-old Julian Lewis after trying to stop him for a broken tail light on Stoney Pond Road at around 9.20pm On August 7, Thompson attempted to stop a Nissan Sentra that Julian Lewis had been driving on Stoney Pond Road at around 9.20pm. Lewis refused to stop and the two engaged in a brief chase down several county roads. Reports indicate that Thompson used a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT) and caused the Sentra to stop in a ditch. He fired one round, hitting Lewis, who was then pronounced dead at the scene. Thompson has been booked into the Screven County Jail and was fired from the Department of Public Safety, Georgia State Patrol In an incident report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Thompson wrote that he shot Lewis in the forehead because he thought that the man was going to run him over. 'At some point, I heard the engine on the violator's vehicle revving at a high rate of speed,' he stated. 'I saw him wrenching the steering wheel in an aggressive back and forth manner towards me and my patrol vehicle. It appeared to me that the violator was trying to use his vehicle to injure me. Being in fear for my life and safety, I discharged my weapon once.' The Lewis family attorney Francys Johnson said he learned Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice had approved his request for the civil rights investigation into the incident. 'We got lots of messages from people in the community that the habit of ex-trooper Thompson was to racially profile and harass Black and brown people on the highway,' Johnson, former head of the Georgia NAACP, said. 'This was not shocking to them that this happened.' The conspicuous absence of exuberant school children in the socially-distanced audience and a pruned guest list took some of the shine off the event at the which was scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Around 4,000 invites, a quarter of the usual, were issued to political leaders, officers, diplomats and others. Attendees wore masks and were seated at a distance of six feet from each other, displaying an image of the 'new normal' in the COVID times. School children, who would attend the event dressed in the colours of the flag, were not present this time due to the coronavirus. Instead, 500 NCC cadets were invited to the event. "Today, our children are not here with us. The coronavirus pandemic has halted all of us," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address on the 74th Sporting a saffron and cream headgear, the prime minister on Saturday delivered his seventh consecutive speech that lasted for 86 minutes from the ramparts of the Major Shweta Pandey assisted the prime minister in unfurling the flag. The annual event, which otherwise sees bustling crowds across many age groups, was scaled down this year in keeping with prescribed safety protocols to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus that has wreaked havoc across the world. A kit containing a mask, a small bottle of hand sanitiser and a pair of gloves were kept on all chairs. A hand towel was kept on the backrest of the chairs along with the programme pamphlet. Several seats across all enclosures remained empty. A security official said they expected that a few seats would remain unoccupied considering the COVID-19 situation. "The number of invitees was one-fourth the normal. Still, a lesser number of people turned up. Adequate arrangements were made to ensure physical distancing, and masks, sanitisers and gloves provided to all the attendees," he said. Colourful carpets in enclosure and aisles contrast seating and walking areas, and posters bearing social distancing norms messages like 'keep six ft distance', 'wear a mask', dotted the venue. Senior-most cabinet ministers were seated on the upper dais. Guests, security staff, VIPs, all were sporting masks as prescribed under the safety norms. Some guests were even had designer masks. As the weather turned sultry, hand-fans procured by the Defence Ministry from the Tribal Affairs Ministry's agency TRIFED, as part of the government's efforts to popularise local products, gave much-needed relief to the guests. At the main entrance, the limited number of guests invited for the event underwent thermal scanning by security personnel donning personal protective equipment (PPE) kit, while hands-free sanitiser dispensers were kept near security gates. Inside, chairs were placed in a careful matrix across all enclosures. Each seat had a sanitiser kit, a hand towel kept on the backrest along with the programme pamphlet. Social distancing norms were also in place on the rampart where the VVIPs were seated. Security remained tight at the venue and elsewhere in the city. At the Red Fort, a multi-layered security blanket had been put in place. A security ring, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers were also placed around the venue and over 300 cameras were installed for security. Around 4,000 security personnel ere deployed while adhering to social distancing norms, they said. Over 350 Delhi Police personnel, part of the guard of honour, were quarantined as a precautionary measure. The personnel of all ranks -- from constable to deputy commissioner of police -- were quarantined at a newly built police colony in Delhi Cantonment, police said. Security personnel in plainclothes and uniform, with facial recognition systems, were deputed at vantage points for suspect identification. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also unfurled the tricolour at the Delhi Secretariat, a deviation from the regular venue. Every year, the event is held at the Chhatrasal Stadium but the venue was changed because of the pandemic. The Delhi government's event this year also saw a smaller guest list. At the BJP office, party president J P Nadda unfurled the flag while at the AICC headquarter, veteran Congress leader A K Antony hoisted the tricolour. (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.) JERUSALEM From cries of betrayal" to fears about falling dominoes", the deal making the United Arab Emirates the third Arab state to forge ties with Israel stirred anger and dismay around the Middle East, but a cautious welcome from the UAEs Gulf allies. The mixed response highlighted new fault lines in a region where fear and distrust of Iran - shared by Israel and some Arab states - has challenged a decades-old allegiance to the Palestinian issue as a major driver of Arab policy. Palestinians, who want to establish a state on West Bank territory captured by Israel in 1967, denounced the agreement as a betrayal of the long-held Arab stance that peace should be conditional on Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory. The agreement, which is set to make the UAE only the third Arab state after Egypt and Jordan to make peace with Israel, calls for a temporary suspension of Israels planned annexation of occupied West Bank territory, but not withdrawal. The deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump helped to broker with support from senior adviser Jared Kushner, forms a new axis with the UAE aligning itself with Israel in confronting Shiite Muslim Iran and Sunni Islamist radicals in the region. This is likely to heighten tensions in the Gulf, which has in the past two years seen attacks on tankers and energy assets that the United States and Saudi Arabia have blamed on Iran, a charge Tehran denies. Irans foreign minister said the deal aimed to hand Trump a win ahead of U.S. elections in November, a view echoed by the leader of Lebanons Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement. Its shameful what Abu Dhabi did They dont see the Zionist regime as an enemy, but an ally and whats happening now is to help Trump in the elections," Irans Mohammad Javad Zarif told Al Mayadeen TV. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a televised speech, described the UAE move as an election favour" for both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and said more Arab states would follow suit to satisfy" Washington. It is good, though painful, that the masks have fallen," he said, describing the deal as a betrayal of Islam and Arabs. FALL LIKE DOMINOES Some worshippers at Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, where Palestinians want to establish the capital of a future state, carried pictures of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed with the word traitor" underneath his image. Just like Egypt, Jordan and now Abu Dhabi, the whole Arab world will start to fall like dominoes," said Mohammad al-Sharif, 45, a member of Israels Arab minority. That Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and his dirty dogs look out for themselves and their interests and the rest of us can go to hell." Palestine Liberation Organization Secretary General Saeb Erekat spelled out the potential consequences for his people if a united Arab front splintered. The whole thing that we based our strategy on as Arabs is that the (2002) Arab peace initiative specified that once Israel withdraws, there will be peace between Arabs and Israelis. Netanyahu came determined, with Kushner, Trump to change the formula, that they want Arab recognition of Israel while they continue with the occupation, and the United Arab Emirates yesterday stamped the green light for this," Erekat said. TURKEY MAY SHUT EMBASSY Turkey, a powerful regional rival of the UAE, said history would not forgive the Gulf country for making a deal which undercut the 2002 Arab peace plan, which had proposed peace in return for Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territory. We may also take a step in the direction of suspending diplomatic ties with the Abu Dhabi leadership or pulling back our ambassador," President Tayyip Erdogan said after Friday prayers, adding that he could close Turkeys embassy. But, in a region beset with other challenges including civil wars, poverty and economic crisis, some people appeared to have other concerns. At Istanbuls landmark Hagia Sophia, converted by Erdogan to a mosque last month in a move which he portrayed as a step towards restoring freedom" to Al Aqsa in Jerusalem, worshippers who spoke to Reuters were unaware of the announcement. INCENTIVE FOR PEACE Egypt and Jordan, which signed peace deals with Israel in 1979 and 1994 respectively and enjoy close ties with the UAE, both welcomed the agreement. Jordan said the pact could make a beneficial impact if it spurred Israel to accept a Palestinian state on land it took in the 1967 Middle East war. If Israel deals with it as an incentive to end occupation, it will move the region towards a just peace," Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Oman and Bahrain praised the accord but Saudi Arabia, which has in the past led Arab policy towards Israel and hosts Islams two holiest sites, has remained silent, as have Kuwait and Qatar. [L8N2FG22C] Jordans former foreign minister, Marwan al-Muasher, said it was possible other Gulf states could follow Abu Dhabis lead. But none of those could address the root problem. In the end its not the Gulf states who are living under occupation, its the Palestinians. And until you reach a solution with the Palestinians, it does not matter how many peace deals you make with Arab states," he told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta, Ali Kucukgocmen, Ghaida Ghantous, Suleiman al-Khalidi and Stephen Farrell; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Chizu Nomiyama) 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 SPRINGFIELD City native and retired chief justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court Roderick Ireland will be paid $75,000 to serve as special counsel to Mayor Domenic Sarno to usher the citys police department toward reform and better community relations. According to a contract obtained by The Republican, Ireland, 75, will be paid $6,250 per month and will not be required to submit invoices. The Springfield native retired in 2014. He has advised the Cambridge Police Department on the controversial arrest of a Black Harvard student in 2018, plus House Speaker Robert DeLeo on criminal justice reforms a year earlier. He worked for DeLeo for free, according to published reports. In his hometown, Ireland, who now lives in Milton, will advise the mayor on a range of police-related issues acting as an expert consultant, according to the contract. The Special Advisor agrees to provide expert consulting services and advice to the Client with regard to the continued cooperative work between the City of Springfield and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), to assist the City as it implement changes to policy, training and accountability systems within the Springfield Police Department (SPD) to help move the SPD forward in enhancing community trust and department accountability, it reads. Irelands was a no-bid contract, as professional services are exempt under state bidding laws. His services will be conducted primarily over Zoom calls given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Most of his consulting time with the city will occur outside the Zoom-based classes he provides as a professor at Northeastern University in Boston, the contract states. Sarno lauded Irelands professional resume and ties to Springfield when he announced the partnership Thursday. Ireland signed the contract Wednesday and it is set to expire on July 31, 2021. I thought it was a golden opportunity right now to bring in an outside set of eyes and ears ... who is well respected. And once again, hes a Springfield guy, the mayor said, adding that Ireland is already in the very early stages of his review. Sarno said he was inspired to seek outside counsel after the DOJ issued a report trained on the narcotics unit of the Springfield Police Department. The report followed a two-year patterns and practices investigation by the DOJ and the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office, and presented an unflattering portrait of a rogue unit rife with bullies. The analysis also was critical about general oversight of the unit and the departments internal investigation mechanisms. Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood has since said she revamped the Internal Investigations Unit and is working on improving oversight procedures, including widespread use of body-worn cameras. City Solicitor Edward Pikula said that, in addition to his guidance on policy matters, Ireland will provide valuable counsel on police-involved litigation. (His counsel) will also pay dividends with relation to the important legal matters involved, Pikula said. More specifically, Judge Irelands long and distinguished career experience, together with his Springfield upbringing, make him uniquely qualified to share expertise with the Law Department as we work with the Mayor and Cabinet addressing the needs of litigation both pending and prospective. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 05:33:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People enjoy their leisure time at a beach in Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 15, 2020. The Algerian government Saturday reopened mosques, beaches and some entertainment places that have been closed since March due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. (Xinhua) ALGIERS, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmahdi on Saturday said the discipline of the faithful and their respect for preventive health measures against COVID-19 will accelerate the total reopening of mosques, the official APS news agency reported. The minister made the remarks during a visit to a local mosque on Saturday when the Algerian government reopened some mosques, beaches and leisure areas. He urged all people to respect and implement epidemic prevention measures, welcoming the discipline and good conduct shown by the faithful prayer in the provinces not subject to sanitary confinement. The minister said he was satisfied with those people who wore their masks and brought their hydro-alcoholic gels to mosques. Algerian government reopened Saturday 1,000 mosques, some beaches and leisure areas in the country as part of the gradual lifting of sanitary confinement. The mosques will be opened at certain time and the access is prohibited for women and children under the age of 15, as well as vulnerable people. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Aug. 3 to reopen mosques and beaches. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad stressed on Aug. 5 the need to follow preventive measures against COVID-19 after the reopening of mosques. Mosques, beaches and parks in the country have been closed since mid-March, as part of measures to stem the spread of the COVID-19. President Donald Trump won't sit idly by during the Democratic National Convention next week. Trump is not only scheduled to deliver a speech just hours before Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination right outside the former vice presidents hometown in Pennsylvania, he will also hold counter programming events in three other swing states and will launch a massive multi-million dollar digital ad blitz that includes taking over the banner of YouTube for 96 hours starting on Tuesday. The four-day digital ad campaign that will cost up to high-seven figures," a Trump campaign official told ABC News, will plaster the president's messaging across some of the most coveted digital real estate during a convention that will surely be mostly watched online. The ads will ramp up familiar attacks on the Democratic platform as a "radical left" nightmare for Republicans," sources said. PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing at the White House Aug. 13, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) The campaign will not only take over the YouTube main banner, ads will also appear across the homepages of top news websites -- including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and FoxNews.com -- as voters are expected to be searching for updates on the DNC. MORE: Mail-in voting rules in 46 states may leave some ballots uncounted, USPS warns Trump's campaign has also purchased premium unskippable ads to run on streaming sites like Hulu in swing states, meaning viewers watching the DNC online on such platforms will have to sit through a complete Trump ad first. MORE: Mail-in voting rules in 46 states may leave some ballots uncounted, USPS warns Trump campaign officials claimed they had the opportunity to snatch up the ad real estate because Democrats had left the space available. "Its great that Team Biden let the Trump campaign grab up the best premium real estate on the internet during Joes big week, Trump campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. "Well show millions of Americans exactly how the radical, leftist takeover of Joe Biden is now complete. Story continues In response, the Biden campaign mocked the now infamous Tweet from former campaign manager Brad Parscale nicknaming the Trump campaign "Death Star" and said the ad buy was one of the campaign's "stunts." PHOTO: In this file photo taken on July 28, 2020 US Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at the William 'Hicks' Anderson Community Center in Wilmington, Delaware. (Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) "The 'Death Star' brags about wasting money on stunts almost as much as they pretend that boat parades are more important than finally bringing the pandemic under control. No smoke and mirrors charade can conceal that Donald Trump's failed leadership has cost over 167,000 Americans their lives and driven the strong economy he inherited from the Obama-Biden Administration into one of the deepest recessions in our history," Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates told ABC News. MORE: Biden campaign unveils 1st ad featuring running mate Sen. Kamala Harris On Thursday evening, Biden will give his acceptance speech at the Chase Center, a large event space on the waterfront in Wilmington, Delaware, the Biden campaign confirmed. Trump will deliver is own remarks attacking Biden's "record of failure" in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. Trump's speech will cap off a string of all-out efforts by the president to counter the Democrat's convention week. He has planned three other campaign events in swing states including Minnesota, Wisconsin on Monday and Arizona on Tuesday. This is a familiar tactic for Trump, who held counter rallies throughout the Democratic primary contests. In response to the news that Trump will visit Pennsylvania the day Biden will accept the Democratic Nomination, Bates slammed Trump for failing to get the virus under control and costing Pennsylvanians lives, calling the trip a sideshow and a pathetic attempt to distract from the Trump presidency. ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report. Trump looks to upstage DNC with swing-state events, multi-million dollar digital ad blitz originally appeared on abcnews.go.com For many drivers, car insurance is an expensive necessity that is needed to do their daily routines. Luckily, there are many methods that can help anyone save money on car insurance, said Russell Rabichev. Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents several factors that affect the premiums and several ways to keep car insurance costs under control. For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/why-do-you-pay-so-much-on-car-insurance-premiums/ Car insurance rates have a tendency to rise over time. Besides that, there are several factors that affect the costs of car insurance like higher costs of medical bills, increased prices of newer vehicles, and others. The most common factors that affect the price of car insurance are the following: Address. The location where a driver is living has a major impact on the price of insurance. Different areas have different insurance rates that are influenced by theft rates, vandalism, traffic congestion, hailstorms, and others. Drivers that live in large cities will pay higher insurance rates than those that live in small rural communities. Driving record. Drivers that have safe driving habits are less likely to be involved in accidents and will pay less on their insurance rates. On the other hand, drivers that have at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUI, convictions, and other traffic violations in their driving records will pay much more on their premiums. Furthermore, drivers that have numerous traffic violations will have a hard time finding an insurance company that is willing to sell coverage to them. Gender. Statistics show that male drivers are usually involved in more severe accidents than female drivers and are more likely to die than females. Therefore, insurers will charge more on male drivers (especially young drivers) than female drivers. Drivers that live in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, will be relieved knowing that the insurers cant use the gender in order to determine rates. The type of car. Certain car models have higher claim rates than others. Usually, these types of vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents or to be stolen. Drivers that own one of these vehicles will pay higher insurance rates. Policyholders that own vehicles that have high safety ratings will manage to save money on car insurance. Credit history. Insurance companies consider that drivers that have a credit score under 600 to be riskier to insure, and for that, they will charge more on their insurance. Drivers that live in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts are in luck because the local legislation doesn't allow the insurers to use their credit score to determine insurance rates. For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. Strain of Islamic State Prisoners, Families Gnaws at Key Alliances By Jeff Seldin August 14, 2020 The struggle to make a future for thousands of captured Islamic State fighters and their families currently in makeshift prisons and overcrowded displaced persons camps across northeastern Syria may be starting to erode key partnerships in the fight against the terror group. Most of the burden for guarding and caring for these volatile populations has fallen to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. But SDF officials say they are increasingly frustrated over what they perceive as Washington's unwillingness to intervene and stop Turkey, also a member of the anti-IS coalition, from actively breaching security at the camps. Officials with the SDF and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the political body that governs the region, tell VOA they have repeatedly shared evidence of the Turkish operations to aid IS, also known as ISIS or Daesh, with the United States, but to no avail. "A special committee should be formed to investigate the issue of human trafficking and the involvement of the official Turkish Intelligence Agency," the AANES wrote in a recent letter to the U.S. and other coalition partners, obtained by VOA. "Turkey is smuggling ISIS women from al-Hol [displaced persons] camp," it added, using another acronym for Islamic State. The letter, which appears to be undated, goes on to detail what the AANES claims are at least five attempts by Turkish operatives to help break IS-affiliated men, women and children out of al-Hol, all spanning a two-week period in July. Ankara denies the allegations, instead blaming the Kurdish-led SDF, which it maintains is linked to the Turkey-based Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which the U.S. has labeled as a terrorist organization, and its Syrian offshoot, the People's Protection Units (YPG). "The PKK/YPG released large groups of ISIS/DAESH affiliated FTFs (foreign terrorist fighters) on 16 different occasions, through shady deals made in exchange of money," the Turkish Embassy in Washington told VOA in a statement. The embassy also said Ankara continues to advocate for the "immediate repatriation of FTFs and their families," noting what it described as minimal sanitary and security conditions in the camps and the abuse that especially women and children are subjected to." Officials with the U.S.-led coalition declined comment on the SDF and AANES allegations. And senior U.S. military officials said if there is reason to suspect Turkey of wrongdoing, they have not seen it. "I don't have any evidence, that I'm aware of, that anybody's been smuggled out of the [al Hol] camp," the commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie, told an audience during an online forum this past week [Wednesday]. U.S. diplomats have, likewise, tried to downplay any concerns. "We are generally satisfied with the situation in northeast Syria," said Amb. James Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative on Syria. "We listen to everything that the SDF raises with us, that the Turkish government raises with us," he added. Only Kurdish officials in northeast Syria argue the evidence against Turkey is mounting. "There was a group within Turkish intelligence that is in contact with the families of ISIS women [from] various countries," the letter states. "This group works to abduct women to sell them to their families in exchange for a large amount of money or to reuse them to revive ISIS." "Some of those women were proved to be found in the Turkish-occupied regions in Syria," it adds. In one incident detailed in its letter to the U.S. and other coalition members, the AANES said security forces arrested five IS women with Russian citizenship, and 13 children, as they tried to escape. Four other incidents involved another 14 adults and 11 children, all attempting to escape al-Hol by hiding in tanker trucks used to supply the camp with water, the letter said, adding one of the truck drivers admitted to having already smuggled another 11 IS affiliated persons out of the facility. Kurdish officials also point to another incident in mid-July, in which Turkish security sources bragged to Turkish media that their intelligence operatives had freed a Moldovan woman and her four children from al-Hol. The Turkish sources identified the woman as Natalia Barkal and said she had moved to Syria with her husband in 2013. They added that Barkal's husband had been killed during fighting, and that she had been living at the al Hol camp since January 2019. SDF officials told VOA Barkal had arrived at al-Hol, along with thousands of other women and children affiliated with IS as the terror group lost control of its Syrian territory. "Turkish intelligence is making great efforts and providing financial support," the Kurdish officials said in a statement issued following Barkal's escape. "[We] call upon the whole world to hold Turkey responsible for smuggling and receiving Daesh members," the statement added. "These practices are consistent with attempts to place Syria, the region, and the world under the threat of Daesh." When asked about the incident at the time, a State Department spokesperson referred all questions to the Turkish government, which has yet to make any official statement about the operation. The SDF is holding as many as 10,000 IS fighters, including about 2,000 foreign fighters, in prisons across northeast Syria. At least another 11,000 IS women and children are being held at al-Hol and other nearby displaced persons camps, also under SDF guard. U.S. officials have been leading the push for countries to repatriate their citizens and prosecute those who are suspected of having fought for or committed crimes under IS. Many countries, however, have been reluctant to do so. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australias Spy Agency Warns of Foreign Interference in Ethnic Communities Australias spy agency has warned that ethnic communities face threats of harm from foreign governments seeking to monitor, direct, and influence the activities of diaspora groups. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) made the submission to a parliamentary inquiry examining issues affecting Australias vast, multicultural communities. Some foreign governments seek to interfere in diaspora communities to control or quash opposition or dissent deemed to be a threat to their government, the ASIO submission (pdf) stated. Pedestrians in the Chinatown district on March 4, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ASIO is aware of numerous individuals from a range of diaspora communities who reported being subject to threats against themselves and family members due to their voicing of opinions on political and ideological issues which a foreign country deemed to be a threat to their government. ASIO said the threats came either directly from foreign government representatives or other members of the diaspora communityacting on the direction of the government. These activities against diaspora communities have related to issues including overseas electoral events, pro-democracy movements, and human rights, as well as issues associated with protecting the image of the foreign country, ASIO wrote. The submission avoided directly mentioning Beijing. Melbournes Chinatown on August 13, 2020. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) In recent years, ASIO has been increasingly vocal on the issue, with the former head of the agency, Duncan Lewis, warning in 2018 that the level of foreign interference in the country was unprecedented. In 2019, Lewis again warned that Australia faced an existential threat from foreign interference. Following his retirement, the former spy chief admitted that Beijing was the issue that overwhelmingly kept ASIO preoccupied. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Director-General Duncan Lewis speaks at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 4, 2019. (Courtesy of the Lowy Institute/Facebook) For example, the Uyghur Association of Victoria wrote (pdf) to the inquiry saying family members in China were being harassed and forced to contact Australian-based relatives telling them not to engage in activities unfavourable to the Chinese regime. Sometimes family members in China would be compelled to call their relatives in the presence of Chinese police. The Chinese Communist Party was also accused of preventing Australian citizens (of Uyghur ethnicity) from returning to Australia after travelling to China. Alim Osman, president of Uyghur association of Victoria, speaks at the Hong Kong rally on July 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (The Epoch Times) It is apparent to us that some Uyghur and Chinese folk have been offered inducements to disseminate Chinese government propaganda in the Uyghur community and keep tabs on the activities of Uyghur people in Australia, the submission stated. The Khmer Community of New South Wales complained (pdf) of foreign interference locally by the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) saying the regime has established front organisations (akin to Beijings United Front Work Department) in Australia to recruit, infiltrate or take control of the local community. The Overseas Youth Working Group seeks to build membership from Cambodian students studying around the world to shore up support for the regime back home. In 2016, the group ran an Australia-wide recruitment campaign headlined by Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian leader Hun Sen. In 2018, Hun Sen threatened to pursue and beat protestors who burned effigies of him at the ASEAN summit in Sydney. Australias former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (R) waves with ASEAN leaders (L to 2nd R) Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Indonesias President Joko Widodo, Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen, Bruneis Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Thailands Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on March 17, 2018. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) The submission from the community claimed the CPPs activities in Australia have caused anger, fear, insecurity, mistrust, and division among the Cambodian diaspora. For the survivors of Pol Pots killing fields, these events recall the fear and trauma of the Khmer Rouge years, it continued. Foreign interference in Australia has been a hot topic in recent years following revelations that authoritarian regimes, namely the Chinas Communist Party, have been actively working to influence the countrys domestic affairs. Haiti - Justice : BINUH very concerned about the upsurge in insecurity The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) in a note, expresses its deep concern at the resurgence of insecurity throughout the national territory and in particular in the working-class neighborhoods of the metropolitan area, where clashes between armed gangs have recently caused significant loss of life. The population of neighborhoods controlled by armed gangs endure an intolerable level of violence : between January and June 2020, BINUH documented that at least 159 people were killed and 92 others injured, including children, as a result of the violence gang related. BINUH recalls "these violations could constitute international crimes under human rights law and also constitute crimes under Haitian criminal law [...] Therefore, we once again encourage the Haitian authorities to prosecute alleged perpetrators of crimes, abuses or human rights violations, and to execute the judicial acts issued, including the arrest warrant issued against several gang leaders, including Jimmy Cherizier, aka 'Barbecue', targeted by a warrant issued in February 2019 for its alleged involvement in the Grande Ravine attacks in November 2017 and also involved in other deadly incidents, including that of La Saline in November 2018 and Bel Air in November 2019 and more recently in the Pont Rouge and Cite Soleil incidents." BINUH reminds the Government of the importance of providing the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reintegration (CNDDR) with adequate financial and logistical means, to properly fulfill their respective missions and encourages international partners to continue their support to these key institutions for the rule of law in Haiti. HL/ HaitiLibre SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: KODK) investors with losses in excess of $250,000 to submit your losses now. A securities fraud class action has been filed and certain investors may have valuable claims. Class Period: July 27, 2020 - Aug. 7, 2020 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 13, 2020 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/KODK Contact An Attorney Now: [email protected] 844-916-0895 Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) Securities Class Action: The complaint alleges that Defendants perpetrated a scheme to profit from the use of material non-public information by misrepresenting and concealing material facts regarding a purported deal Kodak reached with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Specifically, on July 27, 2020, Defendants caused Kodak to issue a statement to media outlets based in Rochester, New York, where Kodak is headquartered, on the imminent public announcement of a "new manufacturing initiative" involving the DFC and the response to COVID-19. Following media publication of Kodak's initial statement on the deal, the Company claimed this information was released inadvertently. That same day, Kodak granted several insiders options to purchase approximately 1.885 million shares of the Company's common shares, including Executive Chairman and CEO Jim Continenza, who received options to purchase 1.75 million shares, and CFO David E. Bullwinkle, who received options to purchase 45,000 shares. On July 28, 2020, the price of Kodak's shares jumped 200% following news that the Company had won a $765 million government loan from the DFC to produce pharmaceutical materials, including ingredients for COVID-19 drugs. Shares continued to surge by over 300% the next day. This massive stock price increase allowed Kodak insiders to enrich themselves from the compensation scheme. In days following the deal announcement, media outlets uncovered Defendants' compensation scheme. As a result of these revelations, the SEC is reportedly investigating, the DFC paused the deal, and Kodak's share price has declined sharply thereby damaging Class Period investors. "We're focused on investors' losses and holding Kodak and its insiders accountable for their fraudulent compensation scheme," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you are a Kodak investor who lost over $250,000 on Class Period investments, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Kodak should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw . Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Related Links https://www.hbsslaw.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-14 18:07:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Fireworks are seen during the New Year celebration at Times Square in New York, the United States, Jan. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Han Fang) One question keeps haunting me: what exactly did my colleagues and I do wrong that made the U.S. government come to dread and hate us and can only feel relieved by dispelling us? As a journalist, an observer and recorder of history, I was always filled with a sense of accomplishment when I was given a chance to present a real America to readers through my own efforts and deepen the understanding and communication between the two peoples. by Han Fang BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- When I was taking pictures at Times Square on New Year's Eve 2020, recording celebrations by people coming from countries around the world, I could not have imagined that I would experience such a flustering and chaotic period two months later. HASTY DEPARTURE AMID PANDEMIC In mid-March, my three-year journalist career came to a sudden stop due to a disguised de-facto expulsion of 60 Chinese journalists from the United States by the U.S. State Department, and we were demanded to leave the country immediately by the U.S. side. Since the novel coronavirus was raging and the number of flights was cut sharply at the time, the Chinese embassy tried to ask for a grace period for us, but only received a cold refusal from the U.S. government. In less than a week, I handed over my work, packed up my baggage, terminated the rental agreement and closed all the accounts, and managed to grab an air ticket from the Internet ... I had never expected I could have been able to finish all the tiring work with such efficiency. At a time when COVID-19 was spreading quickly in New York and in the United States as a whole, medical protective equipment was in acute shortage. Under limited time and conditions, the Xinhua regional bureau in North America tried to provide each of us with masks, gloves and disinfectant, but goggles and protective clothing were nowhere to buy. Passengers enter the security inspection area at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the United States, March 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) A flight of more than 10 hours in closed space was extremely risky at the time, especially because we were not adequately protected, which made us panicky during the whole journey. After arriving in Beijing, from the airport to a designated place of registration and then to a quarantine hotel, I finally entered a hotel room, put down my luggage and felt totally exhausted -- nearly 40 hours had passed since I left New York. EFFORTS AS JOURNALIST Now after settling down, I finally have the mood and time to look back on my work experiences in the United States over the past three years. One question keeps haunting me: what exactly did my colleagues and I do wrong that made the U.S. government come to dread and hate us and can only feel relieved by dispelling us? The China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important and complex bilateral relationships in the world. I had prepared myself for a difficult journey when I was posted to the United States in 2017. Nevertheless, born in the 1980s after China and the United States established diplomatic ties, I grew up in the era of China's reform and opening up with the conviction that openness, inclusiveness and common development are the main themes of today's world, whose development has a lot to do with China-U.S. cooperation. A seagull rests at the Liberty Island in New York, the United States, on Nov. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Fang) As a journalist, an observer and recorder of history, I was always filled with a sense of accomplishment when I was given a chance to present a real America to readers through my own efforts and deepen the understanding and communication between the two peoples. I was in charge of editing and releasing news pictures taken by my colleagues stationed across the United States, whose themes ranged from President Donald Trump's White House press briefings, to the New York Stock Exchange, and to newly-launched Disneyland theme parks, constituting real moments of the U.S. political, economic and social life. Meanwhile, I often volunteered to work on the forefront, using my own camera to record every aspect of American society, and had been impressed by a number of stories I learned during my interviews. In 2017 when China resumed beef imports from the United States, which had been suspended for 14 years due to the mad cow disease, I flew to the remote U.S. states of Nebraska and Iowa, stepping on cow dung and braving animal blood, to photograph cattle farms as well as slaughtering and processing plants. Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2017 shows farm owner Bill herding his cattle at a corn field in Omaha, the United States. (Xinhua/Han Fang) Through cooperation with my China-based colleagues, I used a set of photos and videos to illustrate how high-quality American beef traveled across oceans and was finally served on the tables of Chinese consumers. In 2019, I went to Las Vegas to cover a gathering of eight "Flying Tigers" veterans who aided China during World War II, as well as their family members and Chinese friends. I witnessed how the friendship between the two countries, which bloomed from fire and blood during wartime, has taken its root and been passed on. Over the past three years, my perception of the United States has grown from being abstract to concrete. With the pictures I dealt with, I have grown to be sympathetic toward ordinary Americans and impressed by the common feelings we share. I have witnessed investors' joy when stock markets hit new highs, the grassroot people's anger about social injustice, the grief of the families of victims of terrorist attacks or vicious shootings, and the happiness of family reunions during holiday celebrations, and so on. Why should all these be blamed and stigmatized? FRIENDSHIP, KINDNESS STILL MY CHOICE The banishment Chinese journalists working in the United States faced with is just a microcosm of the current of China-U.S. relations, which have been impeded and sabotaged by a certain group of people. Some pessimists depicted a gloomy picture for the future bilateral relations. However, recalling the people and the events I encountered over the past three years, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel even during this dark time. I still remember 70-year-old Bill Pellett, a rancher in Iowa who is committed to producing high-quality beef and exporting it to the international market. He and his wife are staunch supporters of Trump, but they are not in favor of the trade war Washington launched against China. "I think it's good for all of us to understand each other and to share the resources that we have available. Each country ... has different resources, they need to trade to make the world a better place," Pellett said. Edward Beneda is seen in front of posters about Flying Tigers at a Flying Tigers conference in Las Vegas, the United States, on May 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Fang) I often think of Edward Beneda who lives in Santa Barbara in California. His father Glen Beneda, a "Flying Tiger" veteran soldier who later died in 2010, had his life saved because local people fought hard to rescue him when his jet crashed in central China's Hubei Province. "We consider the Chinese people as part of our family. I'm not talking about just the ones that saved my father's life, but we have a very profound and strong relationship with all the Chinese people," Beneda, who often goes to local schools in Los Angeles to show the documentary of his father's encounters in China. I also think of my neighbor in New York, a city where most people are rather isolated from each other. One day my neighbor approached me to discuss issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang. While we could not agree on many things, we also cleared up many misunderstandings. After learning that I would leave America soon, he took his whole family to my apartment to say goodbye regardless of the rampant pandemic and gave me a handmade card. Because of these unforgettable people and incidents, I will not allow hatred to grip me, though the expulsion, a significant professional setback, has traumatized me. I still believe in the power of friendship. And I am convinced that kindness will win out. Photo taken on March 25, 2020 shows the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Also in March, in response to the groundless suppression of Chinese media organizations by the White House, China issued countermeasures to reduce the number of foreign correspondents American media outlets posted to China. By then, the COVID-19 pandemic was peaking in the United States, and some speculated that China would retaliate with the same measures and ask American journalists deprived of work permits to pack up and leave the country right away. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: "As for when they will leave the country ... we also take into consideration the situation on the ground, including the COVID-19 epidemic. China will be more reasonable and will handle their exit in a more humane way." I do not know if my American counterparts have already left. I wish for their wellness whether they are in the process of packing or already in their home country. I also hope that they can keep their fond memories of China and will have a chance to come back. (Han Fang formerly worked at Xinhua News Agency North America regional bureau as a photo editor.) Ranchi: Governor of Jharkhand, Draupadi Murmu along with state Chief Minister Hemant Soren unveiled the new emblem of the state on Friday that is on the eve of 74th independence day of India . The unveiling ceremony took place at Aryabhat auditorium. The event was also attended by few prominent leader of the state including Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren and other people. The new emblem reflects the greenery, and tribal culture, rich resources of the state. It has the Ashoka emblem enclosed within concentric circles having representation of state-tribal dance celebration motifs, the Palash flower also known as the flame of the forest and elephants. The Elephants used in the emblem symbolise the state`s grand past, strength, collective wisdom and resolve to move forward while the Palash flower also reflects the state`s natural beauty. The blooming of the flower also indicates arrival of the spring season - a harbinger of prosperity. Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Chief Minister Hemant Soren shared the emblem writing that the new emblem is dedicated to its people. Speaking on the occasion, Hemant Soren said: "With abundant natural resources, a vibrant diverse culture and a tribal heritage with it`s innumerable tribes, Jharkhand has a unique place in the country. The new emblem reflects vision, renewed vigour and enthusiasm. The government of Jharkhand recognises and celebrates the rich heritage of the state by releasing the state emblem that reflect the ethos of it`s people, their ambitions, values, philosophy and culture." If its legal to smoke a doobie in city streets, what gives with a cold beer on a picnic bench during a health crisis, no less? Thats what Premier Doug Ford echoed at a news briefing Friday as he slammed Hamiltons track record amid the pandemic of issuing hundreds of public drinking-related tickets. Theyre making it legal to smoke a joint, a doobie, a reefer and I wouldnt want my kids walking by people smoking marijuana but if a couple guys are sitting there, quietly on a picnic bench having a cold beer, who cares? Ford said. I cant agree with giving someone a ticket during COVID. Theyre stuck in an apartment, they want to be responsible, they stick to themselves, theyre quiet, and they want to have a cold beer Give us a break. Just a little bit of a break. Hamilton police handed out 369 public drinking-related tickets between March 12 and July 31 this year. The charges relate to violations of Section 31 (2) of the Liquor License Act, which include having liquor in an open container or consuming it anywhere other than a licensed premises, home or private location. They also come with a $100 fine. While the onus of issuing tickets falls on police, Ford took issue with Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and city council. Im not blaming police. Im blaming city council, the mayor. Give these guys a break. Man, theyre your constituents, Ford said. Theyre cooped up in an apartment, sometimes for months, and where are they going to go? Just stick in their apartment and have a beer? Let them go to the park. Have a little flexibility, mayor. Come on. Give them a break. Fords comments are in line with the recommendations of some public health experts, who say making it legal for people to drink in parks could limit the spread of COVID-19. Its not going to make it a zero-transmission (scenario), but its going to make it a much safer event than doing it indoors with a bunch of people, said Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician at McMaster University. Meanwhile, a city spokesperson deflected the blame of public drinking-related tickets back to the province. To allow changes to the Liquor License Act would require the province allowing municipalities to update their public drinking By-Laws, the city said in a statement. This is not something we are currently exploring. With files from Katrina Clarke Read more about: The House of Representatives elections will be held in November The House of Representatives will adjourn for its annual summer recess starting Tuesday, informed sources told Ahram Online on Friday. "The House will convene on Sunday and Monday to discuss and vote on a number of laws. A final meeting will be held on Tuesday before the House adjourns for its summer recess," said an informed source, adding that "parliament may meet again during the second week of October, in line with the constitution. However, the Tuesday meeting may be the last before new parliamentary elections are held in November. "In any case, the current parliament should complete its five-year tenure that ends on 9 January 2021," said the source. The current House held its first meeting on 10 January 2016. Parliament will meet on Sunday and Monday to discuss 13 new laws on fighting sexual harassment and bullying crimes, and regulating litigation in personal status affairs. The other laws up for discussion are meant to regulate the performance of public notary offices, universities, the Egyptian Wakf (religious endowments) Authority, funding the administration of educational schemes, supporting the physically challenged persons, and burying water pools. Another important law featuring on the agenda has to do with regulating medical clinical researches. This law was passed last year but President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi referred it back to parliament to be amended and discussed again. Before it adjourns for its summer recess on Tuesday, parliament is expected to take a final vote on six laws on intellectual property rights, microfinance, code of construction schemes, the commercial register, and care for patients with psychological troubles. Search Keywords: Short link: Wednesday next, August 19, 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first major War of Independence engagement to take place in South Longford. Up to that point, North Longford had gained a national reputation as a hot-spot of resistance to British rule, while little of significance had taken place in the south of the county. Sean Connolly and Sean Mac Eoin had led the assaults on Drumlish and Ballinamuck Barracks but, while both operations had led to the closure of those barracks, no arms or ammunition were captured on either occasion. Any further plans were being hindered by the meagre supply of arms. Sean Mac Eoin then mounted one of the most daring operations of all, when he and five others carried out a raid on the Upper Military Barracks in Longford (where Pearse Park is now). The raid took place on August 18 and yielded 11 rifles, 550 rounds of ammunition, grenades and other equipment. An attack on Ballymahon had been mooted for some time, but had been shelved because of a lack of arms. The success of the raid on Longford Barracks cleared the way for it to proceed. Not a man to rest on his laurels, Sean Mac Eoin met Sean Connolly the very night of his successful raid in Longford and finalised arrangements for an assault on Ballymahon to take place the following night. The Inny-side town had been selected, with two objectives in mind. The first was to instruct the IRA in the South of the county on how to mount such an attack and the second reason was to take the heat off the IRA in North Longford. Despite the relative lack of activity, there was a strong core of active IRA members in South Longford and they had watched, enviously, at the successes of their North Longford colleagues. The Ballymahon operation was planned as a learning experience for members of the 3rd and 4th battalions and a successful attack might also add further to the stock of weapons and ammunition of the Longford Brigade. Ballymahon Barracks was located on the Main Street and was manned by 15-20 RIC/Tans at any one time. The building had been fitted with what were known as Very lights and these could be fired into the sky to alert British forces in Athlone, Mullingar or Longford, if assistance was required. This meant that hundreds of reinforcements could be on the scene within thirty to forty minutes. It was a particularly risky operation for the IRA, and needed to be completed in quick time. Sean Mac Eoin in Charge Sean Mac Eoin claimed that the responsibility for the capture of Ballymahon Barracks was placed on him, although Sean Connolly was also present and took a key role in its delivery. Mac Eoin brought with him some of his most experienced men, about ten in all, many of whom would figure in the North Longford Flying Column later in the year. The group included Paddy Callaghan, Frank Davis, Jim Sheeran, Seamus Conway, Hugh Hourican and Mick Kenny. Two cars driven by Frank Davis and Paddy McKenna from Ballinamuck ferried the North Longford men until they stopped about a mile from the village of Barry. There, Mac Eoin and Connolly presented eight men with rifles and ammunition. Frank Davis recalled that Mac Eoin addressed the men who were selected, telling them: The arms he was handing over to them were in the possession of the British Army twenty-four hours previously. He said that he expected them to use them now in a manner befitting themselves as soldiers of Ireland. The cars were driven, without lights, for the last few miles and parked in the grounds of the Catholic Church, where Paddy McKenna kept an eye on them. The majority of the men called into action were from the local IRA companies around Ballymahon, Ardagh, Carrickedmond, Kenagh and Legan. This operation involved large numbers, with about 50 deployed at four locations in the town itself. Some were located at the bridge near the Athlone Road junction, others were at the Church of Ireland and the core group were based on the street and at the end of the barracks itself. In addition, there were outposts at crossroads in a broad area surrounding the town, at Ledwithstown, Foigha, Goshen, Bawn, Doory, Moigh, Tang, Forgney, Abbeyderg and elsewhere. At those locations, trees were felled and roads cut to prevent enemy forces from getting through. As the main group of men were crossing fields to approach the barracks from the rear, they could hear the reassuring sound of trees falling in all directions. At least 40 more men were engaged at these outposts. Cumann na mBan members had first aid stations, with the nearest one in Baxters in Ardagh. There, a group of women including Mary Ellen Baxter (Killinlastra), Kate Egan (Treel), Julia Ballesty (Lisdreenagh), Mary Donnellan (Croshea) and Marcella Donnelly (Kinard) were prepared for the worst and they also had food ready for some of the returning IRA men. At 10pm, as the night sky closed in, the core group of IRA men assembled near the Moigh/Castlecore crossroads. Michael Joseph Ryan from Lanesboro, who owned a lorry, brought most of the equipment in advance from Ballinalee to Pat Campbells house at Lislom, Kenagh. Campbell brought the goods on an ass and cart, covered with straw, as far as this crossroads. Delicate Approach to Rear of Barracks At midnight, the delicate approach began as the raiding party took to the fields through the Black Gate at Moigh and set off silently in twos, cross country for Ballymahon. Pat Steele acted as guide and Michael Malone, Cartronboy, carried a bag of Mills bombs. At this stage, about twenty of the IRA men were equipped with rifles and more had shotguns or pistols. As they approached the barracks, Sean Connolly warned the men that they were on a dangerous mission and suggested that each of them should make an Act of Contrition. When the various groups had taken up their positions on the street, and in front of the barracks, fire was directed at the windows and doors to prevent anyone exiting. The difficult task of breaking into the barracks was given to eight men who approached it from the attached dwelling houses. Firstly, they gained entry to Donohoes saddlers shop, two doors to the right of the barracks, and then they broke through the wall to the next house which was occupied by the Lloyd family. This had to be achieved by cutting a hole through the wall on the ground floor with very rudimentary equipment, as described by Leo Baxter: The only tools we had for this purpose was a crane hook, and we used a sledge to drive this between the stones in the wall at the back of the fireplace. The working party consisted of Connolly, Brian Partridge of Ardagh and myself. When the wall into Lloyds was breached, the IRA men found the Lloyd family, as well as the wives of two RUC men, huddled together in an upstairs room. All were taken through the hole in the wall to the safety of a neighbouring house. Sean Connolly Breaks through Barracks Roof The next stage in a difficult task was to gain access to the roof of the barracks and this was done by breaking through the ceiling and roof of Lloyds. Leo Baxter, the tallest man among them, broke through the ceiling with an axe and, in similar fashion, made a hole in the roof. Sean Connolly then crawled through the opening in Lloyds roof and proceeded to break a hole in the roof of the barracks. He called on the RIC to surrender, but they refused. Connolly then lit the fuse and threw a 7lb cartbox bomb through the hole in the roof, blowing away the ceiling and floor underneath. The RIC had retreated to the other side of the building but, when called upon, they still refused to surrender. The IRA, who had been experimenting with new types of bombs during the summer, had created a new piece of equipment, not used before, which they called Big Bess. This bomb contained sulphur, brimstone, black pepper and other ingredients. When the bomb was thrown through the hole in the roof, it fell down to the ground floor and exploded, sending gas fumes all over the barracks. While the bomb may have smelled more dangerous than it was, the result was instant surrender by the RIC. It must have been an extraordinary sight, and an occasion of great satisfaction for Sean Mac Eoin and his loyal followers, to see RIC men emerge from the building, lay down their arms and line up, under IRA orders. They were then marched to a house on the Athlone Road and locked in. A decision was made not to burn the barracks, because of risk to adjacent dwellings. Major Success for the IRA The Ballymahon operation was a very significant step in the War of Independence in County Longford. This was the very first occasion the IRA in the county had obtained a surrender and a hand-over of equipment in a barracks attack, and it was achieved without any casualties on either side. About ten rifles and five or six hundred rounds of ammunition were handed over, as well as some revolvers. There was some disappointment among the local IRA companies, because most of the haul was loaded into the two cars which had brought the North Longford men to Ballymahon. However, the involvement of South Longford IRA men did spur them on to taking a more active part in engagements and eventually a South Longford Flying Column emerged. The South Longford men who were directly involved included: Leo Baxter, Pat Trautt, Patrick Ryan (Legan), J Hughes, Brian Partridge, Andy Cox, Packie Kenny, Tim Nolan, Jack Nolan, William Duncan, Harry McGann, Tom Farrell, Patrick Ryan (Ardagh), Charles Ballesty, Mick Ballesty, John McCormack, Barney Donnelly, John Hussey, John Clarke, Barney Mulvihill, Joe Nally, Michael John Keane, William Lucas and Tom Keogh. While there were many more engagements with British forces in South Longford over the next eleven months, the surrender of Ballymahon Barracks by the RIC/Tans on the morning of August 20, 1920 was the outstanding event from the War of Independence in South Longford. Sean Mac Eoin was involved in many memorable and successful operations, but nothing, apart from the Clonfin Ambush, could compare with the two successive nights of Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 & 19, 1920. The daring raid on Longford Military Barracks on the Tuesday produced eleven rifles, and the surrender of Ballymahon on the Wednesday yielded another ten rifles. Morale was at an all-time high among the IRA in Longford on that August morning as men returned to their homes, both North and South. Sources used l Witness Statements of Leo Baxter, Sean Mac Eoin, Frank Davis, Bernard Garrahan, Michael Ryan and Seamus Conway. l Longford Leader August 28, 1920 l With Boots and Togs: A Century of Ballymahon GAA History by Leo Kenny Sean O Suilleabhains first article in this The War of Independence in County Longford' series entitled Ballinamuck RIC Barracks attack one of the most daring operations during the War of Independence can be viewed online at www.longfordleader.ie When Kyoto University professor Shinya Yamanaka won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for his work on stem cells, Edvinas Cerniauskas, then 21, became interested in the field and soon began to plan how he could come to Japan and study at the cutting edge. His dream was becoming reality when he was accepted to Kyoto University a where he intends to pursue a doctorate at Yamanakaas Center for iPS Cell Research and Application a and received a scholarship from the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry (MEXT). He had quit his job at a stem cell laboratory in the U.K. and returned to his native Lithuania to prepare to come to Japan in April, when the country imposed travel restrictions to curb COVID-19 infections. Since then, Cerniauskas has been waking up daily to attend 4 a.m. remote, intensive language courses via Zoom provided by Kyoto University. The schedule has taken a toll on his health and caused him to lose more than 10 kilograms. Because new visas are not being issued for international students amid the pandemic and he is not physically in Japan, he isnat receiving his scholarshipas stipend and has been relying on his savings for his living expenses. The government imposed a travel restriction denying re-entry to long-term and permanent foreign residents who departed Japan on April 3 and after (the date depends on the country they went to). While on Aug. 5 the government started allowing the re-entry of those who departed Japan before the designated dates, restrictions are still in place for foreign residents who departed after that. The government has also stopped issuing new visas to foreign nationals wishing to enter Japan for the first time, including foreign students, putting them in limbo. Obadiah Mailafia, a former deputy governor of the CBN who currently holds an office in the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategy Studies, Kuru, Jos, is all thumbs now as he struggles to save his face from disgrace. He made a claim during the week, on a popular radio station in Abuja where he fingered a northern governor and President Muhammadu Buhari as part and parcel of Boko Haram and banditry in Nigeria. Mailafia made more claims about terrorists wiping off rural Nigerians and starting a civil war in 2022. And he added he got his intel from his own security network and former Boko Haram terrorists. It turns out its all a liedespite swearing he was ready to die in defending his statements. In an interview with BBC Hausa on Thursday, Mailafia, a failed presidential candidate in the 2019 election, revealed he got the information from some Fulani traders in the market, adding he never knew his comments would go viral. It took Mailafia a number of denials before he owned up to his fake news and conspiracy theories. The DSS office in Jos invited him for interrogation on Thursday. While he told the agents different stories during the investigation, he came out gain to address a crowd of journalists and rights activists to say something else. It is even more condemnable that Mailafiya, who had profusely apologized during his visit to the Services Plateau State Command for his ignoble statement, would, afterwards, announce to the world that he stood by his misguided eruption, an official statement from the DSS said Friday morning. And by Thursday evening, on the BC Hausa service, Mailafia again did a second-guessing. He said he explained to the DSS what he knew about the incident and apologised for any statements he made that offended others. He added that hes a fan of Buharis. This recanting wouldnt go down well with media activists and lawyers, including the Media Rights Agenda, SAN Femi Falana, the PDP, and other who had risen up in defence of Mailafia when the DSS invited him, and when a N5-million hate-speech fie was slammed on the radio station. Election 2020 Dozens of Myanmar Political Parties Seek Assurances From Military Chief Over Election Concerns Myanmar army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (center) and U Than Htay (left), chairman of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, attend a meeting between the military chief and leaders of 34 political parties on Aug. 14 in Naypyitaw. / Senior General Min Aung Hlaings website Myanmars military chief told dozens of political parties he was willing to do whatever was necessary for the country during a meeting in which representatives of more than one-third of Myanmars 95 registered political parties raised concerns about Novembers general election, and sought his assurance that they could count on his help if the voting turned unfair. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with 35 politicians from 34 political parties including some ethnic parties (see list below) in Naypyitaw on Friday. The meeting was organized by Myanmars former ruling party, and military proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The majority of the participants are considered pro-military and USDP allies. It was the second time Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of defense services, has met the political parties in the past 18 months, the first meeting coming in March last year. National Progressive Party chairman Dr. Nay Zin Latt voiced concern that if the election were not free and fair those affected would have no institution to complain to, and asked for the army chiefs support, according to one of the attendants at the meeting, U Kyaw Swar Soe, chairman of the Myanmar Farmers Development Party. Dr Nay Zin Latt served as a presidential adviser during the previous USDP government. Other participants called for incumbent Union Election Commission chair U Hla Thein to be replaced, saying they have no trust in him as he was appointed by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD). During the meeting, some reiterated to the army chief their desire for the government to convene a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC). The calls for an NDSC meeting are not new; the army chief himself called for such a meeting during an interview earlier this month with Russias Politic magazine. The USDP and its allies have pushed the NLD government several times to convene the NDSC. In March, 15 political parties including the USDP called for a council meeting to discuss the countrys response to COVID-19. The NLD government has not called a single meeting of the military-dominated NDSC, unlike the previous administration. Military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the discussions between the senior general and the parties centered on the need for the election to be free and fair, adding that the army chief urged them to select candidates whose ability would make them good members of Parliament. According to the senior generals office, the army chief urged the parties to choose good candidates who would work best for their constituents as well as for the country; maintain the national interest and understand the Tatmadaws role in national politics; respect race and religions; and who are free from foreign influence. Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said the parties had sought a meeting with the army chief since February, but it was delayed due to COVID-19. Inn National Development Party chair U Win Myint, who participated in the meeting at the invitation of the USDP, told The Irrawaddy that the meeting was arranged by the military-backed former ruling party. According to U Kyaw Swar Soe, the chairman of the Myanmar Farmers Development Party, the military chief said he was keeping a close eye on developments. U Kyaw Swar Soe quoted the senior general as saying, There is nothing I wont dare to do. I am brave enough to do everything. Anything that could have a negative impact on the country, the people and the future of the military [is my concern]. Im following everything. Interpreting the senior generals comments, U Win Myint of the Inn National Development Party said: What he means is the military wont be involved in party politics, but will do anything to defend the state. He pledged that the army will provide the security needed to hold the election successfully, said the chair of the ethnic party. Another attendant, Daw Thet Thet Khine of the Peoples Pioneer Party, told The Irrawaddy that the military chief said he had been very patient, and urged political parties to do the same and not to be hasty. He said, Please dont be hasty. Things have gone wrong due to hastiness [in our country]. We have to take lessons from the past, Daw Thet Thet Khine said. U Ye Tun, a former lawmaker under the previous government and a political analyst, said the meeting was called due to parties lack of confidence in the UEC. He said political parties should push for reform of the UEC if they dont trust it, rather than asking the military chief what he could do for them. He summarized the political parties message to the army chief on Friday as: There is a possibility that we are going to be mistreated in the election. If that happens, we want to be able to count on you. They didnt say it, but thats what they meant. Legally, the military does not have the final say on this issue [of electoral fairness]. So, what do they mean by seeking help from the military? In short, it seems they are calling for a coup, the former lawmaker said. On the military chiefs response, U Ye Tun said the senior general was careful to base his replies on the Constitution, which says the military is entrusted with the defense of the country. What the military chief said was a shrewd response. The naive ones are those politicians who are asking for his help, creating a bad impression with the public, he said. About Fridays meeting: Fridays meeting between political parties and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing included representatives of some parties that were not present at the military chiefs first meeting with parties last year, such as the Peoples Pioneer Party, which is led by current Lower House lawmaker Daw Thet Thet Khine. She left the NLD to form the party last year. The National Democratic Force and the Wa National Party were also present for the first time on Friday. In March 2019, the army chief met representatives of 32 political parties in Naypyitaw and urged them to join hands with the Tatmadaw (Myanmars military), which he said was focusing its efforts on peace and stability. He said this was necessary because Myanmar still lacked peace and stability in terms of politics and security, as well as economic development. At that meeting, nearly half of the parties were allied with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which arranged accommodation and transportation from its party offices to Naypyitaw for the participating parties. The majority of those parties are not currently represented in Parliament. The participants at Fridays meeting: According to the commander-in-chiefs official website, the politicians who participated in Fridays meeting were: 1. USDP chairman U Than Htay and secretary U Pike Htwe; 2. National Unity Party joint secretary U Nay Win; 3. New National Democracy Party chairman U Thein Nyunt; 4. National Progressive Party chairman Dr. Nay Zin Latt; 5. New Age Peoples Partys chair U Tun Aung Kyaw; 6. National Democratic Force Party chair U Khin Maung Swe; 7. Peoples Pioneer Party chair Daw Thet Thet Khine; and 8. National Political Allies Federations chair U Thein Kyi; 9. Wunthanu Democratic Party chair Daw Nang Shwe Kyar; 10. Democracy and Peace Party acting chair U Myo Nyunt; 11. New Age Union Party chair U Aung Than; 12. Bamar Peoples Party chair U Aung Than Tint; 13. Diversity and Peace Party chair Daw Sandar Oo; 14. Peoples Party of Myanmar Farmers and Workers chair U Aung Myo Khaing; 15. 88 Generation Democracy Party vice chair U Thaung Oo; 16. Peoples Party chair U Parpi Pyi Hein (aka U Myo Min Tun); 17. Myanmar Peoples Democratic Party chair U Htay Kyaw; 18. People Labour Party chair U Kyaw Zin; 19. Public Service Students Party vice chair Daw Khin San Mu; 20. Peoples Force party chair U Htay Aung; 21. Union Farmers and Workers Force Party chair U Min Thu; 22. National Development Party chair U Kyaw Sein; 23. Myanmar Farmers Development Party chair U Kyaw Swar Soe; and 24. Grassroots Livelihood Progress Party secretary U Kyaw Myint (aka Michael Kyaw Myint) The ethnic party representatives were: 25. Inn National Development Party chair U Win Myint; 26. Democratic Party (Myanmar) vice chair U Tint Swe; 27. Lisu National Development Party chair U Shwe Min; 28. Karen National Democratic Party patron U Saw Tun Kyi; 29. Kayah State Democratic Party chair U Pho Yel; 30. Mro National Solidarity Organization vice chair U Kyaw Tun Khine; 31. Rakhine State National Force Party chair U Aye Kyaing; 32. Kokang Democracy and Unity Party chair U Tun Naing; 33. Wa National Party vice chair U Yan Kyaw; and 34. Pa-O National Organization vice chair U Khun Maung Thaung; Htet Naing Zaw contributed to this report. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Workers and Farmers Reject Parties, Push New Voices for 2020 Election Myanmar Military Chief Eyes Tea, Coffee Production in Ethnic Militia Area Myanmar Military Chief Meets Kachin Religious Leader With over 4.7 million following and a rating of 9.73, there's no wonder why this webtoon will be soon become a drama series. The cast has already officially begun filming. Aren't you excited? "True Beauty" is about a girl who looks like a goddess. Everyone on campus finds her beautiful and both boys and girls admires her. Whenever she approaches a boy, he would ask her number; she is pretty much the prettiest girl around. However, her beauty is concealed by make-up, and only one boy knows her secret. She has to maintain a high standard lifestyle to keep her status, and she struggles daily to present herself to the public beautifully. Well, you have to watch the series to see if she can really stay that way forever. No secret can be kept forever, as the saying goes. I believe many are living a life like the female lead, wearing make-up to conceal insecurities and to boost confidence. Well, in this age, people always want to be accepted, that's why they do everything to look and become acceptable, even though what they see is just the tip of the iceberg. In the drama, the girl eventually overcomes the feeling of insecurity when she meets a cold-hearted boy who accepts her for she truly is. Moon Ga Young will play the protagonist Jugyeong Lim. After being bullied several times for her appearance, she binged watch a lot of make-up tutorials and eventually mastered the skill. When she entered high school, she convinced everyone that her look is natural, and it was beautifully made for her. On the other hand, she befriends a wealthy but rather cold-hearted boy who she ran into while being bare-faced in a comic store named Suho Lee, played by Cha Eunwoo. Soon after, she meets the aggressive boy, Seojun Han, played by rookie actor Hwang Inyeop, who also goes in the same school and who mysteriously has a great singing voice. Moon started acting at a young age and appeared in films and television. She had appeared in several series including the web drama "EXO Next Door" which aired in Naver TV. She had also been in supporting roles for "Don't Dare to Dream" and "Live Up to Your Name." Her performance in the romance-drama "Tempted," which was based on the 18th century French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, won her the Excellence Award for Best Actress at the MBC Drama Awards. Additionally, Cha Eun Woo, a member of the boy band Astro will be joining the cast. He debuted as an actor in the film "My Brilliant Life" with a minor role. He had also starred in several TV series like "Hit the Top," "Gangnam Beauty," and Rookie Historian "Goo Hae-ryung." Cha Eun-woo was named as the "2019 Hottest Male Instagrammer." Meanwhile, Hwang In-yeop is a South Korean actor and model known for his roles in dramas such as "Why, Freshman." He'll also be starring in the upcoming series "18 Again." The young actor was even praised for his acting in "The Tale of Nokdu" as Park Dan-ho. On the other hand, "True Beauty" is set to premiere in the latter part of 2020. Stay tuned for more updates! The governments of Mexico and the United States agreed on Friday to extend another border restriction of non-essential travel, which will expire on August 21 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. "Both countries will attempt to coordinate health measures in the border region that will be in effect until 23:59 hours on September 21, 2020," Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an NBC report. The government of Canada has also joined the agreement, saying restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border will be extended for another 30 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mexican Chancellery said the border restrictions would remain on the same term since its implementation on March 21 or when they first opted to close non-essential travel, but allowed transit for commercial or medical reasons. American acting secretary of Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, confirmed the extension of the non-essential travel ban. However, Americans who are planning to return to the U.S. are exempted. The same with Canadians who are returning to Canada. Immediate relatives of Canadians are also allowed entry in Canada but must undergo self-quarantine for 14 days. The Canadian government imposed this ruling as of June 9. This was the fifth time the three governments had extended the border restrictions since March when many countries issued travel bans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Cases The U.S. has a total number of 5.31 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, with nearly 168,000 deaths. The states with the highest number of cases are California, with 609,000 confirmed cases and 11,080 deaths. Followed by Florida with 563,000 confirmed cases, and 9,140 deaths. Third was Texas, with 539,000 confirmed cases and 10,136 deaths. Meanwhile, Mexico has 506,000 confirmed cases, with 542,000 recoveries and 55,293 deaths. Mexico City has the greatest number of COVID-19 cases in Mexico, with 80,898 confirmed cases, 59,545 recoveries, and 9,472 deaths. The state of Mexico followed this with 57,744 confirmed cases, 32,663 recoveries, and 6,967 deaths. Guanajuato was third with 24,561 confirmed cases, 17,939 recoveries, and 1,252 deaths. Canada has 122,000 confirmed cases, with 108 recoveries, and 9,020 deaths. The top three areas in Canada with the highest number of cases are Quebec, Ontario, Montreal, with confirmed cases of 61,004, 40,459, and 29,397, respectively. Check these out: Immigration Reform News in 2016: U.S. Border Patrol Agency Announces 'Safe Zones' for Immigrants U.S. Border Patrol Releases New Regulations: Deadly Force Still Allowed On Rock Throwers Despite Statistics U.S Considers Closing Southern Border Due To Coronavirus Outbreak In Mexico "You must reside in Ward 3, and have been a resident in Ward 3 for at least a year," said borough Manager Christine Hart. Irans FM spokesman Mousavi says despite US pressure and the hawking, it could not get enough support for its motion. Iran has hailed the UN Security Council vote that rejected a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying Washington has never been so isolated. In the Security Council vote on Friday, the US got support only from the Dominican Republic for its resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran, leaving it far short of the minimum nine yes votes required for adoption. Eleven members on the 15-member body, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, abstained. In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted. Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them, he added, in reference to failed efforts by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to rally support for a US resolution. The embargo on conventional arms sales to Iran is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Also reacting to the vote, Irans permanent representative to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that the Councils message meant no to unilateralism. The US must learn from this debacle. An attempt to snapback sanctions is illegal, and was rejected by international community, as was evident today, he added. Al Jazeeras Assed Baig, reporting from Tehran, said Iran considered the vote a diplomatic victory over the US, adding that Tehran would have reacting strongly if the arms embargo was extended. President Hassan Rouhani had promised a crushing response if the arms embargo was extended. Foreign minister Javad Zarif said the USs approach was feckless and unpredictable, he said. The Iranians therefore see this vote as a victory and will use it to show how little support the US has in its approach to Iran. Ahead of the vote, Iran issued a warning to the United States after it circulated the resolution that would indefinitely extend a UN arms embargo on Tehran. Rouhani said there would be consequences if the UN Security Council were to back the new US resolution. We have great hopes that America will fail, Rouhani told a televised meeting of his cabinet on Wednesday. We have great hopes that America will realise its failure and see its isolation. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018, escalating tensions between the longtime rivals. The Select Board holds a public hearing for a utility pole for a River Road solar array on Wednesday in the parking lot of Town Hall. The hearing was continued for more information. Clarksburg Seeking Temporary Town Clerk to Get Through Elections CLARKSBURG, Mass. Officials are struggling to prepare for a special town meeting and upcoming elections without town clerk. Select Board Chairman Ronald Boucher said Town Clerk Carol Jammalo had given her notice in mid-July. He said at Wednesday's Select Board meeting that the town has been reaching out to the Massachusetts Town Clerks' Association, other communities and town clerks for support and help in preparing for the August special town meeting and the state primary on Sept. 1. "We have a very tough situation here in this town. All of you know that the town clerk resigned right square in the middle of a primary election, a town meeting," he said. "And a lot of the stuff that needed to be done wasn't done." Town Administrator Rebecca Stone said Town Hall has been working to get the mail-in ballots out and processed as early voting by mail began this week. "The state Elections Division of the secretary of state's office has been fantastic the town clerks' association and other area town clerks I spoke with today," she said. "And we're just getting the ball rolling with what we need to do and some deadlines we've already missed, but we're making up for them." Election workers are covering for the final day of voter registration for the Aug. 26 special town meeting. Voter registration is being held Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Selectmen's meeting room at Town Hall. Stone said she is working up a schedule for the state primary on Sept. 1 and the national election on Nov. 3. In the meantime, the town is seeking a temporary town clerk to carry the town through the November presidential election. Voters at the special town meeting on Aug. 26 will decide if the position will be an appointed one like the town account and treasurer/tax collector. Those positions were changed to place them under the control of the Select Board in 2011; the town clerk had also been considered for appointment but was voted to remain an elected position. Boucher said at least one person had indicated interest in taking the temporary position and that he had reached out to others, including retired North Adams City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau, for assistance. "Even though she doesn't want to take take on the reins, which I don't blame her, she'll be there to help us," he said. "I had a couple of residents called me looking to help to do whatever they can help us. And we appreciate every little bit of help we can get for this very, very monumental task. ... "This is not a good time to be with out a town clerk." The special town meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Senior Center will also include articles authorizing the Select Board to enter into payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements for two solar arrays and an article authorizing the Select Board to place a new employee at a step in the pay grade commensurate with their experience and education. In other business: The board continued a public hearing on placing electrical poles for a solar array at the former North Adams Country Club over questions from neighbors on the placement and type of panels being installed and the permitting process. The array had The board continued a public hearing on placing electrical poles for a solar array at the former North Adams Country Club over questions from neighbors on the placement and type of panels being installed and the permitting process. The array had first been approved in 2015 . Boucher said the board will make inquiries with the Planning Board and building inspector before resuming the hearing. Members of the Council on Aging asked about reopening the Senior Center for use. The board, in discussion with Health Inspector Norman Rolnick, who called into the meeting, determined that the center will remain closed for regular use for the time being because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. "We've basically had the Health Department here in Clarksburg sort of lead the way and let them set the precedent on what needs to be done this time to keep everybody safe," said Boucher. COA members Robert and Lauren Norcross and Shirley Therrien said the building had been used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and for a community meeting for the proposed marijuana operation on Cross Road. "I'm not saying this pandemic isn't serious," said Robert Norcross. "I think it's overreaction not to be able to use a building. Because the other side of this is that your seniors are stuck in their home. They want to get out." He said four to six seniors have been using it a few times a week and that they've been wiping down and cleaning the building when they leave. "I really think that we've got to make sure we don't overreact and as long as we take steps to clean everything afterwards, I don't see why we can't continue to meet," he said. Rolnick asked them to be patient. Town Hall is open but limited (the Select Board is meeting there in person but the public hearing was held in the parking lot), and the library is still doing curbside service. "We honestly are considering different steps as far as opening that up. We're just trying to make sure that we do it in a safe, a safe way. So it's going to take a little bit of time," he said. Boucher said the town had had a positive case recently in Clarksburg, the third since March when the town had the first case in Berkshire County. "We don't want to go open too fast. We want to make sure everything's in place, and that's how Norm feels," he said, adding that the board would keep the COA informed. "And again, as a select board, we refer to him. He's the expert." Judges have condemned France for its degrading and inhumane treatment of refugees in a scathing landmark ruling. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said the French authorities had failed in their duties to support those who applied for asylum in the country, leaving them to sleep rough on the streets for months in constant fear of being attacked or robbed. Its criticism came after three asylum-seekers accused the French government of failing to uphold its own domestic law which requires the state to provide basic necessities such as food and shelter while refugees await a decision on their asylum application. French police detain a migrant during dismantling of makeshift shelter camp in Calais, France The ECHR ordered the French government to pay a total of 32,000 in compensation to the three men. News of the ruling comes as British and French charities accuse police in Calais of meting out violence to migrants, with the assaults said to be another factor persuading them to make the perilous journey across the Channel. Aid workers claim French riot police now regularly raid migrant camps, slashing their tents with knives and confiscating their belongings. The police have also been accused of attacking migrants on the streets, and videos posted on social media appear to show officers dragging migrants off buses. Tensions grew to such an extent that a group of Eritrean refugees wrote an open letter listing eight alleged examples of violence by officers, including assaults that left migrants with broken limbs. The ECHR case involved a Russian, an Afghan and an Iranian journalist who had to wait up to eight months before the French authorities acknowledged that they had lodged asylum applications. Without such a formal acknowledgement, the men, who were not identified by the court, could not apply for housing or welfare payments and were at constant risk of deportation. Judges heard how the Iranian, 46, slept rough on the streets of Paris for six months before being granted refugee status. The Afghan, 27, slept under canal bridges in the capital for around eight months before he was finally granted access to shelter and a benefit known as temporary allowance. The 30-year-old Russian slept rough in the South-West French town of Carcassonne for six months. Each of the men were forced to survive on handouts from charities. In a blunt judgment, the ECHR ruled the French authorities had failed in their duties towards the applicants under domestic law. They had to be held responsible for the conditions in which the applicants had been living for several months: sleeping rough, without access to sanitary facilities, having no means of subsistence and constantly in fear of being attacked or robbed Man poses with placard as he attends a gathering called by migrant aid collective Appel d'Air to protest against administrative policies on migrants, which they claim translates into daily evacuatons of migrant camps and rising police brutality 'The applicants had thus been victims of degrading treatment, showing a lack of respect for their dignity. It had aroused in them feelings of fear, anxiety and inferiority, likely to cause despair. It is not the first time that the ECHR has slammed the French governments treatment of asylum seekers. Last February, judges ordered it to pay almost 15,000 to an Afghan migrant who, as a 12-year-old, had lived alone in a makeshift migrant camp in Calais. French police have gradually stepped up efforts to clear migrant camps. Charities say that around 2,000 people live in either the Jungle camp in Calais, or in GrandeSynthe, an area outside Dunkirk, at any time. The camps are used as a staging post for gangs to smuggle people to the UK in the back of trucks or in small boatss. Poppy Cleary, a British aid coordinator with the charity LAuberge des Migrants, said French police had doubled their raids on refugee camps in Calais in recent weeks. She claimed tents were destroyed and belongings, including clothes and medicines, confiscated. They then bus the migrants out of Calais then leave them there, so they have to make their own way back, she alleged. The police treatment is another factor why so many migrants are making the journey across the Channel. In one incident, two men, apparently African migrants, were filmed being dragged off buses in Calais by the police. And in their letter, the Eritrean migrants said that the CRS [riot police] dont think we are humans... they started threatening our lives by beating us every time they get a chance. Last night, the French police in Calais and the French embassy in London were unavailable for comment. But Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont defended the police and said there is no link between the dismantlement and the crossings, which he attributed to it being easier for migrants to live clandestinely in the UK, to work and find a place to live, than in France. JOHN GRAY: Harsh measures meted out against migrants today contain sinister echoes from France's past When migrants attempt the hazardous journey by sea from France to Britain, they are not merely seeking a better standard of living. They are fleeing to a country where they will not be exposed to the prejudice and mistreatment sometimes brutal that is their daily experience across the Channel. Home Secretary Priti Patel is reported to have told colleagues that the migrants are coming here because they find France a racist country. No doubt there will be those who point to cases when Britain, too, has behaved in a racist manner. It is true that our record is hardly immaculate. The injustice suffered by the Windrush generation, for example, is a blot on our history. The French suppress protests in the Algerian fight for independence where torture was used But the Home Secretarys claim should be taken seriously. French police treat migrants with a systematic inhumanity that would not be tolerated here. And French racism, however shocking it might seem, is not at all new. Harsh measures meted out against migrants today contain sinister echoes from Frances past. During the war for Algerian independence from 1954 to 1962, the French army used torture on a colossal scale. Hundreds of thousands of Algerians many of them civilians were subjected to beatings, electric shocks and rape. Old men, women and children were detained without trials or rights. Many people were abducted and disappeared forever. Frances show of extreme brutality during the war in Algeria was not an isolated example. Rather it was consistent with a climate of abuse that existed throughout Frances African empire. Violence was an everyday occurrence. Young men who were arrested were regularly assaulted. A common practice involved the police stamping on their feet so their toes were broken. This might all seem a long time ago. But echoes of that racist chapter can be clearly heard in French politics today. Take, for example, the continuing ambivalence towards Frances well-documented history of collaboration with its Nazi occupiers. ONE of the worst episodes in 20th Century history occurred when French police organised the deportation of thousands of Jews many of them, again, women and children from an internment centre in Drancy, a North-Eastern suburb of Paris, to Nazi extermination camps. The French authorities were active accomplices in this terrible crime. Yet during the last presidential election in 2017 the far-Right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen shamefully denied any French responsibility for it, claiming the deportations were imposed on France by German occupying forces. It was a disgraceful stance. Worse still, Le Pen was then supported by more than a third of French voters in the final run-off against Macron. The ugly yet unspoken fact is that French politics is riddled with racism. No racist has achieved anything like this level of influence in Britain. Oswald Mosley never gained a seat in Parliament, and Enoch Powell was excluded from politics by his Conservative peers. France has a long history of antisemitism. In 1894, at the start of what came to be known as the Dreyfus Affair, a French military officer of Jewish heritage was convicted of treason for allegedly passing on military secrets to Germany. Sentenced to life imprisonment, Captain Alfred Dreyfus served five years on Devils Island in French Guyana. Evidence quickly emerged of his innocence, while documents that supposedly incriminated him were shown to be forgeries. Yet, as a result of a prolonged antisemitic campaign, it was more than ten years later before he was finally exonerated in 1906. In Benjamin Disraeli, Britain had a Jewish Prime Minister decades before the Dreyfus Affair divided French politics for a generation. Disraeli became leader of the Conservative party and ruled the country twice, in 1868 and 1874 to 1880. It is accepted as entirely normal here that members of ethnic minorities have become national leaders. Rishi Sunak, who has spoken about being at the same time British, Indian and Hindu, is widely discussed as a future Prime Minister. A practising Muslim, Sadiq Khan, is Mayor of London. How long will it be before members of Frances Muslim, African and Asian communities achieve a similar standing? Today, we are constantly reminded of the evils and crimes of the British Empire. We are attacked for looking back with nostalgia to our period of imperial power an accusation for which there is, in fact, very little evidence. Anything that smacks of Britain asserting a global role is condemned as reverting to the bad old days of colonialism. Yet when Emmanuel Macron intervened in a former French territory as he did when he made a visit to Lebanon earlier this month and declared France will never let Lebanon go there was not a squeak of protest in France. Macrons visit was staged as a Napoleonic triumph. The entire Lebanese political elite filed past him in the French embassy. Plenty of Lebanese found the spectacle of Macron being paraded as their saviour to be patronising and offensive. Britain is certainly not perfect. But in any balanced comparison with France, we stand up pretty well as the boatloads of desperate people now trying to cross the Channel know from personal experience. Their plight is real. Effective and humane solutions must somehow be found. Yet while France lectures the world on liberte, egalite and fraternite, it blanks out its racist past and heaps indignities upon the migrants who feel driven to escape. John Gray is Emeritus Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics. Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Chinese company ByteDance to divest its interest in video-sharing app TikTok's operations in the United States within 90 days. "There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," Trump said in the order. A visitor to an Apple store wears a t-shirt promoting Tik Tok in Beijing. Credit:AP The move adds to pressure for ByteDance to divest TikTok, and legally buttresses the Trump administration's crackdown on the Chinese-owned social media app. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request to comment. TikTok has come under fire from US lawmakers over national security concerns surrounding data collection. Last week, Trump issued an executive order that would ban US transactions with ByteDance and with Tencent Holdings' WeChat in 45 days, escalating a confrontation with Beijing over the future of the global tech industry. This is an opinion column. Thats life now, right, Mr. Johnson?, the kid said. It is, I replied. The kid is a local middle-schooler, a regular in my afternoon workouts. He was being cordial, politely asking me how I was handling the months of isolation, social distancing, masks. The months of angst and uncertainty. Thats life now. For all of us, for our children, our sons and daughters, from preschoolers to collegians. Call them Gen-Corona, or the COVID Kids. All of them still forming, still evolving, still digesting the global pandemic that has disrupted and twisted their young lives. That has obliterated how (and where) they learn. Maybe even if they learn. Youre of a certain age (ahem) if you recall the school air-raid drills during the heights of the Cold War in the 1960s. We scurried under desks or cowered on the floor in the hallway with our head tucked between our knees. It was supposed to save us if the Soviet Union began dropping bombs from the skies. My own children were among the generation of students impacted by the massacre of 12 students and a teacher by two seniors at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999. After that horror, and the spate of school shootings that still pierce parents hearts with fear, students everywhere practiced how to respond to shots fired at their school. They practiced how to stay alive. Those threats didnt change how (and where) they learned. Or if they learned. Not like this damn virus, which yanked students from their classrooms, hallways, playground, and playing fields last March. To keep them, their teachers, and their families alive. Were sending them back now. Some of them. While trying to educate all of them. Differently. Better, hopefully. More equitably, hopefully. With more inclusivity and honesty, hopefully. Our most immediate concern is keeping those students returning to the classroom, their teachers and administrators, and their families healthy. And alive. Early indicators, from districts already opened to waves of students, are not particularly encouraging. Almost 1,200 students and staffers in one Georgia district, which opened on August 3, are already quarantined. This week two of the districts high school shut down. Now-famous Paulding High, where a student earlier this month posted a photo of a crowded hallway of nearly all unmasked students, reported nine positive tests for COVID-19. Several people in Mississippis Corinth School District tested positive, according to the local health official, resulting in more than 100 people landing in quarantine. Seven thousand of our children between the ages of 5-17 have tested positive for the coronavirus since March, the Alabama Department of Public Health revealed this weekabout 7% of the 101,000+ cases in the state. And doors have yet to open at most of our schools. The long-term, transformational effects this disruptive moment in our education system? Itll likely be years, probably more than a decade, before we know. Before we may discern the ultimate impact of this kick in the pants on our children. On how they learn. Or if they learn. Our system, frankly, needed a whuppin'. It wasnt working for every child. Hardly any child. Not in a state where the governor once said education sucked because we ranked 51st in a nation with 50 states. Not in a state where too few children are reading on grade-level, but being passed along as if in the checkout line at Wal-Mart. Just like our health care system, COVID-19 exposed and amplified long-ignored education disparities in our state, in our lives, when students were sent home. Some to homes with good wireless networks to power their laptops and tablets to facilitate a relatively smooth transition to digital learning. To learning. Some to homes with nary a book, let alone a laptop, tablet, or access to a viable wireless network. With access to the basics basics many households take for granted needed to learn now. Maybe from now on. Just to learn. Some of us have been talking about the digital divide since digital became a thing. Now, one-third of the nations homes still dont have digital access. COVID-19 forced us to do something about it. In March, districts statewide had to face their deficiencies head-on like going outside to get a switch to ensure students already behind did not fall further behind. To ensure they didnt languish so far back they might never catch up. So, they scrambled. Some utilized now-empty school buses as hot spots in wireless deserts in the Black Belt and various urban pockets of neglect. (Translation: poor neighborhoods) In late July, Gov. Kay Ivey slated $100 million from the CARES Act windfall to facilitate digital access for students learning virtually when school starts. It was a good start. In Birmingham, the school board estimated 7.500 families with students in the school system did not have digital access. It voted this summer to spend $2.7 million over two years for digital plans for BCS households (through T-Mobile) and earlier allocated $10 million to buy computers for students. Board members call the service plan a lifeline for students and teachers. On Friday, the Housing Authority Birmingham Divisions Board of Commissioners approved $495,000 for Wi-Fi infrastructure in its public housing communities, with about 3,400 students, HABD estimates. It also approved spending $150,000 for 500 computers. Im not naive. This spending wont eradicate decades of disparities and inequities in an education system that was serving no one well. That was leaving too many students behind. Hopefully, though, it provides relatively equitable access to the basics, basics too long ignored. Hopefully, its life now. A new life. A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Xtant Medical Holdings, Inc. ("Xtant") (NYSE: XTNT) on behalf of the company's stockholders. The investigation seeks to determine whether the members of Xtant's board of directors have violated the securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties, causing harm to the company and its stockholders. Current Xtant stockholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.) at (484) 258 1585, or online at http://kaskelalaw.com/case/xtant/, to discuss this investigation and their legal rights and options. Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. CONTACT: D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. KASKELA LAW LLC 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (484) 258 1585 (888) 715 1740 [email protected] www.kaskelalaw.com SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC Related Links http://www.kaskelalaw.com Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there is a need to give a new direction to the overall infrastructure development to move India towards modernity at a fast pace and National Infrastructure Pipeline Project will help achieve the goal. Addressing the nation on the 74th Independence Day from Red Fort, the Prime Minister said that India will spend more than 100 lakh crore on the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project. "There is a need to give a new direction to the overall infrastructural development of the country to move India towards modernity at a fast pace. This need will be met through the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project," he said. He said 7,000 projects have been identified under National Infrastructure Pipeline Project. He said the time has come to eliminate silos in infrastructure development and a big plan has been prepared for multi-modal connectivity infrastructure. "Now the era of eliminating silos in infrastructure has come. For this, a very big plan has been prepared to connect the entire country with multi-modal connectivity infrastructure," he said. He also recalled the contributions of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee towards expanding the road network through Golden Quadrilateral. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Two years after it was initially threatened with closure, the future of the Fullwood Packo manufacturing facility in Kanturk is once again facing the stark possibly of being wound down for good. Back in July 2018 it was announced that the plant, which makes milk cooling tanks, was to close the following September. However, the decision to close the facility was subsequently reversed following what were understood to be protracted discussions between management at the plant and senior executives at its Belgian based parent company. However, on Wednesday the Belgian-based Fullwood Packo Dairy Group announced its intention to centralise production of its entire cooling range production facility in Zedelgem, Belgium. In a statement, the company said under the proposal the facility at Ballymacquirke, Kanturk would "cease cooling tank manufacturing" but would remain open and deployed as a distribution hub for the Republic of Ireland, mirroring the business model already employed for the milking machine side of its business. Commenting on the development the company's group managing director, Marcel M.P Probst, said that ensuring their farmers received high quality milking and cooling solutions was their "top priority" and that the proposal to centralise its operations would maximise operational efficiencies "further improving support to our farmers." "Unfortunately, our strategy proposes the closing of the manufacturing site in Ireland," said Mr Probst. "However, Ireland remains a strategic focus for the business, and the proposed re-purposing plans at the facility reflect this," he added. The company said that specific time-frames for the winding down of the Kanturk manufacturing facility would be subject to a period of consultation with relevant stakeholders. "However, the Kanturk manufacturing site will continue to operate as usual until further notice," the statement concluded. Speaking to The Corkman, Cork North West Fianna Fail TD Michael Moynihan expressed his disappointment at the development, which would result in the 11 production staff at the facility losing their jobs. "Packo have been designing and manufacturing milking machines and cooling tanks in Kanturk since the late 1970's, and this news is a huge blow to the wider Kanturk community, who have known this factory as a great local employer for decades," said Deputy Moynihan. "As a farmer myself, I am very aware of the excellent relationship that was built up between the sales representatives and engineers in Packo with the farming community throughout the country. My thoughts today are with the hard working staff affected by this regrettable announcement. This is a very worrying time for them and their families". Given Fullwood Packo's commitment to keeping the facility open as an Irish distribution hub, Deputy Moynihan urged the company to retain the existing staff and redeploy them to new roles. "I am calling on the Government and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to explore all avenues to assist these employees through this difficult process, and in particular to prioritise this area for inward investment as a priority," he concluded. Egypt's Prime Minister's visit comes few days ahead of an anticipated meeting between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on Monday over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Egypts prime minister Mostafa Madbouly arrived in Sudan for talks with his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok and several ministers, state run MENA agency reported on Saturday. Extensive talks between the two countries delegations will be held on Saturday, according to MENA, without providing details on whether the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue will be tackled. Madboulys visit comes few days ahead of an anticipated meeting between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia scheduled on Monday over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) after Khartoum requested last week to adjourn the talks for a week for "internal consultations." Sudan threatened to withdraw from the talks, sponsored by the African Union, if Ethiopia insisted on linking an agreement on the dams filling to negotiating a deal on sharing the waters of the Blue Nile. Negotiations to reach a deal over the filling and operation of the nearly $5 billion GERD resumed one week after Cairo's call for a suspension of meetings after Addis Ababa put forward a new draft proposal that Cairo complained is lacking operating guidelines and any legally binding obligations. The mega-dam, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of tension between the three nations. Cairo fears the project will significantly cut its water supply from the River Nile, while Sudan fears it will endanger the safety of its own dams. Addis Ababa announced last month it had achieved its first-year target for the filling of the dams reservoir due to the rainfall season. The move was condemned by Cairo and Khartoum -- both have sought a legally binding agreement before the dam was filled. Ethiopia says the massive project, which it hopes will make it Africas largest power exporter, is key to its development efforts. Search Keywords: Short link: UPDATE: Charge against reporter dropped KALAMAZOO, MI An MLive reporter arrested while covering a Proud Boys rally in Kalamazoo is no longer in police custody. Reporter Samuel J. Robinson, 23, was in downtown Kalamazoo the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 15 to cover a rally of the far-right group Proud Boys. Marchers chanted and waved U.S., Trump, and Gadsden flags and other symbols. The rally drew counter-protesters opposing the groups ideology. The group has been labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group composed of white nationalists. The group rejects that label, but refers to its members as Western chauvinists. Violence erupted between the opposing sides. Robinson was recording video footage of the event for MLive via Facebook Live and Twitter. Robinson at 1:49 p.m. tweeted there was no visible police presence as the violence exacerbated. Shortly thereafter, dozens of police officers arrived at a parking structure where the march had advanced. Many were wearing riot gear. Footage recorded by Robinson, who is Black, shows he identified himself to police as a reporter as police seemingly took him to the ground. The video abruptly ended with Robinson repeatedly stating hes being arrested. Within a few hours, Robinson was released from custody on $100 bond. Records show he was arrested on a charge of impeding traffic. Samuel Robinson, MLive The working press must be assured the right to cover public events that clearly are in the public interest, without reprisals, said John Hiner, vice president of content for MLive Media Group. These situations are difficult for all involved, but media who identify themselves are not a part of the event they are working it, just like the police. Footage recorded by others and posted on social media show police marching in formation toward ralliers. This is the Kalamazoo Police, one officer announced on a megaphone to the large crowd. This gathering is contrary to city ordinances. Your 10 minutes to clear the area have expired. You face arrest. Hell has broken loose pic.twitter.com/SBj5GqdhFq Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020 Kalamazoo Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain at 6:36 p.m. issued a statement asserting that multiple groups were visibly armed with various weapons, including firearms. The Proud Boys headed to the Arcadia Festival Site and were met on Water Street by the opposing groups, Chamberlain said. Numerous physical fights broke out among the groups in the area of Water Street and Edwards Street. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety had developed plans in accordance with the departments policies for peaceful protests, and also for a response to the event if it were to turn violent, which included over 100 officers from 5 jurisdictions. Once the event turned violent, the officers responded quickly and restored order. To restore order to the area, the officers declared a police zone and dispersed the crowds. This is still an unpredictable situation and we encourage the community to remain safe. Prior to the violence, counter protesters held an anti-racism vigil within Arcadia Creek Festival Place I think people who showed up were very brave and this was a success, said Rev. Nathan Dannison, pastor of First Congregational Church and organizer of the counter protest. As soon as the Proud Boys reached the perimeter of the park, they began to assault some of the homeless people who live around there. Thats what triggered the violence. A lot of bystanders saw what appeared to be a lynching about to take place and thats when it all exploded. Dannison estimated there were about 50 Proud Boys and 150 to 200 counter protesters. He added it was very obvious the Proud Boys were going after Black people in the crowd; it was clear from the get-go. He said a member of his congregation was pepper-sprayed by the Proud Boys while rendering aid to an injured homeless person. Anybody who tried to help victims or render aid, the Proud Boys immediately attacked, and pretty viciously, Dannison said. Im convinced if counter protesters were not there, they would have killed somebody. He added that he was very disappointed in the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for their handling of the days events. MLive was unable to reach a representative of Proud Boys for comment. The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus issued a statement regarding the Proud Boys rally and resulting violence, saying its members are appalled. The Proud Boys are not only deeply racist, misogynistic, and Islamophobic, but also deeply antisemitic, the statement reads. When white supremacists gather in an American city carrying Trump flags and shouting racist slogans, then proceed to physically attack peaceful, nonviolent protesters, it is an act of political violence that threatens us all. Proud Boys rally in downtown Kalamazoo Noah Arbit, founder and chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus stated, Todays shocking and disturbing violence in Kalamazoo should focus the minds of Michigan voters on the stakes of the upcoming presidential election. The prospect of re-electing Donald Trump, whose hate-filled rhetoric provides succor to Jew-haters, racists, misogynists, and Islamophobes across the country, including the Proud Boys who showed up today in Kalamazoo, should strike fear into the heart of every Jewish voter in Michigan and across the country. To any Jew who supports Donald Trump, I ask: If the Nazis support this man, how can you? Earlier this year, MLive photographer Nicole Hester was fired upon by Detroit Police Corporal Daniel Debono, 32, as she covered a Black Lives Matter/anti-police brutality protest in Detroit on May 31. Hester was struck by as many as a dozen pellets about the face and body, leaving welts and narrowly missing an eye. She was with her fiance, freelance photographer Seth Herald, who was working for AFP, and Matt Hatcher, who was shooting for Getty Images. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on July 20 announced she had charged Debono with three counts of felonious assault one count each for Hester, Herald, and Hatcher stemming from the incident. The photographers were walking when they encountered Debono and two other officers at Woodward Avenue and State Street. They identified themselves as members of the press and had their hands up, asking to cross the street, Worthy wrote in a statement. As the three began to cross the street it is alleged that Debono fired his weapon at them, striking all three with rubber pellets, Worthy wrote. The shooting was unprovoked, and at no time did the three complainants do anything to cause the defendant to shoot at them, Worthy wrote. Read more: Rally turns violent as Proud Boys met by counter-protesters in downtown Kalamazoo Rumored Proud Boys event sparks counter vigil in Kalamazoo Charges issued against Detroit police officer accused of shooting rubber pellets at 3 photographers covering protests Detroit George Floyd police brutality protest turns violent as police fire tear gas, rubber bullets Mohali : , Aug 15 (IANS) Warning of continued threat from both Pakistan and China, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said Punjab would always be at the forefront of fighting the enemy at the borders. With tensions at the borders continuing, India had to be prepared to deal with any eventuality, said the Chief Minister in his Independence Day address, after hoisting the tricolour here to mark the historic occasion. "While Pakistan continues to resort to firing every day, China, on the other hand, talks about friendship but remains a danger to our nation," said Amarinder Singh, recalling the recent barbaric attack on Indian soldiers by the Chinese forces. India has always given Pakistan a befitting response, which is the only way to deal with them, he said, adding that China also needs to be handled with the same iron hand. Recalling the contributions of the millions of Indians to the freedom struggle, the Chief Minister said Punjabis had always been at the forefront of every battle. The cellular jail in Kaala Paani (Andaman Islands) have the names of tens of hundreds of Punjabis etched in immortality, he said, adding even though the Independence Day celebrations this year were low-key due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this was the time to remember the sacrifices of all those who had made freedom possible for everyone. It was also the time to salute the defence forces guarding the nation's borders from the enemy, he added. Paying his tributes to Punjab's freedom fighters, Amarinder Singh reiterated his government's commitment to extend all benefits of freedom fighters to their next generations. At the same time, Amarinder Singh saluted the health workers and paramedics who were continuously fighting the invisible Covid-19 enemy, along with the NGOs and religious organisations that have worked tirelessly to provide free food and medicine during the period of lockdown. He also acknowledged the great work done by the farmers, who have produced the food that fed the nation during the lockdown period and government officials who are serving the people in these difficult times. The Chief Minister recognised the people of Punjab for their cooperation in observing precautions that were helping in containing the pandemic, the students who had marvellously adapted to the online teaching methodology, as well as the teachers who were working day and night to create online content to ensure that the studies of their students do not suffer. He also lauded the industrialists who had shown remarkable resilience in recovering from the extreme slowdown caused by the pandemic, and the industrial labour which had placed its faith in Punjab and returned to work with the same dedication as before after the initial panic which forced them to leave for their home towns through the trains arranged by the state government. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on state TV on Saturday that an air assault brigade would move to Belarus' Western border. He also added that he agreed on cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As the European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Belarus in response to a bloody crackdown in which at least two protesters have been killed, Lukashenko said earlier that he was concerned with the NATO military exercises being conducted in Poland and Lithuania, which he sees as an arms build-up. Search Keywords: Short link: UN Security Council rejects US resolution to extend Iran arms embargo Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 10:30 PM The United Nations Security Council has rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October, as Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a summit of world leaders to avoid "confrontation" over an American threat to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday before the Security Council announced the results of the vote. The United States has become isolated over Iran at the Security Council following President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the multilateral Iran nuclear deal 2018. Iran has said that the US resolution will fail to gain the required support at the Security Council, pointing out that Washington has no legal right to invoke a snapback mechanism to reinstate sanctions against Tehran under the 2015 nuclear deal that the US unilaterally left in May 2018. "Legally speaking, the United States is no position to use the snapback [mechanism]. The three European allies of the United States also explicitly stated at a previous meeting of the UN Security Council that the United States could not use this mechanism," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. On Thursday, Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York called on the Security Council to withstand the "illegal" and "ill-intentioned" move by the United States to extend the arms embargo on the Islamic Republic. The US has stepped up attempts aimed at extending the UN arms ban on Iran that is set to expire as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has been endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2231. US resolution receives only two 'yes' votes Despite the changes in the US resolution, Security Council members were expected to reject the effort, which sought to extend the arms embargo on Iran indefinitely. Diplomats feared that the resolution would threaten the Iran nuclear agreement. Washington failed to receive nine votes in favor of the measure, removing the need for Russia and China to wield their vetoes which they had indicated they were prepared to do. Russia and China are two of the Security Council's five permanent members, who have veto rights, and among the remaining parties to the JCPOA. The resolution needed support from nine of 15 votes to pass. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain, while the US and the Dominican Republic were the only "yes" votes. The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to trigger the so-called snapback provisions of the 2015 nuclear deal if it cannot secure an arms embargo extension. Since leaving the JCPOA, the US has been resorting to its maximum pressure campaign against Iran by reinstating its sanctions and persuading others to follow its suit. Putin proposes a summit of world leaders Russian President Putin on Friday proposed a video summit with the United States and the remaining parties to the nuclear agreement - Britain, France, China, Germany and Iran - to avoid further "confrontation and escalation" at the United Nations between Washington and Tehran. "The issue is urgent," Putin said, adding that the alternative was "only further escalation of tensions, increasing risk of conflict - such a scenario must be avoided." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CEO Transition and Leadership Promotion to Strengthen Companys Position in Aerospace Aftermarket PEACHTREE CITY, GA, USA (August 14, 2020), Aug. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PEACHTREE CITY, GA (August 14, 2020) -- Wencor Group (Wencor), a leading solutions provider to the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that Shawn Trogdon has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Trogdon succeeds Chris Curtis, who is stepping down as CEO on August 31 to pursue retirement. Mr. Trogdon joined Wencor in 2014 as Global Controller and has held the CFO position at the company since 2016. He brings more than 15 years of executive leadership experience in the aerospace industry, having consistently demonstrated an ability to build, grow and enable high-performing teams and businesses. Prior to Wencor, Shawn held senior finance positions at Wesco Aircraft Holdings, an aircraft parts distributor, Landmark Aerospace, an aviation services company and Grant Thornton, an independent audit, tax and advisory firm. As the aerospace industry navigates a complex and rapidly evolving environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that Wencor has the unique opportunity to not only adapt and recover, but also emerge stronger and more resilient. Wencor remains committed to providing world-class customer excellence and innovative solutions to the aerospace aftermarket, said Shawn Trogdon. I also want to thank Chris for his leadership of our company over the past four years and wish him the best in his retirement. Mr. Curtis joined Wencor in 2016 as CEO, during which time he helped the Company grow its strategic customer relationships through Wencors Total Material Solutions programs, expand and deepen Wencors OEM supplier relationships, and improve the operational delivery and product development functions to deliver industry leading responsiveness, customer service, and economic value to Wencors airline and MRO customers. "It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Wencor for the last four years, and I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished, said Chris Curtis. Now is a natural time to transition leadership as Wencor enters its next chapter and Shawn is the ideal person to continue to grow Wencors business lines and deliver long-term value." Story continues We thank Chris for his contributions to the company and dedication to developing Wencor into a market leading aftermarket components and repair platform, said Dan Zamlong, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus. We are excited to continue to partner with Shawn for the next phase of the companys growth. Shawns deep understanding of the industry and business will ensure Wencors continued execution on its mission to provide innovative solutions, particularly in the post-Covid world, that enable airlines and MRO providers to maintain aircraft with maximum reliability, availability and cost efficiency. About Wencor Wencor has been a trusted partner in aerospace for over 60 years, offering CMM and DER repairs, PMA and an extensive network of distribution solutions to help make flights safer and more cost effective. We support most of the commercial airlines, repair stations and OEMs worldwide through our corporate affiliates Wencor, Soundair Aviation Services, PHS/MWA Aviation Services, Aerospace Coatings International, Flight Line Products, Accessory Technologies Corporation, Fortner Engineering & Manufacturing, Silver Wings, and Kitco Defense. Wencor Group is headquartered in the Atlanta, Georgia area with additional offices in Utah, Miami, Seattle, California, Alabama, New York, Amsterdam, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, and Istanbul. For more information, please visit www.wencorgroup.com. Attachment CONTACT: William Morris Wencor Group, General Counsel +1-770-626-3627 william.morris@wencor.com Post Mortem 74th Naga Independence Day speeches By Nagaland Post | Publish Date: 8/15/2020 12:30:51 PM IST Gen. (Retd) Viyalie Metha, Kedahge FGN My Dear Countrymen, Let us all give thanks to God who has preserved our Nation through all the past many years. Gods plan for the Nagas to be one among the Nations is undisputable and our existing today still together as a people and as a nation, is a perfect testament of Gods unfailing Love. We have had a long and arduous journey. For 900 long years, Villages along our Southern border fought against the Manipuri Kingdom and Western Frontiers were engaged in sporadic conflicts with the Ahoms for 600 years. The British came in the 19 century and occupied portion of our land administered their laws for 115 years (1832-1947) till we declared a Sovereign Nation on 14th August, 1947. This prompted the era of force Dominion by India which continues till today. Our journey has been one of untold sufferings and bloodshed. But throughout this perilous period, Gods faithfulness and protection have been with us and today, together, we proudly celebrate the 74 years of Naga National Historic Declaration. On this most auspicious day, we pay homage to our past torch-bearers who tirelessly laid the foundation of a Free and just Nation. The most important events in our history: Memorandum to Simon Commission - 10th Jan. 1929; Formation of Naga National Council (NNC) -2nd Feb. 1946; Naga Voluntary Plebiscite -16th May, 1951; Establishment of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) - 22nd March, 1956. Our God-given inalienable historical National rights made richer by the blood, sweat and tears of our patriots, and upon which our nation was built. May it be that we, as a people, remember and live up to the legacy of our martyred patriots and continue to live, thrive, succeed and pursue happiness in freedom. We are eternally indebted to the thousands of brave Naga Soldiers, and tens of thousands of men, women and even children who laid down their lives for our cause. Many suffered indescribable pain and humiliation at the hands of our enemy. But they never gave in. They are our heroes; they are our inspiration. We salute them. Their spirit will continue to live in us, guiding us and inspiring us. It is our solemn promise that we shall not let their priceless sacrifice go in vain but continue to build and strife towards an honest and God fearing Nation. After the Indo-Naga war culminated in the Ceasefire of 1964 between Government of India and the Federal Government of Nagaland, India resorted to waging proxy war against Nagaland by sowing seeds of division which led to violence, extortion and unlawful taxation. . But today, by the grace of God, the younger generation have realized this and can clearly see the pitfalls on their path. The sight of our young people working honestly with passion and zeal fills our hearts with hope and strength. The destiny of our Nation is in their hands. With God given ability and wisdom they shall lead our Nation towards a brighter future. My fellow Countrymen, a new dawn is coming upon us. Stand strong and have faith in God. Be loyal to your Nation and do not yield to divisive plans. We are living in the most opportune times. Let us forgive one another and work together as one people, one nation under one God. We must be honest in our endeavour as only through honesty and sincerity will God make our Nation a shining example among the Nations. Together, let us build a just and God fearing Nation just the way our fore-fathers envisioned. KUKNALIM. Adinno Phizo, President NNC Dear Countrymen, Greetings to you all on this auspicious day of the 74th Nagaland Independence Day. We have suffered much all these years due to the invasion of India. It is unthinkable that India should suppress us for this long, for the very fact that India herself was under the British rule for several centuries and experienced what foreign domination means. Therefore, if India is wise enough she should understand the position of the Nagas by setting a good example to the world. On the contrary, with territorial ambition Indian invaded Nagaland. As such, it is natural that when you are attack you rise up to defend yourself. If enemy come by land we confront on the ground, if by air we should down the plane with whatever means at our disposal. When an Indian Plane was shot down by the Naga Army which fell in Matikhru Village territory, the villagers were all rounded up by Indian Army and beheaded all the adult male members for no fault of theirs. Does that mean that when a plane falls in their land they are responsible? Nagas must keep in mind that such kind of irrational people are in our land and living among the Nagas today, pretending as if nothing happened. India tried its best to uproot the Nagas from their villages by burning their villages and compel them to become refugees. But the patriotic Nagas returned and reestablished their respective villages. In course of time the Nagas are experiencing a comfortable life economically at the present moment. This came about mainly because of the astute Nagas living in the villages. Today we have many educated Nagas among us. It is expected that with their education and learning they will promote the Naga cause. On the contrary, it is observed that many educated Nagas failed to understand the national right and sufferings of the past but indulge and lean towards their own selfish end. In doing so has weakened the Nagas for the last 40 years. However, Naga National Council (NNC) and Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) could withstood the storm by staunchly upholding the Naga National rights. The outside world branded us savage and barbarian. But if we study carefully, there is no comparison in the world that where a small nation the size Nagaland could resist the onslaught of the might and size of India. Whatever we could overcome this far is all due to the love of God on the Nagas. No Naga should forget the mercy and protection of the Almighty God upon the Nagas. Let us not hesitate to ask God for forgiveness for any mistake on our part, at the same time continue to ask for blessings at all times. Urra Uvie. Z. Rohim Yimchunger, President NNC-Parent Body My Dear Countrymen, As we stand at the threshold of a new beginning, my heart yearns for the presence of our predecessors who have paid the ultimate price for the cause of the Nagas. Hundreds and thousands of Naga sons and daughters have sacrificed their lives so that we all can see a better tomorrow. As we celebrate the 74th Naga Independence Day, let us remember not only the sacrificed souls but remain firm and steadfast to the aspirations and vision for which they laid their precious lives. The Naga National Council timely came into existence with its historic birth on 24th Feb.1946. It was democratically formed by the Naga representatives. Thus with fair and farsightedness of the NNC leadership and together with the will, the leaders of the day formally brought the Naga families into one big family as a nation. Henceforth, the NNC and the Nagas as a whole are duty bound to uphold aspirations of the Nagas as a free people and sovereign nation as in ancient times. Nagaland is a homeland of the Nagas from olden times. Nagas have been living in Nagaland as a free Naga people since time immemorial. Our land was never a part of any foreign peoples country. Our forefathers clearly owned Nagaland. This had been prominent when the Naga Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929 and subsequently a representation submitted to the British India Viceroy in February 1947. For 74 long years, Nagas have stood unwavering for the Naga cause, undeterred by the mountains of hurdles and sufferings keeping the aspirations of the Nagas alive. Today we carry the torch that our predecessors have passed on to us, let us not be arrogant and prideful but remain humble and uphold the Naga torch with dignity and respect. It is therefore our solemn duty to remain steadfast to the prize that awaits us. Our race is not an individual race. It is a race of the Nagas, a desire that we aspire from the very beginning to self determine our own future. As we fight tirelessly, inching towards our common goal, our eyes must be sharp and minds alert against any hurdles and obstacles. In 2017, after many consultations with the political leaders, tribal leaders, senior officials and prominent citizens of Nagaland, the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) took the responsibilities. Naga National Council-Parent Body has always been an integral part of the NNPGs since its inception. It is the ideals, vision and minds of the Nagas that we represent at the negotiating table. Today we are on the verge of inking the final solution for the Nagas. It is a solution of the Nagas, by the Nagas and for the Nagas. Our demands have been selfless and transparent. But let us remain vigilant against vicious elements that devise plans to derail, delay and misdirect the journey until the race is won. Let us be pragmatic and unite ourselves under the banner of one agreement, one solution and conclude our race to self-determine our own future. May the Almighty God continue to guide us with His divine wisdom and strengthen us to complete the race before us with dignity and honour. May God continue to the anchor of our hopes and aspirations. Y. Wangtin Naga, President NSCN/GRPN (R) My Dearest Naga Men and Women, at this auspicious day of 74th Naga Independence Day, I am saluting all those who sacrificed their lives for Naga Nation. Equally, I am saluting all the Naga freedom fighters and general public for their tireless efforts and support for the sustenance and survival of our nationhood in the face of immeasurable hardships and challenges from our adversaries who attempted to demean the sovereign rights of the Nagas. Let at not forget to thank our Living and Almighty God for His guidance and protection that far. We cannot change our precious history and our inherent freedom cannot be buried under any circumstances. More than 70 years ago, our forefathers officially and openly declared our independence on 14th August 1947 not against any country but in accordance with international norms and India know it very well. We must be proud of our history and who we are because we are not lost people whose sovereign right is recognized internationally. A saying goes, better late than never. After many decades of blood and tears, both India and the Naga People realized the futility of arms confrontation and engaged political dialogue for resolution of Asias longest political problem. Today, a ray of hope is dawn for both India and Nagaland, expecting acceptable solution sooner than later. The two Naga political groups-NSCN (IM) and NNPGs must realise the past mistake and come forward to hammer out any form of differences before signing final documents with GoI to avoid possible future blame game. The NNPGs though conglomeration of seven different organizations are one in all fronts. All Nagas are one in political issue; we must build consensus opinion before going for final battle because it will be once and for all. At this moment, the Naga people are fortunate to have a strong and decisive person Mr. Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India who found a clever and trustworthy person Mr. R. N. Ravi as interlocutor-cum-Governor of Nagaland who is dealing with Naga issue minutely. This seriousness of Mr. Narendra Modi indicates earlier solution. Let us hope to see the fruit of our long cherish solution within few months time. God Bless Nagaland Kuknalim Yilow Humtsoe, Acting President of NNC (Parent-Body) The federal government says its concerned that a controversial regulatory decision last year may undermine investments in Canadas communications networks, particularly in rural and remote areas. However, a statement issued Saturday morning by Navdeep Bains, on behalf of the federal cabinet, says it wont intervene in the CRTCs ongoing review of its own decision about wholesale internet rates. Our government is working hard to make sure that all Canadians have the access to high-speed Internet, said Bains, who is minister for innovation, science and industry. We encourage all parties to cooperate in the CRTCs ongoing review of the rates decision to support a timely conclusion that will provide more certainty for all involved parties. That CRTC decision, issued Aug. 15, 2019 but put on hold by an appeal court, has been praised by Canadas independent internet service providers but denounced by the large phone and cable companies who say the rates would be far too low. Both sides of the argument have spent the past year lobbying the government, as well as fighting each other at the Federal Court of Appeal and before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The statement issued by Bains, who wasnt available for comment Saturday, suggests but doesnt say out-right that the arms-length regulatory body needs to re-think how it arrived at its conclusions after years of study and analysis. On the basis of its review, the (cabinet) considers that the rates do not, in all instances, appropriately balance the policy objectives of the wholesale services framework and is concerned that these rates may undermine investment in high-quality networks, particularly in rural and remote areas, Bains said. BCEs Bell Canada, Rogers Communications Inc. and most of Canadas other large phone and cable companies argue the CRTC overstepped its authority by cutting wholesale capacity rates by up to 43 per cent and chopping access rates up to 77 per cent. But their wholesale customers labelled resellers by their detractors and independents by their supporters argue that the CRTCs decision would end years of over charging by the big carriers and allow them to lower the retail rates that they charge. Matt Stein, who is chief executive of one of the larger independents and spokesman for their association, said the governments statement was bad news and will help the big carriers by causing more delays. Its this kind of decision that causes internet rates to go up and, at the minimum, makes it impossible for them to go down for quite some time, said Stein, as chairman of the Canadian Network Operators Association, which represents independent ISPs He noted that the government took a full year to issue its decision and said it introduces new delays and new uncertainty. Unfortunately, that plays right into the hands of the big phone and the big cable companies. Delay and uncertainty are their tried and true weapons. So this is ... a very bad day for Canadian consumers. Some of Canadas larger carriers saw the cabinets decision as good news because it recognizes that the CRTCs decision threatens to undermine their ability to make more investments in communications infrastructure. We trust the CRTCs review will reflect the governments objective to drive network investment, especially in rural and remote regions, with wholesale rates that are fair and reasonable. The original CRTC decision actually set wholesale rates below cost, which would certainly have impacted future investment by facilities-based carriers like Bell, a Bell Canada statement said. A statement from Rogers Communications said, in part, the CRTC rates do not reflect the true cost of building and expanding Canadas world-class broadband networks and will impact network investments, especially in rural and remote areas where costs are significantly higher. Because the commission is already doing a review of its own decision, Bains said it was unnecessary to refer the decision back to the CRTC for reconsideration at this time, but said that the government will continue to monitor the CRTC proceedings closely to ensure it establishes the right incentives for both investment and competitive choice. Our government recognizes that access to affordable, high-quality high-speed Internet is a necessity for all Canadians, no matter where they live, Bains said. The COVID-19 pandemic has only reinforced the importance of connectivity. The investments our government is making in high-quality networks, particularly in rural and remote communities, are key to ensuring equitable digital access for all Canadians. Equitable access also means that it is available at fair prices that Canadians can afford. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15 , 2020 Companies in this story: (TSX:BCE, TSX:QBR.B, TSX:RCI.B, TSX:SJR.B, TSX:CCA, TSX:T) The chemical explosions halfway across the world last week in Beirut, killing 200 people, hit too close to home for many of us Texans. Weve been there. In 1947, the nations worst industrial accident to date exploded just 45 minutes southeast of downtown Houston in Texas City, killing nearly 600 and injuring thousands. In 2013, a small fertilizer plant exploded in a tiny town called West, killing 15 people. Those Texas disasters were triggered by the same chemical blamed in Beirut: ammonium nitrate, a common and mostly unregulated fertilizer stored as pellets that is often used as an explosive in mining and construction and is a favorite ingredient for amateur bomb makers such as the Oklahoma City terrorist Timothy McVeigh. We Texans who remember the Arkema explosion of organic peroxides after Hurricane Harvey and at least six other chemical explosions, fires and major leaks since then may have murmured the same disillusioned chorus as we watched Beirut burn and cry: There but for the grace of God goes Texas because those appointed to keep us safe sure as hell arent doing their jobs. A tragedy such as the one we saw in Beirut should serve as a wake-up call to any American who lives as we in Houston do: cheek-by-jowl with massive amounts of dangerous chemicals, often sloppily stored. Yet, if history is any guide, it wont. The best way to understand why is to go back seven years and recall the high hopes of the federal governments massive response to the disaster in West, and then examine how they came crashing down under the weight of bureaucracy and industry pressure. Maybe the only way to persuade state and federal regulators to protect us from dangerous chemicals is to never let them forget how miserably theyve failed to do so. Felt like a quake Folks in West were just settling in for an ordinary Wednesday evening on April 17, 2013, when a fire broke out in a warehouse at West Fertilizer Company, a small family owned business that had been equipping farmers for more than 50 years. At the fire station, the chief flicked on the towns warning sirens as volunteer firefighters raced to the scene from all directions. Four out-of-town firefighters, relaxing after a day of training that had brought them to West, hurried to help. An off-duty captain in the Dallas Fire Department who lived in West came, too. Within minutes, the first responders knew something was unusual. The fire was so hot even firefighters not yet close to the flames felt as if they were being baked. Large tanks of anhydrous ammonia a fertilizer stored under pressure as a liquid that, if lit on fire, can create huge plumes of poisonous gas were on the property. Responders immediately began ordering the evacuation of a nearby nursing home, apartment complex and scores of neighboring homes. The tanks never did leak, but the firefighters quick decision to evacuate the area ended up saving perhaps hundreds of lives. All the while as the emergency vehicles arrived and calls for backup went out, the fire had broiled huge quantities of the nearly 540,000 pounds of another kind of ammonia-based fertilizer that firefighters hadnt realized was so dangerous: ammonium nitrate. Thirteen minutes after the first firefighters arrived, and as veterans among them were urging a retreat to let the fire burn out, the ammonium nitrate exploded. The blast tore through a three-foot concrete foundation, created a crater eight feet deep and 75 feet wide, and destroyed the nursing home, the apartment complex and scores of homes. People living 50 miles away reported what felt like an earthquake. Among the 15 dead were 12 first responders. More than 300 were injured. Initial property damage in the town of fewer than 3,000 residents was pegged at more than $100 million. Shock, grief, anger The fallout from the blast took on a familiar pattern. Shock, then grief, then rage as fingers of blame were pointed. Then-Gov. Rick Perry right away began pushing back at calls for tougher rules, saying they wouldnt have prevented the explosion. The month following the burials in West, a spokesman said it was too soon to talk about any strengthening of Texas infamously weak safety regulations. It took two years for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to publish its conclusions: poor storage of the ammonium nitrate, inadequate training for first responders and the storage facilities proximity to homes and the nursing home all contributed to the disaster. In Washington, hope for real action was stirring. On Aug. 1, President Barack Obama issued an executive order requiring top officials at half a dozen federal agencies led by EPA, Homeland Security and the Department of Labor to come together to bolster federal safety standards for dangerous chemicals, including ammonium nitrate. What followed was a herculean effort across the federal government to work with industry, lawmakers and regulators to update safety standards, which had been unchanged since 1992 and in some cases, the early 1970s when agencies like the EPA and Labor Departments OSHA were created. Despite the countless hours, meetings and soaring expectations, almost nothing changed. Seven years after West, were left with the scant rules for storage and handling of ammonium nitrate that remain rooted in standards, approved by industry, set in 1972. Other chemical safety standards remain unchanged and outdated as well. Hopes dashed What went wrong? We spoke last week with someone who worked closely with the task force created after Obamas executive order, a former administrator at OSHA, the lead safety agency within the Department of Labor. For one thing, the process moves like molasses, he said, often taking 10 to 20 years to issue a new standard. Every step of the way, industry pushes against new rules that could increase their costs or limit their choices. The skilled lobbyists know if they can just stall the process long enough, they can often wait out an administration until a new president comes in with new priorities. Soon after Obama created it, the task force members began debating two options: whether to update 1972-era rules to tighten lax standards for chemicals including ammonium nitrate or, a much heavier lift: to add ammonium nitrate to the list of compounds covered by a much tougher set of 1992 standards. As the 2016 election approached, OSHA decided to keep working on the tougher reforms, hoping the next president would continue that work. We had hoped for a Clinton presidency, the former official said, who asked not to be named due to his current role as a senior House committee staff member. EPA, on the other hand, rushed to issue a modest set of last-minute reforms that did not address ammonium nitrate, but did require chemical facilities to share inventories of dangerous compounds on site and to evaluate whether there are safer alternatives to using the most dangerous chemicals. The agency wagered that a small win was better than none at all, and saved the heavier lift on adding ammonium nitrate to the 1992 standards for the new administration. They lost the bet. When Donald Trump took office in January 2017, OSHAs and EPAs work on the tougher standards stopped. Within months, new leaders at EPA announced it would rescind the new rules, modest as they were, before they could take effect. In the Chemical Safety Boards 2016 final report on West, it made 19 recommendations. Most have yet to be implemented, though some small changes have occurred, including increased frequency of OSHA inspections and new guidance on emergency planning. Otherwise, America now stands at precisely the same place it was in 2013 before those firefighters rushed to their deaths in West. None of the incidents since from the Arkema explosions to the March 2019 fire that burned for three days at the Intercontinental Terminal Co. have prompted meaningful reforms to state or federal safety regulations. As NPR correspondent Eric Westervelt reported in detail this week, were a country left exposed to enormous risks from the thousands of sites across our land that house vast stores of ammonium nitrate and other deadly compounds. An eight-part series by the Chronicles investigative staff in 2016 had previously exposed just how vulnerable this region is to devastating industrial accidents, and detailed how industry had thwarted Obamas reform efforts. After the Beirut blast, Chemical Safety Board Managing Director Katherine Lemos called on America to not let such a thing happen again here. She told Westervelt last week that accidents like the ones in Beirut and West can be avoided if government sets and enforces tougher safety standards. We are about preventing catastrophic explosion. This is preventable, Lemos said. We really need to push on it. I think it's critical. That's our job." And its our job, Texans, as voters, to hold government representatives to that job. If we dont, we know what will happen. Weve seen it before. And we saw it in Beirut last week. If TLCs hit TV series "90 Day Fiance" were to have a royal family, it would most likely be the Silva sisters. Darcey and Stacey Silva, of Middletown, have become staples in the "90 Day" family, appearing more than any other participant on the show. Darceys previous relationships were the focus of four seasons of "90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days," however, at her side constantly remained her sister - Stacey. "Im so grateful to have been on four seasons of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. Its been an amazing journey," said Darcey via email to Hearst CT Media. "It feels amazing that I can interact with the fans and get to know them more and to hear their stories. People always come up to me and say how inspiring I have been for them too." "We hope through our journey people can relate to us and the feelings we go through in the good times and challenging times as well as what its like to be in a long distance international relationship," added Stacey. After sharing snippets of their lives on the weekly program, the two will step directly into the spotlight with their own show, "Darcey & Stacey," which is set to premiere this week. The new show, which is the latest spinoff of "90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days," focuses on the lives of Darcey and Stacey in Middletown as they traverse life together. The two, who have raised their families together in the same household and even divorced their husbands on the same day as one another, will face new challenges as Darcey looks to find love after a tumultuous relationship with Tom Brooks on previous seasons of "90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days" while Stacey looks to kickstart her own "90 Day" journey with her Albanian fiance, Florian Sukaj. Aside from the romance, the audience will also catch a glimpse into their everyday lives, including interactions with the sisters parents, Mike and Nancy, and Darceys two children, Aniko and Aspen. "Stacey and I are excited for this journey. Fans can expect to see it all, from every aspect of our lives from our past, present and future," said Darcey. "They will [also] see our twin bond and journey in love and life," added Stacey. The sisters hope that the audience will get a lot out of the show, and even take some tips on dating. "My last relationship with Tom was a struggle at times. We were on and off during that relationship and I was confused on where we stood after I arrived home from London. I always felt the communication on his end was lacking and it felt one sided," said Darcey talking about her relationship with Brooks through the past two seasons of "90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days." "I felt it was time I honored myself, and start loving me and not give my worth as a woman or my power away. I was finally feeling stronger for myself and empowered." "For me its about the bond and connection and not the location you have with a partner. Dating internationally has its perks, because I love to travel and connect with someone from another culture, it feels natural to me," said Stacey regarding dating long distance. "When I met Florian we felt an instant connection. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. "Darcey and Stacey" will premiere on TLC on Sunday, August 16 at 10:00 p.m. EST. GGPoker Breaks Silence on Banned Player Controversy August 14, 2020 The poker industry isn't one that has been free of controversy, with several major incidents occurring in the past year. So whether it's Postlegate or Dan Cates' high-stakes cheating, it's a sure way to get the poker community fired up and talking. The latest controversy involves Tobias Duthweiler, who alleges that he had $180,000 confiscated and his account with GGPoker shut down for wrongful reasons. Poker players have been quick to defend and accuse Duthweiler, with GGPoker Ambassador Fedor Holz even coming out to shed some light on the situation. After several days of uproar throughout the poker community, the GGPoker team agreed to share their side of things as well. They maintained that they've simply followed company protocol in seizing funds from a player who violated terms of service and then failed to abide by a subsequent ban. How Did the Controversy Start? The incident first came to light on Aug. 5, when Stuart Rutter tweeted that a number of cash players had been "banned for life." @GGPokerOfficial @RealKidPoker @Joeingram1 @padspoker GG has now banned for life (with funds returned) a number of https://t.co/mpb7KZ0A8b Stuart Rutter (@stuartrutter) He attracted the attention of fellow British poker players such as Rick Trigg and Patrick Leonard, with Rutter telling Leonard that those banned "haven't wanted to advertise it." It also caught the attention of GGPoker Ambassador Bryn Kenney, who defended the site's ability to maintain the business as they see fit. @neilyboy67 @stuartrutter @GGPokerOfficial @RealKidPoker @Joeingram1 @padspoker Honestly I think it should be super https://t.co/FxzAUFWVKy Bryn Kenney (@BrynKenney) Duthweiler Reveals All Less than a week later, in a thread on the TwoPlusTwo forum, Duthweiler revealed that he was one of the affected players. Duthweiler stated that his entire balance had been confiscated, a sum of around $180,000. He explained the entire timeline of the story, having first created an account on Natural8, a popular skin on the GGNetwork, back in 2016. Duthweiler said he played NL400-NL1,000 for a week or two, winning ~$5,000 in the process before Natural8 told him to "take [his] money and not play on their network anymore." "They said that if I came back to play there, they would proceed with their "security protocol", whatever that meant - I asked, but they wouldn't give me a clear statement on either what they meant by that, or what I'd done wrong." Duthweiler later released a screenshot from Natural8 which detailed the reasoning for his ban, stating that he "did not satisfy the poker ecology requirements." Tobias Duthweiler's Email from Natural8 Three years later, Duthweiler said that he created an account on a different GGNetwork skin called Bestpoker and began to play again, this time at higher limits of NL5,000-NL40,000. He subsequently moved to Betkings, after Bestpoker removed their high-stakes tables, and eventually to GGPoker when the skins were merged together. He said he was unaware GGPoker and Natural8 were affiliated under the same network. Duthweiler said he was able to fully verify his account and deposit $50,000, and began playing on the account. And losing. While he was "stuck big time," he eventually spun his $30,000 roll to $180,000 in the space of 10 days or so. After GGPoker began instituting a real name policy at the high-stakes tables, Duthweiler said he was verifying his information again when his account was locked. Poker Community Reacts Several people in the TwoPlusTwo thread were quick to deride Duthweiler for playing on a site where he had previously been banned. But many others called it "outrageous" and "theft." Several well-known German players such as Steffen Sontheimer and Koray Aldemir defended Duthweiler, with Sontheimer calling it an "unfair treatment" and Aldemir saying that GG were setting "a totally wrong example" with the ban. The debate also raged on Twitter, which is where fellow German Holz added his perspective. Holz Chimes In On Aug. 11, Holz sent out a thread of five tweets addressing the case. I wanted to address the dudd1 case on GG that he posted about on 2+2 to share the perspective Ive gained from ta https://t.co/OCBxYYieDB Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) Dudd1 has been banned initially 2016 from Natural8 with a warning to not attempt to play at GGNetwork again. GGs https://t.co/QQC9U9tMzR Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) He created a new account within the GGnetwork that he played on. The account hasnt been immediately flagged becaus https://t.co/MRJ4jFqZB6 Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) Following the procedure his account has been banned and funds confiscated. This is NOT a scheme to steal from playe https://t.co/ELMXCanQ6L Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) I understand that theres a lot of room to jump to conclusions here, but I can assure you that this is not a practi https://t.co/fPn41PQSyW Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) Two days later he sent out a follow-up tweet saying that he was looking to share GG's perspective on things and to "create more transparency". I understand theres a lot of hate coming my way for my latest post about duddi. Im trying my best to gather as mu https://t.co/LINYiD0vJ3 Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) GGPoker Statement Initially, GGPoker declined to comment on the case. However, the site has since changed its stance given public nature of the controversy. The site released the following statement to PokerNews: "We acknowledge that this case became complicated as the player signed up on multiple skins, where the GGNetwork security team does not have access to personal information including email addresses. Therefore, our security detection was limited to IPs and Mac Addresses when it comes to detecting trespassers. We will enhance our system so that we can request email addresses and personal information from our Licensee Operators. We also acknowledge that our P2P transfer was too easy for the players. We have already removed P2P transfer for our UK customers and will be placing a strict KYC verification process and limits for all future P2P transfer. We have already shown our good will with a gesture to the player by returning the funds he has received from his friends. All of his winnings have been re-distributed to the affected players. We would like to apologize for the concerns that were brought up by this incident and will make sure that our security measures are more tight." GGPoker also released their timeline of Duthweiler's activities. According to GGPoker, Duthweiler was banned in 2016 for "bumhunting and predatory behavior" and told his funds would be seized if he attempted to play on the network again. Duthweiler's subsequent activities on GGNetwork skins were not flagged, according to the operator, because the network "does not have access to players' personal information on its Licensee Operators." GGPoker agreed that Duthweiler had about $50,000 in funds added to his account in May, $37K via an unnamed affiliate and $12,500 via a player-to-player transfer. However, the site maintains it wasn't subsequently winning tens of thousands of dollars that prompted Duthweiler's account closure, as many have alleged. Rather, what triggered everything was the switching of his account to his real name. When the security team received relevant documents from Duthweiler, they realized he was banned from the network and confiscated what they said was actually $159,766. In a statement provided to PokerNews, a site rep denied GGPoker has ever banned players for winning: "We have only banned players who have violated our Terms of Service agreement by cheating, bumhunting, colluding, or acting in away we deem to be predatory. GGPoker maintains a healthy poker ecosystem and works to provide a safe and fair playing environment for all players." In answering what constitutes bumhunting, GGPoker offered the following: "We consider both direct and indirect bumhunting. Direct bumhunting is defined as joining a table once the mark has joined and leaving shortly after the mark has left, even though the table has not broken. Indirect bumhunting is defined as refusing to give action to certain players while giving action to others." Winning players, the site maintains, should have no fear of having their money confiscated. GGPoker says they only take this final, drastic step in the following three types of cases: Usage of bots, real-time solvers / advanced charts during gameplay, and malicious software circumvention to gain advantage over others Ignoring a permanent ban notice and trespassing Repeated cheating and violation of our terms and conditions As Duthweiler was deemed in violation of a permanent ban, the operator says it was simply following its usual protocol in confiscating the account's balance. Sharelines Poker player Tobias Duthweiler alleges that he had $180,000 wrongfully confiscated. The arrival of a flamingo in Dundalk Bay in 1985 turned quite a lot of heads as the brightly coloured birds stood out from the swans that it had befriended. Now an oversized flamingo sculpture roosting atop the Dundalk Tourist Information and BIDS Office at the Market Square is doing the same. The flamingo, which has mechanical wings which move in the wind, is the creation of the local artists' collective AAEX (Art as Exchange) who were kindly invited to provide a contribution to the closing event of this year's Seek Festival, planned at the Spirit Store In the spirit of connecting to the town's history, AAEX members decided to create an installation of an oversized flamingo sculpture with mechanical wings to commemorate the flamingo, which in 1985 took residency at Dundalk Bay and drew large crowds, even prompting a photo competition in the Argus. The AAEX Flamingo was originally meant to be installed at the small island opposite the Spirit Store, the habitat of the original one. However, as that event had to be cancelled due to the postponement of Phase 4 of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions, it was installed on the roof of the Dundalk Tourist Information on Market Square instead. It is now part of the attractions in town, hopefully attracting visitors like its original predecessor. 'We hope it puts a smile on many people's faces,' says Bernhard Gaul of AAEX. 'Go and enjoy it along with all the other fantastic artworks going up during the Seek Festival!' AAEX is a collective of over 30 local artists, supported by Creative Spark, which since 2016 has provided a variety of art initiatives in the region. You are here: China Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, all in the regional capital Urumqi, the regional health commission said Saturday in its daily report. The region also registered two new asymptomatic cases in Urumqi Friday. By Friday, Xinjiang had 438 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 126 asymptomatic cases, and 11,466 people were still under medical observation. From July 15 to Friday, a total of 384 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery, and 105 asymptomatic cases were dismissed from medical observation in Xinjiang. PM launches National Digital Health Mission: Here is how the Health ID will work India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that all Indians would get a Health ID. PM Modi Independence Day speech | Health IDs for all | Vaccine update | Oneindia News During his Independence Day address, the PM launched the National Digital Health Mission and said that it would bring about a revolution in India's health sector. He also said that now all Indians would get a digital health ID. The PM said that every time you visit a doctor or pharmacy, everything will be logged in this health card. From the doctor's appointment to the medication advised, everything will be available in the health profile, the PM also said. The National Digital Health Mission comes under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Under the scheme each patient will be given an ID card and would have confidential medical data such as prescriptions, diagnostic reports and discharge summaries. Also Read: The patient would give their doctors or health providers one-time access to this data during their visit to the hospital or for consultation. The access would have to be given separately for each visit. The NDHM will also allow patients to access health services remotely through tele-consultation and e-pharmacies. This would also offer health-related benefits. During his speech, the PM also said that there are three coronavirus vaccines being tested. They are different stages of trials, he also said. Our roadmap to bring a vaccine to all Indians in the shortest time possible is ready, the PM also added. The PM further said that the production will begin on a large scale once we get a nod from our scientists. We will produce the vaccine in large numbers, he further said. The PM also hailed the people who are in the frontline against this battle against COVID-19. He also said that the children, who are the future of this country are present at the Red Fort today owing to the restrictions. He also recalled the contributions of the corona warriors and paid tribute to all those who lost their lives due to the pandemic. Trump, in his speech, took a sharp aim at Harris as being hostile to police. Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday attacked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, saying "no one will be safe in Biden's America" adding that the California Senator is a "step worse". "If Joe Biden would become the President, he will immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in America and probably Kamala (Harris) is a step worse. She is of Indian heritage. I have more Indians than she has," said Trump while speaking to members of the City of New York Police Benevolent Association. The president, in his speech, took a sharp aim at Harris as being hostile to police, and suggested that she and Biden were at the center of "a left-wing war on cops." "This guy has been taking your dignity away and your respect. No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump said of former Vice President Joe Biden. "And I'm telling you on 3 November you're going to be getting it back." In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly asserted that Biden supports defunding the police, Fox News reported. On Friday, President Trump's reelection campaign was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYCPBA) on Friday. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who also spoke at the NYCPBA meeting on Friday, attacked the prosecutorial record of Kamala Harris. Giuliani said that when Harris was California's Attorney General, "she prosecuted little people but she wouldn't prosecute big people." As Democrats increasingly decry what they have characterized as President Donald Trumps assault on the U.S Postal Service, some are warning of possible legal consequences for the administrations actions. Among them is former Attorney General Eric Holder. On Saturday morning, law professor and legal analyst Barb McQuade pointed out that obstructing mail is a federal offense and wondered who would prosecute Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in the Department of Justice headed by William Barr. The next, real, Justice Department, Holder replied. Advertisement The next, real, Justice Department. Eric Holder (@EricHolder) August 15, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Holder posted a tweet that simply stated the law regarding the fines and imprisonment of up to six months that anyone who willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail can face. Holder has been posting quite a bit on the Postal Service lately and in that sense is like a lot of Democrats who have taken up the issue that was simmering for weeks in the news cycle but seemed unable to break through amid the coronavirus disaster. Now, Democrats increasingly seem to realize that Trumps actions regarding the Postal Service gives them an opportunity to coalesce behind a message that might even help them win over new voters. Advertisement Advertisement Federal criminal law (18 USC 1701): Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail, or any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Eric Holder (@EricHolder) August 15, 2020 Advertisement Among those speaking up is former President Barack Obama, who said Trump is trying to actively kneecap the Postal Service in order to affect mail-in voting ahead of the election. What weve never seen before is a president say, Im going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service to [discourage] voting, and I will be explicit about the reason Im doing it. Thats sort of unheard of, Obama told David Plouffe, who was his campaign manager in 2008, in an interview. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, is among those trying to use the new attention on the Postal Service to get people to vote early. I would say if you were going to vote by mail, that you vote early because they will try to say, Well, it doesnt have a stamp, so it doesnt have to be postmarked so well just throw it in the corner, Pelosi said on MSNBC. Theyre going to do everything they can to slow the mail, and thats just not right. So, again, vote early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters have stuffed fake absentee ballots into the Postmaster Generals apartment lobby door @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/L5THngbLSv Kolbie Satterfield (@KolbieReports) August 15, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Amid all the talk about the Postal Service, a group of protesters gathered outside DeJoys home in Washington, D.C. on Saturday morning. The noise demonstration, which was organized by a group called Shut Down D.C. took place in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. DeJoy has fired or reassigned much of the existing USPS leadership and ordered the removal of mail sorting machines that are fundamental to the functioning of the postal service. Meanwhile, mail delivery is slowing down under other decisions made by DeJoy, such as eliminating overtime for postal workers, the group said in a statement. The protest took place a day after reports that the U.S. Postal Service recently sent letters to most states warning that it cant guarantee all ballots cast by mail in the November election will arrive in time to be counted. The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, Martha Johnson, a spokeswoman for the USPS, said in a statement. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. The Met is set to reopen on August 29 after a five-month shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic New York's museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions will be allowed to reopen starting August 24, state governor Andrew Cuomo said Friday after a five-month shutdown due to the coronavirus. However, there will be mandatory face masks, timed ticketing with staggered entry and just 25 percent occupancy, he tweeted. The reopening does not include performing arts venues, which will remain shut until the end of the year. New York's famed Metropolitan Museum of Art, which normally welcomes seven million visitors a year, said it would reopen on August 29. "After nearly six months, The Met's reopening will be a historic moment for the Museum and the City," Met president Daniel Weiss said in a statement. "Throughout the recent months of uncertainty, isolation and grief, we have longed for the day when we can safely welcome everyone back to The Met, where all can find comfort, inspiration, and a sense of community." The Whitney Museum of American Art will reopen on September 3 but the Museum of Modern Art has yet to announce its reopening date. The Metropolitan Opera is scheduled to resume on December 31, while Broadway theaters will remain closed until at least January. New York state was initially hard hit by the coronavirus and has recorded 25,232 deaths and 424,167 infections so far, Cuomo said in an update Friday. He highlighted the state's progress against the pandemic with under one percent of coronavirus tests proving positive over the past seven days. lbc/la/mtp/qan Egypt's PM reiterated that Cairo backs the transitional period in Sudan and supports the aspirations of Sudanese people to achieve prosperity, development and the goals of Sudan's 2018 Revolution During his one-day visit to Khartoum, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly discussed with his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday several issues of mutual interest, including electrical connectivity, infrastructure, and cooperation in the fields of health, education and trade. A statement by the Egyptian cabinet said that the two prime ministers agreed during the talks on the importance of moving forward in increasing the capacity of the electrical connectivity project between the two countries from 70 megawatts to 300 megawatts. It was agreed upon to abide by the timeframe set by the technicians to finish the necessary equipment for the Sudanese network, which the Egyptian side is working to provide, the statement said. In April, Egypt and Sudans electricity grids were officially linked at a voltage of 220 KV, with operations beginning upon Khartoums request. At the time, the Egyptian cabinet said work was underway to install necessary equipment at Sudanese plants, which would then be followed with the second phase of the linkage, which would target supplying Sudan with a capacity of up to 300 megawatts instead of the first-phase capacity of 70 megawatts. Saturday's statement by the cabinet said that cooperation in the field of health between the two countries was discussed by the two prime ministers. The Sudanese side expressed appreciation for the good and close cooperation with Egypt, especially with the recent Egyptian assistance to confront the coronavirus pandemic, the cabinet statement noted. In a separate statement by the Egyptian health ministry on Saturday, ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed said that a shipment of aid was sent on Friday to Sudan under the directives of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, which included 21 tons of baby formula loaded on two military aircraft. Megahed added that another shipment was sent on Saturday, accompanied by the ministerial delegation headed by Madbouly, which included 1,325 tons of essential childrens medicines as a gift from Egypt to support the health system in Sudan. The spokesperson pointed out that a medical team comprising a number of medical consultants, pharmacists and lab specialists is scheduled to arrive in Sudan next Monday within the framework of El-Sisi's initiative to treat 1 million Africans from hepatitis C. Along with the medical team, Megahed says, Egypt will send two PCR testing devices, a shipment of medicines that are enough to provide hepatitis C treatments to 150,000 people, in addition to 10,000 detectors for the virus. The Egyptian medical team will stay in Khartoum for 15 days to provide diagnostic services and medical treatment for free at five vital medical centres in the Sudanese capital: Ibna Sina Hospital, the Police Medical Complex, Suba Medical Centre, Um Dorman Medical Centre, and El-Aliaa Medical Centre. The Egyptian and Sudanese PMs also renewed their commitment to strengthening trade exchange, the cabinet statement said, and it was agreed upon to develop an action plan to overcome the obstacles that hinder the flow of commercial traffic, especially with regards to transport routes leading to land ports. In this regard, developing cooperation in the field of transport was discussed and it was agreed upon to restructure the Nile Valley Authority for River Navigation, which was established in 1975 as a joint Sudanese-Egyptian commission, so as to raise its competitiveness, develop its fleet, activate the permanent Sudanese-Egyptian joint technical committee, and call for a meeting of the committee in Sudan in the coming days, the cabinet statement said. The two sides also discussed a project to link railways between the two countries in a way that would contribute to opening wider horizons for economic and commercial cooperation. The statement added that Saturday's talks touched upon developing cooperation in the fields of maritime navigation and benefiting from the ports of the two countries on the Red Sea. The two sides also talked about updating the cooperation agreement on land transport signed between the two countries and adding necessary amendments in order to improve services, the statement noted. The two premiers also tackled the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue and stressed the necessity of negotiations in order to reach a binding agreement on filling and operating it. Madbouly arrived at the Sudanese capital earlier on Saturday for a one-day visit, where he was accompanied by the ministers of irrigation, electricity, heath, and industry and trade, as well as high-level officials from the transport and education ministries. During a joint press conference, Madbouly reiterated on Saturday Egypt's backing of the transitional period in Sudan and its support for the aspirations of Sudanese people to realise prosperity and development and achieve the goals of the Sudanese Revolution of 2018. Madbouly invited Hamdok to visit Cairo in order to build on the outcomes of today's visit and the Sudanese premier welcomed the invitation and promised to meet it as soon as possible, the statement said. Search Keywords: Short link: When Kamala Harriss mother left India for California in 1958, the percentage of Americans who were immigrants was at its lowest point in over a century. That was about to change. Her arrival at Berkeley as a young graduate student and that of another student, an immigrant from Jamaica whom she would marry was the beginning of a historic wave of immigration from outside Europe that would transform the United States in ways its leaders never imagined. Now, the American-born children of these immigrants people like Ms. Harris are the face of this countrys demographic future. Joseph R. Biden Jr.s choice of Ms. Harris as his running mate has been celebrated as a milestone because she is the first Black woman and the first of Indian descent in American history to be on a major partys presidential ticket. But her selection also highlights a remarkable shift in this country: the rise of a new wave of children of immigrants, or second-generation Americans, as a growing political and cultural force, different from any that has come before. The last major influx of immigrants, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, came primarily from Eastern and Southern Europe. This time the surge comes from around the world, from India and Jamaica to China and Mexico and beyond. Tom O'Neill and Anne Mulligan who co-chair the Balbriggan\North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind were delighted to accept on Thursday, August 6 a donation of 250 from Katie Seaver from Lusk which was the proceeds of her fundraising. Tom said: 'Her dad Richard told us that Katie who will be starting secondary school in Lusk this September is very handy with the sewing machine and likes working it. Her idea was to make face masks during lock down and sell them to family, friends and she even set up a table outside her home in lusk to sell them. For every mask that was sold 2.50 went to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind a favourite charity of hers and that of her family.' Tom and Ann were telling the Seavers when they called that almost no money was coming into the branch at the moment and that her donation of 250 was likely to be the only money made in the month of August Tom and Anne said: 'Thank you Katie for your great donation and we very much appreciate your efforts. British holidaymakers returning home from parts of Europe began having to quarantine on Saturday under new restrictions, as a second wave of virus infections threatened more disruption and economic chaos on the continent. The UK opted to remove France, the Netherlands, Malta and several other countries from its list of places exempt from self-isolation rules, sparking a rush for plane, train and ferry tickets by Britons desperate to get back before the 4am (0300 GMT) change. All travellers arriving from the three countries -- as well as Monaco, and Caribbean island states Turks & Caicos and Aruba -- after the deadline must quarantine for 14 days. French student Antoine, 23, cut short his holiday to rush back to Bristol, in southwestern England, where he is at university. "I'm a waiter in a small cafe near college, I can't afford to spend 14 days in the house," he said at London's St Pancras railway station after arriving on a Eurostar train. France is facing a resurgence of the disease that emerged in China late last year and has so far infected over 21 million people and killed more than 750,000 globally. French authorities have reported more than 2,500 new cases on each of the past three days -- levels not seen since May. Thousands of Albanians queued in their cars at the Greek border, hoping to squeeze across and return to work before tougher entry requirements come into effect. By Gent SHKULLAKU (AFP) Meanwhile Germany added most of Spain -- where cases have also surged in recent weeks -- to its list of regions from where arrivals must show a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for two weeks. Austria urged its citizens to return from popular Mediterranean destination Croatia before similar rules come into effect Monday, while Serbia introduced mandatory testing for travellers from four neighbouring countries. And thousands of Albanians queued for miles in their cars at the Greek border before tougher entry requirements designed to brake mounting infections began. The United States also said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout most of September "to slow the spread" of the disease. Travel rush Britain's new quarantine rules, announced late Thursday, prompted a frenzied 36-hour scramble to get home. Eurotunnel, which operates a drive-on train service for cars through the Channel Tunnel, was fully booked Friday while some air fares from France to the UK were more than six times more expensive than normal. Fiona Nicholson, 47, a professor from the English city Portsmouth on holiday in southern France, told AFP from Nice airport Friday that she had cut short her trip. "I had planned to return on Monday but... I changed my flight to go back today so I don't have to go on quarantine." "I'm sad that I'm missing some holiday but I'm happy to comply." French holidaymakers in Britain will face tough choices of their own, as Paris pledged to impose a "reciprocal measure". Britons rushed to buy plane, train and ferry tickets to try and get home from France before Saturday's deadline. By Ben STANSALL (AFP) The Netherlands said it would advise against all but essential travel to Britain, but will not introduce a quarantine of its own for arrivals. Meanwhile, just 10,000 of the usual 250,000 pilgrims will visit France's Lourdes Roman Catholic shrine Saturday for the annual Assumption mass, with mask-wearing compulsory, according to organisers. 'Promising' vaccines A slew of data Friday revealed the scale of the economic impact of the virus and punishing lockdowns, with Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark all booking hefty hits to GDP in April-June. Denmark and Hungary both reported their worst slumps since the early 1990s and Poland entered its first recession since the end of the communist era. Hopes to break the cycle of outbreaks and lockdowns decimating economies have turned to a vaccine, with Britain saying Friday it has secured access to another 90 million doses of two "promising" vaccines. Number of new cases per day, trend in countries and regions, as of Aug 14. By Simon MALFATTO (AFP) Vietnam meanwhile said it was looking to buy a bulk order of Russia's "Sputnik" vaccine, although Western scientists have raised concerns about the speed of its development and suggested that researchers might be cutting corners. And Washington said it would distribute any vaccine proven to be effective to all Americans for free. Mexico announced it and Argentina aim to have a vaccine available for Latin America -- now the region with the worst virus toll and most cases -- early next year under a production agreement with drug giant AstraZeneca. New NZ strain Elsewhere, New Zealand is battling its second outbreak of infections and extended a lockdown of its largest city Auckland by at least 12 days, after officials detected a variant of the virus previously unseen in the country. The Pacific island nation's initial response to the pandemic was hailed a success, but a run of 102 days with no reported community transmission ended on Tuesday and a cluster of 30 virus cases was recorded in recent days. Washington said it would distribute any vaccine proven to be effective to all Americans for free. By CHANDAN KHANNA (AFP) Meanwhile South Korea tightened restrictions in Seoul and its surrounding areas Saturday, as the country reported the highest number of new daily infections since March. But in the US -- which has more registered infections than any other country in the world -- museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions in New York will be allowed to reopen later this month following a five-month shutdown. burs-jj/pma Reddit users leaked internet bandwidth speed tests of SpaceX's Starlink data that is present in Ookla's website way below its proposed target speed of 16 gigabytes per second (Gbps). Currently, SpaceX is preparing to launch Starlink to be an upgraded internet service provider to America, and possibly, the whole world, with its satellites orbiting the Earth's atmosphere. Ars Technica reports that Starlink internet satellites boast a promising 16Gbps data connection for Americans once it is launched and running. However, Redditors who were able to notice Starlink's beta in Ookla's Internet Speedtest Website, download speed reached only a range of 11 to 60 Mbps. The current minimum speed that reflects on the speed test website is close to only zero point one (0.1) percent of the promised download speed (16 Gbps). Reddit's r/Starlink community tackled the beta speed of Elon Musk's Space X internet satellite constellation initiative. ALSO READ: Through SpaceX's Starlink Elon Musk Hopes to Deliver Cheap and Fast Internet Worldwide Starlink's Beta Internet Speed SpaceX's Starlink is still on the beta testing phase and is yet to launch its internet service. The company aims to provide its internet service to the Northern American and Canadian region by this year, 2020. Its global launch is intended to be up and operational by 2021 as stated on their website. However, as the year 2020 entered its second half, Starlink has yet launched its service for public use. Beta versions are an indication that the project is in its final phase, but talks about its official launch remains unheard. Redditor u/Snnackss gathered and compiled all internet speed test results from Ookla's website that is taken from Starlink's servers. As mentioned earlier, download speed ranges from 11Mbps to 60Mbps and portrays an average of 42.8 Mbps. On the other hand, upload speed of the internet satellite range from 4.5 to 17.7 Mbps. Latency ranges from 20 milliseconds to 94 ms. While bringing forth a low internet speed compared to Starlink's promise, Redditors are satisfied with the 11 to 60 Mbps that it is portrayed by the result, as mentioned by PC Mag. Ookla confirmed the test's legitimacy to PC Mag stating that their quality assurance ensures that only legitimate providers are to be seen by users on their platform. Public Beta Launch As 2020 works it way up to its second half, SpaceX's Starlink gears to provide for its statement of being an internet service provider for this year. 2020's summer paved the way for private beta launches while asking the public to sign-up for the public beta launch. PC Mag reports that an estimate of 700,000 users has signed up in Starlink's website for their newsletter and beta application. A massive number of signees flooded the website despite not having any commercial promotion or official talks of the beta. Deployment time for the 57 #Starlink satellites is set for 06:45:05.570 UTC over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico. Pre-launch SupTLEs are valid from that time until we start producing individual SupTLEs, typically just a few hours post deployment. pic.twitter.com/LhnVmwBI7W T.S. Kelso (@TSKelso) August 5, 2020 Currently, there are 540 satellites up and running in the Earth's atmosphere that Starlink launched. All these are intended for North America and Canada's connection. SpaceX plans to launch thousands more to cover the rest of the world and provide a global internet service that is the first of its kind. Starlink aims to launch the beta for public testing later this year and intends to provide its cheap and fast internet connection through satellites to the whole world. ALSO READ: SpaceX Starlink Satellites Contribute to Sky Pollution? Satellite Show Flies Over US This Weekend This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mr. Chairman, I wish to join all those who have expressed condolences and solidarity and who thanked OCHA for coordinating the effort. The UN refugee organisations, UNHCR and UNRWA, have a close and long-standing association with Lebanon. This is a country that has hosted Palestinian and other refugees for decades most recently, from Iraq and Syria. It is now time to stand by the Lebanese people in their hour of need. In Lebanon, UNHCR has one of its largest operations globally some 650 colleagues, who are now involved in the common relief effort and are available to pursue its goals. We have already mobilised together with the UN and our humanitarian partners. I am planning to visit Lebanon next week to support our response. I wish to make clear that our response covers the entire community - including Lebanese, refugees and migrant workers. Given the centrality of the shelter emergency, our immediate priority is to help 10,000 vulnerable households repair their homes and make them safe. We are providing people with 'emergency weatherproofing' plastic sheeting, timber, plywood and tools. We will support additional rehabilitation work through cash and in-kind assistance. We are also, like others, drawing on our existing networks of outreach volunteers and other partnerships to step up our community support, including psychological first aid, connecting vulnerable people with the right services, and supporting community solidarity initiatives. We will also step up our existing hotlines and case management systems to provide individual assistance, including legal support. Naturally, and to conclude, while echoing what many others have said, while we concentrate on this emergency, let us not forget that Lebanon is affected by the COVID pandemic, and continues to host hundreds of thousands of Syrian and other refugees. All these responses, often underfunded, require our sustained attention and support. Thank you. Los Angeles Actor Nicholas Braun, who plays fan favorite Cousin Greg on HBO's "Succession," has captured the fraught nature of dating during the pandemic in a catchy new punk song that started as a joke. "If you come within 6 feet, it's mask on, mask on, mask on, mask on. But if you have antibodies, it's pants off, pants off, pants off, pants off," Braun sings. "Do you have the antibodies, do you want to be with me? Do you have the antibodies, cuz if you don't, then stay away!" "Antibodies" quickly caught the ear of Atlantic Records, which released the single and a music video last week. The video shot on Braun's iPhone went (appropriately) viral and drew praise from recording artist Sia, who said she was "in love." "Variety" dubbed the jam "an earworm" that "makes you smile." And rock band Bastille observed: "Cousin Greg came to save music." "I've gotten tons of good texts from people and musicians that I really revere who are like, 'Antibodies' is good, man,'" Braun said recently from his home in New York. "It's been an awesome creative experience for me." Though the song is funny, it was born of stress from the pandemic. Braun's 81-year-old father got COVID-19 in March. One of his "Succession" co-stars, Mark Blum, died of the coronavirus that same month, and a hair stylist with whom Braun had worked died of the virus in April. Braun's father has since recovered. "I know some people haven't had somebody in their life pass from it," Braun said. "But for me, I've now had a few moments where this thing is just really real." Braun, who was stuck in Los Angeles while his father battled the virus, also was inspired by loneliness. "I was just feeling like, 'God, it'd be great to go on a date with somebody and just have a little human contact,'" he said. "And I was talking to a girl and we were not sure if we should. And it just felt like, at the time, it was like, antibodies. Antibodies means you got through it. And, you know, my dad had his antibodies and it's like, we're safe! Right?" That girl, an artist named Camilla Engstrom, not only dated Braun while he was in Los Angeles but appears in the "Antibodies" video, immortalizing the pair's brief but special quarantine romance. "Our first three dates, I don't think we hugged and didn't even take our masks down," Braun said. "So the third date, at the end of it, at the end of our walk, I was like, 'Do you think we should hug?' She's like, 'Yeah, we should hug.' And I was like, 'All right!'" That one hug meant so much, Braun said. "I feel like most people who are being responsible with this are not hugging a lot," he said. "I think we're deprived from that contact. So, yeah, we had a really good time, and it was a good quarantine thing that happened." "Antibodies" raises money to benefit Partners in Health, which brings health care to the vulnerable populations around the world, and Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment, which helps people living with chronic diseases on the poverty-stricken Navajo Nation. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. On top of "Antibodies," Braun's other big news has been his surprise Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a drama for "Succession." "I expected other actors in my show to get nominations," he said. "So I was like, 'OK. Like, I'm rooting for my team.' But I wasn't really rooting for myself per se. It's hard to believe in that thing until it happens." He was actually in the middle of congratulating co-star Jeremy Strong on his nomination when Braun's team called to tell him about his. "I've been acting since I was 6, so something I've thought about my whole life is how cool it would be to be nominated in any acting thing," Braun said. "It was one of those benchmark moments where you're like, 'Oh my God. This actually happened.'" "Succession" got a whopping 18 Emmy nominations overall, including best series, best actor for Brian Cox and Strong, and best supporting actress for Sarah Snook. Braun will be competing for best supporting actor with co-stars Kieran Culkin and Michael Macfadyen. The awards will be held virtually on Sept. 20. Fans of the show have been hoping for any news about the third season but it hasn't yet started shooting given the pandemic. Braun said he knows the show's producers are "trying to figure out how to shoot us safely and to create whatever the new set is of 2020." "I'm really hoping it's soon and we can start reading scripts and seeing where things go," he said. "We all are willing to do what it takes to get back to work and keep the story going." Meanwhile Braun is basking in the glow of "Antibodies." "It's such a crazy time in the world," he said. "I only want to do stuff that's fun and creative and that people are enjoying. And so that's what this has been." (Fixes typo in third bullet point) * Catastrophic blast takes Beirut 30 years back in time * Little hope for Lebanon's rebirth with current ruling elite * Lebanon is back on its knees, fabled resilience broken * Foreign powers descend on Beirut in tussle for influence By Samia Nakhoul and Ghaida Ghantous BEIRUT, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Beirut's seismic explosion propelled the scarred Lebanese capital 30 years back in time with a violence scarcely imaginable even to a country that has endured so many wars, invasions, occupations, air strikes, car bombs and assassinations. The city that took 15 years to rebuild after a devastating 1975-90 civil war lies now with its port wrecked and districts in ruins, just like three decades ago. Then, the Lebanese could justifiably hope for a rebirth. Now, hope is all but gone. This old Mediterranean city picked itself up and rose from the rubble after the war. Beirut was rebuilt as a glamorous metropolis with much of its old splendour. Most of its highly educated expatriates academics, doctors, engineers, economists, lawyers and artists returned to take part in rebuilding their country. Billions of dollars poured in: from Western and Gulf Arab countries, and from the far-flung Lebanese diaspora thought to be at least three times the size of the population. Beirut regularly figured in publications such as Conde Nast Traveller as an exciting destination, a melting pot party-town, friendly and bursting with energy, spirit, charm and diversity. Its lures included a wild nightlife, international festivals in Graeco-Roman and Ottoman settings such as Baalbek, with its temples of Jupiter and Bacchus, and tempting food and wines. Tourists strolled its waterfront, or ventured a short distance to ski on slopes or hike in lush mountains overlooking the city. But the cataclysm that sent up a mushroom cloud over Beirut -- said by experts to be roughly a 10th the force of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima 75 years ago to end World War Two -- may finally have broken the fabled resilience of the Lebanese. "The situation is such a disaster with the country down on it knees," Jan Kubis, U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, told Reuters. "The country is broken and the people are broke and broken". Story continues The government resigned after waves of public indignation at the negligence that led to the blast, caused when it said 2,750 tonnes of highly combustible ammonium nitrate used in fertiliser but also for explosives was left unsecured at a port which is a local byword for corruption and warlord control. President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Hassan Diab and a host of officials had documents warning an explosion of the material could destroy Beirut. Aoun and Diab insisted they had referred the warning to the appropriate authorities. The president announced an investigation. But diplomats who track Lebanon's sectarian power sharing politics suspect the probe may end up concealing more evidence than it reveals. For traditional elites warlords, dynastic leaders of the main Christian and Muslim sects, and their oligarch allies the aftermath of the blast has been business as usual, just as it has been during the past year of worsening economic crisis. "Unfortunately, what I see is the political figures, leaders still operating in the usual way," Kubis said. "Of course they understand that perhaps the country has reached the limit, but I don't see any changes in the behaviour". They are already busy selecting another prime minister, who will have to agree to follow their policies, preserve their patronage networks and avoid reforms demanded by the IMF to extend aid, diplomats, officials and analysts say. When French President Emmanuel Macron visited after the blast, he toured ground zero and walked in demolished districts, comforting the bereaved and listening to people's fury. Not one of Lebanon's purported rulers has shown his face at the stricken scene. When Macron met Aoun, Diab, and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, residents said, it spoke volumes that only Macron wore a black tie out of respect for the dead. RULERS' IMPUNITY At root, Lebanons many crises boil down to one problem: its rulers and their impunity, diplomats and analysts say. At the end of the war, the militia leaders put on suits, shook hands and with the exception of the Iranian-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah group disarmed. But they remained in charge, and mostly under foreign patronage: the Sunnis and their Christian partners to the west and the Gulf, the Shi'ite and their Christian allies to Syria and Iran. Syria, which stationed troops in Lebanon in 1976 for 29 years until its army was forced out after the 2005 assassination of prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, deliberately preserved and refined the confessional system to divide and rule the sects. Israel, which occupied parts of south Lebanon for 22 years, furnished apparent justification for Hezbollah to retain its arms and drive out the Israeli army in 2000. Since then, Hezbollah has become Irans spearhead in Lebanon and the region and a force more powerful than the state at home. A power structure based on sectarian barons suits Hezbollah so long as none of them question its predominance. "This is a country with deeply entrenched culture of impunity, this is the most striking element of Lebanon," said one foreign observer. "This port blast has cost 170 lives (yet) there are no strong demands for accountability at the highest level." Lebanese commentator Sarkis Naoum said the former warlords took off their military fatigues and put on suits, but still run the country with the "militia mentality of corruption, tyranny, of sectarianism." "We have become a failed state," he said. "They are directly responsible for turning this country into a dysfunctional state because of their divisions and hatred to each other. Each one tied himself to a foreign nation and allied himself to those abroad." Mohanad Hage Ali, a fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, agreed that deep reforms under the current political class were unlikely. "They are not ready to give up this quickly the old order, which enables them to finance their parties and lavish lifestyles," he said, noting that the country's dollar reserves were drying up. "Time is running out ... There is the IMF or there is chaos." Ordinary Lebanese have seen the value of their savings evaporate in local banks that shut them out of their own accounts. Lebanons rulers and bankers, in contrast, continue living comfortably. Politics in Lebanon is so lucrative, Lebanese say, that it is studded with billionaires. Political barons pad the payrolls of ministries with their followers, siphon off government funds and award themselves inflated public contracts, they say. There is a consensus among diplomats that the outgoing government came up with a reasonable reform plan in talks with the IMF, but nothing happened, mainly because they had no political support from the forces that nominated them. "Those who stand to lose from the (IMF) deal are the pillars of the Lebanese state. They thought they could get $10bn-20bn from the IMF and then go back to their old tricks," said Naoum. Amid the chaos, a new exodus of the professional classes is under way just like during the civil war. "This blast has brought Lebanon back to its knees," said one diplomat. "What Lebanon needs now is a modern system of governance." (Writing by Samia Nakhoul, Editing by William Maclean) RTHK: Lukashenko rejects foreign mediation in Belarus Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday rejected offers of foreign mediation with a post-election opposition movement demanding his ouster, telling defence chiefs he would not give up power. "We will not give up the country to anyone," state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying at a meeting at the defence ministry. "We don't need any foreign governments, any intermediaries," he said. Thousands of opposition supporters have been taking to the streets for days against Lukashenko's claim to have won re-election last Sunday with 80 percent of the vote, in the biggest challenge to his rule since he came to power in 1994. In the meeting he claimed families of servicemen had been receiving threats and warned that the military was ready to defend itself. "Do not play with fire! Our soldiers have enough resources to protect themselves and their families and to ensure the security of the state." He accused opponents of using "girls" against his government, after thousands of women took to the streets this week in human chains to support the opposition. "If there are men among you, be men. If you want to fight and scuffle - go ahead, but let's do it man to man. Don't put forward girls and threaten families." (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Debenhams could soon be liquidating. The beleaguered chain has hired restructuring advisers from Hilco Capital to draw up contingency plans in case it is unable to sell its business as it undergoes bankruptcy proceedings. The move threatens the future of its brick-and-mortar fleet as well as puts thousands of jobs at risk. More from Footwear News In a statement obtained by FN, Debenhams said that the company is trading strongly with a healthy cash position. (It currently has a roster of 124 outposts.) The administrators have appointed advisors to help them assess the full range of possible outcomes, which include the current owners retaining the business, potential new joint venture arrangements with existing and potential new investors or a sale to a third party, it wrote. The announcement comes just days after Debenhams said it would trim 2,500 roles or about 17% of its 14,500 staff in the United Kingdom in its department stores and warehouses. The company continues to struggle from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which led it to file for administration for the second time in the calendar year back in April. The trading environment is clearly a long way from returning to normal, and we have to ensure our store costs are aligned with realistic expectations, it wrote in a statement early this week. Such difficult decisions are being taken by many retailers right now, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to give Debenhams every chance of a viable future. The 242-year-old retailer appointed administrators four months ago in order to protect the business get it into a position to reopen and trade as many stores as possible again when restrictions are lifted. Story continues Since the government lifted restrictions on nonessential businesses, Debenhams has reopened all of its physical units. In May, it announced that about 20 of its locations will remain permanently shuttered after it failed to reach a rent agreement with mall operator Hammerson a move that has already impacted more than 1,000 jobs. Debenhams put itself up for sale last month in an effort to stave off a liquidation and hopes to secure a buyer by the end of September. Financial advisory and asset management firm Lazard has been appointed to oversee the process. The department store is not alone in facing financial headwinds as COVID-19 sweeps the country. Fellow British retailer Laura Ashley blamed the virus when it declared insolvency in March, while fashion group Oasis Warehouse went bankrupt in mid-April. According to a late March report from market research firm Global Data, one-fifth of U.K.s apparel and footwear spend could be wiped out this year due to the outbreak. Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The wearing of masks in shops, supermarkets, cinemas, libraries, hairdressers, nail bars and bingo halls is mandatory with those who fail to do so facing fines of up to 2,500 and a term in prison. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of people wearing face coverings in recent weeks, with many local shops displaying signs asking customers to wear a mask. 'The vast majority of people are wearing them -you would have to be an oddball coming in without one,' says David Lally of Lally's Electrical. Just in case anyone is caught short without a mask, the shop has a supply of masks to give to customers. 'We already have signs up asking people to wear them,' he says, adding that a lot of confusion was caused by the delay in making the wearing of face coverings mandatory. Staff in Dundalk's newest cafe, Rocksalt, sport attractive fabric masks made by women in Africa using sewing machines donated by Conor Hughes' Crosscause charity. Proprietor Daniel McLaughlin says that staff have the option of wearing masks or visors and all staff dealing with the public or serving tables will be doing so. 'It's important that our team and customers are safe,' he says. Martin Kelly of Kelly's Pharmacy, College Heights, reports that 'quite a high level of customers' have been wearing masks even before Monday. As the shop would have vulnerable customers with underlying health issues, staff have already been wearing visors and they have disposable masks for sale. 'I think customers feel reassured because staff are wearing face coverings and we do ask people to wear masks when they come into the shop.' However, he said he wouldn't refuse admittance to anyone if they weren't wearing a mask as they could have a medical issue which makes it difficult to do so. While masks may be set to be the latest accessories in the world of women's fashion with a number of local boutiques stocking attractive designs, Fergal Murphy of FX Murphy Menswear, Park Street, reveals that men are less enthusiastic in embracing the new fashion statement. 'It's still about 50/50 when they come in,' he said on Friday. 'It's hard enough to get people to use the hand santizer inside the door and we have to shoo them back to the door.' Sean Farrell, Manager, Marshes Shopping Centre, commented: 'Marshes welcomes the fact that the wearing of facemarks in retail settings is to become mandatory. We have noticed a significant increase in visitors to the centre wearing face coverings in the last fortnight. From our point of view, the measure will provide another layer of protection for customers and staff.' Those in breach of the rules can be fined up to 2,500 or six months in jail. Alongside its first gaming laptop, Redmi also added a new laptop to its RedmiBook Air series. Xiaomis sub-brand Redmi has launched a new laptop under its RedmiBook Air series. The new RedmiBook Air 13 comes with the 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor, and in two configurations. RedmiBook Air 13 starts at CNY 4,699 ( 50,600 approx) for the base model with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. Its 16GB+512GB SSD configuration carries a price tag of CNY 5,199 ( 56,000 approx). Theres only one silver colour for the RedmiBook Air 13. The laptop will be available first in China. Theres no word on its global availability yet. Xiaomi hasnt launched its Redmi laptops in India yet, but it did debut the Mi NoteBook series here last month. As the name suggests, the RedmiBook Air 13 features a 13.3-inch display with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels resolution. The laptop is slim and light but with a rather thick bottom bezel. Like the Mi NoteBook, the RedmiBook Air 13 also doesnt have a webcam. The laptop comes with Windows 10 pre-installed, and uses Intels integrated graphics chipset for graphics. The connectivity options on the RedmiBook Air 13 include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, two USB Type-C ports, and one 3.5mm headphone jack. The laptop has a 41Wh battery that is claimed to last for over 8 hours on a single charge. It also supports charging via the USB-C port. The RedmiBook Air 13 was introduced quietly while the company launched its first gaming laptop Redmi G. Redmis first gaming laptop comes with 10th gen Intel i7 Core chipset, 144Hz display and NVIDIAs GTX 1650 Ti graphics card. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 05:24:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Guests attend a memorial to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II (WWII) at the Indies Monument in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Aug. 15, 2020. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua) THE HAGUE, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- In presence of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Netherlands on Saturday had a national commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Japan in the WWII, at the Indies Monument here. The official end of World War II for the Kingdom of the Netherlands was on Aug. 15, 1945, as the Japanese occupation of the former Dutch colony Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, ended on this date. The remembrance ceremony is organized each year on August 15 at the Indies Monument in The Hague to commemorate all victims of the Japanese occupation of then Dutch East Indies in World War II. King Willem-Alexander laid a wreath during the ceremony, which was not public due to the novel coronavirus measures. In his speech, Rutte emphasized that the experiences of people who went through the Second World War in then Dutch East Indies need to be said, although many were told after their arrival back in the Netherlands that their war story was secondary to what had happened in the Netherlands during World War II. "In the end, as a result, a lot remained unspoken," said Rutte. "Therefore it is important today that the stories continue to be told. Because it is more than looking back. It is also acknowledging. Year after year." Enditem Ryan Reynolds has urged young people in Canada to stop partying "so they don't kill his mum". The 'Deadpool' star left a humorous message on his Twitter page warning "young folks" to appreciate the risks of the coronavirus pandemic after a request from a politician in his birthplace of British Columbia. Politician John Horgan recently said in a press conference: "This is a call out to 'Deadpool' right now. Ryan, we need your help up here. Get in touch with us." Ryan responded by posting a voice memo on Twitter, jokingly saying: "I'm not sure it's a great idea, frankly. I don't think they want medical advice from guys like me, no sir. "Unless it's plastic surgery, which - a lot of people don't know this - Hugh Jackman." The 43-year-old actor added: "Young folks in B.C., they're partying, which is of course dangerous. They probably don't know that thousands of young people aren't just getting sick from coronavirus, they're also dying from it too." Reynolds explained how British Columbia is home to the "coolest older people on Earth" such as his mother and environmental activist David Suzuki. He quipped: "My mum, she doesn't want to be cooped up in her apartment all day. She wants to be out there cruising Kitsilano Beach looking for some young 30-something Abercrombie burnout to go full Mrs. Robinson on. She is insatiable. "I hope young people in B.C. don't kill my mom frankly. Or David Suzuki. Or each other. "Let's not kill anyone. I think that's reasonable." Ryan then concluded the message with a reference to his wife, Blake Lively. He said: "I love parties. My favourite thing to do is sit alone in my room with a glass of gin and the first 32 seasons of 'Gossip Girl'. That's a party." Fancy a hike to a heart-shaped lake? I've been looking for ejector-seat options lately - day trips and micro adventures that pull me out of our stressy, messy new normal, however briefly. As romantic notions of escape go, this one takes some beating. You may have seen Lough Ouler in your Instagram feed. It's a corrie lake (the term for a glacial lake surrounded on three sides, like an armchair) and it lies just out of view of the R115 Old Military Road between Laragh and the Sally Gap in Co Wicklow. Hiking the full 8.5km loop up around it took me four hours with my 10-year-old, involving several stops, contrary weather, filthy boots and one pair of socks lost down a stream. This is not an easy hike (you'll earn that selfie) so check the weather, let someone know your plans and pack properly for it. You should arrive early and off-peak. This part of Wicklow Mountains National Park can be a magnet for daytrippers, especially at weekends, so we got to our start point, the car park above Glenmacnass Waterfall, at 8.45am. It was almost empty then but by the time we returned was rammed. You'll also need proper boots, due to Wicklow's unique mix of springy heather and slippery, squelchy, foot-swampy bog. We set out from the car-park corner, carefully crossing the Glenmacnass river on stepping stones. It's not waymarked (take an OS map, or save it in your phone maps) but a trail is visible leading steeply upwards, levelling out a little before continuing up above the southwestern side of the lake. Lough Ouler will come into view here to the right, but it's not until you dip down, pass over the saddle and start climbing Tonelagee behind it that the heart shape starts to properly emerge. Read More Roughly halfway up this slope is where you'll find the best photo ops, with the height bringing the heart into focus. Grab the snaps here, before lumping on up to claim the 817m summit of Tonelagee (aptly named from the Irish 'Toin le Gaoith', or 'arse to the wind'). We spent half the time up there inside a cloud - but when the mist parted, views over the mountains and sea made us feel like we were in the pages of National Geographic. Continuing clockwise around the lake, the trail is trickier to find, so take your time and stay away from the edges. You'll pass a small standing stone with a cross on it and should aim to track down to the end of the lake from here, following the shore around to the right, before picking up a clearer track back towards the river. Cross that carefully again, turning right and returning alongside it back to the car park. Expect to get dirty and tired; to be frustrated in wind and weather. But expect pure exhilaration, too, pressing 'eject' from the pandemic for a few hours for a uniquely Irish adventure - a search for the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. Walking Guide Level: Moderate to hard, depending on the weather. Don't underestimate this walk, particularly given the lack of way-marking. Proper footwear and packing (see below) are essential. Distance: 8.5km. Expect at least three hours of moving time. Tips: The car park at Glenmacnass Waterfall is a popular spot - arrive early to guarantee a place. It's also possible to walk up to the lake, without climbing to the views above, making for a shorter outing (though without the views). In rainy weather, the level of the Glenmacnass River can rise quickly - this walk can also be done, without crossing the water, from the Turlough Hill side (the Turlough Hill car park is just off the R756). A bite nearby: At the bottom of the Old Military Road in Laragh, Glendalough Green is a cool little cafe and deli worth a pit-stop. The Wicklow Heather and Lynham's of Laragh are nearby for more substantial meals - be sure to book ahead. More info: visitwicklow.ie; sportireland.ie Your walking checklist Safety comes first on a walk, no matter how easy. Check the weather, leave word of where youre going and when youll be back, and pack smart. And remember, never leave valuables visible inside parked cars. A fully charged phone, water and snacks, layers of appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear are essential for most walks. Bring a bag for rubbish, and clean shoes and socks in the boot for afterwards. Covid-19 measures: Avoid peak times at busy spots (going early, late or midweek), dont arrange to meet in large groups, observe social distancing, and park considerately leave room for farmers, locals and emergency services to pass. Check websites before travelling for the latest opening hours for restaurants and pubs, most require booking ahead, and have a Plan B in case your car park is full. Responsible walkers always respect private property. For more great walks, visit our Irish walks hub. Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. In a statement this evening, Walsh Mushrooms Golden Ltd says subsequent testing of close contacts has resulted in further positive tests. Following testing, 11 workers at the plant near Cashel have tested positive from around 20 tests, according to the Irish Times. It is understood that the HSE is set to implement a wider testing programme of workers at the facility due to the high percentage of positives, although the overall number of cases is relatively low. In a statement, the plant said: Operations are being suspended after a member of staff was diagnosed with Covid-19 while in self isolation. Subsequent testing of close contacts has resulted in further positive cases. As a business we have stringent measures in place to control Covid-19 since March and we have had no incidence of Covid-19 up to this point. Advertisement As a business we have stringent measures in place to control Covid-19 since March and we have had no incidence of Covid-19 up to this point. We are working with the HSE and all relevant authorities assisting in contact tracing and testing of all staff. We will use the opportunity to deep clean the plant during the temporary closure. Essential maintenance will continue at the facility. The safety, wellbeing and protection of our employees, their families and the local community is our number one priority. Local Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill said there were 150 people working at the plant, describing the development as worrying. Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) - As leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prepare to meet on Monday to mark their 40th anniversary, Amnesty International is urging them to urgently take concrete measures to fix the human rights crisis in the region A sash a piece of fabric draped over the head and worn from the shoulder to the opposite hip is a strange garment. Its purpose is, essentially, decorative, but it has been worn for decoration by many types: It was part of male military dress uniforms in Europe at least as long ago as the 16th century. Royalty make use of them as well you may recall that at his 2011 wedding, Prince William wore a bright blue sash with his dress uniform, and Princess Grace of Monaco frequently appeared in hers, an Order of St. Charles band. The sash was also, famously, the accessory of choice for the suffrage movement. Iconic images from the early 20th century feature sashed suffragists marching in parade formation down city streets and protesting outside the White House, wearing strips of fabric frequently adorned with the words Votes for Women in the American suffrage tricolor: purple, white and golden yellow. What lay behind the choice of the sash for the suffrage movement? Why does it come out today for events like bachelorette parties and beauty pageants, even as it has been more or less retired from official feminism? The answer lies in the sashs peculiar properties, which managed to make it emblematic of the careful line the suffrage movement had to walk: it allowed women to make a statement, while still retaining social acceptability. Today, its statement-making properties have faded, but the festive air remains. While many colleges and universities are facing enrollment challanges for the new school year, Cleveland State took time-out recently to celebrate a milestone. For the previous two years, our local college has been leading the state in percentage enrollment increases. Much of this success has been due to increasing student retention. This has caused an upsurge in graduation rates.In just one years time, the Tennessee Board of Regents institution has seen a 27% increase in the number of degrees and certificates awarded to its students.At the end of the 2018-19 academic year, Cleveland State helped 900 students complete their programs of study. Now, as the 2019-20 academic year concluded, the college graduated 1,147 students from its rolls. This is the second highest number of graduates from Cleveland State in the schools history. (2012-13)In the face of a global pandemic, the college came through where it counts the most, said Dr. Bill Seymour, Cleveland State Community College President. We are graduating students at a higher rate than almost any other time in our history. This is a testament to the work of our faculty and staff and what we can accomplish even in tough times.Cleveland State graduates come in many different forms including those enrolled in traditional on-campus programs, hybrid and online programs, Associate Degrees, short and long-term certificates, the Honors College at Cleveland State, as well as the Tennessee Valley Early College (TVEC). An initiative in partnership with local high schools, the first group of TVEC graduates earned a high school diploma, as well as a college degree, this year.Finding ways to reach students wherever they are is essential, added Seymour. Letting our neighbors in Southeast Tennessee know we are ready for them, when they are ready, is such an important message right now. We are all looking forward to our fall semester. The fall term for online and on-campus courses begins August 24.The 2019-20 academic year is the fourth year Cleveland State has graduated more than 1,000 students in its 54-year history. The high occurred on the tail end of the Great Recession in 2012-13 when the college graduated 1,183 students. This past summers graduation was the first ceremony in the history of the college not held on-campus. COVID-19 forced the college to move the 2020 Spring and Summer Commencement Ceremony online. has been arrested After a search of the Studios for the creation of child pornographic Material in Rio de Janeiro, a German. The arrest took place on Thursday evening (local time) in the Metropolitan area of the Brazilian metropolis, was confirmed by a spokesman for the civil police of the German press Agency on Friday. The Studio was set up in the house of the man, it said in a Police statement. There, officials found except for children's toys and more "sado masochistic objects, which were used to films of children and young people", and 30,000 Videos. "That was a shock," - quoted by the news portal "G1" for a police Commissioner. "I've never seen something so Bizarre, Aggressive." The police is now investigating who the customers of the Videos were. This should have been sold according to "G1" to customers around the world, especially in Europe, including Germany. the investigations, which are supported by the Federal police, it is also about the participation of the man in sex tourism with children and young people as victims. Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 05:19 A female surfer has been saved by her heroic husband after being mauled by a great white shark on at a popular beach on the New South Wales coast. Chantelle Doyle, 35, was surfing with her husband Mark Rapley at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when she was attacked about 9.30am on Saturday. The beast attacked her right calf and the back of her thigh before Mr Rapley launched into action, repeatedly punching the predator in a bid to save her. He leapt onto its back and fought off the animal until it finally let his wife go. Chantelle Doyle, 35, (pictured) was surfing with her husband and friends at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when she was attacked about 9.30am The beast attacked her right calf and the back of her thigh before Mr Rapley launched into action, repeatedly punching the predator in a bid to save her The young couple have a three-year-old son together who they are raising at Cromer on Sydney's Northern Beaches, reported Nine News. Surfer Peter Lobb described hearing a piercing scream from the woman who had been sitting on her board in shallow surf. 'It was unbelievable, the scream was incredible and there was splashing everywhere,' another witness Jed Toohey told The Daily Telegraph. He described seeing Mr Rapley put his partner up on his board before punching the shark because it would not let go. 'He saved her life...it would have been strong enough to take her out to sea. He was really incredible.' Mr Lobb, Mr Toohey, his 16-year-old daughter Dominica, and two other nearby surfers then paddled over to help the pair. Mr Lobb said the group and another woman on the beach then applied a tourniquet to try and stop the bleeding from a gash on her calf and another on her thigh. 'Chantelle kept saying, 'I'm okay'. She was so calm and relaxed. But then her leg started to get numb,' he said. Emergency services rushed to the beach where the woman was found with significant lacerations to her right leg. It is the third serious attack NSW Ambulance has responded to in recent months. The 35-year-old was rushed to Port Macquarie Base Hospital with serious leg injuries, but has since been flown to Newcastle where she will undergo surgery. A young bystander described watching the shark swim up and down the beach after the attack, leaping out of the water with the victim's surfboard in its mouth after Her loving husband was forced to punch the two metre juvenile white shark until it let go. 'The shark wouldn't release her and so a nearby surfer paddled over and essentially jumped on the shark and started hitting it to make it release,' Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce told AAP. Heroic husband Mark Rapley punched the shark in a bid to save his beloved wife Chantelle (pictured together) Chantelle Doyle mauled by an enormous shark on at a popular beach on the New South Wales coast The surfer described it as a 'tremendous act of bravery'. 'We've had some really serious and tragic shark encounters over the past couple of months along the NSW coastline so to paddle out of your own safety zone, in to an area where you know there is a large shark, I think is amazing.' Mr Pearce is urging swimmers and surfers to be 'shark smart' as summer approaches, but says the number of daylight attacks in recent times concerns him. 'As we've seen this morning, there are occasions where people can be shark smart and they think they're doing all the right things, but unfortunately, they're just in that wrong place at the wrong time.' The young couple have a three-year-old son together who they are raising at Cromer on Sydney's Northern Beaches Mr Pearce said lifesavers would search the waters with jet skis and drones to confirm if the shark was still nearby. He explained lifesavers were on call and not on duty because it was off-season but arrived to the scene quickly. Lifesaver James Turnham said the incident would have been quite an ordeal for the victim. 'It did take a bit of effort to get that shark off her,' he told Nine News. Three paramedic crews and a specialist medical team in the Westpac Helicopter responded to the incident, which a NSW Ambulance spokesman said is the third serious shark attack on the north coast in the past few months. The 35-year-old was rushed to Port Macquarie Base Hospital with serious leg injuries, but has since been flown to Newcastle where she will undergo surgery Lifeguards at Port Macquarie have closed beaches in the area following the attack Duty Operations Manager at NSW Ambulance Inspector Andrew Beverley said paramedics were on the scene within eight minutes. 'The bystanders on scene that rendered assistance should be commended,' he said. 'They did an amazing job before we arrived.' Ms Doyle remains in a stable condition after undergoing extensive surgery at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. Her family rushed to be by her side after hearing the horrific news earlier this morning. Lifeguards at Port Macquarie have closed beaches in the area following the attack. 'Beaches in Port Macquarie will be closed for the day due to a shark attack at Shelly Beach,' Port Macquarie ALS Lifeguards wrote on Facebook. The 35-year-old woman was surfing with a male friend at Shelly Beach (pictured) in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when she was attacked about 10am Mr Pearce said there would be a 'heightened vigilance' in shark surveillance across New South Wales beginning in September. He explained 400 lifesavers would pilot drones across 40 locations to monitor the water for shark activity. Mr Pearce said this aerial observation would work in conjunction with SMART drum lines that alert authorities if a tagged shark is in the area. The long stretch of sandy white beach located on the NSW mid-north coast is surrounded by rainforests and popular among families and tourists. There have been five fatal shark attacks in Australian waters in 2020. Experienced diver Gary Johnson, 57, (pictured with partner Karen Milligan) was taken by a shark near Cull Island, close to West Beach in Esperance On July 12 Mani Hart-Deville, 15, (pictured) was mauled to death by a shark at Wooli Beach, north of Coffs Harbour while surfing. 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. In July, 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. Days later, on July 12 Mani Hart-Deville, 15, was mauled to death by a shark at Wooli Beach, north of Coffs Harbour while surfing. A woman looks through the shattered glass window of the Jonathan Adler interior design store that was looted in Chicago on Aug. 10, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) 42 Charged With Felonies Related to Chicago Looting: Prosecutor The prosecutor who oversees Chicago said her office filed 42 charges related to the looting that took place in the city overnight Sunday. Cook County States Attorney Kimberly Foxx said she and other prosecutors at her office approved 42 of the 43 felony charges sought by the Chicago Police Department related to the rioting. Thirty of the charges are linked to burglary or looting. Six are related to gun possession. Five are for aggravated battery of resisting a police officer. One is for attempted murder. The only charge that was rejected was a burglary/looting case. Chicago police detectives concurred with the rejection, Foxx said. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) didnt respond to a request for comment. The States Attorney Office is ready and available to review cases brought to us by law enforcement and to charge those cases when appropriate, Foxx said in a statement. I am committed to keeping our communities safe and continuing to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to demand accountability and seek justice for the people of Cook County. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx speaks to reporters at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, on Feb. 23, 2019. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) Bridges across the Chicago river are raised to control access into downtown after widespread looting, Aug. 12, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) More than 100 people were arrested after widespread looting was apparently triggered by what officials described as misinformation about a police-involved shooting. Activists claimed a 15-year-old man was shot by police without provocation. Officials said the man was 20 and was approached after a call about a person with a gun. The man fled and fired at the officers, prompting them to fire back. The shooting was not fatal. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, and Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown criticized people who engaged in what they said was clear criminal action. Dozens of people engaged in what can only be described as brazen and extensive criminal looting and destruction, Lightfoot told reporters the morning after the looting started. A trail of blood leads away from the shattered glass door of a Bloomingdales store that was looted in Chicago on Aug. 10, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Black Lives Matter activists denounced the arrests as they called into question the official version of events. The activists condoned looting, brushing it off as a form of reparations, or payment for peoples ancestors being enslaved. In one event put on by the movement this week, local residents confronted them, accusing them of using the wrong tactics. Officials appeared to blame Foxx for the mayhem. Brown told reporters that the looters were confident they wouldnt face consequences. They based that on what happened previously, that we made a lot of arrests during May and June, and not many of those cases were prosecuted to the fullest extent. We have to have consequences for the arrests that Chicago police officers make, he said. Foxx pushed back later that day at a press conference. Those cases where the facts and evidence support it, charges were filed, and those cases are pending to this day, she said. A heightened law enforcement presence was installed downtown following the looting. Volunteers help clean up the parking lot outside a Best Buy store in Chicago on Aug. 10, 2020. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo) A Chicago police officer inspects an Apple store that was vandalized in Chicago on Aug. 10, 2020. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters) Under a plan unveiled Friday aimed at protecting the city against unrest, officers from several teams will move to quickly respond to reports of looting while resources from other departments, including the Department of Sanitation, will be mobilized to maintain control of the area through tactics such as traffic control, CPD said in a statement. Illinois State Police officers and Cook County Sheriff deputies will assist Chicago officers. The departments Community Policing team, meanwhile, is partnering with business, faith, and other community leaders to conduct weekly meetings to try to improve relations and prepare for potential incidents. Another component of the plan already took place. Officials created a special task force, with the help of the FBI, to specifically manage looting cases. Detectives on the task force are reviewing evidence including video footage to identify perpetrators and build strong cases against them. City workers are also exploring new laws and regulations that would give CPD greater flexibility in prosecuting cases and helping develop new ways to shut down parts of the city in the event of more looting, Lightfoot told reporters at a press conference. The mayor personally thanked Foxx for her initiative, her leadership, and her support in this effort. By Trend The slight growth in the daily number of coronavirus infections among citizens is a matter of concern, but while easing the quarantine regime, it is necessary to be ready for this, Head of the Disease Control and Prevention Department of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) of Azerbaijan Yagut Garayeva said, Trend reports. Garayeva made the remark during a briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on August 15. According to Garayeva, everyone must follow appropriate sanitary and hygienic rules to keep this growth under control. It is also very important that the number of those who have recovered exceeds the rate of those infected, she stressed. Garayeva noted that currently, the number of coronavirus-infected persons in the country is 2,024, and the occupancy rate of coronavirus hospitals in Baku is 24 percent. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz As Joe Biden announced that he had selected Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as his vice presidential running mate, internet trolls got to work. Since then, false and misleading information about Harris has spiked online and on TV. The activity has jumped from two dozen mentions per hour during a recent week to over 3,200 per hour in the last few days, according to the media insights company Zignal Labs, which analyzed global television broadcasts and social media. Much of that rise is fueled by fervent supporters of President Donald Trump and adherents of the extremist conspiracy movement QAnon, as well as by the far left, according to a New York Times analysis of the most widespread falsehoods about Harris. On Thursday, Trump himself encouraged one of the most persistent falsehoods, a racist conspiracy theory that Harris is not eligible for the vice presidency or presidency because her parents were immigrants. Sadly, this wave of misinformation was predictable and inevitable, said Melissa Ryan, chief executive of Card Strategies, a consulting firm that researches disinformation. Many of the narratives are inaccurate accusations that first surged last year during Harris campaign to become the Democratic presidential nominee. Here are three false rumors about Harris that continue circulating widely online. The PizzaGate Conspiracy Theory On Wednesday, a day after Biden announced his selection, the falsehood that Harris is connected to a child-trafficking conspiracy known as PizzaGate was published on the conspiracy-mongering website Infowars, which set off a round of sharing on social media. PizzaGate hinges on the baseless notion that Hillary Clinton and Democratic elites ran a child sex-trafficking ring through a Washington pizza restaurant. According to the rumors about Harris, she is tied to the conspiracy because her sister was invited by John Podesta, Clintons presidential campaign manager, to a Hillary pizza party in 2016. By Friday morning, more than 4,200 tweets discussed the unfounded theory about Harris connection to PizzaGate, according to Dataminr, a social media monitoring service. On Facebook, users in dozens of QAnon groups and pages posted about the rumor. The falsehood reached up to 624,000 people, according to The Times analysis. On Instagram, which Facebook owns, 77 more posts tried to spread the lie further. And on YouTube, a QAnon channel with over 100,000 followers pushed the conspiracy, too. Remember, we know what pizza was code language for, Daniel Lee, a YouTube personality popular in conspiracy circles, told his audience. The video was viewed 30,000 times. A Facebook spokeswoman, Liz Bourgeois, said in an email Friday that its up to our fact-checking partners to determine which claims they rate, and they take a number of factors into consideration. She acknowledged that as of Friday afternoon, there were no fact-checks so far on the widely shared posts falsely tying Harris to PizzaGate. Twitter said Friday that it permanently suspended people associated with QAnon who used many different accounts or tried to evade a previous suspension. We deploy a number of tools to add context to and address misinformation, including applying labels, not recommending tweets and limiting the reach of tweets, a Twitter spokesman, Trenton Kennedy, said. YouTube said Friday that it was reducing the spread of borderline content on the video site, including QAnon content, but that the video flagged by The Times did not violate its guidelines. Harris Heritage Falsehoods about Harris heritage in particular that she is not Black were among the most widely spread misinformation that Zignal Labs tracked. Since Tuesday, the argument had been mentioned over 40,000 times, the company found. Kamala Harris is not an American Black, said one tweet that collected 2,300 likes and shares after it was first posted Wednesday. She is half Indian and half Jamaican. She is robbing American Blacks of their history. Kamala is as Black American as Obama. In a Facebook post Tuesday night, Candace Owens, a right-wing commentator, posted a widely shared post questioning Harris heritage. I am SO EXCITED that we get to watch Kamala Harris, who swore into congress as an Indian-American, now play the Im a black a woman card all the way until November, she wrote. Facebook soon added a fact check to Owens post, requiring users to click past a label noting that third-party fact checkers found this information has no basis in fact. Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, was born in 1964 in Oakland, California, a few years after her parents arrived in the United States. According to The Associated Press, Harris has long identified as Black; she was not sworn into Congress identifying only as Indian American. In interviews, Harris has regularly spoken about how her mother, who was from India, raised her as Black. Owens did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Still, on Facebook, other memes labeling Harris as Kamala Dolezal were liked and shared thousands of times, according to the Times analysis. The posts referred to Rachel Dolezal, a former official at the NAACP who was later revealed to be white and was charged in 2018 with welfare fraud. Whitney Phillips, an assistant professor at Syracuse University who teaches digital ethics, said she was absolutely not surprised by the viral misinformation questioning Harris heritage. Regardless of political party, sexism and racism have long been fixtures in American public life, Phillips said. Jussie Smollett One of the most convoluted lies that has spread on social media involves actor Jussie Smollett and the baseless allegation that Harris is his aunt and knew in advance that Smollett was planning to stage an assault against himself early last year. According to the unsubstantiated narrative, when the Chicago Police Department and the FBI investigated the alleged assault, Harris appeared in Smolletts phone records, so she must have been in on the hoax. The right-wing website True Pundit published an article pushing this argument in November. The article gained new prominence on social media this week, shared nearly 2,000 times on Twitter and reaching 180,000 people, according to CrowdTangle, a tool to analyze interactions across social networks. A February 2019 article on FactCheck.org concluded that there was no relation between Harris and Smollett, and that evidence of her role in the hoax was nonexistent. Harris did initially condemn the news of the apparent attack on Smollett, but when police said the assault had been staged, she put out a new statement saying she was sad, frustrated and disappointed by the development. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Faith Needs A Foundation Can we remain neutral toward Jesus? In a recent conversation with a younger co-worker, he expressed to me that many in his generation are experiencing real frustration with the news media, along with feelings of uncertainty and a lack of hope for the future. How can we know which news is true, and where or in whom can we place our trust? Where can I find lasting peace in these times of true uncertainty and suffering in the world? Whether we are aware of it or not, our worldview is constantly being shaped and formed by what we hear, read, and choose to believe. Our worldview informs our personal, social, and political lives. It helps us understand our purpose. Our worldview determines our ethics, our values, and our capacity for happiness. It helps us answer the big questions of life: How did I get here? How am I to live? Where do I find meaning in life? What is my ultimate destiny? CP Reporter Brandon Showalter recently wrote that a new survey shows that the majority of Americans no longer believe that Jesus is the path to salvation and instead believe that being a good person is sufficient. Showalter went on to say that ...the latest findings exploring perceptions of sin and salvation from George Barna show that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that having some kind of faith is more important than the particular faith with which someone aligns. Yet faith without a foundation is blind faith. It is blind speculation. I sometimes wonder how well we know ourselves, particularly the deep thoughts and intentions of the heart. I do not think we realize how feelings, desires, and emotions have such a great influence over the decisions and choices we make. They often cause us to bypass our logic and reason, and lead us away from what is true. What I have concluded is that although our emotions and feelings may be real, they are unreliable. As I work with people who are attempting to come to grips with the Christian faith, I often wonder what is going on in their innermost being. Are they being honest with me? Are they being honest with themselves? Are they being honest with God? Do they understand the tension that exists between the mind and the heart, and that this tension often paralyzes us and keeps us from following the truth? One of the most wonderful examples that captures the essence of this human struggle to find Christ can be found in the life of Sheldon Vanauken. In his wonderful book A Severe Mercy, Vanauken details his long spiritual journey. He first describes himself as an agnostic, but then later admits he was actually an easygoing theist who regarded Christianity as a sort of fairy tale. Sheldon Vanauken lived in different places in the world, yet he somehow struck up a long-distance friendship with C.S. Lewis. Much of the book is an exchange of letters between the two of them. In his letters, Vanauken would ask the spiritual questions that troubled him most, and Lewis would patiently and intelligently respond. Vanauken describes the spiritual breakthrough that brought him to faith. Please take note of his thought process and how honest he is with himself: Christianityin a word, the divinity of Jesusseemed probable to me. But there is a gap between the probable and proved. How was I to cross it? If I were to stake my whole life on the Risen Christ, I wanted proof. I wanted certainty. I wanted to see him eat a bit of fish. I wanted letters of fire across the sky. I got none of these. And I continued to hang about on the edge of the gap. At this point, he realized that he was in kind of a spiritual limbo. He described it in these words: The position was not, as I had been comfortably thinking all these months, merely a question of whether I was to accept the Messiah or not. It was a question of whether I was to accept Himor reject. My God! There was a gap behind me, too. Perhaps the leap to acceptance was a horrifying gamblebut what of the leap to rejection? There might be no certainty that Christ was Godbut, by God, there was no certainty that He was not. If I were to accept, I might, and probably would, face the thought through the years: Perhaps, after all, its a lie; Ive been had! But, if I were to reject, I would certainly face the haunting, terrible thought: Perhaps its trueand I have rejected my God! This was not to be borne. I could not reject Jesus. There was only one thing to do, once I had seen the gap behind me. I turned away from it and flung myself over the gap toward Jesus. A few days later, he wrote these words to C.S. Lewis: I choose to believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghostin Christ, my Lord and my God. Christianity has the ring, the feel of unique truth. Of essential truth. By it, life is made full instead of empty, meaningful instead of meaningless. Cosmos becomes beautiful at the Centre, instead of chillingly ugly beneath the lovely pathos of spring. But the emptiness, the meaninglessness, and the ugliness can only be seen, I think, when one has glimpsed the fullness, the meaning, and the beauty. It is when heaven and hell have both been glimpsed that going back is impossible. But to go on seemed impossible, also. A glimpse is not a vision. A choice was necessary: and there is no certainty. One can only choose a side. So II now choose my side. The words of Vanauken that seem to be so pivotal are A choice is necessary. He is correct. A choice has to be made. I learned the truth of this because you cannot remain neutral toward Jesus. To not make a decision, in the end, is to make the decision not to accept Him. At a certain point in Jesus ministry, He confronted His own disciples with the necessity of a choice. In the sixth chapter of John (vs. 66-69), many of His followers began to withdraw from Him and chose to no longer follow Him. They did not like what He was teaching. He is standing there, with only the twelve disciples remaining. He asks them, Do you not want to leave too and go with them? Peter responds and says: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. What a powerful response by Peter. If we do not put our faith in You, Jesus, who will we look to for eternal life? Who will we put our hope and faith in? This is the question we are all confronted with. It is the choice we have to make. If I do not look to Christ for eternal life, to whom shall I look? Who will I rely upon? Remember, faith must have a foundation, and if Jesus is not that foundation, who or what will be? Get your copy of Richards newest book Reflections on the Existence of God on Amazon or at existenceofgodbook.com Richard E. Simmons III is a Christian author, speaker, and the Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership, a non-profit, faith-based ministry in Birmingham, Alabama. His best-selling titles include The True Measure of a Man, The Power of a Humble Life, Wisdom: Life's Great Treasure, and his newest book, Reflections on the Existence of God. Follow Richard on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @thecenterbham. Tune in to Richard's Reliable Truth Podcast on your favorite podcast app. Trailblazing Afghan women's rights campaigner Fawzia Koofi, a member of the Afghan negotiating team that will hold talks with the Taliban, has been wounded in a gun attack near Kabul, officials said Saturday. Gunmen opened fire on Koofi, 45, and her sister on Friday when they were returning from a meeting in the province of Parwan near the capital, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told AFP. Koofi, a former member of parliament and strong critic of the Taliban, was shot in her right hand, he said, adding that she was in a stable condition. So far, no group has claimed the shooting, which drew strong condemnation from Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani -- who described it as a "cowardly attack", according to his spokesman Sediq Seddiqi. Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the national reconciliation council, called on Afghan authorities to bring "the perpetrators of the attack to justice". Koofi survived a previous assassination attempt in 2010, when gunmen fired at her as she was returning to Kabul after an International Women's Day event. She was among the few women in a pan-Afghan delegation that held several rounds of unofficial dialogue with the Taliban in 2019. That dialogue came alongside separate negotiations between the Islamist militants and the United States in Qatar which finally led to the signing of an agreement between the two in February this year. At that time, Koofi told AFP how she had received threats previously from militants just for wearing nail polish. - Pride and stress - Koofi is now one of four women negotiators in the Afghan team that will hold direct talks with the Taliban in the coming days. "I think this time we are going for serious talks," she told AFP this week. "There is a sense of pride... but in the meantime, it's a lot of stress. "You have to really make sure that you are perfect in many ways." Koofi, a widow and mother of two daughters, was the first girl in her family to attend school. Story continues Her education was interrupted when she was forced out of medical college in 1996 as the Taliban stormed to power. It was only after the US-led invasion in 2001 that she rose to prominence as a politician and in 2005, became the first woman to serve as the deputy speaker of Afghanistan's parliament. The talks with the Taliban are expected within days, aimed at ending the conflict that has ravaged Afghanistan for almost two decades. Afghan authorities are currently releasing from jails some 400 Taliban militants, fulfilling a key demand from the insurgent group for any talks. But the release has raised widespread international concern as some of those militants are accused of killing scores of people including foreigners in deadly attacks. mam-eb-jds/qan The detective who led the investigation into the murder of detective Adrian Donohoe has described the day he charged the killer as one of the most satisfying moments in his career. Retired Detective Inspector Pat Marry said he "stared Aaron Brady straight in the eye" when he charged him with capital murder in Dundalk garda station in 2018, but Brady refused to look at him. "I had never charged anyone with capital murder before," Mr Marry told the Irish Independent. "There aren't many policemen who will do that. I was looking him (Brady) straight in the eye when I was charging him and he wouldn't make eye contact at all. "There was still the bravado, the chest out. I told him I was arresting him and read the charge. I said have you anything to say and he said: 'Yeah, I strongly deny any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe'." In late February 2018, Brady was detained by members of the Emergency Response Unit as he left Wheatfield Prison, where he had been serving a one-year sentence in relation to criminal damage, dangerous driving and unauthorised taking of a vehicle. He was taken to Dundalk garda station for questioning in relation to the murder of Det Gda Donohoe. "After he was detained and questioned, he was released," said Mr Marry. "The minute he was released he was arrested for charging by myself. I had been talking to the DPP all along and we were keeping them fully briefed. "They knew where we were at and what evidence we had. I looked for direction after we were finished questioning him. They said charge him with capital murder." On March 4, Brady was brought before a special late-night sitting of Dundalk District Court where he was formally charged with murder. "That arrest and charge was so significant for me," said Mr Marry. "I had made it my business to make sure it happened, and I said I would retire once it was done. I retired two months later. I have arrested and charged many people during my career but there was a great feeling of satisfaction with that one after all the effort that had gone into the investigation. It was a significant moment in the case." Mr Marry, a former colleague of Det Gda Donohoe, was the senior investigating officer in the case. During the probe, more than 3,500 statements were taken, over 6,000 lines of inquiry were made, 40,000 hours of CCTV were examined, 68 people were tracked down and questioned in America. "This was the biggest investigation in the history of the State," said Mr Marry. "Brady thought he could get away with murder, first from the protection he thought he would have by going over the Border into the North and then by going to the States. There was no way we were ever going to let that happen. "In the end, it was his own bravado that led to his ultimate downfall. If he had kept his mouth shut, we would have found it difficult to get him." Having worked so long on the investigation, Mr Marry firmly believes that Brady acted with complete impunity the night he shot Det Garda Donohoe. "He would have known [Det Gda] Joe [Ryan] and Adrian were armed," he said. "They could have told Adrian to stop. They had no right to kill him. If you look at the CCTV video, there is no warning shot, nothing. It was bang in the head and that was it. He [Adrian] didn't stand a chance." Witness testimony during Brady's trial about how he had boasted in New York about "killing a cop" in Ireland, proved crucial in proving the prosecution case. Daniel Cahill and Molly Staunton both said that Brady had confessed to shooting a garda while he was in New York. The prosecution said he "wore the shooting like a badge of honour" and used it to intimidate people. The focus is now on bringing his associates to justice. "I am very confident this will now happen," said Mr Marry. "The evidence that came out during the trial is now key to that process. I would expect to see another person charged with conspiracy to murder in the near future. The guards have their thumbs on these people, they know where they are and what they are doing. These individuals should be very worried on that basis alone and if they had any sense they would come in. This only ends one way." India is practically an elderly democracy now, celebrating the 74th Independence Day. We must take a moment to remember all those who gave up their lives so that we could enjoy the freedom we enjoy today. But theres more to our world than just this. We are connected to the peoples all across geographical boundaries in many different ways. Whether we like it or not, events on the other side of the world have an effect in ours. When they bleed, we bleed. When they rise up in celebration, we celebrate that humanity. This weekend, take time out to examine the price we pay for freedom we celebrate. Not too far ago there was a small news item buried in the inside pages of our newspaper. Announcing the ignominious death of a dictator who had extreme agrarian ideas. A man who imprisoned and systematically killed anyone who wore glasses, spoke French and claimed to have had an education. I have seen Tuol Sleng and it is a living example of how inhuman we can be. Pol Pot died of a heart attack and malaria, but he has left behind kids who grew up haunted by war. First They Killed My Father is a memoir of how the Khmer Rouge ravaged a nation for ideology. This is not The Killing Fields, and you may wonder why Angelina Jolies makes these directorial choices. But, this is a sobering look at how children can be haunted by war. Whether the war is out there or at home. From Cambodia, let us come back to India. We have had several wars and skirmishes with our neighbours since independence. But, the biggest wars we are fighting even today is with mindsets that refuse to budge from some bizarre patriarchal thinking conveniently supported by ancient texts written to ensure authority remains at the hands of the few. A country where there were once warrior women (like Onake Obavva and Kittur Chennamma) and female philosophers (like Maitreyi and Gargi), a dramatised story of a female pilot is making online trolls foam at the mouth about supposed insults to manliness of the Indian Armed Forces. Those who believe in equality are few. When women were accepted in the Armed Forces, they were expected to be decoration, a PR exercise, not meant to be sent off to combat. A country that celebrates the need to have a brother to save and protect sisters will take time to accept female combat units. Pankaj Tripathi is shown to be that rare father who encourages his daughters dreams, "The plane does not care who is flying it. Man or woman, both are called pilots." Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a wonderful watch especially if you have daughters who dare to dream differently. Her struggle for freedom from the mindset of people is worth the watch. If nothing, it should just help you keep an open mind. Speaking of open minds, I would want everyone to travel to Africa at least once in your lifetime. Not just to mark a tick that you saw the big five, not just because it is a visual treat to see the vast open spaces, and experience it. Every picture you take could turn you into a world class photographer. But, I am not sure how any camera can capture what your eyes can see: hundreds of miles of open space. You have to see it to understand how insignificant we are when compared to the vastness of nature. And, how we need to be able to preserve the magnificence of what you are seeing and all the people struggling to survive in it.. One of the films about this continent stands out because it tells you three stories, each one making you realise freedom is a fragile thing, whether it is for animals or for little kids. The film Adu makes us hear home truths that weve avoided all our lives: Everyone leaves... And, when we do storm the fences, it is a mess. How often do we go back to our roots? To our native land? And if we do get there, do we not behave like tourists? Have we told our kids that we grew up here That we ran barefoot like wild things and that the red mud got into every pore of your skin as you fell off trees, reaching for unripe mangoes. Would they believe that once you were free of thoughts of repaying mortgages, and loans I loved this film called The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind because that little boy had to make his father believe in his ability to help his family. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a brilliant actor and he directs this wonderful film that helps us understand the power of community, what working together can achieve. Malawi was going through a horrendous drought and famine when this young lad was thrown out of school. He uses his brain and creates magic with the help of a book and lots of ingenuity. This film is about hope too. And, today more than ever, we need to have faith and hope. This story of a 13-year-old boy and his Physics skills is like many stories coming out of rural India. Education has freed our minds and we are learning to innovate to not just survive, but thrive in these times. If asked, most of us prefer to call ourselves citizens of the world. Born in India, traveled and lived across continents, we have adapted new customs and lifestyles that could help us live anywhere. So, when Barry wants to understand who he is, we are naturally drawn to his quest for identity. Devon Terrell is so uncannily similar to the man he will grow up to be, that should you watch this film not knowing who Barry is, you will mouth "I knew that!" or "I wondered why he looked so familiar!" I am completely fascinated by American politics and to watch young Barry slowly find his footing, realise who he is, and what he is supposed to be in life is a fascinating watch especially because Ashley Judd is his mother! I was wholly charmed by this film and yet it will gently nudge you into understanding identity politics and the meaning of citizenship. Freedom of expression is also something we must learn to cherish. I am asking you to see this documentary even if you have not read any of Joan Didions works. It will remind you of the notebook in which you first scribbled your thoughts and ideas and hopes... The Center Will Not Hold is a fascinating account of a writer who was reporting the hippie world in 1967. These were adolescents mostly and their idea of freedom was to drift from one restless town to another, unable to belong. But, Joan was there to report this great enactment of Yeats poem, The Second Coming. Didion has shown how words can free you. Perhaps, like her, you will start writing your thoughts and ideas as well. Perhaps, no one will read your diary, but this documentary on one of Americas amazing, prolific writers is a gentle homage to a brave yet fragile woman. Once the hippies believed in flower power, and soon the summer of love was over. Woodstock played on the weekend of August 15 many, many years ago. Music shaped protests then. Today, thousands are protesting against systemic racism across nations and making powerful men quake. The masks often seen on the streets are a reminder that V For Vendetta is not just a graphic novel that points to a scary, dystopian future. It is already here, if we are not alert enough to preserve our freedom. Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveller, founder of Caferati an online writers forum, hosts Mumbais oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, films and communication. Hospital officials in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo say they are struggling to cope with a rush of coronavirus patients despite the distribution of a herbal drink touted as a remedy by the president. President Andry Rajoelina has been promoting an infusion derived from artemisia -- a plant with proven anti-malarial properties -- as a homegrown cure for COVID-19. He has brushed off warnings by the World Health Organization (WHO) that there are no published scientific studies of the drink -- which has been called Covid-Organics -- and that its effects have not been tested. But COVID-designated hospitals in Antananarivo warn they are starting to run out of beds. "We are now only accepting severe cases," Andohotapenaka Hospital director Nasolotsiry Raveloson told AFP on Tuesday. "The number of cases is increasing more and more," he explained. "We now have 46 severe cases and so we only have four spaces left." At Joseph Raseta Befelatanana Hospital, director Mamy Randria said the facility was "overwhelmed". "It is impossible to free up spaces for the moment," he said. The head of Anosiala University Hospital, Rado Razafimahatratra echoed the concerns, noting that the facility was "constantly overwhelmed". To date the Indian Ocean island-nation of Madagascar has recorded 7,548 coronavirus cases, including just 65 deaths. Infections have spiked over recent days, however, raising concern in a country where three-quarters of the population live on less than $1.90 per day, according to the World Bank. - 'Notable flare-ups' - In a letter on Monday, the health ministry made an "urgent appeal" to development agencies to support its "fight" against coronavirus. "Over the past weeks, the COVID-19 epidemic has evolved in a very critical way in Madagascar with notable flare-ups in certain regions, particularly in Antananarivo," said the letter. The ministry asked for oxygen bottles, 227 ventilators, 2.3 million face masks, 697,000 pairs of gloves and 533,200 medical blouses. Government spokeswoman Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy said the state was aware it faced "certain shortages" but was working hard to "find solutions" -- citing new treatment centres in the capital and eastern city of Toamasina. "Two factors have contributed to the spread of this disease," said health department official Zely Arivelo Andriamanantany on local television. "Firstly... people took CVO (Covid-Organics) and then didn't respect social distancing. Secondly, CVO only guarantees protection for two to three weeks," he said. The government, meanwhile, has blamed the rise in cases on "increased testing capacity". "Positive COVID-19 cases did not take CVO or only took it sporadically, without following the prescribed dosage," said official documents sent to AFP on Tuesday. "Almost systematically, within the same family unit, those who result positive were not drinking CVO -- or at least not regularly -- while those who tested negative were taking the solution (and) remained negative despite living together without necessarily social distancing." Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com Actor Akshay Kumar in a special Independence Day video message has called for more empathy towards the poor. In the two-minute video, shared on social media, he said that everyone should try their best to help those in need. He highlighted the plight of roadside vendors -- everyone from fruit and vegetable sellers to hawkers on traffic signals -- and said that their conditions have been worsened because of the coronavirus lockdown and the rains. The actor said that many of them dont even earn Rs 50 a day. Can we get together and do something for them? the actor asked. Promise yourself that we will take care of them like friends, we will not ignore them, we will try everyday to lessen at least one such persons pain. Akshay captioned his post, We all know these people, we all have these people in our lives. On this #IndependenceDay, lets come together for them, lets come #Together4India. The actor recently jetted off to the UK, where he will commence filming his upcoming spy movie, Bell Bottom, which also features Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta, among others. Akshay was recently announced as the only Indian actor in the annual Forbes list of the highest paid actors in the world. He had a reported annual income of Rs 362 crore. Also read: Akshay Kumar to contribute Rs 1 crore each to Bihar and Assam CM Relief Fund to help them in flood situation After pledging Rs 25 crore to the PM CARES Fund in March this year to help the country deal with the Covid-19 crisis, the actor earlier this week donated Rs 1 crore each to Bihar and Assam, in the states efforts to tackle floods. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The headquarters of former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, currently in Lithuania, has announced starting to form the Coordination Council to ensure the transition of power, Tikhanovskaya's press service said in a statement released on Saturday. "We're starting to form the Coordination Council. It will be an extended working group of the most respected members of the society to discuss and develop safe and stable mechanisms to ensure the transition of power," the statement said. The statement also said that the HQ has started receiving applications of potential members of the council. A member of the council must enjoy "great respect of the society" and be "ready to share ideas for the changes for the better, constructively discuss proposals and respect the opinion of other members of the council," the HQ said. On August 14, Tikhanovskaya suggested establishing the Coordination Council to ensure the transition of power. It emerged earlier this week that Tikhanovskaya left Belarus for Lithuania. Mass protests against vote rigging at the presidential election have been taking place in Belarus since August 9. On August 14, the Belarusian Central Elections Commission held a meeting on Friday to sum up the results of the presidential election. According to the approved results, Lukashenko garnered 80.1% of the vote, and Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.12%. Angry customers tracked down staff members and threatened them with violence after face masks they ordered online failed to show up. Melbourne Manufacturing firm Floatpac has been bombarded with complaints after a 'freight issue' left customers waiting for parcels. The company told customers in an email almost 8,000 masks in 1,893 parcels had been lost for orders dating up until the end of July. Due to the high volume of products mysteriously vanishing Floatpac told customers it would be rushing through production to get the orders replaced, reported 7News. When thousands of face masks failed to show up in the mail angry customers tracked down staff at the Melbourne manufacturer online to abuse them and threaten violence (Pictured: Melboure residents walk through the CBD in face masks after the government made it mandatory to wear the protective covering) 'We're keeping the pressure on freight partners to find the lost orders,' one email read. 'But rather than wait for that to happen we've doubled-down on production so that we can get masks to you as soon as humanly possible. 'Once again, we would like to apologise for the freight issues.' In an update to customers the company revealed its hardworking staff were being tracked down on social media and attacked over the incident. In an update to customers online the company revealed its hardworking staff were being tracked down on social media and attacked over the incident 'We are also aware of customers who are looking for other means to contact our staff and management,' the company wrote. 'This has happened on numerous occasions and has involved our staff being messaged privately on social media, as well as some clients trawling Google for staff members mobile phone numbers and harassing them about their orders. 'In two instances, there have been threats of violence.' The company said the entire Floatpac collective was working 24/7 to get orders replaced and the behaviour would not be tolerated. The business made the decision to begin manufacturing face masks after their live fish export operation was decimated when COVID-19 hit. But the company was able to keep its staff of eight employed after making the switch to a new product. The manufacturer reported an almost 200 per cent increase in demand for their protective cotton masks at the end of June ahead of Victoria's second wave of COVID-19. The manufacturer reported an almost 200 per cent increase in demand for their protective cotton masks at the end of June ahead of Victoria's second wave of COVID-19 Floatpac Group CEO Gavin Hodgins previously told Daily Mail Australia it was a direct response to growing case numbers. 'Particularly in the last week or so as Victoria's numbers have started to spike again, and with New South Wales numbers starting to spike again we saw a big uptick in our online traffic happen really quickly,' he said. 'It's in the thousands.' The manufacturer put a call out to employ an additional five or six people with sewing expertise on Facebook on July 13, in response to another spike in demand. Orders then surged by 350 per cent after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced face masks would become mandatory across Victoria from 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August. Melbourne Manufacturer Floatpac's face mask sales surged 350 per cent after the announcement masks would become mandatory in Victoria (Pictured: people wear face masks on Sydney's streets) Mr Hodgins said it was a lifesaver for the company. 'Initially, we sold enough masks to be able to keep our employees, but when the second lockdown happened and the government recommended using masks, our website crashed in minutes,' Mr Hodgins told the Herald Sun. 'We will have to hire more people, invest in more machinery and consider the longer-term business potential around face masks for the Australian and international market for at least the next two to three years, or until a successful vaccine is developed.' Lagos: The U.N. Childrens Agency has warned that nearly a half million children is at the risk of starvation in northeastern Nigeria and 80,000 will die if they dont get treatment in the humanitarian crisis created by Boko Harams Islamic uprising by next year. What is already a crisis can become a catastrophe, UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake saidon Tuesday. Also Read: (Aleppo: Around 60 per cent displaced-around 19,000 are children, says UN) His statement said the 400,000 children at risk of starvation represent just a fraction of the suffering among some 2.6 million refugees in the seven-year insurgency that has killed more than 20,000 people. If they do not receive the treatment they need, one in five of these children will die, Lake said. Large areas of Borno state are completely inaccessible to any kind of humanitarian assistance. We are extremely concerned about the children trapped in these areas, he added. He spoke just days after Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari accused the U.N. and private international aid agencies of exaggerating the crisis to seek donations. Buhari declared that Boko Haram was technically defeated a year ago and appears fixed on maintaining that fiction. While soldiers from a multinational force of Nigeria and neighboring countries have pushed the extremists out of towns and many villages they occupied, attacks on military outposts and suicide bombings of soft targets continue. The Associated Press has reported since September that children already are dying of starvation in Maiduguri, the biggest city in Nigerias northeast that is easily accessible. Doctors without Borders said in November that thousands of kids already have died, including 10 percent to 25 percent of children admitted to its 110-bed Maiduguri emergency treatment center. Nigerias Senate is investigating allegations that government agencies are diverting food aid that could help prevent those deaths. Buhari was elected in March 2015 on a platform that pledged to finish off Boko Haram and halt endemic corruption. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Living paycheck to paycheck is only romantic in the past tenseunless you are Mr. Blue. In that case, you dont even have a paycheck. Instead, you beg for the honor of shoveling snow in the dead of winter in exchange for a bowl of soup. You give money away when you get it and trust in the goodness of friends (i.e., strangers) to survive. Who is Mr. Blue? The brainchild of an Old Hollywood screenwriter, Myles Connolly, Mr. Blue (1927) reads like a mystery novel, but instead of a mystery about murder, this mystery novel pries into the mind of a man with brains, talent, and charm who mysteriously lives (by choice!) as a pauperand hes happy, almost insanely happy to be poor. The story continues to fascinate after almost a century in print. Slowly, Mr. Blues motivation becomes clear: He wants to be poor because he wants to help the poor. But he doesnt want to save them from poverty. He wants to save their souls. While Mr. Blue realizes that each of us has a soul in need of saving, he is unsatisfied with the nameless street evangelist who approaches sinners on subways or preachers who sermonize from the pulpit. He envisions a more human encounter. They would not heed a street harangue, Mr. Blue says of the impoverished. They would suspect a minister or social worker on sight. But they would listen to him, their companion, their fellow, as they made their listless journeys or lay awake in their haphazard sleeping places. Instead of a stranger, who has no knowledge of your story or your troubles, the person offering salvation ought to be a friend who had shared your burden and who could listen and speak to your concern even if the price of this evangelization is to live with you on the streets. Mr. Blue seeks followers to minister as he does, hoping to form A Secret Service for God or, as he later calls the group, Spies of God who would eventually permeate all fields of work, especially journalism and advertising. Story continues The novel is a fictional biography, narrated by a friend who refuses to partake in Mr. Blues love of poverty, but who finds himself drawn to listen to Mr. Blues idiosyncratic ideas and follow his adventures. Mr. Blue spends hours flying kites, setting colorful balloons free, and making impassioned statements about everyday innocuous activities. He wants to abolish the wearing of hats, advocates for one meal a day, and abhors soft mattresses. The friend watches as Mr. Blue slowly sheds more and more material comforts in order to live in the slums with the poor. The novel could raise the question: Why does Mr. Blue see the poor as having such a great need of soul-saving? Does the manual laborer store up more sins than the rich executive? Are those on the margins of society less religious than the upper-middle class? In the novel, the soul of the rich man is addressed only once, and only as an afterthoughta problem to be handled after the poor have been saved. Perhaps Connolly saw the impoverished as already closer to Heaven because they lacked material distractions, and therefore they were his initial concern. Mr. Blue, an ardent Catholic and frequent reader of the New Testament, was perhaps thinking of the quote of Christ, It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The idealistic Mr. Blue always speaks of poverty as the ultimate way to live. He never endorses but instead opposes the narrators career as a solid and dependable businessman. Love and service to Christ mean sacrifice, which is accomplished through renouncing material goods. St. Francis took up the challengeand Mr. Blue in modern America is heeding the call. Connolly years later conceded that Mr. Blues lifestyle and rigid adherence to poverty may have been unrealistic or even unworthy of imitation for most people. Connelly wrote in the novels silver-anniversary addition, I feel that Mr. Blue, like Thoreau, failed to make the distinction that what is sauce for the bachelor may not be sauce for the married man or father at all. As a financially successful screenwriter living in Malibu with a wife and five children, Connolly must have realized that money can be a blessing, and not always a curse. He wrote Mr. Blue, after all, at the tender age of 27. Still, the novel is more than a flight of the imagination to many readers. While most Americans aspire to a stable job that supports a family, they also sense that material wealth, however necessary, is never really the final goal. The meaning of life cant be finite, according to our intangible soulsand, perhaps, we need a reality (even if that reality is found only in books) that clears away the clutter of the material world in order to make spiritual contemplation possible. If Mr. Blues overarching message about poverty fails to hold water, the book does at least set the stage for Mr. Blue to wax eloquent about many philosophical and religious topics. This study of philosophy takes place far from the hustle of the daily grind and the noise of the city. He speaks with guests about God at his rent-free apartment, a crate on the top of a skyscraper. Frank Capra, the legendary director of It Happened One Night and Its A Wonderful Life, writes about his friendship with Connolly in The Name above the Title: An Autobiography. Capra mentions, almost in passing, that at many Hollywood parties Connolly would pitch Mr. Blue to filmmakersbut although Connolly was successful enough to win an Oscar nomination in screenwriting, he never fulfilled his dream of converting his little famous novel to the big screen. Is the books too-rigid love of poverty the reason the cult classic never graduated into a pop-culture success? Whatever the reason, the book continues to draw in readers because whether we are rich or poor, we all want to set aside our money concerns and listen to the wisdom of Mr. Blue. More from National Review Is the COVID-19 virus pathogenic because it depletes specific host microRNAs? BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Why is the COVID-19 virus deadly, while many other coronaviruses are fairly innocuous and just cause colds? A team of University of Alabama at Birmingham and Polish researchers propose an answer -- the COVID-19 virus acts as a microRNA "sponge." This action modulates host microRNA levels in ways that aid viral replication and stymies the host immune response. This testable hypothesis results from analysis of current literature and a bioinformatic study of the COVID-19 virus and six other coronaviruses. It is published as a perspective in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Human microRNAs, or miRNAs, are short, non-coding RNAs with about 22 bases. They act to regulate gene expression by their complementary pairing with specific messenger RNAs of the cell. That pairing silences the messenger RNA, preventing it from being translated into a protein. Thus, miRNAs are a fine-tuned controller of cell metabolism or the cell's response to stress and adverse challenges, like infection by a virus. The miRNAs are only about 0.01 percent of total human cell and tissue RNA, while replicating viral RNA of a virus like the COVID-19 virus may reach 50 percent of the total cellular RNA. So, the UAB and Polish researchers say, if the COVID-19 virus has binding sites for specific miRNAs -- and these sites are different from the binding sites for miRNAs found on coronaviruses that cause colds -- the more pathogenic COVID-19 virus may selectively sponge up certain miRNAs to dysregulate the cell in ways that make it a dangerous human coronavirus. The sponge idea is not novel. Viral RNA sponges have been shown capable of removing host miRNA by the Epstein-Barr virus, and sponge activity has also been shown for the herpes and hepatitis C viruses. There were two human coronaviruses prior to the COVID-19 virus -- whose formal name is SARS-CoV-2 -- that foreshadowed the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 virus. The first was the severe acute respiratory coronavirus, or SARS virus, in 2002; the second was the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS virus, in 2012. Neither had the high infectivity of the COVID-19 virus; but both were dangerous, causing 774 and 866 deaths, respectively, according to the National Institutes of Health. In the present study, the researchers used computer-aided bioinformatic analysis to find potential miRNA target sites for 896 mature human miRNA sequences on seven different coronavirus genomes. These genomes included the three pathogenic coronaviruses -- the SARS, MERS and COVID-19 viruses -- and four non-pathogenic coronaviruses. The researchers found that the number of target sites was elevated in the pathogenic viruses compared to the non-pathogenic strains. Furthermore, they found that pathogenic human coronaviruses attracted sets of miRNAs that differ from the non-pathogenic human coronaviruses. In particular, a set of 28 miRNAs were unique for the COVID-19 virus; the SARS and MERS viruses had their own unique sets of 21 and 24 miRNAs, respectively. Focusing on the 28 unique miRNAs for the COVID-19 virus, the researchers found that the majority of these miRNAs are well expressed in bronchial epithelial cells, and their dysregulation has been reported in human lung pathologies that include lung cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and tuberculosis. Furthermore, many of the miRNAs have been proposed to act as tumor suppressors that target the pathways for programmed cell death, or apoptosis, that are supposed to make a cell kill itself when infected, mutated or stressed in other ways. Reduction of those miRNAs has been associated with poor cancer prognosis. "Hence, the COVID-19 virus -- by its potential reduction of the host's miRNA pool -- may promote infected cell survival and thus continuity of its replication cycle," the researchers said. The authors gave a detailed explanation of how the virus replicates inside an infected cell, including how the cell assists protein folding and how the virus begins assembly in the cell's endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi system. They also described many of the cellular proteins involved in these steps. This viral replication is known to produce stress and can provoke an unfolded protein response that causes a cell to undergo programmed death. "Taken together," the researchers said, "the viral strategies to increase the endoplasmic reticulum membranes and endoplasmic reticulum folding capacity and block unfolded protein response-associated translational attenuation, inflammatory responses and apoptosis are critical components for virus production." The authors then showed, by citing literature, that nine of the specific cellular miRNAs that potentially are sponged by the COVID-19 virus could help achieve those viral needs. "The host miRNAs potentially controlled by the pathogenic human coronaviruses may be the key to gaining control over a very limited and specific set of miRNAs targets," they said. The researchers used computer-assisted gene ontology programs to find the genes and cellular pathways affected by the pathogenic human coronaviruses, and by the COVID-19 virus in particular. The pathways they found "further supports the hypothesis that pathogenic human coronaviruses -- including the COVID-19 virus -- utilize the host miRNAs to adjust cellular processes in order to facilitate their viral protein production." "Our hypothesis will require validations," they said, "starting with the assessment of these miRNA levels in infected tissues and ending with restoring the host miRNA balance with miRNA analogs. Furthermore, completely understanding how viruses take advantage of the endoplasmic reticulum and unfolded protein response pathway may also lead to the novel therapeutic strategies." This hypothesis by the UAB and Polish researchers, who all contributed equally to the paper, may explain some other biological oddities of the COVID-19 virus. One is the varying susceptibilities to infection seen among patients, including a more severe morbidity and mortality for older patients. There may be individual differences among patient miRNA profiles, they said, and one "recent study has suggested that COVID-19 virulence in aged patients may be due to a lower abundance of miRNAs, and this may be a contributing factor in disease severity." Another biological question is how the virus co-exists in its normal animal source -- bats. "Notably," the researchers said, "a recent study proposed that bats, considered as host of origin for the COVID-19 virus, have tolerance to potentially deadly viruses because of specific miRNAs." ### Authors of the perspective paper, "SARS-CoV-2 may regulate cellular responses through depletion of specific host miRNAs," are Rafal Bartoszewski, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; Michal Dabrowski, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy, Warsaw, Poland; Bogdan Jakiela and Marek Sanak, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland; Sadis Matalon and Kevin S. Harrod, UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine; and James F. Collawn, UAB Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology. Support came from National Science Center Sonata Bis and OPUS Program contracts 2015/18/E/NZ3/00687, 2015/17/B/NZ3/01485 and 2014/13/B/NZ3/02393; National Institutes of Health grant DK072482; and the CF Foundation Research Development Program grant ROWE15R0. At UAB, Harrod holds the Benjamin Monroe Carraway, M.D., Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology, and Matalon holds the Alice McNeal, M.D., Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology. About UAB Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a part of the University of Alabama System, is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center, as well as Alabama's largest employer, with some 23,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact exceeding $7 billion on the state. The pillars of UAB's mission include education, research, innovation and economic development, community engagement and patient care. Learn more at http://www. uab. edu . EDITOR'S NOTE: The University of Alabama at Birmingham is one of three doctoral research universities in the University of Alabama System. In your first reference to our institution, please use University of Alabama at Birmingham and UAB on subsequent references. FACEBOOK: http://www. facebook. com/ UAB. edu TEXT: http://www. uab. edu/ news TWEETS: http://www. twitter. com/ uabnews VIDEO: http://www. youtube. com/ uabnews This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Two Springfield residents have been arrested after Springfield Police narcotics detectives and members of the Hampden County Narcotics Drug Task Force seized trafficking weight of heroin and cocaine, cash and a firearm Friday morning. Ryan Walsh, Springfield Police Department spokesperson, said detectives executed search warrants at two locations Friday morning; one on Nursery Street and another on Edmund Wynn Circle. Walsh said authorities were able to find what he called trafficking weight, or at least 14 grams of both heroin and cocaine, some $32,000 in cash and a handgun with ammunition. The two arrested were not identified but will be arraigned in Springfield District Court. Fundraising for Guan Eng ends with nearly RM4m collected The DAP announced it had collected almost RM4 million in its week-long "Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng" fundraising campaign. DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua said the campaign intended to raise funds for Lim's RM1.1 million bail but contributors had continued to donate despite an announcement that the target had been met. The party said the excess funds would be used for the 15th general election. "Despite announcing that we have received a total of RM2.9 million on Tuesday and the total bail amount set was RM1.1 million, Malaysians continued to donate generously to the campaign," Pua said in a statement. A total of RM3.947 million was collected at the end of the campaign at midnight yesterday. "Therefore, Malaysians rallied to the cause to fight not only the trumped-up charges against Lim but also the blatant abuse of power by the Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin Yassin. "As stated at the launch of the campaign, the funds raised will be used to pay for bail set by the court and any surplus received from the donations will go towards the general election to fight the backdoor government and return the mandate to Malaysians who voted for change in 2018," Pua added. Lim, who is the DAP secretary-general, had pleaded not guilty to three charges of soliciting bribes and accepting gratification in relation to state-linked projects, including the proposed Penang undersea tunnel, when he was the Penang chief minister from 2008 to 2018. "Lim has protested his innocence as the purported undersea tunnel contract was awarded by the Penang state government via an international open tender exercise and recommended by senior civil servants from the state and the federal government. "Furthermore, not a single sen has been paid for the tunnel project as it was scheduled to commence only after 2023 after all condition precedents and regulatory approvals have been obtained," Pua said. Story continues Pua said the DAP is grateful for the generous contribution from "hundreds of thousands" of supporters. "The response has been incredible and has exceeded all expectations. This goes to show that the people are extremely angry at the brazen political persecution carried out by the powers that be against Lim in a case that bears no merit. "The overwhelming response has certainly reinvigorated all of us at DAP to continue the fight for a better Malaysia, knowing that recent political setbacks are only temporary in nature, that we will return stronger and better with the continued support of the rakyat," he said. The fundraising "RM10 per person" campaign was launched on Aug 8. Budget carrier GoAir on Saturday said it has operated more than 300 international charter flights, bringing back over 50,000 Indians mainly from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. The city-based carrier started the repatriation flights on June 10 and gradually ramped up its operations with a combination of Vande Bharat Mission flights and private international charters, GoAir said in a release. Saudi Arabia emerged as the top destination for GoAir repatriation flights, followed by Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Oman till date, it said. As of August 15, GoAir operated more than 300 international charters, including 17 Vande Bharat Mission flights that repatriated 51,314 stranded Indians from the Gulf countries to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kannur, Bhubaneswar, among otehrs, it said. "GoAir will be supporting the Government of India with many more Vande Bharat Mission flights as well as private charter flights that are required to help Indians return to their loved ones, said Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir. GoAir said it operated 113 flights between Saudi Arabia and India and repatriated 19,916 passengers. Within Saudi Arabia, the city of Dammam remained on top with 72 flights that repatriated 12,659 Indians. It operated 34 flights from Riyadh and repatriated 6,027 Indians. In addition, 67 flights from Kuwait repatriated 11,759 Indians, it said. At the same time, GoAir operated 34 repatriation flights from Dubai and 21 flights from Abu Dhabi flying 6,094 and 3,725 Indians back to home, respectively. Besides, GoAir operated 25 flights from Doha in Qatar and repatriated 4,427 stranded Indians, while 30 flights from Muscat in Oman repatriated 5,393 passengers. Image Credits: PTI Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers at the European Council building in Brussels VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on Friday supported calls from other European Union member states to consider sanctions against Belarus in response to a violent crackdown on post-election protests. The sanctions would have to be targeted against those responsible for the violence against protesters, arbitrary detentions and internet blockades, Schallenberg told ORF radio. Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, claimed victory in Sunday's presidential election with around 80% of the vote, triggering clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in which at least two protesters have died and thousands have been detained. EU foreign ministers will meet on Friday at 1300 GMT via a video call to discuss sanctions. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the election should be rerun. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Kevin Liffey) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 15) unfurled the tricolour flag at the ramparts of Red Fort in the national capital on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. The Prime Minister addressed the nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort in Delhi. Here are excerpts from his I-Day speech at Red Fort: Prime Minister congratulates all on the 74th Independence Day. Today as we breathe in Independent India, it is because of sacrifice of thousands, says PM Modi. Today is the day when we pay respect to all those who are serving the nation, Defence forces, Police forces, security force and crores of citizen who keep serving the nation. During the Covid-19 pandemic many families have been impacted. Some lives have been lost due to the pandemic. My condolences for loss of these lives. Children are not at the Red Fort today because of Covid-19 due to which they had to kept away. We pay homage to all Covid warriors. We have been going through many challenges like floods and landslides which have also resulted in the loss of lives. Next year, it will our 75th Independence Day so we will have to set new goals. Amid COVID-19 pandemic, 130 crore Indians took the resolve to be self-reliant and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is on the mind of India. This dream is turning into a pledge. Aatmanirbhar Bharat has become a 'mantra' for the 130 cr Indians today. I am confident that India will realise this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest until we achieve that goal. It never happened that there was any part during the time period of India's slavery that no attempt was made to free the country or nobody made sacrifices for freedom. I agree that there are lakhs of challenges for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and they increase if there is global competitiveness. However, if there are lakhs of challenges then the country also has power which gives crores of solutions, my countrymen who give us the strength of solution. A few months back we used to import N-95 masks, PPE kits and ventilators. Today India is not only meeting its own requirements but it has also stepped forward to help other countries. The mindset of free India should be 'vocal for local'. We should appreciate our local products, if we don't do this then our products will not get the opportunity to do better and will not get encouraged. Today, Multi-national Companies from across the world are coming to India. We have to move forward with the 'mantra' of Make in India as well as Make for World. Footage of former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao being interrogated reveals he said he could've been 'more observant' during George Floyd's arrest. Thao is also heard stating that he was worried Floyd could have been experiencing 'superhuman' strength as a result of overdosing on drugs at the time of the arrest. The interrogation video was released by the court on Friday and shows Thao speaking with investigators from the FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The court released former officer Tou Thao's interrogation tape Friday. He is seen here speaking with investigators from the FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Thao is seen in uniform on May 25, the day of George Floyd's arrest and death. He is shown here with his back to Floyd and officer Derek Chauvin, as he watches the crowd Thao is charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter in the Floyd case and is currently out on bond. He is one of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the May 25 death of Floyd, who died while being arrested after a police officer - Derek Chauvin - knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. During the interview, Thao said that he was focused on controlling the increasingly 'hostile' crowd that had gathered to watch as Floyd was arrested. When asked if he saw then-partner Chauvins knee on Floyds neck during the arrest, Thao responded 'At some point, yes,' but noted that he wasn't exactly sure where Chauvin had been applying pressure on Floyd's body because his attention was on the crowd. Thao's body camera footage, which was released Thursday, shows Thao dealing with the crowd while also, at some points, watching Chauvin and Floyd, who can be heard saying, 'I can't breathe.' When an investigator asked, 'Was the crowd letting you know there was a change in Mr. Floyds disposition?' Thao answered, 'Yes.' Thao also said, 'They were saying he wasnt moving.' Thao's body cam footage, released Thursday, reveals him interacting with onlookers. He told investigators that he was focused on the 'hostile' crowd during Floyd's arrest Floyd (pictured left) died after former officer Derek Chauvin (right) knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while trying to arrest him on May 25 The four former Minneapolis police officers who have been charged in connection with Floyd's death (L to R): J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao, Derek Chauvin and Thomas Lane The investigator then asked if Thao had 'concerns about that,' to which Thao said, 'I was concerned about the crowd. I would hope the other officers would do their job.' Thao noted that it 'was not my job' to check on Floyd during the arrest, despite the crowd having been telling him to 'look at' Floyd and 'check on him.' Thao also said his training led him to believe that Floyd could actually breathe at the time. Floyd was 'saying that he couldnt breathe, but then he was obviously yelling and talking,' Thao said, later adding that his 'heart sank' when he heard Floyd had died at the hospital. When an investigator asked 'Do you think you could have done something differently to intervene?' Thao said: 'Im under the belief that you can always do something differently on every single call I guess I would be more observant toward Floyd.' During the interrogation, Thao told investigators that he and Chauvin had been waved off from the Floyd scene when they were about halfway to the location, but that they had opted to go to the scene anyway to offer backup for the two rookie officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane. Both Kueng and Lane have also been charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd's death. Thao told investigators that he was worried about Floyd experiencing 'excited delirium' - a syndrome that can involve violence and unexpected strength - at the time of his arrest because there was the possibility that Floyd was overdosing and could've been dangerous at his size, even while handcuffed. Floyd has been described as being six-foot six-inches tall and weighing over 200 pounds. 'Potentially very explosive and violent. Um, if drugs in their system, they can kind of have that super human strength,' Thao said of his concerns. Thao said that when he and Chauvin arrived at the scene, they saw a police car's door open and that Floyd was resisting efforts to voluntarily sit in the vehicle. In body cam footage, Floyd can be heard saying he's claustrophobic and asking to be put in the front seat of the car instead of the backseat. 'Floyd is a bigger guy. He's bigger than all of us,' Thao told the investigator. 'He's yelling... doesn't want to go into the squad car.' At some point during the struggle to get Floyd into the car - a move that Thao couldn't explain why was necessary - Thao said that he suggested putting Floyd on the ground instead. Thao admitted that he never attempted to talk to Floyd and ask him what the problem was because he assumed that the officers who were first on the scene had already done so. Thao also said that although he and Chauvin had known each other for about three years, they 'really don't talk much outside of work.' Chauvin is charged with one count each of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Floyd's death touched off months of intense, non-stop protests supporting social justice, police reform and the Black Lives Matter movement across the United States. None of the four former officers have entered formal pleas. Thao and Lane's lawyers have asked that the cases against them be dismissed, while Kueng's attorney says his client plans to plead not guilty. On Wednesday, prosecutors filed a motion requesting that all four of their trials be joined to avoid adding to the potential trauma experienced by witnesses and family members. A trial date has been set for March 8, 2021. Today, August 15, marks the 74th celebration of Indias independence from the British rule. People, across the nation, have come up with creative ways to show their appreciation for this day. Now, Google India, along with Virtual Bharat, has joined the celebration with something special a mesmerising rendition of the national anthem. Posted on both Google India and Virtual Bharats official Twitter accounts, the clip is just a little over 90 seconds long. Google India shared the recording with the caption, The entire nation sang together and the result was a unique re-creation of the national anthem. This #IndependenceDay, sing along with the nation from your home, and let your voices join in the celebration. #SoundsOfIndia. The video celebrates the diversity of India by showing individuals from all over the nation singing bits of the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Check out the unique recording below which may give you goosebumps: The entire nation sang together and the result was a unique re-creation of the national anthem. This #IndependenceDay, sing along with the nation from your home, and let your voices join in the celebration.#SoundsOfIndia@virtual_bharat pic.twitter.com/VJ75JhtkZm Google India (@GoogleIndia) August 15, 2020 Since being shared on the micro-blogging application, this post has received a whole lot of love. The clip has over 17,000 views. The tweet, itself, has accumulated over 1,100 likes and many appreciative comments. Here is what Twitter users had to say about the share. One person said, Happy independence day. Another individual wrote, Proud to be Indian! Jai Hind. Bharat Mata ki Jai, read one comment under the post. Here are some other reactions from the thread: Superb Mohd Zaid (@MohdZaidRana) August 15, 2020 Happy Independence day to all Tarun Pratap Singh Parmar (@mr_tarun_parmar) August 15, 2020 Proud to be an INDIAN Tech Freakz (@TechFreakz3) August 15, 2020 What are your thoughts on the clip? Also Read | Independence Day 2020: Chalk to coffee, artists create special artworks using unusual materials U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said Friday that President Donald Trump is deliberately trying to sabotage the election during the COVID-19 pandemic by undercutting the United States Postal Service, a diabolical political act they said also puts vulnerable Americans who rely on prescription medicine via the mail at risk of severe illness or even death. Oregons two Democratic senators spoke in front of the Sellwood post office branch Friday, stepping up their critique of what they say are calculating and extensive steps by the Trump administration through policy changes, overt rhetoric and disinterest in passing the latest COVID-19 relief bill to undermine one of the nations oldest institutions. A pilot program call Expedited to Street that the postal service rolled out last month in several Portland-area zip codes, Eugene, Tigard, Medford, Woodburn and other locations nationwide limits the amount of time workers have each morning to sort mail, instead putting carriers out on the street before mail is sorted. It has had the effect of delaying how long it takes mail to reach affected Oregonians, and Portland-area postal workers said local mail that would normally have arrived the next day now may now take three times that long to arrive. The government described the pilot program as a way to get carriers on the streets sooner. The net effect is mail sits longer unsorted. Daniel Cortez, a union official representing mail clerks, said post offices have a massive built-in delay right now because of that policy and the compounding effect of previous regulatory changes in 2012 and 2015 that slowly eroded the agencys ability to deliver first class mail on time. Cortez said that in the past, workers would frequently clock overtime because it was important to get mail to customers as soon as possible. Thats no longer the case, he said. If you mailed a letter in Portland to another address in Portland you could almost always be assured it would get there the next day, Cortez said of the situation a decade ago. Now it takes two to three days, and thats locally. A USPS worker in Sellwood empties a blue mailbox outside the neighborhood's office branch on Aug. 14, 2020. Cortez said he routinely sees mail sent from one Portland post office facility to another arrive up to a week later. When asked what that means for the coming election and when people should mail in their own ballot, Cortez said he wouldnt wait. When he receives his ballot, Im going to mail it the next day probably. Im not going to take a chance, he said. I have every faith in the letter carriers and the postal workers and the mail handlers and those of us working on the frontlines to do everything we can to move peoples mail, but if we are instructed to leave the mail sitting, then thats what we have to do. Cortez added. Portland voters were more dependent on the postal service to get their ballots to election offices in last weeks election, with 65% of ballots coming through the mail compared to the historic rate of 45%. Oregonians no longer have to pay postage to mail their ballots and the coronavirus risk of walking to ones own mailbox to set out a ballot is nil. Cortez and the senators comments came the day after the Postal Service confirmed it had removed dozens of its mailboxes across Eugene and a handful in Portland. Reports of similar actions in Montana, New York City and Ohio spread Friday. The Postal Service said it removed the boxes in Oregon because of a lack of mail. But Oregons senators said those changes, combined with the Postal Service blocking its longstanding practice of delivering mail through authorized overtime, leaving mail unsorted or undelivered and Trumps proposal to raise rates on vote-by-mail states ballots to make voting more expensive for states, are troubling. Our authoritarian-inclined president is attacking the very foundation of our Republic, Merkley said, while wearing a cloth mask with the word vote on its exterior. That may sound like hyperbole, but its not. A spokesperson for Gov. Kate Brown said Friday she will do her all to protect the states cherished vote-by-mail system. The governor will continue to vigorously defend Oregonians right to vote, and the vote-by-mail tradition that has become part of our states DNA, spokesperson Nikki Fisher said. She will work closely with the secretary of state and elections officials across Oregon ... so that every voice in Oregon can be heard. The senators and postal service union leaders were joined by two Portland-area doctors who described the postal service as an essential component of the nations healthcare system especially for rural Oregonians, low-income folks, veterans and children with cancer, all groups that depend on medicines arriving through the mail. One out of every five Americans receives their prescription medicine exclusively through the mail and almost entirely through the Postal Service, according to Wyden. The call to action comes as the Republican-led Senate has yet to take a vote on the latest COVID-19 relief package. The plan, approved in May by the Democrat-controlled House, includes $25 billion for the Postal Service and some $3.6 billion to help states mail ballots and registration forms to voters. Last week, Wyden called on the Postal Services inspector general to investigate the recent staffing and policy changes enacted by the administrations new postmaster general, Trump donor Louis DeJoy. According to the New York Times, DeJoy has donated more than $1.5 million to Trumps campaign. The Washington Post on Friday reported that the Postal Service warned 46 states last month that it couldnt guarantee all ballots would arrive in time to be counted. Oregon was one of the only states that didnt receive such a letter, according to the Post, citing the states strong vote-by-mail history. Under our reading of Oregons election laws, it appears your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete and return their ballots by the states deadline, Postal Service chief lawyer Thomas Marshall wrote to Oregons top elections official. The Post similarly reported that DeJoy addressed USPS workers Thursday and said delivery delays were unintended consequences of his moves that were designed to bring efficiency and increase our performance for the election and upcoming peak season and maintain the high level of public trust we have earned for dedication and commitment to our customers throughout our history. The agency also is eliminating some 671 automated mail sorting machines across the country. USPS union worker Daniel Cortez says he won't wait to mail his ballot out of concerns about recent policies enacted by the Trump administration. Wyden and Merkley said they will continue to sound the alarm, while tacitly acknowledging they dont have much ability to force Republicans hands beyond putting the issue on voters radars and communicating the fact delayed mail delivery affects more than the coming election. Wyden, the ranking member on the powerful Finance Committee, noted many Medicaid and Medicare recipients depend on mail-delivered prescription, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic. If seniors and others who are vulnerable dont get their medicine in a timely way theyre going to suffer, and they may die, he said. Wyden, sporting a Portland Trail Blazers hat and American flag cloth mask, said delays in delivering prescription medicines could add to taxpayer costs for Medicaid and Medicare. The Postal Service has faced considerable financial woes for more than a decade now, and its previous leader said the agency needed $75 billion to address its pandemic-related challenges and longer-term obligations to cover pension costs, a controversial mandate Congress imposed in 2006. Wyden, standing outside what he described as his neighborhood post office branch, said his heart tells him Oregon is in very strong shape when it comes to the November election due to its more than two decades of experience running a vote-by-mail system. But he said Friday he approached Gov. Kate Brown and broached the prospect of summoning the National Guard to ensure that all Oregonians ballots are counted during the election. Browns office did not respond to a question Friday about whether the conversation occurred and whether she would act on Wydens request. Despite its strong bipartisan track record in running elections by mail, Oregon must be vigilant, Wyden said. Speaking of Trump, he said Its clear that when Oregon and our state comes up, hes got a special focus on walking all over us. And were just making it clear hes not going to be able to do it. The six to eight Republican senators who are on the bubble, theyre the ones to watch, Wyden said of the handful of his colleagues facing tough reelection fights. If they go home and they hear from people saying I cant make rent, I cant pay for groceries, I cant take care of my kids medicine, Wyden said, then he expects those Republicans will feel pressure to reengage and support the relief bill. The Friday news conference came days after Trump went on Fox News and said he would block increased Postal Service funding as a way to prevent vote-by-mail during the pandemic. Trump on Thursday walked back his comments that he would block the $25 billion request. But, during a Friday news conference, when asked if hed support the Postal Service and billions earmarked for mailing ballots, the president said, Sure, if they give us what we want. Wyden multiple times mentioned vote-by-mails bipartisan success and support in Oregon. He twice cited the late Dennis Richardsons support for the system and noted that former Sen. Gordon Smith, a Republican, was elected statewide through a vote-by-mail election. Meanwhile state and local elections officials said they remain confident in the system. Bev. Clarno, Oregons Republican secretary of state appointed by Brown following Richardsons death, issued a statement in response to The Oregonian/OregonLive, saying Oregon will keep working with the states post office leaders, citing the excellent partnership theyve built during two decades of vote-by-mail. We at the state level are meeting with our USPS partners to ensure we are ready for November. The USPS recognizes that Oregon leads the nation with vote by mail and that we are using the latest USPS technology to streamline the process, she said. A man drops an envelope off at the Sellwood post office on Aug. 14, 2020. Clarno said Oregonians can track their ballots online once mailed if they are concerned or instead drop them off at ballot drop boxes in their communities. Portland just conducted a special election for City Council, and Multnomah County elections officials confirmed some voters didnt receive their ballots until on or after election day. The elections office mailed 133 replacement ballots to voters the Friday before the election and some of them didnt arrive until Election Day or the Wednesday after it. Street Roots first reported the ballot issues. County spokesperson Eric Sample said the office should have mailed the replacements early but did not due to human error. The delay meant that USPS began delivering these 133 ballots on Election Day, Sample said. Our partners at the USPS delivered them promptly once they were received. Regardless of the class of postage, mail ballots are prioritized for delivery within the USPS system. The only race on the ballot, for a seat on the Portland City Council, was decided by more than 5,000 votes. Sample said the county has been assured by local postal service officials that voters and the county can expect the same reliable service we experience each and every election. Asked when voters should send in their ballots if they plan to mail them this November, Sample said the county is in discussions with the postal service about how the policy changes might impact delivery of mail ballots and is working on specific mailing deadlines based on those conversations with the USPS. Dr. Marissa Maier, a physician specializing in infectious diseases who works at OHSU and the Veterans Administration Health Care System, held up a bottle of her own medication and said she had to wait two weeks longer than normal to receive it. If my patients with HIV run out of their medication because mail delivery is delayed, it causes them immediate and direct harm, she said. Willie Groshell, president of Oregons Letter Carriers Union, said workers are continuing to put their health on the line by showing up to work every day during the pandemic. In many ways the American public is showing us more love than they ever had, he said, citing the reliance people have on the postal service to deliver critical items during the pandemic and help connect people with friends and relatives. In some ways morale is up, he said of workers feelings, in other ways morale is down. Its impossible to not be concerned, he said, citing the funding crisis. A postal service spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for more information Friday. -- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. (Newser) After several hours of mostly peaceful demonstrations Saturday in an Atlanta suburb that's home to a giant Confederate memorial, large numbers of police moved in to disperse the crowds when fights broke out, the AP reports. Several dozen right-wing demonstrators, some waving the Confederate battle flag and many wearing military gear, gathered in downtown Stone Mountain where they faced off against a few hundred counterprotesters, many of whom wore shirts or carried signs expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement. People in both groups carried rifles. For several hours, there was little visible police presence and things were largely peaceful, aside from some shoving and pushing and spirited arguments. story continues below But just before 1pm, fights broke out, with people punching and kicking each other and throwing rocks. That's when police officers in riot gear moved in to disperse the crowds. By 2pm, almost all of the protesters had left the area. Right-wing groups led by an Arkansas group called Confederate States III%, had applied for a permit to hold a rally in Stone Mountain Park, where there's a giant sculpture of Confederate leaders. The event was planned as a response to a march in the park by a Black militia group on July 4. But the Stone Mountain Memorial Association denied the permit on Aug. 4, citing a violent clash between groups in April 2016, spokesman John Bankhead said. The park closed to visitors Saturday and was set to reopen Sunday. (Read more protests stories.) We feel attacked, she told me on Tuesday in an emotional interview inside the now-empty store that once held jewelry, tapestries and many of her professional dreams. All we had worked for has been taken from us and there is no way to rebuild now. I feel alone. And he feels at a loss. He did not do anything wrong. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-14 18:45:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People meet at a restaurant in the "Dove Lane" in the old town Tuancheng of Hotan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Sadat) BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping's recent call for ending food wasting and promoting thrift continues to resonate in the country, as the national tradition of frugality has gained a fresh perspective amid new circumstances. Calling the issue of food wasting shocking and distressing, Xi highlighted the need to maintain a sense of crisis despite the fact that China has continuously achieved bumper harvests. It's not the first time that he has called for decisive action to address the issue of "wasting at the tip of the tongue," a catchphrase used to describe dinner table extravagance. The damage incurred by such overindulgence cannot be underestimated. Back in January 2013, Xi, who was two months into the new role as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, commented on a Xinhua report about netizens urging the elimination of wasting at the dinner table. "It is hurtful to see such severe problems when we all know that many people in our country are still plagued by poverty," he said. "We must do something to stop such waste as quickly as possible!" In his harshly-worded comments, Xi said strict implementation of diligence and frugality must become the common practice of the entire society. In addition, he said all officials and the public have responded strongly to various sources of wasted food, particularly recreational activities using public funds. A folk artisan delivers food with a traditional long plate on his head at a large open-air banquet at the Zhongshan ancient town in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Jan. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) His instruction came amid a nationwide campaign following an eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct, which stipulates thriftiness and cracks down on misconducts such as using public funds for hosting banquets and traveling. Such grand banquets are known to feature binge of top-brand baijiu (white alcohol, a type of liquor) and excessive extravagant delicacies. Stopping such food waste with an iron-fist approach contributed to comprehensive and strict governance over the Party. By the end of March 2019, China had investigated and dealt with 280,000 cases of violations of the Party's frugality disciplines since 2012, according to the top anti-graft body of the CPC. Food wasting during lavish dinings at government's expense, a source of public ire, has been effectively curbed. Meanwhile, as Xi has always advocated, the tradition of deeming frugality as honor and wasting a disgrace is further carried forward. President Xi's comments from 2013 and his latest call for ceasing wasting of food contained some keywords of the unusual year of 2020 for China: poverty alleviation, Party building, self-sufficiency, and COVID-19. By the end of 2013, over 82 million rural people were living below the poverty line of 2,300 yuan per year (about 331 U.S. dollars). This year, China is determined to put a historic end to absolute poverty. 2020 marks the 99th founding anniversary of the CPC, which led the whole nation in curbing COVID-19, and entering the homestretch of finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects -- a goal to be achieved under a new development pattern that puts more emphasis on self-sufficiency, among others. A farmer uses a shovel to separate grains of wheat from the husk in Zhangyao Village of Erlang Town in Xiping County, central China's Henan Province on May 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) All the significant events are related to what happens at the "tip of the tongue." Stopping food wasting is not just about a healthy social conduct, it is of immense significance to China's stride toward a modern socialist country. China's summer grain output reached a historic high of 142.81 million tonnes this year, which has laid a solid foundation for this year's stable grain production, as well as for achieving China's goals of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and winning the battle against poverty as scheduled. While the optimism is well deserved, Xi's latest instruction offered the much-needed sober warning. Almost 690 million people went hungry in 2019 worldwide, up 10 million from 2018, according to the United Nations, which warned that many more people could slip into hunger this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Even if our life gets better day by day, there will be no such right granted to waste!" Xi once said. Vehicle tracking company PowerFleet has partnered with the French Red Cross, a major player in the French humanitarian response plan, to provide it with a plug and play traceability solution that would be used to protect shipment of healthcare equipment and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PowerFleet solution Cellocator will be responsible for securing, controlling, tracking and managing these assets across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Aside from keeping the shipment safe, the French Red Cross also has to monitor the environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, shock and light, as medicines often have to be preserved under certain conditions. "The valuable medicine is traveling all the way from France or India to remote locations across the African continent. They were looking for a solution that would enable them to control and optimize the quality of shipments and demonstrate that their shipment processes comply with the strictest operational procedure standards," said Avi Magid, president of Pointer by PowerFleet and Cellocator by PowerFleet. Cellocator's MultiSense devices are inserted inside the packages shipped by the French Red Cross. The devices log sensor data in real-time, transmitting it along with the shipment's location to Cellocator's mobile application. The MultiSense can transmit real-time sensor data using different threshold settings, creating event-based alerts, or alternatively store the sampled data when there is no receiver available and send it to a dedicated hub or mobile application upon detection. The recent mission involved sending 16 tons of goods from northeastern France to Brazzaville, Congo, via an aircraft. From Brazzaville, the cargo was then transported by barge on the Congo River to Kinshasa and finally taken via road to local Red Cross storage centers in Mbandaka. In all, the cargo was hauled over 6,000 miles, involving multiple modes of transport. Cellocator's solution is critical. Before its deployment, the French Red Cross had limited information about the environmental conditions their cargo was put through during shipment. Story continues "Bad conditions could lead to losing valuable goods due to the lack of ability to monitor their shipments. With Cellocator, they can enhance security, improve confidence in their supplied products' quality and elevate their logistics chain efficiency," said Magid. The collaboration between PowerFleet and the French Red Cross is a part of the former's activity in France and Africa. Magid explained that Cellocator presented the Red Cross with a strong value proposition to address a known need for visibility into supply chain operations. "Top management levels at the French Red Cross are sponsoring this project. They were thrilled about their new ability to address issues in real-time, which reduces the risk of quality loss and or inadequate transport conditions," said Magid. "We are proud to take part in this special COVID-19 operation. Effective monitoring of supply chain conditions is fast becoming mandatory to ensure the integrity and safety of pharmaceutical shipments, and technology is a critical part of making it possible." Photo by Victoire Joncheray on Unsplash See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Around 100 staff and former employees at Titanic Belfast have called on political parties for support as a row continues over working conditions and redundancies. The group said it had secured 100 signatures for an open letter which alleges that a redundancy consultation process which resulted in 75 job losses among 300 workers was merely a "box-ticking exercise". The group has sent the letter to MLAs, MPs and the offices of the main parties here, calling for support in their disagreement with management. In an interview with Belfast Telegraph last month, Titanic Belfast chief executive Judith Owens said she had to fight to save the venue during lockdown. Revenues plunged overnight, with the centre also losing out on its lucrative events business, as well as tourists. The venue reopened on August 1. Since its opening in 2012, it has drawn nearly six million visitors and become one of Northern Ireland's top attractions. The staff have called on politicians to support them because the venue has been supported by public money. It received private and public investment via Tourism NI, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and the Titanic Quarter Limited. Responding to the letter yesterday, Titanic Belfast said it "continues to be in a precarious trading position and, as is the case with other organisations across our industry, we have had to make difficult decisions over the past few months to try and save the business". It added: "Titanic Belfast carried out the recent restructure and consultation in line with Northern Ireland legislation but also with a high focus on communication and duty of care, as has been our operating ethos over the past eight years. "As the restructure is an ongoing process, we cannot comment on it specifically. However, we are continuing to engage and support our teams through this difficult time." Titanic Belfast said the venue had reopened with a new business and staff model in place to reflect a fall in visitor demand due to a drop in visitors travelling from overseas. "Since reopening, Titanic Belfast has welcomed visitors in line with its forecasts and has a staffing model in place to service this demand from domestic and national markets," it added. "It is still too early to predict how the business performance will fare as it moves into the lower season, coupled with the uncertainty around the pandemic and its impact on the tourism industry and economy as a whole." Researchers from Indiana University and Miami University-Ohio published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how power distance belief affects consumers' price sensitivity. The study forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing is titled "Price No Object!: The Impact of Power Distance Belief on Consumers' Price Sensitivity" and is authored by Hyejin Lee, Ashok Lalwani, and Jessie Wang. Most marketers dream of being able to charge high prices for their products. However, few can do so without spending vast sums to enhance perceptions of value (e.g., by improving product benefits). Consequently, marketers continuously strive to identify and target consumer segments that are less price-sensitive because these consumers are more likely to find price increases palatable. A new study in the Journal of Marketing identifies a cultural variable, namely power distance belief (PDB)--the extent to which people accept and endorse hierarchy--as an important determinant of consumers' price sensitivity. Across multiple studies, the researchers find that consumers high (vs. low) in PDB are less price-sensitive. Lee explains that "These consumers have a higher need for closure (NFC), which increases their tendency to 'seize and freeze' on a current offer and reduces their likelihood of searching for better priced options, thereby reducing price sensitivity." Study 1a provides evidence of the negative relationship between PDB and price sensitivity using A.C. Nielsen scanner panel data. Study 1b provides convergent evidence for external validity using a consequential measure to assess consumers' actual purchasing behavior driven by their price sensitivity. Study 1c provides evidence of the relationship via a field study at a small local grocery store. Study 2a directly assesses the mediating role of the need for closure and rules out other cultural variables and all alternative explanations. Study 2b provides evidence for serial mediation through need for closure (mediator 1) and price search tendency (mediator 2) using four different established measures of price sensitivity. The last study reveals that a high social density reduces the price sensitivity of low (but not high) PDB consumers. The effect is independent of numerous psychological (e.g., risk aversion, perceptions of self-efficacy, sacrifice mindset, need for status, self-regulation), cultural (e.g., uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, masculinity, interdependence), and demographic (income, occupation, education, household size, type of residence) variables. Thus, low PDB consumers are identified as the roadblocks for marketers who seek to raise prices. To meet this challenge, the study offers several strategies, including: (1) targeting consumer segments high (vs. low) in PDB, (2) activating a high PDB via ads, slogans, or POP material, (3) heightening the need for closure using contextual cues, and (4) increasing social density in stores. ### Full article and author contact information available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022242920929718 About the Journal of Marketing The Journal of Marketing develops and disseminates knowledge about real-world marketing questions useful to scholars, educators, managers, policy makers, consumers, and other societal stakeholders around the world. Published by the American Marketing Association since its founding in 1936, JM has played a significant role in shaping the content and boundaries of the marketing discipline. Christine Moorman (T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University) serves as the current Editor in Chief. https://www.ama.org/jm About the American Marketing Association (AMA) As the largest chapter-based marketing association in the world, the AMA is trusted by marketing and sales professionals to help them discover what's coming next in the industry. The AMA has a community of local chapters in more than 70 cities and 350 college campuses throughout North America. The AMA is home to award-winning content, PCM professional certification, premiere academic journals, and industry-leading training events and conferences. https://www.ama.org/ Prosperity through democracy and elections View(s): Sunanda always had the same argument with me, whenever we had an opportunity to meet: What should be done is very clear, and youll are writing about it all the time. But the question is how should it be done. Sunanda and I were friends from our undergraduate times although he and I have chosen to be in entirely different professions. We also had the opportunity to do our postgraduate studies together for a Masters degree in Economics in the Hague, so that our friendship got strengthened. For the same reason, we always had something common to discuss and debate the problem of economic policy making whenever we met. After a long pause, Sunanda last week gave me a phone call from abroad. He had remembered to call me after reading my article on Next decade: Revival and beyond published in this column two weeks ago. This time too he didnt forget to ask me the same question: I know all what you write we need investment, we need exports, we need public enterprise reforms and so on; it is very clear to me, but tell me it should be done. Tell me in five points how to do it without upsetting the system. I said: You cant do it without upsetting the system; in fact, you can do nothing without upsetting somebody. If you intend to do something, then there will be obstacles. Trade unions will rise; students will protest; politicians will back them up; opinion makers will provoke us; media headings will stir up the public. Exactly, thats why I am asking you, how should it be done without upsetting the system. I responded: Well, my point is that Sri Lanka is not trying to do it for the first time in world history. Many countries have already done it the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and many others. And look around, even today many other countries are doing it He laughed out loud: All these are entirely different stories, right? We cannot replicate any of them here in Sri Lanka. At this point, I interrupted him: Obviously; if we are thinking of copying them it is stupid. But the point is that if we have any problem to be sorted out, I am sure we are not the first country in the world to face that problem. Many have done it before us, leaving lessons to be learnt from them. How to do it? We will never find a magic formula to answer this question. However, Sunanda is not alone asking this question, because it is a question that has been raised by many. Besides, this question has a deeper political-economic meaning which has set the foundation for the notion that democratic nations cannot achieve economic development. If we believe in this notion, then there is nothing we can do and, just leave our efforts aside and enjoy the democracy and elections. I thought of addressing this issue today to show from our history that the failure of development was largely a result of the compromise rather than democracy. We all know that democracy, being a majoritarian-representative rule, also has its own weaknesses, which I dont intend to discuss here. My focus is basically on compromise irrespective of whether it is a minor issue or a major issue because the beginning of the fall starts there. It was during the 1977 elections that the former President of Sri Lanka won the election with five-sixth majority power in Parliament, introduced the open economy in the country, and spoke of his desire to make Sri Lanka like Singapore. In spite of that statement, after over more than 40 years now, the experience of policy making in Sri Lanka reveals the elements of compromise as a major weakness that caused the failure. Singapore formula In this column about a year ago under the title The Singapore Formula, I quoted a Singaporean Prof. Kishore Mahbubanis secret MPH formula which he used to describe the success of Singapore. There were three basic elements of the Singaporean secret MPH formula: (1) The first was the selection of right people for the job, whether it is the Parliament or the Cabinet or the public sector the so-called meritocracy. Many developing countries around Singapore failed because the leaders used to pick up their family members, relatives, supporters, and buddies without any consideration to their competence to do the job. (2) The second element in the formula was the pragmatism an application of solutions without being bound by any doctrinal ideology. Ideologies were seen dominating policy making at that time in many developing countries, while some of these ideologies are leaders own imaginations without underlying principles. (3) The third element in the formula was the honesty of leaders, aiming at building a corrupt-free society. In this case too most of the leaders compromised, allowing and covering up corruption by weakening institutions with their powers. It was a well-known case that even a Cabinet Minister of the Singaporean government was imprisoned in its attempt to build a corrupt-free society there because it is not possible to clean up the lower levels without cleaning the top level. Rule of law I am reiterating the above elements of Singapores success to highlight the fact that it was the compromise rather than democracy that began to weaken their authority in a democratic system. Democracy requires discipline of which the parameters are set by the rule of law, which includes law-enforcement and law-impartiality. The leaders who failed to remain uncompromising on the elements of the rule of law inevitably adopted strategies to weaken the democratic institutions rather than to strengthen them. There were many who believe that it is not possible to adopt the right policies in a democratic system because politicians have to face elections. I always asked the question as to how is it possible then, under the same democracy, leaders engage in indiscipline acts, corrupt practices and misuse of powers for their own benefit? I am confident that strengthening rule of law and maintaining discipline and order in a democracy are much easier than weakening it and facing the consequences. Our understanding about democracy is also clouded with circumstances in our own environment in which we have been living in. Democracy has boundaries, it is not the freedom to do anything and say anything and get away without accountability. Most of the rights that people carry out in the name of democracy are unaccountable. Limiting the fist The boundaries of democratic freedom are portrayed by the famous dictum that the right to swing ones own fist ends where others nose begins. It is not clear who said it first, because the origin of similar versions are attributed to three prominent persons, all who lived in the 1800s: Oliver Wendell Holmes, an American Jurist; John Stuart Mill, British philosopher and an economist; and Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. Whoever said it, the dictum means that democratic freedom is not the freedom to do whatever it seems right before ones own eyes. In other words, it should have the disciplinary character, and that it is the responsibility of the leaders to strengthen the institutions that safeguard discipline for the national interest. Democracy is not a stereotype system, operating everywhere in a uniform manner. The leaders of some nations have strengthened the institutions to maintain the discipline and authority enabling them to put the economy on a growth path. And people remembered these leaders as they have left a legacy in these countries. At the same time, leaders in many countries have messed up and left with disappointment. Democracy and elections per se are not anti-growth but the leaders of the nations can turn it to an anti-growth political system. (The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk and follow on Twitter @SirimalAshoka). Samsung recently announced that it would improve its long-term software support to three years for its flagship phones starting with the Galaxy S10 series. New information indicates such support may trickle down to the Galaxy A-series, however, with the Galaxy A71, A51, and A90 being the most likely to enjoy that perk. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here Last week, Samsung announced that it would improve its software update policy for its flagship phones by matching OnePlus and Google with three major OS updates, starting with the Galaxy S10 series. Apparently, that perk may also be valid for the company's high-end Galaxy A-series. According to a report by Sammobile citing an official statement by Samsung, the company may look to also provide some of its Galaxy A-series devices with three OS updates. Supposedly, Samsung is still trying to figure out which phones will enjoy that benefit, and will communicate after deciding via the Samsung Members appbefore the end of the year. While there's no official decision yet, it's logical to assume that if the company does decide to go on with this, it will likely kick things off with the more expensive Galaxy A-series phones. The newer the better, too. It's also sensible to assume it will start with the newest models, which narrows the list down to the Galaxy A71 and, possibly, the Galaxy A90. The Galaxy A51 could also get a similar treatment. Michael Dickman often reflects on the family he grew up with in Lents. In Some of the Men, he writes, For a long time my grandfather / tried to kill anyone / who came near him / Wives / Daughters / Stepdaughters. The Portland poet turns that gaze upon his grandmother in Scholls Ferry Rd. In a 30-page poem, awash in white space, he describes her chicken and green olive casserole, her addictions, and her lingering racism: Negress was another word she liked to use / Thats the nice way to say it / Oh they are always changing what they want to be called On the bus she dropped her purse / I was with her / A nice Negress handed it back That racism may be the only interesting feature of a poem in which the emptiness of the pages reflects the dementia into which she will soon disappear. But Dickman is a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow on the Princeton faculty. Impressed by his willingness to explore his flawed family, Poetry Magazine published the piece in its July-August issue. Whereupon all hell broke loose. The poem stumbled into a fraught moment in American history, says Kim Stafford, the former Oregon poet laureate. It became a lightning rod. The first bolt appeared June 24 on Twitter when a budding poet named Hana Shapiro informed the magazine, Its pretty unacceptable that you would publish this, especially during a time when so many POC are grieving/being targeted. .@poetrymagazine Its pretty unacceptable that you would publish this, especially during a time when so many POC are grieving/being targeted. Shouldnt you be focusing on amplifying Black voices right now? (Scholls Ferry Rd. by Michael Dickman) #poetry pic.twitter.com/aNZlP4dkzP Hana Shapiro (@HanaShapiro) June 25, 2020 Shapiro couldnt believe Dickman would mention a river of Japanese businessmen, and also quote his grandmothers aside about a nice Hawaiian. Im a Japanese-American, Shapiro wrote. Reading these lines was an absolute shock and I had to put the magazine down. Shapiros critique struck a nerve at an institution already on the defensive. Three weeks earlier, the Poetry Foundation released a tepid statement about Black Lives Matter. More than 1,800 poets quickly signed a stinging rebuke, a letter that also demanded a greater cut for marginalized writers of the massive wealth hoarding that underlies the foundations work. The Poetry Foundations president and board chairman promptly stepped down. As social media subsequently torched Dickmans poem, editor Don Share also resigned, savaging Dickman on his way out the door. Share originally thought he heard condemnation of the grandmothers racism in the poem, he writes: But this wishful thinking does not justify the fact that Scholls Ferry Rd. egregiously voices offensive language that is neither specifically identified nor explicitly condemned as racist. It also centers completely on white voices, leaving room for no other presences. Because Dickman isnt more direct in confronting his addled grandmother, Share decides, the poem is an act of active complicity (M)ore than anything else, a poem is a promise; so a poem that fails is a broken promise as is publishing one. At a magazine that promises to err henceforth on the side of inclusion, in other words, theres no room to give Dickman the benefit of the doubt on his language or intentions. I think that conversation is essential, Stafford says. Im a pacifist. I like to listen. But other processes are at work in our culture now. Dickman who, with his twin (and equally poetic) brother, Matthew, appeared as the mute pre-cogs in the film, Minority Report will only say, The poem speaks for itself. The Poetry Magazine website (Just not on the Poetry Magazine website, where Scholls Ferry Rd. has been banned for insidious language that is particularly oppressive to Black, Pacific Islander and Asian people.) It speaks differently to each reader, as art tends to do. Harold Johnson, a Black poet and writer from Portland who knows the Dickman brothers, says, Its absurd, this cancel culture thing. I dont have time for it. By now, we ought to be able to read a little better than we do. Harold Johnson Equally weary is Alan Contreras, a Eugene writer who identifies as gay: Adults dont need to be protected from poetry. When you read the poem, you will be even more astonished that anyone can be offended by this. I dont care if anyone is offended. That is one of literatures functions. Carter McKenzie, another white Eugene poet, is more critical of Dickmans work: The poet is remembering the grandmothers blindness as if he doesnt have it himself. It re-enacts objectification rather than dismantling it because of the choices the poet made. Thats harmful. And Im speaking as someone wrestling with her own racism. Like all these poets, Emmett Wheatfall is wrestling with how words illuminate all that binds or divides us. If readers dont need protection from poetry, the Black Portland writer says, they need assurance that the poet recognizes their pain, and he believes Dickman erred when using Negress without quote marks. Youre looking back at the racism you grew up with, then all of a sudden you speak out of it, Wheatfall says. All of a sudden youre comfortable using Negress as if its a part of who you are. That gives me pause. I read that line as Dickman stripping the padding from the word so that it strikes the reader as it once slapped him. Wheatfall felt otherwise. This is poetry. We have poetic license but with that license comes consequences, he says. Write, man! I want you to keep writing, but to get wiser and smarter. I need to know you went through that experience, and later in life, you look back and frown on it. But you have to be careful. You cant be sloppy. You dont get a pass. The higher up you go, the more critical they are of your work. -- Steve Duin stephen.b.duin@gmail.com Ride-hailing operators in Lagos State will pay a levy of N20 known as road improvement fund, on each trip their drivers make in a day as from August 27. Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this in a statement, on Friday. According to the statement, the decision was arrived at after a meeting between the state government and representatives of the ride-hailing operators on Friday, with Governor Sanwo-Olu in attendance. Dr Frederic Oladehinde, Commissioner for Transportation, said the state government and the operators had unanimously adopted the new regulations, after all parties jointly reviewed and fine-tuned some of the contentious items in the framework. He said they reached an agreement on the controversial service tax, which is to be known as road improvement fund. According to the statement, the enforcement of the new regulations will now take off from August 27, 2020 instead August 20 initially announced by the government. The commissioner said the governor offered a duty incentive to the operators, reducing their statutory operational licencing fee and renewal fee by 20 per cent. The statement said, This implies that each e-hailing firm will now pay N8m per 1,000 cars fresh licencing and renewal, instead of N10m initially announced. Oladehinde said the parties also agreed on procurement of comprehensive insurance by the e-hailing companies to cover their drivers and passengers. He said: We also discussed the issue of service tax, which was initially defined as 10 per cent charge. We have come to resolution that the levy will become a flat fee of N20 per trip. We no longer call it service tax; we now call it Road Improvement Fund, which will be levied per trip. By Online Desk NEW DELHI: 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' was the centrepiece of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address as he presented a broad outline for spurring India's growth in diverse sectors and asserted that the coronavirus pandemic cannot halt the country's march towards self-reliance. In his seventh straight Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on Saturday, Modi also delivered a warning to India's hostile neighbours saying the armed forces have given a befitting reply to those who challenged the country's sovereignty "from LoC to LAC" in their own language. The prime minister made a host of new announcements, including the launch of a national digital health mission under which health IDs will be given to everyone and connecting all six lakh villages with optical fibres in 1,000 days, and promised the holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the delimitation exercise is over. In a reference to the border row with China in eastern Ladakh, Modi said: "Respect for India's sovereignty is supreme for us and the world has seen in Ladakh what our brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve. I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort." "From LoC to LAC, anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, the armed forces of the country have responded to them in the same language," Modi said. The prime minister's comments came in the midst of India's festering border row with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and rising incidents of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The country is fighting terrorism as well as expansionism with determination, Modi said in remarks aimed at Pakistan and China. Dressed in his customary 'kurta pyjama' and safa, the prime minister, in his nearly 90-minute address, dwelt at length on his 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' campaign as he gave a call for reducing imports and pushing exports of finished products in place raw material, saying the country will have to move forward with the mantra of 'Make in India' as well as 'Make for World'. ALSO READ | Project to protect dolphins to be launched in India soon, say PM Modi in Independence Day speech 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is no longer merely a word but has become a mantra and captured people's imagination, he said. Modi also touched upon the much-anticipated issue of vaccine for COVID-19 and said three vaccines are in various phases of trials in the country. He said that a roadmap is ready to innoculate all citizens in the shortest possible time with their mass production after scientists give a green signal. Modi also listed out a number of reform measures undertaken by his government which resulted in a record Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country last year. The prime minister said India's policies, processes and products should be the best in the world and only then the idea of "shresth Bharat" (best India) will be realised. On foreign policy issues, Modi said today neighbours are not only those with whom India shares its geographical boundaries but also those with whom "our hearts meet". While talking about the need for overall economic growth and making the country self reliant, Modi, at the same time, said humanity must retain a central role in this process. The prime minister began his address by paying tributes to freedom fighters and security forces while also remembering Aurobindo Ghose, a freedom fighter and spiritual philosopher whose birth anniversary falls today. ALSO READ | Make in India but also for world: Modi's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Hailing 'corona warriors', including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who have been continuously fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the country will achieve victory over coronavirus with the resolve of its over 130 crore citizens. In the midst of coronavirus pandemic, Indians have resolved to become self-reliant, the prime minister said, adding this is not a word but a mantra for all people. Speaking of self-reliant India, he said many concerns are raised about it and acknowledged the challenges ahead, but asserted that there are "crores of solutions" offered by the country's citizens to "lakhs of challenges". Vocal for local should be the mantra of India, he said. He said his government has freed farmers of their constraints, and they can now trade their products freely on their terms. India's freedom struggle, he said, became a challenge to forces of expansionism while attempts were made for hundreds of years by various rulers to root out India's culture and traditions. (With PTI Inputs) Image shows a couple standing arm in arm with their backs facing the camera as they admire their new home. SmartAsset analyzed IRS migration data to find the states to which rich Generation Xers are moving. A decision to move can arise from various factors, such as landing a new job, wanting to start or grow a family and desiring a favorable housing market. And as a result of their particular needs, different age or income groups might also be attracted to specific locales. With that in mind, SmartAsset crunched the numbers to uncover where rich Gen Xers are moving. We used IRS data to analyze the total inflows and outflows of people between ages 35 and 54 who reported earnings of at least $100,000 on their 2017-2018 tax filings. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below. This is SmartAssets 2020 edition of our study on where rich Generation Xers are moving. Check out the 2019 version here. Key Findings Rich Gen Xers are flying South. Five states in our top 10 are in the South: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. In these top-ranking Southern states, tax filers between the ages of 35-54 making at least $200,000 comprise at least one-fourth of the net migration of rich Gen Xers. Northeastern states are not ideal. There are no Northeastern states in the top 10 of the study. And of the bottom 10 states in the study the states from which more rich Gen Xers moved out than moved in four are in the Northeast, according to Census regional divisions. They are New York (with a net outflow of 9,549), Massachusetts (with a net outflow of 1,351), New Jersey (with a net outflow of 1,096) and Connecticut (with a net outflow of 729). 1. Florida Though Gen Xers havent quite made it to retirement age yet, it seems a lot of them are getting a head start on their way to the retirement-friendly Sunshine State. The net migration of rich Gen Xers to Florida from 2017 to 2018 was 9,283. That includes a total inflow of 22,321, more than 7,000 of whom earned at least $200,000. 2. Texas The net migration of rich Gen Xers to Texas in 2017-2018 was 5,717. The total inflow of tax filers ages 35 to 54 making at least $100,000 was 23,092, which is actually the highest total inflow in our study. The total outflow of this demographic from Texas during this time period was 17,375. Story continues 3. North Carolina North Carolina had a net increase of 3,385 rich Gen Xers in 2017-2018. The biggest subgroup of people moving into the state was those between 35 and 44 making between $100,000 and $200,000 per year. More than 7,600 tax filers in this group moved to North Carolina during that time. 4. Arizona Arizona saw a net migration of 2,646 wealthy Gen Xers during 2017-2018. The total inflow of rich Gen Xers was 8,140, while 5,494 rich Gen Xers moved out of Arizona during this time. 5. South Carolina The Palmetto States net migration of rich Gen Xers was 2,329 people during 2017-2018. That includes more than 1,500 people of this generation who were making at least $200,000 during that time frame. 6. Tennessee Tennessees population of rich Gen Xers increased by a net of 2,206 during 2017-2018. There were 6,718 new residents in this cohort, while 4,512 rich Gen Xers moved out of the state. Of this total inflow, there were 868 Gen Xers ages 35-44 making at least $200,000 and 1,110 Gen Xers ages 45-54 in that income bracket. Furthermore, there were 2,512 Gen Xers ages 35-44 making between $100,000 and $200,000 and 2,228 Gen Xers ages 45-54 in that income bracket. 7. Colorado The net migration of rich Gen Xers to Colorado was 2,067 between 2017 and 2018, with the inflow of this group consisting mostly of new residents ages 35-44. Of the 5,291 tax filers in this age range that moved to the state, the majority 3,652 were making more than $100,000 but less than $200,000. 8. Nevada The net migration of rich Gen Xers to Nevada from 2017-2018 was 1,508. The biggest subgroup of people to move to Nevada were Gen Xers between the ages of 35 and 44 earning between $100,000 and $200,000 1,551 tax filers. Furthermore, a total of 1,288 Gen Xers making $200k+ moved into the state during this time. 9. Idaho Between 2017 and 2018, there was a net increase of 1,428 Gen Xers earning at least $100,000 in the state of Idaho. Idahos total inflow of these rich Gen Xers was 2,541, and outflow totaled 1,113. 10. Washington The net increase of rich Gen Xers into Washington State in 2017-2018 was 1,140. Total inflow was 9,436 during that time, while outflow was 8,296. Data and Methodology To determine where rich Generation Xers are moving, we looked at data from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. We defined rich Generation Xers as individuals ages 35 to 54 who have adjusted gross incomes of $100,000 and above. More specifically, we looked at the following two metrics: Inflow of rich Generation Xers. This is the number of individuals between the ages of 35 and 54 with adjusted gross incomes of at least $100,000 who moved into the state. Data comes from the IRS and is for 2017-2018. Outflow of rich Generation Xers. This is the number of individuals between the ages of 35 and 54 with adjusted gross incomes of at least $100,000 who moved out of the state. Data comes from the IRS and is for 2017-2018. We then subtracted the outflow from the inflow of rich Generation Xers to determine each states net inflow. We ranked the states from highest net inflow of Generation Xers to lowest net inflow. Making the Most of Your Money Make sure your finances age well. A financial advisor is a good thing to look into regardless of which generation you belong to. Finding a financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool connects you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors, get started now. Moving? You have options. If youre thinking of moving to a new state, do the math to figure out whether you should rent or buy before you move. Moving doesnt have to be taxing. A new state will also mean new tax burdens. Use SmartAssets free income tax calculator to get a sense of what you might owe. Questions about our study? Contact press@smartasset.com Photo credit: iStock.com/jhorrocks The post Where Rich Generation Xers Are Moving 2020 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Former Taiwanese vice-premier Chen Chi-mai won a landslide in Kaohsiungs mayoral by-election on Saturday, recapturing the southern port city for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party after its surprise loss two years ago. Thank you all, said Chen as he bowed to his supporters rallying in front of his campaign headquarters. I believe the end of the by-election means the start of a new era during which all of us, regardless of different parties and ideologies, will work together to promote Kaohsiung, he said. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The by-election followed a vote to recall defeated presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu, from the main opposition party Kuomintang, amid voter dissatisfaction over his record and decision to run for president less than a year after he took office as Kaohsiung mayor. Chen, 55, secured just over 70 per cent of the vote in Saturdays three-way race that saw a turnout of 41 per cent. By contrast, the 2018 election saw a turnout of 73 per cent, while the vote to recall Han in June had a 42 per cent turnout. The number of ballots Chen received, 671,804, was also smaller than the 742,239 votes he garnered two years ago, when he lost to Han from the mainland-friendly Kuomintang. Kaohsiung has been considered a pro-independence stronghold and had been under the DPP control for decades until Hans shock victory over Chen in 2018. Former mayor Han Kuo-yu was removed from office earlier this year. Photo: CNA The KMTs Li Mei-jhen, a relatively little-known Kaohsiung city councillor, captured 25.9 per cent of votes (248,478), despite campaign support from Han and other KMT heavyweights, including former legislature speaker Wang Jin-pyng. Wu Yi-jheng, of the Taiwan Peoples Party, took just 38,960 votes or 4 per cent to finish last. The two conceded defeat before the vote count had finished. Story continues Chen has two years and four months to serve before the next mayoral election is held in 2022. Observers said that will give Chen little time to tackle challenges such as a large city government deficit, environmental protection and making the city and its industries more competitive. In addition to preparing a budget for at least NT$100 billion (US$3.4 billion) in the next two years, the new mayor needs to deal with the NT$330 billion deficit the city government has incurred over the years, said former speaker Wang when casting his ballot. Whoever wins the race must deal with the outflow of hi-tech talent, environmental problems, upgrading the industrial structures in the city and the issue of an ageing society, he said. Voters wait to cast their ballots in the DPP stronghold. Photo: CNA With the aid of city government resources, Chens win in the city is expected to help the DPP secure Kaohsiung, which has long been a stronghold for the DPP, in the 2022 mayoral election, said Shih Cheng-feng, a political-science professor at National Dong Hwa Universitys Indigenous Development and Social Work. This, of course, will help the DPP in the 2024 presidential election, Shih said, but stressed it was still too early to predict the result in four years time. Chen also promised to make it easier for Hongkongers to settle in the city following the passage of a controversial new national security law. But Ko Wen-je, the leader of the Taiwan Peoples Party, criticised the pledge for lacking detail and accused the DPP of using Hongkongers as a campaign gimmick. This article Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party regains control of Kaohsiung with landslide victory first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Schools think its fair and appropriate to notify their community that there are risks so that the members of the community can make their own risk assessment, said Lannon, whos drafted a number of these forms for university clients. We put the people on notice so they cant say ... Had I known about the risk, I wouldnt have gone, or I wouldnt have allowed my children to go. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The governments move to change policy on electric vehicles (EV) with regards to battery ownership has divided the small yet emerging club of EV-makers in the country. The companies who find the policy beneficial are speaking in favour. Those who find it disadvantageous are naturally opposing it. We take a look at both sides of the coin in todays wrap. But, first, here is the complete look at what else made headlines in the automotive space this week. Banks go slow on lending With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cautioning against bad loans climbing to 20-year highs, banks and other financial institutions are developing cold feet in lending to the automobile sector. RBI, in a report, said public sector banks gross bad loans ratio of 11.3 percent at the end of March might increase to 15.2 percent by March 2021 under the baseline scenario Tata Motors, Mahindra swap positions in PV & CVs Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have locked horns for supremacy in not just the car and SUV segment but the commercial vehicle segment as well. In July, the two Mumbai-based companies lost their long-held positions to each other, actual vehicle registration data provided by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) show. Centre allows sales of EVs without batteries Battery-powered two and three-wheelers may see some price corrections after the government allowed electric vehicles to be registered without their batteries. The batteries in an EV make up 30-40 percent of the total cost of the vehicle. The government hopes that the upfront cost of the vehicle will thus be lower than petrol, diesel or CNG powered two and three-wheelers. VECV buys Volvos bus division VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd (VECV), a subsidiary of Eicher Motors on August 13 announced that it has entered into a business transfer agreement to acquire Volvo Group India's bus business for a cash payment of Rs 100.50 crore. The firm manufactures and sells the Eicher branded trucks and buses and also distributes Volvo branded trucks and provides aftermarket services and distribution of spare parts for Volvo branded trucks and buses. Royal Enfield developing e-bike Royal Enfield has developed prototypes of electric bikes and formed an internal team to not just develop products but to choose the right segment for entering the electric motorcycle space, a top company official said. Eicher Motor-owned Royal Enfield is the leader in the 350cc and above bike segment in India with brands such as Classic, Himalayan and Interceptor. The company is the first from its industry to share plans about electric motorcycles. How the battery policy will benefit swappable makers The governments policy on battery for electric vehicles (EV) seems to have divided the club of EV manufacturers right down to the middle. The policy, in a way, favours those EV manufacturers who have launched products with swappable battery options while leaving nothing for those who produce products with fixed batteries. As per the advisory the government has allowed registration of EVs without their batteries; giving an option of knocking off 30-40 percent of the vehicles price to the consumer. But this option is possible only for those vehicles (the advisory encompasses only electric two and three wheelers) which allow removing of the battery from the vehicle. Some of the popular electric two and three wheeler models come with fixed batteries and thus cannot benefit from the advisory. This puts them at a direct price disadvantage with their competitors, which could result in sales and market share loss. They also claim that fitment of the battery from anyone other than the vehicle manufacturer can create a safety risk. Mahesh Babu, MD & CEO, Mahindra Electric said, Up to the sale of the vehicle the OEM is responsible for the safety of the vehicle. A vehicle that is tested, manufactured and sold as an integrated vehicle and the OEM is responsible for the warranty. Either charging or swapping is post sale charge replenishing methods. Both can exist in the current framework. This move has not been thought through and the industry has not been consulted, Babu further claims that there is no other country which allows the sale of EVs without batteries. No country in the world allows the registration of EVs without battery. We will explain to the government that this notification has created confusion, Babu said. Mahindras electric three-wheelers use the fixed battery technology whereas the companys rival Piaggio uses the swapping technology. Charging time required for a Mahindra Treo is nearly four hours but for a Piaggio Ape E-city its under 10 mins through swapping. Similarly the i-Qube electric scooter made by Chennai-based TVS Motor Company comes with a non-removable battery, just like many of the modern day smartphones. This does not allow the owner to extract the battery and take it home for charging unlike the option provided by its TVSs competitors. Okinawa, for instance, has released a series of scooters whose batteries can be detached and removed from the vehicle for charging. This allows Okinawa to sell its products without the batteries. EV makers will eventually have to fall in line if there is no rethink on the governments plan. Switching to a swappable battery option from fixed battery technology is not undoable for the vehicle makers. Hero MotoCorp-backed start-up Ather Energy presently does not offer any battery swapping technology on its scooters. However the company says it is ready to make the switch. Tarun Mehta, CEO and Co-Founder, Ather Energy said, The policy lowers the upfront cost that the consumer has to pay and allows OEMs to build superior products at an affordable price point. Based on our learning, it will likely take some time for consumers to understand and adopt this model of ownership, but in the long run it will be a big boost to the Indian EV industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 74th Independence day address, is likely to highlight the achievements of the government, including India's response and management to ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the need of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan to revive the country's economy. This will be Modi's seventh address to the nation from Red Fort since he became the Prime Minister of India in 2014. PM Modi's speech will be broadcasted live by the country's public broadcaster Doordarshan. His speech is expected to start from 7:30 am after the hoisting of the national flag. The PM's address will also be streamed live on the Press Information Bureau's YouTube channel and its official Twitter page. Also Read: 74th Independence Day Live: PM Modi set to address nation from Red Fort today Modi is expected to touch upon several achievements of the government in his speech. Officials were quoted as saying it is expected to include the government's role in the management of coronavirus pandemic, the new National Education Policy 2020 and measures to revive the economy. PM Modi is also expected to speak about probable launch of an indigenous coronavirus vaccine. The Centre has asserted that despite the rise in total number of cases, India's response to the pandemic is marked by a high recovery rate and low fatality rate, putting it in a much better position than other countries. His address also comes days after Modi on August 5 performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of a Supreme Court-mandated Ram temple in Ayodhya, bringing to fruition the BJP's 'mandir movement' that defined its politics for three decades and took it to the heights of power. It also comes amid the border standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the eastern Ladakh. India and China have been holding diplomatic and military talks on disengagement of troops from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh. There is also anticipation of more reform measures with the government having already announced measures in various sectors, including agriculture and defence, to realise the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Political watchers believe that Modi may also touch upon his government's initiatives for Jammu and Kashmir. Also Read: Independence Day 2020: When, where to watch PM Modi's speech live Over 4,000 people including diplomats, officials and media personnel have been invited for the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort and it is being organised maintaining a balance between dignity of the event and factoring in COVID-19 protocols, the defence ministry said on Friday. Previously, Modi had chosen the Independence Day to make some big ticket announcements regarding government policies and schemes - be it the government's flagship Jan Dhan Yojana or the Start Up India initiative. Delivering his seventh straight Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the call for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) has captured people's imagination and become a "mantra" for everyone, as he pushed for raising India's share in global economy. For how long India will keep exporting raw materials and import finished products, Modi said in his address to the nation on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, and asked citizens to prepare themselves for a self-reliant India. He also listed out a number of reform measures undertaken by his government which has resulted in a record Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country last year. The prime minister began his address by paying tributes to freedom fighters and security forces while also remembering Aurobindo Ghose, a freedom fighter and spiritual philosopher whose birth anniversary falls today. Also read: 74th Independence Day Live: PM Modi warns China, says gave a befitting reply in Ladakh Hailing 'corona warriors', including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who have been continuously fighting the coronavirus pandemic, he said, the country will achieve victory over coronavirus with the resolve of its over 130 crore citizens. In the midst of coronavirus pandemic, Indians resolve to become self-reliant, the prime minister said, adding this is not a word but mantra for all people. Speaking of self-reliant India, he said many concerns are raised about it and acknowledged challenges ahead but asserted that there are "crores of solutions" offered by the country's citizens to "lakhs of challenges". Vocal for local should be the mantra of the free India, he said. Also read: PM Modi's I-Day speech vocal for local, heavy on 'Atma Nirbhar' India He said his government has freed farmers of their contraints, and they can now trade their products freely at their terms. India's freedom struggle, he said, became a challenge to forces of expansionism while attempts were made for hundreds of years by various rulers to root out India's culture and traditions. Christian wedding photographer cant be forced to work same-sex weddings, judge rules Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge in Kentucky has ruled that the city of Louisville cannot force a Christian photographer to work same-sex weddings because the Constitution does not require a choice between gay rights and freedom of speech. U.S. District Judge Justin R. Walker on Friday ruled that Chelsey Nelson, a wedding photographer and blogger who is a Christian, can refuse to photograph and blog celebratory messages about same-sex weddings, according to the Christian legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom. As per a local ordinance, as interpreted by Louisville officials, Nelson would face substantial penalties, including damages, court orders and compliance reports, if she declined to serve a gay couple. However, the court held, Just as gay and lesbian Americans cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth, neither can Americans with a deep faith that requires them to do things passing legislative majorities might find unseemly or uncouth. They are members of the community too. The court wrote, And under our Constitution, the government cant force them to march for, or salute in favor of, or create an artistic expression that celebrates, a marriage that their conscience doesnt condone. America is wide enough for those who applaud same-sex marriage and those who refuse to. It further stated, The Constitution does not require a choice between gay rights and freedom of speech. It demands both. The court also denied the citys request to throw out the lawsuit. In February, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest with the court supporting Nelson and her artistic freedom. Nelson only photographs weddings between one man and one woman due to her Christian belief, which the ordinance wouldnt allow, according to city officials. Under the law, Chelsey cannot explain to clients and potential clients how her religious beliefs on marriage affect the artistic choices she makes. She cant even include those beliefs on her website or social media sites. This interpretation of the law is a violation of Chelseys constitutionally protected free speech and freedom of religion, ADF said in a statement. And it should concern everyone who values the rights we have in America to live and work consistently with our beliefs free from government punishment. ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs argued before the court, saying: Just like every American, photographers and writers like Chelsey should be free to peacefully live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust punishment by the government. The court was right to halt enforcement of Louisvilles law against Chelsey while her case moves forward. She serves everyone. She simply cannot endorse or participate in ceremonies she objects to, and the city has no right to eliminate the editorial control she has over her own photographs and blogs. ADF said, If the government can tell us what to think, what to do, and what to say, then we do not live in a free America. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The 20-year-old man accused of shoving a 7-year-old girl to the pavement in New Dorp told police he did so because the childs mother gave him a glare on the train, authorities say. Vondell Cox, who police say is homeless, started following the 41-year-old mom, who was walking with her two children, 7 and 10, in New Dorp Monday afternoon, according to the criminal complaint. India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist Independence Day 2020: COVID-19 precautions put in place India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the crowd at Red Fort will be far less. It has been a major challenge for the Defence Ministry to put in place the arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations this year. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News The sanctity and dignity of the national event are being factored in while also ensuring precautions relating to the pandemic. Display boards are being placed to attract the attention of the invitees about the precautions that would need to be maintained. Further, all invitees have been told to wear masks. There are also masks being kept handy for distribution at the various points at the venue. Independence Day 2020: India will give befitting reply if enemy attacks us: Rajnath Singh The government has issued 4,000 invites for the event. Participation is only through invitation and those who do not have the formal invites have been asked to refrain from coming to the venue. At the entrance, there would be thermal screening and in the run up to the event, regular sanitisation is being carried out. Several medical booths have also been put in place. These booths would cater to those who are detected to having any symptoms relating to COVID-19. The government has also put in place several ambulances. The members of the Guard of Honour have been under quarantine to ensure safety. The seating enclosures and walkways have been laid with wooden flooring and carpeting to ensure seamless movement of the guests and also avoid crowding. On the invitation cards, a special advisory to follow the guidelines has been issued. In addition to this an orderly dispersal plan has also been put in place. Zareen Khan says people still assume Salman Khan helps her find work: "I cannot be a monkey on his back" When Wexford filmmaker and musician, Michael Benson, travelled to America in March he expected it would be a two-week trip that would see him perform some intimate gigs and get in a bit of film work while he was there. However, what transpired was an extended time in the country as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that saw Michael having to remain there until late in June. Speaking to this newspaper he said that, on a personal level, the extended stay was beneficial to him - his partner, Nicole Watts, is American. He arrived in America on March 11, and had shows booked including a sold-out show to begin with. However, two days before then everything went on lockdown but it didn't stop him from exercising his creative side and on March 15, he was filming for Foothills Dressage and Combined Riding Show. 'We managed to join the last tour to visit Builtmore Estate before it too closed,' said Michael. While the gig schedule was affected by lockdown over the following weeks Michael undertook a lot of film work and directed and shot TV ads for an equine dressage trainer, equine chiropractor and equine acupressure and massage. 'I was also invited to be the official videographer for the Harmon Classics show,' said Michael. The latter is one of the most prestigious equine events on the American continent. He also shot material at Tryon International Equestrian Centre, where the World Equestrian Games were held and he held a pre-production meeting for a feature film biopic that has now moved in to the second stage of production. 'It's a feature about the world of stand-up comedy and what life is like for stand-up comedians away from the stage,' said Michael. Michael plans to return to the USA in October and already has five filming jobs scheduled for that month. Before returning to Ireland, Michael was able to fulfil music engagements in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and an invitation only performance in Florida. 'I sold out of CDs for the trip with one man paying $100 for one without asking for change,' he said. Michael also received extensive radio play on country music stations and was invited in as guest of the day at WZLA out of Abbyville. Bill Priestap, then-assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 12, 2018. (Jennifer Zeng/The Epoch Times) Senate Judiciary Chairman Referring Former FBI Counterintelligence Chief to John Durham Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is turning over information to U.S. Attorney John Durham regarding the potential criminal actions of a former FBI official involved in the investigation of Donald Trumps 2016 campaign. Bill Priestap was 1 of 5 FBI employees who briefed the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2018, Graham said Aug. 14, accusing the briefers of completely whitewashing the truth about the reliability of the dossier. Ex-British spy Christopher Steele compiled second- and third-hand information into a dossier that appears to have been used by intelligence officials to spy on Trumps campaign. The dossier was paid for by the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of Hillary Clinton, Trumps Democrat rival. None of the allegations against Trump in the dossier were proven, and many have been dismissed in the following years. Grahams committee released a partially-classified FBI interview with Steeles primary source in July, further undermining the dossiers credibility. Graham said the information about Priestap is headed to Durham. What Im going to do with this is turn it over to Durham because I think the briefing in 2018, a year after the subsource told the FBI the dossier was a bunch of garbage, whitewashing that report to the Senate Intel Committee is potentially another crime, Graham said during an appearance on Fox News Sean Hannity. So, Im going to send all of this to Durham when I get it. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing to examine the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Aug. 5, 2020. (Carolyn Kaster/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) John Durham, left, is sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven, Connecticut, on Feb. 22, 2018. (Courtesy of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut) Graham described Priestap as one of the leaders of Crossfire Hurricane, the Trump campaign investigation. He said he was told by FBI Director Christopher Wray that Priestap briefed senators on the dossier. Durham, tasked in 2019 with reviewing how the FBI handled its probe into Trumps campaign, charged a former FBI attorney earlier on Aug. 14. Kevin Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty to willfully altering the content of an email. He allegedly changed an email from the CIA stating that Carter Page, a former Trump campaign associate, was a known CIA source, to saying that Page was not a source for the CIA. An FBI special agent who received the email used it to get permission from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to spy on Page. What this lawyer did is a really big deal. We have to trust the system. Theres got to be a certain amount of trust. This is a lawyer, a man of the law, a member of the bar, who took it upon himself to falsify a document to keep an investigation going that should have been stopped, Graham said. Something tells me that Mr. Clinesmith knows where the bodies are buried, and if I were in the FBI working on Crossfire Hurricane, Id be very worried about right now. Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. CASPER, Wyo. (AP) A landowners organization in Wyoming has filed an appeal last week challenging a decision by environmental regulators to grant a mining permit to a coal technology firm. The Powder River Basin Resource Council submitted the appeal to the state's Environmental Quality Council, petitioning for a hearing after Ramaco Carbon was given approval to dig for coal at a former mine eight miles (13 kilometers) outside Sheridan, the Casper Star-Tribune reported. The group claims the submitted mining permit application lacked an adequate subsidence control plan and full traffic plan for haul roads, reported inconsistent coal production estimates and failed to comply with other requirements under state law. Some nearby landowners are concerned mining in the area could have consequences on the environment, recreational opportunities and public safety in the Tongue River Valley. Ramaco Carbon CEO Randall Atkins defended the integrity of the permit, saying it was subject to eight years of both independent review and now two separate approvals by state regulators. "This of course creates another round of time consuming and costly review which costs Wyoming taxpayers and delays creation of Wyoming jobs," he said, adding that the company anticipates employing up to 40 employees when mine initially opens. The state Department of Environmental Quality issued the permit last month to Brook Mining Company LLC, a subsidiary of Ramaco Carbon, with 12 conditions. The department is reviewing the appeal. Department spokesman Keith Guille declined to comment further. CAVE-IN-ROCK (AP) What a difference a couple of centuries can make. Today, several hundred thousand tourists a year flock to the tiny Ohio River village of Cave-In-Rock to visit the massive cave carved out of the limestone bluffs by the river. Even the most claustrophobic person would have little difficulty stepping inside the 55-foot-wide opening. The cave is located in a state park that bears its name in Hardin County. Its history wasnt always so inviting. A 2015 article in Atlas Obscura, headlined A Cave of Villainy on the Ohio River, paints a dark picture of the cave that was discovered by French explorer M. De Lery in 1739. He called the cave caverne dans Le Roc. The article makes it clear that the cave wasnt a tourist attraction for pioneers and settlers heading west in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Almost immediately after the cave was discovered it became a wretched hive of scum and villainy, the article states. From around 1790, Cave In Rock was base camp for a group of river pirates who would ambush flatboats carrying cargo down the Ohio River. Pirates, bandits, fugitives and murderers used the cave as a sort of hideout and handout where they could scheme, gamble, drink and even kill. Samuel Mason, a notorious river pirate, established a tavern in the cave that lured in travelers as they passed by. Other notable outlaws who operated out of the cave were murderers Micajah and Wiley Harpe, known as Big and Little Harpe. A 2011 article in The Southern Illinoisan said, The Harpe brothers spread killing and despair wherever they went. Legend also says the Sturdivant Gang, a group of counterfeiters, used the cave. And, local legend has it that Jesse James once took refuge there. The Atlas Obscura article said a group of local vigilantes known as The Exterminators cleaned up the cave and surrounding area in 1799. Occasionally, the cave was used again for nefarious purposes, but by the mid-1800s the cave was being used for church services, and the town of Cave-In-Rock was formed. In 1929, the State of Illinois purchased 64.5 acres of land that included the cave, which now serves as the centerpiece for the state park. Currently, the state owns about 235 acres surrounding the cave. In 1962, part of the epic Hollywood production How The West Was Won was shot at Cave-In-Rock. It portrayed the piracy and thievery conducted at the cave. The movie cast reads like a whos who of 1960s Hollywood Debbie Reynolds, George Peppard, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Carolyn Jones, Gregory Peck, Robert Preston, Eli Wallach, Henry Fonda, Karl Malden, Walter Brennan, Richard Widmark, Andy Devine, Harry Morgan and Raymond Massey all appeared in the film. The scene is much different today, as families leisurely stroll through the cave and enjoy picnic lunches atop the 60-foot bluffs that overlook the river. The mouth of the cave is guarded by the nests of cliff swallows, who dart above the river collecting insects to feed their young. The swallows are usually in the area from about April through mid-August. The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is another feature that draws in tourists. The ferry is vital to residents, running from early in the morning until about 10 p.m., taking cars, trucks and motorcycles to the Kentucky side and back. The nearest Kentucky town is Marion. There is no fee for riding the ferry. Many visitors to Cave-In-Rock ride the ferry simply for the experience of crossing the Ohio River by boat. Humans are, as a species, hardwired to explore. We conquered the planet thanks to untold generations of people needing to see what lay over the next hill or around the next river bend and our infatuation with the stars is no different weve wondered about worlds beyond our own since our days as hunter-gatherers. In The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy's Vanishing Explorers, author Emily Levesque shines a light on todays astronomers, a hearty breed of scientist willing to endure uncomfortable work conditions, odd hours, and some of the most remote sites on the planet for a chance to unlock the secrets of the cosmos. In the excerpt below, Levesque recalls the time a volcanic eruption in Washington state derailed a sky survey in Hawaii and led to one of the most epic log entries in scientific history. Sourcebooks Excerpted from The Last Stargazers by Emily Levesque, published by Sourcebooks. Reprinted with permission. All other rights reserved. Every observer whos spent any time in Chile has been through at least one small earthquake. Telescopes actually have something of an interesting quirk when it comes to these tremors: theyre pointed so incredibly carefully and kept so incredibly still that even the tiniest and earliest shake of an earthquake can show up dramatically in the view of the telescope. I remember sitting at a telescope when the operator suddenly exclaimed Oh! Theres about to be an earthquake, a solid second or two before the whole building gave a brief but noticeable rumble. Hed seen the bright star he was using to guide the telescope go skittering right off his computer screen as the incredibly sensitive instrument showed the first signs of being jostled. Since telescopes are specifically designed to be robust against this sort of disruption, the star returned to the dead center of the camera as soon as the shaking stopped, and observations calmly resumed. That said, back in the days of prime focus observing, a few astronomers in California recalled observing mid-earthquake and getting stuck in the prime focus cage for several hours. George Wallerstein explained to me that common practice on these summits was to send the firefighterswho were at least close enough to respond in Californiato the biggest telescope first, all in the service of science. Finally, even volcanoes can get in on the action at some observatories. Telescopes on Mauna Kea have occasionally encountered a phenomenon known as vog, a portmanteau of volcano and smog. Eruptions in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park can sometimes send substantial amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which can mix with condensation to create a mildly acidic fog and lead to lower humidity tolerances for the telescopes. In May 2018, a sizable eruption from Kilauea, Hawaiis most active volcano, was captured by webcams on the Mauna Kea summit. Fortunately, the ash from the eruption was blown away from the mountain, and despite vog concerns leading to lowered humidity tolerances at the telescopes, observations were largely able to continue as scheduled. Since Mauna Kea is situated less than thirty miles from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you might think someone there would be able to lay claim to best volcano observing story. However, this particular distinction most definitely belongs to Doug Geisler. Doug was a graduate student at the University of Washington, and on May 17, 1980, he spent an exquisite night observing at Manastash Ridge Observatory in central Washington. He was alone on the mountain and taking his very first night of data for his PhD thesis, observing billion-year-old stars in the Milky Way. Early the following morning, he wrapped up observing, closed and covered the telescope as usual, and headed to the nearby dormitory, ready for some solid rest and another fruitful night of science the next day. A few hours into his night, around 8:30 a.m., Doug woke up, convinced hed heard something: a distant low boom or rumble or similar. With nothing apparently amiss, he went back to sleep. He dreamed about the end of the world. Sometime later, he woke up again and began to prepare for a standard astronomers morning: a midday breakfast and a quiet afternoon on a clear-aired sunny mountain. He immediately noticed that something was a bit off: no hint of light was leaking in around the light-blocking curtains in his room. A bit surprised, wondering if hed epically overslept or if the weather had taken a surprise turn for the worse, he checked his watchnoonand then decided to take a look outside. The dormitory door swung open to reveal, at what should have been high noon, pitch-black darkness and a distinct sour brimstone smell in the air. Even armed with a flashlight, he couldnt see more than ten feet in front of him. It was a warm, silent, still dayexcept the daylight was gone. Dougs first assumption was that there had been a nuclear attack or some similar sort of epic disaster. He was only half-wrong. That morning, Mount St. Helens, ninety miles west of Manastash Ridge, had erupted, blowing a plume of ash more than fifteen miles high in the most destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history. The distant sound Doug had heard earlier than morning was likely either the initial twenty-six megaton blast or a deafening secondary explosion produced when superheated material from the volcano instantly vaporized nearby bodies of water into steam. In the hours since the eruption, prevailing winds had carried the bulk of the volcanic plume to the east, right over the observatory and right over Doug. Like any well-trained observer, Doug kept careful night logs of his observing experiences on the mountain, noting how each night at the telescope had gone, any hours lost to weather or technical problems, and details such as temperature, clouds, and sky conditions. Usually, these logs were used by astronomers to remind themselves of the details of the night and by the observatory staff to keep track of any potential problems. Dougs log entry 6 from that day on the mountain has become the stuff of legend: MEXICO CITY - Prosecutors in northern Mexico say that gunmen have killed a son of legendary drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes. The father, better known by his nickname,The Lord of The Skies, for his habit of transporting shipments of drugs on jet airliners, died in a botched plastic surgery in 1997. Prosecutors in the northern state of Sinaloa said Friday that his son, Julio Cesar Carrillo, was found shot to death at a house in the city of Novolato. The killing apparently happened on Thursday. After the death of the elder Carrillo Fuentes, his brothers and some sons continued operating the Juarez drug cartel, based in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas. For years, the Juarez cartel was locked in a turf war with the rival Sinaloa cartel, which had pushed into Chihuahua state. But in recent years, the Juarez cartels armed enforcement wing, known as La Linea, has split off and began operating on its own. No suspects or motive in the killing were immediately announced. Read more about: Singing Taylor Swift songs and watching shooting stars sustained cousins Ellen Glynn, 17, and Sara Feeney, 23, during their 15-hour survival battle in the cold waters off Galway Bay. I think I know every line of Taylor Swift we sang them all, Ellen told the Irish Examiner, speaking from her ward at University Hospital Galway. The cousins were swept by a 20-knot wind some 17 nautical miles out to sea while paddleboarding in Galway Bay. Wearing only bikinis and with buoyancy aids on their paddleboards, Ellen recalled how they passed the seemingly endless hours in the darkness waiting for rescuers. "We would each talk about what wed do when we get home. So I would say I was really looking forward to a hot shower and getting into comfy pyjamas, Ellen said. Then it began lashing rain and it was freezing cold and we lay down on the boards, which we had strapped together early on, and we saw shooting stars which were really amazing, she said. Read More Covid-19 cases increase nationally but vary geographically What I would really like to do is to thank the hundreds of people who came out on boats, planes, in helicopters, on foot, and said prayers and lit candles and raised the alarm on social media." Ellen said that both a helicopter and a vessel were close enough to light up the sea around them. There was lightning and heavy rain, and the waves became bigger and the pair were shivering uncontrollably, she said. When sun rose, visibility was poor but as the fog lifted, they realised just how far they had been swept, with the Cliffs of Mother just south of them, the Aran island of Inis Oirr to the north, and the Atlantic to the west. I had thought we were being carried into Galway, but we were being swept in the opposite direction, Ellen said. When Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan located them on their Johnny O vessel at around midday on Thursday, some two to three nautical miles south-west of Inis Oirr, Ellen said they told the two men that they thought no one was looking" for them. And they said do you know how many people are out looking for you'"? she said laughing. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is not ambiguous in America, an employer cannot discriminate based upon race, color, sex, religion, or country of national origin. Sandia National Laboratories is not just any employer. Its one of only three National Nuclear Security Administration research and development laboratories in the United States and, as such, is subject to the Civil Rights Act via 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16. That proscription against discrimination, however, did not stop Sandia from sending its white, male executives, and only its white male executives, to a three-day-long mandatory training session aimed at telling them that, as white males, they are allies of the KKK, the Aryan nation, MAGA, and mass killings. Christopher Rufo, who is now a repository for information about government discrimination against whites generally and white men specifically, has the specifics of a three-day abuse session aimed at ensuring that the white executives at Sandia National Laboratories understand that they are evil and can try to make amends only by admitting their complicity in an inherently racist system. Frankly, the program materials are sickening and remember that you, the taxpayer, funded this: Last year, Sandia National Laboratorieswhich designs America's nuclear weaponssent its white male executives to the La Posada luxury resort to undergo a mandatory training called "White Men's Caucus on Eliminating Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia in Organizations." pic.twitter.com/fcxlWrKD4d Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 In the opening thought-work session, the trainers demand that the men make a list of associations about white male culture. The trainers write "white supremacists," "KKK," "Aryan Nation," "MAGA hat," "privileged," and "mass killings." pic.twitter.com/TUKARqvoar Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 The trainers insist that white males must "work hard to understand" their "white privilege," "male privilege," and "heterosexual privilege." They claim that white men benefit from positive stereotypes that "far outweigh the Tim McVeighs and Ted Kaczynskis of white maleness." pic.twitter.com/FyKW1ynz4G Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 Next, the white male employees must expose the "roots of white male culture," which consists of "rugged individualism," "a can-do attitude," "hard work," and "striving towards success"which sound good, but are in fact "devastating" to women and POCs. pic.twitter.com/saVYdG6bHJ Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 In fact, the trainers claim that "white male culture" leads to "lowered quality of life at work and home, reduced life expectancy, unproductive relationships, and high stress." It also forces this "white male standard" on women and minorities. pic.twitter.com/xVIkMXwbBG Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 In a subsequent session, the white males must publicly recite a series of "white privilege statements" and "male privilege statements." They must accept their complicity in the white male system and their role in creating oppressions. pic.twitter.com/egIchSLwWd Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 Finally, as the reeducation camp concludes, the white males must write letters "directed to white women, people of color, and other groups regarding the meaning of this Caucus experience." They apologize for their "privilege" and pledge to become "better [allies]." pic.twitter.com/LZIB22CpYc Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 Who is leading the struggle session? A company called "White Men As Full Diversity Partners." This is no joketheir company is literally called White Men As Full Diversity Partners and they specialize in confronting those who "typically hold all the power": namely, "white males." pic.twitter.com/dMNu8XHZYw Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 It's time to expose this taxpayer-funded pseudoscience and rally the White House and legislators to stop these deeply divisive training sessions. My goal is simple: we must pass legislation to "abolish critical race theory" in the federal government. Let's push as far as we can. Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 P.S. Here are the full documents from Sandia National Laboratories' training on "white privilege" and "white male culture."https://t.co/tQOnYGjixr Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 P.P.S. Many of you have asked how you can support this series of investigations. I'm rallying an army of $5 and $10 monthly donorsI'd love to have you on my team.https://t.co/GpeTTG6wV4 Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 13, 2020 Just a couple of comments. First, while it would be lovely to think that the men forced to attend these seminars gave the presenters a giant Eff You, we know thats not what they did. These seminars attack middle class people with mortgages, college funds, and retirement plans that is, obligations to their families. Theyre going to accept this bovine fecal matter meekly because their obligations trump their pride. Second, on Thursday, the Department of Justice notified Yale University that it was violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by openly discriminating against Asian and white candidates for admission. Now its time for the Department of Justice to turn its focus inwards and start cleaning out the Augean Stables of the bloated, corrupt federal administration. Image: Panchen Lama during a struggle session in 1964. Author unknown; Public Domain in China, where the image originated DALLAS - A report released by Dallas police on their response to protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis outlines changes the department plans to make, including who can authorize the use of tear gas and how to train for incidents involving mass arrests. Dallas police released the report late Friday, detailing the first four nights of protests that began May 29 following the death days earlier of Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyds neck. Floyds death sparked protests around the globe against racial injustice and police brutality. The report found that Dallas police leaders struggled with operational plans, communication and keeping a unified command structure amid the downtown protests. Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall said in a meeting Friday with The Dallas Morning News editorial board prior to the reports release that it highlights mistakes. Whatever we do as a police department, well acknowledge it, well fix it, and move forward, Hall said. The report says that officers for the first two days of protests didnt have clear rules of engagement. The report also noted training shortcomings by commanders who struggled to make rapid decisions. Images taken of events that weekend showed violent demonstrations resulting in chaos just hours after a peaceful protest began. The report says that the department is investigating about 50 use-of-force complaints during the four days with help from the Office of Community Police Oversight. In those four days, two people and six officers reported serious injuries, the report said. A police horse was seriously injured. Three police vehicles were burned and many others were vandalized. Hall told the newspaper that shes already made some policy changes after reflecting on the departments response. She formalized a duty-to-intervene policy, which requires officers who witness misconduct to stop and report it. She also issued a department order limiting the use of pepper-ball weapons and other less-lethal ammunition in crowd control. Delhi Universitys political science students were left baffled on Friday after they received a mock examination paper instead of the real paper during their online open book exam. Final year students of BA (Honours) Political Science said that at 11.30 am, when they logged into the portal, they found a question paper and they started solving it only to realise later that it was the question paper that was given to them during mock exams. They claimed that the correct question paper was only uploaded at 12 pm. A student, requesting anonymity, said, I received a question paper on mail which I attempted from 11:30 am and was able to mail the same to obescript@exam.du.ac.in by 3:32 pm. I did not check my phone during the entire time, as I was writing my paper. Around 3:40 pm through messages on the formal class group I realised that the paper I attempted was not the one and another paper was uploaded on the website at around 12 pm, of which I was not aware, the student said. Another student of Kalindi College wrote to the varsity sharing the same grievance. The area I live in has network issues so I logged out from the portal after downloading the question paper. When I logged in to the portal to upload my answer sheet I found that the question paper had been changed, a student wrote. Students of BA Programme in School Of Open Learning reported that they again received question papers of two different subjects. The university wrote to them informing that they should only attempt the paper they opted for. According to Delhi Universitys Dean of Colleges Balaram Pani, the students were given additional time for finishing their answers. When asked what will happen to the students who answered the mock exam question paper, he said the Grievance Committee will be looking into the matter and they will be given a second chance. Over one lakh students took the exam on Friday, said another official from the varsity. The varsity said that it has opted for the online open book examinations as a one-time measure in view of the COVID-19 situation for final year students. In a statement issued on Thursday, the varsity said that in the last four days, students have successfully attempted and submitted their answer scripts on the OBE portal of DU. Some of our students, who at present are in remote/ far-flung areas have submitted their answer scripts via the option of email available to them. Students with special needs have also been given the option to send answer scripts by email, it said. Cumulative data shows that the number of papers attempted by regular students is 1,10,085, while for Non Collegiate Womens Education Board (NCWEB) and School of Open Learning (SOL) it is 1,54,142 on the OBE portal. The answer scripts submitted by regular students are 82,496 on the OBE portal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Montgomery County Animal Shelter is still operating through appointments and continues to have success is finding shelter animals forever homes. In March following the announcement of the first COVID-19 cases in the county, the shelter began limiting its intake of animals but soon moved to an appointment only system. Adoptions and intakes are going well, said MCAS Assistant Director Mark Wysocki adding the appointment system allows the staff to manage the number of people in the building. The rescue and foster groups have really stepped up to pull from the shelter to transport and adopt locally. While the shelter cant host a large adoption event, Wysocki said they are doing a clear the shelter event and have waived all adoption fees through the month of August. Foster: Foster Clinic times and days will remain the same. If you come to the foster clinic, stay in your vehicle or maintain social distancing outside of the facility and check into the wait list at https://app.waitwhile.com/welcome/mcasfoster. The wait list becomes available for sign in only during the scheduled days and times. If you have any urgent needs please contact Foster.Coordinator@mctx.org. Sign up for a foster appointment at https://app.waitwhile.com/book/mcasfostering. Adopt: To adopt an animal, go to https://app.waitwhile.com/book/mcasadoption to schedule a time. The shelter will be doing fee waived adoptions to eliminate the handling of cash and credit card terminals during this time. Volunteer: Volunteers who are already volunteering with MCAS will still be able to volunteer. Keep in contact with Volunteer.Coordinator@mctx.org as well as scheduling your volunteering time on the online portal. The shelter will limit the number of volunteers on property. Please note that if you come to the shelter you may be required to answer some screening questions before being allowed to enter the shelter. Wellness: The Wellness Center will still be operating as normal by appointment. Staff will be asking people to be diligent in practicing social distancing when they are at the facility. To book an appointment for wellness please visit, https://app.waitwhile.com/book/wellnessmcas If you are interested in fostering or adopting one of these pups you can contact the shelter at shelter.counter@mctx.org and/or schedule an appointment. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Polarized is a weekly series featuring Americans from all 50 states sharing their views on the 2020 elections. Click here if you would like to be a part of this project Gloria Jean Matzig plans to vote in the presidential elections this year by casting an absentee ballot from Germany, where she has lived for more than 30 years. It will be her 10th time voting by mail. That is, as she says, if all goes well. The 72-year-old independent voter was born in Pineville, Kentucky, and has moved around quite a bit over the years. Her family moved to 20 different suburbs by the time she was in fourth grade, before eventually settling in Fairborn, Ohio, when they could afford a house. Her father, like nearly everyone else in the neighborhood, worked for General Motors, while her mom worked in the cafeteria at her local high school. After two marriages and having spent several chapters of her life living in a variety of cities across the country, including everywhere from Denver in Colorado to Burlington in Vermont, Matzig settled down with her significant other, who she has been with since 1988, in Aachen, Germany. Ill probably die in Germany because the health insurance in America is out of my financial reach, she says. As a young wife, Matzig registered as a Republican under her first husbands influence, she says, before she switched to become an independent voter. She has voted for both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each time relying on both the German and the American postal systems. My ballots were delivered safely and securely every time, she says. This year, Matzig says shes extremely concerned about newly announced changes to the US Postal Service (USPS). We spoke shortly after Donald Trump appointed a new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, a major Republican donor with zero experience in the postal service. DeJoy has announced sweeping changes to the USPS ahead of the November vote, including cutting overtime hours for many employees and withholding mail if local post offices are understaffed. Story continues DeJoy has recently set some new procedures in place which Im sure are designed and maybe even were proposed by [Trumps] White House staff to slow down delivery of the US mail, Matzig says, thereby endangering the entire American election process. She plans to support former vice president Joe Biden in his bid to unseat Trump, citing the Republican incumbents bad leadership, mismanagement... and despicable personality traits displayed throughout his tenure in the Oval Office. But she worries about the safety of voting under Trump, at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has already killed more than 165,000 Americans and appears to be worsening in some states. Matzig says the alleged deliberate slow down caused by new procedures and budget limits set by DeJoy could sabotage our November election by slowing deliveries and then calling ballots too late to be counted. Check out more of The Independents series, Polarized: Voices From Across America But the independent voter also worries about other issues she sees as having been exacerbated under Trump, from the tariff war with China to GOP-led attacks on healthcare access for millions of Americans. Matzig was upset about the presidents staged photo opportunity amid peaceful protests in Washington DC earlier this year, in which she says Trump used religion as a political tool after an incident of teargassing and forcibly removing peaceful protesters by federal agents. Still, she says, perhaps above all, her main concern is ensuring every American has a safe and secure way to vote come November. It has never before in the entire history of the USA been more important than it is now for Americans to be allowed to vote by mailing in their ballots to their local boards of election, she says. Even in times of the two world wars, people were always able to safely send in their votes from our overseas military personnel, and American expats everywhere, for instance. Matzig concludes: Because of the extreme danger of contracting the virus, all Americans need to be able to rely on the United States Postal Service and voting by mail. Read more Polarized: Meet the former Trump voter supporting Biden in 2020 Meet the Utah Trump supporter running for congress in 2020 Trumps coronavirus briefings convinced this voter to turn to Biden AKRON, Ohio An 8-year-old girl was shot and killed during a gathering of teenagers at an Ohio home, authorities said. Akron police said several shots were fired shortly before midnight Friday in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood. The girl was found wounded and was taken to Akron Childrens Hospital, where she later died, police said. Police said there was a large gathering of teenagers at the home and it appeared that the shots were fired from outside the residence. The girls name wasnt immediately released. The Summit County medical examiners office plans an autopsy. No arrests were immediately reported. 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 Advertisement Chaos erupted in Portland for a 79th consecutive night on Friday after police declared an unlawful assembly during a peaceful demonstration and stormed a protester shield line, beating people with batons. About 300 protesters had gathered in the city's Peninsula Park around 9pm for a peaceful march across North Portland that was expected to end at the Police Association building on N Lombard Street. But even before demonstrators could begin heading toward their destination, cops - changing tactics from the previous nights - cut off access to the streets leading to the police union headquarters. Minutes into the march, the crowd was met with a line of police officers dressed in riot gear and squad cars blocking their path, ordering them to disperse. Scroll down for video Dozens of police officers dressed in riot gear clashed with a group of about 300 to 400 protesters in North Portland on Friday night after declaring an unlawful assembly Cops sprang into action, using crowd control methods including tear gas, to disperse demonstrators after a standoff Four Portland police officers arrest a protester during crowd dispersal near Mississippi Avenue on Friday Protesters retreat up a residential street after police blocked the road, only to be faced with another line of cops in riot gear Cops told demonstrators they could not continue their march because the street was open to traffic and threatened to use tear gas or other crowd-control methods if they did not leave. Protesters however, stood their ground and faced off with cops for about 20 minutes, according to Oregon Live. Activists standing on the frontline held up their handmade wooden shields, emblazoned with the Black Lives Matter logo of a raised fist. Others in the crowd were heard chanting as one man played the drums. Protests eventually switched gears and retreated up a residential street to continue their march, only to be met by another two dozen cops blocking their path, resulting in another standoff. By 10pm, police declared an unlawful assembly, saying people in the crowd had thrown 'paint bombs and other projectiles' at officers, however one reporter on the ground disputed this, saying they were 'paint balloons.' Another journalist said some had hurled water bottles and a 'white liquid' at police, according to Oregon Live. Officers were seen rushing the crowd, hitting some protesters with batons as they ordered them to clear the area. The incident quickly escalated into violence and chaos, with some setting nearby dumpsters on fire. Portland police walk past a dumpster fire during a crowd dispersal. The Portland Police Bureau changed tactics Friday night, blocking streets well before the protest of about 400 people could reach the Portland Police Association building Activists standing on the frontline held up their handmade wooden shields, emblazoned with the Black Lives Matter logo of a raised fist Tabitha Poppins, a regular attendee of Portland's nightly protests, plays a drum while roughly 400 people faced off with police At least one person was arrested during the clash. Police were also seen setting off smoke canisters to disperse crowds. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty responded to a video of the scene on Twitter describing cops' actions as 'brutality' and 'unacceptable.' 'This is the community the police are sworn to protect and serve. They must uphold Portlanders constitution rights,' she tweeted. Demonstrations, often violent, have happened nightly in Oregon's biggest city for more than two months following the killing of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis after a white officer pressed a knee to his neck. Wednesday night and early Thursday morning authorities say protesters set a fire and exploded commercial grade fireworks outside the downtown federal courthouse. Several officers were injured and two people were arrested. The protests in Portland last month outside the federal courthouse saw demonstrators clashing nightly with federal agents dispatched to the city to protect the facility. The demonstrations dwindled after a drawdown of the agents, who were replaced by Oregon state troopers. But protests turned violent over the last week, mostly near a police union headquarters building miles from the federal courthouse. A protester who declined to be named is treated by a street medic after being pepper sprayed by a Portland police officer From LoC to LAC, the World Has Seen What Our Soldiers Can Do: PM Modi's I-Day Warning to Pakistan and China The Indian Army has given a befitting reply to those who challenged the countrys sovereignty from LoC to LAC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, in a subtle dig at Pakistan and China. In his seventh straight Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, the prime minister said the country is fighting terrorism as well as expansionism with determination. READ MORE Former President Pranab Mukherjee Continues to be on Ventilator Support, Condition Unchanged: Hospital The condition of former president Pranab Mukherjee remained unchanged on Saturday and he continued to be on ventilator support, doctors attending on him said. They said his vital and clinical parameters are stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists. READ MORE PM Modi Breaks Taboo by Talking about Sanitary Napkins in I-Day Speech, Wins Hearts Online Breaking taboos, PM Modis I-Day speech from Delhi's Red Fort this morning highlighted the discussion around his government's policies towards women's empowerment and social media is all in praises. Through 6,000 Janaushadhi centres, about 5 crore women have got sanitary pads at "Re 1. Also, for their weddings, we have made committees so that the money can be used at the right time," he said. READ MORE DNA Tests Confirm Kabul Gurdwara Attacker was One-Time Kerala Resident Tests conducted by the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory in New Delhi have concluded that the men responsible for the March 25 suicide bombing of the Kabul gurdwara included one-time Kerala resident Muhammad Muhsin, government sources said. Blood samples from Muhsins mother Maimoona Abdulla were matched with tissue collected from the suicide-bombers remains by Afghan authorities, the sources said. READ MORE Russia Starts Production of Covid-19 Vaccine Even as Doctors Say it Lacks Sufficient Data Russia has started manufacturing its new vaccine for COVID-19, the Interfax news agency reported. However the move comes even as a survey of more than 3,000 medical professionals showed a majority of Russian doctors would not feel comfortable being injected with the vaccine due to the lack of sufficient data and super-fast approval. READ MORE Karan Johar Breaks Silence After 2 Months to Wish Happy Independence Day on Instagram Karan Johar has returned to social media with a post dedicated to Independence Day. His last post on Instagram was two months ago, on June 14, on the day of Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The filmmaker had quit social media in the face of heavy trolling after the death of Sushant reignited the nepotism debate in the industry. READ MORE It is not for sure when exactly will we see this device launching in India. If not for smartphones, Nokia has been making headlines for bringing back the feature phones with a modern twist. In June, the firm introduced Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone and now it looks like theres a new one coming soon. A mysterious feature phone with model number TA-1316 has reportedly been certified by US FCC. It has been mentioned that this handset will include 4G connectivity and support LTE 5, 7 and 38 bands. It is also said to be backed by a 1150mAh battery capacity with a rated power of 3.7Vdc. The listing adds that this unannounced Nokia TA-1316 feature phone will support dual SIM cards. The FCC also shows an illustration of the device. As per the image, the handset may have a single large square camera at the back along with Nokia branding and a mono speaker. It is not for sure when exactly will we see this device launching in India. FCC listing recently also hinted the existence of Nokia 2.4 smartphone. It suggests that Nokia 2.4 may have four variants with model numbers TA-1277, TA-1270, TA-1274, and TA-1275. Out of all these, the TA-1270 is said to be a dual-SIM version. Also shown is a 4,500mAh battery capacity. This is not the first time that Nokia 2.4 is spotted online. It showed up on Geekbench benchmarking as well last month, revealing octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor and 2GB RAM. Preliminary rumours add that Nokia 2.4 may also come with a 6.5-inch HD+ notch with 19:9 aspect ratio along with dual rear cameras including a 13-megapixel and a 2-megapixel sensor. At the front, there could be a 5-megapixel camera. The soldiers of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrated the countrys Independence Day on the banks of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh at 14,000 feet. The soldiers carried the tricolour of ITBP flags part of the celebrations. The ITBP also released a mashup of the popular patriotic songs sung by its soldiers. The mashup has been released by ITBP on its social media handles. The force has recommended the names of its 21 personnel for gallantry medals for fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the army in keeping the Chinese troops at bay amid the border standoff between the two countries over the last three months in Ladakh. Senior officials said on the condition of anonymity said that these incidents of face-off did not happen in the Galwan Valley but at half a dozen other places in eastern Ladakh. It further said that the soldiers were engaged in stand-offs, sometimes as long as 17 to 20 hours, but received minimum casualties and gave befitting reply to the stone palters of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The paramilitary force, which is responsible for guarding the 3,488-km de facto border between the two countries, or the Line of Actual Control (LAC), said its 294 personnel have been awarded the commendation disk of the ITBPs director-general for their bravery in Ladakh. Six other soldiers of ITBP have been awarded for their courage in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), the ITBP is deployed at the difficult high altitude Himalayan terrains. Supraja Mahesh By Online Desk "I feel there is a Punjabi and Bengali consciousness which has evoked loyalty to their province and so I felt it was essential that the people of India themselves should decide this question of partition." Lord Mountbatten in a radio broadcast addressed to the people. With these words, the last Viceroy of British India and the first Governor-General of Independent India washed his hands off the task that would change the future of Indians for generations to come. India, after that announcement, was destined to be divided into two countries and three parts - India, East Pakistan and West Pakistan. So, after much struggle, two nations were born on the midnight of 14th-15th August 1947. But it wasn't an easy task! To make an 'impartial' decision, the British chose English Barrister Sir Cyril Radcliffe to draw the boundary that would demarcate the Punjab and Bengal provinces. Radcliffe had never visited British India or written about it ever in his professional life as a lawyer. He virtually had no knowledge of the subcontinent, which was why he was chosen as somebody who'd make an 'unbiased' decision. He was given two Muslim and Hindu lawyers each to help in the task. ALSO READ | 'People were buried alive': On I-Day, a 90-year-old shares the still-raw pain of Partition Radcliffe knew the job given to him would be a thankless one and he would term it all as 'shoddy' in the future "..The only solution now lies in separation. The Viceroy thinks, as you will see from his letter, That the less you are seen in his company the better, So we've arranged to provide you with other accommodation..." -WH Auden in his poem Partition In the same interview with Nayar, he further said ''the time at my disposal was so short that I could not do a better job. However, if I had two to three years, I might have improved on what I did.'' Five weeks - in just five weeks - the fate of millions of people got sealed and this unleashed an epic humanitarian crisis. According to records, Radcliffe barely knew where Punjab and Bengal were, yet he accepted the job as a man with a deep sense of duty. In a famous interview Radcliffe gave to veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar in 1976 in Britain, he reveals that he 'had almost given Lahore to India but was then told how Pakistan would be left without any major city' as the decision to give Calcutta to India was already taken. In the same interview with Nayar, he further said ''the time at my disposal was so short that I could not do a better job. However, if I had two to three years, I might have improved on what I did.'' Five weeks - in just five weeks - the fate of millions of people got sealed and this unleashed an epic humanitarian crisis. So saddened was Radcliffe to hear about the death of people on either side of the lines that he refused to accept the payment for his work. The country which was once administered as one was now ready to divide its unified postal service, the army, political offices and even civil servants and currency. "For more than hundred years you have lived together My great hope was that communal differences would not destroy all of this..." - Lord Mountbatten So that's how the story of Radcliffe lines goes. An English barrister, who never set foot in India before July 8, 1947, decided which families would be part of India and which houses would go to East and West Pakistan. Many historians have debated the nature of this decision and many have asked if it was necessary to carry out such a 'hasty' job. Countless stories written about the partition reveal horrors that happened during August 1947. In one such poem written about Sir Radcliffe, we see how fate decided who belonged where. "...He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect, But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect.." -WH Audens Partition Thirty years after the partition, Sir Cyril died in April 1977 in Britain. It is said that after drawing the 'Radcliffe Line', he left India the very next day and never came to the country again. The 2020 year started with a shocking announcement from Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The couple announced they were stepping away from their duties as senior working members of the British royal family. While details of the exit were ironed out months ago, a new biography about the couple, called Finding Freedom, is threatening to cost them their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles. Prince Harry and Meghans royal exit RELATED: The Royal Family Was Alarmed by Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys Spending Habits, Source Reveals On January 8, 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan dropped the bombshell news on their official Sussex Royal Instagram page that they were giving up their roles as senior members of the royal family. The statement read in part: After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. After a summit with the royal family later that month, Buckingham Palace published details of the exit agreement. Notably, while the pair keep their HRH titles, they agree to stop actively using them. They will, however, still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The agreement also granted the couple financial independence and the ability to take up residence across the pond (or wherever they choose). They agree to pay rent on Frogmore Cottage, their home in the U.K. and also reimburse the millions of dollars used for renovations on the property. They are allowed to keep their previous patronages, but no longer represent the queen. The agreement will be reviewed in March 2021. This stipulation was meant to give the royal family time to let the drama surrounding the exit to die down while allowing Prince Harry and Meghan to start their new life. It also offers them the chance to return to the royal family, if they so choose. After a final mini-tour of the U.K., the couple and their son, Archie, settled in Vancouver Island in Canada and then moved to Meghans hometown of LA. In March, Disney announced that Meghan would be narrating an original movie called Elephant, which began streaming on Disney+ April 3. What is threatening Meghan and Harrys HRH Titles? A new biography about the couple and their royal exit, Finding Freedom, will be released on August 11. The book tells Prince Harry and Meghans version of events. As excerpts start to surface, Best Life reports that palace insiders are expressing concern that the tell-all could cost the couple their HRH titles. One of the bombshells revealed in the book is that Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Charles were not supportive of the couple, which, according to the source is certainly enough to create incredible disappointment in the family over the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs actions and prompt Her Majesty to consider making changes to their agreement when it comes up for review next year. Prince Harry and Meghan have publicly denied having anything to do with the book. The Mirror reports a representative for the couple said in a statement, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom. This book is based on the authors own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting. A history of their royal titles Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Endeavour Fund Awards | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince Harry was born with his HRH title, while Meghan received hers when they married, and she became Duchess of Sussex in 2018. In England, the monarch has the power to bestow or take away HRH titles at any time. A constitutional expert told Express: In its extreme form nothing within the British constitution is binding. Royal Warrants can be issued at any time to address any matter, either arising or one requiring rectification or clarification. Nothing is set in stone. He added, Consequently, what has been given, can be taken away. If Prince Harry and Meghan do, in fact, lose their titles, it wont be the first time the queen has made such a decision. Princess Diana lost her HRH title after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996. Well see if history repeats itself when the arrangement is reviewed next March. Land travel restrictions along Mexico-US border extended until September 21 Mexico City, Mexico The Secretary of Foreign Relations has confirmed the extended closure to non-essential land travel across the Mexico-US border. On Thursday, Marcelo Ebrard said that the border with the United States cannot be opened now because that country is going through a resurgence of coronavirus cases, noting that in Mexico, most of the states are in a downward trend. Edgar Ramirez, Attache of the Department of Homeland Security at the United States Embassy in Mexico has also confirmed the extended non-essential travel restrictions as has the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau. Laudau made the announcement via social media stating that due to the increase in Covid-19 cases, Mexico requested the extended non-essential land travel restriction for another month, which will see the border restricted until September 21. According to the US Consulate in Mexico, In order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the United States government will continue to restrict non-essential travel that crosses our shared border. Mexican and US citizens should avoid border crossings unless the purpose is considered essential. The US-Mexico border has been restricted since March 21 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The news comes on the heels of Canadas announcement of an extended agreement with the US to also ban non-essential travel along their borders until September 21. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 22:03:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted higher prices in early August compared with the previous 10 days, official data showed. Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 31 saw their prices increase from Aug. 1 to 10, while 11 posted lower prices, and the prices of eight were unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The price of live pigs went up 1.1 percent, while that of liquefied natural gas inched down 0.1 percent during the period. The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions. Enditem An NYPD vehicle is lit on fire on West 83rd Street toward Central Park, New York, in the early hours of July 29, 2020. (U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York) Queens Man Charged With Arson of NYPD Vehicle in Busy Manhattan Neighborhood A Queens man has been arrested and charged with intentionally setting fire to a marked New York City Police Department van, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York announced on Friday. Sam Resto, 29, was arrested on Thursday and made his first appearance in court on Friday afternoon. A criminal complaint against Resto was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday charging Resto with arson, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years. As alleged, Resto, wearing a mask and gloves and carrying a backpack containing the tools of his destructive trade, intentionally set fire to an NYPD van parked on a city street lined with residential buildings and vehicles, acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Seth DuCharme said in a statement. This office will vigorously prosecute criminals whose actions endanger the community, police officers, and first responders. The criminal complaint (pdf) stated that in the early hours of July 29, Resto was allegedly captured on video setting fire to an unoccupied marked NYPD van parked on West 83rd Street near Columbus Avenue in Manhattan. He allegedly smashed the window of the van and poured gasoline inside the vehicle before setting it on fire and running away toward Central Park. Items found in the backpack of Sam Resto, 29, who is charged with deliberately setting on fire an NYPD van in a busy Manhattan neighborhood in the early hours of July 28, 2020. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York) The NYPD later recovered a backpack from Central Park that allegedly belonged to Resto. Inside, they found clothes similar to items that Resto was seen wearing earlier in the morning, a Guy Fawkes mask, a red jerry can that smelled like gasoline, a hammer, and lighters. The criminal complaint also noted that Resto was allegedly seen on surveillance video on July 28 at a gas station in Elmhurst, New York, carrying a red jerry can that he had filled with gasoline using a self-service pump. A man identified by authorities as Sam Resto, 29, on surveillance video holding a red jerry can at a gas station located in Elmhurst, New York, on July 28, 2020. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York) The complaint also stated that law enforcement officers obtained cellular tower data for a phone allegedly associated with Resto, which showed that his phone was near the NYPD vehicle in the early hours of July 29 around the time he had set the vehicle on fire. Preliminary analysis of cellular tower data also showed that, approximately 5 minutes later, Restos telephone was in close proximity to the location in Central Park where the backpack was recovered, the complaint read. FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said in a statement on Friday that Restos actions not only destroyed essential public safety equipment paid for by the people of New York City but also put the personal safety of those living in the neighborhood and their private property into harms way. Deliberate criminal activity like the type alleged today puts both first responders and private citizens at risk, it is an affront to everything this city is supposed to be about, Sweeney said. Todays federal charges are the communitys message back to Mr. Resto and others who may choose to engage in this type of criminal behaviorwe will not tolerate crimes of this magnitude and the consequences will be significant. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said that the alleged crime, which took place in a busy Manhattan neighborhood, had put innocent New Yorkers in considerable danger. I thank our NYPD detectives, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and all of our law enforcement partners for their tireless work in ensuring our common mission of protecting life and public safety, he said. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. " " As seen on "The Exorcist". D-Keine / Getty Images If you've seen the 1973 movie "The Exorcist," you at least have some idea of what exorcism is about. It has to do with ridding a human being of diabolic possession, it's typically associated with Roman Catholic beliefs, and if the movie is any indication, it's very, very scary. You may remember with a shudder the teenage girl whose head spun around, her body in convulsions, her voice that of a demon spewing curses and obscenities while the battered priest of "The Exorcist" fought the devil to save her soul. This Hollywood version of an exorcism is supposedly based on a real-life exorcism performed on a Maryland boy in 1949. Priests are still performing exorcisms today. Advertisement Is exorcism real, or are the subject and the exorcist unconsciously acting out roles from a popular movie? Are there other explanations for what some people call "possession"? In this article, we'll focus on the Roman Catholic exorcism rite because of its tremendous presence in popular culture thanks to "The Exorcist" and its successors. We'll learn why a priest might perform an exorcism, find out what the ritual involves, take a look at a real-life exorcism and discuss the controversy surrounding the practice. What is Exorcism? The Catholic Encyclopedia defines exorcism as "the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice." In short, it is a ritual performed by a Catholic priest to expel the devil from a person, place or thing. There are several types of exorcism in the Roman Catholic Church: Baptismal exorcism - blessing an infant prior to baptism to cleanse it of evil resulting from - blessing an infant prior to baptism to cleanse it of evil resulting from original sin Simple exorcism - blessing a place or thing to rid it of evil influence Real exorcism - performing the Rite of Exorcism to rid a human being of diabolical possession A "real exorcism" is what most of us think of when we think of exorcism. In this case, the priest-exorcist is dealing with a human being who is possessed by the devil -- the devil is inhabiting this person's body. The Hollywood version of a real exorcism looks something like this: " " Scene from "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" (2005) Photo courtesy Sony Pictures According to the Church, telltale signs of demonic possession include [ref]: Speaking or understanding languages which the person has never learned (different from "speaking in tongues," which is considered a sign of religious ecstasy, not possession) Knowing (and revealing) things the person has no earthly way of knowing Physical strength beyond the person's natural physical makeup A violent aversion to God, the Virgin Mary, the cross and other images of Catholic faith If you do a Google search for the word "exorcism," you'll find ads for exorcists -- Wanda Pratnicka, for example, has "30 years experience with 25,000 successfully performed exorcisms." This makes demonic possession seem like a pretty common occurrence. But to the Roman Catholic Church, it's rare: It only finds true demonic possession in about one out of every 5,000 reported cases [ref]. So what does it take for the Church to send in an exorcist? At the Highest Levels In "My Six Popes," Cardinal Jacques Martin reports that Pope John Paul II performed an exorcism on a woman in 1982. There are also reports that Mother Teresa underwent an exorcism shortly before her death in 1997 because the Archbishop of Calcutta believed she was being assaulted by the devil. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:40:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. announcement of seizing four Iranian oil tankers is a "lie," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday. "Neither the ships nor the flag was Iranian. The whole story is a lie," Rouhani was quoted by semi official news agency ISNA as stating. Washington's claim that about 1.116 million barrels of Iran's petroleum were seized was all about "escaping from the humiliation" of its failure in an anti-Iran resolution at the UN Security Council, the Iranian president said during a briefing session of the Iranian COVID-19 Task Force. On Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution proposed by the United States which asks for extending the current arms embargo against Iran that is set to expire on Oct. 18. Shortly afterwards, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the confiscation of Iranian fuel from four tankers bound for Venezuela. Enditem Syracuse, N.Y. Teachers in all of the big Upstate city school districts have asked to delay bringing students back into the schools next month because of safety concerns. The teachers unions in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and Yonkers have told their districts they dont feel safe with the plans for in-person instruction. Nearly all have said they want to wait until at least October to bring students back into the schools. Rochester is the first city where the district agreed with the union. On Thursday, that district told parents schools would be closed to students until November. They will continue to learn virtually, as they did in the spring. While this is not an easy decision to make, we have decided that all Rochester students will begin the school year in September under a remote learning model and not the hybrid model we originally proposed, Rochester Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small wrote in a letter to the school community. We carefully considered the Governors expectations around testing and contact tracing, particularly the additional planning with the Health Department that will be needed, and the input we received from the Rochester community and the experiences of other urban districts around the country, she wrote. The teachers worry in the big cities across Upstate mirrors the nation, said Jon Valant, an education policy expert at the Brookings Institution. Valant said recent data shows that 76% of teachers nationally want distance learning for the start of this year, not in-person education. The country has demonstrated very little willingness or ability to keep people safe from Covid-19, so why should teachers believe that schools will be any different? Valant said. The images of crowded hallways from Georgia are powerful, especially for school staff, and well see more of those types of images in the weeks ahead. He said he expects the teachers worries to only increase over the next few weeks as the first day of school draws closer. In Upstate New York, Buffalo teachers are the latest to tell their district that they do not want to come back for in-person teaching. They voted Friday to ask the district to delay the start of in-person instruction. While Buffalo teachers very much want to be back with their students, they do not believe that the district has put forth a plan that ensures the safety of our students, parents, school staff and community as well as one that provides for a sound education for our students. We can not and will not risk the lives and well-being, said Philip Rumore, president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation. Syracuse teachers voted Wednesday to ask the district to delay bringing kids back into the buildings until November. Bill Scott, president of the Syracuse Teachers Association, said he had a three-inch pile of questions that the district still has not answered. They range from what happens when a sick child shows up at school to what the hundreds of teachers and staff are supposed to do about child care for their kids who are attending school on a hybrid schedule in the district, or elsewhere. Early results of parent surveys show that about half of district parents are not planning to send their kids for in-person instruction. Syracuse Superintendent Jaime Alicea said he and the school board will continue to listen to the teachers and the union and to address the concerns. This week, the Syracuse school board voted to delay the start of school until Sept. 14. so there was an additional week to prepare. If we need to extend that further that is something we can discuss, Alicea said in a statement. Marnie Eisenstadt is a reporter who writes about people and public affairs in Central New York. Have an idea or question? Contact her anytime: email | Twitter| Facebook | 315-470-2246 WELLINGTON New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to decide by Monday whether a general election will go ahead on Sept. 19, with most analysts expecting her to resist opposition calls for a delay due to a flare up in coronavirus infections. A country of five million people, a long way from anywhere, New Zealand has fared far better than most countries during the pandemic, but a spate of new infections forced Ardern earlier this week to lockdown Auckland, the largest city. Seven new cases were reported on Saturday. Having kept New Zealand clear of infections for 102 days straight before the flare-up, Ardern has won praise for her decisive response to the pandemic, and opinion polls have shown her Labour Party in a winning position. Pollsters have been unable to survey voters since the latest outbreak, but analysts expected Ardern to decide to go ahead with the election next month. The opposition National Party would like it delayed, they said, in the hope that Ardern loses some of her lustre once hardships caused by the lockdown begin to bite. She is a savvy politician," said Grant Duncan, professor of politics at Massey University. It pays for the government to have an election sooner rather than later, while the opposition wants it delayed." Forced to cancel campaign events due to restrictions on movement and crowds due to the health scare, the opposition has accused Ardern of using the pandemic to shore up support as she appears on television nearly everyday to reassure New Zealanders, while their own leaders struggle to draw audiences. Parliament is due to be dissolved on Monday, and Ardern told reporters on Friday that she would have decided by then, while giving assurances that the election commission had already planned for the vote - which must be held by Nov. 21 - to be conducted safely. Pollster and blogger David Farrar said in a post on Kiwiblog that with Auckland still in lockdown for another 12 days, an election in September would be madness", predicting a near record low turnout if it went ahead. (Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) 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 The spread of the novel coronavirus has left many coming-of-age ceremonies scheduled for August postponed or canceled, ruining a key opportunity to celebrate a new chapter in life. Coming-of-age ceremonies are usually held on Coming of Age Day in January, but some communities choose different times of year due to the cold winter climate and other reasons. Many municipalities have decided to postpone or cancel ceremonies amid the spread of the virus, although a handful plan to go ahead while taking precautions against the disease. In Iwate Prefecture, nine municipalities usually hold coming-of-age ceremonies during the Bon holiday period in mid-August to avoid the snowy season and make it easier for new adults to attend. But the nine have canceled such events this year. In Iwate, no coronavirus case had been confirmed until the end of July, and only a few positives have been found so far. While most municipalities in Nagano Prefecture, have postponed ceremonies to January next year or later, the village of Shimojo decided to hold a ceremony on the initially scheduled date. But the village imposed the condition that some 20 new adults who had left the village produce negative results in coronavirus tests before joining the ceremony. The testing costs are covered by the village. Nine living outside the prefecture are slated to attend the ceremony as they have tested negative. In a deal brokered by the Trump administration, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to normalize relations. In exchange for normalized relations, Israel agreed to suspend its West Bank annexation plans. The two sentences above point to an obvious problem with the deal. Normalized relations between two states are normal, and usually benefit both states. Why should one and only one of the two states have to make concessions in its domestic policy to achieve normalized relations with the other? Another reason to be skeptical about the deal is that J Street, an anti-Israel outfit, applauds it. On the other hand, Palestinian organizations have blasted the deal, so maybe it has merit, after all. But these considerations dont go to the heart of the matter. The key issue for those who support Israel is whether, on balance, the deal benefits Israel. To answer that question, we must consider what Israel gained and what it lost. I question whether Israel gained much, if anything, by normalizing relations with the UAE. The two nations have been working together on a host of issues for years, and with good reason. As this New Yorker article shows, the UAE shares Israels fear of Iran and greatly respects Israels defense technology. The simple reality is that the UAEs leaders, like the leaders of much of the Sunni Muslim Arab world, perceive Israel as an ally, not an enemy. Might this perception change? Only if the current leaders are toppled. But in that event, recognition and normalization wont mean anything. They will be nullified. As for arguments that this deal facilitates the peace process, dont make me laugh. Peace would be with the Palestinians, not the UAE. But the Palestinians remain uninterested in any peace deal Israel would be sane to accept. What did Israel lose? If you oppose annexation, it lost nothing. Indeed, it gained by stepping back from a misguided policy. This, Im sure, is how some in the Trump administration Jared Kushner in particular see it. But I dont oppose annexation of parts of the West Bank. In fact, I favor annexation of established settlements, some of which are basically suburbs of Jerusalem. They should be fully integrated into Israel. For obvious reasons, I also favor annexation of territory on the West Bank that Israel considers vital to its defense if, one day, there is a Palestinian state. Its true that Netanyahu didnt promise to forgo annexation indefinitely. To protect his standing with his coalition, he left open the possibility of annexation at a future date. As a practical matter, however, annexation is probably off the table now. Under Israels power sharing agreement, Netanyahus time in charge is running down. Furthermore, its clear that the Trump administration, whose Middle East policy is dictated by Jared Kushner, opposes annexation. Joe Biden opposes it even more. The best argument that Israel hasnt lost much might be that annexation is mostly a symbolic matter like normalization and recognition. The facts on the ground are the facts on the ground, with or without formal annexation. Thats probably why the Palestinians take no comfort from Israels concession on annexation. In the end, therefore, the Israel-UAE deal might be a wash one kind of largely meaningless symbolism in exchange for another kind. Where, then, do I come out? My view is that if this is a trade Netanyahu wanted to make, then its worth supporting. Israelis are the ones who have to live with these deals. Thus, assuming good Israeli leadership, I tend to go along with their leaders calls. I fear, though, that this is not a deal Netanyahu would have made of his own accord. The deal might be the product of pressure from the Trump administration, especially Jared Kushner boy diplomat. Indeed, Trump and Kushner seem to be the winners in a deal that, for Israel, may be a wash, at best. Canada Goose factory workers may be close to end of their toilet troubles. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Canada Goose factory workers may be close to end of their toilet troubles. Employees at the company's factory, at 1455 Mountain Ave., complained they have been forced to use outdoor portable toilets for at least two weeks because indoor facilities are under repair. They went public this week, saying the outdoor toilets are not adequately cleaned, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of them rush home during their 30-minute break to use their own bathrooms. One worker said others drive around to find a public washroom and some people had kept commodes in their vehicles for use. Canada Goose, which makes expensive outerwear, said it leases the building from Colliers International. "The safety of our facilities and health of our employees is a top priority for Canada Goose. Over the past two weeks, the bathroom facilities at our Mountain Avenue location have been closed intermittently for repair. During this time, temporary facilities have been made available for staff. Our team continues to work with property management to ensure that our standards for health and safety are upheld, including a dedicated cleaner for the temporary facilities during all working hours," Canada Goose said in a statement. A spokesperson at Colliers said it follows pandemic guidelines issued by local health authorities, including the sanitization of the porta-potties. They are cleaned after each use. In the meantime, it said indoor facilities will reopen. 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. "We have been working closely with the affected tenants, engineers, relevant contractors, and the City of Winnipeg to address the unforeseen plumbing issues at the facility," said the spokesperson. "All throughout, we have held regular site meetings with tenants to keep them informed of the status of the repair. These repairs have now been completed." Friday afternoon, a protest in support of the workers by Winnipeg Youth United was downscaled because of rain. Winnipeg Youth United is a student-led group organized by Black, Indigenous, and people of colour who advocate for social and economic justice. Many of the workers at the plant are minorities. Protest organizer Jo Ann Pinera said those who attended were drenched while they held up signs in support of the workers who were getting off shift at 3:30 p.m. Pinera said some workers were told the bathrooms will be open on Monday. kellen.taniguchi@freepress.mb.ca One of techs most pioneering female founder-CEOs is relinquishing her title. Therese Tucker, who launched financial software company BlackLine in 2001 and took it public in 2016, is giving up her CEO role in January. When she does, the tech industryand corporate America in generalwill lose one of the very few women who run public companies, let alone ones that they founded. BlackLine, which makes accounting software used by companies including Coca-Cola and Dow, is projecting annual revenues of more than $335 million in 2020, up more than 16% year over year. The companys stock price has also more than tripled in the nearly four years since Tucker presided over its IPOalthough it is down more than 20% since Aug. 6, when Tucker announced her plans to become executive chair of her company, and to cede her CEO role to president and chief operating officer Marc Huffman. I have to acknowledge that, after 19 years, a lot of my identity is wrapped up in this company, and in the [CEO] title, she tells Fortune. Im handing my baby off to somebody who loves that baby. But yeah, Ill probably freak out at some point. That transition has been underway for years. In early 2018, Tucker hired Huffman to be her COO from Oracles NetSuite, where he was running global sales and distribution for the cloud-software provider. This February, he took on the additional role of presidentafter successfully covering for Tucker last summer, when she tested his leadership readiness by taking a six-week sabbatical. (The pink-haired 58-year-old, whom I profiled for Inc. magazine in 2017, used some of her time off to learn to ride a motorcycle.) Nor is she completely giving up her parenting rights. Tucker will continue focusing on BlackLines product and plans to remain executive chair indefinitely. I think I have a lot of value to add, and I think that as long as Im excited about where the companys going, itll be fun to stick around, she says. Story continues In a video interview this week, part of which was joined by Huffman, Tucker told Fortune about how the pandemic affected her succession planning, how BlackLine is responding to the reckoning over racial justice, and how she and Huffman have hammered out their current and future responsibilities. The following Q&A has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Fortune: Therese, when we saw each other last fall, you had just taken a weeks-long vacation, seemingly as a prelude to this transition. So when and how did you start thinking about giving up the CEO role? Tucker: Ive been thinking about it for a couple years now. That was the intent of bringing somebody in with Marcs skills and talent and experience. The next stage of the company is, how do we scale this thing to [revenues of] a billion dollars? And frankly, thats not my set of skills. I really enjoy the product side a lot more. Marc took on a lot of the leadership activity necessary during the pandemicall the communications with employees and management and the executive team, having get-togethers every morning to go through how we handle every situation. Watching him take on all of those leadership challenges, and doing a wonderful job at it, convinced me that it would be good for everybody, including me, to announce that next step. So come Jan. 1, he gets to be the CEO and I get to give him all the difficult things to do. And I get to go do digital transformation, meeting with customers, stuff like that. I will stay on as executive chair. And my first and primary goal is to make sure that hes successful. By the time were done, its going to be the worlds longest transition. But I want it to be very successful, and I want the company to be very successful. You started BlackLine in 2001 and have been CEO ever since. Any bittersweet feelings about giving up that role? Tucker: I have to acknowledge that after 19 years, a lot of my identity is wrapped up in this company and in the title. It helps a great deal that Im not actually leaving. So then, how much of my identity is wrapped up in being the CEO? Probably some. It helps that Im a big fan of Marc, and I believe that he has fallen in love with the company. So Im handing my baby off to somebody who loves that baby. But yeah, Ill probably freak out at some point. Marc, what do you need to spend the rest of this year doing, to feel even more ready to take over on Jan. 1? Huffman: A lot of the areas where I seek Thereses feedback, and have those phone a friend moments, are around our product primarilywhy things are the way they are and what they mean and how they translate to the customer. So in February, I took on the product and technology organization as a part of a first step promotion, and to really become fluent with our multiyear technology initiatives. But there are still times where I have to call Therese and say, Okay, now that Im using these wordswhat do they really mean? Why is this important to the customer? Tucker: I am so pleased that Marc is willing to askand Im sure I go into much greater detail than he wants to hear! But I want him to understand every bit of it. Theres also an important handoff from a market perspective and an investor perspective. Marcs been taking part in the last couple of quarterly earnings calls and going to the different conferences, or going virtually. How to speak to investors and what the market is expecting is something that you dont want to do in a quick way; you want to ease into it and get the rhythm of working. The flip side is that taking over from a CEO whos remaining as the executive chair can be complicated, even more so when that CEO is the founder of the company. Marc, how are you thinking about when you really need to be the face of the company versus Thereseand, to put it bluntly, can you tell her to back off? Tucker: Hes done that already! Huffman: We have a very productive, respectful relationship. Weve got the support of our board, and each of us has members of the board who guide us. Weve got a framework in terms of roles and responsibilities, so its pretty well thought out and specified. And generally when Therese talks, I try to understand her point of view and she tries to understand mine. Tucker: Mark and I are aligned on values, we listen to each other, and we both treat each other with a great deal of respect. That lets you get through anything. Its not about our egos, its about whats best for the company. As businesses are swept up in the national reckoning over racism, what has BlackLine done to respond to these calls for social justice, both inside and outside your company? Huffman: BlackLine historically has been pretty apolitical, but we took inventory of our own opinions as a leadership team, and we chose to lean into it. We published a statement, and we began to accelerate a number of initiatives that we had already planned for the year around diversity and inclusion. That included unconscious bias training; we made a multiyear commitment to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; we accelerated an employee matching program that was focused on a number of these areas; we created management goals to create a fair and just and more diverse workforce; and were hiring a diversity and inclusion leader who will report to our chief people officer. Tucker: As wonderful as BlackLine is, I still think that theres room for improvement based on some of our employees experiences, which is almost certainly going to be true everywhere. We have been doing a lot of listening, and we are making changes to make sure that we get a lot better. Are you publishing your racial and gender diversity statistics? Tucker: I dont think so. I know I was not wildly as happy as I could have been on the gender. Its tough. Right? Technology and salesI mean, its just hard. Huffman: Weve hired an independent third party to come in and assess us as an organization and make recommendations for us. Part of that is to identify our data, identify the proper benchmarks, and then build the plan to get to a better place. Since my profile of Therese was published in 2017, Ive had many people tell me what a role model you are to them. Often theyre women in tech. This is not about Marc specifically, but do you have any regrets about the fact that your successor is not going to be a woman? Tucker: Honestly, not really, because I wanted the best for the company. Somebody with the skills that he has is extraordinarily rare. So I dont have any regrets about that at all. And a good share of our senior management team is women. Weve got three women on our board of directors. I think weve done a pretty good job there. Do I wish that there were more women CEOs? Absolutely. There are not a lot of women executive chairs, either, or women who are founders of tech companies that go public. So we still have those things, and theres still an opportunity to mentor women along the way. In fact, Im hoping that Ill have more time to be supportive of other women CEOs. You once told me, Ill be ready to retire once everybody does it my way. So is that mission accomplished? Tucker: [Laughs] That is such an arrogant quote. With maybe a few more years of wisdom now, Ill modify that: They either have to do it my way or convince me that their way is better. And then Im good. More on the most powerful women in business from Fortune : This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The mural of Main Street downtown in Kennedy Plaza is one such testimony. Whether intended or not, Main Street appears to be a ghost town: no people, unoccupied stores, no traffic. The mural portrays a period in the citys history when Main Street joined the ranks of many small towns and cities devastated first by malls and then by high-volume superstores and mail-order entities from which so much of what people need and want can be purchased in minutes and delivered in a day or two. Today, Main Street appears to be on the upswing: Kennedy Flats, another apartment building replacing The News-Times former offices, the Connecticut Institute for Communities, the new police station, many small businesses, as well as a campus of Naugatuck Community College. The Main Street mural is a reminder that the renaissance has begun. Of course, the flight from densely populated cities to oases such as Danbury is a portent of better times to come. The new beginning is still in its early days and storm clouds of the most serious economic downturn in American history have begun to turn sunny days into unforgiving darkness. The invisible but palpable spread of Covid-19 is, to a great extent, responsible for these economic trends they are partners in crime. The Main Street mural is a visual reminder of the past, a past that may be in Danburys future. Let us remember to remember. This is another reason why the mural should remain in place and not be painted over by another Danbury icon, Marian Anderson. Danburians will be proud of a Marian Anderson mural. Her life is one of those reminders that racism in America began in 1619, deeply affected Ms. Anderson personally and in her career, and still deeply infects all dimensions of American life. Danbury stands with Marian Anderson, proud partners in the struggle for E Pluribus Unum. However, I would like to raise some questions about planning for this testimonial to interracial equality. While the proposal is a great community project, to quote Mayor Mark Boughton, it is not clear to me that the proposal to date is a community project. Yes, the mural honors Ms. Anderson and Black Americans as will her hoped-for image on the $5 bill. The project is not directly related to Black Lives Matter nor to the movement to banish denigration of women in the workplace or to white nationalism. Not directly is a value-laden term. There is a relationship between the Anderson Mural and the above-mentioned unintended consequences of remembering to remember. Let me explain. The goal is a fall start-up. The city seeks artists to compete, with a committee having the final word. Brigid Guertin, executive director of the Danbury Museum and Historical Society, notes: The more information you have, the more creative you can be. All well and good. There appears to be some unspoken issues that speak powerfully to me. What role does the Black community in Danbury have in the evolving plans? Were there focus groups of Black citizens and support from leadership in that community? While Marian Anderson enhances the image of Danbury, the project is of particular importance to Black people. Will Black artists be actively sought out to compete in the project and will the award committee have a significant share of Black representation and be chaired by a member of that community? Advisers to the project should have similar representation. The committee should seek advice from experts associated with the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This exciting project has been driven by Mayor Boughton. I am sure he would agree that there is great wisdom in wide-ranging input. As Brigid Guertin noted above, The more information you have, the more creative you can be. John R. Wilcox is a Danbury resident and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Manhattan College in Bronx, NY. Do you need a dental implant? A Michigan dentist is looking for patients to help train dentists in the latest techniques Bingham Farms, MI- Dr. Timothy F. Kosinski, a Bingham Farms, Michigan dentist is looking for individuals who are willing to be evaluated to see if they are eligible for dental implants at greatly reduced prices. Dr. Kosinski is looking for 16 patients to be involved in his teaching program for doctors learning his techniques in implant dentistry. Candidates must be missing upper or lower back teeth and have no uncontrolled medical problems. A no-fee evaluation will be completed to determine if they are candidates for this teaching program. Once selected, the individuals will receive a dental implant and abutment for $699 an incredible $1,500 savings. After healing, a CAD/CAM zirconia crown over the implant will be created by Dr. Kosinski, also for a reduced fee. All patients accepted in this program will receive a CT scan, or three-dimensional X-ray to idealize their situation. Check out this video of the Digital Scan Anyone interested in the reduced priced implant procedure should contact Dr. Kosinski's office, SmileCreator of Bingham Farms. To find out if you qualify please call Jan or Lorry at 248-646-8651 to schedule a free, no cost or obligation appointment. Dr. Kosinski is a Dental Practitioner who has established himself in the dental implant field and has trained hundreds of professional dentists and dental students in the best techniques for successful implants. Dr. Kosinski has placed well over 14,000 dental implants in his dental career and did over 1,100 implants last year alone. The implants at greatly reduced prices are offered because Dr. Kosinski participates in a dental training program he offers in cooperation with the Engel Institute led by Dr. Todd Engel. Professional dentists will come to Dr. Kosinski's office to be trained and under his mentoring will perform implant surgery on select patients. Dr. Timothy Kosinski is also proud to introduce the Vatech dental CT scan and the Medit digital scanner into his dental implant practice. These tools allow him to evaluate spaces in the mouth to determine the available bone in three dimensions and to create crowns digitally. This allows for more accurate placement of dental implants and ideal crown fabrication. Other health issues can also be evaluated including decay and abscesses. Dr. Kosinski uses this dental CBCT in his dental implant evaluations daily. It allows his to virtually place implants properly prior to any surgical intervention on his patients. Dr. Kosinski provides complete implant therapy from diagnosis to surgery to the final implant crown, full mouth bridges or hybrids or overdentures. All these techniques improve the quality of life of his patients by improving the ability to chew efficiently and smile confidently. The SmileCreator of Bingham Farms office is located at: 31000 Telegraph Rd., Suite 170, Bingham Farms, MI 48025. For more information call: 248-646-8651 or visit: http://www.SmileCreator.Net or https://www.drkosinski.com. About Dr. Timothy F. Kosinski, DDS, MAGD: Dr. Timothy Kosinski is an Affiliate Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University Of Detroit Mercy School Of Dentistry and serves on the editorial review board of Reality, the information source for esthetic dentistry and is the Associate Editor of the Academy of General Dentistry journals. Most recently he was named the Editor of Dentistry Today Implants. He is a Past President of the Michigan Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Kosinski received his DDS from the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School and his Mastership in Biochemistry from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Society of Osseointegration. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and received his Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Kosinski has received many honors including Fellowship in the American and International Colleges of Dentists and the Academy of Dentistry International. He received the "Humanitarian Award" from the Academy of Dentistry International in recognition of significant contributions to the enhancement of quality of life and the human condition. He is a member of OKU and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Dr. Kosinski was the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry Alumni Association's "Alumnus of the Year." In 2009 and 2014 he received the Academy of General Dentistry's "Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition." Dr. Kosinski has placed more than 14,000 dental implants, published over 210 articles on the surgical and prosthetic phases of implant dentistry and was a contributor to the textbooks, Principles and Practices of Implant Dentistry, and 2010's Dental Implantation and Technology. He was featured on Nobelbiocare's Nobelvision and lectures extensively. Media Contact: Scott Lorenz, President of Westwind Medical Marketing 734-667-2090, scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or www.WestWindCos.com TOKYO Four Japanese cabinet ministers, including a rising political star seen as a potential prime minister, marked the 75th anniversary of World War IIs end on Saturday by visiting Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial with strong links to Japans imperial past. The shrine in Tokyo, which honors Japans war dead including Class A war criminals from the World War II era is revered by Japanese conservatives. But official visits to the shrine have been highly contentious in Japan and elsewhere in Asia, where the history of Japans empire-building in the first decades of the 20th century is still debated. China, which Japan invaded, and South Korea, which was a Japanese colony for decades, have strongly objected to such visits. The South Korean Foreign Ministry expressed deep disappointment and concern over the ministers visits to Yasukuni on Saturday, urging Japan to look squarely at history and to show sincere remorse through action. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has not visited the shrine since 2013, when he was criticized for doing so not only by Beijing and Seoul, but by Caroline Kennedy, then the American ambassador. But he sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni on Saturday. The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Saturday, dismissed three petitions against Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and affirmed him the duly elected governor of the state. The petitions dismissed by the tribunal were filed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the United Peoples Congress (UPC) and the Liberation Movement (LM). PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Supreme Court, on February 13, sacked David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor-elect barely 24 hours to his inauguration. The apex court based its rulings on the premise that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in the state. The apex court then ordered INEC to declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election. Mr Diri was later sworn in as governor Tribunal Ruling In a unanimous decision on Saturday, a three-member panel of the tribunal dismissed three petitions challenging Mr Diris victory. The judge, S.M. Owoduni, who read the lead judgment of the tribunal held that the petition filed by AD and its candidate, Owei Woniwei, is incompetent and lacks merit. Justice Owoduni held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegation that Mr Diris deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, forged his declaration of age and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate. READ ALSO: The second petition filed by Ibiene Stephen and his party, UPC and the one filed by the candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM), Vijah Opuama, were also dismissed. Mr Opuama had filed his petition to challenge the declaration Messrs Diri and Ewhrudjakpo as governor and deputy. He also alleged that Mr Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged exemption certificate and documents that contain false information to INEC. He is asking the tribunal to cancel the election and order a fresh poll. File image Japan on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing deep remorse over his country's wartime actions at a somber annual ceremony curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Naruhito pledged to reflect on the war's events and expressed hope that the tragedy would never be repeated. There was no word of apology from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gave thanks for the sacrifices of the Japanese war dead but had nothing to say about the suffering of Japan's neighbours. Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated, Naruhito said in a short speech at the event in Tokyo marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945. Amid virus fears and worries about the fading memories of the fast-aging war generation, about 500 participants, reduced from 6,200 last year, mourned the dead with a minute of silence. Masks were required, and there was no singing of the Kimigayo national anthem. Naruhito has promised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who devoted his 30-year career to making amends for a war fought in the name of Hirohito, the current emperor's grandfather. Abe has increasingly sought to whitewash Japan's brutal past since taking office in December 2012. He hasn't acknowledged Japan's wartime hostilities during August 15 speeches, which had previously been a nearly 20-year tradition that began with the 1995 apology of Socialist leader Tomiichi Murayama. Abe, in a largely domestic-focused speech, said the peace that Japan enjoys today is built on the sacrifices of those who died in the war. He pledged that Japan will reflect on lessons from history and will not repeat the war devastation. He listed damage inflicted on Japan and its people, including the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, massive firebombings of Tokyo and the fierce battle of Okinawa. Abe pledged to play a greater role in tackling global problems. Under his goal of turning Japan into a beautiful and normal nation, Abe has steadily pushed to cleanse Japan of its embarrassing wartime history and build up its military by stretching the interpretation of Japan's war-renouncing constitution. It includes acquiring greater missile defense capability in the face of a growing military threat from North Korea and China. Abe stayed away from a Tokyo shrine that honours convicted war criminals among the war dead. He sent a religious offering, a gesture meant to avoid angering China and South Korea, which consider the Yasukuni shrine a symbol of Japan's militarism. Saturday, August 15, 2020 Charge "For an upcoming story I am looking to speak with researchers who work on computer models of "apocalyptic" or extreme situations, such as nuclear war, extreme drought, etc. Looking to discuss what drew them to the work, how their work has been impacted by recent political, environmental, social events (and the Covid-19 pandemic), and how they think their research csn help us enact change. In your email, please share a few lines about the nature of the work and how they came into it." Maggie Puniewska. Extremes "For an upcoming story I am looking to speak with researchers who work on computer models of "apocalyptic" or extreme situations, such as nuclear war, extreme drought, etc." My empire and climate theories are really based on the economic and temperature changes brought about by military spending and global evaporation patterns. Military spending increases divert research and capital resources away from manufacturing production, which clearly shows up in the manufacturing jobs loss statistics. Land warms up three times as fast as oceans thanks to the lower water availability over land triggering an energy imbalance that takes 27 years to warm up and 27 years to cool off in the 54-year world cycle. This global temperature cycle drives a similar economic cycle and war politics cycle. I have charted 56 major headline grabbing cyclic world events including peaks and valleys of temperature, economics, social movements, wars, pandemics, hurricanes, volcanoes, blizzards, droughts, floods, and severe winters among other extreme events. Impacts "How their work has been impacted by recent political, environmental, social events (and the Covid-19 pandemic)." This has only accelerated my work with many current examples of the long-term patterns I evaluate. The 2020 pandemic mimics the 1968 Hong Kong flu and 1918 Spanish flu in the last two cycles, 52 and 50 years apart. Black Lives Matter 2020 ushers in the return of the civil rights movement 55 years after Selma. Empire theory documents the long-term impact of excessive military spending, depleting the economic and defense strength of the country, and contributing to political stagnation and oligarchy, income inequality, crime and prisoners, increasing anxiety, and poor health statistics such as, obesity, mental illness, teen births and infant mortality, drug use and gambling diversions. Enacting Change with Science "How they think their research can help us enact change." Right now people see military facilities and factories providing jobs, but do not see the simultaneous reduction in manufacturing jobs as directly linked. When the continuing proofs and perfect fit models I offer convince the leaders and public of the new scientific paradigm, world leaders will be motivated to cut military spending in the short run to boost it in the long run as a smaller percentage but faster growing part of a faster doubling economy. Real national strength comes from the size of the economy. Current global warming models are all defective, not including the zig zag pattern of the warming confirmed by the perfectly fitting 55 year moving average of the 170-year world temperature record. They incorrectly assume that there are too many factors out there to produce a simple elegant model like mine. Like the economists, they falsely assume micro analysis leads to macro analysis. I find in these two areas that the best macro models are possible with two major factors like military spending and evaporation leading into one precise finding after another. Drawn to Work "Looking to discuss what drew them to the work." Working at the State of Oregon Legislature as an intern I picked up a brochure at a Fellowship of Reconciliation meeting at the famous Dorothy Patch's house in Salem Oregon. A chart in that brochure showed that nineteen years of G7 experience clearly shows that manufacturing productivity is inversely related to military spending as a percent of each nation's economy. Testing that statistical relationship lead directly to Peace Economics and later the Real Economy Institute as I went from peace politician to Peace Economics (1986) researcher and publisher. Nature of the Work "Nature of the work and how they came into it." The nature of the work was in keeping with my engineering and accounting degrees, applied to the political economy environment. The work resembled my wargamer years writing and designing wargames like CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite's favorite game "Battle of the Bulge". That lead to my only direct game with later "Dungeon and Dragons" inventor Gary Gygax. I clobbered Gary in a classic counterattack as my Americans defeated Gary's Germans in the classic World War II battle in December 1944. Decades of experience with all kinds of board games prepared me for conflict simulation game design work. Conclusion The current situation is fraught with the increasing tensions of empire and climate as we approach the climatic years of 2024 and 2025 shown to be the average and frequency peaks respectively of the major war and coldest year of the upcoming decade. After 2025 global warming will dramatically accelerate for the next 27 years up to 2052. Trump is a manifestation of decades of the deepening condition of empire in America according to the Reuschlein models. The only way out of this forty-year middle class squeeze play by the rich is too reverse the military empire America is caught up in. Killing Democracy Update The April 30, 2020, press release "Killing Democracy by Trump" has become the most viewed release in six years, about four or five times bigger than the average of the 242 releases with 250,000 views so far. The latest outrage is the deliberate sabotage of the mail by a Trump big donor installed to run the post office without any relevant experience. Sabotage of the postal service mentioned in the constitution by Trump associates just to try and stop voting by mail, like Mitch McConnell trying to bankrupt the states by blocking pandemic relief funding, seem to be acts of domestic terrorism. One wonders if other rent and mortgage moratorium relief is stalled until millions have been evicted and deprived of their vote by re-registration requirements and deadlines. After the failed impeachment, the boldness of strongman wannabee Trump seems to have little bounds. We live in dangerous times, with the Trump cult pushing fascist tendencies to the limit. Even local US Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Chuck Grassley of Iowa are channeling Russian disinformation to other Senators running for re-election, despite Russian election aid being illegal. Empire and Climate Economics Forecasting: https://www.academia.edu/32759407/EMPIRE_and_CLIMATE_Economics_ppt_29_slide_5_p_2017 Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2020, August 15), "Extreme Situation Forecast" Madison, WI, Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Extreme-Situation-Forecast,2020234650.aspx Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute, Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2016-2020 with accelerating interest from Norway. Intense interest in an unusually consistent pattern shows up on my website as following my work, hard looks per year went from 2 to 3 to 48 to 128 to 213 (projected). Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com Info: www.realeconomy.com Severe infestations of blue-green algae in Sydneys drinking water catchments have soared 800 per cent, according to an audit which warned climate change is putting the sensitive waterways under increasing threat from toxic blooms. Warragamba Dam, the main source of Sydney's drinking water supply. Credit:Jenny Evans The audit also called for an investigation into levels of pollution in Coxs River, which feeds into Warragamba Dam, Sydneys main drinking water reservoir. There are no government water quality monitoring stations in the section of the upper Coxs River that is of most concern due to a cluster of polluting businesses nearby. A Sydney Water spokesperson said there was no risk to consumers because water is treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th August, 2020) The death toll from the coronavirus infection in the world topped 761,000, over 21 million cases of infection were detected, and over 13 million of those patients were cured, according to the US-based Johns Hopkins University, which tracks and compiles data from Federal and local authorities, media and other sources. As of 21:00 GMT Friday, the number of cases globally is 21,010,700, including 761,260 fatalities. The United States still has the highest case count in the world, with 5,280,315, including 167,828 fatalities and 1,774,648 recoveries. The European Commission announced on Friday reaching its first agreement with the multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca on purchasing a potential vaccine against the coronavirus and also distributing it to countries in need. The UK government has secured deals with another two pharmaceutical firms for a total of 90 million doses of candidate vaccines against COVID-19, taking the country's potential vaccine stockpile to 340 million doses. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he hopes Russia's vaccine against the novel coronavirus works, but added that he did not have much information about it. The Russian Health Ministry has not sent any official proposal regarding assistance in COVID-19 vaccine development to the United States, Alexey Kuznetsov, an aide to the Russian health minister, told Sputnik. Russia will release the information about pre-clinical and clinical trials of the new vaccine against the coronavirus in the coming days, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said. Moldovan President Igor Dodon said that Chisinau had officially addressed Moscow with a request to supply the country with the Russian coronavirus vaccine once it is approved for export. Thailand will carefully watch Russia's coronavirus vaccine rollout before deciding whether to recommend it for local use, Nakorn Premsri, the head of the National Vaccine Institute, said. Tajikistan's Ministry of Health and Social Protection has sent requests to the Russian health authorities to provide a vaccine against COVID-19, Tajik Health Minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda told Sputnik. Indian companies have asked the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to provide the technical details of the Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, the world's first registered vaccine against COVID-19, which could allow for production to take place in India for export and domestic use, sources at the Indian Embassy in Moscow told Sputnik. Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma told Sputnik that discussions with the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, on the topic of bilateral cooperation on a potential vaccine against COVID-19 had been productive, and that he hoped for a positive outcome. The novel coronavirus pandemic will probably claim 200,000 lives in the United States by September 5, according to a new projection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). German researchers have found that almost four times more people had contracted COVID-19 in the town of Kupferzell in Baden-Wurttemberg than it was registered, Lars Schaade, the vice president of the Robert Koch Institute said on Friday, adding that the antibodies were detected in almost 8 percent of the residents, which was not enough to prevent a second wave of the epidemic in the region. Long-term exposure to air pollution makes people more susceptible to respiratory conditions, becoming one of many comorbidity factors in COVID-19 patients, Dr Jean-Luc Gala, an infectious diseases specialist and professor at the UCLouvain University medical school, told Sputnik on the heels of the recent study about a link between dirty air and coronavirus mortality. The COVID-19 case mortality rate in Moscow since the beginning of the outbreak comes in at about 4.9 percent when counting cases where the disease was the main or a contributing cause of death, the health department of the Russian capital said. The United States has extended the so-called non-essential travel restrictions to Mexico and Canada through September 21 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, US Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said. The UK authorities have extended coronavirus-related restrictions regarding social gatherings in the North West, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester over a spike in the number of infections in the areas, the UK Department of Health and Social Care said. Thousands of UK citizens who are currently in France and the Netherlands are rushing to get back to their homeland before a mandatory 14-day quarantine order for returnees enters into force at 04:00 local time [03:00 GMT] on Saturday. Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone department in southeastern France return to the "red zone" status after a surge in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, according to the government's decree in the Official Gazette, published and effective Friday. Spain is introducing new restrictions, including the closure of nightclubs and limits on smoking outdoors, in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic amid a resurgence in infections, Health Minister Salvador Illa said. Argentina has extended its lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic through August 30 with a number of regions reintroducing tough restrictions, President Alberto Fernandez said. The Philippine Department of Agriculture has banned imports of poultry meat from Brazil after China reported it had detected COVID-19 in samples and packaging of frozen chicken wings from the Latin American country, media reported. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has instructed the government to step up quarantine measures at churches in a bid to curb a surge in COVID-19 cases related to new clusters of infections in the places of worship, presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said. The Hong Kong economy can contract by 6-8 percent in 2020 over uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdown measures, as well as external shocks, the special administrative region's government said in a downgraded GDP outlook. The Belgian authorities plan to impose sanctions on laboratories that conduct coronavirus testing if they are not fast enough in providing the test results, so that the tracking of possible virus carriers can prevent the spread of the disease, local media reported. The Arizona Historical Society decision on what to do with a large part of Riordan Mansion State Park, Fort Lowell Museum and Downtown History Museum funding has been delayed for the time being. The Arizona Historical Societys board of directors on Friday pushed back the vote until October on whether to continue to fund their part in the sites, with only one member voting against postponing the decision. In tabling the motion, the board of directors also tabled the ability to discuss what was recommended by executive staff. Their decision came after many in the communities expressed a belief that the society had not taken necessary steps to inform the public of the recommendation and find alternative solutions. Nearly more than 80 people attended the board of directors meeting virtually and in person. The Arizona Historical Society board of directors has 25 members in total -- not all were in attendance. The Arizona Historical Societys executive committee made the recommendation to cut the three locations out of their budget, citing years of state legislature cuts and that COVID-19 pandemic had caused severe impacts to their finances. The Riordan Mansion was built in 1904, but it has become surrounded by modern life, including a Northern Arizona University-owned parking garage, apartment complex and shopping center. The mansion was originally built on a 54-acre parcel of land. The society's agreement with the City of Tucson for Fort Lowell maintains a replica of adobe officer quarters from 1885 and chronicles army life during the Apache War. The society's agreement with Wells Fargo & Co. allows the Downtown History Museum located in its building to feature historic artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of Tucson from its origins as a Spanish fort and mission to its modern incarnation. Charlotte Madden spoke at the meeting on behalf of the Riordan Action Network, which was formed in response to a 2009 funding crisis. She said the community continued to support the mansion, and advocated that the park paid for itself in many respects. We are shocked and blindsided that the agenda today contains a recommendation to cease operations of the three museums. Each property is unique. The withdraw of AHS support will have different consequences for each one, Madden said. The group I represent is respectfully asking [the agency] to consider each separately after a full discussion with partners that is beneficial to all concerned. The money During the treasurers report in the Friday meeting, Vice President Kelly Corsette explained that under the current situation the society was hemorrhaging $125,000 per month, and would be out of money by next July. Closing down different locations due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns while continuing to upkeep facilities has complicated the societys spending. It continued to justify the decision, saying it was not the sole owner of any of the three properties. The historical society shares the ownership of Riordan Mansion State Park with Arizona State Parks and Trails, Fort Lowell Museum with the City of Tucson, and the Downtown Historic Museum with Wells Fargo. The three locations were each described as key facilities for local communities that helped unlock the citys history and identity. The American Alliance of Museums surveyed 750 museum directors in July on COVID-19s impact on museums and found that one-third of all museums might be lost to the financial impacts of the pandemic. The report also details how museums support more than 700,000 jobs and contribute $50 billion to the economy each year. The society began funding the operations at Riordan Mansion when Arizona State Parks and Trails budget was cut in 2009, and the Flagstaff community rallied to find funding elsewhere for the park. Bob Broscheid, director of Arizona State Parks and Trails, joined public comments to voice his support for Riordan Mansion State Park, and said he was grateful for the current partnership. He said he was open to negotiating and restructuring a new Riordan management agreement that was already in the works. He said that the state parks and trails system does not forget what actions the society took a decade ago when the Great Recession caused the parks to take drastic action. It was a crisis. I remember it dearly. The heritage fund was swept and the other funds that had been swept. Those were tough times. We reached out and had an opportunity, and that opportunity was seized by AHS, Broscheid said. I also believe that with COVID-19, they are tough times, but I also believe there are significant opportunities for us to work together to make us even stronger as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging communities Many described their shock after hearing about the recommendation to drop funding. Rep. Andres Cano of Legislative District 3 joined the call to ask for a delay in the vote. He said he did not find out about the vote until hours before the day of the meeting, but made a point to share his perspective. Dont think for one second that I or the others on this call expressing their concern about this vote are not wanting to be collaborative or engage with you on discussing the long-term successes of these groups, Cano said. These are unprecedented times but our history and culture is timeless and resilient. In response to community anger about the lack of transparency on the vote, President Linda Whitaker flatly rejected the idea, saying they put notices out in their agenda and contacted the co-owners of the properties about the upcoming vote. She said she didnt feel the need to contact people involved beyond the agreements. Phone calls were made to the owners of those properties. They knew what was being considered, Whitaker said. I dont want to hear about 'you didnt tell us.' Thats not true. Demion Clinco, CEO of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, felt the board needed to engage with community organizations that support the historic sites to see if creative solutions could be made before recommending to dissolve the societys relationships. I think it's the Arizona Historical Societys responsibility to members and taxpayers to say this is what were doing and try to reach out to other stakeholders to show investment, Clinco said. They have an investment in seeing you succeed give them the opportunity through a public-private partnerships to breathe new life into the agencies. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Pune district administration will issue notices to industrial units in Chakan, Rajgurunagar, and others under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 for not following Covi-19 guidelines. Saurabh Rao, divisional commissioner, said, We have received complaints that industries are not following guidelines and safety precautions issued by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Centre and state government. They are not informing the local administration if an employee tests positive for the Sars-Cov-2 virus, said Rao. Rao said, Elected members raised the issue in the Covid-19 review meeting which was headed by Pune district guardian minister Ajit Pawar. Complaints are mainly from Chakan area. Rao said, Notices will be issued to industries in rural areas for not following the guidelines. If they still flout the norms strict action will be taken against them. The industries in Pimpri Chinchwad area and Hinjewadi IT Park are taking better safety precautions, he said. Surge in cases in rural area Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao said, while Covid-19 positive cases in Pune city are in control there is a surge in cases in rural areas. There are even complaints from patients about hospitals overcharging. As the cases are on a rise the main worry is about the healthcare facilities. We are planning to centralise allocation of hospital beds in rural areas, he said. Rao said, We have decided to bring new 52 hospitals in rural areas under Mahatma Phule Jan Aaroya scheme so that residents can avail free treatment. A man accused of fatally stabbing a mother of three just few days after she graduated as a corrections officer, and a man who allegedly recorded sexual interactions with children were indicted by Bexar County grand juries this week. Michael Gonzales, 27, was indicted on one count of murder in the death of Miranda Sage Milowski, 27. Gonzales is accused of stabbing Milowski several times on May 24 before she jumped from a moving vehicle in the 3800 block of Krie Trail in western Bexar County, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Gonzales, Milowskis ex-boyfriend, has remained in jail since he was arrested that same day. His bail was increased to $600,000. Several witnesses saw Milowski fall from Gonzales vehicle and called 911 as they ran to help her. She died at the scene, investigators said. Deputies found Gonzales hiding at a home in the 9600 block of Acadian Drive after he crashed his vehicle nearby. Milowski graduated as a corrections officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice two days before she died, Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time of her killing. Gonzales, who was living out of state, was in town for the ceremony, investigators said. She and Gonzales had three children together, ages 7 and younger, officials said. Milowski had had custody disputes with Gonzales in the past, but none of them were violent, the sheriffs office said. The case is to be heard in the 186th District Court. Courtesy Bexar County Sheriff's Office / Another grand jury issued two separate indictments against Trevon Deonte Rogers, 22, on charges that included sexual performance by a child under the age of 14 and sexual assault of a child. The case came to light while a 13-year-old girl was in custody at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center, the sheriffs office said. The girl told deputies she had a sexual relationship with Rogers, having met him after she ran away from home between January and February. She said Rogers was sharing video of their sexual encounters on Snapchat, a social media application, deputies said at the time of his arrest. She was able to delete footage from the application, but she found more on his phone, deputies said. On Friday, officials said Rogers had made similar videos and allegedly had sexual contact with five different children younger than 17 between December and January. Rogers has been out of jail on a $50,000 bond since March 7. His cases will be heard in the 175th District Court. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Jacob, become a subscriber. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA The picture is much the same at private clinics. Roh Jeong-kyun, a psychiatrist, said the number of patients with these symptoms has jumped about 20 to 30 percent. According to the Health Ministry last week, 374,221 people visited public health centers across the country with "coronavirus blues" from February to Aug. 3. That is more than the number of patients who complained of anxiety or depression over the whole of last year. An increasing number of people are suffering from anxiety or depression due to social distancing that has now been going on for over six months. "Many elderly patients complain of depression," he added. "They seem to be more vulnerable than others to the blues because it's even harder for them to get around freely as they're a high-risk group." One recent study suggests that the lockdown is having serious effects on mental health. According to a study released by Prof. Kim Bung-nyun of Seoul National University Hospital on Aug. 4, two-thirds of 136 patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder who visited the hospital from February to June got worse because they had less contact with friends or teachers and engaged in less physical activity amid the lockdown. Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said, "Fears are also mounting about the possibility of suicide." The ministry is offering a self-diagnosis app to help patients get timely help. Doctors advise people to get plenty of exercise in a quiet place and talk with friends on the phone. The warning signs are lethargy, frustration or depression, or headaches, indigestion or insomnia that persist for more than two weeks. Depression can deteriorate if it is not treated properly. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) A Venezuelan court has sentenced more than a dozen rebel soldiers to 24 years in prison for a failed beach attack alongside two former U.S. special forces members accused in the armed operation aiming to capture President Nicolas Maduro, officials said Friday. The ruling against 15 ex-Venezuela soldiers came days after the two ex-Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the same operation in early May. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a state TV broadcast that the Venezuelan combatants confessed to charges of terrorism, rebellion and conspiracy. They've admitted responsibility for the acts they're accused of committing, Saab said. "They're convicted and confessed." Operation Gideon was launched from makeshift training camps in neighboring Colombia and left at least eight rebel soldiers dead while a total of 82 others have been arrested. Ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau, who operated a Florida-based security firm called Silvercorp USA, claimed responsibility for the failed attack and had hired his two former Army buddies to prepare a small cadre of deserting Venezuelan soldiers living at the makeshift camps. Venezuelan prosecutors have ordered his arrest. Goudreau is believed to be in the U.S., where he also is under investigation for possibly violating arms trafficking laws in connection with the botched incursion. Lawyers for the two former U.S. soldiers have said their clients' rights were violated because the private attorneys were not allowed to represent them in the hearing when they pleaded guilty. Saab rejected the claims, saying the men had public defenders and a translator during the Aug. 7 hearing inside El Helicoide jail in Caracas operated by Venezuela's intelligence police. The failed raid also prompted claims that U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido had authorized Goudreau through a signed agreement to carry out the attack, executed by two of Guaidos former political advisers in the United States. U.S. officials have denied any role in the attack. Story continues Also Friday, an investment firm announced it is resuming satellite TV transmissions for Venezuelans whose service was cut off abruptly due to U.S. sanctions aimed at driving Maduro from power. The firm, Scale Capital, said it reached a deal with the AT&T subsidiary DirecTV Latin America to take over the subscription service, providing programming to 2 million customers across Venezuela more than 40% of the country's subscription TV market. We are very excited about this launch and we want to thank all parties for their support, Scale Capital director Jacopo Bracco, said in a statement. The firms website lists its address as Santiago, Chile. Dallas-based AT&T did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DirecTV abruptly ditched its popular satellite TV service on May 19, citing U.S. sanctions that prohibited DirecTV from broadcasting channels that were required by Maduros administration. Scale Capital did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press asking whether the two channels Globovision and PDVSA TV will be aired. The administration of President Donald Trump is running what it calls a maximum pressure campaign aimed at ending the socialist leaders rule, saying he has has led the once wealthy oil nation into ruin. Maduro speaking on TV confirmed the agreement that reconnects millions of Venezuelans to DirecTV despite attempts by his detractors, who he called infantile bozos and perverse right-wing coup mongers who believed that they could can harm Venezuela. A coalition of nations including the United States, the European Union and many countries across the Americas published a statement Friday urging a return to democracy in Venezuela repeated a call for fresh presidential elections. Many of the countries were from the Lima Group and the International Contact Group that formed to help seek a solution to Venezuela's political and economic crisis that has led to roughly 5 million resident fleeing. Many of those nations recognize Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate interim leader, arguing Maduro's reelection was fraudulent. The statement urged all Venezuelan political parties and institutions to take steps toward creating a transitional government to hold a fresh election. We call for an end to all political persecution and acts of repression, the statement said. The current pandemic and Venezuelas overwhelmed public health care system have added urgency to the need to end the status quo. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza pushed back, saying the letter was drafted by officials in the Trump administration and ordered subservient nations to agree. It was written with the intent of sabotaging Venezuela's electoral process, Arreaza said on Twitter. They dont believe in democracy. Phonies! North Korea is forcing state-run organizations, the military, and ordinary citizens to volunteer for a nationwide flood relief effort in the face of heavy rains over the past month and a government refusal to accept foreign aid over coronavirus fears, sources in the country told RFA. In Northeast Asia, the monsoon season typically begins in July and ends in September. In most years that means more rainy days than usual, but the Korean peninsula this year broke recordsSouth Koreas Arirang News reported 50 consecutive days of torrential rains before they finally let up Wednesday. But unlike in the South, the Norths government lacks the capacity to respond to natural disasters. North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday that floods had destroyed 40,000 hectares (154 square miles) of farmland, 16,680 homes, and 630 other buildings all over the country. Lots of roads, bridges and railway sections [were] broken, a dam of a power station gave way and there was other severe damage in various sectors of the national economy, the report added. According to the KCNA report, Kim Jong Un ordered a rapid recovery effort for the areas most affected, saying they should be fundamentally completed by October 10, the 75th anniversary of ruling party. But the North Korean leader also shunned the idea of receiving foreign flood aid, saying that the risk of COVID-19 contamination was too great. With no aid coming in from abroad, citizens are being made to donate labor and resources to provide relief. The Central Committee [of the Korean Workers Party], gave the order to mobilize the entire party, army, and all the people to help the effort to recover from the damage caused by the rainy season, an official in North Hamgyong province, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFAs Korean Service Thursday. All agencies, businesses and households across the country were ordered to voluntarily participate in projects to provide support to flood-stricken areas, the source said. According to the source, each organization was given a different responsibility in the recovery effort. First, the factories and businesses were given tasks like providing equipment and materials needed to recover from the damage, said the source. The big factories in North Hamgyong province, like the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, the Songjin Iron and Steel Complex, and the Komusan Cement Factory are working on projects to send cement and steel to the damaged areas, and the smaller factories have been ordered to send construction tools, food and daily necessities depending on [availability,] the source said. Being forced to volunteer resources that companies need for themselves has not gone over well, according to the source. Officials at the companies ordered to provide aid are in a difficult spot, the source said, adding, But they dare not raise objections. This order was issued by the Central Committee following the instructions of the Highest Dignity, the source said, using an honorific term to refer to Kim Jong Un. The officials are seriously worried about the order to restore the damaged areas before October 10, the source said. If the officials fail with the flood recovery project, they will be marked by a lack of loyalty to the party and will be subject to severe ideological censure, so [they] are on high alert, the source added. Volunteer the people The public are facing the same demands as the state organizations, a second source told RFA. As this recovery project is nationwide, the general population is no exception, said the Ryanggang Province resident, who requested anonymity to speak freely. Local government offices are launching propaganda projects to encourage the peoples participation as if they are helping their own parents and brethren, but in reality the authorities are forcing us to provide aid, the second source said. The list of aid items imposed on us includes various types of supplies like food, kitchen appliances, fuel, blankets, clothes, school supplies, plastic film and other work tools needed for the restoration of buildings including gloves and shovels, the second source added. The resident said this was not the first time the country called upon the people to provide flood relief. When there was a severe flood in the northern part of the country in 2016, the Central Committee ordered the residents to provide aid then, too. People are just exhausted, the second source said. Were all aware that the Highest Dignity personally visited Taechong-ri, North Hwanghae province, the source said, referring to Kims highly publicized personal visit to an especially hard hit town earlier this week. The photo-op was meant to show the North Korean leaders love for the people and dedication to their well being, as he ordered emergency supplies from his own reserves be given to the flood victims, but the second source said the gesture instead made the residents grumble about the unfairness of giving one particular town special treatment. Our lives are extremely difficult due to the combination of coronavirus crisis and natural disasters, so the people complain, asking why the Central Committee does not take charge of supporting the restoration of the flood damage as they did in the case of Taechong-ri. Overseas aid Kim Jong Uns refusal of foreign aid was chalked up to concerns over the possible transmission of COVID-19 from contaminated supplies, but a South Korean expert told RFA the need for aid outweighs the risk. It is inappropriate for the Supreme Leader of North Korea to mention outside aid, said Cho Han Bum, of the Korea Institute of National Unification. It can be seen that the flood damage is so great that outside support is needed. There must have been talk in North Korea about getting outside aid, but Kim Jong Un seems to have drawn the line at that point, he said. But Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the Seoul-based University of North Korean Studies, told RFA the reasons for the refusal are legitimate. In order for aid to be delivered to North Korea in a proper way, there should be quarantine measures in place and the international organizations would require monitoring, wouldnt they? he said. Since it is difficult in the current national emergency quarantine system, I think thats why they are not going to receive flood aid from the outside world, he added. Red Cross provides relief Despite Kim Jong Uns orders, the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) told RFA it is providing aid to North Korean flood victims. The DPRK Red Cross is providing relief to support 2,800 families affected by the floods in North Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces, including family tents for people most at risk, tarpaulins, shelter tool kits, kitchen sets and quilts to help people with their urgent needs, said Antony Balmain, the IFRCs Asia-Pacific communications manager. DPRK Red Cross volunteers are also providing hygiene kits, water containers and water purification tablets, all while engaging in COVID-19 prevention activities, he said. Seoul-based NK News reported that state media aired images of Taechong-ri flood victims in tents provided by the IFRC, and later censored the images to hide their foreign origin. According to IFRC figures, 22 people have lost their lives in the floods. Reported by Myungchul Lee, Jae Duk Seo, and Hee Jung Yang for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Protest against incessant killings in southern Kaduna and insecurities in Nigeria, in Abuja After praying the Angelus with those gathered in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis turns his prayers toward people living in northern Nigeria who are victims of violence. By Vatican News "Today I would like to pray in particular for the population of the northern region of Nigeria, victim of violence and terrorist attacks." Those were the words Pope Francis used after praying the Angelus on Saturday, praying for and asking us to pray for our brothers and sisters in northern Nigeria. Insecurity and terrorism On 8 August, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria issued a statement addressing the "increasing insecurity" and acts of violence in Northern Nigeria. We continue to hear of increasing insecurity and unabated acts of terrorism in Northern Nigeria. We are all tired of this situation, said the Bishops' statement. Using the word "massacre" to describe the violence in Southern Kaduna, the Bishops said the "killings must stop." Violence on the rise In June 76 people were killed in an attack on Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Five humanitarian aid workers were violently murdered in July by Boko Haram militants after having been abducted in Borno State in June. At least three attacks attributed to the Fulani militia took place in Southern Kaduna in July alone. On 5 August, at least thirty-three persons, mostly women and children, were killed by unknown gunmen in an attack on five Atyap chiefdom villages in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The State government recently imposed a curfew in the area due to the rising tensions. Appeal to the government and for prayers The Nigerian bishops appealed to the country's government of their campaign promises to end corruption, guarantee safety of persons and property and to stimulate the economy. . In addition, the Bishops turn to all Catholics that we join in prayer, praying praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory Be to the Father every day after the Angelus for forty days. This joint prayer will start from 22 August through to 30 September 2020 the eve of Nigerias Independence Day anniversary. On 1 October (Nigerias Independence Day), the faithful are to pray the five decades of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary for God to save Nigeria. Toxic blue-green algae has been ruled out as a cause in the sudden death of a dog that visited Ryerson Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake earlier this week. Late Friday afternoon, test results released by the Ministry of the Environment showed no presence of blue-green algal bloom there, the town said in a news release. Signs warning people to stay out of the water at Ryerson Park and other unmonitored shoreline locations have been posted. The only official beach in Niagara-on-the-Lake where water quality is tested regularly is at Queens Royal Park, said Brett Ruck, the towns environmental services supervisor, in an interview Friday. Other places along the waterfront, such as Ryerson Park west of Fort Mississauga, are popular with hikers and people walking their dogs but lake water is not tested, he said. Its easier to tell people to stay out, until we know the cause, he said. In that type of situation you dont want anybody in the water at any point until we know its safe. After the dog died, it was examined by a local veterinarian who said while there was no proof blue-green algal bloom was to blame, it appeared likely. In warm weather and shallow, slow-moving water blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, can mass into a bloom and become toxic. After the dogs death, Environment Ministry inspectors took water samples at Ryerson Park Aug. 12. They saw green algae but no evidence of a blue-green algal bloom. Ministry spokesman Gary Wheeler said there have been only two confirmed discoveries of cyanobacteria in Niagara this year, at Chippawa Park in Welland on May 31 and Jordan Harbour in Lincoln on July 5. He said anyone who spots what they believe to be a blue-green algal bloom on the water should alert the ministrys spills action centre at 1-800-268-6060. While no blue-green algae was found, there is other bacteria in the water that could be harmful to people or animals so they should stay out, said Ruck. I do feel really bad about that persons dog, and I really do want to know what it was that caused its death. Independence Day 2020: Day after testing COVID-19 negative Amit Shah hoists National Flag India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Aug 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday has hoisted the National Flag at his residence on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday tweeted he has tested negative for coronavirus. He had been staying at the private hospital Medanta in Gurgaon, near Delhi. Shah will be in home isolation for next few days. "Today my coronavirus test report has come negative. I thank God and at the moment I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors," Mr Shah tweeted. Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah hoists the National Flag at his residence, today on #IndependenceDay. pic.twitter.com/6Pw9CF1lRh ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2020 "I also thank all the doctors and paramedical staff of Medanta Hospital who have helped me in fighting Corona infection and who have been treating me," added Mr Shah. Mr Shah, 55, had taken part in a cabinet two weeks ago just before he was tested positive for the highly infectious COVID-19. The meeting was attended by all top ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. All safety norms, including social distancing, were followed at the crucial meet, where the National Education Policy or NEP was approved. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 15, 2020, 11:44 [IST] EVERY head teacher has the stress of reopening their school under Covid-19 guidelines but Julie O'Connor has the added pressure of reopening after a gap of five years. However, at 9am on Thursday, August 27, the classrooms in Glenroe Community National School will be alive to the sound of boys and girl for the first time since 2015. Ms O'Connor said excitement is building for all in the Glenroe-Ballyorgan community as the date approaches. Works are continuing on the school grounds to ensure the successful opening later this month. Ms OConnor acknowledges the tremendous support extended to her and to all in the school by the working group from the community council, whose hard work and dedication have brought about the opportunity to provide a multi-denominational and inclusive educational environment for all in the Glenroe-Ballyorgan locality again. The head teacher said under the guidance of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, and in partnership with parents and member of the community, Glenroe CNS will dedicate their efforts to the holistic development of each child, through the use of high quality, future focused teaching and learning approaches which strive to develop each individuals academic, social, moral, emotional, spiritual and creative capabilities. Glenroe CNS is committed to the value of partnership, where staff, parents and members of the community will work together to enable all students to reach their full potential in an educational environment which is welcoming, child centred, stimulating, future focused, wholly inclusive and reflective of a diverse 21st century Ireland. I am delighted to be a part of this great adventure for the community and thank Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board for offering me this unique position, said Ms O'Connor. Preparations have continued throughout the summer to ensure the necessary arrangements are in place for the school opening. Find more information at www.glenroecns.ie; email info@glenroecns.ie or contact the school directly on 086 0653135. For more Limerick news click here Anticipating an avalanche of absentee ballots, the U.S. Postal Service has warned elections officials in Texas and 45 other states that it cant guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted adding another layer of uncertainty ahead of the high-stakes presidential contest. The letters sketch a grim possibility for the tens of millions of Americans eligible for a mail-in ballot this fall: Even if people follow all of their states election rules, the pace of Postal Service delivery might disqualify their votes. Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs was advised theres a significant risk that under the states elections laws, ballots sent by mail under the legal deadlines might not be delivered in time to be counted. Voters in Texas can request ballots as late as 11 days before the election, but those ballots must be received by elections officials the day after the election to count. The Postal Services warnings of potential disenfranchisement came as the agency undergoes a sweeping organizational and policy overhaul amid dire financial conditions. Cost-cutting moves already have delayed mail delivery by as much as a week in some places, and a new decision to decommission 10 percent of the Postal Services sorting machines sparked widespread concern the slowdowns will worsen. Rank-and-file postal workers say the move is ill-timed and could prevent the speedy processing of flat mail, including letters and ballots. The slowdown is especially severe in Houston, where the service is sorting 470,000 fewer pieces of mail per hour among the biggest reductions in sorting capacity in the nation. That reduction has become obvious to Houston residents. U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a West Houston Democrat, tweeted Friday that her office is getting calls daily from constituents worried about what is happening to the Postal Service. Residents of my district, and people across the country, rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their mail their medicines, their paychecks, their Social Security checks, their ballots, and so much more, Fletcher said in a statement. Recent actions of the Trump Administration and the Postmaster General should concern every American, regardless of party. The Postal Service is a critical resource for all Americans, and the politicization of the Postal Service hurts every one of us. Angela Blanchard, one of Houston's leading experts on disaster response, tweeted that the post office in my 3rd Ward neighborhood on Almeda has mail so backed up that letters mailed 4 weeks ago havent reached their Houston recipients. And theres not a thing you can do about it if something important is stuck there, Blanchard wrote. The ballot warnings issued at the end of July by Postal Service general counsel Thomas Marshall and obtained through a records request by the Washington Post were planned before the appointment of Louis DeJoy, a former logistics executive and ally of President Donald Trump, as postmaster general in early summer. They go beyond the traditional coordination between the Postal Service and election officials, drafted as fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic triggered an unprecedented and sudden shift to mail-in voting. Some states anticipate 10 times the normal volume of election mail. Six states and D.C. received warnings that ballots could be delayed for a narrow set of voters. But the Postal Service gave 40 others including the key battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida more-dire warnings that their long-standing deadlines for requesting, returning or counting ballots were incongruous with mail service and that voters who send in ballots close to those deadlines might be disenfranchised. The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, USPS spokeswoman Martha Johnson said in a statement. In response to the Postal Services warnings, a few states quickly moved deadlines forcing voters to request or cast ballots earlier or decided to delay tabulating results while waiting for more ballots to arrive. Its unclear whether Texas will make any changes. The state has resisted expanding vote-by-mail amid the pandemic, so far successfully defending against lawsuits by the Texas Democratic Party and other organizations to force it to let more people mail ballots because of the coronavirus. Trump repeatedly has claimed, without evidence, that mail ballots lead to widespread voter fraud and in the process has politicized the USPS. This week, he said he opposes emergency funding for the agency which repeatedly has requested more resources because of Democratic efforts to expand mail voting. The Postal Services structural upheaval alone has led experts and lawmakers from both parties to worry about timely delivery of prescription medications and Social Security checks, as well as ballots. The slowdown is another tool in the toolbox of voter suppression, said Celina Stewart, senior director of advocacy and litigation with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters. Thats no secret. We do think this is a voter-suppression tactic. Vanita Gupta, a Justice Department official in the Obama administration and now president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said she viewed the situation as the weaponization of the U.S. Postal Service for the presidents electoral purposes. Its completely outrageous that the U.S. Postal Service is in this position, Gupta said. A Democratic former president and a former Republican presidential nominee also weighed in on the issue Friday. What weve never seen before is a president say, Im going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service to encourage voting, and I will be explicit about the reason Im doing it. Thats sort of unheard of, right? former President Barack Obama told former adviser David Plouffe on Cadence13s Campaign HQ podcast. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said politicians attacking the vote by mail system are threatening global democracy and that the United States must stand as an example to more fragile democratic nations to show that elections can be held in a free and fair manner. Thats more important even than the outcome of the vote, he said at a virtual event hosted by the conservative Utah-based Sutherland Institute. We have got to preserve the principle of democracy, or the trend were on is going to continue to get worse. Benjamin Wermund contributed to this report. - - - The Washington Post's Jada Yuan contributed to this report. By Andrei Makhovsky and Polina Devitt MINSK/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had secured a pledge from Russia to provide comprehensive assistance if needed to ensure the security of his country in a phone call with President Vladimir Putin on Saturday. The two presidents spoke as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Minsk once again urging Lukashenko to quit and staff at the Belarusian state broadcaster BT considered joining a wave of strikes and mass protests. Accused of rigging last Sunday's election, Lukashenko had earlier appealed to Putin for help as he grapples with the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule and the threat of new Western sanctions. Ties between the two traditional allies had been under strain before the election, as Russia scaled back the subsidies that propped up Lukashenko's government. Russia sees Belarus as a strategic buffer against NATO and the EU. The state news agency Belta cited remarks by Lukashenko that "at the first request, Russia will provide comprehensive assistance to ensure the security of Belarus in the event of external military threats". A Kremlin statement made no mention of such assistance but said both sides expressed confidence that all problems in Belarus would be resolved soon. Statements by both sides contained a pointed reference to a "union state" between the two countries. The neighbours had signed an agreement in 1999 which was supposed to create a unified state. The unification project was never properly implemented and more recently Lukashenko had rejected calls by Moscow for closer economic and political ties as an assault on his country's sovereignty. Russia has been wary of unrest on its borders since Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution, Ukraine's 2003-04 Orange Revolution and 2014 Maidan protests -- events in which it says the West backed the protesters. The European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Belarus in response to a violent crackdown in which at least two protesters have been killed and thousands detained. Story continues "OUTSIDE MEDDLING" On a visit to neighbouring Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was discussing the situation with the EU. The leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania called on Belarus to conduct new "free and fair" elections. Lukashenko said he did not need foreign governments or mediators. Ramping up the rhetoric, Lukashenko said an air assault brigade would move to the border with Poland, after expressing concerned over the NATO military exercises being conducted in Poland and Lithuania, which he sees as an arms build-up. In Minsk, people gathered to lay flowers where one of the protesters was killed this week, waving flags and chanting "go away" and "Lukashenko is a murderer". The crowd also converged outside the state broadcaster BT. Several staff, including presenters, walked out of the building, saying they had resigned, while a red-and-white opposition flag was mounted outside. Later riot police were seen going inside. Some of the country's biggest state-run industrial plants, the backbone of Lukashenko's Soviet-style economic model, were hit by protests and walkouts this week. He plans on Monday to go to the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, whose workers have joined the protests. In a video posted by TUT.BY media on Saturday, the head of the plant, lexey Rimashevskiy told workers that he voted for Lukashenko but "I accept that he lost them (the elections)" -- unusually outspoken comments from an official at a state-run factory. Lukashenko has accused the protesters of being criminals and in cahoots with foreign backers. Moscow this week also accused unnamed countries of "outside meddling" in Belarus. In a further sign of wanting to mend fences with Moscow, Lukashenko handed back 32 Russian members of a private security firm who were detained before the election on suspicion of plotting to destabilise Belarus. The decision angered Ukraine, as Kyiv had asked Minsk for the extradition of 28 of them on suspicion of fighting alongside Russian-backed separatists in its eastern Donbass region. "Former president of #Belarus now asks Putin for help. Against whom? Against own people carrying flowers on the streets?" Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius tweeted. Opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday, has called for more protests and an election recount. Her campaign announced she was starting to form a national council to facilitate the transfer of power. (Reporting by Polina Devitt and Darya Korsunskaya in Moscow; Andrius Sytas in Vilnius and Ilya Zhegulev in Kyiv; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by John Stonestreet, Giles Elgood and Alison Williams) Photo: (Photo : unsplash/Patrick Tomasso) An Alaska mom was 35 weeks pregnant and was on her way home when suddenly, she gave birth to her son while on board a plane. Contractions did not stop On August 5, Chrystal Hicks was having painful contractions, so she decided to fly to a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. The mom of three was already in her 35th week in her fourth pregnancy when it happened. She would usually drive to Anchorage to give birth. It had happened with her first three births. However, what happened on her fourth pregnancy was different from the rest. Hicks told KTUU that during the flight, her contractions did not stop but continued to get stronger. People on board thought that she would make it to the hospital to give birth. However, Hicks' son was ready to see the world at that moment. See also: Texas Mom Holds Newborn Baby First Time, 20 Days After Giving Birth [Heartwarming Story] A few minutes after the plane took off, Hicks' water already broke. After about 20 minutes, her son came out and joined the world. Hicks was shocked and did not know what to think. She said that everyone on the plane kept talking about her newborn son. A special name for the special birthing experience Since she had a unique birthing experience for her baby boy, she wanted to give him a name that would remind her of the special experience that she had. She decided to name her son Sky Airon Hicks. Apart from having a different birthing experience from her first three children, Sky also has a remarkable trait, he had a lot of hair. His other siblings were not born with the same amount of hair. Chrystal Hicks thought they would make it to the hospital before she gave birth but 20 minutes into the flight and she had a newborn son. Posted by Channel 2 Morning Edition, KTUU.com on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 See also: The Story Behind the Beirut Blast Nurse Who Saved 3 Babies Hicks said that she had a hard time filling out the birth certificate. Since Sky was born 18,000 feet from land, she wondered what location to write on the birth certificate. The pilot suggested that they do the longitude and latitude to note where Sky was born. Instead of writing "in the sky" or "on the plane," Hicks decided to write Anchorage as Sky's place of birth. The mom and son arrived safely at the hospital. Sky weighed five pounds and ten ounces. Sky had to be put on a breathing machine because he was born one month earlier than his due date. The Hicks plan to return home soon to be with their other family members. Hicks is excited to let Sky's three other siblings ages 11, 9, and 3, meet him. They have only seen the little one through Facetime. See also: Stuntman Proposed to Girlfriend While on Fire to Reward Girlfriend Genevie Goodlawtaw, Hicks' sister, said that she received a phone call around two in the morning and learned that her sister gave birth in the air. She is proud of having a famous nephew and said that is gorgeous and precious for having been born with lots of hair. She also said that she could not wait for her sister and nephew to come home. Hicks thinks that if her son grows up, he might be embarrassed by his birth story at first. But she believes that Sky would grow to love it and find the story funny soon. She also believes that her son will always be known as the famous child who was born on an airplane. The near-flawless debut of his running mate, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), is a measure of how well the Biden operation is clicking. It was not the confetti-filled, exuberant extravaganza that a campaign would have planned in ordinary times. But even amid the constraints of the pandemic, the tickets first appearance together was a powerful moment, underscoring both the history-making image of a woman of color in the No. 2 spot and the theme of restoring the soul of America, which has been Bidens most compelling message going back to his announcement video nearly 16 months ago. In the first 24 hours after Harriss selection was announced, the campaign raised $26 million a staggering haul that also brought in 150,000 first-time donors. Nagaland Governors RN Ravi said on Saturday vested interests have misappropriated the dividends of peace and didnt allow them to reach the people of the northeastern state. In an Independence Day message, Ravi, who is also the interlocutor for the ongoing Naga peace talks, mentioned how the waves of positive change sweeping all parts of the country seem to have bypassed Nagaland. When the security forces and Naga armed groups agreed to suspend operations against each other paving way for a political settlement, the legitimate expectation of the people of Nagaland was dividends of peacefreedom from fear of guns, better health, better education, better infrastructure, better livelihood opportunities, an atmosphere to dream and an eco-system to pursue their dreams, the governor said in his message. Incongruously, a deep entrenched network of vested interests has emerged during the period which has misappropriated the dividends of peace and didnt allow them to reach the people. There is mass-scale mayhem and miscarriage of dreams and expectations of the people of Nagaland. It is unendurable and unacceptable, he added. Ravis message comes at a time when another round of meetings to thrash out a final agreement for the decades-old Naga political issue is set to begin in New Delhi from next week in which senior National Socialist Council of Nagaland-IM (NSCN-IM) and Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) leaders are expected to take part. The message also comes in the backdrop of a demand by NSCN-IM to remove Ravi as the interlocutor for the peace talkssomething which the NNPGs, seven other outfits who are part of the talks, are opposing. The biggest and oldest of the Naga rebel outfits, NSCN-IM had been in peace talks with the government of India since 1997 and signed a Framework Agreement (FA) in 2015, which was to be the basis for a final deal on the long-pending Naga political issue. Though peace talks with NSCN-IM and the working committee of NNPGs concluded in Delhi on October 31, 2019, a formal deal to end the decades-old Naga political problem is still awaited. Nagaland is endowed with one of the finest human and natural resources. Unfortunately, today it has the dubious distinction of the worst-performing state in the country including the northeast region on almost all the significant indicators of human development, Ravi said. The governor mentioned that nearly 25% of the Nagalands children are not enrolled in schools and around 60% of youth have not been to high school. The poor investment climate, internet connectivity and lack of progress in agriculture and horticulture sectors were also highlighted in the message. In Indias grand march forward, Nagaland cannot be left behind. We will have to break the vice-like grip of the vicious circle of the network of vested interests and make way for the virtuous circle of peace, prosperity and happiness for our people, he said in the message. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON MENLO PARK (BCN) Facebook on Thursday launched a center for information on voting to help people cast their ballot in this year's November general election, company officials said. The Menlo Park-based social media company hopes to help 4 million people register to vote and expects more than 160 million in the United States will see the information on the Voting Information Center. Company officials said the effort is the largest voting information campaign in American history and said it's nonpartisan. Facebook wants every eligible voter who uses their site to vote this year. "We firmly believe voting is voice," said Naomi Gleit, vice president of product and social impact at Facebook. "It is the most powerful expression of democracy and the best way to hold our leaders our accountable." Facebook users were expected to be able to see the new feature Thursday at the top of their Facebook and Instagram feeds. Users may find it now along the left side of the page in the menu column below their name. The Voting Information Center includes posts about changes to voting processes and other announcements from verified area election officials. Users can receive notifications about these alerts. Users can also get information on registering to vote, who's eligible, how to ask for a mail-in ballot, information for voters overseas and in the military and locations and times for early voting. Information will also be available to help people plan to vote on Election Day, such as when and where to vote and whether identification will be required. Another feature of the center allows state and local election officials to reach out to their constituents with updates about voting. Another section of the center provides stories on voting topics from the Bipartisan Policy Center, which aims to challenge misinformation. 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. The time has now come for the Ghana Police Service (the men and women of which, really ought to be paid even more than the military - because of the many risks they face daily), to end the colonial-era-ethos, of serving Ghana's ruling-elites, at the rest of society's expense. Such a well-run, modern-day African police force, which can be compared to the best police forces, globally, should not stoop so low - as to allow itself to manipulated by order-from-above-edicts, from selfish and power-drunk politicians, in charge of governments of the day. Yooooooooo... The leadership of the Ghana Police Service, must emulate their UK counterparts' attitude to professionalism - that, it is a given, that at all material times, the law must be applied to all, who fall foul of it, in British society: rich or poor alike, including even members of the British royal family, a senior member of which (the Princess Royal, HRH Princess Anne), they succeessfuly prosecuted, and got a criminal conviction against, in November 2002, at Slough Crown Court, when her dog bit two children, who were on a walk through Windsor Park. Yooooooooo... Ghanaians demand that such an operate-without-fear-or-favour-professionalism-ethos, guides the work of the current leadership of the Ghana Police Service - as the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections approach, and bellicose politicians threatening to tip their only home, the Republic of Ghana, over the precipice, do so, on an almost daily basis, now: yet their relatively peaceful country, has a well-deserved global reputation, as a haven of stability, in sub-Saharan Africa, which enabled their nation to attract iconic global automotive brands, such as Volkswagen and Nissan. Yoooooooo... Sent from Samsung tablet. Rabbi Samuel E. Karff, a civil rights advocate who served the Congregation Beth Israel in Houston as a counselor and rabbi for decades, has died. He was 88. Today, we mourn the loss of a friend, mentor and revered religious leader, Congressman Al Green, a Democrat from Houston, tweeted Sunday afternoon. We will miss you, Rabbi. Your legacy of reaching across faith communities inspired us to compromise and work toward a greater good for those we serve. Karff a Harvard University graduate who was ordained by Hebrew Union College was part of a group of Houston faith leaders known as the Three Amigos who fought for civil rights for more than 50 years. The other two were Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, a Catholic, and Rev. William A. Lawson, a Baptist. Rabbi Karff helped break down walls and build relationships among people of different faiths and backgrounds, Mayor Sylvester Turner said. The Three Amigos a pastor, rabbi, and archbishop had an impactful friendship that epitomized love and harmony. Their friendship inspired all of us. Now, one of the Amigos is gone, leaving a void in our city. Together, the three friends fought for fair housing standards, called for high schools with large numbers of minority students to offer college prep courses and anchored the Anti-Defamation Leagues Coalition for Mutual Respect to combat anti-Semitism. The three also rallied for the creation of the Harris County Public Defenders Office. In a 2013 Houston Chronicle story, Karff referred to Lawson and Fiorenza as his soulmates. We are mindful of one overarching story, he said at the time. God loves us and we best show our love for God by our love of Gods children, especially the most vulnerable among them. Last year, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston opened the Brigitte and Bashar Kalai Plaza of Respect at its headquarters in Midtown, 3303 Main St., honoring the three men. Three sculptures of dichroic glass each showing the face along with a brief biography of the men reflect light during the day and are lit up at night. Martin B. Cominsky, president and CEO of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, remembered Karff as someone who led by his conscience, his words, and his many acts of loving kindness. He was a remarkable gentleman, scholar, rabbi, and, a champion for positive and respectful interfaith relations among people of all faiths, and, people of no particular faith, Cominsky said in a Sunday statement. In his early years, Karff was an Air Force Chaplain and served congregations from Chicago to Boston to Flint, Michigan. His time in Chicago, where he was asked to join the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race, was formative to his fight for social justice, Karff said during a Juneteenth virtual discussion this year with Fiorenza and Lawson led by Interfaith Ministries. Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. That was the start of my recognition that, as much as I intended to devote my attention to promoting Judaism and Jewish loyalties among the younger generation, I needed to be equally concerned about reaching beyond the Jewish agenda or recognizing that an important part of my Jewish agenda involves social justice and that therefore I needed to ready to devote a good portion of energy and time to the joining of persons of other faiths to promote racial justice and more generally social justice, Karff said. From 1975 to 1999, Karff served as the senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston. During his time as senior rabbi, Karff started the annual Clergy Institute, Houstons largest gathering of interfaith clergy. Under this watch, Beth Israel created the Shlenker School, the first Reform Jewish Day School in Texas. After retiring in 1999, he became Beth Israels rabbi emeritus, a post he held until his death, and went on to found the Health and Human Spirit Program at the University of Texas the precursor to the McGovern Center. Additionally, he also an associate director and visiting professor in UTs Department of Family Medicine at the McGovern Medical School and taught in Rice Universitys Department of Religious Studies. Karffs wife, Joan, died in 2016. They have three daughters. alex.stuckey@chron.com David William, 63, returns to his room at a Project Roomkey hotel in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) A program that has moved thousands of homeless people into hotel and motel rooms to protect them from the coronavirus discriminates against some of the most needy and vulnerable living on the streets, a group of advocates for elderly and disabled residents has charged. In a scathing letter sent this month to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and copied to dozens of city and county officials, the advocates alleged that in selecting which people to move into hotel rooms through Project Roomkey, the agency has deliberately excluded those who cannot handle on their own basic activities, such as going to the toilet or getting out of bed. Citing a written LAHSA policy obtained from staffers at the agency, members of the Los Angeles Aging Advocacy Coalition and others who signed the letter said LAHSA is violating a host of federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Fair Housing Act. Before the pandemic, the group had long argued that the city's homeless care system is not equipped to assist people who are unable to manage basic self-care because of physical disabilities such as an amputated leg. Guest services associate Mia Rogers, 23, gives guest Larita Garner, 61, her lunch at a Project Roomkey hotel. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) "The result of this policy is a disproportionate denial of housing and housing services to the very older adults and people with disabilities who are most at risk of severe symptoms or death as a result of COVID-19," they said. "We have heard from many service providers that they have been unable to obtain [Project Roomkey] approval for their clients who are older individuals with a range of disabilities." Part of a statewide program initiated by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles County's Project Roomkey has leased more than 4,000 hotel and motel rooms for elderly or medically vulnerable homeless people. The rooms were enough for only about a quarter of the 15,000 people LAHSA identified as being eligible for the program under guidelines put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Story continues The letter sent to LAHSA, which The Times obtained from someone who received it, calls on the agency to immediately end its policy, identify people who were denied housing and adopt practices that have been used in other counties to provide the services needed to support disabled people in the hotel rooms. Brandi J. Orton, managing director of the Aging Advocacy Coalition, said the group has a meeting scheduled with LAHSA on Tuesday to attempt to work out a solution. LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston declined to answer specific questions until after the meeting. LAHSA is committed to providing needed services to the many people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, a population with complex needs, in an environment of limited resources, Marston said in a statement. We look forward to discussions with the coalition that may allow us to increase our reach and better meet the needs of this vulnerable population. While alleging serious violations, the letter does not explicitly threaten legal action. "It is not a demand letter," said Patti Prunhuber, senior housing attorney for Justice in Aging, one of the groups that signed the letter. "It is notifying them that we have a serious problem that we need to resolve in a quick and thorough manner, with everybody coming to the table." Orton said coalition members who monitor homeless programs grew alarmed when LAHSA reported in June that only about 18% of those in Project Roomkey rooms were 65 or older. "That was shocking to us," she said. "We know there are upwards of 6,000 older adults on the streets." Older adults have higher rates of physical disabilities that make it hard for them to manage their daily activities, she said. Orton and Prunhuber said LAHSA's practices need to change so that those with physical disabilities, as distinguished from those with medical needs, can be accommodated. Orton said she hopes the upcoming talks will address broader concerns her organization has had for years over the lack of services to address homeless older adults. Guest services associate Dwona Beroit, left, talks with Project Roomkey guest Fire Wilson, 66, at a Project Roomkey hotel. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) "The homeless services delivery system has struggled for many years with the issue of personal care," she said. "The aging sector and homeless services sector have not had any historical relationship. People in the aging sector don't know how to access homeless services. People in homeless services don't know how to access services in the older-adults system. "If LAHSA is going to rectify what went wrong, they need to connect to these systems." Other counties have integrated personal care services into Project Roomkey, Prunhuber said. She pointed to San Francisco, where hotels in Project Roomkey are staffed with trained personal care workers. In Los Angeles County, Project Roomkey beds are close to 90% occupied. LAHSA has proposed an $800-million plan to provide housing over the next three years for the several thousand people who are eligible for the program but have not received a room. Besides Orton and Prunhuber, the letter was signed by Rigo J. Saborio, president and chief executive of St. Barnabas Senior Services; Christina Mills, executive director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers; and disability policy consultant June Kailes. Kailes, who consults for nonprofits, businesses and government agencies, said it is critical for LAHSA to not only scrap the policy but also to train its staff on how to manage people with disabilities. "The issue is kind of implicit bias," Kailes said. "People just automatically assume things. They assume if someone needs a little help in the morning getting dressed, they must have medical problems and need medical assistance." welcome@times.cp.sz MBABANE Jimmy Hlophe might have won a seat in Senate but his past life as a member of the NNLC still lingers on. The NNLC is the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, which is one of the oldest political parties in the kingdom as it was founded in 1963, and the newly-elected senator was once a member and office bearer of this organisation. In 2005, much against the NNLCs decision to boycott any elections under the Tinkhundla System of Government, Hlophe contested and won a parliamentary seat as a representative of the Mahlangatsha constituency. Hlophe won a special election that was conducted after the death of the previous Mahlangatsha MP. He made it clear that he joined the election in his personal capacity and that he had a responsibility to represent all the people in his constituency. He later announced through the media that he had resigned from the NNLC. Sibongile Mazibuko, the incumbent NNLC president, said they still had unanswered questions on why Hlophe decided to denounce the organisation. She said what was worse was that he never formally engaged the organisation on his decision, but they learnt through the media that he had resigned. Mazibuko said since then, Hlophe never returned to the NNLC but they respected his decision because they believed in the concept of freedom of choice. She, however, said they would like to know from him the reasons that led to him abandoning the organisation. I dont know what caused Hlophes dive to the other side. Some people are driven by stomach politics and dive to the other side because they see a buffet; they then sell their souls to the other side. But I dont want to say that about Hlophe; he is the one who knows what drove him to leave NNLC; whether he too was driven by stomach politics, like the biblical Esau to eventually give up his birthright, or whether there are other reasons. He is the one who knows best, but we are left to speculate. We have questions but dont want to draw any conclusions. We wonder why he left because it is not easy to leave the NNLC. Even those that defected have now come back in large numbers, Mazibuko said. He credited Hlophe for not having spoken ill about NNLC despite having denounced the organisation. She said there were those who, when they dive to the other side, decide to speak badly about the organisation. She said she would not even come close to calling Hlophe a sell-out for having decided to go against the NNLCs decision not to participate in the election process. I would not call him a sell-out because that would imply he took NNLCs information and shared it with another camp. I only choose to say less of him because he is no longer our member and it wouldnt be fair to talk about him. He is now a member of another organisation, Mazibuko said. He would be welcomed back The retired teacher and former president of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) said they would, nonetheless, welcome back Hlophe if he decided to return to the organisation. But he would have to re-apply because thats how you join the NNLC. It would then be up to the relevant committee to consider whether his application is acceptable or not. The committee has the powers to decide on the re-admissibility of former members. All would depend on the gravity associated with his leaving because there are different reasons that cause a person to leave an organisation, she said. Mazibuko said Hlophe was born into the NNLC and was even part of its youth league structures; and that he made a great impact during the time he served the organisation. We dont know what really happened. He really needs to explain and we can only speculate. We need to also look at what had surrounded him to cause his departure from the NNLC. We all know that even the children of Israel, once they were starving in the desert, remembered the food they used to eat in Egypt. But I can firmly state that our members always return to the organisation. Even with Hlophe, with time, he will come back...they always do, she stated. Hlophe, on the other hand, confirmed that he had not returned to the NNLC ever since his infamous announcement in 2005 that he had resigned from the organisation. He said he still had newspaper cuttings of articles where he was quoted as having resigned from the NNLC. No comment yet - Holphe But he pleaded with this publication to be given time until he has been sworn-in and then he could begin giving interviews to the media. I have a plea; my family, as my political advisers, has asked that I should desist from making any political statements for now but concentrate on prayer until I have been sworn in and thereafter I would be free to respond to any questions the media might have. For now there is nothing I can say. If I say anything I would be in breach of the agreement with my family, he said. The senator said he was not afraid of anything but was simply honouring the agreement he had made with his family. We are in prayer until the swearing-in. I wouldnt like my mind to be distracted from the prayer Ive embarked on. This is by the will of God and I wouldnt want to deviate. I know and respect the institute of the media but for now I am not saying anything, especially about my past political life, Hlophe added. Hlophe won the senate seat after beating his only competitor, Bongani Comfort Matsebula, by 10 votes. The two were the only candidates who eventually contested for the position to replace the late senator, Mike Temple, after one of the candidates, Sifiso Nkhundleni Mabuza, was disqualified from the race. Mabuza did not meet the taxation requirement following that investigations had uncovered that he had for years been allegedly violating the Income Tax Order 21 of 1975. It was further revealed that Mabuza had obtained the Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) on the basis of allegedly giving false information to the Commissioner of Taxes. Hlophe is not the only person to have contested for a seat in parliament while being a member of the NNLC. Former Prime Minister, the late Obed Dlamini, also ran for a seat and won under the Nhlambeni constituency. Reports also indicate that one Boniface Mamba also participated in the elections but did not win. Last December, in its end of year statement, the central executive of the NNLC called for the registration of political parties and said if this did not happen they would resort to other forms to see it through. The political party said the authorities must unban and allow the registration of political parties to prepare for transition to multiparty democracy peacefully. Through the statement, Secretary General Moses Ndlela said they would not like a situation where the problem was resolved through other means, and in their view, the time was now. The statement addressed a lot of issues that transpired in 2019 and, among them, was the expression of shock to hear the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, wishing emaSwati a happy Christmas when there was no cost- of-living adjustment (CoLA) for three years and no grants for the elderly. President Trump has warned that the 2020 presidential election will be a 'fraudulent mess' and Americans 'will maybe never know who won' if they are forced to submit their votes through the mail. Trump continued to cast doubt on the mail-in voting process in a series of tweets Saturday morning as he responded to reports of fraudulent ballots that were uncovered during a recent local election in New Jersey. The article said 20 per cent of mail-in ballots in Paterson had been rejected after some were found to be linked to out-of-towners or dead residents. The report was tweeted by GOP national spokeswoman Elizabeth Harrington who accused Democrats of tampering with ballots in New Jersey and other states in recent elections. Trump has been a fervent critic of mail-in voting, which he claims will lead to election fraud The president on Saturday continued to cast doubt on the mail-in process, accusing Democrats of tampering with ballots Trump responded to a report tweeted by GOP spokesperson Elizabeth Harrington about fraudulent votes that were discovered during a local election in New Jersey 'The Democrats know the 2020 Election will be a fraudulent mess. Will maybe never know who won!' Trump said in response. The president has been a frequent, fervent critic of mail-in voting which he claims leads to election fraud - a claim fiercely disputed by critics and even his own party, which fears losing votes if its supporters do not mail their ballots. Mail voting is expected to surge to 50 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic rages ahead of the November 3 election. On Thursday Trump said he opposed providing funds for the struggling US Postal Service for mail voting, after service was curtailed amid cost-cutting and efficiency measures ordered by Louis DeJoy, the new postmaster general. United Parcel Service and FedEx on Friday shot down social media calls that they step in to deliver mail-in ballots from USPS, which is warning states of potentially 'significant' delays. 'State ballots must be postmarked to be considered valid and only the USPS has lawful postmarking status. Therefore UPS, FedEx and other private parties cannot technically be involved in shipping ballots,' UPS told Reuters in a statement. Mail voting is expected to surge to 50 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic rages ahead of the November 3 election In a viral tweet, author and radio host David Rothkopf said there was a 'big opportunity' for UPS and FedEx to deliver ballots for free - but the idea was shut down by the delivery service providers 'FedEx does accept individual ballots, and we advise that customers planning to return their ballots via FedEx should closely review their state's guidelines on absentee voting and deadlines for ballots or related election documents,' FedEx said. USPS on Friday sent a warning to all 50 states saying it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail will arrive in time to be counted, even if mailed by state deadlines, raising the possibility that millions of voters could be disenfranchised. Voters and lawmakers in several states are also complaining that some curbside mail collection boxes are being removed. In a viral tweet on Thursday, author and radio host David Rothkopf said there was a 'big opportunity' for UPS and FedEx to deliver ballots for free. 'You'll overnight become the most beloved and respected organization in America,' he wrote. Various laws and regulations for the most part prohibit private delivery companies from handling mail-in and absentee ballots, the companies and experts told Reuters. Exceptions include deliveries deemed 'extremely urgent' by statute and deliveries on the day of and afternoon prior to election day. The US Postal Service sent a warning to all 50 states on Friday saying it cannot guarantee all mail-in votes will arrive in time to be counted, as it struggles amid cost-cutting and efficiency measures FedEx and UPS responded to social media calls suggesting they step in to deliver ballots, saying they are not authorized to carry them In some states, collection would be prohibited because it would be considered 'ballot harvesting,' said Tammy Patrick, a former Arizona election official and senior advisor to the Democracy Fund foundation. There are other hurdles that those companies, already coping with a pandemic-related surge in e-commerce shipments, would have to overcome. For example, the Postal Service touches every US mailbox six days a week. Private companies visit only when they have a delivery or an pre-arranged pickup - and they do not have blanket coverage in rural areas. Amazon.com's upstart delivery service has also been floated as an alternative. That service does not do residential pickups. Representatives from Amazon and the Postal Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 'Establishing a protocol of how they would collect the ballots would be a challenge,' Patrick said. Domestic costs would skyrocket since delivery firms charge significantly more for deliveries than the price of a 55-cent stamp, which is the cost to return many ballots. And, international costs would be 'astronomical,' Patrick said. Aleppo: Ambulances and buses carrying the first evacuees from Aleppo left remaining rebel-held territory in the city on Thursday under a fragile exit deal. A slow-moving convoy of around two dozen vehicles snaked out of Al-Amiriyah district and crossed into government-held Ramussa en route to rebel-held territory in the west of Aleppo province. The convoy was led by vehicles from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, followed by ambulances and then green government buses. ICRC spokeswoman Ingy Sedky said the first convoy included 13 ambulances and 20 buses carrying civilians. They have crossed the front line and are on their way to rural parts of western Aleppo, she told AFP. The first people to leave were the wounded and sick, and their relatives. The convoy moved across the Ramussa bridge and was expected to travel to the town of Khan al-Aassal in the west of Aleppo province, under the agreement brokered by government backer Russia and opposition supporter Turkey. The fragile deal was supposed to begin yesterday morning, but collapsed briefly with a return to violence sending panicked civilians who had gathered to leave scrambling to find safety. After hours of talks, the deal was revived, and was expected to be implemented throughout today and possibly into the coming days. The evacuation comes after a month-long army operation to recapture all of east Aleppo, a rebel stronghold since 2012. The army now holds more than 90 percent of the citys east. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. Sen. Kamala Harris wins the prize. What does she bring, and will it help Joe Biden win swing states in November? Julie: Kamala Harris brings positive energy to a Democratic campaign that had been largely energized by opposition to Trump. She is a strong, fierce woman of color and it is women of color who have been carrying the Democratic Party to the White House since Jimmy Carters election. Its about time they get a real seat at the table. And while we have been focused on the African American part of Senator Harris heritage, she is also a first-generation Indian American. Asians are the fastest growing racial group in the nation and Trump lost the Asian American vote by a wider margin than any other four years ago, winning just 14% of the Asian Indian vote. Her nomination represents a long-delayed generational shift toward Generation X, which has been living with the messes Baby Boomers have inflicted upon us way past their expiration date. She is an excellent communicator and she is tough and ambitious, two adjectives which men like Trump use disparagingly but which most women consider to be strong attributes. Mike: Sen Harris helps Biden because she passes the most important test - she is qualified to be president, regardless of gender, ethnicity or skin color. She also brings the political strengths Julie notes, plus policy credentials as a US Senator and former Attorney General. Finally, being more centrist than the Sanders socialist wing of the party, she does not bring controversy, which is what matters most as Biden wants the race simply to be a referendum on Donald Trump. I love this. Kamala Harris is exactly the kind of strong, unapologetic woman of color that this ticket needs. African American women have been the backbone of the Democratic Party throughout my lifetime. It's time they have a real seat at the table of power. Go, #GenerationX. Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) August 11, 2020 Q. President Trump described Harris as nasty four times, and as angry. His campaigns communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said the choice completes the radical leftist takeover of Joe Biden. Will those lines of attack work? Julie: A misogynistic racist is calling a woman of color "nasty" and "angry?" Color me shocked. I'm surprised Trump didn't go the extra step and tell her to smile more. especially since he is himself such a ray of sunshine. As for those attacks against "leftist" Joe Biden, in all the years Biden has been around, he never managed to mandate the reading of Das Kapital in every classroom. I'm not sure anyone believes he will start now. Mike: President Trump would have preferred that Sanders or Elizabeth Warren won the primary or on the ticket, because they are legitimately socialists. That would have allowed the election to be a referendum of capitalism vs socialism, and in America, capitalism still wins. It is proving harder to paint Biden as a radical leftist because he's been in public office for 50 years and was never noted for left-wing policy. In fact, the major policy that gets discussed is the crime bill, hardly supported by the left. Q. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy retreated from his plan to open K-12 schools in September, saying schools can choose to rely on remote learning. Should this be a local decision? How can parents know if their local school is safe? Julie: I wish that the administration would have made a decision earlier this summer and stuck to it. Schools could have then prepared for distance learning effectively, which is where this is all going. I want my son back in the classroom as much as the next parent but I also believe that the minute someone in his school tests positive, students will go home, either because the school will shut down or because parents won't send their kids back for fear of contagion. Parents also could have had the summer to make child care arrangements without the uncertainty that this policy presents weeks before the start of the year. If there is a repeat of the on-the-fly education many students received remotely last Spring, it will be another wasted school year and this time, no one can blame an unanticipated act of God. We had all summer to plan. Mike: This is the governor's most difficult decision. I don't blame him for being deliberate. I applaud that he's not retreating from his desire to get as many schools as possible to return for some level of in-person learning. That's the right goal. It's also smart to give the 600+ school districts flexibility. We have very different COVID caseloads, population densities, and physical structures at the thousands of public and private schools in the state. A one-size-fits-all approach would be a mistake and antithetical to local control. "No school should open in person right now. From the moment a child steps on a bus, its too dangerous."#OnlyWhenSafe #MakeTheCallhttps://t.co/Oeg8W9hSlJ NJEA (@NJEA) August 13, 2020 Q. The state Supreme Court unanimously approved Murphys plan to borrow up to $9.9 billion without voter approval. Good news or bad? Julie: Good news in the short term, since it won't result in draconian cuts to vital programs and tax hikes that would have further stalled a sputtering economy. Bad news for taxpayers in the long term, since we will be paying down this debt for generations. Mike: This isn't the first time the Supreme Court made a mistake. Q. Murphy cant borrow a dime of that money without approval of a special panel of four leading Democrats, including his nemesis, Senate President Steve Sweeney, who wants spending cuts first. Who has the greater leverage when a budget is drawn up in September, Murphy or Sweeney? Julie: Everyone will have to give a little because they all have leverage over each other. In every budget, the Legislature and the governor negotiate over their respective priorities. With record unemployment, a stalled economy and an election looming next year, I don't think anyone is interested in playing games. Mike: Sen. Sweeney had the upper hand in previous negotiations because he had more experience in Trenton budget warfare. But now, Gov. Murphy has experience and much more political capital in terms of personal popularity than he's had before. Q. Finally, Gov. Chris Christie criticized Murphy over the flood of deaths in New Jerseys nursing homes, and Murphy responded at Mondays briefing by calling him a smart aleck. This is unusual, right? Does it matter? Julie: Every time Gov. Christie takes a shot at Gov. Murphy, I imagine that the governor's political team rejoices. It just allows Murphy to contrast himself with his much less popular predecessor, while Christie's actual point about nursing homes gets lost in the shuffle. An effective attack is not just about the right message; it's also about the right messenger. Mike: Gov. Christie is still the best-known and most effective Republican messenger in New Jersey. No one else has the combination of notoriety and political courage to speak truth to power. Please note neither Julie nor Gov. Murphy answered the substance of the nursing home question, only attacking the messenger, which is telling. For all the good decisions Gov. Murphy's made, the decision to send COVID-positive patients into nursing homes with the most vulnerable population of our society was a really bad one. Maybe he just got some terrible advice from the experts he was relying on. He wasn't alone; Cuomo did the same thing. It's okay to be criticized for a mistake and have to answer questions about it. Good for Christie for forcing the press to ask tough questions. Julie: Toms question proves my point. It wasnt about nursing homes. It was about Christie versus Murphy. As I said, the messenger overshadows the message. Governor: you may still be fooling yourself, but you've long ago stopped fooling New Jersey. We're working hard to restore funding to education, NJT, and the pension system that you stripped to protect the wealthy and well connected. New Jersey, at long last, is moving forward. https://t.co/9dMUIs65bJ Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 2, 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. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested three officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), including an Assistant Director, in connection with a bribery case. An upper division clerk and a security guard have also been arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1 Lakh. The assistant director has been identified as Sudhanshu Ranjan, while the name of the upper division clerk is Ajeet Bhardwaj. The security guards name, according to the CBI, is Darwan Singh. The arrests were made on a complaint filed by a person who wanted to sell a plot he bought from one of the allottees. That person, known to the complainant, was allotted a plot by the DDA in place of his slum. The complaint was asked for a bribe of Rs 4 lakh for the sale of the plot. The CBI laid a trap after the complaint was registered and caught the public servant red handed while accepting Rs 1 lakh as part of the bribe. The other accused were also arrested subsequently. Searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of the accused at Delhi and Noida which led to the recovery of incriminating documents, the CBI said. The arrested accused will be produced before the court later on Satuday. As we Indian Americans thrill in our new sense of belonging and rush to claim Harris as our own, we might also use this moment to reckon with our anti-Black racism. Our two struggles Black and Indian have been different, but they have also been intertwined. The Indian side of that story begins variously in 1957, when Dalip Singh Saund became the first Indian American to be elected to the House of Representatives; or 1941, when Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, an Indian activist and social reformer, refused honorary whiteness in a segregated American train; or 1498, when the first European ships successfully rounded the southernmost tip of Africa and arrived in Calicut, India. Malaysia Politics Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, speaks during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Mahathir, 95, said Friday he would form a new ethnic Malay party to fight corrupt leaders, more than two months after he was sacked from his own party amid a political struggle with his successor. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, Pool) PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) Two-time former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced Friday he is forming a new ethnic Malay party more than two months after he was sacked from his previous party during a political struggle with his successor. Mahathir, 95, quit as prime minister in protest in late February after fellow party member Muhyiddin Yassin withdrew their Bersatu party from the ruling coalition, triggering its collapse less than two years after a historic victory in 2018 national polls. Muhyiddin was sworn in as new prime minister in March with a new government supported by ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak's corruption-tainted party that was ousted in 2018. Mahathir, who was sacked from Bersatu along with his son and three other senior members, said Muhyiddin had hijacked the party and helped revive what he called a kleptocratic government. He accused Muhyiddin of using money to buy support in Bersatu, causing it to stray from its goal of fighting graft. Mahathir said he believes many grassroots members are unhappy and still support him. We feel that we must continue our fight and that is why we are forming a new party," Mahathir said at a news conference. He didn't reveal the name of the party but said its main agenda will be similar to Bersatu's original struggle to eradicate corruption and kleptocracy. Mahathir said the new party will be independent and not align with the opposition coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim, who was initially slated to succeed him in their previous government. Mahathir, who ruled for 21 years until 2003, made a comeback in 2018 polls to help Anwar's alliance defeat Najib's coalition that had ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 2018. He became prime minister before resigning in February. Najib, his wife and several senior officials from his party have been charged with multiple counts of corruption since their defeat in the 2018 polls. Najib was sentenced late last month to serve 12 years in prison in his first trial linked to a massive financial scandal, though the sentence has been stayed while he appeals. He faces four other trials and insists the cases against him are political vengeance. Story continues Mahathir's announcement Friday comes amid a disagreement with Anwar's alliance over the choice of their prime ministerial candidate. Mahathir has rejected Anwar's candidacy and supported another politician. Analysts said Muhyiddin faces pressure from allied parties to call for early elections because his unelected government has only a two-seat majority in Parliament. It will not be an easy call for Muhyiddin because his party is dwarfed by Najib's Malay party in the coalition. Elections are not due until 2023. In separate remarks to Indian broadcaster WION News aired Friday, Mahathir hailed Najibs conviction and sentence. He said it showed that those in power who commit crimes cannot escape scot-free. We feel this is something that Malaysia can be proud of because we have managed to have people of high standing being tried in the court of law, Mahathir said. He was found guilty on all seven charges that were placed against him. So, that for us is very important. We now feel safe. We dont think that there can be people who can commit some crime and get away with it. MUSKEGON, MI -- A Muskegon area movie theater announced Friday it was closing permanently because of continuing coronavirus restrictions. Harbor Cinema posted a message to the companys Facebook page, saying it could no longer withstand the financial challenge of surviving the COVID-19 crisis. Indoor movie theaters in Michigan have been closed since mid-March. In the post, Harbor Cinemas leadership said they had tried to host a couple of fundraisers earlier but no one anticipated having to be closed for 6 plus months. They also had hoped for a new small business funding bill out of Congress, but it hasnt happened. We want to thank everyone for a great 7 years! Its been quite a ride and this is not how we had intended or hoped to end things, according to the post. It is with a heavy heart that we announce that we are staying closed permanently. We had hoped to be open in some... Posted by Harbor Cinema on Friday, August 14, 2020 More from MLive Muskegon County man dies when tractor flips on him Elementary students should wear masks in classrooms, state officials urge, stopping short of a mandate mfanukhona@times.co.sz MBABANE How old were you when Bob Mabena became a hit in Eswatini in the early 1990s? Mabena, who was privately cremated yesterday, married Zandile Nzalo, a journalist and news reader at Eswatini TV. The wedding took place at Simunye Community Church. There is one element of that unforgettable marriage, which caused a public outcry, mainly among journalists. When he alighted from his car and made his entry to the hall, a police officer saluted him. EmaSwati did not understand why the police officer saluted a journalist. The act by the officer attracted a strong barrage of criticism directed at the entire Royal Eswatini Police Service. Journalists and columnists urged the then Commissioner of Police Edgar Hillary to make sure police officers saluted Eswatini journalists as well. They claimed they did not know that members of the Fourth Estate also deserved the police honours and decorum accorded to the prime minister and ministers. invited guests Only invited guests were allowed to enter the hall. Those who were not invited to the wedding did not enjoy the sumptuous lunch served to wedding guests. They peeped through the window, and many had come to see Mabena, who was so famous and adored even in Eswatini. At that time, he worked for Radio Bop. Mabena then recorded a popular track with Kaizer Chiefs legend Theophilus Doctor Khumalo titled Get Funky. It was a hit at the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS). He and Khumalo had an audience with His Majesty the King at Lozitha Palace. They took pictures with the King. Mabena divorced Nzalo in 2009. They were married for 20 years. Nzalo is now a prominent businesswoman in South Africa. tribute On another note, EWN reported that there was not a dry eye in sight when Mabenas wife, Eucharist, sobbed as she paid tribute to the love of her life at a funeral service at a crematorium in West Pretoria yesterday. Close friends and family gathered at the crematorium to bid farewell to the radio legend who died on Monday after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 51. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the ceremony was just over an hour long and was attended by only 50 of his loved ones and friends. As a live band played soothing music in the background, Mabenas family and friends bid their last goodbyes to the father, husband and radio legend. My baby love, my super man, love of my life words arent even coming to me. The past few days have felt like a long bad dream that keeps playing itself over and over. Ive lain awake every night this week, hoping that youll walk through the door, she said breaking off to cry. heartbreaking letter There was not a dry eye in the room as people wiped away their tears whenever Mrs Mabena took moments to pull herself together in between reading the heartbreaking letter. The one who used to make me laugh uncontrollably hasnt been here. My pillar, my best friend is no more. I keep asking God, why now? Eucharist thanked her late husband for his love and for keeping all the promises he made to her. She thanked God for their marriage and the past seven years they shared. vivid nightmare The 10th of August is still a vivid nightmare. The day I watched my superman put down his cap. The day I never thought I would ever experience in my life. The day our cruise was interrupted by the angel of death. The day I drove home knowing that I will never see you again. My love, I want to thank you and God, for affording me the gift of time when you gave me the last hour of your life, she said. Clementine, one of Mabenas children, who was visibly heartbroken, expressed how much their father meant to each of them and the gaping hole his death had left in their hearts. I thought that the day my fathers heart stopped beating, mine would do the same. I thought the sun would be blocked out and the world would stop spinning. And, I dont know if this is denial or hes holding me up but here I am, she said before reading the letters from her siblings. She read letters from Sihle, Taki, Owami, and his first grandchild, Tshiamo. illustrious career Mabenas son, Kamo, read the obituary. He read all about Bobs illustrious career that spanned over three decades in broadcasting and in the corporate world as well. He also revealed that his father was working on a biography that would have captured the life and times of The Jammer as Mabena was affectionately known. He is survived by his wife and his 10 children. His uncle, fondly referred to as Uncle Pat, who raised Bob as his son when his parents died, spoke about how the radio legend loved music even as a child. Myself and my brother Ronny raised Bob. He loved music from the very beginning. He would always chase after the music, which was a problem in the beginning because my mother worried that he would never fully live his potential because he didnt seem interested in schoolwork. The deceaseds uncle said the family always came together to ensure that he lived up to his potential. He also thanked God for his life and the part he played in it. great DJ Bob is the man he was today because we made sure to speak to him and tell him to do things the right way. Bob listened to us and he grew up to be an honourable man with his own family and a great DJ. He took care of us and made us proud, he said. One of Bobs brothers and long-time friend George Manyosi described him as kind, humble and charismatic. George spoke about their early days in radio and how they set the bar back in 1989. He spoke passionately about how Bob grew his work ethic and became the humble superstar he was. Cars leave a ferry at the Port of Dover as Britain imposes a 14-day quarantine on arrival from France from Saturday amid the CCP virus pandemic, in Dover, Britain, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Reuters/Peter Cziborra) UK Adds France to Quarantine List, Travel Pressure Mounts Travelers arriving in the UK from France and five other destinations will, from 04:00 BST on Saturday, need to self-isolate for 14 days, the government announced on Thursday, sparking many holidaymakers to rush for home before the quarantine deadline. The ruling comes amid the ongoing CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, pandemic and applies to both returning UK residents and visitors to the country. According to a government statement, the ruling was imposed following a significant change in virus risk in all the six destinations that were added to the quarantine list. Travel Disruption There were reportedly around 160,000 British tourists in France, and many of them headed towards the French port of Calais hoping to catch an early ferry or a shuttle train home. In Calais, ferry companies were adding extra crossings to help more people get home before the deadline, Jean-Marc Puissesseau, head of the Port of Calais, told Reuters. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, who brought in additional staff to deal with immediate queries, however, said in a statement that they had no additional capacity. John Keefe, director of public affairs at Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel told BBCs Newsnight programme on Friday that trains were already pretty much fully booked. Its not going to be easy to get back, he said. Passengers wearing protective face masks arrive from Paris at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras station as Britain imposes a 14-day quarantine on arrival from France from Saturday amid the CCP virus pandemic, in London on Aug. 14, 2020. (Reuters/Peter Nicholls) Airlines, which have already been hit heavily during the CCP virus pandemic, were adversely affected by the new quarantine rules. Airline and travel shares tumbled, with British Airways owner IAG down 6 percent and EasyJet down 7 percent. Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, described the measures on Twitter as another devastating blow to the travel industry already reeling from the worst crisis in its history. Response and Criticism France warned it would reciprocate, causing further headaches for airlines, which might have to cancel yet more flights, meaning fresh financial pain and denying them the August recovery for theyd hoped for. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, however, on a visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday, told reporters the UK would be absolutely ruthless about quarantine measures, even with the countrys closest and dearest friends and partners. We cant be remotely complacent about our own situation, he said. Everybody understands that in a pandemic you dont allow our population to be re-infected or the disease to come back in. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth office meanwhile advised in a statement against all but essential travel to France. Passengers and staff wearing protective face masks arrive from Paris at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras station as Britain imposes a 14-day quarantine on arrival from France from Saturday amid the CCP virus pandemic, in London on Aug. 14, 2020. (Reuters/Peter Nicholls) The new quarantine measures, also affecting travelers from the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Aruba, were met with criticism from the UK Labour Party. That the government has still not put in place an effective track, trace and isolate system has made matters far worse, Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said in a statement. He said that the measures had made it more likely that we are reliant on the blunt tool of 14-day quarantine, and he called on the government to produce details of any work being done to reduce the time needed to isolate through increased testing and other measures. UK quarantine rules have varied during the CCP virus pandemic. When Europe first went into lockdown in March, Britain was criticized for not restricting arrivals from abroad. Since June, however, it has introduced strict quarantine rules for arrivals from countries with infection rates above a certain level. Spain, the favorite holiday destination for Britons, came under British government quarantine rules on July 26. Lockdown Easements The quarantines coincide with lockdown easements in England that were previously put on pause. On Thursday, the government also announced new enforcement measures, which impose penalties of from 1,000 ($1,300) to 3,200 ($4,200) for serious non-compliance with social distancing rule violations. The penalties, which will apply from Saturday, include increased fines for persistent flouting of face-covering rules and new fines for people hosting raves or other unlawful gatherings of more than 30 people. Wedding receptions with up to 30 people can resume, however, along with socially distanced indoor performances. Other easements include the re-opening of bowling alleys, skating rinks, and casinos. Beauty salons, tattoo studios, spas, and barbers can also open for close contact services and treatments. Policies Not Contradictory Transport Secretary Grant Shapps denied that the quarantine measures and domestic easement policies were contradictory, saying that the aim was to keep the reproduction rate of infection below one. Being able to open up some of those things but having to close down travel corridors elsewhere is all part of the same thing, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Shapps said he sympathized with travelers but said they should not be entirely surprised, given the fluid situation around the pandemic. Where we see countries breach a certain level of cases then we have no real choice but to act, he told Sky News. He ruled out any special assistance for holidaymakers, saying they knew the risks before traveling, with a possible quarantine to France having been rumored for weeks. Reuters contributed to this report Every day, the Department of Health reports that anywhere between 5,000 and 30,000 Massachusetts residents were screened for coronavirus using so-called molecular tests, which officials say are accurate and can detect the viruss genetic material. But are these highly sensitive tests also known as polymerase chain reaction tests, which drive the vast majority of test results in Massachusetts create a problem for public health officials looking to prevent the transmission of COIVD-19: while they they can detect who may have been infected with virus, it doesnt necessarily indicate if a person is still infectious. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said health officials when testing a population should focus on the latter. The solution, he says, is testing that is less sensitive, and more frequent. That way, health care professionals and public health officials can identify cases of COVID-19 when patients are most infectious and act early to prevent further spread of the disease. As a doctor, as a practicing physician ... a test that has a lot of false negatives is a problem because Im only doing that test once and I want to know do you have the diagnosis or do you not today, he said during a recent call with reporters. So I need a highly sensitive test. As of Friday, Massachusetts has carried out just over 1.8 million molecular tests since the beginning of the health crisis, which have yielded at least 113,729 positive cases of the virus. These are typically done with a nasal swab, oral swab or saliva sample at a test site or hospital, then sent to a laboratory for processing. Mass. relies primarily on the PCR test, said Douglas T. Golenbock, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at UMass Medical School. That is sort of what we consider the gold standard at the moment. Its highly specific and reasonably sensitive. DPH just this week began reporting coronavirus results from antigen tests, which has a lower sensitivity; but a positive result suggests the person is likely currently infected with the virus and therefore contagious. Experts say antigens are faster and less expensive than molecular tests. And faster, cheaper, more frequent testing is what is needed to stop the spread even if it means missing some cases, according to Michal Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Womens Hospital, who has been pushing for one-dollar paper-strip tests that can be self-administered and widely distributed. They can effectively be akin to a vaccine that was introduced tomorrow, Mina told reporters on a conference call last week, according to the Harvard Gazette. We keep trying to use these diagnostic tools that just tell us whats going on (with an individual) once every couple of months when they may be get tested. Its doing nothing to stop transmission chains. Golenbock said the PCR testing primarily served to protect health care workers from exposure to coronavirus while treating sick patients in a hospital setting. The sensitive tests would quickly let doctors know if a patient under investigation definitively had the virus. It was very important when somebody came in that we could determine whether they had COVID or not, he said. But as a nationwide strategy, Jha says officials should be moving toward rapid, do-it-yourself testing, particularly amid long delays in getting test results. The American Medical Association wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Tuesday, urging him to update federal guidelines for prioritization testing as demands for COVID-19 screening have begun to disrupt the health care communitys ability to respond to and contain the spread of the virus. Laboratories in hospitals and academic centers have been particularly hard hit by strains on the supply chain and have been unable to obtain a consistent supply of reagents, swabs, plastics, viral transport media, and other items that they require, the AMA wrote. The shortages have been particularly burdensome for laboratories in these settings as they are on the front lines of treating COVID-19 patients and must be able to appropriately triage incoming patients so as to best control the infection within those facilities. The AMA suggested those with medically-indicated need for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, such as those with COVID19 symptoms, those with known exposures to COVID-19 and those in need of pre-procedure testing be given priority tests. Experts say the demand for testing will continue to increase as schools reopen in the fall; as employees seek results when returning to work; and as more people engage in non-essential travel. In Massachusetts, visitors are now required to produce a negative COVID-19 test if they cannot quarantine for 14 days before arriving a policy some health experts have questioned. I scratch my head a little bit trying to understand the recent travel policy, Golenbock said. Getting a negative test should not translate into not having to quarantine. As officials continue to discuss school reopening plans for the coming academic year, Golenbock says hes concerned about how officials will monitor the presence of COVID-19 in workplaces, in school buildings and on college campuses. Nobody really knows where were headed, but were all concerned, Golenbock said. A report from PolicyLab, a think-tank at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, released this week showed that while the spread of the infection is slowing in a few hotspots like Arizona and Florida, it is continuing to take hold across some north and midwestern states. I worry that a lot of people living in the northeast think that were done with a pandemic and if the lessons of the south of the last month of July are at all to be paid attention to it is that we are not done with this pandemic and it is entirely possible we can find ourselves back in deep trouble if we dont act aggressively, Jha said. The Congress' Karnataka unit's fact-finding committee, set up to delve into the violence in parts of the city earlier this week, on Saturday termed the incident as absolute failure on part of the home department and police, and sought a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge. The committee also questioned the basis on which some Ministers in the government are making statements that internal rift within the Congress-led to the incident. ".what was the government and police doing? Don't you have intelligence department? ...," former Deputy Chief Minister G Paramehwara, who is the head of the committee, said. Speaking to reporters here, he claimed it was the absolute failure on part of the Home department and the police that led to the incident. "Government has said district magistrate will inquire into the incident, but I demand a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge. The Chief Minister should immediately order for it," he added. The state government has appointed Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner G N Shivamurthy to undertake magisterial inquiry into the violence. The violence in D J Halli and adjoining areas on Tuesday night was unleashed by hundreds of people over a purportedly inflammatory social media post allegedly put out by P Naveen, a relative of Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy. The MLA's residence and a police station at D J Halli were torched by rioters who also set many police and private vehicles afire, and looted the belongings of the legislator and his sister. A day after the incident state Congress had constituted a six-member fact-finding committee headed by Parameshwara, also a former home minister, to delve into what led to the violence. The committee has other former home ministers Ramalinga Reddy, K J George, former minister Krishna Byre Gowda, MLCs B K Hariprasad and Naseer Ahmed as members. Asking the government to investigate into what led to the incident and punish the guilty, Parameshwara said blaming the Congress, and Ministers giving statements that infighting within the party led to the incident is not right. "On what basis they are saying it? have they got the inquiry report? Investigate and punish the guilty, we are the last people to protect those who burnt MLA's house and police stations. Ministers should have restraint and not issue such statements when investigation is on," he said. Only guilty have to be punished, but people in the locality are saying that young boys have been arrested, he said, adding that "innocents should not troubled." K J Goerge, another member of the committee, said those in the government who failed to give protection and maintain law and order, are today blaming the Congress. "If they are not able to send police reinforcement on time in Bengaluru, what will happen in other parts of the state?" he questioned. Stating that the Congress is with its MLA- Murthy and will fight to ensure justice to him, Parameshwara said the committee has visited the incident spots, met officials, local leaders and gathered information. After collecting more information, a report will be submitted to KPCC president,the congress leader said. Regarding alleged SDPI role and the government's plans to ban it, he said there is a procedure to ban any organisations like SDPI which is a political party and enough proof is required and a recommendations has to be sent to the Centre. "...let the BJP government prove their involvement and take action." Murthy, who was also at the press conference, said in response to a question that he and his family has not yet got any extra protection from the government other than a gunman, they have promised to provide. KPCC President Shivakumar urged the Chief Minister to provide security to Murthy and his family. "Days since the attack on our MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, BJP Govt is yet to give him police security. This shows the careless & conspiratorial attitude the state govt has towards this incident. I urge CM @BSYBJP to immediately provide security to him and his family members," Shivakumar tweeted. Emeka Rollas is the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and one of Nollywoods finest actors. He began acting in 1997 and has featured in over 100 movies like Last Warning 1 &2 and Buried Emotions. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, he speaks about Nollywood, AGN, and other matters arising PREMIUM TIMES: You recently signed a memorandum for health insurance for AGN members. Tell us more about it. Emeka Rollas: I have signed two memoranda of understanding within the last two weeks. The plan is to raise N50million to address the issues of our veteran actors and members who are presently down with serious ailments that need urgent medical attention. I had to engage the services of a fundraising manager with a very credible company. I want to make it as transparent as possible so that the health management company will feel very convinced to come on board. I did not want to do it as just handled by AGN, we have tried all these stuff in the past and it never led us anywhere. It was in this process that we lost Muna Obiekwe, we lost Prince James Uche, and we lost Enebeli Elebuwa and all of that. I dont want to fail where others failed. The campaign is starting in earnest because there are people who are terribly in dire need of this fund and I cant wait. The ailing actress, Ify Onwuemene, is not an AGN member but because she is an actress, we will have to do something and there are so many of them like that. I am encouraging all these actors, instead of doing giveaways on Instagram, making people believe you are larger than life, to come and take care of their health. You will finish giveaway today and two years later you will not have a giveaway and you fall sick and you will be asking for money. Stardom is transient. In the last 20 years, we have produced so many stars in Nigeria who are no longer in the scheme of things today. They may be doing well in their other businesses but that level of stardom they enjoy in 13, 14 years ago is no longer there. One of the perks of the HMO plan is automatic access to kidney transplant abroad, we can give you up to N2m or 3m naira depending on the cover which you are. We will be launching this HMO officially in August, so I am calling on actors to quickly sign up so that by that 17th, they collect their cards and begin to make use of their cards to access quality. This is what best we can do for our members at this time. PT: AGN has been silent about Ernest Asuzu. Any update on his health or welfare? Rollas: He is undertaking treatment at an Abuja hospital but he is also one of the beneficiaries of the AGN HMO. We will not be dealing with some of the sicknesses that tend to have some spiritual complications or undertones. So far so good, our Guild is not generating funds from anywhere, all the people you see on your screen do not pay dues to our Guild. It is only when they have a problem they will remember the Guild. Sometimes, they will call the president of the Guild and say somebody died in Kaduna, somebody I dont know. If not for the way I want to take my leadership style, the likes of Ify Onwuemene, I wont even be mentioning them in what I am doing. But I just want to use this opportunity to see if I can attract Nigerian actors to come together. sighing the MOUU [PHOTO: FB: Emeka Rollas] How can somebody gather in a village, gather people, shoot a film, pay the actors peanuts and then tour the world with the film and make so much money from it without paying the actors royalties? I think Im very passionate about governing this Guild and changing the narratives. PT: AGN recently came under fire for visiting Regina Daniels after she welcomed her baby. Rollas: Maybe for the first time I will be telling you that Regina Daniels as it were, is an ID card-member of our Association, I mean the current Identity Card of our Association. When she welcomed her baby, she sent me a message. That is the respect she has for me as the president and for the Guild. Number two, her mom, Rita Daniels, is the Vice President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria South-south. When her daughter put to bed, she sent me a message. Now, before the dissolution of the AGN Board of Patrons, Reginas husband, Ned Nwoko was the chairman of the Board of Patrons. When his wife welcomed their baby, he also sent me a message. Fortunately, I was in Abuja. What would a right-thinking person do? Is it not to visit the family? We bought things and gave a welcome baby card. And it took a few people with me to visit the baby. Naming the baby Nollywood Baby Of The Year is a spontaneous presidential statement which anybody can make anywhere. I have that veto power, do you understand the point? With this thing I explained to you, for crying out loud, Im the President, I can call that baby anything I like. READ ALSO: It wasnt as if naming the child Nollywood baby of the year that it attracts prices. For you understand the point, it was just a statement I made in a celebration mood. Now the appearance of the material online was spearheaded by the family who appreciated our visit to them, not even from us. We do not need to do any PR on that. The family felt honored that we came and took to their social media to tell the world that these Actors Guild people, so nice of them to come. Then somebody somewhere who has seen the Actors Guild working and isnt a member of the guild began to cast aspersions on my person. PT: How do you intend to get your members on board the health insurance scheme? Rollas: We will catch people on location even the young ones who think they are not going to be sick. If you dont begin now to take care of your health, when you get to that veteran age, sickness will come. So we will execute it, we will release our task forces to film locations and ensure that if you dont have a health management card, you have no business filming because one right you dont have in this world is the right to kill yourself. And so once youre going to location without health insurance, you dont know youve prepared to kill yourself. So we are going to be very serious about it. PT: Are film producers adhering to COVID-19 guidelines for movies? Rollas: In some places, they are adhering to guidelines but we will only set our guidelines, we have our own guidelines we have set out when the ease of lockdown began. But presently, the federal government has earmarked some money to the industry for what they call stimulus and we as actors, I have ordered all AGN state chapters in Nigeria to begin to collate details of members who are on location. PT: How do you intend to rally your members together to benefit from the stimulus package? Rollas: Im working seriously to see that I have the facts and figures so when Im engaging the government at any level, I will have the required documentation. So we are already creating a programme from the Actors Guild perspective, to engage the government seriously because if we keep quiet, this money will come out and some ministry will tie the money down. Im ahead of everybody on this matter and thats why Ive been in Abuja here. I have a legitimate right to be focused, Ive just told you what Im doing in preparation to engage the Government. By the time I begin to engage the government and I have a larger number in engaging the Government, every other voice will go and hide. Emeka Rollas on set [PHOTO: FB: Emeka Rollas] When Kate Henshaw and Hilda came up with their backlash on Elisha Abbo, I stood my ground, I told them that we would not govern the Guild by social media misinformation. If you want us to make changes in the Guild, no matter how dirty any house is, you will have to come into the house in order to sweep it. Advertisements PT: How did you resolve it? Rollas: One month after, I put together a meeting of senior and younger colleagues. I called on Joke Silva to moderate the meeting. In that meeting, Hilda Dokubo, Kate, Ego Boyo, Segun Arinze, Okey Bakassi, Desmond Elliot, Bimbo Manuel, Ireti Doyle, and RMD were all in attendance. In all our discussions, we made it clear that it was wrong for anybody to talk down on the leadership of the Guild on social media. It was at the meeting, I decided to set up a restructuring committee to look into all of the matters arising and then decided to drop everybody on the board of patrons. And I have already announced that very soon, we will reconstitute the board of patrons. So you now see that we will always handle things from a saner perspective so whoever is trying to throw a tantrum with the aim of pulling the Guild down would be only hitting rock because I am selfless about this service and Im getting somewhere. I do not care about unity, we have a larger number of people who believe in this administration. You will see that I have major support from my senior colleagues. PT: Earlier, you touched a bit on the fact that some filmmakers are taking advantage of young and inexperienced actors. Do you think that they do not know their right or is it just the craze to be famous? Rollas: Its not about the craze to be famous, it is what is prevalent in the society where we found ourselves. If you go to different climes, people are collecting money from wannabe actors in order to feature them in their film. And they give them the lie that theyre doing them a favour. Now in Asaba, as I speak to you today, an Actor will collect N800,000 from a producer to film and they will give the producer four days to be in that film. In those four days that the producer will shoot that film, they will not even come to set until the 12noon in the afternoon. These are all part of the lackadaisical attitude created by the wrong foundation. The Nigerian film industry started with the wrong foundation. Now some people dont want to go down and pull the foundation down to start afresh, they are more interested in adding two more blocks on the 21st storey. Lets take this building to 30 storeys, this thing will get there, thats the normal Nigerian phenomenon. If I engage you on what is happening in the industry, you yourself will run away. That is why you will see some directors who have directed over 200 movies working on the street of Lagos because theyve sold their power. As a producer, you cant market a DVD release and then somebody buying the film, pay N100,000, sell the same film in Cinema and take the same film and screen it in over 70 countries in Africa, Asia, YouTube and all of that. And when you ask him, he will tell you that he has bought all the rights of the film. That is ignorance because its a business. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) says that the actor and the producer dont belong to the same association. The actor has his rights. So, if I make a film for you, you must declare in the contract form that this film is for theatre release so any day you take the film out of the theater and put it on a TV station, I need to come to ask for my money. That is how residual and royalties come about. signing the MOU [PHOTO: FB: Emeka Rollas] When I was National secretary under Segun Arinze and we went to visit the Screen Actors Union of America in the US, we went into one of their rooms where they pay royalties, I noticed that people that were paid royalties were people that acted as key actors and were no longer on movie locations. Today, some of our actors will shun going back to Asaba to work, whereas, they all grew out of Asaba. Cant you come back and say I have made a name, if I didnt work in the Asaba local industry, I wouldnt have been known by anybody. So every year, I am going to do two films that I am going to give to normal Asaba marketers. That is how you give back to society. Nobody woke up and became a star in Nollywood overnight. I want to change the narrative. PT: How about Nollywood classics that are being remade by new school producers? Rollas: They must have had a discussion with the owners of the copyright. When a producer has a good management team, they can do their business. I am more concerned about the rights of an actor. You cannot maltreat an actor on any location, I will show you and get something out of it. You cannot harass my actor. I have had a case where a director slapped my actor, I stormed the set and said any other person working on that set should leave the set and lets see who is giving them the money. He tried to use power but I told him I will go to court. You have no right as a director to slap an actor on set. It is not possible. The director eventually apologised and I told all of them to go back to set. They are almost turning back to the times of Banana Republic where a producer will use N2m to shoot a film and from that same amount, they will only pay one-star actor and one-star actress and the rest are either not paid or given peanuts. I want to stop that. You cannot go to a location and say because you have one star on set, go to a choice food place and get food for the star, like every other person on set is an animal. Even the star actor getting that kind of treatment, is he not a human being? Cant he tell the producer not to do that kind of thing? If any of those people die in the process of making that film, the film will never be complete. Can a star actor complete the film alone? Is it a monologue? PT: What else do you have on your plate? Rollas: I am launching our National Secretariat in Abuja in August. The new office is emerging very soon, like an operational office. I didnt even care about COVID. I left Lagos on June 21 to Abuja and I have been working on it. Just recently, I bagged the Glo SIM deal. I want all AGM members to belong to one group. If you have this SIM card, you can just recharge N1000, and speak to anybody under that group for one month free of charge. You can have that line for your family and location people, every month you just put N1000 and talk free of charge. I am finding ways to bring our members together so that they can understand that we belong to one union. PT: Is AGN in charge of fixing an actors fees? Rollas: Setting of fees is like demand and supply. Ordinarily, the constitution of the Guild says that if an actor receives a pay, he has to pay 3% checkup to the Guild. That is the global practice. At the end of the day, we might have to get involved. You cannot continue to pay people peanuts. These are people that have families to feed. PT: When youre not overseeing the activities of the AGN, do you still act? Rollas: Of course. I just left a movie set in Asaba. You know, most of my acting these days are borne out of passion. Most times, you see me working in a place where I spend more than what I have been paid for the job. If you give me a script and I like the script, I say let me come and do the job. PT: Can we expect some form of synergy between Nollywood and Yoruba film industry? Rollas: I dont understand what the Yoruba film industry means. The Actors Guild of Nigeria is the only body in Nigeria that welcomes actors. There is no indigenous or ethnic group. Specifically for actors guild, we do not know whether there is a Yoruba industry or Hausa industry, as long as you are in the business of acting, you have to be a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria to enjoy the benefits. The Federation of International Actors where we belong, there are Germans, there are Spanish, there are Latinos. They dont speak English when we attend the same meeting, maybe in Belgium, the proceedings are translated into English. If you go to the website, you will see that there are lots of members of the FIA who are not English speaking actors. We dont deal with ethnicity. Filming alongside Anita Joseph [PHOTO: FB: Emeka Rollas] If you are a Yoruba Actor or Hausa Actor, and you dont speak English, it does not stop you from becoming the members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria and you get covered. All of these pseudo-ethnic groups who masquerade as associations under Nollywood are the same people who are trying to massage a certain level of ego, claiming what they are not. There are so many things they cannot give to their members aside telling their members to contribute money which they use in flying around. Some people form a national association, using a national nomenclature but they are only present in one state and they only house a particular ethnic group and that thing does not have a Nigerian outlook. The Actors Guild is the Actors Guild of Nigeria. Get this very well, if anybody tells you that he is in Kannywood or Yorubahood, tell the person that he is in a village meeting and you will be treated like that. If you are an actor, you have to be an AGN member. PT: Have you thought about the synergy between Nollywood, Kannywood, and Yoruba movie industry? Rollas: It is not left for us to find a way to synergise. Have you ever seen the African Union invite another country to join them? It is you, the country that will be looking to join the African Union. You must meet all the prerequisites needed to join the African Union. I am not the one looking for synergy, they should be the one telling me we have actors among us that we want to give you, and do you have a waiver for us and all of that? And we will consider it done. Recently, I set up a Mergers and Acquisition Committee headed by former president Zack Orji. They are discussing who will approach actors on issues of mergers and acquisitions. When they discuss on that level, they pass it on to me, I look at it and will approve it. Part of the merger is that, having been involved in the associations dealing in the last 10 years, we may not require you to pay full payment on this and that. The only organization I recognize in the angle of acting will be The National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP). They are also affiliates of the Federation of International Actors. We are not rivals because we deal with screen actors, they deal with stage actors. That is how it is globally. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has described the decision of Belarus to hand members of the Wagner Group over to Russia as unfair and non-complying with friendly intergovernmental relations. "We think that such a decision is, mildly speaking, unfair and non-complying with the spirit of relations between Ukraine and Belarus based on the principles of respect and mutual support," Zelensky said on his Facebook page on Saturday. The head of state also said that the decision on the extradition of "modern war demons the Wagner Group fighters" to Russia is "a strange, incorrect and obviously unacceptable for friendly intergovernmental relations" step. Zelensky also denied any allegations about Ukraine's intrusion in the domestic processes in Belarus. "First of all, saying in public about any intrusion by Ukraine into domestic processes in Belarus. This definitely never happened. Secondly, handing people who really have relation to obvious intrusion into affairs of Belarus as well as Ukraine first of all, of Ukraine over to the third party. A bad story. The story in which trust, fairness and adequate assessment of negative consequences were neglected," Zelensky said. He also said that the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (PGO) did not receive any answer from Belarus to its request for the extradition of 28 Wagner Group members, including nine Ukrainian citizens, to Ukraine as all of them were notified of suspicion of being involved in a terrorist organization. "We also made active attempts through the diplomatic and personal channels to prove our partners why it would be right and correct to follow exactly the suggested way. But, regrettably, this did not happen," the head of state said. Zelensky also noted that the consequences of the Wagner fighters' handover to Russia will be tragic. "We realize that the Wagner Group members will still get back to their usual activities the spread of war. I hope to God that the Belarusian government will not get another burning, bloodless Donbas in their territory, which all these Wagner fighters can create skillfully create. Because they are all about expansion and violence. Only violence," he said. New Zealand's first coronavirus outbreak in more than 100 days may have come from chilled products shipped from a Melbourne coldstore, according to local media. The country recorded seven new coronavirus cases overnight as the fallout from the emerging cluster continues to grow, with 37 cases now linked to the latest outbreak. An Americold Logistics storage facility in Mt Wellington, Auckland, was shut down this week when a worker and three of his family members tested positive. As of Friday five staff and one contractor who visited the site had tested positive. An Americold Logistics storage facility in Mt Wellington, Auckland, was shut down this week when a worker and three of his family members tested positive New Zealand 's (Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pictured) first coronavirus outbreak in more than 100 days may have come from chilled products shipped from a Melbourne coldstore, according to local media The country's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield told reporters on Saturday he had been talking to his counterparts in Victoria. He confirmed that authorities are investigating whether the outbreak was sparked in Melbourne, as Americold also has facilities in the Australian city. 'We're looking at that possibility, it's part of the overall puzzle and we are leaving no stone unturned,' Dr Bloomfield said. Testing is currently underway on employees in Melbourne to confirm whether there are any connections between the two outbreaks. There have been two confirmed COVID-19 cases at the Melbourne facility in the past fortnight, according to Stuff. Mr Bloomfield on Friday said the Mt Wellington venue was being 'thoroughly' investigated from the border through to the coolstore. This is despite earlier in the week saying chilled products were unlikely to be the source of the outbreak. A nurse performs a Covid-19 test on someone in the line at the testing centre at Eden Park on Friday Jetstar on Saturday cancelled all flights around the country after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was forced to extend New Zealand's lockdown on Friday. Saturday's seven new cases were spread within the community and brought the total number of active cases in New Zealand to 56. Six cases were linked to the growing cluster in Auckland and one is under investigation. Dr Bloomfield said at least 1,090 close contacts have been identified and 934 have been contacted. He encouraged New Zealanders to continue to maintain social distancing and get tested if they display coronavirus symptoms. 'There's no shame or blame in having either this virus or having any other infectious disease,' Dr Bloomfield said. People walk through Wellington in New Zealand using face masks on Friday A record number of 23,846 coronavirus tests were processed on Friday. Dr Bloomfield also said 45 requests to leave Auckland's borders had been confirmed and 1.6 million masks had been dispatched across community groups. Two cases that were confirmed in Tokoroa, 200km away from Auckland, on Friday have been transferred to a facility in Auckland and are in isolation. New Zealand went 102 days without recording a locally transmitted case of coronavirus but four new infected family members tested positive on Tuesday. The former prime minister of the Cook Islands, 82-year-old Dr Joseph Williams, was hospitalised with COVID-19 on Friday. It is not known if the doctor, prominent within the Auckland and Pacific community, had been in contact with someone from the original family. The former prime minister of the Cook Islands, Joseph Williams (pictured above), was also hospitalised with COVID-19 on Friday and it is unclear who he was in contact with His medical practice is near the Americold cool store, in south Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended the country's lockdown until August 26 after the explosion of coronavirus cases. She announced that Auckland would stay in level 3 restrictions and the rest of the nation would remain on level 2, with no plans for a level 4 lockdown. 'What is important is making sure we establish the perimeter of the cluster and to stop it from growing,' the Prime Minister told reporters. Jetstar announced they would be suspending all flights in New Zealand from Tuesday until August 26 after Ms Ardern's lockdown announcement. 'During this period travel restrictions will vary across the country and as a result, Jetstar has temporarily suspended all domestic flights from Tuesday 11.59. 'If you have been impacted by flight cancellations, you will be contacted directly by Jetstar over the next 24 hours with your available options,' a statement read. Anyone who has tested positive to the virus is required to quarantine in a managed facility. Jetstar (pictured) cancelled all flights in New Zealand following the lockdown announcement New Zealand was unexpectedly back into lockdown after 102 days without recording a locally transmitted case of the virus (a child receiving coronavirus testing pictured above) Residents may only leave their homes for essential exercise, shopping and to provide care under the level 3 restrictions. People should stay in their immediate household bubble and school and work should be conducted from home where possible. Businesses are only open for takeaway and public venues like libraries and gyms are closed. Level 2 restrictions allow New Zealanders to gather up to a limit of 100 people and they are encouraged to socially distance at all times. Businesses may be open to the public provided they keep a record of customer details and maintain physical distancing. New Zealanders are encouraged to wear a face mask as a precaution. The lockdown measures are set to remain until 11.59pm on August 26. 'We will review these settings on August 21, we want to give about a week's time to see how we are travelling before we review again,' Ms Ardern said. (CNN) - Interim results of phase one and two trials published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest a coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm is safe and induces an immune response. However, researchers said more study is needed to know whether the vaccine protects people against the virus. The phase one trial, conducted in Henan Province, China, involved 96 people given high, medium or low doses of the vaccine, or a placebo, which does nothing. The Phase 2 trial, involved 224 adults given the medium dose of the vaccine, or a placebo. Within seven days after injection, adverse reactions were reported in 15% of trial participants. The most common adverse reaction was injection site pain, followed by fever. All adverse reactions were mild and did not require any treatment. In the phase two study, the vaccine prompted a neutralizing antibody response in 97.6% of participants. The researchers found that participants had greater neutralizing antibody responses when they were given the second dose of the vaccine three weeks after the first dose rather than two weeks after the first dose. "My impressions is that they are getting reasonable levels of virus neutralizing antibodies," Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccinologist at Baylor College of Medicine and a CNN medical analyst, said. "Based on this and safety profile, I believe that this is definitely a vaccine worth pursuing in Phase three clinical trials. I also think that this could be as good as the Operation Warp Speed vaccines in terms of efficacy and safety, but we really need those large trials." The US government is supporting six vaccine candidates so far through the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed program. Two have moved into large, phase three trials on tens of thousands in the United States. There are 29 vaccines in clinical trials worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Early results suggest Chinese vaccine is safe and induces immune response, but more research is needed" The Congress once again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not naming China in his Independence Day speech on Saturday, asking the government to tell people how it proposes to push back Chinese forces occupying Indian territory. The opposition party also criticised the government for its atmanirbhar (self reliant) slogan and questioned how it will keep the countrys freedom when it has sold 32 public sector undertakings, handed over the railways and airports to private hands and attacked Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Food Corporation of India (FCI). We all are proud of our armed, paramilitary and police forces. We 130 crore Indians and all Congress workers are proud of them. Whenever there has been an attack on us, they have given a befitting reply to the attackers, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters after the flag hoisting ceremony at the party headquarters in Delhi. Watch l Why is govt scared of naming China?: Congress on PM Modis I-day speech But we must also think about why our rulers are scared of taking Chinas name. Today, when China has occupied our territory we must ask the government how it proposes to push the Chinese forces back and protect our territorial integrity, he said. In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, the Prime Minister delivered a sharp message to China and Pakistan, declaring that the armed forces deployed along the borders with the two countries have given a fitting reply to those who sought to challenge Indias sovereignty. However, he did not take the names of the two countries. In his 90-minute speech, the Prime Minister extensively focused on the campaign to build a self-reliant India. Also read | Inspiring quotes from PMs I-Day speech Those who talk about atmanirbhar, the foundation of which was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other freedom fighters, we need to ask them will this government which has sold 32 public sector undertakings, handed over railways and airports to private hands and attacked LIC and FCI, keep the independence of this country secure, Surjewala asked. Today, we all should take a pledge to sound a bugle of a decisive battle against those who attack that freedom. The will be the true nationalism, he added. Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not attend the flag hoisting ceremony and veteran leader AK Antony unfurled the tricolour at the party headquarters instead. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was among the party leaders present on the occasion but he did not speak to the media. Sri Lankan brands, Kumarika and Baby Cheramy now in Nepal View(s): Hemas Consumer Brands launched Sri Lankas most beloved baby care and hair care brands Baby Cheramy and Kumarika to the Nepalese market recently. The event was held at the Everest Hotel, Nepal and was graced by the former Prime Minister of Nepal Jhala Nath Khanal, Roy Joseph- Managing Director, Hemas Manufacturing Pvt Ltd Sri Lanka and Tara Bahadur Kunwar Chairman of Hajurlai Namaste Trade Link (Pvt.) Ltd, the exclusive distributor for Hemas Brands in Nepal, alongside other dignitaries. Speaking on the entry into Nepal, Mr. Joseph, Managing Director, Hemas Manufacturing (Pvt.) Ltd said: We are excited and happy to expand our footprint into Nepal more so with the right partner to take our brands to consumers in Nepal. This expansion will provide an opportunity for consumers to experience the goodness of our products which have been loved by consumers in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Maldives and many other countries. The expansion is in line with our strategy to take our most trusted local brands to the region and expand on opportunities to obtain shares within larger markets. Apart from reaching new markets via our top brands, Hemas Manufacturing also expanded our Kumarika Hair Oil manufacturing operations to West Bengal, India earlier this year. The company said in a media release that the Kumarika range of products has been renowned for hair care in Sri Lanka and is produced with a cocktail of freshly sourced, quality certified local herbs together with other natural ingredients. Baby Cheramy, launched in the year 1962 is undoubtedly the brand most trusted by mothers to care for their babys skin and has been the most sought-after product in the local market. The Baby Cheramy skincare range consists of Baby Cheramy Soap, Cream, Cologne, Talc and Oil. James R. Thompson, a moderate Republican known as Big Jim, who used his enthusiasm for campaigning and his canny understanding of state politics to become the longest-serving governor of Illinois, died on Friday in Chicago. He was 84. His daughter, Samantha Thompson, confirmed his death. She said he had been recovering from an undisclosed illness at a rehabilitation facility when his heart stopped. On social media, Democrats and Republicans praised Mr. Thompsons abilities as a politician who so enjoyed meeting with constituents that he would march parade routes twice, even in off-election years. His relentless style of campaigning overwhelmed Democrats, who consistently failed to find an opponent who could beat Mr. Thompson, the first Republican endorsed for governor by the Illinois A.F.L.-C.I.O. He served from 1977 to 1991. RTHK: Abe avoids personal visit to Yasukuni Shrine Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Saturday the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two but avoided a personal visit that would anger China and South Korea. At least two cabinet ministers paid their respects in person at the shrine, which honours 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal as well as war dead, and is seen by Beijing and Seoul as a symbol of Japan's past military aggression. "I came to deliver a message from (ruling Liberal Democratic Party) President Abe that he paid his respects from the heart to the war dead and prayed for the rest and permanent peace of their souls," said ruling party lawmaker Shuichi Takatori, who made the offering on Abe's behalf. Abe has not gone to Yasukuni in person since a December 2013 visit that outraged China and South Korea, but has sent offerings via an aide. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 39, often floated as a future premier, visited the shrine, as did Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda, a close Abe ally. Men and women of all ages braved scorching heat amid the novel coronavirus pandemic to pay their respects at Yasukuni, where markers helped people keep social distance while lining up and signs urged them to avoid clustering due to Covid-19 concerns. Japan has not seen an explosive surge but cases are rising. Abe, as well as Emperor Naruhito, will attend a separate official, secular ceremony later in the day that has been scaled down due to concerns over the pandemic. The United States and Japan have become staunch security allies in the decades since the war's end but its legacy still haunts East Asia. Koreans, who mark the date as National Liberation Day, resent Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the peninsula. China has bitter memories of imperial troops' invasion and occupation of parts of the country from 1931-1945. Naruhito, grandson of wartime Emperor Hirohito and Japan's first monarch born after the war, last year expressed "deep remorse" over the conflict at the official ceremony for war dead, the first since he inherited the throne after his father, Akihito, abdicated. Abe, who has adopted a less apologetic stance toward the war, pledged last year "never again to repeat the devastation of war" but did not echo the emperor's words of remorse. About 530 people, including relatives of war dead, are expected to take part in the state-sponsored ceremony, down from more than 6,000 last year. Everyone, including Naruhito and Empress Masako, must wear masks, seats will be at least one metre apart and a musical performance will replace the singing of the national anthem. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The first time Walter Haynes Jr. qualified Australian-bred Majestic Player in the U.S., the trotter was in against a field of pacers at Miami Valley Raceway in January. Majestic Player, with trainer Haynes in the sulky, was third after three-quarters of a mile, more than three lengths off the lead, but came home in :28.2 to win by two lengths in 1:57.2. Following the qualifier, Haynes called owner Brian Carsey. Walter said he thought he was the real deal, Carsey said. He went right by them like he was a pacer. Hes definitely impressed us ever since. Majestic Player entered Friday as the winningest trotter in North America, with 10 victories in 11 starts. His only loss came by a head in his seasonal debut in February. On July 18, the six-year-old gelding won the open at Harrahs Hoosier Park in a track-record-equaling 1:51.1, making him the fastest Australasian-bred trotter in history. And now, after dominating the opens at Miami Valley, Scioto Downs, and Hoosier, Majestic Player will see if he can be a big-time player on the Grand Circuit. On Sunday (Aug. 16), he meets a field that includes harness racings No. 1-ranked horse, Gimpanzee, in the $220,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot at Tioga Downs. Majestic Player will start from post position three with Andy McCarthy in the bike. He is 8-1 on the morning line. Were just fortunate to be in it and well see how he does, but we have high hopes for him, Carsey said. Hes got the will to win. He gives it his all. No matter how far they get away from him, he finds a way to catch them. The Crawford Farms Open Trot is one of three Grand Circuit events at Tioga on Sunday, with the $133,000 Joie De Vie for trotting mares and the $129,000 Artiscape for pacing mares. The Joie De Vie features the top-three finishers in last weeks Dr. John Steele Memorial -- When Dovescry, Plunge Blue Chip, and Manchego -- while 2019 Horse of the Year Shartin N headlines the Artiscape. Last years Crawford Farms was won by New Zealand-bred Speeding Spur, so Majestic Player will be trying to make it two in a row for imports from Down Under. Carsey bought Majestic Player toward the end of last years racing season in Australia. The horse made one start for Carsey prior to leaving home, winning the Group 2 Breeders Crown for four-year-old male trotters. We watched him for about five months before we bought him, Carsey said. I was working with a trainer down there, Dean Braun, and he kind of put the deal together. We bought him for the SOA (of NY Bonus Trotting Series) at Yonkers. It looked like he would have fit well. I wasnt looking at him being a top, top trotter or anything like that. After the deal was completed, Braun suggested otherwise. Dean said I think you have a Grand Circuit horse for (this) year, Carsey said. I told him not to get too high, but based on his influence, he convinced us to stake him the last part of the year. We didnt stake him early because we didnt want to race him hard. Carsey credited Haynes and drivers Brett Miller and Sam Widger with aiding Majestic Players development in his new country. Theyve done a great job with this horse, not getting too high and wanting to showboat him, Carsey said. They raced him off the pace and taught him to be a racehorse over here. Majestic Player is by 2006 Canadian Horse of the Year Majestic Son out of Another Player, who is a daughter of 2001 Maple Leaf Trot runner-up Dr Ronerail, and was bred by Yabby Dam Farms. Carsey shares ownership of the gelding with Jeff Fought Racing and Casey Myers. The horse has earned $103,250 this year. Following the Crawford Farms Open Trot, the gelding is eligible to the Maple Leaf Trot, Caesars Trotting Classic, Dayton Trotting Derby, Allerage Farms Open, and Breeders Crown. Hes really exceeded all of our expectations, Carsey said. Its very exciting. Were just very fortunate, really. Racing begins at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) Sunday at Tioga Downs. (USTA) According to analysis by the PA news agency, 1,004 migrants were brought ashore by Border Force between August 4th and 13th. This takes the total so far this year to at least 4,511, more than double the amount thought to have crossed during the whole of 2019. The UK Home Office confirmed that on Thursday, 89 migrants who made the crossing in five boats were brought to the UK, as well as 48 who arrived in four boats on Friday. The news comes after UK Immigration Minister, Chris Philp promised a new, comprehensive action plan to stem the latest surge in crossings after talks with French officials in Paris on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) responded to the Home Offices formal request for help by sending in RAF planes. Three have been sent up into the skies above the Channel this week so far to carry out surveillance and help the coastguard and Border Force spot emerging crossing attempts. Advertisement British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace initially authorised the use of the Atlas A-400M on Monday and since approved flights by a Shadow R1 on Tuesday and Thursday while a P-8 Poseidon was enlisted on Wednesday. The costs of the operations and decisions on whether to provide any other support are still being finalised, the MoD said. It comes after Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart described sending in the navy to French broadcasters as a declaration of maritime war. In the UK, Home Secretary Priti Patel last year pledged that the migrant crossings would be an infrequent phenomenon by now and has since insisted she is working to make the route completely unviable. Earlier this week she reportedly told Tory MPs the asylum system was broken as she promised to bring forward legal reforms while she claimed laws were being exploited by leftie Labour-supporting lawyers who were trying to frustrate Government efforts to deport people. But human rights campaigners and lawyers hit back at the comments, saying they were simply doing their job upholding the rule of law. Charities have repeatedly insisted that efforts by the UK Government to provide those seeking asylum of a safe and legal route of doing so before boarding a boat on the Channel would stop the crossings in their tracks. Bella Sankey, director of Detention Action, accused Ms Patel of playing politics with peoples lives as the crossings continue, particularly as many boats include several children some of whom are too young to walk. She said: The mishandling of this situation continues and now the Home Secretary is nakedly playing politics with peoples lives and the UKs proud tradition of providing refugee protection." Puplis and parents have demanded action after A-Level results left many students in limbo yesterday. Leah Harris (18) from Ballymena was left devastated after being denied the chance to study her dream subject of children's nursing at Queen's University. The Cambridge House Grammar School student was predicted grades of BBB but received much lower results of BCD which excluded her from her course. Having already travelled to the Philippines to work with children, she now hopes to appeal her grades and is prepared to repeat her exams and gain further work experience if necessary. Her mother Dyvonne Harris said her daughter's school was now putting in a blanket appeal for around 100 pupils. "There were teachers in tears yesterday as pupils came in for their results, it was very stressful and we're in a very devastated place today," she said. "We've told her that no matter what she does we're so incredibly proud of what she has achieved and will support her no matter what. "I could have given her my kidneys yesterday the way I was feeling. You just want to support them for their mental health, the last thing you want your child to feel like is a failure. We're worried she feels that way and it has been a very tough experience." Addressing the Education Minister Peter Weir and the exam board CCEA, she said: "The reality is that these are children, they're not statistics." Mrs Harris said she was now worried that any appeals would not be completed in time for Leah to have a chance to study this year. "We've been told they will take up to 42 days, but there's around 18 days before Queen's and Ulster University close their entrance so it might be too late. "We've been told the places might be held till August 31 but that's still just two weeks away." Both Queen's and Ulster University have said this week they are willing to be "flexible" with students facing an appeals process for their grades. Wallace High School student Esther Follis (19) from Hillsborough was predicted grades of ABB which would have guaranteed her first choice of studying law at Edinburgh University. Instead she was given grades of BBC, meaning she won't be admitted unless her grades change. Currently looking to appeal, she also has a back-up offer to study politics at Dundee. "To me I find that extremely confusing in how CCEA have the audacity to say my grades would have gone down when my teachers argued the complete opposite with the predicted grades," she said. "I just think the way CCEA are handling this is completely egotistical, with just a lack of empathy to admit that anything has gone wrong and I find that extremely offensive." She added: "Another thing that I find amusing is the website crashed on Thursday morning when everyone tried to access their results, the same technology they used to standardise our grades." The mother of an AS pupil in Foyle College in Derry, who preferred not to be named, said her son's predicted grade of C in Health and Life Sciences was knocked down to a U, and he received lower marks than predicted in Geography (E) and Business Studies (C). "My son had a difficult mock exam in December, so we didn't expect to get a higher grade but were shocked that he failed it," she said. "How can you fail something you haven't the opportunity to do? He wasn't failing it before lockdown so I was really surprised." The family is now seeking to appeal the results, with the hope it can be improved to ease pressure for the student's final school year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 10:48:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jun on Friday asked the United States to change course over the Iran nuclear issue and return to the right track of multilateralism. In an explanation of vote after the Security Council rejected a U.S. draft resolution that sought to extend the arms embargo against Iran, Zhang said the voting result once again shows that unilateralism receives no support, and bullying will fail. Any attempt to place one's own interest above the common interests of the international community is a dead end. The draft only received two votes in favor. China and Russia voted against it, and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including the European allies of the United States, abstained. In recent years, Zhang said, in pursuing unilateralism and "America first," the United States has abandoned its international obligations and withdrawn from multilateral agreements and international organizations, shattering its own credibility. China urges the United States to abandon unilateralism and stop unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. The United States should adopt a reasonable and realistic attitude, and return to the right track of observing the Iran nuclear deal and Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 deal between Iran and the six powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, he said. The United States unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and later re-imposed sanctions on Iran. Diplomacy is the only right way forward, and preserving and implementing the Iran nuclear deal is of vital importance, said Zhang, asking for efforts to facilitate dialogue and consultation among relevant parties. China will continue to work with the international community to jointly uphold the Iran nuclear deal and Security Council Resolution 2231, and it will always be on the side of international fairness and justice, world peace and stability, and multilateralism, and work hard for the political settlement of the Iran nuclear issue, he said. The U.S. draft resolution is about re-imposing sanctions on Iran and a continuation of the policy of maximum pressure, and has no legal ground and common sense, Zhang said, noting that the overwhelming majority of the Security Council members have expressed reservations about the draft and believe that the U.S. attempt has no legal basis. Under Resolution 2231, the arms embargo against Iran expires on Oct. 18, 2020. The United States has repeatedly claimed that it will invoke the "snapback" mechanism within the Security Council should its draft resolution fail to pass, Zhang noted. Having withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, the United States is no longer a participant of the deal, and therefore ineligible to demand the Security Council invoke a snapback, he said. Should the United States insist in disregard of international opinion, its attempt is doomed to fail again, he said. Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Enditem Robert Federico waited more than four months for his unemployment benefits to arrive. In the end, the payout was more than $23,000. But he endured financial hardship in the interim. Robert Federico Robert Federico's situation was bleak dire, even, by his telling. In March, the 52-year-old lost his job at a New York design firm, where he oversaw commercial interior-design projects. Federico, an architect by training, immediately filed for unemployment benefits. But four months later, he hadn't received a dollar. Unable to find a new job in a crumbling economy, his income was at a standstill. He cut living expenses to the bare minimum. He gave up his car when the lease became unaffordable. Credit card bills went unpaid. He depleted thousands in emergency savings. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Meanwhile, countless messages and calls to the New York Labor Department resulted in dead end after dead end. Federico's initial high hopes for aid had evaporated by the time he spoke to CNBC about his situation in early August. He had about $8,000 in savings left in a 401(k) plan. "After August, I'm not in good shape," said Federico, who lives in Wayne, New Jersey. However, last week he received a call from a state labor official, who helped him sort out his application following an inquiry by CNBC. A few days later, Federico received more than $23,000 in unemployment benefits the amount owed to him after months in limbo. For the first time since being laid off, he said he felt safe buying food for his 2 -year-old son and himself. No man's land As it turns out, Federico was stuck in a sort of "no man's land" of the unemployment system a situation that's been all-to-common across the country during the coronavirus pandemic, as an unprecedented volume of benefit applications overwhelmed states' limited capacity. Evidence suggests the number of jobless Americans still awaiting aid requested months ago is frighteningly high. You can't eat retroactively. You can't afford medicine retroactively. Rep. Danny Davis Democrat representing Illinois in the House of Representatives To that point, 10% of the 2.5 million people who received their first payment of unemployment benefits in June or, around 250,000 people had waited at least 70 days for the money to arrive, according to Labor Department data. Nearly no one waited that long prior to the Covid-19 recession, data show. (The Labor Department hasn't yet reported June data for 15 states, meaning the true figure is likely much larger.) "He's probably not alone," Julia Rosner, a senior attorney at Legal Services NYC and an employment law expert, said of Federico's case. "I'm sure he's representative of a great number of claimants in that position." In normal times, the expectation is that "virtually everyone" is paid within 21 days of applying, said Stephen Wandner, a labor economist and senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance. However, that standard has deteriorated significantly in recent months. More from Personal Finance What we know about that extra $400 unemployment benefit Tens of millions of Americans are desperate for relief These business owners won't get full PPP loan forgiveness It couldn't come at a worse time for those still waiting for benefits. Protections for homeowners and renters have disappeared for millions across the country, meaning potential eviction for those unable to pay. Food prices are increasing. The jobs that are available are being crowded out by a higher volume of applications per position, research shows. The prospect of getting back pay from unemployment offices is of little consolation for those struggling to buy food and pay bills today. "You can't eat retroactively. You can't afford medicine retroactively," Rep. Danny Davis, a Democrat representing Illinois and chair of the House Worker and Family Support Subcommittee, said at an unemployment press conference last month. System 'stress' More than 28 million Americans were collecting unemployment benefits at the end of July a staggering increase from the 1.7 million people doing so during the same time last year. Months into the pandemic, more than 1 million workers continue to file a new unemployment claim each week through state and federal programs. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards State unemployment agencies weren't prepared for the deluge. They use antiquated technology and had limited resources available, since they corresponded to jobless levels near half-century lows prior to the pandemic. Nearly half of workers paid for the first time in June or, about 1.1 million people hadn't received aid within three weeks, according to the Labor Department. In January, that share was about 7%. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards "Now, there's more stress on the system," Wandner said. "And if it involves any individual intervention, if someone has to look at your application and adjudicate it, it will take longer." Being in limbo Unfortunately, this was the case for Federico, who existed at a unique cross section of the unemployment-benefits universe due to a work history split between two states. Federico started a job in October as a design principal for Unispace, a global interior-design firm, working from its New York office. (This is the job he lost in March.) He should have been told [that information] a long time ago. Julia Rosner Senior attorney at Legal Services NYC Just prior to that, he'd been a senior design manager for Samsung in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, where he'd joined in January 2019. Prevailing guidance relative to unemployment benefits is to apply in one's state of employment in this case, New York. As he later discovered from state labor-department officials, it would have been a better bet to file in New Jersey, where he lived and had more earnings history. "He should have been told [that information] a long time ago," Rosner said. What ended up being a relatively quick and simple fix came after four months of confusion, frustration, unanswered e-mails and clogged phone lines. In one instance, messages Federico e-mailed the New York Labor Department in April weren't answered until July and then only to say the correspondence was received and under review. A New York labor official handling interstate cases (like Federico's) ultimately reached out to Federico after being contacted for this article. The official then coordinated Federico's filing with his counterpart in New Jersey. "Due to my work situation of working partly in New Jersey and partly in New York, more salary information was needed to process my claim even though it was sent," Federico said of what he learned from his discussions. "For some unknown reason, my case just was in limbo due to the quantity of claims." New York officials couldn't divulge the specifics of Federico's case due to state privacy laws. "Every state experienced an unprecedented surge in unemployment claims during this crisis, and New York is no different, but we have moved faster and more aggressively than any other state to get people their money," according to Deanna Cohen, a spokeswoman for the labor department. Those efforts include building a new unemployment application with Google, upgrading the phone system and improving proactive communication with New Yorkers, she said. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards That work resulted in more than $34 billion in unemployment benefits paid to more than 3.2 million New Yorkers during the pandemic the equivalent of more than 16 years' worth of benefits paid in just over four months, Cohen said. "This was undoubtedly a stress test on every state's system, and we are taking the lessons learned to heart so we can best serve New Yorkers," she said. New York was, however, among the worst offenders relative to paying applicants within 70 days, data show. About 16% of people who received their first benefit payments in June got that aid after waiting at least 70 days. Only six states Maine, Hawaii, Nevada, Maryland, Washington state and Michigan had worse track records. (Of course, New York also paid out the third-largest volume of first-time payments in June, behind California and Florida.) New Delhi: India on Friday welcomed the full normalisation of relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel and pointed out that both nations are its key strategic partners, just hours after the UAE Foreign Minister called up External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar to brief him on the fast-paced developments. The move by the UAE to discuss the matter with India shows the strategic proximity that New Delhi now enjoys with the influential Gulf nation. But in what is being seen as part of a balancing act between Israel and the Palestinians, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India also continues its traditional support for the Palestinian cause and hopes to see early resumption of direct negotiations to find an acceptable two-state solution (Israel and Palestine). India has close strategic ties with Israel which have been a key defence platform and equipment supplier to New Delhi over the past more than 15 years. India has also developed very close strategic ties with the UAE, especially in the past few years during the tenure of the Narendra Modi Government. In a statement, the MEA said, The EAM received a call this afternoon from the UAE Foreign Minister on the announcement yesterday of the full normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel. India has consistently supported peace, stability and development in West Asia, which is its extended neighbourhood. In that context, we welcome the full normalisation of ties between UAE and Israel. Both nations are key strategic partners of India. The MEA added, India continues its traditional support for the Palestinian cause. We hope to see early resumption of direct negotiations to find an acceptable two-state solution. Among the skyscrapers of downtown Newark sits a small establishment thats become a staple of the community. For over 30 years, Source of Knowledge has served as the citys local book store catering to its neighborhood, especially children, as a source of guidance and hope. Its fed kids mentally and physically, helped establish writing careers, hosted open mic nights and seminars and even celebrated a wedding ceremony there. NJ.com earlier this year profiled the business as part of its Black in N.J. series. Now the store is in the running to receive $25,000 from Mayflower, which is honoring inspiring and impactful organizations that embody compassion, courage and a drive to make a difference. Dexter George, who founded the store after immigrating to the United States from Tobago in 1982, is confident hell win the cash and already knows what hell do with the prize. I want to buy a bus and have Source of Knowledge on wheels, George said. I would go to every school and pull up with all of these books to give to the kids -- that would be the best thing fo this community. George isnt a stranger with them. Before the coronavirus hit New Jersey, George and his business partners, Masani Barnwell, his wife, and Patrice McKinney hosted a Read and Feed program several times a year with help of local donations to give away free literature and meals for kids under 18 that visited the store. Source of Knowledge, a book store in downtown Newark, is one of three finalists for a $25,000 prize for helping to bring positive changes to the community. The real goal is to provide for our children, theyre our future, George, a father of six, said. I love my family, I work for my family but my family is also the community and I work for them too. George encourages the kids he speaks with to be compassionate and humble but to also stay loyal to their roots and culture, to never be ashamed to strive to be better for themselves and others. I ask them to always have two hands open -- one to give and one to receive -- because you can never receive if you cant give, George reflected. The Tobago native pays tribute to his familys survivor strategy, growing up on the island. His family scraped for food, received second-hand clothing and struggled to get by before George emigrated to New York. The tough conditions were never an excuse to justify the wrong path, he said, adding he wasnt one to dwell on the negative aspects of life. Source of Knowledge, a book store in downtown Newark, is one of three finalists for a $25,000 prize for helping to bring positive changes to the community. I look at them as life lessons, George said. Divine order always happens, its the way of the universe and thats how we should all live. As a kid, George barely recalls someone reading a book to him. He became curious and always asked questions and motivates kids to do the same. He pushes them to take charge and hopes that with the additional funds, he can drive todays youth to become entrepreneurs. The word cant should never be in the dictionary, George said. That attitude can get stuck in your mind, take over your mindset. To vote for Dexter George, please do so on Mayflowers website. To help his business continue operations, please do so at the stores GoFundMe page. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Nestor F. Sebastian may be reached at NSebastian@njadvancemedia.com. European Union Vice President Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference following an EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on July 13, 2020. (Francois Lenoir/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) EU to Sanction Belarus Over Falsified Election Results The European Union has said it considers the Belarusian presidential election results falsified, and has refused to accept the outcome. During a video conference convened by EU Vice President Josep Borrell on Friday, foreign ministers from the bloc spoke about sanctioning Belarus, and ways that the EU could support the Belarusian people. The bloc said it considers the results to have been falsified and therefore does not accept the results of the election as presented by the Belarus Central Election Commission. The EUs response to the election came as Belarusians protested against the results, which the opposition said were rigged. Police have dispersed protesters with tear gas, stun grenades, water cannons, and rubber bullets and beat them with truncheons. Black-uniformed officers chased protesters into residential buildings and deliberately targeted journalists, beating many and breaking their cameras. A protester holds an old Belarusian national flag as he stands in front of police during a demonstration against the disputed presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 9, 2020. (Sergei Grits/AP Photo) About 7,000 people were detained during the protests, and at least 2,000 have been released since Friday, many of whom told of being struck repeatedly with truncheons, being threatened with gang rape, and held amid harsh conditions and overcrowded cells. European Union foreign ministers condemned the Belarusian authorities over the disproportionate and unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters and shocking reports of inhumane treatment and detention conditions. The EU called for a thorough and transparent investigation into all alleged abuses, in order to hold those responsible to account. The EU will also immediately start working on adding to its sanctions list those responsible for violence, repression, and the falsification of election results in Belarus, and drafting a proposal to the Belarusian authorities of EU support in establishing and facilitating a dialogue between the political authorities, opposition, and broader society in view of resolving the current crisis. The ministers agreed to review EU-Belarus relations, and increase support to the Belarusian people, including through enhanced engagement with and financial support to civil society, additional support to independent media, and increasing opportunities for student and academic mobility. The United States and the EU previously imposed sanctions on Belarus in the early 2000s when President Alexander Lukashenko earned the nickname of Europes last dictator by stifling dissent. Throughout his rule, he has attempted to blackmail Russia, his main ally and sponsor, by appearing to reach out to the West to win more subsidies. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Welcome to adulthood! We are so proud of you and hope that your adult years are just as good to you. Have a great birthday. We love you. Sometimes all it takes is an adversity to bring out that creativity and self-care in ones own way the Atmanirbhar way! That is what Coronavirus pandemic is doing. As it has brought the entire world under new laws of social distancing and limited interaction, our homes have turned into office spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms, fitness institutions, social hubs, playgrounds and what not. Even though the pandemic has pushed people into the clutches of a mundane daily routine much of which is online,it has also given all those long-lost and new-found interests wings to fly. Having an eye for frames and photos, I for once knew Id enjoy digital art and I didnt disappoint myself. Making posters, portraits and minimalist art all by myself instead of resorting to Pinterest, damn! It feels good, says 23-year-old Devangshu Mandal. For the passionate photographer, digital art has been the space that allows him the break from everydays exhaustion of being physically stuck in one place. Once the lockdown was announced, the Delhi student started exploring the art field. Digital art has been a major respite for many young people including Jayita Chakraborty (24) from Bangalore. I started digital art and created my own page on Instagram and my goodness! My friends have loved it, says Jayita, whos currently an Associate Consultant at Archetype. Although occupied with her professional chores, Jayita has also taken the chance of buying herself an Ukulele during this pandemic. Despite running a little low on confidence initially, playing the instrument has boosted her confidence immensely. Finding time amid her busy schedule, she makes a point to keep following those online Ukulele tutorials and uploading her videos while giving herself the self-patting she deserves. When everything else failed, painting helped remain Debolina Biswas sane. The 24-year-old says, The lockdown was nice and fun initially because I hadnt been home in months and its been six years staying away from home. Like everyone else, my first month was spent baking cakes, drinking dalgona coffee, trying out Kabitas Kitchens recipes and making food for my ageing parents. She further adds, However, it hit me in the second month of being locked inside the house. The anxiety, depression and anger issues were getting too much for me to resolve. And thats when I thought of drowning myself into art instead. The young Correspondent at YourStory has been an artist all her childhood. Owing to the pressure of performing well in my board exams, Debolina had left a canvas unfinished in 2012. I never really got back to it, except a few occasional cards and doodles at the back of my work notebook. I had forgotten how satisfying and calming holding the paintbrush was, recalls Debolina, adding, Its been two months since I started painting again. And while I speak to you, I realise how it has helped me deal with my anger issues, and my anxiety. Now that the young painter has 10 odd paintings, she decided to start a new venture of creating a mini online digital store and all thanks to Instagram. And I have three orders already! (Extra bucks never hurt anybody!) Being a Features Writer at a travel magazine is very time-consuming and when theres travel restriction, the struggle to sustain ones livelihood is even more strenuous. However, nothing stopped 24-year-old Simrran Gill from Delhi to give Mandala Art an attempt and voila! How wonderful that just turned out to be, says Simrran. I was always pulled down by my art teacher in school for never being up to the mark with brushes, colours and a paper. So my interest and confidence never found me in anything with drawing and painting, says Simrran, a writer at Outlook Traveller. However, all thanks to the mundaneness of a laptop screen that Simrran found new interest and a confidence boost through Mandala art. Of course its just the start hence its a simple design. Given I find some more time, I would definitely try some more complex designs and oh! How I wish to secretly send one of these papers to my art teacher, laughs Simrran! When its about digital art and paintings, why not explore some self-made journals without shelling out some pennies? A journalist with Youth Ki Awaaz, Ankita Marwah always wanted to journal down the activities of her days in a pretty diary. But somehow, she always wondered how to include that as part of her daily chores. During the lockdown, I could set myself a routine the way I wanted, and this allowed me to journal. I finally have the time to reflect on all that I am feeling, especially during this unsettling and uncertain period, when there is so much to think and experience, says the 24-year-old journalist from Delhi. In such obscure times, Ankita is glad that she has the comfort of a journal, designed and created all by herself, and a pen at her reach that will allow her to just leave everything and jot down words. The internet has also seen some splendid visual art and all thanks to people, who have found some time to try their hands at exploring these creative angles. A 22-year-old student from Kolkata, Samriddha Bhattacharya, recently took time out of her lazy and daily quarantine to shoot for short videos through Google Duo, while raising an awareness of staying home. The peppy video features Samriddha indulging in her self-care routine, watching movies, washing hands, reading books and making most of her quarantined time. With background scores including Aisa na Dekho from Ranjhaana and Im a Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, the videos are sure to make you think, is it that bad to stay at home? It felt very different to shoot videos through Google Duo and definitely liberating by the thought that even lockdowns cannot curb creativity, says the Kolkata student. And when we talk about making most of whats there at home, for 25-year-old digital content creator Pushpak Sen, the art of taking up make-up upon himself definitely counts. Doing makeup on myself feels extremely therapeutic and I would have never done it had this quarantine situation not happened. It gives me the satisfaction of creating something new everyday. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I surpass expectations. And that's the thrill of it, says Pushpak. Famous by the Instagram name, The Bong Munda, Pushpak contemplates taking up makeup seriously and investing in professional equipment. As people became more homebound, gyms and yoga centres were the first to pull down their shutters. But that still couldnt kill the fitness goals, which found a new footing in the daily routine of self care. Being an Indian classical dancer, Kazi Anoushka Rahman, has always felt the need of indulging in an hour or two of Yoga every day. However, an everyday busy schedule could never make it a consistent follow-up for her. Thanks to the pandemic, from setting small goals including the task of perfecting the Shirshasana (headstand) to focussing more on breathing techniques and meditation, Yoga has not only improved my body flexibility, but also makes me feel more connected to my mind and body - spiritually. Although initially Anoushkas body would feel tight and dull, a constant encouragement without being too hard on herself, eventually brought about a long-lasting change. This change gave me a lot of positivity, and awoke a lot of motivation inside me which helped me survive these trying times. Developing this new habit of practising Yoga has been an amazing and rewarding experience, and I would love to continue it even after the pandemic gets over, says the 25-year-old performing artist from Kolkata. Anubhav Chakraborty (22) wishes something similar to continue finding time and working out even post the pandemic. Work out consumes a lot of time, which you could have otherwise dedicated to other stuff. So this pandemic gave me ample time to work out, and even though I'd been thinking of doing that for a couple of years now, I never really managed any time for myself, tells the 22-year-old student from Kolkata adding, Initially it felt pretty exhausting and my muscles screamed. However after the first couple of weeks, when I started noticing some change in my physique , I did feel great about taking this up. However, for a certain sect, for whom such self care activities never worked (and even a pandemic could not make it possible), this has been an opportunity to finding an escape tunnel through writing stories and reading books. The arduous world of numbers and graphs otherwise made it difficult for a 23-year-old MBA graduate from Pune to find enough time for writing fictional tales. However, all hail to the pandemic, that has reignited his interest to find a way back to being an avid writer. It feels great to pen down some of the story plots, which have been swirling in my head for a long time. I have been meaning to write them down for quite some time but never got around to, and this has been the time, finally, says Swagato Basak. Thriving to increase her reading speed, Debolina too has started taking classes on Speed Learning. I was initially embarrassed that my reading speed was only 300 words per minute, she chuckles adding, I want to read more books in a lesser time and I hope to make that 500 words per minute. Despite having their minds all over the place, its been great to see how people have found ways to captivate them in activities, which have eventually become hard to put down. All it needed was an enforced social distancing to make us realise how Atma Nirbhar we have always been, even before it became a trend. The Politics of Data and Design Audits and Accountability When a video of the fatal arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests, it also inspired a period of reckoning about the living legacy of racism in America. The past two months have seen a deluge of editorials, open letters and other public statements from individuals and institutions calling for change in their own industries for diverse hiring, implicit bias training and other measures to address racial inequities.Now, in the face of so much public scrutiny on the issue, some data and police tech companies are grappling with what it would mean to be more responsible for what they put out into the world.For some companies, responsibility starts at the design phase, and understanding the potential relationship between what sort of biases or oversights went into a product and what it will do in practice, at scale. This was the impetus for the formation of Axon s ethics board in 2018, an independent group which has had some success in dissuading the company, for example, from further developing facial recognition on the basis of privacy concerns and racial disparities in accuracy. In short, developing a face-recognizing algorithm with photos of mostly white faces will make it more accurate for white people, and more commonly misidentify people of color. Whats more, product engineers may not know as much about a surveillance tools potential for abuse in the wrong hands as experts in policy or civil liberties.Earlier this year, Axon CEO Rick Smith toldthat the idea was to bring in more civil rights voices it gets input from police all the time because they form the company's client base, but it didn't have that level of natural contact with civil rights advocates.The board also influenced Axon's development of license plate reading technology, including default privacy controls such as limits on how long data is stored for. Smith also toldabout the ethics board's work on license plate readers as well. While developing that technology, the company's engineers have engaged in an "iterative loop" with the board where they gather feedback and then tweak the product accordingly.Its more important that we get it right than that we move fast and break things, Smith said.For some companies, such as the data consulting firm DataMade in Chicago, recent attention on policing has made them reconsider what sort of projects they undertake in the first place. In a blog post on July 13, the company went so far as to say it would never again build tools or technology that supports policing or incarceration, arguing that the companys work had contributed to irresponsible policing by uncritically presenting biased historical data.DataMade founder Derek Eder said the company shut down two websites his team had built, CrimeAround.us and CAPSure, so as not to promote the narrative that the west and south sides of Chicago are in need of more police.We are very likely to use that crime report data again, but were more likely now to use it for a project, say, to hold police to account, but not just to say there were 15 armed robberies in this area at this time. Thats not a productive way to show off that data, we think, he said. One of the prevailing tropes in technology is that technology is neutral, that its not political, and thats false. Everything you build has real political implications, and theres no way to be neutral. What you choose to highlight, what you choose to help and empower with technology, those are political decisions.For all the companies that recently issued statements of solidarity with the cause of racial equity, Eder didnt know of any that took quite the same stance as DataMade. But short of that, he said civic tech companies in particular, being focused on projects for public good, should be in an ideal position to at least think critically about their own work.From the inception of the project: whos at the table, whos asking for it, whos empowered by this, whos potentially harmed by this? These are questions that often times arent asked in different tech spaces, he said. Theres a lot of technology that I think should not be pursued at all, and I encourage anybody in the tech space (to see this as) a critical test thats often missed and needs to be put up front, before you spend time building something.Eder said as population demographics are changing and protests bring these questions to the fore, he was hopeful that a new generation of tech entrepreneurs might be more engaged with them than the last.Now that these systems like Facebook and Twitter are so big that you cant possibly imagine a society without them, now that its almost too late, theyre trying to reckon with the power of the system theyve created and design decisions they made 10 years ago, and who made those decisions, he said. Because by then, how do you pull the plug on a billion-dollar product?Some organizations that have been hammering away at these problems for years agree the attention is overdue, because the technology in question is only becoming more widely used over time. Since 2016, the Algorithmic Justice League , founded by computer scientist Joy Buolamwini and funded in part by the Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation, has been raising awareness about problems with artificial intelligence in predictive policing.Theres also the Policing Project , a center at New York Universitys School of Law, founded in 2015 and run by a dozen full-time employees and several consultants, students and volunteers. Executive Director Farhang Heydari said the goal of the Policing Project, as a research, consulting and advocacy organization, is to work with tech companies to create front-end accountability for police limitations and rules in advance, as opposed to back-end accountability that kicks in only after something has gone wrong. He said that will require more regulation of police technology in general, whether for facial recognition, predictive algorithms or body cameras.The way the courts have interpreted the Fourth Amendment, people get very little protection when theyre in public, and thats where a lot of policing technology operates from drones to facial recognition to license plate readers to predictive algorithms, he said. They suck in data based on where we are in the public, so we get very little constitutional protection. It means police and companies can roll out these products without any real legal constraint.But innovation doesnt have to be a threat to civil liberties. Heydari granted that a lot of police tech, such as body cameras, can be a net good for all concerned if tech companies engage civil rights experts and citizens before going to market. That was the thinking behind the Policing Projects responsible tech audits, which offer to people who make such technology concerns and recommendations regarding civil liberties, racial justice or privacy, based on an evaluative framework detailed on the organizations website I dont think any policing tech company is going to do this right if all the development is coming from their in-house folks. Ive never met a tech company that has meaningful voices from over-policed communities from across the country, and has civil rights lawyers and privacy lawyers, Heydari said. They dont have to do tech audits from the Policing Project, but they'd better be getting meaningful feedback from somewhere.In 2019, ShotSpotter asked the Policing Project to review their ShotSpotter Flex product, a gunshot detection system. The resulting report, which is available online , found the systems microphones didnt pose a significant risk of voice surveillance, but it made recommendations regarding data sharing and storage. ShotSpotter Senior VP of Marketing Sam Klepper said the audit helped ease concerns from potential clients.The Oakland privacy commission in late 2019 was reviewing ShotSpotter, because the surveillance ordinance in the city is considered one of the strictest in the country, he said. The audit was included as part of this review that they had, and the group unanimously voted in favor of approving ShotSpotter.Speaking for a company that has installed gunshot detection equipment in more than 100 cities globally, Klepper said its important for police tech innovators to be open and transparent about what they make and how it works.Its also important, at this time particularly, to have products that help with precision policing, to use objective data and get cops to places where something is actually happening, with the right situational awareness, so theres not a community response of, why are they here, theyre harassing us, he said. We believe that our products provide that kind of objective use of data and pinpoint accuracy as events are unfolding.The question of what to do with biased data historical data amassed across decades of policing focused more in neighborhoods with larger populations of racial and ethnic minorities is a big one, and Heydari didnt have a concrete answer.The alternative cannot be to throw out all the data and not have a data-driven approach, because that doesnt get us to the right place either, he said. I think it starts with better data by police.Heydari proposed ways to improve data. He mentioned victimization surveys to find who in a community has experienced crime, as opposed to the number who reported crimes, as opposed to the number who were arrested for crimes, because those arent the same things. He said theres a role for relatively objective technologies, such as ShotSpotter, to measure incidents as opposed to police activity. And he said he hopes that audits like those the Policing Project does, or some kind of certification process, can become an industry standard.We hear a lot from executive-level people in government that they wish they had these (audits), because the procurement folks dont know how to meaningfully audit technologies, he said. Even police departments dont know how to meaningfully audit technologies, and the last thing they want to do is buy a technology that happens to be spying on users or has a racist algorithm. So weve heard from a lot of procurement folks that they wish more companies had these kind of stamps of approval or rejection, so theyd know who they should buy. The decomposed body of a 40-year-old AIIMS doctor was found hanging at his house in South Delhi's Gautam Nagar. According to the police, the body of Doctor Mohit Singhla was found in a decomposed state in the room, a suicide note was also found later in the evening in which he did not blame anyone for his death. The police received a PCR call at around 3:10 pm on Friday. The caller informed that a foul smell coming from the house in Gautam Nagar. Immediately a team rushed to the spot, and the police found the decomposed dead body of a person hanging in a room locked from inside, on the second floor of the house. An investigation revealed that the deceased was a doctor working at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). "Doctor Mohit Singhla was posted in the department of Paediatrics and initial investigation revealed that he last joined his office on Tuesday," said Atul Thakur, DCP South Delhi. It is also suspected that Doctor Mohit may have taken the extreme step one or two days before his body was found. A suicide note has been recovered in which the doctor said that 'there is no need to live a long life'. "His parents have told the police that he has attempted suicide earlier too and that he was in depression," said a senior police officer He was a permanent resident of Panchkula, Chandigarh and had been living alone in this room since 2006. "We have initiated the proceedings under section 174 CRPC," said the officer. Indians both in the country and in China are facing the twin challenges of a pandemic and aggression at the border, Indias ambassador to China Vikram Misri said on Saturday, adding that citizens have to be united to face the challenge. Addressing a gathering of Indians at India House on a muggy Beijing morning to mark Indias 74th Indepence Day, Misri said: As you just heard from the Presidents (President Ram Nath Kovind Independence Day eve) address, 2020 has been a very unusual year, including for us here in China. We here, and people in India, of course, have had to face up to the twin challenges of Covid-19 as well as aggression on our borders. Referring to the twin challenges, Misri said facing up to them would require both effort and sacrifices. As Indias ambassador to China, Misri has been at the centre of Indias efforts to keep channels of communication open on the boundary question in the opaque corridors of power in the Chinese capital. Besides reaching out to other embassies and diplomats stationed in Beijing on New Delhis position on the border, Misri held two meetings this week with a senior functionary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and senior officer of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which administers the Chinese armed forces. Misris meeting with Maj Gen Ci Guowei, director of CMCs office of international military cooperation on Friday, came two days after the envoy met Liu Jianchao, deputy director of the CPC central committees foreign affairs commission. The meetings are part of Indias outreach to the Chinese leadership to resolve the standoff. In context of the Covid-19 outbreak in China, the Indian embassy, and Misri, have also coordinated evacuation flights in February, which flew back hundreds of Indians working and studying in China from Wuhan, the first epicentre of the pandemic from where the infection emerged late last year. You are in China, things have changed, also, in imperceptible ways, and I am sure in certain cases, this change is impacting upon many of you in daily life, Misri told the Indian diaspora in context of the Covid-19 outbreak. Assuring the Indian diaspora of help, Misri said even the government of China itself is deploying different policies in order to respond to the evolving pandemic situation and that We have to adjust ourselves to those policies and do the best for our citizens. The primary care workforce is changing rapidly. Nurse practitioners are working to keep patients healthy, and more people than ever in Berks County receive primary care services from NPs. The growth of NPs is good news because it is an opportunity to improve access to care for everyone, including chronically underserved patients. NPs are more likely than physicians to provide primary care to patients who need it the most: seniors, low-income families and those living in rural communities. Primary care providers like NPs are paramount in an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. They serve at the front line, helping patients individually and aiding in broader public health efforts to track and stop the spread. At the same time, it is a wakeup call to policymakers: Pennsylvania should fully leverage NPs and enable them to practice to the full scope of their education and national certification. Unfortunately, despite the proven benefits of NP practice, the state restricts qualified nurse practitioners with outdated regulations. In 2015, the Joint State Government Commission issued a serious warning: Pennsylvania faced a looming shortage of primary care physicians, or PCPs. The report called for an additional 1,039 PCPs by 2030 an 11% increase to maintain the status quo in regard to primary care access. The shortage and a sharpening rural/suburban divide threatened patients, especially Pennsylvanias growing number of seniors. Despite the warning, the downward trend continued. In a new report, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners analyzed data in order to determine the current status of the shortage. We reviewed county-level data from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration for 2015, 2016 and 2017. Our findings were concerning. Overall, Pennsylvania lost 112 PCPs, down 1% from the 2015 total. The problem is widespread: 37 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties saw their PCP workforce shrink, including 20 counties with a significant decrease. Another eight counties experienced no increase. Despite the advantages of steady population growth, Berks suffered a 10% decrease in its primary care physician workforce. A net 31 PCPs left practice here from 2015 to 2017. Neighboring Schuylkill County stayed flat. Fortunately for patients, the contraction of physician care coincided with an expansion of NP care. The NP workforce grew by a total of 1,613, or 22%. NP care expanded in 57 of 67 Pennsylvania counties; the growth was significant in all of them including 20% increase or higher in 42 counties. The remaining 10 counties saw no change. No county saw a decrease in NPs. Patients in Berks enjoyed a significant increase. Thirty new NPs came to practice here, an increase of 19%. Schuylkill County patients benefited from a whopping 38% increase in NP care. State numbers show that access to NP care is even greater than the federal data. Pennsylvania has 15,391 licensed nurse practitioners in 2020 according to the State Board of Nursing. Primary care is the foundation of successful health care. For families, it improves health outcomes and quality of life. For policymakers, it increases efficiency and lowers overall costs. The logic is simple: better access to quality care allows patients to manage small problems before they become big ones. State law works against patients and nurse practitioners by adding extra steps beyond the extensive requirements of NP education and national certification. These redundant steps create an obstacle to NP practice. The result of the status quo is reduced access for rural communities, reduced access for low-income patients, and ultimately, sicker patients. Almost every major health care stakeholder group in Pennsylvania has endorsed legislation Senate Bill 25 and House Bill 100 to permanently eliminate these unnecessary steps and adopt a modern process for NP licensure called Full Practice Authority. So far 22 states have adopted this reform; their health care quality improved, access increased and costs decreased. Policymakers should embrace the growth of the NP profession as an opportunity to improve care for everyone. Pennsylvania patients deserve to benefit from this proven success. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have not stood still since announcing their royal exit at the end of January. After a brief stay in Canada, the couple popped back to London for their final royal engagements before setting up shop in Tyler Perrys Los Angeles Home. On August 11, however, it was confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their own place in the Santa Barbara, California, area. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their family home in July of this year, a rep for Markle and Harry told People. They have settled into the quiet privacy of their community since their arrival and hope that this will be respected for their neighbors, as well as for them as a family. But why not find another spot in L.A.? Well, according to a source speaking to Us Weekly, Prince Harry absolutely hated it. Meghan visited Montecito in her teens and fell in love with the picturesque scenery and stunning architecture, the source explained. Moving there was always an option, but to begin with, she and Harry wanted to give Los Angeles a shot. Unfortunately, Harry absolutely hated itthe timing was so wrong amid the [coronavirus] pandemic and they lacked privacy. The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex Visit South Africa Pool/Samir Hussein After a recent legal dispute, its no wonder Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were looking to move somewhere slightly more off-the-grid. Last month the Sussexes attorney filed a complaint with the State of California after discovering a photographer had been shopping photographs of their son Archie, according to documents obtained by E! News. Luckily, their new home will still be a convenient spot for the couple to work on their foundation and Meghan Markles possible Hollywood ambitions. An added bonus is that Montecito is only just over an hours drive from L.A. which is where a majority of their work is based, yet far enough away to escape the crowds, paparazzi, and tourism in Hollywood, the source told Us Weekly. Story continues Hopefully, this time Prince Harry and Co. will get to enjoy their new family home. Originally Appeared on Glamour Whistleblower On Chinas NGO Faces Serious Threats; Generals Pushback On Xi Jinping; 4th Wave Formed A whistleblower in a Chinese Red Cross scandal has issued a call for help. Jiang Pengyong exposed how the Chinese Red Cross has been reselling virus protective gear that it receives through donations. Jiang said in an interview that he had previously decided to do business with the Chinese Red Cross, and since exposing its crimes he has received death threats, and has been threatened with jail time. Meanwhile, Xi Jinpings wolf warrior diplomacy is getting pushback from hard-liners in the Party leadership, who believe its more effective for the regime to use a strategy from former Party leader Deng Xiaoping to hide our capability and bide our time. Among Xis two main critics are two PLA hawks, including retired Major General Qiao Liang, author of Unrestricted Warfare, which proposed a form of unconventional war to dominate other countries by weaponizing open systems including in culture, economy, and ideology. These stories and more in this episode of Crossroads. Crossroads is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube. Join Patreon to Support Crossroads: https://www.patreon.com/Crossroads_Josh By Express News Service CHENNAI: Even while Tamil Nadu is battling the Covid pandemic, disposal of biomedical waste remains unregulated as loads of tonic bottles have been dumped in the open in Chennai suburbs again, this time near Thiruneermalai. Pughalvendhan V, an activist who rallies against open dumping of bio-medical waste, spotted the pile of tonic bottles and tablets dumped along the NH-45 service road. The lids of the bottle were open and the medicine was seeping out. This spot of dumping is not even half a kilometre from the Thiruneermalai Town Panchayat, he said. This looks like an easy spot to dump as people can just throw it from the vehicle and run away, he said. Pughalvendhan said that he spotted the pile of waste on Wednesday evening and it remained as it is on Friday too. The TNPCB has still not cleared the waste dumped near the Manivakkam lake, he said. Two weeks ago, TNIE had a similar instance of open dumping of biomedical waste along the Outer Ring Road in Manivakkam. TNPCB officials with the Chengalpattu district said that they would visit the spot in Thiruneermalai and take action. Tens of thousands of staff will never return to full-time office work in the City of London under plans being drawn up by some of Britain's biggest companies. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that audit and consulting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers is preparing for '50 to 60 per cent' of its staff to work flexibly on a permanent basis after the Covid 19 crisis passes. That means around 13,000 of PwC's 22,000 UK staff could work some days each week from home, and some days in its London offices or one of its 18 regional 'hub' offices. Making changes: Around 13,000 of PwC's 22,000 UK staff could work some days each week from home Banks, insurers and financial services giants in the City are also understood to be drawing up similarly radical plans to shift permanently to increased home working. In some cases, firms may seek to save money by downsizing to smaller offices. Kevin Ellis, UK chairman and senior partner of PwC, revealed his consultants will this week host meetings with ten chief executives of clients that are 'big office users' and want to move to more flexible working. Internal surveys by City firms have found as many as seven in ten staff want to continue working from home some of the time after the pandemic ends. In a historic shift, some employees who work at Lloyd's of London Britain's world-leading insurance market and one of the City's oldest institutions are understood to have been offered trial contracts by their companies where they will travel into the London office two days one week, and three days the next week. Lloyd's has drawn up a rota system so that certain types of business are done on specific days of the week from September 1 as part of temporary plans to keep capacity below 45 per cent. But if the trials prove successful and staff are happy, many of the new flexible working contracts could be made permanent in the New Year, one source said. Britain's biggest fund manager Schroders has told staff they will no longer need to come into the office full-time after the Covid pandemic passes. Broker Numis and law firm Freshfields have also hinted at plans to cut office hours. The move to split work between home and office has been driven by City staff operating efficiently and successfully from their kitchens, bedrooms and spare rooms during lockdown. But experts say the shift will dramatically change city centres. In London, it will mean huge reductions in traffic but it could also force hundreds of pubs, cafes and other businesses to close as footfall collapses. In an interview with the MoS today, Patrick Dardis, chief executive of pub group Young's, warns that up to 10,000 of Britain's 45,000 pubs could close in January and February and says some of his company's small pubs in Central London may be among them. Ten of his Central London pubs have already shut. 'If our high streets are as empty as they are now this time next year, our country will be bankrupt; it will be in a shocking state,' Dardis says. 'The Government needs to level with the British public about this, because while working from home might feel nice at the moment, the capital represents about 30 per cent of the UK's GDP.' An MoS survey found fewer than half of City workers are likely to return to the office when schools go back next month. Mark Dixon, founder of serviced offices giant IWG formerly Regus said: 'These changes will be quasi-permanent. Some people will go back to offices, but not all of them. Instead of having thousands of people in a large office, you are now going to have a smaller building that is more focused on interaction. 'You will use the office for big strategy meetings, training, business reviews and days for congratulating employees for hard work. The office is not dead it has a very important role in society. [But] one of the lasting legacies of the pandemic will be a change in how people work in Britain. People will realise they can work from the furthest parts of Cornwall or the Shetland Islands and for many jobs it makes no difference. Large corporate customers [of ours] and companies of all kinds are reviewing how they can support their people going forward, and with the advances in technology it is all possible. It's a fundamental change and it is going to change Britain.' HSBC will only have up to 20 per cent of staff working from offices in September. Lloyds Banking Group staff will work from home at least until the end of September. It is understood the company is in discussions over offering staff flexible working. RBS has confirmed that most staff will work from home until 2021. Boss Alison Rose has hinted that the bank will adopt a 'hybrid' approach to home and office working in the future. Barclays said fewer than 1 per cent of its 70,000 staff will return to offices this summer. 'The remainder of colleagues will be informed in due course how and when to return after September,' a spokesman added. The London Stock Exchange said no more than 30 per cent of staff will be in the office for the rest of 2020. JP Morgan's capacity is expected be 50 per cent for the foreseeable future, with staff put on a rota. But it is understood the company regards having more employees in the office as important for its culture. KPMG's head of people, Anna Purchas, said an internal survey in May and June showed more than 70 per cent of its staff 'would appreciate having increased flexibility in their working arrangements post-Covid-19'. She said the audit giant will have capacity for up to 60 per cent of staff to return to the office for up to three days a week by the end of October. Kevin Ellis, at PwC, said that before the pandemic 10 per cent of his staff worked flexibly and he had expected that numbers to reach 50 or 60 per cent over the next four years. But, due to Covid, he now thinks the change will happen within a year. 'To think that office life has gone is wrong,' Ellis said. 'But will it just revert to what it was before? No. 'I had never worked from home before the pandemic, but I can now see myself working from home one or two days a week in the future, which is a big change. I think that will be the same for most people.' A surfer has come to the rescue of a woman being mauled by a shark near Port Macquarie, punching the beast repeatedly until it let her go. Paramedics were called to Shelly Beach on NSW's mid-north coast about 9:30am on Saturday, after the woman was attacked while surfing. The 35-year-old was rushed to Port Macquarie Base Hospital with serious leg injuries, but has since been flown to Newcastle where she will undergo surgery. Police said the woman and a man were surfing when she was bitten on the right calf and the back of her thigh. The 35-year-old woman was surfing at Shelley Beach at Port Macquarie, when she was attacked by a shark. Source: Nine News Her companion was forced to punch the shark until it let go and the woman, who is a lifesaver, was also surfing at the time of the attack. "This is the third serious shark attack on the north coast over the last few months," Andrew Beverley said in a statement. Three paramedic crews and a specialist medical team in the Westpac Helicopter responded to the incident. Paramedics were on the scene within eight minutes, but Mr Beverley said the bystanders who rendered first aid should be commended. "They did an amazing job before we arrived." A NSW Ambulance spokesman said the woman suffered significant lower leg injuries in the attack off Shelly Beach just before 10am on Saturday. Source: Google Beaches in Port Macquarie have been closed for the day. Beaches in Port Macquarie have been closed for 24 hours as authorities work to identify the species of the shark. Earlier reports had said the woman was 20. 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. In July, 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. 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. In advance of the Virtual edition of National Caretaker Appreciation Day from September 18-20, Standardbred Canada is inviting caretakers across the country to submit a photo with their favourite horse. Are you a caretaker working at a stable or farm in Canada? Do you have a stall favourite that gets extra carrots at the end of the day or maybe has you wrapped around his/her hooves? Enter SCs photo contest and you could win a great prize package! All you need to do is email us a photo of yourself with your favourite horse (can be a selfie or a photo that a friend has taken, or it could be a winners circle photo), and tell us in 100 words or less why this horse is your favourite, or what this horse means to you. SC will select one winner from the submissions and the winner will receive the following prize package: Equine Guelph Short Course (click here to view the options) One Year Subscription to TrackIT $100 Visa Gift Card SC will also share many of the photos submitted. The deadline to enter is August 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Please email your photo and submission with your info to: [email protected]. Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - President Alpha Conde, in a televised address Friday, extended the state of health emergency in Guinea for 30 days with immediate effect UN special envoys urge Britain to probe Keenie Meenies role in war against LTTE View(s): Six United Nations Special Rapporteurs have taken up with the British Government allegations that it failed to investigate reports that British mercenaries were involved in military operations against the LTTE in Sri Lanka from 1984-1988. The report claimed that a private military and security company known as the Keenie Meenie Services Ltd had been allegedly used to train and provide other forms of military support to the Sri Lankan military and security forces. The UN Special Rapporteurs are calling for a full investigation and report about the allegations levelled against the security company. A letter expressing similar concerns has also been sent to the Sri Lankan Government. The meat factories have been warned against using the continuing Covid-19 crisis as cover to slash beef prices. Suggestions by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) that delays in the Covid-19 testing process could impact operations at meat plants and thereby hit cattle and sheep prices were slammed by ICSA beef chair Edmund Graham and IFA leader Tim Cullinan. Farmers are used to processors using any excuse in the book to cut prices, but there is no reason why disruption caused by testing delays should lead to price cuts, Mr Graham said. We know that consumer demand hasnt dropped and that most factories complain about having surplus capacity. The slack could easily be taken up by factories where testing has been completed without imposing further hardship on farmers, the ICSA representative added. IFA president Tim Cullinan described MIIs comments as inflammatory and wrong. While it is clear that we need quicker Covid-19 test results, to link this with prices to farmers is unacceptable, Mr Cullinan said. This is typical of the factories. They will use any excuse to cut prices to farmers, he added. MII director, Cormac Healy, told last weeks Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 that livestock prices could be impacted if results for tests were delayed and factory operations disrupted. Mr Healy said the meat industry will work with proposals to carry out serial testing at slaughter plants, but he cautioned that this process must be underpinned by the delivery of fast results. However, MIIs comments regarding testing have been roundly criticised by IFA and ICSA, who accused the meat industry of lacking empathy and solidarity. Public health has to be the priority at all times, but farmers have been working around the clock to keep the food supply chain open. They are already struggling to make ends meet and this threat by MII at the Oireachtas Committee hearing is unacceptable, Mr Cullinan said. This was an opportunity for processors to show some solidarity with their suppliers but instead they just threatened to undermine their livelihoods yet again, Mr Graham said. Farmers have again been put in the most vulnerable of positions which once more highlights the need for a regulator with full powers to examine the practices of meat plants, he added. Meanwhile, MII claimed at the Oireachtas Committee hearing that significant progress had been made in reducing the incidence of Covid-19 in primary processing plants. Mr Healy pointed out that there was just one active Covid-19 cluster at a slaughter plant Kildare Chilling compared to 22 active clusters in early July. The MII director also welcomed unannounced inspections of plants from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) or any other relevant state agency. Our members remain fully committed to public health guidelines, and we are working to ensure that any necessary additional protocols are clear. Earlier this week MII met with representatives of SIPTU, where there was agreement on the objectives of supporting working safety and business continuity in the implementation of increased Covid-19 testing. However, the Social Democrats spokesperson on agriculture, Holly Cairns, has reiterated the partys call for factories with Covid-19 clusters to close. The West Cork TD said that the health and well-being of the workers, and preventing the spread of the virus to the community, had to be the primary objective in the current pandemic. Where factories were forced to close, Deputy Cairns said financial supports should be available for both workers and farmer suppliers. WATERBURY A city man was sentenced Friday to just over a year in federal prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking operation, the U.S. Attorney said. Desny Sosa-Hernandez, 41, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. The charges against him stemmed from last March. Law enforcement officers set up two controlled purchases of cocaine in Bridgeport in March 2019 from Sosa-Hernandez and his co-defendant, Edgard Martinez, according to authorities. On March 19, 2019 after investigators set up the purchase of 300 grams of cocaine from the two men Martinez drove from his Tolland residence to pick up Sosa-Hernandez in Waterbury, Durham said. The two then planned to drive to Bridgeport together to finalize the drug transaction, authorities said. But when Martinez showed up at Sosa-Hernandezs home in Waterbury, investigators took them both into custody and seized a bag with 300 grams of cocaine inside Martinezs vehicle, Durham said. Authorities said when they searched Sosa-Hernandezs house, they found shoe boxes with $18,111 in cash; and a search of Martinezs home led investigators to a handgun, cocaine and items used to process and package drugs. Sosa-Hernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine on Nov. 6, 2019. He was released on a $100,000 bond and told to report to prison on Sept. 16. Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. He was sentenced in May to serve 29 months in federal prison. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 06:29 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2992a 1 News #Indonesia75,Ancol,Indonesia,sea-world-jakarta,aquarium,flag-hoisting-ceremony,underwater,pengibaran-bendera Free Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta is to celebrate Indonesia's upcoming 75th Anniversary by organizing a flag-hoisting ceremony in the Sea World Jakarta aquarium. The ceremony will take place on Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Jakarta time. The head of promotion and activation for Ancol park, Ticha Hestiningrum Desanti, said the flag-hoisting ceremony was an annual event. During the ceremony, professional divers will hoist the flag underwater. The divers are to rehearse the flag-hoisting routine on Saturday. The ceremony is open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase on the parks official website, ancol.com. Visitors are required to comply with the health protocols such as wearing a mask, bringing hand sanitizer, washing their hands, maintaining physical distance as well as getting their body temperature checked [upon arrival] , Ticha said as quoted by kompas.com on Friday. (dpk) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 20:31:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHONGQING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- When Japan announced its surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945, every corner of China and each victim of the Japanese invasion was full of joy, including a major munitions factory in southwestern Chongqing. Located along the Jialing River, a principal tributary of the Yangtze River, the arsenal manufactured more than 60 percent of the weapons and ammunition produced by all the military factories during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Although the war-torn days are long gone, memories of this legendary arsenal remain. For Zheng Hongquan, 90, details of the arsenal are still fresh in memory. Born in the city of Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Zheng's father was a worker at the Jinling Arsenal, one of the largest and most important arsenals during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In order to protect important national industry and talents during the war, China evacuated more than 130,000 tonnes of goods and over 30,000 personnel from various arsenals to the vast southwestern regions by the end of 1937. Zheng's family and the arsenal also moved to the inland city of Chongqing at that time. In the eyes of Zheng, it was Li Chenggan, the head of the arsenal, who made the factory glorious. Led by Li, all the staff of the arsenal shipped around 4,300 tonnes of equipment from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River to the upper reaches in Chongqing in 16 days, under heavy bombardment, quickly built up a new factory called the 21st Arsenal and resumed work and production, Zheng said. "His contribution to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was not limited to the number of weapons that the factory produced, he also made significant improvements in the performance of the weapons," Zheng recalled, adding that Li, who graduated from a Japanese university, devoted himself to the research and improvement of weapons manufacturing technology and managed to produce weapons more suitable for the Chinese and put them into production. From February 1938 to December 1944, the Japanese warplanes indiscriminately bombed Chongqing, then China's provisional capital, and the arsenal was one of the key targets of Japanese bombing. Historical materials showed that the factory was bombed 14 times by Japanese planes between 1940 and 1941, killing and injuring more than 40 workers. Nevertheless, the battered factory did not stop manufacturing, and workers there were in high spirits. They kept producing ammunition around the clock, leading to great improvements in quality and substantial growth in the number of weapons. At present, part of the factory in Chongqing has been listed as a cultural relics protection site, reminding people of the difficult times and those brave people. "Our hard-won peaceful life is created by countless martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. I hope the glorious memory of the arsenal can inspire the younger generations to never forget history," Zheng said. Enditem Construction work takes place, at the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Assosa, Ethiopia (Elias Asmare/AP) Pope Francis has urged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to continue talks to resolve their years-long dispute over a massive dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile that has led to sharp regional tensions and fears of military conflict. Francis, speaking to a crowd gathered at St Peters Square on an official Catholic feast day, said he was closely following negotiations between the three countries over the dam. Egypt and Sudan suspended talks with Ethiopia earlier this month after Ethiopia proposed linking a deal on the filling and operations of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to a broader agreement about Blue Nile waters that would replace a colonial-era accord with Britain. The colonial-era deal between Ethiopia and Britain effectively prevents upstream countries from taking any action, such as building dams and filling reservoirs, that would reduce the share of Nile water to downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. The Blue Nile is the source of as much as 85% of the Nile Rivers water. Expand Close Pope Francis waves to the faithful (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis waves to the faithful (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Sudan said Ethiopias latest proposal threatened the entire negotiations, and it would return to the negotiating table only for a deal on the dams filling and operation. The African Union-led talks among the three countries are scheduled to resume Monday, according to Sudans irrigation ministry. The pontiff called on all sides to continue on the path of dialogue so that the Eternal River continues to be the lymph of life that unites, not divides, that always nourishes friendship, prosperity, brotherhood and never enmity, incomprehension or conflict. Addressing the dear brothers of the three countries, the pope prayed that dialogue would be their only choice, for the good your dear peoples and of the entire world. Egypts prime minister Mustafa Madbouly meanwhile landed in Sudans capital Khartoum on Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials. He was accompanied by several top officials including irrigation, electricity and health ministers, according to the office of Sudans premier Abdalla Hamdok. Mr Hamdoks officer did not provide details on the visit, but it was highly likely the Ethiopian dam would be on the agenda. Years-long negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a deal on the dam. The dispute reached a tipping point earlier this week when Ethiopia announced it completed the first stage of the filling of the dams 74 billion-cubic-metre reservoir. That sparked fear and confusion in Sudan and Egypt. Expand Close Ethiopians celebrate the progress made on the Nile dam, in Addis Ababa (Samuel Habtab/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ethiopians celebrate the progress made on the Nile dam, in Addis Ababa (Samuel Habtab/AP) Both have repeatedly insisted Ethiopia must not start the fill without reaching a deal first. Ethiopia says the dam will provide electricity to millions of its nearly 110 million citizens. Egypt, with its own booming population of about 100 million, sees the project as an existential threat that could deprive it of its share of Nile waters. Sudan, geographically located between the two regional powerhouses, stands to benefit from Ethiopias project through access to cheap electricity and reduced flooding. But Sudan has raised fears over the dams operation, which could endanger its own smaller dams depending on the amount of water discharged daily downstream. Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed said the filling occurred naturally, without bothering or hurting anyone else, from torrential rains flooding the Blue Nile. Sticking points in the talks include how much water Ethiopia will release downstream during the filling if a multi-year drought occurs, and how the three countries will resolve any future disputes. Egypt and Sudan have pushed for a binding agreement, while Ethiopia insists on non-binding guidelines. The death of a young boy initially thought to have been from heat exposure is now being investigated as a homicide. Florence police on Wednesday were dispatched to North Alabama Medical Centers emergency room shortly before 11:30 p.m. following the death of 3-year-old Kaiden Garner, said Lt. Wes Gargis. It was initially reported, he said, that Kaidens death was possibly due to heat exposure. Since that time however, Gargis said, an autopsy showed that Kaiden died from blunt force trauma. He said no additional details are being released at this time, but the department is asking for help from the community. Police have not announced any arrests in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Florence Det. Bill White at 256-760-6595, the Florence Police Department at 256-760-6610 or Shoals Area Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685. Propagation de K7RA August 15, 2020 New sunspot cycle 25 continues to make a strong showing. Sunspots appeared on every day for over three weeks, beginning on July 21. Average daily sunspot numbers for the week slipped a bit from 19.6 to 14.3 this week, but average daily solar flux increased from 72.8 to 73.8. Geomagnetic indicators remain quiet. Both the average daily planetary and mid-latitude A index were 3.7. Predicted solar flux for the next month and a half is 72 on August 14 and 15, 70 on August 16 to 21, 72 on August 22 to 27, 73 on August 28 and 29, 75 on August 30 to September 9, 73 on September 10 and 11, 72 on September 12 to 23, 73 on September 24 and 25, and 75 on September 26 and 27. This is a welcome change from recent forecasts which saw predicted solar flux consistently below 70. Predicted planetary A index forecasts continued quiet geomagnetic conditions, at 5 on August 14 to 23, 8 on August 24 and 25, 5 on August 26 to 28, then 8, 16 and 8 on August 29 to 31, 5 on September 1 to 19, 8 on September 20 and 21, 5 on September 22 to 24, then 8, 16 and 8 on September 25 to 27. Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period August 14 til September 9, 2020 from F. K. Janda, OK1HH. "Geomagnetic field will be Quiet on: August 15 and 16, September 5 to 7 Quiet to unsettled on: August 14, 17 to 19, 22, (23,) 24 and 25, (26 to 29,) September 2 to 4, 8 and 9 Quiet to active on: (August 20 and 21, 30 and 31, September 1) Unsettled to active is not expected Active to disturbed is not expected Solar wind will intensify on: August (22 and 23,) 24 and 25, September 1 and 2, (4 to 6) Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement." Jon Jones, N0JK (EM28 in Kansas) had this comment about the mention of 6 meter sporadic-e in last week's bulletin. "Many of the reports I have received for July (including long time 6M op N0LL) reported great conditions on 50 MHz Es. On July 13 N0LL had his FT8 screen full of stations from Japan calling him on 50.313 MHz. Today August 9 I had sporadic-E on 6 Meters to Florida, Texas, Mexico, and Arizona from Kansas." Jon is editor of the monthly "World Above 50 MHz" column in QST. A recent video from WX6SWW, Tamitha Skov: https://youtu.be/6giEZ8rcBhk K9LA recently posted a survey of various solar cycle 25 predictions. Read it at http://k9la.us/Aug20_Cycle_25 _Predictions.pdf . He also did a presentation at https://www.qsotoday hamexpo.com/ on the same subject. The material from that event will be up for a limited time, so catch it before it is gone on September 9. And Carl's Basic Concepts resource is always good for a review at http://k9la.us/html/basic_concepts.html . Personally I like the prediction that promises a repeat of the epic Cycle 19 of the late 1950s. I was a small child then, but my father had a low-band FM 2-way radio mounted in his company car, probably operating somewhere between 30-40 MHz judging from my hazy memory of the length of the bumper mounted whip antenna. We were in Reedley, California in the San Joaquin Valley, and he sold agricultural chemicals to farmers. He would use the radio to contact the office in Fresno, but at the peak of Cycle 19 local communications were often interrupted by skip from Texas and various states in the Midwest. From correspondence I've received from readers, I know there were many new teen aged hams at that time, and many just assumed that the fantastic propagation of the day was normal. Many were disappointed by Cycle 20, which was when I got my Novice ticket. If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at k7ra@arrl.net. For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service at http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals. For an explanation of numbers used in this bulletin, see http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation. More good information and tutorials on propagation are at http://k9la.us/. Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://arrl.org/propagation. Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of ARRL bulletins are at http://arrl.org/bulletins. Sunspot numbers for August 6 through 12, 2020 were 14, 14, 11, 13, 12, 12, and 24, with a mean of 14.3. 10.7 cm flux was 73.1, 74, 74.7, 73.9, 74.2, 73.5, and 73.1, with a mean of 73.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, and 3, with a mean of 3.7. Middle latitude A index was 4, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3, and 3, with a mean of 3.7. By ANI NAYPYITAW (MYANMAR): Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is training terror groups in Myanmar and its main goal is to destabilise some countries in the region using cross-border terrorism. Siegfried O Wolf, an analyst at the South Asia Democratic Forum, a Belgian group based in Brussels, confirmed the possible involvement of the ISI in the training of 40 Rohingya by Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), German news agency DW reported. The expert said it would be better for Pakistan to choose a third country for cross-border terrorism. This yet again substantiates the fact that Islamabad continues to harbour and support terror and carry out attacks in countries, including Afghanistan and India, in a bid to create instability in the region. In 2016, the JMB carried out an attack on a Holey Artisan coffee shop near the diplomatic district of Dhaka, claiming 22 lives, mostly foreigners. Due to this, the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, bordering Myanmar, have become a target for the terror groups. Abdur Rashid, a Bangladeshi security expert, told DW that there were attempts by extremist Rohingyas in the past, but Dhaka has not allowed them to carry out terror activities. Rashid also said Bangladesh has helped India so far in such matters pertaining to insurgency in north-east India. He added that Pakistan could "destabilise India" by supporting extremist groups but Bangladesh has assured it will not be allowed. Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam told DW that attempts to spread extremism in the camps did not prove to be a major success in the past. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has now returned to the border and has increased its operations, according to Myanmarese military officials. The ARSA members are active at night in refugee camps but they are disguised during the day. For instance, ARSA leader Attah Ullah was born in Pakistan and raised in Saudi Arabia. He and his entourage have been trained in military tactics and carrying out bombings. The ARSA, which operates on Bangladesh-Myanmar border, also revealed that it had received training from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban, a spokesperson of the TTP confirmed the same to DW. According to foreign diplomats monitoring Cox's Bazar, ARSA and JMB are linked and videos of them undergoing armed training have surfaced on social media. Weapons used by ARSA members are old AK-47s, M-21s, M-22s and M-16 rifles. Some of these arms have been likely taken by the group during the seizure of police stations in Myanmar. WASHINGTON - Democratic Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids is calling for the firing of the Postmaster General after what she says are a series of politically motivated attacks on the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service has been the topic of political debate after President Donald Trump admitted to withholding funding in order to make mail-in [...] Isabel Baez Vaquero mourns her husband at their home in Mexico. He died in the U.S. of COVID-19 and his ashes were returned to Ahuehuetitla. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times) The glazed urn rests in a makeshift altar in the family home, flanked by flowers, candles, Roman Catholic images and a faded snapshot of a middle-aged man. We always thought that my father would return home one day, said Mayra Tlatelpa Baez. "But not in ashes." Her father, Benito Medardo Tlatelpa Calixto, was 55. He died April 13 in New Jersey, one of at least 2,045 Mexican citizens lost to COVID-19 in the United States. In recent weeks, authorities have begun repatriating their ashes. The urns, packed into cardboard boxes, are arriving in hometowns and villages throughout Mexico. COVID-19 deaths in the United States cut an especially wide swath of bereavement here in the central state of Puebla, where impoverished agricultural towns like Ahuehuetitla have long sent their sons and daughters to work in the New York City area where the pandemic claimed its greatest U.S. toll. Behind the ashes are doleful stories of family separation and vanished dreams of immigrants who hoped to retire in their homeland. Many of the victims had not seen their loved ones in years but kept in touch by phone and video and regularly sent home money, mostly from low-wage jobs in restaurants, shops, factories, hospitals and construction sites. The process of returning their ashes was delayed for months as families and Mexican diplomats navigated COVID-19 restrictions. Fear of contagion ruled out repatriation of bodies for traditional wakes, funerals and burial in Mexico. Instead, relatives agreed to cremations in the United States, forgoing the time-honored rituals of closure. Last month, New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan presided at a blessing of the cremated remains of 250 Mexican citizens including those of Tlatelpa Calixto at St. Patricks Cathedral, iconic shrine to a previous generation of immigrants. Thanks to these 250 heroes this city kept on functioning, Jorge Islas Lopez, the Mexican consul general in New York, said at the service. They were invisible and anonymous heroes. Story continues Maria Irasema Vaquero Lopez, 43, died of COVID-19 on April 16 in New York. Her ashes were returned in July to her native Ahuehuetitla. Her mother set up a flower-bedecked altar in her home in honor of her daughter, a mother of seven. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times) After the ceremony, the ashes were loaded on a Mexican military jet and flown to Mexico City. From there, state and local authorities delivered the urns to homes or nearby towns for pickup. More than a third of the Mexican COVID-19 victims in the U.S. resided in the New York area, and the majority of those came from Puebla. Many were in the U.S. illegally, largely ruling out regular visits to relatives in Mexico. Tlatelpa Calixto entered the United States more than 20 years ago. His wife, Isabel Baez Vaquero, and the couple's two small boys followed three years later, leaving their two daughters with relatives in Ahuehuetitla. Baez Vaquero stayed in the U.S. for 12 years before returning here to be with her daughters. Her husband and sons remained in New Jersey. Tlatelpa Calixto worked a variety of jobs at a plastics factory and at packinghouses for fish and vegetables though near-blindness from diabetes had recently left him unemployed. As the years passed, the prospect of a family reunion faded. Hanging on a bedroom wall of the family home in Mexico is a cherished portrait: father, mother and all four grown children posed in the sunlight at a graduation ceremony. But the scene is only fantasy, a composite created on a computer. Perhaps no place in Mexico was as ravaged by U.S. coronavirus deaths as Ahuehuetitla, in the parched Mixteca highlands. Carved from volcanic rock at the entrance is a sculpture of a campesino in a broad-brimmed Mexican sombrero, with the head of a jaguar glaring from the pedestal a testament to the town's agrarian character and its Indigenous roots. The official population is 1,800, but 90% live in the United States. At least 26 natives have died of COVID-19 in the U.S., according to Eboly Moran Bravo, the towns sindico, or legal representative. This is something that hit us very, very hard we are all in mourning, said Moran. Its a personal tragedy, and an economic blow." In a one-story house along an unpaved road, Ausencia Guadalupe Lopez, 73, was grieving for her daughter. Maria Irasema Vaquero Lopez, who was 43, had moved to the U.S. when she was 16. A single mother of seven, she cleaned apartments in Brooklyn, a job she continued to do even as the pandemic raged. One day this spring, she called her mother to say she had caught a bad cold after going to work without her jacket. A week later she was hospitalized, diagnosed with COVID-19 and put on a respirator. Ausencia Guadalupe Lopez, 73, mourns her daughter, Maria Irasema Vaquero Lopez. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times ) On April 16, her mother was roused from sleep by a niece who had just received a call from the United States. Brace yourself, she said. Maria is gone. A widow who had watched all four of her children leave Puebla for the U.S., Lopez remained especially close to Maria. She would call me all the time, sometimes three or four times a day," recalled Lopez, who herself spent three years in Brooklyn, working in a clothing factory. "And she would always send me some money, even if it was just a little that she could afford. Maria's ashes were returned last month after the ceremony at St. Patrick's. Her children all U.S. citizens had wanted to accompany the ashes to console their grandmother, but an uncle talked them out of it. I told my nephews that it was too dangerous to travel, recalled Nereo Vaquero, speaking by telephone from Brooklyn. Why put themselves at risk? Or risk bringing the virus to my mother? For Mayra Tlatelpa Baez, 31, her fathers death thousands of miles away has raised deep doubts about the region's time-honored tradition of emigration. The custom has brought a measure of prosperity to a town where small plots provide little more than subsistence. But it has also left an ineffable legacy of loss and abandonment. The last time she saw him was 15 years ago nearly half her life. I have come to believe that it would have been better if our father had stayed with us ... even if all we had to eat was a tortilla with salt and beans, she said. We could have worked together in the fields. I could have embraced him." At least 23 other families in Ahuehuetitla are still waiting for pandemic ashes to be repatriated from the United States. Authorities have been repatriating the ashes of hundreds of Mexican citizens who died of COVID-19 in the United States, including some from Ahuehuetitla in Puebla. Health restrictions during the pandemic have made it nearly impossible to send the bodies to Mexico. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times) Special correspondents Cecilia Sanchez and Liliana Nieto del Rio contributed to this report. The Chairman of Failte Ireland has resigned following an Irish Independent story that he travelled to Italy on holiday. The news that tourism chief Michael Cawley holidayed abroad comes while Failte Ireland is carrying out a "major drive to encourage people to take domestic breaks" and the Government has introduced a tax rebate to encourage people to spend their holidays in Ireland. Read More In a statement this afternoon, Mr Cawley said he has "no wish to allow this issue to become a distraction from the important work of Failte Ireland in rebuilding the Irish tourism industry". "I fully support the Governments policy on Tourism and I will continue to help the industry emerge from its current difficulties. It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Failte Ireland and to have contributed to the massive growth which Irish tourism has enjoyed prior to this global pandemic. "I want to thank the superb management lead by Paul Kelly Chief Executive and entire team at Failte for their professionalism and unwavering commitment and I wish them and the industry every success in the future". Tourism Minister Catherine Martin has accepted his resignation. She said that she was "disappointed" to learn of his holiday and rang the tourism chief this morning. "I was disappointed to learn that the Chair of Failte Ireland was holidaying in Italy. I rang Mr Cawley this morning and he has offered his resignation which I have accepted," she said in a statement. "I wish to thank Mr Cawley for his service as Chair of Failte Ireland. Mr Cawley has served Failte Ireland with energy over his time as chair, and I want to thank him for his service to the cause of tourism promotion in Ireland. He recognises that solidarity with the industry is extremely important at this time, and I have accepted his resignation this afternoon because I believe his position was untenable." "I would encourage everyone to support the tourism and hospitality industries in any way they can, and am taking my own holidays in this country. Failte Ireland will continue to promote holidaying in Ireland, including a special provision to support the reopening of tourism in the three midlands counties," the minister added. Mr Cawley last night confirmed he was in Italy but said he plans to take two holidays in Ireland in September and October. "It [the holiday] was arranged by my family some months ago. I didn't want to disappoint them," he said. Mr Cawley said he will be taking two holidays in Ireland in September and October. Read More "I understand what the Government is doing and I support it," he said. "I am going to spend two holidays supporting the Irish tourism industry." The former Ryanair deputy CEO was appointed as chairman of the tourism body by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar when he was tourism minister in 2014. He was reappointed last year by then minister Shane Ross. Mr Cawley worked with Ryanair for 17 years and was the airline's deputy chief executive and chief operating officer until his retirement. He had previously worked as the airline's chief financial officer and commercial director. Prior to his time with Ryanair, he worked with the Gowan Group Limited, a distributor for Peugeot and Citroen cars in Ireland. The Haines Sheldon Museum board of trustees plan to turn the museum into a nonprofit, completely separate from the Haines Borough, could have effects including reduced operating costs, reduced funding from the Haines Borough and reduced employee benefits. The assembly voted unanimously to support the restructuring effort at a meeting Tuesday. The board has hired nonprofit consulting organization the Foraker Group to assess the viability of the plan and come up with a detailed proposal for separating from the borough. At present, the museum is a quasi-governmental organization with attributes of both a borough department and nonprofit. The collection is owned by the nonprofit, which is responsible for running the museum and managing staff, according to borough code. Museum staff are borough employees with borough-funded salaries, and the building is borough owned. Museum trustees and borough management agree that this model creates areas of confusion. One of the major sticking points, highlighted by the recent dismissal of executive director Helen Alten, is who is in charge of employees. The (borough) manager had certain thoughts about who was in charge. The code says were the boss. It wasnt fair to the employees, trustee Sue Chasen said. Both Chasen and borough clerk and interim manager Alekka Fullerton said their issues with the museums structure are longstanding. I have been wanting (museum structure) to be addressed since I was the deputy clerk, Fullerton said. The whole point of having code is so people know whats expected of them. Its hard to enforce code thats not clear, and its not fair to people to have different interpretations of code depending on whos in charge. A number of factors came together at the right time to give momentum to the restructuring effort: Chasen rejoined the museum board this year, Fullerton became interim manager, and COVID-19 resulted in a partial closure of the museum and a reduction in borough funding. Chasen said the details of restructuring will be based on recommendations from the Foraker Group and acknowledged that there are some potential concerns that she hopes the consulting group can help address. The biggest argument for not separating is the sense that funds are more secure if the museum remains part of the borough, Chasen said, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) could include a structured funding commitment from the borough. There are instances when a museum separated from a municipality and retained funding, like in the case of Valdezs museum, said Alaska State Museums curator of statewide services Anjuli Grantham, who has been looking into the structure of other museums in the state to assist with the Sheldon Museums reorganization. The Valdez museum was a city department that became a separate nonprofit. A formal agreement between the city and the museum helped maintain the citys annual contribution to the museum. However, in many cases, once a museum separates, municipal funding dwindles, Grantham said. Its unclear what the boroughs contribution to the museum will look like in future years, even if it remains a quasi-governmental organization. This year, the boroughs contribution was reduced by roughly one-third as the assembly sought to offset decreases in state support and sales tax revenue due to COVID-19. Fullerton said she worries next year will be another difficult year for the borough fiscally as pandemic concerns will likely remain. Borough funding was drying up anyway, Chasen said. She said she views increasing the museums donor and volunteer support as the truly sustainable way to fund the museum, as opposed to borough support or grants. Although borough support could decrease as a result of the restructuring, museum costs will likely go down as well, Chasen said, referencing staff costs. Full-time staff at government-run museums have access to union benefits including health insurance, retirement accounts and paid time off, Grantham said. However, the 2020 Alaska Museum Survey, the results of a questionnaire completed by 83 institutions statewide, suggests this is not always the case when staff are nonprofit employees. Chasen said its possible the museum could provide at least some of the same benefits to non-union employees. They may not be as good, but you try to do that, she said, and there is potential for current museum employees to the grandfathered in. Other concerns include what will happen to the borough-owned museum building. Fullerton said the Chilkoot Indian Association (CIA) may be interested in buying the building, but she worries CIA may not be interested in housing all the artifacts currently in the museums collection. CIA did not respond to a request for comment by press time. There are a lot of different ways that museums are organized, Grantham said, referencing the museum survey. According to the survey, museums in Alaska are most often governed by nonprofits, which also tend to own the permanent collection and pay staff salaries. However, its most common for museum buildings to be owned by municipalities. Grantham said theres no silver-bullet structure, but in most cases, its beneficial to have clearly defined roles so the organization can run efficiently. She said its important to remember the primary responsibility of a museum is preservation of the collection, adding that staff and a facility are critical to this goal. Chasen said she expects to have a detailed restructuring proposal in hand by the Sept. 1 Government Affairs and Services Committee meeting. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-14 21:27:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Tourists visit the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Hubei Province scrapped entrance fees in its 364 major tourist sites for domestic visitors, a token of gratitude for the nationwide assistance during the COVID-19 outbreak. WUHAN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The virus-ravaged city of Wuhan has encouraged its residents to avoid visiting scenic spots during weekends and holidays to make sightseeing easier for non-local tourists. The city's culture and tourism department issued a proposal on Thursday calling for locals to shun the peak touring times, including weekends and holidays, when booking trips to the city's tourist sites. Hubei Province, where Wuhan is the capital, last week scrapped entrance fees in its 364 major tourist sites for domestic visitors, a token of gratitude for the nationwide assistance during the COVID-19 outbreak. The proposal said medical teams and donations poured in from across China as the city fought the coronavirus, and the people of Wuhan made a promise with the non-local helpers that they will meet again in Wuhan when the epidemic subsides. "Now peace has returned to this land, and Wuhan is now a healthy and safe city," it said. "It's time to deliver the promise and express our gratitude to those who have helped and supported the city." Officials said many tourist sites in Wuhan saw reservations hitting the cap soon after the announcement of the free-entry policy, which took effect starting on Aug. 8. During the past weekend, the city's A-level scenic spots received 352,000 tourists, with the daily number of visitors increasing by three times month on month. The call was supported by many Hubei netizens on China's social media. "The medical teams rushed to our help when the city was in its most difficult moments. Now we hope they can come again to see Wuhan in better shape," reads one remark on the microblogging site Sina Weibo. "It is a very heartwarming gesture," said another. "The arrival of tourists can also help the local economy recover from the epidemic." Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, has charged the President Akufo-Addo government to come out with records of monies spent in building projects during its tenure in office. The New Patriotic Partys (NPP) National Organiser, Sammi Awuku, on Thursday, said John Dramani Mahamas promise to invest US$10 billion into infrastructure must be treated as a threat and not a promise. According to him, Mr. Mahama will use such an avenue to enrich himself because the cost of the projects or infrastructure will definitely be inflated. Responding to this on Eyewitness News, Mr. Terkper said the government should rather focus on telling Ghanaians what they have done to match what the Mahama administration achieved. In 2016, frankly, oil prices in that minor crisis relative to COVID were US$42 to US$45. Today, as we speak, oil prices are US$47. Why didnt the Minister revise those figures when he presented the mid-year budget review? And still, he gave the impression that oil prices were below US$25? This was the average with which we did all this from late 2014 to 2016. So the record is there, he insisted. I think its about time the current administration speaks about its record. President Mahama can point to the four bonds that we issued; the fact that we took off one bond, and the fact that we took the money to build infrastructure and we managed to still slow down the debt. That is our true record. The administration can tell us what they did to match this. Thats the more relevant discussion that we should be having as a country. Where it all started Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama announced a US$10 billion accelerated infrastructural plan, dubbed the Big Push, which he says will drive jobs and entrepreneurial agenda when elected in December 2020. We are looking at what I call the Big Push, injecting some US$10 billion to dualise our roads, complete the remainder of the 200 Community Day Senior High Schools, finish all the hospital projects that have been left abandoned, and construct bridges to open up the country, said Mr. Mahama. According to the former President, it [the Big Push] will involve the construction industry, engineering, and other professionals, and will bring a lot of artisans and everybody back into work. But Sammi Awuku insisted that Mahamas US$10 billion promise will not reflect in job creation for the youth as promised. When he also says he is going to build projects, Ghanaians should be extremely careful and be worried because of the inflated cost of these projects. He is not interested in the outcome of the project and the impact it will have on Ghanaians neither is he interested in value for money. So when he says he is going to invest billions in infrastructure, Ghanaians must treat it not as a promise but as a threat, not as an infrastructural solution but a financial scandal. It must not draw you closer towards him but borrow his legs and run away with it. Source: citinewsroom.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 South Africa: SA records drop in gender-based violence South Africas initial COVID-19 lockdown saw gender-based violence and sexual crimes dramatically decrease during levels 5 and 4. Sexual offences crimes decreased between April and June, Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Friday. Releasing the inaugural first quarter crime statistics, Cele said between April and June, sexual offences decreased by 39.7%. These related to crimes such as rape and sexual assault. A breakdown of the category saw reported rape cases drop by a significant 40% while sexual assault recorded a 35.9% decrease. Attempted sexual offences and contact sexual offences decreased by 40.3% and 36.2%, respectively. A breakdown of the statistics reveals that most rapes happened at places of residence of the perpetrator, followed by public areas, public transport and prisons. While we cant claim easy victories, we acknowledge that the circumstances that led to the declining numbers were distorted. But even if distorted, it was a better time in South Africa because more lives were saved, said Cele. The quarterly statistics revealed a reduction in crimes committed against women and children during level 4 and 5 of the lockdown. However, the low numbers of domestic abuse and sexual offences reported cases could have been due to some women not being able to escape their abusers and could not report crimes committed against them, said the Minister at a briefing held at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) head office. Cele said police would continue to monitor the reporting of such cases and verify whether the reduction was as a result of non-reporting due to the lockdown. This, he said, will be done by comparing the dates of reporting with the dates of which the crime was committed. The Minister emphasised that it was equally important to acknowledge that the unavailability of alcohol also had a role to play. This is evident in the decreased numbers of cases of contact crimes which plummeted by 37.4%, he said, adding that the first quarter of the 2020/2021 period was a much safer time to live in, in the country. Meanwhile, Cele revealed that police would soon made make a breakthrough in relation to the murders of five women in Mthwalume, in KwaZulu-Natal. Police in the province, he said, have taken two people in for questioning. We are questioning them and we are confident that at least one of them will give us proper answers. We will be going there tomorrow to enhance the forces on the ground so that we stop this thing. Its a thing that should be stopped five is already a big number, he said. Since April, police have found bodies of women in a sugar plantation in the area. The latest two bodies were found this week. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. About 64% of the people arrested at schools last year were male. Nearly 11% were younger than 14, 52% were younger than 16 and 94% were younger than 18. Thats the highest percentage of juveniles since at least 2012, the first year for which data was provided, when 89% of those arrested were younger than 18, but the average age for the past nine years has only fluctuated between 15.4 and 15.7. Scammers have targeted diners at the luxury Ritz hotel in London by posing as staff to steal their payment card details. Fraudsters phoned people with exact details of their restaurant bookings and asked them to confirm card details before trying to spend thousands of pounds at Argos. The Ritz told the BBC that it was investigating a potential data breach that had occurred within its food and beverage reservation system on Thursday. One woman who made an online booking for afternoon tea at the five-star establishment said she was phoned by a caller apparently using the Ritzs user ID number to be told her payment card had been declined. The Ritz restaurant has confirmed it's investigating a potential data breach that occurred She was then asked for a second bank card and, having obtained the details, the fraudsters used it to make several transactions in excess of 1,000. A second woman confirmed the same trick had been tried on her, but she became suspicious when the caller was unable to answer questions about the Ritzs facilities. Dr Jessica Barker, co-founder of cyber security Cygenta, said: People tend to trust caller ID, which is perfectly understandable because in theory it appears to authenticate the caller. 'On top of that, when a scam like this involves insider information it adds an air of legitimacy and authority. The Ritz has not revealed how many people were affected, but confirmed it was still investigating how customer information had been accessed. It has now emailed customers that may have been affected, warning them: After a reservation has been made at the Ritz London, our team will never contact you by telephone to request credit card details to confirm your booking with us. Opened by Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz in May 1906, the hotel is valued at an estimated 800 million and boasts 111 rooms that have hosted well-known figures such as Noel Coward. The number of migrants landing on Italys shores has more than doubled in the last year as an economic crisis in Tunisia fuels migration in boats across the Mediterranean, Interior Minister, Luciana Lamorgese, said on Saturday. More than 21,000 people reached Italy between August 2019 and the end of July, up 148 per cent year-on-year, the minister said, speaking at an annual Aug. 15 press conference. Lamorgese said the majority of the arrivals were autonomous landings, hard to manage with small boats and dinghies, rather than those rescued at sea and brought ashore. Many of the migrants land on Italys southern Mediterranean island of Lampedusa. In the 12-month period, just over 5,000 people were rescued, mainly by ships operated by NGOs, according to data from the ministry. Over 80 per cent of the migrants reaching Italy, left from Tunisia and Libya, the data showed, with Tunisias crisis stoking the numbers attempting the treacherous crossing. The numbers arent very high they are certainly higher than last years but we must put them into context. Tunisia is in a deep economic, social and political crisis, Lamorgese told reporters. We have seen entire families leave to reach Italian territory. For years, Italy has been the primary route into Europe for hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and other migrants and Libyas west coast the main departure point for African migrants hoping to reach Europe. A peak was reached between August 2016 and July 2017, when almost 183,000 migrants reached Italy. Numbers started falling due to an Italian-led effort to disrupt smuggling networks and support the Libyan coastguard to intercept boats, but have picked up in 2020. Lamorgeses predecessor, head of the anti-immigrant League party, Matteo Salvini, took a hard-line against charity ships that rescued migrants at sea. He closed Italian ports and accused the rescue groups of de facto collaboration with human traffickers. Lamorgese said that she would meet Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday to discuss the issue, along with Italys Foreign Minister, Luigi di Maio, and EU Commissioners, Ylva Johansson and Oliver Varhelyi. (Reuters/NAN) Cheryl Fergison has revealed she would be open to joining the cast of Coronation Street after her EastEnders character was killed off. The former EastEnders star, 54, who played Heather Trott for five years, now lives near the Corrie set and says she would 'contemplate' a part on the soap. Cheryl lives in the North West with her husband Yassine Al-Jermoni, 34, who she tied the knot with in 2011 after he moved to the UK to be with her. New horizons: Cheryl Fergison has revealed she would be open to joining the cast of Coronation Street after her EastEnders character was killed off Discussing her career move, Cheryl told the Distinct Nostalgia podcast: 'I would totally contemplate doing Corrie and given now that I live up North and talk like that now. I am like "Hiya love".' Cheryl previously revealed that she burst into tears after being told she was out of the fictional Walford -based soap. She told Best magazine: 'It was a bittersweet day. What you get with one hand, you get taken away with another! Moving on: The former EastEnders star, 54, who played Heather Trott for five years, now lives near the Corrie set and says she would 'contemplate' a part on the soap Family: Cheryl lives in the North West with her husband Yassine Al-Jermoni, 34, who she tied the knot with in 2011 after he moved to the UK to be with her She said: 'When they told me Heather was for the chop, (the boss) had to get me a tissue. 'Sometimes a character is sacrificed to make other stories work. I get it. I knew it was going to come but it was still a shock.' Since leaving the show, Cheryl has appearance on the 2012 edition of Celebrity Big Brother, Big School, The Spa as well as being a guest host on Loose Women. Despite her career different career moves Cheryl admitted that she has struggled to move on from EastEnders and found her beloved character hard to 'shake'. Discussing her career move, Cheryl said: 'I would totally contemplate doing Corrie and given now that I live up North and talk like that now. I am like "Hiya love" (pictured in 2011) Cheryl's character Heather was murdered by Ben Mitchell after he robbed her while trying to flee Walford and late served four years in prison for the crime. Previously discussing a return to the Square, Heather has suggested that she could come back as her character's twin sisters who she was separated from at birth. In an interview with Good Morning Britain in 2012, Cheryl teased upcoming soap roles, saying she would like to appear in Emmerdale or Corrie. Career: In an interview with Good Morning Britain in 2012, Cheryl teased upcoming soap roles, saying she would like to appear in Emmerdale or Corrie She said: ' You've got people with funny bones up there. 'I wouldnt mind getting in another one of those soaps again. Corrie or Emmerdale. A long lost Dingle.' She previously dropped a major hint, saying: 'It seems many of the soap-watching public would like to see me on the cobbles or in the dales. Other options? If Cheryl has her way, she will be part of the famous Dingle family on Emmerdale '[Emmerdale and Coronation Street] worth considering if you are thinking of new characters? 'Heather was such a great character to play. Now it's time to create a new character. Time to see a completely different character in one of the other continuing dramas.' Still, she has a lot to be getting on with for the minute, as Cheryl is currently starring in he is starring in Maggie May The Musical in Liverpool. And she admitted her life isn't quite as glamorous as it used to be. Cheryl is happily married to Yassine Al-Jermini, but she previously said she didn't reveal her celebrity status to him for five months. Talking to Loose Women last year, the actress said she enjoyed an 'old-fashioned' courtship with her 30-year-old toyboy. She said: 'We met online and wrote to one another on the computer and spoke on the computer. It was very old-fashioned. 'He didn't know what I did for a living. I didn't show him my picture. It was five months of chat before we met each other. 'I saw him and it was like "ping". I knew he was the man I was going to marry and I had been married once before.' Addressing the 21-year age gap, Cheryl said that 'age doesn't matter' and 'no one blinks when a man does it. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15) Private school groups sought clarification from the Department of Education (DepEd) if private schools are included in the order to defer the school opening to October 5. The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said the private education sector is ready for the previous August 24 opening of the new school year with various teaching and learning delivery methods on hand to replace traditional face-to-face classes. Our preparations for remote learning have been motivated by our desire to resume school operations for the benefit of our learners and also the welfare of around 300,000 teachers and other personnel who are at risk of being laid off from work or work without pay should the school opening be pushed anew to October 5, COCOPEA said in a statement. COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada said that more than half of their members have started their classes, while others are expected to begin this month. COCOPEA represents 2,500 private schools nationwide. Meanwhile, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said its members previously submitted to DepEd their learning continuity plans, health and safety protocols, and school calendar. Given their compliance with the submission of those requirements, CEAP appealed to DepEd that the revised school opening on October 5 should only be applied to public schools. COCOPEA asked the government to give private schools the discretion to adopt their own calendar, arguing this is allowed under Republic Act No. 7797. COCOPEA also appealed to DepEd to offer the private education sectors online and distance education resources to public schools to hasten their readiness in the upcoming school year. In a media briefing on Friday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced President Rodrigo Duterte approved her recommendation to move the school year opening from August 24 to October 5 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Briones cited logistical limitations brought by the imposition of modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna in proposing for the six-week postponement of school opening. Although private schools are also under DepEd's regulation, the government will not stop those that have already started their classes, the DepEd chief said. One A-level student who missed out on a top veterinary school place after being handed three D grades furiously accused Schools Minister Nick Gibb on national radio of ruining my life. Nina Bunting-Mitcham said she was predicted to achieve ABB and scored As and Bs in her mock exams, but her DDD results meant she failed to meet her offer from the Royal Veterinary College. Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Any Questions, Mr Gibb promised a robust and swift appeal system which should see challenged grades addressed by September 7, telling her: It wont ruin your life, it will be sorted I can assure you. Nina Bunting-Mitcham said she was predicted to achieve ABB and scored As and Bs in her mock exams, but her DDD results meant she failed to meet her offer from the Royal Veterinary College Nick Gibb, pictured, was challenged on Radio 4's Any Questions by A-level student Nina Bunting-Mitchem over exam results being downgraded Students protested about the exam results outside Westminster on August 14 as almost 40% of teacher's predictions were lowered Mr Gibb added pupils can also sit exams in the autumn and many universities are holding places open to start in January. He said it was rare for students to be downgraded three grades from their predicted ones, adding: This should not have happened to you. We dont want you to have to go through this. There will be these mistakes. Ms Bunting-Mitcham, 22, from Peterborough, told The Mail on Sunday she had been planning a career in music when she took a sudden decision to follow her childhood dream of being a vet. She left the private school where she had begun A-levels in music, drama and philosophy, and using a private tutor, re-sat her GCSEs in the sciences, gaining A and A* grades. Then she enrolled at Stamford College in Peterborough to study A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. Protests took place in London after the exam results were downgraded for students across England A protester holding a sign saying 'meaningless grades mean stolen futures', as grades are downgraded for pupils causing one to confront Nick Gibb telling him it 'ruined' her life A protester, pictured, in London after grades had been lowered. The government have said they will reimburse schools for the cost of appealing grades People took to the streets in London to protest. Schools minister Nick Gibb told one pupil it 'would be sorted' after backlash All the way through, Ive scored between A* and B in my tests and mocks, she said. I was predicted ABB and got an offer from the best vet school in the world. Then I received results telling me I had three Ds. After all that hard work, it was just as if the world had collapsed around me and my life was ruined. Its the worst thing thats ever happened to me. I cannot make any sense of the decision. Ive never been a D-grade student. I rang the university, which said if you dont get the appeal in time well keep your place for 2021. Im determined that whatever it takes, I will become a vet. Stamford College said Nina is a very bright student, who would be a credit to any university, adding she was an example of where the system has failed. The funeral of two-year-old Oisin Linehan took place last Thursday afternoon (6th) in the Holy Rosary Church in Greystones. Oisin had been diagnosed with cancer last November, and passed away peacefully at home in Greystones on Sunday, August 2, in the loving arms of his parents Barry and Mairead. Fr John Daly said that while we will never know why somebody's life is taken at a tender young age, as compared to someone who lives a long life, the gift of that life is no less reduced or its meaning diminished by the number of days or months or years that we have. 'Each one of us, all we can do in our day, in our moment, is to bring the gift of life and share that gift with others. Because none of us know how long our lives will last.' Oisin's dad Barry welcomed everyone who was there with them in person at the church, and also observing on the webcam. 'To those who were unable to attend today, we know from your messages that you are with us in spirit,' he said. 'Although we are so incredibly heartbroken to lose Oisin, Mairead and I are so very fortunate to have had him in our lives for the past two years,' said Barry. 'He was so full of joy and fun. Even during his darkest days of chemo, a day where we wouldn't get a smile or a laugh from him was a very rare one. He was so resilient and strong right up until the very end.' Barry said that Oisin's heart was his most beautiful feature. 'He was so incredibly loving and kind and once he formed a connection with you he loved to show his affection.' While people have told Barry and Mairead that they were great for getting Oisin through his treatment, it was the little boy who got his parents through it. 'There were so many ups and downs along Oisin's journey but as long as we were able to hold him in our arms, lying against our chest, we were re-charged and knew that everything in that moment was okay,' said Barry. 'Mairead and I will hold him like that in our hearts for the rest of our lives.' He said that their support of Oisin through his illness was only possible because of an army of people who supported them. 'Family, friends old and new, neighbours and colleagues have rallied around and shown amazing generosity of spirit and kindness,' said Barry. 'We have been blown away by the amount of love and support since last November and especially over the last few days.' Barry said that they are so grateful for the amazing care that their son received from the moment he was diagnosed, from the staff in Temple Street, Crumlin, Laura Lynn, and support from Greystones Cancer Support. 'Words cannot express the gratitude we feel towards our family and friends for all their support and love over the past nine months. We simply couldn't have kept it together without you all,' said Barry. Barry said that Mairead had an immeasurable influence on enabling Oisin to develop into the beautiful little boy that he became. 'Your sole mission was to do the absolute best thing possible for our little man,' he said. 'You nursed and cared for him selflessly, always putting his needs before your own. The love you poured at him every minute of his life knows no equal. You have been a constant unwavering support and constant inspiration in the best times and in the hardest times.' Finally, Barry said that he and Mairead wished to thank their beautiful little boy. 'You have given us so much,' he said. 'From the moment you came into the world on that summer night in May, you cracked open our hearts and filled them with so much love and such immense joy. 'You taught us to be patient to live in the moment and to appreciate the simple joys in life. You showed us strength and resilience in your short two years that someone 40 times your age would be proud of. Most of all you showed us how to love with every cell in our body. To love and be loved by you will forever be our most precious gift.' Barry said that they will miss the simple things, 'like kissing your little warm bald head while you fell asleep in our arms. The feel of your little soft hands in ours, your radiant smile and infectious laugh and every other little thing about you. 'Although it seems difficult to see past the heavy dark cloud we feel at the moment we hope that rather than our lives being torn apart by your passing we can in time be inspired by your manner of living and loving.' Oisin is survived by his grandparents Pat and Marian Navin of Mayo and John and Eileen Linehan of Cork as well as his great grandmother Vera, his aunts, uncles, cousins, all of his relatives, neighbours and friends. Approximately 130 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer every year in Ireland. Thankfully many of these children survive this disease but together with their families, they walk a long and gruelling path nonetheless. A fund has been created in Oisin's name to help families with cancer through a few key charities. To make a donation, go to 'The Oisin Linehan Fund' at gofundme.com. Historians who specialize in voting rights and African-American womens history have played a welcome and unusually public role in combating the myths that have long surrounded the womens suffrage movement and the 19th Amendment, which celebrates its 100th anniversary on Tuesday. In the lead-up to this centennial, these same campaigning historians have warned against celebrations and proposed monuments to the suffrage movement that seemed destined to render invisible the contributions of African-American women like Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Mary Church Terrell, Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells all of whom played heroic roles in the late 19th- and early 20th-century struggles for womens rights and universal human rights. In addition to speaking up for Black women of the past, these scholars have performed a vital public service by debunking the most pernicious falsehood about the 19th Amendment: that it concluded a century-long battle for equality by guaranteeing women the right to vote. Americans who imbibed this fiction in civics classes are caught off guard when they hear the more complicated truth that millions of women had won voting rights before the 19th Amendment was ratified, and millions more remained shut out of the polls after ratification. Indeed, as middle-class white women celebrated ratification by parading through the streets, African-American women in the Jim Crow South who had worked diligently for womens rights found themselves shut out of the ballot box for another half century and abandoned by white suffragists who declared their mission accomplished the moment middle-class white women achieved the franchise. As the distinguished historian Nancy Hewitt has shown, a lengthy campaign and a range of subsequent laws was required to fully open ballot access to others, including Black women, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans, Chinese-Americans and Korean-Americans. Among those necessary laws were the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 and the adoption of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the 24th Amendment in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965, along with its amendments of 1970 and 1975. In other words, the 19th Amendment was one step in a long, racially fraught battle for voting rights that seemed secure a few decades ago but face a grave threat today. In 11 days, I will put my own health concerns aside and show up for my 150 middle schoolers. I wont see my ailing grandmother for a few more months. I wont join my family at my nieces first birthday party. Because in 11 days, my students will need me. They will look to me, and they will depend upon me. So I will smile gently behind my mask. I will reach out from 6 feet away. Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has urged the states Public Complaint and Anti Corruption Commission not to compromise in the fight against corruption no matter who is involved. Mr Ganduje said this while on a visit to the commissions office in Kano on Saturday. According to him, the Federal Government cannot fight corruption alone, hence the replication of the anti-graft agency at the state and local government levels. He said: Whosoever falls into the commissions trap should face the consequence. I will have nothing to do with it. I will not interfere with any case whosoever might be involved. With the way corruption is fighting back and the fight against corruption being an agenda of President Muhammad Buhari, the federal government cannot fight it alone. It needs domestication in the states and the local governments to succeed, the governor said. In his address of welcome, the Chairman of the commission, Muhyi Magaji, commended Mr Gandujes determination to fight corruption in the state. It is your will and support that has made this anti-graft agency among the best in the country. We have set benchmarks in the country and are being emulated by other states, he said. The commission recently recovered N310,000 meant for Imams that participated in a special prayer against COVID-19 and insecurity, from an aide to the governor. In 2018, Mr Ganduje was seen in a video, collecting cash in dollars from a contractor in the state. The Kano governor later secured a court injunction to stop the probe. Mr Ganduje, who as governor enjoys immunity from prosecution, won a re-election last year despite the bribery scandal. (NAN) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the Decree On Provision of Humanitarian Aid to the Republic of Lebanon No. 319/2020. The document stipulates that Ukraine will send Lebanon cargo to help overcome the consequences of the explosion in the port of Beirut. According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance immediately. More than 200 people were killed and over 5,000 were injured in powerful explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital on the evening of August 4. The massive blast was caused by the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port for years. The explosion damaged buildings in a radius of several kilometres in Beirut, leaving more than 300,000 people homeless or living in homes with no windows or doors. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on August 13 that sixteen out of 56 Ukrainians, who were injured in the explosion or whose houses were damaged, already received one-time payment from Ukraine's Embassy in Lebanon. ol Blog Archive June 2021 (1) May 2021 (77) April 2021 (77) March 2021 (82) February 2021 (68) January 2021 (64) December 2020 (67) November 2020 (66) October 2020 (66) September 2020 (67) August 2020 (74) July 2020 (83) June 2020 (92) May 2020 (86) April 2020 (104) March 2020 (105) February 2020 (74) January 2020 (75) December 2019 (75) November 2019 (70) October 2019 (89) September 2019 (69) August 2019 (81) July 2019 (77) June 2019 (73) May 2019 (110) April 2019 (110) March 2019 (102) February 2019 (85) January 2019 (123) December 2018 (116) November 2018 (112) October 2018 (121) September 2018 (107) August 2018 (150) July 2018 (163) June 2018 (190) May 2018 (145) April 2018 (112) March 2018 (124) February 2018 (113) January 2018 (164) December 2017 (150) November 2017 (144) October 2017 (169) September 2017 (171) August 2017 (135) July 2017 (131) June 2017 (147) May 2017 (160) April 2017 (138) March 2017 (156) February 2017 (143) January 2017 (203) December 2016 (208) November 2016 (185) October 2016 (173) September 2016 (194) August 2016 (232) July 2016 (225) June 2016 (238) May 2016 (231) April 2016 (215) March 2016 (246) February 2016 (226) January 2016 (252) December 2015 (230) November 2015 (250) October 2015 (234) September 2015 (222) August 2015 (253) July 2015 (275) June 2015 (279) May 2015 (223) April 2015 (226) March 2015 (243) February 2015 (258) January 2015 (281) December 2014 (292) November 2014 (296) October 2014 (413) September 2014 (472) August 2014 (506) July 2014 (483) June 2014 (488) May 2014 (512) April 2014 (497) March 2014 (531) February 2014 (482) January 2014 (535) December 2013 (482) November 2013 (441) October 2013 (416) September 2013 (491) August 2013 (521) July 2013 (491) June 2013 (470) May 2013 (457) April 2013 (426) March 2013 (420) February 2013 (414) January 2013 (489) December 2012 (433) November 2012 (504) October 2012 (469) September 2012 (430) August 2012 (427) July 2012 (360) June 2012 (336) May 2012 (362) April 2012 (322) March 2012 (263) February 2012 (224) January 2012 (291) December 2011 (295) November 2011 (325) October 2011 (330) September 2011 (319) August 2011 (333) July 2011 (318) June 2011 (387) May 2011 (373) April 2011 (389) March 2011 (375) February 2011 (335) January 2011 (400) December 2010 (445) November 2010 (395) October 2010 (312) September 2010 (262) August 2010 (277) July 2010 (323) June 2010 (386) May 2010 (360) April 2010 (333) March 2010 (351) February 2010 (336) January 2010 (384) December 2009 (353) November 2009 (300) October 2009 (308) September 2009 (350) August 2009 (298) July 2009 (255) June 2009 (203) May 2009 (193) April 2009 (186) March 2009 (197) February 2009 (173) January 2009 (148) December 2008 (181) November 2008 (197) October 2008 (236) September 2008 (304) August 2008 (314) July 2008 (273) June 2008 (27) May 2008 (1) April 2008 (6) October 2007 (1) May 2007 (1) April 2007 (6) March 2007 (2) February 2007 (1) October 2006 (1) September 2006 (1) August 2006 (4) July 2006 (4) June 2006 (1) July 2005 (1) May 2005 (2) March 2005 (1) June 2004 (2) May 2004 (1) April 2004 (4) March 2004 (2) February 2004 (2) July 2003 (2) June 2003 (5) Market ended flat with negative bias in a rangebound week ended on August 14 amid domestic data including CPI, WPI data, ending of earning session, also uncertain global markets due to the doubtful US stimulus package and impact of the US-China trade meet and rising virus cases dampened the investors sentiment. Past week, BSE Sensex ended 163.23 points or 0.42 percent lower at 37877.34, while the Nifty50 shed 35.65 points or 0.31 percent to end at 11178.4 levels. BSE Mid-cap Index added 1.5 percent helped by the Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Forge, Indian Hotels Company, Shriram City Union Finance, while losers were Container Corporation, Varroc Engineering, RBL Bank and Future Retail. BSE Small-cap index jumped 1.3 percent. eClerx Services, RattanIndia Power, Nitco, Zen Technologies, Nucleus Software Exports and IDFC added over 3o percent. Losers were Ballarpur Industries, Sintex Plastics Technology, Nath Bio-Genes and Vimta Labs. The BSE Large-cap Index ended flat. Ashok Leyland, Interglobe Aviation and Motherson Sumi Systems rose over 20 percent, while Hindustan Zinc, Eicher Motors, Bandhan Bank, Bharti Airtel and Bank Of Baroda ended lower. On the BSE Sensex, L&T added the most in terms of market value, followed by HCL Technologies, State Bank of India and Tech Mahindra, while Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services and Bharti Airtel lost most of their market value. Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media. On the sectoral front, Nifty Media Index outperformed other indices with nearly 5 percent of gain followed by Nifty Metal and Nifty Pharma. In the last week, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 2130.36 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold equities worth of Rs 4420.75 crore. In the month of August till now, the FIIs bought equities worth Rs 11,627.16 crore, while DIIs sold equities worth of Rs 6,554.59 crore. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 18:41:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,093 dairy goats imported from Australia have recently arrived in the city of Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. It's the first batch of high-quality dairy goats imported on a large scale by the province this year. The breed is known for its early maturity, strong disease resistance, high adaptability and large milk yield. The goats are currently undergoing a 45-day quarantine in Nongan County and will be moved to a breeding base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province after passing all the inspection and quarantine procedures. Enditem Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has said the flagbearer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is still riding the lame horse that he referred to in 2017. After the defeat of John Dramani Mahama in the 2016 elections, he made a comment that many interpret to mean that he had referred to his party, the NDC, as a lame horse. For people talking about leadership and the presidency, it is absolutely premature. If you ride a lame horse into a race and you lose the race, your priority must be to cure the lameness of the horse and not about who will ride the horse, he said in April 2017. Speaking to GhanaWeb in Accra on Thursday, August 13, 2020, after a press conference addressed by his party, Yaw Buaben Asamoa said the attributes of the party that Mr Mahama referred to in 2017 persists. According to him, Ghanaians must reject the NDC and John Mahama on December 7, 2020, to enable Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to continue with his good work. Ghanaians should compare [the] compassionate and competent leadership [Nana Akufo-Addo] to the mismanagement and incompetence of John Mahama who didnt have the COVID-19 challenges and still couldnt manage this country to the best of the expectations of Ghanaians. In essence what we are asking Ghanaians is whether or not you will change a winning horse to go and sit on a lame horse. A horse you rejected a horse with a broken leg confessed by John Mahama himself, the NPP Communications Director said. He said Ghanaians must not lose sight of the good works of the NPP government as the polls open on December 7. For us, we are humbly asking that Ghanaians should look at where we are now. Ghanaians should accept, as we have humbly asked them, that we havent finished solving their problems, he added. Source: ghanaweb.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 WASHINGTON The U.S. Postal Service is warning states coast to coast that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted, even if mailed by state deadlines, raising the possibility that millions of voters could be disenfranchised. Voters and lawmakers in several states are also complaining that some curbside mail collection boxes are being removed. Even as President Donald Trump rails against wide-scale voting by mail, the post office is bracing for an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The warning letters sent to states raise the possibility that many Americans eligible for mail-in ballots this fall will not have them counted. But that is not the intent, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in his own letter to Democratic congressional leaders. The post office is merely asking elected officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, and be mindful of our delivery standards, in order to provide voters ample time to cast ballots through the mail," wrote DeJoy, a prominent Trump political donor who was recently appointed. The warning letters wre first reported by The Washington Post. The back-and-forth comes amid a vigorous campaign by Trump to sow doubts about mail-in voting as he faces a difficult fight for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden. Though Trump casts his own ballots by mail, hes repeatedly criticized efforts to allow more people to do so, which he argues without evidence will lead to increased voter fraud that could cost him the election. Meanwhile, members of Congress from both parties have voiced concerns that curbside mailboxes, which is how many will cast their ballots, have abruptly been removed in some states. At the same time that the need for timely delivery of the mail is peaking, service has been curtailed amid cost-cutting and efficiency measures ordered by the DeJoy, the new postmaster general, who is a former supply-chain CEO and a financial supporter of Trump and other Republicans. He has implemented measures to eliminate overtime pay and hold mail over if distribution centers are running late. The Post Office released letters it sent to all 50 states and the District Columbia on its website. While some states with permissive vote-by- mail laws were given a less stringent warning, the majority with more restrictive requirements that limit when a ballot must be cast were given a more dire warning. The laws, the letter said, create a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted." Many state officials criticized the move. This is a deeply troubling development in what is becoming a clear pattern of attempted voter suppression by the Trump administration, Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. I am committed to making sure all Virginians have access to the ballot box, and will continue to work with state and federal lawmakers to ensure safe, secure and accessible elections this fall. Kim Wyman, the Republican secretary of state in Washington state, where all voting is by mail, said sending fall ballot material to millions of voters there is a routine operation of the U.S. Postal Service. Politicizing these administrative processes is dangerous and undermines public confidence in our elections, she said in a statement. This volume of work is by no means unusual, and is an operation I am confident the U.S. Postal Service is sufficiently prepared to fulfill. Meanwhile, the removal of Postal Service collection mailboxes triggered concerns and anger in Oregon and Montana. Boxes were also removed in Indiana. In Montana, postal officials said the removals were part of a program to eliminate underused drop boxes. But after the outcry, which included upset members of Congress, the officials said they were suspending the program in Montana. It was unclear if the program was also suspended in other states. At least 25 mailboxes were removed in mid-July in Montana with another 30 scheduled to be taken away soon, said Julie Quilliam, president of the Montana Letter Carriers Association. She rejected the claim that the boxes were removed because of low usage. Some of the boxes scheduled to be removed from downtown Billings are nearly overflowing daily, Quilliam wrote in a Facebook message. All three members of Montanas congressional delegation two of whom are Republican raised concerns about the removal of mailboxes in letters sent to Postmaster DeJoy. These actions set my hair on fire and they have real life implications for folks in rural America and their ability to access critical postal services like paying their bills and voting in upcoming elections, said Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, both Republicans, raised similar concerns in letters to DeJoy about the effect the removal of the mailboxes might have on delivery times. All three asked for information on how the agency decided which boxes to remove and whether any more removals were planned. During the current public health crisis it is more important than ever the USPS continue to provide prompt, dependable delivery service, said Gianforte. Postal Service spokesperson Ernie Swanson said the Oregon removals were due to declining mail volume and said duplicate mailboxes were taken from places that had more than one. The Postal Service said four mailboxes were removed in Portland this week. First-class mail volume has declined significantly in the U.S., especially since the pandemic, Swanson said. That translates to less mail in collection boxes." Separately, the National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 300,000 current and retired workers, endorsed Biden. The union said Trump has been hostile to the post office and has undermined it and its workers while Biden is was and will continue to be a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service, said union president Fredric Rolando. ___ Hanson reported from Helena, Montana. Associated Press writers across the U.S. contributed to this report. 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 KYODO NEWS - Aug 15, 2020 - 19:38 | World, All, Coronavirus Indonesia will continue not to open its doors to foreign tourists until a new coronavirus vaccine is found and immunity can be provided, a government official said Saturday, as the hard-hit country is conducting clinical testing for a vaccine. "The reopening of tourist destinations to foreign tourists is something positive, but we need to do it at the right time," Erick Thohir, chief of Indonesia's national economic and COVID-19 recovery team, told a virtual public discussion. Since Tuesday, Indonesia has been conducting the final, phase 3 clinical testing for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung. The clinical trial is taking place with the cooperation of Chinese-based drug maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and a team of Indonesian scientists and researchers, as well as Indonesian state-owned drug maker PT Bio Farma which have developed the vaccine candidate. Once clinical testing for about six and a half months is completed, vaccine production will immediately start and pave the way to offering immunity to the general public. According to Thohir, who is also state-owned enterprises minister, the government did not want its efforts to mitigate the novel coronavirus pandemic undermined by the reopening of its borders to tourists to avoid creating new clusters. Acknowledging that immunity may only start next year, Thohir said reopening the country's borders to foreign travelers must go hand in hand with producing immunity so as not to start again from scratch. "Therefore, for the time being, we are still reviewing the plan to reopen (Indonesia) for foreign tourists," he said. As of Friday noon, Indonesia reported 2,307 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 135,123 with 6,021 fatalities. The government has slowly reopened some tourist destinations for domestic tourists despite the continued high risk of the new coronavirus spreading. Recovery of domestic tourism has been the first target before the country reopens to tourists from abroad. Indonesia is also in negotiations with some countries to set up travel corridors for business travelers. Indonesia has reached agreements with South Korea and the United Arab Emirates for such travel bubbles. The tourism sector in Indonesia faces potential losses of $4 billion due to the drastic decline in foreign tourists and 60 trillion rupiah ($4 billion) due to fewer domestic tourists from January to April. Advertisement More than 90 per cent of students in California are going to start the new school year with online classes, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday. Newsom said the state had been planning how to best educate their 6.2 million students, and investing in technology as well as protective equipment. Newsom on Friday issued an executive order demanding that all state agencies work for a minimum broadband speed goal of 100 megabits per second, download speed. Only 71 per cent of districts are confident that students will have the technology needed for online learning. 'Based on current analysis, we estimate over 90 percent of students you can argue it's closer to 95 or 97 percent of students are likely to start the school year with distance learning,' Newsom said. Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, said on Friday that almost all classes in the new term will be taught online Newsom issued an executive order demanding that broadband speeds be increased to help students learn from home 'That's what we're preparing for, that's what we're disproportionately focused on. 'We are preparing a large strategy, recognizing there are a lot of gaps and inequities that need to be addressed.' The abrupt closure of schools in the spring left many districts scrambling to provide for those students who didn't have computers or WiFi to be able to participate in distance learning. Newsom said that since then, the state made solid progress in providing technology to those in need. The state has so far provided 73,000 laptops and tablets to school districts, and established 100,000 WiFi hotspots. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has provided an additional 87,000 hotspots. There have been 5.3 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. He said the state is now demanding that teachers have daily live interaction with students and provide assignments equivalent to those given during in-person classes. 'Like I said, distance learning is sub-optimal,' said Newsom. 'We don't want to just people to take their lectures and video tape them and provide them online. 'This has to be a much more interactive process where we want to bring our students into the screen so they're truly engaged. We want a more dynamic engagement to the extent possible. We want more specialized learning, especially for those with special needs. We want challenging assignments. 'We don't just want people to dial it in. 'And we want to recognize the diversity of this state.' Newsom said the state still aimed for 'long-term, in-person instruction'. California, if it were a country, would sit fifth behind the United States, Brazil, India and Russia California has so far sent over 18 million masks and face shields to schools, plus more than 58,000 no-touch thermometers and 1.5 million gallons of hand sanitizer. His message about the schools came as California reached a grim new milestone, with the state now having more COVID-19 cases than most countries across the world. The number of infections in California, the most populous U.S. state, reached 597,984 on Friday morning, according to a John Hopkins tally. If the state were a country, it would be fifth placed worldwide - behind the United States (5.2 million), Brazil (3.2 million), India (2.4 million) and Russia (910,000). The death toll in California has now reached 10,870, which is only third behind New York's 32,805 and New Jersey's 15,893. California's cases, on average, have been trending upwards in the past week despite national infections being on the downward trajectory. The spike is due, in part, to a backlog of cases from a technical glitch in the state's reporting of data that left COVID-19 infections undercounted during the recent summer surge. Cases have been declining nationally in recent weeks, which has been driven in part by a drop off in cases in the hotspot Sunbelt states where coronavirus surged throughout June and July. Deaths in these states, however, appear to be increasing slightly despite showing signs of a decline or at least a plateau earlier this month. Florida reported a record 277 deaths on Tuesday, while Arizona had a near-record spike of 148 deaths on Wednesday. The spikes could be a result of a weekend-delay in reporting given there is the same steep drop off each week. Deaths across the country currently appear to be plateauing but are still averaging about 1,000 fatalities per day. Currently, the total number of infections in the US has now surpassed 5.3 million and more than 168,500 Americans have died from COVID-19. While the average daily death toll of 1,000 is still high, it remains below levels seen in April when an average of 2,000 people a day were dying from the virus. The average daily infection toll remains steady at about 53,000, which is down from the 66,000 daily cases being reported just last month. Infections increased in only 11 states last week compared to the previous seven days, including Hawaii where the rate of spread is now the highest in the country. There have been almost 168,500 deaths in the United States so far from COVID - the U.S. is the worst-hit country in the world The death toll in California has now reached 10,870, which is only third behind New York's 32,805 and New Jersey's 15,893. California's cases, on average, have been trending upwards in the past week despite national infections being on the downward trajectory. The spike is due, in part, to a backlog of cases from a technical glitch in the state's reporting of data Arizona had a near-record spike of 148 deaths on Wednesday after starting to decline earlier this month. Cases have been dropping off rapidly after peaking in July There has been an uptick in deaths in Florida this week after the state reported a record 277 deaths on Tuesday Deaths have been increasing in Texas this month after an initial steep drop off in early August. The state recorded a spike of 324 deaths on Wednesday Hawaii had kept the virus at bay for most of the summer, but new cases have more than doubled and are repeatedly seeing daily triple-digit increases. The state's Governor David Ige said last week that he would be reinstating inter-island travel restrictions that require people to quarantine for 14 days in a bid to curb the spread. The increases seen in Hawaii and the 10 other states including South Dakota, Illinois and North Dakota, are minimal compared to the outbreaks that plagued hotspot states in June and July and are not enough to reflect an uptick in the national infection toll. Health experts have attributed the current decline in cases and deaths to policy and behavior changes in the hotspot states behind the summer surge where governors and local officials rolled back reopenings to curb the infection rate. They say the widespread adoption of masks, social distancing and closing down bars all helped. The decline in deaths and cases comes about three weeks after President Donald Trump, who for months refused to publicly wear a mask, urged Americans to cover their faces in public to stop the spread. Deaths are a lagging indicator and can continue to rise weeks after new infections drop. A coronavirus death, when it occurs, typically comes several weeks after a person is first infected. Hawaii had kept the virus at bay for most of the summer, but new cases have more than doubled and are repeatedly seeing daily triple-digit increases In South Dakota, new cases have increased for the third straight week. More than 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to attend a 10-day annual rally in Sturgis that began on August 7 It comes as Newsom continued earlier this week to face mounting criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom has had a summer of muddled messaging and bad news in the coronavirus fight, a trend crystallized this week by his delayed response to a data error that caused a backlog of nearly 300,000 virus test results. California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to face mounting criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom has had a summer of muddled messaging and bad news in the coronavirus fight, a trend crystallized this week by his delayed response to a data error that caused a backlog of nearly 300,000 virus test results 'The buck stops with me, I'm accountable,' he said in a tense news conference on Monday, his first appearance since state officials revealed the error a week earlier. 'No one's trying to hide that, no one's trying to mask that, we're owning that, we're moving forward to address those issues.' His tone couldn't have been more different than it was in March when California's public battle with the virus began and the state initially avoided the worst outcomes. In commanding news conferences held almost daily, he announced the country's first statewide stay-at-home order and won mostly adherence from the state's 40 million residents. But things began to change in May, when Newsom, under pressure from business leaders, allowed parts of the economy to begin reopening under a complicated, county-by-county process. Within weeks he reversed course as confirmed cases and the positive test rate rose. The data backlog, which began at the end of July and continued because of a series of errors, led to the state under-counting the rate of virus spread and halted decision-making about what parts of the economy could open. Newsom has repeatedly stressed that those decisions will be made based on data. Newsom's announcement last week that things were trending in a positive direction was immediately overshadowed by news of the data errors. The state's top public health official, Dr Sonia Angell, abruptly resigned, and Newsom declined to get into the details. He later said 'decisions were made' to change the team. Crime in South Africa dropped by up to 40% during the first three months of its lockdown, official figures show. The police minister said most types of crimes went down between April and June - including sexual assault and arson. He added that a controversial alcohol ban during the coronavirus lockdown had helped, but that attacks on liquor stores had increased in the pandemic. South Africa among the world's highest crime rates. It has also recorded over half the coronavirus cases in Africa. More than 500,000 infections and 11,000 deaths have been reported in the country - although BBC Africa Editor Mary Harper says this may be because of its reliable testing rates. Police Minister Bheki Cele told reporters on Friday that the figures "paint a never-seen-before 'rosy' picture of a peaceful South Africa experiencing a "crime holiday". "These statistics show major decreases in all crime categories compared to the same comparative period last year," he said. "A 40.4% decrease in the number of rape cases were reported during the three months." Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The BJP has alleged that the party worker was killed by members of TMC, however, the ruling party has denied all allegations claiming the scuffle was result of infighting within the saffron party A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was allegedly beaten to death in the Khanakul area of West Bengal's Hooghly district after clashes broke out between two groups over hoisting of the Tricolour on Independence Day, said reports. The BJP has alleged that the 40-year-old party worker, identified as Sudarshan Pramanik, was killed by members of the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC). However, the TMC has denied these allegations and blamed in-fighting within the saffron party for Pramanik's death. According to a report in The Indian Express, there is heavy deployment of police in the area as the situation remains tense. The police have also detained eight persons in connection to the case. A clash broke out between locals over hoisting the Indian flag at Khanakul in the morning. A man was killed when he was attacked with bamboo sticks. We have detained eight persons for interrogation, the Hindustan Times quoted Tathagata Basu, Superintendent of Police of Hooghly district as saying. According to The Indian Express report, while the police have not mentioned the political affiliations of those involved in the clash, locals claimed that members of the BJP who had gathered to hoist the National Flag were stopped by another group. A scuffle soon broke out as both the parties wanted to hoist the flag at the same spot. The two sides pelted stones at each other, claimed locals. According to the Hindustan Times report, BJP general secretary claimed that 108 BJP workers have been killed till date. Such incidents will continue till the TMC is in power," he said. The West Bengal BJP has called a 12-hour bandh in the area, demanding the arrest of those involved in the incident. They cannot stop the BJP like this. We condemn this incident in the strongest of words. We will do a movement against this until the culprits are arrested, The Indian Express quoted BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha as saying. The TMC however denied these allegations, blaming the incident on an internal feud within the BJP. They are trying to gain political mileage over this death. It is a fallout of their internal feud, said Hooghly TMC president Dilip Yadav. Last month, BJP leader Debendra Nath Ray, was found hanging near his home in Hemtabad area of North Dinajpur district. Then too, the BJP had blamed "TMC goons" for his death while the TMC had denied the allegations, saying it was for the police to investigate the cause of Ray's death. With inputs from PTI Dundalk musicians sing for Van - Two Dundalk musicians are among those taking part in a special on-line celebration organised by Hotpress to mark Van Morrison's 75th birthday, Andrea Corr kicked off the celebrations last Tuesday with a cover of Morrison's hit track Moondance, while David Keenan will be paying his own tribute to the legendary Belfast musician at a later date. Other artists taking part in Rave On, Van Morrison include Hozier, Sinead O'Connor, Imelda May, Bob Geldof, Gary Lightbody, Glen Hansard, Paul Brady, Damien Dempsey, Una Healy, Damien Rice, Gavin James, The Academic, Moya Ni Bhraonain, Mick Flannery, Altan, and Eleanor McEvoy. Rave On, Van Morrison will be broadcast on the Hot Press YouTube channel every night at 7pm. Classified Records turns 5 Dundalk's independent record store Classified Records is celebrating its 5th birthday this weekend. Owner Neil Waters says: 'It's one thing opening a shop to great initial excitement but it's another thing keeping it going through the leaner months of a year. There's lots of slog involved but its all part of the job.' A lot has changed in the world of music in the last six months, however Classified Records are ready to face this new landscape by being equipped for the challenges ahead. 'Obviously there is room for evolution and we're always adapting our approach. We've got major plans for an e-commerce website which is being launched on September 1. We've already got an online marketplace shop on Discogs for second-hand records plus we've recently added a card-payment machine. We can do deliveries or arrange collection points. Whatever happens down the road, we will be able to always offer a service.' To mark the occasion, they are giving away a free LP every day this week on their social media platforms and are doing various weekend giveaway campaigns. The shop will be stacked with great special anniversary vinyl offers so to check in with them on their big 5th birthday this weekend. WASHINGTON - A young lawyer bounds across a parking lot in New Castle, Delaware, a blur of long sideburns, wide lapels and self-assurance. He throws open a door to a beauty salon, and the ladies inside whoop with surprise. Its clear from the grainy footage that the stylists dont know this 29-year-old candidate yet. Im Joe Biden, Democratic candidate for United States Senate, he announces, shaking the hand of a grinning beautician. Maybe if you get a chance, youll look me over between now and November. The pitch, captured in an October 1972 broadcast by WPVI in Philadelphia, is one Biden has made repeatedly since, winning seven terms in the Senate and two as vice-president. But throughout his lifetime in politics, his eye has been on the next rung the presidency -- in a quest that failed spectacularly in his first two tries. On this, his third attempt, the White House is within Bidens reach at what in some ways seems an improbable moment. At age 77, he is too old to even be called a Baby Boomer at a time when Democrats are prioritizing youth and diversity. But hes vowing to reset the nations compass after four turbulent years under President Donald Trump, staking his claim on the pillars of competence, experience and empathy. The moment has met him, right now, says former Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. People know hes been there, and hes not going to just stand there. Hes going to do something to make it better. We need that desperately right now. People are scared. So Biden is hoping voters will choose him over Trump, like a comfortable blanket, bonded to people by that empathy and his own history of grief. In another time, it might be too late for Joe, said former defence secretary Bill Cohen, who served as a Republican senator from Maine. When you see what is happening in our lives, the chaos, theyre looking for someone who can bring some sort of equanimity. Bidens moment accepting the Democratic nomination will be nothing like he imagined when his campaign began. There wont be thousands of supporters in an arena cheering while he holds Kamala Harris hand aloft. With the pandemics U.S. death toll nearing 170,000, the event is expected to be a far more sombre and smaller affair. Still, that moment will mark a peak for now of a career politician who will try to make the case that the times are so different, and Trump is so disruptive and divisive, that voters will see the presidents rival as a calming alternative. How Biden developed from a childhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to that striving candidate in 1972 and into the nations pastoral Uncle Joe is a story of cycles of loss, and, most of all, the practice of recovery. Get up, was the motto of Joe Bidens father, Joe, Sr. It became Bidens through his childhood struggles with stuttering, the deaths of his wife and baby daughter, a pair of brain aneurysms, and, in 2015, the loss of his eldest son, Beau. After the surgery, Senator, you might lose the ability to speak? Get up! Biden writes in Promises to Keep. The newspapers are calling you a plagiarist, Biden? Get up! Your wife and daughter Im sorry, Joe, there was nothing we could do to save them? Get up! ___ BIDEN, BEFORE In the 1972 campaign, Joe Biden is a snapshot of a candidate rushing toward what seems an unbounded future. Husband of Neilia, father of three and owner of a sweet 1967 Corvette in Goodwood Green, a wedding gift from his father, a car dealer - Biden did as many as 10 meet-and-greet events a day. He cast himself in a way that he cant in 2020: as a new kind of leader, an outsider representing young Americans. Then, as now, he was betting that voters wanted a change badly enough to oust a sitting Republican incumbent. At the time, it was popular GOP Sen. J. Caleb Boggs, who had been endorsed by President Richard Nixon. He was old hat, William F. Hildenbrand, Boggs Senate assistant, described his former boss in an oral history interview in 1985. On Election Day, Biden wasnt old enough to serve in the Senate. He would turn 30 on Nov. 20. A photograph from the party in Wilmington captured Neilia helping her husband cut the birthday cake. Towheaded sons Beau and Hunter hover inches away, ready to dig in. He had won the seat by just over 3,100 votes, 51 per cent to 49 per cent. ___ I KNEW A few weeks later, sitting by the fire in their home, Neilia told her husband: Things are too good. The next day Dec. 18, 1972 Bidens world collapsed. The senator-elect was in Washington setting up his Senate office when a tractor-trailer broadsided Neilias car. She had been taking the kids to buy a Christmas tree. Neilia, also 30, and Naomi, 1, were dead. Beau and Hunter, a year and a day apart at 4 and 3, were seriously injured. Except for the memorial service, their father did not leave the hospital. And at least initially, he wanted no part of the Senate. For the first time in my life, I understood how someone could consciously decide to commit suicide, he later revealed. But he relented to the urging of elder senators. Biden took the oath of office at Wilmington Medical Center just a few feet from Beaus bed. ___ BIDENS BRAND The tragedy meant the Senates youngest member arrived on Capitol Hill saddled with pain and loss that came to define him. The combination would ground Bidens operating philosophy in politics and in life, even as it lived alongside his own presidential dreams. A signature search for connection animated Bidens approach. It helped him identify people who were struggling, and informed his sense of how to call out opponents. Notably, it clued him in on the now-quaint notion of working with members of the opposing party. People would have disagreements with him, but he was very likable, recalls former Vice-President Dan Quayle, a Republican from Indiana who served with Biden in the Senate. Quayle, who served as President George H.W. Bushs vice-president, is backing Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence, a fellow Hoosier. He and other Republicans have suggested that Bidens long reputation of affability is one reason Trump has had trouble defining him with personal attacks such as Corrupt Joe, or as a man who hurt God. Nobody really dislikes Joe Biden, Quayle said, calling him an honest guy. But Bidens style has gotten him in trouble, too. His habit as a hugger drew more serious accusations during the 2020 Democratic primaries when a series of women accused him of getting too close. One said Biden assaulted her during his time in the Senate, an accusation he has denied. His style in many ways reinforced his age and a dated view of appropriate behaviour. When primaries began, Biden was the best known among dozens of hopefuls. But he was not the favourite, particularly given a perception that the party had moved well to his left and his brand of politics had become a relic. In the end though, largely on the strength of support from Black voters, Biden at last toppled enough opponents to capture the nomination. Now, the crises over public health, economic collapse and racial justice have created a climate where his personal traits contrast effectively with Trumps, and so far, he has maintained a perceptible edge in polls. Biden has accentuated the differences. He attended a memorial service for George Floyd in Houston. He wears a protective mask in public. And he meets with small groups of Americans brought low by the crises. Decades before President Bill Clinton said he could feel your pain, Biden already had lived it. ___ MY SECOND FAMILY The Senate was Bidens healing road. Its where he matured as a father, a lawmaker and a politician. And its where he began weaving his personal story into politics. He also took onboard the relationships and lessons as he rebuilt his life. Lesson No. One: Other people can help. The old bulls Hubert Humphrey, Ted Kennedy, Mike Mansfield, Ernest Hollings, Tom Eagleton, Ted Stevens invited their new colleague to join them at monthly power dinners that were then a mainstay of Washington social rituals. I was a kid, I was single, and they included me, Biden recalled from the Senate floor in 2009, just before he departed for the Obama administration. They went a long way toward saving my life. Biden was not eager for the dinner circuit; he spent his evenings commuting home by train to Wilmington to keep watch on his sons. In the Senate, he was difficult to label. He was a civil rights advocate in a chamber brimming with segregationists. A year in, he had supported a bill to subsidize federal general election campaigns and place a cap on campaign contributions and spending. In 1975, he broke from liberal ranks on school busing, winning Senate endorsement of an amendment forbidding the government from requiring busing except in certain cases. Along the way, he had begun to rise with a reputation for listening and believing that the Senate can do important things. In 1977, he married Jill Tracy Jacobs, an English professor at Delaware Technical and Community College. President Jimmy Carter chose him to lead a Senate delegation to Moscow for the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. In 1981 the Bidens welcomed a daughter, Ashley. Throughout this period, Biden honed his ability to read people and when necessary, disarm them. Dont bullshit a bullshitter, Biden told a Russian official during private talks in 1984, recalled Cohen, the Republican senator from Maine. They were in Moscow at the height of the Cold War, and Cohen had spoken before the USSR Academy of Sciences about reducing nuclear warheads. Cohens speech wasnt entirely well received. In a private meeting, a Soviet official began criticizing Cohens plan. Biden cut him off in what became his signature, salty style. A tense pause ensued. Joe is going to blow it for me, Cohen said he thought at the time. Theyre going to throw us out. Instead, the Russian just started laughing, an acknowledgement, perhaps, that they were all politicians with agendas. ___ BORK, AND BIDENS BIG MISTAKE Biden wanted to be the youngest president since John F. Kennedy, and by his third Senate term he was travelling to the early primary states. He also was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, charged with running the confirmation hearing of President Ronald Reagans nominee, Judge Robert Bork Jr., to the Supreme Court. Though Trump likes to ridicule Bidens speaking ability, early in his Senate career he was considered one of the best orators in his party. So it was particularly jarring that a speech essentially ended Bidens initial White House run. In Iowa, Biden had used a British politicians words without attribution. He dropped out of the race and quickly pivoted, successfully, to blocking Borks confirmation. Hes said himself he wasnt ready, said Boxer, a Biden supporter that year. When he made his big mistake, he just said, Okay, Im moving on. The hurdle is too great. But there was another life-or-death crisis - this time for Biden himself - and another recovery. In Rochester, New York, after a February 1988 speech, he felt lightning flashing inside his head and collapsed on the floor of his hotel room. He was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, then another, and endured two surgeries. He was, he wrote, determined to get back up faster than anybody expected. ___ CALL ME The doctor told law student Tony Russo that he might never wake up. It was 1994. Russo was in school facing an arduous, two-year treatment to knock back his diagnosis of leukemia. The chemotherapy, he was warned, would be brutal. Then Biden called. I pick up the phone and hear this voice thats obviously very calming. And he was like, Tony, its Joe, said Russo, now 52, and vice-president for legislative affairs at T-Mobile Wireless. It was a point in Bidens story where his public and private lives diverged. He didnt ask me, how are you, how you feeling? said Russo, whose story hasnt widely been shared. It was more like, OK, this is the next step and were going to get through this. The treatments were debilitating. I was literally, like, this is going to kill me, Russo recalled. He and Biden talked a few times a week for the duration. Sometimes he would call Biden in the middle of the night and he always picked up. It felt like I could tell him anything. With your family youve got to be a little more careful, because theyre dying inside, said Russo, whose father, Marty, was a congressman from Illinois. With Joe there was no pity. You could just talk. There was no judgment. You felt like it was almost like a therapy type thing. ___ THE ANSWER IS NO. Biden thought 2008 was his year. He was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and had voted for the Iraq War. But he had come to see that as a mistake. This second presidential campaign, too, cratered in a crowded field. This time it included Hillary Clinton, Obama and John Edwards. It didnt help that Biden made another embarrassing gaffe by describing Obama in an interview as articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. The Delaware senator finished the Iowa caucuses with 1 per cent of the vote. Obama won the nomination and then asked Biden to be his vice-president. Biden said he had one ask of Obama: that he would be the last person in the room at decision time. He was named to oversee the massive economic stimulus plan to counter the Great Recession, helped muscle Obamas signature Affordable Care Act through Congress, and had a seat at the table in the famous Situation Room photo watching special forces take out Osama bin Laden. Throughout, Biden honed a three-dimensional technique blending policy expertise, tactical manoeuvrs and the human element of whats going to bring somebody our way, said Jen Palmieri, former White House communications director. The Biden approach didnt always work. After the murder of elementary school students in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, Bidens effort to pass gun control laws failed. But on other issues, his credibility was such that he even taught fellow senators lessons. Harry Reid, the former Democratic majority leader from Nevada, recalled in a recent interview that Biden urged patience at a messy, key moment for Obamacare. Let that committee work this thing for as long as they feel its necessary, Reid recalled Biden telling him. Theyll let air out of the tires, they will make everyone feel that ... the committee spent enough time on it. ... I did that, Reid said, and it turned out just the way he said it would. ___ MY GOD, MY BOY Beau Biden, the son his father had called Joe 2.0, died from brain cancer on May 30, 2015, at 7:51 p.m. It happened, Biden wrote in his diary. My god, my boy. My beautiful boy. An excruciating moment is captured in a photograph from the funeral a week later. An honour guard carried the flag-draped casket past the grieving vice-president. Bidens hand is over his heart, his eyes shaded by his signature aviator sunglasses. His face is clenched. In those moments, he wrote, he understood his role as a grieving vice-president was different from what it had been as a senator-elect four decades earlier. He sought to show millions of people facing the same awful reality that it was possible to absorb real loss and make it through. Through his grief, Biden still heard the call of presidential politics in 2016, but it was not to be for the devastated clan. Four years later, he has made the ultimate recovery as the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting with onetime rival Harris, a friend of Beaus, as his running mate. Introducing her on Wednesday, Biden argued that the two understand what Americans want at this time of crisis but he might as well have been describing himself. All folks are looking for, as my dad would say, is an even shot, Biden said. Just give me a shot, a fair shot. A shot at making it. ___ Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar contributed to this report. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman A former hospital worker from Maryland was arrested for allegedly recording himself while sexually assaulting a patient that was unconscious. Sexual assault The 35-year-old suspect, Travis Brooks, was arrested on August 11 on charges that include rape and abuse of a vulnerable adult in connection with the incident at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center. The police began investigating Brooks, who was previously a nurse at the said hospital after a patient reported that her money was stolen from her wallet while she had a procedure done in April. The police identified Brooks as a suspect and later learned that he had been taking pictures of patients' credit cards. Several search warrants were executed and the authorities uncovered a video filmed by Brooks that shows him sexually assaulting a patient who was unconscious, as reported by New York Post. Also Read: Man Tortures Victims Mentally and Physically Before Stuffing Them in Freezer The video was taken back in December 2019. Aside from the sexual offenses, Brooks is also facing charges for theft and misdemeanor drug possession. Brooks was previously charged with assault back in July 2019 in a separate case. He was held without bond on August 12 on the sex charges while awaiting a hearing. Similar case In 2015, a nurse who worked at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford was arrested after he was convicted of multiple rape and sex offenses. He worked in the accident and emergency department. The then-29-year-old Andrew Hutchinson admitted to raping, sexually assaulting, and spying on three female patients at the hospital. The incidents happened between 2011 and 2012. The patients, who were aged between 18 and 35 years old, were unconscious at the time of the assault. Hutchinson also pleaded guilty to spying on girls and women aged between 10 and 20 at the White Horse Leisure Centre in Abingdon and he admitted to sexually assaulting two women in a medical tent at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire in 2013. Hutchinson was arrested by the authorities on suspicion of voyeurism offenses at the leisure center in late 2013. After his arrest, the police discovered his other offenses that had taken place after they found images of sex offenses on his mobile phone, camera, and computer. According to The Guardian, after he was arrested, Hutchinson was sacked by Oxford University Hospitals Trust, which runs John Radcliffe Hospital. Senior investigating officer detective chief inspector Mark Johns from Thames Valley Police described the case as unusual and complicated because most of the victims did not know the offenses had happened since they were unconscious. Chief inspector Johns said that Thames Valley Police sent trained officers to personally speak to all of the victims. He added that Hutchinson would have continued to assault women if he had not been arrested. The director of the workforce for Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Mark Power released a statement about Hutchinson's offenses and reached out to the victims. He added that they were horrified and shocked by Hutchinson's behavior, who failed in his professional duties and responsibilities as a nurse, and that their first priority is the welfare of the patients. Aside from charges and arrest, Hutchinson is no longer on the nursing register, as reported by BBC. Related Article: Mother Charged With Murder for Smothering 4-Year-Old Daughter With Pillow @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If Trump delivers his last hurrah to an empty United Nations, will it still make a sound? By Thalif Deen View(s): View(s): UNITED NATIONS, August 15 (IPS) There is no love lost between the United Nations and US President Donald Trump. When he addressed the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly in September 2018, Trump falsely told delegates that in less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country The apparently misleading statement triggered loud laughter from world leaders and delegates from 192 countriesperhaps with the sole exception of the US delegation which stayed mum. But as he does with all negative reactions, Trump later gave it a twist. He said the delegates really laughed with him, not, at him. That was another big lieeven as the Washington Post, which keeps track of his false statements in its ever-growing data base, says Trump has uttered over 20,055 false or misleading claims (and counting). https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/ And as an avowed unilateralist, Trump abhors multilateral institutions. Since he took office back in January 2017, he has either defunded, withdrawn from, or denigrated several UN agencies and institutions, including the World Health Organization, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Human Rights Council, among others. Even though the UN Secretariat in New York, along with myriads of agencies worldwide, is working remotely, Trump is now planning to address the General Assembly in mid-Septemberin person. Kelly Craft, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., told a virtual event last month that Trump would be the only world leader to be speaking in person, noting that this is the 75th anniversary (of the U.N.), so it makes it even more special, according to a report in Politico. But the UN has maintained, irrespective of who addresses the next 75th General Assembly sessions, the building will still have to be largely empty because of the continued COVID-19 lockdown since end March. As the old saying goes: If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound? In a vibrantly-sarcastic comment, Kul Gautam, a former UN assistant secretary-general, told IPS: Let Trumps address at the 2020 UN General Assembly be his last hurrah in an empty GA Hall with world leaders mocking him from afar, and bidding him adieu! Gautam pointed out that American leadership was decisive in creating and sustaining the post-World War II architecture of multilateral diplomacy with the United Nations as its centerpiece. Ever since Franklin Roosevelt coined the term the United Nations and Harry Truman signed its Charter, making the US the first country to ratify it, all American presidents, Republicans and Democrats alike, have made some positive contribution to strengthening the UN and the multilateralist world order, he added. President Donald Trump will go down in history as the sole American President who made zero contribution to strengthening the UN, declared Gautam, a former Deputy Executive Director of the UN childrens agency UNICEF. With US presidential election campaign virtually grounded due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic, Trump may be looking at the UN as a global political platform to advance his re-election bid, scheduled for November 3, as he has fallen far behind his Democratic rival Joe Biden. That may be an irony of ironies because of Trumps distaste towards UN institutions and, more importantly, his virulent attacks on Haitians and Africans. At a 2017 White House meeting, Trump apparently said all Haitians have AIDS; that Nigerians should go back to their huts in Africa; and also questioned why US should welcome people from shithole countries in Africa, according a report in the New York Times June 20. The African Union (AU) alone represents 55 member states in the world body. Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University (NYU), told IPS: As usual, Im afraid that Trump will embarrass himself and the United States with his brash and often incoherent statements. There is no doubt in my mind that he will boast about how he handled the coronavirus, and he may very well say that America handled it better than any other country, when in fact the precise opposite is true, he said. Given his low numbers in the polls, he will try to boast about Americas military strength, and probably the wonderful trade deals that he made, said Dr Ben Meir. I suspect that, just like last year, many of the assembled will laugh and dismiss much of what he will say, he declared. Trump, who predictably changes his mind ever so often, may still decide to abandon the idea of physically addressing the UN. Gautam told IPS: As the champion of America First unilateralism, Trump sought to disrupt and undermine many carefully crafted multilateral initiatives ranging from climate change, human rights, disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, to the much-needed global solidarity to tackle the greatest pandemic to hit humanity in modern times. The damage caused to these initiatives and institutions by Trump, he argued, will take a long time to heal and remedy, but I am confident that over the long haul, good sense will prevail over this historic aberration. Asked about Trumps plans to address the General Assembly in person, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters July 30: I dont want to speculate on what the future will hold. As you know, the Secretariat will be in touch, basically through the Office of the President of the General Assembly, with the Member States on their representation. When it comes to it, he said, we have made clear what the conditions in the building are, what the need is for a scaledback ceremony. But Member States, he pointed out, are aware that they have different options, including recorded messages or, in some cases, appearances. We trust and expect that all Member States will abide by the need to keep the numbers low, and well see what they do in terms of their preparations, he noted. (Thalif Deen, a Senior Editor and Director at the UN bureau of Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency, shared the gold medal for excellence in UN reporting, awarded by the UN Correspondents Association (UNCA), in two consecutive years, 2012 and 2013. A former Senior Editorial Writer on the Hongkong Standard, he is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters Degree (MSc) in Journalism from Columbia University, New York.) US Will Work to Extend Iran Arms Embargo By Nike Ching August 14, 2020 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday before a U.N. vote on whether to extend the Iranian arms embargo that Iran is the world's leading promoter of terrorism and must not be allowed to buy or sell weapons with other countries. "We're going to do everything we can within our diplomatic tool kit to stop that from happening," Pompeo said at a news conference in Vienna, Austria. Pompeo's remarks came after he met with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi and before a U.N. Security Council vote in New York on a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran. Results of the council vote are to be disclosed later Friday. The council is expected to reject the resolution because of a lack of support from Europe, China and Russia. "We're urging the whole world to join us," Pompeo said. "This isn't about the JCPOA. This is about whether the world is going to allow Iran to buy and sell weapons systems." The arms embargo on Iran is due to expire in October under terms of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, from which U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. Pompeo is on a weeklong trip to central and eastern Europe at a time when the Trump administration looks to confront Russian and Chinese economic and geopolitical competition in Europe. Before his trip ends Friday, Pompeo would have visited the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria and Poland. 5G technology Pompeo visited Slovenia on Thursday, where he and his Slovenian counterpart Anze Logar signed a joint declaration on 5G technology. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said the memorandum of understanding signed Thursday recognizes "the critical importance of 5G security both within NATO and the EU." She tweeted that "Slovenia joins a growing community of nations dedicated to protecting their security, privacy and intellectual property." Over the past year, European countries, including Poland, Estonia and the Czech Republic, have signed agreements with the United States pledging that 5G suppliers would not be subject to control by a foreign government without independent judicial review, which effectively excludes Chinese firms. Pompeo's visit to Slovenia is the first by a U.S. secretary of state since 2011. Relations with China During his visit Wednesday to the Czech Republic, Pompeo said that China's economic power is in some ways a greater global threat than the Soviet Union was during the Cold War. "The challenge of resisting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) threat is in some ways more difficult," Pompeo said in a speech to the senate in the Czech Republic. "The CCP is already enmeshed in our economies, in our politics, in our societies in ways the Soviet Union never was." Pompeo's remarks came after China's ambassador to London accused the United States last month of instigating conflict with Beijing before the November U.S. presidential election. U.S.-China relations have deteriorated sharply this year over issues such as Beijing's management of the coronavirus, its security clampdown in Hong Kong and activities in the disputed South China Sea. Other topics Pompeo held talks with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Prague earlier Wednesday on the second day of his weeklong visit to central Europe. The two leaders discussed nuclear energy cooperation and the Three Seas Initiative, a political platform to promote connectivity among nations in central and eastern Europe by supporting infrastructure, energy and digital interconnectivity projects. The trip comes as the Pentagon prepares to move forward with a plan to pull almost 12,000 troops from Germany and redeploy part of the U.S. forces to Poland and other NATO nations, raising concerns at home and in Europe even as senior officials defend it as a strategic necessity. Pompeo discussed with his counterparts the just-completed U.S.-Poland Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The defense deal enables the United States for "rotational presence" of an additional 1,000 U.S. troops to "enhance deterrence against Russia, strengthen NATO," and to assure allies, officials say. About 4,500 U.S. personnel are already on rotation in Poland. Wayne Lee contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that an India-made vaccine for the coronavirus disease, which has killed more than 48,000 people and affected over 2.4 million people in the country, will be out soon. In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said that the government is waiting for a green signal from scientists. All of us are waiting for a vaccine for Covid-19. I want to tell you that three vaccine candidates are at different stages of testing in the country, said the prime minister. As soon as our experts and scientists give the green signal, a Made in India Covid-19 vaccine will be available soon, he added. He also hailed the role of the healthcare professionals who are at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19, the disease cased by the virus. PM Modi said that the government will produce the potential vaccine on a large scale. We have prepared the infrastructure to provide the vaccine to every person in the country, he said. The coronavirus disease rapidly spread across the world since its outbreak was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. After China, the disease took Europe in its grip, killing millions and wiping off decades of progress. It then reached the United States, which remains the hardest hit country. Apart from the loss of lives, the economic impact was also brutal and many professionals became jobless due to the pandemic. The US saw one of its worst jobless rates due to the coronavirus disease. But as soon as the disease started spreading, efforts began to find a cure. Many pharmaceutical companies and governments announced the trial of their potential vaccine candidates. In fact, as many as 100 vaccine candidates were being tested across the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In India, there were three vaccines which were at different stages of development. The clinical trials of these vaccine candidates were being done together with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at various sites acorss the country. 14.08.2020 LISTEN Parliament has approved an amount of GHS174 million as income tax waiver for Ghanas frontline health workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The waiver covers personal emoluments for the months of July, August and September 2020. The approval is in line with President Nana Akufo-Addos promise to give health workers a 50 per cent tax-free allowance on their basic salaries per month. The tax incentive was designed by the government to encourage healthcare workers, especially frontline health personnel, to continue to make sacrifices in caring for those infected with COVID-19. According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament, the number of health workers who fell into the frontline category for April, May and June 2020 were 6,091, 7,418, and 7,196, respectively with their corresponding expenditure on additional allowances being GHS6.5 million, GHS7.5 million, and GHS7.6 million for the respective months. Presenting the Finance Committees report to the house, its Chairman, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah said personal emoluments are estimated at GHS168 million and additional allowances pegged at GHS5 million. He noted that the incentives would be extended for three more months. "Mr Speaker, to support frontline health workers in the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has decided to extend these incentives granted to help workers, to cover the months of July, August and September 2020", he told the house. Dr Assibey-Yeboah said the incentives cover health workers in government health facilities, quasi-government health facilities as well as private health facilities. As to who qualifies as a frontline health worker, he said: the Committee was informed that there has been a challenge in defining who a frontline worker is but in collaboration with the relevant agencies, a working definition of who a frontline health personnel is, has been accepted. These personnel were said to include those working in the most critical and risky areas in the fight against the pandemic. Meanwhile, Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarak raised concerns about the inclusion of BNI officials as frontline workers. According to him, the move is unjustifiable, given the agitation of some health workers over their exclusion. ---classfmonline The deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi has officially defected to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after weeks of speculation. KanyiDaily recalls that Ajayi had resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and joined the PDP in order to contest the forthcoming Ondo governorship election. However, his plans were shattered when he lost the PDP governorship primary election to Eyitayo Jegede, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State. On Thursday, August 10, 2020, the deputy governor left the PDP to pitch tent with the ZLP having been promised the partys governorship ticket. Ajayi was received into ZLP by the partys state Chairman, Mr Joseph Akinlaja, and the National Leader of the party, who is also a former governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Speaking during the welcoming ceremony on Friday, August 14, Agboola told the huge crowd that he is running from one political party to another because of the people of Ondo. It is obvious that the affirmation of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as candidate of the APC coupled with the seeming failure of the PDP to produce a dependable and formidable alternative has dampened the democratic enthusiasm and morale of the people. The hope and rechannel the energy of the progressive electorates, I am teaming up with members of the ZLP, a chunk of most of the other members and my teeming allies from both the PDP and APC. He described the ZLP as a dependable platform to rescue the people of the state from the hands of the current government of APC in the state. The deputy governor also asked his supporters to join him in the Zenith Labour Party, noting that there was need to change and take it back from the nepotistic administration of Governor Akeredolu. Meanwhile, Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has now picked Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa as his running mate for the October 10 governorship election in the state. Were going to be hearing a lot about racism over the next three months. While racism has been an issue in Niagara and worldwide this year, and continues to be so, its nothing compared to what we will hear in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election Nov. 3. A day after Joe Biden, the likely Democratic party candidate, picked Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, President Donald Trump was already floating one of his I dont know, but many people are saying ... lies. As he did with former president Barack Obama, Trump again threw out the idea that maybe, possibly, someone told him, that Harris might not actually have been born in the U.S. Its a despicable accusation (and one he never seems to direct at anyone who isnt Black). And it throws a little more gasoline on the racial bonfire that is 2020. Its sad, and more than a little depressing, that we still have to go through this conversation. To continually listen to the code words and stereotypes and to know that in the minds of some people, the colour of one persons skin means they can be treated differently than another person. Our hands arent clean in Canada. It is still an issue we are working our way through. But things do happen that give us hope. Sherri Darlene, a Niagara woman and founder of Justice 4 Black Lives, said this week the large turnout at a rally she organized in June restored her faith in humanity. Unless you regularly hear racial slurs, receive uncomfortable looks and find yourself treated just a little differently than other people, it is difficult to imagine the hurt that behaviour can cause. To be wounded in your own community, and in the stores and places you go to every day. Among your neighbours. Speaking to Niagara Falls city council earlier this week, she made the point that the best answer is education. Her proposal was for Justice 4 Black Lives which she hopes to incorporate to partner with organizations like Niagara College as well as local schools and museums. The only way we can move forward is if we provide the right information, she said. And shes right. Education is the answer to this issue, as it is to many other problems that prevent us from being a better community. But education only works if your eyes and ears are open. We have to be smart enough to see through the distractions and hear through the noise that muddies relations between us all. That means putting some thought into the news sources we rely on, and there are so many good ones. Dont accept arguments and scenarios just because they are what you want to hear; be willing to listen to, and maybe even accept, information that might change your outlook. Thursday night, the issue of racism and policing dominated Niagara regional councils meeting. Niagara Regional Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch said the service has implemented changes, and is willing to continue doing so. It is not in our interest to not serve our entire community. We are committed to that, he said. Meanwhile, council itself unanimously supported a motion to dig deeper into topics like training officers to de-escalate confrontations and educate them on diversity and cultural sensitivity. Thats all good, but police attitudes largely reflect our own attitudes. The same issues that hold them back hold us all back. They, and we, still have a ways to go. AKRON, Ohio -- Akron police have released the name of an 8-year-old girl killed in a Friday night shooting. Mikayla Pickett died at Akron General Hospital after medics rushed her from a home in the citys Sherbondy Hill neighborhood, according to police. The shooting came about 11:45 p.m. at a home on Roselle Avenue, between East Avenue and Manchester Road, police said. Police said a large group of teenagers gathered at the house and an unknown gunman fired gunshots into the house from outside, police said. Detectives have made no arrests and are still investigating. Read more stories 8-year-old girl killed in shooting in Akrons Sherbondy Hill neighborhood Cleveland police search for missing man who left St. Clair-Superior neighborhood group home Slain 80-year-old Lakewood doctor was inspirational, grandson says Owner of Strongsville agency, employees charged with conspiracy in foreign adoption cases Man shot to death at gas station in Clevelands Mount Pleasant neighborhood As India marked 25 years of Internet today, when VSNL launched public Internet access service on 15 August 1995, one cant help but look back at the journey. Reuters Today in India, hundreds of million people access the Internet and online services on their touchscreen phones without a single thought of the technological leaps it took to get to that stage. Many have altogether forgotten the challenging days of plugging into the Internet over a dial-up connection through your phones landline at abysmally slow connection speeds. We spoke with some key industry stakeholders to get an insight into Indias past Internet challenges, present optimism and future roadmap to understand our online journey better and see where were headed. Into Indias Internet past In India, the arrival of the Internet happened via ERNET, in 1986, which had dedicated leased lines connecting several IITs and some IT companies also had dedicated links connecting their offices over 9.6 kbps, remembers Sachin Kalantri, Senior Director-Product Marketing, Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd. It would take significant time to transfer a 100 KB file from one office to another as the link would drop often. The file needed to be broken into several pieces, then each piece transferred to its destination and finally the file had to be reconstructed at the destination. Internet services were first launched in India by VSNL, where connectivity was based on dial-up with very low bandwidth. Furthermore, Internet connectivity was seen as a privilege for offices and a luxury for homes, according to Rajesh Kumar. S, Head of Systems Engineering, Enterprise & Government, Juniper Networks India. Connectivity, bandwidth provided by only one service provider and availability were some of the main concerns and challenges back then. Internet in households was not readily available and it was primarily businesses and offices that had internet connectivity. Gradually industry players such as Bharti and Tata started coming with points of presence (PoPs) in parallel with VSNL and started offering Internet services to offices and business entities, which was pivotal according to Juniper's Rajesh Kumar. S as it truly started the era of having the Internet services at home using dial-up. More offices started connecting to dedicated bandwidth which was 4-5 times higher than dial-up. Also Read: How Internet Came To India 25 Years Ago, From The Man Who Saw It Happen The Indian Techonomist / Mumbai Heritage Twitter Qualcomms Sachin Kalantri mentions how, With the launch of CDMA 2000 1xRTT services in India, came the era of 153 kbps speeds while on the move. It also enabled several applications and Value-Added Services (VAS) on the handset as well as broadband connectivity for PCs and Laptops. It also marked the boom of the Cyber Cafe business and by 2005, India had 1 million broadband subscribers. Later on the touchscreen smartphone wave emerged in 2007-08, which broadly drove Internet penetration among consumers in India. The adoption of 3G and transition to 4G happened rapidly in India when compared to 2G, Sachin mentions. There was a growth of telecom and allied industries whilst the country moved from 3G to 4G, which led to a lot of unique business models and opportunities to rise. From the past to present If theres one company that was fundamental in laying the Internet backbone in India, its Tata Communications. Song Bac Toh, VP of Product Management, Global Managed Network Services at Tata Communications says, From one of the largest global telecommunications connectivity players to now where we are calling Tata Communications a digital ecosystem enabler, even we have come a long way in the past 25 years. Expanding on Sachins point on evolving business models online, Song further underscores the need for fundamentally good connectivity for large-scale transformative impact of the Internet. For businesses to survive and thrive today they need to figure out how to engage with their customers and employees online, which requires great connectivity. And connectivity thats been evolving very quickly since the Internet began not just in India but all over the world, Song says. From private networks restricted to offices to hybrid clouds with public Internet facing services, So internet plus private networks are kind of getting mixed together, and enterprises are starting to realize this is getting too complicated to manage in the old way, explains Song. I'm not just looking at wires, cables and connectivity. But there are other things to consider like software defined management, building robust platform capability and even cloud based networking that's coming in, the network architecture is changing very quickly and its happening right now. Also Read: 25 Years Ago, 9.6 Kbps Connection Was Rs 5,000 When Internet Began In India Reuters Today approximately more than 54% of people have access to the Internet in India using fixed and mobile internet, according to Juniper Networks Rajesh Kumar. S. The impact of the Internet, as well as the mobile revolution, has changed the lives of people in different ways. Qualcomms Sachin Kalantri further mentions how the, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) came up with a statistical finding that stated a 30% increase in OTT demand and a total increase in data demand by 20%, as total consumption of data has exceeded 300 PB/day in the country. These are indicative of the fact that data demand is increasing, with people working in a decentralized manner. Indian operators have done a phenomenal job of managing these increasing demands. However, despite their best efforts, with limited amounts of spectrum, broadband speeds have plummeted significantly, explains Sachin Kalantri. With the need increasing and the capacity decreasing, it will impact user experience and in the long run, it is not a healthy situation to thrive. The times of uncertainty demand of networks to be high performance efficient by augmenting the capacity. The best way to augment capacity is to go to the next layer of technology i.e. 5G. If you use 5G technology, for example, it will increase your throughput and spectrum efficiency. From the present towards future 5G is definitely exciting, according to Tata Communications Song Toh. I think 5G certainly gives us an opportunity in India to leapfrog some of the incomplete or aging infrastructure, jumping from 2G straight to 5G, which is great, but we still have to build capacity. Song mentions how Tata Communications has been expanding Internet bandwidth capacity for their business customers. So when the COVID-19 crisis began, we actually ramped up our capacity to address the needs of our customers working from home. Even for large cloud players with significantly increased usage during COVID-19, we were carrying their traffic -- not only in India, but also India to international. Like electricity or the automobile, 5G mobile technology will benefit entire economies and benefit entire societies. This is because the global 5G standard (5G New Radio) will advance mobile from largely a set of technologies connecting people-to-people and people-to-information to a unified connectivity fabric connecting people to everything, suggests Qualcomms Sachin Kalantri. Private 5G networks will expand the wireless market in the industrial IoT segment by providing new capabilities such as high reliability and dedicated network resources. 5G can help telecom operators offer last mile connectivity, where a fiber network is not available, helping telecom operators reduce costs and in turn will help them at the bottom line with time. 5G in India will be relatively cheaper as opposed to other countries, too. ALSO READ: I Saw How India Connects To The Internet At 3.6 Tbps At An Undersea Cable Landing Station Reuters Two other factors which will have a major shift in Indias Internet journey going forward are cloud and AI, which Juniper terms as Cloud+ 5G+AI. This will lead to increased levels of productivity with more enterprises becoming more open to the adoption of 5G technology, according to Rajesh Kumar. S. This will result in a wave of innovative and advanced use cases by enterprises embarking on their 5G journey, both of which will work in hand in hand with 5G to make the enterprise transformation journey simpler. The BharatNet, which is being planned with fiber, can also leverage 5G with 1 Gbps of bandwidth to villages below GPs. Since the advent of the Internet and mobile telephony 25 years ago, India has made great strides as one of the worlds largest internet markets, says Qualcomms Sachin Kalantri. The need of the hour is to enable customers to compete, innovate and grow globally through a technology transfer model that makes inventions available to the mobile industry. Not to forget security, because network security is super important as well, mentions Song from Tata Communications. Driving a secure, connected digital experience with various solutions aimed at helping our enterprise customers accelerate their digital transformation journey is what we are focusing on now and in the near future. And whats inspiring about 5G is that it will allow the industry at large to realize the vision of a secure hybrid cloud done in a flexible, high capacity, low latency network environment like never before. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day 2020 speech on Saturday, warned China from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort, saying India's jawans had given a befitting reply to those who tried to raise eyes towards the country's sovereignty. "From LoC to LAC, whoever tried to raise their eyes towards the sovereignty of our country, our soldiers responded to it in the same manner," PM Modi said. Respect for India's sovereignty is supreme, the PM said, adding the world has seen what India can do if anyone tries to hurt its sovereignty along the border. "What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen this in Ladakh," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was referring to the recent border clashes between India and China at the Galwan valley along the Line of Actual Control. During the border skirmish, around 20 Indian jawans were martyred, while estimates suggest the Chinese suffered more than 40 casualties though it has maintained silence on the number of deaths on its side. The PM said India is working towards making better relations with neighbouring countries, whether they are connected via land or from the sea, by partnering in areas of security and development. Also read: 6 lakh villages to be connected with optical fibre in next 1,000 days, says PM Modi Today, neighbours are not just the one with whom we share the border but also those with whom our heart stays connected, where there is harmony in relations, the PM said. "I'm happy that in past some time India has further strengthened its relations with all countries in 'extended neighbourhood'," he added. The PM said one-fourth of the world's population lives in South Asia. "We can create untold possibilities of development and prosperity of such a large population with cooperation and participation," he said. Also read: In pics: An Independence Day full of masks He said all the leaders of the countries of the region have an important responsibility towards the development and progress of this huge mass group. He said a large number of Indians work in many of these countries. These countries helped Indians living there during the coronavirus crisis by honouring the request of the government, he added. Also read: Independence Day 2020: Quotes, wishes, messages, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp status "Our ASEAN countries, which are also our maritime neighbours, also hold very special importance for us. India has a thousand years old religious and cultural relationship with them. Traditions of Buddhism also connect us to them," he said. The PM also talked about the border and coastal infrastructure, saying it has a big role in the security of the country. "Be it the Himalayan peaks or the islands of the Indian Ocean, there is an unprecedented expansion of road and internet connectivity," he said. Also read: PM Modi launches National Digital Health Mission; every Indian to get health ID Car theft has risen by 50 per cent in five years, with criminals using high-tech gadgets to steal keyless vehicles. TOBY WALNE enters the shady world of car crime to discover how easy it is to steal a vehicle in a matter of seconds, and what can be done to beat the crooks... Six seconds. Just enough time to reach for the TV remote control and change channels. But also sufficient time as I discovered last week to break into a swanky new 65,000 Range Rover and drive off into the distance (with the owner's consent for this experiment, I hasten to add). Child's play: Toby Walne with the cheap devices that allowed him to 'steal' the car To become a car thief requires little training just a willing accomplice in the shape of my 18-year-old son Harrison, on hand to show how car theft is now child's play. A few minutes earlier, we had been sitting around a table at the top secret Home Counties lair of a security expert who knows how the cunning minds of car criminals work and who also owns the tools that organised underworld gangs use to steal cars on demand. Like the fictional James Bond gadget man 'Q', he pulls out a couple of devices and places them carefully in front of me. One is an innocuous-looking blue box that is the size of a pack of cards and comes with a tiny toggle. There are no secret agent's shooting darts or even a hidden laser gun just three flashing lights when I turn it on. Then there is an off-white device that looks a bit like an oblong dinner plate. It also has three lights and an on-off switch. In hushed tones, I am told that such high-tech wizardry is worth as much as 20,000 in the wrong hands though the expert admits similar illegal kits can be bought on the dark web for just 1,000. My own subsequent homework uncovers that legal websites such as Amazon and eBay also sell such gear, for example a 295 testing device that can easily be adapted to help thieves steal cars. So what do the gadgets do? 'They are nothing more than a high-tech pair of tin cans with a piece of invisible string attaching them,' the anonymous security expert explains. 'The disc is placed by a home's front door or window in the hope that it picks up a signal that is being emitted from a car fob inside, maybe hanging on a hallway hook or sitting on a kitchen table. The disc has a reach of six metres and can pick up signals through walls.' Once this key signal is detected, a flashing orange light on the side of the disc should go solid. It then boosts and transmits this same signal as far as 100 metres to the blue box held by someone beside the car. This also has a flashing orange light that goes solid when a connection is made. At this point, the blue box is placed on the driver's door and tricks the car into thinking it is the real keyless fob being operated so it unlocks itself. Any car alarm system is automatically disarmed. Sitting inside the car, this same trickery fools the vehicle once again. It automatically 'presses' the starter button the modern day equivalent of a key ignition fitted to new cars. Once the engine is started, the thief simply puts their foot down and drives off. The security expert continues: 'When a thief subsequently arrives at their secret hideout with a car without a fob, it is not a problem. They can buy a separate key-programming device from as little as 100 which is legally available to purchase online. This enables them to format a blank key so it can then open the car and start the engine.' Such key-programmers look oddly like a 1990s Nintendo Game Boy. They plug into the computer system port of a car that is often tucked away under the dashboard. Putting theory into practice proved a breeze. My decade-old 15,000 Lotus Elise proved like most cars to be hopeless at stopping this high-tech crime. Apart from a bit of fumbling by the car door, it was soon open thanks to my son Harrison standing by a window ledge with the disc picking up the signal from my keys two metres inside the home. The blue box then ensured the motor started like magic. Within moments, my foot was on the accelerator and I was away. The most recent Home Office figures reveal that vehicle theft has rocketed by 50 per cent over five years, with experts saying many cars are being stolen in this way. The Government claims that 56,000 vehicles are stolen in the UK each year, though experts say the true figure could be more like 100,000. The cost to the insurance industry of car thefts has doubled in five years to reach 413million last year. Top of the range BMW, Mercedes and Range Rover models are among the most popular targets stolen to order and shipped abroad or sent to 'chop shops' to be broken up into parts that are sold to traders or on auction websites. With less than 1 per cent of thefts resulting in a conviction, it appears that the crooks are getting away with this crime. To prove the ease with which even the latest top cars could be broken into, Harrison and I tried our luck with a new 65,000 Range Rover. Surely it would be armed to the teeth with gear to thwart thieves and have no trouble keeping two bungling novices locked out? Once again, Harrison stood by the window and this time I put the blue box at the base of the car door, behind which the key reader is embedded. Instantly the door release button clicked open. I stepped into the vehicle and the blue box started the car as I put my foot on the brake pedal a feature designed to power up the engine once the start button is pressed. The getaway took six seconds. By the time an owner may have heard the car being started and looked out of their home window, I would have long since vanished in a puff of smoke. Gardai are closely monitoring the situation after a 59-year-old convicted child porn offender was targeted by vigilantes twice within the space of a week. It is understood that officers have given David Sharpe security advice after his car was torched near his home off Drogheda Street in Balbriggan on Tuesday evening. The arson attack happened just four days after vigilantes smashed up the same vehicle. Our images show Sharpe's car on fire in an incident that is being investigated by Balbriggan gardai. "An exact motive for this has yet to be established but there is no evidence that Sharpe has been involved in any recent crime," a senior source told the Herald last night. "The most likely explanation is that someone in the locality became aware of his past conduct and decided to take the law into their own hands in an attempt to drive him out of the area. Expand Close David Sharpe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Sharpe "At approximately 5.55pm on Tuesday gardai received reports of a car on fire in the area. "Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene and the vehicle has since been removed from the scene for a technical examination," a Garda spokesman said. No one was injured in the incident. Sharpe avoided jail in December 2012 after he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at the O2 Store, Scotch Hall, Drogheda, Co Louth, on June 13, 2009. He had no previous convictions. The court heard that he asked the shop assistant in the O2 store for help and handed him one Nokia phone which had an image of a child naked from the waist down as the background wallpaper. Suspicious When the staff member went to help him transfer images from this phone to another Nokia phone, he noticed similar images and became suspicious. He told Sharpe that he needed to keep the phone to send it off to be repaired. He then contacted gardai. Sharpe was allowed leave with the second phone but this was later seized as part of the investigation. The images on both phones were later analysed and found to be child pornography. A total of 44 images were recovered, 18 of which depicted children aged between eight and 14 years old engaged in penetrative sex, nine which showed children engaged in non-penetrative sexual activity and 17 which showed children in sexual poses. Sharpe later admitted in Garda interview that the images were his but claimed he downloaded them from a naturist and young models website. He told gardai he had been "curious about looking at" child pornography for about two or three years but said he had stopped six months prior to his arrest. He denied ever downloading child pornography or entering any child pornography website. Sharpe was arrested after the images were analysed. In interview he made more admissions but again denied ever having paid for the images. Judge Martin Nolan said he was satisfied a prison term was not justified before he sentenced Sharpe to three years, which he suspended in full on strict conditions including that he remain under probation supervision for 18 months. He accepted that Sharpe had not distributed, purchased nor shared the images. Judge Nolan accepted that Sharpe was somewhat naive, which he said was obvious from the way the offence came to light, but added that he had "enough insight" to know what he was doing was wrong. This week's arson attack on Sharpe's car led to a Garda information appeal in which they stressed that the "incident is being investigated as a standalone incident and is not believed to be linked to any other fire incidents in the Balbriggan area in the recent past." Sources have stressed that gardai are "majorly concerned" about a mis-information on social media that has led to a gang of local youths being blamed for multiple attacks in the north Co Dublin town. "People are blaming a particular group for all that is happening in the town - the truth is that this information is incorrect. "Yes, there are gangs in Balbriggan and yes, this a cause of major concern and gardai are actively monitoring the situation and yes, there has been violence. "But people are putting up stuff on social media blaming a certain ethnic group for all the violence and the fact is that this is not the case. "Yes, there are gangs who are calling themselves out on social media - slagging each other off in rap songs - these are gangs of teenagers from Balbriggan, Drogheda and Blanchardstown. "Gardai are following a number of lines of enquiry into separate public order incidents which occurred in Balbriggan last weekend and these matters are being fully investigated," a Garda spokesman told the Herald. "Public Order patrols are applied as required throughout the DMR North Division which includes Balbriggan District. "Every effort is being made to support communities and to keep them safe," he said. Mothers Day 2021: Google Doodle wishes mothers all around the world with adorable pop-up card Independence Day 2020: Google Doodle pays tribute to Indian musical legacy India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Aug 15: Google Doodle on the day of independence of India on Saturday has paid tribute to the Indian musical heritage illustrated by Mumbai-based guest artist Sachin Ghanekar. The doodle artwork is featured in the Doodle are several iconic Indian folk instruments, including the tutari, shehnai, dhol, veena, sarangi and bansuri. From the versatile double-reeded shehnai to the resonant stringed sarangi, these instruments are but a few that make up India's rich musical legacy, which dates back over 6,000 years. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News The musical diversity represented by this unique collection reflects the patchwork of Indian cultures that is celebrated across the nation today. On asking about the inspiration behind the doodle Sachin Ghanekar said, "At a philosophical level, my inspiration was the diversity of this country. This rich cultural fabric meticulously woven together always amazes me. For the execution of the Doodle, I included various musical instruments, drawing inspiration from various Indian art forms like Kalamkari, Madhubani, Warli, Gond, Phad, and Pichwai to bring this idea to life". "I hope this Doodle reminds people of our rich heritage and how privileged we are to be a part of it", Ghanekar added. Meanwhile, On the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his greeting to all Indians before hoisting the tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. Before his speech, PM Modi took to Twitter and said, "Happy Independence Day to all fellow Indians. Jai Hind!" Demand for fossil fuels collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdown measures were introduced. In the second quarter of 2020, experts predict that global oil demand will be down 20 per cent from this time last year. Although demand is likely to recover somewhat in the next two years, some major oil company executives believe that it may never return to pre-2020 levels. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Demand for fossil fuels collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdown measures were introduced. In the second quarter of 2020, experts predict that global oil demand will be down 20 per cent from this time last year. Although demand is likely to recover somewhat in the next two years, some major oil company executives believe that it may never return to pre-2020 levels. At the same time, the world remains "on fire" due to climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. The year began with fires ravaging Australia, and in June, temperatures in the Arctic hit a record-breaking 38 C. The world is now at a critical juncture a moment of uncertainty where decisions can cause dramatic shifts in the direction a society takes. The choices we make now will define Canadas and humanitys future. As governments look for ways to help the Canadian economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, they must be guided by one incontestable principle: We cannot afford to invest in and expand the fossil fuel industry any further. Why we need structural change Daily global carbon dioxide emissions fell by 17 per cent in early April, when lockdowns were at their peak, compared to 2019. In the U.K., the decline hit 31 per cent, while in Canada it reached 20 per cent. But emissions are now rebounding much quicker than expected as cars and trucks take to the roads again. Emissions in 2020 are expected to be down by four per cent to (at most) seven per cent from 2019. But this falls short of the emissions cuts needed to achieve the Paris Agreement targets 7.6 per cent a year, every year. The lockdown has demonstrated that behavioural change alone is insufficient to decarbonize the economy; we also need structural change that gets at the root of emissions. This means addressing the contribution of the oil sector, particularly the oilsands. While emissions from other sectors in Canada have levelled off or are declining, oilsands emissions increased by 456 per cent between 1990 and 2018. Emissions from conventional oil production have also increased, but only by 24 per cent. Despite a valiant attempt by the Alberta NDP government in 2015, successive provincial governments have failed to reduce oilsands emissions. And since the COVID-19 crisis, "green initiatives," such as Suncors plan to replace coke-fired boilers with natural gas units at its base operations, have been shelved to cut costs, undermining claims from the industry that it is part of the solution. Industry crisis deepens The oil and gas industry was in trouble before the pandemic hit, but it is now facing potential collapse. For a brief period in early April and again later that month, a barrel of Alberta oil was selling for less than a bottle of maple syrup. Although the price has since recovered somewhat, expectations for capital expenditures have changed dramatically. Now, almost 40 per cent less financing is anticipated for 2020. A second wave of coronavirus infections and lockdowns could send oil markets into another tailspin. While the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) has indefinitely deferred its long-term production forecast, Alberta has cut production by about 25 per cent, or one million barrels per day. According to Alberta, mega pipelines are now "fairly empty," and Enbridge plans to use part of its aging Line 3 for oil storage. BP has written off its oil sands investments entirely. More subsidies wont save jobs Its not surprising then that the Canadian oil industry has redoubled its demands for government support as well as the suspension of environmental regulations and monitoring requirements. In April, CAPP was the most active federal lobbying body, recording over 40 meetings with federal officials. Any government response to this lobbying isnt a question of weighing "jobs versus the environment": the industry has been shedding jobs for years, while extracting more oil. From 2014 to 2019, in the midst of surging production, Canadas oil and gas sector cut 53,000 jobs about a quarter of the sectors 225,000 jobs. Advancements in automation and other changes in the industry mean that those jobs are not coming back, even if the troubled Keystone XL pipeline is somehow built. While oil workers have faced unemployment and anxiety about their futures, executives and shareholders have continued to reap huge benefits. The five largest oil sands producers doled out $12.6 billion in dividends to shareholders (the majority of which are not Canadian) from late 2014 to 2017. As the fossil fuel sector scrambles to protect profits while shedding jobs, Canadas clean tech sector is experiencing "explosive" growth, bringing impressive earnings and jobs. Clean energy jobs are anticipated to grow to over 550,000 in the next decade from 300,000 in 2019. Stranded assets, stranded communities In May, the Canadian oil and gas industry employed roughly 163,000 people, which was less than one per cent of all workers in the country. But those jobs are highly geographically concentrated. As oil assets increasingly become stranded assets, Canadas oil workers and oil-dependent communities will likewise become stranded. But that doesnt have to be our future. A slight majority of Albertans appear to understand this and support a transition away from oil and gas. The key conversations are about how and when this transition occurs. The question of when has been answered for us. If, as a country, we can agree that bailouts are not justifiable on economic or environmental grounds, then the oil price crash dictates that the transition starts now. Recent polling indicates that the vast majority of Canadians want the federal government to invest in a "green recovery." In terms of how the transition occurs, redirecting the billions of dollars in subsidies that the federal government currently provides the fossil fuel industry to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects is a good place to start. This could create far more jobs while also making a contribution to our emissions reductions targets. 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. Paths to a fossil-free Canada Beyond this, there are plenty of good proposals to bring about deep emissions reductions through everything from increased investments in public transportation to regenerative agriculture. It is also clear that we should invest more in care work so that we have more and better-paid nurses, and universal child care. Jobs in this sector are low-carbon and, as the pandemic has demonstrated so vividly, essential to the functioning of our society. We can also think outside the box. The pandemic response has substantially increased awareness and acceptance of previously overlooked policy options such as universal basic income, job guarantees, and a shorter work week. Reimagining our relationship to work and focusing on outcomes that address inequality and improve well-being can help us to reduce our emissions as well as our reliance on the industries that can no longer offer the employment opportunities that we need. Kyla Tienhaara is Canada Research Chair in economy and environment at Queen's University; Amy Janzwood is a PhD candidate in the department of political science at the University of Toronto; and Angela Carter is an associate professor of political science at the University of Waterloo. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. Tests conducted by the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory in New Delhi have concluded that the men responsible for the March 25 suicide bombing in Kabul included one-time Kerala resident Muhammad Muhsin, government sources have told News18. The tests were submitted to the National Investigation Agency earlier this week. Blood samples from Muhsins mother Maimoona Abdulla, collected by the NIA, were matched with tissue collected from the suicide-bombers remains by Afghan authorities, the sources said. An NIA spokesperson said the agency had no comment to offer as the investigation was ongoing. Born in 1991 in the small town of Trikarpur, near Kasargode, Muhsin is believed to have been part of a group of Indian terrorists in Afghanistan, led by one-time Kashmir jihad commander Aijaz Ahanger. Photographs released on Islamic State-linked social media channels had proclaimed Muhsin had carried out the Gurdwara attack, which claimed 27 lives. Following his school education, Muhsin left Kerala to work at a small hotel run by relatives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He later obtained a job in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where he lived until 2018, before leaving for Afghanistan to join Ahangers group. Few details, though, have so far emerged on what led him to join the group. NIA investigators registered a case against the Kabul Gurdwara attack in April, the first using a landmark new law giving the organisation jurisdiction to investigate crimes outside India. The core of the Indian jihadist group in Afghanistan was formed by 26 Kerala residents some of them children who left for Afghanistan in 2016, led by neo-fundamentalist cult leader Abdul Rashid Abdullah. Ijas Kallukettiya Purayil, a one-time dentist from Keralas Kasargod who was among that group, is believed to be among the suicide attackers killed when his jihadist unit stormed a prison in Afghanistans Jalalabad earlier this month. Twenty-nine people were reported to have been killed in the attack, aimed at freeing jihadists from the prison on Eid. Purayils wife, Rafilla Purayil, and has been held in Kabuls Badam Bagh prison along with their five-year-old son, Ayaan, is currently part of a group of nine Indian women held in Kabuls Badam Bagh jail, the wives and widows of the Kerala jihadists. Purayils younger brother, Shiyas Purayil, is thought to have been killed in a United States military drone strike in Nangarhar along with his wife Ajmala Purayil. The jihadist brothers cousin, Ashfaq Purayil, who once ran a hotel in Mumbai, is also thought to have survived the bomb strikes. Ashfaq Purayils wife, Shamsiya Purayil, and their four-year-old daughter Ayesha are also among those held in Badam Bagh prison. Afghanistans intelligence service, the National Directorate for Security, arrested the groups military commander, Aijaz Ahanger, in raids conducted in Kandahar earlier this year. NDS sources have told News18 that while Ahangers group claimed affiliation to the Islamic State, it was in fact controlled by the Haqqani Network a constituent of the Taliban, with close links to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. The jihad commanders Budgam-born wife, Rukhsana Dar, is among the Indian jihadists wives held in Badam Bagh prison, along with her daughters Sabira and Tooba. The South was hit hard on Sunday with the first real winter storm of the year, a brutal and bitter blast of cold and wind that predictably knocked out power and coated roads. Depending on where you lived in the Piedmont Triad, you either felt the full force of it ... or streamed The Matrix Resurrections. The order's history here traces back to May 24, 1905, when eight nuns came to the Diocese of Buffalo from a monastery in Union City, N.J., at the invitation of the Most Rev. Charles Colton, then Buffalo's bishop. The group, an offshoot of the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary in Hoboken, moved into a portion of the Doat Street estate of George Urban. The large stone complex now on the site was built in stages during the 1920s and finished in 1929. The order had 32 members from around the country and the world at the time of its centenary but has just 14 today. The sisters take prayer requests from every corner of the globe at all hours of the day from Catholics and others seeking their help. The sisters are almost entirely closed off from the outside world and conduct their daily activities largely in silence. Few outsiders were allowed inside what is known as the papal enclosure a priest to hear confession, doctors and nurses and a handful of others. The nuns rarely, if ever, left the facility and if they did so without approval they couldn't return. Miracle teenager Ellen Glynn, who survived 15 hours stranded in the open sea with her cousin, has revealed she kept repeating "mind messages" of hope to her mum throughout their ordeal. Ellen (17) and Sarah Feeney (23), both from Cappagh Road, Knocknacarra, Galway city, were discovered clinging to a buoy, 4km south of Inis Oirr - 27km from where they set off paddleboarding on Furbo Beach on Wednesday night. The girls were rescued by fisherman Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan. Their master knowledge of the sea correctly pinpointed the girl's trajectory, and distance travelled across Galway Bay and outwards towards the Atlantic. Read More Last night, Ellen remained in hospital for another night but told the Irish Independent she was feeling good. "I'm grand. I was on an adrenaline high (following their rescue). It's starting to wear off now, but I'm fine," she said. Ellen reveals that throughout the search, her thoughts were only on her loved ones. "At the very, very beginning when I was thinking 'Oh my God, I'm going to die'. "But then we were pretty sure we would be OK. "We had to be calm and stay positive, but the big worry we had was our parents were going to think we drowned. "I was saying to myself 'Oh my God, I hope granny doesn't know'. "So I sat there in the ocean and was saying over and over, "Mom, I'm OK. "Mom, I'm safe. "Mom, I'm going to come home, and I'm going to be fine. "When I saw her, and was finally talking to her, she said 'I just knew you were going to be OK. I was telling everyone you were completely fine'. "I was literally sending her mind messages," Ellen said. Speaking to the Irish Independent minutes after she heard Ellen and Sarah were alive, Deirdre (Ellen's mum) said she never gave up hope of seeing Ellen again. "I just felt the whole time in my gut that she was OK. "She is so level-headed and calm and strategic in her thinking, that I just knew. "I really did think that she was just swept into a cave, and I said to myself that she would have deflated the board and wrapped it around themselves and waited until morning. "I actually thought we would meet her walking along the road somewhere. "In my gut, I knew she was OK. She's tough." Despite rough sea conditions, the cousins managed briefly to fall asleep on their boards "for a few seconds at a time", and when they awoke the waves "were huge, they were splashing on us. "For a while that was scary, but we were able to stay on the boards," Ellen recalled. When the sun came up, the girls could make out the Cliffs of Moher and Inis Oirr. Realising the waves could push them out into the Atlantic, they paddled furiously to reach the island, but the waves were too high. Just as exhaustion was proving too much for the pair to keep paddling, a buoy of a lobster pot appeared in view, and they knew they could tie themselves to it. "We tied our boards to it and then took turns to sleep on our boards. In hindsight, it is weird that we just stayed so calm. "We just thought, 'we can't drift out there' and didn't expand on that." Ellen used the strap from her paddleboard to clip their boards onto the buoy and tied the boards together using leashes attached to each board. She said: "When we weren't paddling, we were holding on to each other's." One day on from their dramatic rescue, Ellen said she is overwhelmed by the kindness shown to her and Sarah (23) by everyone searching, and especially their rescuers, Patrick and Morgan Oliver. "I was saying to them, 'Oh my God, are you our guardian angels, because we have been out here since last night and nobody has even come looking for us.' I thought they were just out fishing. "And they said, 'No, no, no, there are at least 20 boats out looking for ye'. "They were so lovely to us. They were so good. "They wrapped us up completely, covered us with heavy blankets. "They gave us drinks, and my hand was sticking out, and he (Morgan) put my hand in through the sleeve of one of their jumpers, so I was completely covered and warm. "We're just so grateful to everyone." The son of Angola's former president has been jailed for five years for fraud from when he was head of the oil-rich country's Sovereign Wealth Fund. Jose Filomeno dos Santos, 42, was accused of trying to embezzle up to $1.5bn (1.1bn) while overseeing the $5bn fund from 2013 to 2018. He was charged with stealing $500m from the fund and transferring it to a bank account in Switzerland. Dos Santos' father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, led the country for 38 years. Jose Eduardo dos Santos was president from 1979 until he resigned in 2017, to be replaced by the man he had handpicked for the job, his former defence minister Joao Lourenco. Jose Filomeno dos Santos, also known as Zenu, spent seven months in jail over the corruption allegations before being freed in March. He was the first member of the former presidential family to be prosecuted as part of an anti-corruption campaign led by President Lourenco. It was widely seen as a test of Angola's commitment to fighting corruption. Sentencing Dos Santos at the country's Supreme Court, Justice Joao da Cruz Pitra said: "For the crime of fraud... and for the crime of peddling influence... the legal cumulus condemns him to a single sentence of five years in prison." Three co-defendants were also accused of fraud, embezzlement and influence peddling - including the former governor of the national bank of Angola (BNA) Valter Filipe da Silva. They were each sentenced to between four and six years in prison. All four defendants were acquitted of money laundering charges. They previously denied any wrongdoing. President Lourenco fired another of his predecessor's children, Isabel dos Santos, believed to be Africa's richest woman, from her position as head of the state oil giant Sonango in November 2017 over alleged embezzlement. Ms Dos Santos denies any wrongdoing. She now lives abroad after saying that her life had been threatened. The former president is also believed to have left the country. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Presley Ann/FilmMagic The Office's Leslie David Baker is opening up about the racism he's experienced since pushing for a spinoff series. Last month, the actor, 62, who played Stanley Hudson for all nine seasons of the hit comedy series, created a Kickstarter page in the hopes of crowdsourcing funding for a project titled Uncle Stan: Coming Out of Retirement. As of Saturday morning, more than 1,500 donors have pledged more than $360,000 to help the spinoff come to life but not everyone was supportive. Baker shared shocking racist messages that he's received about the project in an Instagram post on Wednesday. For those of you who dont believe racism is still alive in the world... heres the proof, he wrote alongside screenshots of the extremely offensive messages. Opening up to USA Today in a new interview, Baker said racism has "gotten worse" in recent memory. "Racism doesn't care whether or not you're an actor on TV or if you won awards," he said. "This is something that faces minorities on any job, not just because they're in show business." "We're living in an age in time where there is this movement," he added. "We would have thought that these issues would have been rectified years, decades ago. They have not. As a matter of fact, they've gotten worse." RELATED: The Office's Jenna Fischer Opens Up About Filming Emotional Scene of Dwight Comforting Pam Colleen Hayes/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Leslie David Baker in The Office Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories "You cannot fight racism and combat those types of stereotypical attitudes if you pretend that they don't exist," continued Baker. "All too often in America, people have been so concerned about being made to feel uncomfortable because they aren't confronted by racist behavior." Story continues Explaining that the hate comes in new forms in today's digital era, the actor said he hopes sharing his experience will remind people that the issue is still prevalent. "It's not riding down the street in the hood with the burning cross, but instead it's been replaced with the new technology," Baker told the outlet. Baker's Office costar Angela Kinsey showed him support in the comment section of his Instagram post earlier this week, calling the disturbing messages "horrible." "Leslie, I am so sorry. That is horrible and makes me sad. I love you so much. You bring so much joy to so many. I can't wait to see the Uncle Stan show!" wrote the actress. RELATED: The Office Will Feature Unreleased Content When It Moves to Peacock Next Year Sharing details of the new show with USA Today, Baker said the first episode would follow Stanley's widower nephew Lucky, who asks the fan-favorite grumpy character to help raise his two kids. "I kept getting asked the same questions over and over about the character of Stanley," he said. "'Well, what is he doing now? Does he still do crossword puzzles? He went to Florida and retired and was supposedly doing woodwork. Is he still doing that? What is his journey?' According to the audience, they didn't feel that his journey was over yet, so we're gonna see where that takes us." One hundred years ago Tuesday on August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the final state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. And ironically, people in many parts of the country were at the time wearing masks to ward off a virus known as the Spanish flu that had killed 650,000 Americans. Columnist Coleen Hoptak describes the times: Racial unrest was roiling in cities throughout the country as the Ku Klux Klan was in full resurgence. Major race riots in the cities of Chicago and New York and anarchist attacks on Wall Street produced fears of radicals and terrorists. There was a massive response against the reformist zeal of the Progressive Era, and most Americans were disillusioned with those in control of government. Immigration was a contentious issue and the public, wary of international entanglements, sought a more isolationist foreign policy. A nasty presidential election was underway, pitting Republican Warren G. Harding against Democrat James M. Cox, both of Ohio. Harding ran a front porch candidacy in which he campaigned for conservatism and a return to normalcy amid the social and political upheavals of the time. His divisive and nationalistic campaign slogan of America First alienated the American electorate but was effective in winning him the White House. Sound familiar? This week as the nation marks a century since women got the right to vote, we are witnessing the presumptive nomination at the Democratic convention of the first Black woman as vice presidential nominee by a major party. Sen. Kamala Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, is also the first vice presidential candidate of India/Asia parentage. And yet, as progress is celebrated, the nation is grappling with a fight for racial justice on the heels of the #MeToo movement, demonstrating that the quest for equal treatment of women and Blacks is an unfinished quest. The modern-day warriors seeking equal rights of all people regardless of gender or race and including LGBTQ individuals remind us of their predecessors of 100 years ago who endured physical and emotional abuse during a period that began before the Civil War and carried on over seven decades before the 19th amendment was passed and ratified. Those 19th century suffrage pioneers Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott are remembered this week for leading a relentless and courageous pursuit, a pursuit that has ties close to home. Lucretia Motts legacy in both the abolitionist and womens suffrage movements was carried out from her Roadside farm in Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County. A Quaker minister who stood just 5 feet tall, Mott was a gifted orator. There is nothing of greater importance to the well-being of society at large of man as well as woman than the true and proper position of woman, she said in an 1849 speech in Philadelphia. Born in Nantucket, Mass. January 3, 1793, and a cousin of the Pennsylvania statesman, Benjamin Franklin, Mott was an abolitionist before the Civil War and was speaking out for womens rights some 70 years ahead of the 19th Amendment ratification. Th village of LaMott at the site of Motts farm is designated as a National Historic Site as one of the first racially integrated communities in the country after the Civil War and as tribute to Motts legacy for equal rights for all persons. The 19th Amendment reads: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Securing the right to vote for women came after decades of agitation and protest. This week we honor that milestone while creating new ones in this similarly transformative time. And we honor those women whose courage to risk home, life, and reputation set the stage for the leaders of today to follow in their footsteps. A new generation of women is now upon the stage, improving the increased opportunities furnished for the acquirement of knowledge, said Lucretia Mott in 1849, foretelling a message that rings true today. Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said it was a "public sentiment" that the probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death be conducted by the even though he believes in capability of the Maharashtra Police. Governments of Maharashtra and Bihar have locked horns over the jurisdiction to investigate the Rajput case. The Bihar government had recommended a probe, days after Patna police registered an FIR against the late actor's Mumbai-based girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty on the charge of abetment of suicide. Rajput, 34, was found hanging in his apartment in Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 this year. "I have worked with the Maharashtra Police for the last five years, so I know their capabilities. However, sometimes, police function under political pressure which should not happen," the former chief minister told reporters when asked whether he believes in the Maharashtra police. He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a COVID care centre for journalists. Fadnavis said the supreme court will pass an appropriate order in the matter so that no comparison is made between the Maharashtra and the Bihar Police in the case. "I have been saying since the first day that Maharashtra police are the best," he added. "The kind of situation arose in (Sushant case)...a public sentiment got created that this case should go to the That is why it has gone to the supreme court," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Greece is on the brink of becoming the next country to be added to Britains two-week quarantine list after an alarming surge in coronavirus cases. Hundreds of thousands of British tourists face having their plans plunged into chaos after EU figures showed the Greek infection rate had quadrupled in two weeks. It has soared past the benchmark of 20 Covid cases per 100,000 people the point at which Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the introduction of quarantine measures was triggered. Rising levels of cases in Denmark, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Croatia were also being monitored last night as travel experts warned it was inevitable that more countries would be added to the Governments so-called red list. EU figures showed the Greek infection rate had quadrupled in two weeks, soaring past the benchmark of 20 Covid cases per 100,000 people It came as 160,000 holidaymakers scrambled to get home from France, Malta and the Netherlands before new quarantine rules came into force at 4am yesterday. Greece set a temporary 50-person limit on public gatherings on Friday and said restaurants and bars must close by midnight in Athens and other parts of the country including Mykonos, Crete, Paros, Kos, Santorini, Rhodes and Zakynthos. The limit on public gatherings will last until August 24 and will be imposed in parts of the country where infection numbers have risen dramatically in recent weeks. Last week the government ordered the quarantining of the countrys third-largest migrant camp, on the island of Chios, after a Yemeni asylum seeker and a staff member tested positive. Greece, where 223 people have died during the pandemic, was seen as safe for tourists. Pictured: A waiter wears a protective face mask as he works in a bar at the beginning of August Greece, where 223 people have died during the pandemic, was seen as safe for tourists. But cases surged after it reopened its borders to Britons in mid-July to revive its economy. Travel expert Alex Macheras, who correctly predicted quarantine rules in France, the Netherlands and Malta last week, said: Early in the pandemic Greece imposed a hard lockdown and controlled the spread of the virus. But this has been relaxed to the point of being totally random. 'As a result, the number of cases has soared. It is an example of a country wrestling with the competing interests of public health and the economy. Anyone travelling abroad must do it with their eyes open that there is a danger that quarantine can be imposed at any moment. A Government spokesman said: Public health remains the UKs top priority, which is why we make changes to the list as necessary. She is currently spending time in Ibiza after being forced to lockdown in the UK. And Demi Rose was sure to set pulses racing when she stepped out in a revealing light blue bikini with her pet pooch Teddy for a sun-soaked beach day on Saturday. The model, 25, looked nothing short of sensational in the ensemble which put her ample assets and pert posterior on full display. Beach babe: Demi Rose set pulses racing as she slipped into a VERY revealing blue jewel bikini while hitting the beach in Ibiza on Saturday Demi's bikini top had a jewelled flower at the centre, with ties wrapped around her toned torso to cinch in her waist. Her minuscule bikini bottoms also had beaded detailing at the front, while it was tied high on her waist to accentuate her hourglass curves. She stepped out in black flip flops, and shielded her eyes from the brilliant summer sun with a pair of chic shades. The brunette beauty pulled her luscious locks into a sleek ponytail, and she used a light palette of make-up for her outing at the beach. Sizzling! Demi's bikini top had a jewelled flower at the centre, with ties wrapped around her toned torso to cinch in her waist Wow! The model, 25, looked nothing short of sensational in the ensemble which put her ample assets and pert posterior on full display Revealing: Her minuscule bikini bottoms also had beaded detailing at the front, while it was tied high on her waist to accentuate her hourglass curves When she arrived at the beach, Demi shrugged on a simple semi-sheer black jacket as she strolled with an ice-cold drink in one hand. Demi is caught up in the coronavirus chaos after the government pulled its air bridge with the Spain following a spike in COVID-19 cases last month. The government introduced a mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone returning to Britain from Spain in a hastily announced change in the rules. Sweet: Demi enjoyed a sun-soaked day out at the beach with her adorable pet pooch Teddy Accessorise: stepped out in black flip flops, and shielded her eyes from the brilliant summer sun with a pair of chic shade Stylish: When she arrived at the beach, Demi shrugged on a simple semi-sheer black jacket as she strolled with an ice-cold drink in one hand The rules apply to all regions of Spain, including the Canary and Balearic islands - though politicians in the latter say they are trying to thrash out a regional air bridge. Spain was one of the worst hit countries in Europe by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 290,000 cases and over 28,000 deaths, however it imposed very strict lockdown measures to contain the spread, gradually easing them earlier in the summer. Spain had been among of a number of 'air-bridge' countries considered to be safe for quarantine-free travel, promoting many stars to book getaways. Before her trip to Ibiza, Demi had been isolating in her London flat, after the novel coronavirus pandemic scrapped her travel plans for March - much to her chagrin. Wow! The brunette beauty pulled her luscious locks into a sleek ponytail, and she used a light palette of make-up for her outing at the beach Quarantine: Demi is caught up in the coronavirus chaos after the government pulled its air bridge with the Spain following a spike in COVID-19 cases last month Staying in: Before her trip to Ibiza, Demi had been isolating in her London flat, after the novel coronavirus pandemic scrapped her travel plans for March - much to her chagrin The curvaceous beauty recently lamented: 'All I have with me is crochet stuff and bikinis. I'm sick of wearing all the other stuff that I bought that is loungey. 'What is your bet that this will be over in June, July, August... What do you think, like never? Corona really f**ed us up, really majorly f**ked us up. 'I hope you're all staying safe and me... I am meditating, I'm trying to read a lot of books. Me and Teddy are really bored. I really want corona to f**k off, honestly.' The brunette beauty was catapulted to fame when she became romantically linked to Kylie Jenner's ex, rapper Tyga. Two former presidents confer: Newly re-appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in conversation with SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena at a ceremony at Temple Trees a day before the Cabinet was appointed without the latter. Only two SLFP MPs were included in a 26-member Cabinet dominated by MPs from Mr. Rajapaksas party. Pic by Indika Handuwala Guterres 'deeply concerned' over environmental threat posed by stricken oil tanker off Yemen coast 14 August 2020 - The UN chief is "deeply concerned" about the condition of the FSO Safer oil tanker, moored off the western coast of Yemen, his spokesperson said on Friday. Built in 1974, the ship reportedly sprang a leak in 2019, after being used as a storage vessel since the late 1980s, and was abandoned after its engine room flooded with seawater, threatening to destabilize the vessel and discharge its cargo. The aging tanker has had almost no maintenance since the civil conflict in Yemen intensified in 2015 and risks causing a major oil spill, explosion or fire, that would have catastrophic environmental and humanitarian consequences for Yemen and the region. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres maintained that the potential oil slick in the Red Sea would not only "severely harm Red Sea ecosystems relied on by 30 million people across the region", but would also force the Hudaydah port to close for months further exacerbating Yemen's already severe economic crisis and "cut off millions of people from access to food and other essential commodities". "The Secretary-General urges the removal of any obstacles to the efforts needed to mitigate the dangers posed by the Safer tanker without delay", said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The UN chief specifically called for granting independent technical experts "unconditional access to the tanker to assess its condition and conduct any possible initial repairs", he added. "The assessment will provide crucial scientific evidence for the next steps to be taken in order to avert catastrophe", Mr. Dujarric explained. Demands for action On Tuesday, international environmental group Greenpeace wrote a letter to the Secretary-General, calling on the UN to make the situation its top priority and use its "full diplomatic and technical capacity to carry out an urgent on-board technical assessment to determine what repairs are needed to make the vessel at least temporarily safe." And in mid-July, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) chief, Inger Andersen, told the Security Council that the clock was ticking for getting a UN team of experts aboard the Safer, before it spills its cargo of 1.148 million barrels of light crude oil into the Red Sea, triggering what would likely then be an "environmental, economic and humanitarian catastrophe". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Without a vaccine or a highly successful treatment, widespread testing is seen as a cornerstone for fighting a pandemic in which as many as 40 percent of infected people do not show symptoms and may unknowingly spread the virus. Testing a lot of people is crucial to seeing where the virus is going and identifying hot spots before they get out of hand. Experts see extensive testing as a key part of safely reopening schools, businesses and sports. The nations testing capacity has expanded from where it was only a few months ago, but public health experts believe it must grow far more to bring the virus under control. The Harvard Global Health Institute has suggested the country needs at least 1 million tests per day to slow the spread of the virus, and as many as 4 million per day to get ahead of the virus and stop new cases. Some experts view that goal as too ambitious, and others say the benchmark should focus not on a particular number of tests but on the percent of people testing positive. Yet there is broad consensus that the current level of testing is inadequate and that any decrease in testing is a worrisome move in the wrong direction. There is a reasonable disagreement about what that number ought to be, but all of them are way ahead of where we are right now, said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. There is no expert that I know of that thinks that our testing infrastructure right now meets the needs of the American people. Adm. Brett P. Giroir, the assistant secretary for health and the Trump administrations virus testing czar, said that conducting millions of tests per day was not realistic. The administration has asked states to test at least 2 percent of their populations each month, or the equivalent of about 220,000 people per day nationally, which Admiral Giroir said would be enough to identify rising hot spots. We are doing the appropriate amount of testing now to reduce the spread, flatten the curve, save lives, he told reporters on Thursday. LONDON - The U.K. marked Saturday the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Japan during World War II, with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip leading tributes to those who fought during the six-year campaign. In a special message on Victory over Japan Day, the queen and Philip offered their grateful thanks to those involved in a campaign that has been widely overlooked in the decades since. The war cost the lives of some 50,000 British and Commonwealth troops, nearly half of whom perished in brutal prison camps. Those of us who remember the conclusion of the Far East campaign, whether on active service overseas, or waiting for news at home, will never forget the jubilant scenes and overwhelming sense of relief, said the 94-year-old queen, who remains in quarantine at her residence in Windsor Castle because of the coronavirus pandemic. Amongst the joy at the end of the conflict, we also remembered, as we do today, the terrible devastation that it brought, and the cost borne by so many, she added. Following the surrender of the Nazis on May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day, Allied troops carried on fighting the Japanese until an armistice was declared on Aug. 15, 1945 in the wake of the U.S.s dropping of two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan formally surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, but many Pacific War veterans felt their efforts were not fully recognized and forgotten in the fog of the mushroom clouds. They dubbed themselves the forgotten army. They were being remembered Saturday across the U.K., firstly with a commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum in central England and a two-minute silence. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. They all spoke with some of the around 40 veterans present, carefully observing social distancing guidelines to remain at least 2 metres apart. And all those present looked skyward in wonder after the official ceremony to see a special Battle of Britain flypast. Richard Day, 93, who was involved in the decisive 1944 Battle of Kohima in north-east India, remembered the harsh conditions everyone had to contend with, and of how he contracted malaria and dysentery at the same time, while fighting a highly determined enemy. I think the worse part was crossing rivers at night, it was cold at night, then all night in wet clothes and wet equipment, still having to move about, he said. It was a glory for them (the Japanese troops) to die for their emperor. They didnt appear to have any fear at all. In a first since the London 2012 Olympic Games In London, the Royal Air Forces Red Arrows scheduled a U.K.-wide tour with flypasts over the four nations capital cities. However, due to poor weather the flypast over the Scottish capital of Edinburgh was cancelled and the Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport instead. The pilots landed there to greet three veterans. In an open V-J Day anniversary letter addressed to Veterans of the Far East Campaign, Johnson hailed the courage of those who fought in Asia and the Pacific. You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today, he said. Johnson acknowledged their war-time experiences had been overshadowed in popular imagination by the conflict in Europe, but he stressed that their service had brought WWII to an end and inaugurated a period of peace and prosperity across southeast Asia that remains intact to this day. Britain, which had been a colonial power across much of the region, suffered arguably its biggest military defeat to Japanese forces in the early years of the war. Overwhelmed troops had to retreat from Malaysia, Singapore and Burma in some of the most inhospitable conditions imaginable. These blows were so heavy that many feared they would break your will to fight on, Johnson said in his tribute letter. But you survived the longest retreat in British history, marching almost 1,000 miles from Burma to India, and then you regrouped and reformed. The prime minister also highlighted the creation of the formidable 14th Army, a fighting force that was made up of nearly a million soldiers, including from India and Africa, and which helped turn defeat into victory. Greenlands ice sheet may have shrunk past the point of return, with the ice likely to melt away no matter how quickly the world reduces climate-warming emissions, new research suggests. Scientists studied data on 234 glaciers across the Arctic territory spanning 34 years through 2018 and found that annual snowfall was no longer enough to replenish glaciers of the snow and ice being lost to summertime melting. That melting is already causing global seas to rise about a millimeter on average per year. If all of Greenlands ice goes, the water released would push sea levels up by an average of six meters enough to swamp many coastal cities around the world. This process, however, would take decades. Greenland is going to be the canary in the coal mine, and the canary is already pretty much dead at this point, said glaciologist Ian Howat at Ohio State University. He and his colleagues published the study Thursday in the Nature Communications Earth & Environment journal. The Arctic has been warming at least twice as fast as the rest of the world for the last 30 years, an observation referred to as Arctic amplification. The polar sea ice hit its lowest extent for July in 40 years. The Arctic thaw has brought more water to the region, opening up routes for shipping traffic, as well as increased interest in extracting fossil fuels and other natural resources. Greenland is strategically important for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America goes via the Arctic island. Last year, President Donald Trump offered to buy Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. But Denmark, a U.S. ally, rebuffed the offer. Then last month, the U.S. reopened a consulate in the territorys capital of Nuuk, and Denmark reportedly said last week it was appointing an intermediary between Nuuk and Copenhagen some 3,500 kilometers away. Scientists, however, have long worried about Greenlands fate, given the amount of water locked into the ice. The new study suggests the territorys ice sheet will now gain mass only once every 100 years a grim indicator of how difficult it is to re-grow glaciers once they hemorrhage ice. In studying satellite images of the glaciers, the researchers noted that the glaciers had a 50 percent chance of regaining mass before 2000, with the odds declining since. We are still draining more ice now than what was gained through snow accumulation in good years, said lead author Michalea King, a glaciologist at Ohio State University. The sobering findings should spur governments to prepare for sea-level rise, King said. Things that happen in the polar regions dont stay in the polar region, she said. Still, the world can still bring down emissions to slow climate change, scientists said. Even if Greenland cant regain the icy bulk that covered its 2 million square kilometers, containing the global temperature rise can slow the rate of ice loss. When we think about climate action, were not talking about building back the Greenland ice sheet, said Twila Moon, a glaciologist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center who was not involved in the study. Were talking about how quickly rapid sea-level rise comes to our communities, our infrastructure, our homes, our military bases. GOGEBIC COUNTY, MI - A man drowned on Friday evening after falling from the Presque Isle Falls, part of a state park on Lake Superior in the westernmost part of the Upper Peninsula. State police arrived at the Presque Isle Campground, off County Road 519, shortly after 8:30 p.m. local time (9:30 p.m. EDT) after receiving a 911 call reporting that a person had fallen from the waterfall. The man was found unresponsive in waters nearby, and pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release. State troopers from the Wakefield Post were assisted by federal forest officers, the Gogebic County Sheriffs Department, Gogebic County Search and Rescue, Beacon EMS, and Porcupine Mountain DNR Officers. The Presque Isle Falls are located on the Presque Isle River, inside the Porcupine Mountains State Park, in the western Upper Peninsula. The river has strong currents and some rapids, and the waterfalls are as high as 25 feet in some places. Read more on MLive: Muskegon inmate with coronavirus receives meeting with parole board after AG support Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds At least 23 lawsuits filed against owners of failed mid-Michigan dams and state agencies An explosion and ensuing fire injured at least four people in a district with many publishers and bookshops in Iran's capital Tehran, state media reported on Saturday, the latest in a series of blasts and fires, some of which have hit sensitive sites, India Today reports. Fire department spokesman Jalal Maleki told the state news agency IRNA that the blast late on Friday caused the fire that engulfed the four storey building near Tehran University where paper and books were stored. Firemen rescued three men and a woman who were rushed to hospital and put out the blaze, Maleki said. The cause of the blast was under investigation. This year, India faced one of its worst nightmares - a global pandemic, which has already claimed the lives of millions around the world. In India alone, the number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 23 lakh while the death toll is nearing the 50k mark. But there has been a silver lining -- while the country has been writhing in pain of death and disease, Indians have been coming forth with innovative solutions to alleviate the miseries of those who have been affected the most. In the initial phases of the pandemic, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India will have to be "atmanirbhar" or self-reliant to overcome the crisis, little did we know that this was just the push some Indians needed to think out-of-the-box and come up with ideas which can make things easier during the emergency, if not easy. As India marks its 74th year of independence on August 15, let's take a look at Indians who epitomised the idea of a self-reliant nation. RELATED NEWS Security Beefed Up in Delhi-NCR with Strict Vigil at Border Areas ahead of Independence Day Celebrations 17-year-old launches app to connect unemployed migrant workers with employers A 17-year-old from Noida has developed an app, Bharat Shramik, to help connect unemployed migrant workers with employers who may be willing to hire them. The mass migration following the lockdown in India brought on problems of its own - for one, the migrants may have made it back home, but they were still out of a job. That is where Akshat Mittal, a student from Noida, decided to step in. He set up a website called bharatshramik.in and even developed an app with the help of his father, Ashish Mittal. The idea was to connect the unemployed migrants looking for jobs with employers who were looking for people to hire. Fighting fake news "infodemic" in times of coronavirus Even as the coronavirus pandemic has forced countries around the world into lockdown, it is the "infodemic" of fake news that seems to be spreading than the virus itself, especially in India. Most links that you see on social media appear believable. But how can you verify it? How can you find out if it's real or not? Mohammed Zeeshan Fatmi, a freelance digital marketeer residing in Bangalore, may have an answer to your questions. In partnership with a few other volunteers, Fatmi has started a project named 'COVID-19: Fight Fake News'. Fatmi and team have taken it upon themselves to debunk myths surrounding coronavirus and more importantly, direct people to correct information pertaining to the same. The project is active on WhatsApp, Telegram and Twitter. When someone receives a fake news story or any misleading claim, they forward that message/image/video to the team. One of the team members checks for information available on the claim being made. In most cases, fact checks have already been done. They then pass along the correct information. Spreading awareness on Covid-19 through interactive comics Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor of Environmental Health at PGIMER, Chandigarh came up with a comic for children which can help spread awareness about the pandemic, how it spreads and what measures can be taken. He believes that although children are less likely to contract the disease, the panic amongst them is high. "Young adults above the age of 15 have other sources where they get their information from. So do adults. But people below 15 are confused about what Coronavirus is all about," said Dr. Khaiwal, who along with Dr. Suman Mor of Punjab University came up with the comic strip. The comic, which has been released under the banner of the Health Ministry, strives to educate kids about the virus and sums up its causes and symptoms in twenty-two pages. The colourful graphics and bold text convey the message in an appealing way to children. Tripura man builds a battery-operated bike which can help with social distancing Keeping in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis Do Gaz Doori, a mechanic from Tripura has built a bike that runs on battery and even accommodates a pillion but while maintaining social distancing. The bike was built by Partha Saha to ensure riders can maintain proper social distancing measures while riding their bike with pillion passengers. Saha, a resident of Aralia, Agartala, has built the battery-operable bike while maintaining a space of one-meter between the rider's seat and that of the pillion. Saha stated that with the help of this bike, he can take the help of his daughter to carry out chores and finish necessary tasks for the family. Karnataka scientists convert old refrigerator into "disinfection chamber" With all of India dedicating itself to fighting the coronavirus crisis, a group of researchers from Karnataka have managed to convert an old refrigerator into a complete "disinfection chamber". In an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus which had already infected over 10,000 Indians, researchers Dr Arun M Isloor, head of Chemistry Department, National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal and scholar Syed Ibrahim have developed the device which can successfully disinfect anything kept inside it. Isloor told ANI that they have named the device "Zero COV" and that it is effective in killing 99.9 percent of any microorganisms that may be present on the surface of an object. Isloor also added that the fridge can be used to disinfect anything including edible items like vegetables and fruits and also non-edible items like books, currency notes, envelopes and more. IIT-Guwahati students build device to disinfect objects The fear of contracting COVID-19 from touching surfaces have prompted many of us to clean doorknobs and wipe elevator keys, but all that could soon be a thing of the past as two IIT-Guwahati students have now claimed to have built a device that could disinfect objects. 'UV-Astra', a nano Ultra-Violet (UV) device, can kill viruses and bacteria and sterilise surfaces within three seconds, its creators Anant Mittal and Shubham Yennawar, both civil engineering students at the institute, insisted. Mittal, who has applied for a patent for the device, said that "UV-Astra will prove to be the best affordable personal protection weapon against the virus." It could also disinfect Personal Protection Equipment(PPE) for reuse, he said. "Ultra-violet light is known to disinfect properties. Our solution uses a very low-power UV light that does not cause any harm. IIT-Guwahati students develop mobile app for contactless air travel during the pandemic Travelling has become a whole lot more complex, and scary, during the pandemic. You can be well equipped with gloves and masks and face shields, but even then, is travel really contactless? Thanks to a group of students, it now is. A group of IIT-Guwahati students has developed a mobile application for seamless and contactless air travel not only during the current pandemic but also during non-crisis situations. The aim of the mobile app Flyzy, developed as per International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines, is to provide contactless boarding, keeping in mind the easier baggage drop, manageable parking, better shopping experience and providing necessary updates during the whole journey, IIT-Guwahati said, according to a report by PTI. Punjab man builds eco-friendly wooden bicycle during lockdown A man in Punjab's Zirapur built an eco-friendly bicycle out of wood during the coronavirus lockdown. According to a report by TOI, the man had a lot of free time during the lockdown, which he utilised to build the bicycle. Bihar Madhubani artist makes beautiful handpainted masks Remant Kumar Mishra, a Madhubani artist from Bihar, was struggling to make ends meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused millions to lose their jobs and return to their hometowns. In keeping with the need of the hour, the award-winning artist decided to use his artistic talents to fashion face masks. The artist managed to churn out several beautiful cotton masks consisting of three layers of cloth with ornate and original handpainted designs. His products went viral on social media, and turns out, his phone hasn't stopped ringing since. Visual aesthetics push forward extreme youth as the face of romance. Electric chemistry between junior citizens is a permanent cliche. Too many photogenic couples agonise over the state of their heart in the prettiest of frames. Love on the screen or on the page gives us protagonists with dimples and freshly shampooed hair. From princesses who were kissed awake by wandering princes in fairy tales to the new-age couple clashing on commitment issues in the just-released e-story, The U-Turn, by Vani Mahesh and Ravinder Singh, soul mates are always on the right side of thirty. From the word go when boy meets girl, all possible conflicts between them are presented as eye candy. Lovebirds on a bench, on a beach, in a bar, in a bed are all uniformly young, young, young! The more complicated area of older relationships freely shows up an ageist bias; it is presumed that after a certain age passion limps away holding a cane. Poised on that arc between middle age and old age, men and women are thought to have more weighty issues on the mind than catching someones eye. Cinema and literature that successfully do away with the wise mask of the gray-haired are such a relief from those that give us pondering and profound older folks who are composed of the right advice and thoughtful sayings. The truth is there is nothing calm and mature about love at any age; it is an inbuilt flaw in that feeling, that it heaves the breast and dials up the breathing. Though Amour, the French film, follows an elderly couple unflinchingly down the togetherness path to a somewhat tragic end, there is 45 Years, about a twosome preparing to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary only to have the past tumble down on them, and The Good Liar, where the story starts with an online meeting between two septuagenarians. The sharpness the veteran actors bring to the roles jazz up these couplings. Intense emotions bubble up, with everyone concerned exploring various facets of loneliness. Heartbreak is not the realm of any one particular age group. Love stories dont just fly high on first meetings and sparkling banter, a lot of them thrive on nostalgia and on flashbacks, regrets and reunions. Curiosity about how things could have turned out is a human trait, birthdays no bar. Even Newland, who refused to meet his ex-flame Ellen at the end of Edith Whartons The Age of Innocence, did so because he still felt something. Love itself can be new or old, but lovers, when they have just fallen in love, are always young, eighteen till they die. So, yes, Romeos face has wrinkled a bit and Juliet has bags under her eyes, but, oh, the depth they bring to the choppy waters of love. The next time you see an octogenarian couple animatedly talking, dont just presume they are exchanging notes on old-age homes. Maybe they are arguing about where to go on their honeymoon. Shinie Antony is a writer and editor based in Bangalore. Her books include The Girl Who Couldn't Love, Barefoot and Pregnant, Planet Polygamous, and the anthologies Why We Dont Talk, An Unsuitable Woman, Boo. Winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Asia Prize for her story A Dogs Death in 2003, she is the co-founder of the Bangalore Literature Festival and director of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival. They are two men called David but the contrast between them could hardly be more stark. A BBC lifer of more than 30 years, David Jordan is the Corporations chief trouble-shooter tasked with upholding its editorial standards and investigating when Auntie gets it wrong. Meanwhile, Jamaican-born David Whitely better known as Sideman is the razor-sharp comedian and presenter who landed a BBC radio show on the back of his huge popularity as a social media influencer. David Jordan, left, is the Corporations chief trouble-shooter tasked with upholding its editorial standards and investigating when Auntie gets it wrong. Meanwhile, Jamaican-born David Whitely, right, better known as Sideman is the razor-sharp comedian and presenter who landed a BBC radio show on the back of his huge popularity as a social media influencer Their two very different worlds collided last week when Mr Whitely resigned from BBC 1Xtra in protest at the decision by Mr Jordans department to defend the use, in full, of the N-word in a news report. As the BBC desperately struggles to woo a younger, more ethnically diverse audience, the episode has shone a light on a cultural and generational clash at the heart of the Corporation. Insiders say Mr Jordan who is paid 177,000 a year is attempting to protect the independence of reporters and editors by not bowing to noisy campaign groups and Britains mounting cancel culture. Others argue that the Corporations mainly white, middle-age managers remain impervious to change and are undermining their 100 million drive to produce diverse and inclusive content. Last Sunday, BBC director-general Tony Hall overruled Mr Jordan and apologised for the use of the racist slur. His intervention is understood to have been prompted by fears of further resignations by black and ethnic minority presenters. However, it has failed to end the row. The latest controversy erupted after BBC social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin used the full N-word when reporting on a suspected race-hate attack against a musician known as K-Dogg This weekend, a group of 100 black professional women said that Lord Halls apology which came 12 days after the word was first broadcast was not enough and called for a 24-hour boycott of the BBC, starting at 9am on Wednesday. Members of the InfluencHers campaign are also calling for the dismissal of Mr Jordan and the BBCs director of news, Fran Unsworth, who is paid 340,000 a year. The BBCs gratuitous use of the N-word could constitute a race-hate crime, the group said. BBC sources say that the Corporation remains gripped by confusion over whether or not there is now a blanket ban on the full use of the N-word. Lord Hall accepted its use in a report about an attack on an NHS worker caused distress and admitted the BBC should have taken a different approach. Yet this newspaper has found eight examples of the word being used in full across five articles on the BBC News website. One, posted in 2016 about a BBC2 series called Black Is The New Black, used the word four times in just three paragraphs. Another, posted in 2014 about a councillor using a racial slur live on BBC radio, contained the full N-word in its opening paragraph. The latest controversy erupted after BBC social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin used the full N-word when reporting on a suspected race-hate attack against a musician known as K-Dogg. The 21-year-old was left with a broken leg, nose and cheekbone after being hit by a car as he walked home from his job at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on July 22. In her report broadcast on local news programme BBC Points West on July 28 before being repeated on the BBC News Channel the next morning Ms Lamdin said: As the men ran away they hurled racial abuse, calling him a n*****. The BBC was soon under fire from viewers and the report was pulled. Critics included Megha Mohan, the Corporations gender and identity correspondent, who said: By not saying the N-word, you send a clear signal that you will not normalise the most violent of language. It blows my mind that this is open for interpretation or being justified. Insiders say Ms Lamdin recorded two versions of her report one where the N-word was used in full and one where it wasnt and correctly sought advice from her bosses over which version to use. Under the BBCs editorial guidelines, only three swear words currently require a mandatory referral to either a channel controller or editor. The guidelines say the BBCs editorial policy department, led by Mr Jordan, may also be consulted. Racist language, including the N-word, is not included on the list. Yesterday it emerged that editorial director Kamal Ahmed has written to staff telling them any racist language on news and current affairs shows should now be referred to Ms Unsworth. One source claimed Mr Jordans department was involved in the decision to use the full N-word in Ms Lamdins report and then continued to defend the decision. On August 4, the BBC issued a statement saying that while it accepted the use had caused offence, the decision had been made by a number of senior editorial figures and was editorially justified. It said K-Doggs family wanted the racist abuse he allegedly suffered to be reported in full. But the statement poured petrol on the fire and the Corporation was drowning under more than 18,500 complaints within 48 hours. Two days later Sideman quit. With more than 290,000 Instagram followers, the DJ who moved to Birmingham aged 11 was regarded as a high-flyer destined for a prime slot on Radio 1. He was last week described as an absolute star by Greg James, presenter of the Radio 1 breakfast show, and his resignation received public support from Radio 1 DJ MistaJam and Radio London presenter Eddie Nestor. Last Sunday, BBC director-general Tony Hall overruled Mr Jordan and apologised for the use of the racist slur. His intervention is understood to have been prompted by fears of further resignations by black and ethnic minority presenters. However, it has failed to end the row The Mail on Sunday has learned that following an emergency meeting on the morning after Sideman resigned, Lord Hall decided to overrule Mr Jordan. Sources say he feared that the DJs powerful resignation statement, published on Instagram, would spark a wave of resignations from other black and ethnic minority presenters. He is also said to believe it could undermine his efforts to improve the ethnic diversity of the Corporations output and both its on- and off-screen talent something he regards as a key part of his legacy. Lord Halls intervention was the second time in a year that he has overruled the BBCs complaints unit and that has fuelled questions over Mr Jordans future. Last September, he reversed a ruling that BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty had breached editorial guidelines when she condemned comments made by US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the BBCs earlier statement justifying the N-word decision has been removed from its complaints website and replaced with Lord Halls announcement. Lord Hall has promised to strengthen the BBCs internal guidance on offensive language across our output which has been widely interpreted as the launch of a long-awaited review into exactly which words should not be broadcast. Sources say Mr Jordan does not believe in a blanket ban on words and instead, as with Ms Lamdins report, judgments should be made on a case-by-case basis. One senior figure at the BBC suggested Mr Jordan had been scapegoated, adding: I think some people are trying to say Davids unit got two things wrong on race and therefore they are a problem. I think there is a dangerous trend. You cant make editorial policy by having some sort of an opinion poll of either the staff inside the organisation or pressure groups outside the organisation. Bans are almost always a crude way of doing anything. Mr Jordan also received support from Trevor Phillips, the former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Speaking as a journalist, the reporters first job and his or her employers first job is to tell their readers, listeners and viewers the truth and the whole truth in all its particulars and that includes sometimes using terms which other people might find offensive or upsetting, he said. The fact is what happened to this young man needs to be told in detail and that is a hundred times more important than the potential upset to any viewer. That has not stopped a torrent of fury from senior BBC staff at the way the controversy has been handled. One BBC newsroom insider said Ms Lamdin had been hung out to dry and urged the incoming director-general Tim Davie to overhaul the way the Corporation reacts during a crisis. The BBCs response was so cack-handed and slow, they said. Why did it take so long to decide it was wrong? I just wish the BBC would make up its mind. If you see an open wound dont let it bleed. Another senior BBC figure said: If the BBC reached its decision through a proper editorial process, it should have been prepared to defend its position. Senior executives should have put their jobs on the line. What do these guys do to earn their salary other than hide most of the time? At the BBC there is always a desperation to spread the responsibility far and wide so it doesnt stick to anyone. Last night, a BBC spokesman said divisional directors have been asked to ensure a mandatory referral of all racially insulting language to them. The BBC added: Tony Hall has been quite clear we will be strengthening our guidance on offensive language across our output Furthermore, work is being carried out on the use of language on the BBC and internally, led by our diversity and inclusion team. Tony Hall apologised on behalf of the whole BBC and we are not apportioning blame to any individual. The 75th anniversary of VJ Day victory over the Japanese which signalled the very end of the Second World War has been commemorated with a series of events honouring those who fought in the Far East. A televised remembrance service took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, where a two-minute silence was led by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at 11am. Prime Minister Boris Johnson read the Exhortation before the silence, which was followed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast over the arboretum. Richard Day, 93, from Boreham Wood, north London, who was involved in the decisive Battle of Kohima in north-east India, which marked a turning point in the Far East land campaign, was among about 40 veterans at the ceremony of remembrance. Mr Day, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, served in the forces which relieved Kohima and Imphal and told of how he contracted malaria and dysentery at the same time, while fighting a highly determined enemy. The Red Arrows, carrying out a flypast over Belfast to mark VJ Day (Cpl Adam Fletcher/RAF) He said: I think the worse part was crossing rivers at night, it was cold at night then all night in wet clothes and wet equipment, still having to move about. They (the Japanese) were very determined for their emperor. It was a glory for them to die for their emperor. They didnt appear to have any fear at all. Charles and the duchess laid poppy posies and wreathes at the Kwai Railway Memorial, while veterans looked on from benches dotted around the memorial, to maintain social distancing. The princes wreath read: In everlasting remembrance, Charles, while the duchesss poppy posy read: In everlasting remembrance of your service and sacrifice. (PA Graphics) The Covid-19 pandemic has meant tributes to mark the landmark anniversary have been organised online and in television, with the Duke of Cambridge to appear on screens across the country in VJ Day 75: The Nations Tribute, a pre-recorded BBC programme filmed at Horse Guards Parade. Story continues Developed with the Ministry of Defence and involving 300 members of Armed Forces personnel, the programme scheduled to broadcast at 8.30pm promises a host of famous faces reading tributes, military bands and dramatic visual projection, with the duke to give a special address thanking veterans and the wartime generation. In a video to be published online, the Prince of Wales reads an extract from the diary of his grandfather, King George VI, written on August 15th 1945, when thousands watched him and the Queen drive down the Mall in an open carriage. On this, the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day, we say Thank You to the #WW2 generation#VJDay75 pic.twitter.com/khWexFkukg DCMS (@DCMS) August 15, 2020 He reads: By 10am there were already large crowds outside Buckingham Palace and we drove in procession in a state landau with an escort to Westminster where I opened the first Peace time Parliament since 1938. The Crown was carried in the full procession but no robes were worn. My speech took 16 minutes to read, in which I mentioned the surrender of Japan. In a separate video, the Duke of Gloucester reads an extract from the speech delivered by King George VI on VJ Day, which forms part of an online service of commemoration from Leicester Cathedral. Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today A message from The Queen on the 75th anniversary of #VJDay pic.twitter.com/VUqt4CmS1T The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) August 15, 2020 In a special message, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh who himself was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender aboard USS Missouri on August 15, 1945 gave grateful thanks to all those who fought for the Allied nations. In a statement, the Queen said: Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today. The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, featured alongside other veterans on a number of large screens across the UK, including the Piccadilly Curve, in a photo-montage showing veterans today and when they served. In a first since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, the RAFs Red Arrows had scheduled a UK-wide tour with flypasts to take place over the four nations capital cities. However, the flypasts over London, Edinburgh and Cardiff were cancelled due to poor weather, the Ministry of Defence said. The Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft landed to greet three Second World War veterans, and the scheduled flight over Belfast city centre took place at 2pm. A Lancaster bomber, Spitfires and Hurricanes perform a flypast over during the national service of remembrance in Staffordshire (Sgt Graham Taylor/RAF) Small poignant ceremonies took place across London to begin the day, including a piper playing Battles Over at the Imperial War Museums HMS Belfast in London at sunrise, as part of a tribute entitled Waking Up To Peace. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was joined by military chiefs as he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, London, on Saturday morning. In a letter addressed to the veterans of the Far East Campaign, Mr Johnson showed his gratitude to the 50,000 British and Commonwealth service personnel who laid down their lives in the war against Japan, half of whom died in prison camps. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph in Whitehall (PA) He writes: You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today. He joined nine other global figures including US president Donald Trump, Nigerias president Muhammadu Buhari and Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau in a video message thanking those who served. In the Friendship of Nations video released ahead of commemorations, each leader said in turn: To all who served, we thank you. Thank you to all those that served and continue to serve our country. Let us commemorate those we have lost and remember their achievements.#VJDay75 pic.twitter.com/POSqTdvxfp Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 15, 2020 In a video message to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: On behalf of the Labour Party I want to pay tribute to the wartime generation, who through the horrors of conflict showed us the spirit and determination that we need to always remember and always be grateful for. Its important that as we face the challenges of today, we take inspiration from that generation. Through their community spirit and their bravery and their determination for a better world theyve shown us what we can achieve when we pull together. The Roanoke Times The General Assembly returned to Richmond on Tuesday for a special session. Democrats are there to enact police reform and other social justice legislation in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Republicans are there to talk about the budget and limiting the power of the governor to issue emergency orders. The police and budget issues arent very interesting because they break down along predictable partisan lines. The question about gubernatorial power, though, is far more intriguing because while it begins as a partisan question, its really far more complicated. Just how extensive should a chief executives emergency powers be? Thats a question nearly as old as the republic Alexander Hamilton dealt with the presidents emergency powers in the Federalist Papers and in theory we ought to be able to debate the question without a partisan tint. In practice, though, thats impossible because right now, we have a Democratic governor and a pandemic thats become politicized, so naturally Democrats are likely to be inclined to take a broader view of the governors emergency powers than are the Republicans. Its hard to debate philosophical questions like the proper balance of power between the executive and the legislature in an academic fashion when theres actual power involving your party and the other party at stake. Rhetorically, Republicans have the better argument: The legislature should be doing more, and it would be empowering to the people, , said state Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg. Democracy is a good thing. I know that a dictatorship is very efficient, but thats not the way free people should be governed. What if youre a Democrat who thinks Northam generally has done the right things policy-wise, but you think Republicans have a point about balance-of-powers? Thats not an unreasonable point of view. Where you stand often depends on where you sit, and this is one of those. In Virginia, we have Republicans arguing the legislature should curtail the governors vast emergency powers. In Washington, the dynamics are completely reversed. There we have a Republican president who has taken an expansive view of presidential power and Democrats who think Congress should be more assertive while Republican legislators are mostly silent. We guarantee if there were a Democratic president, Republicans would suddenly find new interest in congressional checks-and-balances. Likewise, Virginia Democrats might not be so supportive of gubernatorial power if there were a Republican governor. Thats the danger of any executive power: Each party needs to imagine that power in the hands of a president or governor they dont like. In any case, heres what Virginia Republicans have proposed. Newman has introduced a bill that would limit an emergency order to 30 days without General Assembly approval. If the legislature doesnt act, a governor could reissue the order for another 30 days but no more. Meanwhile, Del. Tony Wilt, R-Rockingham County, has a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit emergency orders to 45 days without legislative approval. Whatever you think of Northams policies, these Republicans proposals to curtail gubernatorial power dont appear out of line with the rules that exist in some other states where there are limits to how long a governor can declare a state of emergency (heres the obligatory reference to states as laboratories of democracy). Georgia mandates if the governor declares an emergency as a result of a public health emergency, he or she must automatically call the legislature into session. In Kansas, a governor only may declare an emergency for 15 days unless the states Finance Council says it can last for 45 that council consists of the governor and eight legislative leaders, from both parties. The District of Columbia isnt a state, but wants to be. It allows the mayor to issue emergency declarations for only 15 days but has created a 90-day exception for declarations related to the current pandemic. After that, the city council has to approve anything. In Minnesota, a governor only may declare an emergency for 30 days unless its extended by the states executive council, which consists of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor and attorney general. In Alaska and Utah, an emergency order may only last for 30 days unless extended by the legislature. In Montana, the governor has to call a special session within 45 days of an emergency declaration or it expires. In Wisconsin, an emergency declaration can only last for 60 days unless extended by the legislature. At least 25 states give the legislature the power to cancel a gubernatorial declaration of emergency at any time. Other states dont appear to impose any significant limits on gubernatorial declarations of emergency, according to a list compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures. North Carolina is on the opposite end; its state code specifically says an emergency can last as long as the governor deems it necessary, so in theory a governor can declare an emergency on day one and then could spend all four years in office operating under the declaration. Hawaii likewise says the governor shall be the sole judge of the existence of the danger, threat, or circumstances giving rise to a declaration of a state of emergency. Newmans proposal mirrors the law in an American territory the Virgin Islands. Wilts amendment would be similar to a law in Montana. Dont expect either of these proposals to go far in a General Assembly currently controlled by Democrats inclined to defend their partys governor although some silently may wonder whether Republicans dont have a point. Imagine how Democrats would react if President Trump took a more energetic approach toward fighting the virus and was issuing order after order about how Americans should conduct themselves during the pandemic. (Never mind that these are really state powers, not federal powers were trying to make a point to show how both parties are often inconsistent). The real problem here is most emergency declarations deal with short-term emergencies. Here we have something a virus that might be around for years. How should government be structured to deal with that? The Roanoke Times Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a major digital initiative in the form of National Digital Health Mission in his Independence Day speech. He said that the project will provide a health ID to every person in the country, and benefir the poor. The prime minister said that whatever medicine a doctor prescribed, when was it prescribed, what were the reports - all this information will be linked to a persons health ID. It is going to be another flagship initiaive of the government like Ayushman Bharat. What is National Digital Health Mission? The blueprint of the programme was launched last year. It seeks to provide an efficient and affordable health coverage through a wide-range of data and infrastructure services. The key feature of this mission is th technology part - it will leverage open digital systems to provide high-quality healthcare for all. It will integrate various digital health services to create an ecosystem which can assimilate existing health information systems. The government has said that it will ensure security and privacy of personal information. What is a health ID? Every person in the country will get a digital health ID which is basically a digital format of all his/her health records which will be linked to the registry of doctors and health facilities across the country. The platform has been planned to improve efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of health service delivery. The health ID will be in the form of a mobile application of website. The government had sought feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders who will be a part of the initiative. The government has said that enrollment in the initiave will be voluntary. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, while launching the blueprint last year, had said that the government made a mark in history by launching Ayushman Bharat Yojana and other IT-enabled schemes like Reproductive Child Healthcare, and NIKSHAY etc. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said both he and Pentagon officials warned Russia not to offer bounties on US troops in Afghanistan. Mr Pompeo discussed the exchange during an interview on Wednesday with Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. "If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans or, for that matter, other Westerners as well, there will be an enormous price to pay. That's what I shared with Foreign Minister Lavrov," Mr Pompeo said. "I know our military has talked to their senior leaders, as well. We won't brook that. We won't tolerate that." He said the Pentagon also issued warnings in the same vein. The admission appears to undermine Donald Trump's messaging about the Russian bounty incident. The president has at times claimed the entire story was a hoax, and at other times claimed the situation wasn't serious enough to warrant his consideration. If Mr Pompeo spoke to the Russian foreign minister about the situation, it must have been serious enough to warrant the discussion and subsequent threat, and Mr Pompeo and the Pentagon must have seen it as more than a hoax. Mr Trump said he did not bring the bounties up during a phone conversation he had with Russian President Vladmir Putin last month. According to The New York Times, Mr Pomepo did not provide further details of his warnings to the Russians. It is unknown if the warnings were specific or vague, and he did not mention who from the Pentagon delivered its warning. Shortly after The New York Times broke the Russia bounty story, US Army General Mark A Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to a Russian military officer, General Valery Gerasimov. It is unusual for commanders to communicate directly in that method. It is unknown whether the officers discussed the Russian bounty scheme. When Pentagon officials were asked if Mr Milley discussed bounties with his Russian counterpart, the Pentagon said that the conversations were kept private to allow the men the ability to speak freely. The Russian bounty story exploded in June, when The New York Times reported - based on CIA analysis - that Russian military members were paying Taliban-affiliated fighters bounties for killing US troops in the region. Richmond Branch Library Written by Tim Williams, Branch Manager, and Ruth Vose, Senior Librarian The Richmond Branch Library, the fourth branch established in the San Francisco Library system, was originally located at 809 Point Lobos Avenue (now Geary Boulevard) and Parker Avenue in 1892. In 1897 the branch relocated to 254 4th Avenue, in back of Blanks Candy Shop, where the smell of cooking chocolate must have sorely tried the concentration of readers! Before the earthquake and fire of 1906, the district was mostly sand dunes except along Geary Boulevard, lower Clement Street and the rim of the Presidio out toward Seacliff. Wild strawberries grew abundantly and, during the Spanish-American War, a tent city of tropps from the Presidio was pitched against the dunes. Many new arrivals to the city were given lots in the Richmond in payment for services in construction or other trades. For some weeks after the 1906 earthquake and fire, Richmond was one of only two branch libraries in operating condition. The present Richmond Branch Library, constructed in 1914 at a cost of $48,910, was the first San Francisco branch library to be built with funds from Andrew Carnegie. Designed in an Italianate style by Bliss and Faville (designers of the Geary Theater and the St. Francis Hotel), the sandstone and reinforced concrete building was dedicated on November 8, 1914 with Senator-elect James Phelan and Mayor James Rolph in attendance. Originally, all library services were on one floor, but as the children's collection grew it was moved downstairs to its present location, probably sometime in the early 1930s. The words "Lecture Hall" over the 10th Avenue entrance to the present Children's Room attest to the room's original function. From the 1930s to the 1970s, the size of the book collection in the branch remained relatively constant, still filling just the original wall shelves. Since then, however, the diverse and growing reading, listening and viewing demands of the Richmond District residents have resulted in a doubling of bookshelves to accomodate a heavily used and everchanging collection of books, audio tapes, videos and CDs, encompassing several languages. New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cardiology Information System Market Research Report by Component, by System, by End-User, by Deployment - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913747/?utm_source=GNW The Global Cardiology Information System Market is expected to grow from USD 240.72 Million in 2019 to USD 410.47 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.30%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Cardiology Information System to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Component, the Cardiology Information System Market studied across Hardware, Services, and Software. Based on System, the Cardiology Information System Market studied across Cardiology Information System, Cardiology PACs, Integrated System, and Standalone. Based on End-User, the Cardiology Information System Market studied across Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Cardiac Cath Labs, Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, and Hospitals. Based on Deployment, the Cardiology Information System Market studied across On-Cloud and On-Premise. Based on Geography, the Cardiology Information System 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 Cardiology Information System Market including Cerner Corporation, Data Networks Inc., Digisonics Inc., Esaote SpA, FUJIFILM medical systems USA Inc., INFINITT Healthcare Co. Ltd., McKesson Corporation, Merge Healthcare Inc., Philips Healthcare Informatics, Inc., and Siemens Healthineers AG. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cardiology Information System Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on 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 Cardiology Information System Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cardiology Information System Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cardiology Information System Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cardiology Information System Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cardiology Information System Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cardiology Information System Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913747/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ BIG RAPIDS Port Huron native Bradley Massman has been named editor of the Pioneer and will begin his new role immediately. Massman joined the Pioneer in November 2019 as its digital editor. Prior to that, he served in a number of roles, including interim editor, at the Huron Daily Tribune one of the Pioneers sister publications in Bad Axe. When I first moved to Big Rapids, I instantly became attached to this area, Massman said. Ive enjoyed everything this town has to offer and really look to exploring it more in the coming weeks and months. Massman, 30, said he looks forward to his new journalist adventure in what he refers to as the big city. Im also looking forward to using my digital skills and knowledge to continue boosting the Pioneers online presence and give readers a new experience, Massman said. "I also have a strong understanding of what community journalism is and how important it is to readers." "Brad brings with him vast experience working in a community newsroom producing content for both print and digital platforms," said Jeff Bergin, Midwest Group Publisher for Hearst Newspapers. "Brad has done a terrific job as interim editor at the Pioneer and we look forward to the work he will do in the position full time." Massman graduated with a bachelor's of degree in journalism from Central Michigan University in 2013. After college, he accepted an editors position for a weekly newspaper in Clyde, Ohio. Massman spent two years there before accepting a reporters position with the Tribune in 2015. My time with the Tribune helped me expand on my reporting skills as well as preparing me to take on leadership roles, he said. In the short time Ive worked with the Pioneer reporters, Ive been impressed each step of the way. The team has a common goal and that is to bring our readers the best local content we can. During his time at the Tribune, Massman collected a number of awards from the Associated Press, including best investigative reporting and best columnist. Massman is currently living in Big Rapids with his fiance, Sarah, and their three-year-old corgi, Stella. Got a story idea? Know a great place to play pickleball? If so, Massman can be reached at bmassman@hearstnp.com. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday alleged that IAS officers in the city were being threatened and provoked by PMO and Lt Governor to revolt against him, even as he asked the bureaucrats to fall in line. He told a press conference that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the bureaucrats as pawns to take revenge against the AAP government. The AAP leader also took on the IAS Officers Association, which had recently passed a resolution against misbehaviour by political executives in the Delhi government, saying it has turned into a forum that only shields the corrupt and the inefficient. Also read | Delhi govt should have some powers otherwise it cannot function, observes SC They (IAS officers) are being threatened with ACB, police and CBI. They are being provoked to revolt against me. I know who all are taking money. IAS officers are being forced to meet and speak out against the Delhi government. LG is getting it done on the prodding of Prime Ministers Office (PMO), he said. When asked what action he would take against the erring officers, Kejriwal said they will fall in line once the Supreme Court gives power to the elected government or the Anti-Corruption Branch comes under its jurisdiction. The Aam Aadmi Party chief accused the Prime Minister of shooting off from the shoulders of the LG and the bureaucrats, saying, Modiji does not do politics directly. Accusing the Health Secretary of not showing up during a recent inspection in LNJP hospital despite the orders, Kejriwal said strong action should be taken against him, so that no officer shows such insensitivity in the future. The IAS association has put a blot on the entire IAS service by shielding corrupt and inefficient officers. Have they ever discussed the hurdles put up by the LG on mohalla clinics or unorganised colonies? Have they discussed any issue concerning public interest? They have nothing to do with the public. They are content with their cars and bungalows. When I had joined the service, it was about serving the country. Stealing and defending it audaciously wont be tolerated, Kejriwal, a former IRS officer, said. The AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa- Mizoram and Union Territory)-cadre IAS Officers Association and DANICS Officers Association had jointly passed a resolution on December 13 against misbehaviour by political executives in the Delhi government. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A coalition of medical groups is demanding the state government urgently ensure doctors and nurses have access to properly-fitted medical masks as healthcare worker infections spiral. Fit-testing, which uses a testing machine to ensure a mask seals to the face, is mandatory for workers dealing with asbestos and silica, but not always for hospitals dealing with COVID-19, leaving doctors and nurses vulnerable to the deadly disease. Youre going to end up with dead healthcare workers, said Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, an infectious diseases physician at a major Melbourne hospital who has been campaigning for mandatory fit-testing. Wed be happy to pay for this ourselves. Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, infectious diseases specialist is among a number of doctors raising concerns about high rates of healthcare infections and access to protective equipment. Credit:Eddie Jim This week, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists took the unprecedented step of writing to federal, Victorian and NSW health ministers, raising serious concerns fit testing was not being done at all hospitals. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An 80-year-old Lakewood man found dead outside his home worked as a physician with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Dr. Craig Cullen-Terzano, a retired U.S. Army veteran, graduated from Harvard and UCLA, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced at the beginning of his Thursday coronavirus briefing. Im told that his work ethic and dedication to his job and the people was unparalleled, DeWine said. Our deepest condolences go out to his loved ones and to those who worked with him. Cullen-Terzano made a daily four-hour round trip from his Lakewood home to his job at the Corrections Reception Center, a state prison for men located in Orient. Cullen-Terzano died about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday in an ambulance outside of the home on Clifton Boulevard just south of Lakewood Park, police said. An unidentified person called police and requested a welfare check to his home. Police found him lying outside of the home. Lakewood police and the Westshore Enforcement Bureau SWAT and negotiators took a suspect into custody early Thursday after a five-hour standoff. Police have not released anymore information on the incident nor have they said if any charges have been filed against the suspect. According to radio logs from Lakewood police, a woman who lives in the home told police that her husband was being loud and making a lot of noise in the downstairs of the home. She also stated her husband had a gun. The logs are not clear about the relationship between the wife, husband and Cullen-Terzano. Read more crime stories on cleveland.com: Man accused of killing 80-year-old Lakewood man surrenders peacefully after five-hour-long standoff Northwest Ohio police officer arrested on child-pornography charges Boy, 2, dies in shooting in Columbus, reports say FBI, Cleveland police search for suspects who stole safe from CVS during downtown unrest Suspect in Richmond Heights shooting arrested in Cleveland Freed From Belarus Jails, Protesters Recount Beatings MINSK, BelarusThey emerged dazed, shaken, and in tears from the detention center in Minsk, to be met by waiting relatives. They displayed the black-and-blue bruises on their bodies, saying police had beaten them mercilessly. One teenager asked his weeping mother to look away. Authorities in Belarus have freed at least 2,000 of about 7,000 people who had been pulled off the streets by riot police in the days following a disputed election that kept the countrys iron-fisted leader, President Alexander Lukashenko, in power. As they reunited with loved ones early Friday, they told of being struck repeatedly with truncheons, being threatened with gang rape, and held amid harsh conditions and overcrowded cells. The accounts are fueling outrage at home and have European countries weighing new sanctions against officials in Belarus. They were beating me without mercy, Alexei Shchitnikov told The Associated Press upon his release, his face disfigured by bruises. The 47-year-old company director displayed a cross drawn on his back, an apparent marking by police that he should be given rough treatment. They were behaving like bandits and real beasts, he added. The people will remember Lukashenkos victory for a long time. Student Sasha Vilks showed a reporter his legs and his back deeply bruised from truncheon blows, but told his weeping mother not to look. They called us terrorists and beat us severely on our legs and our backs, the 19-year-old told the AP. They would beat us first and then ask questions. He said he was kept lying face down for hours in handcuffs and didnt see the faces of his tormentors, who wore balaclavas. Some of them were walking around, saying Give me someone to beat. It was really scary, he said, breaking into tears. Tatyana, a 21-year-old bookseller who didnt give her last name because she feared police reprisals, said she was threatened with gang rape. It was a real hell, she said. When I was on a police bus, they threatened to rape me with a truncheon. The more I cried, the more they beat me. They kept repeating, You love the president! Shuddering, she added: They were indiscriminately beating everyone there, men and women. On the police bus, I saw them break one mans rib and he was crying in pain. The demonstrations began after officials announced that Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, had won 80 percent of the vote in Sundays electiona result that protesters denounced as rigged. During the four nights that followed, black-clad riot police detained thousands of largely peaceful demonstrators in Minsk and other cities after firing tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. At least one person was killed. Police use truncheons on protesters during a protest of the disputed presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 10, 2020. (Sergei Grits/AP Photo) The graphic descriptions of savage beatings and other abuse by police has brought tens of thousands into the streets of the Belarusian capital in the biggest challenge in his tenure. Yegor Martinovich, an award-winning journalist and the editor of the popular Nasha Niva independent online newspaper, was among those detained in the crackdown and said he was beaten ferociously while in custody. They beat us all with truncheons and kicked us while putting us on and off police vehicles, he told the AP. They made us lie on the ground for half a day, our faces down. They were hounding us with dogs, insulting us, and refusing to give us food. They had just one response to all of our pleas: Youve got your revolution!' Martinovich said several people in his cell were covered with bruises from being hit over and over. When the beaten people were suffering from thirst, a guard would give a bottle of tap water for all of us, he said. The authorities cracked down on peaceful protesters with all the repressive power of the authoritarian state, and the consequences of that could be unpredictable. As the jails filled quickly to capacity, police crammed more people into cells intended for only a few inmates. Martinovich said he and 27 others were put in a cell intended for 12 people, and they had to take turns sleeping. When he was released, guards put in 10 more. Others at a Minsk jail said dozens of men and women were packed into cells intended for only two inmates. Many others who were not taken into custody also were hurt. Eduard Kukhterin, a 56-year-old publisher, was struck by rubber bullets in the back and arm while entering his apartment building near a street clash. A police bus arrived and those black-clad thugs jumped on the pavement and started firing at people as if it were a shooting range, he said. It looked like a horror movie, but its Belarus today. Kukhterin said he couldnt go to a hospital for a bullet stuck in his arm because doctors warned him they would have to report it to police, who would detain him. The national police chief later apologized to those who were targeted indiscriminately, and the Interior Ministry, which earlier shunned questions from anguished relatives trying to locate their loved ones, opened a hotline on Friday. Lukashenko blamed protesters for triggering the crackdown, saying some of them assaulted police, who were justified in their response. Police also broke into apartments to seize protesters. Stas Gorelik, who is working on a doctorate at George Washington University, was visiting his parents in Minsk when he was arrested by the Belarusian security agency, which still goes by its Soviet-era name, the KGB. Stas face was broken and blood was dripping down his face when they took him away, said his father, Lev Gorelik, who went to the apartment where his 32-year-old son was staying with his girlfriend. His pillow was also drenched in blood. Lev Gorelik, father of Stas Gorelik, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Mstyslav Chernov/ AP Photo) He said they couldnt find him for three days until they learned he was at a KGB jail, facing charges of organizing mass riots, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The KGB has denied Gorelik access to a lawyer. Its hard to explain such brutalityhe was only doing science and never engaged in activism or politics, the anguished father said. Human rights activists are preparing an appeal to the U.N. Committee Against Torture over the violence against protesters and the abusive treatment of detainees. All those detained were severely beaten before, during and after their arrest, said Valiantsin Stefanovich of the Viasna rights center. We have documented massive abuse and torturethey were drawing crosses on peoples backs with truncheon blows, they were forcing people to engage in mass prayers and making them crawl on the ground naked. In 20 years of work as a human rights defender, I have never seen such abuses and humiliation, he said, adding that law enforcement agents have received a carte blanche for violence. By allowing the crackdown, observers say Lukashenko appears to have burned his bridges to the West and made himself entirely dependent on law enforcement agencies. The people from the KGB and other security agencies have played an increasingly important role in Lukashenkos entourage, and they have been able to enforce their forceful scenario, Stefanovich said. And the longer it goes, the less clear it becomes who depends on whom. The United States and the European Union imposed some sanctions on Belarus in the early 2000s when Lukashenko earned the nickname of Europes last dictator by stifling dissent, but some were later lifted. Throughout his rule, he has tried to blackmail Russia, his main ally and sponsor, by appearing to reach out to the West to win more subsidies. But EU foreign ministers again are taking the first steps toward sanctions in light of the post-election crackdown. This outburst of cruel and unmotivated violence has put Lukashenko back in the Europes last dictator niche, said Minsk-based independent analyst Alexander Klaskovsky. The sanctions and the rising tensions inside the country will leave the president with very little room for maneuver. Yuras Karmanau The prime ministers of Sudan and Egypt on Saturday said they were optimistic that talks with Ethiopia on its controversial mega-dam construction on the Nile would bear fruit. Talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan were suspended last week after Addis Ababa insisted on linking them to renegotiating a deal on sharing the waters of the Blue Nile. Egypt and Sudan view the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dam as a threat to vital water supplies, while Ethiopia considers it crucial for its electrification and development. South Africa, which holds the presidency of the African Union and is mediating negotiations, has urged the countries to "remain involved" in the talks. On Saturday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli made his first official visit to Sudan since the formation of a transitional government in Khartoum last year. Following his talks with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a joint statement was issued saying that "negotiations are the only way to resolve the problems of the dam". The two premiers said they were "optimistic regarding the outcome of the negotiations" held under mediation by the African Union, according to the statement. "It is important to reach an agreement that guarantees the rights and interests of all three nations," it said, adding that a "mechanism to resolve (future) disputes" should be part of any deal. Earlier this month, Egypt's water ministry said that Ethiopia had put forward a draft proposal that lacked a legal mechanism for settling disputes. The GERD has been a source of tension in the Nile River basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011. Egypt and Sudan invoke a "historic right" over the river guaranteed by treaties concluded in 1929 and 1959. But Ethiopia uses a treaty signed in 2010 by six riverside countries and boycotted by Egypt and Sudan authorising irrigation projects and dams on the river. Story continues Madbouli was accompanied to Khartoum by a delegation including Egypt's ministers of water and irrigation, electricity, health, and trade and industry. During his visit, Madbouli is also expected to meet with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling sovereign council, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, council deputy chief and military general. Hamdok's office said the visit aimed to improve cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. ab/sk/hkb/lg Wale Babalakin Wale Babalakin, the Pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka, has said the removal of Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor of the institution was due to gross misappropriation of funds and reckless looting of resources. Mr Babalakin said this Friday while addressing journalists at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Ogundipe was controversially removed as the universitys vice-chancellor on Wednesday by the governing council at a meeting held in Abuja. Six of the members of the council voted for his removal while four voted against. The removal has been condemned by the universitys senate and all the staff unions in the institution. Mr Ogundipe has also rejected the removal saying due process was not followed. A PREMIUM TIMES review of the law establishing the university also showed that only the Nigerian president can remove the vice-chancellor after due consultation with the Council and the Senate acting through the Minister of Education. On Friday, however, Mr Babalakin defended the removal, saying if a vice-chancellor is removed and he wants to complain, he will write an appeal to the visitor. He cannot on his own declare that he has not been removed. He cannot on his own decide to confront his employer, the senior lawyer said. *Looting and Gross Misappropriation* Mr Babalakin argued that the law was appropriately followed in the removal of the vice-chancellor as there are many pending allegations bordering on looting and misappropriation of funds against Mr Ogundipe. Professor Ogundipe has been looting the university and looting it recklessly, thats the plain truth that we should not hide. There is misappropriation and there is direct looting of the University. All attempts were made to put an end to this, he said. Giving some instances of alleged looting by Mr Ogundipe, Mr Babalakin said without seeking approval, Mr Ogundipe spent N49 million renovating his house. Under the process, this has to be done with approval from the council, he sought no approval. To cover up, he gave the bursar N41 million to renovate his official residence. The official residence of the bursar can be built for N41 million from the scratch, this was what was spent on renovation. Mr Babalakin said an investigation ordered by the governing council showed that Mr Ogundipe misappropriated funds. Mr Ogundipe had denied any wrongdoing. On Friday, Mr Babalakin said the resistance to the removal of Mr Ogundipe is from the vocal minority who are benefiting extensively from the resources of the university. There is the silent majority and the vocal minority benefiting from the corruption of the university which has become cultural and we are determined to stop it, which is why there is resistance. Weeks before Mr Ogundipes controversial removal, Mr Babalakin had been having a running battle with university lecturers at the university who warned him not to come into premises of the institution. That threat by the lecturers may have been responsible for the governing council moving its meeting to Abuja, first to a private hotel before it was finally held at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC). On Friday, speaking on the threat by the lecturers, Mr Babalakin said he cannot be physically restrained by the lecturers. You cannot physically restrain anybody during a Labour dispute, all you are allowed to do is picketing. The law will take its course. It is not in the place of the removed VC to say he has not been removed. He cannot be a judge in his own court, he said. *** Source: PREMIUM TIMES New Delhi: Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikata Das on Thursday addressed the media on the issue of demonetisation and US fed rate hike. Here are the live updates: #Actions enforcement agencies are taking on illegally accumulated money is based on specific inputs, surgial action you may call it: S Das #There are 2 lakh 20 thousand ATMs and more than 2 lakh ATMs have already been re-calibrated: Shaktikanta Das #Total number of notes in lower denominations of Rs 100 & below supplied in last 5 weeks is 3 times of what RBI supplies in an year: S Das #Banks prefering supplying cash via branches to their customers than through ATMs: Shaktikanta Das,EA Secy #Actions enforecement agencies are taking on illegally accumulated money is based on specific inputs, surgial action you may call it: S Das #Airlifting of currency to continue wherever necessary, emphasis on rural areas to ensure enough cash: Economic Affairs Secy Shaktikanta Das #Intial focus was to supply 2000 notes to replace value that was taken out of the market. Now focus is on printing more of Rs 500 notes:S Das #First time notes were indigenously designed in house with security features,makes notes more secure with less chance of counterfeiting:S Das #Possibility of counterfeiting new 500 & 2000 notes is very very less. Also,they are completely indigenous:Shaktikanta Das #Our markets had already factored in the rate hike and they would remain fairly stable:Shaktikanta Das,EA Secy on US Fed rate hike For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. MONTREALDoll Jean Frejus Nguessan Bi says he couldnt sleep at all last night. The asylum seeker from Ivory Coast works as a security guard in hospitals and long-term care homes in the Montreal area, where he watched many of his colleagues stop coming in as deaths linked to COVID-19 began to mount this spring. But while Nguessan Bi kept working, he said he found out Friday that he would be excluded from a new government program to fast-track the permanent residency applications of some asylum seekers working on the front lines during the pandemic. Why (not) us? We who gave our hearts and our love ... Why are we abandoned? he said in an interview at a protest camp across the street from Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Montreal riding office Saturday. What did we do to deserve this? Ottawa announced Friday that asylum seekers working in specific jobs in the health-care sector would be eligible for permanent residency without first having to wait for their asylum claims to be accepted, as is typically the process. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said the move came in response to public demand for so-called Guardian Angels many in Quebec to be recognized for their work. They demonstrated a uniquely Canadian quality in that they were looking out for others and so that is why is today is so special, Mendicino said in an interview Friday afternoon. But asylum seekers and their supporters say Ottawas plan excludes thousands of workers without permanent status in Canada who have laboured on the front lines during the pandemic, often at great personal risk to themselves and their families. That includes security guards and janitorial staff, factory workers, and farm labourers, among others. I have friends who worked with me in security that abandoned (their posts) because they were afraid of getting infected. But I stayed, said Nguessan Bi. He said he wants Trudeau and Quebec Premier Francois Legault to do something to help asylum seekers who are not eligible for the new program. Several dozen people rallied in front of Trudeaus office on Saturday to demand permanent residency for all asylum seekers. Its an act of recognition. They deserve status, Joseph Clormeus, a member of Debout pour la dignite, a Montreal advocacy group that organized the rally, told the crowd. Anite Presume, a Haitian asylum seeker who came to Quebec in August 2017 from the United States, was among the protesters. She works in a medication factory, and said she kept working during the pandemic despite the risks. To take the bus, we were all stressed, but we still went to work because it was essential. They needed medication for the hospitals, she said in an interview. She said she has not received a response yet to her application for asylum in Canada, and lives under a cloud of uncertainty and stress about her future. Its a feeling of rejection, Presume said, about not being included in Ottawas regularization program. They rejected us as if we did nothing. To apply for residency under the new program, applicants must have claimed asylum in Canada prior to March 13 and have spent no less than 120 hours working as an orderly, nurse or another designated occupation between the date of their claim and Aug. 14. They must also demonstrate they have six months of experience in the profession before they can receive permanent residency and have until the end of August 2021 to meet that requirement. The program was the result of negotiations between the federal government and Quebec, who have had a strained relationship on the question of immigration, and in particular the asylum claimants, in recent years. Public support has been building for asylum seekers demand for permanent residency after it was revealed that refugee claimants were among those toiling in Quebecs long-term care facilities, which were hard-hit by COVID-19. With files from Stephanie Levitz in Ottawa. Read more about: Heathrow will this week start to offer Covid-19 tests for passengers arriving from virus hotspots in a move that will heap pressure on Ministers to ditch Britains 14-day quarantine rule. The tests, costing 150, are already in use in more than 30 countries including Germany, France and Austria so arrivals can avoid having to self-isolate for two weeks. But UK Ministers are refusing to allow people to leave self-isolation early even if they have no symptoms and test negative. Heathrow said its tests could allow people to leave quarantine safely and more quickly potentially after around a week should the Government approve its trials. The tests are already in use in more than 30 countries including Germany, France and Austria. Pictured: Brazilian Renata Alves gets her mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, done after she was reunited with her German boyfriend Florian Mehler MPs and travel bosses last night said Britain had been hopelessly slow at approving an airport testing regime to cut quarantine times. They called for an immediate rule change to save thousands of tourism jobs and promote international trade after France and the Netherlands were added to the quarantine blacklist last week. Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative Partys 1922 Committee, said other European countries are already up and running with Covid testing at airports, eliminating the need for all but a short quarantine for arrivals from higher-risk countries. Shai Weiss, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: We fully support Heathrows trial and hope the evidence it provides will enable UK and US governments to act with urgency to open the skies back up again. Travel and tourism account for over 330 million jobs, thats one in ten globally. Heathrow will this week start to offer Covid-19 tests for passengers arriving from virus hotspots Heathrow will this week open a coronavirus testing centre in Terminal Two, developed with aviation firms Swissport and Collinson. It will open a second centre in Terminal Five next month. Scott Sunderman, managing director of medical and security assurance at Collinson, said: We are all very serious about getting aviation moving again and saving jobs. Under the Heathrow trials, passengers will pay 150 to take a 90-second test in the airport, which takes up to seven hours to process. They will then take a follow-up test at home five to eight days later, with the results within 72 hours. Heathrow wants the Government to exempt those who receive a negative result in both tests from quarantine. It hopes to bring in the tests at all of Britains main airports. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has refused to endorse airport tests, saying only 7 per cent are accurate. Mr Sunderman disputed the figure, saying the Governments modelling was outdated. DLF Emporio Atrium. Ensemble's executive director Tina Tahiliani Parekh doesnt remember the last time the stores crisp concrete-meets-marble interiors were bereft of customers. While there have been a few by-appointment customers, the walk-ins and the vibrancy are missing from one of Indias oldest luxury fashion store. Much like Ensemble, retailers are struggling to make sense of the debilitating effect of lockdowns on the once buzzing retail landscape. The constant open today, shut tomorrow situation has sent luxury and premium retail into a tailspin. Most stores have put in place the basic parameters: not more than two or three staff in the store and a restriction on the number of customers coming in. Yet, while some brands continue to bank on online sales, others such as Reliance Brands Limited have reported increasing footfalls, ranging from 25 -45 percent and retail business of up to 65 percent. No one is in a better position to talk about transformation on the ground than Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), a $173 billion market-cap conglomerate, with a slew of luxury and premium brands in its portfolio, which operates 795 doors. Deval Shah, the Group Vice President, claims that only serious shoppers are stepping out. The buying patterns are deeper and the average bill value has shown a jump. Earlier, the conversion rate was 12-14 percent. Now, it is 27-28 percent for a luxury brand and 80 percent for the high street. 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 Deval Shah. The focus is on purpose buying: for an anniversary, birthday or a festival. The projections of sales we had made for October, we have already achieved it in August. Browsing and casual shopping is now a rare practice. The evolution of the shopping experience The retail landscape has shifted to include curbside pickups, private shopping appointments and a blend of online and offline outreach. People, pre-armed with knowledge about services and products they want to buy, are opting for delivery services, curbside pickups, online services and WhatsApp-based concierge services, says Yogeshwar Sharma, CEO & Director, Select CITYWALK. RBL, which has reached its audience through online content and catalogues, are reporting people booking a slot online for luxury brands such as Bottega Veneta and then coming into the store. Or people drive into the mall, tell us what they want to buy and we deliver it to their cars, along with anything else they may want, from a coffee to a sandwich. We have to face it; retail will change in ways like these, reveals Shah. Sometimes, the store team is tasked with visiting clients homes with pieces chosen online or via a catalogue. This allows the client to see how a piece fits in their home and is a safer option, say Divyansh Sanklecha and Vipul Pirgal, founders of design store Curio Casa. Divyansh Sanklecha. The onus of ensuring that the retail experience is impeccable rests on the well-trained store team. They have to take care of every aspect of safety, ensure all spaces, including the changing rooms and the billing desk are sanitised, adds Anshuman Singh, Founder-CEO of desi designer bag brand, Paul Adams. The retail store teams are also being called on to innovate. The pandemic has thrown up multiple challenges. The staff at the storefront has to find quick solutions and be service driven. They have to become a customers advocate and look for the best retail experience, contends Yogesh Chaudhary, Director, Jaipur Rugs. Sangeeta Boochra, who runs an eponymous jewellery brand, emphasizes VR solutions for store associates. They may have to de-escalate situations such as customers who refuse to abide by COVID-19 regulations or incidents of unrest, which is where VR technology comes in play. Sangeeta Boochra. Beauty brands such as Kama Ayurveda have eliminated testers to avoid contamination, replacing them with virtual consultations and complimentary samples of newer products. The stores have been rejigged to allow for fewer customers, so there is minimal to zero contact in the end-to-end buying cycle, inclusive of contactless payment, sanitisation stands, amongst other mechanisms, says a spokesperson. Physical-meets-digital experience While the tangible side of retail will persist, many people have discovered online shopping. Brands like us need to bridge the online and offline experience and that is going to be the key to success, adds Chaudhary, forcing brands to consider a heightened e-commerce presence. To bank on online retail is the way for to keep businesses running, say Divyansh Sanklecha and Vipul Pirgal. We have had to train the people who staff our store to field telecalls from people who browse online and call in for more details. Vipul Pirgal. Over the last few months, RBL, which has had enough stock in its various stores across 20 locations, have sold via online platforms, personal calls and through WhatsApp. Early this month, it hosted a luxury shopping festival, a calendared list of digital events through video conference channels, where customers could buy in an auction. Shopping, in the pre-COVID era, was considered a tangible experience, dependent on how a product feels and looks. Now, brands are betting big on digital experiences to push their retail sales. Singh says that brands will have to amp up the digital store experience as that would decide if they want to buy a product or not. They would go on the bases of comments, reviews and ratings of a product. The line between online and offline shopping has been blurring for a while, a process that has gained faster traction. Gaurav Mehta, Founder & CEO, Jaipur Watch Company, recommends tracking a customers decision journey to understand changing preferences, in the process opening up a massive box of creative ideas that will enable the retailer to create a powerful brand experience. Once, shoppers would rely on salespeople to understand the products and make a choice. Now, they research to derive maximum value. This can be beneficial to smart retailers, provided they follow the customers online decision-making journey, understanding their buying behaviour, which will enable them to make better decisions for the brand. Technology is reaching a level where physical experiences are being simulated online. Innovative solutions such as no-touch pop-up stores are being implemented, he adds. We are providing 3D videos of each product before moving into manufacturing the watch. Sangeeta Broocha, who runs an eponymous jewellery brand, has implemented a mirroring 3d technology to offer a shopper in-store experience to her customers, digitally to boost sales. Even then, we will just grease the machine well to sustain. Jewellery needs touch and feel to convince a client. While everyone is gung-ho about the growth of online retail, Shibani Jain, Founder & CEO, Baaya, a design store and studio that focuses on handmade, sounds a warning. New e-commerce initiatives by brick and mortar companies must be thought through, with features a focus on managing the site, promoting it, managing deliveries and quality. My belief is where luxury goods shopping goes, people are already visiting the stores if they trust the brand. Shibani Jain. The curation of collections In the short term, collections that offer value for money will find traction. The customer may be more aware of mortality and uncertainty, and more cautious in his/her buying. The value of products offered will be the clinching factor for the successful return of retail stores, say designers Swati & Sunaina. Swati and Sunaina. Curio Casa has been adding pieces to its low-to-mid-range collections. The small pieces offer a glimpse into our product quality without splurging. We have had repeat clients who purchased exclusive luxury pieces from us once they were assured of the quality, says the Curio Casa duo. While RBL is seeing fast sales in categories such as innerwear, casual wear such as t-shirts and Polos and handbags, at Paul Adams, the handmade and hand-crafted leather pop series is doing well. When people come into the store, we need to create top-of-mind awareness, says Singh. Luxury brands are focusing on responsible consumption and slow living. We anticipate a need for meaningful value in luxury offerings that branch into personalized services, adds Prashant Gaurav Gupta, VP and Head Luxury Malls, DLF Emporio & The Chanakya. Prashant Gaurav Gupta. Mehta says besides technology integration, sustainable luxury will gain traction. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are all about the environment. They prefer to do business with brands that promote eco-friendly living. Most brands are dealing with falling consumer demand. Shopping will become more personalised and because people have realised they dont need so many things in their life, contends Chaudhary, whose brand is trying to tell better stories in terms of design language. Earlier we used to showcase all our rugs. We now keep a well-curated line up for a better visual impact. Trends around the 3H need to be kept in mind while putting out productshome, work from home, and health and hygiene while planning for the future, says Jain. Some brands such as SR Artefacts and Robbe & Berking are reaping riches as people continue to stay homebound. For the next year, if not longer, people will entertain at home. A majority of our customer requests are for home decor and tableware items that will help elevate a home-dining experience. Also, people want to artisans. As a brand, we frequently support Indian artisans to help their inimitable art, adds its founder and Managing Director, Prashant Sarawgi. How malls will adapt Malls with luxury and premium brands have begun offering differential service. Select CITYWALK, for instance, has instituted concierge services, contactless ordering, home delivery services and a digital catalogue aptly titled 'The Home Edition' a beautifully laid out catalogue featuring all the finest products, with prices and features listed out. Sharma claims, Brands have evolved to incorporate a phygital (physical-meets-digital) era of sale and purchase. Customers prefer experiences that bring them closer to products and not people. DLF Emporio & The Chanakya is offering an on-call personal shopper. They guide customers via video call to understand their specific requirements, exact sizing options, helping them to pick their favourite styles, adds Gupta. The curbside pickups have been formalized by the two malls with a designated concierge, who helps people in cars who drive in to get their orders without stepping in. All three malls have set up sanitisation tunnel for cars and contactless parking experience, automated hand sanitizers at all touchpoints and high-definition thermal cameras to enable seamless entry. Stores have been redesigned for COVID etiquette. Each outlet has tweaked the design and layout for a contactless experience, says Sharma. Will retail survive? Some stores have already put down their shutters, while others will survive, Jain says, The ones who have been able to keep their heads above the rising waters of crippling rental payments, losing their people talent (or having to lose their talent to cut costs), not having enough capital to survive the lockdown, and their inability to carry on meaningful work-from-home are going under. The ones who have adapted, made plans and understand what are the requirements of customer post-COVID will do well. While virtual shopping is helping people make the right choice, many are choosing to come into the store to make the final purchase. According to Sarawgi, They come in to see a few selected items, speak to us about their choices and make the final purchase. This creates a smoother and minimal contact experience, without compromising on the intimate factor that comes with luxury consumption. Tiffany. In the long run, luxury retail in India may gain from continued closures of borders and the fear of getting on an aeroplane, as consumers, who made their purchases abroad, now look at spending in India. Earlier, almost an estimated figure of 50 million Indians used to travel abroad for their shopping needsbe it Singapore, London, the USA, or Dubai, particularly during the peak months of May, June and July. Now, we see an influx in the consumption demand coming from within the country as DLF Emporio and The Chanakya become their natural choices, Gupta says. Zegna at DLF Emporio. Besides, luxury stores are geared toward lesser footfall with highly personalised By appointment strategy, where appointments are given at time intervals, say Swati & Sunaina, though impulse retail buying spaces may reduce, adds Jain. Interestingly, in the long run, people will prefer shopping in a mall to a high street store. As Shah emphasises, There is more control in a mall, with employees dressed in PPE, the temperatures checks, air filters and purifications in various ways, which is not possible in a store on Linking Road or Khan Market. Deepali Nandwani is a journalist who keeps a close watch on the world of luxury. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi - There are few opportunities for businesses to develop support industries in Vietnam amid the global economic crisis caused by COVID-19, according to economists. Dr Can Van Luc from the Research and Training Institute of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) said the country is in the process of extensive and intensive global integration and many production chains such as mobile phones, electronic products, textiles and garments, footwear, farm produce processing, automobile, and oil refining, which are all key export sectors, are feeling the negative impact of COVID-19 due to the suspension of global supply chains and a shortage of materials. Many production areas in Vietnam are heavily dependent upon material imports from China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, so support industries have been unable to escape from the impact. Pham Van Tai, General Director of the Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO), the largest automobile maker in Vietnam, revealed that the development of support industries in mechanical engineering is a strategic direction for localisation in global supply chains, enhancing competitiveness and increasing foreign direct investment. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the HCM City support industry development centre Le Nguyen Duy Oanh said there are not many opportunities for businesses in the field due to their limited capacity and low workplace skills. It is also difficult to manufacture diverse products due to a lack of technology. To address this obstacle, she suggested enterprises push ahead with reforms and change administration mindsets while increasing their competitive edge. It was the one marriage in the family that looked to be going in the right direction but the curse of the Kidds has struck again. After 15 years and three children, I'm sad to announce that the Countess of Mornington, Jemma Kidd, has separated from her husband Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington. 'They were unhappy together for a very long time,' my source tells me. 'They decided to separate during lockdown a time during which they were barely speaking to each other.' In May, Jemma, 45, posted an image on her Instagram account, for the first time in three years, featuring her two sons and a caption that cryptically read: 'Acts of kindness to me is when you're supported through the hard times in life.' After 15 years and three children, I'm sad to announce that the Countess of Mornington, Jemma Kidd, has separated from her husband Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington 'They were unhappy together for a very long time,' my source tells me. 'They decided to separate during lockdown a time during which they were barely speaking to each other' But I'm told the writing was on the wall last year when they started arguing, before they went their separate ways though there were desperate attempts to rekindle their dying love. It's the latest sad example of the Kidd curse, which stretches back to Jemma's father Johnny, a notorious cad who left her mother Wendy. Jemma's sister Jodie's turbulent love life, meanwhile, has seen her two marriages end in divorce, with the supermodel splitting from her second husband after four months. Jemma and Arthur took their vows in front of a congregation that was a who's who of the jet-setting, blue-blooded crowd at St James's Church in Holetown, Barbados in 2005. The blonde bride wore a stunning Christian Lacroix gown while her dashing groom, heir apparent of the Duke of Wellington, watched her sashay up the aisle. In May, Jemma, 45, posted an image on her Instagram account, for the first time in three years, featuring her two sons and a caption that cryptically read: 'Acts of kindness to me is when you're supported through the hard times in life' It really did look like they would live happily ever after, especially as the marriage produced three children Arthur, Alfred and daughter Mae. The Earl, 42, whose cousin Sophia is married to crooner James Blunt, is known as a social butterfly, much like his late grandfather, the 8th Duke of Wellington, who lived life to the fullest, particularly at his beloved race meetings. Jemma, 45, gave up her career as a model and make-up artist with a successful line of beauty products to don a pinny and become a homemaker. Now, alas, she will not become the Duchess of Wellington unless her father-in-law, the current Duke, passes away before they officially divorce. The couple issued a statement saying: 'Jemma and Arthur confirm with sadness that they have decided to separate and they are doing so amicably.' As an esteemed member of the luvvie brigade, Dame Julie Walters might be expected to make all manner of diva-like demands while on a film set. But, in fact, the Harry Potter and Calendar Girls star has very modest requests, her costar Jessie Buckley reveals (pictured, Dame Julie in a fundraiser for Guide Dogs on National Tea Day, April 21, 2020) As an esteemed member of the luvvie brigade, Dame Julie Walters might be expected to make all manner of diva-like demands while on a film set. But, in fact, the Harry Potter and Calendar Girls star has very modest requests, her costar Jessie Buckley reveals. Jessie, 30, who appeared alongside Dame Julie, 70, in the 2018 musical Wild Rose, tells me: 'She's really down to earth. She's up for a laugh and a cup of tea and a packet of crisps, which is the most important thing on a set.' Well, that explains why Dame Julie reached for an oversized cup at recent charity event! New Phuket prison set to open in new year PHUKET: The new B789 million Phuket Provincial Prison being built in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, is expected to be fully completed next month, but prisoners at the long overcrowded prison in Phuket Town will not be transferred to the new facility until at least January. By Tanyaluk Sakoot Saturday 15 August 2020, 09:00AM The new Phuket Provincial Prison is expected to receive inmates in January. Photo: Dept of Corrections Phuket office The new Phuket Provincial Prison is expected to receive inmates in January. Photo: Dept of Corrections Phuket office The new Phuket Provincial Prison is expected to receive inmates in January. Photo: Dept of Corrections Phuket office The new Phuket Provincial Prison is expected to receive inmates in January. Photo: Dept of Corrections Phuket office The new Phuket Provincial Prison is expected to receive inmates in January. Photo: Dept of Corrections Phuket office The new Phuket Provincial Prison is expected to receive inmates in January. Photo: Dept of Corrections Phuket office Last November, construction of the new prison was on schedule for completion by May this year, but COVID-19 interfered with the contractor finishing the buildings, then the many days of rain this year caused further delays, Phuket Provincial Prison Commissioner Suchart Silapachai told The Phuket News this week. Even that opening deadline was already delayed after the prison, located on 108 rai in Bangjo, was initially expected to be completed by late last year. Right now the project is 98% complete. We are nearly done. It will be finished next month, and prisoners will be moved there in January next year, Mr Suchart said. The remaining 2% that still needs to be finished includes the electrical and security systems. After that is done, we will transfer some prisoners to stay in the new prison so we can test the systems inside. I want to make sure that the security systems work well. We will test them for about four months, he added. Mr Suchart said that he had already submitted his plan for the transfer of prisoners to the new facility to his Department of Corrections superiors. All the inmates at the prison in Phuket Town are to be moved to the new prison in January next year, but before we do that we will need up to 150 more officers [including jail guards and administrative officials] to fully staff the new place, Mr Suchart said. As the current Phuket Provincial Prison is Phuket Town is not rated as having high enough security to house long-term inmates, any prisoners sentenced in Phuket to more than 15 years jail are automatically transferred to higher-security prisons in other provinces. That practice will cease with the opening of the new prison, which is rated to house inmates serving sentences up to 30 years, Mr Suchart said. Prisoners sentenced to long jail terms in Phuket but who have been transferred to Krabi and Surat Thani will be transferred to the new Phuket prison, he said. Mr Suchart touted that the new prison was high-tech. Escape is impossible, he said. The fence is about seven metres high, and anyone who touches it will trigger sensors which will activate CCTV cameras to immediately lock on to that area, he said, adding that there were many other high-tech security features at the prison. BREATHING SPACE More importantly for the inmates, the new prison will help alleviate the overcrowded conditions that have been suffered at the existing prison in Phuket Town for decades. The official capacity of the current prison is 283 female prisoners and 945 male prisoners, Mr Suchart confirmed. However, as of November last year there were 461 female prisoners and 2,239 male prisoners at the prison. Since then, the prison population has grown further. Today there are 520 female prisoners and 2,308 male prisoners at the prison in Phuket Town. Currently it is so cramped at the existing prison, but the new prison is nearly ready. Once the new prison is completed, it can hold 4,000-5,000 prisoners, he said. All the dormitory buildings are finished. There are a total of 180 rooms of mixed sizes, separate dormitories for male and female prisoners and eight different zones for prisoners, depending on their crime, Mr Suchart said. The prisoners sleeping areas will be more comfortable with fans. Each room is able to sleep from 25 to 30 prisoners, he added. However, there will be no beds. Prisoners will sleep on individual rubber mattresses on the floor. Also, the area on the floor for each prisoner to sleep will be little more than the space they will occupy. They will have at least 50cm across by 180-200cm per person guaranteed, likely or more, Mr Suchart explained. Regardless, according to Mr Suchart, added, It is more space than they have at the present prison. Mr Suchart also noted that the medical facilities at the prison comprise 46 beds in the infirmary, with nurses on duty each day and doctors visiting monthly. Any inmates needing urgent medical care will be taken to a main government hospital under guard, he added. As for the old prison in Phuket Town, built in 1902 and originally designed to accommodate only 750 prisoners, Mr Suchart said he would like to see the site used as an educational or skills training centre for inmates. Or as a place where prisoners who are soon to be released can learn skills and prepare to make a living after prison life, he said. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said on August 14 that releasing the Taliban terrorists by the government might pose a serious threat to the world but their release was necessary for peace in the region. As per the state media reports, Ghani made the statements during a conversation with the Council on Foreign Relations. The conversation was hosted by James B Cunningham, a senior fellow of the Atlantic Council and former US ambassador to Afghanistan. READ: Afghanistan Government Releases 80 Out Of 400 Remaining Taliban Prisoners Government agrees to release prisoners The President's remarks comes a day after the Afghan government agreed to release 400 Taliban prisoners by releasing 80 of them in the initial phase. The move is relied upon to open the route for intra-Afghan negotiations, as per reports. News agency ANI quoted Ghani saying, "The list is likely to pose a danger both to us and to you and to the world because it is the drug dealers and hardened criminals--that has been shared with all our allies and friends--but again this is a step that we have considered necessary". "Until now, there has been a lot of pressure, requests from the Afghan government," Ghani said. "Now the balance shifts because we have taken all the risks because we are a state. We were not party to an agreement to release 5,000 Taliban but out of the imperative of wanting peace in the conviction, we did it", he added. According to the reports, the Afghan assembly cofirmed the release of 400 Taliban prisoners as part of efforts to begin intra-Afghan talks. With the release of this final batch of prisoners, peace talks between the Aghan government and the Taliban can begin as early as next week. READ: Afghanistan Signs Decree To Release 400 Taliban Prisoners To Initiate Peace Talks As per reports, August 20 has been suggested by several Afghan leaders as a possible start date for the peace talks. Previously, the Taliban had said they would sit down for peace talks in Qatar. According to the agreement between the United States and the Taliban, the US would drastically reduce the number of troops it had in Afghanistan and the Afghan government would release 5,000 Taliban prisoners while the Taliban had agreed to release 1,000 Afghan soldiers and government officials. READ: Afghanistan Govt Agrees To Release 400 Taliban Prisoners To Start Peace Talks READ: Taliban Says Ready To Start Peace Talks Within A Week Of Prisoners' Release A view of Chinatown on Aug. 13, where residents are calling for prosecution of an assault against a Chinese American woman as ethnic intimidation. Read more On July 28, Chinatown resident Jing Chen and her 12-year-old daughter were walking on 13th Street in Center City when they suddenly felt a splash. Chen said a woman who had been panhandling nearby had thrown water at them. Chen, who is eight months pregnant, reacted with annoyance, demanding to know why the woman had done that. The woman responded by calling her a Chinese b. Chen told 6abc she returned the remark: You too! Then the woman punched her in the face. Chen and her daughter fled in terror. And the assailant, alleged to be a 19-year-old Black homeless woman who was under court-ordered evaluation for mental health competency last year, was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault, reckless endangerment, and harassment. Because of her mental health history, The Inquirer is withholding her name. The criminal case has become a Rorschach test for differing views of the criminal justice system. Chen and other Chinatown residents say its ethnic intimidation and must be prosecuted as such. The Philadelphia police handled the investigation as a hate crime, Chief Inspector Cynthia Dorsey said. But given the womans vulnerable circumstances and mental health history, the District Attorneys Office may agree to send the case to mental health court, which would divert her into community-based treatment. Anna Perng, a Chinatown resident who has organized community meetings to talk about the importance of reporting hate crimes, said incidents have escalated during the pandemic. The police were saying we cant do anything unless its reported, so weve been trying really hard to make sure that people feel comfortable coming forward, she said. In many cases they dont, because of immigration status or safety concerns. The mayor and City Council members had joined the outcry early this year, saying hate cant be allowed in the city, she said earlier this week. Now, we have this actual incident where a woman and her child were attacked in broad daylight, and Ive been puzzled by the complete silence. READ MORE: Anti-Asian discrimination continues, months into the coronavirus | Opinion That changed later that day. The mayor condemned the assault on Twitter, and Friday morning, about 80 community members, state lawmakers, and city officials dialed in for a community meeting about the incident hosted by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans was also on the Zoom meeting. Today with COVID-19 and the messaging coming from Washington, this is a sad day that the bigots in our society feel they have free license, executive director John Chin said. At the meeting, Chen described living in terror of encountering her assailant whom she ran into almost immediately when she finally dared to leave the house. For every moment right now shes not in jail, it made me so scared to be outside, she said. I feel like this lady is so hateful to Asians.... So we need to give an example to the community that if you do that, you will be punished. Or its never going to be better. READ MORE: Asian Americans already face a mental health crisis. Coronavirus racism could make it worse. District Attorney Larry Krasner, speaking at the Friday meeting, said his office takes hate crimes seriously, having charged 35 ethnic intimidation cases since 2018, including six with Asian American victims. In this case, he said, the defendants background including documented serious mental illness has suggested a different path. The court has determined that this person should be in mental health court, he said, though he added he would keep an open mind if new information arises. The question that has to be answered, if we are doing law and not doing politics, and I would like to do law, is whether or not there is at least probable cause to show that the motivation here was racial animus as opposed to something else, in light of a circumstance of a woman who is panhandling and has severe mental illness coming into this kind of conflict. Asian Americans United issued a statement Friday saying the group doesnt support adding the ethnic intimidation charge, although it said it was a decision it struggled. In the time of COVID-19, Black and Asian communities are under deep stress, the group said and our desires for health, dignity, safety and more are more in common than not, and we must stand up for one another against the injustices we face. Jill McCorkel, a professor of sociology and criminology at Villanova University, said the incident involving Chen sounded so familiar, she was reminded of a different woman she often encounters on the street, shouting racial slurs. In that case, the mental health issues are so obvious and the perpetrator herself so marginalized it would be hard for her to imagine calling it ethnic intimidation. With hate crime legislation, the whole point of it is to get equal justice through the criminal justice system for people who have been disenfranchised effectively by the criminal justice system: women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ people, who more often than not find themselves disadvantaged by the biases of police departments and prosecutors, McCorkel said. Labeling this a hate crime might provide a sense of justice to the victim, she said. But it does nothing to dismantle the racial hostilities and systems of inequality that go into something like this assault. The defendant in Chens case was already in the court system for an incident that, according to Krasner, occurred when police told her she had to leave a SEPTA station in 2018. She struggled with the officer, bit him, and ended up charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and resisting arrest. That case remains pending. Ursula Castellano, an Ohio University sociologist who studies mental-health courts, said that is almost a prototypical example of a person who could benefit from diversion into a mental-health treatment court. Participants tend to be housing insecure, and 70% have both mental-health and substance-dependency issues, she said. A person who is homeless and roused by police to move along, and they respond with anger or hostility that is a person who is under a tremendous amount of stress with very few resources. So a typical response from the court would be prolonged treatment adjudicated by the judge, as opposed to 30 days of probation. Philadelphias mental-health treatment court, the states oldest, claims a 63% success rate. It also, on average, keeps successful participants for 4 years, significantly longer than the guideline sentences for the misdemeanors the woman accused of assaulting Chen is charged with. Its not clear what impact an ethnic intimidation charge would have on the womans prospects for being admitted to treatment court. Neither a court spokesperson nor the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services responded to interview requests. A spokesperson for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which has been assigned the womans case, could not immediately provide a comment. But the impacts of not adding the charge could be significant, too, said Asian Pacific American Bar Association president Djung Tran: This is about more than Mrs. Chen and her daughter. They represent a lot of people who are feeling not protected and not safe, and what we do will have a reverberation out in the community. Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, said the mental health issue is a secondary concern one for the defendants lawyer to worry about. Without question, this is an instance of ethnic intimidation, Lassiter said. MBABANE The expenditure of two of the countrys service commissions around pertinent areas of their operations remains a public mystery. These commissions; the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), fall under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. With the JSC, there are questions on how much it spends on engaging the services of private attorneys and, as previously reported by this publication, why they opt for these lawyers yet they have the freely available representation of the Attorney Generals Office. On the other hand, there is the ACC, which is reported to have a special fund that is used to take care of whistleblowers, but there is no explicit detail on how much is allocated towards this and how it is accounted for. According to section 184 of the kingdoms Constitution, Every service commission shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, submit a report to the line minister in respect of the discharge of its functions during the past year and the line minister shall lay every such report before both Houses of Parliament for consideration during budget debates. Ncobile Dlamini, the Communications Officer in the ministry, when asked specifically how much the JSC has reported to have spent in paying for private attorneys services over the last five years, did not give a clear response. The administrative expenses of the judiciary shall be charged on the consolidate fund; and the judiciary shall keep its own finances and administer its own affairs to the extent that it deals directly with the Ministry of Finance on budgetary issues, she said. The Ministry of Finance, on July 30, 2020, in responses to this publication regarding such finances, said it was not privy to such information and said the judiciary would be in a better position to respond. jsc the judiciarys baby Meanwhile, Dlamini was also asked on when the JSC last submitted its reports to the ministry and if these could be shared since they are public documents. The judiciary submits quarterly and annual reports to the ministry and the reports are tabled in parliament in terms of the parliamentary procedures, she said. She continued: The JSC does not have its own budget vote like other commissions. The financial affairs of the JSC are catered for and reported for under the judiciary budget. The ministrys reports, however, do not specify the expenditure on engaging private attorneys. For instance, in the ministrys first quarter (April 1 to June 30) performance report for the 2019/2020 financial year, it is reflected that an annual budget of about E13.7 million was allocated for the judiciarys professional and special services. For that quarter, an amount of E1 564 930 was released but the actual money spent was E3 001 404.45, reflecting a variance of 31.6 per cent or E720 715.45. The about E13.7 million was split into two; Activity 11 and Activity 12. For Activity 11, the annual budget for professional and special service was E6 806 360 and the money released for that quarter was E1 134 392 while actual expenditure stood at E2 442 725.92, which was a variance of 115.85 per cent or E1 308 333.92. For Activity 12, the annual budget for professional and special services was E6 877 888 and the money released was E1 146 297 while the actual expenditure stood at E558 678.51, which was a variance of 51.26 per cent or E587 618.49. For the second quarter (July 1 to September 30) of the 2019/2020 financial year, Activity 11 had an amount of E1 701 586 released to it yet an actual expenditure of E4 778 040.42 was incurred, which was a variance of 180.8 per cent or E3 076 454.42. In the same quarter, Activity 12 saw an amount of E1 444 773 released to it while the actual expenditure stood at E1 734 405.55, which was a variance of 20.05 per cent or E289 632.55 In the second quarter report, there are explanatory notes to show what the various expenditure was for; and the professional and special services have been listed to include: security for all judges; utility bills for judges; utility bills for all courts; sitting allowances for JSC members and members of the industrial courts; printing of courts documents and courts services; utility bills for judges and courts. There is no mention of paying for services of private attorneys despite that there were instances during this quarter where they were engaged. An example of this is the court case between senior lawyer Siboniso Clement Dlamini against the chief justice, Eswatini Government and the attorney general. The matter was heard on August 8, 2019 and judgment delivered on November 8, 2019. The chief justice was represented by senior attorney Zweli Jele from Robinson Bertram law firm. In the quarterly report, the judiciary complained that the money for the professional and special services was not enough. In reference to the 20 per cent variance recorded on Activity 12, the judiciary said this was because the funds allocated on this controlling item for magistrates court was unusable and too little and that it was consumed by utilities. Dlamini, the ministrys Communications Officer, was also asked why all other service commissions, such as the Teaching Service Commission, Civil Service Commission, Elections and Boundaries Commission and the Human Rights and Integrity Commission, relied upon the attorney general for legal representation but the JSC was an exception. Her response was that while the AG represents the State organs, this does not deprive organs the right to find attorneys of choice in the interests of justice, should circumstances warrant. This is done in consultation and approval of the AG, she said. However, this contradicts what the AG, Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, previously told the Times SUNDAY regarding him having to give permission to the JSC to use private attorneys. Khumalo said: On giving permission to the judiciary to engage private attorneys, in particular Robinson Bertram, we are not the competent authority as an office to do that, owing to independence of the judiciary. Dlamini stated though that the AG was the principal legal adviser to government and that the judiciary, as an arm of government, is represented by him in terms of Section 77 of the constitution. The chief justice is the head of the judiciary and is responsible for the administration and supervision of the judiciary. Accordingly, he has the responsibility to protect the interests and dignity of the judiciary by defending legal proceedings of the judiciary, she said. But both Khumalo and Dlamini shared a similar view that the judiciary, in exercise of its judicial power, in both its judicial and administrative functions, including financial administration, shall be independent and subject only to the constitution and shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority. Questions over ACC special fund Moving on to the other commission - the ACC; this publication has it in authority that money amounting to millions of Emalangeni is allocated to a special fund each financial year to cater for processes to engage with informants or whistleblowers. There is lack of clarity on how this money is accessed and accounted for by the ACCs investigating officers as well as how its budget is determined each financial year. ACC Director Jabu Phakathi was asked on the amount that is allocated to the ACC in terms of this fund; how it is accounted; and how much, on average, is paid to whistleblowers a year and how many are paid. Her response was that the ACC is a law enforcement institution that operates within the ambit of the law and as per the allocated budget. Therefore, she said, during the delivery of the Commissions three-pronged mandate of prevention, education and investigations, there were operations that could be discussed in the public domain and those that should be confidential. Therefore, for obvious reasons, the investigation strategies of the Commission are covert and cannot be discussed in the public domain, hence, we are unable to delve into the questions raised, the director said. She gave assurance that there was no mishandling of funds at the ACC and stated that the commissioner was the commissions warrant holder, which meant he controlled the budget and all expenditure. The ACC utilises public funds for its operations, and being such, the auditor general can assist with controls where required. Please note that yearly, all ACC Accounts are audited by the Auditor Generals Office, she said. In terms of the whistleblowers, Phakathi said the ACC, in the advancement of its mandate, can rope in anyone it regards useful or helpful in its course. It is unethical to publicly disclose the identity of such individuals as this compromises their safety and security, she said. This publication has been reliably informed that the special fund has been under the ACCs principal accountants control and she was the one who was responsible for its release. However, concerns were raised when the principal accountant was transferred from the ACC to another government ministry but continued to control the special fund. Highly-placed sources said when the principal accountant left there was no replacement and the ACC went to the accountant general to request that the officer should continue exercising performing some of her previous duties at the commission. The principal accountant was only replaced about three weeks ago and all along the ACC had no option but to continue using her services even though she was now based in other government ministry, said one of the impeccable sources. The sources said the main reason the special funds expenditure was kept secret was to avoid having to give details on who was paid and how much that person was paid because this could possibly expose the whistleblowers and informants. In its report included in the ministrys quarterly performance reports, the ACC expenditure items are listed as 002 (CTA charges), 01 (personnel costs), 02 (communication and travel), 04 (professional services), 06 (consumables and office supplies), and 07 (durables). WASHINGTON President Donald Trump greeted the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this past week with a litany of distortion and falsehoods, raging against cases of voting fraud where they didnt exist and declining to quash conspiracy theories about Harris eligibility for office. Trump also misrepresented Bidens position on taxes, again minimized the coronavirus threat and exaggerated his own record on the economy. A look at some of the past weeks rhetoric and the facts: ON BIDEN-HARRIS TRUMP: If Biden would win hes going to double and triple everybodys taxes. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Trump is exaggerating. Wildly so. Biden would raise taxes, primarily on the wealthy. But a July estimate by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget finds that the increase is a small fraction of what Trump claimed. The former vice presidents plan would raise taxes for the top 1 percent of earners by 13 to 18% of after-tax income, while indirectly increasing taxes for most other groups by 0.2 to 0.6%, the nonpartisan group said. To put that in perspective, tax collections would increase by $3.4 trillion to $3.7 trillion over the next decade. That is a lot of money. But its not a doubling or tripling. The government is on pace to collect $47 trillion over the next decade, so the Biden plan would be roughly be a 7.8% increase in revenues. ___ TRUMP, asked about social media claims that Harris is not eligible to run for vice president because her parents were immigrants to the U.S.: I heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements. I have no idea if thats right. I would have assumed that the Democrats would have checked that out. news conference Thursday. THE FACTS: Harris, a senator from California, is without question eligible. Harris, 55, was born in Oakland, California, making her a natural-born U.S. citizen and eligible to be president if Biden were unable to serve a full term. Her father, an economist from Jamaica, and her mother, a cancer researcher from India, met at the University of California, Berkeley, as graduate students. The Constitution requires a vice president to meet the eligibility requirements to be president. That includes being a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old and a resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years. I cant believe people are making this idiotic comment, Laurence Tribe, a Harvard University professor of constitutional law, told The Associated Press in 2019, when similar false claims emerged about Harris during her presidential run. She is a natural born citizen and there is no question about her eligibility to run, Tribe said. Harris is the first Black woman and Asian American to compete on a major partys presidential ticket. Trump in past years indulged in the false conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama was born abroad. ___ TRUMP CAMPAIGN: Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received. statement Tuesday from Katrina Pierson, Trump 2020 senior adviser. THE FACTS: She never called Biden a racist. Pierson appears to be referring to Harris remarks during a Democratic primary debate in Miami in June 2019 when the California senator challenged Bidens record of opposing busing as a way to integrate schools in the 1970s. Harris prefaced her criticism by telling Biden at that time, I do not believe you are a racist. I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground. She then went on: It was actually hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country. It was not only that but you also worked with them to oppose busing. There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools," Harris said. She was bused to school every day. That little girl was me. It was a breakthrough moment for Harris at the candidates first debate, stunning Biden, who responded that he did not praise racists and provided a hairsplitting defense of his position on busing. But she did not accuse him of being racist. ___ SOCIAL SECURITY TRUMP: At the end of the year, the assumption that I win, Im going to terminate the payroll tax Well be paying into Social Security through the general fund. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Under Trumps proposal, Social Security would lose its dedicated funding source. Payroll taxes raise about $1 trillion annually for Social Security, and the president was unconcerned about the loss of those revenues. Trump campaign officials stressed that the general fund consists of assets and liabilities that finance government operations and could do so for Social Security. The general fund is nicknamed Americas Checkbook on the Treasury Departments website. The risk is that the loss of a dedicated funding source could destabilize an anti-poverty program that provides payments to roughly 65 million Americans. It also could force people to cut back on the spending that drives growth so they can save for their own retirement and health care needs if they believe the government backstop is in jeopardy. A 12.4% payroll tax split between employers and workers funds Social Security, while a 2.9% payroll tax finances Medicare. The Social Security tax raised roughly $1 trillion last year, according to government figures. Over a 10-year period, Trumps idea would blow a $13 trillion hole in a U.S. budget that is already laden with rising debt loads. Trump announced a payroll tax deferral through the end of the year, part of a series of moves to bypass Congress after talks on a broader coronavirus relief bill that has stalled. He says he will make it a permanent tax cut with the help of Congress. Democrats have described that idea as a nonstarter. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday suggested to reporters that Trump misspoke when he said he would eliminate the payroll tax if reelected. She said the president would only push to make the payroll tax deferrals permanent. But Trump clearly said that he would eliminate the payroll tax four times at his Wednesday press briefing and even answered a question about permanently rescinding it. ___ TRUMP, asked how the general fund can sustain the payments: Were going to have tremendous growth. You will see growth like you have not seen in a long time. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: It is highly unlikely that economic growth would be enough to offset the loss of the payroll tax. Trump has a record of making wildly improbable growth projections. He suggested that his 2017 income tax cuts would propel economic growth as high as 6% annually. That never happened. Growth reached 3% in 2018, then slumped to 2.2% and the U.S. economy crumbled into recession this year because of the coronavirus. ___ VIRUS THREAT TRUMP, on COVID-19: Nobody understood it because nobody has ever seen anything like this. The closest thing is, in 1917, they say right? The great the great pandemic certainly was a terrible thing, where they lost, anywhere from 50 to 100 million people. Probably ended the Second World War; all the soldiers were sick. news briefing Monday. THE FACTS: He got the year wrong for the Spanish flu, as he routinely does, and may have overstated deaths from it. The pandemic spread from early 1918 to late 1920. It killed an estimated 50 million worldwide, with about 675,000 of the deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That pandemic did not end World War II, which came two decades later. ___ TRUMP: Were still in the pandemic, which will be going away, as I say, it will be going away. And they scream, how you can you say that? I said, because its going to be going away. interview Thursday on Fox Business Network. THE FACTS: No matter how many times he says it, the virus is not going to just magically disappear. The virus is now blamed for more than 166,000 deaths and more than 5.2 million confirmed infections in the U.S. easily the highest totals in the world. In the past week, the average number of new cases per day was on the rise in eight states, and deaths per day were climbing in 26, according to an Associated Press analysis. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious diseases official, has warned that increased cases across the South and West in particular put the entire country at risk." On Thursday, for instance, the rate of positive virus cases in Texas soared to the highest levels of the pandemic, with nearly 1 in every 4 coronavirus tests coming back positive. Nevada had its biggest daily jump in coronavirus fatalities to date. In February, Trump asserted coronavirus cases were going very substantially down, not up, and said it will be fine because in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. Fauci says there certainly will be coronavirus infections in the fall and winter. ___ TRUMP, on whether he still thinks kids are essentially immune from COVID-19: Yeah, I think that, for the most part, they do very well. I mean, they they dont get very sick. They dont catch it easily. news briefing Tuesday. THE FACTS: They arent immune, and he ignores racial disparities among those kids who get infected. Although its true that children are less likely than adults to develop COVID-19, the CDC has nevertheless counted more than 250,000 infections by the virus in Americans younger than 18, or roughly 7% of all cases. Racial disparities in the U.S. outbreak also extend to children, with Hispanic and Black children with COVID-19 more likely to be hospitalized than white kids. The total number of kids who have been infected but not confirmed is almost certainly far higher than the CDC figures, experts say, because those with mild or no symptoms are less likely to get tested. Trump also glosses over the fact that kids can spread disease without showing symptoms themselves. The CDC in May also warned doctors to be on the lookout for a rare but life-threatening inflammatory reaction in some children whove had the coronavirus. The condition had been reported in more than 100 children in New York, and in some kids in several other states and in Europe, with some deaths. Two recent government reports laid bare the racial disparities. One of the CDC reports looked at children with COVID-19 who needed hospitalization. Hispanic children were hospitalized at a rate eight times higher than white kids, and Black children were hospitalized at a rate five times higher, it found. The second report examined cases of the rare virus-associated syndrome in kids. It found that nearly three-quarters of the children with the syndrome were either Hispanic or Black, well above their representation in the general population. ___ ECONOMY TRUMP: The manufacturing sector is booming and the production index is at the highest reading since October of 18, which was an extraordinary period of time. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: The pandemic crushed U.S. factories and the damage persists. There is no boom. Even after three months of job gains, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the manufacturing sector has 740,000 fewer jobs than before the outbreak. All the factory hiring gains under Trump have disappeared. There were 257,000 more manufacturing jobs on the day Trump became president than now. More important, the jobs recovery has shown signs of stalling. Just 26,000 factory jobs were added in July, down from 357,000 added jobs in June. The sector has been recovering. Yet after increases in production in June, the Federal Reserve said U.S. factory output was running 11.1% below pre-pandemic levels. Trump cited one component of an index composed by the Institute for Supply Management that indicates factory production grew in July as well. It was the best reading since August of 2018, not October as claimed by the president. But that same report showed that manufacturers are also cutting back on employment, suggesting that a boom has yet to begin. ___ TRUMP, on tariffs on China: Weve taken in tens of billions of dollars from China. We never took 10 cents from China, never not even 10 cents. news conference Monday. THE FACTS: Its false to say the U.S. never collected a dime in tariffs on Chinese goods before he took action. They are simply higher in some cases than they were before. Its also wrong to suggest that the tariffs are being paid by China. Tariff money coming into the treasury is mainly from U.S. businesses and consumers, not from China. Tariffs are primarily if not entirely a tax paid domestically. ___ MAIL VOTING TRUMP: Universal mail-in voting is a system riddled by fraud and corruption. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Voting fraud actually is very rare. The Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 ranked the risk of ballot fraud at 0.00004% to 0.0009%, based on studies of past elections. Five states relied on mail-in ballots even before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person. Trump is simply wrong about mail-in balloting raising a tremendous potential for fraud, Richard L. Hasen, an elections expert at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, wrote recently. While certain pockets of the country have seen their share of absentee-ballot scandals, problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail, including the heavily Republican state of Utah. ___ NEW YORK VOTING TRUMP: You just look at what happened with the Carolyn Maloney race. They should do that race over, by the way. When you look at the ballot, the ballots that are missing, and the ballot frauds nobody knows whats going on with that race, and yet they declared her a winner. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Theres no evidence of fraud in the Democratic congressional primary in New York City that was won by Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Nor did Trump offer any proof of fraud. New York State decided to allow anyone to vote by mail in the June primary because of the pandemic. More than 400,000 people voted by absentee ballot in New York City, a figure that was 10 times the number of absentee ballots cast in the 2016 primary. Opening and counting those ballots by elections officials took weeks, leading to a legal dispute over nonfraud issues, such as missing postmarks. Candidates observing the count say that thousands of ballots were disqualified because of technical errors voters wouldnt have encountered if they had voted in person, like problems with their signature. New York Citys Board of Elections ultimately certified the results six weeks after the election. ___ Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz in Chicago, and Lauran Neergaard, Aamer Madhani and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. ___ EDITORS NOTE A look at the veracity of claims by political figures. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck 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 Belarus Opposition Candidate Calls On Supporters 'To Defend Our Choice' By RFE/RL August 14, 2020 The main challenger to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in the August 9 presidential election, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to leave the country a day after the election and is currently in Lithuania, has called on her supporters to "defend our choice," while urging ongoing protests to continue into the weekend. In a video statement on August 14, Tsikhanouskaya said the majority of voters in the country had cast ballots for her and not Lukashenka, who, according to official poll results, received some 80 percent of the vote. Tsikhanouskaya, who attracted huge crowds at campaign rallies across the country, was given just under 10 percent. "We, the backers of changes, are the majority. And that is confirmed by documents, copies of the protocols [from polling stations]. At the places where the votes were counted honestly, my supporters made between 60-70 percent. In Novaya Baravaya (Minsk's outskirts) it was 90 percent. Belarusians will never want to live with the previous authorities. Nobody believes in his [Lukashenka's] victory," Tsikhanouskaya said. In a separate statement, Tsikhanouskaya said that she was initiating the creation of a "Coordination Council to ensure the transition of power." She said the council would include civil society representatives, as well as prominent figures and "professionals in their fields." The Belarusian Interior Ministry on August 14 said more than 2,000 people who were detained during protests have been released. The ministry said it was concerned by the problem of overcrowding in detention centers after around 6,700 people were detained in the crackdown. Late on August 13, the Belarusian leadership released some 1,000 detained protesters after issuing a rare public apology for the use of excessive force against some bystanders in a bid to quell nationwide protests that now pose the biggest challenge to Lukashenka in his 26 years in power. At least two protesters have died. Also on August 14, the Central Election Commission officially declared that Lukashenka had won the August 9 election. According to the commission's website, Lukashenka got 80.1 percent of the vote, against Tsikhanouskaya's 10.1 percent. During a televised meeting with government officials on August 14, Lukashenka urged Belarusians not to attend protests, claiming that the opposition wanted "to use you and your children as cannon fodder." Ongoing nationwide protests continued as European Union foreign ministers at an emergency meeting on July 14 discussed drawing up proposals for new sanctions on Belarus. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, the bloc's chief executive, tweeted: "We need additional sanctions against those who violated democratic values or abused human rights in Belarus. I am confident today's EU Foreign Ministers' discussion will demonstrate our strong support for the rights of the people in Belarus to fundamental freedoms and democracy." German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded the unconditional and immediate release of detained demonstrators, her spokesman said. The official BelTA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey as saying on August 14 that Belarus was ready for "constructive and objective dialogue" with its foreign partners on events related to the presidential election and its aftermath. In her YouTube statement, Tsikhanouskaya accused the authorities of "turning peaceful demonstrations into a bloody massacre." "It is necessary to stop the violence on the streets of Belarusian cities. I call on the authorities to stop it and start a dialogue. I ask the mayors of all cities to organize peaceful mass gatherings in every city on August 15 and 16," Tsikhanouskaya said. Tsikhanouskaya called on Belarusians to prove that the majority of them had voted for her, saying that a special link will be added to her website to register those who supported her during the poll. The 37-year-old thanked her supporters, her campaign team, striking workers, and police officers who refused to follow their supervisors' command to attack protesters. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus- opposition-candidate-calls-for- peaceful-protests/30783487.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 Study Medicine Get a world recognised degree With the Minimum Cost View(s): View(s): More than 260,000 students annually sit for A/L exams and however about 21,000 of this population earns university admissions. Other students are compelled to look at alternative options for their higher education. Since there are many alternative options, both students and parents must take a careful decision. REC Campus directing Sri Lankan students for Medicine for more than 20 years and has become the number 01 Foreign Educational Provider in the country, now strongly tie up with Grodno State Medical University (GRSMU) in Belarus and I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. REC Campus has been sending students abroad for more than 23 years and recently located in a new location of No:181, High Level Road, Nugegoda(near the fly over), giving the excellent service to send students to Russia, Europe, Belarus, Australia and other countries. REC Campus has become the number 01 Foreign Educational Provider in Sri Lanka. We have forged strategic collaborations with leading universities in Russia and Europe which enables the students to expose themselves to global thinking and best practices in global industries. Every University has core values that are embedded within its operations. The principles of REC Campus are effectively encompassed within the words Unique, Holistic, Reliable, Affordable, and Best. REC Campus is constantly pushing its boundaries and challenging itself to stay unique and true to its initial step of being the number one foreign educational provider in Sri Lanka When embarking on a degree pathway, a prospective student must establish without doubt the credentials of the awarding institution and its academic reputation. The esteem and admiration, recognition and respect for a qualification are derived from the awarding institution. World renowned educator and a specialist in the field with wide experience in the corporate world, Dr.Lasantha Amarakoon, the Director of REC Campus has been serving the nation and has given the path to study in Russia and Europe and many more projects to be completed in the future where the students can select a destination from an array of choices worldwide. When selecting a foreign university, one has to be assuring with the recognition, affordability, facilities, the demand for the degree and the security. Our Medical Partner universities are recognised by the SLMC, WHO and globally. There is no hidden cost and students can gain a world recognised degree for a lower cost than any other degree from a foreign country. It provides an unlimited student support including documentation process, Direct University Admission, Visa arrangements, Accommodation, Airport Pickup and Transportation and host of other services that gives a relief for the parents who needs assurance with the childs Future Education. Most important thing is the continuous assistance until graduation given by the center. All the students, parents and graduates highly appreciate our services rendered to students during their studies. Students who register early as possible can enroll with the Free Introductory Course in Medicine and Language conducted by the REC in Sri Lanka which will be an added advantage for their education abroad. After Successful completion of the degree programmes, plenty of Post Graduate Opportunities in UK, Germany, USA and Japan are available. Students have the chance of applying for scholarships for above countries with the support of the universities. Most of our representative universities offer Post Graduate opportunities in Germany, USA, Japan and UK with the collaboration of the universities in the mentioned countries and students can the chance of applying for scholarships for these universities. As a result of supplying books to students by the university, parents can save money and it will be a great help as the student can start the degree through installments. Registrations are limited for the 2020/2021 intakes and hurry up to grab your opportunity to study in a world recognized university. All the registered students will get the chance to enter Free Introductory Course in Medicine in Sri Lanka and also offered a valuable hamper. Pay Less, Gain More For more details visit www.reccampus.com Hot line :- 0711 10 10 10 Email info@reccampus.com Kelly Michelle Koch, a US citizen, is the first foreigner in Vietnam who has registered to donate plasma, which can be used to treat severely ill Covid-19 patients. The 50-year old woman is known in Vietnam as the 83rd Covid-19 patient. She became ill with SARS-CoV-2 in March after a trip to Phuket in Thailand and Turkey. Cap Thi Yen By early April, she had fully recovered. All of her test results have been negative for SARS-CoV-2. After her recovery, she returned to her home in Binh Thanh District in HCM City and continued her work at an NGO after a 14-day quarantine. Kelly said she has been assigned a new job in Africa, but she cannot leave because of international flight restrictions. Because of Covid-19, many countries have closed their borders. Vietnam is my home for now, and it is very safe. I believe the government of Vietnam has been doing very well in fighting Covid-19, she said. We can freely work in the country without any worry." Seventeen individuals have registered to donate plasma so far. The hospital has found two people who can meet the requirements. When Kelly was ill, she received attentive and dedicated care from doctors at the Cu Chi Field Hospital. I am grateful to the government of Vietnam for help. When I heard about the project (for plasma donation), I realized that this was an opportunity for me to help other people, she said. Kelly flew from HCM City to Hanoi on August 11 to get ready for screening tests. Dr Vu Thi Thu Huong from the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases said that on August 12 the hospital took samples from Kelly and four other individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and have registered to donate plasma. In one to three days, the test results will show if they meet the requirements to donate plasma. Huong said the plasma samples will be preserved at a temperature of minus 18-25 degrees Celsius. Seventeen individuals have registered to donate plasma so far. The hospital has found two people who can meet the requirements. Cap Thi Yen, born in 1999, was another person present at the hospital on August 12 fir screening tests, preparing for a plasma donation. Yen is a Vietnamese student who returned from the UK in March and was put into quarantine in Bac Lieu province soon after she arrived in Vietnam. After she tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the 21-year old became the 155th patient in Vietnam at that time. Yen fully recovered by April 13 and was quarantined for 14 days. She plans to return to the UK in April next year, and while staying in Vietnam, she has taken a job in Hanoi. I am afraid of blood and needles. But I wanted to help people, she said. Nguyen Lien Towns and cities are the economic and social centers of our communities. When you live in a city, you get easy access to jobs and shopping, restaurants and parks and museums, banks and hospitals. When you live just outside a city you still get all that. But you dont have to help pay for any of it. Thats the case for nearly half of South Carolinas urban residents. While the 2010 Census found that 66% of South Carolinians lived in what it calls urban areas, the Municipal Association of South Carolina says that 10 years later, only 36% of us live inside cities and towns. That disparity places an extra burden on city residents to pick up the tab for their neighbors, through property taxes and business license fees. It also makes government for everyone a little more expensive, because people who live near cities still want city services . That means counties end up providing services that county governments werent designed to provide, even to those residents who live in remote areas. And when the outliers are surrounded on all sides by the city, in so-called doughnut holes, it means that instead of the city garbage truck picking up all the trash in a neighborhood, it drives past some houses, and the county garbage truck has to come along behind it and pick up the trash at those that are inside the city but not in the city. As The Post and Couriers Jerrel Floyd reports, it can cause life-and-death problems with emergency calls, which can come to the wrong police or fire department, delaying the response. There are exceptions Mount Pleasant has several in the form of settlement communities that were established long before the town was even imagined but usually people live near a city because of the city, not in spite of it. Some states address these realities by allowing cities to annex adjacent property once it reaches a certain urban density, because they figure once an area acts like part of a city, it ought to be treated like part of a city. But South Carolina invites people to remain outside the taxation and zoning jurisdiction of a city while taking advantage of its benefits. Here, property owners or residents must agree to be annexed, even when theyre encircled by a city. Three-quarters of property owners have to sign a petition requesting annexation. Alternatively, a quarter of the residents can request an annexation referendum, which voters must approve but thats a tedious process, with several mother-may-I rules, and large landowners can opt out. It would make more sense to have an urban-density approach, so city boundaries reflect the reality of city life, but our Legislature should at least give cities an easier option for closing up the doughnut holes. A bipartisan bill by Reps. Mandy Powers Norrell and Joseph Danning would allow cities to annex tracts of up to 25 acres about half the size of the College of Charleston campus that have been completely surrounded by the city for at least five years. Unfortunately, the pandemic that shortened this years legislative session prevented H.3439 from even getting a hearing, so its not on the agenda for lawmakers two-week session next month. Yet the doughnut hole problem isnt going away, and with the COVID recession putting even more strain on local governments, the last thing they need is the extra expenses and headaches that doughnut holes cause. Eliminating that problem is fairly straightforward, and would give legislators a quick and easy accomplishment in a 2021 session thats unlikely to have many of those. A United Express E175 aircraft. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters United is reducing seats on its Embraer E175 aircraft from 76 to 70 to comply with a clause of its pilot union contract, FlightGlobal reported. The "scope clause" in the contract limits the role of regional aircraft, preventing United from outsourcing too many flying jobs to its smaller partner airlines. October 1 will likely see the airline begin to furlough pilots, at which point regional jets will need to be compliant to the new restrictions under the clause. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. United Airlines' Embraer E175 aircraft are heading to the maintenance hangar for a retrofit that will actually reduce their total number of seats. The largest regional jets operated under the United Express brand will purposely be made less economical to fly thanks to what's known as a "scope clause" in United's pilot contract, FlightGlobal reported. The six-seat reduction from 76 to 70 seats on all of its Embraer E175s is mandatory per the contract as United plans to furlough pilots which triggers the seat removal, United told AviationWeek after assistance under the CARES Act vanishes on October 1. Though it seems counterintuitive to make a plane less capable of generating revenue during the pandemic considering United has committed to filling its planes to capacity the move is actually protecting United's pilots. As part of a deal with the pilot union, United can have 255 regional jets that seat greater than 50 and no more than 76 seats, according to FlightGlobal. The reduction in demand that the pandemic has inflicted would have made regional jets more attractive to fly since they carry fewer passengers further at a lower cost than mainline jets. But having those scope limitations in place is preventing United from outsourcing its mainline operation to the regional partners. Here's how it hurting and helping passengers. Story continues Regional jets have become more prominent on longer routes, crossing numerous regional boundaries with flights of over four hours in duration on some routes. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Austin Deppe / Shutterstock.com As regional jets increased in size, they've become a threat to mainline aircraft since they could fly fewer passengers in similar levels of comfort. The Embraer E175, for example, has a larger cabin than the CRJ fleet formerly of Bombardier. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Robert Alexander/Getty United's longest regional flights, on which it has relied upon the Embraer E175 to operate, include Hartford, Connecticut to Houston, scheduled at over 4 hours... A United Express E175 aircraft. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Madison, Wisconsin to San Francisco, scheduled at over 4 hours and 30 minutes... A United Airlines Embraer E175 regional jet. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty And St Louis to San Francisco, also scheduled at over 4 hours and 30 minutes. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider Even though it wanted to expand the use of the jets, United hit its scope clause limit of 70-76-seat regional jets in 2017 and couldn't get the unions to allow for more. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com Source: FlightGlobal So, the airline concocted a new 50-seat regional jet, the Bombardier CRJ550, to get around the scope clause. A United Express Bombardier CRJ550 regional aircraft. United Instead of maxing out at 70 seats, United loaded it with an abundance of first class and extra-legroom seating and increase regional flying to competitive markets. A United Express Bombardier CRJ550 regional aircraft. United Airlines The contract doesn't regulate 50-seat aircraft as strictly as it does 70 and 76-seaters, giving United more flexibility with the new plane. A United Express Bombardier CRJ550 regional aircraft. United Airlines Passengers can rest easy knowing that United won't be ushering in hundreds of more regional jets to take over mainline routes since the scope forbids the airline from doing so. A United Express Bombardier CRJ 700. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty The downside, though, is that having fewer available seats makes social distancing even harder to accomplish on regional jets and more flights will likely be filled closer to capacity, as a result. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider As Business Insider found on a recent United Express flight from Washington to New York on an Embraer E175 operated by Mesa Airlines, United isn't blocking any seats and aircraft can be filled to capacity if demand dictates. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider Read More: I flew on United Airlines during the pandemic and found nothing more than empty gestures and boring flights here's what it was like Removing six seats on the jets equates to removing one and a half rows in economy and United seat maps have already been reflected with the change. A United Express Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider Source: FlightGlobal Read the original article on Business Insider The following statement has been released by the newly formed Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee in the US. Join the committee now at wsws.org/edsafety. You can also follow us on Facebook. The drive to reopen schools amidst the expanding coronavirus pandemic threatens the health and lives of millions of children, educators, parents, grandparents and community members. Dozens of school districts have resumed in-person instruction. Within days, there have already been outbreaks of COVID-19 infections in Georgia, Delaware, Louisiana, Alabama, Hawaii, California and other states, forcing thousands of children and school workers to quarantine. A catastrophe is being prepared, with millions more students slated to return to classrooms in the coming days and weeks. This includes New York City, the nations largest school district with 1.1 million students and 135,000 teachers and support staff. Whether it is Trump, Betsy DeVos and Florida Governor DeSantis or Democrats like Biden and New York Governor Cuomo, all back this reopening of the schools despite the warnings of scientists and public health experts and polls showing that 59 percent of voters oppose fully reopening K-12 schools. This is not because these corporate-controlled politicians who have spent their entire careers slashing school funding and privatizing public education have suddenly become concerned with the academic, social and emotional needs of children. On the contrary, they have only one purpose: to get children out of their homes so their parents can be sent back to work to produce profits for the corporate and financial elites. Having handed Wall Street a multi-trillion-dollar bailout, the Democrats and Republicans want to force workers to pay for it no matter how many must die. Educators, parents and students are determined to stop this madness. Hundreds of thousands of people from nearly every state in the US, along with multiple countries around the world, have joined Facebook groups opposed to reopening schools. More than 100 protests and car caravans were organized across the US in recent weeks. Teachers, school workers, parents, students and others from across the US are taking the initiative to form the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. Our purpose is to unite educators with young people, parents and the entire working class to oppose the reopening of schools and the social interests driving this homicidal policy. Workers first of all need the scientific facts to counter the misinformation and lies peddled by the politicians and corporate media. The campaign to reopen schools is predicated on three basic lies. Lie #1: Children are less susceptible to infection and dont develop serious symptoms from COVID-19 Nearly 180,000 cases of COVID-19 were reported in children between July 9 to August 6. This is a 90 percent increase in total cases among children in just four weeks. Nearly 100,000 children in the US tested positive for COVID-19 in just the last two weeks of July, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children were 0.5 to 5.3 percent of total reported hospitalizations, depending on the state and age. When children are hospitalized, one in three need the ICU, which is as often as adults. Six percent of these need ventilators. Since May, at least 90 children have died from COVID-19 across the US, many with no preexisting conditions. Lie #2: Children rarely transmit COVID-19 Recent, comprehensive studies with large sample sizes conducted in the US, Italy and South Korea each concluded that children transmit COVID-19 more readily than adults. One of the studies, from Chicago, found that babies and young children infected with the virus can carry viral loads in their throats and airways up to 100 times greater than adults. The spread of the deadly disease in Israel has been largely attributed to the reopening of schools. Lie #3: Schools can be reopened safely A recent study from the University of Florida confirmed that an infective aerosolized form of minute COVID-19 particles can become airborne and travel 16 feet or more, well beyond the recommended six feet for social distancing. These aerosols can also remain suspended in the air for hours in poorly ventilated spaces. As a result, every school bus and classroom will become a dangerous confined setting even with temperature screenings, masks and efforts to social distance. The Government Accountability Office recently found that 41 percent of school districts need to update or replace the ventilation systems in at least half of their schools, involving a total of 36,000 school buildings. All of the latest science makes clear that reopening schools will be an unmitigated catastrophe. Last month, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany succinctly presented the outlook of the ruling class toward the pandemic when she declared that science should not stand in the way of the drive to reopen schools. Obsessed solely with the impact of the pandemic on the stock market, Trump and state Democrats and Republicans did nothing as the deadly virus spread in early March. Only the collective action of workers, including a series of wildcat strikes in defiance of the unions launched by autoworkers, meatpackers, logistics workers and others, along with demands by New York City teachers to close the schools, led to the official statewide lockdowns. It has been proven that this saved tens of thousands of lives. Once again, it is up to the working class to take emergency action. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is fighting to unite all workerseducators, school bus drivers, janitors, maintenance workers and other support staff, with manufacturing, health care, logistics, grocery and food processing, retail and restaurant workersto carry out a nationwide general strike to prevent the reopening of schools and save lives. In waging this struggle, we adopt the following demands which we urge all workers to fight for: For the immediate closure of all public, private and charter schools! This is non-negotiable. It is impossible to safely open schools during a raging pandemic. The loss of life and the permanent physical and emotional damage to children who spread the disease to teachers, parents and grandparents dwarfs any disruption caused by online learning. This is non-negotiable. It is impossible to safely open schools during a raging pandemic. The loss of life and the permanent physical and emotional damage to children who spread the disease to teachers, parents and grandparents dwarfs any disruption caused by online learning. Full funding for public education, internet access and online instruction! The trillions handed over to the rich must be redistributed to provide universal access to high-speed internet, food security, mental health care, special education support and all other resources needed to provide the best quality remote learning for every student and educator. These programs must be expedited in rural areas, Native American reservations and the most impoverished working-class neighborhoods, which the ruling class has left to rot for decades. The trillions handed over to the rich must be redistributed to provide universal access to high-speed internet, food security, mental health care, special education support and all other resources needed to provide the best quality remote learning for every student and educator. These programs must be expedited in rural areas, Native American reservations and the most impoverished working-class neighborhoods, which the ruling class has left to rot for decades. Full income protection to all parents and caregivers who stay home with their children! Educators are not oblivious to the needs of parents, as the corporate-controlled politicians are. That is why the money handed over to the rich must be used to provide full income to those who cannot work because they must stay home with their children. At the same time, full unemployment benefits must be restored and funding increased to protect families, and a permanent moratorium put in place to stop all evictions and home foreclosures. Educators are not oblivious to the needs of parents, as the corporate-controlled politicians are. That is why the money handed over to the rich must be used to provide full income to those who cannot work because they must stay home with their children. At the same time, full unemployment benefits must be restored and funding increased to protect families, and a permanent moratorium put in place to stop all evictions and home foreclosures. No loss of income for educators who choose to stay home! Teachers and education workers who refuse to work in unsafe conditions must be provided with full income and benefits for the duration of the pandemic, not fined and penalized. Nearly 1.5 million teachers, or one in four, have a condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Teachers and education workers who refuse to work in unsafe conditions must be provided with full income and benefits for the duration of the pandemic, not fined and penalized. Nearly 1.5 million teachers, or one in four, have a condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. For free speech and the protection of whistleblowers! All those who speak out against unsafe working conditionswhether in schools, factories, warehouses, hospitals or officesmust be defended against any victimization by employers or state officials. All workers who have been victimized must be rehired with back pay. All those who speak out against unsafe working conditionswhether in schools, factories, warehouses, hospitals or officesmust be defended against any victimization by employers or state officials. All workers who have been victimized must be rehired with back pay. Halt all nonessential production! Until the pandemic is contained, only key industries such as food production, medical care and logistics should remain open. Workers in those industries must be provided with the most advanced safety measures to prevent infection. All nonessential workers and laid-off workers must be provided with full unemployment benefits and access to free health care. The schools must remain closed until the threat to public health is over and rank-and-file safety committees, working in conjunction with trusted scientists and public health experts, can ensure the safety of children, teachers and school employees. This will only happen after a massive program of testing and contact tracing can show that positivity rates nationally are less than 0.1 percent. Before any school reopens under these conditions, all ventilation systems must be modernized, janitorial and nursing staff must be fully funded, and class sizes must be permanently reduced to no more than 15 students. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is completely independent of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and other unions, which do not represent the working class. The AFT and NEA are collaborating with the Democratic Party to perpetuate the lie that schools can be reopened safely. In cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and in other major urban areas, the unions have reached deals with local Democrats to start the semester with online learning only. But this is only a maneuver to dissipate popular opposition and give them more time to prepare a full reopening. The central lesson of the 201819 wave of wildcat strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma and other states, along with the strikes in Los Angeles, Oakland and Chicago, is that it is essential that teachers must rely on their own independent strength to fight. The unprecedented catastrophe of the pandemic is fundamentally a social and political, not simply a medical, question. The technology and medical expertise exist to contain the virus and ensure the safety of the entire working class, but under capitalism everything is subordinated to the profit interests of the corporate and financial elite. Since the pandemic began, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Tesla boss Elon Musk and the rest of Americas billionaires have seen their collective wealth rise by nearly $600 billion. While the Democrats and Republicans have handed trillions to the financial oligarchy, they have cut the $600 a week unemployment subsidy and have left states with a school funding deficit of roughly $300 billion. This will be used to accelerate the attack on teachers, the shuttering of schools, the transfer of public assets to charter and private schools and other for-profit schemes. Our demands are based not on what the corporations and the politicians claim is affordable but what is necessary to protect the lives and well-being of children, educators and the entire working class. In launching the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, we aim to mobilize the working class as an independent social force against the unsafe reopening of schools and for the defense of public education. All educators, school workers, parents and students who support this initiative should join the committee, join our Facebook page and contact us today to establish local rank-and-file committees in your school and neighborhood. Send us any pertinent information, including significant developments in your district or state, and we will share this widely with a global audience. We will be hosting a national call-in meeting at 3:00 p.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. PDT) on Saturday, August 22, to discuss developments and the way forward. We urge you to make plans today to attend this vital meeting. The warming ocean waters are irreversibly losing the ice in Greenland. Satellite data gathered for almost four decades have shown that the glaciers on Greenland have been shrinking to the point that even if climate change stopped right now, its ice sheet would continue to shrink. Troubling Study This is the result of a study published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment journal. It shows that the glaciers are already beyond a certain tipping point, so that snow that rebuilds lost ice is not enough to replenish the lost amount and melted. According to Byrd Polar & Climate Research Center Ohio State University researcher and lead study author Michaela King, they studied the observations from remote sensing data to see the trends in variations in the replenishment and loss of ice. She says that they discovered that the ice being lost into ocean waters is much higher than the snowfall, which helps rebuild the ice sheet. The research team looked into the monthly data from satellite observations of over two hundred large glaciers that drain ocean waters around the island. The study authors discovered that in the 1980s up to the 1990s, accumulation and melting were generally balanced, which kept intact the existing ice sheets. During that time frame, the amount of 450 gigatons or roughly 450 billion tons lost ice has been replaced by snow. READ: NASA Satellites Show Two Canadian Arctic Polar Ice Caps Gone as Predicted in 2017 The Balance is Tipped King said that this all changed when a large increase in the discharge of the ice occurred for five to six years. They observed how the discharged ice going into the waters began to increase circa 2000 steadily. By this time, glaciers have been losing ice of about 500 gigatons per year. Meanwhile, the snow did not increase, which means that ice is lost is higher than the frost being replenished. According to King, by the year 2000, progressively higher losses have been seen. READ ALSO: The South Pole is Warming Very Quickly, Here's Why According to King, the large glaciers on the island have lost three kilometers of the area from 1985, which is significant. Because of this retreat, many glaciers now sit in much deeper ocean water, bringing them into more contact with warmer waters and melting them even more. Irreversible Effects The implication is that even if global warming is somehow halted right now, the ice that is draining into the warmer ocean will still be higher than the frost replenished from the snow. Thus, the shrinking of the ice sheet will continue. Ohio State University distinguished university scholar and earth sciences professor and study co-author Ian Howat said that warming has disrupted the dynamics of balanced loss and replenishment and turned the system into a continuous loss. In 2019, the ice melting in Greenland caused a 2.2-millimeter rise in sea levels within only two months. The Silver lining However, King said that it is positive that they are learning a lot from the glacier so that they can improve predictions and help them crafting mitigation and adaptation strategies. READ NEXT: Melted Glacier Reveals Ancient Viking Mountain Pass Check out more news and information on Global Warming on Nature World News. Nepal, which was never under colonial rule, has long claimed the areas of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh in accordance with the 1816 Sugauli treaty with the British Raj, although these areas have remained in control of Indian troops since India fought a war with China in 1962. The Bombay high court on Thursday granted bail to an 18-year-old, arrested for raping his girlfriend, after noticing that the survivor did not complain about the purported crime till their relationship turned sour. The FIR, prima facie reveals that the survivor never complained about the physical relationship till the relationship took a U-turn and both mutually decided to part ways, justice Bharati Dangre noted while granting bail to the teenager, booked by Cyber Cell of the Mumbai police on July 7. The survivor complained that she was introduced to the accused when she was studying in junior college. The acquaintance slowly turned into a love affair, and the two used to visit each others homes. She alleged once when she visited the house of the accused, he took advantage of the fact that no one else was present in the house and established a physical relationship with her. Though she maintained the act was without her consent, she did not lodge any complaint about the incident. The complaint was lodged only after the relationship turned sour and they parted ways sometime in last week of June. The trigger for lodging of the complaint, the girl claimed, was that the accused sent some of his intimate photos with the survivor to her mother and also threatened to send the photos to her other family members. This is a typical case of teenagers moving too fast and eager to explore the world hurriedly, said justice Bharati Dangre talking about the entire episode. The sheer hurry without maturely understanding each other is typical of adolescence and before the relationship took a concrete shape, the applicant and complainant became physical, said the judge. The applicant, one of the party to this hurried relationship is in trouble as he is arraigned as an accused for a serious offence of rape and is booked under one of the stringent laws POCSO Act. Justice Dangre ordered the teenager to be released on bail on furnishing personal bond of Rs. 25,000 and a surety in the same amount. Before ordering his release on bail, the court confirmed that the investigation officer has seized his mobile phone and that he has not forwarded the intimate photos to anyone else. Snow, ice, flood, tornado or derecho, every disaster and the damage it causes is different, but the Iowa congressional delegations response is largely the same from emergency to emergency. A well-oiled machine is how one congressional staffer described the delegations unified effort to get Iowans the federal assistance they need. Members of Congress dont determine whether and how much aid Iowa will get. Instead, when a governor seeks a presidential disaster declaration, they act as advocates to support the states requests and ensure that it gets the proper attention from the president and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Already, members of the Iowa delegation have been on the ground to survey damage and offer their assistance. Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack told Gov. Kim Reynolds that his office stands ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary to ensure that Iowa has access to every resource available to tackle the challenges ahead. Loebsack, a Democrat, represents the 2nd Congressional District, including Johnson County, where residents sustained widespread damage. Even as many communities in Iowa still are assessing the damage to their farms, businesses, homes and infrastructure, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley applauded fellow Republican Reynolds leadership and quick action in issuing disaster proclamations across the state. As we continue to move forward through this process, I stand with Sen. (Joni) Ernst and the rest of the Iowa delegation to lend support to these communities, Grassley said. However, the rest of the delegation wasnt as complimentary of the governors efforts. Since Mondays storm, Reynolds asked Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management to gather the information needed to submit a federal disaster declaration. On Tuesday, she spoke to President Donald Trump, who, Reynolds said, assured her Iowa will have the full resources of the federal government. And Thursday, Reynolds met with Vice President Mike Pence, whose visit to Iowa included a tour of storm damage. Also, Reynolds, toured Marion and rural Linn County on Tuesday and will be in Cedar Rapids on Friday to survey storm damage and the recovery efforts. At a news conference with city officials Thursday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, who lives in Cedar Rapids, said she has twice called on the governor to submit an expedited request for assistance. This needs to be done as fast as possible, said Finkenauer, who is seeking re-election. I know there is a lot going on. They are trying to do what they can, but, quite frankly, it is not fast enough. On Thursday, Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat who represents Council Bluffs, Carter Lake and much of southwest Iowa in the 3rd District, said shed wrote a letter to Reynolds urging a quick determination on the need for a federal disaster declaration request. I stand with you and your team and urge expeditious assessments that would enable you to request a federal disaster declaration from President Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Axne wrote, according to the letter provided by her office. When that request is finalized, I am prepared to use the voice of my office to echo that request, and I will urge my congressional colleagues to do the same. At such time as you may make that request, she wrote later in the letter, I also urge you to impress upon the President that our financial ability to recover is limited due to shrinking budgets as a direct result of COVID-19. The bulk of the damage from the derecho avoided the Council Bluffs area. What the process involves The process of seeking a presidential declaration involves state and local officials assessing damages to form the basis of a request, according to state and congressional staffers familiar with the process. There are no hard and fast thresholds for a presidential disaster declaration. FEMA looks at the amount and types of damage. Once that information is available, Reynolds can submit the request, including impact statements and assessments of the damages to individuals, public infrastructure, municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives to FEMA. It will be reviewed at the regional office in Kansas City, Mo., before being forwarded to Washington. FEMA then makes a recommendation to the president. Once the request is sent to the president, staffers say their bosses the members of Congress go to work to make sure the president understands the magnitude of the need. Iowa members of Congress have little doubt the request will be approved as soon as possible. In Iowa, the congressional staffers said, state and local officials are adept at working with FEMA and other agencies that support recovery. Much of the work the congressional delegation does involves connecting individuals as well as state and local officials with the proper agencies to get the support they need. Grassley plans to get a firsthand assessment of the damage as he travels to his county meetings. Ernst, who surveyed crop damage on a farm near Maxwell on Wednesday, will make several stops in the Cedar Rapids area Friday. She will see damage from the derecho, meet with local officials and hear directly from Iowans affected. Science/Technology Top Russian doctor quits over questionable ethics that rushed through coronavirus vaccine approval Pharmafile Virus Vaccine Rush Leaves Little Recourse for Anyone It Harms BloombergLaw A look within cytokine storms Nature (David L) US The Real Pandemic Gap Is Between the Comfortable and the Afflicted New Republic Are bread riots coming to America? The Week (resilc) States Secretly Stockpiling Food for Need Ahead To the Roof! YouTube (J-LS) Home prices climb to record in coronavirus pandemic as buyers seek space Fox (J-LS) Surge in Covid cases among children fuels fears over US school reopenings Guardian A video emerged on social media of the woman being pushed by a group of young people after she told them not to be racially discriminatory. The woman who was pushed into the canal, Xuedan (Shirley) Xiong, said she is now afraid to leave the house alone, according to The Irish Times. The video was posted to the video sharing platform TikTok on Friday but was then shared on other social media platforms. The TikTok post and the associated accounts have since been deleted. Gardai confirmed they are looking into reports of the racially motivated incident and subsequent video. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a 104-member national campaign council, headed by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, for the Oct. 10 governorship election in Ondo State. The APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Gov. Mala Buni of Yobe, inaugurated the campaign council on Saturday at the partys secretariat in Abuja. The council has Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau as Deputy Chairman, while Mr Mustapha Salihu will serve as Secretary. Mr Buni urged the campaign council to ensure the renewal of the mandate given to the partys candidate in the state Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, four years ago. I am happy to state that the chairman and members of the council were carefully selected, based on their personal records of hard work, proven integrity and commitment to the ideals of our dear party. I have no doubt in my mind that the rich cream of personalities on this council, with vast electioneering experience, will once again secure the mandate of the people of Ondo State, for the party and its candidate, he said. According to him, the party and its supporters across the country have enormous confidence in the ability of the council members to succeed. You are, therefore, encouraged to always engage in team work and collective participation. We are fully confident that by the grace of God, you will succeed and do us proud. Let me use this occasion to assure the good people of Ondo state that your investment in the party in this election will consolidate the achievements recorded in the last four years. I want to assure you that APC will not renege in its drive to build a peaceful and prosperous Ondo State that will be the pride of all, Buni said. He urged supporters of APC in the state and all over the country to be law-abiding before, during and after the election. According to him, members of the party should engage in healthy competition and promote robust electoral campaign and politics, generally. Responding, Mr Sanwo-Olu thanked the Buni-led caretaker committee for giving members of the council opportunity to serve the party. He described a large number of members in the council as a reflection of the peoples genuine desire to serve the party. The Lagos state governor expressed optimism that the council would ensure the return of Mr Akeredolu as governor of Ondo state. Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu [PHOTO: @RotimiAkeredolu] We will ensure that we campaign to the people of Ondo state to see the need to continue with the progressive government that they have. Gov. Akeredolu is doing very well; we have seen it. He still has the capacity; he has the energy to further advance what he is currently doing. So, that is why we are with him and we know he will do that, Mr Sanwo-Olu said. (NAN) WASHINGTON Lawmakers urged Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Friday to reverse disruptive changes at the U.S. Postal Service, voicing grave concerns about veterans whose mail-order medications are delayed. President Donald Trump appointed DeJoy, a former fundraiser for the Republican National Convention, to the job this summer as the coronavirus pandemic threatened the Postal Services financial viability. Staff hours have been cut and high-volume mail-processing machines were removed from post offices, according to multiple news outlets. USPS union officials warned that the changes have led to many mail delays, raising concerns about the viability of mail-in voting. But changes also sparked concern among veterans and lawmakers about delays for mail-order prescriptions. We have received many troubling reports from veterans waiting weeks for their prescriptions to arrive, a group of 31 Senate Democrats wrote to DeJoy. The Department of Veterans Affairs fills 80 percent of its prescriptions by mail about 120 million prescriptions per year going to 330,000 veterans. The senators, led by Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., asked DeJoy to examine how his changes have affected the mail-in prescriptions and to work with the VA to ensure there are no delays. The VA insisted Friday that most orders were still arriving on time. Press Secretary Christina Noel said prescriptions shipped through USPS are taking an average of three days to be delivered, and more than 95% of mail-in prescriptions have been on time. The department is encouraging veterans to order routine refills 10 days in advance. Many, however, do not control their medication and rely on VA doctors to monitor them. In cases of emergencies, the VA can fulfill those prescriptions in person, Noel said. Mail-in prescriptions are popular, though, in part because of veterans' mobility issues or distance from VA pharmacies. The VA can also use commercial carriers to deliver medication, Noel said. Four House members wrote to DeJoy and VA Secretary Wilkie on Friday, claiming there was a real threat to our veterans. The House members said they were alarmed and had grave concerns about prescription delays. The culmination of these major changes [at USPS], pursued in the heat of the brutal pandemic and economic crisis, is now impacting our veterans access to prescriptions, the House members wrote. This is completely unacceptable. The letter was led by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. It was signed by one Republican, Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn. There are efforts in Congress to provide the Postal Service with enough money to cover its revenue losses and operational expenses stemming from the pandemic. Some senators are pushing for the measure to be included in the next coronavirus relief bill, but prospects of another relief package passing through Congress remained uncertain Friday. Trump said Thursday that he opposed funding for the Postal Service because he doesnt want to see it used for mail-in voting in November. Trump has long criticized mail-in voting, alleging it leads to rampant voting fraud. Later Thursday, Trump downplayed his remarks and said he would not veto a relief bill just because it included funding for the USPS. LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) The biggest fear is a fishhook puncturing the inner tube that keeps them afloat far from shore. Then come sharks grabbing their catch and maybe biting their legs. And the current that threatens to pull them out to sea. A small but growing number of people in the coastal town of La Guaira, just a few minutes from the capital of Caracas, have turned to the sea for sustenance since the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the Caribbean nations already miserable economy. "If we had steady work, we wouldn't risk our lives out there," said Juan Carlos Almeida, who is accompanied by his fishing partner Eric Mendez. We're bricklayers, but there's no construction. Others who paddle out in small groups up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) from shore lost jobs in restaurants or shops catering to beachgoers. All the beaches are closed, but the workers still have hungry children at home in their hillside barrios. If we dont help ourselves and dont go to work, whos going to feed us? said the 35-year-old Almeida. Nobody. Related: Venezuelans stranded as authorities limit migration The new coronavirus hit Venezuela in mid-March and the government ordered most businesses closed. The virus has steadily spread in the five months since. Officials say it's killed fewer than 300 and sickened roughly 31,000. The nation remains largely paralyzed and commercial flights have been grounded at the the nation's main airport in La Guaira. People have little hope life will return to normal anytime soon. Newcomers to subsistence fishing stick close to the safety of La Guaira's pier, fearing the open seas. Almeida and Mendez, 40, consider themselves experienced after spending a couple months entering the water on inner tubes. They make plastic hand paddles and wear flippers on their feet to propel them into the Caribbean. They're quickly out of sight of those back on shore. They wear their extra fishhooks in the brim of their hats away from the rubber and ready to grab. They drop fishing lines from a spool baited with sardines. Story continues The fishermen also bring rubber strips to improvise emergency patches just in case of an accidental puncture. When they catch a fish, they pull it in slowly to see whether a shark is following. They avoid drawing them in too close. Despite the risks, the fishermen say being at sea for several hours brings a calm. They're far from the struggles of life on land the growing coronavirus, economic crisis, hungry children and no work. It's also where the big fish swim. They paddle back to shore against the currents. Its tiring. Then they walk several miles home, barefoot and carrying their catch in a yellow, blue and red backpack the government gives schoolchildren. Their inner tube rests on one shoulder. This was a good day, and they pulled in enough fish to feed their families and share some with neighbors for a week. The rest they sell for a few dollars. If we cant work, where do we go? said Mendez, a husband and father with two children. God gave us this the sea. So we go fishing. ___ Associated Press writer Scott Smith in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report. Postal workers wear masks and gloves during the coronavirus pandemic as they physically distance from each other at the United States Postal Service processing and distribution center on Thursday, April 30, 2020 in Oakland, California. Ben Margot/AP The United States Postal Service has been deactivating mail-sorting machines around the US ahead of the surge expected from mail-in voting this fall, reports say. Each machine can sort up to 36,000 pieces of mail per hour. The machines sort letters, postcards, and other mail by bar code. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Mail-sorting machines used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) have been dismantled and removed from distribution centers around the country, according to postal workers. They told Motherboard that at least 19 machines were removed without explanation. An internal USPS letter from June included a plan to remove hundreds of more mail-sorting machines this year. Postal Workers Union members and some Democratic politicians have expressed concerns about changes to the USPS under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major Trump donor who started his position this summer. President Trump has attacked the USPS and claimed that voting by mail has a high rate of fraud, without evidence. The USPS has more eyes on it than ever with continued mail-in voting forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's how the sorting machines being removed from distribution centers work. The machines removed from USPS distribution facilities were delivery barcode sorters (DBCS). DBCS machine. USPS The machines read the barcodes on letters, postcards, and other items of similar size, and sort them. DBCS machine. USPS The USPS says that each machine can sort 36,000 pieces of mail in an hour. DBCS machine. Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images Source: USPS DBCS is only for letter-sized pieces of mail. Magazines, packages, and other larger items are sorted by separate machines. DBCS machine. Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP via Getty Images To operate most efficiently, a DBCS machine needs two workers: one to input mail into the machine, and one to gather mail after it has been sorted. DBCS machine. Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images Source: Motherboard They can run with just one worker, although more slowly. DBCS machine. USPS Postal workers told Motherboard that it's not unusual for sorting machines to be moved between facilities or deactivated when there's less mail volume. Story continues DBCS machine. USPS "When you take out one of the machines, it takes away our ability to respond to unforeseen things that may happen," Iowa Postal Workers Union President Kimberly Karol told Motherboard. DBCS machine. USPS Source: Motherboard While it varies by location, election-related mail is often sorted by hand. Sorting mail. USPS The USPS estimates that it sends more than 142 billion pieces of mail each year, so an election with 250 million ballots wouldn't necessarily overload its capacity if ballots were spread out over a few weeks. DBCS machine. Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images Source: Business Insider Read the original article on Business Insider Cities are slashing their police-department spending this summer but not only because of the movement to defund law enforcement amid a wave of police violence. It's because coronavirus is also ravaging their budgets. The squeeze is happening nationwide: Seattles City Council on Monday approved nearly $3 million in cuts from the Seattle Police Department that would reduce its force by up to 100 officers. Maryland recently reduced its state police department budget by two percent. New York City in June canceled the NYPDs July class of over 1,100 recruits, partially in response to steep drops in city revenue. The trend isnt likely to change soon, with Democrats and Republicans in Congress at a stalemate over how much aid to send to cities and states. President Donald Trump and the GOP have been staunchly opposed to providing blue state bailouts in the next pandemic aid package. Republicans are offering $105 billion just for schools, with Democrats pushing for $1 trillion for all state budgets. What's going to happen is every single state legislature is going to have to make horrible choices about what basic services to cut, and every state will come up with a different version of that, Dave Wallack, executive director of the Democratic Treasurers Association, told POLITICO. It will impact the standard of living in the United States, he said. Nearly half of 258 police chiefs and sheriffs surveyed by the nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum in July said they were experiencing or expected to see budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year, most in the 5-10 percent range. The decision about how much spending needs to be cut, and from where, will be up to each states bank balance and the political makeup of its government. But Democrats, unions and others warn that the shortfalls could lead to longer 911 response times, elimination of social service programs for the needy and layoffs of teachers, police and first responders. Story continues New York Police Department officers walk down a street with shields during a If in fact they fail to help fund state and local governments during this pandemic, when you make that 911 call, there won't be enough people at the other end to respond because of the lack of resources that are here, said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka during a press call last week. It will affect every American out there in every facet of their lives, and it will be [Congress] responsibility because they failed to act. On the Senate floor this month, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana one of the few members of the GOP calling for state and local aid beyond the $105 billion proposed in a recent Senate GOP bill argued that protecting essential public services was just as critically important to the economic recovery as stimulus payments and more business aid. I do not want to see a situation where, for example, cities slash police budgets and force layoffs of those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, Cassidy warned. Mr. President, Congress should not let police officers, firefighters, first responders, teachers, sanitation workers and others lose their jobs by the millions at a time when our country needs them most. The cuts also land in the middle of a politically charged debate over spending on law enforcement. Nationwide protests erupted after a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, a Black man, in May while he was in police custody. A handful of cities, including Minneapolis, have proposed disbanding their forces. But now, even advocates of police reform say they are worried the sudden, virus-driven budget cuts will backfire if theyre not accompanied by simultaneous investments in municipal services like education and public health. Some cities that have cut police budgets because of pandemic shortfalls are redirecting funding to other programs. San Franciscos 2021 budget proposal would redirect $120 million from the citys law enforcement budget to programs directly benefiting the African American community. Seattles budget also included a $17 million investment in community programs focused on youth and public safety. But advocates of reallocating funds from police departments say those efforts fall short. Kshama Sawant, a Seattle city council member who has pushed to defund the police in the wake of Floyds killing, voted against the city budget this week even though it reduced spending on police. Protestors block Fourth Avenue outside Seattle City Hall during Monday's Seattle City Council budget committee voting, which included potential Seattle Police Department cuts, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. Organizers said the protest puts pressure on defunding Seattle Police and reallocating funds into the Black community. (Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times via AP) It continues to hand more money over to the bloated police department than to eldercare, homeless services, affordable housing and arts and culture combined, Sawant, who is a member of the national Socialist Alternative party, wrote in a statement after the vote. A budget that does not meet basic social needs and that continues to throw money at a racist, violent institution is a failed budget. In reaction to the cuts to the NYPD in June, criminal justice leaders accused Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson of using funny math and budget tricks to try to mislead New Yorkers into thinking that they plan to meet the movement's demands for at least $1B in direct cuts. Groups like PERF, a Washington-based nonprofit that works to develop best practices for Americas police forces, are warning that potential cuts because of budget shortfalls could stymie efforts to reform law enforcement. If youre talking about a five to 10 percent budget cut, you're going to have to cut personnel or you're going to have to not hire, said Chuck Wexler, the groups director. That makes it harder to change the culture within police departments, he said, if agencies are unable to hire new people or invest in training officers differently. When police departments face budget cuts, the first items to go are often community relations programs and recruitment efforts for younger and more diverse officers measures that proponents of police reform have been pushing within their own cities. The last people in are the first ones out if you have budget cuts, said Chris Burbank, Vice President of Law Enforcement Strategy at the Center for Policing Equity, a Los Angeles-based think tank that studies bias in policing. These are your youngest, most diverse, usually the higher educated ones that really want to work, Burbank said, and we're going to get rid of those people as opposed to the ones who have been in too long, who've repeatedly made inappropriate use of force decisions and some of these other things. 15 Aug 2020, 10:10 AM PM Modi launches National Digital Health Mission; every Indian to get health ID Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech from Red Fort announced the National Digital Health Mission. As per the mission, every Indian will have a health ID. He said that this will revolutionise the Indian health sector. PM Modi added that the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) will ensure seamless healthcare services through the health card. 6 lakh villages to be connected with optical fibre in next 1,000 days, says PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day 2020 speech on Saturday, announced over 6 lakh villages of India will be connected through high-speed internet via optical fibres in the next few years. He said the government vows to finish the task in the next 1,000 days. Coronavirus effect: Air India sacks 48 pilots overnight In a surprising move, Air India on Thursday sacked 48 pilots who resigned last year but withdrew their resignations within mandated six months notice period time. The pilots who have been served termination letter were employed in flying the Airbus 320 fleet of the airline. They have been reportedly given an equivalent of one month's salary.Independence Day 2020: PM Modi, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah wish fellow Indians Amazon, Flipkart see increased participation of small town SMEs in 1st sale post lockdown Both large e-commerce companies in India - Amazon and Flipkart - recently concluded their first major sale since the beginning of the financial season. While Flipkart had a five-day-long Independence Day Sale from August 6-10, ahead of other geographies, Amazon had a two-day Prime Day Sale between August 6-7. Both companies said they saw a record participation of small and medium scale enterprises on the platform. Yamaha rolls out online sales platform in India amid COVID-19 pandemic Japanese two-wheeler major Yamaha on Thursday said it has launched its online sales in India responding to changes in customer behaviour in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In the current scenario, customers prefer staying indoors and wish to minimise their visit to the showroom. Considering the convenience of the customers, India Yamaha Motor has introduced the online sales on its website with 'Virtual Store' to enhance the buying experiences of its customers.Independence Day 2020: 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat has become mantra for everyone,' says PM Modi This Old House Isabel Wilkerson has the #4 book in the country with Caste, a powerful and extraordinarily timely social history, our starred review said, of the hierarchy that defines and divides America. On pub day, August 4, Oprah Winfrey revealed the title as her latest book club selection on CBS This Morning, and in a video call with Wilkerson, they discussed topics including a metaphor the author uses in the book. I present our country as an old house, Wilkerson said. After a rain, you do not want to go into that basement sometimes, because you dont want to know what you might face there. But whatever is there, youre going to have to deal with it whether you wish to or not. Friendly Distancing The #5 book in the country is Rowley Jeffersons Awesome Friendly Adventure, Jeff Kinneys second book centered on Wimpy Kid Greg Heffleys best friend. The author has been touring the Northeast in a bright orange van, using an eight-foot trident-shaped grabber to hand signed books to fans. In addition to bookstore appearances, Kinney has been visiting children of essential workers and others especially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Eclipsing the Competition Four of the five bestselling books in the country are August 4 releases, including the #1 title, Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyers Twilight retelling from vampire love interest Edwards point of view. Its publication has been a long time coming: in 2008, a partial draft was leaked online, and Meyer put the novels release on hold. Working on a book for more than thirteen years is a strange experience, she recently wrote on her website. Im not the same person I was then. The #2 book, Live Free or Die, is Fox News host Sean Hannitys first book in a decade. He devotes two of 10 chapters to discussions of the Deep State and in the final chapter, praises Trumps Response to the Coronavirus and Americas Great Comeback. NEW & NOTABLE HARROW THE NINTH Tamsyn Muir #11 Hardcover Fiction The second volume in Muirs Locked Tomb trilogy, which has sold double what its predecessor did in their respective first weeks, ratchets up the horror, hijinks, and gallows humor of the series to a fever pitch, our starred review said. This dark, bloody puzzle box of a sequel is a knockout. LUSTER Raven Leilani #17 Hardcover Fiction Leilani debuts with a moving examination of a young Black womans economic desperation and her relationship to violence, our review said, praising the authors mastery of nuance and her main characters perceptive, funny, and emotionally charged narration. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 13:51:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People visit a supermarket in Auckland, New Zealand, Aug. 15, 2020. New Zealand reported seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the New Zealand Ministry of Health said in a statement. On Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared the Alert Level 3 lockdown for Auckland region and Alert level 2 restriction for the rest of the country to continue for 12 days until Aug. 26. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua) WELLINGTON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the New Zealand Ministry of Health said in a statement. All seven cases were from community transmission. Six were already linked to previous cases in the cluster outbreak, and one remained under investigation, it was said. The seven new confirmed cases reported on Saturday brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Zealand to 1,258, which was the number the country reported to the World Health Organization. The total number of active COVID-19 cases in New Zealand was 56, of which 37 were from the recent community outbreak, and 19 were imported cases in managed isolation and quarantine facilities, said the ministry. Of the 37 cases, 35 were linked to an identified cluster, and two remained under investigation, but are believed to be linked to the same cluster, said the ministry. National tracing service had 1,090 close contacts identified with 934 having been contacted on Saturday morning, and they were all self-isolating, the ministry said. "We are in the process of contacting the remaining close contacts. If you are called by our contact tracers please take or return the call," urged the ministry. On Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared the Alert Level 3 lockdown for Auckland region and Alert level 2 restriction for the rest of the country to continue for 12 days until Aug. 26. New Zealand went to a month-long national Alert Level 4 lockdown in late March, and declared an early success of the COVID-19 battle in June. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday called for a revolution in world economic relations, saying institutions created by the West were "archaic, undemocratic and inflexible." Speaking to an audience of world leaders and top chief executives at a showcase business forum, Putin said the emergence of developing economies "demands the creation of a new architecture of international economic relations based on trust and mutually beneficial integration." "Structures that were made taking account of a small number of active members look archaic, undemocratic and inflexible.... This is clearly visible in the example of the WTO." The Russian leader proposed the creation of "regional Eurasian free trade organisations" that would draw on the experience of the World Trade Organisation. Russia demonstrated its new economic clout during the two-day Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum by agreeing to investment deals worth 13.5 billion US dollars (10 billion euros), forum organisers said. Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, has launched a world-first in education for Ireland, with the introduction of a degree level qualification in recruitment. Developed by the National Recruitment Federation (NRF), the three-year Honours Degree in Recruitment Practice involves the apprenticeship learning model. The recruitment executive, whether a school-leaver, new recruit or existing employee is retained by a recruitment agency and learns on the job and through online tutorials, while attending college one day a week. The degree course is Government funded and aligns with the Action Plan on Apprenticeships and the National Further Education and Training Strategy Minister Harris unveiled last week. The strategy offers a new range of apprenticeships, meaning the opportunity for everyone to engage in learning while also delivering critical skills and roles essential to economic recovery and the future world of work. This new recruitment apprenticeship degree offers a brand-new career route for school leavers, not previously available in the sector," he said. It will also assist in upskilling current employees, and offers an opportunity for individuals in other sectors to transfer into recruitment, with a structured career path, allowing them to earn while getting a degree." The level-8 Honours Degree will be delivered by IFSC-based, National College of Ireland in Dublin. A Government funded course, participating recruitment agencies pay an annual registration fee for each apprentice enrolled. Enrolment is already underway for Irelands unique new recruitment degree, beginning in September 2020, and information is available on https://nrf.ie/. A recognised degree qualification is hugely significant for standards within recruitment, for career development and for the confidence of clients in their recruiters, according to Geraldine King, CEO of the National Recruitment Federation. The NRF wanted to ensure uniform standards across the industry and provide a qualification that gives holders a competitive edge, whether new to the industry or experienced recruiters wishing to expand their knowledge Geraldine King, who helped develop the formal education programme, says. Entry is subject to interview and participating recruitment agencies must provide a dedicated mentor for each apprentice, as work-based learning assessments account for up to 50% of the course assessment. The full-time, three-year blended learning programme combines online and traditional on-campus tutorials, although exclusive online study is likely for at least the first term, due to Covid-19 protocols. A Valuable Apprenticeship Option National College of Ireland is delighted to work with the National Recruitment Federation in delivering the new professional, regulated qualification, says Dr Colette Darcy, Dean of the School of Business at NCI in Dublin. This vocational degree will give candidates the knowledge and practical skills to succeed in recruitment and develop their career, whether starting out, progressing to management or considering a career change. The three-year degree develops understanding of professional recruitment practice, including business strategy and planning, ICT tools for recruitment, leading teams, financial management, stakeholder relationship management and understanding contracts, governance and legal requirements. Geraldine King, CEO of the National Recruitment Federation says they haev prioritised the design and delivery of quality standards and education solutions for the Irish recruitment sector. As industry and enterprise recovers from the impacts of Covid-19, the recruitment sector will play an important part in helping companies fill emerging new job vacancies and adapt to new ways of work, the NRF CEO believes. Jobs are changing and the way we do them is evolving rapidly. Contracts of employment in the emerging gig economy are different, and finding the right talent and skillsets for evolving roles and technology requires highly professional recruiters who are aligned with the new needs of business," she said. Recruitment is a 3.2bn industry in Ireland with more than 7,500 employed in the sector. As well as supporting formal career paths in recruitment in Ireland, graduates of the new course will also enhance their global employment prospects. This degree qualification is a world-first for Ireland and professionalises recruitment in its own right, within the national framework of education. As well as developing our people, we can attract key talent to the industry and highlight career opportunities Ms King said. 15.08.2020 LISTEN There is tension mounting at the Asawase constituency as some landlords are bent on taking over lands they say the Asawase Member of Parliament Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed seized from them. The landlords contend they bought the lands from the Kenyase Stool in the year 2011 but were forced to give up half of the 19-acre of lands on claims the land belongs to government. The 19 acre of land has been a subject of dispute since the year 2012 when a bulldozer was deployed to pull down some 99 structures belonging to landowners. The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly at the time denied knowledge of the demolition but directed the claimants to the MP for Asawase Muntaka Mohammed who insisted that the land was state property and thus was wrongfully sold. After a series of deliberations between the KMA and the landowners, half of the land was seeded to the landowners with the other half held in trust for a faecal plant project which was to be constructed by government to benefit the community. The landlord association insists per a ruling of the new chief of Kenyase, all the lands seized by the state are vested in the stool and was properly sold to the claimants. Leader of the Buobai land Owners Association Osman Ibrahim told this reporter, they will take over the land regardless of threats issued by the Member of Parliament Muntaka Mohammed to stop them from doing so. He explained, The Kenyase Chief has told us that the Asantehene has ruled that the land belongs to the Kenyase Stool and that we rightfully own the lands and we want Muntaka to know that lands are not vested in parliamentarians. Known Businessman and former UK chairman of the NPP Ali Suraj who has been speaking for the incensed landowners would rather demand that the MP for Asawase; be given a weeks ultimatum, to use his powers as a legislator to raise the matters in contention, with the local government ministry. He insists the tensions will be doused if it is made clear whether the 19 acres of land are vested in the state or in the Kenyase stools. Muntaka should act on it because he is the MP and if parliament sets up a committee and invites the local government minister, we will know the truth of the matter. If we do not hear anything between Monday and Friday, Muntaka should stay away from this land and resign because he cannot speak for his constituency, he fumed. The stalemate has taken over the airwaves of Zango Radio Stations in Asokore Mampong with different accounts from the landlords, the Asawase MP, the Current MCE Seidu Alidu and his predecessor Nurudeen Hamidan. When Contacted, Nurudeen Hamidan told reporter Ivan Heathcote Fumador, the land was duly bought by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly before the chiefs sold portions of it to the landlords. He was emphatic that the assembly took a humanitarian approach to cede half of the land size to the present owners. According to Mr Hamidan he has not been served any ruling supposedly given by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II through the Kenyase Chief and is ready to approach the Manhyia palace to apprise himself of the facts. It appears the space of time to resolve the stalemate is getting shorter by the minute as these landlords are hell bent on taking over the seized lands. This is the tale of three cities, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, which were the first major hot spots of the coronavirus disease in India, and were responsible for most of the cases in the country in the early days of the pandemics run. Even in early July, these three cities were accounting for at least one in every four diagnosed cases of Covid-19, and by then, they were already starting to come off their peaks as indicated by a declining positivity rate with increased testing. The positivity rate is simply the proportion of tests returning a positive result. Yet, their trajectories present some interesting insights. First, Mumbai. Over the past two-and-half months, Mumbai has upped its testing game. From around 3,000-4,000 tests a day in early June, it scaled up numbers to around 10,000 tests in late July, and even now, with the crisis seeming to have passed (the new hot spots in Maharashtra are the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and Pune), is doing around 7,000-8,000 tests a day on average. The worrying thing for Mumbai is that its positivity rate has fluctuated wildly from 46% on June 1 when it was doing very few tests (just a bit over 3,000), to 6.8% on July 28 when it conducted around 10,200 tests, to 10% on August 11 when it did around 9,200, to 16.3% on August 12 when it performed around 7,000 tests. This volatility shows that the citys administrators have been inconsistent when it comes to testing intensity. It also means that the testing in Mumbai is perhaps inadequate. They should be conducting more tests every day, perhaps at least 10,000 every time they have exceeded this benchmark, the positivity rate has fallen to 10% or even lower. Second, Chennai. HTs dashboard has Chennais testing data only from July 3. The city has been more consistent when it comes to testing than Mumbai. The number of tests it has conducted in this period has never gone below 8,000, and the modal value is closer to 10,000. Its positivity rate shows an interesting trend. The consistency and adequacy of testing in Chennai meant that the citys positivity rate touched around 10% in mid-July, and has largely stayed at the same level. For the past week, it has ranged between 7% and 9%. Interestingly, this has happened without any appreciable decline in the number of daily cases (once the positivity rate reached the 10% mark). Clearly, Chennai is going through a long plateau. Third, Delhi. The Capitals journey has perhaps been the most interesting. It definitely wasnt testing adequately in June, and its positivity rate in the second week of June actually hovered around the mid-30s which meant one in every three people being tested was found to be infected. The city ramped up testing rapidly, though, and by late June, the positivity rate fell to below 20%. By mid-July, with testing numbers continuing to remain high, the positivity rate came down to 6% and it has largely stayed at that level since. Like in Chennai, the number of daily new cases has remained rangebound (with a mode of around 1,000) since the positivity rate reached the 6% level. Delhi, too, it is evident, is seeing a long plateau. Both Chennai and Delhi have to guard against the plateau becoming an upward slope. And Mumbai has to test adequately and consistently to get to the plateau, although it is almost there. Data on available hospital capacity in all three cities seems to suggest that the worst is behind them (there are beds available, even in critical care units). All three cities do a mix of molecular (RT-PCR and NAAT) and antigen tests. The mix is skewed in favour of molecular tests in Chennai and Mumbai and antigen tests in Delhi. Given that all three cities are seeing (or beginning to see) a plateauing of cases, they should try and use molecular tests to the extent possible, especially if they have the capacity. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON - The Trump administration withdrew the controversial nomination of William Pendley to head the Bureau of Land Management on Saturday amid signs that the choice would hurt the reelection prospects of Republican Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana. Earlier this month the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee received the materials needed to hold hearings on the nomination. But Democrats were planning to press Daines, who sits on the committee and who is in a tight race with Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat. It was not clear whether Gardner or Daines would vote for Pendley. Earlier this month, the Montana League of Conservation Voters put up an ad showing beautiful vistas behind signs saying "FOR SALE PUBLIC LAND." The ad calls Pendley an "anti-public land zealot" and urges voters to "tell Steve Daines our public lands are not for sale." Pendley is BLM's deputy director for policy and programs and has been acting as the bureau's director since July 2019, overseeing the management of the nation's federal lands. His nomination was controversial because Pendley, who previously was president of the right-wing Mountain States Legal Foundation, had once urged the sale of federal lands. And at the foundation, he had sued the Interior Department on behalf of an oil and gas prospector, sought to undermine protections of endangered species such as the grizzly bear, and pressed to radically reduce the size of federal lands to make way for development. "Good riddance," John Bowman, managing director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said Saturday of the nomination being withdrawn. "Pendley never hid his intentions to hand over the country's treasured resources to polluters and should never have been nominated." White House and Interior officials said that Pendley would continue to serve in his current, lower-level deputy director position at the Interior Department, a job that effectively lets him continue to act as head of the BLM. Pendley was the only person nominated to head the BLM under Trump. Several federal agencies are being run by the Trump administration using similar arrangements. In July, Bullock filed a lawsuit against Pendley and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt saying that the administration was violating the Constitution and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act by letting Pendley continue to make key land-use decisions while lacking Senate confirmation. Keeping Pendley on the job "shows the depth of disdain Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump have for the Constitution," Jennifer Rokala, Executive Director of the Center for Western Priorities, said in a statement. She called his continuing role a "baldfaced" attempt "to evade the Senate's advice-and-consent duties." Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, said in a statement that its hard to imagine a worse pick for BLM than someone who doesnt believe in the very idea of conservation. Udall said Pendley should not be allowed to continue in this role in an acting, unconfirmed capacity. A step toward anti-racism: Idaho church removes Robert E. Lee from stained glass window Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An Idaho congregation of the United Methodist Church has removed an image of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a stained glass window. First United Methodist Church of Boise, also known as the Cathedral of the Rockies, held a deconsecration service outside last Friday to remove the Lee image. Those in attendance at the service of deconsecration included Cathedral pastor the Rev. Duane Anders, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky of the UMC Greater Northwest Episcopal area, Phillip Thomson of the Idaho Black History Museum, and Church Council Chair Susie Pouliot. We believe continuing to have a window that includes Gen. Lee, who led the Confederate army in a war that was fought over slavery is inconsistent with our mission as a church and our values as Christians, stated Pouliot, as quoted by the UMC Oregon-Idaho Conference. We cannot have a banner above our door that says, all means all you are welcome here and continue to have a symbol of white supremacy in the form of Gen. Lees visage just a few feet away. In an interview with The Christian Post, Anders hoped that the decision to remove Lee and eventually replace him with a different historical figure will send a message of anti-racism. We have all participated in one way or another in systemic racism, said Anders. It's time to take action to live as anti-racist. This is a step toward anti-racism. We continue to listen and learn from each other. Anders explained that the removal and eventual replacement of Lee with another historical figure will cost around $26,000, the fundraising of which is presently underway. The church has not yet decided which person to replace Lee in the window, with Anders noting that they were taking time to receive names of persons of faith, reformers that could be placed in the window. Some figures in consideration are Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Leontine T.C. Kelly, who was the first African-American female bishop in the UMC. The stained glass window dated back to 1960 and featured Lee alongside George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, reportedly as a way to appeal to Southerners who had moved to the area. In June, church leadership decided to remove Lee from the window, concluding after considerable prayer and deliberation that the image was divisive and hurtful. We believe this section of our window to be inconsistent with our current mission, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, stated church leaders at the time. Further, such display is a barrier to our important work resisting evil, injustice, and oppression. Symbols of white supremacy do not belong in our sacred space. The church conceded that there are people of goodwill who may disagree with our decision, noting that they were hopeful that what unites us in Christ is greater than our differences. A man held a needle to a womans neck and threatened to give her hepatitis during an attempted robbery, a court heard on Saturday. Steven Conor Nicholas McCabe appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court charged over the incident at a Subway restaurant on Thursday. The 24-year-old is charged with attempting to rob the woman and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an attempted robbery. His co-accused, Dean Byers, is charged with attempting to rob the woman of 165 in cash, possession of an offensive weapon, namely a needle, as well as possession of Lyrica and possession of Diazepam. However, a solicitor acting for both men said McCabe had admitted to being the man who carried out the attempted the robbery and that Byers was not involved. A police officer told the court that at around 11pm police received a report of an attempted robbery at the Subway on the Dublin Road in south Belfast. She said a man entered the restaurant and approached the woman behind the counter and threatened her with a needle and said to her: Do you want hepatitis you b***h? He was fought off and fled the scene while being pursued by door staff from a nearby business. The officer said CCTV footage showed both men outside the premises a short time before the robbery and appeared to hand each something though it wasnt clear what this was. When arrested Byers gave a largely no comment interview, while McCabe made full admissions telling officers that Byers wasnt aware he intended to try to rob the store. Byers said he went in to get a drink but there was a queue and he went back outside. The solicitor for both men said Byers had nothing to do with the attempted robbery and there would be a review of the charges against him and a challenge to any future committal process. He added that McCabe, of Great Victoria Street in Belfast, accepts he may face a lengthy time in custody for the offences and was not applying for bail. McCabe, he said, was full of remorse for the appalling and frightening incident, with his case adjourned to September 11. District Judge George Conner granted Byers (23) bail to live at an address on Hill Street in Belfast. He also ordered Byers not go within 100 metres of the Subway, subjected him to a curfew, an alcohol ban and not to have any contact with any witnesses or McCabe. Byerss case was also adjourned until September 11. India is ready to mass produce COVID-19 vaccines to distribute across the country when scientists give the go-ahead to do so, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Independence Day speech on Saturday. "Not one, not two, as many as three coronavirus vaccines are being tested in India," he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the old quarters of Delhi. "The country is also ready for mass production of those vaccines." India is racing to produce an indigenous vaccine. Bharat Biotech International Ltd., an unlisted Indian vaccine maker, received regulatory approval to start human clinical trials for its experimental shot from Indias apex medical research body. News reports say the vaccine will be ready for stage 2 human trials in September. Zydus Cadila and Serum Institute of India also have vaccines under trial. Once a vaccine is approved, the road map for its production and distribution among Indians is also ready," Modi said. The government is struggling to contain the spread of virus, which is growing at one of the fastest paces in world and adding as many as 60,000 case each day. It has the most confirmed cases after the U.S. and Brazil and highest death toll after U.S., Brazil and Mexico. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Planning a trip to the Big Island? Get ready to quarantine. Massachusetts added Hawaii to its list of high-risk states for COVID-19 on Friday. Gov. Charlie Baker enacted a travel order on August 1 mandating all visitors and residents entering Massachusetts following a high-risk area quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Massachusetts. Visitors are urged to obtain a negative result before traveling to Massachusetts. Failure to comply with the order could result in a $500 fine per day. Exemptions are allowed for travelers from lower-risk states, people commuting for work or school and patients seeking specialized medical care. A map showing higher-risk states, last updated on Aug. 13. The current list of lower-risk states includes: Connecticut Maine New Hampshire New Jersey New York Vermont Massachusetts residents are urged to limit any out-of-state travel only to states designated as COVID-19 lower-risk areas. New Delhi: World leaders greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the country's 74th Independence Day on Saturday, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu saying the people of India have much to be proud of. In his wishes, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the deep friendship and partnership between Australia and India are founded on "bharosa" (trust), "samman" (respect) and shared values. Modi responded to the greetings from the leaders of several countries on Twitter. "Thank you, my dear friend @netanyahu and the wonderful people of Israel for the Independence Day wishes. @IsraeliPM's special affection towards India is clearly visible. India is proud of its increasingly robust ties with Israel," he told Netanyahu. "Thank you Australia. Thank you PM @ScottMorrisonMP. Grateful for the Independence Day wishes. Fully agree with what my friend, PM Morrison says about India-Australia friendship. May it keep growing in the years to come and, contribute to world peace and progress," the prime minister told Morrison. Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother and the country's president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering also greeted Modi on India's Independence Day. The prime minister also thanked these leaders. Oli also had a telephonic conversation with Modi. Replying to the Sri Lankan president, Modi said the people of India cherish the Independence Day greetings from their Sri Lankan sisters and brothers, and wished that the two nations keep working together for the benefit of their citizens. New Delhi, Aug 15 : Speaking on the occasion of Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made 10 major announcements on Saturday. He announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission scheme, which gives health cards to every Indian, with immediate effect. Prime Minister Modi also informed the country of a new Cyber Security Policy. The Prime Minister, while speaking about the much awaited corona vaccine, said that work on not one but three vaccines is going on. The announcements were made by Modi during his one-and-a-half hour speech starting 7 a.m. National Digital Health Mission: Narendra Modi made the first major announcement regarding the National Digital Health Mission. He said, "Another big campaign is going to start in the country from Saturday which is the National Digital Health Mission. According to the scheme, every Indian will be provided a health card. Every test, every disease, which medicines were prescribed by which doctor, when the medicine was given, what were the reports -- all this information will be contained in this one health card. This scheme will revolutionise India's health sector." New Cyber Security Policy: Modi said a new National Cyber Security strategy has been prepared in the country. India is alert, cautious and taking decisions to counter the security threats and is constantly developing new systems. The new cyber security policy will be introduced soon. Corona vaccine: Modi informed the country that not one, not two, but three vaccines for the coronavirus are currently in the testing phase. He said that as soon as the green signal is received from the scientists, the stage is set for mass production of these vaccines in the country. Expansion of NCC: The Prime Minister announced the expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). He said the expansion of the NCC will be ensured across 173 border and coastal districts of the country. Nearly 1 lakh new NCC cadets will be given special training under this campaign. Internet connectivity in Lakshadweep: Modi said that in the next 1,000 days, Lakshadweep will also be connected by submarine optical fibre cable, adding, "There are more than 1,300 islands in our country. Work is underway to introduce new development schemes in selected islands, keeping in view their geographical location and their importance in the development of the country." Optical fibre network in every village: The Prime Minister announced that every village in the country will be connected with optical fibres to provide Internet facility. He said that this goal will be accomplished in the coming 1,000 days. Before 2014, only 5 dozen panchayats in the country were connected with optical fibres. In the last five years, 1.5 lakh gram panchayats have been connected with optical fibres. Projects Lion and Dolphin: Prime Minister Modi announced Project Lion and Project Dolphin. He said that India is fully sensitive to the conservation and promotion of its biodiversity. In the recent past, the lion and tiger populations have increased at a rapid pace in the country. Now Project Lion is also going to be launched for Asiatic Lions in the country. Modi also stressed on running projects for the conservation of dolphins. 100 Lakh Crore Expenditure: Modi said that a plan has been prepared to connect the whole country with Multi-model Connectivity Infrastructure. The country is moving towards spending more than Rs 100 lakh crore in this direction. Nearly 7,000 projects in different sectors have been identified. In a way, it will be like a new revolution in infrastructure. Emphasis on Expansion of Neighbourhood Policy: Prime Minister Modi stressed on strengthening and expanding relations with the neighbouring countries. He said, "With our neighbouring countries, whether they are connected to us via land or from the sea, we are linking our relations with the partnership of security, development and trust. Today, the neighbours are not only those who share our geographical boundaries but also those with whom our hearts meet. Where there is peace in relationships, there is harmony." Campaign Against Pollution: Modi announced a plan to eradicate pollution from the cities on the occasion of Independence Day. He said that a special campaign with a holistic approach is also being undertaken to reduce pollution in 100 selected cities. Researchers at University of California, San Diego hope to make future beach visits both environmentally and fashion-friendly, with a new formula for biodegradable flip flops. Mike Burkart, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the public research university in San Diego, California, has developed a polymer from algae, which decomposes naturally. We begin by growing algae and we grow them in raceway ponds where we can grow them up to very high density, said Burkart during a tour of the a lab for Reuters. At that point when they are fully grown, we take the water out of them...and basically were able to get the algae down to a very viscous paste. UC San Diego chemistry professor Michael Burkart looks over algae as it is grown in a green house before being turned into renewable and biodegradable polyurethanes on campus at UC San Diego, in San Diego, California, U.S., August 12, 2020. (REUTERS) Then what we do is extract all the lipids out of that algae and its those lipids that were making our materials out of, he said. The laboratory initially made gasoline from algae before turning its attention to surfboards, and now the humble flip flop. Almost every major shoe manufacturer has come to talk to us about the possibility of using our materials in their products, Burkart said. The simple footwear is affordable and popular around the world, and therefore makes up a significant portion of discarded plastics polluting oceans and seas. But Burkart is hoping his algae-based shoe-wear will change that. A renewable and biodegradable polyurethane made from algae is shown at a lab on campus at UC San Diego, in San Diego, California, U.S., August 12, 2020. (REUTERS) In a 2017 video uploaded by the university on YouTube, Stephen Mayfield, Professor of Biology and Director, Cal-CAB, UC San Diego explains, About three billion of these (flip flops) are made every year, its the number one shoe in India, the number one shoe in China and the number one shoe in Africa. And in fact, a lot of the pollution that comes in our ocean are things just like this. that get discarded, flow down the rivers and into the ocean, where they become a part of the garbage patch. He went on, So if we can make one that is sustainable and biodegradeable, we have a chance to impact not only San Diego, but every beach community, in fact the entire planet by developing these. Our plan in the end is that you can throw this in a compost pile and it will be eaten by organisms. Renewable and biodegradable polyurethane made from algae and turned into a flip-flop is shown at a lab on campus at UC San Diego, in San Diego, California, U.S., August 12, 2020. (REUTERS) Were also talking to other companies, for example, for things like food packaging or other types of materials that we dont want to live forever in the environment, Burkart said. We really want those to be able to decompose or be able to be recycled, he said. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Its that time of the year when we reminisce and salute the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives so that we could live in a free country. And, as India celebrates its 74th Independence Day, Zee Anmol Cinema Aapki Family Ka Cinema Hall is geared up to commemorate the spirit of freedom with a special property - Naye Bharat Ka Naya Josh, a day long movie festival on 15th August. Celebrating this auspicious occasion with Full JOSH, the specially curated movie line up will transport you into a world of bravery, resilience and determination that will evoke the patriot in you. So, this Independence Day, tune into Zee Anmol Cinema for a binge worthy patriotic movie line up with your favorite heroes. Kickstarting your day with the patriotic flavour will be the action thriller Pukar at 9:30 am. Starring the versatile actor Anil Kapoor, the film narrates the story of Major Jai, his courage, passion and the sacrifices he makes for the country. Commending the spirit of heroism and passionwill be the thrilling channel premiere of Surya The Soldier starring Allu Arjun and Anu Emmanuel. Starting at 1 pm, the movie revolves around an aggressive soldier who aspires to serve at the borders but find trouble after getting into brawls and killing a terrorist. Pumping up your evening with a power packed action thriller will be the Vidyut Jammwal starrer Commando 2. Kickstarting at4:30 pm, the movie traces the journey of Commando Karanveer Singh Dogra who is on a mission to eradicate corruption. Signing off with Full JOSH will be the channel premiere of the path breaking film Uri-The Surgical Strikeat7 pm. Starring the heartthrob Vicky Kaushal, the movie chronicles the events of the surgical strike conducted by the Indian military against the suspected Pakistani militants in retaliation to the 2016 Uri attack. Celebrate the 74th Independence Day with Zee Anmol Cinemas all-day movie festival Naye Bharat Ka Naya Josh on 15th August. Joe Biden, who if elected would be the nations second Roman Catholic president, was bashed by a Catholic bishop this week, and a lot of Catholics either yawned or came to Bidens defense. That says something about changes both in the American church and in the declining role of religion as a political identity. Biden, who emphasizes his Catholic upbringing, has also moved to a pro-choice position over the years, most recently abandoning his support for the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortion in most circumstances. Presumably that was what motivated Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, to tweet this on Tuesday: Biden-Harris. First time in awhile that the Democratic ticket hasnt had a Catholic on it. Sad. Put aside the illogic of the attack: Tobin seems to suggest that Biden isnt a Catholic now, but was in 2008 and 2012 when he ran for vice president on a ticket with Barack Obama. Although Bidens change of heart on the Hyde Amendment is recent, he embraced Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, as early as 2007. In that year, he said the ruling was the only means by which, in this heterogeneous society of ours, we can reach some general accommodation on what is a religiously charged and a publicly charged debate. Oh, and John Kerry, the Democrats nominee in 2004, was also a Catholic supporter of legal abortion. Was Tobin counting him? Tobin was upbraided on Twitter for his knock at Biden, including by Catholics who pointed out that its not up to Tobin to unchurch the former vice president. The prominent Jesuit writer James Martin tweeted: Mr. Biden is a baptized Catholic. Thus, he is a Catholic. This isnt the first time Bidens Catholic bona fides have been challenged by a Catholic cleric. Last year, a priest in South Carolina said that he had denied the sacrament of Holy Communion to the former vice president because of Bidens support for legal abortion. But long gone are the days when a priest or a bishop could meaningfully damage the reputation of a Catholic politician even among Catholic voters by accusing him or her of unfaithfulness to church teachings. According to a 2019 Pew survey, 56% of U.S. Catholics believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Mark J. Rozell, dean of George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government and an expert on Catholic voting patterns, said in an interview that there was no evidence that cues from church leaders in any way influence Catholic voters in the United States. Catholic voters, like other Americans, are very independent-minded, he said. Rozell noted that in 2004 Catholic voters preferred Methodist George W. Bush to their fellow Catholic Kerry. He added that this is not 1960, when Catholic voters rallied around John F. Kennedy. What about a cultural affinity between a Catholic politician and Catholic voters? Rozell suggested that Catholic identity might have only a marginal effect on such voters. They are more likely to focus on the issues, agreeing with a bishops pronouncement if it substantiates what they already believe. That Biden has survived critiques of his Catholicism is a reflection of major changes in the American church. But this episode is a reminder of a broader phenomenon: the decline in religion as a proxy for political identity. Religious affiliation doesnt seem to generate the same desire for representation as race or gender. Bidens Catholicism hasnt occasioned anything like the commentary that has focused on Kamala Harris gender and ethnicity. The Almanac of American Politics still lists religious affiliation in its profiles of members of Congress. (Harris is described as a Baptist on Page 163 of the 2020 edition.) But thats arguably a hangover from the days when religious affiliation was an important part of a politicians brand. A lot of Americans feel an affinity with candidates who look like me. Not so much for those who pray like me. Michael McGough is the Los Angeles Times senior editorial writer, based in Washington, D.C. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 World leaders greeted Prime Minister on the country's 74th on Saturday, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu saying the people of India have much to be proud of. In his wishes, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the deep friendship and partnership between Australia and India are founded on "bharosa" (trust), "samman" (respect) and shared values. Modi responded to the greetings from the leaders of several countries on Twitter. "Thank you, my dear friend @netanyahu and the wonderful people of Israel for the wishes. @IsraeliPM's special affection towards India is clearly visible. India is proud of its increasingly robust ties with Israel," he told Netanyahu. "Thank you Australia. Thank you PM @ScottMorrisonMP. Grateful for the wishes. Fully agree with what my friend, PM Morrison says about India-Australia friendship. May it keep growing in the years to come and, contribute to world peace and progress," the prime minister told Morrison. Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother and the country's president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering also greeted Modi on India's Independence Day. The prime minister thanked these leaders. Oli also had a telephonic conversation with Modi. Replying to the Sri Lankan president, Modi said the people of India cherish the Independence Day greetings from their Sri Lankan sisters and brothers, and wished that the two nations keep working together for the benefit of their citizens. (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.) South Africa: SA moves to lockdown level 2 From next Tuesday, all restrictions on interprovincial travel will be lifted, while the sale of tobacco products and alcohol will resume. In his address to the nation on Saturday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would move to lockdown level 2 from midnight on Monday, 17 August 2020. The decision, he said, was in light of the steadily declining number of COVID-19 infections. The further easing of restrictions presents us with the greatest opportunity since the start of the pandemic to breathe life into our struggling economy, he said. South Africa has, since the end of March, instituted a nationwide lockdown with risk-adjusted alert levels to stabilise the soaring COVID-19 infections. In taking the decision, President Ramaphosa said Cabinet was heeding the advice of health experts. Over the last three weeks, new confirmed cases dropped from a peak of over 12 000 a day to an average of 5 000 over the past week. During this period, the recovery rate rose to 80% from 48% from when the President addressed the nation in July. While the country has 583 653 confirmed COVID-19 cases, only 105 000 are active. To date, 11 667 people have succumbed to COVID-19 related illnesses. In an effort to improve basic precautions and alleviate stress on the public health system, government will soon announce a powerful new tool to support digital contact tracing efforts. This will lead to more efficient identification, testing, isolation and treatment of positive cases. What to expect in level 2 Under alert level 2, in which the spread of Coronavirus is expected to be moderate, the country can ease up restrictions to economic activity across most industries, said the President. Economic activity will be allowed with the necessary and appropriate stringent health protocols and safety precautions in place, he said. During this level, all restrictions on interprovincial travel will be lifted. In this regard, accommodation, hospitality venues and tours are permitted to operate, albeit observing approved protocols to ensure social distancing. Restaurants, bars and taverns will be permitted to operate according to approved protocols as to times of operation and numbers of people, said the President. Restrictions on the sale of tobacco and alcohol will be lifted subject to certain restrictions. Alcohol will be permitted for on-site consumption in licensed establishments only up until 10pm. Liquor outlets will be allowed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption from Monday to Thursday during the hours of 9am to 5pm only, he said. While the President urged the public to exercise extreme caution, restrictions on family and social visits are also lifted. The virus, he said, appears to have peaked in several provinces, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and possibly in KwaZulu-Natal. Fewer people are presenting with symptoms at our health facilities. We are also finding that fewer people are requiring admission in our hospitals and the demand for Coronavirus tests has dropped, the President said, adding that patient hospitalisation had dramatically decreased from 10 000 to around 4 000 in the first two weeks of August. It is now clear that had we not acted as swiftly and decisively as we did and had we not taken the threat as seriously as we did far more lives would have been lost, he said. Despite indications being that the country is past its peak, President Ramaphosa said governments concern in the coming weeks and months is to continue to save lives. Most of our health facilities have proven resilient, capable and able to withstand and deal with the surge, he said. The modelled projections of infections, hospitalisation and deaths have been adjusted downwards as progress in the management of the disease was noted. Warning against complacency, the President urged the public to continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and good hygiene. Not complying with these protocols has proved catastrophic in other countries, the President said. While the easing of restrictions is expected to have a positive impact on the countrys economy, the President conceded that it would take a long time for industries and businesses to recover. There is much work still to be done, he said. Government, labour, business and community organisations are now working on an urgent economic recovery programme that places the protection and creation of employment at its centre. We will be making announcements on the outcome of this work in the next few weeks. We will use this moment not only to return South Africa to where it was before, but to transform our country to a more equal, more just and more dynamic economy, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden's running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., looks up as she signs required documents for receiving the Democratic nomination for President and Vice President of the United States in Wilmington, Del. on Friday. Read more NEW YORK Newsweek has apologized for an op-ed that questioned Sen. Kamala Harris U.S. citizenship and her eligibility to be Joe Bidens running mate, a false and racist conspiracy theory which President Donald Trump has not dismissed. "This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize," read Newsweek's editor's note on Friday, which replaced the magazine's earlier detailed defense of the op-ed. "We entirely failed to anticipate the ways in which the essay would be interpreted, distorted and weaponized," read the apology, signed by Josh Hammer, opinion editor, and Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief. But they ended the note by saying that the op-ed would remain on the site, with their note attached. The op-ed was written by John Eastman, a conservative attorney who argues that the U.S. Constitution doesn't grant birthright citizenship. Eastman sowed doubt about Harris' eligibility based on her parents' immigration status. Harris' mother was born in India and her father was born in Jamaica. Newsweek earlier defended the piece, arguing that Eastman "was focusing on a long-standing, somewhat arcane legal debate" about the 14th Amendment and not trying to "ignite a racist conspiracy theory around Kamala Harris' candidacy." But the theory is false. Harris, who was tapped by Joe Biden to serve as his running mate on the Democratic ticket, was born in Oakland, California, and is eligible for both the vice presidency and presidency under the constitutional requirements. The question is not even considered complex, according to constitutional lawyers. Trump built his political career on questioning a political opponent's legitimacy. He was a high-profile force behind the "birther movement" the lie that questioned whether President Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, was eligible to serve. Only after mounting pressure during his 2016 campaign did Trump disavow the claims. Asked about the matter at the White House on Thursday, Trump told reporters he had heard rumors that Harris does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors very serious. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the National Flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on Saturday, reinstating that independent Indias resolve to overcome all challenges is unshakeable. PM Modi said that he is confident that India will realise its dream of becoming self-reliant (Atmanirbhar). I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians, the prime minister said. On the occasion, the prime minister took to the stage and addressed the nation, paying homage to the contributions of all Indians who won the Independence and all members of the armed forces and personnel who guard our independence and keep us safe. Also read: India has willpower to lead the world - PM Modi pushes for self-reliance He lauded the nations corona warriors for their selfless act of fighting against the deadly contagion, helping hundreds and millions without caring for their lives. Next year we will enter the 75th year of our independence. A big festival is in front for us, he said. Here are the highlights from the prime ministers Independence Day speech: In the midst of the Corona pandemic, 130 crore Indians have pledged to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I am confident that India will realize this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest till we achieve that goal. India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey. How long will we see raw material getting exported and being imported as finished product coming back to our country? The mindset of free India should be vocal for local. We should appreciate our local products, if we dont do this then our products will not get the opportunity to do better and will not get encouraged. Also read: India has the willpower to lead the world - PM Modi I am confident that measures like opening up the SPACE sector, will generate many new employment opportunities for our youth and provide further avenues to hone their skills and potential. Self-reliant India means not only reducing imports, but also increasing our skills, our creativity. A big campaign is going to start in the country from today. This is the National Digital Health Mission. National Digital Health Mission will bring a new revolution in Indias health sector. Your every test, every disease, which doctor gave you which medicine, when, what were your reports, all this information will be contained in this one health ID. Today, not one, not two but three vaccines of Corona are currently in testing phase in India. As soon as the green signal is received from the scientists, the countrys preparation is also ready for mass production of those vaccines. Today, many big companies of the world are turning to India. We have to move forward with the mantra of Make in India as well as Make for World. Respect for Indias sovereignty is supreme for us. What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen in Ladakh. There is a need to give a new direction to the overall infrastructure development of the country to move India towards modernity at a fast pace. This need will be met with the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project. The country is moving towards spending more than 100 lakh crore rupees on this. About 7 thousand projects of different sectors have also been identified. It would be like a new revolution in infrastructure. The campaign of Vocal for Local, Re-Skill and Up-Skill will communicate a self-reliant economy in the standard of living of those living below the poverty line. Professionals coming out of Indias middle class make their mark in the whole world not only in India. The middle class needs opportunity, the middle class needs freedom from government interference. Education of the country is of great importance in building self-reliant India, in building modern India, in building new India, in building prosperous and prosperous India. With this thinking, the country has got a new national education policy. Our experience says that whenever there is opportunity for women power in India, they have brought laurels to the country, strengthened the country. Just as Sikkim has made its mark as an organic state, in the coming days, Ladakh, as a carbon neutral zone, is also working fast in this direction. A special campaign is also underway with a holistic approach to reduce pollution in 100 selected cities of the country. National Cadet Corps will select 1 lakh cadets from coastal and border areas, one-third will be female cadets. Ram Mandir issue was resolved peacefully, citizens commitment towards peace during the process was remarkable. In this decade of the 21st century, India will now have to move forward with new policy and new customs. Now simple and ordinary will not work. Our policies, our processes, our products, everything should be best, should be the best. By Emanuel Pastreich Emanuel Pastreich RAF and police personnel during a flag march in the riot-hit area after a mob went on a rampage on Tuesday over a social media post, allegedly posted by a Congress MLA's relative, in Bengaluru. (PTI) Bengaluru: A day after going on the backfoot over the Bengaluru riots, the Congress on Saturday decided to hit back at the government for issuing notices to three more Congress Corporators in the area. This has triggered a war of words between Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and KPCC President DK Shivakumar, with the latter alleging that the police were blackmailing Corporators to get forced confessions. Meanwhile, the total number of arrests in Devarajeevanahalli (DJ Halli) and Kadugondana Halli (KG Halli) have gone up to 290 and the police expects total arrests to cross 500 in next two or three days. After the arrest of Corporator Irshaad Begum's husband Khaleem Pasha, based on his WhatsApp call and message details, the police arrested 60 people, including three more Congress Corporators who were in touch with him. On Saturday, Home Minister Bommai said that the three Corporators will have to appear for inquiry before police. Irked by the statement, Shivakumar alleged that the BJP had instigated the violence and now are blackmailing Congress Corporators to get forced confessions to pin the blame of violence on the internal bickering within the Congress. "Who is Basavaraj Bommai to say notice has been issued? Is he a sub-inspector? We know that they are blackmailing the Congress Corporators and getting confessions to cater their needs. The entire riots were masterminded by BJP and Sangh Parivar. Now, they are painting it as internal bickering of Congress," Shivakumar said. Reacting sharply, Bommai said that the police has issued notices to three Corporators. "They have to come and testify. If they are innocent, there is not need for anyone to be afraid," he said. A day after the violence, Congress had gone on the back foot, realising that some of their leaders were apparently involved with the SDPI in the violence. While former mayor Sampath Raj, who was an aspirant for the Pulikeshinagar constituency ticket was the first suspect, there were others who nursed grouse against MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy. Though Akhanda Srinivas Murthy won the constituency hands down twice -- once on JD(S) ticket and another time on Congress ticket, there is a lot of heartburn against him in the constituency. It is a minority dominated area and a reserved constituency. During the BBMP elections, the SDPI had ensured the defeat of three Srinivas Murthy loyalists, including his wife. Despite internal bickering, Srinivas Murthy managed and ensured that the people in his constituency did not desert him. This warranted his detractors to hire people from outside his constituency, the police investigation so far has revealed. NAVEEN AND PASHA WERE ON FACEBOOK WAR FOR A WEEK During the investigation, Naveen, whose derogatory post led to the violence, has admitted that he had indeed posted the derogatory message. Earlier, he had claimed that he had lost his mobile phone at around 4 pm and the post was up by 7 pm. He had also feigned innocence over the content of the post also. However, during interrogation, Naveen admitted that he hid his mobile phone after the violence broke out and handed over the mobile to police. Naveen told the police that he was a BJP member, but had maintained good relationships with minorities in the area. However, for the last one week, Corporator Irshaad Begums's husband Khaleem Pasha had been instigating him on Facebook. In a fit of rage, he downloaded an image from Google and posted it as a reply to Khaleem Pasha's post insulting Ram Temple. Naveen's statement has made the police to believe that the conspiracy for instigating violence was hatched weeks ago and Khaleem Pasha was in the forefront of it. Policy think tank, IMANI Africa says all individuals and institutions involved in the just-ended compilation of the new voters register risk being prosecuted in the near future. IMANI Africa believes the compilation of the new electoral roll which involved a huge amount of money was not needed. Speaking on Eyewitness News, President of IMANI Africa, Fraklin Cudjoe says the country incurred a cost of US$130 million when the exercise could have been conducted with an amount of US$30 million These are candidates for prosecution. We have wasted a significant amount of money to compile the register. Whoever saw it, whoever organised it, whoever supervised it, whoever participated in it, whoever did whatever to get the tender process to go through and whoever looked on for the same number of the registration papers to be procured. We have lost US$130 million when we could have used US$30 million for this exercise and it would have been done. The voter registration exercise ended with 16,963,306 persons registered to vote. It includes the 30,814 persons registered during the two-day mop-up registration exercise over the weekend. These provisional figures as announced by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, are pending processes of de-duplication and adjudication. Unhappy IMANI IMANI Africa had said there was no justification for an entirely new electoral roll to be compiled ahead of the 2020 polls as the current register was credible enough for a transparent election. The civil society organization feels vindicated by the number of persons who have thus far registered insisting the arguments advanced by the Electoral Commission (EC) in introducing the new register have been flawed. It has also called for an audit into assets procured by the Electoral Commission but was declared as obsolete hence the need for the procurement of new ones. According to IMANI Africa, the procurement done between 2016 and 2019 for the equipment currently abandoned amounts to some $60 million. EC must be charged with financial loss for compiling new register Already, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is advocating for the prosecution leadership of the Electoral Commission (EC) over the compilation of a new voters register. A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Peter Otokunor argues that the Commission in its quest to compile a new electoral roll caused the country significant financial loss. He insisted that his partys position is solidified by data from the registration exercise. Any serious government should be looking at taking the Electoral Commission on for causing financial loss to the state. Clearly, if they had gone through the limited registration exercise which we had advised to register some 600,000 people in addition to the old register, we will be hovering around this same figure we have. Perhaps we wouldnt have spent over a billion cedis for this whole exercise. Source: citinewsroom.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 Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has agreed to buy at least 300 million doses of AstraZeneca's potential COVID-19 vaccine in its first such advance purchase deal, which could weaken plans led by the World Health Organization (WHO) for a global approach. The European Commission, which is negotiating on behalf of all 27 EU member states, said the deal included an option to purchase 100 million additional doses from the British drugmaker should its vaccine prove safe and effective. The EU's bilateral deal mirrors moves by the United States and other wealthy states, some of which are critical of the WHO's initiative, and further reduces the potentially available stock in the race to secure effective COVID-19 vaccines. The move converts into an EU agreement a preliminary deal with AstraZeneca that was reached in June by Europe's Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), a group formed by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to secure vaccine doses for all member states. The Commission declined to disclose the terms of its agreement with AstraZeneca but said its deals are aimed at financing part of the upfront costs to develop vaccines. The funding would be partial downpayments to secure the shots, but actual purchases would be decided at a later stage by each EU state. "This new agreement will give all EU member states the option to access the vaccine in an equitable manner at no profit during the pandemic," AstraZeneca said in a statement. The EU said it has been in advanced talks over the past two weeks with Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi for their vaccines under development. It is also in talks with Pfizer , Moderna and CureVac for upfront purchases of their potential COVID-19 vaccines, EU officials told Reuters in July. WHO BLOW? The EU move could complicate efforts led by the WHO and GAVI, a global alliance for vaccines, to buy shots on behalf of rich and developing countries with a separate scheme. Story continues The Commission has urged EU states to shun the WHO-led initiative because it sees it as too expensive and slow, EU officials told Reuters in July. Now the Commission is openly saying that vaccines bought from AstraZeneca, and from other vaccine makers, could be donated to poorer states, effectively taking on the very task that the WHO is pursuing with the so-called ACT-Accelerator Hub. Brussels has publicly said that its purchasing scheme is complementary to the WHO's, but in private told EU states that there may be legal issues if they joined the WHO programme. Bruce Aylward, the WHO senior adviser who leads the ACT-Accelerator Hub, downplayed fears that bilateral deals could scuttle the WHO's multilateral push. He said late on Thursday that some countries that have reserved vaccines for their populations had also expressed interest in participating in a global rollout. "You hear a lot of panic about buying, deals, etc. But we have a couple of months to work together as a global community," he said, adding that pooling risks and buying together was the ideal solution. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Brussels; Additional reporting by John Miller in Zurich; Editing by Jason Neely, Alexander Smith and David Goodman) 16th batch of Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Sudan sets out PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Li Wei 2020-08-14 17:16:47 BEIJING, Aug. 14 -- Approved by the Central Military Commission (CMC), the first echelon of 110 members of the 16th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Darfur, Sudan left Beijing Capital International Airport on the evening of August 11 for their mission area in Sudan to perform its 5-month peacekeeping mission. The 16th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Darfur, Sudan includes the engineering support team, logistic support team, security squadron and a primary hospital and is consisted of 225 members. They mainly come from a brigade of the 82nd Group Army under the PLA Central Theater Command. As the only engineering and support force of the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)in the region, the Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent is mainly responsible for maintenance and upgrade of main roads, infrastructure construction, and prefabricated houses assembly, construction and maintenance of airports and aprons, and other tasks. "After nearly five months of hard training, the contingent not only has the capability to support engineering, but also the capability to deal with various emergencies. The contingent is currently in good condition and we are full of confidence in completing this peacekeeping mission," said Xiao Wei, commander of the 16th batch of Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Darfur, Sudan. According to the plan, the second echelon of the 16th batch of Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Darfur will depart from Beijing to the mission area in late August. It is also reported that the 15th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Darfur, Sudan will return to China in two echelons after completing the task handover. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TANZANIA, Tanzania - The U.N. Security Council on Friday resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, with the Trump administration getting support from only the Dominican Republic but vowing further action to prevent Tehrans sale and export of conventional weapons. The vote in the 15-member council was two in favour, two against and 11 abstentions, leaving it far short of the minimum nine yes votes required for adoption. Russia and China strongly opposed the resolution, but didnt need to use their vetoes. The Trump administration has said repeatedly it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the defeat of the resolution ahead of a very brief virtual council meeting to reveal the vote. He said Israel and the six Arab Gulf nations who supported the extension know Iran will spread even greater chaos and destruction if the embargo expires, but the Security Council chose to ignore them. The United States will never abandon our friends in the region who expected more from the Security Council, Pompeo said in a statement. We will continue to work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons that threaten the heart of Europe, the Middle East and beyond. U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft said the United States stands sickened but not surprised as the clear majority of council members gave the green light to Iran to buy and sell all manner of conventional weapons. The councils failure today will serve neither peace nor security, she warned. Rather, it will fuel greater conflict and drive even more insecurity. Pompeo suggested the U.S. would invoke the snap back mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal that would restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran and Craft said the United States will go ahead in the coming days and keep Americas promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo. Snap back was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the accord, under which it received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers, known as the JCPOA, in 2018. But the U.S. circulated a six-page memo Thursday from State Department lawyers outlining why the United States remains part of the 2015 Security Council resolution that endorsed the deal and still has the right to use the `snap back provision. The five other powers Russia, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany remain committed to the deal, and diplomats from several of these countries have voiced concern that extending the arms embargo would lead Iran to exit the nuclear agreement and speed up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Chinas U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, reiterated after the vote the Chinese contention that since the U.S. is no longer party to the 2015 agreement, it is ineligible to demand the Security Council invoke a snap back. He said the overwhelming majority of council members believe the U.S. attempt has no legal basis. Should the U.S. insist regardless of international opinion, it is doomed to fail like today, Zhang said in a statement, adding that the vote showed that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail. Iranian Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi accused the U.S. of seeking to use the arms embargo as a pretext of killing the JCPOA forever through the snap back mechanism. As we have already stated, imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited. And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behaviour, will bear the full responsibility, he said. While voting on the U.S. draft resolution was under way, Russia said President Vladimir Putin called for a meeting of leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council along with Germany and Iran to avoid escalation over U.S. attempts to extend the Iranian arms embargo. In a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin said the question is urgent, adding that the goal of the video conference would be to outline steps to avoid confrontation and exacerbation of the situation in the U.N. Security Council, If the leaders are fundamentally ready for a conversation, we propose to promptly co-ordinate the agenda, Putin said. The alternative is to further build up tension, to increase the risk of conflict. This development must be avoided. French President Emmanuel Macrons office confirmed Frances availability in principle to Putins proposal. We have in the past deployed initiatives in the same spirit, it said. Whether Trump and the others agree to participate in the meeting remains to be seen. On Thursday, U.S. envoy Craft said in an interview with The Associated Press that the United States is keeping the space open for talks with Britain, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China. She urged the three European nations that support the nuclear deal Britain, France and Germany to put in writing their ideas to extend the expiring arms embargo on Iran, indicating the Trump administration may be willing compromise on its demand for an indefinite extension. She said they had mentioned a six-month or one-year extension. European diplomats said the three countries share the U.S. goal of maintaining the arms embargo but need to find a compromise with Russia and China. The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said the Europeans had offered a compromise proposal but the U.S., Russia and China showed no willingness to compromise. The U.S. administration wants to end the Iran nuclear agreement before the American elections Nov. 3, the Europeans said, pointing to the time pressure the U.S. is exerting since the arms embargo doesnt expire until October and there would still be time for negotiations. Germanys deputy U.N. ambassador, Gunter Sautter, said after the vote that Germany remains committed to the nuclear deal, but remains deeply concerned about Irans transfers of weapon to Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq in violation of the 2015 council resolution. He said Germany has been engaging with council members and is ready to continue discussions in order to find a pragmatic way forward, which addresses our collective concerns. India rightfully enjoys high prestige among the international community, Russian President has said as he greeted the Indian government on the country's 74th "Kindly accept cordial congratulations on the Holiday the of the Republic of India," Putin said in his congratulatory message to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister "Your country rightfully enjoys high prestige among the international community. The success achieved by India in economic, social and other spheres is widely acknowledged," he said. Putin said relations between Russia and India are dynamically developing in the spirit of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership. "The 20th anniversary of its signing is celebrated this year. I am convinced that through joint efforts we will ensure the further development of the whole range of the bilateral ties for the benefit of our friendly peoples, for the sake of strengthening stability and security on the regional and international level," he said. "With all my heart, I wish you good health and success, and to all citizens of India well-being and prosperity," Putin 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.) - Parliament has given the go ahead for a GHS174 income tax waiver for frontline workers - The Minority in Parliament questioned the criteria for the classification of frontline workers - Ras Mubarak, has also alleged that officials of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) have been included to benefit from the waiver Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Parliament has given the go ahead for a GHS174 income tax waiver for frontline workers. This waiver is expected to operationalise the 50% tax-free basic salary per month President Akufo-Addo promised as an incentive for frontline workers who are risking their lives in the COVID-19 fight. In a report filed by Ghanareport, the Minority in Parliament questioned the criteria for the classification of frontline workers. Member of Parliament for Kumbungu constituency, Ras Mubarak, has alleged that officials of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) have been included to benefit from the waiver. READ ALSO: Ghana Armed Forces: Parliament approves $86m loan for purchase of armoured cars As the incentive does not cover all workers in the health sector, he found it curious for the inclusion of security officials Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, presented the report on the issue to the House on Friday, August 14, and indicated that personal emoluments for the front liners are estimated at GHS168 million with additional allowances totalling GHS5 million. The outgoing MP for New Juaben South named workers of government health facilities, quasi-government health facilities as well as private health facilities as beneficiaries of the intervention. The Committee was informed that there has been a challenge in defining who a frontline worker is but in collaboration with the relevant agencies, a working definition of who a frontline health personnel is, has been accepted, he told the House. READ ALSO: NPP government introduces new allowance for teachers In other news, Parliament of Ghana approved an $86 million loan facility for the procurement of armoured cars for the Ghana Armed Forces. Out of the $86 million loan facility gotten from Isreal, about $80 million of the amount will go to Elbit Systems Land Limited of Israel for the supply of the vehicles. The rest of the $6 million will go to firms arranging the facility and other associated costs. Minority Chief Whip of parliament, Muntaka Mubarak stated that the minority had concerns about the purchase. READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo cuts sod for construction of health facilities in Accra John Mahama can create 1 million jobs in 8 years" - Sam George | #Yencomgh Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh November's presidential election will be dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House's handling of it, and the subsequent economic fallout. However, it is easy to forget now, what with the rollercoaster year we have all experienced, that it was America's relationships in the Middle East, and particularly with Iran, that dominated the early 2020 headlines. Back then, it was natural to think America's post-Iraq role in the region would be a leading election topic. Just because it no longer is, that does not make it any less important. The Trump White House's relationship with Iran has rarely been far from the headlines throughout his presidency. Tearing up the Obama-era JCPOA was a bold, long overdue move. While angering some, finally, the spotlight shone on the deal's flaws namely, its permissive approach to terror funding, its silence on Tehran's rocket program, and a failure to recognize Iran's generally destabilizing impact. The future of this relationship is seen as the defining feature of U.S. Middle East policy for years to come. COVID-19 may finally achieve a necessary step toward regional stability by pulling Iran back from the billions of dollars and resources it lavishes on violent proxies across Middle Eastern hotspots. The devastation the disease has wrought across the country will hopefully see a necessary turn inward and recognition of the need to re-allocate those resources toward domestic rebuilding. This unforeseen pandemic may finally starve the likes of Hezb'allah and Hamas of the funds they have taken for granted for so many years now. For whoever is president in January, perhaps Iran won't be the front-and-center foreign policy running sore that it has been. That doesn't mean, however, that the United States can afford to pursue uninformed policies in its Mid-East relationships. In Turkey, one finds a longtime ally instigating an increasingly reckless and destructive foreign policy running counter to American interests. While much has been made of Trump's apparent admiration for President Erdogan's strongman tactics, it is clear that America's once staunch NATO ally is treading a path that renders it an increasingly unreliable partner. The United States and the wider Western world have long been able to depend on Turkey as their most powerful security ally in the Middle East, dating back to the start of the Cold War. Its presence in NATO was an indispensable source of stability and partnership in the West's wider Middle Eastern policy, a constant during times of broader instability. Alas, with Turkey's descent into Islamism and its increased taste for repudiating the West and secular values, Erdogan has been taking a hammer to this once ironclad relationship. One need only look at the overtures Turkey is making to Iran, Russia, and China to see where its international relations priorities lie. Elsewhere, in Libya, the Turks are exporting former jihadi extremists from Syria, lured by the promise of Turkish citizenship and financial reward, in the thousands to add fuel to the fire of that already destructive civil war. This is in stark contrast to America's active role in calling for peace and negotiation. While the need for a re-evaluation of U.S.-Turkish relations is gradually more understood, Ankara's close relationship with Doha, Qatar, and how together they are increasingly operating counter to Washington's foreign policy agenda, is less so. Last week, disturbing reports emerged that Qatar had financed weapons deliveries to Hezb'allah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organisation. This is despite the tiny emirate playing host to 10,000 American troops. Qatar is, on paper, at least, a staunch U.S. ally, yet it is shown once again to be funneling resources to groups who consider the United States their sworn enemy. Arguably, Doha is playing an even more duplicitous game in its relations with the West than Ankara, putting on the veneer of friendship while engaging with hostile elements. In 2009, thensecretary of state Clinton presented her somewhat infamous "reset" button to Russian president Medvedev, indicating a desire to recalibrate relations. Despite the opprobrium this gimmick received, a similar, more substantive approach must be taken by the Oval Office occupant come January. It is imperative that the United States review previously close alliances with those who now appear to be working directly against its interests. Graphic credit: Cacahuate, amendments by Globe-trotter and Joelf, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International, 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. The exams regulator for England has dramatically suspended its criteria for students hoping to challenge their A-level grades on the basis of their results in mock exams. In a brief statement, Ofqual said the policy was 'being reviewed' by its board and that further information would be released 'in due course'. No reason for the decision was immediately available, sparking confusion for parents across the country and sparked calls for Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to resign. The move comes just hours after the body published its criteria for mock exam results to be considered as the basis of an appeal. It threatened to plunge the A-level process into further disarray following an outcry from students after almost 40% of predicted grades were downgraded by the regulator's 'moderation' algorithm. In a statement late on Saturday, an Ofqual spokesman said: 'Earlier today we published information about mock exam results in appeals. 'This policy is being reviewed by the Ofqual Board and further information will be published in due course.' Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, pictured, has faced calls to resign over results fiasco Students wearing face masks take part in a protest in Westminster in London over the government's handling of A-level results, university provision and employment prospects Students and parents hold a placards outside Downing Street in London on Friday, after nearly 40 per cent of results were downgraded by the computer model deployed when exams had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, affecting disadvantaged areas most Students and teachers protest outside Downing against the downgrading of A-level results Agony of teens left in limbo Lucy Lipfriend has been left in limbo for a second year after missing out on her Cambridge University place. The 19-year-old needed to achieve A*AA in her A-level resits this summer to study theology, religion and philosophy of religion at Clare College. But the teenager, from Northwood, north-west London, was downgraded to three Bs by the computer algorithm after exams were cancelled. She believes this was due to her poor performance in last year's A-level exams which she took when her mother Tina had been diagnosed with breast cancer being taken into account. Her grades slipped to a C in philosophy, a B in English literature and an E in maths last summer, despite high teacher predictions. Lucy took a year out, planned to resit the exams as a private candidate, and won a Cambridge offer. After exams were axed, her former teachers at St Helen's, a private day school in Northwood, submitted grades of A*AA. Three private tutors, who helped her over the last year, predicted three A*s. But her grades were pulled down and her university place hangs in the balance depending on her appeal. Lucy said: 'I've worked really hard for a year and through no fault of my own I haven't been able to get a place at the university I've always dreamt of going to. Grades shouldn't be determined by a computer. 'I don't think you can necessarily base one student's grades on what they may have achieved in the past or what other students that happened to go to their school achieved in the past.' Lucy says Cambridge has encouraged her to appeal, but she must get her grades overturned by August 31. Advertisement Adding to the confusion, the Telegraph had reported earlier that teachers' predicted grades could be used by students appealing their results. However, it is not clear whether this is still the case given Ofqual's latest suspension of the appeals criteria. Exams regulator Ofqual had earlier revealed details on how students can appeal against their A-level results using grades from mock tests. Ofqual said it would allow non-exam assessment marks to be used to 'make sure this opportunity is available to a wide range of students, including those who had not taken a written mock exam before schools and colleges closed'. It also confirmed no grades would be lowered as a result of an appeal however the initial set of criteria has now been suspended. The suspension of their most recent policy has been criticised as causing more confusion amid the results chaos that has resulted. Stalwart Labour MP Yvette Cooper has said: 'Even more unbelievable chaos & incompetence. 'Young people's futures are being screwed up by this & Govt doesn't seem to have a clue what it's doing.' Shadow education secretary Kate Green said: 'Gavin Williamson promised to give students a triple lock, but instead he left many devastated by unfair exam results, and now his commitment to give them another chance is rapidly unravelling,' she said. 'Having promised that students will be able to use a valid mock result, the reality is that many will not receive these grades even if they represent a student's best result. 'The latest chaos is the inevitable consequence of this Government's shambolic approach to exams, which saw solutions dreamt up on the back of a cigarette packet and announced barely a day before young people received their results.' The regulator said mock grades would be valid if they came from appropriately supervised assessments where there was 'no possibility of correction', provided the assessment was produced by a relevant exam board or developed by a teacher in line with a previous exam. Mock grades must also have been marked in line with an exam board's regular standards and assessments must have been completed and graded by March 20 2020. Ofqual had earlier confirmed appeals using mock results could begin from Monday and would apply for GCSE, AS and A-level students as well as those taking Extended Project Qualifications and Advanced Extension Award in maths. The latest setback comes as ministers were braced for a fresh backlash when GCSE results for England are announced on Thursday. Like the A-level results, they will initially be based on teacher assessments and then 'moderated' by the Ofqual algorithm to bring them in line with previous years' results. According to the Observer, more than 4.6 million GCSEs in England - about 97 per cent - will be assigned solely based on the controversial algorithm drawn up by Ofqual. It has been reported the government is expected to face a legal challenge over its results chaos within days. Mr Williamson has said the process was necessary to prevent 'grade inflation' which would render the results worthless after actual exams had to be abandoned due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Education Secretary has faced calls to resign from students, teachers and fellow-politicians including the Liberal Democrat acting leader Ed Davey. Labour has also joined calls for Mr Williamson to resign as MP Rupa Huq said: 'He's out of his depth and should quit. At least he has an alternative career ahead as a Frank Spencer impersonator.' Critics have complained the algorithm has led to thousands of individual injustices, disproportionately penalising students from schools serving disadvantaged communities. Data revealed that the marks of poorer pupils in England were more likely to be downgraded by the algorithm Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, criticised the process, branding it 'surreal and bureaucratic'. He said: 'This is clearly a face-saving exercise by a Government which has said that it won't do a U-turn on its pledge that moderated grades will stand, come what may. 'Instead, it is attempting to remedy the grading fiasco through an appeals process so surreal and bureaucratic that it would be better off at this point doing that U-turn and allowing original teacher-assessed grades, where they are higher, to replace moderated grades. 'That would be a better approach than this appeals system as it would mean students would get revised A-level grades immediately on the basis of the teacher assessments already conducted, which draw on the very evidence that is now proposed as part of the appeals process.' He added: 'We don't blame Ofqual for the bizarre nature of the appeals criteria. The regulator has been given a hospital pass by a Government that is in disarray. 'It is time for ministers to stop the chaos and fall back on teacher-assessed grades rather than prolong this nightmare.' The news comes as the Welsh government has also confirmed students in Wales will be able to appeal against their A-level grades if they are lower than their teachers' predictions. There has been an outcry in Wales after 42% of all A-level grades were lowered during the moderation process. Education minister Kirsty Williams had said appeals would be allowed if 'there is evidence' pupils should have received higher grades. A Level appeal questions answered based on the initial Ofqual criteria - Who can appeal? The Government has confirmed appeals using mock results will be open to GCSE, AS and A-level students as well as those taking Extended Project Qualifications and the Advanced Extension Award in maths. Ofqual said this route of appeal is open to any student with a higher mock grade than their calculated one. - When can they appeal? Exam boards have confirmed they will be ready to process these appeals from Monday and students are asked to contact their school or college. - What work can be used? In the details released by Ofqual on Saturday, the regulator said that past assessments from the relevant exam board can be used, such as past papers. Mock exams or assessments created by teachers can also be used as long as they are similar to past exams in the style and content covered. Marked coursework can also be used if students did not take a written mock exam before their school or college closed, but it must have been completed in the conditions set by the relevant exam board. It can also be used in addition to mock exam results. - What conditions are required? Mock assessments used for an appeal must have been supervised, previously unseen and taken in conditions that ensure the work is the student's own. This includes invigilation, not having the possibility of corrections or revisions, and students not having access to study materials banned in exams. The mocks also need to have been taken under timed conditions that match up to the time provided in normal exams, with adjustments allowed for students eligible for extra time. It must have been completed within the programme of study and by March 20, when most schools and colleges were closed. - What must the mock assessment cover? Mock assessments used for the appeal must have 'substantial coverage' of the normally-assessed curriculum, equivalent to an exam paper or one non-examination assessed task. - What about the centre assessment grades? Schools and colleges were told to submit the grades they thought each student would have received if they had sat the papers, alongside a rank order of students. Ofqual said on Saturday the centre assessment grades took the student's performance over the whole course into account, whereas mock assessments do not normally cover the full range of content. This means if a student's mock result is higher than the centre assessment grade, they will receive the lower grade. The regulator added that no grades will go down as a result of an appeal. - What about marking? The mocks must have been marked using a marking scheme provided by the relevant exam board, or one that matches up to the exam board's marking scheme. The grade given as a result of the mock must be in line with the relevant exam board's standard. This can include using the grade boundaries from the exam board when a past paper has been used. - What do schools need to do? Schools and colleges need to be able to provide evidence for the entire subject cohort if required. Ofqual said this includes proof of the marks given, evidence marking was carried out by the deadline as well as the exam paper and mark scheme used. The student's written paper does not need to have been kept. The Government previously confirmed schools in England will be able to appeal against A-level and GCSE grades free of charge. State-funded schools and colleges will also be able to claim back the cost of unsuccessful appeals as well as fees for autumn exams, the Department for Education said. Advertisement Students, teachers and parents hold placards and wear face masks as they protest against downgraded A level results due to Covid-19 Before the results were published on Thursday, Ms Williams announced that final grades would not be lower than pupils' earlier AS results. 'Earlier this week I directed Qualifications Wales to broaden the grounds for appeal for A-levels, AS, Skills Challenge Certificate and GCSEs,' she said. 'Today, they have now confirmed what this means for students. 'I accept that learners wanted and needed more clarity, and I believe this achieves that. 'Qualification Wales and the WJEC will share the full details, but appeals can now be made where there is evidence of internal assessments that has been judged by the school or college to be at a higher grade than the grade they have been awarded. 'There is a guarantee that no-one will receive a lower grade after appeal and all appeals are free.' Regulator Qualifications Wales said schools would be able to appeal to exam board WJEC if they: - they used the wrong data when calculating a grade - the calculated grades generated by the statistical standardisation model were incorrectly allocated or communicated - there was some other procedural failing on the part of WJEC - there is evidence of internal assessment that has been judged by the school or college to be at a higher grade than the calculated grade awarded. The regulator said that no grades would be lowered as a result of an appeal and would either go up or stay the same. The moderation system overseen by Qualifications Wales and WJEC has been criticised by pupils, teachers, unions and opposition politicians. This year's exams were cancelled across the UK because of the coronavirus lockdown and there are fears the replacement grading system will create a postcode lottery. Students burn their A-Level results at the London Dungeon as students find out whether they have got a university place Students wearing face masks take part in a protest over the government's handling of results A record 29.9% of students recorded an A or A* grades, which is less than the 40.4% who were estimated to receive top grades by teachers. The Joint Council for Qualifications said the grades submitted by schools and colleges were 'optimistic and, without standardisation, would have produced atypically high outcomes'. Adam Price, Plaid Cymru leader, said: 'Pupils who were awarded lesser grades than the teacher assessments in A-level and AS exams should be upgraded to the teacher assessment grades. 'If this approach is being advocated by the UK Labour leader in England, why is the Labour First Minister in Wales so stubbornly against?' 'Further, this should be used as the mechanism for awarding GCSE results and this should be communicated to learners today for peace of mind.' The Senedd's children, young people and education committee will be recalled on Tuesday and has invited the Welsh Government, Qualification Wales and WJEC to provide information and answer questions. Committee chair Lynne Neagle said: 'Given the significant concerns and complexities surrounding the awarding of exam results this year we will be meeting urgently to seek clarity for those who've been through this challenging process in unprecedented times.' Matt Hancock is axing Public Health England and will replace it with a new body to deal specifically with a pandemic as early as next month. The Health Secretary will announce this week that the pandemic response work of PHE will be merged with NHS Test and Trace. According to The Sunday Telegraph, the new National Institute for Health Protection will become 'effective' next month though it will take until spring 2021 to totally break up PHE, an executive agency of the Department for Health. Tory peer Baroness Harding, the ex-TalkTalk boss who currently runs NHS Test and Trace, is being tipped to lead the organisation, the paper said. It follows reports that the government has been frustrated with PHE during the coronavirus crisis, with Boris Johnson slamming its 'sluggish' response. The move also comes amid fears of a second Covid wave this winter, with parts of the UK grappling with lockdowns as infections rise. Matt Hancock is axing Public Health England and will replace it with a new body to deal specifically with a pandemic as early as next month. The Health Secretary will announce this week that the pandemic response work of PHE will be merged with NHS Test and Trace According to The Sunday Telegraph, the new body - the National Institute for Health Protection - will become 'effective' next month but will take until spring 2021 to totally break up PHE, an executive agency of the Department for Health Meanwhile a senior minister said the new body's goal will be 'to ensure that Britain is one of the best equipped countries in the world to fight the pandemic'. They told the paper: 'We want to bring together the science and the scale in one new body so we can do all we can to stop a second coronavirus spike this autumn.' The move is aimed at bringing together the science expertise at PHE and scale of the NHS Test and Trace operation in one new body, so that the country can be prepared to stop a potential second coronavirus spike this autumn. The institute's new chief will report to ministers at the Department of Health and to Professor Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, in a move which gives political appointees direct control over its response to pandemics. Test and Trace call centres will be wound down over the next few months and replaced by local teams run by councils. PHE's anti-obesity will also be handed over to local councils and doctors, who are being encouraged to intervene to encourage people to lose weight. The model for the new institute is the Robert Koch Institute in Germany, which published daily situation reports during the Covid outbreak. Meanwhile the Health and Safety Executive, run by Tory MP Sarah Newton, will assist companies in getting more staff back to work. Tory peer Baroness Harding, the ex-TalkTalk boss who currently runs NHS Test and Trace, is being tipped to lead the organisation, the paper reported Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'The one thing consistent about Public Health England is that almost everything it has touched has failed.' A DHSC spokesman said: 'Public Health England have played an integral role in our national response to this unprecedented global pandemic. 'We have always been clear that we must learn the right lessons from this crisis to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position, both as we continue to deal with Covid-19 and to respond to any future public health threat.' A government source told The Sunday Telegraph: 'One of the many problems with PHE is that it has been spread too thin during the full pandemic. 'Instead of having an organisation that is constantly on alert for pandemics you have an organisation that has been concentrating on prevention of ill-health.' PHE was criticised for not having enough diagnostic testing capacity to properly track the progress of the virus early in the pandemic. Health officials are also furious with PHE for counting all deaths from Covid, rather than just those within the first 28 days of contracting the virus. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 11:05:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PRAGUE, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tried to involve the Czech Republic into the U.S. disputes against Russia and China during his Europe visit this week, but this is not in the interest of the Czech Republic, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) said Friday on its website. "It is neither in the security nor the economic interest of the Czech Republic to participate in the 'trade war' declared by the United States against China and Russia," said the KSCM. "On the contrary, the proclamation of a confrontation between these two world powers, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, will significantly worsen the security situation and instability in the world and thus in the Czech Republic." The KSCM said Pompeo's visit to the Czech Republic was to demonstrate that the United States considers the Czech Republic to be an important ally in the region. "We consider the unprecedented pressure of Pompeo for the Czech Republic to exclude Chinese and Russian companies from all key infrastructure projects as outrageous interference in internal affairs and also as a violation of Czech and European law. The argument that one has to pay extra for security again smells of hidden blackmail," said the release. The party asked Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis to announce whether he gave Pompeo any promise concerning the building of a new unit in the Czech nuclear power plant Dukovany or the development of 5G wireless networks. During his visit to Prague on Aug. 11-13, Pompeo said partnership with Russian or Chinese firms would undermine the country's national security and sovereignty. The KSCM also criticized Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil's planned visit to China's Taiwan, saying that it shows his lack of respect for the Constitution of the Czech Republic and also his lack of self-reflection. Enditem Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar cant take notice of every young trainee who goes through the academy, but a year ago one fresh-faced, stocky 18-year-old, Noah Calderon, just a day away from being 19 and a full-fledged deputy, had caught everyones attention. On Friday, a sheriffs office honor escort drawn from a dozen fire and police departments here and in South Texas returned Calderons body to San Antonio. He and his fiancee died Wednesday night after their pickup and a tanker truck collided in San Patricio County, about 130 miles to the south. Doting women in the sheriffs office would call him Littlefoot, after the Apatosaurus dinosaur character in the kids cartoon series, The Land Before Time, and had baked Calderon a dino-themed cake. That day he was grinning ear to ear, said a somber Salazar at the funeral home Wednesday. He was on a super-star trajectory headed for great things. Calderon, his fiancee, Samantha Sandy Grace Handy, and Calderons younger brother, Luke, were traveling to Corpus Christi on a fishing trip when the accident occurred near Texas 188 and FM 796, officials said. The tanker truck might have run a red light, San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera said. Handy was killed immediately, and the deputy later died at the scene, Rivera said. Luke Calderon, 13, was transported by helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio in critical condition. Calderons family asked for prayers and said, We are deeply torn apart and still face a miracle for my 13-year-old Luke to fully recover. Hes in ICU and needs several surgeries. Samantha was a great person. They were inseparable, said Keith Serenil, uncle to Noah and Luke Calderon. We loved them to death. Noah loved fishing. Calderon, an active boxer and high school athlete, was one of the youngest people hired by the department in recent years, graduating from the Sheriffs Office Blue Shirt Program at age 18 in 2018. He was working in the detention bureau and was planning to attend the Basic Peace Officers Academy to obtain his Texas peace officers license. The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash. It is unclear if the driver of the 18-wheeler will face charges. We absolutely have to be careful out there on those highways because theres more at risk than just ourselves, Salazar said. The deputys father, Edward Calderon, is a sergeant with the Sheriffs Office. In addition to his brother Luke, Calderon also is survived by his mother, Kristie, sister Celina and brothers Ryan and Joshua. The Calderon family said the public is welcome to attend a vigil at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Miracle Center Church, 3751 Commercial Ave., on the South Side, in the church parking lot. There is also a GoFundMe site to help the two families. Funeral arrangements are still pending, according to the family. Photographer Jerry Lara and staff writers Taylor Pettaway and Mark Dunphy contributed to this report. Bruce Selcraig is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Bruce, become a subscriber. BSelcraig@express-news.net Little Traverse Bay Humane Society hires training and behavior specialist Sarah Schertel will serve the training needs of Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, in addition to offering classes to the public. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 01:17:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun said on Saturday that eight soldiers were killed and 300 others injured in Beirut's explosions, the National News Agency reported. Aoun noted that many of the barracks and army's locations were also damaged. "We should unite efforts among all Lebanese in order to overcome the repercussions of this disaster," he said. Aoun also emphasized the importance of working fast to rehabilitate damaged houses ahead of the winter season. Two huge explosions rocked Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, shaking buildings all over Lebanon's capital, while killing at least 177 people and wounding 6,000. Enditem Yet to climb the Grand Duchy's social ladder and are yet to enjoy the grounds of the British Embassy? Fear not...a virtual tour may unlock some of those hard to reach conversations. Following the success of previous editions, the #GuideForOneDay series has been running this summer, from 20 July and continues up to 13 September. These 'authentic tours' are open to new arrivals and well-accustomed residents of the 'Bourg. 'The guides are independent from tourist offices and play a dual role of welcoming and expressing their passion by offering unpaid and in their free time interested parties around the places 'they hold dear, to ensure that their visit is both original and highly personalised'. On this tour, British Ambassador to Luxembourg John Marshall will open the doors to the embassy as virtual guests can have a nose around. The Ambassador will no doubt offer up some really interesting titbits as the experience progresses. More info here Advertisement The Queen has given thanks to those 'who fought so valiantly' for today's cherished freedoms on the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In a special message on VJ (Victory in Japan) Day, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh - who himself was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender aboard USS Missouri on August 15, 1945 - gave 'grateful thanks' to all those who fought for the Allied nations. The Queen, who was not at the commemoration today, said in a statement: 'Today we mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, which brought victory for the Allies and finally marked the end of the Second World War. 'Those of us who remember the conclusion of the Far East campaign, whether on active service overseas, or waiting for news at home, will never forget the jubilant scenes and overwhelming sense of relief.' Meanwhile, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attended an event marking the occasion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. In a speech, he said today was a day to 'remember and give thanks for the extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and tenacity demonstrated by those who fought in the Asia-Pacific theatre of the Second World War.' Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, gives a speech today at an event at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. He said today was a day to 'remember and give thanks for the extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and tenacity demonstrated by those who fought in the Asia-Pacific theatre of the Second World War' Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (left) and Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day Prince of Wales lays a wreath during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire Queen Elizabeth II arrives to present Captain Sir Thomas Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on July 17, 2020 in Windsor, England Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives to attend the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire today The Royal Family and Boris Johnson will today join Second World War veterans to mark 75 years since the end of the war Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays a wreath during the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, August 15 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) elbow bumps a veteran after a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson shares a joke with veteran Bill Redston (centre) after a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England on August 15, 2020, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day The Queen's statement continued: 'Amongst the joy at the end of the conflict, we also remembered, as we do today, the terrible devastation that it brought, and the cost borne by so many. 'Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today. 'May the memory of their sacrifice and bravery remain with us always.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson read the Exhortation before the silence, which was followed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast over the arboretum. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall sign the visitors book during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum Major General Chris Ghika, General Officer Commanding London District lays a wreath at the Gurkha Memorial to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day Richard Day, 93, from Boreham Wood, north London, who was involved in the decisive Battle of Kohima in north-east India, which marked a turning point in the Far East land campaign, was among about 40 veterans at the ceremony of remembrance. Mr Day, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, served in the forces which relieved Kohima and Imphal and told of how he contracted malaria and dysentery at the same time, while fighting a highly determined enemy. He said: 'I think the worse part was crossing rivers at night, it was cold at night - then all night in wet clothes and wet equipment, still having to move about. 'They (the Japanese) were very determined for their emperor. 'It was a glory for them to die for their emperor. They didn't appear to have any fear at all.' The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the 'indefatigable' heroes of 'the Forgotten Army' on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. Red Arrows Flypast over Belfast, Ireland. VJ Day 75: Commemorations mark 75 years since Victory over Japan The Armed Forces will lead the nation in commemorating the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day and paying tribute to the enormous sacrifices of the Greatest Generation during the Second World War Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire The Royal Family and Boris Johnson today joined Second World War veterans to mark 75 years since the end of the war Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day In a speech at a ceremony marking the occasion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Charles said: 'Today we remember and give thanks for the extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and tenacity demonstrated by those who fought in the Asia-Pacific theatre of the Second World War. 'Together, they comprised a force whose courage was as remarkable as its diversity. 'Hundreds of thousands of troops from India, Burma, China and across Asia, were joined by hundreds of thousands more from Europe, Africa, Australasia and North America. 'Together, they served with the greatest distinction. 'Without them, the war could not have been won.' Charles addressed up to 40 invited veterans drawn from the four corners of the Commonwealth during the socially-distanced ceremony. He said: 'On this day in 1945, the surrender of Imperial Japan and the cessation of fighting in the Asia-Pacific region, brought an end to six bitter years of global conflict. Veterans arrive to attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber fly over the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire The Red Arrows fly over the Titanic slipway, the Titanic Museum and the Samson and Goliath cranes in Belfast as part of their UK-wide flypast to mark VJ Day The Red Arrows fly over the Titanic slipway and the Titanic Museum in Belfast as part of their UK-wide flypast to mark VJ Day On the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day) the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic display team are seen taking off from Prestwick International Airport, Prestwick, Scotland today 'Victory in Europe had been achieved that May, of course, but while millions in Europe rejoiced, in South East Asia and the Pacific our long-suffering service personnel, with their Commonwealth and Allied partners, continued the fight for three more months. 'It was their extraordinary endurance and fortitude which secured the end of the war, and which was later confirmed by the ratification of the Japanese surrender on September 2 1945, in Tokyo Bay, on board the USS Missouri - an event my father (the Duke of Edinburgh) witnessed whilst serving with the British Pacific Fleet. 'From the vantage point of the 21st century, it is hard for us to appreciate fully the suffering endured by those who fought, or were caught up in, this theatre of war. 'Drawing on his time as Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command, my great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, helped me begin to understand the quite atrocious conditions experienced by our forces throughout South East Asia. 'But those of us not there at the time really can only begin to understand. Veterans and members of the Armed Forces join Veterans Minister Graeme Dey, to observe a two-minute silence outside of St Andrews House, to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on August 15, 2020 in Edinburgh, Scotland (L-R) L/Cpl Padam Gurung, Major Mani Rai MBE, Baroness Goldie and Musician Sagar Rai lay wreaths at the Commonwealth gates to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day Officer Commanding 64 Headquarters and Support Squadron lays a wreath at the service at St Mary Church Rose Garden for the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day Station Warrant Officer of RAF Honington, Warrant Officer Mac MacDonald salutes as he attends the service to mark VJ Day celebrations on the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day 'Lord Mountbatten told me of his experiences of that gruelling campaign in which our troops faced not only a determined opponent, but at the same time had to contend with an incredibly hostile jungle environment and the ever-present scourge of disease which claimed nearly a quarter of a million Allied casualties. 'At this point we should also reflect on those unfortunate prisoners of war, who suffered so dreadfully. 'Over a quarter of all Allied prisoners of war lost their lives in captivity. 'The courage and fortitude shown by all those who fought in the region was exemplary. 'Field Marshal Slim observed that victory was reliant 'upon their courage, their hardihood, their refusal to be beaten either by the cruel hazards of Nature or by the fierce strength of their human adversary'. 'No fewer than 29 Victoria Crosses were awarded during the Burma campaign - the highest tally of any theatre of war; another measure of its exceptional nature. The Prince of Wales meets Sikh veteran Darbara Singh Bullar and his family with a traditional greeting at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire The Prince of Wales greets a veteran during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas Lord Lt Viscount Brookeborough, accompanied by Old Portoran RAF Flight Lt Bill Eames BEM during a memorial event at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in Co. Fermanagh to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ day 'It is also of the greatest importance to remember the courage of the many ethnic groups in Burma who fought so bravely in the most appalling circumstances. 'Their resolve, like that of all British, Commonwealth and Allied forces, was unbreakable, and, to this day, stands as an example to us all. 'Of course, this was a war that affected not only those who fought, but had a devastating impact on the countless civilians who found themselves caught up in the conflict. 'Indeed, for many in Burma - those who lived through the war, as well as for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - conflict, tragically, continues to blight their lives to this day. 'So, as we gather in this most fitting of settings in front of the Burma Star Memorial Grove, it seems to me to be vital that we remember all those who were so profoundly affected by this conflict. 'Those who so gallantly served, a number of whom we are fortunate to have here amongst us and those who gave and endured so much, in so many other ways. Personnel attend a service at St Mary Church Rose Garden for the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day service in Bury St Edmunds Naval Regional Commander for the East of England, Commodore David Elford OBE, lays a wreath at the Lord Mountbatten Memorial to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day A veteran bugler plays the Last Post at the VJ Day service to mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day 'To all of you, we owe the greatest debt of gratitude, which can never be fully repaid. Charles said he felt 'most privileged' to have been asked to become the patron of the Burma Star Memorial Fund last year, which takes on the mantle of the Burma Star Association, from Saturday. He added the fund would 'uphold a lasting memorial' by offering a multi-national scholarship programme open to young people in the 30 nations which served on the Allied side in Burma. Charles said: 'In doing so, it is hoped that we will keep alive the indefatigable spirit of those who took part in the Burma campaign and, through education, share the most precious dividends of peace and freedom. 'Today, 75 years after that hard-won victory over tyranny, I am proud and humbled to be able to join you all in expressing my profound respect and admiration to the veterans and survivors of that interminable and terrible campaign. Veterans and family members observe a moments silence during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire A veteran and his carers arrive at the VJ Day 75 commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire 'Above all, however, let us remember all those who never returned, and would never grow old. 'We pray that their stories will be passed on to the generations of today and tomorrow so that we can learn from their example. 'All too often, those who fought in the Far East have been labelled 'the Forgotten Army' in the Forgotten War. 'Many of the soldiers, nurses and other personnel felt anger and disappointment at how they were treated when they finally returned home from a war which, from the public's point of view, had ended on the May 8 1945.' He added: 'Let us affirm they and the surviving veterans are not forgotten. 'Rather, you are respected, thanked and cherished with all our hearts, and for all time. 'We salute all those who remain among us, and offer our most heartfelt and undying gratitude for those who are gone before. 'Your service and your sacrifice will echo through the ages.' Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meets World War II veterans as she attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire World War Two veteran Darbara Singh Bhullar, 97, lays a wreath beside Prince Charles, Prince of Wales lays a wreath at the VJ Day National Remembrance event in Staffordshire Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire VJ Veterans share stories with Red Arrows during 75th Anniversary Three Scottish veterans met the Red Arrows at Glasgow Prestwick airport to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. Veterans Whitson Johnson, Albert Lamond and Barney Roberts greeted the pilots as they stopped to refuel during the Red Arrows' nationwide tour. The men exchanged stories of serving in the armed forces, three quarters of a century apart. Commemorations have taken place around the country on Saturday to mark the anniversary, with the Red Arrows conducted a flypast over Glasgow Prestwick Airport before landing to meet with the veterans. Mr Johnson, 96, served in the RAF from 1942 to 1947 deciphering codes in support of the Fourteenth Army in the Far East and spent time in Bombay, Calcutta, Chittagong, Hmawbi and Burma. Mr Johnson said: 'As far as I was concerned, August 15 was when the war ended. 'That was a great day. I will never forget it. War is a terrible thing. 'I learned that lesson and I realise there is no point in war. 'I am glad that the war finished when it did, and the Allies were victorious. 'I can hardly believe that it has been 75 years since that day.' Mr Lamond, 94, served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1947 as a signalman and was at Sword Beach during the D-Day campaign. He was later attached to the Pacific Fleet that joined with the American Navy under the command of Admiral Halsey of the US Navy in the Far East. Bernard 'Barney' Roberts, 93, served in the Royal Navy from 1942 to 1947 initially serving on a minelayer to protect the Arctic Convoys from German U-boats before fighting in Italy and later in North Africa. Mr Roberts said: 'On VJ Day I felt great relief and happiness that it was finally over. 'My message to everyone today and in particular the younger generation is that we are very lucky, very lucky indeed not to be involved in a war like the Second World War. 'So many of us owe the freedoms we have today to the Second World War generation.' Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said on Saturday his thoughts were with the wartime generation. He added: 'It is a day to reflect on the selflessness of so many men and women. 'It's thanks to veterans such as those who met up with the Red Arrows at Glasgow Prestwick Airport that we are able to live freely. 'Today as a nation we honour and remember them all.' Scottish-born Squadron Leader Martin Pert, team leader and Red 1 of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: 'It is an enormous privilege, as members of the modern day Royal Air Force, to meet these incredible veterans as they continue to provide inspiration to us all, particularly when we reflect on their sacrifice and service. 'Although separated by different generations and circumstances, there is still so much we have in common with these individuals - indeed, the UK's Armed Forces in 2020 seek to embody the same values, qualities and determination of our forebears.' Advertisement The Covid-19 pandemic has meant tributes to mark the landmark anniversary have been organised online and in television, with the Duke of Cambridge to appear on screens across the country in VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute, a pre-recorded BBC programme filmed at Horse Guards Parade. Developed with the Ministry of Defence and involving 300 members of Armed Forces personnel, the programme scheduled to broadcast at 8.30pm promises a host of famous faces reading tributes, military bands and dramatic visual projection, with the duke to give a special address thanking veterans and the wartime generation. In a video to be published online, the Prince of Wales reads an extract from the diary of his grandfather, King George VI, written on August 15th 1945, when thousands watched him and the Queen drive down the Mall in an open carriage. He reads: 'By 10am there were already large crowds outside Buckingham Palace and we drove in procession in a state landau with an escort to Westminster where I opened the first Peace time Parliament since 1938. 'The Crown was carried in the full procession but no robes were worn. My speech took 16 minutes to read, in which I mentioned the surrender of Japan.' In a separate video, the Duke of Gloucester reads an extract from the speech delivered by King George VI on VJ Day, which forms part of an online service of commemoration from Leicester Cathedral. Japan on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing 'deep remorse' over his country's wartime actions at a somber annual ceremony curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Naruhito pledged to reflect on the war's events and expressed hope that the tragedy would never be repeated. There was no word of apology from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gave thanks for the sacrifices of the Japanese war dead but had nothing to say about the suffering of Japan's neighbors. 'Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated,' Naruhito said in a short speech at the event in Tokyo marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender on 15 August, 1945. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Britain and Australia, senior government figures laid wreaths at war memorials to commemorate the dead from the brutal conflict in the Pacific. The Royal Family and Boris Johnson will today join Second World War veterans to mark 75 years since the end of the war. Prince Philip, 99, will be among those paying tribute to the heroes who fell during the campaign in the Far East. The duke was aboard the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will also attend today's service at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire. For the first time since the 2012 Olympics, the Red Arrows will conduct a flypast over the four capital cities of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Japan, amid virus fears and worries about the fading memories of the fast-aging war generation, about 500 participants, reduced from 6,200 last year, mourned the dead with a minute of silence. Masks were required, and there was no singing of the 'Kimigayo' national anthem. Naruhito has promised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who devoted his 30-year career to making amends for a war fought in the name of Hirohito, the current emperor's grandfather. Abe has increasingly sought to whitewash Japan's brutal past since taking office in December 2012. He hasn't acknowledged Japan's wartime hostilities during Aug. 15 speeches, which had previously been a nearly 20-year tradition that began with the 1995 apology of Socialist leader Tomiichi Murayama. Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with Jane Elgey, nee Reid, who was in Singapore when it fell, and her daughter Glynis Elgey, at the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter arrives to attend the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire Veterans arrive to attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England on August 15, 2020, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan attend a memorial service marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II at the Nippon Budokan hall on August 15, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. 75 years ago today and following the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, former emperor Hirohito formally announced Japans surrender to allied forces, bringing the hostilities of World War II to an end Japan's Emperor Naruhito (left) and Empress Masako (right) wearing face masks, attend a memorial service marking the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, Japan, 15 August 2020. On 15 August 1945, following the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, former emperor Hirohito formally announced Japan's surrender to allied forces, bringing the hostilities of World War II to an end Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London, to mark VJ Day this morning Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London, to mark VJ Day - the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on the eastern front Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and husband Sir David Gascoigne lay flowers on the steps of the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War today in Wellington, New Zealand Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lays a wreath during a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific Day at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, 15 August 2020 Handout dated yesterday, issued by RAF/MoD, shows the Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes in front of the Burma Star Memoriall. He is the lone piper at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, when The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will join Second World War veterans, their carers and their families to pay tribute to all those who fell during the Far East campaign Abe, in a largely domestic-focused speech, said the peace that Japan enjoys today is built on the sacrifices of those who died in the war. He pledged that Japan will reflect on lessons from history and will not repeat the war devastation. He listed damage inflicted on Japan and its people, including the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, massive firebombings of Tokyo and the fierce battle of Okinawa. Abe pledged to play a greater role in tackling global problems. Under his goal of turning Japan into a 'beautiful' and 'normal' nation, Abe has steadily pushed to cleanse Japan of its embarrassing wartime history and build up its military by stretching the interpretation of Japan's war-renouncing constitution. It includes acquiring greater missile defense capability in the face of a growing military threat from North Korea and China. 'Remembering those days, I strongly feel we should never wage war,' said Shoji Nagaya, 93, who traveled from Hokkaido in northern Japan to commemorate his brother who died of illness while serving in China. 'But politicians today seem to have different views than ours, and I really hope that they will not head to a wrong direction.' At sunrise (0600) on 15 August, military pipers will perform 'When the Battle's O'er' onboard HMS Belfast, London, and at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. The playing of the Highland air signifies the moment that the UK woke up to peace on 15 August 1945 Image shows Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes. C Sgt Gurung is a Pipe Major in the uniform of 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and is the lone piper at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on 15 August 2020 Image shows Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes. C Sgt Gurung is a Pipe Major in the uniform of 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and is the lone piper at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on 15 August 2020 Poor weather of VJ Day sees Red Arrows' flypast cancelled in major cities Hundreds of people eager to see the world-famous Red Arrows' flypast on VJ Day were left downcast after scheduled flights were cancelled due to poor weather. In what would have been a first since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, the RAF's Red Arrows had planned to fly over the four nations' capital cities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Japan Day on Saturday. However, the cloudy skies scuppered plans and the flypasts in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London were cancelled. Sharing the news on Twitter, Martin Pert, team leader and Red 1 of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: 'Whilst it may be lovely weather in some parts of the UK, we've encountered lots of very low cloud across much of the kingdom. 'This often means we have to fly at higher levels to preserve fuel to counter that same cloud on approach to destination airfields.' In place of the cancelled Edinburgh flight, the Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft landed to greet three Second World War veterans. Whitson Johnson, Albert Lamond and Barney Roberts welcomed the pilots as they stopped to refuel, with the men exchanging stories of serving in the armed forces, three quarters of a century apart. The flypast carried on to Belfast as scheduled at 2pm, flying over the city centre and cheering crowds. The aircraft passed the landmark Titanic building and the Harland and Wolff shipyard cranes as they flew up Belfast Lough, leaving red, white and blue trails in their wake. The Red Arrows were due to fly over the Welsh capital at 2.40pm before landing at Cardiff Airport, where crowds had braved the rain to await them. Ground crew from the flight did meet Second World War RAF veteran Ray Taylor, from Ton Pentre, Rhondda, who saw service from 1942 to 1946 as a gunner and parachutist. The Red Arrows had planned to fly directly over the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, home of the Chelsea Pensioners, including three Burma Star recipients, at 5.30pm, before the event was cancelled. Advertisement Abe stayed away from the shrine that honors convicted war criminals among the war dead. He sent a religious offering through a lawmaker, a gesture meant to avoid angering China and South Korea, which consider the Yasukuni shrine a symbol of Japan's militarism. Abe last visited Yasukuni in December 2013. Four members of his Cabinet did visit the shrine, the first ministerial visit in four years. Among them was Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who repeatedly visited the shrine on different occasions, including his last visit as serving prime minister on Aug. 15, 2006, that sparked criticism from China and South Korea. 'We decide how we want to pay respects to the war dead. This should not be a diplomatic problem,' Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi, an ultra-conservative who shares Abe's historical views, told reporters after praying at the shrine. Repeated Yasukuni visits by Japanese government officials 'indicates that on the issue of history, Japan has not completely abandoned militarism,' said Wang Shaopu, a Japanese studies professor at Jiao Tong University and honorary president of the Japan Society of Shanghai. 'Japan's invasion of China has brought huge disaster to the Chinese people. Under these circumstances, if Japan doesn't face up to historical issues, how could we be sure that Japan will follow the path of peace in the future?' Kosaburo Tanaka, a martial arts association manager, traveled from Osaka to give thanks for Japan's postwar peace. 'Japan hasn't been in any war over the last 75 years and we were able to live peacefully. I think that's all because of the spirits that rest here in Yasukuni. They protect the peace.' Nobuko Bamba a retiree whose grandmother, uncle and aunt died in the March 10, 1945, U.S. firebombing of Tokyo, thinks both sides of history should be remembered. 'There are many people who don't know anything about the war, not only the suffering of the Japanese people, but there are also things that Japanese people did, bad things,' Bamba said. 'Unless we teach these things to future generations, I don't think war would end.' She prayed for her uncle, whose remains have never been found. Some 71,000 British and Commonwealth troops died during the war against Japan, including 12,000 in captivity. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday: 'VJ Day is sometimes seen as the forgotten victory, but this year, on its 75th anniversary, our celebrations are rightly focused on paying special tribute to the Greatest Generation and their service and sacrifice in the Far East. 'These commemorations have been specially designed to include our veterans and pay tribute to the wartime generation as much as possible despite these challenging times.' His comments came as a poll for Armed Forces charity SSAFA found that 46 per cent of Britons do not know the meaning of VJ Day. World leaders will join Boris Johnson and Prince Philip on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. VJ celebrations in London, August 1945. News of the surrender of Japan to the Allies in mid-August 1945, which signalled the end of the war in the Far East, generated even more rejoicing and celebration in Britain than the proclamation of Victory in Europe only a few months earlier. In this B/W file photo dated 15 August, 1945, Japanese prisoners of war at Guam, Mariana Islands, bow their heads as they hear Japanese Emperor Hirohito making the announcement of Japan's unconditional surrender In this B/W file photo dated May 9, 1945, while American cities were going wild on an unconfirmed report of Germany's unconditional surrender, American soldiers and marines are checking the identification of their dead on May 9, 1945, on Okinawa, Japan Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been joined by nine other global figures including US president Donald Trump, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari and Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau in recording a video message thanking those who served. In the Friendship of Nations video, due to be released ahead of commemorations, each leader will say in turn: 'To all who served, we thank you.' During a series of events throughout VJ Day, August 15, the royal family and Mr Johnson will lead the country in honouring those who fought in the Far East and helped to finally end the Second World War. Mr Johnson said: 'On this 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we pay tribute to the heroes deployed thousands of miles away in the mountains, islands and rainforests of Asia. 'Unable to celebrate the victory in Europe, and among the last to return home, today we recognise the bravery and ingenuity of those who, in the face of adversity, restored peace and prosperity to the world. 'Their immeasurable sacrifice changed the course of history and at today's commemorations, we take the opportunity to say what should be said every day - thank you.' The day will begin with a piper playing Battle's Over at the Imperial War Museum's HMS Belfast in London at sunrise, as part of a tribute entitled Waking Up To Peace. Boris Johnson and Prince Philip will be among the World leaders marking the anniversary For the first time since the 2012 Olympics, the Red Arrows will conduct a flypast over the four capital cities of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Military pipers will also be playing at dawn in India, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will lead a two-minute silence at 11am during a televised event, screened by the BBC, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Mr Johnson will read the Exhortation before the nation falls silent and afterwards the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part in a flypast over the arboretum. The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who served in the Second World War as a naval officer, will feature alongside other veterans on a number of large screens across the UK, including the Piccadilly Curve, in a photo-montage showing veterans today and when they served. The Duke of Edinburgh was aboard the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945 during the Second World War POLL IMPLIES ALMOST HALF OF BRITISH PUBLIC DO NOT KNOW ABOUT VJ DAY Nearly half of the British public do not know what Victory in Japan (VJ) Day is, according to the findings of a poll taken shortly before its 75th anniversary. On Saturday, the country will pay tribute to the sacrifices made by those who fought in the Far East to bring about the end of the Second World War. The conflict against Japan endured three months beyond Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8 1945, with brutal fighting only ending with the Japanese surrender on August 15. But a survey of 2,020 Britons aged over 16 from SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, carried out between July 27 and 29, found that 46% did not know what the VJ acronym stands for. Of these, just 5% said they would celebrate it every year after discovering what the day marked, the survey found. Meanwhile, more than half (52%) of those unaware of the significance of the day said they were not likely to do or feel anything towards the anniversary after finding out what it stood for. SSAFA suggested the findings pointed to VJ Day 'slowly being erased from British history'. It highlighted that due to the earlier conclusion of war in Europe, some veterans returning from the Far East have referred to themselves as the 'forgotten army'. This year's VJ Day commemorations have had to be adapted to accommodate restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, are all due to play a role in events planned on Saturday. This includes a service of thanksgiving and remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, a national two-minute silence, and a Red Arrows flypast. Sir Gary Coward, chairman of SSAFA, said: 'We should all be aware of our national history, especially when associated with an unrelenting campaign and huge sacrifice. VJ Day marks such an event.' He added: 'Many people celebrate Victory in Europe Day, but very few acknowledge or know about Victory over Japan Day. 'Thousands of Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen remained incarcerated in horrendous conditions and their many colleagues continued to fight bitter battles for freedom in the Far East well after VE Day. 'Without their supreme sacrifice, life would be very different to what it is now. 'On this 75th anniversary, we ought to take a moment to reflect on this and try to learn the lessons of this key moment in history. 'The huge losses on all sides must not be forgotten.' Advertisement It will be a rare appearance for the duke who retired from royal duties in 2017 and has only been seen in public a handful of times. In the evening his grandson the Duke of Cambridge will take part in VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute, a pre-recorded BBC programme filmed at Horse Guards Parade where, alongside veteran testimony and a host of famous faces, the duke will honour and give thanks to all those who sacrificed so much during the Second World War. Another aerial tribute will also be staged, with the Red Arrows roaring over the cities of Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London with the flight path to include the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, where three Burma Star recipients live in retirement. The other world leaders who have taken part in the Friendship of Nations video, which will be broadcast at 10.15am, include Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo, prime minister Scott Morrison from Australia, Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama, Malawi's president Lazarus Chakwera, Sierra Leone's president Julius Maada and the prime minister of Tonga Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa. In a video message to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'On behalf of the Labour Party I want to pay tribute to the wartime generation, who through the horrors of conflict showed us the spirit and determination that we need to always remember and always be grateful for. 'It's important that as we face the challenges of today, we take inspiration from that generation. 'Through their community spirit and their bravery and their determination for a better world they've shown us what we can achieve when we pull together.' Japan's capitulation came more than three months after VE Day saw the war end in Europe, when Germany surrendered to the Allies following the suicide of Adolf Hitler. The Prime Minister has hailed the courage of Far East veterans in bringing the Second World War to an end and delivering 'peace and prosperity'. In a letter addressed to 'Veterans of the Far East Campaign' on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, Boris Johnson offered his thanks for their service. Highlighting the importance of the war's outcome to South East Asia, Mr Johnson said: 'You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today. 'You fought for freedom, brought the Second World War to its end, and restored peace and prosperity to the world. 'All of us who were born after you have benefited from your courage in adversity. On this anniversary, and every day hereafter, you will be remembered.' Due to the distance from Britain, military victories in Europe, and long final journeys home, some veterans returning from the Far East felt their efforts were not fully recognised, dubbing themselves the 'forgotten army'. In acknowledgement, Mr Johnson wrote: 'When at last you returned, you sometimes found that your experiences had been overshadowed in popular imagination by the conflict in Europe. 'So in offering my thanks for your service, I would like to remember what you achieved. 'Today the countries of South East Asia are prospering faster than almost anywhere else in the world. 'This transformation would never have been possible if they had stayed under the occupation of Japan, imposed through the defeat of British and Commonwealth forces in Malaysia, Singapore and Burma.' Mr Johnson added: 'These blows were so heavy that many feared they would break your will to fight on. 'But you survived the longest retreat in British history, marching almost 1,000 miles from Burma to India, and then you regrouped and reformed.' The Prime Minister also wrote: 'At Kohima in 1944, British and Indian forces, outnumbered ten to one, halted Japan's invasion of India and achieved one of the greatest feats of arms in military history.' He added: 'You accomplished these advances through ingenuity and daring, mastering jungle warfare, overcoming malaria and solving the supposedly intractable problem of how to fight during the monsoon. 'General William Slim, the Commander of the 14th Army, wrote that he asked his soldiers 'for the impossible - and got it'.' Mr Johnson concluded: 'You know better than me the fearful cost: 50,000 British and Commonwealth citizens laid down their lives in the war against Japan. Of these, nearly half died in brutal prison camps. 'Yet this immeasurable sacrifice helped to change the course of history and lay the foundations of the success of South East Asia.' According to data from the HSE, there have been potentially no cases of Covid-19 in South and West Offaly in the last two months. Ireland's COVID-19 Data Hub provides information based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). One of the figures it provides is a breakdown of cases based on Electoral Area. It was updated late yesterday after not being updated for two months and it is now possible to determine the location of almost every confirmed case of Covid-19 in the county in that time period. However, as Electoral Areas with less than five cases are recorded as having less than five cases, it is not possible to determine the location of every single case over the last two months. Yet it can be said definitively that a number of large population centres in South and West Offaly have seen no increase in cases in the last two months. According to the figures, there were 19 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Birr Urban Area on June 12. As of August 12, there had still only been 19 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Birr Urban Area. According to the figures, there were 45 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Shinrone Area on June 12. As of August 12, there had still only been 45 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Shinrone Urban Area. According to the figures, there were five confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Ferbane Area on June 12. As of August 12, there had still only been five confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Ferbane Area. According to the figures, there were eight confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Banagher Area on June 12. As of August 12, there had still only been eight confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Banagher Area. For every other electoral area in South and West Offaly, including towns such as Kilcormac, Cloghan and the Birr Rural area, there were less than five cases on June 12 and there are still less than five in each and every area as of August 12 however there could potentially have been a small rise in some of these areas. All of Offaly, including the south and west of the county have now been locked down for a week in a large scale, regional lockdown which includes Laois and Kildare. The lockdown was imposed due to a spike in cases related mainly to meat factories in Kildare. MORE TO FOLLOW....... READ NEXT: Confirmed Covid-19 cases rise again in four counties but Offaly and Laois remain low By Trend In the current difficult geostrategic situation, the protection of national interests both in the system of international relations and due to critical conditions in the region is of strategic importance and is extremely urgent, Azerbaijani MP Hikmat Babaoglu told Trend. Babaoglu noted that the recent events have reaffirmed that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, demonstrating determination in the matter of national issues, protects the military-political interests of the country, and in doing so demonstrates adherence to principles. "The fact that President Ilham Aliyev raised and asked to clarify a number of important issues during the last telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin is extremely important from the point of view of protecting national interests," he said. "The matter is that Russia has been continuously arming Armenia for a long time. This has been continuing since the beginning of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Back in 1997, Russian General Lev Rokhlin revealed the fact that Russia had donated arms to the country-occupant Armenia for $1 billion, which was a colossal amount by the standards of those years," said the MP. "After the military-political provocation committed by the Armenian army on the border between the two countries on July 12-16, 2020, it becomes clear that Russia continues to arm Armenia. This is absolutely unacceptable. First of all, arming the occupying country by Russia contradicts international law. Secondly, it doesnt correspond to its mission as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and thirdly, it is inconsistent with the country's historical, political and moral responsibility in the region, because arming Armenia means supporting the occupation of Azerbaijani lands," noted Babaoglu. "Moreover, this is an attempt to legitimize the status quo in the region and, finally, to ignore the national interests of Azerbaijan as a strategic partner. None of the abovementioned can have any legal or political justification," he stressed. "If the Minsk Group cannot carry out its mission, then the co-chairs should be changed, and other members of the Minsk Group should take over the mediating mission of the co-chairs. The most suitable country for this role is Turkey, which bears historical, political and moral authority in the region. Even during the establishment of the Minsk Group, Turkey's co-chairmanship was seriously considered, but, unfortunately, this did not happen," the MP said. "Thus, at this difficult historical stage, Russia should not aggravate the situation in the South Caucasus region. The situation in the region is already difficult by arming Armenia, the occupier. On the contrary, Russia should make efforts, as never before, to resolve the problem. The continuation of the occupation can aggravate the situation not only in the South Caucasus, but also on the southern borders of Russia as a whole, which in no way meets the interests of both Russia and Azerbaijan," added Babaoglu. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A sea turtle ensnared in a fishing trap line and encircled by sharks was rescued by the Coast Guard off the Cape May coast Thursday afternoon. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater, an 87-foot-long patrol boat, received a call about the turtle in distress and dispatched a team out on the ships small boat 11 miles southeast of Cape May, according to a release. They circled the turtle and distracted the sharks. Coast Guard officers from the Cutter Shearwater, an 87-foot-long patrol boat, responded to the scene where the turtle was stuck. Once the sharks vacated the area, Petty Officer 3rd Class Mason Sanders and Petty Officer 2nd Class Carliene Lyon used tools to free the turtle. This was the proudest day Ive had on this cutter, said Master Chief Petty Officer Anthony Martinez, Officer in Charge of the Shearwater, according to a Coast Guard release. Everybody on the crew rallied around and worked together, and we were able to save that turtle. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay received the report form the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a Brigantine group that works to free stranded whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles throughout New Jersey. Josh Axelrod may be reached at jaxelrod@njadvancemedia.com. More: Bull sharks spotted in N.J. river, cops say A sad tale of a rare and colorful lobster that left seafood lovers blue Bald eagle attacks $950 drone, sends it to bottom of Lake Michigan Actors Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda will be pairing up for the first time in this quirky, contemporary social comedy that promises to be a complete entertainera roller coaster ride with Sanjay and Aditi on their adventures and misadventures. Actor, Vikrant Massey said, The script hit me hard, the ideology of the film and the main thought behind the story is something that has been with me, individually. When I heard the script, it felt like two halves becoming one, I would have been a fool to let go of this film. Its a beautiful story that speaks of very pertinent things relevant in todays times. Im really looking forward to working with Kriti. Ive seen her films and she is a very good actor! Cant wait to get started! Actor, Kriti Kharbanda said, 14 Phere is a socially relevant, promising, fun script on a kick-ass subject. From the moment I heard the script, I found myself extremely excited! Its led by a great team headed by Devanshu, whose previous work I admire. I absolutely love the character of Aditi that I will be portraying in this filmI think Ive become Aditi already! Im looking forward to sharing screen space with Vikrant whos a terrific actor. Super excited to get started in bringing Aditi to life! Commenting on the announcement, Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios said, 14 Phere is an important film that beautifully captures the heart and heartland of Indiaits a quirky, contemporary, emotional and relevant film which also highlights how weddings, most often, happen between two families, not just two people. We needed a fresh, new pairing and we couldnt have been happier to have Vikrant and Kriti on board! We are currently working on pre-production, and prepping to go on floor in November. Director, Devanshu Singh said, 14 Phere is a full-blown family entertainer. A contemporary social comedy with elements of romance, comedy of errors, lots of emotions, adventures-misadventures and celebrations. Its full of surprises. Im super thrilled to be working with Vikrant and Kriti, they are supremely talented yet so real and fun to work with. The best part is that they believe in the script as much as I do. Cant wait to go on floors! Produced by Zee Studios, 14 Phere, starring Vikrant Massey & Kriti Kharbanda, directed by Devanshu Singh, is slated to release on July 9, 2021. A 31-year-old man died early Saturday while in police custody in Tuscaloosa. Authorities said Kendrell Antron Watkins was hospitalized at Northport DCH after Tuscaloosa police officers used a Taser to subdue him after he ran naked into the street. He was alert en route to the hospital and told an officer he had smoked synthetic marijuana, according to police. Watkins died about 1 hours after he arrived at the hospital. A patrol officer first had contact with Watkins when a family member called 911 at 11:01 p.m. Friday. The family member reported that Watkins was losing it and causing property damage at the home in the Cherrystone neighborhood. Several adults and four children ranging in ages from 1 month to 9 years old were in the home at the time, said Tuscaloosa police spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor. Watkins had left the residence by the time the officer arrived and spoke with family members, who reported Watkins had been using drugs. Approximately an hour later, a woman reported in person to officers at TPDs west precinct that a man was half-dressed in the empty parking lot of a shopping center off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The officer who responded spoke with Watkins and asked him if he needed assistance. Watkins stated he did not and left the parking lot walking. Around that time, the officer who responded to the first call arrived and realized Watkins was the suspect from the earlier complaint. The two officers called out and asked Watkins to stop, but he ran away, Taylor said. The officers then requested medical personnel as Watkins continued to run while removing his clothing and acting erratically. Watkins continued to run along 15th Street, refusing to comply with the officers verbal commands to stop. After deploying the Taser, the officers engaged in a struggle on the ground for around 45 seconds. He was conscious and alert when medical personnel arrived seven minutes later and treated him at the scene before transporting him to the Northport hospital to be checked for potential physical and mental health complications, Taylor said. While en route to the hospital, Watkins told medics that he had smoked synthetic marijuana. He was conscious when he arrived at the hospital and died at 2:57 a.m. The cause of death is unclear, and an autopsy and toxicology screen will be conducted as part of the investigation. The investigation will be handled by members of Tuscaloosa Violent Crime Unit who arent employed with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Taylor said body camera and video evidence has been preserved and the department is fully cooperating with the investigation. Both of the patrol officers involved will remain on administrative leave until the investigation is complete. After consulting with Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb, the department has decided to make body camera footage from the incident available to the public. The video will be added to this story once it is released. Nearly 240 Vietnamese citizens from the Philippines return home Nearly 240 Vietnamese citizens from the Philippines were brought home on a repatriation flight which landed at the Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on August 15. Passengers wait for the repatriation flight in the Philippines. Photo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the flight was arranged by local authorities of the two countries and the budget carrier Vietjet Air. Passengers include children aged under 18, the elderly, the ill, pregnant women, workers with expired visas and labour contracts, students without accommodations, stranded tourists, and those in disadvantaged circumstances. After landing safely at the airport, all passengers and crew members were given health check-ups and sent to quarantine areas in line with regulations. Since April 10, as many as 101repatriation flights have been arranged by Vietnamese authorities to help over 25,439 local people stranded abroad due to Covid-19 return home, the ministry said. As the longest-serving governor in Illinois history, Big Jim was known to treat people he encountered with kindness and decency, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said in a statement. Jim dedicated himself to building positive change for Illinois, and he set an example for public service of which Illinoisans should be proud. He will be remembered and revered as one of the titans in the history of state government. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:06:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled on Thursday has drawn mixed reactions from relevant parties. The two countries agreed to the full normalization of relations, and Israel agreed to suspend its plan to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank, according to a joint statement of the United States, Israel, and the UAE on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as "a historic moment of a breakthrough towards peace in the Middle East." UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that establishing normal relations with Israel will enable the country to play a constructive role in enhancing the region's security and stability. U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped broker the deal, tweeted following the announcement that "HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!" However, some political observers held a more cautious attitude towards the so-called "breakthrough" in the Middle East peace process. "Yes, it is historic, but it is only an illusion of the peace Trump vowed he'd deliver," Nic Robertson, an international diplomatic editor with CNN, wrote in an analysis. The deal was reached when "both Trump and maybe Netanyahu face elections and need votes. And both are running out of time to cement a legacy, to shore up their otherwise relatively controversial records in office," he added. The agreement, which will make the UAE the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel, has drawn both denouncement and cautious welcome from regional countries. Huge protests broke out in the West Bank and Gaza after the announcement of the peace deal, with banners writing "Palestine is not for sale" and "normalization is a knife in the back of the Palestinian people." Slamming the deal as a "betrayal," Palestine denounced the agreement as "disgraceful" and considered it a "blow to the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits, and an aggression against the Palestinian people." Palestine warned the rest of the Arab countries against "bowing" to the U.S. pressure. Iran's Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the establishment of diplomatic ties between the UAE and Israel. "It (the agreement) is a strategic act of stupidity by Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, which will undoubtedly result in strengthening the axis of resistance in the region," according to a statement. The Islamic republic considers as "dangerous" the UAE's act of normalizing ties with Israel, and warns Tel Aviv against "any kind of intervention in the Gulf equations," read the statement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey might suspend its diplomatic relations with the UAE, or call back its ambassador over the UAE-Israel deal. "We stand with the Palestinian people. We have not let Palestine be defeated, or let it be defeated," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. In a written statement issued earlier in the day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said "the history and the conscience of the region's people would never forgive the hypocritical behavior of the UAE." Jordan urged Israel to treat the peace deal seriously and to engage in direct peace talks to end the occupation. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said if Israel regards the agreement as a means to end the occupation and respects the Palestinians' rights, the region will move ahead towards peace. Otherwise, Israel will deepen the conflicts that will jeopardize the entire region's security. Meanwhile, Egypt and several Gulf states gave their cautious welcome to the peace agreement. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said in a statement he values "the efforts of those in charge of this agreement in order to achieve prosperity and stability for our region." "I have followed with great interest and appreciation the tripartite joint statement among the United States, the UAE and Israel regarding the agreement to stop Israel's annexation of Palestinian territories and take steps that would bring peace to the Middle East," said the president. Bahrain welcomed the peace agreement, saying the deal will strengthen the foundations of world security, stability and peace. Bahrain "looks forward to more efforts to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the Bahraini government said in a statement. The Bahraini government also hailed Israel's decision to halt the annexation of the Palestinian territories as "a step towards peace in the Middle East." Oman on Friday expressed its support for the UAE's decision on relations with Israel. "The sultanate hopes this will contribute to achieving just and peace in the Middle East in a way that serves the aspirations of the peoples of the region," said a statement. Enditem Ghanaian youth have been counseled to engage in productive ventures that would facilitate their transition to responsible future leaders of the country. Mrs. Theodosia Jackson, Principal of Jackson College of Education who gave the advice to mark International Youth Day said, a productive youth is critical to national development. She emphasized that the youth should channel their youthful exuberance towards development-oriented activities and resist any attempt by self-seeking politicians who use them to achieve their parochial interests. The International Youth Day which falls on August 12 is set aside annually by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate the youth across the globe. The theme for the 2020 celebration is, "Youth Engagement for Global Action". Mrs. Jackson said, the future of Ghana rests on the shoulders of its youth and stressed the need for them to position themselves to take up the leadership mandate that awaits them in the near future. "You are the hope of this country and you have a responsibility to live above reproach, respect authority, and contribute meaningfully to national development", she advised. She entreated the youth to set achievable goals and pursue them with perseverance for a brighter future for themselves and the country. She added that as Ghana goes to the polls in December, the youth should not allow themselves to be used to perpetrate electoral violence and disturb the peace and stability of the country. "As future leaders who stand to benefit from the stability of the country, you must not participate in any nefarious activities that could jeopardize your future", the renowned educationist further advised the younger generation. She reminded the youth of the possibility of losing their lives for people who are only nation wreckers not worth dying for. On 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, Angela Deem returns to Nigeria to marry Michael Ilesanmi. However, things are rocky already because Angela has revealed to Michaels half-sister Bukky and his Aunt Lydia that she no longer has any eggs. She can still tote a baby for Michael, but it could lead to complications for her at the age of 54. No one is happy at the thought of Michael not having any children of his own, and Lydia has mentioned Michael taking a second wife before. However, Angela has made it clear that she wont be dealing with side chicks. Angela proves to everyone that she wont be submissive, and this causes problems when she meets up with Michaels Aunt Lydia. Angela Deem reveals her fertility issues to some of Michaels family Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi | deemangela via Instagram Michael really wants a child, and his entire family is expecting him to have one. However, Angelas doctor revealed to her and Michael that there are risks involved with Angela having a child at her age. Its something they need to talk about. In a previous conversation with his Aunt Lydia, children are brought up, and Lydia reminds Michael that he can always take another wife or have someone else have a baby for him. Nigerian men have three wives, two wives, even a concubine. Shes not going to allow that? Lydia asks Michael. Even she would not allow you to just have a baby with a woman and not marry her? Michael shakes his head, because he already knows the answer. Angela and Michael meet up with Bukky and Lydia to try out wedding cakes, and Angela tells them about her fertility issues. I went to a gynecologist, and she told me that I dont have any eggs. My age toting a baby could really health risk me. Its a potential I can tote one, but its really We need to think about this, Angela tells them. This news has clearly caused a lot of tension in the family, and Michael and Angela still have to worry about telling Michaels mother. Its a hard pill to swallow. Michael knows as a Nigerian, once you got married, the next thing people will be looking for is your baby, Lydia says. Angela explains that she wont be putting up with side chicks or other wives. Lydia tells producers she wasnt happy with the news that Angela doesnt have any eggs left. Angela has made her opinion known that shell be the only woman in Michaels life. She wont put up with other wives or side chicks. Lydia says that the family isnt going to be happy about the news either. This has certainly led to issues, and in the upcoming episode, things are heating up between Lydia and Angela for other reasons. Angela says the wedding is off and walks away from Michaels Aunt Lydia RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Fans Discuss 1 of the Most Talked About Moments Between Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi Angela has clearly laid down the law and let everyone know her feelings, including that she wont be putting up with a second wife in order for Michael to have a child. She has her own opinions, but it sounds like everyone is expecting Angela to be submissive to Michael, and she tells Lydia that it wont be happening. In a brand-new sneak peek of the upcoming episode, Michaels Aunt Lydia is back, and this time shes getting real with her feelings. Angela and Michael had to go to a marriage counselor to get approval to get married in Nigeria, and Lydia asks how it went. Angela tells her that they want her to be submissive, and she wont do that. Michael tries to say something about it, and Angela accuses Michael of being different in front of Aunt Lydia. This is just adding more tension, considering the rest of the family isnt going to be happy about Angelas fertility issues. When Angela is in the bathroom, Lydia tells Michael how she really feels. She wants to be the boss, Lydia tells Michael. Shes bossy, cant you see that? Michael holds his head, as if unsure of how to respond to the way things are unfolding. Of course, he doesnt want to be put in the middle, but unfortunately, he already is. Its as if Angela is treating him like a child, Lydia tells producers. When Angela returns, Lydia makes a comment about their marriage, which prompts Angela to get up and leave the table. But with this kind of attitude, I dont know about your marriage, Aunt Lydia says. In the next scene, Angela gets up and walks away. This weddings off, Angela says. Its unclear how things will be repaired. There is clearly a lot of tension ever since Angela revealed to Lydia that there could be complications of her having a child and the fact that she no longer has any eggs left. What causes all the problems? Aunt Lydia sees a different side to Angela over drinks, and blatantly tells Michael that shes bossy. After this conversation, the family isnt going to be happy about the way things are going. Angela makes it clear that she wont be submissive, which might be hard for Michaels family to understand. Add in the fact that carrying a child could be complicated for Angela and she wont put up with a second wife, and it looks like there could be some major problems in the future. Michaels family offered to help pay for the wedding, but will they still do that now? Who knows how this will affect Angela and Michaels impending nuptials? Only time will tell. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech today thanked countries in the Gulf, the extended neighbourhood of the Asian giant, for rendering help to the large Indian communities there during the Coronavirus pandemic. In his 90-minute Independence Day address, customary from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort here, Modi said "there are a large number of people from India who are working in many of these countries. India is indebted to all these countries for their help to the Indian community during the Coronavirus crisis by honouring Indias requests on their behalf. I want to personally thank them." From the archives of Independence Day speeches by Indian leaders in the last seven decades, this is the first time that a Prime Minister has referred to the Gulf on such a special occasion, reflecting the depth of ties between New Delhi and the GCC region achieved in recent years, reported state news agency Wam. Modi acknowledged as much in his address. "Today, our neighbours are not the only the ones with whom we share geographical boundaries, but also those with whom we have close and harmonious relations." "It is my pleasure that India has strengthened its relationship with all the countries in its extended neighbourhood in the last few years. The political, economic and human relations with the countries in West Asia (Gulf and the rest of the Arab world) have progressed manifold. Trust has increased manifold," he stated. Modi said: "the economic ties, particularly in the energy sector, are very important with these countries." Indias energy ties are the strongest with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where multi-faceted and tri-partite cooperation has been initiated in the last five years. "We are establishing deep relations based on security, development and trust with our neighbouring countries whether connected by sea or land. India has been making continuous efforts to deepen its decades-old cultural, economic and social ties," the Prime Minister added. Actor Ankita Lokhande has shared details of her flat registration and EMI deductions after reports emerged that the EMI for a flat where she stayed were deducted from late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs account. Ankita has been solidly supporting the family of the late actor in demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his death. Ankita wrote on Instagram: Here i cease all the speculations.As transparent as I could be.My Flats Registration as well as my Bank Statements(01/01/19 to 01/03/20)highlighting the emis being deducted from my account on monthly basis.There is nothing more I have to say #justiceforssr. She added another lot of pictures on the related subject and wrote: In continuation. On Friday, ANI quoting an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer had tweeted: EMI of a flat where #SushantSinghRajputs friend and actor Ankita Lokhande used to stay, was deducted from Sushants bank account. This flat is registered in Sushants name: ED (Enforcement Directorate) Officer. EMI of a flat where #SushantSinghRajput's friend and actor Ankita Lokhande used to stay, was deducted from Sushant's bank account. This flat is registered in Sushant's name: ED (Enforcement Directorate) Officer pic.twitter.com/ZusHOFIJaw ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2020 While talking to the media in Mumbai, the officer said that the flat is registered in Rajputs name. Earlier in the day, the ED had questioned Rajputs former employees -- Rajat Mewati, Pankaj Dubey, and Deepesh Sawant. Sushants family will also be questioned next week, the ED officer said. Also Watch l Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Six mysteries that CBI needs to solve The ED had already questioned actor girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty twice. The agency had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the case after an FIR was filed by KK Singh, the late actors father, against Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28, accusing her of abetment to suicide, among other charges. . In his complaint, Sushants father had alleged that around Rs 15 crore was withdrawn from Rajputs bank account in the last one year and transferred to accounts that had no link with him. Among those who supported Ankita was Sushants US-based sister Shweta who wrote in the comments section: You are an independent woman and I am proud of you my girl! Sushants good friend Mahesh Shetty added his comments and said: You dont need to explain your self we are proud of you. Also read: Independence Day 2020: Top quotes and wishes to share with friends and family Sushant died by suicide on June 14. On Friday, his family observed two months of his passing away with a call for a global prayer for SSR and have been persistent in their demand for a CBI probe into the matter. Ankita too had called upon Sushants fans to join the prayer session. She had written: Its already 2months Sushant and I know u are happy wherever you are..Everyone pls join tomorrow (15th aug) at 10am and pray for our beloved Sushant. (With ANI inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more The UN Security Council on Friday resoundingly defeated a US resolution to indefinitely extend the UN arms embargo on Iran, with the Trump administration getting support from only the Dominican Republic. The vote in the 15-member council was two in favor, two against and 11 abstentions, leaving it far short of the minimum nine yes votes required for adoption. Russia and China strongly opposed the resolution, but didn't need to use their vetoes. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the defeat of the resolution ahead of a very brief virtual council meeting to reveal the vote. He said Israel and the six Arab Gulf nations who supported the extension know will spread even greater chaos and destruction if the embargo expires, but the Security Council chose to ignore them." The United States will never abandon our friends in the region who expected more from the Security Council," Pompeo said in a statement. We will continue to work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons that threaten the heart of Europe, the Middle East and beyond." The Trump administration has said repeatedly it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18. President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2018 but the five remaining parties Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany still support it. The agreement is aimed at preventing the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons and diplomats from several of the other countries that are party to it have expressed serious concern that extending the arms embargo would lead to Iran's exit from the agreement, and in turn to fast-tracking its pursuit of nuclear weapons. While voting on the US draft resolution was underway, Russia said President Vladimir Putin called for a meeting of leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council along with Germany and to avoid escalation over US attempts to extend the Iranian arms embargo. In a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin said the question is urgent, adding that the goal of the videoconference would be to outline steps to avoid confrontation and exacerbation of the situation in the UN Security Council. If the leaders are fundamentally ready for a conversation, we propose to promptly coordinate the agenda, Putin said. The alternative is to further build up tension, to increase the risk of conflict. This development must be avoided." French President Emmanuel Macron's office confirmed France's availability in principle to Putin's proposal. We have in the past deployed initiatives in the same spirit, it said. On Thursday, US Ambassador Kelly Craft said in an interview with The Associated Press that the United States is keeping the space open for talks with Britain, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China. She urged the three European nations that support the nuclear deal Britain, France and Germany to put in writing their ideas to extend the expiring arms embargo on Iran, indicating the Trump administration may be willing compromise on its demand for an indefinite extension. She said they had mentioned a six-month or one-year extension. European diplomats said the three countries share the US goal of maintaining the arms embargo but need to find a compromise with Russia and China. The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said the Europeans had offered a compromise proposal but the US, Russia and China showed no willingness to compromise. In separate letters to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council last month, Russia and China were sharply critical of the US effort to indefinitely extend the arms embargo, indicating they would veto any such resolution if it got the minimum nine yes votes in the 15-member council, which appears unlikely. Brian Hook, the outgoing US envoy for Iran, told reporters Thursday that Iran backs Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and proxies elsewhere in the Middle East, and is responsible for over 600 American deaths in Iraq and thousands of wounded. He underscored the support for the indefinite arms embargo extension from the six feuding nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Russia's Sergey Lavrov and China's Wang Yi said that since Trump pulled America out of the nuclear deal, the US has no legal right to try to use the UN resolution endorsing the agreement to indefinitely continue the embargo. Pompeo has suggested the US would invoke the snap back mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal that would restore all UN sanctions on Iran. Snap back was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the accord, under which it received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Obviously we will use the most important tool, whatever it is, whether it's 'snap back', whether it is hopefully just going into the council and extending this renewal, we will not take no for an answer, Craft said Thursday. Also Thursday, the US circulated to council members a six-page memo outlining why the United States remains part of the 2015 Security Council resolution and still has the right to use the 'snap back' provision. It is clear that letting the arms embargo expire would be very bad for peace and security in the region and beyond the region, Hook told reporters Thursday. Allowing the arms embargo to expire on a terrorist regime would be negligent. It would be an act of gross irresponsibility. Craft said council members face a choice between sponsoring terrorism or promoting peace and security. We have a moral responsibility to make certain that this murderous regime does not have access any longer to exporting and to arming its proxies, Craft 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.) The condition of former president Pranab Mukherjee remained unchanged on Saturday and he continued to be on ventilator support, doctors attending on him said. They said his vital and clinical parameters are stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists. The 84-year-old former president was admitted to the Armys Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on Monday and was operated upon for the removal of a clot in the brain. He had also tested positive for Covid-19. The condition of Shri Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged . He continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists, the hospital said in a statement. Mukherjees office also posted pictures of the former president unfurling the national flag on Independence Day in the past and wishing fellow citizens on the day. On behalf of #CitizenMukherjee, his office recalls some of the recent Independence Day celebrations, he so enthusiastically participated in and would have never missed. His daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee also tweeted pictures of Mukherjee unfurling the national flag in the past. In his childhood, my dad and my uncle would hoist National Flag at our ancestral home. Since then, he never missed a year to hoist the tri-colour on Independence Day. Sharing some memories from last years celebration at home., she tweeted. Norochcholai extension: CEB calls for expressions of interest View(s): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has called expressions of interest to hire a financial consultant for the proposed 300 megawatt (mw) extension to the Lak Vijaya power plant (LVPP) at Norochcholai. The advertisement published this week indicates that a financial model for the planned build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) or build, own and operate (BOO) project is still not available, despite multiple Cabinet papers having been approved and a timeline for completion set for 2023. The feasibility study for the initiative is also not finalised and there is no funding for the required transmission line all essential perquisites. The project is valued at an estimated US$ 450mn (Rs 82bn). There are currently three units at LVPP, as evident from the three stacks, each generating 300mw of power. Eligible local and international consultants have been invited to express interest on developing the financial model for the project evaluation, negotiation purposes and development as well as to review relevant sections of the power purchase, implementation, coal supply, operation and maintenance contract, financing and other project agreements. In November last year, the CEB issued a letter of intent (LoI) to China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to carry out a detailed feasibility study for a fourth unit at the 900mw plant in Norochcholai using the existing infrastructure and the same or advanced systems and facilities. Last month, senior CEB engineers slammed moves to also offer the fourth unit on a silver platter to CMEC. The proposal is disadvantageous to both the utility and the country, the engineers said. Successive Governments have attempted to privatise LVPP. For instance, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) was once proposed to convert LVPP to a public-private partnership. There was also a proposal to offer 50% of LVPP equity to CMEC. The most recent development is to set up LVPP Unit 4 as an independent power producer (IPP), thereby a joint venture between CEB and LVPP builder CMEC, rather than as a debt-funded project. The engineers warned that the CEB and CMEC will compete for shared services. The coal yard, conveyor belts, reverse osmosis and hydrogen/chlorination plants, wastewater/sewage treatment, coal ash water treatment plants, ash yard, GIS operation and control room facilities will have to accommodate the IPPs requirements. The CEB will have to bear availability issues arising out of insufficient coal unloading facilities. Transmission line capacity will also have to be met by the utility. A mushroom plant in Tipperary has suspended operations following a number of positive cases of Covid-19. Walsh Mushrooms in Golden, near Cashel confirmed in a statement that it had suspended work after a staff member who was in self-isolation tested positive for the virus. The news of the suspension comes as the acting Chief Medical Officer warned that the number of new Covid-19 cases increased across the country this week. Dr Ronan Glynn made his statement as a further 67 new cases of the virus were confirmed on Friday. We must continue to do all we can to avoid a return to where we were in March and April, he said. At Walsh Mushrooms, subsequent testing of close contacts of a staff member has resulted in further positive cases, the company confirmed in a statement. As a business, we have stringent measures in place to control Covid-19 since March and we have had no incidence of Covid-19 up to this point," the statement read. Read More Covid-19 cases increase nationally but vary geographically We are working with the HSE and all relevant authorities assisting in contact tracing and testing of all staff. We will use the opportunity to deep clean the plant during the temporary closure. Essential maintenance will continue at the facility." The safety, wellbeing, and protection of our employees, their families and the local community is our number one priority. Figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team show that 16 of 67 new cases confirmed on Friday were acquired through community transmission. In Dublin, 18 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, and 17 in Kildare. A further nine cases were confirmed in Clare, and five more in Limerick. The rest of the 18 cases were in Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford, and Wicklow. We have seen cases rising all across the country this week, said Dr Glynn. We have also seen an increase in the average number of contacts for confirmed cases up to 6. It is crucial to keep your social contacts low to limit the spread of this disease. We all have a responsibility to stop this. Social distancing applies to all age groups wherever you are this weekend, keep your distance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Right) with Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 to greet him on the 74th Independence Day of India, the PMO said in a statement. The Prime Minister of Nepal also conveyed congratulations for Indias recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The phone call comes at a time when Indias ties with the neighbouring nation hit a rough patch over a border dispute. The leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in both countries. Prime Minister offered Indias continued support to Nepal in this regard, the statement said. "Prime Minister thanked the Prime Minister of Nepal for his telephone call and recalled the civilizational and cultural links that India and Nepal share," the statement added. For live updates on Independence Day 2020, click here Congratulations and greetings to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Government and people of India on the happy occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Best wishes for more progress and prosperity of the people of India. K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) August 15, 2020 Earlier, Oli had took to Twitter to wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nepal had recently unveiled a new map where a disputed territory in Uttarakhand was shown as a part of Nepal. The 370 square kilometre area is located at the tri-junction of Nepal, India, and China (Tibet), and India maintains it as its own territory. A constitution amendment Bill was passed by Nepal to legitimize the addition of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura to the country's new map. The neighbouring nations move was believed to be in retaliation to India inaugurating a road from Dharchula to Lipulekh. The two leaders had not spoken since the Kalapani border dispute. Patna: Bihar is planning to form the worlds longest human chain, which will be over 3,000 km long, on January 21, involving more than two crore people, to express its commitment towards liquor ban, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Tuesday. The human chain will be formed to herald the second phase of a campaign in support of prohibition, he said at a workshop of the JD(U) here. Briefing party MPs, legislators and office bearers on prohibition and seven resolves of his government, Kumar said 2,000 people will participate in one km of the proposed human chain. ALSO READ: (Nitish Kumar claims liquor ban resulted in economic prosperity of Bihar) About 56 lakh participants will hold each others hands on the main route. While, more than 1.5 crore citizens will form human chain in sub-routes within the districts, the Chief Minister said, adding the exercise will involve more than two crore people. The human chain will be formed at 10 AM on January 21 for half an hour. The participants will stand in queue on the left side of the road, he said. The human chain will herald the launch of the second phase of the campaign in support of liquor ban enforced in April this year, which will continue till March 22 next year, Kumar said. Giving details of the routes, the Chief Minister said the human chain in North Bihar will cover 1,821 km and in South Bihar 1,186 km connecting all districts. In North Bihar, a 274 km human chain will be formed from Banuani to Mushridharari, Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah and Mangalpur. There will be a 163 km human chain from Patna to Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Sonebarsa, he said. In South Bihar, a 223 km human chain will be formed from Durgawati (on the border of Uttar Pradesh) to Mohania, Sasaram, Aurangabad, Arwal and Jehanabad. Another one will be 155 km-long from Patna to Dobhi (Gaya) and Barachatti (on the border of Jharkhand), he said. Photography of the gigantic human chain will be done with the help of drone/low flying helicopter and satellite, the Chief Minister said, adding government officials, teachers,students (above class V) and members of NGOs will participate in the human chain for which traffic police will make proper arrangements. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama may return to indoor, in-person worship on Sunday, Sept. 6, after a nearly six-month stoppage to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, Bishop Kee Sloan announced Friday. Sloan said that while were not out of the woods yet, things are getting better, and its time for us to carefully reopen our worship spaces, taking the necessary precautions. Although Episcopal churches will be allowed to reopen for Sunday worship services on Sept. 6, they are not required to, he said. This is permission, not requirement, he said. The life and work of the Church continues whether we can all meet inside a building or not. Sloan said that churches should follow federal and state health guidelines. Gatherings should be limited to the number of people we can safely put in our naves using every other pew, maintaining at least 6 feet of physical distance, wearing masks, households sitting together, he said in his Aug. 14 statement. We also suggest that we not have congregational singing (although soloists or ensembles distanced from others should be fine) and no coffee hours or socials after the services. It will be best if we keep the services brief, and each parish will need to work out a plan for how people enter and exit the buildings so that we can maintain our distance. Still we should make outdoor worship our first choice, where and when possible. Sloan recommended using bread, but not wine, in communion. The Eucharist, so central to our understanding of corporate worship, can be an option using good sense and proper precautions I strongly suggest that we use the bread only, he said. Morning Prayer continues to be a solid option. In any case, we should continue to make our services available on the internet, and encourage people who arent comfortable coming to the buildings to join us online. Churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama suspended regular Sunday morning indoor, in-person worship services after March 8 and since then have been relying on online services. A few churches have done occasional outdoor services with social distancing. Thank you all for your patience and perseverance through all of this, Sloan said. Thank you for sticking to this suspension of indoor worship, even when you didnt like it. Amid a Covid-19 pandemic and a slew of disasters including, floods, landslides, blow out of a natural gas well, among others, Assam on Saturday celebrated a low-key Independence Day. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led the celebrations in Guwahati by unfurling the tricolour followed by the guard of honour ceremony. Similar celebrations were held at all 33 district headquarters which were attended by cabinet ministers. With assembly elections due in 8 months, Sonowal reiterated the state governments commitment to implementing Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord, which pertains to safeguarding, preserving and promoting Assamese identity and heritage. We are committed to implementing the Assam Accord and are taking steps to rid Assam of illegal foreigners. The high-level committee on Clause 6 has submitted its report and despite problems faced due to COVID and other disasters like flood, the state government and the Centre have initiated steps to ensure its implementation, he said. Stressing that the implementation of Assam Accord requires complete sealing of the Indo-Bangla border in Assam, the CM mentioned the steps taken since 2014 in that regard including composite fencing and use of technology to protect the riverine border points. Also read: From the ramparts of Red Fort, PM says India will realise its dream We have framed a new land policy and taken steps to provide land deeds to nearly 1 lakh landless people. To ensure preservation and propagation of Assamese language, a law has been enacted to include Assamese in all schools in the state except areas in the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD) and Barak Valley, Sonowal added. The CM mentioned various steps taken by the government to provide succour to COVID affected people within the state as well as others stranded in other parts of the country and abroad. Every crisis brings opportunities as well. During this lockdown period from March to July, our farmers were able to sell fruits and vegetables worth 852 crore to other states and export as well, he said. Sonowal announced few schemes especially targeting the agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and food processing sectors on the occasion. Also read: Time to move away from ordinary - Inspiring quotes from PMs I-Day speech Setting up of rice clusters in Dhemaji and Baksa districts, opening of rice procurement centres in all districts, a centre of excellence for organic agriculture at Biswanath district, and setting up of cold storage chains in all districts are some of the new initiatives announced. This year besides COVID-19, Assam has faced annual floods, landslides, Japanese encephalitis, African swine fever as well as the blow out and fire at a natural gas well in Baghjan. I offer my condolences to families of those killed in these calamities, said Sonowal. One major shift this year was the venue of the states main Independence Day event which was held at Judges Field in Guwahati after a gap of 12 years. Since 1947, the event was being held at this ground till 2008 when the state government decided to keep the venue exclusively for sporting events. The venue was first shifted to the nearby Latasil Field and later to the playground of College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara. But since the Khanapara filed has been transformed into a COVID care centre, Judges Field was chosen as the venue this year. Lucknow, Aug 15 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the state was cruising ahead under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's slogan of Atmanirbhar Bharat and was following the ways to make "Ek Bharat, Shrest Bharat aur Swacch Bharat." The CM made the remark while addressing the state at the Vidhan Bhawan after unfurling the national tricolour on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. He further said that the country paved way for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya after Supreme Court resolved the century-old Ramjanambhoomi dispute while banning the Triple Talaq, the Muslim women were delivered justice. He said Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) was brought to help the harassed minorities of other countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. He said the abolition of Article 370 from Jammu Kashmir too shows our commitment towards the unity and integrity of the country. "We are moving ahead with the support of the people with giving the citizens security and opportunities," he said, adding that his government was committed for the 24 crore people for the well being and development. Despite India topping the COVID-19 chart globally, he lauded the efforts of PM Modi due to which the country has taken COVID-19 pandemic as a challenge and has led the country to a safer position in the world. He also gave tribute to the freedom fighters and the martyrs including soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. Giving details of the achievement of his government, Yogi Adityanath that his government has provided adequate foodgrains to 18 crore people of the state during pandemic while government machinery worked for providing jobs to unemployed, migrants and others. He also thanked the Corona warriors, the doctors, paramedical staff, police, sanitation workers and others working tirelessly for the past 5 months to contain COVID-19 and serving the patients during this pandemic. The CM said that the government's efforts have started paying off as in July the tax revenue of the state was just 3 per cent less than that target. "When the 37 lakh migrant workers reach the state during Lockdown everyone said the government will be unable to handle them. But due to sincere dedication of the government machinery, every single migrant was taken care off, and they were given jobs, free ration, transport and medical facilities, " he claimed. Pointing on the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme of the state, Yogi Adityanath said it has boomed the rural sector with employment opportunities along with a presentation of the local talent. "We did everything to revive the economy after the lockdown with giving all benefits to the farmers, labourers and other section of the society, " he added. Several state ministers and officials were present at the function held under strict social distancing guidelines. Meanwhile, reports of the celebration of Independence day was also pouring in from all over the state. UNI MB RHK1113 In late January, when the coronavirus was just starting to hint that it might disrupt life as we knew it, I decided to re-read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandela novel that alternates between the time when a deadly virus sweeps across the world, and the remnants of society 20 years later. Reading itespecially on a planein that moment felt a bit like daring the virus to get worse, but in a safe way, like telling a ghost story at a campfire in a dark, spooky wood. Advertisement As the pandemic has progressed, I have continued to notice beats that echo moments small and large in pandemic literature, long one of my favorite genres. The rise of goofy masks is foretold in Ling Mas Severance. Elements of the far right-wing response bring to mind the militias of Chuck Wendigs alarming Wanderers. In Sigrid Nunezs Salvation City, a religious community keeps on hugging and shaking hands, eschewing elbow bumps and other post-pandemic changes to social interaction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in most of these pandemic tales, the virus (or, in the case of Wanderers, the fungus) is something quite different from the one we face now. In these stories, the pathogen is typically ruthless, unsparing. Few survive once infected, leaving behind only a tiny population of those who are immune. The virus (fungus!) breaks down the door without even appearing in the peephole. Salvation City is less apocalyptic, but its virus is still a cudgel. Advertisement Advertisement The coronavirus evolutionary genius is that it is not so fast-moving, so instantly deadly for all infected. Its danger lies in its quiet spread and the way it hides in hosts who experience mild or no symptoms. It lingers at the peephole. That gives it cover, permitting the spread of its twin pathogen, denial. Together, the coronavirus and denial are tearing through our bodies and our minds. At Future Tense, we talk a lot about the value of science fiction in helping us discuss tomorrow. Sci-fis significance is not in prediction, but in helping us think through possibilities, the challenges we might confront. I do not fault any sci-fi author for not foreseeing the contours of the coronavirus pandemic, but it is notable nevertheless to think about how our imaginations, focused on the potential horrors and wonders of technology and science and nature, can overlook the more banal potential tragedies. Contagion anticipated the pharma-skeptic misinformation that would accompany a pandemic, but Ive been unable to find a plague tale in which the federal government simply abdicates responsibility. Its a cliche that in a horror movie, the monster is usbut who imagined exactly how monstrous we could be? Nunezs Salvation City involves U.S. government institutions failing and Germany looking at us askance, but its an incidental decay, not a willful one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someday soon, we will begin to see the coronavirus appear in our pop culture, and I cannot wait to see how science fiction might integrate the many unexpected ways we have come up short in this moment. On a less bleak note: Emily St. John Mandel fans: If you havent yet, you should read Mr. Thursday, a time-travel short story she wrote for Future Tense Fiction back in 2017. The coronavirus has once again collided with the Free Speech Project, a joint effort between Future Tense and American University Washington College of Laws Tech, Law, and Security project. A Georgia high school was forced to reverse course after suspending students who shared pictures of crowded hallways on social media. But as Dahlia Lithwick wrote, The larger question of student speech rights, especially on social media, and especially during a public health disaster, is far from settled. In other Free Speech Project pieces, Slate copy editor Nitish Pahwa wrote about what Indians lost when their country banned TikTok, and Chloe Hadavas looked at social media content cartels. Advertisement Advertisement Heres more from the recent past of Future Tense: Ruchi Vikas Telepsychiatry Is Leaving Behind the Most Seriously Mentally Ill Joshua Keating The Trump Administration Is Sealing the End of Cyberspace Catharyn Shelton , Leanna Archambault , and Lauren McArthur Harris Lesson Plan Platforms for Teachers Have a Racism Problem Elizabeth Garlow and Andrew Stettner State Unemployment Insurance Systems Are Held Together With Chewing Gum and Duct Tape Erica X Eisen Indigenous Activists Are Reimagining Language Preservation Under Quarantine Jane C. Hu Bad News About Those COVID-Sniffing Dogs Hannah Klein Can Zoom Hosts Really See Your Private Messages? Wish Wed Published This At Talkspace, Start-Up Culture Collides With Mental Health Concerns, by Kashmir Hill and Aaron Krolik, New York Times Future Tense Recommends In Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death, science journalist Deborah Blum tells the fascinating story of the respected 19th century scientists who tried to, as the subtitle says, learn whether our spirits live on after we die. It was a moment when science was finding all sorts of things previously thought impossible, so why not evidence of ghosts? Blums empathetic approachJames quest was related to the death of his young sonmakes the story all the more compelling. What Next: TBD On Aug. 7, Slates tech podcast wrapped up its six-episode series on the future of the city with Henry Grabars look at how one commercial strip on Chicagos South Side is weathering the pandemic. This week, new guest host Celeste Headlee spoke to Adrianne Jeffries from the Markup about How Google Search Sold Out. Forks up, masks up, Torie Bosch Future Tense editor Sign up for the Future Tense newsletter. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Independence Day is an annual celebration of the entire nation as on this day, India gained freedom from the British rule. Celebrated on August 15 every year, the day marks the end of the 190-year-long rule of the British government in India. On this day in 1947, India was declared a free country. Independence Day 2020 will mark the country's 74th year as a free country. Keep reading to know more about its history, meaning, and significance. ALSO READ: Ajay Devgn's 'Bhuj' And John Abraham's 'Attack' To Clash At The BO Independence Day history and significance In the year 1757, the East India Company defeated the last Nawab of Bengal in the Battle of Plassey, which marked the beginning of British rule in India. The Indian Rebellion, which is famously known as the First War of Independence, took place in 1857, which was a major yet unsuccessful uprising against the British rule. After a few years, Indias first political party, the Indian National Congress (INC), was formed. After World War I ended in the year 1918, Indian activists called for self-rule which is known as Swaraj. In the year 1929, the INC declared Purna Swaraj, commonly known as Independence of India, at an assembly in Lahore. However, after a series of sessions and meetings between the British government and the INC, Lord Mountbatten, who served as the last governor of pre-independent India, agreed to this proposal. Hence, on August 15 in 1947, he partitioned British India into two newly independent nations; India and Pakistan. However, Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on August 14 rather than August 15. This is because in the year 1947, the ceremonies for the transfer of power were held a day earlier in Pakistan. ALSO READ: Beaches Closed For 4th Of July 2020: What's Shut On The Holiday Weekend? Independence Day celebration On this important day, the national flag of India is hoisted at multiple public places. Moreover, the Prime Minister also unfurls the national flag at Red Fort, which is situated in Delhi. Along with the flag-hoisting ceremony, many events like parade and folk-dance performances also take place at Red Fort and many other places. Apart from this, multiple festivities take place in different parts of India. Academic places, like schools and colleges, host a special ceremony for enlightening the students about the historical significance of this day. Some schools even conduct a parade and organise a particular programme which includes singing, dancing and painting competitions. Children too fly tri-coloured kites, wears bands or badges for celebrating this occasion. (Image Credit: Shutterstock) ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar's Take On Clashing With Salman Khan At The Box Office On Eid Makes Sense ALSO READ: USA 4th Of July Dishes That You Can Make At Home With Easily Available Ingredients More insightful third edition of Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, edited by Prof. Goonetilleke View(s): The third edition of Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, edited by Prof. D.C. R. A. Goonetilleke, has come out with substantial new material not included in any other edition of the great novella. This Broadview Press bestseller (previously published in 1995 and 1999) comes completely revised and updated to take account of the scholarship of the most recent generation. The introduction has been extensively rewritten, and the appendices of contextual materials thoroughly overhauled. The new edition includes excerpts from George Washington Williamss Letter to Leopold II, as well as substantial excerpts from an extraordinary document not included in any other edition of Heart of Darkness (but discussed extensively in two ground-breaking 21st-first century works of scholarship, David Van Reybroucks Congo: The Epic History of a People and Maya Jasanoffs The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World): the autobiography of Disasi Makulo. Makulo grew up near the shore of the Congo River in the 1880s and early 1890s, was enslaved by notorious ivory dealer Tippu Tip, and then was taken under the wing of Henry Morgan Stanley. Makulos accountsubstantial excerpts of which are here translated into English for the first timeopens an unprecedented window on life in the equatorial forest of the Congo in the late nineteenth century. Caryl Phillips of the Yale University said that (it) is difficult to imagine a more complete, or authoritative, edition of Heart of Darkness. An elegant, and informative essay introduces the text, but it is the two hundred pages of context which distinguishes this edition from others (and) give us a fully nuanced picture of Conrad, the Congo, and contemporary attitudes to race, imperialism and exploration. The book, priced at Rs. 3000, can be transferred to any of the island-wide branches of Sarasavi Bookshop via imports@sarasavi.lk. Also available at their branches at Nugegoda and Shangri-La Hotel/One Galle Face. Some of the states wealthiest non-government schools are tapping into the JobKeeper subsidy scheme to hang onto staff amid the worsening economic gloom of Victorias COVID-19 lockdown. The Sunday Age can also reveal that a number of university colleges for international students including Melbourne Universitys Trinity College and Monash College have also qualified for the subsidy, despite the wider university sector's denial of access, costing thousands of tertiary sector jobs. As Victorian schools navigate a second extended stint of remote learning in 2020, several independent schools including Trinity Grammar, Geelong Grammar, Wesley College, Gippsland Grammar and Bialik College have confirmed that they have qualified for JobKeeper after losing 30 per cent or more of their revenue. Wesley College is one of a number of non-government schools accessing the JobKeeper subsidy. Credit:Paul Jeffers School sources said more than a dozen schools have successfully applied for the job-saving subsidy, including high-fee schools such as Strathcona Girls Grammar, Korowa Anglican Girls School and Methodist Ladies' College. Vogue Williams has hit back at mum-shaming trolls after being criticised for returning to work after giving birth less than one month ago. The model, 34, who welcomed her second child Gigi Margaux with her husband Spencer Matthews on July 22, will return to her breakfast presenting role on Heart Radio on Sunday. However Vogue wrote on her Instagram story on Saturday she wanted to 'nip in the bud' any negative comments about resuming her presenting role. Defiant: Vogue Williams has hit back at mum-shaming trolls after being criticised for returning to work after giving birth less than one month ago She penned: 'Gonna nip this in the bud as I've already had mails about it. I can't wait to go back to my radio show tomorrow. 'Door to door it takes 4 hours meaning I miss one feed which I will pump at work. Theodore and Gigi's dad will be with them. 'I am with them 90% of the time and getting to go back to a job I love is brilliant. I adore my children, I adore working and I'm able to do both which I am very thankful for.' Honest: The model, 34, who welcomed her second child Gigi Margaux with her husband Spencer Matthews on July 22, will return to her breakfast presenting role on Heart Radio on Sunday The defiant post comes after she revealed she would be back presenting on the show every Sunday from 6am to 9am after taking a break for her maternity leave. The Irish beauty recently hit back at more mum-shamers after they questioned her over breast feeding her newborn daughter Gigi. She took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a stylish snap ahead of her date with Spencer which then garnered unwarranted criticism from a troll. Calling them out: The Irish beauty recently hit back at more mum-shamers after they questioned her over breast feeding her newborn daughter Gigi Hitting back: Reacting to the remark once more on Wednesday, Vogue said she was going on another date with husband Spencer Matthews and said she 'had to laugh' at the criticism In the caption of her post, Vogue wrote: 'All dressed up for my date with Spen! I have been home a lot which is amazing to be able to do. 'I've spent all my time with my babies but I do look forward to a nice lunch out... where to next.' One of her followers then commented asking if she breastfed her daughter, to which Vogue hit back: 'I do breast feed exclusively not that it's any of your business. The baby was on our lunch date with us... Happy family: The couple are also parents to their adorable son Theodore, who is now 23 months 'Also your choices are not mine. If I want to have a date with my husband and no baby I can. The joys of portable breast pumps!' Reacting to the remark once more on Wednesday, Vogue admitted she'd found the criticism so amusing she 'went on another lunch date'. Blasting mummy shamers for their comments, Vogue wrote over a picture of her and Spencer: 'I had to laugh at some of the comments on my post yesterday! I went on another lunch date today! 'Oh and yes I'm breastfeeding, Gigi was with us and mothers don't need to be chained to their houses to be considered a good parent! 'Thank you for your lovely comments and mails I got yesterday after my post, I do love you a lot.' Vogue and Spencer welcomed their beautiful daughter Gigi Margaux on 22 July, and are also parents to son Theodore, 23 months. The couple revealed the name of their bundle of joy earlier this month, with Vogue telling Hello! magazine she wanted to pick something which she would also love to be called. She said: 'When we were discussing names I thought, 'I want to want her name', and I do. I just love it. I wish I was called it myself. Sweet: The couple revealed the name of their bundle of joy earlier this month, with Vogue telling Hello! magazine she wanted to pick something which she would also love to be called 'We decided on it ages ago and as soon as we saw her, we knew it suited her. She is so perfect. I am obsessed with her.' Doting dad Spencer added: 'I've always really liked the name Margaux for a girl, spelt in the French way - like the wine.' He also proudly explained that when people ask what his little girl is called, he always gives her full name of Gigi Margaux. The Facebook-owned media-sharing platform, Instagram, is taking some strict measures to further beat bots and trolls that are manipulating its platform. The social media platform announced that it will soon ask suspicious accounts to verify themselves using their government-issued ID if the platform suspect potential inauthentic behavior. The company will disable suspicious accounts if they fail to comply with Instagrams new policy. Facebook has a similar policy that requires users running popular Facebook Pages to confirm their identities. Back in the year 2018, Facebook started verifying the identity of individuals managing popular Facebook Pages with large audiences.The company stated in its announcement that if an account declines to provide its government-issued ID, the company may disable that account or down-rank their posts. Instagrams new policy comes as Facebook and Instagram step up their efforts to combat misleading information ahead of the 2020 United States Presidential Election.The company has said that the new policy will not impact most Instagram users, however, it will target suspicious users. Instagram explained that this includes users potentially engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior, or when the platform notice that the majority of followers of an account are in a different region to their location, or the platform find signs of automation (bot account).In a blog post, the company wrote that by asking people behind Instagram accounts to verify their identities, Instagram will be able to better understand when some accounts are trying to mislead their followers on the Instagram app. It will help the company to the Instagram community safe, the social media platform added.The company wrote that it will securely store IDs and delete them within thirty days once the review is completed. It is worth noting that users cannot upload images of their government-issued ID that have been digitally edited to hide information. The company requires users to physically cover any sensitive information on their government-issued ID.If an Instagram user does not have a government-issued ID such as a drivers license or a passport, they can also provide mail, credit cards, paycheck stubs, or bank statements for verification.The social media platform has also faced scrutiny for not sanctioning election meddling back in the year 2016. With the new identity verification policy, the company is trying to avoid making the same mistake. Back in the year 2018, the company also announced that Instagram would start cracking down on fake comments and likes generated by third-party applications and bots on the Instagram app. Although the new policy could be a good solution to stop bots, it raises other concerns such as the images of your ID will remain stored for thirty days. Back in 2017, private data of Instagram users were exposed due to a bug.Read next: Data Shows YouTube Is The Most Blocked Website In The World Despite Its Immense Popularity In this June 2 file photo, voters received the gloves to sign the voter book on iPads and to cast their votes on machines as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Yves here. As Covid-19 stories and Festival of Kamala fade a bit, the latest phase of long-running trends comes back into focus. This piece ties into other reports this week, of the melting of the Greenland ice sheet having hit the point of no return, and then the death of the revered glaciologist Koni Steffen. I have to confess I had no idea how much planning it takes to perform an ice core study. By Kristen Pope, an Idaho-based freelance writer who frequently covers science and conservation-related topics. Originally published at Yale Climate Connections Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State on 2019 Huascaran expedition (Photo credit: Todd Johnston) Scientists are rushing to sample the cores of rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets, hoping to preserve a rich record of changes in Earths atmosphere and biosphere over the eons. Ice cores contain evidence of trace elements, gas bubbles, dust, pollen, even viruses and bacteria that can be traced back in time to yield vivid images of Earths history and prehistory for those who learn to read them. Just about anything thats in the atmosphere gets recorded in the ice, says Lonnie Thompson, glaciologist and paleoclimatologist at Ohio State University. Thompson has led more than 60 expeditions to sample ice cores from glaciers and ice sheets in a career spanning over four decades. Some sites he has drilled including glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Indonesia have already melted and vanished. Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at Ohio State holds thousands of meters of preserved ice cores, safely stored in sub-zero freezers. Studying the ice has already yielded secrets of Earths past related to volcanic activity, changing vegetation and even human manufacturing techniques. Hoping to add to the collection, Thompson and other researchers are racing to obtain and preserve ice core samples from remote and, for now at least, still icy places around the globe. They hope to find clues that can help learn about that past, and scientists can use ice core samples and the data they contain to test and verify climate change models to better predict the future. They also hope that preserving the cores will provide future scientists with samples that they can analyze with technology that may not even exist yet. Thompson can envision a day when samples he has collected now can allow future scientists to answer questions people have not yet even thought to ask. As glaciers and ice sheets form and layers of snow accumulate, the ice slowly spreads out, compressing the layers and thinning over time. Those layers tell stories about the past, much like rings on a tree record signs of fires, drought years, and seasons of ample precipitation. Similarly, the dust in ice core samples contains information about volcanic eruptions and gives clues about droughts, pollen records, and crop and vegetation changes. Scientists studying ice core samples can even learn how past plagues changed society and culture. Researchers found that ice samples dating back to the plague of the 1300s contained less leadthan would otherwise be expected, indicating a temporary reduction in smelting and industry during the time. Thompson and some other scientists believe the COVID-19 pandemic may be observable in future ice core samples. Quarantines and restricted movement led to a reduction in pollution as people stayed home and industry slowed. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other emissions were reduced in many areas, if only temporarily. Future glaciologists may be able to detect lower levels of nitrates and sulfates in ice, providing a unique snapshot in time. Facing Extreme Challenges Studying ice cores isnt for the faint of heart. Researchers must travel to Earths most isolated regions to collect samples, from Greenland and Antarctica to the slopes of tropical mountains with rapidly melting glaciers. It is always challenging logistically to get a team of researchers to where the ice is, and ice coring work typically occurs in extreme conditions. Its a truly bizarre and wonderful experience, said Richard Alley, Penn State glaciologist and geologist. In over 40 years studying ice, Alley has spent a lot of time braving extreme weather in polar regions. He has been rewarded with otherworldly scenes while collecting samples and data. The central part of an ice sheet is pretty subtle. There are snow drifts, and then theres the ice sheet and theres nothing else its just flat. You go to a place where often the sun never sets it starts going around in circles and its snow, and then its snow, and its snow and thats all it is. Working with fragile scientific equipment in the most remote stretches of the globe leads to its own set of challenges. Researchers have to be resilient, flexible, and creative. The field is hard, Alley says. Drilling a two-mile-long core of ice is hard. Things always are going to go wrong. The people who do the drilling, the science team, and the whole group just show amazing levels of resilience and innovation to try to get these things built. He notes they return to their homes and laboratories with the data and ice cores they came for, but he says, it doesnt always start working the way it was supposed to. Alley says samples from his projects are typically shipped to the National Ice Core Laboratory in Lakewood, Colorado. There, researchers carefully slice the cores, providing samples to various teams who perform analyses of everything from dust to isotopes. They also are able to melt a sample from the inner core a location where it could not have been contaminated by touching anything and they carefully analyze the stream of meltwater. Alleys work mainly focuses on the poles both the Arctic and Antarctic and he finds some advantages to those research locations, including often being able to fly directly to the research site via ski-equipped aircraft. However, he also points out the necessity of assessing ice samples in other parts of the world. The poles are easier in a lot of ways theres no meltwater, its cold, and you can get really, really nice records, he says. But its really valuable to be able to get closer to where people are. Even with the Best-Laid Plans, Surprises Are Common While conducting research in largely uninhabited polar regions presents an array of challenges, so too does working in the tropics. Researchers spend years preparing for an ice core drilling project, and Thompson says it can take four or five years of planning and preparation before its time to head to a field location to collect data. During this time, he says, researchers work on putting a capable team together, sourcing all the equipment they will need, embarking on a massive logistics effort, and working with national and local governments as well as local people. But despite their preparatory efforts, trips dont always go as planned. In 2019, Thompsons team of researchers was on the Peruvian mountain of Huascaran when they received word they needed to leave the mountain within 12 hours because locals did not want them there. With teams spread out over the mountain, Thompson explained that the time frame was impossible to meet and negotiated for two days to extract his team. Leaving the mountain in a hurry, the team was forced to leave ice cores and equipment behind, hoping they could retrieve them later. Thompson met with local people to learn more about their concerns. He learned local residents mistakenly believed his team was planning on developing a gold mine and extracting resources. They were concerned about potential pollution, and when they heard about the ice drilling project, they were upset foreigners were taking ice and removing it from Peru. He says the locals were also concerned that Perus president came to visit the drilling site via helicopter, bypassing the local villages and not listening to peoples concerns about an array of issues including those unrelated to the scientific research. Ultimately, the discussions resulted in Thompsons receiving permission to remove his teams equipment and the ice cores from the mountain with the assistance of an Mi-17 helicopter from the Peruvian government. On a 2010 expedition to a mountain in New Guinea, Thompsons team was planning to drill an ice core from a glacier on a rainforest mountain. A warming world meant the glacier was in imminent peril and, if they didnt obtain samples soon, they might never have the chance. While they received governmental permits and authorization, they soon learned when they arrived in the area that tribal leaders were not on board with the project. Thompson engaged in discussions with people, hoping to find a solution. In the religion of this tribe the arms and legs of their god are the mountains and the valleys, and the head of the god is the glacier, Thompson explains. And, in their words, we were drilling into the skull of their god to steal their memories. And I said, thats exactly what were doing we are trying to capture those memories before they disappear because these glaciers will disappear. He recalls how tribal members discussed the situation, with elders saying the glaciers would always be there and younger members explaining the glaciers were actually retreating rapidly. By the end of the meeting, the tribes granted permission to continue with the project, drilling the ice cores and bringing them back to Ohio to keep them and the knowledge they contain safe for future generations. Preserving Ice-Locked Records Before They Disappear Forever Part of the reason researchers believe it is so important to preserve ice core samples while they still exist is so future scientists can one day use technologies perhaps not even imagined today to further analyze them. The beauty of ice is that it records everything that is in the environment, Thompson says. Unfortunately in todays world, and in the future, many of these archives are going to disappear and we will lose that history. Editors Note: Considered among the very top tier of the worlds most respected glaciologists, Thompson and Alley share some common bonds: Each is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, and each has been an author and/or subject of public broadcasting documentaries and books. Thompson is a 2005 winner of the National Medal of Science, awarded by the President of the United States. Alley, widely recognized as a highly innovative and charismatic climate science communicator, is the force behind the PBS documentary Earth: The Operators Manual and the companion book. Advertisement There is a horse on the ceiling. Not Pegasus, but Kettledrum, winner of the 1861 Derby. This, in the apse of a church, is surprising. Designed by Edward Pugin (son of the architect of the Palace of Westminster) and secreted down a remote country lane in the Ribble Valley, the tiny Catholic Church of St Hubert was, it turns out, built with the horses winnings. The descendants of Charles Towneley, who owned the racehorse, are still buried in this churchyard, beneath a towering angel which reputedly cost more than the church itself. Treasure trove: Stonyhurst College is regarded as the oldest museum in the English-speaking world Had my expectation of Lancashire been of black pudding and dark, Satanic mills, I would be disappointed. The valley contains the Forest of Bowland, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is not a forest but moorland, fragrant with heather and rich in burbling brooks. In the perfectly preserved village of Downham stands St Leonards church. Queen Mary said the vista from the porch over to Pendle Hill was the finest view from any church in England. I don walking shoes to explore some of the trails that send you skipping over stepping stones and skirting lichen-covered dry-stone walls, watched by sheep. In the perfectly preserved village of Downham stands St Leonards church. Queen Mary said the vista from the porch over to Pendle Hill (pictured) was the finest view from any church in England Like Oliver Cromwell on his way to the Battle of Preston in 1648, I crossed over an ancient stone bridge, then ambled through Dunsop Bridge another tiny village, often cited as the centre of the British Isles. Pendle Hill offered a tougher challenge. You have to pity the Pendle witches, who were marched 51 miles from here to Lancaster Castle, where they were tried and hanged in 1612. Walking trails are punctuated by watering holes. I sought refreshment on the terrace of the Inn at Whitewell, with its glorious views over the River Hodder. It has been run by the Bowman family for three generations. Charles, the current incumbent, introduced me to the gentle art of fly-fishing. The trout, alas, remained elusive. The atmospheric ruins of the Cistercian Abbeys of Whalley and Sawley speak of the Dissolution of the Monasteries when, in 1536 and 1537 respectively, both Abbots were executed. The Daily Mail's Teresa Levonian stayed at the Northcote Hotel, which is nestled in the Ribble Valley hills Lisa Goodwin-Allen heads a Michelin-star kitchen, providing culinary delights from breakfast cheese souffles to gastro dinners TRAVEL FACTS Teresa stayed at Northcote Hotel (northcote.com), which has B&B doubles from 150. Advertisement It wasnt a good time to be a Catholic in England, Dr Jan Graffius, curator of Stonyhurst College, tells me. So in 1593 the Jesuits established a school to educate Catholic English boys, in Saint-Omer, France. In 1794, after the Jesuits had been expelled from Europe, the college set up shop in these magnificent premises. Alumni ranged from martyrs to men of letters including Arthur Conan Doyle, whose school reports are on display in what is regarded as the oldest museum in the English-speaking world. I marvelled at a Shakespeare First Folio, the gold-and-pearl crucifix of Thomas More, and a fragment of Thomas Beckets skull. Perhaps the strangest object is the 2,500-year-old mummified body of a boy, which had been sold to the Egyptian railways for fuel. Ribble Valley excels in both spiritual and bodily nourishment. At Northcote hotel, Lisa Goodwin-Allen heads a Michelin-star kitchen, providing culinary delights from breakfast cheese souffles to gastro dinners. Modest pubs, such as the White Swan at Fence, also offer Michelin-starred feasts, while cheese platters are piled with local produce. Not forgetting craft gin, for which Lancashire is fast gaining a reputation. I spent a merry afternoon at the award-winning Goosnargh gin school, sniffing dozens of botanicals to create my own personal gin! It was, of course, delicious. And I named it Kettledrum, after the horse. The last few months or so have been perhaps the worst that the U.S.-China relationship has seen in generations. In just the past few weeks, several incidents have occurred including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling out the dangers of authoritarian China in his address to the Slovenian people regarding 5G technology, and the Chinese military conducting reactionary drills around East Asia in the aftermath of America sending aircraft carrier groups to the South China Sea to perform dual-carrier exercises in July. This summer has also seen both superpowers ordering the closure of consulates and the FBI issuing a warning to Americans in China of a heightened risk of arbitrary detention, related to state security. Although the countries can be classified as each others biggest investor and trade partner, according to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the last year has put significant strain on an already complicated relationship. These recent events are enough to cause concern that that eventual military aggression may be an unavoidable eventuality as the list of offenses by the Chinese against the U.S., and really the rest of the world is a lengthy one, particularly since late 2019. The Chinese, who were hoarding PPE imports for a time while simultaneously denying person-to-person communicability of the virus, withheld a shipment of PPE marked for delivery in the U.S. According to Steven Bannon, former White House chief strategist and host of "Bannon's War Room," The same people that understood this virus had human-to-human transmission and was going to be a pandemic were at the same time vacuuming up every piece of PPE from the US, Brazil and Europe. In the time since, the Trump administration and many other politicians in both parties have called out China for the death toll and recession associated with their singular mishandling of the original COVID-19 outbreak. The conversation has already begun regarding specific financial reparations due to the world from China as a result of COVID-19, and as America attention now pivots to Novembers election it is important to consider the positions of both candidates on China. President Trump has already rightfully called out China for their record of indiscretions. During 2017s visit to Beijing, he told reporters, This relationship is something which we are working very hard to make a fair and reciprocal one. Trade between China and the United States has not been -- over the last many many years -- a very fair one for us. Trump always points out the massive trade deficit and issue of intellectual property theft by China. During the same visit, he also told reporters, We must immediately address the unfair trade practices that drive this deficit along with barriers to market success: We really have to look at access, forced technology transfer and the theft of intellectual property -- which just by itself is costing the United States and its companies at least $300 billion a year. The Presidents warnings continually proven to be justified, as in July, the FBI send out a serious warning to businesses related to GoldenSpy malware. GoldenSpy gives the Chinas government access to the data of private businesses and is being forced on companies from America operating in China via tax software that is being mandated by the government. The businesses being forced to use the software are being told it is in relation to the value-added tax (VAT) payments that are due to the Chinese tax authority. China would face what seems to be a completely different set of circumstances should Joe Biden win this Novembers election. The presumptive Democratic nominee has already indicated that America would immediately begin to appease China again if he is elected by stating his intention to end tariffs put into place by the Trump administration that used strategically as a leveraging tool in new trade agreements with the Red Dragon. A Biden presidency would certainly serve Chinese interests, as they enjoy a much friendlier relationship with not only Democratic candidate Joe Biden, but his son Hunter as well. Over much of the last decade, Hunter Biden has served on the board of a Chinese government backed private equity firm known as BHR Equity Investment Fund Management Company. According to an article from the New York Times, Hunter Biden purchased 10% of the company for about $420,000 in 2017. Peter Schweizers book, Secret Empires How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends, also disclosed the fact that BHR was able to close a massive $1.5 billion investment deal through the Communist Chinese after Hunter flew to China on Air Force Two during his dads time as VP under Obama. These are truly disturbing facts to consider as Americans face a decision between reelecting the America-First choice or ceding control back to the very profiteers that have been selling out America internationally for decades. Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, the Editorial Director for Reactionary Times, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, which is focused on cybersecurity and politics, has been published by websites including The Hill, Real Clear Politics, Townhall and American Thinker. Turkey is considering suspending diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and withdrawing its ambassador over the Gulf state's accord to normalize ties with Israel, President Tayyip Erdogan said. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is being built some 15 km (9 miles) from Ethiopias border with Sudan, has become a major source of discord between the three countries. Pope Francis on Saturday urged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to continue talks to resolve their years-long dispute over a massive dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile that has led to sharp regional tensions and fears of military conflict. Francis, speaking to a crowd gathered at St. Peter's Square on an official Catholic feast day, said he was closely following negotiations between the three countries over the dam. Egypt and Sudan suspended talks with Ethiopia earlier this month after Ethiopia proposed linking a deal on the filling and operations of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to a broader agreement about Blue Nile waters that would replace a colonial-era accord with Britain. The colonial-era deal between Ethiopia and Britain effectively prevents upstream countries from taking any action _ such as building dams and filling reservoirs _ that would reduce the share of Nile water to downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. The Blue Nile is the source of as much as 85% of the Nile River's water. Sudan said Ethiopia's latest proposal threatened the entire negotiations, and it would return to the negotiating table only for a deal on the dam's filling and operation. The African Union-led talks among the three countries are scheduled to resume Monday, according to Sudan's Irrigation Ministry. The pontiff called on all sides to continue on the path of dialogue ``so that the `Eternal River' continues to be the lymph of life that unites, not divides, that always nourishes friendship, prosperity, brotherhood and never enmity, incomprehension or conflict.'' Addressing the ``dear brothers'' of the three countries, the Pope prayed that dialogue would be their ``only choice, for the good your dear peoples and of the entire world.'' Egypt's Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly meanwhile landed in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials. He was accompanied by several top officials including irrigation, electricity and health ministers, according to the office of Sudan's Premier Abdalla Hamdok. Hamdok's officer did not provide details on the visit, but it was highly likely the Ethiopian dam would be on the agenda. Years-long negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a deal on the dam. The dispute reached a tipping point earlier this week when Ethiopia announced it completed the first stage of the filling of the dam's 74 billion-cubic-meter reservoir. That sparked fear and confusion in Sudan and Egypt. Both have repeatedly insisted Ethiopia must not start the fill without reaching a deal first. Ethiopia says the dam will provide electricity to millions of its nearly 110 million citizens. Egypt, with its own booming population of about 100 million, sees the project as an existential threat that could deprive it of its share of Nile waters. Sudan, geographically located between the two regional powerhouses, stands to benefit from Ethiopia's project through access to cheap electricity and reduced flooding. But Sudan has raised fears over the dam's operation, which could endanger its own smaller dams depending on the amount of water discharged daily downstream. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the filling occurred naturally, ``without bothering or hurting anyone else,'' from torrential rains flooding the Blue Nile. Sticking points in the talks include how much water Ethiopia will release downstream during the filling if a multi-year drought occurs, and how the three countries will resolve any future disputes. Egypt and Sudan have pushed for a binding agreement, while Ethiopia insists on non-binding guidelines. Search Keywords: Short link: JERUSALEM - Israeli leaders on Saturday condemned the U.N. Security Councils decision not to renew a U.N. arms embargo on Iran, saying the decision would encourage Iranian aggression in the Middle East. The 15-member council on Friday resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the embargo. Only the Dominican Republican joined the U.S. in supporting the resolution. Russia and China opposed it, while the remaining 11 members abstained. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the vote scandalous. Iranian terrorism and aggression threaten the peace of the region and the entire world, he said. Instead of opposing weapons sales, the Security Council is encouraging them. He said Israel would continue to co-operate with the U.S. and act with full force against those who threaten it. The Trump administration has said it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the U.S. would invoke the snap back mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal that would restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran. Snap back was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the accord, under which it received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, in 2018. But the U.S. circulated a six-page memo Thursday from State Department lawyers arguing the United States remains part of the 2015 Security Council resolution that endorsed the deal and still has the right to use the `snap back provision. The five other powers Russia, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany remain committed to the deal, and diplomats from several of these countries have voiced concern that extending the arms embargo would lead Iran to exit the nuclear agreement and speed up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Read more about: Barack Obama is sharing doubts about the ability of his former Vice President Joe Biden to win the 2020 election, according to a new report. Tensions linger between the camps with the VP determined to prove the naysayers wrong after Obama backed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as his successor in 2016, Politico states. While the former President has publicly backed Biden - albeit late in the day - he is said to be warning his inner circle that he may not be fit for office. 'Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f**k things up,' Obama has cautioned, according to one Democrat who spoke to Politico. Obama allegedly cautioned insiders not to underestimate his VP's ability 'to f**k things up' Obama is said to have bemoaned Biden's lack of understanding for much of the Democratic electorate. The former president allegedly told one former Democratic candidate that he was struggling to understand voters in the likes of Iowa. 'And you know who really doesn't have it? Joe Biden,' they said he added. Yet, Biden has pushed ahead despite knowing that Obama may feel he is not the right person for the job and disagrees with his governing style. 'He was loyal, I think, to Obama in every way in terms of defending and standing by him, even probably when he disagreed with what Obama was doing,' said Leon Panetta, Obama's secretary of Defense. 'To some extent, [he] oftentimes felt that that loyalty was not being rewarded.' Biden is said to have hit out of the fact that Obama didn't 'lift a finger' to help him take the primary in South Carolina and that he had won the support of black voters in the state on his own merit. '[Biden] did feel that he needed to go out and earn it himself, as opposed to having people see it as an extension of a third Obama term or having it be any kind of referendum directly on Obama,' Anita Dunn, an Obama administration aide and top adviser to Biden's presidential campaign, said. The tension comes after Obama lined up Clinton instead of his own VP to be his successor, talking Biden out of a run in 2016. Barack Obama was slow to endorse his former Vice President Joe Biden for president While the move was linked to Biden's recent loss of his son Beau and it being too soon after the death for him to begin a grueling presidential campaign, insiders have said that Obama simply viewed Clinton as a better person to take over. 'Vice President Biden was devastated, as any parent would be, by the loss of Beau. It was excruciating to watch him suffer the way he did,' Valerie Jarrett, Obama's close adviser and family friend, claimed. Yet Obama heaped praise on Clinton early after his own 2012 reelection. 'I was a big admirer of Hillary's before our primary battles and the general election,' Obama once said. Biden revealed in his 2017 book 'Promise Me, Dad' that Obama encouraged him not to run in 2016. The president had backed Clinton 'You know, her discipline, her stamina, her thoughtfulness, her ability to project, I think, and make clear issues that are important to the American people, I thought made her an extraordinary talent. [P]art of our bond is we've been through a lot of the same stuff.' Obama is said to have viewed himself and Clinton as the ones that do 'the reading'. 'In Situation Room meetings, she had the thickest binder and had read it three times,' one Clinton aide told Politico. While in office, young Obama aides are reported to have dismissed Biden, even 'eye-rolling' when the VP would begin speaking, while former members of the administrations have also treated Biden dismissively in their memoirs. 'In the Situation Room, Biden could be something of an unguided missile,' Ben Rhodes, Obama's former deputy national security adviser, wrote. Former FBI Director James Comey also said that 'Obama would have a series of exchanges heading a conversation very clearly and crisply in Direction A. Then, at some point, Biden would jump in with, 'Can I ask something, Mr. President?' 'Obama would politely agree, but something in his expression suggested he knew full well that for the next five or 10 minutes we would all be heading in Direction Z,' Comey added. 'After listening and patiently waiting, President Obama would then bring the conversation back on course.' Biden himself revealed that Obama 'had been subtly weighing in against' a 2016 presidential run in his 2017 book 'Promise Me, Dad'. 'I also believe he had concluded that Hillary Clinton was almost certain to be the nominee, which was good by him,' Biden wrote. Obama and Biden shared a close friendship in office but that did not extend to a ready endorsement from Obama that his former VP should be the next U.S. President. Obama instead pushed for Hillary Clinton to be his successor. Pictured, Obama, Biden and Clinton 'I think there was a certain attraction to someone that would certainly break ceilings and kind of create the same kind of precedent that he created when he became president as opposed to supporting somebody who's kind of your more traditional politician and, you know, a white Irish Catholic guy,' Panetta added of Obama's preference for Clinton. 'There was a feeling of inevitability about Hillary Clinton in every aspect,' added Jen Psaki, the former White House communications director. 'So it never felt to me like it was Obama choosing Hillary Clinton over Joe Biden. It was a feeling like it's inevitable after Hillary Clinton left the State Department that she will be the Democratic nominee, and she will become the next president. So Obama was trying to play a part in being helpful.' The tension becomes more clear when looking back at Obama's endorsement of Clinton in 2016. 'I don't think there's ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,' Obama said of former New York Senator. In contrast he said of Biden this year: 'I believe Joe has all of the qualities we need in a president right now and I know he will surround himself with good people.' Biden is said to have hit out that Obama didn't 'lift a finger' to help him in South Carolina Obama's dismissal of Biden comes despite Republicans recalling how they preferred to negotiate with the Vice President over the President, referring to Obama's know-it-all attitude which they felt spoke down to them. 'Negotiating with President Obama was all about the fact that he felt that he knew the world better than you,' said Eric Cantor, the Republican House majority leader from 2011 to 2014. 'And he felt that he thought about it so much, that he figured it all out, and no matter what conclusion you had come to with the same set of facts, his way was right.' However Biden, he added, understood that 'you're gonna have to agree to disagree about some things'. 'Biden doesn't come from the wonky angle of leadership,' said a senior Obama administration official. 'It's different than the last two Democratic presidents. Biden is from a different style. It's an older style, of Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson of 'Let's meet, let's negotiate, let's talk, let's have a deal.' Yet some insiders believe Biden is set to surprise those who believed he was incapable of taking the Oval Office. Biden 'might have the last laugh of everybody,' Philippe Reines, Clinton's former press aide said. Visit to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two By Antoni Slodkowski and Ju-min Park TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Saturday - the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two - but avoided a personal visit that would anger China and South Korea. At least two cabinet ministers paid their respects in person at the shrine, which honours 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal as well as war dead, and is seen by Beijing and Seoul as a symbol of Japan's past military aggression. "I came to deliver a message from (ruling Liberal Democratic Party) President Abe that he paid his respects from the heart to the war dead and prayed for the rest and permanent peace of their souls," said ruling party lawmaker Shuichi Takatori, who made the offering on Abe's behalf. Abe has not gone to Yasukuni in person since a December 2013 visit that outraged China and South Korea, but has sent offerings via an aide. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 39, often floated as a future premier, visited the shrine, as did Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda, a close Abe ally. Men and women of all ages braved scorching heat amid the novel coronavirus pandemic to pay their respects at Yasukuni, where markers helped people keep social distance while lining up and signs urged them to avoid clustering due to COVID-19 concerns. Japan has not seen an explosive surge but cases are rising. Abe, as well as Emperor Naruhito, will attend a separate official, secular ceremony later in the day that has been scaled down due to concerns over the pandemic. The United States and Japan have become staunch security allies in the decades since the war's end but its legacy still haunts East Asia. Koreans, who mark the date as National Liberation Day, resent Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the peninsula. China has bitter memories of imperial troops' invasion and occupation of parts of the country from 1931-1945. Story continues Japan's ties with South Korea especially are strained by a dispute over compensation for Koreans forced to work in Japan's wartime mines and factories, as well as over "comfort women", as those made to work in Japanese military brothels are euphemistically known. "Let's not talk about the past, let's look at the future. I hope that Japan and South Korea can come closer together," said Ayaka Soma, 27, a free-lance researcher visiting Yasukuni. Consensus over the war remains elusive within Japan, where more than 80% of people were born after the conflict's end. Naruhito, grandson of wartime Emperor Hirohito and Japan's first monarch born after the war, last year expressed "deep remorse" over the conflict at the official ceremony for war dead, the first since he inherited the throne after his father, Akihito, abdicated. Abe, who has adopted a less apologetic stance toward the war, pledged last year "never again to repeat the devastation of war" but did not echo the emperor's words of remorse. About 530 people, including relatives of war dead, are expected to take part in the state-sponsored ceremony, down from more than 6,000 last year. Everyone, including Naruhito and Empress Masako, must wear masks, seats will be at least one metre (yard) apart and a musical performance will replace the singing of the national anthem. Naruhito's public appearance on Saturday will be his first since a February news conference marking his birthday, as the pandemic has kept him and Empress Masako at home. (Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Linda Sieg; Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by William Mallard and Will Dunham) Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli discussed the ongoing coronavirus situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, according to sources. Oli made a courtesy call to PM Modi and extended his greetings to him on the occasion of 74th Independence Day, the sources said. Earlier today, Oli tweeted, "Congratulations and greetings to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Government and people of India on the happy occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Best wishes for more progress and prosperity of the people of India." The PM's courtesy call holds significance as it will be the first since the ties got strained between the two nations following the issuance of a new map by the Nepal government incorporating parts of Indian territory. New Delhi has been assisting Kathmandu in various development projects under India-Nepal bilateral initiative to support and strengthen grassroots infrastructure development projects across the Himalayan nation. Projects under this initiative benefit the communities in the project area, particularly in the areas of education, health, connectivity, drinking water and sanitation, vocational training and medical campus. Since 2003, India has completed 422 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), covering 77 districts of Nepal with a financial grant of over NRs 798.7 crores, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Nepal government had issued the new map of the country in May incorporating Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. India had said the updated map is "not based on historical facts and evidence" and termed the claims by Nepal as artificial enlargement. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also said the move is violative of the current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues. (ANI) Also Read: Coronavirus: Over 57 thousand patients recovered in last 24 hours Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 23:15:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nepal has recorded over 100 deaths from COVID-19 so far, according to Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population on Saturday. "Death toll from the pandemic reached 102 after three new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours," Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the ministry told Xinhua on Saturday. On May 16, Nepal reported the first death from the pandemic. A 29-year-old woman was the first to die from the pandemic in Nepal. Until July 21 since the first death, Nepal reported a total of 40 deaths. But, after the lockdown was lifted on July 22 allowing almost all economic and social activities to operate largely without restrictions, death toll also started to climb rapidly along with resurging in COVID-19 cases. In just over three weeks since the lockdown was lifted, the COVID-19 deaths surpassed 100. "After the lockdown was lifted, the pandemic spread among all groups of people including young, elderly and the people with existing conditions which resulted in high number of deaths," Gautam told Xinhua over the telephone. "Before the lockdown, most of the COVID-19 cases were confined among the Nepali migrant workers; most of them were in working age with relatively stronger immunity." According to the health ministry, infection rate is relatively lower now compared to that a month ago. Infection rate now is 4-6 percent compared to 8-9 percent a month ago, the ministry said. But Gautam said that the spread of the pandemic among the people suffering from diabetes and kidney problems among others, contributed to a higher number of deaths in the recent days. On August 12, the health ministry confirmed the record-high single day fatality of eight deaths due to COVID-19. Along with the rise in deaths, the number of critical COVID-19 cases is also on the rise. On Saturday, the ministry reported 102 critical patients who have been kept at intensive care units and those at ICU with support of ventilators. According to Gautam, the main reason behind the resurging in COVID-19 cases in Nepal in the recent days is that people are ignoring the call to stay at home and not using the face masks while going outside. A recent survey by the Nepal Health Research Council in Kathmandu Valley showed that only 72 percent of people surveyed were found to have used the face masks while going outside. The ministry on Saturday reported 468 new cases as total COVID-19 cases in Nepal reached 26,019. Enditem ANOTHER retailer is seeking to reopen a number of the Debenhams stores, it has emerged. The liquidator of the Debenhams Irish operation KPMG has said a different retailer is seeking to reopen a number of the stores, and if successful, it could save hundreds of jobs. Around 110 jobs were lost locally when Debenhams shuttered its landmark outlet in Limerick city centre. The Limerick city store had initially suspended trading in March in the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus but the official confirmation that the store would close came in early April in what was described as a devastating blow to the city. Around 2,000 jobs were lost in total across the country with the closure of the 11 Irish stores in the chain. According to a report by Petula Martyn of RTE the liquidator has not revealed the name of the retailer or what stores it is interested in reopening. Former staff have been officially picketing Debenham's 11 Irish stores including Limerick for a number of months calling for what they describe as a fair redundancy package. They are angry about how the fashion store has treated employees following the closure of its stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The Kaduna State government has announced the resumption of classes for Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 students in the state. In a statement on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Education, Phoebe Yayi, revealed that the government has approved Sunday and Monday next week as the resumption dates for the students. She explained that the decision was taken to allow the students prepare for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled to commence on August 24. The government also directed all school principals to make arrangements to receive the JSS3 boarding students on Sunday, and the day students on Monday, in line with the COVID-19 regulations of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). All administrators of public and private schools are to note that, the one-week period starting from Sunday, 16th August, is to allow them to make necessary preparations to accommodate the JSS 3 students in line with the COVID-19 guidelines in place as it were in the case of the SS3 students. Proprietors of private schools are expected to comply accordingly through the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority and are advised to ensure proper arrangements for safe transportation of their students to and from schools, the statement said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates PARIS, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The French government has declared Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone area around Marseille on the Mediterranean coast as "red" zones with a high coronavirus infection risk, according to a government decree published on Friday. The decree gives local authorities the power to limit the circulation of people and vehicles, to restrict the access to public transport and air travel, to limit the access to public buildings and to close some establishments where there is a high risk of infection. The measure follows a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections over the past two weeks. (Reporting by Jean-Stephane Brosse and Geert de Clercq; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the country should not only Make in India but also Make for the World. He said, "We need to move forward with mantra of Make for world along with Make in India." PM Modi addressed the nation from Delhi's historic Red Fort on its 74th Independence Day today on August 15. Independence Day 2020 LIVE Updates He said, "Today, many big companies are turning towards India. We have to move forward with the mantra of Make for world along with Make in India." This new phrase was coined during his address to the nation on the occasion of Indias 74th Independence Day as the PM emphasized on the importance of becoming self-reliant, saying it was not just a word but a mantra Indians should follow. He added that self-reliance would help increase Indias share in the world economy. Becoming atmanirbhar (self-reliant) is mandatory. I am confident that India will realise this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest until we achieve that goal, PM Modi said. I believe in the capabilities of our fellow Indians. I believe in the abilities of our youth. I am confident that we can achieve this goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat with the help of the approach and thought process of our citizens, he further added. Indias share in the world economy should increase for which we have to be self-reliant. We have to move forward with our mantra of Make in India, but also with Make for World, he added. Besides, PM Modi also said economic growth and development go hand-in-hand with humanity, which must remain the central focus in the process. He said self-sufficiency meant not only reducing imports, but also increasing the levels of skills and creativity in the country. He added that measures taken by his government, like opening up the space sector, would generate employment opportunities for the youth. PM Modi highlights importance of Atmanirbhar Bharat in Independence Day speech Special arrangements have been made at the Red Fort in the national capital to mark this years Independence Day. Only invited guests will be granted entry, special seating arrangements have been made and all safety protocols have been put in place keeping the COVID-19 crisis in mind. Demonstrators gathered in support of the US Postal Service outside the residence of the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, in Washington DCs Kalorama neighborhood Saturday, August 15, banging pots and blowing airhorns, as this video shows. The New York Times reported that critics claim changes under the leadership of DeJoy, a Republican megadonor, have undercut the Postal Service and threatened the ability of Americans to vote in Novembers presidential election. Credit: Joshua Barthel via Storyful BRIDGEPORT The grandson of a city councilwoman was behind bars Friday after police said he shot at his sister because she is dating a rival gang member. Clinton Clint Taylor, 22, who is on probation for a 2016 gang-related shooting, was charged with attempted first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and criminal possession of a firearm. Police said Taylor, a member of the West Side gang 150 Boys, shot at his sister because she had been dating Asante Gaines, who was recently indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly being a high-ranking member of the Green Boyz gang that allegedly shot at rival gang members outside the Golden Hill Street courthouse on Jan. 27. Taylors grandmother, Councilwoman Denese Taylor-Moye, attempted to intervene in the investigation, telling her granddaughter to tell investigators that Taylor had fired a BB gun not a real gun, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Thats a lie, Taylor-Moye told Hearst Connecticut Media Friday afternoon. I did not say that. Ill tell you what I am against and thats police officers trying to turn our kids against each other by saying they are in gangs. Thats what should be investigated. During Taylors arraignment hearing Friday, Assistant States Attorney Justine Moore urged Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton to set a high bond because of the seriousness of the case. The judge agreed, noting that Taylor has prior assault convictions. She ordered him held in lieu of $500,000 bond and continued the case to Aug. 26. Taylors lawyer, Frank Riccio, declined comment as he left the Golden Hill Street courthouse. On July 1, the state Department of Corrections notified Bridgeport police that they had intercepted a call about a shooting in the city. Based on information in the call, Police Sgt. Jason Amato, head of the gang task force, went to an apartment building on West Avenue where Taylor-Moye and her granddaughter live and found a spent 9mm bullet casing in the parking lot under the building, police said. Police said they reviewed surveillance video footage from the apartment building and saw a man they identified as Taylor pull up to the building in a white sedan. They said Taylor got out of the car, pulled a handgun from his pants pocket and fired at his sister who was standing a short distance away. He then got back into the car and drove off, police said. Police said the sister was not injured. Following the shooting, police said DOC intercepted a call from the sister to Gaines, who is being held in a state prison. Police said the sister told Gaines in the call that Taylor had shot at her but that she was reluctant to go to police because, At the end of the day hes still my brother. The arrest warrant states that Amato later went to the Taylor-Moye home to interview the sister about the shooting. While Amato was talking to the sister, the affidavit states that Taylor-Moye yelled to her, Just tell them he had a BB gun. In 2017, Taylor-Moye publicly accused police of exaggerating her grandsons part in a shooting in the Greene Homes housing project. She asked a judge to overrule the police investigation. Police said Taylor was arrested Jan. 26, 2016, after a high-speed chase through the city following an alleged gang-related shooting in the Greene Homes housing project. Police said there were five young men in the car with three guns. Taylor was charged with attempted first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit attempted first-degree assault and gun charges. He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree assault with a firearm and was sentenced to 10 years, suspended after he served 47 months and followed by five years of probation. Vulnerable community members have been walking around Melbournes inner-south east despite a COVID-19 outbreak occurring at the special accommodation facility in which they reside. Loading Up to five residents and one staff member at Hambleton House, an Albert Park facility for residents with mental health or behavioural conditions, have tested positive to COVID-19, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed late on Saturday. The manager of the facility slammed the Victorian Health Department for handling the outbreak atrociously and not evacuating ill patients from the home. The residents have been attending local shops, pharmacies and other public places since the outbreak began, according to the manager and a local resident, both of whom did not want to be named. Washington, Aug 15 : In yet another scathing attack, US President Donald Trump has claimed that he has "more Indians" than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican heritage. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the New York City law enforcement union, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), that has endorsed the President in the race for the White House. "(If) Sleepy Joe Biden were to become President, he would immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in America... And probably she's a step worse, Kamala. "She is of Indian heritage. Remember I said I have more Indians than her... I have more than she does," he added. Referring to Massachusetts' Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, Trump said: "I was sort of hoping he (Biden) was going to pick Pocahontas... She's another beauty." "We got names for all of them. What's better Sleepy Joe or Slow Joe?" the President asked, having his crowd cheer louder for the nickname they preferred, reports Fox News. In his address, Trump also attacked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, also a Democrat, and said he "has launched a crusade against the police". The President described how he watched a protestor dump a bucket of water on two police officers and said, "I wish they fought back". Trump's latest attack on Harris came a day after he said that that the California Senator "doesn't qualify" to serve as US Vice President, while amplifying the fringe legal 'birther' theory that critics decry as racist. "I just heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements and by the way the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer. "I have no idea if that's right. I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for Vice President. "But that's a very serious... you're saying that, they're saying that she doesn't qualify because she wasn't born in this country," he was quoted as saying in a BBC report. On August 11, Biden picked Harris to be his running mate for the November 3 election, in a historic move that marked a breakthrough for Indian-Americans in US politics. Former US Officials Chastise Seoul Over Treatment of N. Korean Rights Groups By Eunjung Cho August 14, 2020 Thirteen former U.S. officials from Republican and Democratic administrations Wednesday sent an open letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in accusing his government of "undermining North Korea's human rights movement." Describing themselves as "deeply troubled" by a government-led campaign "aimed at undermining the North Korea human rights movement by targeting all the major organizations that work to help rescue, educate, protect and/or improve the lives of North Koreans," the ex-officials called on Moon to instead "promote human rights for North Koreans." On Tuesday, South Korea's Unification Ministry began inspecting 25 defector-run NGOs, criticizing their failure to file necessary documentation, and announced a registration-compliance review of 64 others. The massive probe coincides with Moon administration efforts to jump-start dialogue and economic projects with Pyongyang, which remains under strict international embargoes because of its nuclear weapons program. The Unification Ministry recently canceled corporate licenses of two defector groups that were sending propaganda leaflets into the North. Without a license, the groups can't apply for tax exemptions or hold fundraisers. Moon under fire Signatories of the open letter including Richard Allen, national security adviser for Ronald Reagan, and Robert Joseph, former undersecretary of state for arms control and international security under George W. Bush have served every U.S. president since Richard Nixon. They called the sweeping probe "a chilling form of intimidation, as they were all clearly targeted simply for their North Korea human rights work." "The tendency of this South Korean government led by President Moon to appease North Korea, really seems to have gotten out of control," signatory Christian Whiton, a State Department senior adviser for strategic communication during the Trump administration, told VOA Wednesday. "You would expect the South Korean government to speak up for the human rights of North Koreans and protect North Koreans who make it to the South, and they seem to be doing the opposite," Whiton added. "They seem to be hurting North Koreans and those who help North Korean defectors in efforts to appease North Korea and get something out of Kim Jong Un and his government." Signatory Roberta Cohen, former deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights, told VOA: "It's important for them to know that their actions in South Korea have consequences that the friends of South Korea abroad believe they've gone too far. "Here [in the U.S.], there is really a bipartisan view that this is a mistake," she added. Speaking with VOA on Thursday, former special envoy for North Korea human rights Robert King, who also signed the letter, said "there is a legitimate concern to make sure the funds are being spent well, but doing this office inspection immediately after other things that have taken place the whole thing has a flavor of a witch hunt." South Korea's priorities A source close to Moon told VOA Wednesday that the "Unification Ministry's office inspection is a regular procedure to guarantee transparent management of relevant organizations, and the ministry will continue communications with organizations as needed." The source spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly describe Seoul's view on the issue. The South Korean government has repeatedly denied its recent actions are in response to North Korea's threats to damage inter-Korean ties. North Korea in June threatened to cut off ties with Seoul over the propaganda leaflets. It also blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in the border city of Kaesong in an apparent show of anger. King said: "I think the Moon Jae-in administration is getting very concerned that the time of his term of office is beginning to run out. They're anxious to make an agreement to do something with the North. They're willing to abandon the principles of human rights." South Korea is seeking measures to improve relations with the North, which turned sour after the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi collapsed in February 2019. The Unification Ministry is set to approve an inter-Korean barter trade of South Korea's sugar for North Korea's liquor, bypassing U.N. sanctions banning cash transfers to North Korea. Seoul also announced a plan last week to provide $10 million in food aid to North Korea through the World Food Program. Hwanyong Kim contributed reporting from Seoul. Some information is from Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Luck ran out for a member of a car snatching gang when he and his accomplices attempted to flee with a taxi they had snatched from its owner at Ofaakor, near Kasoa, in the Central Region. Following an alert sent to the police about the incident which took place about 9 p.m last Thursday, the suspect, Edward Agyiri, 20, was apprehended by the police with the assistance of some residents of the community. His two collaborators managed to escape and the police and the locals have mounted a search for them. Remand The suspect was put before the Ofaakor Magistrate Court yesterday on the charges of possessing fire arms without authority, attempted carjacking and carjacking and was remanded in police custody for two weeks to enable the police to continue with investigations. Operation The Ofaakor District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Amfo, told the Daily Graphic that a search on the taxi revealed a locally manufactured gun that could fire five rounds of ammunition. The car was registered this year (2020) but for security reasons we cannot give out details such as registration number and the make of the vehicle for now, he said. He said about 9 p.m. last Thursday, the police received a distressed call requesting a police dispatch rider to track down some persons who had snatched a taxi cab from its owner. He added that the police moved in soon after the call and were able to apprehend the suspects. Arrest DSP Amfo said Agyiri hired the taxi from the Ofaakor main lorry park about 9 p.m. and on reaching a secluded spot between Papase and Kwaobonzi, Agyiris intended destination, he asked the driver to slow down as there was a pothole ahead. As soon as the driver slowed down, the two accomplices emerged from a nearby bush and with the assistance of the suspect the driver was attacked. The driver was pushed out of the car. Fortunately for him, a motor rider pulled up and after narrating what he had gone through, the motor rider called the police and also raised an alarm while still riding in the direction the suspects had taken, he said. The Ofaakor District Police Commander said on arrival at the scene, the police, with the support of the people, pursued the group and apprehended the suspect. The two others escaped, abandoning the vehicle in the process. The driver of the taxi was not physically hurt but he is traumatised and helping the police in its investigations into the matter. 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 No portfolios for Maithripala Sirisena and his backers SJB duo hold talks with Ranil Wickremesinghe on new UNP leadership and a possible re-merger A 20th Amendment to replace some 18A and 19A provisions Measures to re-boot economy Swept by a landslide two-thirds majority at the August 5 parliamentary election, the empire hit back. That politically devastating onslaught for many came in the historic hill capital of Kandy where a new Cabinet of Ministers and State Ministers were sworn in on a cool but cloudy Wednesday. The message it gave a nation became clear as one minister after another, one State Minister following the next, queued up to receive their appointment letters. It was at the stately Magul Maduwa (Audience Hall) of the sacred Sri Dalada Maligawa where kings and courtiers held court in the days of yore. Armed forces commanders, members of the Buddhist clergy in large numbers, small groups from other faiths, officials and politicians who will guide the destinies of Sri Lanka for the next five years were present amidst the red and white trappings. So were their supporters, some of them noteworthy donors, who underwrote the election campaign. The three most politically powerful brains in the country who sat at the apex of the Sri Lanka Podujana Nidahas Sandanaya (SLPNS), or the Sri Lanka Peoples United Front, led by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had been at work, even before the polls began. They were President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Basil Rajapaksa. They took time off to take stock of the years past and focus on the present. The result: those who remained loyal to them and the new-born SLPP were well rewarded. The idea was to ensure their hands were strengthened and to demonstrate that their loyalty was not in vain. That seemed to say all others should take note, too. And now, they are focusing on priority issues. One is to re-boot the economy shattered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The other is the immediate introduction of a 20th Amendment to the Constitution, possibly within two months. Now on the drawing boards, the idea behind, is to make a string of changes in existing provisions of the 18th and 19th Amendments. Some of them are to clear what is being described as ambiguities. These include the question over the subject of defence. Lawyers supportive of the government say the President is entitled to hold this portfolio. However, others opposed to it say that the 19th Amendment prohibits such a move. Some of the other changes will relate to the Constitutional Council, which government leaders believe, has so far been functioning mostly as a political tool. An example that is being cited is the appointment of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) on allegedly political considerations. Then ruling party politicians have spearheaded the move. The independent commissions now existent will remain but may face modifications. Provisions that relate to a two-term time bar on elected Presidents will not be changed. A group styling itself the One Text Initiative conducted an opinion poll in July this year on the 19th Amendment across different communities. This was through 13 questions from 200 respondents. Their 18-page findings note that people do not accept or reject the 19th Amendment as a whole. Instead, they have a more nuanced view of various components of it. It adds that the respondents were in favour of the President holding Ministerial portfolios whilst they also preferred the two-term limit to the President. However, some of the presidential powers such as the declaring of a State of Emergency, some were of the view should be subject to Parliamentary approval. The report said, in conclusion, the responses show a diversity of opinion on the 19th Amendment. They tended to prefer some checks and balances on the Presidency, such as some executive powers being shared with the Prime Minister. It has noted that the provisions of the 19 Amendment were rejected and the trust in Independent Commissions has eroded. (Note: a good example is how the Police Commission functioned). Future surveys are necessary to obtain a more nuanced understanding of the peoples perception of the 19th Amendment. The Government is also mulling over the introduction of a new Constitution which will consider a number of factors including more powers to Provincial Councils. That will be to strengthen the 13th Amendment. In this regard, also under active consideration is to rescind laws that vest powers in the Government not to conduct PC elections a law which was passed by the Yahapalana government with the strong backing of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). That way, these councils which were set up to address Tamil concerns following the ethnic violence in July 1983, left the power in the hands of the government. TNA frontliners Rajavarothayam Sampanthan (leader) and Abraham Sumanthiran were among the prime movers together with Yahapalana leaders. The fact that President Gotabaya and Premier Rajapaksa consulted each other over all issues after the parliamentary election is known. Formal confirmation of Basil Rajapaksas role came in the form of full-page ads with a large photograph in the media on Friday. The words in the ad are meaningful. It says, Today, we stand proudly on our feet with an unprecedented mandate for change, thanks to the peoples struggle that you led fearlessly since January 8, 2015. We as a nation pay tribute to your selfless patriotic leadership and service. The words are from a relatively unknown WE Sri Lanka. The underlying message is that the troika has focused on developments in the past years. Yet, those responsible seem to be exceptionally attuned to developments and the reference to the previous presidential election wraps up matters in context. During the election campaign last month, some opposition groups attempted to exploit what they claimed were serious differences within the troika. Even mundane issues were highlighted in the social media. This weeks developments make one reality distinctly clear. At times of need, the unity among the trio, albeit the family, is like an intricately woven steel mesh, all united and focused. Of course, this is not to say there are no differences in views or positions. They do exist but fade away when serious issues come to the fore a characteristic which was absent in major opposition parties though filial links are relatively less. There was proof of this in the current week. That is how former President Maithripala Sirisena, who won a record 111,137 preference votes in the Polonnaruwa district, became the first casualty. It was on November 21, 2014, that he quit then President Mahinda Rajapaksas government as Minister of Health. The night before, he met Rajapaksa at Temple Trees and ended having hoppers for dinner. However, he did not reveal his future political plans, not until the next day. At a hurriedly summoned news conference that afternoon at the New Town Hall, he declared he would be the oppositions common candidate at the 2015 presidential election. In Sri Lanka where political nick names are quite common, he was jocularly referred to as Aappey (or Hopper). This time, Sirisena contested on the SLPP ticket. Contrary to reports, including a reference in these columns last week, the trio did not consider Sirisena for any ministerial position. Incorrect are also reports, including those in the social media, that he would be given an elevated position. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera told the Sunday Times, soon after the election results were known, I sent SLPP leadership the names of 14 of our members in the order of their seniority. This was to consider anyone of them for portfolios. On top of the list was the name of our leader and former President, Maithripala Sirisena. Later, he said, he had forwarded three names for ministerial positions. They were Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Ameraweera and himself. My name was dropped from the Cabinet appointments and I have been given a State Ministry. They did not even consult us. This is not good. This has created internal issues for us in the party, he added. For the only National List position, he said, he had nominated Dr Rohana Luxman Piyadasa, head of the Media Faculty at the University of Kelaniya. However, the SLPP nominated Suren Raghavan, former Northern Province Governor, whose name was on the SLFP list after Prof. Piyadasa, he pointed out. Other than that, Jayasekera, who contested under the SLPP ticket from the Kurunegala district, was named State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products. As the title reveals, this is the first time such a portfolio has been created. Compared to the past, there were no posts of Deputy Ministers this time. The State Ministers, unlike deputies, are entitled to a Secretary to their Ministry and are considered as having a higher status. The SLPP made its debut in Sri Lankas political landscape with a major victory at the local council polls in 2018. Then came the failed vote of no-confidence against former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in April 2018. This led to a group of MPs quitting the Yahapalana government and joining the SLPP then led by Mahinda Rajapaksa. They included those who held powerful ministerial portfolios and wielded considerable political clout. Following senior MPs in the Government did not receive any ministerial portfolios: Maithripala Sirisena, Susil Premjayantha (Colombo district), Anura Priyadarshana Yapa (Kurunegala district), Ranjith Siyambalapitiya (Kegalle district), Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (Colombo district), S.B. Dissanayake (Nuwara Eliya district), Mahinda Samarasinghe (Kalutara district), W.D.J. Senaviratne (Ratnapura district), Dilan Perera (Badulla district) and Chandima Weerakkody (Galle district). However, S.B. Dissanayake, who brokered the 52-day government, was named as Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya District Co-ordinating Committee. Chairpersons and members of 23 such committees have been named to cover the administrative districts. They will be responsible for development work in the respective districts. It is relevant to note that the District Secretariats too have been brought under the purview of the President. With the swearing-in over, the portfolio holders and most of the newly elected MPs turned up at the Presidents House in Kandy for lunch hosted by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. As it usually happens, the victors or those who got portfolios were present whilst others left Kandy for Colombo. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa were seated in one table with their spouses for the buffet lunch of Sri Lankan rice and curry. There was also vegetable biriyani with an array of vegetables. Other than rewarding loyalists who stood by the Rajapaksas, Wednesdays appointments also saw only one Muslim (Ali Sabry) and one Tamil (Douglas Devananda) in the Cabinet of Ministers. However, besides Sabry, also on the National List were two Muslims, Faleel Marjan, a gem businessman from Beruwala and Mohamed Muzzamil (a frontliner of Wimal Weerawansas National Freedom Front). Though there were no Cabinet Ministers from Viyath Maga, President Gotabaya Rajapaksas body of professionals, five of its members were appointed as State Ministers. They were Seetha Arambepola (Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation), Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (Provincial Councils and Local Government), Nalaka Godahewa (Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness), Channa Jayasumana (Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals) and Ajith Nivard Cabraal (Money and Capital Markets and State Enterprise). There were no ministerial positions for SLNS partners Communist Party and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). Only one member Weerasumana Weerasinghe was elected. However, LSSP leader Tissa Vithana has found a place on the National List. Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda received his previously held post of Minister of Fisheries, one in which he can not only help the fisher community in Jaffna and the outlying islands. He could also help fisher folk in other parts of the country and exporters. The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), whose late leader Arumugam Thondaman has been replaced by his son Jeevan, won a State Minister position. It is Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure. For the TNA, whose seats fell from 16 to 10, with the threat of one more leaving, the week has been challenging. Earlier, the TNAs strength was bolstered by the presence of Vijayakala Maheswaran and D.M. Swaminathan, who were from the Yahapalana government. At that time, the TNA extended tacit and sometimes open support to the then government. This week saw a video in which one of their stalwarts, Sumanthiran strongly exhorting that any accusations against him about election malpractices will end in prosecution. The lawyer threatened to take them to courts. This was his response to allegations, strongly denied by him, that he had manipulated election results by rigging the votes of another candidate. This, however, is hardly possible. Groups opposed to him have been spreading the news amidst reports that one reportedly affected candidate was to take the matter up in courts. Sumanthirans popularity in the north took a downward plunge after he told a video interviewer that he abhorred Tiger guerrilla murders and violence. He was right but the remarks angered the Tamil diaspora groups overseas. Most criticised him whilst some are still supportive. Another minus point for him has been that he persuaded the TNA to extend its support to empower the then Government to dissolve Provincial Councils. This week, two other elected MPs in the Jaffna district, C.V. Wigneswaran and Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam, rejected his request to unite. Bringing them under his fold was to strengthen his political clout. A pertinent point in regard to the North and East was made by Basil Rajapaksa, the architect of the SLPP, during a television talk show. Going by the votes cast at the presidential election, if we were to contest, we would have won only five seats. However, by asking partner parties to enter the fray, we won 11 seats. Besides, the TNA has also been hit by a new internecine crisis. Mavai Senathirajah, leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITA), under which the TNA contested, was displeased that Thevarasa Talayanesan had been nominated without his knowledge. He accused two TNA MPs, Sumanthiran and Sritharan of having taken the decision without consulting him. As protests grew, the duo travelled from Jaffna to Trincomalee to meet TNA leader Sampanthan. A compromise formula has now emerged with two and half years for Talayanesan and the remaining period for one of Senathirajahs nominees. Now the Political Committee is to meet to take a decision on the matter. There were disappointments and disenchantment among some SLPNS parliamentarians over the portfolios they received or did not receive. In the case of lawyer, Ali Sabry, who was nominated on the National List and later sworn in as Minister of Justice, there was displeasure in some quarters. A leading prelate of a prominent religious order spoke to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-consider the move. Similar requests also came from hardline sections of the Buddhist clergy. Their apprehensions were two-fold. One was the far-fetched view that by way of his portfolio, he could interfere with those against whom court action would be initiated for being responsible for last years Easter Sunday massacres. The matter is now before a Commission of Inquiry where some shocking revelations have surfaced. Another was the claim that he would use his office to ensure that he would push through laws relating to the Muslims. However, Sabry stymied his detractors by making a public statement barely 24 hours after his appointment. He declared that he stood for the punishment of all those responsible for the Easter Sunday massacres and would not hesitate to do the right thing. Premier Rajapaksa won praise from an unexpected quarter for picking Sabry. It was from former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera. He said in a tweet, Well done PM for appointing Ali Sabry as Justice Minister despite opposition by voice-cut sadhus. However, he added, the rest of Cabinet is uninspired and the subjects of State Ministers are hilarious. Onetime Justice Minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, did not hide his disappointment. He told a confidant that he had earlier been offered either the Education or Justice portfolio. Later, he had learnt that he had been earmarked as a State minister and hence he did not travel to Kandy for the swearing-in ceremonies. Pointing out that Sabry was President Gotabayas personal lawyer, he added that the new Justice Minister was junior to him and always addressed him as Sir. Contrary to those claims, Sabry had taken part in political activities and was one of those in the forefront of the SLPNS in Muslim areas. Presidential sources said that despite Wijeyadas Rajapakshes lament, there would be no change. Another point Rajapakshe has been making is how he saved the Rajapaksas from being prosecuted when he was Justice Minister. Prof. G.L. Peiris had been in favour of the Foreign Relations portfolio. However, he later accepted the portfolio of Education and Higher Education. Dinesh Gunawardena has been reappointed Foreign Relations Minister whilst Admiral Jayanath Colombage has taken over Foreign Secretary. The outgoing Secretary, Ravinatha Aryasinha, is tipped to be Sri Lankas Ambassador to France. Mahinda Ameraweera (SLFP Hambantota district) also told a colleague that he would have been much happier if he received another portfolio. He is now Minister of Environment. A new team of secretaries have also been named for the 27 ministries. However, some amendments are likely. Women representation in the Cabinet has been just one, Pavithra Wanniaratchchi (Health). There are two female State Ministers Seetha Arambepola and Sudarshani Fernandopulle. Issues within the UNP Twelve days after the parliamentary election, issues within the United National Party (UNP), the countrys oldest remains unresolved. Though former Prime Minister and party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared he wants to step down, at least for now, he appears to be waiting for a new leader to be chosen. There are still others in the party who argue that his recent actions only mean that he wants to continue. This became clear when he told a meeting of the Working Committee, the partys main policy making body, that the current issue of leadership has to be resolved within the coming one and half months. Some senior members read this as a message that he wants to stay for the upcoming Provincial Council elections though Wickremesinghe loyalists denied it. By Friday, contenders for the post of UNP leader had extended to at least seven. They are Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Daya Gamage, Vajira Abeywardena, Ruwan Wijewardene, Navin Dissanayake and Arjuna Ranatunga. This is besides a call for former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to reverse his decision to retire and take over the leadership, at least temporarily. Wickremesinghe has also had a one-on-one discussion with him though what they talked remains unknown. However, this move was not accepted at the Working Committee meeting. Strong objections were raised by Vajira Abeywardena and Tilak Marapana, two close associates of Wickremesinghe, with both saying there should be a young person. Consensus was reached on the matter. In a special press release, the UNP declared that the party leadership should be handed over to a young leader. It said: The Working Committee of the United National Party met this morning (14) under the chairmanship of Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. There was a lengthy review of the results of the last general election. All those who expressed their views at the meeting pointed out that in order to allow a new leader to take over the party, immediate action should be taken giving priority to the views of the party members as well. Accordingly, it was agreed to take necessary steps to select a new young leader that recognizes the national aspirations, while giving the opportunity to all those who aspire for leadership to come forward. Accordingly, a leader that suits the country and the party will be selected from the candidates who expressed interest in the post. As an initial step, an active mechanism will be set up to assign new responsibilities to the young leaders of the party. It has been decided to offer the leadership of the UNP to a young leader who will emerge from within the party, taking into account how successful they have been in carrying out their responsibilities. An uneasy feature is the opposition by one or the other to the seven names of those in the running. One of them strongly campaigning for Jayasuriya was UNP Assistant Leader Karunanayake. He said he should be given the leadership unconditionally. Amidst this, an important development was the advice by some sections of the party to Wickremesinghe to give the leadership to a trustworthy person. They warned him to make sure you dont give it to the wrong person and let the party fall into the wrong hands. There have been suggestions to hand over the leadership to Sajith Premadasa, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader. This is notwithstanding assertions by Premadasa at a news conference that he would never return to the UNP fold. Significant enough, the advice gained some traction triggering a string of backchannel moves. The result: two of the SJBs leading members Kabir Hashim (also former Chairman of the UNP) and Thalatha Athukorale held an hour-long meeting on Friday evening with Wickremesinghe. A source in the know of the talks said the SJB duo had their leader Sajith Premadasas concurrence and it was a very cordial and friendly exchange of views. Wickremesinghe had explained the sequence of events since the parliamentary electionsand his intention to step down as leader. He told the duo that should there be any acceptance for a re-merger under Premadasas leadership of the UNP, he would have to first consult the seven UNP aspirants and obtain their consent. Thereafter, it has to be put to the party membership at a convention. Another high-ranking source strongly associated with Premadasa spoke on grounds of anonymity. He said, It is highly unlikely the SJB will now re-join the UNP and Premadasa will take over the leadership. This is a ploy by Wickremesinghe to divide the SJB and its constituents. Premadasa was holidaying in Kandy. Moreover, seasoned one-time UNP frontliners, like Malik Samarawickrema and Mangala Samaraweera, who had a personal rapport with Wickremesinghe, are no longer in the scene to continue a dialogue. That rapport was the binding factor in keeping negotiations on track before the UNP split. References in last weeks political commentary have drawn a response from Harsha de Silva, now an SJB parliamentarian from the Colombo district and former State Minister. He said ..I am a Sinhalese and I actually got some 17,500 more votes than Patali Champika Ranawaka in Colombo. I hope you will make that correction next week. In another message, he said the media seem to always downplay my achievements Firstly, as it is noticeably clear, there were no references whatsoever to either Harsha de Silva or Patali Champika Ranawaka receiving votes in these columns last week. Regrettably, de Silva has not been able to comprehend the gravamen of what was said that the SJB polled more minority votes. Thus, his receiving 17,500 more votes than Ranawaka does not mean all those votes were from Sinhala voters or is relevant. Comments were made on the totality of votes. This is unless he had a supernatural vision to see voters mark the cross and knew their ethnicity one by one. His claim that the media downplaying his achievements warrants a response too. During the parliamentary election campaign, the sole achievement he marketed was being a pioneer of the Suvaseriya free ambulance scheme. It is no secret that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was solely responsible for the assistance for this project from India. In a letter to Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, dated September 26, 2016, he said On behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, I wish to thank you for your wholehearted support in our endeavour to replicate one of the most effective public services Emergency Pre Hospital Care Ambulance Service. Excellency, I am really pleased to say that this pioneering saving programme showcases the Best of India. It will no doubt further strengthen the friendship and the special bond that exists between the people of Sri Lanka and India. At most, de Silva, as a State Minister, was only overlooking the project and by no means a pioneer. Why blame the media for calling a spade a spade? President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, though he could constitutionally have 30 in the Cabinet of Ministers, has chosen only 26. In the case of State Ministers too, he had chosen 39 when he could go up to 40. This is after a parliamentary election which was conducted with no major incidents or allegations of serious malpractices. Even if no foreign observers, for whom the country had to foot bills for expenses, were not there, the polls were unhindered. There were more NGOs and INGOs, some genuine and others dubious, backed by western diplomatic missions keeping a watchful eye. For all of them, the August 5 parliamentary elections have sent one a stunning message. Democracy exists in Sri Lanka. This is a tribute to the people. Not even the self-exiled groups carrying out a venomous campaign, backed by vested interests, can now say democracy is dead in Sri Lanka. It is only their dubious campaigns in the different foreign capitals that have died but a government cannot relax. It must deliver. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said major global firms are looking at India as a major investment destination, which is reflected by a robust inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) last financial year, and through Atmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India initiative) the country is shifting its focus from Make in India to Make for world. Addressing the nation on the countrys 74th Independence Day, the prime minister said that the country has made a series of economic reforms, such as one nation one tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the bank merger, which have caught attention of the global investors. As a result, he said, India attracted huge amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) last year. According to the latest FDI data issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), overall FDI flow in India in 2019-20 was about $74.4 billion in 2019-20, a 20% jump over the same period last year. He said Independent India should be vocal for local and asked citizens to glorify Indian products to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat. He gave the example of N-95 masks, personal protective equipments (PPEs) and ventilators - how Indian entrepreneurs came up at the time of global Covid-19 urgency and not only met the domestic demand but also exported them to the world. He said that the country is striving to achieve overall economic growth and become self-reliant, but humanity remains its ethos. India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey, he said. Unveiling his vision of a self-reliant India, the Prime Minister said that the government has unveiled over Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) to boost the economy and create jobs. In order to rapidly modernise India, there is a need to give a new direction to overall infrastructure development, he said, adding that over 7,000 projects under NIP have been already identified. This will be, in a way, a new revolution in the field of infrastructure. This is the time to end silos in infrastructure. There is a plan to connect the entire country with multi-model connectivity infrastructure, he said. NIP will play a crucial role in overcoming the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the economy and catapult the economy in a higher growth trajectory, he said. Covid-19 pandemic and a 68-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the virus since March 25 adversely impacted the countrys economic growth, which was already subdued. Indias gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 4.2% in fiscal 2019-20, the lowest in 11 years. It followed precipitous growth contractions reported by the US and European countries after the pandemic closed shops, factories and restaurants, signalling a period of recession. The US economy posted a second-quarter contraction of 9.5%, the worst figure on record. India is expected to report its April-June GDP numbers by the end of this month. Economists expect its economy to contract by at least 5% this year (2020-21) especially because the country had seen a hard lockdown for two full months of the quarter (April and May). The government on December 31 last year unveiled the NIP with an aim to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. The focus of the infrastructure pipeline is to accelerate growth and create employment in both urban and rural areas. The NIP is already under execution as 40% of the projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore are at various stages of implementation, government officials said requesting anonymity. Giving emphasis to import of raw material and export of value-added products to make India a manufacturing hub, PM Modi said, How long can the raw material be sent out of our country and finished products imported?. Atmnirbhar Bharat doesnt mean only reducing imports, it means to enhancing our capacity, our creativity, our skills, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 02:02:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Morocco on Saturday reported 1,776 new COVID-19 cases, the biggest single-day increase so far, taking the number of infections in the country since March 2 to 41,017. The total recoveries increased by 922 to 28,556, while the death toll rose by 21 to 632 in the past 24 hours, said Mouad Mrabet, coordinator of the Moroccan Center for Public Health Operations of the Ministry of Health, at a press briefing. China has helped Morocco in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. A batch of medical supplies donated by the government of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was transported on June 8 to Casablanca-Settat in Morocco. On May 14, China Development Bank sent a batch of donation, including respirators and medical protective masks, to help Morocco fight the COVID-19 pandemic. China's Guizhou Province also donated 15,000 surgical gloves, 20,000 medical masks and 2,000 protective suits to help protect Moroccan medical workers fighting the pandemic. Enditem Karnataka is mulling to ban the regional outfit Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and its political affiliate Popular Front of India (PFI) for their alleged role in Bengaluru riots early this week, a minister said on Friday. "The state government will take a decision on banning SDPI and PFI in the cabinet meeting on August 20," state Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister K.S. Eshwarappa told reporters at Shivamogga in the state's northwest Malnad region. A few representatives and members of the SDPI were booked and arrested since the mob violence in the city's northeast suburb on August 11, for allegedly instigating the miscreants to go on a rampage, which led to arson and rioting in the area and subsequent police firing to prevent the volatile situation going out of control. Three youth were killed in the violence. "The state government is under pressure from many groups and organisations to ban the fringe groups, as they have been allegedly involved in causing unrest and disharmony in society," asserted Eshwarappa. State Revenue Minister R. Ashoka also hinted at banning the twin political outfits for their alleged involvement in the city's riots and in other parts of the southern state in the past. "Preliminary investigation and interrogation of the arrested SDPI and PFI members revealed their alleged involvement in the riots on August 11. Its activists were also held in the past for allegedly causing disharmony in society," Ashoka told reporters here. Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan also said the state government was considering banning the twin parties for their alleged role in the city riots. State Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said internal rift in the opposition Congress and the SDPI's conspiracy were behind the riots in the city. "Investigations into the riots so far revealed that political differences in the Congress, its differences with the SDPI and the latter's larger conspiracy to disrupt law and order had a role in the city's mob violence," Bommai told reporters after reviewing the situation with top police officials here. In all, 206 accused were arrested in connection with the riots, including 60 earlier in the day. Among those held included Kaleem Pasha, husband of Congress corporator Irshad Begum from the Nagwara civic ward in the city's eastern suburb. A derogatory Facebook post by Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy's nephew P. Naveen on August 11 triggered the violence, arson and rioting by unruly mobs in the densely populated areas of the city's suburb. Murthy, who joined the Congress from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), won from the Pulakeshinagar reserved (ST) constituency in the May 2018 state assembly elections for the second time. Refuting the Congress charge that inaction by the police against Naveen led to the violence, Bommai said it was an attempt to mislead the public, as there was no delay in filing an FIR against the accused. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday cited a robust inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) during the last financial year and said it reflects how global firms were looking at India as a major investment destination. He said the country is shifting its focus from Make in India to Make for World through the governments Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-reliant India campaign) In his Independence Day speech, Modi said a series of economic reforms like one nation-one tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and the bank merger have caught attention of the global investors. He credited the reforms for attracting huge FDI last year. According to the Reserve Bank of India data, there was about $74.4 billion FDI flow in 2019-20 and marked a 20% jump compared to the previous year. Modi said India should be vocal for local and asked citizens to glorify Indian products to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat. He referred to N-95 masks, personal protective equipment, and ventilators. Modi added Indian entrepreneurs manufactured them to meet the domestic demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic and also exported them. Modi said India is striving to achieve overall economic growth and become self-reliant, but humanity remains its ethos. India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey, he said. When we talk about becoming self-reliant, we do not merely refer to decreasing import demands. ...it is about our skills, our human resources. When we start sourcing things from abroad, then our capabilities start depleting and consequently, they get completely destroyed over generations. We need to preserve them and enhance that calibre of ours. Modi said the government has launched over Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) to boost the economy and create jobs. In order to rapidly modernise India, there is a need to give a new direction to overall infrastructure development, he said. He added over 7,000 projects under NIP have been identified. This will be, in a way, a new revolution in the field of infrastructure. This is the time to end silos in infrastructure. There is a plan to connect the entire country with multi-model connectivity infrastructure. He said NIP will play a crucial role in overcoming the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the economy and trigger higher growth. The Covid-19 pandemic and 68-day nationwide lockdown to check its spread adversely impacted the economic growth, which was already sluggish. Indias gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 4.2% in fiscal 2019-20, the lowest in 11 years. It followed precipitous growth contractions reported by the US and European countries after the pandemic closed shops, factories, and restaurants, signalling a period of recession. The US economy posted a second-quarter contraction of 9.5%, the worst figure on record. India is expected to report its April-June GDP numbers by the end of this month. Economists expect the economy to contract by at least 5% this year (2020-21) especially because of the hard lockdown for two full months of the quarter (April and May). The government on December 31 last year unveiled the NIP with an aim to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. The focus of the infrastructure pipeline is to accelerate growth and create employment in both urban and rural areas. The NIP is already under execution as 40% of the projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore are at various stages of implementation, officials said requesting anonymity. Modi emphasised the need to import raw material and export value-added products to make India a manufacturing hub. How long can the raw material be sent out of our country and finished products imported?. Atmnirbhar Bharat does not mean only reducing imports, it means enhancing our capacity, our creativity, our skills. Divakar Vijayasarathy, founder and managing partner at consultancy firm DVS Advisors LLP, said Modi called for Make in India in his first Independence Day speech in 2014. He said Modi has rebranded it to Make for the World to make India as a manufacturing powerhouse, which China did exceptionally well over the years. It is high time that this strategy should be in place. India has already missed opportunities during the start of the trade war between the US and China. But Covid-19 and Chinas attitude towards other nations have presented one more opportunity to take advantage of the negative perception of China. Deepak Sood, secretary-general of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, called Modis address a morale booster for the nation braving the health pandemic and making all-out efforts to turn it into an opportunity for making India self-reliant. When the Prime Minister talks about reforms...it is a loud signal to the world how the countrys top leadership is committed to creating economic opportunities for the investors. The Star casino has been fined $90,000 after a 12-year-old girl went on a massive gambling spree with her parents. She was one of three underage gambling or drinking incidents between March and July 2019 that the Sydney casino self-reported to NSW Liquor and Gaming. The 12-year-old girl spent at least 17 minutes on the gaming floor with her mother and father and placed 21 bets on multiple poker machines. The Star casino (pictured) in Sydney has been fined $90,000 after three incidents between between March and July 2019 saw underage patrons drink and gamble in the venue A 12-year-old girl snuck into the casino through an exit door and spent 17 minutes on the gaming floor with her parents (pictured) placing at least 21 bets on poker machines The primary school student managed to sneak into the casino and past security after her mother held open an exit door as patrons came out. They met up with her father for the gambling spree and were only intercepted by security when they tried to leave the casino. It is understood the family were visiting from China on tourist visas. NSW Independent Liquor & Authority Chair, Philip Crawford, condemned the incident as a serious breach. 'It's quite staggering that the young girl's parents facilitated her entry in such a deceptive manner, let alone allowed their daughter to gamble,' Mr Crawford said. A second incident saw a 16-year-old girl enter the casino's VIP checkpoint, without being asked for ID, alongside a middle aged male 'platinum' member. Her fake leaner driver's licence was accepted at the main gaming floor and she was able to freely move about and order a vodka Red Bull at the bar. The 16-year-old's fake ID was finally identified when she tried to enter a nightclub in the casino. The family (pictured) were only intercepted by security when they tried to leave the casino The third incident was a 17-year-old boy who was allowed to enter the casino with his own provisional licence and gamble for 3.5 hours. He managed to purchase vodka Red Bull, play 42 rounds of roulette, 22 hands of poker and was eventually escorted out by security. 'We appreciate The Star's cooperation in coming forward each time they detect a minor, however we do take these cases seriously,' Mr Crawford said. The casino received two $15,000 fines relating to the 16 and 17-year olds and one $60,000 fine over the incident involving the 12-year-old. 'The penalty indicates that every breach requires a regulatory response befitting the risk of harm to young people and the community,' Mr Crawford explained. At least 32 minors gained access to restricted areas of the casino in 2019 and The Star also reported 35 instances in 2018. A Star Casino spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia all three of the incidents had been reviewed. 'We have reviewed each of them in detail and taken measures to prevent similar instances occurring in the future. 'We respect and accept ILGA's decision,' the spokesperson said. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to normalize relations. The "Abraham Accord is only the third Israel-Arab peace deal since Israeli independence in 1948. (CNN) New Zealand has marked an enviable milestone more than 100 days since its last coronavirus case was acquired locally from an unknown source. As of Monday, the country had reported 1,219 confirmed cases, including just 21 active infections, all in managed isolation facilities. No cases had emerged via community transmission in 100 days, authorities announced Sunday, with all new infections coming from abroad. In total, the island nation of 5 million people has reported 22 coronavirus deaths. While other countries including Pacific neighbor Australia and the United States continue to battle outbreaks, New Zealand has been held up as an example of how to fight Covid-19. One key reason is that although the country appears to have the coronavirus under control, authorities are still testing thousands of people a day. "We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can reemerge and spread in places where it was previously under control," Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield said Sunday. "We need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand. Don't let the team down -- none of us can afford to do that." How New Zealand did it New Zealand's strategy was simple: in the words of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the country had to "go hard, and go early." When Ardern closed the border to foreigners on March 19, the country only had 28 confirmed cases. And when she announced a nationwide lockdown on March 23, there were only 102 confirmed cases -- and no deaths. New Zealand's lockdown was relatively strict -- no takeaways, no beaches, and no driving outside of your neighborhood. The strictest rules were in place for around five weeks, but the country remained under effective lockdown for a further two weeks. That was all part of the country's broader strategy: elimination. "Elimination does not mean eradicating the virus permanently from New Zealand; rather it is being confident we have eliminated chains of transmission in our community for at least 28 days and can effectively contain any future imported cases from overseas," according to the Ministry of Health's website. New Zealand waited until it had brought its curve right down before it lifted restrictions. On June 8, when Ardern announced that all restrictions would be lifted, almost 40,000 tests in the previous 17 days hadn't yielded a single positive result. Since June, the country has been almost back to normal -- and there hasn't been a need to return to lockdown. New Zealand also coupled the lockdown with tight border restrictions. Only citizens are allowed to enter the country, and they must spend two weeks in a government-approved facility. New Zealanders returning home will now be charged 3,100 New Zealand dollars ($2,040) for the facilities if they return temporarily. In total, 95 confirmed cases have been identified at the border, and 70% of New Zealand's cases were either imported or imported-related cases, according to Ministry of Health statistics. What New Zealand didn't do Around the world, there has been a lot of emphasis on wearing face masks to control the spread of coronavirus. But in New Zealand, masks haven't been a major tool against the outbreak. There's a few reasons for that. The country doesn't have a culture of wearing masks, and in March -- as New Zealand prepared to go into lockdown -- it was difficult to buy masks in local stores. By the time people were able to go out in public and travel around the country again, there were very few coronavirus cases in New Zealand. In addition to New Zealand's public health strategies, the country had a few natural advantages. It has no land borders, giving it more control over who enters the country. And New Zealand is not densely populated -- according to World Bank data, it has only 18 people per square kilometer, compared with 36 in the US and 275 in the United Kingdom. India -- which has the third-highest number of cases in the world -- has 455 people per square kilometer. But just because face masks haven't been part of New Zealand's strategy in the past, doesn't mean that will be the case in the future. The Ministry of Health is recommending that all households prepare for another possible outbreak by stocking up on masks. "It's a matter of when, not if," Bloomfield told national broadcaster Radio New Zealand last week, when asked if another community transmission case in New Zealand was inevitable. "We're working on the basis that it could be at anytime." With the laying of the foundation stone of the Ram mandir reopening the debate on the role of religion in India, a new book has suggested that the traditions of all its religions can provide the grounds for religious tolerance. At Independence, there were three perceived options for Indian nationhood. There was what has come to be called Nehruvian secularism, which opposed any connection between religion and nationhood . One reason the Congress has declined is that secularism is perceived as having no place for Hinduism. It can all too easily be portrayed as actively hostile to religion. The second option was Hindutva, which believes the Hindu religion and culture should be the primary element in shaping Indian nationalism. At Independence, there was a third way, the Gandhian way which gave a prominent role for Indic religions and, at the same time, promoted religious tolerance. The Gandhian option faded away, leaving the field open for the battle between Congress secularism and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Hindutva. Now, Arvind Sharma, a former IAS officer who has become a renowned scholar of comparative religion and is currently teaching at McGill University in Canada, has just published a book called Religious Tolerance: A History which adds a new element to this debate. His book is an attempt to explore the possibility that religious tolerance could be placed on a firmer basis if grounds for it could also be found within the various religions themselves. Evidence of tolerance can be found in all major religions as well as evidence of intolerance. A difference between Hinduism and the Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, is that Hindus have tended to give prominence to their tolerance, even taken pride in it. Sharma quotes Swami Vivekanands historic speech at the Worlds Parliament of Religion in Chicago in which he said , I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true. Sharma also has an answer to those who argue that it takes two hands to clap, that, in the Indian case, Hindu tolerance has to be met by tolerance from Islam and Christianity. For instance, he points out that it was Christian circles who first called for interreligious dialogue in modern times. Of Islam, he says, ...there is considerable evidence of tolerance in its long history. There is considerable evidence of tolerance in Sufism which has played such an important role in the development of Islam in India. Why should a State want to have religious tolerance? Well, let one answer come from a source many might consider surprising , Swami Dayanda Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj movement. He wrote, The differences of learned people (of all religions) aggravate the differences among the common masses with the result that miseries increase and happiness is lost. Another reason is that differences between religions drown out their voices when it should be heard. In his book on the climate crisis, writer Amitav Ghosh says, If religious groupings around the world can join hands with popular movements they may well be able to provide the momentum that is needed for the world to move forward on drastically reducing emissions. But, unfortunately, they dont join hands with each other Who is to promote religious tolerance? Sharma s reading of history has led him to conclude that it is only a slight exaggeration to say the state of religious tolerance is determined by the State. So, he suggests its up to the State to adopt policies to promote religious tolerance drawing on the evidence of tolerance in the history and beliefs of all the religions in India. The views expressed are personal Russian fighter jet dispatched to intercept US aircraft near border Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 9:49 AM A Russian fighter jet was dispatched to intercept a US aircraft that was approaching the Russian border over the waters of the Barents Sea, says the Russian military. The Russian National Defense Control Center said on Thursday that a MiG-31BM fighter jet was scrambled to identify the craft, which was identified as a US Navy P-8A maritime patrol plane, Russia's Tass news agency reported. "The Russian fighter's crew approached the air target at a safe distance," said the center. "After the US plane moved away from Russia's state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield," it added. It also explained that "no violations of the Russian state border by the US military plane were allowed." In a similar incident on Wednesday, Russia's National Defense Management Center scrambled a fighter jet to intercept two US aircraft, after they were detected on radar over the neutral waters of the Black Sea. US bombers and spy planes, as well as NATO aircraft, have frequently been detected near Russia's borders. The flights, which Russia deems provocative, have increased since 2014, when Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum and the ongoing military conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about the increasing activities of the US-led NATO forces near its western borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled an ambitious National Digital Health Mission under which every Indian will get a health ID that will ease access to medical services and also announced that the country has made plans for mass-producing COVID-19 vaccine once scientists give a green signal. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets officers as he arrives to attend Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the prime minister said the health ID will store every individual's medical records and the Mission will herald a new revolution in the health sector. "From today, a major campaign is being launched in which technology will play a big role. The National Digital Health Mission is being launched today. This will bring a new revolution in India's health sector and it will help reduce problems in getting treatment with the help of technology," he said. "Every Indian will be given a health ID, which will work as each Indian's health account," Modi said, adding that it would ease problems faced by citizens in getting healthcare access. The health ID will contain information about medical data, prescriptions and diagnostic reports and summaries of previous discharge from hospitals for ailments. The mission is expected to bring efficiency and transparency in healthcare services in the country. Modi said the country has prepared a roadmap to ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine reaches everyone in the shortest possible time. He said three vaccine candidates are in different stages of trials in the country. The prime minister said whenever there is talk of COVID-19, the question that comes to everyone's mind is - when will a vaccine be ready. "I want to tell people, the talent of our scientists is like that of 'rishi munis' and they are working very hard in laboratories. Three vaccines are in various stages of testing. When scientists will give us the green signal, it will be produced on a mass scale and all preparations have been made for it," Modi said while addressing the nation on its 74th Independence Day. The phase-1 and 2 human clinical trials of two of the vaccine candidates, developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research, and Zydus Cadila Ltd, are currently underway. The Serum Institute of India has been permitted for conducting Phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the third vaccine candidate developed by the Oxford University. The Pune-based institute has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the vaccine. The prime minister reassured the nation that 'we will win" against the coronavirus pandemic and a "strong will" will lead to victory. Modi said the focus on the health sector has increased during the coronavirus era and the biggest lesson that has been learnt is that of being self-reliant in the health sector. He said that the country is now producing PPE kits, N95 masks, ventilators, etc which were not being manufactured domestically. The increase in production capacity of such world-class items also echoed in his call 'vocal for local'. "We have to move forward to achieve that aim. Before coronavirus there was only one lab for testing (for COVID-19), today there is a network of 1,400 labs across the country. When the coronavirus crisis broke out only 300 tests could be carried out in a day, but in a short period we have shown our strength and we have come to a point where we carried out seven lakh tests in a day," he said. The PM said new AIIMS and new medical colleges are being built and efforts are being made towards modernisation. "In five years in MBBS/MD, 45,000 more seats have been created for students," he said. Of the over 1.5 lakh wellness centres envisaged in villages, more than one-third are already operational and have been of great help during the pandemic. "Wellness centres have played an important role in villages during the corona period," he said. The prime minister also paid tributes to COVID warriors on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic. "On behalf of the entire country, I wish to thank the efforts of all corona-warriors. All those healthcare workers, doctors and nurses, ambulance drivers and all those working in this fight against the pandemic, who have worked tirelessly to serve the nation," Modi said. He expressed confidence that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will improve the effectiveness of services in the health sector. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) When Claudia Guzman suspected she had caught the coronavirus, her friends and family were full of advice: Dont quarantine. Dont get tested. A homemade tea will help cure you. They were saying, Dont go to the hospital, because supposedly, if you are admitted into the hospital, they administer the virus into your body, said Guzman, who was born in Chicago to parents from Mexico and now lives in Memphis, Tennessee. False claims and conspiracy theories, ranging from bogus cures to the idea that the virus is a hoax, have dogged efforts to control the pandemic from the beginning. While bad information about the virus is a problem for everyone, it can pose a particular threat to communities of people of color who alreadyface worse outcomes from the virus. Among Latinos in the U.S., misinformation around the coronavirus has found fertile ground because many in their communities have higher levels of distrust in government, less access to medical care and may need to be reached by Spanish-language public health resources. Its a dangerous mix that could discourage people from taking precautions, participating in contact-tracing efforts, or getting treatment. There isnt much evidence-based information in Spanish for them. And this is a new disease, so the science is evolving every day, said William Calo, a Pennsylvania State University researcher who studies Hispanics and public health. We are struggling with providing good information in English just imagine adding a second language. With a population of 60 million, Hispanic people in the U.S. are now four times more likely than non-Hispanic white people to be hospitalized because of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other studies also show Latinos in some areas are also twice as likely to die from the illness. (Native Americans and Black people face similarly stark disparities.) These vulnerabilities have many causes. Among them are the fact that many Latinos are less likely to have health insurance or access to quality health care sometimes because they can't afford it and sometimes because of their immigration status. Many work in industries that are deemed essential and cannot be performed remotely, such as food service, sanitation, meat packing, construction and retail. And many live in larger, multigenerational households where social distancing is difficult. Story continues Added to this already dangerous mix is a higher level of distrust in authority among Latinos as is the case for other minority communities that is helping fuel the spread of misinformation about the virus. If Im hearing something from the government, from people who I, for a variety of reasons, dont trust, then Im not going to do anything, said Monica Feliu-Mojer a Puerto Rican native and Harvard-trained neurobiologist who works to encourage Latinos to pursue science careers. But if I hear this from my friend who I believe in, and who I trust, then its more likely that Im going to act on that information. For many, the reluctance to get tested or seek treatment stems from fear of deportation in a community with a significant percentage of immigrants. That may be particularly true under President Donald Trump, said New York State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a Democrat who represents a largely Hispanic district in the Bronx. Trump ran on promises to crack down on both illegal and legal immigration and has repeatedly painted immigrants especially nonwhites as posing a public health and safety danger. That distrust could discourage people from getting treatment or from cooperating with government contact tracers trying to identify who an infected person had come into contact with. It's a real concern, Rivera said of the worries some Latinos have about contact tracing. We need to secure that information, and there needs to be a guarantee of its privacy. Language barriers make the situation even worse. Many areas face a shortage of Spanish-speaking health care workers, and most of the accurate online information about the virus in the U.S. is in English. That forces some Latinos who need information in Spanish to rely on less-trusted sources like social media. And while a growing number of fact-checking organizations are trying to identify and correct false claims spreading online, very few publish their work in Spanish. The Associated Press publishes some of its fact checks in Spanish. All of this means Latinos may not receive good information about how to slow the spread of the virus and may not act on it if they do. Guzman, for instance, thinks she contracted the virus at a vigil last month for her grandfather, who died of cancer soon after. Many of the people there either werent wearing facial masks or didnt have them on correctly. About 10 family members subsequently were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Guzman, who is a medical assistant, knew to push back when friends and relatives passed along false claims and theories. For example, her parents suggested she wouldnt have to quarantine if she drank a homemade tea of lemon, honey and ginger. I had to tell them, 'No, thats not true. In order to stop spreading it, you have to stay home,' said the 27-year-old, who had mild symptoms that lasted a few days. She spent time in quarantine before returning to work. Her boss, Venezuela-born Dr. Pedro Velasquez-Mieyer, is the chief medical officer of two clinics in Memphis that serve mainly Latino and Black patients. He said hes heard from patients who wont wear masks, or who liken COVID-19 to the chicken pox and say they want to get infected so theyll develop immunity. They are part of their own network of misinformation, and nobody is actually saying, This is false, this is not reliable, he said. They keep sending the message." Feliu-Mojer says it's just as important to control rumors as it is to control the virus. Just like people can stay home and wear masks and wash their hands and keep their physical distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, people can also take simple steps to prevent the spread of misinformation, she said. ___ Klepper reported from Providence, Rhode Island, and Garcia Cano from Washington. NEW HAVEN The annual Sales Tax Free Weekend in Connecticut will begin Sunday and run through Aug. 22, as state officials make most clothing, including shoes, under $100 exempt from the sales tax in hopes of stimulating the economy a particular concern this year for shops struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. Gov Ned Lamont and other state officials in a statement urged residents to abide by distancing and safety measures while shopping. Having this tax-free holiday helps working families stretch their dollar a little bit more during the busy back-to-school season while giving businesses an extra boost to their bottom line, said Lamont. This year, it will hopefully also help support some of our local businesses that continue to recover following the global health pandemic. The governor encourage shoppers to patronize the states locally-owned retailers and small business community. While the back to school shopping season will look a bit different this year, taxpayers should keep in mind that Connecticuts sales tax holiday applies to eligible items purchased in stores, and from online retailers, Department of Revenue Services Acting Commissioner John Biello said. We encourage taxpayers to support our business community and take advantage of this opportunity to save. The states rules for the re-opening of retail businesses require the wearing of face coverings, configuring of indoor spaces to maintain social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitizing of surfaces, among other best practices, officials noted. Sticking by these guidelines, they advised, will continue to help limit the potential spread of COVID-19. A representative of Connecticut businesses noted that the sales tax change would provide incentive for people to reconnect with their local merchants. Connecticut retailers responsiveness to their customers, exceptional customer service, and involvement in local communities hasnt wavered throughout these challenging times, said Connecticut Retail Merchants Association President Timothy G. Phelan. Retailers have stepped up to take necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of their customers, and look forward to playing a pivotal role in the strength and vibrancy of Connecticuts economic recovery. A list of specific items that will be tax-exempt during the annual Sales Tax Free Weekend is available on the website for the state Department of Revenue Services. David Cadden, professor emeritus of entrepreneurship and strategy at Quinnipiac University, told WTNH in an interview that the pandemic and uncertainty around the re-opening of schools could affect the success of the economic stimulus strategy. Only 16 states are holding such a weekend this year, he said. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com I think that those people (critics) are forgetting the way that history has ever worked, Atkins said. The way that history has worked, the way that weve ever gotten wins, has never been through peaceful protests alone, and I will say with quotes, peaceful protests. Winning has come through revolts. Winning has come through riots. Winning has come through constant, constant work. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 22:02:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Mohamed Farmajo said he will join five regional state leaders later on Saturday for a second round of meeting in the central town of Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug state to discuss forthcoming elections. Abdinur Mohamed, director of communications for Villa Somalia, said Farmajo will join leaders of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Puntland, Jubbaland and SouthWest for talks that will discuss how to hold credible and timely elections, security and ways of enhancing ties between Mogadishu and federal member states. "In line with the state-building endeavors and in the spirit of enhancing the government-Federal Member States cooperation on the way forward, President Farmajo will be traveling to Dhusamareb on Saturday to participate in the second round of FGS-FMS Consultative Forum," Mohamed said in a statement. Both sides met mid-July and agreed to appoint a joint technical committee to provide guidance on the process and model of the election. The meeting comes amid pressure from the international community which said preserving the recently cultivated trust among the leaders and sustaining the consensus-building process initiated during the last Dhusamareb summit is imperative in order to keep Somalia on a stable political path. The international partners said in a joint statement issued on Friday evening ahead of Saturday's meeting in Dhusamareb that failure by any leader to participate in the meeting would erode the still fragile trust, undermine the consensus-building process and impair the ability of the meeting to arrive at implementable decisions. "With only three months left before the November date on which the 2020 federal elections were scheduled to take place, and only four months before the 10th Federal Parliament's term ends, Somali stakeholders urgently need to agree on the way forward, and on the electoral modalities in particular, without further delay," the partners said. The Horn of Africa nation was due to hold parliamentary elections in October while presidential polls will take place in February 2021. However, the electoral body has ruled out a universal vote this year and has instead called for up to 13 months to hold credible elections. The international partners including the African Union, EU and the UN said the work of the technical committee tasked to develop recommendations for electoral modalities to be considered by the leaders is critical for the success of the anticipated summit. They expressed concern that some Federal Member States are yet to send their representatives to the committee. "We urge them to allow their representatives to participate in the work of the committee, which is already underway, while they continue to directly engage the Federal government leadership to resolve any outstanding issues," said the partners. They called on the technical committee to focus on devising options for a compromise electoral model, in order to satisfy all stakeholders. The international partners cautioned that any model dictated by a single stakeholder, or by a few stakeholders without the consent of all, will have no legitimacy and will not be implementable on the ground. "We further stress that, with the end of the term of the 10th Parliament looming, the way forward should be agreed by all stakeholders, including the Federal Government, Federal Member States, the two Houses of Parliament, and political parties. No single stakeholder, including the legislature itself, should take a unilateral decision to extend the term of office of the 10th Parliament or of the federal executive," the partners warned. Holding the 2020 universal vote is considered critical for the sake of entrenching the federal system of governance, which is required to appease communities and regions claiming systematic exclusion and marginalization for decades. The Horn of Africa nation last held one-person, one-vote elections in March 1969 when the government was overthrown in a bloodless military coup. Parliamentary and presidential elections took place in late 2016 and early 2017 through a system of indirect suffrage. Enditem Mail-in voting Regarding Trump opposes election funding, (A1, Aug. 14): I can certainly tell you that the USPS has gotten more and more sloppy every day with its service. I get everyones mail many days in my postal box, and that mail is not even mine. How ridiculous is that? Can they not even read the addresses? Do they not care? Do they not get paid well? I will not mail my ballot either. I will take my chances as a lifetime Texas voter and stand in line and cast my votes. Sandy B. Viveiros, Houston Well, Donald Trump is opposing funding of the Postal Service to block mail-in voting, so cant Congress do the same thing as he did for funding his wall at our southern border? Just take some money from some other agency and fund the Postal Service anyway the amount needed would be chump change for the Pentagon. Inga Vickers, Houston EPA rollback Regarding Methane leak rule for oil, gas industry rolled back, (B1, Aug. 14): I spent this past weekend driving through West Texas, where fireballs of burning, polluting, fracked gas lined the sky as far as my eye could see. The Environmental Protection Agencys new plan to lift regulations on methane will only worsen this problem, allowing oil and gas producers to directly leak fracked gas into our atmosphere a process that cannot even be observed by the human eye. Methane is an incredibly powerful greenhouse gas with 86 times the global warming effect of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Lifting methane-detection requirements will endanger the health of my generation, and that of my children. The EPA should be working to reduce emissions from fossil fuels, not rolling back our critical environmental protections. Kate Moffatt, Waco AmeriCorps during the pandemic As talks between the White House and Congress stall, Americans are still grappling with the crippling impact of the pandemic. To truly move our country forward, we need to bring Americans together to help communities respond to and recover from COVID-19. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Sen. John Cornyn, have a plan to do just that through the CORPS Act, which would expand and strengthen AmeriCorps to provide critically needed services and give Americans purpose-driven work, a living stipend, and help to pay for college. Since the outbreak, AmeriCorps members in the Greater Houston area have been expanding food pantry capacity, tutoring students, and helping patients receive proper health care and access to social services. But we need more boots on the ground. Congress should include the funding and provisions from the CORPS Act in the coronavirus aid and economic stimulus package. Its a bipartisan solution to an urgent problem. Mary Grace Landrum, Houston Tig Notaro is replacing Chris DElia in the upcoming zombie action film, Army Of The Dead, despite principal shooting being wrapped since late last year. To pull off the change so late in the production, director Zack Snyder will have to do a number of reshoots and use some computer graphics techniques, according to The Hollywood Reporter. D'Elia's ouster from the all-star international cast comes about two months after he was accused of sexual harassment, grooming, and solicitation of nude photos by multiple underage girls. Tig Notaro is replacing Chris DElia in the upcoming zombie action film, Army Of The Dead Notaro, who's best known as a stand-up comedian, most recently starred in the CBS: All Access series Star Trek: Discovery and the drama film Lucy In The Sky. For her role in Army Of The Dead, she will reshoot her scenes with an acting partner against a green screen, and then be inserted into the film with CGI. The process will be trickier due to the film having been in post-production months before the COVID-19 crisis was deemed a pandemic in mid-March, which prompted a lockdown in Hollywood that sidelined most actors and productions. Snyder, who also co-wrote the Netflix movie, was able to keep the process moving forward by working with post houses. Wonders of technology: Notaro, 49, will reshoot her scenes with an acting partner against a green screen, and then be inserted into the film with CGI Army Of The Dead is being tabbed as the spiritual sequel to Snyder's 2004 hit, Dawn Of The Dead, that starred Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber and Mekhi Phifer. This new story takes place after a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas and focuses on a group of mercenaries who take the ultimate gamble by venturing into a quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted. Along with Notaro, the cast also includes Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi, Huma Qureshi, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, Matthias Schweighofer, Raul Castillo, Nora Arnezeder, and Samantha Win. Sin City: Army Of The Dead, which is being directed by Zack Snyder, takes place after a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas The accusations against D'Elia, which began to surface in June, allege that he had sexually inappropriate communications with women as young as 16-years-old. The Whitney star denied the allegations but did admit that he had 'said and done things that might have offended people' during his career, and maintained he 'never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point' nor 'met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me.' D'Elia has since been dropped by his representation at CAA and several streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime, Hulu and Comedy Central, have now removed the episodes he appeared in. Along with starring alongside Whitney Cummings in Whitney, D'Elia is also known for his role on the NBC sitcom Undateable, the ABC television series The Good Doctor, and most recently in the Netflix thriller series You. A villager attends a spring ploughing ceremony in Jiaru Village, Gurong Town, Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 16, 2020. /Xinhua Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for efforts in safeguarding the security and advancing the economic and social development of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the backdrop of the COVID-19 epidemic. Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour to Tibet, where he held a symposium briefing local officials on the current international situation and the main schemes of the diplomatic work. Tibet's security and stability is closely related to the overall development of the country, he said. Facing challenges brought by the COVID-19 epidemic as well as the dramatically evolving international situation, the foreign ministry will be working with local officials to thoroughly implement the plan of the Communist Party of China(CPC) in governing Tibet, making contributions to the region's stability, opening-up as well as social and economic development. Wang stressed that in recent years, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee, Tibet has made remarkable achievements in economic and social development, stabilizing border areas and facilitating cooperation. During his trip, Wang also went to Tibet's border areas to examine poverty alleviation efforts and border infrastructure. While much of the focus during the Covid-19 pandemic has been on the physical health of the nation, it is also important that we make sure to mind our mental health during a challenging and unprecedented time. During a period of such upheaval, a local counsellor and psychotherapist has conducted a survey of his peers across the north west region in an attempt to identify what, if any, impact Covid-19 has had on the way they work and on their clients. Gerry Farrell, a Sligo-based professional for up to 40 years, has conducted research amongst members of the Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (IACP) across Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal. Mr Farrell, who has lectured at IT Sligo as well as NUI Maynooth and UCD, has extensive experience in private practice as well as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. Of course, the new way of going about daily life has changed the way those in the mental health sector meet with clients, but their work has continued through different methods such as use of technology like Zoom. While there have been, understandably, some negative impacts, Mr Farrell told The Sligo Champion that there are also some positives coming through in the feedback he has gathered. "The message that came back was not all negative but there were four main areas where it is having a big impact," Mr Farrell, who has 43 years experience in the mental health sector, said. One of the key areas that has experienced huge chance as a result of Covid-19 is the whole area of bereavement, and how we as a society deal with death. Funerals are now much different to what they looked like six months ago and the whole process of grieving after the loss of a loved one has changed. "Ritual is a very important part of the grieving process," Mr Farrell explained. "It has impacted and it is hard to predict what will happen at this stage but what we have seen and heard back is that even normal grief is becoming more complicated and intense." Other types of grief being experienced by other sectors of society, such as amongst younger people, is also a cause for concern. "We've seen grief too with younger people, such as the Leaving Cert group for example. The Leaving Cert is more than an exam, it's a rite of passage, but this year they don't get to experience it. They have prepared in a certain way for the exams, and maybe now they are thinking that they won't get their course or whatever. They prepared in a certain way, but the exams now won't take place." The Leitrim native, who has been Sligo-based for up to 40 years, has also identified relationships as an area with major changes in recent months, with feedback indicating that the changing family dynamics has tested even the strongest of relationships. "One of the big areas affected has been relationships. This whole thing has challenged relationships of all sorts, even the good relationships we have. "One scenario we have seen is adult children returning to live in the family house. The family dynamic has changed in many cases, and that is the big thing that has come across. You could have a mother and daughter who got on well, but now the daughter may have returned home from living away and things have changed. "We have seen that people with anxiety or anyone that we were seeing with anxiety, it has skyrocketed. There's an awfulising process. "There's the constant thing of the six o'clock news, and the news that's coming through. And it's funny, the people with anxiety will watch the six o'clock news." Issues with addiction have also been to the fore in research gathered, with the last number of months proving very challenging for many with addiction problems. Mr Farrell says that feedback received from counsellors has revealed that many clients have filled the vacuum of recent months with alcohol, substance or activity addiction. There have been some positives, however. For many, the pandemic has offered an opportunity to reassess livelihoods and where to go for the future. For those clients with depression, Mr Farrell says that members of the IACP had noticed an improvement in their mood since the onset of the coronavirus. He said: "People with depression are actually finding that the fact that the whole community is in a state of crisis leaves them feeling less isolated. People with depression find it worse in the summer because everyone else is in good form during the summertime. This works in a similar way - a large part of depression is that feeling of isolation. "Counsellors are getting calls from people they've never heard from before - some people have taken a different perspective on life and are maybe evaluating the job they're in and asking 'is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?' People are not necessarily in trouble but they have had a change in perspective" For people who may be noticing a negative impact on their mental health during this time, Mr Farrell said that a short but simple dose of exercise and fresh air on a couple of occasions each week can be as useful as any medical prescription. "People should try to keep a careful eye on their thinking. The first strategy is to move the body, and it has been show that a good 15 minute walk three times a week is as good as Prozac. There's huge research to show it completely changes neurons in the brain. It is also important to get good positive personal and present tense affirmations such as 'this will be OK' or 'this will pass'. "And thirdly, make connections. Pick up the phone or use Zoom or whatever. Isolation is a terrible thing. Of course people may need to isolate right now, but we can use technology to stay connected." If you are affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, contact details for fully accredited counsellors and psychotherapists are available on www.iacp.ie. Russia has produced the first batch of its new vaccine for COVID-19, the Interfax news agency quoted the health ministry as saying on Saturday, hours after the ministry reported the start of manufacturing. Some scientists said they fear that with this fast regulatory approval Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety amid the global race to develop a vaccine against the disease. Russia has said the vaccine, the first for the coronavirus to go into production, will be rolled out by the end of this month. Its approval comes before trials that would normally involve thousands of participants, commonly known as Phase III. Such trials are usually considered essential precursors for a vaccine to secure regulatory approval. The vaccine has been named Sputnik V" in homage to the worlds first satellite launched by the Soviet Union. President Vladimir Putin has assured the public that it is safe, adding that one of his daughters had taken it as a volunteer and felt good afterwards. Moscows Gamaleya Institute, which developed the vaccine, said previously that Russia would be producing about 5 million doses a month by December-January, Interfax said. The move comes even as a survey of more than 3,000 medical professionals showed a majority of Russian doctors would not feel comfortable being injected with the new vaccine due to the lack of sufficient data about it and its super-fast approval. A survey of 3,040 doctors and health specialists, conducted by the Doctors Handbook mobile application and quoted on Friday by the RBC daily, showed 52% were not ready to be vaccinated, while 24.5% said they would agree to be given the vaccine. 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 Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to convey his greetings on Indias 74th Independence Day and also congratulated the government for Indias recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the external affairs ministry said in a statement The leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in both countries. Prime Minister offered Indias continued support to Nepal in this regard, the statement said. On August 9, India handed over 10 ventilators to Nepal for its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Modi thanked his Nepalese counterpart for his telephone call and recalled the civilizational and cultural links that India and Nepal share, the statement said. Olis phone call came amid Indo-Nepal ties hitting a rough patch after the Himalayan country recently unveiled a new map showing parts of Uttarakhand as its territory. On Friday, Oli took to Twitter to greet Modi. Congratulations and greetings to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Government and people of India on the happy occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Best wishes for more progress and prosperity of the people of India, he wrote. LUCKNOW: The killing of a village head of Basgaon in Azamgarh on Friday (August 15) triggered mob violence, which was further aggravated after a child was crushed to death by a vehicle, prompting rioters to put several vehicles and a police post in the area on fire, said police. Satyamev (42), the village head of Basgaon in Tarwan area of Azamgarh district, was shot dead by some miscreants. The incident prompted his supporters to take to streets and unleash violence in the area. Amid the rampaging mob, a child was crushed to death by a vehicle, further infuriating the people, who set many vehicles, including four-wheelers and two-wheelers on fire. An official told PTI that the mob put the nearby Bongaria police outpost also on fire. CM Yogi Adityanath suspends SHO, outpost in-charge: Taking note of the killing of the village head that triggered the mob violence, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered forthwith suspension of the concerned SHO and the outpost in-charge. Condemnning the deaths, CM Adityanath also announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of each of the victims. He also asked officials to take strict action in the matter and invoke the NSA against those involved in killing the village head as well as triggering the violence. Gurugram From doctors, lab technicians and ASHA workers, who have been at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus disease, to members from the police force that played a crucial role in the enforcement of lockdown restrictions, individuals from different organs of the administration and departments were recognised by the government for their efforts in curbing the spread of Covid-19 on the occasion of Independence Day on Saturday. A total of 42 corona warriors from police, health and education departments and MCG were recognised for their efforts by deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala as part of the Independence Day celebrations at Tau Devi Lal stadium in sector 38. Appreciating the efforts of the Covid warriors, Chautala said they had played a crucial role in tackling the outbreak of coronavirus and congratulated them all. Members from the Civil Defence Committee, Red Cross, and various panchayats were also awarded by Chautala for their contribution. Geeta Sharma, a lab technician at the Wazirabad Public Health Centre, was among the health workers who were awarded. She is involved in the collection of samples from those suspected of having Covid-19 and was recognised for her contribution in the testing process. The 49-year-old has been on duty since the pandemic broke, sometimes working without any leave for 15 days at a stretch. At the forefront of the testing process, Sharma takes a Covid test every month. Ours is a high-risk job. We are in direct contact with patients, which necessitates that we get ourselves tested every month, she said. Sharma, who has been working as a lab technician with the Wazirabad PHC for the past 11 years, said that the initial phase of the pandemic was challenging since most people had not estimated the outbreak would last for so many months. The initial few months were challenging but things are being brought under control gradually. Increased public awareness has made our job easier than before. People understand the consequences of the diseases and cooperate with us, said Sharma. Her day begins around 9 am and continues till evening, until a particular number of samples are tested. She conducts around 40-50 tests every day and keeps a record of patients details. Sharma said she was happy about receiving the award since it was a recognition of the efforts of health workers. We have been working tirelessly since months. Getting this award will motivate us to continue with our efforts, she said. Sangeeta, an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), is another front line warrior who was awarded for her efforts in the testing process. The 31-year-old stays in touch with a Covid patient starting from the contact tracing stage till the recovery. We trace the contact history, reach out to the family, provide them with masks, oximeters, medicines and keep a check on the patient throughout the home isolation process, said Sangeeta, who has been on duty since March 22, when the first Covid case was detected in the city. Talking about the increased work pressure during the pandemic, Sangeeta said she and other ANMs were on duty throughout the day since their job required addressing all immediate concerns of the patient. While officially, the public health centre timings are from 9 am to 6 pm, we have been working round the clock during the pandemic. We need to be available at all times for any duty that may arise, said Sangeeta. For the past four months, she has been following a strict sanitisation routine and isolating herself from the family. After returning from work, I stay in a separate room and only step out after disinfecting my clothes and belongings, she said. Among the various challenges that she faced in the past four months, juggling work responsibilities with household chores cautiously without spreading the virus was the toughest. First two-three months were very difficult. It took some time to make the family understand what my job was and why I had to be out at odd hours. They feared that I might end up spreading the infection at home. However, they gradually understood and cooperate readily now, said Sangeeta. She said that the recognition was important since health workers had been working in challenging circumstances since the pandemic started. Apart from the work pressure, there are emotional challenges of staying away from children. This award will make my family happy, she said. HARRISBURG While Montgomery Countys coronavirus positivity rate ticked up slightly last week, the county still has one of the lowest coronavirus positivity rates among southeast Pennsylvania counties, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. For the period Aug. 7 to Aug. 13 the percent-positivity rate for Montgomery County was 2.9 percent, according to the states COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard. That was an increase from the 2.5 percent-positivity rate the county recorded for the previous seven-day period July 31 to Aug. 6. Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5 percent indicates a county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed. According to the data, Montgomery County currently has the second lowest percent-positivity rate in southeast Pennsylvania, behind Bucks County, which posted the lowest percent-positivity rate in the region, 2.5 percent for the period Aug. 7 to Aug. 13. That was a decrease from the 3.5 percent-positivity rate Bucks recorded the week before. According to state data, for the most recent seven-day period ending Aug. 13, other neighboring counties recorded the following percent-positivity rates: Chester (3.4%); Lehigh (4.0%); Delaware (4.6%); Philadelphia (4.6%); and Berks (5.0%). Berks, which saw its percent-positivity rate increase from 4.5 percent on Aug. 6 to 5.0 percent on Aug. 13, was one of the counties with concerning percent-positivity, Gov. Tom Wolf indicated on Friday. Wolf said the states COVID-19 dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the states mitigation efforts. The data available on the dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19. As of Aug. 13, the statewide percent-positivity rate decreased to 4.0 percent from 4.1 percent the previous week. Our percent positivity decreased for the third week in a row, which is a testament to the testing occurring, and that testing is widely available throughout the state, Wolf said on Friday. However, with increased testing comes increased case counts. The virus is still circulating, and we must continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings to keep our numbers low, stop the spread and allow more freedom, Wolf added in a news release. To keep the positivity rate below 5 percent, Montgomery County Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh stressed residents should continue to abide by all mask wearing, handwashing and social distancing recommendations. Arkoosh also urged residents to cooperate with contact tracers. This is no time to let up. We need to continue doing what were doing so we can keep the spread of virus as low as possible in our area. This will let our businesses stay open. It will keep our hospitals and first responders safe, Arkoosh said during her weekly news briefing. Things continue to improve with our contact tracing. We continue to have anywhere between 94- and-96-percent of people that we contact, cooperate fully. So thats fantastic. Most of Chiles Indigenous Mapuche people live in poverty. Police in Chile have used water cannon against protesters demonstrating in the capital, Santiago. Several people demanding better rights for the Indigenous Mapuche people were arrested. Al Jazeeras Sara Khairat reports. On Aug. 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. This was a major turning point for our country. It helped us come back from the Great Depression and lifted millions of older Americans out of poverty. Social Security has been an economic lifeline to millions of Americans. More than 300,000 Nebraskans myself included rely on monthly Social Security checks to help us afford groceries, medication and more; its the single largest source of income for older people in this country. Social Security provides us with the ability to retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work; without it, our lives would be turned upside down. Since President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law 85 years ago, older Nebraskans have been able to rest assured that Social Security would be there for them and their children. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, when our countrys economy started heading in the wrong direction, we trusted that Social Security was safe. We were wrong. In these days of pandemic mortality rates and fears over how safe children will be in school classrooms, a controversy around foster ducks could be considered an entertaining diversion. Not for the ducks, however. It seems the death rate for foster ducklings is pretty close to 100 per cent. Karen Woolley, owner of Critter Visits of Woolley Wonderland Farm Inc., was upfront about the fate of her foster ducks when people first began paying attention to the COVID-related phenomena. Breeding ducks is a business like any other, Woolley said in interviews. Her wrinkle is to provide fertilized eggs to families with young children, and to seniors, who get the fun of watching them hatch into cute little ducklings and caring for them as they quickly grow up. Until this year the foster duck program was mainly popular around Easter. When COVID closed schools and left parents looking for ways to entertain homebound kids, the program took off. As a business proposition its a capitalists dream. Families pay $140 for a package that includes two eggs, a bag of duck food, a bag of wood shavings and a pamphlet explaining duck fostering. Up to five ducks can be leased at a cost of $25 per extra feathered head. When the foster family no longer feels it can care for growing ducks, which apparently dispense a significant quality of poop, theyre returned to Woolley. Critter Visits of Woolley Wonderland Farm mostly deals in Pekin ducks. They are ready to be sold for meat at about three months old. Duck fostering was initially seen as a cute COVID story, like breadmaking and home performances by musicians. When animal rights types got wind of the venture the tone turned. Nicole Sapalovski works with Animal Aid, an organization that rescues street animals in India. A vegan, she is one of many activists committed to the principle that animals have as much right to live as humans do and should not be considered a source of nutrition. She says Critter Visits of Woolley Wonderland Farm is deceiving families with the fostering theme given that people who foster abandoned dogs and cats know they wont be processed into food by their next owner. Woolley counters that ducks are not pets, like cats and dogs. In an interview with The Examiner she ducked the question of the ultimate fate of foster ducks by saying she doesnt personally kill or eat them. However, she has as many as 1,000 ducklings in foster care at any one time. She does not have thousands of adult ducks at her farm. Cue the moral dilemma, one that took on life past 40 years. Should we be killing and eating other animals? Animal rights activists like Sapalovski say no but are clearly in the minority. Nearly seven million ducks were slaughtered for food in Canada last year, up from 5.4 million in 2011. Small children who are enraptured by ducklings for a short time arent aware of their eventual fate. If their parents arent, they should be. Until ducks can organize a campaign to be recognized as pets they are fated to be table fare. That might not be fair, but it is reality. CORRECTION: This editorial has been edited to correct the name of the business and a time element. We apologize for the errors. The company said this was important to reinforce the complete disassociation from its erstwhile promoters -- Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. Leading hospital chain Fortis Healthcare will now have a new name -- Parkway, a brand that Malaysian health care major IHH owns. Its diagnostic arm SRL will also look for a new brand name and logo. The current brand licence agreements will expire in April-May 2021. The company clarified that the change of name would be subject to requisite approvals and directions from the Supreme Court and other regulatory authorities. FHL aims to complete this process before next April. The stock went up 2.4 per cent on the BSE after the announcement came in. The company said it was important to reinforce the complete disassociation from its erstwhile promoters -- Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. Fortis Healthcare Chairman Ravi Rajagopal said: This is the culmination of the extensive overhaul and strengthening of the governance processes initiated by the reconstituted board in 2018, and is a reinforcement of our efforts to completely dissociate ourselves from the erstwhile promoters of the company. Fortiss board on Friday gave an in-principle nod for the name change and subsequent rebranding of the company and its subsidiaries. It will discontinue the use of Fortis, La Femme, and SRL brands as part of its corporate name, brand, and logo. Research conducted by the firm showed a positive response for the Parkway brand as compared to a neutral brand or any other brand of IHH Healthcare Berhad. The Malaysian major owns 31 per cent of Fortis Healthcare through Northern TK Venture Pte. As part of its commercial strategy, the company plans to obtain a licence to use Parkway as its corporate name, brand and logo and that of its subsidiaries (excluding SRL and its arms and joint ventures) in relation to the hospital business. Separately, SRL would seek to develop a new neutral brand name and logo, unrelated to the IHH Group and the Fortis brand, for use in the diagnostics business, it said. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, managing director (MD) and chief executive (CEO) of Fortis Healthcare, said they were in discussions with IHH to finalise the brand licensing agreement and that the terms would be much superior to the earlier brand licensing agreement. IHHs MD and CEO Loh Chi Keon, meanwhile, said the rebranding further reinforced his companys commitment to Fortis. The Supreme Court has ordered a stay on IHH making an open offer to buy additional 26 per cent from Fortis shareholders. The former promoters are entangled in a legal battle with Daiichi Sankyo for a Rs 3,500-crore arbitration award owed by the brothers to the Japanese drug major. Fortis pays a licence fee to use the brand and logo. In 2018, parties related to the promoter group had filed a civil suit claiming implied ownership of the brands Fortis, SRL, and La Femme. Fortis had then indicated it was taking action to secure the brand. While Raghuvanshi did not wish to comment on who has the brand ownership of Fortis, SRL as the matter is disputed, he clarified the last time FHL had made a payment towards licence agreement was in 2018. We do not transact with the former promoter and no payments happen with them and us, he said. Photograph: Saumya Khandelwal / Reuters. Several hours later, Darien police spotted Britter snoozing behind the wheel of the truck, which was parked on the side of Lemont Road just south of I-35. He was taken into custody without incident about 5 a.m. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 14:24:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YANGON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government offered employments to 21,098 domestic job seekers in July amid the outbreak of COVID-19, an official from the Labour, Immigration and Population Ministry told Xinhua on Saturday. Of them, 19,910 workers are engaged in private sectors while 1,188 grabbed government jobs. "Continuous efforts are being made by the ministry to create employment opportunities for job seekers during the period of COVID-19 outbreak," said Permanent Secretary U Myo Aung of the ministry. The authorities have been making efforts for the recovery of local employment which has been affected by the pandemic. The country saw a significant decline in the number of newly employed workers in April and May due to the pandemic outbreak. COVID-19 was first detected in Myanmar on March 23 this year. Enditem 2019 Prime Minister Modi celebrated his 69th birthday with a packed schedule spending most of the time in Gujarat, his home state. He visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada to witness the milestone of the dam reaching its highest capacity at 138.68 metres for the first time since its height was raised in 2017. Modi released butterflies at Butterfly Garden in Gujarats Kevadia and also visited the Cactus Garden and river rafting sports facility there. He also inspected the work at Jungle Safari in Kevadia during the visit. He also visited his mother Heeraben in Gandhinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 74th Independence Day speech, and his seventh consecutive one from the ramparts of the Red Fort, looked back at what has been achieved and also gave a comprehensive view of the governments focus in the time to come. Todays speech was expected to be on par with his earlier ones and his 86-minute speech was a prime example of Modis oratorical skills. What made todays speech challenging is the unprecedented crisis faced by India, and the world. A pandemic-induced health and economic crisis has meant that the government is facing multiple challenges, the economy is in choppy waters, and public morale is down. In such a circumstance, its up to the political leadership to boost public confidence and Modi just did that! Modi started his speech with his signature salutation Mere Pyare Desh Wasiyon which he used 13 times throughout his speech and went on to talk about the importance of Independence Day and the sacrifice behind it. He linked the battle against COVID-19 to it, and thanked everyone, especially the frontline workers, for their service. Listen: Corporate Buzz | India prepares for the COVID-19 vaccine; CEO change at GoAir; Will festive season sale bring cheer? In his speech, the Prime Minister talked about peace and harmony, agriculture, the space sector, economy, banking, infrastructure, villages, education, connectivity, technology, healthcare, security and defence. These are topics that usually find mention in Independence Day speeches however, what was different this time was that these different topics were brought under one roof, a goal which formed the central theme of Modis speech Aatmanirbhar Bharat. 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 Since May 12, when Modi first introduced the concept of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat or a self-reliant India, the government has been working towards realigning its policies to strengthen this move. Modi stressed on the importance of being self-reliant. He neatly balanced the need to modernise and advance technologically, and at the same time use it to further enhance Indias age-old traditions and ways of life. He made a direct case for self-reliance when he asked for how long will India sell raw materials and import finished goods! Modi said that relying on imports was reducing creativity and discouraging budding entrepreneurs. He said that going forward the mantra vocal for local must be a motto for every Indian, because only then can Indian products improve, be exported and compete at a global level. His call for Make in India to expand to become Make for the world is an extension of the governments focus on improving Indias manufacturing prowess. India is celebrating 73 years of freedom at a time when ties with its contiguous neighbours are sour. The fatal standoff at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh is still fresh in our minds, and Modi reiterated that be it the Line of Control on the western side or the Line of Actual Control on the eastern side, the armed forces have replied to attacks in a befitting manner. Whats interesting here is that Modi focused on the development and reforms that his government has planned for the region. He stressed that India was planning of improving the road infrastructure from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. This was a clear indicator that the government is not in two minds about its plan to strengthen Indias borders. Modi did not mention Pakistan or China by name, but effective communication is achieved when the intended message is conveyed. His focus on Indias neighbourhood, extended neighbourhood, Indias deep ties with South East Asia, the ASEAN, etc. sent out clear messages. Towards the end of his speech, Modi mentioned the temple in Ayodhya and this could have probably raised eyebrows. However, the Prime Minister deftly used it as an example to show the unity and brotherhood among the people and said that it was this unity that will be the strength behind an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Modis Independence Day speech did not fixate about the challenges India is facing, but, instead, highlighted the opportunities ahead of each Indian. For these opportunities to materialise, he stressed that we need to reduce our imports, promote MSMEs, empower our youth, women, tribals, villages, and be vocal for local. As he said, if a youngster is expected to be independent by their 20s, its high time India at 74 became aatmanirbhar. Demonstrators hold a protest in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Lafayette Square Park near the White House on 29 May 2020 in Washington, DC: (2020 Getty Images) The US Secret Service attempted to bolster its protection of the White House by acquiring a tactical aircraft, amid Black Lives Matter demonstrations outside the complex in May. Following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd while in the custody of a then Minneapolis police officer on 25 May, protesters demonstrated outside the White House for weeks, as barricades were pushed over and one man got inside the complex. In reaction to the protesters, the Secret Service sought a surveillance aircraft and a Black Hawk helicopter with a commando team to help protect the White House, according to the Washington Post. After a man broke into the complex on 29 May and the protest increased in size, president Donald Trump was rushed to the White House bunker, as Secret Service agents became concerned about his safety. A week after the incident, the Secret Service wrote a letter to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and asked to be provided with an aircraft that could be used during a rapid response operation, the Post reported. The Secret Service asked for a Black Hawk helicopter that came equipped with fast ropes, so that tactical agents could quickly descend to the ground for emergency missions during the protests. The agency also asked for a surveillance aircraft, so that it could quickly gather information and track the movement of protesters outside of the White House and the surrounding areas. Kimberly Cheatle, assistant director for the Secret Services Office of Protective Operations, wrote to CBP acting commissioner Mark Morgan on 5 June, asking for the support. Due to the significant and unprecedented events occurring in the National Capital Region, the US Secret Service is requesting the support from the US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO), her letter read. CBPs participation in the operational security plan is vital, Ms Cheatle added in the letter obtained by a government watchdog group, American Oversight. Story continues In response, CBP provided the agency with live information from a surveillance plane, but the Secret Service decided that they did not need a Black Hawk helicopter in the end, Trump administration officials told the Post. The Secret Service has deployed surveillance aircrafts in numerous cities in the last few months in order to monitor protesters at Black Lives Matter demonstrations. A Predator drone was deployed over protests in Minneapolis on 29 May, but some Democratic officials have criticised the policy and said it infringes on the privacy of demonstrators. In June, five Democrats wrote to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the drone and said they had grave concern over its use to surveil and intimidate protesters. In the letter to DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, they wrote: This Administration has undermined the First Amendment freedoms of Americans of all races who are rightfully protesting George Floyds killing. The deployment of drones and officers to surveil protests is a gross abuse of authority and is particularly chilling when used against Americans who are protesting law enforcement brutality. Secret Service spokeswoman Catherine Milhoan told The Post that in support of its protective mission, the US Secret Service routinely requests interagency support from federal partners through formal request for assistance letters. Due to the significant and unprecedented events occurring and anticipated in the National Capital Region, the agency followed standard protocol to ensure it had the resources and capabilities that might be required to maintain a safe and secure environment for the people and places it protects and the general public. However, Ms Milhoan declined from commenting on the specific requests that were included in the letter on 5 June. In a statement, CBP told the Post that it would not be appropriate to share specific details of every movement our personnel or assets make, but confirmed that it does not lend out its aircrafts or crew members. The department added: Collaborating with our law enforcement partners, AMO aircrews are capable of providing real-time, live video feeds to ground-based agents giving them situational awareness, maximising public safety, and minimising the threat to personnel and assets during national security and public safety events and to transport personnel and supplies as needed. Read more Barr contradicts Trumps claim that he went to bunker for inspection In India, a new local search servicenamed Nearbyall has been launched, which helps local businesses find customers. This service assists people in choosing suitable products and services of companies through photos, ratings, and reviews. The Nearbyall website already hosts 420,000 local companies: restaurants, beauty parlours, health care clinics, fitness centers, shops and car services. On an everyday basis, people strive to pick the best services and find a place to have dinner, style their hair or repair a car. That's why we launched the Nearbyall website, which allows business owners to draw the attention of the Network's multimillion audience and attract potential customers. Having a page on Nearbyall will allow a business to tell about itself in detail their exact location, list of services, current prices and interior design photos. Not only do we fill your page on Nearbyall and Google Maps with content, but also constantly update it. This improves the online presence of your business, enables reputation management, and helps customers find out about you and sign up for your services. With our detailed statistics, you can track URL impressions and clicks, page visits and phone impressions and learn more about your potential customers, the service's founders said. There are both premium and free listing options for organizations presented in our catalog. Aside from statistics, premium accounts offer priority placement and banner ads through the web portal. Nearbyall not only brings customers to the place but also provides recommendations on business growth and service improvements. Note that Nearbyall does its best to monitor any suspicious reviews, moderates them daily and removes false ones. Our experts will aid premium partners in responding to feedback on behalf of the organization and raising its visibility on Google Maps. This will help you manage your reputation more effectively. The website currently operates in three cities in India: Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai and plans to launch nationwide by the end of the year. NearByAll is part of the international Internet company Zoon. For more information about Nearbyall, please visit: nearbyall.com For more information, please contact us: Anna Kirillova, Chief Communications Officer press@nearbyall.com Leader of opposition in Maharashtra assembly Devendra Fadnavis on 74th Independence Day described the western state as Indias Covid Capital citing figures of coronavirus infected patients and casualties. He also advised the state government to put greater emphasis on RT-PCR tests for detection of positive cases in the state. Maharashtra has become the Covid capital of India as the state accounts for 24% of total cases and 41% of total deaths in the country due to the disease, Devendra Fadnavis tweeted earlier today. Maharashtras coronavirus tally reached 5,84,754 on August 15 as per the latest figures released by the state health ministry. The fatality count has risen to 19,749 as on Saturday. In comparison, the country has registered 25,26,192 total Covid-19 cases so far including 49,036 deaths due to the disease. Maharashtra is by far the worst affected state in the country with Tamil Nadu being a distant second. Also Read: Maharashtras Covid-19 tally now over 5.84 lakh with 12,614 new cases As regards casualties, Maharashtras figure of 19,749 deaths is almost four times the number of fatalities recorded in Tamil Nadu-- 5,514which has the second worst death toll in the country. Fadnavis has in the past accused the three-party coalition government in Maharashtra, led by former BJP ally Shiv Sena, of mismanaging the Covid situation in the state. However, today, he said he was interested in solutions to contain the spread of the disease and not in making allegations. We are not making any allegations. We are more interested in arresting the spread of Coronavirus than doing politics. I have been demanding that the number of tests should be increased in the state, Fadnavis was quoted as saying by news agency PTI after inaugurating a Covid care centre for journalists. Earlier, Fadnavis had attacked the Uddhav Thackeray led state government for not conducting enough number of tests and also for allegedly underreporting the number of deaths. On Saturday, he advised the state government to increase the number of RT-PCR tests compared to the antigen tests. Also Read: 4,000 apply for e-passes from Mumbai for inter-state travel ahead of Ganeshotsav He said the current ratio of RT-PCR and antigen tests is 1:2, which should be equal. In another suggestion, he said the state government should look to set up small centres for Covid care as they are easy to manage. When asked about the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, he said there is infighting among the ruling constituents, according to PTI. A bench of the Islamabad High Court will hear the case seeking Indias consular access to Jadhav on 3 September New Delhi: India on Friday said that Pakistan has consistently failed to address core issues in the implementation of ICJ judgment in Kulbhushan Jadhav case. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a virtual media briefing that Pakistan has failed to provide unimpeded consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav in "letter and spirit". "These issues pertain to the provision of relevant documents as well as providing unimpeded consular access to Kulbhushan," he said. Earlier this month, Islamabad High Court (IHC) had formed a larger bench to hear the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is facing a death sentence in Pakistan. Geo News had reported that the larger bench, comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justices Amir Farooq and Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzeb, was formed on Friday and it will hear the case on 3 September. The decision came after India continued to pressurise Pakistan into allowing consular access to Jadhav. Pakistan media had reported earlier that Islamabad Court has said Indian officials should be given an opportunity to present their stance. India had said that it had not received any communication from Pakistan government. India has also said that Pakistan has blocked all avenues for effective remedy available to it in the case. Pakistan claims that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan in 2016 on charges of espionage. India has rejected Pakistan's allegations and said he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar. In early 2017, a Pakistani military court sentenced him to death. The International Court of Justice upheld India's claim that Pakistan has committed an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations on several counts. The United States lost a bid on Friday to extend a U.N. arms embargo on Iran as Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a summit of world leaders to avoid "confrontation" over a U.S. threat to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Tehran. In a U.N. Security Council vote, Russia and China opposed extending the weapons ban, which is due to expire in October under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain, while Washington and the Dominican Republic were the only yes votes. "The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement after the vote that the result "once again shows that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail." The United States could now follow through on a threat to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback, even though President Donald Trump abandoned the accord in 2018. Diplomats have said the United States could do this as early as next week, but would face a tough, messy battle. "In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said in a statement. Diplomats have said such a move would put the fragile nuclear deal further at risk because Iran would lose a major incentive for limiting its nuclear activities. Iran already has breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the pact and unilateral sanctions. Iran's U.N. Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi warned the United States against trying to trigger a return of sanctions. "Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited. And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behavior will bear the full responsibility," he said in a statement. 'The issue is urgent' Putin on Friday proposed a video summit with the United States and the remaining parties to the nuclear deal - Britain, France, China, Germany and Iran - to try to avoid further "confrontation and escalation" at the United Nations over Iran. "The issue is urgent," Putin said in a statement, adding that the alternative was "only further escalation of tensions, increasing risk of conflict - such a scenario must be avoided." Asked if he would take part, Trump told reporters, "I hear there's something, but I haven't been told of it yet." French President Emmanuel Macron is open to taking part in a video summit, the Elysee palace said. The United States has argued that it can trigger a sanctions snapback because a U.N. Security Council resolution enshrining the nuclear deal named Washington as a participant. But the remaining parties to the deal are opposed to the move. Putin said Russia, an ally of Iran in the Syrian civil war, remained fully committed to the nuclear deal and that the aim of a summit would be to outline steps aimed at avoiding "confrontation and escalation of the situation in the Security Council." Trump has said he wants to negotiate a new deal with Iran that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons and also curb its activities in the region and elsewhere. Trump, who has walked away from a series of international agreements, has dubbed the 2015 nuclear deal - reached under his predecessor Barack Obama - "the worst deal ever." Diplomats have said several countries would argue that the United States legally could not activate a return of sanctions and therefore simply would not reimpose the measures on Iran themselves. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics An investigation into the death of a 2-month-old led authorities to charge a 22-year-old woman with homicide, according to Lancaster Bureau of Police. Francheska Torres was arrested Friday in the 500 block of S. Prince St. and charged with two felonies Criminal Homicide and Endangering the Welfare of Children. During her arraignment, she was denied bail. Torres is currently being held at Lancaster County Prison. On July 13, police officers from the Lancaster Burea of Police and EMS were called to the 100 block of Queen St. The initial call was for an infant suffering from cardiac arrest. When they arrived, officers found Torres, a two-year-old, and a two-month-old boy, who was not breathing and in cardiac arrest. The infant was taken to Penn Medicine at Lancaster General Health. Later the infant was transported to Hershey Medical Center for additional treatment. The next day, the investigating detective learned from medical staff that the infant had suffered severe, life-threatening injury to the brain and the injury occurred as the result of an assault. Upon further investigation, additional detectives from the Bureaus Special Investigations Unit helped to work on the case. They noted that Torres was the only adult in the home when the infant was suffering. Five days after the incident, the infant died at Hershey Medical Center. Eight days after the incident, an autopsy was performed on the infant, which was ruled a homicide, a result of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Authorities then pursued the charges against Torres. Law enforcement noted that all persons accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. READ MORE Mother charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of infant daughter Lower Swatara Township police looking for missing teenager Highspire man convicted of rape, other related offenses Ashton Kutcher is calling for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to help his home state of Iowa after a derecho which is a violent windstorm akin to an inland hurricane ripped through the Midwest this week. Where is the federal relief for Iowa? Kutcher tweeted on Friday. 10 million acres of crops have been destroyed. Houses. Communities. Wake up federal [government]! What because its not called a tornado or hurricane you dont need to act fast? Come on!! Where is the federal relief for Iowa? 10m acres of crops have been destroyed. Houses. Communities. Wake up federal gov! What because its not called a tornado or hurricane you dont need to act fast? Come On!! ashton kutcher (@aplusk) August 14, 2020 Kutcher tagged the vice president in a follow-up tweet, which came right after Pence had visited Iowa on Thursday to court voters. You were there campaigning. You saw with your own eyes. Do something, Kutcher tweeted. The former That 70s Show star then tagged President Trump in a few pictures, including one of a home damaged by falling tree branches. Also Read: Crackle Orders Ashton Kutcher's 'Going From Broke' Series About Student Loan Debt - Watch the Trailer Here (Exclusive) @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ivDxU8URxK ashton kutcher (@aplusk) August 14, 2020 The derecho covered 700 miles across the Midwest this week, hitting Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa, according to USA Today. Wind gusts were clocked at more than 100 miles per hour and knocked the power out for about 800,000 people. Flooding, crop damage, and fallen trees were widespread. While a few dozen injuries have been reported so far, no deaths have been reported. Iowa Gov. Kim Richards said the derecho damaged an estimated 10 million acres which is about one-third of all farmland in the state, per Fox News. Read original story Ashton Kutcher Says Pence, Trump Need to Do Something About Derecho-Damaged Iowa At TheWrap 15.08.2020 LISTEN CARITAS Ghana Catholic Secretariat has held a days dialogue to facilitate and support resettlement and reintegration of vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19 pandemic in Kumasi, Ashanti regional capital. The meeting was organized by Caritas Ghana, in partnership with Street Children Project (SCP) in Kumasi and the CARITAS of the Catholic Archdiocese, AFDOM GHANA supported by Star Ghana Foundation. It brought together Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the three Northern Regions, Non governmental organizations (NGOs), street children and the media. The meeting held on Thursday, August 13, 2020, discussed ways to resettle and reintegrate especially the young women who are caught up in the Covid-19 pandemic difficult situations in the cities. It also explored possibilities for coordinated efforts to provide critical services to venerable populations most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Director of Street Children Project (SCP), Rev Sr. Olivia Umoh, outlined some of the interventions embarked, among them were mobilizing some female head porters (kayaye) to give them skills training, offering them shelter and food. There are many street children being catered by the SCP at the secondary education level, bearing their full financial costs. We have and also given vocation training skills to women in beads making, dress making, hair dressing among others, all at the SCPs expense, she added. The Development Coordinator, Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi, Rev Fr. Joseph Asante, appealed to the government to implement child rights laws and policies that seek the good welfare of children to curb streetism in the country. Some beneficiaries of Street Child Project shared their experiences with the participants. Other facilitators of the programme were the Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo and the Chief Executive Officer of AFDOM GHANA, Ahaji Aminu Munkailu. Like many kids in Alabama during the early 2000s, 11-year-old Shannon Paulk spent long summer days playing outside, roaming her neighborhood, going house to house visiting her friends. But this kind-hearted, outgoing girl loved people of all ages. Some days she could be found on the porch of her elderly neighbor, Miss Mary, chatting away, despite their age difference. Other days, shed be at another neighbors home, checking in on their new baby. She never met a stranger, Shannons mother, Marie Stroud, told Dateline. She had a heart of gold and just loved people - all people. And everybody loved her. Shannon Paulk Shannon only lived to be 11 years old, but her family said she made a lasting impression on them and their community that will never be forgotten. The impression that child had on this community is not one that will be forgotten any time soon, Marie tearfully told Dateline. Shes remembered and loved by so many people here. Nearly two decades have passed since Shannons murder gripped the tight-knit community of Prattville, Alabama -- and her family is still without answers or closure. It was August 16, 2001 when Shannon was last seen playing outside in her neighborhood in Prattvilles Candlestick Mobile Home Park off U.S. Highway 31. Her mother went to work and left Shannon in the care of her older sister, who was 16 at the time. Marie told Dateline it was not unusual for Shannon to be out playing with friends and visiting neighbors, but she always made it home by nightfall. That night, Shannon didnt come home. I knew something was wrong, Marie said. Marie called the Prattville Police Department just before 9 p.m., and intense searches with dogs, boats and helicopters were launched in the community over the next few days. But the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months. There was no sign of Shannon. Sergeant Tom Allen with the Prattville Police told Dateline Shannons case was treated as a missing juvenile. But after reports that she had been seen talking to an unidentified man in the neighborhood, and with what family describes as Shannons trusting heart, its believed she was taken that day. Story continues Nearly two months later, on Saturday, October 6, rabbit hunters found Shannons badly decomposed remains in a remote section of the Autauga Wildlife Management Area in northern Autauga County, about 15 miles north of Prattville. An intense investigation began and Sgt. Allen told Dateline hundreds of people were questioned, but no arrests were made. A sketch of the man Shannon believed to have been seen talking to that day was released in 2007, but a decade later it was deemed to not be credible by Autauga County District Attorney Randall Houston. Sergeant Allen, who was a patrolman with the Prattville Police at the time, has since taken over Shannons case and said hes fully dedicated to getting it solved. It doesnt matter how it gets solved or who solves it - the most important thing is that its solved and closure is brought to Shannons family, Sgt. Allen said. This case has greatly affected this community and its time to get some answers. Sergeant Allen told Dateline there have been a few persons of interest over the years, but there hasnt been enough evidence against any of them to move forward with an arrest. Shannons case drew national attention when it was featured on America's Most Wanted on September 30, 2006 . Thousands of tips came in and viewers pointed out that her case was eerily similar to the disappearance of at least two other 11-year-old girls who were abducted from their mobile home parks in Northport, Alabama and Twiggs County, Georgia. Each of those also happened in the month of August. Sergeant Allen said that at this point, investigators dont believe the cases are connected, and added that he needs to focus on solving Shannons case before trying to link it to any others. In the five years Sgt. Allen has been on the case, he, along with the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, have been in the process of resubmitting evidence and re-interviewing people. He wouldnt comment on what sort of evidence was being resubmitted. Were hoping that some of that evidence might just yield something that could break the case wide open, Sgt. Allen told Dateline. He added they have a 10x14 size room that is full of boxes containing only material related to Shannons case. Some people call this a cold case, but to us this is a very active and ongoing investigation, Sgt. Allen explained. He said that some investigators who previously worked on Shannons case, and have since retired from the force, still check in to see how they can help. This case has touched all of us and we all want answers to what happened to Shannon, Sgt. Allen said. Were still receiving tips all the time - even 19 years later. And we want the public to keep sending information. And one day, were going to get that tip that will finally bring this case to a close. Sunday, August 16, marked 19 years since Marie Stroud last saw her daughter alive, and she said her pain is still very fresh. Its like a nightmare that you cant wake up from, Marie told Dateline. She was my baby, and someone took her away from me. She said its her faith in God that has kept her going. I was never one for going to church, Marie said. But Shannon went to church. With friends. Neighbors. Whoever. She loved God. And when this happened, it was so devastating, so heartbreaking, I turned to God. In a way, Shannon led me to God. She would be happy knowing that. Shannon would be 30 years old if she were alive today. Her mother often wonders the kind of woman she would have grown up to be. I know she would be doing something that involved helping people, Marie told Dateline. Because thats who she was - she helped others. She had a heart of gold and always wanted to do for others. Shannons aunt, Tammy Evans, echoed those sentiments to Dateline. She was the most kind-hearted child I have ever known, Tammy said. She would always think about others before herself. Tammy hopes a vigil for Shannon will encourage someone with information about her case to come forward. Its been 19 years - surely someone knows something, Tammy said. Its time for our family to get some answers, for our community to know what happened. Tammy said people in the community havent been the same since Shannons murder, constantly living in fear about letting their children play outside. I hold onto my grandchildren for dear life, Tammy said. Im scared every time they are outside playing. It just doesnt feel safe since this happened. The candlelight vigil for Shannon will be held Sunday, August 16, at 6 p.m., at the amphitheater in Pratt Park near the Stanley-Jensen Stadium in Prattville. The vigil will include music, speakers and sharing memories of Shannon. Former Prattville Mayor Jim Byard is expected to attend. A tree planted 19 years ago in the park, that is now fully grown, is a reminder to those attending the vigil of how long its been since Shannon was murdered. Shannons mother moved away after the murder, but she still wonders how something so horrific could have happened in that neighborhood. I just pray that whoever did this to Shannon did not do this to anyone else. Its heartbreaking, Marie said. I always ask Why? Why MY baby, but I wouldnt want anyone to go through this pain. This nightmare -- this nightmare that never ends. Marie told Dateline that finding the person who killed her daughter would help bring her some sort of peace, but will never replace her baby girl who had a heart of gold. Nothing will ever fill the emptiness I feel, she said. She was a special girl and no matter how much time passes, shell never be forgotten. Anyone with information that could help solve Shannons case is asked to call the Prattville Police Department's Secret Witness Line 334-365-2220 or Criminal Investigations at 334-595-0256. NORWALK A city bookkeeper who used funds she stole from clients to pay for personal expenses like credit card bills and salon services will serve less than a year in jail, officials said following her sentencing on Friday. Penni Sherman, also known as Penni Parker, 53, was sentenced to eight months in jail, followed by two years of supervised release, a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. The judge ordered Sherman to spend the first two months of her supervised release in home confinement. The charges against Sherman stemmed from an embezzlement scheme, Durham said. Sherman who operated PSP Accounting and Bookkeeping and provided bookkeeping services to local businesses stole $418,197.09 from clients between 2011 and 2018, authorities said. Sherman used the funds to pay her own credit card bills and cover other personal expenses, including salon services. Authorities said Sherman stole more than $396,000 from one of her clients who was a small business owner. When confronted about the embezzlement, Sherman returned $165,920 to the business owner. Sherman failed to report the funds she embezzled, and some other business receipts, on her federal income tax returns. That move led to a loss of $125,167 to the Internal Revenue Service, officials said. On Oct. 11, 2019, Sherman pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. The judge ordered Sherman to pay restitution of $252,277.09 to the victims of the scheme, as well as $125,167 in back taxes, plus interest and penalties, to the IRS. Sherman, who was released on bond, was told to report to prison on Aug. 13, 2021. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 20:00:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NUR-SULTAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Flights between Kazakhstan and Turkey will resume from Sept. 1, the Kazinform news agency has reported, citing the Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Ministry. On June 20, flights between the two countries originally restarted but were suspended on July 4 due to a worsening epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan. According to the Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee, the country will also gradually resume flights to the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Germany, the Netherlands, Egypt, Ukraine, and Russia from Aug. 17. Kazakhstan registered 439 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking its total to 102,287, including 80,716 recoveries and 1,377 deaths. From Aug. 1 to 15, the country has also recorded 17,494 pneumonia cases with clinical signs of COVID-19, including 211 pneumonia-related deaths. As the daily spike in COVID-19 cases has dropped to below 1,000 for a week, Kazakh authorities have decided to gradually ease the country's coronavirus-related restrictions from Aug. 17. Enditem By Trend The Monterey Herald newspaper, which is issued in Monterey city of the US California state, published an article of Azerbaijani Ambassador to the US Elin Suleymanov under the headline "Guest Commentary: Hate crimes have no place", Trend reports. "For many around the world, Californias happy and easygoing image was unexpectedly overshadowed by ethnic violence during the July 21 protest near the Azerbaijani Consulate General in Los Angeles," the author noted. "On that sunny California day, some of the 3,000 Armenian protesters attacked a group of a couple-dozen Azerbaijanis, causing injuries that required urgent medical care. A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer was hurt as well. The LAPD has since launched a hate-crime investigation, while US Embassies in Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as several Jewish groups, including the American Jewish Committee and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, made statements condemning the violence," said the article. "The protests in California and elsewhere around the world by Armenians and Azerbaijanis followed the recent attack by Armenia across the border with Azerbaijan, which killed 12 people and threatened Azerbaijans pipeline infrastructure, a vital source for Europes energy security. This latest flare-up is another reminder that the protracted three-decade-long Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict remains a major threat to peace and security in the wider Eurasia region," said the message. "Despite mediation efforts co-chaired by France, Russia and the US, no progress has been achieved, and Armenia continues to occupy some 20 percent of Azerbaijans internationally recognized territories in violation of four UN Security Council resolutions and numerous other international documents," the ambassador noted. "Vivid images and videos of violence in California are disturbing to watch. They are an especially painful sight for me since I served as Azerbaijans first consul general in Los Angeles before my post in Washington. The California I know enjoys a rich mosaic of diversity and is a welcoming home to many cultures. Monterey in particular maintains a warm partnership with its Azerbaijani sister city, Lankaran. My many Californian friends are equally proud of their identities and open-mindedness toward others. Therefore, I never expected to see such ethnically induced violence in broad daylight and the LAPDs failure to adequately protect counter-protesters," emphasized Suleymanov. "Based on my own experience, I trust that overwhelmingly, Armenian-Americans are appalled by these hate crimes. I hope that Armenian-Americans will join the growing number of Jewish-American groups and others in condemning these violent acts as well as online threats against Azerbaijanis in California," the ambassador added. "The confrontation in California did not occur in a vacuum. Both Armenia and the Armenian communities abroad have long been plagued by extremist ideologies, political violence and a complicated history with anti-Semitism, Nazi collaborators and Middle Eastern radicals. In the 1980s, Turkish diplomats were assassinated by Armenian terrorists in Los Angeles and, in recent days, Azerbaijani embassies in Europe have been under attack by Armenian groups," the author reminded. "Just like the conflicts with neighbors and the unsustainable occupation of Azerbaijani lands undermine Armenias own future, the self-serving agenda of radical political groups hurt the larger Armenian-American community. Their radical agenda offers neither peace nor prosperity to Armenia; instead, it perpetuates isolation and confrontation," the article noted. "In recent months, America has undergone a thorough and, at times, traumatic soul-searching about race, discrimination and equality. From anti-Semitism to racist practices to Islamophobia, these are notions that have real-life consequences for real people. Clearly, hate crimes affect not just victims of violence. They have much wider implications for society as a whole," said Suleymanov. "Therefore, it is imperative that all Californians, including the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities, speak up and urge their elected leaders to uphold the Golden States traditions of openness, inclusiveness and welcoming hospitality by rejecting all hate crimes. The best way to prevent and deter such violence against any community or individuals in the future is the pursuit of justice and prosecution of the perpetrators," the ambassador emphasized. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz "I personally feel very pleased and satisfied to see where we are in India's connectivity journey today from that humble beginning on 15th August 1995," Kapil Jain tells me, speaking all the way from Singapore. If India is one of the fastest growing Internet markets in the world, contributing hundreds of million of monthly active users on some of the largest Internet platforms worldwide, Kapil Jain is acutely aware of the behind-the-scenes work that went into connecting India to the rest of the world, playing his part in getting households and businesses online 25 years ago. Reuters ALSO READ: 25 Years Ago, 9.6 Kbps Connection Was Rs 5,000 When Internet Began In India Kapil Jain works at Tata Communications, serving as the Vice President of Product Management, Global Core Network Infrastructure Strategy, Development and Transformation. But he started his professional career at VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited), the Indian government entity that essentially launched Internet in India back in 1995 -- which Tata Group acquired a controlling stake in 2002 and later renamed as Tata Communications in 2008. "I consider myself lucky to be part of that transformation journey team, which started the Internet in India in August 1995. When VSNL started the Internet in India, it was officially known as the GIAS or Gateway Internet Access Service or, in other words, dial-up internet. I don't know if anybody today recalls how the dial-up used to work. Everybody needed to have a modem in the house or office, and that model had to connect to a telephone line," recollects Jain. The modem used to basically connect to a central internet node, and the iconic creak and croak sound of the modem establishing the Internet connection over the telephone line was an experience in itself. "Listening to that sound used to make people very happy and go wow, we are connected to the Internet," Kapil Jain remembers with a chuckle. I share Jain's laugh, for I remember it fondly as well -- connecting to "dial up" Internet through the landline phone connection in our home at the time, listening to the modem establishing Internet connection (and praying that it didn't malfunction in the process). "When Internet services began in India, at that time it was a satellite network, since there were hardly any sub-sea telecommunications cable before 1995 in India," recalls Kapil Jain. "Till about 1995, India was primarily connected to the outside world via satellites and VSNL carried all the voice traffic outside and into India -- so the primary mechanism to carry those voice minutes was satellite. We used the same medium to create Internet bandwidth initially, which is basically bandwidth for connecting Internet traffic from India to the rest of the world." Kapil Jain continues, "While SEA-ME-WE2 cable was there in India in 1995, which was an analog cable, the first real usable Internet cables landed in India at Mumbai in 1997 (FLAG EA) and Mumbai and Cochin in 1999 (SEA-ME-WE3). These were the two initial cables in late 90s that helped build higher bandwidth undersea backbones with international partners and connect to global Internet cloud, and since then we have continued to invest and grow Indias Internet bandwidth. Today we are the only global Tier-1 ISP whos in India and serving the Indian market." With satellites used to connect to the Internet cloud outside India, speeds were unimaginably slow -- capping off at a measly 128 kbps. "A 9.6 kbps Internet speed was considered a great connection speed at that time and 128 kbps was like a great backbone connection speed -- in stark contrast to todays terabytes on the backbone level and multiple gigs of access at the end customer site," recollects Jain. ALSO READ: I Saw How India Connects To The Internet At 3.6 Tbps At An Undersea Cable Landing Station The Indian Techonomist / Mumbai Heritage Twitter "We started with four cities, Bombay Delhi, Calcutta, and Madras -- yes, Mumbai was still Bombay at the time and Chennai still Madras. And from there we continued expanding several Internet nodes into various parts of the country," remembers Kapil Jain, about India's early Internet journey unfolding. "BSNL didnt exist at the time, so we expanded and connected with help from Indias Department Of Telecommunications," Kapil Jain mentions. "We used to take 16, 32, 48 individual telephone lines in our office to create a modem set into which individual users could then dial in to connect to the Internet, and thats essentially how the Internet began in India. While this was happening, VSNL continued investing and building up the connectivity infrastructure in the country. We kept on investing in this growth of infrastructure." Then the sub-sea cables started coming to India -- in fact, one of the oldest surviving undersea cables right now in India started back 1999. Kapil Jain remembers, "When the sub-sea cables started coming and creating higher bandwidth for backbone, thats where the Internet connectivity in India started increasing from satellite to undersea cable backbone. If I recall correctly, by the year 2000 we were at multiple STM-1 (Synchronous Transport Module level-1) level backbones, like 155 Mbps backbone from a small satellite backbone in the beginning in August 1995. And on the edge side, on the customer's side, the technology improved from 9.6 kbps to where we were offering 56 kbps from the digital dial-up line which we used to call E1R2s." Speaking about early users, "My very first Internet customer, where I personally went to his house to set up the Internet connection, was the leading cardiologist in Kerala at the time," Jain remember fondly. "He wanted the Internet in his home to study about the latest research and studies on cardiology." Access to early Internet in India wasn't a cheap affair, if you look at the VSNL rate card above, and it wasn't anywhere close to ubiquitous. Not only was the Internet connection expensive, but you needed a desktop PC (at least) to access it -- which was also a big ask for most Indians during 1995-2000. "At that time mobile internet was not so prevalent, but mobiles at least started putting the Internet into people's pockets. And in parallel, we started expanding our network into the enterprise market and connecting them on our fiber access networks," Jain remembers. And the rest, as they, say is history. Even from Singapore, Jain is helping write the latest chapter in India's connectivity journey, hopeful and optimistic about his work and its potential. "I was just reading a report yesterday which claimed Asia is going to give the next 1 billion Internet users," Kapil Jain mentions, "of which India is surely going to contribute a huge number. So yes, 25 years of Internet is an occasion to celebrate, but we need to focus on the next 25 years and see how Internet will drive innovation and growth at an unprecedented scale." New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled the ambitious National Digital Health Mission under which every Indian will get a unique health ID that will ease access to medical services and also announced that the country has made plans for mass-producing COVID-19 vaccine once scientists give a green signal. In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, the Prime Minister said the health ID will store every individual's medical records and the Mission will herald a new revolution in the health sector. "From today, a major campaign is being launched in which technology will play a big role. The National Digital Health Mission is being launched today. This will bring a new revolution in India's health sector and it will help reduce problems in getting treatment with the help of technology," he said. "Every Indian will be given a health ID, which will work as each Indian's health account," PM Modi said, adding that it would ease problems faced by citizens in getting healthcare access. The health ID will contain information about medical data, prescriptions and diagnostic reports and summaries of previous discharge from hospitals for ailments. The Mission is expected to bring efficiency and transparency in healthcare services in the country. PM Modi said the country has prepared a roadmap to ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine reaches everyone in the shortest possible time. He said three vaccine candidates are in different stages of trials in the country. The Prime Minister said whenever there is talk of COVID-19, the question that comes to everyone's mind is - when will a vaccine be ready. "I want to tell people, the talent of our scientists is like that of 'rishi munis' and they are working very hard in laboratories. Three vaccines are in various stages of testing. When scientists will give us the green signal, it will be produced on a mass scale and all preparations have been made for it," PM Modi said while addressing the nation on its 74th Independence Day. The phase-1 and 2 human clinical trials of two of the vaccine candidates, developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), and Zydus Cadila Ltd, are currently underway. The Serum Institute of India has been permitted for conducting Phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the third vaccine candidate developed by the Oxford University. The Pune-based institute has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the vaccine. The PM reassured the nation that we will win" against the coronavirus pandemic and a "strong will" will lead to victory. PM Modi said the focus on the health sector has increased during the coronavirus era and the biggest lesson that has been learnt is that of being self-reliant in the health sector. He said that the country is now producing PPE kits, N95 masks, ventilators, etc. Which were not being manufactured domestically. The increase in production capacity of such world-class items also echoed in his call vocal for local. "We have to move forward to achieve that aim. Before coronavirus there was only one lab for testing (for COVID-19), today there is a network of 1,400 labs across the country. When the coronavirus crisis broke out only 300 tests could be carried out in a day, but in a short period we have shown our strength and we have come to a point where we carried out seven lakh tests in a day," he said. The PM said new AIIMS and new medical colleges are being built and efforts are being made towards modernisation. "In five years in MBBS/MD, 45,000 more seats have been created for students," he said. Of the over 1.5 lakh wellness centres envisaged in villages, more than one-third are already operational and have been of great help during the pandemic. "Wellness centres have played an important role in villages during the corona period," he said. The PM also paid tributes to COVID warriors on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic. "On behalf of the entire country, I wish to thank the efforts of all corona-warriors. All those healthcare workers, doctors and nurses, ambulance drivers and all those working in this fight against the pandemic, who have worked tirelessly to serve the nation," PM Modi said. He expressed confidence that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) will improve the effectiveness of services in the health sector. Teddi Jo Mellencamp showed off her bombshell bikini body on Instagram Saturday just six months after giving birth to her daughter Dove. The 39-year-old Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills welcomed her baby in February with her husband Edwin Arroyave. While in this outfit she posted a video giving her followers a good look at the stretch marks on her legs and loose skin around her lower abdomen. Looking fab: Teddi Jo Mellencamp showed off her bombshell bikini body on Instagram Saturday just six months after giving birth to her daughter Dove She dished in the clip that she gets so 'many questions: "Well, how come you dont have stretch marks?" Oh, I got these bad boys, I just embrace em.' Lifting the waistband of her bikini bottoms, she said: 'Loose skin? Got it. I just wear my high-waisted kinis and embrace whats going on.' The daughter of John Mellencamp and her husband also share a seven-year-old daughter called Slate and a five-year-old son called Cruz. In the caption of her bikini picture she wrote: 'Its easy to lose ourselves in comparison- how we perceive our bodies vs others. We too often default to self-criticism and forget about the effort weve put in to get to here.' Candid: While in this outfit she posted a video giving her followers a good look at the stretch marks on her legs and loose skin around her lower abdomen Self-acceptance: She dished in the clip that she gets so 'many questions: "Well, how come you dont have stretch marks?" Oh, I got these bad boys, I just embrace em' 'Loose skin? Got it': Lifting the waistband of her bikini bottoms, she said: 'I just wear my high-waisted kinis and embrace whats going on' She continued: 'Its taken years of work for me to feel comfy enough to head to a beach day and only think about the good times Ill be having with the kiddos, rather than things not fully in my control. And even so, I can snap a pic feeling confident in my bikini but the reality is the stretch marks and loose skin are there.' The reality star concluded: 'Ive learned to love and embrace them because they tell my story. So today, I am heading to the beach feeling good about myself because thats the only way it should be. With lots of SPF and Trulys of course!' Teddi was spotted this Saturday enjoying a jog out and about in Los Angeles with her eldest daughter Slate as well as her dog. Baby mine: The 39-year-old Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills welcomed little dove in February with her husband Edwin Arroyave Recovery: Cruz has been seen on his mother's social media wearing a cast because he recently broke his thumb, while Dove recently had neurosurgery for a birth defect involving the skull Sweeping her blonde hair back into a ponytail, she wore a visor with her T-shirt and leggings and accessorized with a Gucci fanny pack. She experienced fertility problems before successfully naturally conceiving Dove, who is currently recovering from neurosurgery. The baby had the operation this summer in order to address her Lambdoid Craniosynostosis, a birth defect involving the skull. Slate also had to have surgery recently after 'a gust of wind came and the front door slammed on her finger and amputated the tip,' Teddi shared on social media. Family time: Teddi was spotted this Saturday enjoying a jog out and about in Los Angeles with her eldest daughter Slate as well as her dog The look: Sweeping her blonde hair back into a ponytail, she wore a visor with her T-shirt and leggings and accessorized with a Gucci fanny pack Rough time: Slate also had to have surgery recently after 'a gust of wind came and the front door slammed on her finger and amputated the tip,' Teddi shared on social media Cruz has lately been seen on his mother's social media wearing a cast, having broken his thumb in a bicycle accident. This week she denounced trolls for 'saying they wish I was dead' and 'wishing harmful things on my children' in her Instagram comments. She had had to disable comments on a previous Instagram post Wednesday plugging that night's fiery episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. In a video she posted to the social media site this Thursday she said that 'coming after people you do not know and wishing they die has gotta stop.' 'Next level': Two days earlier she denounced trolls for 'saying they wish I was dead' and 'wishing harmful things on my children' in her Instagram comments Wednesday's episode included a furious row between Denise Richards and several other Housewives including Teddi during a restaurant dinner in Rome. Brandi Glanville has alleged that she once had an affair with Denise, who has staunchly denied it and blew up at her co-stars at dinner because she felt she had been relentlessly 'interrogated' about the subject. The group outing erupted into a fight where Denise called her co-stars 'Mean Girls,' which other women including Teddi strenuously objected to. Putting her foot down: The Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills had to disable comments on a previous Instagram post Wednesday plugging that night's fiery episode of the series 'Im glad that you shared how you were feeling, but I also think calling a group of people Mean Girls when youre saying youre not a judgmental person is very s***ty,' Teddi told Denise at the dinner table. Denise, a onetime Bond girl who was once married to Charlie Sheen, eventually fled the scene before a producer convinced her to return. During the dinner Denise was also confronted with accusations that she had badmouthed her co-stars to Brandi. Air Canada (TSX:AC) is a volatile stock. At the start of 2020, shares were above $50. Now theyre priced at $17. Things werent always this way. From 2012 to 2019, AC stock rose 50 times in value! Where will Air Canada shares go next? Is another massive bull run on the way, or will COVID-19 fears push the stock down even more? Learn these facts Before you bet on any stock, its important to know what youre betting on. Of course, the major challenge right now is the coronavirus pandemic. Air Canada shares will live or die by what happens there. CEO Calin Rovinescu has stressed again and again how unique the current operating environment is. No adjectives can adequately describe the pandemics cataclysmic effects upon our industry, nor can numbers fully quantify the extent of financial devastation, he warned. Were now living through the darkest period ever in the history of commercial aviation, significantly worse than the aftermath of 9/11, SARS, and the 2008 financial crisis. Right now, Air Canada is operating at just 5% of capacity. This is forcing the company to lose roughly $20 million every day. This is not sustainable. I recently estimated that the company has just 24 months of cash runway left before bankruptcy becomes a significant risk. A sustainable recovery must be achieved before then. Should you bet on Air Canada stock? How long will the current downturn last? Delta Air Lines thinks the industry will be permanently smaller. Boeing and Airbus anticipate a three to five year recovery. Even Air Canada thinks the future lacks optimism. Realistically, we expect it to take at least three years for Air Canada to get back to 2019 levels of revenue and capacity, said Rovinescu. Things certainly wont be returning to normal anytime soon. Air Canada executives have pressured the government to ease travel restrictions, but the latest spate of bad news will prolong any positive developments. More than 30 flights recently entered Canada with positive cases, and 85% of Canadians support keeping borders closed through the end of the year. Story continues Expect airlines to continue hemorrhaging money over the next six months. Even if a vaccine were discovered tomorrow, it will take months to approve, scale, and distribute to the population. Throw in the fact that one-third of Americans recently reported that they wouldnt take a free vaccine, and the everything will return to normal once theres a vaccine argument starts to fall apart. Air Canada is skating on thin ice. The risk of bankruptcy is high, yet shares trade at a multi-billion-dollar valuation. Even if the company can raise an unprecedented amount of capital, its unclear if current shareholders will benefit. The sad reality is that unless airlines raise new capital, they will go bankrupt, said the 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. The best way to bet on Air Canada stock is to not bet at all. The post How to Bet on Air Canada (TSX:AC) Stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines. 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 Dr. Sudhanshu Panda planned to conduct preliminary work on his research project this summer. The professor of geographic information systems and environmental science at the University of North Georgia (UNG) was scheduled to meet with his collaborator for one purpose. Together they would outfit livestock with transponder collars and radio frequency identification chips to monitor the animals' activity levels. Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. His collaborator, Dr. Thomas Terrill at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), contracted the virus. "His story an excellent reminder for everyone how disrupting life can be due to this virus and his advice is to take the virus seriously," Panda said Terrill recovered and reconnected with Panda remotely to continue the research, which was funded by a 2020 UNG Presidential Incentive Award. Panda traveled in late July to a research station in Fort Valley, Georgia, to set up the instrumentation for the project and practiced the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is one example of how research has continued for UNG faculty and staff during the pandemic. Dr. Andy Novobilski, associate provost for research and engagement and chief research officer, explained UNG worked with faculty and staff to allow research to continue on campus. He said faculty members presented a plan to maintain social distancing and remain safe. "Our faculty are working with students to maintain their mentoring relationships by using technology," Novobilski said. "When work is required in the lab, they develop a procedure to do it safely." Jessica Patterson and Aminda Everett, both lecturers of biology at UNG, visited UNG's Dahlonega Campus to monitor their project, including the growth of tadpoles to toads, since students weren't allowed on campus. The two faculty members built mesocosms, or mini-environments in tubs of water with leaf litter from a creek bed, to grow and study the amphibians. It was one of five projects funded by the Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement program in summer 2020. "To ensure the students got as much out of the project as possible, we did two rounds of the research project," Patterson said. "In the first round, Ami and I conducted the research while the students organized and input the data. We had Microsoft Teams meetings to talk about the project." During the second round, the students were allowed on campus to get hands-on experience while practicing the safety guidelines. They along with all students who participated in FUSE projects presented their findings July 23 via Teams meeting. Dr. Ramneet Kaur, lecturer of biology at UNG, saw her research project change venues. She and her students had been working in a lab to grow cancer cells and then test a natural product treatment plan on them. It was financed by a 2020 Presidential Incentive Award. Since COVID-19 altered her and her student's ability to work in the lab, Kaur bought a license for Oncomine Research Premium Edition with her grant money. "We will use bioinformatics approach to answer the same questions proposed in the grant using a different strategy," she said. "With bioinformatics approach, we do not need to work in the lab. All work will be done online." Novobilski said transitioning research to an online process or implementing safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to faculty, staff and students. It is critical to maintain who we are as university, especially as a way to engage our students and encourage our faculty in their passion of research," he said. "Faculty conduct research because we have a love for discovery. It drives us to add to the body of knowledge. Not only do we want to continue our work, we want to continue mentoring our students in their scholarship as well. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 07:28 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2a6a4 1 National child-abuse,Sexual-assault,sexual-abuse,underage-sex,minors,Palembang,South-Sumatra Free The police in Palembang, South Sumatra, are investigating a 43-year-old private university lecturer after he was caught sexually assaulting an underage boy. The Palembang Police's Control Unit (Sabhara) chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sonny Triyanto said the man, identified only as RN, and the 14-year-old boy were found together inside an empty shed by officers who were on patrol around the city's Jakabaring district on Thursday evening. The officers caught the lecturer red-handed and he initially tried to escape when they approached him, Sonny said, but RN later admitted his wrongdoing after further questioning. According to the police's initial investigation, RN offered the boy Rp 20,000 (US$1.35) in exchange for oral sex. The police alleged that RN had also assaulted the boy's friend of the same age, offering the latter the same amount of money. "It is suspected that there is more than one victim," Sonny said. RN was charged under Law No. 35/2013 on child protection for sexually assaulting minors, which carries a sentence of more than five years in prison. "The Palembang Police's Criminal Investigation Department is currently investigating the case, officers are still questioning the suspect," Sonny added. (nal) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, may already be playing a key role in shifting the crucial swing state of Florida toward her running mate and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. The choice of Harris, who is of both Jamaican and Indian descent, for the ticket has excited the oft-ignored Caribbean-American voting bloc, especially among the Black West Indian diaspora, Politico reports. "It's the pick that energizes us. It's the pick that's getting us motivated," said Karen Andre, one of Biden's top Florida advisers. Andre, who is of Haitian-American descent, said the campaign is preparing a "full 360 degree effort" to engage Caribbean-American voters with paid radio ads in Creole and English, as well as possibly having local radio hosts interview the potential vice president. Andre told Politico her phone was "burning" with calls from Jamaican-Americans after the Harris announcement, but she added she's also "heard from Haiti, Trinidad, Barbados, Bahamas." Like all voting groups, Caribbean-Americans are not a monolith, and not every voter of Jamaican or Haitian descent, for instance, will vote for the Biden-Harris ticket. But Hans Mardy, a Haitian-American Republican activist in Miami who is struggling to support Trump after he vulgarly insulted Haiti earlier in his tenure, said people of Haitian and Jamaican descent in South Florida "have a very tight connection," indicating the apparent excitement about the presumptive Democratic ticket could indeed be infectious within the community. Read more at Politico. More stories from theweek.com John Boehner would 'rather set himself on fire' than get involved in the 2020 election UNC shifts to remote learning 1 week into the semester after coronavirus positive rate spikes The culture war in a tuna fish sandwich Consumers experience 5G-powered virtual reality video services at a China Telecom outlet in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua] China is ratcheting up efforts to accelerate the construction of new infrastructure, with a key focus on bolstering the development of superfast 5G technology and supporting its innovative applications, according to the country's top industry regulator. "The rollout of China's 5G base stations has exceeded expectations, as the country had 88 million 5G users whose smartphones were connected to the wireless network by the end of July," said Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, in an interview with China Central Television. Xin said more efforts should be made to propel the application of 5G in various sectors, including smart healthcare, virtual private networks for enterprises, smart grids, vehicle-road coordination system and the internet of vehicles. China leads the world in 5G development. Figures from the ministry last month showed China had built 410,000 5G base stations by the end of June, with 257,000 being set up in the first half of the year. Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Information Consumption Alliance, a telecom industry association, said 5G technology can be adopted in a wide range of industries and scenarios, including video conferencing, online medical consultations, remote education, short videos, livestreaming events and games. "The country's push in expediting the development of a fresh round of new infrastructure projects, especially the construction of 5G networks, will assist in the digital and intelligent transformation of traditional industries, offset the economic fallout of the pandemic and achieve high-quality growth," Xiang said. He said that about 20,000 new 5G base stations are currently being built in China every week, adding that the coverage of the 5G network will be further expanded, with about 750,000 to 800,000 stations expected to be built nationwide by the end of this year. The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a government think tank, said China is likely to spend 1.2 trillion yuan ($173 billion) on 5G network construction, driving more than 3.5 trillion yuan of investment in the upstream and downstream industrial chain and other related sectors by 2025. Wang Zhiqin, deputy director of the CAICT, said the 5G industry is expected to directly create over 3 million jobs as of 2025, with aggregate information consumption brought by the commercialization of the wireless technology surpassing 8.3 trillion yuan. Furthermore, according to Xin, the nation's industrial output rose by 4.1 percent on a yearly basis in the second quarter, 0.9 percentage point higher than the growth of the GDP. That shows the strong resilience of the industrial economy, which is an important force for driving the nation's economic recovery, Xin said. The vice-minister said the ministry will focus on enhancing the stability and competitiveness of the industrial chain, supporting the healthy development of small and medium-sized enterprises and promoting technological innovation and digital transformation and upgrading. Fu Baozong, director of the industrial research office at the institute of industry of the China Macroeconomic Research Institute, said market entities, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are important participants and promoters of technological innovation and will inject new vitality to the country's high-quality development. A man jumped onto a great white shark and punched it to save his wife when it attacked her on Saturday at a beach in Port Macquarie in the Australian state of New South Wales, media and officials said. The Sydney Morning Herald said that Chantelle Doyle, 35, was attacked by the 2 to 3 metre (6-1/2 ft to 10 ft) shark while surfing at Shelly Beach, and suffered severe lacerations to her right leg. It quoted Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce as saying Doyles husband jumped off his surfboard and onto the shark. This fella paddled over and jumped off his board onto the shark and hit it to get it to release her and then assisted her back into the beach," Pearce said. Pretty full on, really heroic." The Herald, which did not name the husband, said Doyle was treated at the scene by bystanders and paramedics and then flown to hospital, where she was in stable condition. Beaches in the Port Macquarie area were closed after the incident, Surf Life Saving NSW said in a statement, adding it was providing coastal surveillance of the area to help spot the shark. (Writing by Frances Kerry; Editing by Alison Williams) 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 Before that, the desperate Chifamba family had called Nyaradzo Life Assurance to take the body away but they were advised to let police processes be done first in line with lawful procedure. The family could not accord the body some dignified care as per culture since the risks involved were immense. Twenty new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including four imported patients, and one death were reported in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, according to the Ministry of Health. The deceased patient was a 75-year-old man living in Thanh Khe District in the central city of Da Nang, which is Vietnams COVID-19 outbreak epicenter at the moment. The man, identified as patient No. 699, had a history of chronic kidney failure, hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and heart failure before being diagnosed with COVID-19. He died while being treated at the Hoa Vang Medical Center in the namesake district of Da Nang. His death was attributed to pre-existing health conditions, pneumonia caused by COVID-19, severe respiratory failure, and septic shock. Of the 16 locally-transmitted cases announced on Saturday afternoon, 11 are recorded in Da Nang, four are in the neighboring province of Quang Nam, and one is in the northern province of Hai Duong. They are between 14 and 66 years old. Meanwhile, the four imported cases were immediately quarantined and sent to a field hospital in Ho Chi Minh Citys Cu Chi District after their flight from the U.S. landed at Tan Nhat International Airport on August 4. The country also announced the recoveries of ten patients, all treated in Da Nang, on Saturday. The new cases, recoveries and death raised the national COVID-19 tally to 950 infections, with 437 recoveries and 23 fatalities. A total of 477 local infections have been documented since July 25, when the country recorded the first local case after 99 days of no transmission in the community. As many as 115,858 people, who were in close contact with COVID-19 patients or returned to Vietnam from pandemic-affected areas, are under quarantine in the Southeast Asian country. Among them, 4,182 people are quarantined at hospitals, 25,952 are monitored at other facilities, and 85,724 are practicing self-quarantine at home. Of the under-treatment patients, 141 have tested negative for the virus at least once since receiving treatment. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The California State Assembly has recognised the contributions of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, on the occasion of Independence Day. The actors sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, received a certificate on his behalf. Sushant had often expressed a desire to move to Hollywood. She shared a picture of the certificate on social media, writing in the caption, On the occasion of Indian Independence Day California recognizes my brothers (Sushant) overall contribution to society. California is with us.... are you? Thanks for your support California. She told India Today, Its a great privilege for me to accept this honour from California State Assembly, on behalf of my brother, in remembrance and appreciation of his philanthropic work and contributions to Indian cinema. I thank the Assembly members and the Indian American community for their continuous support in these hours of crisis. Also Watch l Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Six mysteries that CBI needs to solve Shweta had previously shared pictures and videos of a billboard in California, calling for justice for Sushant Singh Rajput, a mantra that his fans have adopted in the weeks following his death. Sushant died by suicide on June 14, at the age of 34. His family has been pushing for the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the case, after a turf war broke out between the Mumbai and Patna police. Sushants father, KK Singh, has accused the actors girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, of abetting his suicide and siphoning of his funds, among other accusations. Rhea has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate, and has endorsed a CBI probe into the matter. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Shweta calls for 24-hour prayer on actors two-month death anniversary On the two-month anniversary of Sushants death, Shweta in an Instagram post wrote, It has been 2 months you left us Bhai and we are still fighting to know the truth, to know what actually happened that day. I request you all to please join us for Global 24-hour spiritual and prayer observation for Sushant Singh Rajput, so that the truth prevails and we find justice for our beloved Sushant. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LATHAM, N.Y. Troop G continues to investigate the 1983 homicide of Robert Bobby Gutkaiss. State Police in Schodack and the Troop G Major Crimes Unit continue to investigate the murder of Robert Bobby Gutkaiss. On June 30, 1983, Gutkaiss, then 15, left his home for his first day of work as a berry picker at Pease Farm in Stephentown. At 10:40 p.m., Bobbys mother, Grace Gutkaiss, reported that her son had not returned home from the farm. The owner of Pease Farm stated Bobby had worked on June 30, 1983, from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. The farm owner said he last saw Bobby walking in a northerly direction on State Route 22 toward Stephentown. The farm owner had told Bobby to return to the farm later that evening to receive his pay. Bobby never returned. A missing person investigation was started to locate Gutkaiss. Interviews with family, friends, neighbors and organized searches failed to develop pertinent information. On July 7, 1983, a report of a foul odor on a logging road in Stephentown was reported to the New York State Police. On July 8, 1983, the decomposing body of Gutkaiss was located. Bobbys death was ruled a homicide. The State Police Troop G Major Crimes Unit and the BCI Unit at State Police barracks in Schodack have made a concentrated effort to solve this crime and continue to ask for the publics assistance. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call State Police in Schodack at 518-732-4644. Hundreds of boats decked out in flags and regalia celebrating President Donald Trump flooded Lake Hopatcong for a boat parade around the lake Saturday morning. The event was organized by the Sussex County Republican Committee. Its chairman, Jerry Scanlan, led the flotilla and called the parade an overall patriotic, fun, great time. It's official: The Bureau of Land Management is now headquartered in Grand Junction. Most of the federal staff relocating to Mesa County from the nation's capital are expected to be on teh job by the end of August. New student counselling service to be provided by WP Education Ministry View(s): Surveys revealed that many students face depression due to a examination pressure, teacher issues, personal problems and various addictions The counselling service will be available via hotline, video calls and WhatsApp. The Western Provincial Education Ministry is to launch an online counselling service aimed at helping nearly one million students resolve their issues and build up their mental capacity, a senior Ministry official said. Western Province Education Director Srilal Nonis told Education Times the counselling service will be available on video calls and WhatsApp, and a separate hotline will be maintained as well. The first stage of the counselling service will be provided to Grade Seven to 13 students, and gradually it will accommodate students from other grades. The students could ask any questions on a range of subjects including education, discipline, personal problems, teacher conflicts and issues, guidance, addictions and sexual harassment , Mr Nonis said. At any given time, 68 counsellors would be available while another 150 counsellors would be ready to provide answers to questions. The ministry official said, if possible the students would be provided answers or advice immediately. If not they would be referred to another section. As a follow up, the students would be contacted five days later to ensure that their issue had been resolved. If not further support would be given. if the issue was related to a teacher or the school principal the zonal education offices assistance would be sought to resolve the issue, the ministry official said. Western Province Assistant Education Director Theja Pangoda said the decision to provide such a counselling service was made after surveys revealed that a section of the student population face depression due to a range of issues including examination pressure, issues from the staff, personal problems and various addictions. Even though there were other counselling services available, due to the lack of availability of online services, the students were not making enough use of such services, she said. Some counselling services are confined to specific areas, but with the new counselling service students can receive counselling for a wide range of issues, Ms Pangoda said. So far 668 counsellors had been recruited after approval of the salaries and cadre Commission. Among them are Peradeniya University and Colombo University graduates. (C) On the midnight of August 14, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the Constituent Assembly, delivering his famous Tryst with Destiny speech. In his address, Nehru evoked the countrys long freedom struggle and chalked out a path for its future. Here is an excerpt from his landmark speech: Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity. At the dawn of history India started on her unending quest, and trackless centuries are filled with her striving and the grandeur of her successes and her failures. Through good and ill fortune alike she has never lost sight of that quest or forgotten the ideals which gave her strength. We end today a period of ill fortune and India discovers herself again. The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us. Are we brave enough and wise enough to grasp this opportunity and accept the challenge of the future ? Freedom and power bring responsibility. That responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrow. Some of those pains continue even now. Nevertheless the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now. That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we might fulfil the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall take today. The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over. And so we have to labour and to work and work hard to give reality to our dreams. Those dreams are for India, but they are also for the world, for all the nations and peoples are too closely knit together today for anyone of them to imagine that it can live apart. Peace has been said to be indivisible, so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and so also is disaster in this one world that can no longer be split into isolated fragments. To the people of India, whose representatives we are, we make appeal to join us with faith and confidence in this great adventure. This is no time for petty and destructive criticism, no time for ill will or blaming others. We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell. Advertisement For the findings, the research team tracked more than 3,410 close contacts of 391 Covid-19 index cases between January and March 2020 to evaluate the risk for the disease transmission in different settings. They found that risk for secondary transmission of the novel coronavirus was less than four per cent among close contacts of persons with Covid-19.In addition, secondary infections acquired while using public transportation were rare. In contrast, one in 10 household contacts was found to be infected.The researchers also found that patients with more clinically severe disease were more likely to infect their close contacts than were less severe index cases. Those with asymptomatic cases were the least likely to infect their close contacts, the study said.According to the team, the manifestation of certain symptoms, such as expectoration, in index cases, was also associated with an increased risk for infection in their close contacts."In conclusion, we found that the secondary attack rate of Covid-19 was relatively low, and household contacts were at higher risk of infection," the study authors wrote. "Moreover, patients with more clinically severe cases or those with symptoms were more likely to infect their close contacts," the team noted.Source: IANS 'Sterilizing children' bill heads to Calif. Senate floor amid public outcry Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A committee in the California state Senate voted earlier this week to approve a bill creating a fund for experimental medicalized gender-transition procedures, including cross-sex hormones and body-altering surgeries for both minors and legal adults. The move came after the Health Committee chair said in late July that the measure would not be considered for the rest of the year. After pressure from transgender activists, the legislators revived the bill and the Senate Health Committee voted 7-1 to pass AB 2218, which is called the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund. Opponents of the measure have been pointing out that one of the side effects of the combination of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones is permanent infertility. In hearings this week, the bill's sponsors and proponents complained that they have been inundated with calls pleading with them not to support legislation that would fund the sterilization of children. The author of AB 2218, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, dismissed such concerns as "fear-mongering." Let me be very clear and get the record straight, Santiago asserted, nothing, I will repeat, talks about sterilizing kids. Nothing, I will repeat, in this bill points to anything to do with children I think it is fear-mongering and good for sound bites. Other legislators on the committee echoed his words, insisting the bill contained nothing to that end. "I got hundreds and hundreds of calls asking me not to support something that sterilizes children," said Senator Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, told the committee. "So after those calls, I decided to read the bill very, very carefully and I didn't find anything about sterilizing children." The California Family Council, which has been actively lobbying against the bill, has been showing legislators that the transgender clinics themselves warn that the experimental measures have a permanent impact on fertility. "By approving AB 2218, members of the Health Committee got it wrong," Jonathan Keller, president of CFC, said in a statement sent to The Christian Post Thursday. "At best, these senators are ignorant of how California gender clinics are already sterilizing children and young adults. If not, they are flatly refusing to acknowledge how this bill will fund these dangerous procedures. "Gender clinics claim to treat gender dysphoria in pre-pubescent children with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. You don't need to be a doctor to know that a child who doesn't go experience puberty will likely be sterile for life." Under a section with the heading "Preparing for gender-affirming hormone use in transgender youth" on the website of the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, which like many major hospitals now has a transgender care unit, the long-term impact that chemical puberty suppression and "gender-affirming" hormones has on fertility is acknowledged. "While options are being explored to preserve future fertility for transgender youth, the current reality is that cryopreservation is very expensive, in many cases prohibitively so for those with ovaries," the UCSF advice to trans-identifying youth reads. The advice continues: "For youth whose pubertal process has been suspended in the earliest stages [by puberty-blocking drugs], followed by administration of gender-affirming hormones, development of mature sperm or eggs is unlikely at the present time, although it is noteworthy that there is active research developing gametes in vitro from the field of juvenile oncology. The issue of future infertility is often far more problematic for parents and family members than for youth, especially at the beginning stages of discussing moving forward with gender-affirming hormones." The CFC stressed that the only reason to consider freezing gametes beforehand is because of the sterilizing effect of the drugs on the body. Endocrinologists opposed to the practice have long pointed out that the majority of children who go on puberty blockers continue down the prescribed pathway with cross-sex hormones and then surgeries in order to appear more as the opposite sex. The text of AB 2218 reads: "The grants shall be available to a hospital, health care clinic, or other medical providers that currently provides gender-affirming health care services, such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery." Before it was scrapped and then revived, the bill initially asked for $15 million to start the fund, but that figure was later scrubbed from the text of the proposal. Activists with CFC and other groups distributed copies of journalist Abigail Shrier's recent book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, which extensively documents the many harms transgender medicalization has on young girls. Surgeries such as double mastectomies on teenaged girls and genital amputations and reconstructive procedures for those 18 and older are covered by grants funded by AB 2218. The bill has now moved to the Senate Appropriations Committee and will likely go on to the floor of the Senate before the end of August. If approved, Gov. Gavin Newsom is likely to sign it into law. GODFREY Sign language interpreting might not be a viable career option for everyone, but for Amanda Pennington it appears to have stuck. As owner of 3As Sign Language Interpreting Services in Godfrey, Pennington has been an interpreter for almost 20 years serving both hearing and deaf communities all over Illinois. I just started the sign language interpreting program kind of on a fluke, she said. I never really knew what I wanted to do and always thought that sign language would be fun. Graduating from John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois in 2001, Pennington first worked as an interpreter in the Carbondale and Chicago areas before returning to the Alton area in 2012 to be closer to family. Ive had the whole range of Illinois from the south to the north and middle, she said, noting that shed been hesitant to start her own agency because of the administrative work involved. I was always hesitant to be responsible for all of those things, she explained. So, I tried several different things. Like, I thought I wanted to study paralegal stuff, so I did that, But I always ended up going back to what I knew. Wanting to be more involved with the community and help out fellow interpreters by giving them a chance to earn more money and work more jobs, Pennington finally opened 3As Sign Language Interpreting Services last year. Its not the standard business, she said. When I joined RiverBend Growth Association, I think I was the first interpreting agency they ever had. Part of Penningtons work involves being ready and willing to adjust to any kind of situation, since she aids the hearing community just as much as she aids the deaf and hard of hearing. Maybe a person got a job and is needing interpreters for training on the job or a business is looking to cater to its deaf customers, she explained. A lot of times, I work with colleges or universities who have deaf students and they have to provide access for those students. One of Penningtons biggest challenges is getting hearing people to understand that deaf and hard of hearing persons have an equal right to access the same services and activities that hearing people access. Its always very misunderstood, she said. Hearing people never seem to realize that this is a human rights issue. I think a lot of times the hearing people are misunderstanding and thinking that the deaf person is responsible for their own access, when really its the hearing persons responsibility to provide it, she said. Its the same as providing handicap restrooms. With no state regulations for interpreters before 2007 and few interpreting services at all for many years prior to that, Pennington said that the industry is evolving as awareness of the issue increases. Its crazy that deaf people have been so marginalized and not considered this whole time, and its kind of evolving to this very day, she said. She added that, up until more recently, it was often family members who interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing when they had to go to the doctor or take care of other common duties and tasks. Another more recent challenge that Pennington is seeing the deaf and hard of hearing community face is mask wearing requirements and regulations due to the spread of the coronavirus. The grammar of American sign language is completely on your face, she said. So a mask covering is taking away half of their language. You have specific things you do with your eyebrows and things you do with your lips that mean specific things, so its missing now with the mask wearing, she said. And then, if (people) are good with lip reading, then it removes that whole thing. Although some people have had more trouble with masks than others and clear face shields have become a popular solution for many in the interpreter world, the masks are still an unrecognized issue to those who arent necessarily affected. As far as deaf people encountering other hearing people with masks, its been very challenging for everyone involved, said Pennington. Even us hearing people, were missing subtle messages just from the face being covered. Despite the challenges, Pennington also finds a significant amount of reward in what she does. While many people may be unwilling to attempt communication with a deaf person, having an interpreter makes it easier for everyone involved and opens doors for both the deaf and hearing. Whenever I can make a connection between two people who might not have ever had a connection, it makes me feel like the rest of my day is just up, she said. Im so happy to provide service to both the hearing community and the deaf community and be able to make their lives full and complete, she said. Because, without access, neither one could know about certain things. With 15 licensed and certified interpreters whove signed on with Penningtons company, she is able to provide service at all levels, whether its for court appearances, medical related business or general community need. More information on 3As Sign Language Interpreting Services can be found at 3ainterpreting.com and facebook.com. Former political prisoner of the Kremlin, Volodymyr Balukh, shared photos of the event on a social network. Activists have launched a Ukrainian national flag into the skies over the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, says Volodymyr Balukh, a former political prisoner released from Kremlin captivity in one of the prison swap efforts. Incidentally, it was precisely for flying a Ukrainian flag over his home in Crimea that Balukh was initially arrested, rights activists reported. "Friends! Brothers! Ukraine! Our flag is already over Crimea! Incredible emotions! Now we will launch airmail with postcards! Together we stand strong! Ukraine will be victorious!!!" Balukh wrote on Facebook. Who is Volodymyr Balukh Balukh, a Crimean farmer, was detained by Russia's FSB Federal Security Service on December 8, 2016. FSB operatives claimed they had allegedly found 90 ammunition rounds and several TNT explosives in his attic. It is widely believed though that security operatives had detained the man for his firm political stance: he had a Ukrainian flag flying over his house, which he refused to remove despite persistent demands of local authorities, KHPG watchdog reported. On July 5, 2018, a Russian-controlled in Crimea sentenced him to five years in a penal colony and a RUB 10,000 fine. On October 3, 2018, the so-called "Supreme Court of Crimea" reviewed Balukh's original verdict and reduced his term to four years and 11 months. On September 7, 2019, he was handed to Ukraine as part of a major exchange of held persons. During captivity, Balukh was subjected to physical torture and threats of sexual violence, he told reporters. Russian occupation of Crimea In March 2014, after the introduction of troops, Russia annexed the Ukrainian Crimea, having set up a sham "referendum" on self-determination. The self-proclaimed Crimean government said 96.77% were in favor of Crimea's accession to Russia. On March 18, the so-called "agreement" was signed in the Kremlin on Crimea and Sevastopol accession to the Russian Federation. Western powers never recognized the annexation attempt, having introduced a number of economic sanctions against Russia. Ukrainians launching flags in the air for a cause On July 21, Ukrainian activists launched a huge Ukrainian flag into the sky over the occupied Donetsk. Russian invaders were seen shooting at the balloon-driven banner for at least 20 minutes. Amid protests in Minsk contesting election results, a Belarusian banner was seen flying over Kyiv, tied to a drone, in solidarity with rallies in the neighboring country. Crisis looms as UNSC overwhelmingly rejects US resolution to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran. The United Nations Security Council has resoundingly rejected a bid by the United States to extend a global arms embargo on Iran. In the Security Council vote on Friday, Washington got support only from the Dominican Republic for its resolution to indefinitely extend the embargo, leaving it far short of the minimum nine yes votes required for adoption. Eleven members on the 15-member body, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, abstained. Russia and China strongly opposed extending the 13-year ban, which was due to expire on October 18 under a 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, announced the defeat of the resolution ahead of a very brief virtual council meeting to reveal the vote. The Security Councils failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable, he said in a statement. Israel and the six Arab Gulf nations who supported the extension know Iran will spread even greater chaos and destruction if the embargo expires, Pompeo said, but the Security Council chose to ignore them. Zhang Jun, Chinas ambassador to the UN, said in a statement that the result once again shows that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail. Washington could now follow through on a threat to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback, even though US President Donald Trump had unilaterally abandoned the accord in 2018. On Thursday, the US had circulated to council members a six-page memo outlining why Washington remains a participant in the nuclear accord and still has the right to use the snapback provision. In a statement after the vote, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said Washington has every right to initiate the snapback mechanism, and added: In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo. Diplomatic catastrophe Al Jazeeras Kristen Saloomey, reporting from New York, said the USs defeat on Friday was not a surprise. But its a surprise that the US bid failed so miserably, she said. Any party to the nuclear accord could trigger the snapback provision if Iran is seen to be in violation of the accord. But Russia and China say the USs withdrawal from the deal two years ago means it has forfeited its right to do that. Other members of the council would seem to agree, she said. The Europeans have expressed some misgivings about conventional weapons going into Iran. But at the end of the day, they say their concern about a nuclear weapon is paramount. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limits on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief and other benefits. Following the US withdrawal and imposition of unilateral sanctions, Tehran has already scaled back compliance with parts of the accord. Diplomats have said triggering the snapback provision would put the fragile agreement further at risk because Iran would lose a major incentive for limiting its nuclear activities. Irans UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi warned Washington against trying to trigger a return of sanctions. Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited. And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behavior will bear the full responsibility, he said in a statement. Jarret Blanc, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Al Jazeera the USs failed bid amounted to a diplomatic catastrophe. It demonstrates that President Donald Trump and his team are not only bad at the strategy of approaching Iran, they are bad at the day to day tactics of diplomacy. It is unconscionable that the US couldnt round up more than one vote for a resolution like this. But some analysts said they suspect that Washington put forward a hardline draft purposefully, knowing that council members would not be able to accept it. The fact is that everybody at the UN believes this [resolution] is just a prelude to a US effort to trigger snapback and sink the Iranian nuclear deal, Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group, told AFP news agency. While voting on the US draft resolution was under way, Russia said its President Vladimir Putin called for a meeting of leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council along with Germany and Iran to avoid escalation over US attempts to extend the Iranian arms embargo. In statement released by the Kremlin, Putin said the question is urgent, adding that the goal of the videoconference would be to outline steps to avoid confrontation and exacerbation of the situation in the UN Security Council. If the leaders are fundamentally ready for a conversation, we propose to promptly coordinate the agenda, Putin said. The alternative is to further build up tension, to increase the risk of conflict. This development must be avoided. Asked if he would take part, Trump told reporters: I hear theres something, but I havent been told of it yet. French President Emmanuel Macrons office confirmed Frances availability in principle to Putins proposal. We have in the past deployed initiatives in the same spirit, it said. Jarret Blanc, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, called the USs failed bid a diplomatic catastrophe. It demonstrates that President Donald Trump and his team are not only bad at the strategy of approaching Iran, they are bad at the day to day tactics of diplomacy. It is unconscionable that it couldnt round up more than one vote for a resolution like this. Advertisement Melbourne is in the middle of one of the strictest coronavirus lockdowns in the world. But from these pictures, you'd hardly know it. Photos taken in the city's suburbs on Saturday show that some residents are refusing to play by the rules when it comes to fighting Victoria's killer second wave. Groups of mothers and their children were spotted huddled together in the park, men were sitting closely together next to a coffee stand and others lined up for food at the markets in Oakleigh in the state's south-east. Melbourne is currently in a state of disaster after Premier Daniel Andrews enforced strict Stage 4 restrictions on August 2 to bring down cases of COVID-19 which were spiralling out of control. Melburnians are banned from leaving their homes between 8pm and 5am unless for work or care-related reasons and are required to wear face masks unless they are exempt on medical or professional grounds. A busy pedestrianised street in Melbourne shows people milling around despite strict orders to stay at home A group of mothers (far right) and their children were photographed huddled in a circle on Saturday during Melbourne's Stage 4 lockdown Elderly men are seen sitting near a coffee stand and wearing face masks on Saturday. Victoria is currently in a state of disaster as COVID-19 cases surge Another group of elderly men are seen sitting down in the sun on Saturday as they enjoyed a bright day in Melbourne Victoria recorded 303 new cases of coronavirus and four deaths in the 24 hours to Saturday, with authorities hoping to ease restrictions by September 13. The numbers are a significant fall from the 372 infections on Friday and is the second-lowest daily figure reported in the state this month after 278 cases on Thursday. The Victorian death toll is now at 293, with the four new deaths including a women in her 80s, two men in their 80s and one woman in her 90s. Two of the four deaths are connected with aged care outbreaks. There are currently 41 people in hospital receiving intensive care, with 28 of those on a ventilator. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Saturday that there are now 3,383 cases in the state from an unknown source, with an increase of 264 overnight. 'Before people see that as a very, very big increase on previous days, we have always made the point or try to that coronavirus detective work it's all done in one hit,' he said. Victoria has recorded 303 new cases of coronavirus and four deaths in the 24 hours to Saturday, with authorities hoping to ease restrictions on time Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Saturday that there are now 3,383 cases in the state from an unknown source, with an increase of 264 overnight 'It does take time to try and work out, try to exhaust all possible sources and then to declare that case a mystery case.' 'So they do come in batches, if you like.' 'I would not read too much more into that, it is simply the product of multiple days' work being brought to book, as it were, recorded in our numbers.' There have now been 184 deaths associated with aged care outbreaks. Mr Andrews said there are currently 124 aged care facilities in Victoria with COVID-19 outbreaks. Of those, 119 are privately run homes. Victoria's daily case numbers are gradually decreasing, with the seven-day average down to 344 from 521 a week ago. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters the number of new cases have stabilised and Victorians should have 'hope and confidence' restrictions are now manifesting in the daily counts. 'We are seeing the benefits of what everyone is doing in the community in wearing masks and getting tested and isolating when they have the very first symptoms and in complying with isolation and quarantine when contacted by the department,' he said. The virus reproduction rate has finally dropped below one and Mr Sutton is eager that it will drop even further. The numbers are a decrease from the 372 infections recorded on Friday and one of the lowest daily death tolls in weeks (Pictured: Couple walking through Melbourne CBD on August 12) Victoria's daily coronavirus case numbers appear to be gradually decreasing, but authorities warn there is more progress needed before lockdown restrictions can be eased 'It can get to 0.4, 0.5, if everyone can do the right thing,' he said. 'That is where it was probably headed to in April when we were in another very substantial lockdown and we saw numbers drop very dramatically.' 'If we can get to an effective reproduction number at a similar level we should see a similar reduction over time so that is encouraging.' While the daily case numbers appear to be gradually decreasing, authorities warn there is more progress needed before lockdown restrictions can be eased. 'We could not conceive of opening up with 200 cases a day,' Mr Sutton said on Friday. 'We couldn't do it with 100 cases a day. 'We have to head for the lowest possible number.' But official government modelling obtained by the Herald Sun has revealed the state could ease out of stage four restrictions on time. Authorities have plans to gradually ease restrictions providing Melburnians provide ongoing compliance with the rules. Nurse Carmen Kennett (right) conducts a COVID-19 test on healthcare worker Sarah Baker at a popup COVID-19 testing clinic at a dentist in Ballarat on August 14 The first step would see Melbourne's nightly curfew dropped and the gathering of bigger groups by Christmas. Current government modelling has predicted a return to stage two restrictions by December, meaning families will be able to celebrate the holidays. Professor Sutton believes the stage three restrictions and mandatory face masks were key in seeing infection cases drop. Infection cases are expected to fall even further as a result of the strict stage four restrictions across Melbourne. However, Professor Sutton says the death toll could still be high for days to come. 'The seven-day trend indicates the peak was probably four or five days ago and we will continue to see lower numbers overall from here on in,' Prof Sutton said. While Melbourne is still the worst hit part of the state, concerns remain about regional Victoria after Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo recorded new virus infections. Infection cases are expected to fall even further as a result of the strict stage four restrictions across Melbourne (Pictured: People in the city on Wednesday) A man in his 20s became Australia's youngest COVID-19 fatality on Friday as the state recorded 14 more deaths - 12 of whom were aged care residents. Aged care deaths make up 70 per cent of coronavirus deaths across the country and remain of great concern to Prof Sutton and Premier Daniel Andrews. There are now 2,034 active cases across 119 aged care facilities. Melburnians remain subject to strict night time curfews, time-limits on outdoor exercise, distance allowed from home, mandatory public mask wearing and shut downs of non-essential industries. Regional Victorians are living under stage three restrictions. This means people are only allowed to leave their homes for work, exercise, care and essential shopping. Restaurants, cafes, bars, gyms and other businesses have been forced to shut while the stage three restrictions are in place. According to a Governors State article from earlier this year, Winfree was the first in her family to attend college. She came to Prairie State College as a returning adult student, and eventually began to work there in a number of entry-level positions. The family of Carole Baskins missing husband, who featured in Netflix series Tiger King, have hired a lawyer and are offering about $139,000 for information about his disappearance. Lawyer John Phillips held a news conference in Tampa, Florida, last week and announced an independent investigation into Don Lewis disappearance. He also said that on behalf of the Lewis family, hes filed a lawsuit against Mr Lewis second wife Carole Baskin in an attempt to depose her and get her to speak on the record. He and the family have also paid for Tampa-area billboards asking for information in the case. Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue, pictured in 2017. Source: AAP Mr Lewis vanished a day before a scheduled trip to Costa Rica and was never found. He was declared legally dead in 2002. He and Ms Baskin started the animal sanctuary, which later became Big Cat Rescue Corp in Tampa, Florida. Three of Mr Lewis daughters were at the news conference. Mr Lewis youngest daughter Gale Rathbone, expressed gratitude for those interested in the case. Amazingly, our little family tragedy has become your tragedy. Our search for closure and truth has become your mission also, she said. We all know by now that (Mr Lewis) was not a perfect man. But do only the perfect among us deserve justice? Questions remain about the disappearance of Don Lewis more than 20 years ago. Source: Netflix In an email sent to the Associated Press Monday, Ms Baskin said she wouldnt comment. Its been my policy not to discuss pending litigation until its been resolved, she wrote. I had told some news outlets that I thought the press conference on August 10 was just a publicity stunt, but at that time was not aware there would be pending litigation. Mr Lewis case, and Ms Baskin, were featured in Tiger King. Ms Baskin is still the owner of Big Cat Rescue, and lobbies for abolishing private wildlife ownership. A mugshot of Joseph Maldonado-Passage aka Joe Exotic. Source: AAP Tiger King was a documentary series about Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, an eccentric former Oklahoma zookeeper who loves big cats. Earlier this year, Maldonado-Passage was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot. Story continues He was convicted of trying to hire someone to kill Ms Baskin, who had tried to shut him down, accusing the Oklahoma zoo of abusing animals and selling big cat cubs. In retaliation, Maldonado-Passage raised questions about Ms Baskins former husband, Jack Don Lewis. The documentary extensively covered Maldonado-Passages repeated accusations that Ms Baskin killed her husband and possibly fed him to her tigers. Ms Baskin hasn't been charged with an offence and refutes accusations. Source: Netflix (file pic) Ms Baskin hasnt been charged with any crime and has repeatedly released statements refuting the accusations made in the series. Maldonaldo-Passage is currently in prison. A federal judge in June granted control of the Oklahoma zoo that was previously run by Maldonado-Passage also known as Joe Exotic to Big Cat Rescue Corp. Ms Baskin previously sued Maldonado-Passage for trademark and copyright infringements and won a US$1 million civil judgment against him. The judge found that ownership of the zoo was fraudulently transferred to Maldonado-Passages mother in an attempt to avoid paying the judgment. In March, the Hillsborough County sheriff asked for tips in the case of Ms Lewis and announced a reopening of the case. 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. Madurai: The Madras high court bench has questioned the Tamil Nadu government whether it could convert water bodies in the state and allow construction work there. A division bench headed by justice A Selvam raised the question on Wednesday while hearing a PIL by one Duraisamy, seeking removal of encroachments from a tank at Vilampatti village in Dindigul district. The petitioner submitted that there were many government offices including a panchayat union office in the water body, which is spread over 4.5 acres. The encroachment has led to acute shortage of water in the village and it should be removed, he said. The bench asked if the government which clears encroachments, itself can encroach water bodies. In response, the government submitted that there were no lands that could receive irrigation water from the water body in the village. There was also a provision to change the status of water body and allow construction there, it said. The bench then directed the government to submit the details, according to which construction was allowed in the water body and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In yet another scathing attack, US President Donald Trump has claimed that he has "more Indians" than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican heritage. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the New York City law enforcement union, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), that has endorsed the President in the race for the White House. "(If) Sleepy Joe Biden were to become President, he would immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in America... And probably she's a step worse, Kamala. "She is of Indian heritage. Remember I said I have more Indians than her... I have more than she does," he added. Referring to Massachusetts' Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, Trump said: "I was sort of hoping he (Biden) was going to pick Pocahontas... She's another beauty." "We got names for all of them. What's better Sleepy Joe or Slow Joe?" the President asked, having his crowd cheer louder for the nickname they preferred, reports Fox News. In his address, Trump also attacked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, also a Democrat, and said he "has launched a crusade against the police". The President described how he watched a protestor dump a bucket of water on two police officers and said, "I wish they fought back". Trump's latest attack on Harris came a day after he said that that the California Senator "doesn't qualify" to serve as US Vice President, while amplifying the fringe legal 'birther' theory that critics decry as racist. "I just heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements and by the way the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer. "I have no idea if that's right. I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for Vice President. "But that's a very serious... you're saying that, they're saying that she doesn't qualify because she wasn't born in this country," he was quoted as saying in a BBC report. On August 11, Biden picked Harris to be his running mate for the November 3 election, in a historic move that marked a breakthrough for Indian-Americans in US politics. Contributed photo Guilford Savings Bank is expanding its branch network at a time when many businesses are struggling to survive. The bank hopes to open a seventh branch in January 2021 with an office at the intersection of Washington and Blakeslee avenues in North Haven. Guilford Savings officials celebrated the start of construction on the single-story, 2,000-square-foot branch with a groundbreaking on Wednesday. Canada-and the world-needs more Canadians, Opinion, Aug. 7 I agree with Duncan Melville that Canada needs more immigrants to increase its population. We need more people to stimulate our economy, and in the long run spread the debt burden, as he mentions. However, Canada must also be more selective when choosing prospective immigrants. There are many people around the globe who would love to live in Canada, so we can afford to be choosy. We must attract educated and skilled workers who can contribute to our economy now. We do not need workers in sectors where there is already high unemployment. It is imperative that new immigrants participate to the economic life of this country when they arrive and not just after years of training and/or language lessons. They must possess the skills we need and speak either English or French. The government could also give incentives to promote areas that could benefit from a population boost. We already have large congested cities, but there are many small towns in this country that could be revitalized with a bit more life around them. Claude Gannon, Markham Duncan Melville makes the point that Canada can and should increase its population, potentially up to 100 million. He notes that Canadas population density is significantly less than that of many other countries, forgetting, no doubt, that few people want to live in the Arctic, or even in the near north, and that increasing Canadas population density means increasing the people using the 401 and the DVP each day. Aside from that, Melvilles argument is based on the fallacy that population growth feeds increased consumption, which he deems a good thing, and therefore, increased wealth for the Jeff Bezos and Tim Cooks of the world. Unfortunately, increased population and ensuing consumption will only aggravate the already cataclysmic climate change the world is experiencing. Canadas North is already experiencing catastrophic changes. We need to reduce the population of the world to bring it back to a sustainable level. We need to work hard and fast to counter climate change. We do not need, nor can we afford, 100 million people in Canada. Brigitte Nowak, Toronto Duncan Melville emigrated from England 10 years ago and marvelled at all the ample space we have here is Canada, but would like to see it all overpopulated and overcrowded, which somehow defeats what he marvelled at in the first place. He sites other countries with enormous populations and thinks we should be the same. It sounds like hed like to see cities in Canada become like Tokyo or New York City. I guess he doesnt realize that more people equals more destruction to the environment, as more roads are paved, buildings erected, green spaces filled in and trees cut down. Also, as we have discovered recently, overcrowding during a pandemic causes more deaths. At the moment, we cant handle more immigration or refugees, as we currently have many people out of work and a housing crisis, which leads to newcomers ending up in shelters and motels because there is nowhere else for them to live. Lets do things sensibly and not decimate Canadas wide open spaces and beautiful scenery for the sake of all Canadians, new and old. Man with outstanding warrant arrested in Cancun airport Cancun, Q.R. A Sonora man with an outstanding arrest warrant was taken into police custody after landing at the Cancun International Airport Friday. Federal police arrested the man after he landed on an Aeromexico flight flight arriving from Mexico City. Police say Elvis R.V. was taken into their custody in Terminal 4 of the Cancun airport after authorities learned about his outstanding arrest warrant in Hermosillo, Sonora. He was wanted on firearm-related charges. Pain, says Fran Bell, doesn't come close to describing it. 'Imagine someone wringing your organs, as if they are wet sponges,' says the 37-year-old former primary school teacher from Derbyshire. 'It's a twisting, pulsating sensation that begins in the abdomen, then radiates all the way up to the chest and down to the toes.' Standing, she adds, is agony and getting dressed is impossible. Every toilet trip: excruciating. It's difficult to understand how Fran has managed to cope having suffered such bouts since she was 14. Today, as we chat on the phone, she's been struggling to move at all for a week. The cause is endometriosis a condition whereby the womb lining grows uncontrollably outside the womb in deposits such as in the pelvis or the bowel. It is thought to affect one in ten women, and is linked to the monthly cycle. But as the symptoms are often confused with other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the average patient waits almost seven-and-a-half years from first visiting a doctor to receiving a proper diagnosis. In Fran's case, it was 18 years. And by the time doctors worked out what was really going on, when she was in her early 30s, the abnormal tissue had appeared in her bowel and spine and on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the back down the legs. The disease had, in her own words, 'obliterated' her insides. 'They said everything from the liver down was riddled with it,' explains Fran, who was forced to give up her job, partly because of her condition. Doctors told her the damage had left her infertile and she now faces a hysterectomy alongside further operations on her bowel. Today, Fran is the recipient of a landmark 500,000 pay-out from the Nottingham University NHS Trust whose 'patronising and condescending' male doctors failed to spot the warning signs of the disease. Fran Bell (pictured with her son Harry) and her husband Jon were initially denied NHS funding for fertility treatment. But she fought against the decision and it was overturned. Fortunately, she became pregnant after her first treatment. But childbirth was anything but straightforward. Her waters broke early, at 26 weeks, and she spent nearly two months in hospital until Harry was born prematurely at 33 weeks (credit: Gemma Yeomans Photography) Endometriosis is caused by cells from the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, growing in other parts of the body, usually the fallopian tubes and pelvis (stock) Shockingly they deemed her in letters to one another 'highly strung', and made her feel 'like a hypochondriac'. Having read an article about endometriosis, she suggested it to one of them but it was dismissed. She adds: 'I can't help but feel the fact my doctors were male had something to do with their lack of sympathy and, in fact, I was diagnosed only when I saw a female doctor.' Legal wranglings lasted five years because, although the Trust admitted liability for the delayed diagnosis, it continued to argue that many of her resulting problems were down to IBS a common digestive complaint with no physical cause. Fran was diagnosed with IBS. Unsurprisingly, Fran is adamant it was, in fact, all down to endometriosis. Experts now say her successful case, thought to be the first of its kind, could open the floodgates for many more claims, simply because Fran's experience is depressingly 'not untypical'. Her solicitor, Stephen Jones from Leigh Day, said: 'It's an awful case because it was so avoidable. Fran put the diagnosis on a plate for them, and the real issue is how patronising and condescending the doctors were to her. 'This is a broader problem in terms of women's care generally and this is perhaps the tip of the iceberg. How many women are suffering in silence and aren't being diagnosed as they should be?' Fran says: 'My case isn't unique there are thousands of us. I'm a member of a support group online and it's full of women who are struggling to get diagnosed, or who've had to wait ten or 15 years for it.' For Fran, at least, there's been a happy result: against the odds she gave birth to a son, Harry, in January 2018. But her condition and delays to treatment made the route to parenthood a long battle, involving IVF and the use of a donor egg. What causes it is unclear, but it may affect as many as three million women in the UK (stock) Fran and her husband Jon, 35, a biochemist, were initially denied NHS funding for fertility treatment. 'I was told I was too ill for IVF with my own eggs, but not ill enough to qualify for donor eggs,' she says. But she fought against the decision and ultimately it was overturned. Fortunately, she became pregnant after her first treatment. But childbirth was anything but straightforward. Her waters broke early, at 26 weeks, and she spent nearly two months in hospital until Harry was eventually born prematurely at 33 weeks. She says: 'We've been through absolute hell to have Harry, and I know I'm so lucky to have him. But I worry for all the others out there silently crying at home thinking nothing can be done for them.' Endometriosis is caused by cells from the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, growing in other parts of the body, usually the fallopian tubes and pelvis. What causes it is unclear, but it may affect as many as three million women in the UK. In the most severe cases such as Fran's, it can lead to lesions and scarring on other organs including the bowel, bladder, and even the lungs. Endometriosis is incurable, but here's how HEAT can help women beat the pain There is no cure for endometriosis but treatment can help manage the worst symptoms (stock) There is no cure for endometriosis but treatment can help manage the worst symptoms. In some cases, this is done with heat: a hot-water bottle, hot bath or heated wheat bags. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen can also help, but it is recommended they're taken pre-emptively started a day or two before a period or pain is expected. Codeine-based medication can cause constipation, which can make symptoms worse. Other non-drug approaches include TENS machines (devices that use small electrical currents) and physiotherapy and a referral to a specialist pain clinic is advisable if discomfort is still unmanageable. A gynaecologist may prescribe hormone medication. Surgery to remove areas of endometriosis tissue may also be needed, and this can help improve symptoms and fertility. However, some patients ultimately opt to have a hysterectomy. Advertisement It is believed to be the leading cause of infertility in the UK. To diagnose the condition, women must undergo a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy during which a camera and other instruments are inserted through small keyhole incisions in the abdomen. It involves a general anaesthetic and although routine, there is a small risk of infection and damage to the bowel and bladder. For this reason, GPs are cautious about referring women for it, says Professor Andrew Horne, an endometriosis expert at the University of Edinburgh. 'It's important doctors, and patients, know about signs that differentiate endometriosis from things such as IBS, so they don't hold back in sending a patient for a laparoscopy,' he explains. In 2017, new guidelines were drawn up by the health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), advising doctors to test for the condition in those presenting with chronic pain in the middle of their menstrual cycle. Yet these guidelines are 'still not being implemented' by the vast majority of GPs, according to the charity Endometriosis UK. Its chief executive, Emma Cox, blames this on a 'historic reluctance to treat women's issues as a priority.' She adds: 'Women are often told to put up with their pain, or that it's normal. The cause of it isn't even investigated, symptoms continue or get worse and the disease may progress.' Fran believes that if her symptoms were investigated when they first emerged two decades ago, she'd have been spared the lifelong pain she now faces. Her problems began two years after her first period, in 1997. 'They were irregular from day one,' she says. 'About a year afterwards came excruciating pain, every month, from the week before my period until the day after it stopped. It was like bad period pain, but amplified. An all-consuming, twisting, stabbing in my stomach that stopped me from moving off the sofa.' When the agony became so severe that Fran was unable to attend school, her parents took her to see the GP. 'I must have gone about 12 times in the space of a couple of years,' she says. The doctor diagnosed dysmenorrhoea, which is the medical term for irregular or painful periods, and sent her home with paracetamol. It took three years of back-and-forth trips to the GP before a referral to a gynaecologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was made. An ultrasound scan failed to show anything, so the disease was missed. Since 2017, NICE guidelines have warned doctors not to exclude endometriosis if scans are normal but this wasn't the case back then. And so she was not referred for a laparoscopy. Instead, Fran was prescribed the contraceptive pill which didn't help. 'When I was 18 the pain spread to my bowel, and it was no longer just a monthly thing. I'd have terrible diarrhoea and constipation, often passing blood when I went to the toilet. A few times the pain was so unbearable that I fainted.' Fran spent the best part of her 20s 'popping paracetamol and ibuprofen every day. I even tried codeine for a while but it made my symptoms worse.' This struggle went on for 13 years until Fran and Jon decided to start a family. She stopped the pill and the agony increased, almost overnight. During one night of particular pain, in late 2014, after she suffered terrifying bleeding, she was rushed to A&E. 'I thought maybe I'd had a miscarriage,' she says. The doctor treating her referred her to a female gynaecologist who, in early 2015, sent her for a laparoscopy. ARE women ignored by male doctors? Tell us what you think. Health@mailonsunday.co.uk Advertisement 'When I woke up from surgery, I was told they'd found endometriosis, that it was stage four the most severe and that it was one of the worst cases they'd seen,' she says. 'They said the area between my uterus and rectum was, in their words, obliterated, and everything from the liver down was riddled with the disease. 'I cried. Half because I was sad, but also because I wasn't going mad. I had been right for all those years.' The couple were told there and then that the disease had rendered her infertile. Soon afterwards having been initially told they didn't qualify for IVF treatment the couple decided to take legal action, and approached Leigh Day. The details revealed during the legal proceedings were altogether more shocking. Particularly alarming were 'derogatory' letters between her GP and the gynaecologist at the time of her first referral. Fran says she felt they were suggesting her symptoms were 'exaggerated and imaginary'. She says: 'The GP said I'd 'convinced myself' I had endometriosis. He wrote, 'I think there's a degree of anxiety present and two years ago it was noted she was highly strung.' 'I was in huge amounts of pain. And yet I was being dismissed.' The consultant replied to the letter, agreeing that there was 'a background of tension', and even, oddly, discussed her trouble understanding human biology. 'It was so offensive,' Fran says. 'They commented on the fact that I wanted to study medicine at university, so clearly thought I fancied myself as a medic and had been self-diagnosing. It was obvious they thought it was just a case of hypochondria.' After a five-year legal battle, her claim was settled out of court, with the trust admitting that its care 'fell below the normal standard', and forking out a record-breaking sum. Medical director Dr Keith Girling admitted: 'Had we correctly diagnosed her endometriosis earlier some of her distress could have been avoided.' Despite this, the Trust still refuses to admit liability for the delay causing infertility. It claims to follow the latest NICE guidelines regarding endometriosis, including offering a laparoscopy even if scans are normal. While Fran may have won this legal case, her daily battle rages on. 'I'm in premature menopause now because my ovaries have been destroyed, so I don't have periods. This lessens the pain, but only slightly,' she says. 'Patches of endometriosis lead to further patches so it'll keep spreading throughout my body, especially now that it's on my nerves.' Fran has been offered a hysterectomy, which can lessen the pain as this ends periods (which is why for a lot of women with endometriosis, menopause is helpful). But she says: 'That would involve having bits of my bowel removed, and a colostomy bag. I don't want to rob my son Harry of a few months of his childhood because I'm laid up in bed. So it'll have to wait.' Thomas Challenges University to Unity in Divisive Times August 12, 2020 Dr. Heath A. Thomas delivered his first Convocation address as OBU President Wednesday, Aug. 12. The message was live-streamed from the stage of Raley Chapels Potter Auditorium. He challenged the University community to consider the divisions facing us in the world today and to unite in Christ. His message centered around the question, What will unite us? This is a pressing question in our world today because, despite calls for unity, much divides us, he said. We live in a divided world. Wedges wiggle their way between us so we can neither see one another nor work with one another. He then named some of the things that divide us, including politics, racial tensions, technology, wealth and health. He also discussed the problem of loneliness in our world and how it spans across the generations. On this day of convocation, that is, being called literally togetherwhat will unite us in a common bond? he said. What will unite us in purpose? What will unite our humanity so that we go into our world and make a positive difference for good? What, my friends, will unite us? At Oklahoma Baptist University, what will unite us is not a what, it is a who. At Oklahoma Baptist University, we will unite around the expansive reign of God in the man that we know as Jesus the Messiah. He then addressed various views that perceive Jesus as too small and undermine His expansive reign, countering them with biblical texts. His voice and his reign is heard by every people, every nation, every tribe and every tongue that has walked or will walk the earth. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is ruler of all. Because Jesus transforms us from hostile to God, hostile to one another and through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross and the victorious resurrection, because of this fact, we have the ability to serve, to love, to live and to work in our world as emissaries of Jesuss love. Thomas reiterated his point that what unites the University is Jesus Christ. He added that pursuing Christ in creation is the true purpose of a university education. He concluded with an exhortation to the campus community. What will unite us at OBU? Jesus. His expansive reign will unite us. May the expansive reign of Jesus drive us to our work this year. May the very power and wisdom of God, which is Christ, fire our imagination, spark our curiosity, wash our words, deepen our love and chart our way forward together, in unity. Dr. Heath A. Thomas assumed office as the 16th president of Oklahoma Baptist University Jan. 1, 2020. He joined the faculty in 2015 as the dean of the Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry and the associate vice president for church relations. He also served as interim dean of the Divisions of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Language and Literature, and the Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership. Prior to arriving at OBU, he served as director of Ph.D. studies and associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. An OBU alumnus, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature on Bison Hill. He then earned a Master of Arts in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Old Testament from the University of Gloucestershire (United Kingdom). He has served on staff at churches in Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina and in the United Kingdom. Passionate about opening up the Scriptures for today, he preaches and teaches regularly. The head of the country's tourism promotion board has travelled to Italy on holiday, the Irish Independent can reveal. The Government is advising people not to travel abroad and to "holiday at home" as the Covid-19 pandemic plays havoc with the country's economy and health service. Failte Ireland is carrying out a "major drive to encourage people to take domestic breaks" and the Government has introduced a tax rebate to encourage people to spend their holidays here. However, Failte Ireland chairman Michael Cawley went to Italy on his holidays. The Mediterranean country is on the Green List of countries people can visit without having to quarantine on their return. Read More Mr Cawley last night confirmed he was in Italy but said he plans to take two holidays in Ireland in September and October. "It [the holiday] was arranged by my family some months ago. I didn't want to disappoint them," he said. Mr Cawley said he will be taking two holidays in Ireland in September and October. "I understand what the Government is doing and I support it," he said. "I am going to spend two holidays supporting the Irish tourism industry." Mr Cawley said he has been working hard with Failte Ireland and has been on every single pandemic call. He said he has not seen his son in the US in six months and probably won't this year. His daughter lives in Europe and he met her on this holiday. Mr Cawley said he knew other people had to cancel their pre-booked holidays abroad this summer and had lost money as a result. "I sympathise with people and I support what the Government is doing absolutely. It is a family decision and a personal decision," he said. The former Ryanair deputy CEO was appointed as chairman of the tourism body by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar when he was tourism minister in 2014. He was reappointed last year by then minister Shane Ross. Mr Cawley worked with Ryanair for 17 years and was the airline's deputy chief executive and chief operating officer until his retirement. He had previously worked as the airline's chief financial officer and commercial director. Prior to his time with Ryanair, he worked with the Gowan Group Limited, a distributor for Peugeot and Citroen cars in Ireland. A spokesperson for Failte Ireland said the organisation would not be commenting. Failte Ireland has been avidly promoting domestic tourism. Its current heavyweight domestic marketing campaign is 'Ireland, Make a Break for it'. In the past month, it launched a new-look website for domestic visitors, DiscoverIreland.ie, as well as a new domestic marketing campaign, 'Come here to me Dublin', which encourages those living in Dublin to visit the attractions in the city. Additionally, Failte Ireland has recently collaborated with RTE on a four-part TV series No Place Like Home. Failte Ireland has also drawn up a Covid Safety Charter for the tourism industry to instil public confidence in the safety of tourism businesses. After publishing the Green List, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the advice was to "holiday at home". "I am clear that the safest thing to do is not to travel. That is the clear message. We are saying to people to holiday at home this year. "We have, in respect of those 15 countries, applied the normal precautions appellation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which basically means when they return home they will not have to restrict their movements," he said. Failte Ireland says Covid-19 has been "catastrophic" for tourism in this country. Speaking at the Dail Covid-19 committee last month, Failte Ireland chief executive Paul Kelly said tourism was of "vital importance" to Ireland. "Economically, tourism was hit first, hit hardest and will take the longest to recover," he said. Rohingya candidate Abdul Rasheed of the Democracy and Human Rights Party, who was barred from running in Myanmar's upcoming general elections, sits at a desk at the party's office in Yangon, Aug. 13, 2020. A Rohingya man who filed to run for a seat in Myanmars parliament in November has been disqualified over questions about his parents citizenship, a decision that he disputed and that activists say underscores pervasive official discrimination toward the Muslim minority. Abdul Rasheed, a member of the Rohingya-led Democracy and Human Rights Party (DHRP), filed his candidate application to run for a parliamentary seat representing Sittwe township in western Rakhine state, home to most of Myanmars 300,000 Rohingya. On Tuesday, six days after he filed his papers at the Sittwe District Election Commission, election authorities rejected his application on the grounds that his parents were not Myanmar citizens when he was born. The 58-year-old said his father was a civil servant for nearly four decades in Rakhines capital Sittwe and received a government pension. His mother, meanwhile, holds a citizenship certificate. It is obvious that my mother became a citizen before I was born because she has a three-fold national ID card, Abdul Rasheed told RFA on Thursday, referring to National Registration Cards (NRC) issued by the government from 1948 to 1982, and which provided full citizenship rights. In 1982, Myanmar enacted a Citizenship Law that decreed that only members of the national races seen as having settled in Myanmar prior to beginning of British colonial rule in 1824 were entitled to citizenship. The Rohingya were not included among the 135 official ethnic groups and were suddenly excluded from full citizenship and disenfranchised. Election authorities told Abdul Rasheed that they accepted his account, but did not have the authority to verify his parents citizenship. They also said he could file an appeal over the application rejection, which he said he would do. Abdul Rasheed questioned why other ethnic groups who hold three-fold ID cards are recognized as citizens. People have asked me if my candidacy was rejected because I am a Muslim or a Rohingya, he said. Im disappointed that other people who hold the same types of ID cards are allowed to be candidates, he said. Their citizenship is not being questioned. Why is my citizenship as a Muslim or a Rohingya being questioned? More than a dozen other Rohingya candidates have submitted candidate registration forms to run in the upcoming elections. Abdul Rasheed was also rejected when he tried to register as a parliamentary candidate for Sittwe in the 2015 general elections, which brought to power current Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) government. State election authorities later threw out his appeal. Abdul Rasheed (4th from L) and other members of the Democracy and Human Rights Party meet in the party's office in Yangon, Aug. 13, 2020. Credit: RFA Linked to genocidal policy The international community has condemned Aung San Suu Kyis government over its handling of the militarys brutal crackdown on Rohingya communities in northern Rakhine state nearly three years ago that left thousands dead and prompted more than 740,000 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar faces charges on genocide-related charges at the International Criminal Court for the maltreatment of the Rohingya during the crackdown accusations that Aung San Suu Kyi and the military have denied. Rohingya activist Wai Wai Nu, whose father chairs the DHRP, said Abdul Raheeds disqualification by election authorities reflects the governments attitude toward the Rohingya. This is actually directly linked to the states genocidal policy against our people, she said Thursday during a webinar on the Rohingya crisis. Despite a long history of participation in Burmas elections and politics, our people were disenfranchised in 2015, she said, referring to the last general elections in which the Rohingya were not permitted to vote. The NLD government, which won office in 2015 promising a change from military rule, must change these policies and practices, Wai Wai Nu added. The Southeast Asia-based rights group Fortify Rights issued a statement on Wednesday calling on the government to ensure Rohingya-led political parties have the right to field candidates in the 2020 elections. Nickey Diamond, a human rights activist with Fortify Rights, said he is certain that Abdul Rasheeds latest application was rejected because he is a Rohingya. Myanmar views members of the minority group as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and subject to systematic repression and discrimination. The rejection in the past election was also for the same reason, he told RFA, adding that many hoped that the civilian-led, pro-democracy NLD government would have opened the door to Rohingya political candidates. The man has the right to run for the election, and his party is officially registered, Diamond said. Now, the government has denied his right to run as a candidate. It makes me doubtful that the upcoming elections will be free and fair. Other candidates have been rejected by election authorities, despite proven citizenship, Diamond added. Not based on race and religion UEC Chairman Hla Thein told RFA that religion and race had nothing to do with candidate application approvals. We are not approving candidates based on their race and religion, he said. Regardless of their race and religion, we approve all candidates if they fulfill the qualifications required to be a candidate. Established in 1989 as the National Democratic Party for Human Rights, the DHRP has advocated for Rohingya rights in northern Rakhine where more than 300,000 Muslims still live in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships, according to election authorities. The DHRP has nominated seven candidates in all to run in the upcoming elections, with five from Rakhine state and two from Yangon region. Abdul Rasheed is the first one to be rejected by election authorities, while applications submitted by the others are still being reviewed. Nearly 100 political parties have put forward candidates for the Nov. 8 elections in what's likely to be a tough contest among contenders from the popular ruling NLD, the army-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party, and many ethnic parties. The candidates are vying for 1,171 seats in both houses of the national parliament and in state and regional legislatures. Reported by Thant Zin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Additional reporting by Roseanne Gerin. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Former Fianna Fail Taoiseach Brian Cowen and former Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen attended their mother May Cowens funeral in Clare on Saturday as she was remembered by her strength to keep going. Mary May Cowen died peacefully at her home in Clara on Thursday following a period of illness. She was remembered by parish priest Fr Joseph Deegan for her strong faith which allowed her to support the political careers of two sons and husband Ber. That had to be fed by her faith, giving her strength to keep going. Quietly supporting the political careers of her husband Ber, Brian and Barry and keeping an eye on Christy there at home, with a sure and solid motherly loving and wisdom, he said. Mrs Cowens closest family and friends attended the funeral and due to Covid-19 restrictions, the congregation was restricted to 50, with parishioners also paying their respects outside of St Brigid's Church in Clara. Her sons Brian, Barry and Christy were sitting with their families in the front pews and with former Taoiseach Brian Cowen attending the funeral in a wheelchair due to suffering a bad stroke just over a year ago. Expand Close Former Minister Barry Cowen arriving at the funeral mass of his late Mother May Cowen at St Brigids Church in Clara Co Offaly Photo by Steve Humphreys 15th August 2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former Minister Barry Cowen arriving at the funeral mass of his late Mother May Cowen at St Brigids Church in Clara Co Offaly Photo by Steve Humphreys 15th August 2020 He was sitting to the right of the white coffin, which had a large bouquet of white flowers placed on top beside a photograph of Mrs Cowen. The congregation inside the church wore face coverings throughout the Mass, which was streamed online. Fr Deegan said that Mrs Cowen found joy in their political careers as well as sadness. Finding joy in their careers in the glorious moments and also feeling the sadness Im sure for them, in their struggles and their disappointments. Mrs Cowen found the death of her husband, a sitting Fianna Fail TD in 1984 very painful. The strong faith that she had to rely upon Im sure was her support in that very painful and shocking experience at the sudden and untimely death of her husband Ber, said Fr Deegan. Helping her to carry on the work in rearing her family, keeping the family business going, the pub, the butchers, the undertakers. She was also described as a loving grandmother to beloved grandchildren and was always warm even when she faced her own challenges. Not without difficulty, having to carry her own cross of sickness and suffering in the last 14 years or so. Must have been hard going at times but again, she did so with dignity and the strength of her faith to help her, he added. Expand Close Locals gather to pay their respects at the funeral mass of May Cowen at St Brigids Church in Clara Co Offaly. Photo by Steve Humphreys 15th August 2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Locals gather to pay their respects at the funeral mass of May Cowen at St Brigids Church in Clara Co Offaly. Photo by Steve Humphreys 15th August 2020 Speaking to the Sunday Independent in 2017, Barry Cowen said his mother stood at the head of the family and was battled hardened. "She would always say 'you are elected by the people, you are elected by your constituents, you work for your constituents and hard work will be rewarded. And if you take your eye off the ball, if you neglect your work, if you leave yourself vulnerable and open, you lose your job', he said. "She understands you're only as good as your last election. It could be around the corner at any time, on any day, and that comes from a woman who was married to a person who, in the eighties, did three elections in 18 months, and the difficulties that brings." She was laid to rest in the Monastery Cemetery in Clara and is survived by her sons, Christy, Brian and Barry, sisters Patsy Nolan (USA) and Nuala Farley (USA), grandchildren Jane, Stephen, Sinead, Meadbh, Gemma, Lorcan, Eoin and Aoibhe, daughters in law Mary (Tullamore), Mary (Clara) and Ann (Clara), brother in law, sister in law, cousins, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. The anger in the French government about the UKs decision to add France to its quarantine list does not only stem from the damage it will inflict on the countrys tourism industry as it tries to recover from the coronavirus effect. On 10 May, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, thought he had secured an opt-out from Boris Johnson when the two leaders discussed the UKs plans to bring in 14-day quarantine for people arriving in the UK. A joint statement after their phone call said: No quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage; any measures on either side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner. Five days later, Britain made clear it might not keep its side of the bargain, to understandable consternation in Paris. It appears that officials advised ministers that travellers from other countries could get round the quarantine rules by returning to the UK via France. KITCHENER Emergency crews and a bomb squad were called to downtown Kitchener Friday morning after a suspected would-be bomber died in a vehicle explosion outside the provincial courthouse. Waterloo Regional Police Superintendent Eugene Fenton said it appears the man found dead in the vehicle is the same person responsible for the explosion. Therefore we are searching two residences in the city of Kitchener to determine if there is any further concern for public safety, he said at a media briefing late Friday afternoon. Police searched and cleared two residences on Hearthwood Drive and Grand Flats Trail Friday evening. First reports of the vehicle explosion outside the courthouse at Duke and Frederick streets came in at 10:30 a.m. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene. Officers in the Explosive Disposal Unit were on scene into the late afternoon and were able to determine a suspected improvised explosive device caused the explosion. Witnesses told The Record they heard a loud noise like an explosion and then watched as a vehicle parked on the Duke Street side of the courthouse went up in flames. Aaron McComb was in the area to pick up his paycheque from the construction site near the courthouse Friday when he heard a loud noise. So the explosion happened first. Then there was a fire, McComb said. I really dont know how else to describe it. An explosion, a shotgun, a noise. It sounds like one of those big 30 to 40 yard bins dropping down really hard. McComb saw a few people run to the source of the noise and he followed, thinking he could help in some way since he has CPR and First Aid training. He saw a man standing by the vehicle trying to help. I asked him if he knew if anybody was in the vehicle. He claimed that, yes, he did think there was someone in the vehicle. As I was approaching I said lets get him out, lets get him out. McComb said the other man opened the door and they were hit with a wall of heat. At that point we saw the guy in the car, buckled up, McComb said with a halting voice. I tried to get myself close enough where I could unbuckle his seatbelt, try to drag him out, do something but once we opened the car door the flames were so intense, they were so hot they were crawling out through the roof of the vehicle, he said. I cant get the images out of my head. McComb said he backed off and called 911. I couldnt just leave like that. I tried to go back, he said. He soon heard another small explosion then another small explosion after that. McComb said he also noticed the explosions sent shrapnel into the air. He and a co-worker took pylons from the construction site and blocked the road until emergency crews arrived. Others watched from afar after they heard the loud bang. A couple of my coworkers ran over there and took a look inside and theres a body inside there. But it was engulfed in flames so they couldnt do anything, said Mike Sylvester who works at the construction site across the street. They ran over to see if they could help, he said. It was a windy day. Thick smoke could be seen billowing from the car in a video shared by a witness. In the video, the car is ablaze and a firefighter runs onto the road and works quickly to unravel a fire hose. Firefighters with the Kitchener Fire Department were able to extinguish the fire, said Andre Johnson, public information officer with Waterloo Regional Police Service. By late Friday morning. the car which was on the Duke Street side of the courthouse, was covered with a tarp with its badly damaged front end exposed. The police services Explosive Disposal Unit was also at the scene with a robot that searched the vehicle first, followed by officers in protective suits. Fenton said the bomb squad assessed the scene after hearing from witnesses of the explosion that led police to believe the fire may be suspicious. As the day wore on, police expanded the scene and moved bystanders further and further away from the scene. The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal also arrived to the scene late in the afternoon. Waterloo Regional Police officers were busy with three different investigations on Friday. An elderly woman died after her vehicle hit a hydro pole on Union Street East in Waterloo Friday morning. The area was closed for several hours and caused a large power outage in Waterloo. The other active investigation was into reports of a taxi driver being assaulted by a man with a gun who then fled on foot in the area of King Street East and Jackson Avenue in Kitchener Friday morning. The Waterloo Region courthouse is currently open for trials and preliminary inquiries. Anyone with information about the explosion is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. In May 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while announcing economic reforms to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, introduced a word which has since become common in Indian vocabulary: Atma-nirbhar. 'Atma-nirbhar' which literally translates to self-reliance. For Indians in lockdown, it meant being independent, financially, socially, and having the ability to do daily tasks on their own. For businesses, however, it means not only do they achieve the 'Make in India' tag but also help in creating a sustainable product which adds to Indian's integrity. On India's 74th year of Independence, here's a look at five very niche Indian businesses that really define 'Atma-Nirbhar.' Latika's Bags An 89-year-old woman from Assam is now giving a second life to worn-out saris that were punctured with holes from years of fraying and were accompanied by the smell of naphthalene balls. Latika Chakrabarty, who hails from Dhubri in Assam, has worn and loved sarees for as long as she remembers. "We have worn saris since we were 13," she said. "It is a cultural thing, I guess." After her marriage to Krishna Lal Chakrabarty, who was an Officer-Surveyor in Survey Of India that she traveled to various places in India, which gave her the opportunity of seeing different kinds of saris from different regions. She now uses rejected kurtas, frocks and old sarees as her base material to make cloth bags. "It depends on what is available," she adds. In times of pandemic, Latika has also taken to making the most essential garment of the new normal: Face masks. Operating out of an Instagram page and a website, you can read more about Latika's bags here. Dweller Teas If you have grown up in an Indian household, chances are your grandmother would make you a blend of steaming sweet-smelling, spiced tea every time you sneezed. The homemade cure for almost all ailments was your grandmother or her mother's secret recipe of spices, and medicinal plants. Dweller Teas, a start-up tea business from Manipur, is bringing back that same taste - and that feeling of nostalgia. Founded by Elizabeth Yamben, who grew up in Manipur,' Dweller' was created with the thought that tea and home should always go hand-in-hand. The idea of the startup came to Yamben one morning after she had moved away from Manipur for better opportunities, and was sipping tea. "I felt like making a quick list of perceived local strengths of the place I grew up in," she said. And once she realized the potential of everything that is locally-grown and harvested, Dweller came into being. Dweller also provides job-opportunities to the local harvesters in Manipur. At the age of twelve, Yamben had moved away from home in search of better opportunities in education. Living away made her want "to create those opportunities back home. I would often think about returning one day to start an initiative based on the local strengths for sustainable livelihoods. Dweller is available on its own website and e-commerce platforms. You can read more about them here. Soxytoes Thinking of quirky socks? Soxytoes should be your pick. Founded by Kolkata based entrepreneurs, the digital platform which specializes in quirky socks (and now masks), the brand is dedicated to make the space on your ankles be a cool, conversation starter. Whether it be their best-selling product, 'Netflix and Chill?' the brand has come a long way since it was founded in 2017. Soxytoes which primarily operates out of its online website, and on e-commerce portals with limited offline events, is as self-reliant as it gets. Vidushi Kanoria, the co-founder of Soxytoes opens up to News18 in an interview about how everything in the product is home-grown. "We're a self-reliant brand. Our materials, are sourced all from inside India." Soxytoes has factories in Noida where the manufacturing process takes place, and provides employment to locals for the production. All essential materials, including the raw material is sourced from local Indian brands, and Vidushi herself curates and supervises the designs. They have also recently come out with anti-viral masks, which are made with 100% fine weave cotton & treated with silver-based anti-viral infusions and are 'good vibes only.' You can check out their website here. Snackible The 'healthy snacking' brand which emerged out of a strange observation by the founder that India did not have healthy options, has become the choice of munchies for many Indians, especially in times of pandemic. Started in 2015, the brand initially relied on a subscription-based model and has now evolved into an a-la-carte model where the company tries to create a balance between healthy and tasty. Speaking to News18, Founder and CEO, Aditya Sanghavi, shared how the plan was to come up with something where "Taste was paramount," to meet India's diverse palate. Since the company makes perishable food products, everything is manufactured in India, in the most 'atma-nirbhar' way possible: Everything is sourced from within the country, manufactured and packaged in the country as well. Snackible sells predominantly out of their own website and e-commerce platforms like Amazon, and some of their sub-brands may even be available in your local kirana stores! In the post-Covid world, where everyone wants to focus on health, Snackible seems to be the right platform for traction, and as Sanghavi reveals, they've "seen a drastic traction on the website," during the pandemic. Snackible also helps out its supply chain: All of its raw material is sourced only from small, local farmers. The business runs on farm to plate for their products, and even the packaging for the products is done by a small company in Gujarat. It turn, it creates a sustainable chain that really aligns with the concept of 'Atma-nirbhar.' You can check out their website here. Nua Woman Nua, the Indian brand which is breaching the women's hygiene product space so far only owned by big names like Stayfree and Whisper, is making its presence felt by its uniqueness: customization. As more and more people turn to products that are custom-built and tailor-made for them, Nua's motto also relies on the same: "It's all about being customer-first." In an interview with News18, co-founder and CEO Ravi Ramachandran, explains that the purpose is to be more than 'just another brand which sells sanitary pads.' Having built a community of over 1 lakh women in the last three years, "It is a safe place where they can ask or express anything they want, have sessions with gynaecologists, learn more about mental and physical wellness." Recognized as a 'Make in India' brand, all of Nua's current and upcoming products are Indian. The core raw material of customizable pads is sourced from South Korea, but the final custom manufacturing is done in Maharasthra. Nua also employs locals and contractors in Maharasthra, in turn providing jobs at a ground-level for this Indian brand. Nua also turned saviour where in "essentials," women hygiene was often overlooked. Nua collaborated on 'Project Prerna' with YWater India and the Navi Mumbai hub of Global Shapers, who along with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the State Government helped out in reaching women on-ground to sanitary pads. "Our aim was simple - raise money and supply pads to 30,000 women in urgent need who reside in the low-income neighbourhoods of Mumbai and beyond," explains Ramachandran. Nua's products reached women living in containment zones with restricted movement or women who had lost their jobs. Nua ended up distributing 300,000 pads in areas such as Dharavi, Mankhurd, Govandi, Colaba, Kamathipura and also COVID hospitals in Navi Mumbai. With State Government's help, we were able to reach out to the low-income communities and migrant workers in Malegaon. You can check out their website here. In case you ever need anything and want to be sure about the 'Indian-ness' of the brand, you now know where to go. The Office of the President of Ukraine has reacted to the information about the release of militants from the Wagner private military group detained in Belarus to Russia. The President's Office noted that the Ukrainian side expected a more legally correct and balanced decision from Belarus. Ukraine regrets the decision made by the Republic of Belarus to release a previously detained group of persons belonging to the Wagner private military group. The Republic of Belarus is an independent state with its own position, but the Ukrainian side expected a more legally correct and balanced decision," the report says. We consider such a decision, to put it mildly, unfair. It does not correspond to the spirit of relations between Ukraine and Belarus, based on the principles of respect and mutual assistance, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed. On July 29, Belarusian law enforcement agencies detained 33 people who turned out to be mercenaries from Russia's Wagner private military group. Ukraine asked Belarus to extradite 28 of the 33 detained individuals who, according to Kyiv, took part in the fighting in Donbas against Ukraine. On August 5, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he was ready to cooperate with Ukraine on the issues of detained militants from the Wagner group. On August 6, he invited the prosecutors general of Russia and Ukraine to Belarus to clarify the situation with the detained militants. On August 14, 32 militants of the Wagner group, detained in Belarus at the end of July on suspicion of organizing mass riots, returned to Russia. ish Young India is showing the way: PM Modi on Covid vaccination Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav: PM to flag off seven initiatives of Brahma Kumaris Independence Day: Major Shweta Pandey to assist PM Modi unfurling tricolour at Red Fort India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 15: Major Shweta Pandey, a woman army officer will assist Prime Minister Narendra Modi in unfurling the national flag during the 74th Independence Day function at the Red Fort. "Major Shweta Pandey will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling the national flag. The unfurling of the Tricolour will synchronise with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the valiant gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (ceremonial). The ceremonial battery will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jitendra Singh Mehta and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG) Anil Chand," the Defence Ministry statement read. Major Pandey is an EME officer (electronics and mechanical engineers) at the Indian Army's 505 base workshop. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News Pandey became the first Woman Officer to carry the National Flag and lead a first-ever Tri-Services Indian Armed Forces Contingent in the Victory Day Parade of Russia at Red Square, Moscow. Independence Day: 84 security personnel to get top gallantry awards Unfurling of the flag will synchronise with a 21-gun salute by gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (Ceremonial), after which Modi will address the nation. After Modi's speech, the National Cadet Corps cadets will sing the national anthem. The Army Grenadiers Regimental Centre Military Band - commanded by Subedar Major Abdul Gani - will play the National Anthem during the unfurling of the national flag and the 'Rashritya Salute'. All Service personnel in uniform will stand and salute, while the rest will be requested to stand and pay respect to the Tricolour. As the start of school approaches (or is already here in some states), the Covid-19 crisis rages on, leaving many educators around the country very concerned about health and safety issues regarding if or when they and their students will return to the classroom or library. The reentry plans for many school districts are still in flux due to frequently shifting circumstances and guidelines. The disruptions and numerous uncertainties surrounding the pandemic have made an already challenging era for school librarians and other educators that much tougher. Its a real interesting world out there right now, says John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, characterizing what advocacy for school librarians facing job cuts has looked like so far this year. The cuts that weve seen coming into the 20202021 school year have all been using Covid-19 as an excuse rather than the budget actually falling apart yet, says Chrastka. All the prognostications and forecasting from groups like CCSSO [the Council of Chief State School Officers] and the National Association of State Budget Officers is that the 20212022 school year is going to be the most perilous. Without solutions from the feds, thats when its really going to hit. As a result, Chrastka notes, the cuts to school library programs heading into the approaching school year have all been made by administrators, superintendents and principals, trying to take advantage of the crisis and making the cuts they wanted to make anyway. Its kind of political cover for them right now. SaveSchoolLibrarians.orgthe activist website funded by Follett and featuring EveryLibrarys school library advocacy effortshas been active in several situations of this type. Local advocates are very, very concerned when they hear that administrators are trying to pull a fast one, Chrastka says, and they are showing up to fight those kinds of cuts. As a case in point, the state of Pennsylvania appears to be facing a wave of school librarian position cuts that cant be explained by the pandemic. This year has looked dramatically different and I dont really understand why, says Debra Kachel, cochair of the local and state advocacy committee for the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. In a normal spring, PSLA hears about some districts eliminating school library positions or not planning to fill the positions of retiring school librarians. But this year it got so bad in March and April that we [PSLAs advocacy committee] had to create a Google form for people to fill out and notify us of proposed cuts because requests were coming in so rapidly, Kachel says. We would get two or three in a day, and my cochair and I started taking turns on who to contact. That has never happened before. Kachel says that the state legislators with whom PSLA has been working to pass HB1355 and SB752, which would ensure equitable library services for all Pennsylvanias K12 students, are frustrated and baffled by the increased number of proposed cuts. Theyve said to me, Theres no reason that these districts should be cutting so many librarian positions, because our state has already voted on an education budget for all of next school year based on exactly what all the schools had this past year. They know the state funding that theyre getting, and they kind of know that theyre going to get additional money from the feds. Kachel adds that one of the legislations biggest sponsors in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives expressed it this way: I dont know whats going on. I dont know why there are so many proposed layoffs of school librarians this year. A few months ago, Kachel and members of the PSLA advocacy committee had a videoconference call with the leaders of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the states teachers union. PSEA leadership confirmed to Kachel that they were already working with 69 districts, out of 500 total in the state, that had notified them they were laying off teachers, but its not known how many of these positions are held by librarians. The unusual uptick in proposed school librarian cuts in Pennsylvania districts compelled Kachel and her committee to quickly assemble a new portfolio of strategies for librarians to use. The program includes resources from PSLA, AASL, and ALA, as well as a position statement from PSLA emphasizing the role of the trained and certified school librarian in addressing the anticipated Covid-19 slide caused by school closures and learning disruptions during the pandemic. SaveSchoolLibrarians.org and Chrastka were on board to assist Pennsylvania librarians by helping facilitate a #SaveSchoolLibrarians social media campaign on June 22. Kachels advocacy committee prepared a number of digital postcards touting the benefits of an effective school library program and a certified school librarian, with graphics provided by PA School Works. In February, the Davenport School District in Iowa proposed a budget for fiscal year 2021 that included the cost-saving measure of laying off 22 teacher librarians in the district and replacing them with paraprofessionals. SaveSchoolLibrarians.org rallied support for those librarians, and fortunately the district both received some debt relief and found other avenues to make cuts. The Davenport School Board eventually approved a fiscal 2021 budget that saved all 22 of the teacher librarian jobs. Covid-19 response and school reopening hurdles School librarians and other educators have been praised for how they skillfully pivoted to meet the needs of their students and families during the school closures this spring. But the advent of a new school year as the country remains under siege by the pandemic has raised a plethora of new concerns and uncertainties, and school librarians and educators need a whole new level of support. As of this writing, many states and districts are still grappling with whether, when, and how to reopen their schools. In Kachels analysis, in many Covid-era back-to-school scenarios, the physical library space will itself be at risk. The school library facility is among the largest rooms in most schools, she says. We know that room is going to be commandeered for social distancing of kids. Ive heard various scenarios of that dilemma, AASL president Kathy Carroll concurs. I understand the necessity for social distancing obviously, but I hope in our desire or our need for moving forward that we dont take a lot of steps backward because were being shortsighted. There are no perfect answers. But there are some that are worse than others. And I think removing the librarians by having us work in a capacity outside of what were specialized to do and closing the library space for what it is intended forI think those are decisions that we will quickly regret. When things go back to some semblance of normalcy, were going to regret that we didnt utilize our best people to move our learners forward and that we didnt safeguard the space and use it in its best way. I dont mean to be dismissive of these very hard decisions. But I also think we have to think long-term. The only people who have been believing the rhetoric about the school library being the largest classroom in the school are the school librarians, Chrastka says, noting that many administrators see the library as a multipurpose space. It would be wise for our school librarian community to look at defending their space, because if you lose your space, you lose your mindshare. There should be some alternatives presented to hollowing out the school library and making a holding pen for students who may or may not be ill. Its cheaper to get a trailer from FEMA to put up on school grounds as a dedicated and unique space for health and safety than it would be to hollow out the school library. Among the ideas in PSLAs reopening plan is counseling librarians to go to their administrators and propose to take under their wings cohorts of students whose parents do not want their children to physically attend school. The librarian will be their teacher of record, so to speak, and the liaison between the school, the other subject teachers, and the home, Kachel says. We dont know yet how thats being received because we just recently put that out there. But Ive been saying to librarians, Youre going to have to be chameleons for a while. Were going to have to blend in with whatever our schools, our teachers, and our students need right now. Because thats what its going to take to hold on to jobs. Allison Mackley, a past president of PSLA and K12 library department coordinator for the Derry Township School District (Hershey, Pa.) has created a Google Doc entitled Library Opening Plan and COVID Response, which contains concise guidance as well as links to information from ALA/AASL, the CDC, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, EveryLibrary, the NYC Department of Education, and other organizations. A color-coded infographic accompanying the document was inspired by the work of librarian Kim Borden in Pen Argyl, Pa., and other PSLA librarians who contributed to a crowdsourced Tiered Opening Plan; the design was adapted from the Eanes Independent School District Library Department in Austin, Tex. The document and infographic have been widely shared on social media, with many librarians and other educators expressing enthusiasm and gratitude for the recommendations. They cover librarians responsibilities for instruction and circulation within various school reopening scenarios, e.g. 100% Remote and In Person/Remote. Teaming up for more funding Securing school library programs, like most everything in education, is a question of money. Our policy perspective is theres no earmark available for librarieswhether its school libraries or public libraries, says Chrastka. Without stability for schools and districts, and the state revenue situation for education, the school library is going to be a victim, Chrastka predicts. He believes that the library community has to be aligned for the success of schools and districts, as opposed to being singularly concerned with school library programs and school librarians only. It is a classic rising-tide-all-boats situation, as far as we can see. For this reason, EveryLibrary backs initiatives like the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act, sponsored by Senator Patty Murray of Washington State. This proposed legislation would build on the CARES Act and invest $345 billion in the Education Stabilization Fund to stabilize and prevent cuts to education. Thats an ecosystem builder for education, Chrastka says. Some of the ways that library communities have recently been coming together include what Chrastka calls a very successful campaign alongside the Washington, D.C., teachers union. Without the unions participation this wouldnt have worked. Due to a SaveSchoolLibrarians.org online petition, as well as advocacy from AASL, the Black Caucus of the ALA, and others, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a 20202021 school year budget in May that includes a 3% increase in funding for public education. They defended the school librarian positions, they helped ensure that 90% of them would be retained going into this school year, and theyre also working on getting the other 10% back, Chrastka says. Thousands of people across the city showed up, as parents and as stakeholders, to fight alongside the union and alongside us to make sure that kids had a school librarian whether theyre doing an all-digital, blended, or in-person approach. Another important moment of teamwork was the January 24 rally for school librarians held in Philadelphia during ALA Midwinter, organized by PSLA and EveryLibrary in support of the two bills in the Pennsylvania legislature. The event drew attention to the dire circumstances of the School District of Philadelphia, which has only six school librarians to serve more than 125,000 students in 215 schools, giving the district the worst librarian-to-student ratio in the country. Following the rally and prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Kachel says, PSLA contacted Philadelphias school board and city council. The school board never responded, but there were three fruitful Zoom meetings with different city council members discussing proposed support, staffing, and mentoring plans. She hopes they can pick up that strand again at some point. Other examples of new partnerships include PSLA joining various educational coalition groups, including PA Schools Work. They are all about educational funding, Kachel says. We decided we were going to join these kinds of organizations because our issue is all about funding as well. And we need to have a voice at the table. PSLAs strategy is in line with what Chrastka advises for school librarian advocacy moving forward. The reality is that the other shoe hasnt quite dropped yet for funding around school libraries and public libraries, he says. This is a time when folks should be gathering their resources, building alliances, joining coalitions that are bigger than the libraryand my concern is that they might not be. If youre not in a position to be politically forceful for the issues that you believe in around librarianship, then, unfortunately, youre going to be left behind. This concern is the impetus behind the Library Advocacy and Funding Conference, scheduled for September 1416 and presented online by EveryLibrary at LAFCON.org. Were looking to build better political literacy skills for library leaders in school, public, and academic settings, and for the state, provincial, and national associations, Chrastka says. Folks have been behaving as if this crisis is going to passwere going to find a vaccine and everythings going to be fine. But the funding future for public education and the policy framework for public education are starting to fall apart. Though Chrastka says he doesnt want to dwell on the gloom and doom of the situation, what it comes down to is theres going to be less money, which means theres going to be austerity budgeting, and austerity budgeting is a fight for survivalunless you are politically powerful and savvy. According to Chrastka, 25% of every registration for the conference will be donated to state library associations; 25% will be put toward EveryLibrary advocacy efforts; 25% will go to research, training, and education through the EveryLibrary Institute (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit); and 25% will go toward conference costs, including paying presenters. Kachel is determined to take a more positive view. Im really looking for opportunities right now, she says. The librarians I have been talking to have been saying that they have never worked more closely and more collaboratively with teachers than during Covid. I think some teachers are finally having an aha moment, saying Wow, this person really has an expertise that I can use, and they can really help me. And I didnt know that before. Whenever we are past this crisis, whatever the new realitys going to look like, Im hoping that collaborative spirit is maintained. And thats a real opportunity for us to lean on. Well have to see how it all shakes out. Return to the main feature. A Mercer County man was killed Friday night when a box truck slammed into his car that was stalled on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike, authorities said. Garret Christino, 22, of Hightstown, was killed in the crash in Carneys Point Township after a box truck hit his Nissan Altima, said New Jersey State Trooper Alejandro Goez. The driver of the truck and a passenger in the truck both sustained minor injuries, said Goez. At 10:36 p.m. Friday, New Jersey State Police received a report of a crash on the Turnpike south, said Goez. The Nissan Altima that Christino was driving had a tire blow out and was disabled in the left lane, with part of the car in the left shoulder, said Goez. The car was stalled facing east, perpendicular to the flow of traffic, he said. The box truck was traveling in the left lane when it collided with Christinos Nissan, said Goez. Christino suffered fatal injuries in the crash, said Goez. The fatal crash shut down the left and right lane for four hours, said Goez. As of Saturday morning, no summons had been issued and the crash is under investigation. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. From Uri: The Surgical Strike's 'Challa' to 'Vande Mataram' from India's Most Wanted, Bollywood has had a lot to offer in terms of patriotic songs since last year. On our 74th Independence Day, we look back into the days of severe sacrifice and struggle put by our independence fighters. Their relentless vigour and unmatched courage led to the country's decolonization, but even after seven decades of independence, our soldiers at the borders continue to tackle infiltrators and acts of terrorism to keep our motherland safe. While this year's celebration will not see the usual congregation of people at the Red Fort, schools and other public places, we can seek inspiration from patriotic numbers. Here are some patriotic songs that Bollywood has gifted us in the last one year to instill love and adoration for the country. Teri Mitti (Kesari) The perfect ode to the motherland from a dutiful soldier, 'Teri Mitti' has managed to win over every Indian since its release in March, 2019. The melodious song, sung by B Praak, perfectly suited the devotion that the 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment showed in the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi. The music for the number was given by Arko Pravo Mukherjee. Challa (URI: The Surgical Strike) The adrenaline-rush-inducing song correctly matched the motivation and strive of a countryman, who can go to extreme lengths for their country. The song was sung by Romy, Vivek Hariharan, and Shashwat Sachdev, while the lyrics were written by Kumaar. In the song, the Indian Army can be seen preparing for a battle and training hard for their ultimate mission to cross the border into Pakistan and catch the enemy by surprise. Bharat (Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi) Sung by Shankar Mahadevan, the soft tune and thrilling lyrics of the composition set the mood for the great valour that Rani Lakshmi Bai showed against the British army. The flutist for the composition was Naveen Kumar, while the strings were performed by Bombay String Orchestra. Bharat Ki Beti (Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl) The song from the latest release features the extreme tenacity and patience that every woman of India shows. The melodious number sits well with the struggles the first woman IAF pilot Gunjan Saxena went through to achieve her dream. The song has been sung by Arijit Singh and it has been composed and produced by Amit Trivedi. Lyrics have been penned by Kausar Munir. Vande Mataram (India's Most Wanted) The song from the film India's Most Wanted has music by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The song itself has been sung by Papon and Altamash Faridi. Picturised on Arjun Kapoor, it is a soothing a mellowed down track evoking a sense of patriotism. SPAR Market, formerly Citydia, has signed a partnership agreement to donate food and non-food items from all its stores to Food for All Africa. This donation would then be channelled through the Food for All Ghana food bank to feed vulnerable families and community charities across the country. At an official MOA signing ceremony on Friday the 14th August, General Manager of Ecodi Ghana, operators of the SPAR supermarkets brand in Ghana, Mr Joao Rente Correia expressed his brand's commitment towards ensuring shared value for vulnerable people within communities in which they operate. "Ecodi Ghana, by introducing the SPAR brand in Ghana, aims to provide affordable and convenient food and groceries shopping experience to Ghanaians through its 17 existing neighbourhood stores. This partnership would ensure we become efficient by reconnecting surplus food towards feeding the vulnerable in society. During the COVID-19 lockdown in Ghana, we already partnered with Food for All Africa to distribute 61,000+ kgs of food to over 105,000 beneficiaries across the country." Executive Director of Food for All Africa, Chef Elijah Amoo Addo commended SPAR Ghana for joining them to reduce hunger and food waste across the food supply chain in Ghana. "As operators of West Africa's first and largest community food bank in Ghana, partnering with businesses is key towards a Ghana without Hunger. A recent report by the National Development Planning Commission revealed that Ghana needs GHc3.5 trillion to provide adequate nutrition to 850,000 pregnant women and over 4,000 infants in the country. Food Banking is key in the global fight against hunger and malnutrition and Food for All Ghana is opened to working with stakeholders towards accelerating Ghana's effort in the attainment of the UN SDGs 1,2 and 12 through food banking." He called on other stakeholders and businesses to support food banking in Ghana. The county Heath Department said Saturday reported 84 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 6,694. There were no new deaths with the toll remaining at 60. Tennessee had 19 more coronavirus deaths bringing the total to 1,345, state Health Department officials. There were 1,289 new cases in the state for a total of 131,747. There were 88 more patients hospitalized to bring that total to 5,813. There have been 92,100 people recover from the virus. Testing numbers are above 1.827 million. Here are the numbers by county: Shelby County: 24,440 cases, up 189; 323 deaths, up 2 Davidson County: 21,677 cases, up 149; 220 deaths Knox County: 5,123 cases, up 72; 42 deaths - up 1 Bledsoe County: 746 cases, up 12; 2 deaths Bradley County: 2,126 cases, up 24; 16 deaths - up 1 Franklin County: 366 cases, up 3; 4 deaths Grundy County: 128 cases, up 2; 2 deaths Marion County: 243 cases, up 3; 5 deaths McMinn County: 596 cases, up 5; 20 deaths Meigs County: 115 cases; no deaths Monroe County: 497 cases, up 18; 10 deaths Polk County: 244 cases, up 7; 8 deaths - up 3 Rhea County: 576 cases, up 2; 2 deaths Sequatchie County: 118 cases, up 1; 1 death Cars lined up at ports while trains and planes filled out fast as British tourists scurried to get out of France on Friday before a deadline that would require them to quarantine at home for two weeks. Families cut summer vacations short and other travellers made hasty plans to return to the U.K. by whatever means possible before the 4 a.m. Saturday deadline. Eurostar trains between Paris and London and airport lounges that were almost empty earlier in the coronavirus pandemic filled with passengers. Those with more means opted for private jets. The exodus was prompted by the British governments decision late Thursday to take France off a list of nations exempt from traveler quarantine requirements because of a sharp rise there in new virus infections. For those who cannot work from home on their return, the mandatory self-quarantine could see them penalized financially. The U.K. move has the potential to upend the plans of those planning trips in the days ahead, particularly of families during the run-up to schools reopening in September. French businesses running campsites in Brittany, wine-tasting tours in the Loire Valley or mountain treks in the Alps also have reason to worry. The French government has indicated it will respond in kind to Britains decision, further hobbling travel and tourism at a time when the industry is trying to recover from the economic shock of the pandemic. Philip Alston, who was looking after three cats for a French couple in Paris, made the decision albeit reluctantly to return to the U.K. Fortunately, they said in the case of this happening, they had a stand-by helper, he said at the Gare du Nord station in Paris ahead of boarding a Eurostar train to London. So Im really upset because I was having a good time looking after the cats and exploring Paris. The British government insists it had to make the decision in light of a 66% spike in confirmed coronavirus cases in France in the past week. The Netherlands, Malta, Monaco and the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Turks & Caicos were also added to the U.K.s quarantine list for the same reason. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the decision shouldnt have been a big surprise since the government had consistently said it would monitor infection rates when assessing its list of safe countries. Unfortunately, this virus doesnt play ball, he told Sky News. The decision means returnees from the two most popular European summer holiday destinations for British tourists face quarantining. Last month, Spain, the number one destination, was taken off the exempt list. In France, theres a growing fear of a second spike of the outbreak. Health authorities on Friday reported 2,846 new virus cases in 24 hours, bringing the total for the week to over 12,900. The head of the countrys national health service said Paris and Marseille, have been declared at-risk zones. The situation is deteriorating from week to week, Director General of Health Jerome Salomon said on France Inter radio. Dr. Michael Head, a global health specialist at the University of Southampton, said the quarantine rules are appropriate given that many of the U.K.s virus-related deaths were due to cases imported from abroad. That is a risk when booking a holiday or travel abroad right now, and this will remain a risk for some time to come, he said. Given the short warning, most British vacationers already in France, thought to number up to half a million, will stay abroad. But those that want to get back will find it tough. Eurostar, which operates high-speed passenger trains linking London and Paris, said it had limited availability remaining Friday. And Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel car-carrying rail service between Britain and France, said all trains set to arrive back in the U.K. before the quarantine comes into force are full even after it increased capacity. Ferry companies added extra services, too, but they filled up fast. DFDS scheduled four extra departures from Frances port of Calais to help repatriate customers and insisted all travelers book before arriving at the port. P&O also warned customers it was expecting large queues for tourist passenger traffic in Calais and that its sailings are already very busy this weekend with no additional capacity. Others are being more extravagant. Private jet charter company PrivateFly said demand for flights out of the countries removed from the safe list has trebled since the announcement was made. Though the U.K. has the highest official coronavirus death toll in Europe and the fifth-highest in the world, with almost 47,000 people having died after testing positive for COVID-19, its infection rates are considered to be lower than in many other European countries. Frances junior minister for European affairs, Clement Beaune, voiced regret over Britains move and said it would prompt a retaliatory measure, in the hope of getting back to normal as soon as possible. France was studying how best to put in place the promised reciprocal quarantine measures but the Foreign Ministry said they would be operative quickly. The Netherlands accepted being put on the U.K.s quarantine list without talk of retaliation. If a country decides for its own internal reasons that it doesnt want Dutch people, were not going to hit back, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at his post-Cabinet meeting press conference Friday. The U.K.s quarantine approach has been criticized by many companies, including Londons Heathrow Airport, which is urging the government to ramp up testing of all arrivals in the country. The government has said that it is no silver bullet. As people headed back to the U.K., there was a general understanding of why the quarantine was put in place. I think all countries need to take strong action to prevent the spread of the COVID virus, said Eric Livingstone, who was heading back to the U.K. from Calais. Its unpleasant, its very inconvenient, its expensive but its necessary, Im afraid. (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 Death rates of course don't tell the full story. They don't speak to the misery and neglect which became the inadvertent side effect of whole workforces at some Victorian homes being forced into self-isolation as community transmission rates soared. They don't reflect the grief and suffering of families, struggling to discover the fate of loved ones as care providers and governments scrambled to find replacement staff. So of fundamental concern to the commission this week was whether the Commonwealth which is the level of government with primary responsibility for funding and regulating aged care had done enough to plan for and strengthen the sector's defences in advance of the ravages wrought by the virus. The grim toll among the elderly in the UK, Italy and Spain in the first quarter of 2020 had provided plenty of warning. And in Sydney earlier this year, there had been two deadly outbreaks: at BaptistCare's Dorothy Henderson Lodge between March 3 and May 7, and at Anglicare's Newmarch House between April 11 and June 15. Had the lessons been learnt? On Thursday, the counsel assisting the Royal Commission Peter Rozen QC submitted they had not. The Commonwealth had lacked a specific and proactive plan to move swiftly and decisively when the stealthy invader crept into the two Sydney homes, he said. Rozen argued that the "lessons of those two [Sydney] outbreaks were not properly conveyed to the sector and as a result the sector was not properly prepared in June 2020 when we witnessed high levels of community transmission in Melbourne". Twisting the knife further, he added, "There is reason to think that in the crucial months between the Newmarch outbreak in April and mid-June, a degree of self-congratulation and even hubris was displayed by the Commonwealth government". Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy and Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck appearing at a Senate select committee hearing in Canberra this week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen He cited the delay in making mask-wearing mandatory inside Victorian aged care homes as an example of slowness to act. The requirement did not come into effect until July 13, when community transmission rates had already started to rocket. Had it happened earlier, Rozen said, lives might have been saved. Such devastating criticism has come as a rude shock to Canberra, which until this week has been spared the blowtorch applied to the Victorian government over its egregious failures in supervising hotel quarantine. And on Friday it met with a forceful response from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said the government "completely reject[s] the assertion that there was not a plan, because there was a plan [ a plan] was in place from March, and indeed going back to January preparations had been made". Among a raft of other measures, the Commonwealth has provided more than $850 million to the aged sector in extra support during the pandemic, including funding a "surge" workforce for badly affected homes. And on July 25 a Victorian Aged Care Response Centre was set up to bring together all the relevant federal and state agencies battling to get on top of the crisis. Yet critics say many of the government interventions have come too late. It was a known vulnerability in residential aged care that many low-paid casual staff have had to work across a number of facilities to make a living-wage. It provided a perfect avenue for the virus to spread. While Canberra has said it is now making funds available to help ensure aged care employees in Victoria work at one site only, unions say there's confusion on the ground about how the measure is being implemented. Annie Butler, the federal secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), says reports from her members suggest half of the country's aged care providers have not "bothered to apply" for the aged care retention bonus, which is designed to go into workers' pockets. That's disputed by federal government sources, who claim the figure is approaching 95 per cent. Ian Yates, chief executive of COTA Australia - the country's peak organisation for seniors - says some care providers have been diligent about putting COVID-19 management plans in place and practising them ahead of any infection entering a facility. But others, he says, have been "flat-footed and underprepared". Yates says overall the sector is dogged by the fact that there is "hugely variable quality in aged care in Australia we have providers who ought not to be in the industry." Federal secretary for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Annie Butler. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Patricia Sparrow, CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia which represents not-for profits providing residential care, says this week's finger-pointing has been "unhelpful and distressing". But she says the pandemic has thrown into stark relief the fact that while the federal government is responsible for regulating and largely funding residential aged care, it is the states which run hospitals and other health services that elderly residents also need to access. That interface has proven troublesome, especially when aged care facilities have encountered resistance from state health departments over admitting elderly COVID-19 patients, as happened with Newmarch in April, and as has reportedly occurred in isolated instances in Victoria. Sparrow says it is "ridiculous" to think that aged care homes can "contain such a deadly and contagious virus" without "unfettered" support from the public health system. But she says the "bigger question - and we hope this is the question the Royal Commission answers - is what do we want aged care to be?" "Are we saying that we want residential care to be more like a hospital or a sub-acute setting with lots of clinical support? If we do, it needs to be funded and regulated [and staffed] differently. Or are we saying that it's home-like and that we access [externally] all the health services that the older person needs? Some fundamental questions like that have come to the fore through this whole period." Major implications for government funding would flow from how such questions are answered. For instance, Sparrow says that a sub-acute hospital service would normally receive around $1200 to $1300 per person per day in government support, compared with $265 to $300 a day in aged care. The weight of evidence given to the Royal Commission this week suggests aged care facilities have fared better with COVID-19 outbreaks when they are able to get their first cases to hospital quickly both for treatment, and to allow the home to then get strict infection controls in place and to start "cohorting" patients and staff to allow separation of positive cases from other residents. Only two infected residents at Anglicare's Newmarch House in Sydney went to hospital. Credit:Edwina Pickles Yet none of this had been clearly thought through when Newmarch House faced its outbreak, which ultimately claimed the lives of 19 residents. This week Rozen cast fresh light on the stand-off that developed between NSW Health, which was reluctant to accept COVID-19 patients into nearby Nepean Hospital, and the Commonwealth aged care regulator whose chief clinical adviser Dr Melanie Wroth "strongly recommended" removing infected patients from the site. Rozen told the royal commissioners there had been "vigorous disagreement between the Commonwealth and NSW officials on this question". The state authority preferred to keep elderly virus-stricken patients on site and treat them through a Hospital in the Home program. But the federal Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, wrote in an email dated April 16 that "if there is a view sitting behind the NSW Health position that aged care residents with COVID-19 should always be cared for in situ and should not be transferred to a hospital in any circumstances, then WE MUST CALL THIS OUT [sic] as an intolerable and unsupportable assumption." Struggling to control the wildfire of infection spreading through the home, the head of Anglicare Grant Millard, took the dispute to the federal aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, but was subsequently told the NSW Health advice would prevail. Ultimately, according to Millard, only two of the 37 Newmarch residents who contracted COVID-19 were transferred to hospital (a figure NSW Health disputes.) Just why the state health authority took the position it did was partially explained in evidence from Dr James Branley, head of infectious diseases at Nepean Hospital who attended Newmarch during the crisis. Branley said the "person-centred care of [an] elderly resident" had to be balanced with "society's public health need not to spread this [because] we know that internationally residential aged care facilities and hospitals have acted as the big amplifier and spreader of the virus throughout society". He gave as an example the challenge that would be presented by an infected elderly resident with "cognitive issues" walking out of a four-bed hospital bay and into a corridor, where physical restraint was harder than in an aged care home with "individual rooms, doors on those rooms". Branley also raised the need for discussions around advance care directives, and the circumstances under which the very elderly might wish to die. Rozen said it was still not clear that the Commonwealth had worked out protocols with all states and territories to co-ordinate government support for aged care facilities in managing a COVID-19 outbreak. "It is unacceptable that such arrangements were not in place in February. It's unforgivable that they are not in place in August," he said. In their evidence, health sector unions focused on long-standing concerns about understaffing, low pay and insufficient clinical expertise among workers in residential aged care. Diana Asmar, secretary of the Health Workers' Union, told the commission that the pandemic had "laid bare'' these issues in "very confronting ways". She cited the experience of one worker, Lily, who'd been one of only two personal care workers left to tend 150 residents on the night of July 22 in one COVID-19 stricken facility. "Residents were not showered or fed A resident was left on the floor after a fall because there were not enough carers to attend to each buzzer call," Lily told the union. Secretary of the Health Workers' Union Diana Asmar said aged care workers were being forced to ration personal protective equipment. Both Butler and Asmar also gave graphic evidence of the paucity of personal protective equipment [PPE] available in some aged care homes. There were instances of some workers being told to use just one protective glove instead of two. Others were ordered to use no more than one or two masks per shift and many were struggling with how to properly use PPE because of poor training, she said. "Unfortunately, our members right now feel like they're on the bottom of the Titanic ship," Asmar told the commission. President Donald Trump on Friday gave the Chinese company ByteDance 90 days to divest itself of any assets used to support the popular TikTok app in the United States. Trump's executive order said there is 'credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.' Trump last week ordered sweeping but vague bans on dealings with the Chinese owners of TikTok and the messaging app WeChat, saying they are a threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy and the economy. President Donald Trump (pictured Friday) gave the Chinese company ByteDance 90 days to divest itself of any assets used to support the popular TikTok app in the United States Trump on Friday also ordered ByteDance to divest itself of 'any data obtained or derived' from TikTok users in the U.S It remains unclear what the TikTok orders mean for the apps 100 million U.S. users, many of them teenagers or young adults who use it to post and watch short-form videos. Trump on Friday also ordered ByteDance to divest itself of 'any data obtained or derived' from TikTok users in the U.S. Microsoft is in talks to buy parts of TikTok. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trumps earlier TikTok and WeChat orders Thursday, telling reporters he was exercising his emergency authority under a 1977 law enabling the president to regulate international commerce to address unusual threats. The ByteDance headquarters in Beijing, China is pictured on August 7 'The administration is committed to protecting the American people from all cyber threats and these apps collect significant amounts of private data on users,' said McEnany, adding that the Chinese government can access and use such data. TikTok said it spent nearly a year trying to engage in 'good faith' with the U.S. government to address these concerns. 'What we encountered instead was that the administration paid no attention to facts, dictated terms of an agreement without going through standard legal processes, and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses,' the company's statement said. Mr Niyi Ojuolape, the Country Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), at the weekend said the outbreak of COVID-19 has doubled the plight of the black girl, especially in the developing world as their welfare was being overlooked. Being a black girl is hard. Being a black girl in the West is harder, as racism and gender inequality presents additional inhibitions. But even far more difficult is being a black girl in the developing world, where there is very little interest by cultural or political authorities to build a society that safeguards their rights and is conducive for them to thrive, he said. He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the welfare of the less privileged on the continent. Mr Ojuolape said amid much less concern for the welfare of the black girl, the outbreak of COVID-19 had stalled global efforts to end child marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which were relatively more common in Africa. Recent research, he said, predicted there could be an extra 13 million child marriages and another two million cases of FGM as a result. The coronavirus pandemic has also disrupted the availability of contraceptives for women and girls as the supply chain has faced repeated disruptions, Mr Ojuolape said. He noted that as a result, millions of women in low and middle-income countries could lose access to contraception. 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 Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. WASHINGTON (AP) The number of Americans applying for unemployment dropped below 1 million last week for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak took hold in the U.S. five months ago, but layoffs are still running extraordinarily high. The figures show that the crisis continues to throw people out of work just as the expiration of an extra $600 a week in federal jobless benefits has deepened the hardship for many and posed another threat to the U.S. economy. Applications for jobless benefits declined to 963,000, the second straight drop, from 1.2 million the previous week, the government said Thursday. That signals layoffs are slowing, though the weekly figure still far exceeds the pre-outbreak record of just under 700,000, set in 1982. The virus is blamed for more than 166,000 deaths and 5.2 million confirmed infections in the U.S. easily the highest totals in the world. The average number of new cases per day is on the rise in eight states, and deaths per day are climbing in 26, according to an Associated Press analysis. Worldwide, the scourge has claimed more than 750,000 lives and caused over 20 million known infections. The virus, the shutdowns meant to fight it and the reluctance or inability of many people to shop, travel or eat out continue to undermine the economy and force companies to cut staff. Over the past few months, 23 states have paused or reversed their business re-openings because of a resurgence of the virus. Overall, fewer people are collecting unemployment, a sign that some employers are hiring. The total declined last week to 15.5 million, from 16.1 million the previous week. Another larger-than-expected decline in jobless claims suggests that the jobs recovery is regaining some momentum, but ... much labor market progress remains to be done, said Lydia Boussour, senior economist at Oxford Economics. Hiring is believed to have slowed since the spring, when states reopened and millions of workers at bars, restaurants and stores were rehired. The job gain in August will probably fall short of the 1.8 million added in July, analysts say. Story continues For months, on top of their state benefit, unemployed Americans also collected the $600 a week in federal jobless aid. But that expired at the end of July, and negotiations in Congress to extend it, probably at a lower level, have collapsed in rancor. Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would provide $300 a week to replace the expired $600. But experts say it could take weeks for the states to reprogram their computers and process and dispense the payments. A crush of benefit applications earlier in the outbreak resulted in huge backlogs that left millions of the unemployed waiting. Washington state went so far as to call in the National Guard to help process applications. Some economists say they believe the end of the $600 has contributed to the drop in unemployment claims of late. Some of the unemployed may feel less incentive to apply. The supplemental federal aid had enabled many jobless Americans to afford rent, food and utilities, and its expiration threatens to weaken consumer spending. Michelle Meyer, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said the loss of the additional aid will reduce Americans incomes by $18 billion a week. Thats a big hit to purchasing power, she said. In addition to people who applied last week for state benefits, nearly 489,000 others sought jobless aid under a new federal program that has made self-employed and gig workers eligible for the first time. That figure isnt adjusted for seasonal trends, so it is reported separately. Counting those receiving aid under the new program would bring to 28.2 million roughly 18% of the U.S. workforce the number of Americans now receiving some form of unemployment benefits. With confirmed virus cases still high, its not clear when business owners will be able to reopen or will have enough customers to rehire. Grace Della is one of them. She opened her food tour business in Miami a decade ago with $300 from her mother. On weekends, she led the tours herself and eventually built up a business with 13 guides, averaging 10 tours a day through culinary hot spots in South Beach and Little Havana. With scant customer demand, it has been more than four months since Miami Culinary Tours has taken out guests. Della, 46, said she hopes to reopen later this month but isnt sure she can, given the states high level of confirmed infections. Della said she tries to stay positive but confesses to moments of crippling fear. At one point, hyperventilating with anxiety, she contacted firefighters. Theres no money coming in, Della said. Were all scared. ___ AP writer Kelli Kennedy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report. Michelin Guides first California publication in 2019 was a timely snapshot of the regions fine dining scene, yet when it comes to the upcoming 2020 edition, the Michelin stars wont necessarily reflect the reality of a local restaurant landscape being reshaped by a global pandemic. A spokesperson for the Michelin told The Chronicle, via email, that inspectors who review the restaurants completed their fieldwork for the 2020 California edition before the pandemic began. That means ratings in the influential guide, which is known to give businesses huge bumps in sales, will be based on dining experiences that have not been available since March, when the pandemic forced local restaurants to nix their traditional indoor service. Though inspectors are in the process of visiting New York restaurants now, even though theyre also not open for indoor dining, they do not plan to return to California restaurants to review them in their current state. (R)estaurants in each category of the 2020 Michelin Guide California, including the Plate, Bib Gourmand and Star selections, were exclusively evaluated before the pandemic began, said the spokesperson. Bib Gourmand selections are restaurants the guide recommends as a good value. The Michelin Plate is the symbol the guide uses for restaurants without star or Bib Gourmand status, but offer sign of very good food. The spokesperson did not say when the 2020 stars would be announced, or why the organization decided to still release the guide. (The 2019 guide to the state was released in June.) The news comes at a time when a growing number of restaurants that have received Michelin stars in the past have ceased operations, both temporarily and permanently. The guide focuses mostly on high-end dining, a genre of restaurants thats had a particularly hard time adjusting during the pandemic since San Franciscos tasting menus dont translate well for takeout or delivery. Among restaurants that previously received stars, Nico in San Francisco and Maum in Palo Alto have permanently closed. Octavia, Kin Khao, Coi, In Situ, Keiko a Nob Hill, Kinjo, Campton Place, Angler and Californios in San Francisco are all temporarily closed. Three-star destinations like Atelier Crenn, French Laundry, the Restaurant at Meadowood, and SingleThread, have had to completely shift how they function during the pandemic, and are nothing like they were when Michelin inspectors were making the rounds in the state. In regular times, the star ratings are known for attracting diners from around the world. Some restaurateurs have said one star or more can increase their sales by 25%, while also making it easier for them to attract talent to their kitchens due to the level of prestige the guide still holds. In 2019, the Bay Area was home to all seven Michelin three-star restaurants listed in the states guide, the highest honor in the guide. But if dining restrictions continue through its publication date, the perks afforded by the stars will likely be negated even if the restaurant is open. Tourism is way down in San Francisco, and the city is currently projected to lose out on nearly $11 billion in tourism spending in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The restaurants that that remain open also look completely different from a typical Michelin-starred-restaurant. Two-Michelin-starred Lazy Bear, which previously had a tasting menu with communal dining, has turned into a food incubator and serves sandwiches and pastries. Pim Techamuanvivit, the chef-owner of Michelin-starred Thai destination Kin Khao, is opening a fast-casual version of the upscale restaurant in San Franciscos Dogpatch neighborhood in the near future. The evolution poses an interesting question on what is deserving of a Michelin star. The guide has faced backlash in the past for being out of touch with the times for prioritizing expensive, Euro-centric establishments, with few women or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) owners. Critics have asked why counter-service restaurants or other more accesible places dont deserve a star, especially if the public celebrates them more. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Michelin has responded in the past by saying the stars reflect what's on the plate and only what's on the plate. But now, the Michelin-starred restaurants that remain open are also mostly casual, ditching the monikers of atmosphere that they once required. Even with the shifts in service styles, some business owners see continuing widespread closures as inevitable, due to the pandemic. In an interview with The Chronicle in July, San Francisco chef Mourad Lahlou described the situation for local restaurants as one that will only get worse through the end of the year. The Golden Gate Restaurant Association warns that the region is in danger of losing half its restaurants to drops in revenue during the pandemic. Its only the second year for the guides expansion in California, which started last summer following a splashy, $600,000 partnership with Visit California. The tourism board paid Michelin to expand its coverage beyond the Bay Area to the entire state. Visit California initially agreed to sponsor Michelin California for one year, as is the case with all of Visit Californias contracts, according to a spokesperson for the organization. There are ongoing talks about continuing the partnership, post pandemic. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips McGrath said in the Facebook post that his predecessor received an exit package far larger than mine. The MES statement said former agency leader Jim Harkins received $256,746 when he retired in 2016. The MES statement praised McGrath for an employee incentive program and the creation of a diversity and inclusion program. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 03:30:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with senior government officials via teleconference on April 13, 2020. (Sputnik via Xinhua) Russia is open to constructive interaction with anyone interested in pushing the situation away from the dangerous brink, Putin said. MOSCOW, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday holding an urgent online meeting of the heads of the five states that are permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) with the participation of the leaders of Germany and Iran to discuss Iran and the Persian Gulf situation. "Should the leaders agree in principle to have this conversation, we propose that the foreign ministries of the seven countries agree on a meeting agenda, make the necessary arrangements and schedule a video summit," Putin said in a statement. He said that discussions on the Iranian issue within the UNSC are becoming more intense, while the situation is getting worse, as there are groundless accusations against Iran and draft resolutions are being drawn up aimed at destroying the previous unanimous decisions of the Security Council. Russia remains fully committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, the conclusion of which in 2015 was a major political and diplomatic achievement and it made possible to avert the threat of armed conflict and strengthened the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Putin said. It is important to secure collective support for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that sets forth an international legal framework for the execution of the JCPOA, he said. Putin also proposed to agree at the summit on parameters of joint work in order to facilitate the formation of reliable mechanisms for ensuring security and building confidence in the Persian Gulf region. This can be achieved by uniting the political will and creative energy of "all our countries and countries of the region," he said. "We urge our partners to carefully weigh our offer. The alternative is to further escalate tension, to increase the risk of conflict," Putin said, adding that Russia is open to constructive interaction with anyone interested in pushing the situation away from the dangerous brink. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) commissioned 50 ICU beds including 20 ventilator beds at Dr DY Patil hospital in Nerul on Saturday, on the occasion of Independence Day. This is the first phase of the plan to have a total of 200 ICU beds and 80 ventilators beds at the hospital, that will be provided free to the patients. NMMC had on August 3 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the hospital for the facility to be developed in 4 phases. Abhijit Bangar, the municipal commissioner said, NMMC has been setting up 50 ICU beds including 20 ventilator beds in the first phase as per MoU signed with Dr DY Patil Hospital, Nerul. This facility was made operational today and will be helpful for patients with severe symptoms. The remaining 150 beds will be available in the next three phases by September 20. At present NMMC has provided 202 ICU beds in the city, the city will have 402 beds by September. At present NMMC has 93 ventilators and now with 80 more, the total figure will go up to 173. Cardiovascular Implants Market Research Report by Type (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device, Coronary Stents, Heart Valves, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, and Implanted Cardiac Pacemakers), by End User (Cardiac Care Centers, Hospitals, and Specialty Clinics) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cardiovascular Implants Market Research Report by Type, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913750/?utm_source=GNW The Global Cardiovascular Implants Market is expected to grow from USD 26,647.69 Million in 2019 to USD 36,068.38 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.17%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Cardiovascular Implants to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the Cardiovascular Implants Market studied across Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device, Coronary Stents, Heart Valves, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Implanted Cardiac Pacemakers, and Peripheral Stents. Based on End User, the Cardiovascular Implants Market studied across Cardiac Care Centers, Hospitals, and Specialty Clinics. Based on Geography, the Cardiovascular Implants 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 Cardiovascular Implants Market including Abbott Laboratories, AMG International, B. Braun Melsungen AG, BIOTRONIK, Boston Scientific Corporation, Edwards Lifesciences, Fortimedix, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic plc, Neovasc Inc., On-X Life Technologies Inc., Proxy Biomedical Limited, REVA Medical Inc, The Sorin Group, and W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cardiovascular Implants Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 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 Cardiovascular Implants Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cardiovascular Implants Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cardiovascular Implants Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cardiovascular Implants Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cardiovascular Implants Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cardiovascular Implants Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913750/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 RTHK: Trump orders ByteDance to sell US TikTok business President Donald Trump has ordered the Chinese company ByteDance to divest its interest in video-sharing app TikTok's operations in the United States within 90 days. "There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," Trump said in the order. The move adds to pressure for ByteDance to divest TikTok, and legally buttresses the Trump administration's crackdown on the Chinese-owned social media app. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request to comment. TikTok has come under fire from US lawmakers over national security concerns surrounding data collection. Last week, Trump issued an executive order that would ban US transactions with ByteDance and with Tencent Holdings Ltd's WeChat in 45 days, escalating a confrontation with Beijing over the future of the global tech industry. Trump has said he would support an effort by Microsoft Corp to buy TikTok's American operations if the US government got a "substantial portion" of the proceeds, but has also said there are other interested potential buyers. Trump nevertheless said he will ban the popular app on September 15, though some Republicans have raised concerns about potential political fallout. The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to purge what it deems "untrusted" Chinese apps from US digital networks. Asked on Friday if he was concerns that the sweeping bans on transactions with WeChat could prevent Apple Inc from selling iPhones in China, Trump did not express worry. "I do what's good in terms of the security of our country," he told reporters. A group of major US companies including Apple this week raised concerns about the potential negative implications on US firms from the TikTok and WeChat orders. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-08-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has denied any involvement in illegal issuance of Recruiters Licence to Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) for human trafficking. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Mr Akpan noted publications in the media accusing the ministry of complicity in human trafficking, especially of Nigerian girls to other parts of the world. According to him, the ministry has not issued any recruiters licence with respect to the placement of Nigerian citizens abroad in breach of the relevant provisions of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004. READ MORE: Furthermore, at no time did the Federal Government issue any moratorium against issuance of recruiters licence. The ministry is empowered by sections 23, 25 and 71 of the Labour Act Cap L1 LFN 2004 to licence fit and proper persons to operate as labour contractors and private employment agencies. As part of the strategies to reduce irregular labour migration whilst promoting regular migration, the ministry has put in place a Labour Migration Desk to address the associated problems with the movement of skilled and low skilled persons within and outside the country. He said that the desk sought to ensure and create employment opportunities for Nigerians to work legally abroad, without fear of molestation, exploitation or any form of inhuman treatment or being subjected to unfair labour practices. He added that the ministry was guided by the provisions of the International Labour Organisations Migration for Employment Convention No 97, Private Employment Agencies Convention No 181 and its Recommendation No 188 and had taken initial steps required for its ratification. Mr Akpan, however, said that one of the basic means of implementing the principles of Convention 181 on private employment agencies was their mandatory registration and licencing. He noted that recruiters licences were issued to fit and proper persons and agencies in accordance with Section 25 of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004 and other requirements for the issuance of such licences. It is apparent from Section 25 of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004 that persons who meet the requirements for International Licences are eligible to engage in domestic recruitment as well. Furthermore, a recruiting agency may recruit low, middle, or highly skilled workers for placement within and outside the country, he said. Mr Akpan added that prior to obtaining the recruiters licence, the recruiter was bound by the provisions of the Labour Act with respect to welfare and conditions of work of the worker and the procedures for operating the licence. He noted that one of such procedures was the requirement that prior to any citizen leaving Nigeria under a foreign contract it should fulfill provisions in Section 39 of the Labour Act CAP L1, 2004. The recruited worker must be brought before an authorised labour officer and certified by that officer as duly recruited in accordance with the provisions of the law. It is therefore obvious that the possession of a recruiters licence for foreign employment does not confer or guarantee automatic clearance for a recruiter to recruit citizens for work abroad without first complying with the procedures provided in the Labour Act. This is before workers travel under a contract of employment with the recruiter, he said. He also said that it must be emphasised that to date, no PEA issued clearance by the ministry had been found to be involved in human trafficking. He further said that it was on record that none of the trafficked Nigerian girls to Lebanon or any other country was linked to a PEAs issued licence and clearance by the ministry. To set the records straight, at no time did any person, body or committee request the ministry to suspend its statutory duty of issuing recruiters licence to qualified PEAs as being peddled by some uninformed persons. It is therefore not true, but a Legislative misrepresentation, for the ministry to be accused or held responsible for the huge numbers of Nigerians trafficked through the Nigerian borders every year. He noted that the ministry did not constitute part of the security architecture at land and sea borders and international airports. Advertisements The ministry should be commended for instituting a watertight licensing regime which guarantees regular migration of Nigerians to work legitimately in other countries, and for being the Secretariat of the Nigerian Task Force against Forced Labour, Child Labour and Human Trafficking. Those who for reasons best known to them have mounted an orchestrated campaign to malign the image of the ministry are therefore by this medium advised to discontinue as facts are sacred, Mr Akpan said. (NAN) Millions of qualified individuals in the United States are still waiting to get another round of $1,200 stimulus checks or a massive $12,000 stimulus payments. So far, here's what we know. The next stimulus payment negotiations between the Democrats and the Republicans' highest-ranking officials failed a week ago. It has led to President Donald Trump's signing of four executive orders to help millions of Americans heavily affected by the economic crisis. It was first believed that the $1,200 direct stimulus payments would be received this month. However, stimulus negotiators failed to come up with a common ground in terms of a weekly unemployment claim. The Democrats wanted to continue the $600 weekly unemployment aid. However, the Republicans wanted to cut it down at $200 with additional cash to those who will go back to work, according to the provision stated in the HEALS Act. In one of Trump's executive orders released on Saturday, he approved the extension of weekly federal unemployment benefits worth $400. He also signed orders offering protection from eviction, freezing student loans, and delaying payroll taxes until the end of the year. Currently, there is a wide range of proposals for the next stimulus package, including one that will give Americans a massive $12,000 check and followed by a $2,000 monthly payment, according to a BGR report. But with both chambers in recess, the most optimistic time frame they will discuss these proposals will be in mid-September. While everyone waits for the second round of stimulus payment, it is also important to remember that "federal lawmakers are exceedingly good at making things much harder than they need to be," as per BGR. An example of this was the collapsed or failed stimulus negotiation that took the passing of a new stimulus bill a lot of time. After the bill is drafted, it will go through a legislative process, and members will have time to review it before they deliberate it on the floor. This should have been easy only if the Democratic stimulus negotiators agreed with the provisions under the HEALS Act, which is more beneficial except for the weekly unemployment claim. On the other hand, Republican lawmakers should have also adapted some provisions of the Democratic-led HEROES Act proposed in May. Aaron Klein, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, told CNBC in a recent interview: "Income is far more variable for many families than policymakers appreciate." He also added that income volatility has been on the rise in recent years, and lawmakers hold into some outdated assumptions about the nature of work. "That is based on the world of generations ago. One reason policymakers have failed to appreciate the growth of income volatility is that they themselves have the most stable incomes and jobs," he said. In the end, any discussions on the stimulus payments will likely happen in September, when Congress returns from its recess. Check these out! The United States Postal Service has warned election officials across the country, including those in key battleground states such as Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona, that ballots requested by their deadlines and promptly mailed back may not be delivered in time to be counted. The warnings come as the Postal Service has made changes this summer to limit overtime and increase efficiency, which according to an internal memo could result in mail temporarily being left behind. The letters, first reported by The Washington Post, prompted immediate questions from the League of Women Voters and suspicion from the American Postal Workers Union that the warnings were politically motivated. U.S. Postal Service General Counsel Thomas Marshall told elections officials in the letter, There is significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. He recommended ballot requests be received by state officials at least 15 days before the Nov. 3 election. Officials should allow a week to deliver ballots to voters. And, Marshall wrote, voters should put their ballots in the mail at least a week before the state deadline to receive them. For states that require ballots to be received on Election Day, that would be Oct. 27. Some states allow voters to request ballots closer to the election. In Michigan, for instance, voters can request a mail-in ballot up until 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election. They must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Forty states received a letter warning that their deadlines may not allow time for ballots to be returned and counted. Six states and the District of Columbia received letters warning of lesser problems. Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island and New Mexico got letters saying voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete and return their ballots under their timetables. Story continues Marshall said in the letter he was following up on a letter he sent in May, which warned states to account for delivery times when setting deadlines. Election officials recommend voters act early Some states have adjusted their recommendations for when voters should request and mail their ballots, even if its too late to actually change their deadlines under state law. Since receiving this letter, we have revised our recommendation and are now encouraging voters to mail ballots by Oct. 27 to help ensure it arrives on time, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in a written statement. Arizonas formal deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Elections officials in Arizona are adding drop boxes and telling voters they can skip lines if they want to drop off a ballot on Election Day. North Carolinas Secretary of States office, which received one of the warning letters, is encouraging voters to request their ballots as soon as possible, spokesman Patrick Gannon said. That state allows voters to request an absentee ballot as late as 5 p.m. on Oct. 27, according to the office. That would leave just a week for the ballot to be mailed to a voter, filled out, and returned to the election office. But unlike many states, North Carolina will accept ballots three days after Election Day if theyre postmarked on or before that day. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sought legislation to shift the deadline to request an absentee ballot from the Saturday before the election to seven days prior to Election Day, spokeswoman Maggie Sheehan said in an email. However, Ohio lawmakers did not approve the proposed change. All registered voters in Ohio will receive instructions around Labor Day on how to request an absentee ballot. Those instructions say voters should return the ballot request form by Oct. 27, said Sheehan. The deadline, however, remains three days before the election. Fact check: New postmaster general invested in Postal Service competitors Coronavirus changes election: NJ to move to a nearly all-mail election this fall Trump to vote by mail: President Trump requests mail-in ballot for upcoming Florida primary, despite rhetoric Warning is troubling and odd Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections for Common Cause, said the blanket warning is really troubling and odd, and it plays into President Donald Trumps attempts to create confusion for voters and state election officials. Mark Dimondstein, president of the 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union, said the letters appear to raise legitimate concerns about states rules for mailed ballots. The states and local entities that run the elections have to take into account the operating needs of the postal system, said Dimondstein, who hadnt seen the letters. It takes time to get letters to voters and back. Union executives had never heard of similar letters in the past, he said, prompting the question, Does this raise the red flag that the president of the United States doesnt want people to vote by mail? Were certainly concerned that its being done to raise voter questions about the postal system, he said. In April, Trump called the postal service a joke. He said Thursday he opposed additional funding because he doesnt want to expand its ability to handle mail-in ballots. He has claimed, without evidence, that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to fraud. In response to inquiries about the letters, a spokeswoman for the postal service pointed reporters to copies of the letters posted online late Friday. She did not respond to a follow-up request seeking further comment. Tough times at the Postal Service The letters were sent against a bleak backdrop at the organization Americans have relied on for generations to deliver birthday cards, bills, magazines and packages on time. In recent years, the postal service has increased its handling of packages, delivering items that consumers order through Amazon and other retailers. But the volume of other types of mail has dropped sharply as consumers shift to email and other online communication. U.S. Postal Service carrier Amy Bezerra loads mail, including an Amazon package, into her delivery pouches along her route in suburban Denver. USPS cannot fund its current level of services and financial obligations, the Government Accountability Office wrote in 2019. It warned that postal service's financial condition is deteriorating and unsustainable. The system has lost $69 billion over the past 11 federal fiscal years, including a $3.9 billion loss in 2018, the GAO said. Total unfunded liabilities and debt are now more than double the postal services annual revenue. Savings from cost-reduction efforts have dwindled in recent years, the report said, and its expenses are rising faster than revenues. Earlier this summer, postal service employees received a memo outlining changes in how mail is handled part of an effort to improve efficiency and limit overtime. It said carriers must leave for their routes on time, and no extra or late trips would be authorized. Temporarily we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docks ... which is not typical, the memo said. We will address root causes of these delays and adjust the very next day. Dimondstein repeated calls for postal service officials to reverse cuts in overtime, decisions to remove mail sorting machines and other moves he said could slow mail deliveries. The postal service should not be slowed down, said Dimondstein. Those policies need to be reversed. Jeanette Senecal, senior director of mission impact for the League of Women Voters, said states need to maximize options for voters to return ballots, including public buildings and drop boxes. These options should be widely publicized so that voters are aware of these opportunities, Senecal said. The message for voters is clear: Act early. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Absentee, mail-in ballots may not be delivered in time to be counted US prosecutors have rejected a claim by Ghislaine Maxwell that she is being treated "worse" than other inmates at the Brooklyn federal jail where she is being held. Maxwell, a close friend of the late financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is behind bars awaiting trial on charges including conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts. The 58-year-old British socialite was arrested last month when FBI agents raided a property in New Hampshire. In a letter to a US district judge earlier this week, Maxwell's lawyers objected to her being subjected to "uniquely onerous" conditions, including 24-hour surveillance and numerous body scans, and said she should be treated like other pre-trial detainees. They called her treatment in jail "a reaction" to Epstein's jailing and death. However, prosecutors said Maxwell was being isolated for reasons of "safety, security, and the orderly functioning of the facility", and that it was appropriate to closely monitor new inmates facing a "strong likelihood" of many years in prison. Maxwell's lawyers also argued that they cannot properly investigate the charges against her because prosecutors will not tell them the identities of three accusers named in Maxwell's indictment. But prosecutors said it was "at best premature" to require they disclose the identities of the three alleged victims. They added that they have acted "expeditiously" in turning over materials, and prison officials had agreed to give Maxwell 13 hours a day to review materials for her scheduled July 2021 trial, rather than the normal three hours. Maxwell's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Maxwell 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. She was denied bail in July after prosecutors argued she was a high risk to flee because evidence against her was strong and she had access to millions of dollars. Story continues Maxwell also has connections worldwide along with citizenship in the US, the UK and France. Epstein, 66, was found hanged last August in a Manhattan jail, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. According to reports, the pair dated for a while but the relationship later turned into something akin to a close friendship. It comes as British prime minister Boris Johnson announced that fines for repeatedly refusing to wear a mask could soar to 3,200 (3,500) and organisers of illegal raves could face a 10,000 penalty. New quarantine measures on travellers returning to or visiting the UK from France, the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks & Caicos and Aruba also come into force from 4am on Saturday. Theatres, casinos and bowling alleys will be allowed to reopen from this weekend. From Saturday, socially distanced audiences will be allowed back into indoor venues, while wedding receptions of up to 30 people will also be permitted. Tattoo studios, beauty salons, spas and hairdressers will all be able to offer additional services from Saturday, including front of face treatments such as eyebrow threading. Alice Bellamy (67) from Calne in Wiltshire, has been a beauty therapist for 27 years and runs specialist laser hair removal studio Woman to Woman & The Male Perspective Ltd. Advertisement She said she was delighted to be offering a wider range of treatments again. She added: I am indeed delighted. One days notice is not amazing but its typical of the total ineptitude of this Government and its handling of this pandemic. But I am overjoyed and so are my clients, my phone has been hot, hot, hot. I have booked in a facial treatment tomorrow morning already and I have got lots more coming in the next week that I couldnt do previously. The lockdown restrictions were due to be eased on August 1st, but a spike in coronavirus cases at the time resulted in them being paused for two weeks. The reopening comes as Boris Johnson announced tougher fines for people repeatedly not wearing a mask. At present, people who refuse to wear a face covering where it is required face a 100 fine, which can be reduced to 50 if paid within 14 days, but under the new measures, that penalty will double for subsequent offences, up to a maximum of 3,200. A clampdown on illegal gatherings of more than 30 people could see those responsible hit with spot fines of up to 10,000, a No 10 source indicated. Meanwhile, England's transport secretary Grant Shapps said an estimated 160,000 holidaymakers were expected to try to return to the UK from France on Friday before the new quarantine measures were brought in. Advertisement Travellers returning to or visiting the UK from France, the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks & Caicos and Aruba after 4am on Saturday will be required to self-isolate for two weeks. Grosvenor and Genting casinos both said they were looking forward to opening the majority of their casinos. A Genting spokesman said it will be limiting numbers at all its venues to ensure social distancing can be maintained, visors and masks will be available for staff and customers, and more than 400 hand sanitiser stations had been installed at its casinos. He added: This is what we have been building towards for some time now, and the delays we have experienced have of course been hugely frustrating and damaging to the business. The reopening is therefore incredibly exciting for all involved and we cannot wait to welcome customers back into our casinos. Grosvenor Casinos, which has a portfolio of 52 casinos across the UK, said it was reopening 35 in England. It said its coronavirus safety measures include a capacity cap, voluntary PPE and face coverings for guests and staff, hand sanitiser stations, and screens available on gaming tables and machines. Jonathon Swaine, managing director at Grosvenor Casinos, said: While it has been a hugely challenging time for the industry, the health and safety of our customers and team has always been our top priority. Weve been ready to reopen safely for a number of weeks and we are delighted we can now finally welcome back our customers to enjoy our casinos safely once more. Hollywood Bowl said that 48 of its 61 centres were reopening on Saturday, with each operating with reduced numbers of lanes, reduced customer capacity, and groups restricted to a maximum of six people. Its chief executive Stephen Burns said the company had been ready to reopen for many weeks and was excited to welcome customers back. He added: Weve been ready to reopen in the fully Government-approved Covid-secure way for many weeks and our trained teams are eager to get back to work. Our centres are spacious and well-suited for social distancing, and weve put in place wide-ranging hygiene and sanitisation measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation at Red fort on the occasion of Independence Day. In his speech, PM made a strong appeal for vocal for local and creation for an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Standing tall at the Red Fort, dressed in Kesari Kurta and matching turban, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. His speech mouthed the journey of India as an Independent nation, the current realities and the aspirations for years moving ahead. However, two priorities that reigned supreme were giving a befitting reply to China and becoming atma nirbhar. Wishing everyone happy Independence Day, PM Modi paid homage to all corona warriors, sacrifices of hundreds of soldiers and our freedom fighters. Calling it a day to remember our freedom fighters, PM underlined that we must never forget lessons learnt from the freedom struggle. China and expansionism: In a veiled attack on China, PM Modi said that many attempts were made to break India and all of them failed. India has stood up to such forces and their aim of expansionism. Making a big statement on vistarvaad, PM said The idea of expansionism did not just leave some countries enslaved, it did not end there. Even in the midst of fierce wars and terribleness, India did not allow the lack of freedom in the war of independence. To this, he further added from LoC to LAC, whoever tried to raise their eyes towards the sovereignty of our country, got a befitting reply from our soldiers. Also Read: Independence Day 2020 LIVE Updates: PM Modi addresses nation at Rajghat Also Read: President Kovind addresses nation on 74th Independence Day eve Atmanirbhar Bharat: Stressing on AtmaNirbhar Bharat as the need of the hour, PM said India needs to realise its full potential and become fully self-reliant. It must move beyond exporting raw material and place economic development with human growth on the agenda. Make For World: In a bid to Make For World the new motto, PM emphasised that the country must focus on skill development and overcome challenges to make India self reliant. He said that if we have thoughts of challenges then we also have crores of solutions. Giving the example of how India started manufacturing PPE kits when Covid hit us, PM underlined that vocal for local must become our lifes mantra. Holistic Development: Along with becoming atma nirbhar, PM laid down the chart of development in the years to come. He said that India is now working towards developing a multi-model connectivity infrastructure, development of the underprivileged, empowering the poor in rural India and a holistic development. Farmers: Talking about the developmental work in rural India, PM said Atmanirbhar farmers are a priority for the government. About 1 lakh crore has been spent on agricultural infrastructure so far and efforts are underway to double the income of farmers. Making rural India digital is also a priority area, he emphasised. Under this, the governments aim is to send an optical fibre network to all villages of India. Women: On the empowerment of Indian women, PM Modi said that his government abolished triple talaq to help muslim sisters, provided about 5 crore sanitary pads in 6000 health care centres and efforts are underway to empower them in armed forces. He also said that a committee has been formed to reconsider the minimum age for marriage of women. An appropriate decision on the same will be taken after the committee submits its report. New Education Policy: Days after the launch of New Education Policy, PM Modi laid emphasis on the fact that the education sector is extremely important for Indias development. The countrys education policy has been revised after decades and now the aim is to make students global citizens. National Digital Health Mission: Kick starting the national digital health mission today, PM Modi said that this mission would be revolutionary. Every Indian will now have a health ID, which will carry their medical history. Jammu & Kashmir: Calling the last one year phenomenal for J&Ks development, PM remarked that it is now on a new path to development. Thanking the sarpanches in J&K for participating in the states development, the PM placed conducting elections in J&K a priority and said that Ladakh is working towards a new era of development. Vaccine Update: Sharing an update on indigenous coronavirus vaccines, PM said that three vaccines are currently in the testing stage and as soon as they get approved, India will then move towards their large-scale production. Submarine optical fiber cable: Sharing his vision of interconnectivity, PM Modi said that Lakshadweep will also be connected to submarine optical fiber cable in next 1000 years. He said keeping in mind their geographical location and significance of Indias islands in the development of the nation, some of the developmental work is already underway. Also Read: A look back at PM Modis Independence Day speeches Champaign, IL (61820) Today Blustery with snow showers. High near 25F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 9F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. The COVID-19 crisis offers a unique opportunity to transform Sydney's public spaces, as the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes, urges Sydneysiders to "seize the moment" and come up with ideas for parks and public facilities. From parks and plazas to pop-ups, the state government is seeking ideas for improving public spaces across the city. The Public Space Ideas Competition has an additional four prizes including a People's Choice Award run on The Sydney Morning Herald website. Minister for Planning and Open Spaces Rob Stokes says the COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity to experiment with new forms of public space. Credit:Rhett Wyman Mr Stokes said the pandemic also provided an opportunity to experiment with new ways of sharing streets and public facilities. But he said the city had to utilise its existing open spaces more effectively to ensure it was comfortable and safe, easy to access and catered for the specific needs of residents. The competition, which closes on August 28, will be judged by a jury of planning experts including NSW government architect Abbie Galvin who said the COVID-19 crisis had demonstrated "with extraordinary power" the importance of public spaces. North Korea is particularly vulnerable to flooding. It lacks adequate infrastructure and suffers from widespread deforestation, which resulted in part from people cutting down trees for fuel or firewood or to clear land for farming. The Korean Peninsula has seen a much longer than usual monsoon season. Parts of South Korea recently saw 49 consecutive days of rain, causing floods and landslides that killed dozens of people. The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Friday that nearly 40,000 hectares of crops have been damaged and 17,000 houses destroyed or inundated. "Lots of roads, bridges and railway sections [were] broken, a dam of a power station gave way and there was other severe damage in various sectors of the national economy," the KCNA report said. In a statement citing figures from North Korean officials, the IFRC said the floods have also caused widespread crop damage, intensifying economic concerns in a country that already suffers chronic food shortages. Severe floods in North Korea have killed at least 22 people and left four others missing, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The floods come as North Korea tries to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Last month, North Korea locked down an area around the southwestern city of Kaesong after warning that a defector from South Korea might have brought the virus across the border. On Friday, KCNA reported that the Kaesong lockdown was lifted "based on the scientific verification and guarantee by a professional anti-epidemic organization." North Korea has reported no confirmed coronavirus cases, even as it carries out strict measures to keep the disease from spreading. At a politburo meeting Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un indicated his country would not accept international aid for flood damage, due to coronavirus concerns. "The situation, in which the spread of the worldwide malignant virus has become worse, requires us not to allow any outside aid for the flood damage but shut the border tighter and carry out strict anti-epidemic work," Kim was quoted as saying. According to the IFRC, North Korea's Red Cross is providing relief to support 2,800 families, including family tents for people most at risk, tarpaulins, shelter tool kits, kitchen sets and quilts to help people with their urgent needs. "[North Korean] Red Cross volunteers are also providing hygiene kits, water containers and water purification tablets, all while engaging in COVID-19 prevention activities," the IFRC said. South Korea has also offered help, partly in the hopes that such humanitarian assistance would help lead to renewed diplomatic engagement with North Korea. But Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said that now appears unlikely. "Kim Jong-un's public rejection of international aid for flood recovery, and his lifting a COVID-19 quarantine on the border city of Kaesong, are negative indicators for inter-Korean cooperation," Easley said. North Korea walked away from nuclear talks with the United States late last year. It has also ended almost every form of engagement with South Korea. Despite its claim of being coronavirus-free, experts say the disease has likely reached North Korea's borders. A major outbreak could be disastrous, since many areas of North Korea are impoverished and the country lacks adequate medical supplies and facilities. North Korea formally closed its borders due to coronavirus concerns in late January, shortly after the outbreak was first reported in neighboring China. The lockdown has resulted in plummeting economic activity with China, North Korea's biggest trading partner. That has put even more strain on an economy already held back by international sanctions. Multiple reports have now surfaced claiming that Jeffrey Epstein's pal, Ghislaine Maxwell, once severely abused Princess Diana that she ended up crying hard. Princess Diana officially became a member of the British royal family after she married Prince Charles in February 1981. Although she got more popular after becoming part of the monarchy, the Princess of Wales already had a noble life. However, her status did not keep her from being Maxwell's victim in the past. While most royal fans know how close Maxwell was with Prince Andrew, some never had an idea that she also got the chance to meet Princess Diana. Ghislaine Maxwell Bullied Princess Diana Per The Express, Princess Diana first met Epstein's pal at the premiere of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" in 1984. The news outlet also shared the article written by journalist Anne McElvoy, which stated how the British socialite rubbed her shoulders with the royal princess. "Ghislaine, while herself on a pedestal of privilege, was armed with a self-confidence so bullet-proof that she could joke about 'making Diana (later Princess of Wales) cry' in a world where 'teasing' about everything from the wrong boyfriend to the wrong designer could come uncomfortably close to bullying," McElvoy wrote. The journalist failed to mention when exactly it happened since Maxwell and Princess Diana could have possibly met multiple times after that. Meanwhile, Epstein's alleged victim, Maria Farmer, also shared the same statement and disclosed that Maxwell truly disliked the Princess of Wales. According to Farmer, the socialite bullied the royal princess and made her cry. In one event, Maxwell reportedly showed photos of different royals before pointing out Princess Diana. "Ghislaine's like, 'Look, there we made [Diana] cry, isn't that funny? We hated Diana.' That's what she said," Farmer told The Sun. "I was like, 'Oh my god, that's horrible.' They were very mean to her, like abusive, but they thought it was really funny. Very, very sick." Impact of Bullying on Princess Diana's Mental Health Battle The bullying incident might have worsened Princess Diana's mental disorder, especially when she was already experiencing the worst from Prince Charles. To recall, the documentary titled "Diana: In Her Own Words" unveiled Princess Diana's brutally honest stories about how Prince Charles became unfaithful to her and how he made some rude comments that caused her eating disorder. According to the late royal princess, her bulimia battle started even before she got engaged with Prince Charles. It began when the heir to the throne held her waistline and said, "Oh, a bit chubby here, aren't we?" -- prompting something unpleasant inside her. Moreover, a few months after their 1981 Wedding of the Century, Diana's suicidal thoughts got even worse to the point that the royal family sought for the experts to "fix her." Maxwell in Big Toruble Years after bullying Princess Diana, Maxwell seemed to be experiencing some bad karma after she got arrested due to her ties with the late sex offender, Epstein. Currently, she is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. According to NBC News, her lawyers disclosed that because of her association with Epstein, she has been treated worse than her fellow inmates. "It has become apparent that the BOP's treatment of Ms. Maxwell is a reaction to the circumstances surrounding the pretrial detention and death of Mr. Epstein," the court filing released this August stated. This caused Maxwell's camp to request for her to be moved out of solitary confinement. READ MORE: Prince Harry Heartbreak: Royal Prince Still FURIOUS Over Princess Diana's Death Caprolactam Market Research Report by Application (Films, Nylon 6 Engineering Plastics, and Nylon 6 Fibers) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 The Global Caprolactam Market is expected to grow from USD 13,243. New York, Aug. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Caprolactam Market Research Report by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913720/?utm_source=GNW 78 Million in 2019 to USD 16,086.19 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.29%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Caprolactam to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Application, the Caprolactam Market studied across Films, Nylon 6 Engineering Plastics, and Nylon 6 Fibers. The Films further studied across Agricultural Packaging, Food Packaging, and Pharmaceutical Packaging. The Nylon 6 Engineering Plastics further studied across Automotive, Consumer Goods, Electrical & Electronics, Industrial/Machinery, and Wire & Cable. The Nylon 6 Fibers further studied across Carpet Filament, Industrial Filament, Staple Fiber, and Textile Filament. Based on Geography, the Caprolactam 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 Caprolactam Market including Advansix Inc., Alpek S.A.B. De C.V., BASF SE, Capro Co., China Petrochemical Development Corporation, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, DOMO Chemicals, Grupa Azoty, Lanxess AG, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., The Aquafil Group, Toray Industries, Inc., and UBE Industries, Ltd.. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Caprolactam 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 Caprolactam Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Caprolactam Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Caprolactam Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Caprolactam Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Caprolactam Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Caprolactam Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913720/?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 Black women's natural hair has always been taboo in the workplace. Duke University's Fuqua School of Business conducted a study and found that Black women with natural hairstyles including curly afros, twists or braids are less likely to get job interviews than White women or Black women with straightened hair. The article, shared by CNN Business on Twitter, received tons of backlash from Black women -- mainly being that this study didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. We didn't need a study to demonstrate this. We've known for years that Black hair is considered 'unprofessional.' Antiquated employee handbooks still cite certain textures and styles closely associated with Black hair as unacceptable for the workplace, which has resulted in a growing number of states passing hair-centric anti-discrimination laws, according to Allure. From my freshman year in college to now, I've been told by older professionals that natural hair "wasn't acceptable in the workplace," and it's been proven to be true by tons of Black women. We shouldn't live in fear of not getting a particular job based on how our hair looks. The perceived notion of "professionalism" that comes with wearing your hair straight versus it's natural state has got to go. Why not hire a potential employee based on their abilities anyways? While we didn't need new research to know that we face discrimination in employment based on our hair, these situations are more common than people may think. Just recently, a fellow journalist Treasure Roberts, tweeted about wearing her hair in braids on air for the first time. In the tweet she writes, "Years ago I was told to take a clip out of my newsreel because I was wearing braids. The news director told me I wouldn't get a job with braids. I left the clip in and landed a job in the industry. Now, I'm wearing them on-air for the first time. Braids are professional." We've been conditioned to believe that our hair is unprofessional, but somehow Black women's hair is the most curated aspect of who were are. Our protective hairstyles or even our hair in it's natural state seems to be a negative for us, but when non-Black women wear them, suddenly they become acceptable, trendy or a fashion statement. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15) Wanted Abu Sayyaf leader Anduljihad "Idang" Susukan is now at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police, police said on Saturday. Police said he is temporarily detained at the PNP Custodial Center pending a court order. Susukan, notorious for kidnap-for-ransom activities, faces 23 counts of murder, five counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and six counts of frustrated murder. The Davao City police took Susukan into custody after he was handed over by Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari Thursday night. He was flown to Clark Airport in Pampanga Friday night and arrived at Camp Crame in Quezon City at around 1 a.m. on Saturday. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Susukan went through RT-PCR test to check for possible COVID-19 infection, as well as the standard documentation procedures. Susukan was in a personal protective equipment, face mask, and face shield. PNP along with AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) remain alert and vigilant to prevent and respond to any reprisal attack, Banac said in a statement. AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay earlier ordered troops to step up operations against bandits in Mindanao who might retaliate. Police said Susukan was in Davao City to seek medical attention. He lost his left hand in an encounter in Patikul, Sulu, a lair of the Abu Sayyaf, in February 2019. It is unclear how long Susukan had been with Misuari, who facilitated the negotiation between the bandit leader and Davao City police. Malaysian media first reported the recent sighting of Susukan, who is also wanted in the neighboring country for cross-border abductions. Misuari, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, also has standing arrest warrants for rebellion and graft. President Rodrigo Duterte is talking peace with him and he was recently appointed as special economic envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Dozens of people have been detained at Kushtau Hill in Russia's Bashkortostan region following clashes between environmental activists and workers of the Bashkir Soda Company (BSK). Police detained some 50 people on August 15 and transported them by bus to the city of Sterlitamak, some 20 kilometers to the east. Defense lawyer Garifulla Yapparov told RFE/RL that police said they intended to hold the detainees for 48 hours. The incident erupted after a coalition of unions representing chemical workers in Bashkortostan, including BSK employees, called a "flash mob" near an encampment set up earlier by environmentalists to block BSKs exploitation of the hill, which is a protected natural resource. BSK security contractors and OMON riot police clashed with the activists. About 150 people remain at the encampment, and the BSK security personnel have reportedly left. One activist told RFE/RL that some of the environmentalists were injured, but this information could not be confirmed. Activists said tear gas had been used against them. In 2019, the company was granted a license to develop the hill for 20 years, despite a public outcry. BSK has said its work in the area will not harm the environment. "This is not a protest or a march, but a flash mob, which does not require permission" from the authorities, organizer Guzel Miroshnichenko said. "The goal of this activity is to support BSK workers who might lose their jobs if the factory is shut down because of a handful of hill-huggers, most of whom do not even live in Sterlitamak or the surrounding area." He denounced the activists as "Wahhabis and nationalists who are members of banned organizations and supporters of the odious [liberal] politician [Aleksei] Navalny." The pro-BSK flash mob came on the heels of a flash mob organized by the environmentalists on August 9 that attracted more than 3,000 people to the area, including human rights activists from the Human Rights Council of Bashkortostan's government and members of the group Bashqort, an ethnic Bashkir association that was banned as an "extremist group" in May. That flash mob formed a "living chain" that stretched about four kilometers and included prominent regional academics, artists, filmmakers, and other intellectuals. The environmental activists plan to hold an "ecological clean-up" of the area on August 16. Iran urges UNSC to stand up against 'illegal' US arms ban Iran Press TV Friday, 14 August 2020 6:31 AM Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has called on the Security Council to withstand an "illegal" and "ill-intentioned" move by the United States to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic. In a press release on Thursday, the Iranian mission said the US draft resolution is aimed at addressing US domestic policy. It described the proposed US draft resolution to extend Iran's arms ban as part of the US domestic policy and urged the Security Council to stand firm against the American bid. "The US draft resolution, presented in gross violation of Security Council Resolution 2231, is aimed at addressing US domestic policy and has nothing to do with maintaining international peace and security," the mission said. "The draft resolution undermines the integrity, authority, and credibility of the Security Council; and by extension, the United Nations, multilateralism, the rule of law and diplomacy," it added. The embargo is slated to expire in October under UNSC Resolution 2231, which enshrines the 2015 nuclear deal officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and six world states Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the US. Washington is, however, seeking to keep the arms ban in place through the UNSC resolution, threatening that it would use a provision in the agreement to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran if the UN body fails to extend the embargo. This is while Washington unilaterally abandoned the deal in 2018. "To satisfy its deep addiction to sanctions and to justify its irresponsible behavior in the Council, the United States baselessly accuses Iran of instability in the region," the Iranian mission's press release said. "While its interventions, destructive behavior, divisive policies, and insatiable appetite for exporting its deadly weapons to countries in the region as well as the presence of a large number of its forces in the Middle East, their involvement and spreading lies and destructive acts are the main sources of instability, insecurity and human suffering in this region," it underlined. The Iranian mission said members of the Security Council are "expected to resist US illegal and ill-intentioned action, to refrain from abusing or manipulating the work of the Security Council, and to demonstrate that the 15-member body is capable of supporting the UN Security Council. The remaining signatories to the deal, even Washington's own allies, have repeatedly reminded the US that it is no longer a party to the deal and thus cannot use the provision to bring about a renewal of anti-Iran restrictions. They have also cautioned that a return of UN sanctions on Iran would likely kill the nuclear deal because Iran would lose yet another major interest under the deal. The US has already reinstated its unilateral economic sanctions against Iran after leaving the deal in defiance of UNSC Resolution 2231, prompting Iran to suspend parts of its commitments to the landmark accord in response. On Tuesday, the US proposed a simplified draft resolution as brief as four paragraphs to extend the arms embargo on Iran in an apparent bid to garner support in the council. Diplomatic sources and political experts said that while the watered-down draft text might win the United States some more votes, it was unclear if Washington could get the minimum nine votes needed as it was unlikely to convince veto-wielding Russia and China to abstain. Russia and China have already signaled that they would veto the resolution even if it gets enough 'Yes' votes. The vote was expected to take place on Tuesday, but diplomats at the UN later said it could take place as soon as Friday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address United States President Donald Trump's brother Robert Trump was hospitalized fighting for his life against a peculiar illness. The news comes following a court battle with a niece over her disputable memoir that alleges their family is imbued with dysfunction. President Trump rushed to Robert's bedside after a White House news conference wherein he openly conveyed concern over his brother's ailment. Robert has largely been under the radar in the past years unlike his prominent commander-in-chief sibling, reported New York Post. As the youngest of five children, the real estate heir is peacefully living through his retirement years in Milbrook in upstate Dutchess County, New York. The 72-year old was described as very ill, sources denoted. Details were not divulged, but he was apparently in a severe condition at the Upper East Side's New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Trump indicated a favorable relationship with Robert, describing that he is a "wonderful brother" and said that they have had a "great relationship from Day One.'' According to the president regarding his brother's legal battle, "Hopefully he'll be all right, but he's having a hard time.'' Robert is acclaimed as a supporter for a number of local charities, including having the responsibility as a trustee of the non-profit organization Angels of Light and a horse rescue group. One local resident described him to be a classy and respectable man. Also Read: Hillary Clinton Ready to Help Biden Administration If Asked According to Donald Trump at a press briefing on Friday regarding his brother's hospitalization, "I have a wonderful brother. We've had a great relationship for a long time, from day one. It's a long time ago. And he's in the hospital right now." reported AB7 News. The president is visiting one of his four siblings following having flown out to New Jersey and then riding taking a helicopter ito Manhattan. A pool photograph displayed Trump arriving at the aforementioned Upper East Side campus in order to visit his brother around 4:15 PM. Riding a motorcade, he left after about 45 minutes and headed for his Bedminster country club in New Jersey to deliver remarks to the City of New York Police Benevolent Association. Robert most recently received huge attention from the public for joining Trump's combat against their niece Mary Trump's exposing biography entitled "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." He sued to block the memoir's publication, abiding by Trump that it would contravene a 2001 nondisclosure agreement restraining her from voicing out publicly regarding her family members. In June, Donald Trump's brother reportedly underwent treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at nearby Mount Sinai Hospital. He was treated at least 11 days in the ICU for a serious condition. Robert was formerly a recurring boldface name in Manhattan's social pages but has kept a lower profile since. According to Mount Sinai's website, the NSICU specializes in the "compassionate care of patients who suffer from subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematomas, coma, tumors of the brain and spine, severe or prolonged seizures, neuro-infections, spinal cord injury among others." Related Article: Kanye West Had Secret Meeting With Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The party scene in Los Angeles does not want to abandon despite Corona and Lockdown on the fun. Youtube Star, Jake, Paul, famous for salacious Videos and the abrupt end to his acting career in the series "Bizaardvark", invited a few weeks ago in his Villa in Calabasas. There was alcohol, music and Stunts to construction equipment. Assembly, prohibition, mask of duty and distance ignores rules. "I'm not a guy who sits around and his life is not living", blusters the twenty-three years later. Mayor Alicia Weintraub took it in the face of more than 200,000 Infected and about 5000 Covid-19-dead in the district of Los Angeles released: "Many behave, as it would not give Corona." On the weekend, the Party continued, nevertheless, unabated. Dozens of Influencers gathered in the Hype House, to celebrate the birthday of Tiktok-Star Larri "Larray" Merritt. On Mulholland Drive, the next was followed by a large event. In a white Villa to rent, for a long time as a "Party Mansion" decried, gathered a few days ago, more than 200 Los Angelenos in a celebration mood. After noise complaints from the neighbors the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was approached, left it there, but in the case of Fines for cars in Parking is prohibited. To fell as late in the day, shots and a party guest was killed, moved in the officials for the second Time. Warnings for violations of Corona runs you scored but. "It was a private Party. It was organised in a closed room. We were not responsible, said an LAPD spokesman. Not only in Los Angeles is celebrated in spite of the pandemic more. In southern States such as Texas, Alabama and Kentucky were infected in the past few weeks, hundreds of young people in the so-called Corona-parties. In the posh Greenwich North of New York city students from several High Schools gathered to celebrate their graduation. Two weeks later, the Department of health of approximately 60,000 residents, a large enclave of registered numbers on Connecticut's gold coast, a striking increase in Infection. "The parties are not worth the risk" However, the authorities hold back often. As in Los Angeles, where officials are deterred on Mulholland Drive by fines, not by local police authorities, infection protection rules of the district or state often. For Los Angeles, Mike fire, legal officer in the city described the actions of those days: After a complaint against the house owner or party organizer, the city would already be active. That parties can certainly prevent, it could be observed now in Hollywood. The owner of the Sassafras Saloon had an expected monetary penalty to change his mind. They canceled all private bookings after the Club had noticed a few days ago by a rollicking Party ostensibly to honor first responders of the Corona pandemic. Meanwhile, the Infection is rising in Los Angeles County, particularly among Younger rapidly. According to health authorities, more than every second Neuinfizierte is between 18 and 49 years old. More and more frequently, younger residents of the population must be treated in the richest district of the United States because Covid-19 in the hospital. In almost every fourth bed of the Corona-stations, a Patient at the age of 30 to 49 years already. The number of 18-to 29-year-old Infected and must be treated in a clinic, meanwhile, is the same as the of patients the 80. Birthday already have. "It is quite simple: Give any big celebrations. And don't go when you are invited, said Barbara Ferrer, head of the health authorities in Los Angeles. "The parties are not worth the risk, especially not because we should all try together to leave Corona behind us." Updated Date: 15 August 2020, 11:20 England Removes Over 5,000 From COVID-19 Deaths Figure Public Health England (PHE) on Wednesday revised the criteria it uses to calculate the number of deaths in England from COVID-19, removing over 5,000 from the total. Before, all people who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 and then died several weeks or months later were included in the tally. It will now report two different numbers: deaths that occur within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19; and deaths within 60 days of a positive test, or deaths after 60 days if COVID-19 is listed on the death certificate. The new method is to avoid counting those who die from other causes after recovering from COVID-19. The revised PHE data (pdf) for only deaths within 28 days of a positive test removed 5,377 (12.8 percent) from its headline total for England, bringing it down from 42,072 to 36,695 as of Aug. 12. The total for the UK stands at 41,357 as of Aug. 13. PHE notes that the data does not report cause of death, and as such represents deaths in people with COVID-19 and not necessarily caused by COVID-19. Cumulative deaths from CCP virus in England by date of death using previous methodology (no time limit) and the new measures: time limit of 28 days and time limit of 60 days or mention of COVID-19 on the death certificate, as 11 Aug. 2020. Source: Public Health England (The Epoch Times) The adjustment mainly affects deaths that have occurred in the last few weeks because of the new time limit imposed. The 28-day reporting timeframe brings the UK into line with reporting in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and several other countries. Also reporting those who die within 60 days of a positive test or where COVID-19 is mentioned on the death certificate in England should record people who have a protracted illness in intensive care. Improved Information PHE said it decided to apply a time limit now because the understanding of COVID-19 had developed. After tracking the length of time between infection and death throughout the epidemic, PHE is satisfied that the now improved information supported its decision. As COVID deaths fall the number of recovered patients, particularly the very old and those with severe underlying conditions are now dying from these conditions and not COVID-19, Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said in a comment. These non COVID deaths in survivors would become an ever-increasing percentage of the England COVID deaths being reported. It had become essentially useless for epidemiological monitoring. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) currently adopts a different method of recording COVID-19 related deaths. According to PHE, the ONS weekly figure counts those where the registered medical practitioner has mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, but does not require laboratory-confirmed results. PHE does not include deaths where COVID-19 was suspected but not confirmed by a laboratory test. By cross-checking with the available data, PHE found that, of the deaths counted by PHE where the positive test was obtained over 60 days before death, only about 30 percent are mentioned as COVID-19 related on the death certificate. Inflated Numbers Health Secretary Matt Hancock on July 17 ordered the urgent review of PHEs death toll from COVID-19 after receiving criticisms saying the number for England was inflated compared to the other UK nations, which were using the 28-day cutoff. Dr. Yoon K Loke, a senior lecturer in clinical pharmacology at the University of East Anglia, and Carl James Heneghan, a professor of evidence-based medicine at Oxford Universitys Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, published an article on The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine website saying there was a statistical flaw in the way that PHE compiles out of hospital deaths data. The article said that PHE simply looked for those who have ever tested positive. Despite how long ago the test was, and whether the patient had recovered, if the patient died from a heart attack or were run over by a bus three months later, his or her death would still be counted as COVID-19 related. Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, however, suggested the 28-day time limit could further underestimate already underestimated deaths from COVID-19. In a comment he said a more accurate count may eventually come from looking at excess deaths and death certificate reports, and could be as high as 65,000. This is not the first adjustment made to reporting methodology for England and revision of figures. At the beginning of the pandemic in March, the death toll published by PHE only included deaths in hospital settings, leaving out those who died in care homes and in the wider community. This was amended on April 29 to include all deaths where there is a positive confirmed test for COVID-19. The political and social crises wracking Colombia entered a new phase in August, as the countrys most powerful political figure, current senator and former president Alvaro Uribe, was placed under house arrest and barred from participating in politics on charges of witness tampering. The orders were issued by the Supreme Court in the course of an ongoing investigation centered on Uribes role in founding a far-right paramilitary group and ordering massacres of leftists during the countrys civil war in the 1990s. Uribe currently faces a host of other legal investigations, including into the illegal wiretapping of activists, journalists, politicians and the Supreme Court itself during his tenure as president (2002-2010). In January, the Supreme Court announced it would be inspecting its own premises after finding a listening device in the office of Cesar Reyes, the judge currently overseeing the witness tampering case. The multiple allegations facing Uribe are of a piece with successive scandals that have dogged him throughout his political career, centering on his decades-long collaboration with paramilitary groups and drug cartels, including close ties with the now-deceased Pablo Escobar when Uribe was mayor of Medellin in 1982. Even given past investigations, the Supreme Courts recent order for Uribe to be detained and banned from politics is without precedent, as the former president is considered the most powerful politician in the country and commands total loyalty from members of Centro Democratico (Democratic Center), the ruling party he founded and to which current President Ivan Duque belongs. Duque, a loyal political protege of Uribe, has also come under investigation by the Electoral Commission for campaign finance violations during the 2018 presidential election. A guilty verdict in this case would have major implications for the balance of power in Colombia. An August 11 Reuters article pointed out that If irregularities are proven, the governing party could lose its legal status, preventing it from fielding candidates in future elections, in addition to fines and criminal penalties that may affect its leaders. In an extreme outcome, Congress could also declare Duques presidency invalid, according to procedures for investigating and trying political crimes. Whether or not Duque and his political cronies would accept such an outcome is by no means clear. Like the United States, escalating conflicts between sections of the ruling class are calling into question the entire political framework of the country, which serves as a key base for US military and foreign policy machinations across South America. The political crisis in Colombia is unfolding against the backdrop of a massive increase in coronavirus infections, fueled by low levels of testing, ineffective lockdowns and little if any contact tracing. Over the past few weeks, the country has been registering the highest per capita COVID-19 death rate in the world. According to Johns Hopkins University, over a seven-day period, Colombia saw 43.1 deaths per million people, compared to 32.9 per million for Brazil and 24.4 for the US. During the first week in August, 2,139 Colombians died from the virus. Meanwhile, per capita testing levels as of August 12 were 40,000 per million, a low figure even compared to the 210,000 tests per million carried out in the United States, a country with over 170,000 COVID-19 deaths, accounting for 22 percent of all deaths resulting from the pandemic. Figures compiled in mid-July in Colombia showed that nationwide, the health care system was either at capacity or in a state of collapse, with intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rates in the high 80 and 90 percentage range in much of the country. In the capital city of Bogota, population 7.5 million, 91 percent of ICU beds were occupied, while some mid-sized cities, including Riohacha and Quibdo, reported fewer than 10 units available on a daily basis. These figures have likely grown even more dire in the month since they were compiled, as total infections have continued to skyrocket. While millions of citizens in different regions of Colombia have been subject to stay-at-home orders of one kind or another, cities and regions with lower infection rates have been allowing restaurants, theaters and gyms to reopen at the request of local mayors. In Bogota, stay-at-home orders are being issued on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, while in Medellin, a city of 2.5 million, citizens are told to remain at home on weekends and may leave their homes Monday through Thursday for essential purposes. However, these measures are increasingly ignored, as the impoverished masses, over half of whom work in the informal economy, are leaving their homes to seek a means of survival. A government assistance scheme known as Solidarity Colombia equaling payments of 160,000 COP (around US$42) is so inadequate that even those lucky enough to receive the money cannot sustain their families. Millions of others, including 1.5 million undocumented Venezuelan refugees, who are ineligible to receive any relief whatsoever, face the prospect of starvation. As for the drive to reopen schools, Duque and Education Minister Maria Victoria Angulo announced on July 19 that schooling would resume on a rotating basis in 34 of the nations 96 districts. As is the case in the United States, this homicidal policy has been met with fierce resistance as thousands of educators and parents have declared they would engage in civil disobedience by refusing to return to the classroom. Many school districts have also declared they would not participate in the reopening, as the lack of additional funding, infrastructure, and in some cases running water has made implementing preventative health measures impossible. In the face of this broad-based opposition of teachers and communities, the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (FECODE) called a 48-hour strike this past week. Rising opposition from thousands of teachers comes on the heels of an unprecedented uprising of the working class that broke out in Central and South America in 2019. In Ecuador and Chile, austerity protests held in October of that year were so broad-based and militant, they took on the character of popular rebellions, while in Colombia, hundreds of thousands of workers launched a series of general strikes and protests demanding an end to the assassination of activists and organizers by government-aligned death squads, as well as a halt to the privatization of health and education, massive austerity packages, and efforts by the current regime to resume the long-running civil war with breakaway insurgent groups. Nine months later, none of these issues have been resolved, portending a further intensification of the class struggle. BLOOMINGTON Instead of chalking, first-year students at Illinois Wesleyan University were talking around Aspiration Fountain about their dreams for their college careers on Friday. It was one of many traditions facing modification in the midst of a pandemic to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Were still asking students to think about what are their goals and aspirations for the next four years, said Karla Carney-Hall, vice president of student affairs and dean of students. But instead of having the whole class writing their goals in chalk around the fountain there was concern about shared objects like chalk small groups met at the fountain to discuss their goals. Olivia Shell, a freshman in nursing from Oak Lawn, said, "My aspiration and goal is to be able to finish nursing at the top of my class and keep making a difference in helping my community." 4 Illinois Wesleyan University students test positive for COVID-19 Four Illinois Wesleyan University students have tested positive for COVID-19 under a comprehensive program that requires all students to be tested when they arrive on campus. The goal of Sebastian Chisari, a freshman in chemistry from Park Ridge, is to attend graduate school after graduating from IWU. Classes start Monday, a week earlier than usual for IWU. That, plus eliminating fall break and having classes on Labor Day and some Saturdays will result in the semester ending Nov. 20. The university is still trying to figure out what to do in lieu of the group picture of all freshmen in front of State Farm Hall another tradition. Carney-Hall said the group photo might take the form of individual photos edited together in a Zoom-like box, the online meeting platform with which many are becoming familiar in these pandemic-days of virtual gatherings. Fifty years from now when they come together, theyll have a very unique story to tell about their freshman year, said Carney-Hall. Students are coming to campus with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, she said. I think its true of all of us, said Carney-Hall. There is a mix of wanting and craving a new normal, getting back into a routine, settling into a rhythm. But theres still a lot of uncertainty. Lily Muto, a freshman in psychology from Freeport, said, "I'm kind of nervous, I guess, but as each day passes, I get more comfortable." One practice that is greeting every student coming to campus a practice one hopes need not become a tradition is being tested for COVID-19. Four students tested positive in the initial phase. We felt that it was really important to establish a baseline for a healthy community through early identification and isolation of asymptomatic students, explained Carney-Hall, who is IWUs COVID fall contingency planning chair. Illinois State University student who tested positive for COVID-19 questions policies Two Illinois State University resident assistants say they lost their jobs after admitting they spent 20 minutes together before one of them received a positive COVID-19 test result. Dominic Bennett, a freshman in elementary education from Plainfield, said, "The first two days we were really cooped up," as they waited for their test results to come back. "They kept us really busy" with Zoom meetings and other online activities. In addition to being tested on arrival, 5-10% of the student body will be tested every two weeks through the semester, she said. Student activities will mirror the academic plan with a mix of in-person, hybrid and online events, she said. For example, one of the Turning Titan events during freshman orientation had 50 students attending in person and the rest participating online. Its an opportunity, not always fun, but an opportunity to think about how we deliver our core mission, said Carney-Hall. Getting to know each other is more challenging for the new students. "Social distancing is a little weird and meeting people is a little different when you're in a pandemic," said Chisari. Shell noted, "We can't interact real well because we can't see the faces." But, she said, "Wesleyan is doing a good job of helping us have a good time but keeping us safe, too." Carney-Hall said she is very proud of the team, including student leaders, who have come together to find ways to provide a dynamic student experience. The university is providing clear messaging on whats expected, such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, she said. Peer-to-peer pressure is important. Students who dont follow the rules will be held accountable, which could include being shifted to all online learning, she said. There are a lot of moving parts, said Carney-Hall. Its all about making the best decisions within an environment thats constantly changing. PHOTOS: Names of IWU 2020 grads recognized in chalk during COVID-19 Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. With some Pikes Peak region students on the verge of heading back to in-person classes, coronavirus cases are increasingly appearing among younger Coloradans, both in the total number and in the percentage of new cases. In the pandemics early stages in the spring, only one of every 27 coronavirus cases involved someone under 20 years old, state statistics show. That has jumped to one of every six new cases today, according to the data. Thats worrisome, obviously, to any parent, said Devra Ashby, spokeswoman for Colorado Springs School District 11, El Paso Countys second-largest school district serving about 26,000 students. Districts are relying on guidance from El Paso County Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as they prepare to start the fall semester. We talk with the health department every day, Ashby said. We have a dedicated COVID-19 czar on our staff so we can keep on top of everything. Some of the 17 local public districts have switched plans in recent weeks to start classes online only or to a mixture of online and in-person instruction. Others are having elementary students attend in person, and some are doing face-to-face learning for everyone. El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly, who also has been a lead medical adviser locally on COVID-19 practices, said community metrics, such as virus transmission, hospital capacity, testing capacity and contact-tracing capacity, are either improving or at favorable levels. We feel comfortable that for those schools, parents and faculty that choose in-person learning we can currently support the increase in social interaction if the school safety guidance is followed, he said. Deciding under what format to reopen has been a challenge for communities across the nation, Kelley said. We will continue to work with our schools to evaluate their plans and our local response, he said. Any of this can change if the data or updated guidance indicates that it should. Some schools in Georgia closed shortly after reopening and shifted to online learning following outbreaks of the novel coronavirus among students and staff. Weve seen other schools restart only to shut back down again, and we felt it would be more stressful for families and students if we had to do that, Ashby said, explaining why D-11 decided to primarily begin the new school year with remote instruction, but have students who are academically challenged receive in-person instruction. The plan now is for D-11 to deliver online instruction through October, but Ashby said if it appears safe to bring students back to schools sooner in a staggered manner, the district would consider doing so. Under a decision to provide equitable learning, the districts board voted last week to scrap plans to charge students on a sliding scale $50, $25 or $15 for electronic devices, based on family income determined through the free and reduced meals program parameters, and instead provide devices at no charge. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last week issued updated guidelines for detecting, reporting and responding to cases and outbreaks of COVID-19 in public and private schools, preschools and child care settings. The guidance comes after the agency sought input from more than 70 representatives from school districts, school nurses, teachers union representatives, local public health agencies and counties. Kelly said the complex information attempts to clarify procedures for who should not be at school, returning to school and responding to an outbreak, which is defined as two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases among students, teachers or staff from separate households with onset within 14 days in a single classroom or cohort (small group of students). Definitions for schoolwide outbreaks include three or more classrooms or cohorts having two or more confirmed infections within 14 days, or 5%, or a minimum of 10, unrelated students, teachers and staff having confirmed cases within a 14-day period. New quarantine guidance would send fewer students home and allow them to return to school more quickly if cold or flu-type symptoms are not COVID-19 related. The information is designed to bring consistency to schools statewide, the health department said, but is not mandatory. Included are a home checklist for parents and school staff to determine if a child should be at school, how long students or employees need to stay home and other specifics. The prior guidance lacked in some areas the ability for schools, parents and pediatricians to allow resolved, but previously symptomatic kids, back into school, as well as the unnecessary exclusion of cohorts in cases where the cause of the symptoms was clearly not COVID-19, Kelly said. The updated guidance details procedures for isolation and quarantine to minimize the spread of the virus and make in-person learning viable. Students in entire classes or cohorts that have had positive cases should quarantine at home for 14 days, from the last day that the child with a confirmed case attended class. Regarding masks, the guidance says, Masks reduce the likelihood of spreading disease across the school campus. However, the use of a mask does not completely eliminate the risk of spread from an infected person to a close contact, so close contacts of people with COVID-19 still must quarantine for 14 days. While it is rare for children to get extremely sick or die from COVID-19, it does happen, the guidance says. Older children are more likely to spread the virus to people outside the school, according to the information. While schools are required to disclose names of people with COVID-19 to public health authorities, they should not disclose names of students or staff to anyone else, the directive says. Colorados trend of new cases coming increasingly among younger people is also reflected in the 20-29 age group, where the increase in new cases has been the greatest. But the higher number of infections has not translated into deaths among the same group. Only three Coloradans under the age of 20 have died from COVID-19, according to statistics. Overall, the statewide number of new deaths from COVID-19 is down, the vast majority of which have been among those age 60 or older. Deaths among infected people between the age of 30 and 59 have accounted for a somewhat larger portion of the deaths recently, but they are still lower than when deaths were at a peak in April and May. FILE PHOTO: The company logo of Sinopharm Group Co Ltd is displayed at a news conference on the company's annual results in Hong Kong BEIJING (Reuters) - A coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) appeared to be safe and triggered antibody-based immune responses in early and mid-stage trials, researchers said. The candidate has already moved into a late-stage trial, one of a handful of candidates being tested on several thousand people to see if they are effective enough to win regulatory approval. Sinopharm is testing the potential vaccine in the United Arab Emirates in a Phase 3 trial expected to recruit 15,000 people, as China has too few new cases to be a useful trial site. The state-owned company will also supply the candidate to Pakistan as part of a trial agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported. The shot did not cause any serious side effects, according to a paper published on Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by scientists who are part of Sinopharm and other China-based disease control authorities and research institutes. The results were based on data from 320 healthy adults in Phase 1 and 2 trials. The candidate triggered robust antibody responses in inoculated people, but it remained unknown if that was sufficient to prevent COVID-19 infection, researchers developing the vaccine said in the paper. Sinopharm's chairman told state media last month that a potential vaccine could be ready by the end of this year with Phase 3 testing expected to be completed in about three months. The novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 750,000 people globally, has prompted a race to develop a vaccine. More than 150 candidate vaccines are being developed and tested around the world. Russia became the first country to grant regulatory approval to a vaccine after less than two months of human testing, and a shot developed by Chinese firm CanSino Bilogics has been cleared for use in the military. China is leading the development of at least eight vaccine candidates in different stages of clinical trials. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Tony Munroe in Beijing; Editing by Stephen Coates) STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. A small city in the Atlanta suburbs and the big, contentious Confederate monument that shares its name seemed headed for trouble on Saturday. Far-right activists and white supremacist militia groups planned to gather at Stone Mountain to symbolically defend the monument, and antiracist and far-left counterprotesters planned to confront them. But the state park surrounding the monument locked its gates for the day, and the city made it clear that angry demonstrators spoiling for trouble would be far from welcome on the streets. Out of an abundance of caution, municipal leaders said, the general public was asked to avoid the City of Stone Mountain. Public bus service was halted, and residents and business owners were encouraged to refrain from travel and activities within the downtown area. And when some scuffling and pepper spraying broke out around midday between a small knot of white supremacists and more numerous counterprotesters, law enforcement officers in riot gear moved in to break it up. No arrests or serious injuries were reported. HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed the state government officials to be on high alert due to the heavy rains and flood situation in the state. Several tanks and canals are overflowing due to the heavy rains occurring in the state. At several places, the floodwater has inundated the roads. In view of the heavy rainfall warning, the CM reviewed the rain and flood situation in the state on Saturday. The Chief Minister also spoke with the Chief Secretary, DGP and his council of ministers. The CM reviewed the district-wise situation and gave valuable suggestions. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao also instructed the officials to set up two Control Rooms in Hyderabad. He also instructed the Ministers to stay put in their respective districts, coordinate with the Collectors and police officials on a regular basis. United Karimnagar and Warangal districts have recorded the highest rainfall and tanks in these districts are filled to their capacity. The CM said that officials should be more alert in these two districts particularly. Meanwhile, two helicopters have been kept ready and they will be utilised to rescue people stranded during the flood. Along with the two helicopters owned by the state, one chopper from the Army has also been kept on standby mode for use on short notice. Vietnam is joining hands with regional nations in fostering digital solutions to turn Southeast Asia into an e-region. Photo: Le Toan As the entire ASEAN region is seriously hit by the expanding health crisis, member states are discussing possibilities for the regional economy to bounce back strongly, in order to help enterprises and individuals stay afloat. One of the best solutions is the boosted application of digital technologies and usage of new achievements of Industry 4.0, which according to experts, refers to a set of highly disruptive technologies such as AI, robotics, blockchain, and 3D printing all of which are transforming social, economic, and political systems while placing pressure on leaders and policymakers to respond. Cooperation in digital transformation and digital economy development are not only discussed now, but also at the coming 37th ASEAN Summit in Vietnam later this year, said an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With its great potential in IT, Vietnam is sharing experiences and also learning lessons from other regional nations to develop itself into a veritable digital economy and the ASEAN into a big digital economy. This will help the ASEAN address emerging challenges. For example, Vietnam is seeking experience from Indonesia in digitalisation and how to enact relevant policies. In 2017, Indonesia began to embrace Industry 4.0 in order to turn itself into one of the 10 biggest economies globally by 2030. Its government has selected five key sectors for the initial adoption of Industry 4.0: food and beverages; textiles and clothing, automotives, chemicals, and electronics. These sectors would need a very high digitalisation level in the future, and they are the biggest contributors of Indonesias economy, said Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi. Currently Southeast Asia has 10 unicorns with over $1 billion in valuation each Gojek, Tokopedia, Traveloka, Bukalapak, Lazada, Revolution Precrafted, Grab, Sea (Garena), Razer, and VNG. However, four of which come from Indonesia, including ride-hailing company Gojek, online travel agent Traveloka, e-commerce platform Tokopedia, and e-commerce platform Bukalapak. Vietnam has only one, namely game developer VNG. Winning global applause Vietnams efforts to develop a pro-business e-government and a digital economy have received applause from the international community, especially amid a surge in the pandemic hurting economic growth. Under the UNs Department of Economic and Social Affairs newly-launched hallmark E-government Survey 2020, Vietnam has climbed two places to rank 86th out of 193 countries. With this ranking, Vietnam has maintained its record of consecutive increases since 2014, climbing from 99 to 86 in the process. Harvesting 0.6667 points in the surveys E-Government Development Index (EGDI), Vietnam is among the e-government developing countries with a high index, a score which is higher than the global EGDI average of 0.5988 points, the Asian average of 0.6373 points, and the Southeast Asian average of 0.6321 points. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has successfully maintained the same position as in 2018, ranking sixth among 11 countries, behind Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines. Vietnams tax authority has deployed e-filing, e-payment, and e-customs initiatives that have helped to improve tax collection and management and have lowered taxpayers compliance costs, the surveys report cited. Commenting on Vietnams efforts to develop a digital economy amid the trend in the region, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said, Vietnam is striving for sustainable growth on the basis of improving the quality of growth and taking advantage of the opportunities of the Industry 4.0 to raise its labour productivity and competitiveness to move up the ladder in the global value chain. In Vietnam, about 60 per cent of the 96 million population are under 35 years of age. They have quick access to new technology and about 55 per cent of the population use the internet, he added. According to Tran Dinh Thien, former head of the Vietnam Economics Research Institute, this potential is quite favourable for Vietnam to build a digital economy successfully and even take the lead in the ASEANs digital development. Vietnam has many opportunities in Industry 4.0. However, the problem now is how to apply lessons from regions such as Indonesia and Singapore to Vietnam and how to integrate data among ministries, agencies, sectors, and individuals into one integrated and shared system, Thien said. Fostering digitalisation According to the World Economic Forum, the ASEAN is the fastest-growing internet market in the world. With 125,000 new users accessing the internet every day, the ASEAN digital economy is projected to grow significantly, adding an estimated $1 trillion to regional GDP over the next 10 years. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that the opportunities induced by Industry 4.0 are indeed enormous, and not only Vietnam but also other nations in the region must seize all these opportunities. The startup atmosphere is truly permeating throughout the ASEAN, he said at a meeting with ASEAN leaders. He suggested a number of priorities for ASEAN nations to grab opportunities from Industry 4.0. The priorities include the regional harmonisation of e-platforms on connectivity in finance, banking, market, communications, and logistics. I suggest the establishment of a mechanism on harmonising the business climate, legal system, and regulations among ASEAN member states. This will help regional firms to improve their global competitiveness. The ASEAN Single Window a regional initiative that connects and integrates the National Single Window of ASEAN member states is a good example, PM Phuc said. Envisioning a future defined by Industry 4.0, Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung also underlined the need of ASEAN nations for smart governance and the willingness of governments, businesses, and societies to collectively adapt to rapid technological change. Technology can change very fast but the people and governments cannot change so fast and this will be our biggest challenge. So what do we need to do? he said. We have to train people so they are adept at change, not only technological training, but soft skills too. I think Industry 4.0 is more about a mindset revolution. The ASEAN bloc is now jointly boosting the implementation of some new initiatives that Vietnam advanced two years ago in Hanoi, including a pan-ASEAN roaming charge for mobile phones initiative, a cybersecurity intelligence cooperation initiative, and an initiative on cooperating in training high-quality IT human resources. Vietnam also proposed the establishment and connectivity of innovative incubators. In the Industry 4.0 context, many ASEAN nations have their own national-level innovation hubs and incubators. And I suggest the construction of a framework on connecting these incubators into a regional-level incubator, PM Phuc stated. Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong also said that Industry 4.0 is opening new prospects to all regional nations which should grab them through proper solutions. Industry 4.0 is upon us. The global economy is being transformed by new and far-reaching breakthroughs in technologies, he said. Here in the ASEAN, member states are in a good position to take advantage of the new opportunities that Industry 4.0 can bring. Pakistan army says border fencing with Iran to be completed by end of 2021 IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Islamabad, Aug 14, IRNA -- Spokesperson of Pakistan Army says Iran-Pakistan border fencing project has the support of both the neighboring states and would be completed by the end of year 2021. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar responding to a question of IRNA at a press conference at army headquarters on Thursday said the project is being carried out to enhance the security arrangements along the borders. "It is supported by both the governments and I am sure it is going to help out in curbing lots of problems that keep surfacing because of these borders being porous," said the military spokesperson. "We are doing it for the good of both the countries," noted Major General Babar Iftikhar. Earlier in his opening remarks he said measures are being taken at the Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders as part of the border management, which includes border terminals, scanner biometric system, border posts, forts and fencing. He said that more than 1000 border posts are being built at the border with Iran, out of which 400 posts and forts have already been completed and the rest are being set up. He stressed that people on both sides of the frontier will benefit and terrorism can be stopped through managing the border. "The capacity enhancement of Front Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is being done for effective border management," added the official. "On the Pak-Afghan border, fencing on more than 1,700km has been completed. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 730km and in Balochistan, 980km have been fenced." To another question of IRNA Major General Babar Iftikhar said that Afghans are our brothers and all the stakeholders involved in facilitation of peace process, may it be Pakistan, may it be Iran, all have played very positive role. "While this peace process is progressing very positively there are chances of some vested interests trying to spoil this process and the international community is very well aware of those vested interests," he noted. Earlier Pakistan's Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information Lieutenant General (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had said that fencing of 900 km Pakistan-Iran border is in full swing and 100 km work on the project would be completed soon. Iran-Pakistan share 959 km long border which separates Sistan and Baluchestan and Balochistan provinces of the two countries. It begins at the Koh-i-Malik Salih mountains and ends at Gwadar Bay in the Gulf of Oman. It passes through a diverse landscape of mountain ridges, seasonal streams and rivers. 272**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A bipartisan group of House lawmakers spoke with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in an effort to advance stalled discussions on the coronavirus economic stimulus package, a person at the meeting told NBC News Saturday. Seven members of the bipartisan "Problem Solvers Caucus," who have previously met twice to try to advance negotiations, were present at the discussion which took place Friday morning. The dialogue was "respectful and productive" and another meeting is possible, the person told NBC News. The participants included Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., Dean Phillips, D-Minn., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., as well as Reps. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio and Pete Stauber, R-Minn. "Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus spoke with Chief of Staff Meadows [yesterday] morning to discuss ways to help break the logjam between parties, get negotiators back in the room and help America in our response to the Covid crisis," a spokesperson for the Problem Solvers Crisis said. Coronavirus aid talks between Democratic leaders and the Trump administration came to a halt on Aug. 7 and leaders have not made any progress since. An agreement on legislation or even a passage of a bill appear to be weeks away. The Senate ended its final session on Thursday and will not return this month unless an agreement is reached, and the House had already left Washington for all of August. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for the GOP to increase its aid offer by $1 trillion and said she would then lower her offer by $1 trillion, bringing about a deal with a $2 trillion price tag. However, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other Republicans have repeatedly said the White House will not double the GOP's $1 trillion offer. "Despite Congressional Democrats continued insistence on blocking coronavirus legislation in favor of their own political interests, the White House continues to evaluate all options on how we can deliver relief to the American worker, keep our schools safe and ignite our economy again," a White House spokesperson said. After the talks collapsed, President Trump signed a series of executive orders to extend some pandemic relief, a move that will quickly face legal challenges because Congress, not the president, controls federal funding. The president's actions included extending unemployment benefits to at least $300 a week, providing some eviction protections, extending existing student loan relief and implementing a payroll tax holiday. Correction: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers met with the White House chief of staff Friday morning. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is a Democrat from Virginia. A previous version of this story misstated the date of the meeting and Spanberger's state. The committee overseeing the Lake County Emergency Relief Loan Fund program this week has approved additional grants and a loan to the Lake County small business community, County Administrator Jason Boyd recently announced. To date, 48 grants totaling $227,000 and seven loans equaling $170,000 have been distributed, Boyd said. Earlier this year, the Lake County commissioners authorized two business assistance programs to benefit small for-profit businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. According to the board, the programs are meant to further economic development, preserve and create employment opportunities for Lake County residents, and support the operations of small businesses during a time of need and emergency. In total, Lake County will distribute $700,000 to small businesses. Funding for the programs was provided by the Community Development Block Grant through the federal CARES Act. According to Boyd, the county still has significant funds to issue more loans and grants, and flexibility of the two silos has opened allowing ebb and flow with continued demand. If the loan programs took off next week, wed have the resources to make that happen, he said, adding about $300,000 liquidity remains. In addition, underwriting assistance has been extended another three months. This is a lot of money still available for businesses that are suffering, said Commissioner Jerry Cirino. Contrary to what some people seem to think, and Ive talked to some of them, businesses that have survived this long, theyre not necessarily going to survive for the foreseeable future, so there are still businesses that are hurting right now, he added. The Paycheck Protection Program is going to come to an end and theres going to be reconciliation for paying back some of the loan if they dont qualify. Boyd noted the funds are available for the breadth of the community, from local barbers to florists to manufacturers to hotels. Its the full gamut for the business community, small or large, he said. If you need a hand, give our planning and community development department a call. They would be happy to help. UpScale Lake County In addition to the relief program funds, OhioMeansJobs Lake County, in conjunction with the commissioners and the Lake County Workforce Development Board, are pronouncing August UpScale Lake County month, with two programs being offered to both employers and job seekers. The first program is TechCred. According to the board, through TechCred, Ohio businesses can identify the specific qualifications they need and employees they want to upskill toward a more advanced position. TechCred provides its employees the ability to earn industry-recognized, technology-focused credentials, in efforts to better prepare them for todays workforce. The state will reimburse up to $2,000 of training upon completion of a credential. The staff at OhioMeansJobs Lake County will be holding virtual office hours for companies to schedule a time to walk through the application process with a staff member from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 18, 20, 25 and 27. The second program is Coursera. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Coursera is a multilingual online education platform with over 45 million users. It offers a variety of more than nearly 4,000 specialized courses from 190 institutions and organizations, including Stanford University, Duke University, and the University of Michigan. Certifications include Python, data science, Google IT, machine learning, and digital manufacturing and design technology specialization. The workforce program is provided to anyone free of charge through Courseras Workforce Recovery Initiative which has been designed to help governments provide unemployed workers with free access to 3,800 online courses. The enrollment period ends on Sept. 30. For more information or to sign up, call 440-350-4000, option 3 or email Lake_omj_Inquiry@jfs.ohio.gov. The two leaders have discussed "the situation in and around the Republic of Belarus" via the phone. President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has reached out to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to speak of the latest developments in his country. Lukashenko says he sees the current situation as a "threat to the Union State" (Belarus and Russia), according to BelTA, "In fact, this is an unfolding scenario of aggression against Belarus. We need to get in contact with Putin, the President of Russia, so that I can talk with him now. Because this is already a threat not only to Belarus," Lukashenko noted. Defending Belarus is no less than defending our entire space, "I'd like to say that defending Belarus is no less than defending our entire space, the Union State, and an example to others. If the Belarusians fail to withstand this, this wave will roll further. That is why they put such a strong hold on us," he said. "We see what's happening. We don't need to be rocked by peaceful rallies and demonstrations. We see what's happening in the deep. We see it very well. And then, we've read the manuals of color revolutions. Moreover, these manuals of color revolutions (of this we will talk today at the Ministry of Defense, at the Center for Strategic Management), elements of external interference have already appeared," the Belarusian president stressed. Elements of external interference have already appeared Later, the report came that the two presidents did talk over the phone. Read alsoBelarus hands 32 detained Wagner PMC mercenaries back to Russia"President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The presidents discussed the situation in and around the Republic of Belarus," Lukashenko's press service said. The Russian president's press service said Alexander Lukashenko had briefed Putin about the situation in Belarus following the presidential elections. "Both sides expressed confidence that all issues that have arisen will be resolved soon. The main thing is that these issues should not be used by destructive forces seeking to damage the mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries within the Union State. In connection with the return to Russia the day before of 32 citizens previously detained in Belarus a positive assessment was given of close cooperation between the relevant agencies on the issue. The parties agreed to continue regular contacts at various levels and confirmed the disposition to strengthen allied relations, which fully meets the fundamental interests of the fraternal peoples of Russia and Belarus," the statement reads. Elections and protests in Belarus Interview: Myanmar's Election Body 'Will Hold Elections in Townships Where it is Safe' 2020-08-14 -- Election officials in Myanmar are preparing for the country's general elections on Nov. 8 in which nearly 100 political parties are fielding candidates to compete for 1,171 seats available in both houses of the national parliament and in state and regional legislatures. While about 37.5 million voters of Myanmar's total population of 54 million are eligible to cast ballots, it remains unclear whether election authorities will hold voting in volatile Rakhine state, where government forces have been fighting the rebel Arakan Army (AA) in northern Rakhine for the past 20 months. Nevertheless, the Rakhine State Election Subcommission has prepared nearly all of the state's roughly 2,600 polling stations for balloting by 1.6 million eligible voters in Rakhine, should elections be held there. Hla Thein, chairman of the Union Election Commission, the national-level body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections and for vetting parliamentary candidates, with reporter Aye Aye Mon about possible balloting in Rakhine's conflict zones, Rohingya voters, and Muslim candidates who want to run for parliamentary seats. The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. RFA: With regard to the situation in Rakhine state, have you completed the voter lists for all townships? Hla Thein: We are soliciting the opinions of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to determine the viability of holding elections in Rakhine state. Once we have the information, we will hold the elections in townships where it is safe to do so. RFA: When do you think the UEC will announce whether elections will be held there? Hla Thein: The situation in Rakhine is changing all the time. If we announce the elections too early, the situation could be change for the worse in the meantime and become unfeasible for holding them, so we would rather wait until the last minute. If the situation is not stable enough up to the time limit we set, then we will not hold the elections. RFA: Do you have tentative agreements with the Myanmar military for which townships it can guarantee security for the balloting, and for which townships it cannot? Hla Thein: We do, but so far, we cannot confirm that. The situation could improve or remain the same in some townships. We are still monitoring the progress. RFA: So as of now, the prospect of holding elections in Rakhine state is not yet definite? Hla Thein: We will just be suspending the election. If the situation becomes stable enough to hold an election later, then we can hold by-elections in these areas within the next five years. Any election that is held before next general election is considered a by-election. The people have to wait until that time. RFA: Rohingya Muslims, whom Myanmar refers to as Bengalis, live in townships in northern Rakhine state where elections were held in 2010 and 2015. What about this time around? Will the UEC issue registered voter lists for these people? Hla Thein: We have already compiled the voter lists in the townships where we conducted the voter surveys. In addition, voters must be 18 years old and above, and their status should be in one of the categories of full citizens, associate [guest] citizens, or naturalized citizens. If they are not in one of these categories, they will not be on the voter lists no matter where they live. RFA: Twenty-five Muslim candidates have submitted applications with election authorities to run in the upcoming elections. Most of the Muslim candidates were rejected in the 2015 elections. As the head of the UEC, can you say whether these 25 will be rejected? Hla Thein: We are not approving candidates based on their race and religion. Regardless of their race and religion, we approve all candidates if they fulfill the qualifications required to be a candidate. RFA: Will elections be held in all townships of Shan state? Hla Thein: We have announced that elections will be held in Shan state. In previous elections, we could not hold elections in areas like the Wa region because not everyone in that region has a citizenship certificate. Citizenship is one of the requirements to vote. But they have their regional ID cards that certify they are members of particular ethnic groups. Without these certifications, we cannot hold the election in these areas. We are still in negotiation over that. Reported by Aye Aye Mon for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. 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 WARSAW (Reuters) - The United States is discussing the situation in Belarus with the European Union after last weekend's disputed election and subsequent crackdown on protesters, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday. Speaking in Warsaw, his last stop on a tour of central Europe, Pompeo said Washington was tracking the situation in Belarus and the aim of the contacts with the EU was to "try to help as best we can the Belarusian people achieve sovereignty and freedom". Security forces have clashed with protesters in Minsk and other cities in recent days after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide re-election victory in a vote on Sunday that his opponents say was rigged. The EU on Friday took the first step towards imposing new sanctions on Belarus, instructing its foreign policy arm to prepare a blacklist of responsible individuals. Speaking at a news conference with Pompeo, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said potential sanctions on Belarus should only apply to top officials. Pompeo also met Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and discussed defence cooperation, the COVID-19 pandemic, securing 5G networks and a new bilateral agreement on developing Poland's civil nuclear power program. Washington and Warsaw signed a defence pact, agreed last month, which sees the number of U.S. troops in Poland rise to at least 5,500. It will cost Poland around 500 million zlotys ($135 million) per year. The deal also involves training Polish forces in reconnaissance and command, with the possibility of more U.S. troops coming to Poland in case of an increased threat. Poland would be able to quickly increase the number of U.S. troops to 20,000 if needed. Czaputowicz said the presence of American troops is key for Poland's deterrence and defence potential as Poland is "closer to the potential source of conflict", a reference to the proximity to Russia and its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. (Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko, Anna Koper and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Christina Fincher and Giles Elgood) New financial supports for businesses impacted in the three counties under local lockdown has been unveiled by the Government today. Businesses owners in Kildare, Offaly and Laois will benefit from a 20pc top up to the Restart Grant for firms reopening once Covid-19 restrictions are eased. The current rates for the grant are between 4,000 and 25,000 these would increase to 4,800 and 30,000. Read More Separately, Failte Ireland is expected to be given 1m to specifically promote the three counties and encourage people to spend money in the midlands regions under lockdown. Businesses in the three affected counties may also be bumped to the top of the list if they applied for existing State grants. This may apply to the online Trading Voucher Scheme and Micro Financing Ireland Grants. The aim is to ensure as many businesses as possible can reopen after the two week lockdown comes to an end. The government is not expected to make a decision on easing restrictions on people in Kildare, Offaly and Laois. But rather they will wait to receive advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) next week. Government sources said it could be as late as next Friday before people in the three counties know if they will have restrictions lifted. Kildare Chamber has welcomed the support package for the three locked down counties but said further funding many be needed to help businesses survive over winter. Kildare Chamber chief executive Allan Shine said: "We will continue our engagement over the weekend to seek clarity on our call for the wage subsidy scheme to remain at its current level for a further three months for eligible companies in the three counties. "We urge Failte Ireland to start now with their funding stream allocated for the tourism hospitality sector in the region. The Chamber will now commence work with the LEOs to ensure supports and grants reach businesses in the coming weeks. "The harsh reality is that the package announced may only enable a certain amount of business to survive, we may require further stimulus package coming into to the winter months." Health inspectors fumigate surroundings of Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul's Seongbuk-gu District, Friday, which the Seoul city government shut down after cluster infection of COVID-19 took place there. Yonhap South Korea saw new daily COVID-19 virus cases reach triple digits for the second day in a row Saturday, as sporadic local infections in the greater Seoul area jumped ahead of the three-day holiday weekend. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 166 infections as of midnight Friday, raising the total caseload to 15,039. Of these 155 were locally transmitted. This is the second straight day for new infections to top 100, following 138, reported Friday. The number of cases was the largest since March 11, when the country reported 242. There has been a dramatic increase in infections during the week, with new daily confirmed cases nearly doubling from 28, Monday, to 54, Wednesday, with people testing positive for the virus reaching triple digits Friday. The KCDC has warned that the greater Seoul area is teetering on the brink of another viral spike and that the easing of social distancing guidance could be rolled back if the upward trend continues. Facial recognition technology has emerged as an important identification tool. Big tech, social media companies and governments around the world use it and hold unprecedented power over individuals and communities. Its use for surveillance purposes has brought it under public scrutiny. The technology has still not been perfected. Is it really ready for adoption? In June 2020, IBM, Microsoft and Amazon decided to stop selling facial recognition technology to law enforcement agencies, in light of potential misuse of the technology. IBM went a step further and stopped the development of the technology altogether, Gateawayhouse writes in the article We own your Face! No other company or entity, however, is taking the high moral ground on facial technology. The use of facial recognition by governments around the world has become quite prevalent. China has used it to enforce quarantine in Beijing and to crack down on protestors in Hong Kong. Dubais Ooyun project uses facial recognition for smart policing. Russia has used it to track citizens movements during the coronavirus lockdown. It is now so prevalent that ordinary citizens know that they are being watched from all angles, public and private. For example, even when Facebook prompts a name to be tagged in a photo, it uses facial recognition algorithm to determine their presence in an image. Facial recognition technology analyses facial images and interprets the identity of a person. The surface and features of a face are broken down into several data points to derive the output, with the precision of a plastic surgeon. For instance, the distance between the nose and lips; the width and breadth of a lip; protrusion of cheek bones and several other such conditions are used. Facial recognition tech is an Artificial Intelligence driven system. This is because when two unequal entities such as one version of persons facial expression is compared to his many photos taken across different time intervals, the system makes an intelligent judgement on whether it matches with the persons face. The source of a facial image can be both physical such as street cameras and digital, such as social media. The captured image is then compared with thousands of images collected in a database made out of social media profiles, photographs provided for social identification cards such as Social Security, drivers licenses, passport etc. Technology companies can scrape the internet for images and videos containing faces, group them and map them to a single person. More data helps to train the facial recognition algorithm better, as every feature and expression is captured. For instance, it can recognise both a straight face and a laughing image of the same person. The more posts that are uploaded on Instagram, the more the facial recognition algorithm learns about the face. The primary purpose of this technology is authentication and identification of a person. Authentication of an individual is a one-to-one verification process where the authenticating agency knows what it is searching for. For instance, at an immigration counter, the face of a traveller is scanned against the face of the person who he claims to be in the system. Identification of an individual is a one-to-many process where the identifier does not know the person being searched, like the identification of a suspect within a database of criminals. There are two categories of players in this game big tech and social media companies and the State. Being a tech and social media giants like Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft is a huge advantage. Massive amounts of voluntary, in-coming facial images have created a global database. Facebooks facial recognition system known as DeepFace uses the tech to enrich the user experience on its platform. The rate of accuracy with which Facebook prompts the user with the name of the person in an image, has increased significantly over the years, and trained on large datasets of faces to reach an accuracy of 97.35% today. Streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video leverages an in-house Amazon product called X-Ray[7] to help the viewer identify the celebrity on screen. It uses the movie cataloguing website IMDB, also owned by Amazon, as the backend database for this process. Amazon sells its facial recognition software called, Rekognition. Amazon Rekognition claims to identify objects, people, scenes. It can also detect emotions such as happiness or sadness on peoples faces. Microsoft provides an API (Application Programming Interface) called Face,a re-usable code that can be downloaded by a customer for facial analysis. Age, emotion, pose, smile, facial hair and other features can be determined with Microsoft Face. These companies have major customers: governments across the world. Their many agencies use facial recognition to provide government services and national security. The recent controversy surrounding police departments in the U.S using ClearviewAI software, a U.S. based surveillance company, to quell public protests, has brought to the forefront of the wide usage of such technology. Facial recognition tech is a favourite policing tool because all current identification systems require close proximity between the person and the device. For instance, fingerprints require a person to touch a scanner; iris scanner, though contactless, requires a person to be near the scanner. Facial recognition allows identification from afar, eliminating the need for person-device proximity. This gives the state unprecedented power over its citizens. The virtuous use of tracking and identifying criminals can easily convert into profiling citizens taking part in protests. For this very reason, the Chinese government banned the use of masks in the Hong Kong protest. Its easier to pick protestors once their facial image from a protest is captured and mapped against a database of citizens photos. This problem multiplies manifold when the tech companies and government are intertwined. The Chinese government uses Face++ a product from Megvii, a Facial recognition AI software company based in Beijing. Other Chinese companies such as Yitu and SenseTime also produce this tech which can be easily used for mass surveillance. China is accused of using this technology for the religious profiling of its Uighur population. The fear of such abuse has resulted in many states in the U.S. such as Californiato ban this technology in police body cameras. Regional bodies like the European Union are still debating whether to adopt this technology or not. Others are moving ahead. Russian courts in March 2020 have struck down a challenge to the use of facial recognition tech. Malaysia, Uganda, Zimbabwe have tied up with Chinese companies to implement facial recognition.Indias National Crime Records Bureau plans to implement a country wide automated facial recognition system (AFRS). It has released a tender for proposals from tech companies for it. The technology has still not been perfected, though. A major challenge is the problem of misidentification, especially for women and individuals with darker skin tone. For instance, Amazons Rekognition falsely identified 28 non-white U.S. lawmakers as criminals. A study by MIT and Microsoft found an error rate of 35% for darker skinned women. The fear of a dystopian world is legitimate, especially if the technology is not fool-proof. Though facial images are considered sensitive biometric data as per Europes General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Indias Personal Data Protection Bill 2019, these regulations exempt government agencies from their purview, on grounds of public safety and national security. India needs to be particularly careful because it is a heterogenous country, with varied ethnicities and facial types. Till the technology matures, facial recognition should be used only as a medium of screening individuals, along with other identity verification methods. The Armed Forces spokesman, Tamer El-Refaai, said the aid affirms Egypts pioneering role in Africa and boosts the historical ties between Egypt and African countries. Sudan said it appreciates Egypts efforts to support countries around the world during times of crises, the Egyptian statement added. In May, President El-Sisi ordered the dispatch of four military planes loaded with medical supplies to Sudan to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic. The shipment was sent to help alleviate the burden of the Sudanese people in light of the shortage of medicines and protective gear necessary in the battle against the coronavirus." KAMPALA Since the beginning of the 2020 the world is grappling with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Uganda has not been spared. As of today Uganda has registered over 1,200 infections. Formally, 12 deaths directly linked to COVID-19 have been reported by Ministry of Health (MoH) while several hundreds of people have died indirectly as a consequence of the novel virus. Our social-economic systems have been greatly destabilised and it is both important and urgent to focus on measures to mitigate harm and cause speedy recovery from the devastating effects of COVID-19, says Dr. David Kalema, the chairperson Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA). He adds that Alcohol is known to weaken the immune and recovery systems of people and societies against COVID-19. Possibly in recognition of this fact, Dr. Kalema notes, a significant proportion of the presidential directives on prevention and management of COVID -19 that were issued between March and June 2020 meant to directly impact on the trade and consumption of alcohol. In his maiden speech on COVID-19, President Museveni rightly recognised alcohol as a major risk factor that potentially aids the spread of COVID-19. Between April and June 2020, UAPA conducted a rapid survey to monitor alcohol control measures in COVID-19 period and the extent to which the presidential directives during the lock down reduced alcohol related harm. In total, the study covered 70 leaders from 15 districts randomly selected from the four regions of Uganda. The survey was qualitative using interview/observation methods in communities where UAPA members operate and was conducted following MoH standard operating procedures (SoP) of social distancing; using phone calls, virtual platforms such as zoom, WhatsApp and skype. A few physical interactions were held with the Members of Parliament. Other informants included media personnel, religious leaders and District/Sub county leaders involved in enforcement of the directives. While phase one marked the initial intervention characterized by total lock down with a ban on public and private transport and closure of all activities except essential services; in phase two of the lock down there was gradual opening of private transport and selected services. Finally, phase three of the lockdown is characterized by the gradual of private transport and public transport and a variety of business enterprises while other non-essential sectors and those capable of bringing together large gatherings remained closed. He says respondents were aware of all the directives and observed that the measures would have been sufficient to prevent alcohol abuse but were most effective in the first phase. Alcohol use during the first phase of the lockdown seems to have reduced especially in urban areas as some people relocated from towns to villages to support their families with agricultural work. Decline in alcohol abuse in the initial period of the lockdown was essentially attributed to strict surveillance as many offenders from all over Uganda were arrested and charged in courts of law. To a very large extent, they observed extreme laxity in surveillance and enforcement especially in phase two and three of the lockdown. Disregarding the Presidential guidelines enabled acts of alcohol abuse at all stages of the lockdown. To efficiently enforce their lockdown some countries such as India, South Africa and of late Kenya have taken strict measure against alcohol. However in Uganda, it is almost the usual business for alcohol industries and alcohol outlets as they remain operational. Kalema adds that alcohol production, trade and consumption remained legal throughout the different stages of the lockdown. The alcohol industry took advantage of the sanitising benefits of alcohol to promote their products. In places where movement of trucks was restricted the bodaboda motorcyclist became handy doing door to door deliveries. Beer depots remained operational and shops have continued to openly sell alcohol and allow many on-premise use. Alcohol adverts were not stopped and online alcohol exposures increased. Of late, young people are seen on social media posing with alcohol in bars and in other social events. In spite of the ban, many bars remain operational as owners simply put off music and lock their customers inside their premises defying the protocol of social distancing and endangering its patrons. The statement further indicates that the study found that some liquor retailers promoted stockpiling of alcohol and thus heavy drinking while in quarantine at home. In rural areas people buy alcohol and consume it from unexpected places such as forests, banana/coffee plantations in order to avoid surveillance teams. He notes that as a result of the above lapses, more people reported negative consequences of alcohol such as increased Gender Based Violence resulting into family unrest, injuries and deaths. In some sections fatalities resulting from acute alcohol poisoning were reported as people with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUDs) suffering withdrawals did not have guidance on where to seek assistance. He adds that as civil society, we need government support to continue playing their role by educating the masses about dangers of alcohol in the COVID-19 and beyond (E.g. Tumuzizike ekuuli production), provide relief services to vulnerable populations and offer treatment services to those affected by alcohol Use Disorder. They also call upon government to step up the surveillance and implementation of the presidential directives, to expand current initiatives for treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders and explore alternative economic support activities for alcohol dealers especially in the informal sector. We appeal to all leaders and politicians not to use alcohol as a campaign tool and to be alert to all alcohol harm in their communities. We call upon parents to show a good example to their children in this time and not introduce them to alcohol use. In the absence of media guidelines on alcohol we call upon the media fraternity to be responsible while marketing alcoholic products, notes Kalema. Related A man has been charged with murder after a fatal shooting in north London. Christopher George, 26, was shot in Sebastopol Road, Edmonton, north London, shortly before 9pm on July 29. He was sitting in a black Mercedes when two men walked up to the car and shot him in the chest at close range. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Leo Donaldson, 27, of Haringey, has been charged with murder and possession of criminal property, the Metropolitan Police said. He will appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Saturday, 15 August. On Monday, police officers received a report that a woman was found lying in a pool of her own blood on the ground and a man was seen mounted on her inside a residence on the 120 black of Club Court. Digging into flesh Spokesman Sergeant Aaron Pomeroy of the Richmond police said that when officers arrived at the scene, they found the man standing over the woman and was probing into the victim's flesh and eating her body parts. Police officers told the suspect, Dwayne Wallick, to cease what he was doing but they were completely ignored. Law enforcement decided to use a stun gun on the man who had little effect and afterwards, a struggle ensued between the two parties. It took four police officers to subdue successfully and finally arrest Wallick. Police said they later transferred the suspect to a hospital where he was being treated for undeclared physical injuries. Authorities are investigating the case and are looking at drugs as one possible cause of the suspect's bizarre behavior. Reports state that the victim, Rubby Wallick, was the suspect's 90-year-old grandmother and was found with missing bits and pieces of her flesh. Medical experts will be conducting an autopsy to determine what caused her death. Despite the investigation still ongoing and police continuing to look for evidence, several social media users on Twitter began spreading claims that the zombie apocalypse has begun with the recent crime, a harrowing piece of evidence for the event. Leyna Nguyen, an Emmy-award winning journalist, tweeted that although she was not making light of the situation, she considered that with the events that have happened in 2020, she was worried that the crime was the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. She added that she was somewhat relieved she watched the Walking Dead series to know what to do just in case. Also Read: Mother Charged With Murder for Smothering 4-Year-Old Daughter With Pillow Another user wrote a summary of the incident where police officers found the 37-year-old man who was eating his 90-year-old grandmother. The user was in shock as the location of the crime was only 30 minutes away from them. A different Twitter user commented on the post and said that 2020 continued to be the bearer of bad news with the most recent zombie apocalypse evidence surfacing. A similar crime Previously, a man who called himself to be the "evil black witch" was placed in jail after she horrifyingly attacked a 52-year-old man that left him in excruciating pain, as reported by The Sun. David Lake had a carnival-style mask when he attacked an elderly shopkeeper, kicked him when he was unconscious on the ground, and proceeded to insert a foreign object into his body. Lake was a former researcher at Cambridge University and was previously considered dangerous to the public after he went on a cannibalistic attack and chewed off a woman's arm and then ate it. In October 2018, he disguised himself as a customer at a shop in Exeter before coming back with alcohol and offering it to his target who was in his 70s. He gave the shopkeeper the drinks before wearing the gold mask and immediately turning violent and attacking the victim. Related Article: One-Week-Old Infant Found Dead in Bucket of Tar, Parents Arrested @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Ashton Kutcher took to Twitter to slam the Trump administration for not sending relief to Iowa yet after the state was devastated by a derecho storm Ashton Kutcher lambasted President Donald Trump for failing to send federal aid to to Iowa after it was devastated by an intense derecho, resulting in the deaths of three people. The Cedar Rapids native took to Trump's favorite social media channel to demand that the federal government 'wake up' and help those impacted by the intense land storm. 'Where is the federal relief for Iowa? 10m acres of crops have been destroyed. Houses. Communities. Wake up federal gov,' Kutcher declared in his Friday tweet. 'What because it's not called a tornado or hurricane you don't need to act fast? Come On!!' The land hurricane, known as a derecho, caused a wind gust of 112 mph (180 kph) just north of Des Moines, placing the storm at the strength of a category 3 hurricane. The extensive damage to power lines, buildings and crops was because the winds were prolonged. At least three people in Iowa and one in Indiana were killed, including a bicyclist on a trail and a woman sitting on her front porch - both struck by trees. Earlier in the week, the Two and a Half Men actor shared that his own family was impacted by the storm and criticized the federal government for not acknowledging the 'disaster.' 'Where is the federal relief for Iowa? 10m acres of crops have been destroyed. Houses. Communities. Wake up federal gov,' Kutcher declared in his Thursday tweet. 'What because it's not called a tornado or hurricane you don't need to act fast? Come On!!' Earlier in the week, the Two and a Half Men actor shared that his own family was impacted by the storm Kutcher tagged the president in several posts showing the damage the storm caused in his home state The land hurricane caused a wind gust of 112 mph (180 kph) just north of Des Moines, placing the storm at the strength of a category 3 hurricane. Countless homes and businesses were destroyed President Trump had acknowledged the storm in a Tuesday tweet and claimed that the federal gov't was working in 'close coordination' with state officials. On Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she expects a federal disaster declaration by Monday. 'Sad to see the damage from the derecho in Midwest. 112 mile per hour winds in Midway, Iowa! The Federal government is in close coordination with State officials,' Trump said in his tweet. 'We are with you all the way - Stay safe and strong!' The actor directly tweeted Trump and shared with him a variety of photos showing the damage that took place in the area. In a Tuesday tweet, Trump claimed that the federal gov't was working in 'close coordination' with state officials On Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she expects a federal disaster declaration by Monday. Several Iowans replied to Kutcher's post to show how the storm had devastated their homes Many Iowans had not been alerted that such a dangerous storm was going to hit Under his post, several Iowans shared their own photos and videos of the carnage from the derecho. Kutcher responded to a few tweets, insinuating that Trump did not care for Iowa because it did not have that many electoral votes - the state has six for the 2020 election. 'Cool tweet,' one person said in response to one tweet. 'Crops are dying and people don't have electricity.' Kutcher also slammed Vice President Mike Pence, who had campaigned in Iowa on Thursday, demanding that he 'do something.' Scientists say it's difficult to give advance warning about a derecho because, unlike a more distant hurricane forming over the ocean, its formation is not readily apparent Kutcher responded to a few tweets, insinuating that Trump did not care for Iowa Kutcher also told Vice President Mike Pence to 'do something' after the politician visited the state on the campaign trail The derecho caught farmers in fields, bicyclists on trails and travelers on highways - unaware that a series of thunderstorms that had formed the night before in South Dakota had picked up strength as it moved across Nebraska. Forecasters had predicted thunderstorms and in some communities, tornado sirens sounded 20 to 30 minutes before the winds began. But for many people, there was no sense that the day would be different from any other muggy Monday in August. Scientists say it's difficult to give advance warning about a derecho because, unlike a more distant hurricane forming over the ocean, its formation is not readily apparent. Even had forecasters provided warnings, it's not clear it would have made a difference. Thunderstorms and tornadoes are common in the Midwest, and many residents are desensitized to severe weather warnings. Several trees fell on graves in this cemetery in Iowa Four different trees have fell on this house when the devastating storm tore through the state 'Severe thunderstorms in general need to be taken seriously,' Patrick Marsh, chief of science support at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said. 'Severe thunderstorms can be just as dangerous to a person as a derecho can be to a series of communities, but we dont think about severe thunderstorms in that regard.' The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working on tools that would assist forecasters in making predictions that consider a range of possibilities. In the future, a forecast for the next day might say that a thunderstorm is a likely scenario, with a chance for a derecho given the right conditions, Marsh said. Scientists now believe Monday's derecho traveled 1,000 miles from South Dakota to northwest Ohio. It appears the storm began picking up strength in Nebraska, gaining power as it moved across Iowa before weakening as it approached Ohio. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:30:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A team of 21 Egyptian surgeons and doctors arrived in Beirut airport on Saturday to help with the treatment of those injured in the massive blast that rocked the Lebanese capital city earlier in the month. The Egyptian medical team arrived onboard a plane carrying nearly half a tonne of medical tools and supplies that they will use during their mission in Beirut, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported. Since the enormous explosion that took place in Beirut on Aug. 4, Egypt has sent four military planes carrying tonnes of medical supplies and foodstuff to Beirut through an emergency air bridge to relieve the disaster-stricken city. Two more Egyptian planes with tonnes of similar aids are expected to arrive in Beirut later in the day, according to the report. An Egyptian military field hospital has also been held in the Lebanese capital to provide medical care to those injured in the blast. Days after the explosion, Egypt repatriated the bodies of the three Egyptians killed in the tragic event and sent them back to their hometown for burial. Enditem Sherans Chin Mask By Manoshi de Silva View(s): View(s): Sheran was at the supermarket with his mother. While following his mother from shelf to shelf he pulled his face mask down to his chin. Sheran, wear your face mask properly! said his mother in a stern voice. But I cant breathe properly with it! lied Sheran. The truth was that he just didnt like wearing a face mask. Thats not true, said his mother, some doctors and health workers wear it on a daily basis and sometimes even for hours! But I am not a health worker, muttered Sheran, pulling it back up when his mother gave him an angry look. The next day when Sheran went to the market with his grandfather, he pulled his mask down as usual. Putha, wear that face mask properly, covering your nose and mouth, advised his grandfather. But my face is itching because of it! lied Sheran trying to give a false excuse. Thats not true. Then everyone should be scratching their faces, said his grandfather shaking his head in disbelief. So Sheran pulled his face mask back up. But every time his grandfather looked the other way, Sheran put it down again. That evening while coming home from his tuition class, Sheran pulled his face mask down as usual. Sheran, can you please wear your mask properly, asked his friend Nadun. But why? asked Sheran. To protect yourself from the virus, you already know that! said Nadun sounding annoyed. The virus can even enter from your eyes! So what is the protection that you are talking about? argued Sheran. But at least it will protect you up to a certain limit, started Nadun. But Sheran just ignored what his friend was saying. Why are you always pulling that face mask down? shouted his mother on another day. The face mask is not there to cover your chin; its not a chin mask! Well, if the virus wants to enter my body it can even enter from my eyes started Sheran, giving his famous excuse so as to not wear the face mask. You are asked to wear it for a reason by the healthcare professionals, so you must listen and respect that and follow their advice! There is a reason why we are told to wear it, said his mother. But Sheran didnt want to listen to any of it. He pulled it back up just to stop his mother from scolding him. Sheran acted very stubbornly and pulled his face mask down at every opportunity he got, no matter how much he was told or scolded. There is no point, he convinced himself, without the mask it is still the same! Sheran didnt follow any advice on other safety precautions either. He didnt see any importance even in maintaining a metre distance from others. Just because I stand close to someone, I am not going to fall sick! he thought stubbornly. One day, Sheran went to the bookshop to buy some stationery. There was a boy standing next to him. Sheran noticed that boy was also wearing his face mask on his chin, just like Sheran wore it. Maybe he also knows that there is no importance in wearing a face mask, thought Sheran. The boy was standing very close to him, only about a couple of feet away. He then leaned towards Sheran to grab a book from the book stack that was right next to Sheran. Achooo..! The boy suddenly sneezed without control, almost drenching Sheran. Yuk! shouted Sheran covering his face. You sneezed all over me! I am so sorry! said the boy, I didnt mean to Achooo he sneezed again before he could even complete his sentence. Sheran felt as if he was standing under the shower. What are you doing? shouted Sheran jumping a few feet away. You could make me also sick! Oh dont worry! This is not anything serious. Its just an allergy, said the boy sounding apologetic. How can anyone know without being tested, whether its serious or not? There is a face mask on your chin. Its a face mask and not a chin mask, you know. Why dont you wear it properly to avoid sneezing on others? shouted Sheran. Well youre wearing a chin mask too! said the boy, you cant advise me to wear it properly, when you dont! Sheran walked away angrily. He couldnt wait to wash himself. That evening, while having dinner Sheran told his family about what happened at the bookshop. Now do you see why you must wear a face mask properly, when you go out? asked his father. If that boy wore his face mask properly, he wouldnt have sneezed all over you! Also if you wore your one properly, half of your face would have been covered too, nodded his mother. It helps to stop germs from spreading from a sick person and slows the virus from spreading around quickly, making everyone sick. Its a community responsibility to ensure that we dont make others sick while keeping ourselves safe as well. said Sherans grandfather. Sheran finally understood the importance of wearing a face mask properly. Although it felt a bit unusual wearing one until you got used to it, the importance of wearing it was far greater. And in order to stay safe and to help others to stay safe, Sheran promised himself to wear the face mask properly from that day on. Photo: (Photo : YouTube/CBSDFW) Wendy Figueroa had to wait 20 days after giving birth at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, before she could hold her newborn daughter, Alexa. She and her newborn both had tested positive for the coronavirus. The KTVT reported that the mom felt "horrible" for enduring the long wait. COVID-19 present in the placenta On April 30, Figueroa had tested positive for the deadly virus during her eighth-month pregnancy. Two days later, she went into labor at the hospital. The mom told CBS DFW that she was nervous to give birth with COVID-19. Marjorie Quint-Bouzid, Parkland's senior vice president of nursing, women, and infant's specialty health told the outlet that the mom had a special case. She said that they found that the virus was present in Figueroa's placenta. See also: Mayor Loses Stepdad and Mom Due to Coronavirus Weeks Apart Mom saw her daughter from a distance Within a day of being born, Alexa showed symptoms of the disease. She had a fever and difficulty breathing. The hospital staff isolated Figueroa and brought Alexa to the NICU. Thankfully, the staff tried to keep the mother and daughter "attached" while being apart. They let the mom see her daughter live-stream using an iPad. Quint-Bouzid said that they felt like they had to do something. They all cried when Figueroa saw her baby and got reunited for the first time. See also: Teacher Used Own Money to Make Schooling Safe and Fun for Kids It was hard for the mom The mom of three told USA Today about her experience of having to be separated from her newborn. She said that it was hard for a mom not to cradle the baby that she carried for nine months in her womb. She shared that after the nurses showed her newborn to her from a distance, they took her away. She shared that it is not the same as seeing her newborn through a camera. She would cry seeing her little one through the camera because she could not have her little girl. See also: Man, 90, Dies Happy Even After Contracting Coronavirus from Dying Wife In July, a report was published in "The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal" about the case. Co-author of the study, Dr. Amanda Evans, found that even if the baby got exposed to mom's body fluids on her way out through the birth canal, it would not be possible to affect the placental tissue. A neonatal doctor at UT Southwestern and medical director of the NICU at Parkland Hospital, Dr. Mambarambath Jaleel, said his thoughts. He said that since Alexa was immediately taken from her mom, they ruled out the transfer of the virus through droplets. Figueroa shared some advice to other pregnant moms. She said that they should take care of themselves because it is so difficult to have to be away from your newborn baby. Parkland Hospital tests every woman who got admitted for delivery for COVID-19 tests. 173 mothers tested positive for the deadly disease, and all got separated from their newborns. Later, five doctors also tested positive. A box truck driver who crashed into a Georgia school bus managed to save some of the children before he suddenly collapsed and died. At least 10 young students and a bus driver were injured following a frightening collision along US highway 1 on Wednesday afternoon. Around 3:30pm, a school bus was unloading students near Alma when Johnathon Grayer unexpectedly rear-ended his rented Ryder box truck into the vehicle. The school bus was reportedly at a complete stop with its stop sign extended and lights flashing at the time. On Wednesday, authorities rushed to US Highway 1 after a Ryder box truck collided with a school bus (pictured) near Alma WBAL reports that the Ryder truck was traveling between 50mph and 60mph when it rammed into the school bus. Ten children and the bus driver were still on board. 'The impact sent the back of the box truck into the air, leaving metal scattered across the highway,' Cpl. Shane Copeland with the Georgia State Patrol told CNN. That's when Grayer, 25, stumbled from his demolished Ryder truck and desperately rushed to help the group of children on the bus. Footage from the bus' surveillance camera showed Grayer lifting seats off of children pinned underneath and moving them to safety. Johnathon Grayer, of Jacksonville, Florida, reportedly rented the Ryder truck (pictured) and was driving around 50mph at the time of the crash Diver, Jerry Sweat, was dropping off 10 children off near Alma and all of them sustained injuries from the crash But then Grayer collapsed and was transferred to the Bacon County Hospital where he died. He was from Jacksonville, Florida. 'He must've been running on adrenaline, and his body gave out,' said Cpl. Shane Copeland with the Georgia State Patrol. 'He was pretty much done by that point.' Each of the children sustained injuries, including broken bones and bleeding, but most were considered not life-threatening. Three children were taken to the Shands Jacksonville Med Center two hours away and three were taken to Bacon County Hospital. At least three were airlifted to the hospital. The bus driver, Jerry Sweat, also suffered injuries after the crash and was treated at Bacon County Hospital. Bacon County Emergency Management Agency Director Danny Turner told WSAV that at least two helicopters arrived to the crash scene to medevac students. 'Weve had other accidents and tragedies and things like that in the past, but this one had you shaken the most out of all of them,' said Tyler Beach, a Bacon County Fire/EMS Compliance Officer. Footage from the bus' surveillance camera showed Grayer lifting seats off of children pinned underneath and moving them to safety While at the scene, Grayer collapsed and was transferred to a local hospital where he later died. Pictured: the damaged Ryder box truck driven by Grayer on Wednesday A Bacon County Fire/EMS Compliance Officer said the roadway where the crash occurred was cleaned up by 7pm Photos of the scene showed the back of the school bus completely caved in and damaged from the collision. The Ryder box truck did not fair much better, with pieces of the front bumper, glass, rubber tire and other debris scattered across the highway. Officials said the highway was cleaned up by 7pm. 'It was actually unbelievable for a population of 11,000 in Bacon County,' Beach said. 'We couldnt believe the support and all the resources that were available in a moments notice. I cant say thank you enough to everyone who showed up and helped respond.' Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp shared his condolences to Grayer's family and the injured students on Twitter Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp shared his condolences with Grayer's family, 'Terrible news out of Alma,' wrote Kemp on Twitter. '@GAFirstLady, the girls, and I are praying for the family and loved ones of the truck driver who lost their life and the students who are injured.' An investigation into the vehicle crash is ongoing. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Georgia State Patrol for additional details. The county council said its roads department and Fire Service staff have been working through the night to put sandbags in place and divert flood waters away from the N71 and surrounding properties. #CorkFloods The flooding currently affecting Rosscarbery. Image taken at Tanyard Lane. pic.twitter.com/ozsl7JJIbg Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) August 15, 2020 The road will remain closed at Rosscarbery until later today, with traffic diversions in place. The heavy rain has caused additional damage to the Rosscarbery to Glandore road, the R597 at Roury bridge. Other roads around the Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Bantry and Sheep's Head areas have also been affected. Advertisement In a statement, the council said that although flood waters may have gone in some areas, road edges could have been washed away or been undermined, so extreme care is necessary. Meanwhile, Met Eireann has issued two status yellow rain and thunder warnings for parts of the south and west. A rainfall warning is in place for counties Wexford, Cork and Waterford until 6am on Sunday. A thunder warning lasting until 9pm on Saturday covers Munster and counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Offaly, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. Young Army officers have been told they will be expected to be 'more unconventional' in warfare and master the 'new domains of cyber and space'. The Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sandhurst graduates that the highly anticipated Integrated Defence and Security review, spearheaded by Dominic Cummings, would soon be published and would bring with it new expectations of officers. Speaking at the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Mr Wallace said the review would deliver 'a force to meet tomorrow's battles'. 'As young officers, be prepared to be more active, more deployed and more unconventional,' he said. A British Army soldier from the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment secures the helicopter landing strip (HLS) during operation Southern Beast on August 6, 2008 in Maywand District in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan 'I want the Army to be once again forward deployed across the globe and I want you all to have the capabilities to challenge in new domains of cyber and space.' The 'deep and far reaching' review would see the Armed Forces 'engage more, compete more and shift towards a continuum of 'operate' to 'fight',' he added. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace arrives to attend the first cabinet meeting since the Covid-19 lockdown at the Foreign Office in London, United Kingdom on July 21, 2020 Speaking on the eve of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, Mr Wallace paid tribute to the 'resilience, bravery and integrity' displayed by those soldiers who fought in the Second World War. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, said that new officers can 'learn from those who fought' before them, whose success 'was underpinned by their courage'. 'Constant adaptation, integration and experimentation are vital features of the way we will modernise our Armed Forces today,' he said. The Prime Minister will today mark VJ Day by paying tribute to the 'Forgotten Army' in a speech at the National Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The Integrated Review of foreign policy, defence, security and international development was billed in last year's Queen's Speech as the deepest and most radical re-evaluation of the UK's place in the world since the Cold War ended. A soldier from the Royal Anglian Regiment lays down rounds from the mounted gun on a Foxhound armoured vehicle during a military exercise on Salisbury Plains on July 24, 2020 near Warminster, England However, the Commons Defence Committee warned that there must be much greater transparency if its far-reaching ambitions are to be achieved. With Mr Cummings reportedly playing a major role, the committee urged the Government to publicly identify the key players - including who will chair the review in Mr Johnson's absence. It said the review needs to include a thorough assessment of the economic, diplomatic and military activities and the internal political dynamics of hostile foreign states, such as Russia and China. It also requires a coherent vision of how Britain's armed forces will fight and operate in the future, setting out the platforms, weapons and personnel that would be provided to ensure that vision was realised. A Royal Marine watches for Taliban movements after an airstrike was called in on a Taliban position on March 18, 2007 near Kajaki in the Afghan province of Helmand Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood said it is essential that decisions are based on 'a clear view of the world and a detailed vision for the UK's role within it' rather than 'short-term economic considerations'. 'Number 10 has described the Integrated Review as the most comprehensive policy review since the end of the Cold War; however, we are concerned that the gap between this expectation and reality is widening,' he said. 'To ensure the review takes a strategic approach, there must be broader engagement and consultation of external stakeholders, and yet so far the committee has seen little evidence that this has taken place. 'The Defence Committee, alongside colleagues in the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees, have repeatedly called for clarity and transparency from the Government. These calls have, at times, been left unanswered. The highly anticipated Integrated Defence and Security review is spearheaded by Dominic Cummings (pictured outside Downing Street earlier this week) 'A number of unknowns remain, including the key players at the heart of the review. A policy review of this importance should not take place behind closed doors.' A Government spokeswoman said: 'As part of the Integrated Review, the Government will on Thursday publish a Call for Evidence, enabling us to hear from the public and our stakeholders to inform the long-term strategic aims of our international policy and national security, rooted in our national interests 'The Integrated Review will cover all aspects of international and national security policy, such as defence, diplomacy, development and national resilience. It will also take account of the implications of COVID-19, setting a strong direction for recovery at home and overseas.' Now Playing: Kroger Houston, Houston Food Bank, Burns Original BBQ, METRO and City of Houston kick off grocery donation event for community surrounding burned down Jims Grocer. Video: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Nearly 200 families were given a supply of groceries, household items and COVID-19 information this week to help fill a need created when a recent fire destroyed a Third Ward grocery store. After the July 31 fire at Jims Super, 4703 Yellowstone Blvd., the families were identified as having reduced or no access to groceries. A team of volunteers representing Kroger Houston, the City of Houston, Metro, the Houston Food Bank and Burn's BBQ gathered in south Houston on Wednesday to pack pantry staples for the families, according to a news release from the grocery chain. New Zealand has recorded seven new coronavirus cases overnight as the fallout from the emerging cluster continues to grow. Ministry of Health Director-General Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Health Minister Chris Hipkins announced the growing cases on Saturday morning. Jetstar has also cancelled all flights around the country after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was forced to extend New Zealand's lockdown on Friday. New Zealand (Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pictured) reported seven new coronavirus cases on Saturday morning and has recorded a total of 56 active cases of COVID-19 Ms Ardern announced on Friday that New Zealand's lockdown would be extended until August 26 after the explosion of coronavirus cases (coronavirus testing clinic in Auckland pictured) Jetstar (pictured) cancelled all flights in New Zealand following the lockdown announcement All seven new COVID-19 cases were spread within the community and brought the total number of active cases in New Zealand to 56. Six cases have been linked to the growing cluster in Auckland and one is under investigation. New Zealand has 37 coronavirus cases that have been spread within the community and 19 cases from travellers in hotel quarantine. At least 35 active cases have been linked to the Auckland cluster and it is 'strongly believed' the extra two cases are also linked to the cluster. Dr Bloomfield said at least 1,090 close contacts have been identified and 934 have been contacted. He encouraged New Zealanders to continue to maintain social distancing and get tested if they display coronavirus symptoms. 'There's no shame or blame in having either this virus or having any other infectious disease,' Dr Bloomfield said. A record number of 23,846 coronavirus tests were processed on Friday. Dr Bloomfield also said 45 requests to leave Auckland's borders had been confirmed and 1.6 million masks had been dispatched across community groups. Two cases that were confirmed in Tokoroa, 200km away from Auckland, on Friday have been transferred to a facility in Auckland and are in isolation. The former prime minister of the Cook Islands, Joseph Williams (pictured above), was also hospitalised with COVID-19 on Friday and it is unclear who he was in contact with At least 35 coronavirus cases have been linked to the Auckland cluster and two cases under investigation are also believed to be linked (coronavirus testing in Victoria on Friday pictured) At least 13 coronavirus cases are linked to the Americold frozen storage facility (pictured above), where a worker tested coronavirus positive after falling ill on July 31 New Zealand went 102 days without recording a locally transmitted case of coronavirus but four new infected family members tested positive on Tuesday. The former prime minister of the Cook Islands, 82-year-old Dr Joseph Williams, was hospitalised with COVID-19 on Friday. It is not known if the doctor, prominent within the Auckland and Pacific community, had been in contact with someone from the original family. His medical practice is near the Americold cool store, in south Auckland, where at least 13 workers have tested positive. Dr Bloomfield said the facility was undergoing environmental testing and an Americold facility in Victoria would also be tested to see if there was a linkage. Ms Ardern said Auckland would remain under stage 3 restrictions while the rest of New Zealand would be at level 2 restrictions (high school students in Wellington pictured on Friday) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended the country's lockdown until August 26 after the explosion of coronavirus cases. She announced that Auckland would stay in level 3 restrictions and the rest of the nation would remain on level 2, with no plans for a level 4 lockdown. 'What is important is making sure we establish the perimeter of the cluster and to stop it from growing,' the Prime Minister told reporters. Jetstar announced they would be suspending all flights in New Zealand from Tuesday until August 26 after Ms Ardern's lockdown announcement. 'During this period travel restrictions will vary across the country and as a result, Jetstar has temporarily suspended all domestic flights from Tuesday 11.59. 'If you have been impacted by flight cancellations, you will be contacted directly by Jetstar over the next 24 hours with your available options,' a statement read. Level 3 restrictions mean residents must only leave their homes for essential reasons like exercise, food shopping and providing care (a couple wearing masks pictured in Wellington) The earliest known coronavirus case in the Auckland cluster was detected in a worker at the Americold coolstore, in Mt Wellington, who became sick on July 31. However this person maybe not be the earliest case as the chain of transmission has not been discovered. It is understood that the workplace has undergone testing for COVID-19 amid fears the virus survived on refrigerated freight sent from overseas and then spread to staff. It has prompted health authorities to probe whether the virus was spread on frozen food shipments. Anyone who has tested positive to the virus is required to quarantine in a managed facility. Residents may only leave their homes for essential exercise, shopping and to provide care under the level 3 restrictions. Ms Ardern said a move to level 4 restrictions was not necessary and the current measures would be reviewed on August 21 (shoppers pictured in Wellington on Friday) People should stay in their immediate household bubble and school and work should be conducted from home where possible. Businesses are only open for takeaway and public venues like libraries and gyms are closed. Level 2 restrictions allow New Zealanders to gather up to a limit of 100 people and they are encouraged to socially distance at all times. Businesses may be open to the public provided they keep a record of customer details and maintain physical distancing. New Zealanders are encouraged to wear a face mask as a precaution. The lockdown measures are set to remain until 11.59pm on August 26. 'We will review these settings on August 21, we want to give about a week's time to see how we are travelling before we review again,' Ms Ardern said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased by 690 to 34,251, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health. To date, 28,661 (plus 1,448) patients have fully recovered in the country, while 223 have died. Under the instructions of President of Uzbekistan, unlimited movement of vehicles as well as local air rail traffic in Uzbekistan will resume from August 15, 2020. In addition, from August 17, 2020, Tashkent will resume public transport traffic. Citizens are required to wear a medical mask when entering the bus, otherwise, passengers will not be allowed on the buses. Moreover, from August 20, 2020, clothing and building material markets, large shops, gyms, fitness clubs and swimming pools will resume operations. The outbreak in the Chinese Wuhan city - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was an Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested positive for coronavirus. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini US President Donald Trump attacked Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Friday, claiming that he has more support from Indian-origin voters than Joe Bidens running mate. On his opponent Biden for the November 3 race, Trump said no one will be safe in Bidens America, adding that California Senator Harris is a step worse. According to an ANI report, Trump said, If Joe Biden would become the president, he will immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in America and probably Kamala (Harris) is a step worse. She is of Indian heritage. I have more Indians than she has. Trump took a sharp aim at Harris as being hostile towards police, suggesting that she and Biden were at the centre of a left-wing war on cops. He continued to criticise Biden, saying, This guy has been taking your dignity away and your respect... No one will be safe in Bidens America. He was speaking to members of New York Citys Police Benevolent Association (NYC PBA), which on Friday endorsed the US presidents re-election campaign. Speaking on the occasion, former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani slammed Harris prosecutorial record, claiming that when she was attorney general, she prosecuted little people but wouldnt prosecute big people. Biden, meanwhile, levelled fierce criticism at Trump, with his campaign saying the US president has resorted to abhorrent lies about Harris eligibility to be vice-president. I heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements, Trump had said on Thursday, citing a controversial news article that questions the immigration status of Harris parents at the time of her birth. Trump has sought to fuel racism and tear our nation apart, Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump greeted the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this past week with a litany of distortion and falsehoods, raging against cases of voting fraud where they didnt exist and declining to quash conspiracy theories about Harris eligibility for office. Trump also misrepresented Bidens position on taxes, again minimized the coronavirus threat and exaggerated his own record on the economy. A look at some of the past weeks rhetoric and the facts: ON BIDEN-HARRIS TRUMP: If Biden would win ... hes going to double and triple everybodys taxes. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Trump is exaggerating. Wildly so. Biden would raise taxes, primarily on the wealthy. But a July estimate by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget finds that the increase is a small fraction of what Trump claimed. The former vice-presidents plan would raise taxes for the top 1 per cent of earners by 13 to 18% of after-tax income, while indirectly increasing taxes for most other groups by 0.2 to 0.6%, the nonpartisan group said. To put that in perspective, tax collections would increase by $3.4 trillion to $3.7 trillion over the next decade. That is a lot of money. But its not a doubling or tripling. The government is on pace to collect $47 trillion over the next decade, so the Biden plan would be roughly be a 7.8% increase in revenues. ___ TRUMP, asked about social media claims that Harris is not eligible to run for vice-president because her parents were immigrants to the U.S.: I heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements. ... I have no idea if thats right. I would have assumed that the Democrats would have checked that out. news conference Thursday. TRUMP, asked about the subject again: I have nothing to do with it. I read something about it, Trump said Saturday during a news conference. He added: Its not something that bothers me. ... Its not something that we will be pursuing. Asked point blank if Harris is eligible, Trump replied: I just told you. I have not got into it in great detail. news conference Saturday. THE FACTS: Harris, a senator from California, is without question eligible. Harris, 55, was born in Oakland, California, making her a natural-born U.S. citizen and eligible to be president if Biden were unable to serve a full term. Her father, an economist from Jamaica, and her mother, a cancer researcher from India, met at the University of California, Berkeley, as graduate students. The Constitution requires a vice-president to meet the eligibility requirements to be president. That includes being a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old and a resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years. I cant believe people are making this idiotic comment, Laurence Tribe, a Harvard University professor of constitutional law, told The Associated Press in 2019, when similar false claims emerged about Harris during her presidential run. She is a natural born citizen and there is no question about her eligibility to run, Tribe said. Harris is the first Black woman and Asian American to compete on a major partys presidential ticket. Trump in past years indulged in the false conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama was born abroad. ___ TRUMP CAMPAIGN: Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received. -- statement Tuesday from Katrina Pierson, Trump 2020 senior adviser. THE FACTS: She never called Biden a racist. Pierson appears to be referring to Harris remarks during a Democratic primary debate in Miami in June 2019 when the California senator challenged Bidens record of opposing busing as a way to integrate schools in the 1970s. Harris prefaced her criticism by telling Biden at that time, I do not believe you are a racist. I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground. She then went on: It was actually hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country. It was not only that but you also worked with them to oppose busing. There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, Harris said. She was bused to school every day. That little girl was me. It was a breakthrough moment for Harris at the candidates first debate, stunning Biden, who responded that he did not praise racists and provided a hairsplitting defence of his position on busing. But she did not accuse him of being racist. ___ SOCIAL SECURITY TRUMP: At the end of the year, the assumption that I win, Im going to terminate the payroll tax ... Well be paying into Social Security through the general fund. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Under Trumps proposal, Social Security would lose its dedicated funding source. Payroll taxes raise about $1 trillion annually for Social Security, and the president was unconcerned about the loss of those revenues. Trump campaign officials stressed that the general fund consists of assets and liabilities that finance government operations and could do so for Social Security. The general fund is nicknamed Americas Checkbook on the Treasury Departments website. The risk is that the loss of a dedicated funding source could destabilize an anti-poverty program that provides payments to roughly 65 million Americans. It also could force people to cut back on the spending that drives growth so they can save for their own retirement and health care needs if they believe the government backstop is in jeopardy. A 12.4% payroll tax split between employers and workers funds Social Security, while a 2.9% payroll tax finances Medicare. The Social Security tax raised roughly $1 trillion last year, according to government figures. Over a 10-year period, Trumps idea would blow a $13 trillion hole in a U.S. budget that is already laden with rising debt loads. Trump announced a payroll tax deferral through the end of the year, part of a series of moves to bypass Congress after talks on a broader coronavirus relief bill that has stalled. He says he will make it a permanent tax cut with the help of Congress. Democrats have described that idea as a nonstarter. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday suggested to reporters that Trump misspoke when he said he would eliminate the payroll tax if reelected. She said the president would only push to make the payroll tax deferrals permanent. But Trump clearly said that he would eliminate the payroll tax four times at his Wednesday press briefing and even answered a question about permanently rescinding it. ___ TRUMP, asked how the general fund can sustain the payments: Were going to have tremendous growth. ... You will see growth like you have not seen in a long time. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: It is highly unlikely that economic growth would be enough to offset the loss of the payroll tax. Trump has a record of making wildly improbable growth projections. He suggested that his 2017 income tax cuts would propel economic growth as high as 6% annually. That never happened. Growth reached 3% in 2018, then slumped to 2.2% and the U.S. economy crumbled into recession this year because of the coronavirus. ___ VIRUS THREAT TRUMP, on COVID-19: Nobody understood it because nobody has ever seen anything like this. The closest thing is, in 1917, they say right? The great the great pandemic certainly was a terrible thing, where they lost, anywhere from 50 to 100 million people. Probably ended the Second World War; all the soldiers were sick. news briefing Monday. THE FACTS: He got the year wrong for the Spanish flu, as he routinely does, and may have overstated deaths from it. The pandemic spread from early 1918 to late 1920. It killed an estimated 50 million worldwide, with about 675,000 of the deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That pandemic did not end World War II, which came two decades later. ___ TRUMP: Were still in the pandemic, which will be going away, as I say, it will be going away. And they scream, how you can you say that? I said, because its going to be going away. interview Thursday on Fox Business Network. THE FACTS: No matter how many times he says it, the virus is not going to just magically disappear. The virus is now blamed for more than 166,000 deaths and more than 5.2 million confirmed infections in the U.S. easily the highest totals in the world. In the past week, the average number of new cases per day was on the rise in eight states, and deaths per day were climbing in 26, according to an Associated Press analysis. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious diseases official, has warned that increased cases across the South and West in particular put the entire country at risk. On Thursday, for instance, the rate of positive virus cases in Texas soared to the highest levels of the pandemic, with nearly 1 in every 4 coronavirus tests coming back positive. Nevada had its biggest daily jump in coronavirus fatalities to date. In February, Trump asserted coronavirus cases were going very substantially down, not up, and said it will be fine because in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. Fauci says there certainly will be coronavirus infections in the fall and winter. ___ TRUMP, on whether he still thinks kids are essentially immune from COVID-19: Yeah, I think that, for the most part, they do very well. I mean, they they dont get very sick. They dont catch it easily. news briefing Tuesday. THE FACTS: They arent immune, and he ignores racial disparities among those kids who get infected. Although its true that children are less likely than adults to develop COVID-19, the CDC has nevertheless counted more than 250,000 infections by the virus in Americans younger than 18, or roughly 7% of all cases. Racial disparities in the U.S. outbreak also extend to children, with Hispanic and Black children with COVID-19 more likely to be hospitalized than white kids. The total number of kids who have been infected but not confirmed is almost certainly far higher than the CDC figures, experts say, because those with mild or no symptoms are less likely to get tested. Trump also glosses over the fact that kids can spread disease without showing symptoms themselves. The CDC in May also warned doctors to be on the lookout for a rare but life-threatening inflammatory reaction in some children whove had the coronavirus. The condition had been reported in more than 100 children in New York, and in some kids in several other states and in Europe, with some deaths. Two recent government reports laid bare the racial disparities. One of the CDC reports looked at children with COVID-19 who needed hospitalization. Hispanic children were hospitalized at a rate eight times higher than white kids, and Black children were hospitalized at a rate five times higher, it found. The second report examined cases of the rare virus-associated syndrome in kids. It found that nearly three-quarters of the children with the syndrome were either Hispanic or Black, well above their representation in the general population. ___ ECONOMY TRUMP: The manufacturing sector is booming and the production index is at the highest reading since October of 18, which was an extraordinary period of time. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: The pandemic crushed U.S. factories and the damage persists. There is no boom. Even after three months of job gains, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the manufacturing sector has 740,000 fewer jobs than before the outbreak. All the factory hiring gains under Trump have disappeared. There were 257,000 more manufacturing jobs on the day Trump became president than now. More important, the jobs recovery has shown signs of stalling. Just 26,000 factory jobs were added in July, down from 357,000 added jobs in June. The sector has been recovering. Yet after increases in production in June, the Federal Reserve said U.S. factory output was running 11.1% below pre-pandemic levels. Trump cited one component of an index composed by the Institute for Supply Management that indicates factory production grew in July as well. It was the best reading since August of 2018, not October as claimed by the president. But that same report showed that manufacturers are also cutting back on employment, suggesting that a boom has yet to begin. ___ TRUMP, on tariffs on China: Weve taken in tens of billions of dollars from China. We never took 10 cents from China, never -- not even 10 cents. news conference Monday. THE FACTS: Its false to say the U.S. never collected a dime in tariffs on Chinese goods before he took action. They are simply higher in some cases than they were before. Its also wrong to suggest that the tariffs are being paid by China. Tariff money coming into the treasury is mainly from U.S. businesses and consumers, not from China. Tariffs are primarily if not entirely a tax paid domestically. ___ MAIL VOTING TRUMP: Universal mail-in voting is a system riddled by fraud and corruption. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Voting fraud actually is very rare. The Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 ranked the risk of ballot fraud at 0.00004% to 0.0009%, based on studies of past elections. Five states relied on mail-in ballots even before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person. Trump is simply wrong about mail-in balloting raising a tremendous potential for fraud, Richard L. Hasen, an elections expert at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, wrote recently. While certain pockets of the country have seen their share of absentee-ballot scandals, problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail, including the heavily Republican state of Utah. ___ NEW YORK VOTING TRUMP: You just look at what happened with the Carolyn Maloney race. They should do that race over, by the way. ... When you look at the ballot, the ballots that are missing, and the ballot frauds nobody knows whats going on with that race, and yet they declared her a winner. news conference Wednesday. THE FACTS: Theres no evidence of fraud in the Democratic congressional primary in New York City that was won by Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Nor did Trump offer any proof of fraud. New York State decided to allow anyone to vote by mail in the June primary because of the pandemic. More than 400,000 people voted by absentee ballot in New York City, a figure that was 10 times the number of absentee ballots cast in the 2016 primary. Opening and counting those ballots by elections officials took weeks, leading to a legal dispute over nonfraud issues, such as missing postmarks. Candidates observing the count say that thousands of ballots were disqualified because of technical errors voters wouldnt have encountered if they had voted in person, like problems with their signature. New York Citys Board of Elections ultimately certified the results six weeks after the election. ___ Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz in Chicago, and Lauran Neergaard, Aamer Madhani and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. ___ EDITORS NOTE A look at the veracity of claims by political figures. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 20:25:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan stars Hellen Obiri and Timothy Cheruiyot have promised a great show at Nairobi's World Continental Tour in October after they swept to a dominant victory in women's 5,000m and men's 1,500m races respectively at Herculis Diamond League in Monaco on Friday. The Monaco meet kick-started the delayed track and field season after the COVID-19 pandemic that also forced the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to 2021. World 5,000m champion Obiri registered a world-leading time of 14:22.12 to stamp her authority on the star-studded field. Obiri, 30, formed the leading group with five lapses to go alongside Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey, Britain's Laura Weightman and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands before the Dutchwoman found pace too high and dropping out to leave the duel between the Kenyan and the Ethiopian as they gapped the rest of the field. In the end, Gidey settled for second place after clocking 14:26.57 with Weightman setting a personal best of 14:35.44 in the third slot. "I am grateful for the opportunity to come to Monaco and run well after long months of lockdown. I'm satisfied with my performance which gives me hope of running well at home during the Nairobi Continental Tour on Oct. 3," Obiuri told Xinhua on Saturday. "I also want to thank the organizers for considering our plight and rescheduling the event to enable us to compete in the Doha Diamond League meet," said Obiri who is also the world cross-country champion. The world 1,500m champion Cheruiyot asserted his authority at his specialty, beating the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrightsen who handed him a defeat at a promotional virtual race dubbed the 'Impossible Games' in June. A delighted Cheruiyot stopped at 3:28.45, just 0.04 outside his personal best time he set at the same stadium in 2018 to win the race. Ingebrigtsen's time of 3:29.47 was enough for him to set a new European record which lifted him to eighth on the world all-time list. Third place went to Briton Jake Wightman who also registered a personal best time of 3:29.47. After the Monaco honors, Cheruiyot turns his guns at running on home soil during the inaugural World Continental Tour. "My hope is to maintain the same shape and give Kenyan fans great performance during the Continental Tour at home. I will be delighted to see top runners grace the event in Nairobi especially now that the event won't clash with Doha meet," said Cheruiyot. Kenya's Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon narrowly missed the world record by 0.17 after running 2:29.15 to win the less familiar 1,000m event. Enditem Stepping Stone School in Austin, Texas, Thursday, August 13, 2020 Stepping Stone School is uniquely qualified with over 40 years of experience and degreed faculty to continue the loving care and education of your children and guiding them through this unprecedented time in their lives. Stepping Stone School is providing safe Virtual Learning Pods for School Age Children. Since March, 2020, Stepping Stone School has continued to successfully provide healthy and safe full-time School Age Programming to assist our families and children who are unable to attend elementary school in person. Stepping Stone School has retrofitted the school age classrooms to accommodate full-time At Home elementary school (public & private) fall curricula. Stepping Stone School is providing safe, highly sanitized individualized learning environments for our children. Stepping Stone Schools curriculum is designed to enhance each childs daily learning and to fully support TEA guidelines! Stepping Stone School is providing a safe and quiet academic area for children to participate in virtual learning, and to complete their homework. An onsite capable and degreed faculty member will guide our children with their Private or ISD curriculum work and technology. The Steping Stone School teachers are willing, ready, loving and supportive and WANT to lead your child. Parents will need to provide a lap top or tablet, headphones and ensure their childs computing device is already set up with their childs individual logins, passwords and virtual learning websites to ensure their children can successfully log on daily. Stepping Stone School has invested heavily in upgrading our WiFi networks at each campus to ensure children have easy access to their virtual learning. Stepping Stone School will also offer TEKS based curriculum to supplement their learning as necessary. Children are also provided with a hot healthy, nutritious lunch and three snacks. Once schools reopen, we will continue to implement our one-of-a-kind STEAM based After School Care and Curriculum! In addition, Stepping Stone School will provide a daily homework opportunity and a series of exciting activities designed to promote Joy and Mindfulness! Stepping Stone School is committed to virtual learning and peace of mind for all! Daily Schedule The daily curriculum is fun and engaging, with structured exercise breaks and nutritious snacks to keep students to be focused and energized while completing their individual ISD studies. Interested in learning more about our full-time School-Age programs at Stepping Stone School? Preview our daily schedule by clicking the PDF attachment. About Stepping Stone School: Stepping Stone School, the largest privately owned childcare provider in Central Texas and the 30th largest in the nation, has been locally owned and operated since 1979. The Paver family has grown the company from its humble beginnings to the 20 schools it currently operates. The founders and employees apply the principles of the schools nationally recognized curriculum while providing the highest quality early education and care. In addition, the founders and organization consistently exercise their philanthropic commitment to their community through donations of time, money, sponsorships and resources to organizations whose missions are to better the lives and education of children and families. In January 2017, Stepping Stone School was recognized by Child Care Exchange magazine, the leading professional journal for the early education profession, with a cover story featuring Rhonda Paver and how Stepping Stone School is leading the nation in early care and education and the design of state-of-the art campuses. Stepping Stone School has been named the Best in Childcare by the readers of Austin Family magazine for 22 years, Best of the Brazos Valley, Best Childcare in Austin by Expertise and Best Austin Preschool by the parents on Nickelodeons Parents Connect website in 2010. Stepping Stone School is also the 20th largest provider of corporate child care in the nation. ### Virtual Convocation ceremonies mark start of academic year Fall Convocation ceremonies for Emorys Class of 2024 are different from in years past, but still include some of the universitys best-loved traditions such as the Coca-Cola Toast. The offices of the President and University Events realize it is more important than ever to capture the memorable moments of the first-year experience, says Suzanne Eden-Antola, executive director, Office of University of Events. Since we cannot host Fall Convocation live, we have crafted an online event that will feel as close to the in-person experience as possible. Students entering Oxford College celebrate their Convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with virtual greetings from Emory President Gregory L. Fenves, Oxford College Dean Douglas A. Hicks, Emory College Dean Michael A. Elliott and Oxford Student Government Association president Eleanor Liu. The keynote message will be delivered by Pearl Dowe, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of African American Studies and Political Science. The virtual ceremony for students entering Emory College of Arts and Sciences on the Atlanta campus will also be Tuesday, Aug. 18, as part of the online orientation process. Fenves and Jan Love, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, will welcome students to the Emory community. Jericho Brown, Winship Distinguished Professor in Creative Writing and director of the Creative Writing Program, will deliver the faculty address. Brown received the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in May for his book, The Tradition. We seek to impart a hopeful message through the faculty address to students who are embarking on a journey of self-discovery, academic pursuit and personal growth. This message of hope is as important now as it could ever be, Eden-Antola says. Carrying boxes, bags and great expectations, Emory students began arriving on campus this week in preparation for the launch of a new academic year. First-year students, international students and students with circumstances that require them to be on the Atlanta campus move in Thursday, Aug. 13, through Monday, Aug. 17 a longer window than normal, due to new health and safety protocols established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to face coverings, handwashing and physical distancing, those protocols will bring other visible changes for the fall semester, notes Scott Rausch, senior director of Emory Residence Life. With no more than one student assigned to a room, the residential student population will be sharply reduced on Emorys Atlanta campus from about 4,400 students this time last year to about 1,600 this fall. Oxford College first-year students move in Saturday, Aug. 15, through Monday, Aug. 17. With one student per room, approximately 400 students including first-year, international and a few second-year students and residence life staff will live on campus this fall. Normally, the Oxford campus hosts about 1,000 students per term. The decision to welcome students to campus in a moderated way, with campus safety protocols and limited in-person classes, was made in an effort to help students return while keeping health and safety considerations a top priority for the Emory community. We each have a responsibility to maintain a safe and vibrant living and learning environment for all members of the university community and the larger society, says Enku Gelaye, vice president and dean of Campus Life. As a caring community, Emory has developed a community compact, Gelaye notes. We define this document as an agreement among members of the community to pursue the common good together that common good is reducing exposure to COVID-19 for ourselves and others in our university family. On-campus housing for the fall semester is limited to students who have an approved housing agreement for the coming academic year and fit into the following categories: First-year and new transfer students International students Select seniors completing Honors work Undergraduate students receiving scholarships as part of a scholarship program specifying on-campus housing as a condition of their scholarship Students with specific on-campus housing needs (pending review and approval) University leaders will revisit these decisions for the spring semester. A new process for moving in Students arriving on both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses first report to one of several locations for a rapid COVID-19 test and health screening, with both drive-up and walk-up options. At that time, they also receive a welcome kit that contains cloth face masks, wipes and hand sanitizer, a thermometer and other self-care items. Once administered, test results will be delivered by text in about 20 to 30 minutes. Those students with a negative result can proceed to assigned residence halls, where professional movers and student and staff volunteers will be waiting with carts and dollies to help transport belongings. Those who prefer to move themselves will be allowed one helper; other friends or family members will be invited to wait in an outdoor rest area. Everyone is expected to wear a face covering extras will be available and to exercise physical distancing, especially in common spaces, Rausch notes. Students who test positive, exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or have experienced direct exposure have two options: they can return home to self-quarantine and attend classes online for a two-week period or they may consult with Student Health Services providers and self-quarantine for two weeks in pre-designated locations with campus support. In Atlanta, students who test positive may stay at the Emory Conference Center Hotel; for Oxford College, they will be invited to stay in a residence hall on a floor designated solely for self-quarantine. In each location, students will receive daily health care checks, meals and support services. Campus dining options including Dobbs Common Table and the Cox Hall food court on the Atlanta campus and the Student Activity and Academic Center Cafe on the Clairmont campus opened for to-go service beginning around 12 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, Rausch says. On the Oxford campus, food service will begin with dinner in the Oxford Dining Hall on Saturday. In addition to pre-cleaning, extra cleaning protocols are in place at campus residence halls and classrooms. Residential services is ramping up the frequency of cleaning, with common spaces and bathrooms being cleaned more often, he says. Students will also notice lots of signage directing them to wash their hands and information about doing their own cleaning. Supporting Emorys newest students Though first-year students have been online preparing for the college experience throughout the summer, once they arrive on campus new student orientation will continue over three days with asynchronous and synchronous online programs, videos and real-time sessions, says Jill Camper, director of new student programs in the Office for Undergraduate Education in Emory College of Arts and Sciences. We want to make sure our students have all the resources they need to feel supported, prepared, welcomed and excited to be a member of our community, she says. This year, weve designed an orientation that will be inclusive of all new students, regardless of whether they are living on campus, off campus or at home this semester. Many traditional first-year Emory experiences including Fall Convocation, the Coca-Cola Toast and the Oxford Olympics are still scheduled to take place, but will be conducted online. Emory Colleges popular Songfest will be a hybrid experience this year, with performances from individual halls presented online. But despite the required changes this semester, little has dampened the enthusiasm of Emorys newest students, whove already been connecting through social media, engaging in pre-registration appointments with advisers and reaching out to make campus contacts, says Steve Savage, associate director of communications in the Office for Undergraduate Education. The excitement of these students is absolutely palpable, and thats true of our first-year students who are choosing to study remotely, too, Savage says. Weve been hearing from students throughout the summer whove been hunkered down and are ready to start something new. You can feel the anticipation. For more information about move in plans, the Fall 2020 student experience, health and safety protocols, and campus services and resources, visit Emory Forward. Advertisement Prince William tonight addressed the nation to honour veterans on VJ Day, 75 years after his great grandfather gave a speech on the end of the Second World War. The Duke of Cambridge described how King George VI's announcement on August 15, 1945, marked the end of 'the most catastrophic conflict in mankind's history.' Thousands watched George VI and the Queen drive down The Mall in an open carriage, as they celebrated the end of the war following Imperial Japan's surrender. Speaking on BBC One, William said: 'As he marked the moment the world had long prayed for, King George expressed his pride in the international effort from across the Commonwealth and allied nations which secured success in the Asia-Pacific region. 'We are forever grateful to all those who fought alongside us. 'It is hard for us to imagine what Victory over Japan Day must have felt like at the time; a mix of happiness, jubilation, and sheer relief, together with a deep sadness and overwhelming sense of loss for those who would never return home. 'Today we remember those who endured terrible suffering and honour all those who lost their lives.' Prince William speaking in a pre-recorded televised speech which aired on BBC One on Saturday night as part of a special programme to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ Day From left to right, Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, and Princess Margaret Rose wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace August 15, 1945 on VJ Day in London, England The Prince of Wales lays a wreath during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire The Duke showed his gratitude to the wartime generation, which includes his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who fought in the Far East and was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender on the USS Missouri. 'He remembers vividly his role in collecting released prisoners of war, a sign, as sure as any to him, that the war was finally over,' William said. He recited the words of the Kohima Epitaph, carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery of Kohima, northeast India, which reads 'When you go home, tell them of us and say. 'For your tomorrow, we gave our today.' He continued: 'As we look back, we must not forget our responsibility to learn the lessons of the past and ensure that the horrors of the Second World War are never repeated. 'We owe that to our veterans, to their families, and to the generations who will come after us. 'As we mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, to each and every one of you who contributed to the effort, I say, thank you, our country owes you a debt of gratitude. 'Your bravery, and the sacrifices you made, will never be forgotten.' The address was recorded earlier in the month at The Guards Memorial, opposite Horse Guards Parade, in London. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows performing a fly-past over the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas Prime Minister Boris Johnson (2nd L) shares a joke with veteran Bill Redston after a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) perform a flypast at the VJ Day 75 Commemorations over the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day on August 15, 2020 in Alrewas, Staffordshire Earlier on Saturday, a televised remembrance service took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, where a two-minute silence was led by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at 11am. Prime Minister Boris Johnson read the Exhortation before the silence, which was followed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast over the arboretum. About 40 veterans attended the ceremony of remembrance, sharing their stories with one another and with Charles and Camilla. Edward Woodward, 97, who served in Burma, India and Malaya with the Royal Corps of Signals, caused mirth after asking the royal couple to guess what was the most sought-after item in their air-dropped rations. 'Toilet paper,' he told them. After meeting the couple, the former electrician from Kings Norton, Birmingham, said: 'That had them laughing.' Charles and Camilla laid poppy posies and wreaths at the Kwai Railway Memorial, while veterans looked on from benches dotted around the memorial, to maintain social distancing. In a speech dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Allied and Commonwealth personnel who fought and died in the campaign, Charles said: 'All too often those who served in the Far East have been labelled The Forgotten Army, in a forgotten war. 'We salute all those who remain among us and offer our most heartfelt and undying gratitude to all those that have gone before. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire The Prince of Wales meets Sikh veteran Darbara Singh Bullar and his family with a traditional greeting at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Britain The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall speak with the Prime Minister at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, on Saturday 'Your service and your sacrifice will echo through the ages.' The Covid-19 pandemic has meant tributes to mark the landmark anniversary have been organised online and on television, including a video published online of the Prince of Wales reading an extract from the diary of his grandfather, King George VI, written on August 15 1945. He reads: 'By 10am there were already large crowds outside Buckingham Palace and we drove in procession in a state landau with an escort to Westminster where I opened the first peacetime Parliament since 1938. 'The crown was carried in the full procession but no robes were worn. My speech took 16 minutes to read, in which I mentioned the surrender of Japan.' In a separate video, the Duke of Gloucester reads an extract from the speech delivered by King George VI on VJ Day, which formed part of an online service of commemoration from Leicester Cathedral. In a special message, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh - who himself was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender aboard USS Missouri on August 15, 1945 - gave 'grateful thanks' to all those who fought for the Allied nations. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) elbow bumps a veteran after a national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, central England today, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. In a statement, the Queen said: 'Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today.' The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, featured alongside other veterans on a number of large screens across the UK, including the Piccadilly Curve, in a photo-montage showing veterans today and when they served. The RAF's Red Arrows had planned a UK-wide tour with flypasts over the four nation's capital cities throughout Saturday. However, the flypasts over London, Edinburgh and Cardiff were cancelled due to poor weather, the Ministry of Defence said. The Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft landed to greet three Second World War veterans, and the scheduled flight over Belfast city centre took place at 2pm. Small poignant ceremonies took place across London to begin the day, including a piper playing Battle's Over at the Imperial War Museum's HMS Belfast in London at sunrise, as part of a tribute entitled Waking Up To Peace. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was joined by military chiefs as he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, London. In a letter addressed to the veterans of the Far East Campaign, Mr Johnson showed his gratitude to the 50,000 British and Commonwealth service personnel who laid down their lives in the war against Japan, half of whom died in prison camps. Presenter: The commemorative programme was hosted by Joanna Lumley, who led viewers who a host of tributes from former servicemen and celebrities Emotional: Tributes: Moments before wowing audiences with a collection of Vera's wartime classics, including iconic track We'll Meet Again, Sheridan was seen wiping away tears as she listened to tributes from war veterans The BBC's special commemorative programme tonight was filmed at Horse Guards Parade in central London Wow: Nicola Roberts, 34, showcased her powerful vocals on the night, as she sang The Captive's Hymn He writes: 'You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today.' He joined nine other global figures including US president Donald Trump, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari and Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau in a video message thanking those who served. In the Friendship of Nations video released ahead of commemorations, each leader said in turn: 'To all who served, we thank you.' In a video message, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'On behalf of the Labour Party I want to pay tribute to the wartime generation, who through the horrors of conflict showed us the spirit and determination that we need to always remember and always be grateful for. 'It's important that as we face the challenges of today, we take inspiration from that generation. 'Through their community spirit and their bravery and their determination for a better world they've shown us what we can achieve when we pull together.' Turkey has repeatedly made clear most recently by transforming Constantinople's chief cathedral, the Hagia Sophia, back into a mosque that few things in Islamic history are more glorious than the jihadi conquest of Constantinople, or "New Rome," in 1453. That's because, with Islam's birth some eight hundred years earlier, Muslim empires had still not managed to conquer Constantinople in direct compliance with their prophet's wish even as more than two thirds of Christendom's original territory had already fallen. Today in history, however, on August 15, 718, not only did Constantinople score its greatest victory against Islam, but, as shall be seen, it saved Western civilization. The story is worth recounting. After several failed sieges, in the year 715, the Umayyad caliphate had concluded that enough was enough: it would vomit forth all it had in one final, all-out effort to conquer the ancient Christian capital. Caliph Suleiman summoned his younger brother, Maslama, and commanded him to lead Islam's combined forces to Constantinople and "stay there until you conquer it or I recall you." The young emir embraced the honor: soon "I [will] enter this city knowing that it is the capital of Christianity and its glory; my only purpose in entering it is to uphold Islam and humiliate unbelief." At the head of 120,000 jihadis, Maslama crossed into Christian territory, and, with "both sword and fire, he put an end to Asia Minor," wrote a near contemporary chronicler. On August 15, 717, he began bombarding the city, which was defended by Leo III. Just weeks earlier, and because he was deemed the ablest man, Leo had been consecrated in the Hagia Sophia as new emperor. Unable to breach the cyclopean walls of Constantinople, Maslama waited for 1,800 vessels containing an additional 80,000 fighting men to approach through the Bosporus and completely blockade and thus starve the city. Suddenly, Leo ordered the ponderous chain that normally guarded the harbor cast aside. Then, "while they [Muslim fleets] hesitated whether they should seize the opportunity ... the ministers of destruction were at hand." Leo sent forth the "fire-bearing ships" against the Islamic fleet, which was quickly set "on fire," writes Theophanes the chronicler: "some of them were cast up burning by the sea walls, others sank to the bottom with their crews, and others were swept down flaming." Matters worsened when Maslama received word that the caliph, his brother Suleiman, had died of "indigestion" (by reportedly devouring two baskets of eggs and figs, followed by marrow and sugar for dessert). The new caliph, Omar II, was initially inattentive to the Muslim army's needs. Maslama stayed and wintered in. Unfortunately for him, "one of the cruelest winters that anyone could remember" arrived, and, "for one hundred days, snow covered the earth." All Maslama could do was assure his emaciated, half-frozen men that "soon! Soon supplies will be here!" But they did not come; worse, warlike nomadic tribesmen known as Bulgars whence the nation of Bulgaria accustomed to the terrain and climate began to harry any Muslim detachment that left the starving camp in search of food. By spring, Muslim reinforcements and provisions finally arrived by land and sea. But the damage was done; frost and famine had taken their toll on the Muslims encamped outside the walls of Constantinople. "Since the Arabs were extremely hungry," writes Theophanes, "they ate all their dead animals: horses, asses, and camels. Some even say they put dead men and their own dung in pans, kneaded this, and ate it. A plague-like disease descended on them, and destroyed a countless throng." Even so, knowing that such a massive force which had taken years to assemble and had severely taxed the caliphate's resources was already at the walls of Islam's archrival was too much of a temptation for Omar to order a withdrawal. The new caliph also knew that nothing could bolster his credentials as the conquest of that one infidel kingdom that remained a thorn in Islam's side. Thus, while the Muslim land force recuperated, a new navy, composed of eight hundred ships, was outfitted in the ports of Alexandria and Libya. The fleet arrived under the cover of night and managed to blockade the Bosporus. Having learned the lesson of Greek Fire, the prudent ships kept their distance. Just as the beginning of the end seemed to have arrived for Constantinople, sudden delivery and from the least expected source came: the crews manning the caliphate's new navy were not Arab Muslims, but Egyptian Christians (Copts). Because the caliphate's fighting men had been spread thin, with many dying during the current siege, the caliph had no choice but to rely on infidel conscripts. Much to Omar's chagrin, the Egyptian sailors "of these two fleets took counsel among themselves, and, after seizing at night the skiffs of the transports, sought refuge in the City and acclaimed the emperor; as they did so, the sea," writes Theophanes, "appeared to be covered with timber." Not only did the Muslim war galleys lose a significant amount of manpower, but the Copts provided Leo with useful information concerning Muslim formations and plans. With this new intelligence, Leo lifted the boom and unleashed the fire ships. Considering the loss of manpower and general chaos that ensued after the Egyptians jumped ship, the confrontation or rather conflagration, for the waves were again aflame was more a rout than a battle. Seeking to seal his victory, Leo had the retreating Muslim fleets pursued by sea. The neighboring Bulgar tribes were persuaded by Leo's "gifts and promises" to attack and massacre as many as 22,000 of the battle-weary and starved Muslims. By now, Caliph Omar realized that all was lost. Maslama, who could only have welcomed the summons, was recalled. On August 15, 718 exactly one year since it began the siege of Constantinople was lifted. But the Muslims' troubles were far from over: a terrible storm swallowed up many ships in the Sea of Marmara, and the ashes from a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini set others aflame. Of the 2,560 ships retreating back to Damascus and Alexandria, only ten reportedly survived and of these, half were captured by the Romans, leaving only five to reach and tell the tale to the caliph. In all, of the original 200,000 Muslims who set out to conquer the Christian capital, plus the additional spring reinforcements, only some 30,000 eventually made it back by land. Constantinople's unexpected salvation particularly in the context of nemesis-like sea-storms and volcanoes that pursued and swallowed up the fleeing infidels led to the popular belief that divine providence had intervened on behalf of Christendom, saving it from "the insatiable and utterly perverse Arabs," in the words of contemporaries. By way of collective punishment, a vindictive Omar, failing to subdue the infidel dogs across the way, was quick to project his wrath on the infidels under his authority. In the words of the chronicler Bar Hebraeus: "And because of the disgrace which came upon the Arabs through their withdrawal from Constantinople, great hatred against the Christians sprang in the heart of Omar and he afflicted them severely." Theophanes gives specifics: "Omar ... set about forcing the Christians to become converted; those that converted he exempted from tax [jizya], while those that refused to do so he killed and so produced many martyrs. That Constantinople was able to repulse the hitherto unstoppable forces of Islam is one of Western history's most decisive moments. The last time a large expanse of land was left open to the scimitar of Islam (following Christian defeat at Yarmuk, 636), thousands of square miles were permanently conquered. Had Constantinople the bulwark of Europe's eastern flank fallen, large parts or even the whole of Europe could have become the northwestern appendage of the caliphate as early as the eighth century. As historian John Julius Norwich puts it, "[h]ad the Saracens captured Constantinople in the seventh century rather than the fifteenth, all Europe and America might be Muslim today." The earliest chroniclers knew this and referred to today's date, August 15, the day the siege was lifted, as an "ecumenical date" that is, a day for all of Christendom to rejoice. Turkey also knows but seeks to dishonor this history, including through its recent "triumph": turning the crowning jewel of Constantinople the Hagia Sophia back into a victory mosque. Historical quotes in the above narrative were taken from and are sourced in the author's book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West. Raymond Ibrahim is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mateusz Morawiecki (The Jakarta Post) Warsaw Sat, August 15, 2020 10:15 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e36278 3 Opinion Europe,World-War-I,Poland,history Free There are crucial moments in history that define the worlds future. For Poland and Europe, one such moment in the 20th century was the day of Aug. 15, 1920. It was then that Poland, newly reborn in 1918, fought a decisive and victorious battle with the Bolshevik forces that aimed to spread the fire of the communist revolution all across Western Europe, devastated by the human and material losses of the Great War. According to the British diplomat Edgar DAbernon, it was the 18th decisive battle in world history. The Battle of Warsaw deserves to be listed on par with the D-Day as a critical turning point in the fight against totalitarianism in Europe. Because of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe as a result of the Yalta Conference, the significance of this specific event to the history of Europe did not get imprinted in the worlds memory as prominently as it deserves. This concerns both mass culture and history textbooks. It is time to finally fill those gaps in European collective memory. The anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw should be celebrated not only in Warsaw, Poland, but throughout Europe. Even though it was Poland that had won on the Vistula River, that victory concerned to a large extent the freedom of European nations from the totalitarian darkness of communism. From a historical perspective, the year 1920 closed a series of events that began with the partitions of Poland by Prussia, Russia and Austria in the late 18th century. The Battle of Warsaw was the culmination of one of the most remarkable episodes of the building of a modern nation in European and global history. The nation without a state, emerging on the ruins of military and political defeat (including numerous Polish uprisings and collapses of successive substitutes of the state), Poland was erased from the map of Europe, which extended from the end of the 18th century to the end of World War I. The first Polish phenomenon worth mentioning is the scale of transformation of the Polish society over 19th century from a feudal one to one of Europes most modern civil societies and, as a matter of fact, without having any state institutions. An enormous network of social, cultural and sport institutions, like the Soko gymnastic association, financial unions, scientific societies and school self-education societies can be compared only to reforms during the Meiji period enacted by the strong central power in Japan. Soon after regaining independence in 1918, Poland adopted some of the most modern social and electoral legislations of the Western world. A shared sense of regained freedom prevailed over prejudice and a temptation to discriminate against wider segments of society. Poland had to build the unity and cohesion of the entire nation. The intellectual work undertaken at the end of the 19th century found its succession in the pro-state efforts once public institutions were regained after 1918. The phenomenon of Poland is thus a story of democratization different from that in Western Europe. This is a story of democratization taking place along with the process of regaining independence and significance as a social and political entity. This is a story of modernity being built in defiance of imperialism, absolutism and despotism of powers that dominated Europe of the 19th century. The story which found its climax in the very demanding test of maturity for the state less than two years after it regained independence Poland had to face a totalitarian threat from the Bolsheviks. The war with the Bolsheviks was a demonstration of an uncommon political unity of the Polish nation. In July 1920, the government of National Defense was established, with Wincenty Witos, leader of the peasant movement, as prime minister, and Ignacy Daszynski, one of the leaders of the Polish Left, as deputy prime minister. In light of the need to defend the very existence of the newly regained homeland, political differences among the fathers of the Polish independence receded to the background. Polands political elite passed the test of maturity at the most critical moment. The Polish people massively supported the war effort, with an enormous involvement of the Catholic Church. The press called the Poles victory the Miracle on the Vistula in a clear reference to the Miracle on the Marne of World War I, when the French-British forces stopped the German armies. The centennial of the Battle of Warsaw is one of the most important anniversaries of todays free Europe. The Poles saved the West from the experience of totalitarian genocide as described by outstanding French historians in the famous Black Book of Communism. The Polish experience of communism with its tragic and long-term consequences for the country and its people is often misunderstood. The legacy of communism is a real problem, one that deforms the social and institutional reality of the countries that underwent democratic transformation. Wadysaw Reymont, the great Polish novelist and laureate of Nobel Prize in Literature, in his novel The Revolt (Polish: Bunt), which he wrote following the Battle of Warsaw, presents an allegory of a revolt raised by animals against man and, parallel to this, he portrays totalitarian mechanisms. The Battle of Warsaw was also a culmination of more than five decades of Polands grassroots democratic revolution, one of the most unusual and unwritten histories of Europe of the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. It is a story of great patriotism, religious devotion, military genius and the significance of ciphers. The Polish-Bolshevik war was a founding moment for modern Poland and a crucial moment for the entire Europe, even though the awareness of this may be insufficient. It was the real clashing point of two diverse civilizations, and no one knew it better than Karol Wojtya, born in 1920, who would later become John Paul II: Since the day I was born, Ive been greatly indebted to those who then took up the fight against the invaders and won, paying the ultimate price. The obligation to repay this debt rests on us all. Today, 100 years after the victorious Battle of Warsaw, is a perfect opportunity to remind ourselves and the whole of Europe about it. *** The writer is prime minister of Poland. The article was published concurrently in the Polish monthly Wszystko co Najwazniejsze under a project realized in partnership with the Institute of National Remembrance. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Women entrepreneurs and workers have been disproportionately affected by the slowdown caused due to the Covid pandemic, says a new study by UN Women and the UN Global Compact Office. It also stressed that it has become essential to promote women in internet and technology programs so that they are equipped to receive support, mentoring and business opportunities online. WeEmpowerAsia, a programme by the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, gathered perspectives on how the pandemic has affected businesses and women through interviews with private-sector CEOs and leaders in Asia-Pacific and Europe between March and May 2020. Technology, banking, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies have been least affected, and in some cases have seen increased customer demand. The hardest-hit sectors are retail, garment and tourism. Female workers are disproportionately concentrated in those sectors, making them vulnerable to losing their jobs or having their working hours cut. The most severe impact of the pandemic has been on SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), particularly women-owned enterprises. About 96 per cent of all businesses in the Asia-Pacific are SMEs, and many of them are suppliers to multinationals that have been forced to slow or halt production. The COVID crisis has demonstrated once more how women and girls bear the brunt when our societies and economies come under pressure, says Hilde Hardeman, head of service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) European Commission. In UN Womens May 2020 survey of female entrepreneurs, 50 per cent reported that they were spending less time on their business activities because their caregiving responsibilities had increased. Several countries in the Asia-Pacific, especially India, already have declining female labour force participation rates. Combined with a 15 percent pay gap between men and women in Asia, this makes it more likely that women will be the ones staying home while their higher earning male partners return to work. They are also pressured to stay at home due to domestic violence and increased force. During company calls, women talk about work but also about how things are going at home. Its quite difficult for women during these times. Theres a lot of pressure on them and it can obviously affect their mental health, says Vaishali Sinha, chief sustainability officer, ReNew Power, India. In the survey by WeEmpowerAsia, almost all respondents said their employees had adjustment difficulties over health and finances, creating a work-life balance while working from home, and switching to remote working. Women thus have increased stresses and unpaid responsibilities during this period. Several female interviewees stressed the importance of having mentoring and support networks for women. With the cancellation of offline events that normally offer networking and the chance to find solidarity among other women entrepreneurs and workers, it will be more important than ever to support innovative digital measures to ensure these opportunities are not lost. WeEmpowerAsia is already hosting programs to help women entrepreneurs online. One of them is Industry Disruptor, an online incubation and mentorship program, being held in partnership with The Do School. The Industry Disruptor provides female entrepreneurs and enterprises benefiting girls and women in India the chance to tackle key sustainability challenges in the fashion industry. The program will provide early-stage enterprises with online capacity building and networking, while offering offer later-stage entrepreneurs the opportunity to come together in an intense five-day bootcamp to discuss scaling strategies and start collaborating with industry partners. Despite the many negative impacts to businesses around the world, the Covid crisis has also created opportunities for businesses to pivot their services and explore new models. For example, Dharma Life in India is leveraging its network of 15,000 female entrepreneurs to deliver government messages on Covid to people in rural areas where access to information is limited. Recognizing that women are under increased responsibilities for care and domestic work, ReNew Power in India is partnering with NGOs, consultants, local government and other corporates to distribute meals throughout their local community and explore funding and solutions for healthcare, infrastructure and financial support. Seeing increased demand for female sanitation products, Indian company Haylide Chemicals hired women who were daily labourers and were left unemployed. They gave them increased daily wages, and offered a free snack and tea during working hours. Ive increased my workforce and Im giving them better wages and better bonuses, says Archana Bhatnagar, the companys managing director. The study also suggests that if women are paid for their care and efforts, global GDP will rise by USD 11 trillion. Photos: Pixabay. The full study can be accessed here. The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine has donated personal protective equipment (PPE) against COVID-19 to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. "As part of our international technical assistance, the U.S. Embassy's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs office donated approximately $250,000 worth of personal protective equipment against COVID-19 to our Ukrainian partners at the National Police, State Border Guard Service, and the State Customs Service," the embassy wrote in a statement published on its Facebook page. As of August 15, Ukraine reported 89,719 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,847 new cases recorded over the past 24 hours. Photo credit: U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine, Facebook ish Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 08:08 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e2bb11 1 Business 2021-state-budget,#Indonesia75,Jokowi,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,stimulus-package Free Economic recovery and structural reform will be at the core of the governments 2021 state budget policy as the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzes the economy and causes a health and social crisis in Indonesia. The government is directing the fiscal policy next year toward accelerating economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, structural reform to boost productivity, innovation, economic competitiveness, the acceleration of economic digital transformation and making use of and anticipating demographic dynamics. Structural reform must also be carried out in education, health, social protection and budgeting and the taxation system, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said in his annual state budget speech before the Peoples Consultative Assembly in Jakarta on Friday. The coronavirus outbreak led to a contraction in the countrys economy of 5.32 percent in the second quarter this year and all components of economic activity fell significantly. The government expects the economy to contract by 1.1 percent this year, or to grow 0.2 percent in the best-case scenario. Read also: Govt aims for 2021 budget deficit at 5.5% of GDP, sees growth near 5% As a consequence, around 3.7 million workers have lost their jobs so far this year, according to data from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), a number that is expected to hit around 10 million by the end of the year. At the same time, the outbreak has also exposed Indonesias healthcare gap as unequal distribution and shortages of testing and medical supplies, hospital beds, health and lab workers have hindered the COVID-19 response. Jokowi in his state of the nation address earlier in the day also reiterated the need to carry out regulatory reform to cut red tape that has hampered investment in the country. We dedicate all of this to a fair national economy that caters to the interests of workers and job seekers in order to alleviate poverty by providing the widest possible quality employment opportunities, he said. The government expects state revenue to reach Rp 1.77 quadrillion (US$119.79 billion) next year while state expenditure is expected to be Rp 2.74 quadrillion. Therefore, the budget deficit is set at Rp 971.2 trillion, 5.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, compared with an estimated 6.34 percent of GDP this year. Read also: Govt to roll out $2b for ICT development in 2021, boost inclusion It also pledges to continue this years stimulus allocation into 2021, which will include funding for social protection and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) support, while fiscal relaxation will be implemented again to support the governments agenda. The government is allocating Rp 356.5 trillion (US$24.04 billion) in economic recovery stimulus funding next year in an effort to further support the countrys economic recovery, as well as to strengthen the healthcare system, including the provision of a coronavirus vaccine. However, experts have expressed concern at the governments policy as uncertainty surrounding the pandemic remains. There are several sectors that will be like sinkholes if we give them too much stimulus funding while the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to end, said Bank Central Asia (BCA) economist David Sumual on Friday. It will be difficult [to see a positive result] if our tax money enters into bad sectors, such as tourism, aviation and transportation. The government will provide Rp 136.7 trillion in next years stimulus for ministries and regional administrations to improve tourism, food security, industrial areas, communication and technology development and as loans for regions, among other projects. By comparison, only Rp 25.4 trillion will be allocated for health care, including the procurement of coronavirus vaccines once they are available, Rp 110.2 trillion for social aid and Rp 48.8 trillion for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). As long as COVID-19 is still there, the people will remain pessimistic, David said. Bank Permata economist Josua Pardede expressed a similar view, saying the governments optimistic macroeconomic assumption for next year was still surrounded by virus uncertainty. Read also: Govt to provide $24b pandemic stimulus funding next year The key is how successful Indonesias and the global COVID-19 containment efforts are so that peoples confidence and spending can improve, he said. The government projects GDP to rebound and grow by 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent next year and forecasts the rupiah exchange rate to be around Rp 14,600 per United States dollar. Next years economic projection, although recovering, is dependent on the COVID-19 containment, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a virtual press briefing on Friday. The peoples discipline, vaccine availability and fiscal expansion through continuing the national economic recovery program will determine [the economy], she added. The government will also continue next year its cooperation with Bank Indonesia (BI) to finance the budget deficit. As debt monetization is only being applied this year, the central bank is expected to remain the standby buyer for Indonesian government bonds. We will maintain BIs ability to participate in auctions to create a stable and balanced supply and demand, Sri Mulyani said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she takes "full responsibility" for a proposed law yanked from Parliament 24 hours after it was announced, which would have gagged media from reporting on corruption complaints during election periods. The bill would have slapped journalists with up to $6670 in fines or six months' jail for reporting a politician was under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Credit:Matt Dennien It was met on Thursday with a torrent of criticism from media outlets and transparency advocates. On Friday, Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath issued a short statement saying the bill would be withdrawn as there was not enough time for the parliamentary legal affairs committee to examine the proposal before the next sitting. On Saturday morning, the Premier confirmed the bill was dead and buried and would not be returning under her leadership. WK: Youve got different types of cyber extortion, like with other criminal activity. Theres the young thug who will grab your mobile phone late at night outside the tube station, and then youve got sophisticated gangs who will break in to steal gold bullion. Some of the attack groups weve seen, theyll stick to their numbers, a quarter of a million dollars where these companies will just pay it, bury it and move on, and theyll be hitting four or five companies a day. Then you get the guys who are going for the big ones, going for $10 million. Its grown into an enormous ecosystem. Youve got groups who will facilitate attacks, youve got hackers for hire, you have groups who all they do is dispose of bitcoin. It took illusions, interactive sorcery within their creations, and even a levitating cake for a Cypress area couple to win the third season, third episode of Netflixs popular cooking show, Sugar RushThe Perfect Illusion. Tom and Caty Johnston, who run their family-owned business Suzybeez Bakery on 13802 Fleur De Lis Blvd. in Cypress, took the top prize in the fast-paced competition show that pits four teams of pastry chefs against each other. Show host Hunter March announced the couple had impressed judges Candace Nelson and Adriano Zumbo for the $10,000 prize. Growing food for people in need: Gardening collaborative created to benefit Cypress community It was an awesome experience! Caty said. The couple has owned Suzybeez for four years and was surprised to be invited to compete on the show. They reached out to us last year on Facebook, but I was getting ready to have a baby in three weeks and there was no way, she laughed. She told them to call back the following year, never believing theyd hear from them again, but they did. Im assuming they found us on our social media, she said. Having a second opportunity to do the show seemed incredible so they sent in a written submission, a video interview, and she also had to name a partner to help her on the show. That was going to be my husband since he does the majority of the baking at the bakery now, she said. On HoustonChronicle.com: 5 things to know on the Houston dining scene They found out in January of this year that they would appear on the show and then silence. They called us two days before we were to fly out to California that we would be on the show and we would tape in late February, she said. The show is a competition with four teams of two pastry chefs that are timed to finish their project and meet the qualifications for each challenge. With each round, a team that falls short of the assignment is eliminated. The first round, the teams were tasked to make a cupcake or mini-cake with a realism challenge or illusion. We made mini terracotta pots with a layered carrot cake inside and a chocolate carrot on top, she said. The illusion was good enough for them to advance and escape elimination. Youre trying to beat the clock and you only get three hours for the first two rounds, she said. Any time that you save in the first two rounds you can bank for the third and final round if you advance. The second-round challenge was to create something magical and interactive. The challenges were taken from the theme for the show, The Perfect Illusion, and all missions were based around a magical idea. The second round we did fudge brownies that had coffee ice cream inside a clear isomalt dome so it looked like a magic crystal ball, she said. When the judges broke it open, they had used cinnamon smoke so when it was cracked open it puffed smoke out of the ball. That creativity won them the second round and a choice between $1,500 cash or an additional 15 minutes in the final round. They took the cash. Round three was the cake round and judges wanted to see something extraordinarily magical; the cake had to be three feet tall, and part of the cake had to be levitating and not touching any other part of the cake. That was something we had never used before in cake decorating, she said. The producers flew in the man who had created the trick with the magnets to teach the teams how to use the magnets. I think he was from England and he showed us all how to use it before the show, she said. I told my husband he was in charge of that, she laughed. The trick works by using the repelling force of two magnets. Electromagnets can be very strong and push one another away completely allowing the weight of the top tier to remain in place. Since theres no friction in place, once its set in motion the top tier can do a slow spin and will continue to turn unimpeded. The magnets are hidden inside the portions of cake and it takes a steady hand to put the top layer into position so that it levitates. That part was a real challenge. We did a magicians bag with a tiered cake coming out of it and two magicians buddies were in it throwing tricks out. Gold coins, scarves, and things like that were on the cake and next to it was the magicians top hat levitating over the cake, she said. They won the whole competition with that cake. It never crashed and her husband Tom got it right on the first try. Hes not a decorator, hes really the baker but he did that perfectly, she said. Another advantage the Johnston team had is they specialize in butter cream. I would say 90 percent of our cakes are frosted butter cream with fondant accents. We get our cakes as smooth as fondant but with butter cream which most people like anyway. The other teams used almost entirely fondant. They had three hours for the competition, and they had banked an additional 20 minutes from the earlier rounds. It seems like a long time, but baking for a three-foot cake, cooling it, preparing the frosting and fondant, designing, and finishing elements takes a long time. They finished with two minutes left on the clock. To speed up the cooling of the cakes, they used blast freezers that are set at -25 degrees. You put your cake in there and it cools them down in about two minutes, she said. They won the top prize of $10,000 plus the $1,500 from the earlier round. They dont collect the money until 90 days after the show airs which will be in October. We have another baby on the way so it will help with those expenses and well put some of it back into the bakery itself, she said. The couple returned home in early March, just in time for the coronavirus pandemic and were faced with yet another challenge. They were nervous that the show wouldnt air especially when they kept contacting the producers and didnt hear anything back. We didnt even find out until the week before it aired, she said. They immediately adapted to the situation by flipping their business model to a curbside delivery and has survived the early months and now find themselves busier than ever. Each week they produce more than 60 custom cakes and also keep a front case at the store fully stocked with sweets. The couple bought the business in 2016 and have plans to expand to another location in the future. To view the episode, go to Netflix Sugar Rush Season 3 Extra Sweet and episode three, The Perfect Illusion to see the couples win. For more information on Suzybeez or to place orders, visit their Facebook at www.facebook.com/SuzybeezBakery/ or call them at 281-807-5777. dtaylor@hcnonline.com Uganda has joined Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global standard group promoting the openness and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources. Ugandas application to join the EITI, was approved by the organizations board of directors, making it the 54th Member State and the 26th in Africa. Ugandas commitment to join the EITI was first made in the 2008 National Oil and Gas Policy and was reiterated in the updated 2012 Oil and Gas Revenue Management Policy. Participation in the EITI is also identified in the 2019-2024 Domestic Resource Mobilisation Strategy. In January 2019, the Ugandan Government approved the decision to present a candidature application, which was submitted in July 2020. Stories Continues after ad EITI Board Chair, Helen Clark, welcomed Uganda to the EITI community; EITI implementation can help lay the foundation for transparent and accountable management of the countrys natural resource wealth. We welcome Uganda as an implementing country and look forward to the EITI promoting inclusive public debate. He said transparency is key to ensuring that potential revenues from oil and gas production are not mismanaged or lost to corruption. EITI implementation will require Uganda to publicly disclose information such as contracts, beneficial owners, revenues and payments, including payments related to the environment. These disclosures can in turn promote public oversight and debate. Participation in the EITI is identified in the Government of Ugandas 2012 Oil and Gas Revenue Management Policy as an action that will help create lasting value from oil and gas revenues. Proven reserves of over six billion barrels of crude oil have been identified in Uganda, of which 1.4 billion is currently deemed to be recoverable. Total and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are active in the region and share an interest in license areas in the Lake Albert development project. If managed responsibly, expected oil revenues can contribute to national development plans such as infrastructure and social services. Ugandas Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija, said the decision to join the EITI was informed by the appreciation of the value of transparency as we progress our plans to develop Ugandas natural resource wealth. We believe that this initiative has the potential to strengthen tax collection, improve the investment climate, build trust among sector stakeholders and help create lasting value from our mineral and petroleum resources. As a part of the EITI sign-up process, Uganda formed a multi-stakeholder group (MSG) in March 2019, composed of government, industry and civil society representatives. Civil society advocacy has been an important part of Ugandas journey to join the EITI. Civil society has advocated the operationalisation of the policy objectives of joining EITI since the promulgation of Ugandas National Oil and Gas Policy in 2008 and the Petroleum Revenue Management Policy in 2012, said Onesmus Mugyenyi, Deputy Executive Director of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) and a civil society member of Ugandas Multi-Stakeholder Group. It is therefore our pleasure to see that the government has followed through with this policy commitment. EITI implementation provides an opportunity for deepening transparency and accountability in the management of Ugandas oil, gas and mineral resources. I pledge our total support and commitment in ensuring that the EITI works for Uganda. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, increased competition for investment underscores the need for transparency. While Ugandas oil industry is still nascent, Total, a founding member of the EITI internationally and a partner in the Lake Albert Development Project, sees only benefit for Uganda in committing to the EITI. Writing in support of EITI implementation, Total E&P Uganda, an active participant in Ugandas Multi-Stakeholder Group, underscored the importance of contract transparency in contributing to a transparent and accountable sector. We look forward to working with government, industry and civil society partners to support EITI implementation through participation in Ugandas Multi-Stakeholder Group, said Total E&P Ugandas General Manager Pierre Jessua. Ugandas initial disclosures in terms of the 2019 EITI Standard will need to be made within 18 months of being admitted as an EITI implementing country. The heat wave that steamrolled into California Friday is by all appearances the beginning of a potentially dangerous hot spell the demon child of climate change that experts say will grip the West in a sweltering blanket and worsen the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Heat records were shattered across the Bay Area, with many cities hitting levels 10 degrees above previous highs for the day. The thermometer even briefly hit 90 degrees at Half Moon Bays airport 30 degrees above what had been recorded in the coastal spot just two days before. This is an extreme event, said Will Pi, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Monterey. Its something that doesnt usually occur in your area until well into September. The high temperatures are expected to linger over California and much of the southwest for the next seven to 10 days. This would make it the biggest, longest hot spell to hit the state in many years, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. This event will likely have wide-ranging impacts, from human health, wildfire, and electricity demand perspectives, Swain wrote in his Weather West blog. I suspect this event will probably end up being one of the most significant widespread California extreme heat events in the past decade, if not longer. The first day already is one for the books. The recorded high for San Francisco was 95 degrees, well above the 86 degrees recorded for August 14 in 1995. Santa Cruz reached 105 degrees, breaking the previous record of 96 degrees that had been in place since 1906. Other broken records dated only to 2019, an ominous hint of climate changes possible impacts. Downtown Oakland hit 90 degrees 10 degrees above last years record-setter and it was 102 degrees in Redwood City. Santa Rosa reached 106 degrees, 5 degrees above last year. Napas high was 104 degrees. The blistering heat is being held in place by a ridge of high pressure that has strengthened over the past few days, according to meteorologists. Making things worse, a mass of humid air from Hurricane Elida in the Pacific has moved over California and is locked in place. Usually this time of year you have sea breezes that keep things cool along the bay, Pi said. The tropical moisture is keeping them out. It also could cause isolated thunder and lightning storms to strike Northern California, increasing the fire danger. Swain said the unusual humidity will make it harder for people to cool off, with very little drop in temperatures overnight. That, he said, could cause problems for sick, elderly or isolated people without air conditioning. When you do get these excessive overnight temperatures in places where people dont have air conditioners, that actually becomes rather dangerous, Swain said. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Not surprisingly, some Bay Area residents looked to shorelines for relief. This includes Oakland residents Julia Hamilton and Tanaya Reid, who fled their hotbox apartments to Alameda Beach,where entire families bobbed up and down in the water. We both live in studio apartments, and my tiny studio is like a hotbox, Reid said. I just could not stand it. It was roasting by noon Friday at Lafayette Reservoir, where only a few people braved the triple-digit heat. Iris Lepe, 28, arrived with a blanket and a book to read by the water. It seems like a crazy day to pick, the hottest day of the year, said Lepe, a DoorDash deliverer who has tried to avoid outings to such crowded places during the pandemic. But actually I thought it might be the best day, because the heat might keep people inside. Leah Roth and her daughter marveled at the heat as they retreated to their car with their water bottles after a hike. Roth, a nurse, said she worries most about elderly people without air conditioning. 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. I just hope everyone is hydrating and staying safe, she said. It is a legitimate concern, said Noah Diffenbaugh, a climate and environmental scientist at Stanford University, pointing to several studies showing that elderly and infirm people suffer more health problems and die more often during high heat and humidity. Extreme weather also has a more severe impact on minority and underprivileged communities, he said, because residents often cant afford air conditioning, are isolated and dont have access to many health or emergency services. Low-income, urban communities often have few shade trees. And because asphalt absorbs solar radiation, it exacerbates the heat. The problem is, in some ways, our own fault, he added, because extreme heat like this is very consistent with whats been predicted for decades to result from global warming. This is a region where we have strong evidence from observation and climate model experiments that there is a rising risk of record-setting heat, he said. That risk is continuing to intensify as a result of the global warming that has already happened. It is particularly worrisome with the coronavirus shelter-in-place continuing and fire danger increasing across the West, he and other scientists said. Those who are not sweating at home are likely to be heading out to the beaches, raising concerns about a lack of social distancing and the spread of the coronavirus. And there is more to come over the next 10 days, according to the National Weather Service. A brief cooling-off period is expected at the beginning of next week, but then temperatures are going to get even hotter, forecasters predict. Swain said places like Concord, Livermore and Sacramento could see temperatures topping 110 degrees several days in a row. Thats really, really high. he said. But the duration (of the heat wave) is expected to be ... the most extraordinary thing. Peter Fimrite, Brett Simpson and John King J.D. Morris are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, brett.simpson@sfchronicle.com, jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, jking@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite, @brettvsimpson, @thejdmorris @JohnKingsfchron New Delhi: Artists in the national capital on Saturday (August 15, 2020) displayed a painting at the Connaught Place as a tribute to the sacrifices of the Indian Army personnel who were killed in action in Galwan valley in June 2020. The huge painting shows the individual portraits of the 20 Indian Army troops along with their names and ranks. It also reflects the scenery of the Galwan valley where Indian Army soldiers are seen guarding the nation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Few troops of China's Peoples Liberation Army are also seen standing on the left corner of the painting. India lost its 20 soldiers in a face-off with Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley near Ladakh on June 15 and over 50 Chinese troops were reportedly killed too during the clashes. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day said, "From the LOC to the LAC, whoever has raised eyes on the sovereignty of the country, the country, the army of the country has responded in the same language. Respect for India's sovereignty is supreme for us." He added, "What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen this in Ladakh." On Friday, President Ram Nath Kovind during his address to the nation asserted that the bravery of soldiers has demonstrated that India is also capable of giving a befitting response to any attempt of aggression, though India believes in peace. President Kovind took a jibe at China saying that "some in our neighbourhood tried to carry out their misadventure of expansion" at a time when "world community needs to fight together against the greatest challenge before humanity". He said, "Even while the world community needs to fight together against the greatest challenge before humanity, some in our neighbourhood tried to carry out their misadventure of expansion. Our brave soldiers laid down their lives defending our borders. Those worthy sons of Bharat Mata lived and died for national pride." He added, "The entire nation salutes the martyrs of Galwan Valley. Every Indian feels grateful to their family members. Their bravery in combat has demonstrated that while we believe in peace, we are also capable of giving a befitting response to any attempt of aggression. We are proud of the members of our Armed Forces, paramilitary forces and police personnel who protect the borders, and ensure our internal security." That's all I have for today. Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the blog, sent me a tweet or offered some congratulations for my momentous 50th COVID-19 blog milestone. To read Monday's live coverage, click here. Before I go here is a quick look at some of the major developments today: I'll be back later in the week but we will have more coverage to come this evening and another live blog up and running from early Monday morning. Please have a lovely evening and I'll see you all soon. As India celebrates its 74th Indian Independence Day today remembering its freedom fighter and rich culture, Google also honours the day by making a special doodle on the occasion. The doodle today represents the musical diversity of India represented by the patchwork of Indian cultures. It features the many folk instruments of India which make up Indias rich musical legacy that spans more than 6,000 years. The features instruments included the tutari, shehnai, dhol, veena, sarangi and bansuri. The Google doodle blog read: ''Todays Doodle, illustrated by Mumbai-based guest artist Sachin Ghanekar, commemorates the Independence Day of the worlds largest democracy: India. On this day in 1947, India became a sovereign, independent nation after nearly a century of British rule. Featured in the Doodle artwork are several iconic Indian folk instruments, including the tutari, shehnai, dhol, veena, sarangi and bansuri. From the versatile double-reeded shehnai to the resonant stringed sarangi, these instruments are but a few that make up Indias rich musical legacy, which dates back over 6,000 years. The musical diversity represented by this unique collection reflects the patchwork of Indian cultures that is celebrated across the nation today. Happy Independence Day, India! '' Every year Google comes up with a unique style to honour India's Independence day. India got freedom on August 15, 1947, from the rule of the British Raj. It was on this day that India became an independent, sovereign nation after almost a century of British rue. This year marks the 74th Indian Independence Day. This is a national holiday in India, and is celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 15) unfurled the tricolour flag at the ramparts of Red Fort to mark the special day. Tens of thousands of people flooded the heart of the Belarus capital Minsk on Friday in a show of anger over a brutal police crackdown this week on peaceful protesters that followed a disputed election. Authorities sought to ease rising public fury by freeing at least 2,000 people who were jailed after earlier demonstrations. Factory workers marched across the city shouting Go away! in a call for authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko to resign after 26 years of iron-fisted rule that was extended in an election Sunday that protesters denounced as rigged. Expand Close A woman embraces a soldier guarding the Belarusian Government building (Sergei Grits/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A woman embraces a soldier guarding the Belarusian Government building (Sergei Grits/AP) Fridays crowds grew to more than 20,000, filling central Independence Square. About a dozen soldiers guarding the nearby government headquarters lowered their riot shields in what the demonstrators saw as a sign of solidarity, and women rushed to embrace and kiss the guards. As the protesters rallied on the square, Mr Lukashenko dismissed them as puppets manipulated from abroad. During a meeting with top law enforcement officials, he defended the crackdown as a justified response to violence against police by some of the protesters. The interior ministry said 121 police officers were injured. He told officials, however, to avoid excessive force. If a person falls down and lies still, dont beat him, Mr Lukashenko said. The Belarusian leader cautioned people against turning out for protests, saying the country is facing foreign aggression. Expand Close People gather in front of soldiers guarding the Belarusian Government building in Minsk (Sergei Grits/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People gather in front of soldiers guarding the Belarusian Government building in Minsk (Sergei Grits/AP) Dont get out into the streets. You should understand that you and your children are being used as cannon fodder, Mr Lukashenko said, alleging that people from Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine and some members of Russias opposition were fomenting the unrest. Do you want me to sit and wait until they turn Minsk upside down? he said. We wont be able to stabilise the situation afterwards. We must take a break, collect ourselves and calm down. And let us restore order and deal with those who have come here. Earlier, police did not interfere as the protesters marched across the city, reflecting Mr Lukashenkos apparent attempt to assuage the opposition by stepping back from the violent police crackdowns seen across the country earlier this week. The release by the interior ministry of about 2,000 of the nearly 7,000 people detained was seen as another move to defuse popular outrage. It said more would be freed. Many who were released spoke of brutal beatings and other abuse by police, and some showed bruises on their bodies. Some of them wept as they embraced waiting relatives. The authorities are obviously trying to de-escalate the situation and ease the tensions, fearing that the furious industrial workers will take to the streets all across Belarus, said Valiantsin Stefanovich of the Viasna rights centre. Expand Close Workers hold a banner reading we are not cattle, we are not sheep, we are workers of MTZ, we are not 20 people, we are 16,000 (Sergei Grits/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Workers hold a banner reading we are not cattle, we are not sheep, we are workers of MTZ, we are not 20 people, we are 16,000 (Sergei Grits/AP) Demonstrators have swarmed the streets ever since Sundays election in which officials reported that Mr Lukashenko won 80% of the vote to win a sixth term in office. His main challenger, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled on Tuesday to neighbouring Lithuania, posted a new video in which she disputed the results of the vote and demanded that the government start a dialogue with demonstrators. The ferocious crackdown has left hundreds injured since Sunday as police have dispersed the largely peaceful demonstrations with stun grenades, tear gas, rubber bullets and severe beatings. At least one person has been killed. The brutal suppression of protests drew harsh criticism in the West. European Union foreign ministers said they rejected the election results and tasked officials with drawing up a list of people in Belarus who could face sanctions over their role in the crackdown. Work begins on sanctioning those responsible for violence and falsification, tweeted EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Earlier, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said the EU wants to significantly increase the pressure on Belarus. Expand Close A man shows marks on his body he says were left after a police beating (Sergei Grits/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man shows marks on his body he says were left after a police beating (Sergei Grits/AP) Thousands of factory workers who previously formed the core of Mr Lukashenkos base have joined the protests, denouncing the police crackdown and demanding a new election, raising the prospect of a nationwide strike. Our entire shop voted against Lukashenko and then we suddenly learned that he won by a landslide, 42-year-old assembly worker Dmitry Glukhovsky said outside the Minsk Automobile Plant, or MAZ. They not only have cheated us but also beaten us up, and no-one is going to accept that. Ms Tsikhanouskaya urged her supporters to stop protests in an earlier video that her associates said was recorded under pressure from law enforcement officials while she was still in Minsk. The 37-year-old former teacher had joined the race to replace her husband, an opposition blogger, who has been jailed since May. P rince William has addressed the nation in a televised tribute to honour veterans on VJ Day, 75 years after his great grandfather gave a speech marking the end of the Second World War. In a pre-recorded speech on BBC Ones VJ Day 75: The Nations Tribute, the Duke of Cambridge spoke of how King George VI addressed the nation on August 15, 1945 as the most catastrophic conflict in mankinds history came to an end. Thousands watched King George VI and the Queen drive down The Mall in an open carriage, as they celebrated the end of the war following Imperial Japans surrender. In his speech aired on Saturday evening, William said: "As he marked the moment the world had long prayed for, King George expressed his pride in the international effort from across the Commonwealth and allied nations which secured success in the Asia-Pacific region." We are forever grateful to all those who fought alongside us. "It is hard for us to imagine what Victory over Japan Day must have felt like at the time - a mix of happiness, jubilation, and sheer relief, together with a deep sadness and overwhelming sense of loss for those who would never return home. "Today we remember those who endured terrible suffering and honour all those who lost their lives." William's speech was recorded earlier in the month at The Guards Memorial, opposite Horse Guards Parade, in London. VJ commemorations 2020 1 /24 VJ commemorations 2020 Pipe Sergeant Neil Esslemont of RAF Halton Pipes & Drums in front of Tower Bridge in London on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays a wreath during a national service of remembrance Getty Images Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London PA A wreath laid by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace PA The Prince of Wales lays a wreath during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day PA Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber fly over the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire PA Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London PA Major General Chris Ghika CBE the General Officer Commanding London District laying a wreath at the Horse Guard Memorial in London PA Piccadily Circus screens display VJ Day 75 Imagery MoD Crown Copyright via Getty Im Saturday marks 75 years since Japan surrendered to the Allied forces on August 15 1945, ending the conflict's hostilities PA Veterans arrive to attend the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire PA Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter arrives at a service of remembrance in Staffordshire PA Planes fly over a remembrance service in Staffordshire PA Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes at the VJ Day 75 commemorations PA Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a national service of remembrance in Staffordshire Getty Images Boris Johnson lays a wreath Getty Images A portrait of Captain Sir Tom Moore, by artist Alex Chamberlin, is unveiled at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ day PA Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber take to the skies PA The duke expressed his gratitude to the wartime generation, which includes his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who fought in the Far East and was aboard HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese signed the surrender on the USS Missouri. "He remembers vividly his role in collecting released prisoners of war, a sign, as sure as any to him, that the war was finally over," William said. He recited the words of the Kohima Epitaph, carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery of Kohima, northeast India, which reads: "When you go home, tell them of us and say. For your tomorrow, we gave our today." Red Arrows fly over Belfast to commemorate VJ Day He continued: "As we look back, we must not forget our responsibility to learn the lessons of the past and ensure that the horrors of the Second World War are never repeated. We owe that to our veterans, to their families, and to the generations who will come after us. "As we mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, to each and every one of you who contributed to the effort, I say, thank you, our country owes you a debt of gratitude. "Your bravery, and the sacrifices you made, will never be forgotten." Prince Charles thanks troops who served in the Far East On Saturday morning, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led a two-minute silence during a televised remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. In a speech dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Allied and Commonwealth personnel who fought and died in the campaign, Charles said: "All too often those who served in the Far East have been labelled the Forgotten Army, in a forgotten war. "Many of the soldiers, nurses and other personnel felt anger and disappointment at how they were treated when they finally returned home from a war which, from the publics point of view, had ended on May 8, 1945." Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech, the Left parties on Saturday said it was full of rhetoric while alleging that his "New India" is subservient to corporates and not self-reliant. Urging the citizens of the country to unite against the government's move to privatise India's assets, the Left parties said only a people's movement can fight the present regime. "The New India that the prime minister spoke about in his speech at the Red Fort is a negation of that India, which was established by our Constitution. This India is not self-reliant, but subservient to foreign corporates. A people's movement is the only way to reverse the multi-pronged attacks on our Constitution by this government," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said at a webinar organised by the party. Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of its 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Saturday and asked the citizens of the country to prepare themselves for a self-reliant India. CPI general secretary D Raja alleged that unlike former prime ministers, who are remembered for their developmental agendas, Modi will be remembered as a prime minister who served the purpose of corporates. "His speech today was full of rhetoric. He repeatedly said Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which is an irony given the fact that our entire economy has been handed over to private players. Be it the defence sector, railways, atomic energy or even AI and more are being given for privatisation. "He failed to address the issues of unemployment and poverty but mentioned Ayodhya, which exposed him completely. He will be remembered as a prime minister who served the purpose of corporates," he said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also spoke at the webinar, said the social fabric of the nation, which is alien to communalism, is under attack. "The lessons learnt from the freedom movement, which taught us to fight shoulder to shoulder forgetting caste, religion and economic status, need to be reinforced for holding us together as a nation and fighting against economic and social inequalities," the CPI(M) leader 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.) In 2017 New York photographer Jeff Mermelstein was outside a cafe when he quietly snapped a picture of a woman searching Google on her phone. She was clearly going through a sad time in her life. The woman was searching for information about wills specifically about finding $6,000 in an attic and a father leaving no will. A list with [a] melancholy overtone that works as a short story, as the photographer described it to Yahoo News Australia. It sparked an idea. For the following years, Mr Mermelstein surreptitiously photographed people crafting text messages on their phones as they went about their business. Without them noticing, he would steal a voyeuristic glimpse into their life by snapping the private conversation contained in the little digital bubbles on the phones screen. In a way, its kind of like the hugely popular Humans of New York, but without the consent. From an artists point of view; completely unguarded. A woman sits on a park bench in New York looking at her phone. Source: Getty Mr Mermelsteins work is often personal, including haunting photos taken after the September 11 attacks. He has also shot on assignment for publications such as LIFE, The New Yorker, and The New York Times Magazine. His latest series of photos has been turned into a book called #nyc, but unsurprisingly the project has garnered some criticism for its intrusive nature. The stripper texted me His subjects were not asked permission to have their photos taken, nor were they ever made aware of it. Many of the text conversations featured in the book show intimate moments between friends, or the complicated exchanges of budding romances. In one, a person cheers on their friends promiscuity, with the friend confiding that the stripper texted me. In another, a person is being delicately rejected by a potential love interest. The texts messages capture intimate moments of strangers. Source: Jeff Mermelstein Meanwhile others are almost graphic, revealing sexual secrets. This seems massively creepy and invasive, one Australian journalist wrote recently, reacting to the work online after the book was launched last month. Story continues This is super stalky, another commented in agreement. Mr Mermelstein says identifying information has been removed to ensure anonymity but many questioned whether that statement really holds up to scrutiny. It is shockingly irresponsible and extremely clumsy for a range of reasons, one critic claimed on Twitter. But a kicker is the idea that simply removing names and numbers is enough. People can be de-identified by cross-referencing with other public data; pretty damn easily. Mr Mermelstein doesnt seem fazed by the criticism. For him, its an exercise in modern anthropology and the limits of what street photography can do. Some oppose what I have done and claim an invasion of privacy while others very much enjoy the anthropological record and insight, he told Yahoo News Australia. The text messages range from emotional, to funny, to downright bizarre. Source: Jeff Mermelstein. The book is an anthropological window into modern New Yorkers. Source: Jeff Mermelstein Capturing the things that tie us together Spending years capturing the text messages of New Yorkers has informed him about the nature of humans in 2020, he said. I hope that people take away, for now and in the future, a record and understanding of the human condition at a particular time and place, he said. We humans are extraordinarily diverse however at the same time there is some kind of continuity that ties us together in this moment of madness in our history. Each text message no matter how dull or indecipherable tells a little story about that person, in that moment. And its often the more mysterious ones that linger in his mind and, he hopes, those who view his work. Quite a few continue to resonate, Mr Mermelstein said. One, regarding a cantaloupe as a prize is a good example of one that has an inexplicable, mysterious, and absurd. Perhaps a secretly coded conversation, well never know, and I still wonder what its all about. An NYPD officer plays on his phone outside Trump tower. Source: Getty For a project that was born out of snooping on a persons Google search, its somewhat ironic that those using the search engine dont seem to have a high opinion of photographers. When you type the words photographers are... into Google, the top two autofill suggestions are not artists and annoying. The third autofill suggestion is creepy. Regardless of what you think of the #nyc collection, its unlikely to disabuse people of that particular notion. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 13:06:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIGALI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Friday reported a daily surge of 93 new COVID-19 cases and 46 recoveries, after a two-week downward trend in active cases. Eighty of the new infections were reported here in the capital city, according to the health ministry's daily update. The rise has brought the nationwide total infections and recoveries to 2,293 and 1,604, respectively. The Rwandan government on Friday updated measures and guidelines to contain the spread of the pandemic. A cabinet meeting decided to maintain the curfew that bans people from going out from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The meeting also required the public and private businesses to continue operation with no more than 50 percent staff, while other employees can continue working from home on a rotational basis. Rwanda Biomedical Center, affiliated to the ministry of health, has asked all travelers going in Rwanda to hold a negative COVID-19 certificate of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while other tests including rapid diagnostic tests are not accepted. It also said all travelers departing from Rwanda must test negative for COVID-19 within five days before departure. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who was rarely seen in a face mask when chairing Friday's cabinet meeting, on the same day tweeted a photo of him wearing a face mask in response to #WearAMask challenge launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), and called on "more and better work" in the battle against the pandemic. Enditem CAIRO Pope Francis on Saturday urged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to continue talks to resolve their years-long dispute over a massive dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile that has led to sharp regional tensions and fears of military conflict. Francis, speaking to a crowd gathered at St. Peters Square on an official Catholic feast day, said he was closely following negotiations between the three countries over the dam. Egypt and Sudan suspended talks with Ethiopia earlier this month after Ethiopia proposed linking a deal on the filling and operations of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to a broader agreement about Blue Nile waters that would replace a colonial-era accord with Britain. The colonial-era deal between Ethiopia and Britain effectively prevents upstream countries from taking any action such as building dams and filling reservoirs that would reduce the share of Nile water to downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. The Blue Nile is the source of as much as 85% of the Nile Rivers water. Sudan said Ethiopias latest proposal threatened the entire negotiations, and it would return to the negotiating table only for a deal on the dams filling and operation. The African Union-led talks among the three countries are scheduled to resume Monday, according to Sudans Irrigation Ministry. The pontiff called on all sides to continue on the path of dialogue so that the Eternal River continues to be the lymph of life that unites, not divides, that always nourishes friendship, prosperity, brotherhood and never enmity, incomprehension or conflict. Addressing the dear brothers of the three countries, the Pope prayed that dialogue would be their only choice, for the good your dear peoples and of the entire world. Egypts Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly meanwhile landed in Sudans capital Khartoum on Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials. He was accompanied by several top officials including irrigation, electricity and health ministers, according to the office of Sudans Premier Abdalla Hamdok. Hamdoks officer did not provide details on the visit, but it was highly likely the Ethiopian dam would be on the agenda. Years-long negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a deal on the dam. The dispute reached a tipping point earlier this week when Ethiopia announced it completed the first stage of the filling of the dams 74 billion-cubic-meter reservoir. That sparked fear and confusion in Sudan and Egypt. Both have repeatedly insisted Ethiopia must not start the fill without reaching a deal first. Ethiopia says the dam will provide electricity to millions of its nearly 110 million citizens. Egypt, with its own booming population of about 100 million, sees the project as an existential threat that could deprive it of its share of Nile waters. Sudan, geographically located between the two regional powerhouses, stands to benefit from Ethiopias project through access to cheap electricity and reduced flooding. But Sudan has raised fears over the dams operation, which could endanger its own smaller dams depending on the amount of water discharged daily downstream. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the filling occurred naturally, without bothering or hurting anyone else, from torrential rains flooding the Blue Nile. Sticking points in the talks include how much water Ethiopia will release downstream during the filling if a multi-year drought occurs, and how the three countries will resolve any future disputes. Egypt and Sudan have pushed for a binding agreement, while Ethiopia insists on non-binding guidelines. __________________ DEmilio reported from Rome. 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 On Saturday, 36 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Wyoming Department of Healths daily update. The department announced eight new probable cases. Sixteen new confirmed recoveries were announced. Two new probable recoveries were announced. There are now 2,730 confirmed cases, 497 probable cases, 2,238 confirmed recoveries and 421 probable recoveries in Wyoming. Thirty Wyomingites have died after contracting COVID-19. In Natrona County, 210 confirmed cases and 37 probable cases have been recorded. Probable cases are defined by officials as close contacts of lab-confirmed cases with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. A patient is considered fully recovered when there is resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and there is improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) for 72 hours AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Cases plateaued in Wyoming in late spring before beginning a spike in mid-June. That surge brought about an increase in the rate of reported coronavirus patients not yet seen here since the pandemic began. As a result, state health officials have decided against their plans to eliminate almost all coronavirus restrictions. Instead, State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist has extended the current restrictions through Aug. 15. While Gov. Mark Gordon has said he is not considering a statewide face mask requirement, he has urged the states residents to wear them. The symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear within two weeks. Health officials recommend self-isolating for two weeks if you have contact with a person who has the illness. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to decide by Monday whether a general election will go ahead on Sept. 19, with most analysts expecting her to resist opposition calls for a delay due to a flare up in coronavirus infections. A country of five million people, a long way from anywhere, New Zealand has fared far better than most countries during the pandemic, but a spate of new infections forced Ardern earlier this week to lockdown Auckland, the largest city. Seven new cases were reported on Saturday. Having kept New Zealand clear of infections for 102 days straight before the flare-up, Ardern has won praise for her decisive response to the pandemic, and opinion polls have shown her Labour Party in a winning position. Pollsters have been unable to survey voters since the latest outbreak, but analysts expected Ardern to decide to go ahead with the election next month. The opposition National Party would like it delayed, they said, in the hope that Ardern loses some of her lustre once hardships caused by the lockdown begin to bite. She is a savvy politician, said Grant Duncan, professor of politics at Massey University. It pays for the government to have an election sooner rather than later, while the opposition wants it delayed. Forced to cancel campaign events due to restrictions on movement and crowds due to the health scare, the opposition has accused Ardern of using the pandemic to shore up support as she appears on television nearly everyday to reassure New Zealanders, while their own leaders struggle to draw audiences. Parliament is due to be dissolved on Monday, and Ardern told reporters on Friday that she would have decided by then, while giving assurances that the election commission had already planned for the vote - which must be held by Nov. 21 - to be conducted safely. Pollster and blogger David Farrar said in a post on Kiwiblog that with Auckland still in lockdown for another 12 days, an election in September would be madness, predicting a near record low turnout if it went ahead. The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) will further push forward the exchanges and cooperation in the global science community, said its chairman Wan Gang. Wan made the remarks while addressing the association's annual meeting that opened in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on Friday. More than 30 forums and events will be held during the meeting, which is held in a combination of online and offline activities. The meeting will focus on such topics as international scientific and technological exchanges, deep integration of technology and economy, public safety and social governance, and innovation development contributed by sci-tech talents. Wan urged the association to maintain and explore the sci-tech and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with universities, institutes, firms and government organs. The seminars attracted the participation of more than 230 organizations and institutions. The United Arab Emirates has made a huge mistake" in reaching a deal toward normalising ties with Israel, Irans President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in a speech furiously condemning what he called a betrayal by the Gulf state. The Iranian hardline daily Kayhan, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the UAE has turned itself into a legitimate target for the resistance", according to its website. The UAE-Israel agreement announced on Thursday, which U.S. President Donald Trump helped to broker, is seen as aimed at bolstering opposition to regional power Iran. In his televised speech, Rouhani warned the UAE against allowing Israel a foothold in the region. They (the UAE) better be mindful. They have committed a huge mistake, a treacherous act. We hope they will realise this and abandon this wrong path, Rouhani said without elaborating. In a front-page comment, the newspaper Kayhan said: The UAEs great betrayal of the Palestinian people , will turn this small, rich country which is heavily dependent on security into a legitimate and easy target for the resistance." Iran often refers to militant forces and regional countries opposed to Israel and the United States as a resistance front. Rouhani said the deal seemed aimed at ensuring that Trump wins another term in the U.S. presidential election in November and referred to the fact that it was announced in Washington. Why then did it happen now? If it werent a wrong deal, why was it then announced in a third country, in America? So a gentleman in Washington wins votes, you betray your country, your people, Muslims and the Arab world? Irans powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement the UAE-Israel deal would accelerate the process of the destruction of the child-killing Zionist regime (Israel). (Additional reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Frances Kerry) 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 Uncertainty Hovers Over Belarus as Thousands Hit the Streets Again By Charles Maynes August 14, 2020 Uncertainly hovered over Belarus on Friday as protests against President Alexander Lukashenko gained momentum with tens of thousands disputing the Belarusian strongman's claim of a landslide victory during an August 9 election marred by voter fraud and a crackdown against unarmed demonstrators. Indeed, while the past 36 hours witnessed fewer arrests than the days following the vote, there were a flurry of developments suggesting resistance to Lukashenko's rule was spreading. Across the country, thousands of Belarusian women and medical workers gathered along roadways holding hands to demand an end to the violence a tactic that seemed to neutralize police who previously had gone after demonstrators with startling aggression. Key factories announced they were entering work stoppages until Lukashenko had resigned in several cases rejecting entreaties to return to work from plant directors loyal to the government. By late Friday, workers had walked off the job to join with protesters in a peaceful sit-in in front of the main government building in Minsk. Meanwhile, seemingly everywhere, Belarusian drivers honked their horns in what has become a ritual form of expressing disgust with the longtime Belarusian ruler. Svetlana Alexievich, the country's Nobel laureate in literature, also publicly called on Lukashenko to step down before he plunged the nation into civil war. "You just want power and your desire will end up with blood," she said in an interview with VOA partner Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Friday, Lukashenko addressed rumors never substantiated he had indeed vacated the presidency. "For starters, I'm still alive and in the country," said Lukashenko as he began a meeting focused on the work stoppages. He later repeated claims that the growing revolt was due to provocateurs from Europe and Russia's opposition. "They're using your children as cannon fodder," said the Belarusian strongman. Questionable victory The political standoff stems from an August 9 presidential vote in which Lukashenko claimed 80% of the vote an astounding result given the election was supposed to have been the most serious challenge to his 26-year rule. His primary challenger, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya a schoolteacher who only entered the race after her husband was barred from the election and arrested had electrified huge crowds in the run-up to the vote. Joined by the wives of two other banned candidates, they rallied the country around a simple promise: to hold real elections within six months of winning the presidency. But Tikhanovskaya received less than 10% of the vote with widespread evidence of vote-rigging triggering protests. After initially insisting she would contest the results to the state election commission, she fled the country Tuesday hinting at threats to her family. Yet she reappeared again in a video released Friday from exile in Lithuania. "Belarussians no longer want to live with the previous ruler. No one believes in his victory," said Tikhanovskaya. "We need to stop the violence on the streets of Belarusian cities. I call on the authorities to stop this and enter into dialogue." The announcement came shortly before the state election commission formally endorsed Lukashenko's victory as final. State torture Since Sunday, authorities have reported almost 7,000 arrests with hundreds injured, and two reported deaths resulting from clashes between demonstrators and police. Activists report some 1,500 people have gone missing. Yet hundreds of prisoners, maybe close to 1,000 according to some reports, were released from Minsk's central Okrestina prison late Thursday, bearing grim accounts of torture at the hands of police. "They beat them like animals. There was a sea of blood," said one woman, as she exited the facility in a widely shared video. Many broke into tears upon being reunited with family members waiting outside the prison walls. U.N. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during the Friday daily remote briefing, "The Secretary-General continues to follow the situation in Belarus very closely. We welcome the reported release of some of the detainees last night and urge this to continue. We are deeply disturbed about the reports and allegations of torture and mistreatment of persons under detention, including young people and journalists. "We take note of the statement of regret by the Minister of Interior of Belarus regarding the use of force and expect these incidents and claims to be investigated thoroughly. We remain in touch with Belarusian authorities in New York, Geneva and Minsk regarding the unfolding situation," Dujarric said. Nikita Telizhenko, a journalist for Russia's znak.com news service, described his own dark odyssey inside the prison in graphic detail. "People were lying on the floor like a living carpet, and we had to walk right over them," wrote Telizhenko. "'Everyone on the floor face down,'" they yelled at us. And I understood there was nowhere to lie, all around me lay people in pools of blood," Telizhenko wrote. Social media channels were flooded with images of police violence from the past few days. There were videos of masked security firing rubber bullets at seemingly innocent passersby. Other clips showed groups of OMON troops descending on unarmed protesters with kicks and truncheons. And everywhere on social media, users shared photos of dark bruises received at the hands of police. "I've never seen bruises like this in my life," said Anton Gashinsky, a lawyer who visited the prison, in an interview with VOA. The head of Belarus's Interior Ministry, Yuri Karayev, later apologized to those "accidentally" swept up by the police. "Provocateurs are making it so that the people hate us," said Karayev. "But the majority of the population doesn't support the protests," he added. International response Foreign Ministers from the European Union met Friday in Brussels and agreed to levy sanctions against members of Lukashenko's government responsible for human rights violations. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the U.S. may join allies in introducing penalties against the government in Minsk. Meanwhile, Russia reiterated its support for Lukashenko essentially doubling down on an earlier decision by President Vladimir Putin to join China among major powers congratulating Lukashenko on his reelection to a 6th term in office. Russia's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying it was concerned about "unprecedented pressure" by foreign states to interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus "with the goal of dividing society and destabilizing the situation." The Kremlin gesture came despite thorny relations between nominal allies over issues such as Lukashenko's response to the coronavirus, gas prices, and a long-stalled creation of a supra-state union between the two countries. Most recently, Lukashenko and the Kremlin clashed over the arrest of 33 alleged Russian mercenaries with the Belarusian leader accusing Moscow of attempting to sow chaos during the election. Yet, in a sign that he was now looking to quickly patch up any lingering resentments in Moscow as his own crisis in Minsk grew, Lukashenko issued an order late Friday night. The alleged Russian mercenaries were suddenly heading home. VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report from New York. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 01:47:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 28,894 after 1,652 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Saturday, the country's Ministry of Health said. This is so far the highest daily increase in the Horn of Africa country. The ministry, in a statement issued on Saturday, revealed that from a total of 22,252 medical tests that were conducted within the last 24 hours, some 1,652 of them tested positive for COVID-19, eventually bringing the total number of positive cases to 28,894. Seventeen more patients succumbed to illnesses related to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the East African country to 509, according to the ministry. The ministry said 12,037 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had so far recovered, including 377 in the last 24 hours period. According to the ministry, a total of 16,346 COVID-19 patients are still undergoing medical treatment, out of which 199 are in severe condition. On Thursday, the East African country reported more than 1,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since the first case of the virus was announced in March. The Ministry of Health on Thursday and Friday reported 1,086 and 1,038 daily COVID-19 positive cases, respectively. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation with about 107 million people, confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13. The East African country had so far conducted some 589,694 COVID-19 medical tests, according to the ministry. Amid the rapid spread of the virus across the East African country, the Ethiopian government is intensifying its mass COVID-19 testing campaign as the number of COVID-19 cases rises rapidly in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the East African country officially launched a nationwide month-long testing campaign, which the Ethiopian government said "will determine the next steps to undertake in the new year," which will start on Sept. 11. The Ethiopian government is currently mobilizing resources to ensure there's no shortage of laboratory materials and quarantine centers. Ethiopia is also boosting its COVID-19 testing capacity at border points with neighboring countries. As the East African country strengthened the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese engagement has injected much-needed momentum in Ethiopia's anti-pandemic efforts. On Monday, the Chinese technology and social media giant, ByteDance, donated 100,000 COVID-19 testing kits in support of Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 pandemic efforts. Enditem DETROIT (AP) Franmil Reyes came into Friday with five major league at-bats against Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Ivan Nova. The Cleveland Indians slugger, though, has been facing his cousin for most of his life. Reyes hit a long home run off Nova, and the Indians beat Detroit for a club-record 18th consecutive time, topping the Tigers 10-5 on Friday night. He's been pitching to me since we were kids, so I always know what he's going to be throwing, Reyes said. I hit a homer against him last year and I got him again tonight. The Indians' previous longest winning streak against one opponent was a 17-game run against the Baltimore Orioles in 1954. The Yankees have beaten the Orioles in their last 18 meetings, with the only longer major league streak being Baltimore's 23-game stretch over the Kansas City Royals that concluded in 1969. I didnt know that weve lost that many, but we dont put that in our mind, said Detroit's Jeimer Candelario, who had two hits and scored twice. "Were going to battle, play hard and play to win. Thats all we want right now. Aaron Civale (2-2) improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Tigers, allowing four runs, eight hits and a walk in six innings. I had all of my pitches tonight, but I never had all of them at the same time, he said. I just used what was working each inning and tried to keep us in the game. Nova (1-1) allowed eight runs, five hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings for Detroit. His sinker wasnt diving, and he really needs that pitch," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. Detroit's starting pitchers are 3-5 with a 7.47 ERA in 17 games. That's obviously a big concern, Gardenhire said. Its not easy when you go through these things. We have to start getting our starters into the second half of the game again." The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second on Reyes' drive over the Indians bullpen and onto the second level of shrubs behind the left-center field fence. Story continues I hit one harder than that last year at Wrigley Field, but this was a good one, Reyes said. Willi Castro's sacrifice fly made it 2-1 in the bottom of the inning, and Detroit went ahead on Niko Goodrum's two-run homer in the third. Victor Reyes followed with a triple, but Civale retired the next three batters to get out of the inning. As soon as the runner got to third, I looked up and Aaron was already on the mound looking for the ball, Indians manager Terry Francona said. I knew he was angry, so I knew he was going to be OK. He's a tough kid. Cleveland took an 8-3 lead with six runs in the fourth, including five before Nova could get an out. Francisco Lindor singled, Carlos Santana walked and Reyes tied it with a single. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Santana beat first baseman Candelario's throw to the plate on a ground ball. Domingo Santana hit Nova's next pitch for a three-run homer to put Cleveland ahead 7-3. Nova got one out in the inning but was removed after Delino DeShields' single. Daniel Norris allowed a base hit to Cesar Hernandez, and DeShields scored on a groundout. The Tigers got a run in the sixth, but Cleveland's Tyler Naquin made it 10-4 a two-run triple off Kyle Funkhouser in the seventh. Cameron Maybin hit a solo homer in the ninth for Detroit. TRAINER'S ROOM Tigers: Detroit activated Maybin (right quad strain) from the 10-day injured list before the game and optioned OF Travis Demeritte to their alternate training site in Toledo. INDIANS OPTION OUT PROTOCOL BREAKERS Cleveland activated RHP Mike Clevinger and RHP Zach Plesac from the inactive list and optioned them to the alternate training site. Clevinger and Plesac were each put on the list after breaking the team's COVID-19 protocols last weekend in Chicago. DELUXE ACCOMMODATIONS The Indians have been playing at Comerica Park since it opened in 2000, but they were pleasantly surprised by the renovations made to the visiting dugout because of the pandemic. This is the first time all season we've been able to have everyone in the dugout, which is great, Francona said. That really helps you feel like a team when we're all able to stay together. UP NEXT The teams play the second of three games on Saturday. Detroit's Spencer Turnbull (2-0, 2.00) will face Shane Bieber (3-0, 1.63). ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports EastEnders favourite Ian Beale is being 'written out' of the show after playing the character for 35 years as he takes an 'extended break' from the soap. Adam Woodyatt, 52, who has played Ian since the shows first episode in 1985, is having a prolonged 'holiday' with his part being 'written out' of upcoming episodes, just as the show prepares to return to air. The long-time character will be off screen for around 10 weeks due to an 'explosive plot twist', a BBC source has claimed according to the Daily Star. Break? EastEnders favourite Ian Beale is being 'written out' of the show after playing the character for 35 years as he takes an 'extended break' from the soap Another source added: 'Writers are staying tight-lipped about what happens, so its not known yet what the future will hold for the character.' It comes as the actor has be pictured leaving a hotel near the EastEnders set with his luggage during time away from the home he shares with his wife Beverley. Ian has been centre-stage of the show's biggest storyline this year with the death of Dennis Mitchell after he caused the teenager to perish in a boat crash - which marked the soap's 35th anniversary in February. Cheers! The long-running drama is currently on a 12 week break after it ran out of episodes while filming was halted amid the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year The character has not faced justice over the incident but bosses have hinted Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, 52, will uncover what happened to her son. MailOnline has contacted BBC representatives for comment. It comes as bosses have revealed the soap will be back on air on September 7. The long-running drama is currently on a 12 week break after it ran out of episodes while filming was halted amid the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year. After almost three months off air, BBC bosses joked that they 'can't wait for series two', after the soap previously ran uninterrupted for 35 years. It's back! It comes as bosses have revealed the soap will be back on air on September 7 The announcement was made across Eastenders' social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The new shorter episodes will only be 20 minutes long and the programme will be shown four times a week on BBC One. The announcement read: 'The moment we've all been waiting for...#EastEnders will be back on your screens on Monday 7th September. 'It's time to set your alarm and wait for the drama to begin! For more information, head to @bbceastenders on Facebook and Instagram. Back with a bang! After almost three months off air, BBC bosses joked that they 'can't wait for series two', after the soap previously ran uninterrupted for 35 years While a post on Instagram said: 'Like the rest of the UK the residents of Walford have been adjusting to a new way of life since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the nation but after nearly 3 months away, the drama from Albert Square will be returning to BBC One.' Speaking about the return of beloved BBC One soap, Jon Sen, Executive Producer EastEnders said: 'From the moment we turned the lights out in The Queen Vic our ambition was to come back with a bang and this autumn certainly does that. 'As soon as Albert Square reawakens the drama returns at a pace and, although working within social distancing guidelines has certainly given us some new challenges, I am incredibly proud of what everyone has achieved. Bombshell: Back in June fans were left in tears as the programme aired its final episode after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis - and ended the show with Sharon Mitchell, played by Letitia Dean, being revealed as the new Queen Vic pub landlady Plotting: Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reins but Mick (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman 'The show is looking fantastic and we can't wait for 'series two' to begin' Production on EastEnders came to a halt in March, when the UK went into lockdown and most people were instructed to stay home, and work from home if possible. And for the first time in the soap's 35-year history, the show ran out of new material on and was forced to go on a hiatus in June in a BBC first. The dramatic final episode before the break ended with Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, being revealed as the new Queen Vic pub landlady. Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reins but Mick (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman. Spin-off: Until the new episodes air, the gap was plugged with classic EastEnders episodes and a spin-off show that will feature presenter Stacey Dooley Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord. Phil was left sceptical over the announcement as he protested: 'We had a deal. You're bluffing, there's no way you could have got a different buyer that quick.' To which Mick then led Phil and his equally baffled wife Linda (Kellie Bright) to the bar where Phil's estranged wife Sharon was pulling pints. In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil's scorned wife chillingly said: 'Hello Phil, what can I get you?' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:09:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANJUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Gambian Ministry of Health reported on Saturday 66 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases to 1,689 in the small continental African country. In its update report, the ministry said that 66 new cases were confirmed positive out of 155 laboratory tests received. About 20 of the news cases are frontline health workers, the ministry noted. Besides the 66 new cases, the Gambia also recorded four new COVID-19 related deaths, bring the death toll to 54, a crude case-fatality ratio of 3.2 percent. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries to date reached 347 after 43 more patients were discharged from the treatment centers. The country currently has 345 people in quarantine, 1,288 active cases, 164 probable cases, according to the Ministry of Health. Gambian President Adama Barrow said Friday night that he was concerned about the recent increase of coronavirus cases in the country, describing it as a cause for alarm. In his speech to the Nation, Barrow revealed that the pandemic has derailed the country's development agenda, challenged the health system and undermined the economic growth. "Our GDP indicators have become unrealistic; trade has slowed down and many young people are now unemployed. In one way or another, we are all affected by the global Coronavirus pandemic," he said. Enditem Kanye West releases 2020 platform packed with Bible verses: 'Creating a culture of life' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Billionaire rapper and 2020 presidential hopeful Kanye West revealed his campaign platform on Sunday, a document calling for the fostering of a culture of life in the United States and the restoration of prayer in classrooms. West, who took to Twitter on July 4 to announce his long-shot candidacy after undergoing a spiritual awakening in recent years, posted the short platform to his campaign website. While Democrat and Republican Party platforms tend to be thousands of words long and touch on various political issues, Wests platform comes in at just over 400 words. Titled Creating a Culture of Life, the platform has 10 different sections highlighting West's goals, each capped off with references to different Bible verses. The sections are short and don't go into much detail on how those goals will be accomplished if West is elected. The first section of the platform calls for the revival of Americas Constitutional commitment to freedom of religion and the free exercise of ones faith. West believes this can be done in part by restoring prayer in the classroom including spiritual foundations. At the end of the section, the platform cites Psalm 78:4 and states that We will not hide the truth from our children, but will declare to the next generation His praises and wonder. Secondly, West calls for the restoration of a sound national economy and the reduction of household debt and student loan debt. He then references Jeremiah 29:11 to stress that God has plans to give us hope and a future. The third bullet point on Wests platform calls for the restructuring of the national education system in a way that serves the most at-risk and vulnerable populations so that they are provided the widest possible range of educational and vocational paths to job opportunities and career success. West also calls for a strong national defense that is fully prepared but not so quick to tie up our countrys young men and women in foreign quagmires that do not advance our national interest. When it comes to foreign affairs, the rapper believes the nation needs to ensure that the best interest of Americans is taken into account first and foremost. He believes that the U.S. should project strength, not aggression. We want trust, but we must also verify. We want fair trade, not one-sided deals that hurt American workers, the platform reads. The platform also calls for the reforming of Americas legal system so that justice is equitable for all citizens, regardless of race or ability to defend oneself in court. Recognize the disparity in verdicts and prison sentences, caused by the lack of financial resources or legal assistance, it says before it references Proverbs 20:10 to stress that there will not be differing weights and differing measures. As the country has been embroiled in national unrest and protests in the months since the death of African American George Floyd in police custody on Memorial Day, West calls for reform to policing in a manner that treats all Americans the same no matter their race, color or ethnicity. Refocus police forces on real crime, the platform reads. Eliminate federal sentencing guidelines that tie the hands of judges, resulting in ridiculous sentences for the most minor offenses. The seventh item on Wests platform calls for the U.S. to take care of the environment by pursuing clean air and water initiatives as a national security priority. West wants to make renewable energy a top priority. He also calls for faith-based groups to be supported as they provide vital local services, giving communities a shared purpose in government. We will provide ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works, the platform reads, citing Hebrews 10:24. Finally, the platform states plainly that Creativity and the Arts can be an important source of innovation and development of other national strengths and resources. Although Wests platform does not specifically touch on the issue of abortion, the platforms title, Creating a Culture of Life," seems to borrow from the Catholic pro-life phrase "Culture of Life." The phrase indicates objection to the ending of life in the womb through abortion or at the end of life through euthanasia. The term is believed to have been introduced by St. John Paul II in the 1990s. Although West is most known for his rap songs, he has undergone a spiritual transformation in recent years as he has embraced Christ. He has even led a national Gospel tour that has taken him to preach about Jesus in prisons, youth conferences and megachurches. In an interview with Forbes in July, West said that God told him to run for president in 2020 and he urged President Donald Trump and Presumptive Democrat nominee Joe Biden to drop out of the race. He also floated the idea of selecting Michelle Tidball, an obscure preacher from Cody, Wyoming, as his running mate. Its Gods country, we are doing everything in service to God, nobody but God no more, he said. At his first campaign rally in July, West admitted that he wanted to abort his first child with Kim Kardashian West. However, his wife decided to keep the baby. He recalled for the audience in South Carolina that he was still living the rappers lifestyle when Kardashian West told him she was pregnant with their oldest child, North, who was is now seven years old. The couple talked about aborting the baby for about three months. His wife even had the abortion pills in her hand one point. Im in the apartment in Paris and I have my laptop up, and I have all my creative ideas and the screen went black and white, West recalled. And God said, If you f*** with my vision, Im gonna f*** with yours. Earlier in July, West slammed Planned Parenthood in his Forbes interview. He said that the abortion giant was created by "white supremacists to do the devil's work." I am pro-life because Im following the word of the Bible," he said. In an interview last year with Zane Lowe, he also discussed his spiritual transformation. "Now that Im in service to Christ, my job is to spread the Gospel, to let people know what Jesus has done for me. Ive spread a lot of things," he explained. "There was a time I was letting you know what high fashion had done for me. I was letting you know what the Hennessy had done for me. I was letting you know all these things, but now Im letting you know what Jesus has done for me, and in that Im no longer a slave; Im a son now, a son of God. Im free." In 2019, West released his Jesus is King album. We keep hearing that Joe Biden plans to contest Texas in November. If so, why did he nominate Senator Harris to be Vice President? As Beto O'Rourke learned, Texans cherish their 2nd Amendment. Again, why would you nominate a liberal senator saying this: Harris has been vocal about her stance on creating stricter gun laws. During her own presidential run, the California Democrat vowed to mandate customer background checks for any gun dealer who sells more than five firearms per year. Her other proposals included more regulations on gun manufacturers that could result in the revocation of licenses or prosecution and efforts to close the loophole that allows some domestic abusers to purchase guns if the victim is an unwedded partner. As I recall, she said something about giving the Congress 100 days to get serious or else President Harris would act. How does someone with that record help Biden in Texas? She does not, and my guess is that rural voters across the country, not just Texas, will rise up. Someone needs to ask Biden and Harris about the business owners who had to defend themselves against looters or rioters in the last weeks. Do those citizens have the right to defend themselves or their property? Did that couple in St. Louis have the right to show those guns against a mob in front of their home? Harriss anti-gun comments were pure hyperbole in front of liberal audiences that agree with her. She needs to be challenged now that she is speaking to a large portion of the country that does not vote in Democrat primaries. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Needpix Canadas federal Competition Bureau has launched a civil investigation into the practices adopted by global retail giant Amazon. The investigation was announced by the Gatineau, Quebec-based Bureau in a statement as it requested market participants to provide input to inform the probe into conduct by Amazon. The Bureau also noted that the probe was ongoing and there was no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time. The Bureau stated that it was looking into whether Amazon was engaging in conduct on its Canadian marketplace Amazon.ca, that is impacting competition to the detriment of consumers and companies that do business in Canada. The investigation is being conducted under restrictive trade provisions of the countrys Competition Act, with a focus on potential abuse of dominance. That is defined as occurring when a dominant firm in a market, or a dominant group of firms, engages in conduct that is intended to eliminate or discipline a competitor or to deter future entry by new competitors, with the result that competition is prevented or lessened substantially. Among the areas being considered under investigation by the Bureau are past and existing practises by Amazon that may impact third-party sellers willingness to offer their products for sale at a lower price on other retail channels, such as their own websites or other online marketplaces. It is also examining whether third-party sellers can succeed on Amazon Marketplace without using the Fulfilment by Amazon service or advertising on the website. Another aspect under the scanner is any efforts or strategies by Amazon that may influence consumers to purchase products it offers for sale over those offered by competing sellers. The Bureau pointed out that online shopping had increased over threefold in Canada between 2012 and 2018, from CA$ 18.9 billion to CA$ 57.4 billion. Amazon, obviously, has been among the prime destination for digital purchases during the boom, which has persisted through the period of restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Bureau is a Federal institution that serves as an independent law enforcement agency and ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has denied ever meeting Deputy Auditors-General of the Audit Service amid his claim that there is a seeming plot against the Acting Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu. Mr. Cudjoe had said about four or five senior Deputy Auditors-General were thinking about passing a vote of no confidence in Mr. Asiedu, who is acting in the stead of Daniel Domelevo, who is currently on a forced leave. Although the IMANI Africa President made no mention of a meeting with any Deputy Auditors-General when he made the claims, the Deputy Auditors-General issued a statement to Mr. Cudjoe asking him to within a week present details on who he met over the matter or apologise. However, in a counter-statement to respond to the issues raised by the Deputy Auditors-General, Mr. Cudjoe said he never said anywhere that I met with Deputy Auditors-General. The request therefore for details of the alleged meetings is not necessary as there never was, he added. The IMANI Africa boss also maintained that he had been consulted by an interlocutor of a number Assistant Auditors-General who made him aware of the silent uneasiness they feel working with the Acting Auditor-General because they think of him as a useful bendable tool in the hands of the Chairman of the Board for the Audit Service. According to him, he gave the contact details of his Senior Vice-President, Kofi Bentil to the interlocutor who had called several times and pleaded for a meeting on behalf of the Assistant Auditors-General and his outfit for more information for the advocacy. Franklin Cudjoe has therefore asked the general public to wait patiently for the outcome of the ensuing interactions. I wish the Deputy Auditors-General and all staff of the Audit Service the very best of luck as they struggle to feel fulfilled since it is obvious they have been cowed into subservience, an effect of which is the press statement I am replying to, reluctantly, Mr. Cudjoe concluded. ---citinewsroom Federal agents arrested a Maryland man who had been on the run for nearly two months after being accused of a deadly double shooting in Bergen County, authorities said. On Thursday, U.S. Marshals arrested Dwayne Redd Jr, 22, of Baltimore, Maryland in his home city, after a months-long manhunt sparked by his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting in Englewood, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a statement. The shooting outside a party in Englewood the night of June 20 left Douglas Perry, 43, dead and a 29-year-old man injured. Redd was being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center, pending his extradition on charges of murder, attempted murder and weapons offenses, the statement said. Redd was one of three men charged for the fatal shooting late last month, but had managed to elude capture in Maryland. Previously arrested for the shooting were Dejuan Stokes, 23, of Randallstown, Maryland, and Jamal Robinson, 44, of Englewood. In addition to announcing Redds capture, Musella also announced additional weapons charges for Robinson and the Wednesday arrest of Deidre A. Adebiyi, 42, on one count of possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine. Adebiyi, of Englewood, was issued a summons and released, the statement said. In 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a measure into law that banned magazines with more than 10 rounds. Dejuan Stokes, left, of Randallstown, Maryland, and Jamal Robinson, of Englewood, New Jersey.(Police photos) The web of arrests grows out of the early morning shooting on 2nd Street in late June and the alleged plan to dispatch Perry that hatched hours before. At 1:09 a.m. June 20, Englewood Police responded to 2nd Street on a report of shots fired, according to an arrest affidavit for Robinson. When officers arrived, they found Perry and the unnamed 29-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said. The scene was littered with .40 caliber and 9mm shell casings and several cars were hit by bullets, the affidavit said. Officers found people in the street who had been at a gathering at a home on 2nd Street, the Prosecutors Office said. While the 29-year-old was rushed to the hospital and ultimately survived, Perry was pronounced dead at the scene. By looking through surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses, investigators discovered that two shooters with handguns had killed Perry and injured the 29-year-old, according to the affidavit. One of the handguns had a green laser attached to it during the shooting, the affidavit said. Using surveillance footage, toll records for the New Jersey Turnpike, license plate readers and social media, investigators traced Stokes and Redd to the alleged getaway car used after the shooting, the affidavit said. Days after Stokes was arrested in Baltimore, Redd was involved in a car crash driving the Honda identified as the alleged getaway car for him and Stokes, the affidavit said. Using cell phone call and ping information, investigators found that both Stokes and Redd drove to Englewood on June 19, 2020, the day before the fatal shooting. At around 10 p.m. June 19, hours before the shooting, Robinson was seen meeting with Stokes and Redd near Waldo Place, according to surveillance footage cited in the affidavit. Around 20 minutes before Perry was shot and killed, Robinson left Waldo Place and went to the 2nd Street gathering where the shooting occurred, the affidavit said. According to the affidavit, Robinson texted Perry around that time, trying to get him to come to the 2nd Street gathering. Robinson allegedly initially told police that he approached Perrys body shortly after he was killed, but did not touch him. In a later interview with police, Robinson changed his story and admitted to police that he took money from Perrys pockets and that he is Stokes cousin. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Lukashenko hinted at a "military component" when elaborating on details of his conversation with Putin. President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has revealed details of his phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin held earlier today, August 15. "When it comes to the military component, we have an agreement with the Russian Federation within the framework of the Union State and the CSTO. These are the points that fit the deal. Therefore, today I had a long, detailed conversation with the President of Russia about the situation. I must say I was even somewhat surprised he is absolutely aware of what is happening," the Belarusian leader noted, according to BelTA. "And we [Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin] agreed: at our very first request, comprehensive assistance will be provided to ensure the security of the Republic of Belarus," said Alexander Lukashenko. Earlier at the same meeting, Lukashenko said he did not need any foreign mediators to resolve the crisis, BelTA reported. Read alsoEU does not recognize Belarus election resultsThe statement came following the proposal by presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to help restore dialog with the people toward a peaceful settlement of the ongoing unrest. Lukashenko claims protests are being inspired from outside Belarus, hinting at a "color revolution" plot. Belarus protests: developments Following the presidential election held on August 9 and release of official exit polls claiming overwhelming win of incumbent President Lukashenko (with 80% against opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's 10%), thousands took to the streets of capital Minsk and other cities contesting what many believe is a rigged vote count. Belarus government went for a hard crackdown on protesters, detaining thousands, of whom many are reported to have been badly beaten and injured while in police custody. Workers at major industrial enterprises have joined the call for "fair election" and massively went on strike. Olivia Chan's father helps her with a new mask she received during a graduation ceremony for her Pre-K class in front of Bradford School in Jersey City, N.J. on June 10, 2020. (Seth Wenig/AP) From Masks to Cohorting, a Guide to Back-to-School Rules Across the Country Plans are being made across the country for how to safely send students back to school in the fall as the COVID19 pandemic continues. Here is a look at what the various provinces have said about getting kids back to classes. British Columbia British Columbia has laid out its plan for studies to resume in learning groups this fall. School districts are to post final backtoschool details online by August 26. Back to class: Schools were initially scheduled to welcome students back full time on September 8, but the province announced it is pushing back the restart date by two days to September 10. Groups: Students will be sorted into learning groups to reduce the number of people they come in contact with. For elementary and middle school students, groups will be no larger than 60 people. Secondary school groups will be capped at 120. Physical distancing: Students and staff dont need to maintain physical distancing within their learning group, but contact should be minimized. Outside the group, physical distancing is required. Students should be more spaced out in classrooms. Masks: Students and staff will not be required to wear masks in schools, but the province says its a personal choice that will always be respected. It says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recommends nonmedical masks be worn by adults and older students when they are unable to physically distance like in hallways and on buses. New routines: The province is urging schools to stagger recess, lunch, and class transition times and take students outside whenever possible. Transportation: Middle and high school students are asked to wear masks on buses. Students should be assigned seats, and a transparent barrier may be used to separate the driver. Alberta The province is planning to fully reopen schools from kindergarten to Grade 12 this fall. Measures will be tightened if an outbreak occurs and class sizes could be reduced to 20. Back to class: School will be back in session with extra safety measures, but the province says there are programs to support remote and alternative learning. Groups: Schools should sort students into cohorts by class when possible to minimize contact with others. Physical distancing: Physical distancing is recommended when possible. Rooms should be rearranged to increase space between desks. Masks: Masks will be mandatory for staff and many students in some school settings. Students in Grades 4 to 12 must wear masks in all common areas, such as hallways and on buses. Staff are required to wear masks whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained. Mask use will be optional for kids in kindergarten through Grade 3. The government says all students and staff will receive two reusable masks as part of the policy. Transportation: Parents are asked to bring their children to school if they can. Students who take the bus will sit in the same seat every day. New routines: Schools are advised to consider a no sharing policy, with each student bringing their own supplies. Class, lunch, and recess schedules will be staggered. Saskatchewan Saskatchewan first unveiled a set of backtoschool guidelines in June, but released more details August 4. Back to class: Students will return to class as early as September 1. Groups: Groups of students and staff members assigned to them should stick together throughout the day and try not to mingle with other groups. Schools should aim to minimize the number of different instructors who interact with students throughout the day. Physical distancing: Officials say maintaining physical distance is less practical for younger children, and the focus should be on limiting physical contact. Officials suggest limiting hugs and hand holding and suggest using alternative greetings such as air high fives. Schools are also to have dedicated quarantine areas where symptomatic students can go before they are picked up by parents. Masks: The province says its up to school boards to decide whether to make masks mandatory for students and staff. The chief medical health officer advises Grade 4 to 12 students should wear them in busy areas such as hallways and on buses. Transportation: Parents should take their kids to school when possible, and pickup and dropoffs should happen outside. Students using school transportation should be assigned seats, and a partition may be used to separate the driver. New routines: Start times, recess, lunch, and class transitions may be staggered to allow for more space for physical distancing. Schools should rearrange their classrooms to space out students. Students and staff are asked to bring hand sanitizer. Manitoba The Manitoba government says students are going back to the classroom on September 8 with new guidelines. Back to class: All students from kindergarten to Grade 8 are to have inclass instruction five days a week. High school students will also be in class full time, however, there may be some days of remote learning. Groups: When physical distancing isnt possible, students will have to be organized into cohorts of no more than 75, and minimize contact with others. In these cases, there must be at least one metre between their desks. Physical distancing: The province says students are required to maintain a twometre distance to the greatest extent possible. When it isnt possible, physical barriers may be an option. Spaces should be arranged to encourage separation. Masks: Masks are strongly recommended for students in Grades 5 to 12. They are required when taking the bus. Transportation: Masks are required for students Grade 5 and up, as well as drivers, on buses. Parents are encouraged to transport their children to school if they can. New routines: Lunch and recess are to be staggered to minimize congestion, and in many cases teachers will change classrooms instead of students. Ontario Ontario students will be back in class September, but their schedules and class sizes may vary depending on where they live. Back to class: Elementary students and many high schoolers will be in school five days a week in standard class sizes. However, secondary students at two dozen boards that are higher risk will only attend class half the time, and will spend the rest of the week working on curriculumlinked independent work. Parents will also have the option to keep their kids out of class, and boards must provide options for remote learning. Groups: For high schoolers in highrisk districts, class sizes will be capped at 15. Meanwhile, elementary students wont be broken up into smaller groups, but will be grouped into cohorts and their exposure to different teachers will be limited. Physical distancing: While Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the aim is to keep students one metre apart from each other, a guidance document says only that schools should promote as much distancing as possible rather than being strictly enforced. Masks: Masks will be mandatory for students in Grades 4 through 12, and will be strongly encouraged for younger kids when theyre in indoor common areas. Staff will be expected to wear masks. Transportation: Some school boards may have more than one student assigned to a seat. When physical distancing isnt possible, masks will be mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 12, and younger students will be encouraged but not required to do the same. New routines: Students in some districts will have to preregister for inperson schooling. Some schools may limit or even ban visitors, including parents. Breaks will be scheduled to allow students to wash their hands. Quebec All elementary and high school students in Quebec will be required to attend class in September unless they have a doctors note indicating theyre at high risk of COVID19 complications or they live with someone at risk. Those students will be allowed to study remotely. Back to class: Class attendance is mandatory for elementary and high school students. For Grades 10 and 11, schools have the option of alternating schedules where students attend one day out of every twoas long as schools cannot maintain stable classroom bubbles. Grade 10 and 11 students are encouraged to attend classes as much as possible. Groups: Each classroom will be its own bubble and students will not be required to maintain a twometre distance between classmates. Physical distancing: Students will need to keep a twometre distance from all school staff, as well as all other students outside their classroom bubble. There are no physical distancing requirements for children or teachers in preschool. Masks: All students in Grade 5 and upas well as all school staffmust wear a mask inside all common areas of the school except the classroom. Masks can also be removed when students are eating. Transportation: No more than 48 students will be allowed on a school bus, with no more than two students sitting on the same bench. Preschool and elementary school students are strongly encouraged to wear masks, while older students are required to wear them. New routines: When schools return in the fall, teachers will move from classroom to classroom, but students will stay put. Backup plans: In the event of an outbreak in one class, the entire classroom bubble will be sent home to continue studies remotely. Authorities are also putting together an emergency protocol in the event of a second wave to ensure instruction continues online if entire schools are again forced to close. Ideas include quickly distributing tablets or laptops to students needing them and establishing a digital platform to continue courses and maintain communication. New Brunswick The province has outlined a set of requirements schools must follow in developing their plans for the fall. Back to class: Students in kindergarten to Grade 8 are to attend school full time, while those in Grades 9 to 12 are to be taught using a combination of inclass and remote instruction. Athome course work can include online learning, guided projects, and experiential education. Groups: For kindergarten through Grade 2, group sizes will be reduced to about 15, wherever possible. Group sizes should also be shrunk for Grades 3 to 5. Grades 6 to 8 will resume at regular class sizes. Students in Grades 9 to 12 will not be grouped because of their schedules and course options. Physical distance: Grade 9 to 12 classrooms are required to maintain a onemetre distance, while a twometre distance is recommended in common areas at all grade levels. Masks: All students will be required to bring a mask to school, but masks will not be mandatory inside the classroom. Students in Grade 612 must wear masks on the school bus and in common areas of school buildings, while children in kindergarten to Grade 5 are encouraged to do so. Teachers for kindergarten to Grade 8 can choose whether they want to wear a mask or shield in the classroom while teachers for Grades 912 will be required to wear one when they cannot physically distance from students. Transportation: Curtains will be installed inside school buses to separate drivers from students. If physical distancing is not possible, drivers will be required to wear a mask or face shield. Students must sit in the same seat every day. Students in kindergarten to Grade 5 will sit alone or with a member of their household. Students in Grades 612 wearing masks will sit two to a seat, and if they are sitting alone or with a member of their household, they do not have to wear a mask. New routines: Arrivals, breaks, and lunches are to be staggered. Public access to school buildings will be limited, and students, staff, and visitors may also be subject to screening. High school students will be expected to have their own laptop or similar device, and some subsidies will be available. Drinking fountains will be replaced with water bottlefilling stations. Prince Edward Island Schools on the Island are preparing to welcome all students back to class, while drafting backup plans for remote studies if required. Back to class: Schools are to reopen for teachers and staff on September 1 and for students on September 8. Groups: Students will be organized into cohorts when possible and limit their exposure to others. Physical distancing: Students will be taught about the importance of physical distancing, and extra teaching and cleaning staff may be hired. Schools are also asked to reduce class sizes as much as possible, reconfigure classrooms and make use of spaces such as libraries and multipurpose rooms. Masks: The province says all staff and students in Grades 712 are strongly recommended to wear masks when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Students from kindergarten through Grade 6 may wear masks when physical distancing is impossible. Staff interacting with children who have complex medical needs are strongly recommended to wear face shields and gloves. Transportation: Parents are asked to take their kids to school whenever possible. To reduce the number of riders on buses, schools may add vehicles and routes or implement walktoschool programs. It is strongly recommended that all students and drivers wear masks on the bus. New routines: P.E.I. education authorities are revising curricula for this school year to make up for learning gaps caused by lockdown constraints. Schools will stagger schedules to minimize congestion. The provincial school food program will be expanded next year in keeping with public health precautions. Elementary school students will stay in their classrooms for lunch. Nova Scotia Education Minister Zach Churchill says the provinces objective is for schools to return to 100 percent capacity in the fall, but its plan includes measures to address the possible onset of a second wave of COVID19. Back to class: The province aims to have all elementary and high school students in classrooms by September 8. Groups: Students will be asked to keep to cohorts. Physical distancing: Students and staff will be encouraged to maintain a twometre distance whenever possible. Lecture rooms will be reorganized to increase space between desks. Masks: All students in grades 4 to 12 will be required to wear a mask inside schools except when seated at desks that are two metres apart and facing the same direction. Masks must be worn in hallways and other common areas if a twometre distance cannot be maintained. All students and staff will receive two free cloth masks. Disposable masks will be available if a student loses theirs or comes to school without one. Transportation: Students who take the school bus will be required to wear nonmedical masks. New routines: Only students and staff will be permitted to enter school buildings. When possible, teachers will be asked to move their classes outdoors. Students will be asked to bring their own computers to school, and the province says it has acquired an additional 14,000 devices for those with limited access to technology. The ventilation systems of each school will be assessed to ensure the equipment is operating properly. Backup plans: If a COVID19 outbreak occurs during the academic year, schools will move to a blended learning model with smaller class sizes and home learning for older students. Newfoundland and Labrador The provinces backtoschool plan aims to maximize inclass attendance with the option of a return to remote learning if the COVID19 risk increases. Back to class: The provinces plan outlines three scenariosinclass instruction, remote learning, or a combination of both, depending on the COVID19 risk in a particular community. Groups: Cohorting by class is recommended when its feasible, but students schedules shouldnt be disrupted to support smaller groupings. Physical distancing: Schools should aim to create a twometre distance between desks, or as much distance as possible. However, provincial authorities say these precautions should not interfere with the daily school routine, and strict physical distancing should not be overemphasized to children, because it is not practical and can cause psychological harm. Masks: The province does not recommend masks for children, but says their use should not be stigmatized for those that choose to wear them. Staff will not be required to wear masks if physical distancing is possible. Transportation: It will be up to school districts to determine their transportation operations, considering precautions such as assigning seats and separating the driver with a physical divider. New routines: All students must bring their own supplies in keeping with a no sharing policy. Backup plans: In the event of moderatetowidespread transmission of COVID19, school districts will move to online learning. Classroom attendance should be limited to about 50 percent when the COVID19 risk in a community is considered low to moderate. Newfoundland and Labrador says it will spend $20 million to purchase laptops for teachers and students in Grades 7 through 12 to support remote learning. Yukon The territorial government says its making plans for the next school year that include flexibility around the number of students in classes if theres a second wave of COVID19 or increased risk of transmission. It says each school will determine how it will adjust its operations to meet those guidelines, and school principals and staff are expected to share that information prior to September. Back to class: Preliminary plans indicate that in rural communities, all students will return to school full time. In Whitehorse, however, kids in kindergarten through Grade 9 will return to fullday inschool instruction, while Grades 10 to 12 will spend half their day in the classroom, and the rest learning remotely. Groups: Class sizes may be smaller to meet safety restrictions. Masks: Wearing masks is a personal choice. Transportation: Bus school and schedules will be posted to the territorys website. New routines: Schedule shakeups may mean that some students wont have their regular teacher or the same classmates. School meal programs may be adapted with new safety measures and pickup options. Backup plans: The territory has outlined a spectrum of school options if the risk to the community increases, ranging from rotating schedules to suspension of facetoface learning. Northwest Territories All N.W.T. schools have submitted plans to reopen their doors this fall. The territory says education authorities are taking a flexible approach in their planning to account for a potential second wave of COVID19 in the fall. Back to class: While plans will vary from school to school, the territory will offer inperson instruction whenever possible, while ensuring alternative options are available. Groups: Students in kindergarten through Grade 6 will be in classroom bubbles, and wont have to practice physical distancing within these groups. Physical distancing: For Grades 7 to 9, students are asked to maintain a onemetre distance from each other, and twometre distance from staff. Grade 10 to 12 students are asked to allow for two metres of distance from their peers and instructors. Masks: Students of all ages may be required to wear masks in situations where physical distance cannot be practiced, such as moving through the hallways. Transportation: There may be changes to bus schedules, and all riders will be required to wear masks. New routines: More time will be spent learning outside. School hours and schedules may also look different. Students are asked to label personal items and not share. Backup plans: The territory says schools are preparing to shift between inperson, distance, and blended learning at short notice should there become active COVID19 cases. Nunavut The territory has released a fourstage plan for reopening schools based on the risk of the novel coronavirus in a community. Back to class: There are no reported COVID19 cases in Nunavut, so all schools are set to reopen this fall with enhanced cleaning and safety precautions. Groups: It is recommended that schools cohort students by class and limit mixing as much as possible. Physical distancing: Distance requirements will depend on what stage a community is in, and will primarily be achieved by limiting school attendance. Masks: In most cases, the use of masks is not recommended for children. If there are exceptions, parents will be notified, and masks will be provided. Transportation: As it stands, bus schedules are set to resume. Students older than 13 may be required to wear masks. New routines: Group activities will be limited. Students wont be allowed to share food in lunchrooms. Backup plans: The territory says schools could go parttime if contact tracing were to identify a possible source of COVID19. All schools would be closed if community transmission were to take place. Since the Memorial Day murder of George Floyd by four officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, police across the US have carried out a brutal authoritarian crackdown on the popular protests against police brutality. Emboldened by the Trump administrations law-and-order stance, police have adopted the methods typical of the authoritarian regimes and military juntas backed by American imperialism. Since the initial outbreak of the protests, police have used less lethal rounds to blind protesters, rammed their vehicles into groups of protesters, assaulted and arrested journalistsincluding those from major news networkswithout cause, abducted protesters in unmarked vans, and held and interrogated them without charge. The sheer brutality with which they have carried out these actions, in many cases documented over social media and viewed by millions, has reached new levels in the course of these protests. Mass popular protests have done nothing to slow down the police forces which operate as death squads in urban and rural areas alike with nearly complete impunity. According to killedbypolice.net, which catalogues police killings in the US, at least 150 people have been killed in confrontations with police since the murder of Floyd. The Trump administration presents an upside-down version of events in which the police violence is a justifiable response to the terrorism and anarchism of protesters who have directly attacked police. In reality the worst offenses of the protesters seldom go beyond vandalism and property damage, and on this point evidence has emerged that it was the police themselves or right-wing provocateurs who were responsible. In one incident shortly after the protests first emerged in Minneapolis, video emerged of a provocateur dressed in all black smashing the windows of an AutoZone. As protesters confronted him, he refused to identify himself and continued breaking windows before walking away. The vandalizing of the AutoZone was quickly picked up on by the media and used to demonize the protests. Last month the person was identified by police as a 32-year-old member of the Aryan Cowboy Brotherhood, a white supremacist organization associated with the Hells Angels biker gang. Scenes like this have been reported across the country. Police were filmed breaking the glass door of a Target in Seattle. In Chicago, police were filmed breaking the car windows of suspected looters. In Fargo, North Dakota an assistant police chief resigned after being recognized by protesters in plain clothes at a demonstration drinking beer and shouting fk the police. In each case, the respective police departments have done everything in their power to maintain a plausible deniability. However, there is no doubt that police engage in the regular practice of sending plain-clothes officers as agents provocateur and infiltrators in popular protests. The use of these tactics to spy on and control protests constitutes a fundamental attack on democratic rights. A recent legal analysis by the liberal Brennan Center notes some of the implications of police infiltration: Police infiltration of protests also has a chilling effect on protesters First Amendment rights. Fear of plainclothes police joining protests to surveil activists, the danger to undocumented immigrants of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers attendance at protests, the presence of agents-provocateur, and the resulting distrust of ones fellow protesters all discourage would-be marchers from participating. The reality of police infiltration of protests throughout the US, although not a new phenomenon, has a renewed significance at a time when democratic rights and norms are stretched to the point of breaking. The fundamental democratic rights enshrined in the Constitution have been chipped away over the last several decades by Democratic and Republican administrations alike. The Eighth Amendment prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment has been a dead letter at least since the legitimization of torture during the War on Terror, a policy which was initiated by Bush and continued by Obama. The Supreme Court ruled in June that asylum seekers have no right to habeas corpus under a provision of Clintons 1996 immigration act. The abduction of protesters without formal charge by unidentified agents, which first emerged as a practice of federal troops in Portland last month and soon after taken up by police in New York City is a clear violation of 4th amendment rights. The US is in an unprecedented social and economic crisis, and it is in this context that Trump made his coup attempt in June with the protests as a pretext and is continuing to plot against the Constitution. The ruling class response to the coronavirus has been to bailout Wall Street on a scale far greater than that of 2008. To make good on this, the ruling class sees it as necessary to abrogate democratic rights in order to force the weight of the bailout onto the backs of the working class. The worst crimes of the Trump administration are accepted by the Democratic Party as necessary to ensure the protection of the financial elite. Former Vice President Joe Biden, for his part, has responded to the protests against police violence by calling for the most inconsequential police reformin his words, [teach] a cop to shoot him in the leg instead of in the heartand by selecting Senator Kamala Harris, an ex-prosecutor with a long and proven record of supporting police and prisons and of prosecuting workers, as his running mate. In the last four years of the Trump administration, the criticism by the Democrats has not once centered on questions of democratic rights. Instead their objections have been focused entirely on allegations of Trumps closeness with Russia, and with issues of race. Capitalism has decayed to a point where it is no longer compatible with the gains made in the democratic revolutions during the 18th and 19th century. The defense of democratic rights and the fight to end police violence now falls to the working class. For decades, politicians and talk-radio hosts have used a convenient shortcut to establish credibility with right-wing voters: beat up on government. If the public sector touches a task, they imply, it's going to go bad. It's a cheap applause line, but it flies in the face of my own steady experience with our community's most visible representative of the U.S. government: my neighborhood's mail carrier. If you ask me, the Postal Service does a darn good job, a lot more efficiently and dependably than most for-profit enterprises. What private business serves every household in ever corner of the nation six days a week, from midtown Manhattan to Utqiagvik, Alaska, with uniform rates? And the Postal Service operates with a hand tied behind its back: What other public service must compete with the private sector without being allowed to set competitive rates, or abandon inefficient territories, or jettison costly accounting practices? Americans have taken the mail for granted for most of our history, and nobody would be thinking much about it now if it weren't coming under senseless assault by President Donald Trump, with results that could weaken our democracy. The president has a lot of gripes about the Postal Service beyond his claque's knee-jerk government-is-bad mantra. He wants it to turn a profit, a standard that we don't apply to other essential services. Do police departments makes money? Or schools? Does the U.S. Army? He's mad that it does "last-mile" delivery for Amazon, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post part of the "fake news" ecosystem, Trump would say. The Postal Service, by the way, legitimately makes money from its deal with Amazon, which is more than you can say for a lot of Trump's own business ventures. And, of course, the Post publishes the truth every day, which is well, you get the picture. Now Trump has installed as Postmaster General a big campaign donor, Louis DeJoy, who has taken steps to slow mail delivery ordering that post offices let mail pile up overnight and remove some equipment used to speed sorting. At the same time, the White House is blocking Democrats' pleas for funding that the Postal Service desperately needs. The president has been candid about why: If post offices get more funds, they'll be able to handle an expected flood of mail-in ballots in the fall. Trump hates that idea. "They need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots," Trump told Fox News this week. "If we don't make a deal, that means they don't get the money." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. With an eye to lessening the chance of COVID-19 transmission, a lot of states are encouraging voters to mail in ballots rather than go to the polls in person. A new survey shows that Democratic-leaning voters are three times more likely to vote by mail than Trump supporters, no doubt because Trump has been relentlessly pushing the false claim that mailed ballots are more susceptible to fraud. There is no evidence in our history to support his claim. But there's a risk to Trump's approach. His supporters skew older than the overall voting population, and older people are more vulnerable to COVID-19. By discouraging mail-in voting, Trump will force his backers to show up in person to vote at fire stations, schools and church basements. With the president still avoiding an aggressive federal attack on the coronavirus, there's little indication those places will be any safer in November than they are now. Lay aside, though, the raw political motivation for slowing the mail. Consider what else the Postal Service does. Every day, carriers deliver prescriptions to 330,000 military veterans. Even in wartime, messages from home and absentee ballots are delivered to troops deployed abroad. Mail gets to isolated places even by parachute and in bags hauled by mules. Because the Postal Service photographs every piece of mail, it is an essential tool of law enforcement. We have watched Donald Trump try mightily to turn respected institutions of government into political tools. He has all but destroyed the independence of the Justice Department, the diplomatic corps, inspectors general of federal agencies and the Food and Drug Administration. As he takes the same partisan ax to the post office, he risks the effectiveness of what polls show is the public's favorite federal agency. My dog was barking as I began writing this column, probably a sign that our mail carrier was tossing him a treat. My nonpartisan pup loves seeing the red, white and blue delivery van. He has no idea that even this trusted realm of our government is being corrupted by Donald Trump. 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 A Longford law firm has joined Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty in publicly rebuking insinuations its offices were searched by Criminal Assets Bureau officials in recent days. John J Quinn & Co Solicitors has expressed its dismay over allegations which emerged on social media in recent days which alleged it was one of a number of businesses and individuals to have been visited by the State law enforcement agency into an ongoing probe concerning organised crime in the county. In a statement posted on its own Facebook page, the company roundly dismissed the allegations as being unfounded and without foundation. "It has come to our attention that there is presently a blatantly untrue allegation being promoted across social media that our office was recently 'raided by CAB'. "This allegation is without merit, entirely fabricated and untrue," read the statement. The local solicitors firm's decision to come out and rubbish the claims follow Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty's similar attempts to draw a line under the controversy. ALSO READ: Longford-Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty slams 'blatantly untrue' CAB raid claims Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Flaherty said the allegations are part of a sustained campaign against him which is clear designed to discredit him. I have not, now or ever been raided by CAB, either at my office or family home. Nor have I had any engagement at any level with the anti crime agency, the Longford-Westmeath TD said. I accept in the course of my political work that I am open to public scrutiny but I cannot stand by and allow my name to be defamed and my family to be abused and insulted, he added. It was previously revealed, Mr Flaherty wrote a letter to a court on behalf of three men whose homes were subsequently raided as part of a major CAB investigation. He described the three brothers as "extremely capable, very sharp and more than familiar with hard work" in a letter submitted during a trial for violent disorder which was sent before the CAB investigation emerged. Mr Flaherty said he deeply regret sending the letter. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) again broke out of the Republican pack Friday to challenge President Donald Trumps insistence that mail-in ballots in this election are rigged even before a single vote has been cast. I dont know of any evidence that voting by mail would increase voter fraud, Romney responded when asked about the issue during an interview with the Sutherland Institute think tank. He insisted its essential that Americans right to vote be protected. Thats more important than even the outcome of the vote, Romney said. We have got to preserve the principle of democracy, or the trend were on is going to continue to get worse. When politicians attack a judicial system, attack a voting system ... attack a free press, these things threaten the foundation upon which not only our own democracy rests but democracies around the world rest, Romney noted without mentioning Trumps name. Trump has come under attack by Democrats and voting rights advocates for blasting mail-in voting even as millions of Americans prepare to send in ballots to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission at polling stations. He and first lady Melania Trump just requested their own mail-in ballots for Tuesdays Republican primary in Florida. Critics are now accusing Trump and his recently handpicked postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, of deliberately sabotaging the U.S. Postal Service to increase the risk that mailed-in ballots wont be delivered in time to be counted or that the mail-in voting is such a mess that Trump will have an excuse to challenge a loss. DeJoy has halted letter-carrier overtime and extended mail delivery. Now letter collection boxes are being taken out in some communities and some mail-sorting machines are being removed at postal processing facilities. Even as DeJoy began making changes that impede the USPS process for speedy mail delivery, 46 states were warned in a letter from the Postal Service that... Continue reading on HuffPost Last updated on August 11 at 12 p.m. EST. It took a couple months and a few tweaks in the delivery system, but by June, most eligible Americans had received a one-time stimulus check from the Treasury Department of up to $1,200 to spend or save as they wished. What the current presidential administration didn't count on despite weeks of warnings from public-health experts was that a summer surge of coronavirus cases across the country would lead to renewed shutdowns in the lifestyle and hospitality sectors and overwhelming need for another round of relief. FLORIDA MILLIONAIRE MYSTERY: $100K reward for info on 'Tiger King' star's former husband So as $600-per-week in additional unemployment benefits expire on July 31 and the Paycheck Protection Program continues to come under scrutiny for failing to serve its stated purpose (i.e. bridging true small businesses through this time), Congress has set about finalizing a new $1 trillion sequel to its initial $2 trillion CARES Act. The details are being fine-tuned as we speak, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin while insisting any extension of unemployment benefits will emphasize rewards for returning to work over payments that rival or exceed an average worker's wages has pledged that another wave of no-strings-attached, one-time stimulus checks will make their way into millions of checking accounts. But when? On HoustonChronicle.com: See if your Houston-area neighborhood is at risk of flooding As of now, Mnuchin foresees the cash finding its way to folks' wallets very soon. As reported by AP, Mnuchin announced this past weekend, Well get the majority of them out in August and those will help people." That is, of course, predicated on the latest CARES package passing smoothly and expeditiously prior to the Senate's upcoming August recess. But given the precarious state of the economy and the inevitability of more modest unemployment payments, it behooves everyone to ensure their up-to-date tax filings are on record with the IRS. You can do so via this online tool, and we will keep you posted as more information is made available. Update: After this article went to press, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) shared the outline of his party's proposed $1 trillion HEALS Act. A key piece of it is Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley's (R-Iowa) American Workers, Employees, and Families Assistance Act, confirming a second round of checks and direct deposits up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 households, with an additional $500 per eligible dependent to American households. We will continue to update this story as specifics on delivery of payments becomes available. Update: On August 8, President Trump signed executive orders detailing plans to extend unemployment benefits and eviction moratoriums, among other relief measures. While it remains unclear whether those orders will translate to concrete rule of law, they did not address assurances of a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks. That is because the original authorization for the first round of checks has long since expired, and entirely new legislation would need to be enacted by Congress to trigger a renewed one-time payment. Meanwhile, those anxious for clarity on the matter can at least brush up on whether they'd qualify for the $1,200 infusion. Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com Seoul, Aug 15 : South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Saturday that his government was ready to sit face-to-face with Japan to resolve a long-drawn-out issue of forced labour during World War II. "Our government is ready to sit face-to-face with the Japanese government at any time," Moon said in a televised address to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. "The government respects the judiciary's ruling, and has consulted with Japan's government on a smooth resolution, to which the (South Korean) victims can agree," Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying. Moon noted that South Korea currently left the door of consultations with Japan "wide open" over the forced labor issue. Four South Korean victims, who were forced into heavy labour without pay during the colonial era, field a damages lawsuit in 2005 against a Japanese steelmaker. Among the four victims, Lee Chun-sik is the only surviving plaintiff. It was followed by other wartime forced labour victims and their families lodging compensation suits against Japanese companies. South Korea's Supreme Court delivered a ruling in 2018 that ordered some of Japanese companies to pay reparation to the victims. Japan has claimed that all colonial-era issues were settled through a 1965 bilateral treaty that normalized diplomatic relations between the two countries, but the South Korean top court ruled that the state-to-state deal did not involve individuals' right to reparation. Referring to the surviving plaintiff, Moon said: "We will confirm the fact that protecting the dignity of an individual will never be a loss to the country." In an apparent protest against the top court's ruling, Japan tightened control in July last year over its export of three materials vital to producing memory chips and display panels that are the mainstay of South Korea's export. In August 2019, Japan dropped South Korea off its whitelist of trusted trading partners that are given preferential export procedure. In response, Seoul removed Tokyo from its whitelist of trusted export partners. Within a day of Joe Biden choosing his running mate, it almost became a campaign slogan: Its comma-la. Newspapers swiped the headline. Political commentators tittered. But for people who have long suffered mangled pronunciations of their names, Kamala Harris efforts to educate the public strikes a chord. In the preface of her memoir, The Truths We Hold, Harris whose mother was an immigrant from India and father is an immigrant from Jamaica educates the reader about her name. First, my name is pronounced comma-la, like the punctuation mark. It means lotus flower, which is a symbol of significance in Indian culture, Harris wrote. Though the name contains just six letters in all, getting ones tongue around it has eluded many people, particularly her opponents. Some seem to botch it innocently, others intentionally put the stress on the wrong syllable. On Tuesday, Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson objected to being corrected on how to properly pronounce Harris first name. So what? he replied. So Im disrespecting her by mispronouncing her name unintentionally. So it begins. Youre not allowed to criticize Ka-MAH-la Harris, or CAM-ala Harris, or whatever. Carlson exhibited what many people of color and immigrants have long-understood exists in the United States: That some people not only refuse to acknowledge ones cultural identity, but they disregard their culture entirely, thereby othering them as not belonging in American society, said Nicole Holliday, an assistant professor of sociolinguistics at the University of Pennsylvania. Holliday, who has been working on a research paper on Harris sociolinguistic style, told The Chronicle that Harris is largely walking in the same footsteps that former President Barack Obama did ahead of his nomination, and throughout his presidency. Obama and Harris have both been targeted by President Trump with the same false, racist conspiracy theory that they were not eligible to run for office. Both are eligible. And they both share names that dont fit into the European language that Americans have been primed for, Holliday said. There are some people that get the default assumption of basic respect, and sort of basic benefit of the doubt. I like the example of Pete Buttigieg, Holliday said, referring to a former Democratic presidential hopeful whose name was also mispronounced for a period of time. People learned to say Buttigieg. It was a thing for like five minutes. He made a T-shirt, and that was it. I think shes gonna have a much more uphill battle on people getting her name right, and that is tied to the fact that people dont necessarily want to give her the benefit of the doubt. Even people who agree with her policies, even people who plan to vote for Biden, might still harbor some of that internalized negative ideologies about women, about immigrants, about Black people that she has to overcome. The way people butcher Harris name is an example of the United States deep-rooted, more sinister way of scrutinizing women of color, and of refusing to provide the minimum respect to those who are considered to be foreign, and therefore scary, Holliday said. Now Playing: Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. The Oakland native is the first Black woman and first person of South Asian American descent to be nominated for national office by a major party. See highlights from her barrier-breaking career. Video: San Francisco Chronicle Names have power, so when you take peoples names away, or when you intentionally get them wrong, it does serve to disempower them, Holliday said. Robert Goldman, a Sanskrit professor in the South and Southeast Asian Studies department at UC Berkeley, told The Chronicle that Kamala can be difficult for some English speakers because they naturally want to put the stress on the wrong syllable. He said one- or two-syllable Sanskrit names typically dont tongue-twist English speakers, but said, You start to run into a little bit of an issue with three-syllable names. Kamala, he said, happens to be one of those three-syllable names. While Goldman said he understands it is a struggle for some English speakers to grasp the right pronunciation, he said there are probably more prejudicial reasons for some peoples mispronunciation. Tucker Carlson mispronounced her name rather aggressively on Fox News the other day. When he was corrected, he said, who cares? So thats that way of sort of insulting someone with a foreign name, you know, by calling it out as sort of anti-immigrant, Goldman said. Some people will not just innocently, but aggressively, mispronounce a name wrong as a kind of racist thing. He said the conversation around Harris name is just another example of anti-immigrant rhetoric used against people of color, particularly politicians of color. He pointed to Trumps comments against four Democratic congresswomen of color to go back to the broken and crime infested places from which they came. All four women are U.S. citizens, three were born in the United States, and one, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, is a refugee from Somalia. Like theyre not really American. We went through this whole thing with Obama, right? Goldman said, referring to Trumps repeated false claims that Obama was not born in the United States, and the focus on his middle name. There was the whole stress on the name, Barack Hussein Obama. Thats what I would call the offensive use of these names. To accentuate his non-belonging-ness. 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. Sanjay Puri, the founder of the United States-India Political Action Committee, told The Chronicle that pronouncing someones name correctly is basic respect. He said American society is the worst at taking the time to acknowledge the pronunciation of someones name, but said he hopes people will at least make an honest attempt at getting it right. Its important because sometimes names do have a lot of meaning, Puri said, pointing to Harris first name. I do understand that people can make mistakes, but make a genuine effort. There are many tools that can tell you how to pronounce someones name, no matter how complicated. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin told The Chronicle that as the first Latino mayor of Berkeley, he has encountered the same mispronunciation of his surname. My last name is a little more complex to pronounce because you have to roll the r. But at some point its like, how many times do I have to say it? Arreguin said. I grew up in San Francisco. Ive had to anglicize the pronunciation of my last name at times in my life, so its easier for people to pronounce it. Arreguin said he typically gives people the benefit of the doubt and has been patient in correcting peoples pronunciation, but said in the case of Harris, Its overt racism. Former Oakland City Councilman Abel Guillen told The Chronicle that he has memories stemming back to elementary school of teachers mispronouncing his name. Sometimes I feel like its a process of trying to other you. When the other person feels like youre not quite American, they try to make you American by anglicizing your name, Guillen said. When you have someone like President Trump trying to mispronounce a U.S. senators name, its a process of othering. Its like little acts of aggression when people do it consistently. After a while it does wear on you. It gets tiresome. Lauren Hernandez and Rachel Swan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez, @rachelswan ELLINGTON An Ellington man who authorities say sexually assaulted a young girl and was seeking another minor for his sex dungeon was sentenced Friday to nearly 29 years in federal prison. Simon Hessler, 49, formerly of Ellington, was sentenced to 347 months 28 years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, on child exploitation offenses, according to a news release from US. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. In October 2018, Hessler was identified by a Connecticut State Police detective as a person possibly linked to sex trafficking minors, the news release said. Hessler started talking with the detective, who was undercover. Authorities said Hessler told the undercover detective that he had a sex dungeon on the top floor of his office building, full of things like cages, stocks, handcuffs and whips. Hessler offered to pay the detective $500 for two days of slave training and limitless sex with a 12-year-old described as a DCF child, the news release said. Once the detective agreed, Hessler required the child be left in a trailer near a hotel he ran in Manchester, and told the undercover detective to send him a picture of the child gagged, blindfolded and handcuffed before he would give him the location of the cash payment, authorities said. When the undercover detective sent Hessler a photo of what appeared to be a child bound on the floor of a trailer, authorities said, Hessler told the detective where to find the money, Durham said. On Nov. 13, 2018, Hessler was arrested after he got out of his car and walked toward the trailer. After his arrest, investigators found a USB drive in a safe in Hesslers sex dungeon in Vernon, according to officials. The drive had thousands of photos and videos of child pornography and child erotica, including what investigators said was about 60 images of a specific girl who was younger than 12, Durham said. Authorities said the investigation revealed that between July 2016 and November 2018, Hessler sexually abused the girl, and used a cellphone to produce images of the abuse. Hessler has been detained in state custody since his arrest. He pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography on Dec. 11, 2019. He was also charged in the Hartford and Tolland judicial districts with related state offenses. On Dec. 17, 2019, Hessler pleaded guilty to several state offenses, including two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, two counts of risk of injury and multiple counts linked to his attempt to commit commercial sex abuse of a minor under the age of 13, unlawful restraint and attempt to commit intentional cruelty. Hessler is expected to be sentenced to 30 years in jail on the state offenses, according to the federal authorities. The judge ordered Hesslers federal sentence to run concurrently with his state sentence. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the capital is in a much better position regarding COVID-19 than had been estimated during rising cases in June. New Delhi [India], Aug 15: As far as COVID-19 is concerned, Delhi is presently in a far better situation than it was two months ago, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday. Today is the day when we remember freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Also, since independence, so many of our soldiers have lost their lives for the security of our country. Lets salute them all today, he said at a press conference. Further he said, As far as COVID19 is concerned, Delhi is presently in a far better situation than we were 2 months ago. However, over 60,000 cases are being reported daily in the country. There are a few steps that we need to take now to further control the pandemic.He said all the governments are performing well but I would like to suggest a step that could be beneficial in the villages where corona is increasing now. In case of Delhi, home isolation was a measure that helped us in fighting the battle against COVID-19. For instance, if there are 10,000 cases, only 1000 are severe and taken to hospitals, the remaining got cured at home. It saves 9,000 beds, this can be followed in villages, Kejriwal said. ALSO READ-Three Covid-19 vaccines under trial, will be mass produced upon approval: PM Modi If all the governments follow this in villages then patients with mild symptoms can be treated at home and they should be provided oximeters so that they can check their oxygen. Every gram panchayat should be provided with some oxygen cylinders for the emergency. If the situation worsens then the patient can be shifted in city or district hospital, added Kejriwal. He also requested people to donate oximeters to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) so that it can be provided to the villages. We all have to come together to fight COVID-19. I would appeal people to donate oximeters to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and we will send these oximeters to the villages where locals can use them as per need, he said. ALSO READ: Respite amid Covid-19! Gold prices in India down by 3%, now at Rs 50,000 Damire Palmer, 18, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to assault with intent to do great bodily harm An 18-year-old black man who launched himself at a white Macy's manager inside a Michigan store, knocking the store supervisor to the ground and raining blows on him, could be spared jail. Video of the June 15 incident inside the Genesee Valley Mall, in Flint Township, went viral, with Donald Trump tweeting: 'Looks what's going on here. Where are the protesters? Was this man arrested?' Damire Palmer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to assault with intent to do great bodily harm, a 10-year felony. However the teenager may avoid jail under a plea deal, agreed with the victim, that spares the 50-year-old Macy's employee from testifying and will see Palmer serve his sentence - which could only be probation. When his probation ends, Palmer will not have the felony on his record. Instead, it will be replaced with a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault. Palmer's punishment is up to a circuit court judge. David Leyton, prosecuting, said he could be handed anything from probation to serving the 10-years in prison. Palmer will learn his sentence on September 1. 'Nobody's looking to hang felonies on young men,' said Leyton. 'I never have and I never will. This was a bad crime though, and he has to face the consequences.' At Wednesday's hearing, Palmer, of Mount Morris, said that his brother, 22-year-old Damarquay Palmer of Flint Township, had lied to him and said the store manager called him the n-word. Damire said that his 22-year-old brother Damarquay had lied to him and said he'd been insulted Palmer launched himself at the Macy's store manager after asking him about a jacket Palmer left the manager bruised and bloodied in the attack, which was filmed and went viral The incident was put on Facebook, with the poster claiming Palmer had been racially abused 'I asked him a question about some clothes,' Palmer said. 'I asked him about the jacket type that I was about to get.' Palmer said the man answered him, they laughed, and then his brother told him the store manager called him the n-word. 'The statement that (my brother) made was untrue and I swung on him for no reason,' Palmer said. 'Why would your brother do that?' asked Patrick McCombs, the assistant prosecutor. Palmer replied: 'I wouldn't know. I honestly wouldn't.' McCombs said the store manager had asked that the charge does not stay with Palmer forever. 'Basically, you beat this guy so bad he was quite bloody - correct?' McCombs asked. 'Yes,' Palmer said. 'And did you know that he has agreed that you should be treated as a youthful offender even though you beat on him like that?' the assistant prosecutor continued. 'No, I did not know that,' Palmer responded. McCombs told the court that Palmer would be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Training Act, which could lead to probation on a lesser charge of aggravated assault after completion of any programming order by the circuit court judge. Judge Jennifer J. Manley also emphasized to Palmer that he had been granted remarkable leniency by his victim. She said that 'programming needs to be put in place' to deal with Palmer, and that he needed 'strict guidelines before you are out in the community.' She added: 'If he did not approve of this, you would not be getting this possibility. 'You understand what kind of break that man gave you? 'This is a big deal for your life. I really want you to understand that.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 21:45:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- As COVID-19 cases surge in Namibia, healthcare workers face a disproportionate risk of infection with over 60 healthcare workers having so far tested positive of the novel coronavirus. For more than four months, nurses across the country have been caring for patients in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic without the protections that would prevent exposure to the virus. The country had prepared well in terms of quarantine and isolation facilities but had not equipped state hospitals with proper safety gear and procedures on how to deal with all patients in the time of the coronavirus. This exposed many healthcare workers who attended to asymptomatic walk in patients resulting in many getting infected. Emelda Naruses is one of those healthcare workers who risks her life everyday as a front-line worker to give care to patients without blinking an eye as she says that is what she signed up for. According to her, "it is business as usual" even though sometimes she becomes overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought that it is not only her life in danger, but that of her colleagues, her family and the country at large. For the past 10 years, Naruses has been a casualty nurse at two of Namibia's biggest state hospitals in the capital Windhoek. As a casualty nurse, Naruses is the front-line person who receives patients as they come into the hospital before they are referred anywhere else, a routine that she has become accustomed to. "Doing my job is scary but it is something I know I signed up for. At casualty people just come even without masks and sometimes it is a life and death situation so we do not worry about such things, all I am concentrating on is saving a life," Naruses said. A hospital's casualty area is the busiest and sometimes events happen so fast that the nurses do not have time to look for protective wear and this has put many nurses at risk of infection especially during these times of COVID-19. Naruses explains that before the surge in cases in the capital city, patients were not initially swabbed when they entered the hospital which exposed a lot of healthcare workers to the virus as they did not have proper personal protective equipment to use. According to Naruses, nurses usually just have aprons on and gloves but they do not wear masks except when they start examining a patient. "Previously when we admitted patients we did not swab them. For some patients would come to the hospital for a completely different condition and it would only be discovered later that the person has COVID-19 after tests. Some patients do not present any symptoms when they come," Naruses said. These gaps in the country's response to COVID-19 has exposed many of the healthcare workers, weakening the healthcare system at a time when every hand is needed. The country is however intensifying efforts to raise awareness and offer everyday training to healthcare workers to make sure that more people do not get infected to the virus. "We receive training on the proper use of protective gear and conducting tests and treatments. The training also includes lesson's on how COVID-19 is spread for us to educate our patients so that they also know how to protect themselves," Naruses said. Namibia has so far recorded 3,726 positive cases, 2,342 recoveries and 31 deaths. According to the country's Health Ministry, the rate of infection is accelerating at a very fast pace where cases in capital Windhoek have more than doubled in the past 2 weeks. It took three months for the country to get to 1,000 positive cases but it has taken 14 days to reach 2,000 and 11 days to reach 3,000. Namibia's President Hage Geingob says he is concerned about surge in coronavirus cases in particular the number of healthcare workers who are becoming infected. "I am especially concerned with the number of healthcare workers who are becoming infected. We must do everything necessary to ensure the adequate provision of Personal Protective Equipment for all front-line workers in the country so they can continue to safely serve the nation," Geingob said. He added that the confirmation of clustered community transmissions is of great concern. If left unchecked, this pandemic will be catastrophic for our country in terms of lives lost and the economy. This week, the country reinstated stricter lock-down measures because of the surge in cases by migrating back to stage-3 for 16 days after having moved to stage-4 on June 29. Under stage-3, travel in and out of hot-spot areas such as the capital, Windhoek and Walvis Bay will be restricted to emergency situations while any persons leaving these areas will be quarantined upon arrival at their destination. The country has imposed a curfew on the restricted towns as well as limit alcohol sales while public gatherings including weddings, funerals and religious events will be limited to 10 people. Hope Kalufu, who is also a healthcare worker at Namibia's state hospital said being a nurse during these times has been an uphill struggle where she has constantly had to fight with patients to make sure they put on their masks before entering the hospital. She said apart from fearing for her life, the nurses face many emotional challenges where they are constantly conflicted on whether to go to work or to just stay home and be safe. "Everyday we are exposed to many dangers but all of them are not as serious as the pandemic. we fear for our lives and the lack of protective equipment makes the situation even worse," Kalufu said. Namibia is in the process of recruiting more health-care professionals as the country faces a shortage. Enditem STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic raged, health care heroes made headlines as they faced a deadly crisis at Staten Islands hospitals and nursing homes -- saving lives and earning widespread respect and appreciation. Yet, in bedrooms and at kitchen tables across the borough, nearly 7,000 caregivers also protected lives, preserved dignity and improved the quality of life of Staten Islands most vulnerable population -- in virtual obscurity. About a dozen Licensed Home Care Services Agencies and Certified Home Health Agencies employ approximately 7,000 home health care aides in the borough, workers who have endured great strains during the pandemic, scrambling for personal protective equipment (PPE) and child care, and boarding buses and trains for worrisome commutes to their home-bound patients. Benedicta Ohene is the home health caregiver to a 98-year-old Ward Hill resident. Ohene has been with them for four years, and she loves her job. Her determination and heroism, like all heath caregivers during this pandemic, has been steadfast. She travels from the Bronx by public transportation every day to Ward Hill. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE They went to work and went home and really didnt expose themselves to any others in order to limit their exposure to other people, silent carriers, who could put their clients at risk,' said Ann Swider, who experienced that dedication first-hand in recent months. Her father, Ralph Modugno, waged a three-and-a-half-year battle with dementia, requiring home assistance for all aspects of basic care in this final months of life -- during the height of COVID-19 hysteria. Modugno remained in the Todt Hill home in which he raised his family until his recent death at the age of 93. The once gregarious and personable retired butcher needed assistance with all personal care and feeding toward the end of his life, Swider said. He would have turned 94 on Aug. 15, she said. And though Swider, of Manhattan, was able to assist with her fathers care several times each week, she was comforted knowing that he was on the receiving end of compassionate, competent care daily from the health care aides at Premier Home Health Care Services. With dementia, he needed more and more help and ended up being bed-bound,' she said. You have to maintain high level of skin care so they dont get sores. My father did not get one sore. The dedication during COVID, not only to my father, but to me, was exceptional. Since Modugnos home wasnt near a bus route, one of the health care workers who spent many years caring for her father walked over a mile to and from the bus stop daily, she said. Some of these aides are the only lifeline to people that are isolated and living alone in their homes,' she said. If someone doesnt show up, theyre all alone. Swider worried that her father might wind up in a hospital or nursing home, and risk contracting COVID-19. I kept thinking, what am I going to do if they get sick and dont come to work?,' she said. My father was a big man and, yes, I was hands-on, but I knew I could never do it alone. And they reported to work 100% of the time.' The late Ralph Modugno was able to stay in his Todt Hill home until his recent death at 93, thanks to the compassionate care of home health aides, his daughter said. Data from two of the home health agencies who operate on Staten Island shows that at least 375 of their patients were kept out of nursing homes and hospitals in recent months. And Staten Island home health aides have paid a toll, as 53 from just two of the agencies were quarantined because of possible COVID-19 exposure. Additionally, more than 25 have contracted COVID-19, and at least one Staten Island home health aide has died of COVID-19 complications, the two agencies reported. A WORRISOME COMMUTE Maura Wilson, 59, a home health aide for AccentCare and a member of Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, leaves her Bronx home at 4 a.m. daily and travels by bus to spend 12 hours each day with her Staten Island patient, who suffered a stroke many years ago. Fear, she says, was the biggest factor to affect her job when the coronavirus pandemic took hold of New York City in March fear for her patient and fear for her own safety during her three-and-a-half hour commute on public transportation. She felt responsible, not just to her employer, but to her client,' said Wilsons son, Miguel Ataupillco, who translated for his Spanish-speaking mother during the Advance/SIlive.com interview. Shes extremely responsible. She would never, ever be absent.' The client needed her for day-to-day tasks, such as eating and taking daily mediations, Wilson said through her son. Without home care, the hospital or a nursing home would have been the only options. And, because home is the best place for many clients, whether they are recovering from surgery or balancing life with a degenerative condition like dementia, ALS or cancer, all home health care workers took serious risks to keep their patients secure, said Kathy Febraio, president of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers. Benedicta Ohene is the home health caregiver to a 98 year old woman on Ward Hill. Benedicta Ohene has been with them for four years, and she loves her job. She travels from the Bronx by public transportation everyday. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Benedicta Ohene is the home health caregiver to a 98-year-old woman on Ward Hill. She has been with them for four years, and she loves her job. She travels from the Bronx by public transportation every day. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Benedicta Ohene also travels from the Bronx to care for her 98-year-old patient in Ward Hill and take her to appointments. But, Ohene, 56, says its worth the trip. I love the job I do,' she said. " If you dont have the passion for it, you might feel otherwise. But, with me, I have the passion for it. I always feel eager to be there for her. So, I make it my duty to be there.' Benedicta Ohene has a passion for her job with a Ward Hill family. She has been with them for four years. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Benedicta Ohene is the home health caregiver to a woman on Ward Hill who is 98 years old. Here, she fixes her hair in the kitchen before breakfast. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Benedicta Ohene is the home health care giver to a 98-year-old woman on Ward Hill. She travels with her mask on and makes sure it is in place before she enters the home. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Ohene takes a train, the Staten Island Ferry and a bus a two-hour commute each day, arriving just after 8 a.m. to care for her client, who would be alone when her daughter works in Manhattan each day. Protecting her own health during the pandemic, she said, is a challenge. Securing gloves and masks is often difficult, so she often buys her own. She laughs when told shes a secret healthcare hero. Were in the background,' she said. Nobody knows what we do.' Benedicta Ohene helps her client, who is 98 years old, to the kitchen table. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Lorraine Benedetto sits with Benedicta Ohene, the home health caregiver to her 98-year-old mother. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) STAYING OUT OF HOSPITALS Their dedication helped keep a very vulnerable and elderly population out of Staten Island nursing homes and hospitals overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic, Febraio said. That is one of the real benefits of home care,' said Febraio. We can help keep people safe and secure in their most comfortable environment. Certainly, during a pandemic, those concerns were heightened. The goal is to keep people out of (hospital) settings keep people safe and healthy.' When the pandemic began in early Spring, the industry was hit hard, as many health care workers stepped back from their careers out of fear for their own health, Febraio said. As many people began working remotely, they attempted to care for their loved ones themselves, rather than invite the workers into their homes. We saw a change' she said. Elective surgeries stopped, so there were fewer discharges. Some people pulled back. People preferred staying with their families.' But, over time, that changed, and though the pandemic continued, the need for health care assistance grew, she said. We saw a steady increase in the need for home health care,' Febraio said. Elective surgeries resumed. Many people returned to work.' Home care workers are meeting the need, she said. We are adapting and we are able to ask of our aides whatever it is their patients needs are,' she said. Theyve been ready, willing and able and the families are just so appreciative. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Friday said it has filed an appeal for a stay of execution of the ruling of the Rivers State High Court affirming the enforcement of the purported acquisition of interests in the companys joint venture assets in Kidney Island and specified interests in OML 11 in Ogoniland to the state government. OML 11 has been the subject of prolonged litigation between the Ejama-Ebubu community in Tai Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State and the SPDC, the operator of the oil concession on behalf of the joint venture partners, including the Federal Government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with 55 per cent participating interest. Back story The root of the long litigation has been allegations by the community of a massive oil spill during the Nigerian civil war period in 1969/70, which they claimed was traced to a ruptured oil pipeline that belonged to the SPDC. The Dutch oil giant serially denied responsibility for the incident the community claimed flooded the Ochani stream and extensively impacted its environment. However, in 2001, Ejama-Ebubu community representatives filed an application at the Federal High Court for compensation for a major crude oil blow-out and spill involving over two million barrels of oil, resulting in the pollution, environmental devastation and destruction of property belonging to individuals and families in the area. Apart from complaints about general inconveniences, impact of acid rain, pollution of underground water and hardship to the population, the community sought the courts approval to claim about N17 billion as special damages, interest on the sum as well as N10 billion in Punitive General Damages. The community accused Shell of ignoring series of protests and calls for the company to take steps to clear the spill and remediate the environment of the consequence of the incident, which they said deprived them the right to self-sustenance, education and good life. Although Shell on several occasions denied responsibility for the oil spill, blaming it on the devastation of the civil war, it nonetheless claimed it had taken remedial measures to substantially clear up the effects of the spill. Regardless, following a series of adjournments and requests by Shell for change of the judge, proceedings in the suit dragged till 2007, when the High Court in Asaba, Delta State on July 5, 2010, gave a ruling valued at S100 million (about N15.41 billion) in favour of the community. But the SPDC and its parent companies appealed the ruling on the ground that the spill was a third-party incident during the civil war. The appeal was dismissed. READ ALSO: The SPDC proceeded with a further appeal to the Supreme Court in 2017. On January 11, 2019, Shells appeal was dismissed after it gave the community a Bond Guarantee for First Bank to pay the value of the Judgment debt earlier pronounced by the Appeal Court, with interest amounting to about N182.8 billion. On February 25, 2019, the community proceeded to apply in the UK high court for the registration of the order for enforcement of the judgment. In a report by PREMIUM TIMES, legal experts familiar with the matter said the implication of the community taking the court order to register in a UK court was to confer on it the status of a judgment of the court. By registering the order of a Nigerian court in the UK court, the experts said, was to give community representatives access to Shell assets in Europe and around the world for easy enforcement. However, at Shells request, on May 28, 2019, the UK court set aside the application by the community pursuant to section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1920 prohibiting registration since an appeal was still pending before the Nigerian Supreme Court. The British court presided by Jason Coppel, a Deputy Judge of the High Court, also refused the communitys application for permission to file an appeal. Rivers state government interest As reported by PREMIUM TIMES, while the case was ongoing, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on September 30, 2019, announced his government had fully acquired interest in the disputed oil mining lease (OML 11) owned by Shell in Ogoniland. Mr Wike said the state government had submitted a bid of $150 million for 45 per cent stake in the asset reputed to hold oil reserves of about 250,000 barrels per day (BPD). As a follow-up, the Rivers State government filed a case at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to direct the Minister of Petroleum Resources to recognize its interest in acquiring the disputed oil mining lease through an auction sale. Although the case was withdrawn in July 2020, the State government refiled a fresh case at the Rivers State High Court without joining the Minister of Petroleum Resources. In a counter-application, the SPDC requested the courts permission to join the Minister of Petroleum Resources in the suit as a necessary party for a just determination of the issues. But, its application was rejected by the Judge. In line with the provisions of the Petroleum Act 1969, all acquisition or assignment of interests in oil licenses or leases must be approved with the consent of the Minister of Petroleum Resources. On Monday, March 2, 2020, the Federal High Court, Abuja issued an order attaching the sum of N182 billion in First Bank of Nigeria Limiteds statutory account with the Central Bank of Nigeria in favour of Ejama Ebubu community. Advertisements But, SPDC and other parties affected by the order filed separate appeals seeking the court order to set aside the order and restrain its execution pending the appeal decision. Shells reaction to Controversial court affirmation However, following the ruling of the Rivers State High Court affirming the enforcement of the purported acquisition of interests in the State government, the SPDC in a statement expressed disappointment, while demanding for a stay of execution of the judgment. In accordance with the spirit of fair hearing in the Nigerian judicial system, we remain of the view that until the pending appeals are heard and determined, SPDC is not liable to make any payments, and therefore none of its assets or interest should be attached to satisfy the judgement, Shell said in a statement by its Managing Director, and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor. Mr Okunbor said the root case, Chief Agbara and Others vs SPDC, which led to the purported sale of interests in SPDC JVs assets is still the subject of ongoing proceedings in several courts, including the Supreme Court. It remains the position of SPDC that no payment is due and any purported sale or enforcement of payment is premature and prejudicial to ongoing proceedings. The auction sale is also being challenged on appeal by SPDC. In the underlying judgement (Chief Agbara and Others v. SPDC), which is being enforced by the sale, the claimants (the Rivers State government) themselves accepted in the High Court in England that the claim was miscalculated and materially overstated. SPDC has therefore filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution of this recent judgment issued by the Rivers State High Court on 13 August 2020, he said. Japanas two major air carriers will substantially reduce their domestic flights next month due to weak demand amid a resurgence of novel coronavirus infections. Japan Airlines said Friday it will suspend 5,353 flights scheduled for Sept. 11 to 30, accounting for 31 percent of all domestic services originally planned for the period. The move will affect 75 routes, including those between Tokyoas Haneda Airport and Itami Airport near Osaka and between Haneda and Fukuoka airports. JAL will reduce its domestic flights by 8,223, or 32 percent, throughout September, for which the number of seat reservations is still standing at around 30 percent of the year-before level. The airline is also planning a roughly 30 percent cut in domestic flights in the latter half of August. A coroner has inspected the Malaysian resort where Nora Quoirin went missing a year ago ahead of an inquest into the teenager's death. It comes as the 15-year-old's mum, who is from Belfast, says she still believes that Nora was abducted. Meabh Quoirin said she also hoped a hard-won inquest in Malaysia will answer some outstanding questions. The girl's disappearance from her family's holiday chalet at the Dusun eco-resort in southern Negeri Sembilan state on August 4, 2019 sparked a massive search operation. Read More Her naked body was discovered 10 days later beside a small stream about 1.6 miles from the resort. Her funeral took place at St Brigid's Church in south Belfast, where she was baptised. Local media reports said the coroner, prosecutors and the family's lawyer yesterday inspected the resort and the nearby rainforest area where Nora's body was found ahead of the inquest, which is due to begin later this month. "The coroner took the opportunity to visit the place where the victim stayed and where the body of Nora was found," Negeri Sembilan deputy police chief Che Zakaria Othman said. He added the three-hour visit was to give the coroner "preliminary insight" on the location of the tragedy. The Quoirin family's new lawyer, S Sakthyvell, described the site visit as "quite thorough". "She (the coroner) visited the Dusun resort, the waterfall, she walked in a stream and went to the location where the body was found," Sakthyvell told AFP. The inquest is scheduled to take place from August 24-September 4 and will hear from 60 witnesses. Read More Meabh and husband Sebastien will not be present due to coronavirus-related restrictions, but will be interviewed by the coroner over a conferencing platform. The couple remain convinced that their daughter, who was vulnerable, had special needs and would not go outside her own front door alone, could not have reached the spot where the body was found. The location had already been scoured many times during the search operation. "What we want is that no family would ever go through what we've had to go through," Meabh told The Irish Times. "What we're looking for is an acknowledgement of the numerous possibilities, and a far greater emphasis on who Nora was and why it is just impossible to believe certain theories about what might have happened." The Quoirins say they do not want foul play to be ruled out by the coroner. They say that crucial time and evidence was lost because the Malaysian police insisted on treating her disappearance as a case of a missing person and not as a crime. "For us it's important that the case stays open in case someone speaks up in the future," Sebastien added. The lounge window in the chalet was found to be ajar when Nora went missing. According to Meabh: "Somebody opened that window, and it wasn't us." A year on the Quoirins say they are coping, while Nora's siblings - Maurice (9) and Innes (13) - are very resilient. "We are making a memory log of all our best memories of Nora," Meabh said. "The children look back and think of all the ways in which Nora made them smile. "She was funny and quirky with them and they remember and cherish that. "We've had a lot of support from family, friends, professionals and strangers who continue to write to us and visit Nora's grave. "But, in the end, I'm still absolutely devastated. "We miss her every minute of every day. It's my little girl; you can't get past that. "It feels like it happened yesterday. "She is very much alive as part of our family. We'll always be a family-of-five." LONDON - Thousands of British tourists beat a hasty retreat from France, packing out planes, trains and ferries to return to the U.K. by the early hours of Saturday morning to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. On Friday, many British travellers in the country opted to cut short their vacations to meet the 4 a.m. Saturday deadline that had only been announced the night before. Anyone arriving back from France from Saturday must stay at home for two weeks to make sure they cannot spread the coronavirus beyond their households if they have become infected. The exodus was prompted late Thursday when the British government took France off a list of nations exempt from traveller quarantine requirements because of a sharp rise in new coronavirus infections there. A spokesman for the Le Shuttle car-carrying carrying rail service linking Britain and France under the English Channel said 12,000 people tried to book tickets in the hour after the new rules were announced, compared with just hundreds normally. Some air fares were selling for significantly inflated prices compared to normal rates. British Airways was selling tickets for a flight from Paris to London on Friday night costing 452 pounds ($590). The same journey on Saturday could be made for just 66 pounds. Ferry companies put on extra services but they sold out fast too. For those who cannot work from home on their return, the mandatory self-quarantine could see them penalized further. Others just couldnt face the prospect of having to stay at home for two weeks, unable to do even basic chores, go for a run or even to walk the dog. Peter Norris, who managed to get on on one of the last flights Friday out of Nice, in the south of France, said it would have been incredibly inconvenient for him to face another two-week period cooped up at home. ?Its not like during lockdown, where you can go for a run, go to the shops, come back, he said. None of that, we have to stay in, for two weeks. As well as complicating the return home for the hundreds of thousands of British tourists in France, the U.K. move has the potential to upend the plans of those planning trips in the days ahead, particularly of families during the run-up to schools reopening in September. French businesses running campsites in Brittany, wine-tasting tours in the Loire Valley or mountain treks in the Alps also have reason to worry. The French government has indicated that it will respond in kind, a move that is set to further hobble travel and tourism between the two countries. The British government insists it had to make the decision in light of a 66% spike in confirmed coronavirus cases in France in the past week. The Netherlands, Malta, Monaco and the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Turks & Caicos were also added to the U.K.s quarantine list for the same reason. In France, theres a growing fear of a second spike of the outbreak. Health authorities on Friday reported 2,846 new virus cases in 24 hours, bringing the total for the week to over 12,900. Paris extended the areas of the city where pedestrians will be obliged to wear masks starting Saturday morning after health officials said the coronavirus is active in the French capital and the Mediterranean city of Marseille. Last month, Spain, the number one summer holiday destination for British tourists, was taken off the exempt list. ___ Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak A sign posted on Avalon Beach in Sydney, Australia, after a shark attack on a surfer on March 1, 2009. Ian Waldie/Getty Images A woman died after a great white shark bit her off the coast of Maine two weeks ago. It was the state's first shark fatality ever. Some experts say warming waters along the East Coast may lead some shark species to expand their ranges northward. Multiple beaches in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, also closed last week after great white sightings. Shark researchers say great whites are attracted to Cape Cod because of its growing population of seals the predators' favorite food. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A great white shark bit Julie Dimperio Holowach off the coast of Maine's Bailey Island late last month. She died before paramedics arrived, making the event the state's first fatal shark attack. The tragedy prompted questions about why a great white might swim so far north. Although these sharks have occupied waters off of Maine and northern Canada for thousands of years, one trend may increase the likelihood of unfortunate encounters: Oceans are heating up. "Global climate change has prompted warmer water temperatures farther northward," George Burgess, former director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, told Business Insider. That leads more members of cold-water-loving species, like great whites, to travel farther up, where water is cooler. That could mean more fin sightings and possibly attacks. Great whites will be "found more commonly in Maine waters in the years ahead," Burgess predicted. A great white shark. Ryan Pierse/Getty Images Warming waters may mean more sharks farther north According to Burgess, between 15 and 20 shark species swim in East Coast waters. "Of those, perhaps only six or seven of them are potentially dangerous to humans in the sense of being biters," he said. Sharks rely on the water temperature to regulate their body heat. But oceans absorb 93% of the excess heat trapped on the planet by greenhouse gases. The year 2018 was the hottest on record for the world's oceans, and that change impacts the ranges of marine animals. Story continues "I think it is highly likely that warming waters will result in the northward movement of sharks in the Northern Hemisphere that were previously restricted to more southern latitudes," Gavin Naylor, the current director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, told Business Insider via email. "We have incontrovertible data that show these kinds of patterns in Australian waters," he added. A bull shark. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Not all sharks like their water to be the same temperature. Bull, tiger, dusky, spinner, silky, and black-tipped sharks all prefer warm, tropical waves and are typically responsible for attacks in Florida and the Carolinas. But as ocean waters heat up, more areas are becoming hospitable to those shark populations. "Their distribution has widely increased beyond the southeast US," Burgess said, adding, "those species found in warmer waters will now proceed all the way up to southern New England in the summer." A dusky shark swims at Sea World in Australia's Gold Coast. Steve Garner/Wikimedia Commons Great whites, by contrast, like frigid oceans. "For white sharks, the total area occupied by them probably won't change, but where that area is will change it'll shift farther north," Burgess said. Still, Naylor cautioned that one fatal attack does not constitute a trend in a particular region. "While the fatality in Maine was the first we have on record, it should not be taken to mean that white sharks are 'moving in to the area,'" he said, adding, "white sharks have been in the waters off Maine (and most of the North Atlantic) for thousands of years." Growing seal populations are fueling shark encounters in Cape Cod Warming waters aren't the only reason for an increase in human-shark encounters, though. In Massachusetts, the presence of more great whites is likely a consequence of ballooning populations of grey and harbor seals, Burgess said. Last week, officials closed several beaches in Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, and Orleans, Massachusetts for swimming due to a great white sighting off shore, the Boston Globe reported. A grey seal pup at Cape Cod National Seashore. National Park Service Seals have flourished since the passage of the Marine Mammal Act in 1972, which protects them and other sea creatures from hunting and human interference. "In the 50 years since, we've seen a recovery of those mammals. What that means for New England, though, is colonies of seals along Cape Cod beaches seals that white sharks come close to shore to eat," Burgess said. Sharks, too, are protected, so their populations are also increasing along the East Coast. "More people, more seals, and more sharks in concentrated areas like Cape Cod is bound to result in conflict of interest," Burgess said, adding, "our playground is the sharks' dining room." Marconi Beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Flickr / |vv@ldzen| Erich Ritter, a behavioral ecologist at the Shark Education & Research Center in the Bahamas, told Business Insider that swimmers should avoid areas where fish and marine mammals are abundant. "Sharks follow their food," he said. However, your odds of being bitten by a shark are about 1 in 4 million, according to the International Wildlife Museum. We're not the predators' preferred meal, so if a shark bites a human, it's typically an exploratory nibble. "The shark is trying to figure out what we could be," Ritter said. Read the original article on Business Insider LTHS students, who start school Aug. 20, will interact with their teachers online five days a week, said LTHS community relations coordinator Jennifer Bialobok. Students will see the teachers in all their classes on Mondays. On Tuesday and Thursdays, they will meet online with their teachers and fellow students in the classes they have first through fourth periods; and on Wednesdays and Fridays, they will meet online with their fifth through eighth period classes. On the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, the government decided to release 74 convicts lodged in various jails of the state, an official statement said. In a statement issued here on late Friday night, the state government said that there are 40 convicts lodged in various jails who have completed their term but are unable to come out because they do not have money to deposit the fine. Such convicts have been identified on the instruction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the statement said. Apart from this, the government has also decided to release 34 convicts who have been awarded life term but have shown satisfactory behaviour. (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.) Tuan Bui, tax partner of Customs and Global Trade services at Deloitte Vietnam What will be the main difficulties for Vietnamese logistics firms in taking advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)? The agreement is set to bring about enormous challenges for Vietnamese logistics companies, in addition to the chances it creates. Europe is home to almost every world-leading logistics company, whose reputations are built by investments in logistics technology, modern fleets, cargo management, and high-quality customer services, as well as support from governments. With the introduction of the EVFTA, the entry barriers to the Vietnamese logistics market are to be gradually removed for EU firms and thus, Vietnamese companies will be faced with increased domestic competition. For instance, the EUs fleets are responsible for the shipping of most goods between Vietnam and the EU while their Vietnamese counterparts play a less important role, mainly due to their scale, outdated technology, and limited range. In addition, due to a lack of presence in the EU, Vietnamese companies tend to miss out on EU exporters as they already have relations with EU logistics firms. Vietnamese enterprises also have to compete with non-EU counterparts from countries which account for large amounts of foreign investment such as South Korea and Japan since customers from those nations often choose their compatriots. Besides that, for goods exported to the EU from Vietnam, like agricultural products, local companies might need a logistics system which meets different stringent international standards to ensure the preservation of product quality, particularly for medicine and agricultural products. As such, Vietnamese logistics companies are under pressure to develop a strong and modern storage and transportation system, which is prevalent among EU firms. Furthermore, while the EVFTA also increases the openness of the EU market, it is unlikely that Vietnamese logistics companies can deeply penetrate and thrive in this territory due to lack of competitiveness and experience. EU companies are strong in logistics and the big gap between development of EU and Vietnamese companies will intensify competition. Which areas should Vietnamese firms focus on to gain more benefits from the EVFTA? Vietnamese logistics enterprises must enhance their strengths while overcoming their weaknesses in order to take advantage of the EVFTA and attract more customers. Accordingly, areas that might require improvement include foreign presence, selection of potential customers, and investment in high-quality labour and quality of customer services. Supply chains in the EU hardly observe any participation from Vietnamese logistics firms, which is opposite to the prominence of European logistics entities in Vietnam. For instance, Deutsche Post DHL Group, A.P Moller-Maersk, and Schenker are EU logistics companies which have established a strong position in the Vietnamese market and are service providers for numerous Vietnamese enterprises. Consequently, Vietnamese logistics companies should consider expanding their businesses to Europe, which can be achieved by starting to collaborate with their European counterparts to perform low-level processes in both Vietnam and the EU. One of our suggestions is that they should first consider leasing warehouses, premises, and vehicles to European logistics firms with contracts with EU customers so that the Vietnamese companies can enter the foreign supply chain. Alternatively, Vietnamese entities could boost their competing abilities by shifting the focus to small- and medium-sized customers. Since European logistics firms in Vietnam mainly target large corporations with considerable margins, small- and medium-sized enterprises remain a lucrative market. However, to fully benefit from this sector, Vietnamese companies must leverage both the quality and the quantity of services to a multinational model as EU customers have a wide variety of demands for logistics services. Lastly, as assessed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), most of the current logistics workforce in Vietnam is trained and developed from different sources, resulting in inconsistency in labour quality, which in turn hinders the capability of logistics businesses. Accordingly, logistics firms should concentrate on the hiring and training of their personnel the most valuable asset in any business. Vietnamese products need to meet the requirements to enjoy tariff reductions under the EVFTA such as certificate of origin and traceability. How will the growth of Vietnams export turnover from the EU effect the logistics industry now that the EVFTA is in force? It cannot be denied that the EVFTA will boost Vietnams export turnover to the EU, which will result in strong growth in the logistics industry. The EU has been one of Vietnams major export markets with Vietnams export turnover to the EU constantly surging from 2000 to 2019. The emergence of the EVFTA will continue to facilitate the movement of goods and services between the two regions, with export turnover to the EU estimated to rise by 42.7 and 44.37 per cent by 2025 and 2030, respectively, compared to before as provided by the MoIT. Such events will drive up the demand for logistics services. Accordingly, domestic logistics entities will likely enjoy a period of revenue growth. In addition, it generates an opportunity for businesses to extend their operations into different fields. For instance, it is probable that an increase in exports to the EU will culminate in a surging number of applications for certificate of origin as such documents are crucial in the enjoyment of preferential tariff rates. As a consequence, Deloitte believes logistics firms should comprehend the regulations in the EVFTA and support clients in this extreme. Furthermore, the enhanced trade relationship resulting from the deal can boost transport demand among the EU, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia, creating a profitable client pool for Vietnamese entities. Besides that, as import tariffs for vehicles, machinery, and technology for logistics purposes are reduced, Vietnamese logistics companies will enjoy lower capital expenses, creating room to up profitability. What are your recommendations for the government to improve the competitiveness of its logistics industry? We believe the Vietnamese government will need to play a role in enhancing the competitiveness of the Vietnamese logistics industry. Regulations should be issued to encourage Vietnamese companies to increase their presence in the EU and creating and building relationships with EU exporters. It is vital that Vietnamese entities expand their offerings to EU citizens and establish a multinational business model since their European competitors have operations in almost every region around the globe. Also, the authorities might stimulate Vietnamese logistics firms to cooperate and share the advantages with one another by encouraging the activities of Vietnamese Logistics Association in order to contribute to a more competitive domestic industry. Furthermore, the government could encourage investments in logistics infrastructure, including warehouses, shipping fleets, cargos, and ports to leverage the development of the sector. For instance, Vietnamese authorities should establish legal regulations with a view to attract investments, either domestically or from foreign nations, for the development of highway and modern seaports. Such a strategy would significantly diminish the shipping time of logistic firms, assisting in bolstering customer services and creating value in other areas. As Vietnam has been widely known for its long coastline with numerous deep water ports, the construction of mega-ports with larger scale is probable and in line with the contemporary trend in developed countries. Last but not least, the Vietnamese government can directly support its domestic logistics sector by reducing the expenses associated with domestic transport, namely tolls, or lower taxes for logistics companies satisfying specific conditions. Californias ban on high-capacity magazines violates the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit gave several reasons for rejecting the states ban. Among them, the court said that high-capacity magazines are protected arms under the Second Amendment and that they are often used for legal purposes and are not considered unusual arms that would fall outside the scope of constitutional protection. Judge Kenneth K. Lee, who wrote the majority opinion, noted that California enacted the ban on large-capacity magazines, or LCMs, that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition after heart-wrenching and highly publicized mass shootings. But even well-intentioned laws must pass constitutional muster, he wrote. Californias near-categorical ban of LCMs strikes at the core of the Second Amendment the right to armed self defense. H undreds of people eager to see the Red Arrows flypast on VJ Day were left downcast after scheduled flights were cancelled due to "appalling" weather. In what would have been a first since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, the RAFs Red Arrows had planned to fly over the four nations capital cities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Japan Day on Saturday. However, the cloudy skies scuppered plans and the flypasts in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London were cancelled. The Red Arrows had planned to fly directly over the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, home of the Chelsea Pensioners, including three Burma Star recipients, at 5.30pm, before the event was cancelled. Sharing the news on Twitter, Martin Pert, team leader and Red 1 of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: Whilst it may be lovely weather in some parts of the UK, weve encountered lots of very low cloud across much of the kingdom. This often means we have to fly at higher levels to preserve fuel to counter that same cloud on approach to destination airfields. In place of the cancelled Edinburgh flight, the Red Arrows flew over Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft landed to greet three Second World War veterans. Whitson Johnson, Albert Lamond and Barney Roberts welcomed the pilots as they stopped to refuel, with the men exchanging stories of serving in the armed forces, three quarters of a century apart. The flypast carried on to Belfast as scheduled at 2pm, flying over the city centre and cheering crowds. VJ commemorations 2020 1 /24 VJ commemorations 2020 Pipe Sergeant Neil Esslemont of RAF Halton Pipes & Drums in front of Tower Bridge in London on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays a wreath during a national service of remembrance Getty Images Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London PA A wreath laid by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace PA The Prince of Wales lays a wreath during the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day PA Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber fly over the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire PA Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lays a wreath at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London PA Major General Chris Ghika CBE the General Officer Commanding London District laying a wreath at the Horse Guard Memorial in London PA Piccadily Circus screens display VJ Day 75 Imagery MoD Crown Copyright via Getty Im Saturday marks 75 years since Japan surrendered to the Allied forces on August 15 1945, ending the conflict's hostilities PA Veterans arrive to attend the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire PA Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter arrives at a service of remembrance in Staffordshire PA Planes fly over a remembrance service in Staffordshire PA Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes at the VJ Day 75 commemorations PA Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a national service of remembrance in Staffordshire Getty Images Boris Johnson lays a wreath Getty Images A portrait of Captain Sir Tom Moore, by artist Alex Chamberlin, is unveiled at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ day PA Three Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber take to the skies PA The aircraft passed the landmark Titanic building and the Harland and Wolff shipyard cranes as they flew up Belfast Lough, leaving red, white and blue trails in their wake. The Red Arrows were due to fly over the Welsh capital at 2.40pm before landing at Cardiff Airport, where crowds had braved the rain to await them. Ground crew from the flight did meet Second World War RAF veteran Ray Taylor, from Ton Pentre, Rhondda, who saw service from 1942 to 1946 as a gunner and parachutist. The words independence and freedom mean different things to different people. And as we celebrate our 74th Independence Day today, members of the LGBTQI+ and activists tell us what freedom is for them. As a law-abiding citizen, we should have same the rights, equality and justice in the law of the land, where the constitution is the highest book, says Aryan Pasha, a lawyer by profession, who is also Indias first transman body builder. Freedom is synonymous with respect for who we are, solidarity from non-LGBTQI+ people, opines Divya Dureja, a counselling psychologist and LGBTQIA+ wellness advocate. Freedom will truly actualise the day we have constitutionally guaranteed rights to marry same-sex partners, give birth and adopt, be able to move and breathe without worrying about being met with violence for wanting to live a joyful, fulfilling life, she adds. Rishi Raj, an activist for LGBTQIAP+ and Dalit rights, feels that freedom and independence arent directly proportional, adding, People are still struggling to express and be themselves. There is a certain degree of freedom, but not absolute. Independence connotes equity for Abhina Aher, a trans activist, who believes rights and responsibilities of transgenders need to be restored. While equal rights activist Harish Iyer says independence is living life to the fullest, freedom to LGBTQI+ rights activist Ashok Row Kavi means being who he is. It means being a citizen of India with full citizenship entitlement, freedom to marry, adopt or access to surrogacy. Everybody should have it, not just us, he adds. Interact with author/sanchita_kalra. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 13:11:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States would invoke snapback sanctions against Iran, after its attempt to extend arms embargo against Iran failed, senior U.S. officials said Friday. The UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a resolution that would extend the current arms embargo against Iran. The draft resolution, tabled by the United States, did not get the required nine votes in favor for adoption. Besides the United States, only the Dominican Republic voted in favor of the draft. China and Russia voted against the text, and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including the European allies of the United States, abstained. "It's disappointing, but not surprising," President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in an interview with Fox News. "We have other tools in our toolkit," he said. "We're going to take some severe measures up at the UN, and I think you can expect snapback sanctions to come into play." "Snapback" refers to restoring all pre-2015 U.N. sanctions against Iran. U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Kelly Craft also said in a Friday statement that "the United States has every right to initiate snapback of provisions of previous Security Council resolutions." "In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise, and we will stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo," she added. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the same day that the United States is no longer a participant of the Iran nuclear deal and therefore ineligible to demand the Security Council invoke a snapback. The overwhelming majority of the Security Council members believe that the U.S. attempt has no legal basis. Should the United States have its way in disregard of international opinion, its attempt is doomed to fail again, he said. Foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany also noted in June that they would not support any unilateral attempt to trigger UN sanctions snapback. Under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, the arms embargo against Iran expires on Oct. 18, 2020. Tehran said it would not accept a renewal of the embargo. Enditem North Miami officers went out to help a woman who said she was being stalked. Soon after, they encountered a man with a knife charging at them, North Miami police said. At about 1 :45 p.m., officers got a call for help from an elderly woman in the area of Northeast 11th Avenue and 125th Street, North Miami police said. The woman told dispatch she was being stalked and followed by a man she had an injunction order against to stay away from her. When officers arrived they talked with the man who became irate, combative and threatened the officers with a knife, police said. The officers tried to defuse the situation but to no avail. The man charged at one of the officers with knife in his hand, and another officer shot him to protect his partner, police said. The officers tended to the injured man until fire rescue arrived and he was taken to a hospital. Local 10 News reported that the man died at the hospital. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the police shooting. A 'Midlands bailout' for the Covid-hit counties of Kildare, Laois and Offaly has been announced by Government - only to be immediately criticised. But the package of supports is 'too little too late' for struggling businesses in the region according to the Labour Party. "A once-off additional payment of between 800 and 5,000 will not make a scintilla of difference for struggling businesses," said Aodhan O Riordain, Labour's enterprise spokesperson. Barry Gilroy of the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore said the 5,000 top-up was a "drop in the ocean". It would not even pay the hotel's electricity bill for a month, he said. His business has not even received the original reopening grant, he told RTE's Drivetime. The stay-and-spend rebate was also not available until October and would only come in during flu season, when people would likely stay home. There has already been many cancellations for the Autumn season, he said. Fighting Expand Close Minister Michael McGrath said diversity could help cut out groupthink / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister Michael McGrath said diversity could help cut out groupthink "We've lost August, which would have given us a fighting chance of getting through the winter. We'll start running out of money in November." Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure, said the Government recognised a need to do more for the affected counties. The measures include a 20pc top-up for the business Restart Grant Plus scheme, bringing the new maximum to 30,000. There will also be 1m for Local Enterprise Offices in the area to promote the range of supports and schemes for firms across the three countries. Similarly there would be 1m in a promotion campaign to "drive footfall" in the three counties, with ringfenced funds for businesses. Applications to Microfinancing Ireland would be prioritised for those coming from the three counties. Welcome Allan Shine, chief executive of County Kildare Chamber, said: "We do welcome the 1m that has been given to Failte Ireland to market the region. "What was done in a very short timeframe, we've done well with the package." But Tessa Stokes, a businesswoman, said there has been a huge hit to her business, which had just reopened after five months when the three-county restrictions came in, and that the limited lockdown had "brought us to our knees". Mr McGrath said, however, that the decision had been based on public health advice, to protect not only the people in the three counties, but across the while country. "It does come at a cost for local people - the inconvenience, the impact on their life and on local businesses and the economy. Today's decision is a recognition of that." The additional funds were a 'template' for possible restrictions having to be brought in elsewhere, he said. "We really hope that's not the case, and people are making huge efforts to control this virus, but if they do have to be brought in elsewhere today's announcement is a template and a starting point." He emphasised that the 2pc reduction in Vat would begin in two weeks' time on September 1, while the stay-and-spend initiative would begin on October 1. These additional measures were "an extra little bit of help", he said. The announcement that the United Arab Emirates and Israel will establish diplomatic ties and normalise relations is hugely significant for the Middle East. The UAE becomes the third Arab state to recognise Israel, following Jordan in 1994 and Egypt in 1979. Though it has taken decades longer than it should have, Israel is finally becoming accepted as a legitimate stakeholder in the Middle East and part of the regional furniture. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces full diplomatic ties will be established with the United Arab Emirates. Credit:EPA The fact that it has been the UAE the most moderate and progressive of the Gulf states to take this step forward should come as no surprise. This move would have been co-ordinated closely with other Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. With some luck and some patience, other Gulf states will follow the UAE's lead. The opening between the UAE and Israel formalises a strategic realignment that has been under way in the Middle East for some time. By Sukanya Roy, TwoCircles.net Jarwal: In the dead of the night on Indias Independence day, Uttar Pradesh police picked up a journalism student Misbah Zafar from his home for posting a status about an Independence day event tagged with #RSSseAzaadi. Support TwoCircles Misbah, who is a first-year journalism student at Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad, had shared the poster for an Independence Day Facebook live event, organised by the Campus Front of India, as his WhatsApp status on August 14. After being released from custody on August 15 afternoon, he told TwoCircles.net, At 2 am last night, a team of police including the SO and SI arrived at my house. They banged the door loudly and my family woke up, flustered. They demanded to question me, and took me to the Jarwal PS right then, without informing my family of the reasons for detaining me. Misbah said that all along the way, the police officers verbally abused him. They asked me these things: You want Azaadi from RSS now, will you want Azaadi from India later? Are you trying to make Pakistan here? Why are you ungrateful to the Indian government for giving you food and shelter? Do you want to apply Imran Khans laws to India? Misbah said that he was kept in police custody. They started shaming me, saying that I am a disgrace to my family, and the abuses continued, he said. When Misbahs father and elder brother, Soaib came to the police station in the morning, they were asked to come again in the afternoon. When they left, I was forced to write a mafinama (letter of apology) for posting the status. The SO threatened that if I didnt comply, they would register a case of sedition (Sec. 196) against me, he said, and adds, The SO said that if I didnt write the apology, the government would take away my fathers property. The officer dictated the letter out to Misbah, who was made to write it down and sign it. When the family visited the police station, they were again sent away. All this has left a huge mental strain on me, says Misbah. Only after I gave a challan to the magistrate, did they release me at 3 pm. Misbah said he is at loss to understand what his offence was, that necessitated detention for over twelve hours. But I have received no copy of the challan myself, Misbah said. They averted my question saying it has been forwarded on WhatsApp or some such excuse, he adds. The Campus Front of India has put out a public statement strongly condemning Misbahs arbitrary detention. Yogi police suppress(ed) the constitutional rights of citizens and proved their servitude to RSS masters. The police failed to understand that speaking against RSS is not a crime. It is a shame that he was arrested on this auspicious day, the statement said. The SO of Jarwal Road Police Station told TwoCircles.net that they had received a complaint against Misbah. We received a complaint against him and had to arrest him for posting provocative material that might hurt the sentiments of a certain section of the population in U.P, he said. The SO didnt disclose the source of such a complaint. Misbah says that such instances of arrest by the Jarwal police were not uncommon. Just ten days ago, on 5 August, the police arrested a group of people from his locality for posting against the Ram Mandir celebrations. They did not feel like celebrating the temple being built on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid and criticised it on Facebook. Police arrested six people on that day itself. The reasons given were the same: they were doing it to protect the interests of a particular community, Misbah said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 30 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Earlier this month, Taylor Zakhar Perez, one of the stars of Netflixs The Kissing Booth 2, said he wasnt dating his co-star, Joey King. While hes still denying the rumors, he did say something that is sure to make sure that these said rumors last for a while longer. Taylor Zakhar Perez in 2018 | Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for GUESS A lot of fans are convinced that Perez and King could be dating People began to make note of the fact that King and Perez would be together a lot and leave comments on each others Instagram posts that made it seem like they were more than friends. In the Instagram post that Perez did for Kings birthday, he said, Honestly I could write about this woman all day. She is the reason I joined the KB2 family, she welcomed me with open arms and love, she supported me, she pushed me, she made me laugh (like pee my pants laughter and had to check my underwear), she inspired me to be a bettter actor, she shared her family with me, THE LIST GOES ON. Grateful for you forever. Fans immediately speculated in the comments. How are they not dating yet, wrote one person. Someone else said, Can u both pls date each other thanks <3. Another fan said, Im sorry but i ship. The actor first denied rumors that he was dating King In an interview with ET Online shortly after the film dropped, Perez talked about his relationship with King outside of work. We just kind of hit it off, he said. When we were in South Africa, we had dinner together. I cooked for her, she cooked for me. We just became kind of like the best of friends. After filming, the spent a lot of time together when they got back to Los Angeles since they lived near each other and needed company during quarantine. He explained, When we got back to Los Angeles we just kept hanging out. We live really near each other. And then the quarantine hit and we kinda just needed someone to trust during that time, like, OK, I know youre not going out. I know who youre seeing. So we just became really close. RELATED: Netflix Confirms The Kissing Booth 3 Heres When Fans Can Expect the Next Movies Release Despite them getting close, Perez said that things between them were strictly platonic. I love her. I love her dearly. Id do anything for her. Were not dating. Ill end it with that, he said. In a new interview, Perez talked about the rumors again Perez spoke again about his relationship with King on a new episode of the Chicks in the Office podcast. Once again bringing up the fact that they lived near each other and were quarantine buddies, he said that they know what their relationship is. Still, Perez made some heads turn when he seemed to be open to the possibility of him and King actually being a couple. Its been interesting how everyone has been trying to make something out of it but its fine. I mean, hey, I would love to be dating Joey King, shes dope, he added. Is Perez doing some foreshadowing? To add even more fuel to the fire, Perez said that he prefers becoming friends with someone first before getting involved with them romantically. Explaining his position, he said, Im a huge fan of dating your friend, someone that you know and you trust because thats where it all starts right. For me, non-sexual intimacy is so much more important to me at first. Im all about the sensitive stuff. The Kissing Booth fans will surely know that King used to date her other co-star from the film, Jacob Elordi. The couple broke up after the first film was released. Since their break-up, Elordi has been romantically linked to his Euphoria co-star, Zendaya. But when you think about the relationship between Elordi and King and how it began, they were friends first before they started dating. Could things go down a similar path for Perez and King? It is hard to tell, and truly they are the only two who know what is going on. Still, it is interesting that cast members almost always develop friendships first because they have to have a working relationship. It looks like for now, the will they or wont they rumblings amongst fans will continue because Perezs new statements will surely have some of them believing that there is a chance they could be more than friends. In the myriad celebrations of India's independence and the long struggle that led up to it, there's hardly a mention of the cataclysmic mutiny of February 1946 in Bombay. Near the commercial headquarters in south Bombay, on the streets along Colaba, Fort and the docks, lies a part of the subcontinent's history that does not get told often perhaps because it does not fit well into the larger non-violent narrative of India's independence movement. On February 18, 1946, the naval ensign on the signal training ship HMIS Talwar was shockingly lowered and replaced by flags of the Indian National Congress, Muslim League and Communist parties. Thousands of young naval members, called ratings, struck work to raise Quit India slogans. The revolt spread rapidly to 22 naval ships docked at Bombay and offshore barracks. By next morning, ratings on board naval ship Hindustan in Karachi had replicated the revolt, followed by RIN ships as far as Aden, Bahrain, Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam and other ports. In all, 78 ships, nearly 20,000 ratings and 20 shore establishments were part of the mutiny co-ordinated from HMIS Talwar, historical records say. Anti-British slogans resounded on naval ships. Naval chief Admiral John Henry Godfrey reportedly had a hard time communicating with Britain. February 19 saw thousands of ratings leave their posts to come ashore in Colaba and Fort. They were greeted by thousands of civilians who had come in trucks with food for them. They drove around south Bombay in a procession of trucks, civilians and naval men joining their voices to say "Quit India even as some ratings carried portraits of Indian National Army (INA) hero Subhas Chandra Bose. Workers in Bombay's textile mills struck work and the Bombay Students' Union boycotted classes in solidarity. The American flag at the US Information Service in Bombay was torn and burnt. A naval central strike committee was formed. The immediate provocation was the inedible food and coarse language of British officers but the litany ran long. The ratings demanded better work conditions, release of INA soldiers and other political prisoners, withdrawal of troops from Indonesia, equity of service pay, and Indian officers as superiors. On February 18, when ratings began the go-slow on HMIS Talwar, commanding officer Commander HW King had bellowed at them: "Hurry, you sons of coolies and bitches". This insult proved to be the breaking point. Deployment in World War II and continued wars in Southeast Asia had fatigued the ratings, inconsiderate officers made it worse. The INA officers trials conducted at Red Fort had outraged many, banned INA literature had reached naval rating BC Dutt on HMIS Talwar, and airmen of the Royal Air Force had revolted in January 1946 in Karachi. However, unlike the Karachi revolt, the naval mutiny made common cause with national concerns. Its shock-and-awe effect and public support meant it lasted four days. Nearly 225 civilians were killed and more than 1,000 injured in Bombay violence. British Prime Minister Clement Attlee ordered that the mutiny be put down. Admiral Godfrey had fighter planes fly low over Bombay harbour. The strike committee feared that the city would be made to pay a price. Moreover, political support was not forthcoming. National leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi disapproved of the violence, Mohammed Ali Jinnah advised them to resume work, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel assured the committee that its concerns would be part of the political struggle. The Congress was criticised by the Communists, who the Americans believed had orchestrated the mutiny. Eventually, by February 23, all ships surrendered. The mutiny found echoes in a range of popular culture: the late Bollywood lyricist Anand Bakshi was among the ratings in Karachi and was sacked, musician Salil Chowdhury composed a song based on the revolt, late artiste Utpal Dutt wrote the play Kallol based on the mutiny and was later arrested, writer Salman Rushdie poetically described it in his novel The Moor's Last Sigh and Ian Fleming brought Admiral Godfrey whom he had assisted into his famous character M in the Bond series. It was only in 1973 were some of the sailors recognised as freedom fighters and given pension. The mutinys impact was undeniably political. The Indian Naval Report of 1946 by former naval lieutenant Percy S Gourgey noted that it led to "the mounting fever of excitement affecting the whole political climate". Historian Srinath Raghavan wrote that it "was arguably the single-most important event in convincing the British government that it could no longer hold on to India". Seventy-three years ago today India won its freedom from the British, and almost two years after the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny in Bombay, in 1948 the last British troops left India from Bombay. A view shows damaged buildings in the aftermath of a massive explosion in Beirut's port area, Lebanon, on Aug. 13, 2020. Picture taken with a drone. (Bader Helal/Reuters) US Calls for Credible Probe Into Overwhelming Beirut Blast BEIRUTThe United States called on Saturday for a transparent and credible investigation into the massive port blast in Beirut that killed 178 people and said Lebanon could never go back to the days in which anything goes at its ports and borders. The August 4 blast, which the authorities say was caused by more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been unsafely stored at the port for years, injured 6,000 people, ruined entire neighborhoods and left 300,000 homeless. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale speaks to the media after visiting the site of a massive explosion at Beiruts port, Lebanon, August 15, 2020. (Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters) We can never go back to an era in which anything goes at the port or the borders of Lebanon that had to contribute to this situation, said David Hale, U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, after visiting the port. He added that FBI agents would be arriving this weekend, at the invitation of Lebanon, to help investigate what led to the explosion. The blast has fuelled anger at Lebanons ruling politicians who were already facing criticism over a financial meltdown that has sunk the currency, demolished the value of savings, and left depositors unable to withdraw their money. A woman shouts at a member of the army during anti-government demonstrations in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 8, 2020. (Marwan Tahtah/Getty Images) Some Lebanese people doubt the authorities can carry out a proper investigation and say foreign countries should intervene. We cant trust this government. They will lie to us. They should form an international committee to investigate this, said businessman Jimmy Iskandar. President Michel Aoun has said a probe will look into whether the cause of the blast was negligence, an accident, or external interference. They wont do a thing in an investigation and the whole world knows that, said painter Mohammed Khodr, as he helped repair a restaurant damaged in the blast. The heavily armed, Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, said on Friday it would wait for results of the official Lebanese investigation into the blast. But if it turns out to be an act of sabotage by neighboring Israel then it would pay an equal price, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address. Israel has denied any role in the explosion. Nasrallah said his group was against an international investigation because its first purpose would be to distance Israel from any responsibility for this explosion, if it had responsibility. He said the participation of the FBI in an investigation would serve the same purpose. Political Vacuum The explosion has pitched Lebanon into a new political vacuum since the resignation of the government, which had formed in January with the backing of Hezbollah and its allies, including Aoun. Lebanons most senior Christian cleric said the Lebanese people had run out of patience with ruling politicians. In his strongest intervention since the blast, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai said the church reserved the right to veto any proposals that further jeopardize Lebanon. The Maronite church exercises political sway in a country where the head of state must be a Maronite, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite Muslim. The United Nations launched a $565 million aid appeal on Friday. Priorities included stabilizing the grain supply, UN humanitarian coordinator Najat Rochdi said on Saturday, after the explosion destroyed Lebanons only port-based grain silo. Six hospitals and more than 20 health clinics were damaged in the explosion and more than 120 schools destroyed, the UN says. We would like to be able to rebuild the three hospitals that were completely destroyed, Rochdi said. By Michael Georgy and Tom Perry Morgan County Health Department soon will have a center dedicated to contract tracing and COVID-19 response A grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health will fund the endeavor. A space has been rented to house contact tracers and the center is in the process of being established, said Dale Bainter, Morgan County Health Department administrator. It will be semi-autonomous from the health department and will do a majority of the contact tracing and a COVID response, Bainter said. To start, the center will be staffed by five new tracers, in addition to those already on staff. Staff size will expand as the need grows, Bainter said. Those at the center will work with the health department and report to Bainter, and health department staff will continue to be cross-trained to do contact tracing. Well start with upwards of five and itll be scale-able to a larger number as our positive case numbers grow, Bainter said. Services related to the COVID-19 pandemic are provided every day, Bainter said, noting that the center will allow that to continue while taking some burden off of health department staff. Weve been trying to operate seven days a week with our existing staff, Bainter said. As our numbers grow, well need more staff, more people to help with tracing. In addition to housing the contact tracers, the center also will handle additional COVID-19 testing, he said. Itll provide some supplemental testing in the community so testing is readily available, he said. The grant from the state health department will help cover the infrastructure needed to outfit the building for the tracers, including computers, telecommunications other costs linked to the additional staff. The biggest challenge has been establishing infrastructure for the building, Bainter said. While a date for the centers opening hasnt been established, in the meantime, COVID-19-related services remain available through the health department, Bainter said. We want to have services more available to our community, he said. The goal is to have services seven days a week. God help the Belarusian authorities not to have another "Donbas" on their territory, Zelensky stressed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has referred to Belarus' decision to hand over to Russia the group of Wagner Private Military Company troops, earlier detained in Minsk, "unfair, to put it mildly". The head of state took to social networks to post the relevant statement, employing caps lock to stress his point. In my opinion, this is a strange, politically incorrect, and definitely unacceptable thing to do in friendly interstate relations "In my opinion, this is a strange, politically incorrect, and definitely unacceptable thing to do in friendly interstate relations," Zelensky wrote on Facebook. "First, speaking out publicly of Ukraine's alleged interference in Belarus' internal processes. This was definitely not the case. And secondly, PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN DEFINITE INTERFERENCE IN THE AFFAIRS BOTH OF BELARUS AND UKRAINE - primarily Ukraine - ARE DEMONSTRATIVELY HANDED OVER," Zelensky wrote. God help the Belarusian authorities not to have another burning blood-shedding Donbas on their territory that all those Wagner troops are able to create He added that "this is a bad story, in which trust, objectivity, and adequate assessment of the negative consequences were clearly neglected." Zelensky said that Belarus had left without response the appeal of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office to extradite to Kyiv 28 fighters with the Russian PMC, who had been active participants in the war against Ukraine. Read alsoLukashenko makes "choice in favor of Russia": MFA Ukraine reacts to Wagner PMC fighters' extradition"We consider such a decision unfair, to put it mildly, one that doesn't correspond to the spirit of relations between Ukraine and Belarus that are based on the principles of respect and mutual assistance," the president said in the statement. Zelensky warned of "tragic consequences" the decision could entail as Wagner troops will once again get back to their usual thing of "spreading war". "God help the Belarusian authorities not to have another burning blood-shedding Donbas on their territory that all those Wagner troops are able to create," Zelensky stressed. Wagner PMC in Belarus The cat's out of the bag! Dundalk musician Nuala Kennedy has embarked on a new project celebrating the music of her native county Nuala Kennedy, who spent lockdown with her husband and young children in Ennis, Co Clare, says 'This time of quiet has given us more time together as a family for which we are all grateful but I do miss musicking and gallivanting about the globe; a-singin' and a-playin', a-tootin' and a-flutin. I haven't been in one place for this long since I was at St. Vincent's secondary School.' While she has been involved in a number of on-line collaborations with musicians from Ireland and the United States, she is now working on 'Hush the Cat' - a collection of six pieces from the Oriel tradition for solo flute/voice. 'This project, which pays tribute to the music of my native area and its tradition bearers, is also shot through with the lonesome sound of the Great Lockdown 2020. Who knows perhaps it will eventually morph into an EP or album?' she says, Oriel, or Oirialla as Gaeilge, represents area in south-east Ulster comprising north Louth and Armagh 'It's an area rich in music, song and poetry - with a strong influence from our Celtic cousins in Scotland as evidenced in the Donnellan Collection.' 'The Donnellan Collection is a book of tunes collected by Father Luke Donnellan in the late 1800s he preserved dance music of the area and many of the pieces in his collection are Scottish,' explains Nuala. 'An old family friend, Johnny Gallagher, brought it to the attention of my comrade-in-arms Gerry O' Connor many moons ago. Gerry published it as a beautiful book last year.' Now Nuala has released a recording of a tune from the Donnellan collection called 'Hush the Cat' which is available through her social media. 'It's originally written as a reel but I adapted it to jig-time and play it here on the Bflat flute. It's been a real and pleasant challenge working on solo performance during the enforced separation of the pandemic; hearing music and song in a different way and often in a more pensive mood.' The tune is accompanied by a stop-frame animation video featuring frame by frame successive action shots of Miaow-chal Collins and Lucy Luchog. Nuala, who is also a talented visual artist, has designed a tote bag with the 'Hush the Cat' logo which can be purchased through her website along with her music. See www.nualakennedy.com Louisiana drivers will pay the highest prices for auto insurance in the nation next year despite having passed a sweeping tort reform law that was sold as a way to dramatically lower premiums by as much as 25%, an insurance industry executive, who was one of the primary forces behind the legislation, told a panel of primarily Republican businessmen and legislators, who helped pass the new law. Frankly, I think were going to be number one next year, said Jeff Albright, head of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana. He was addressing the Aug. 6 meeting of Louisiana Economic Recovery Task Force, a group of mostly Republican businessmen and legislators put together by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, and Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, to advise lawmakers and advocate policies. Louisiana has had the nations second-highest auto insurance rates the average here is $2,480 annually, according to Business Insider for several years now. But lowering auto insurance rates really wasnt the point of the tort reform legislation signed into law last month, Albright said. After years of trying to pass bills that would limit the ability of individuals seeking recompense from injuries through the courts, tort reformers took a different tack. Strategically, we did something different this year in pressing forward on tort reform, Albright told the panel meeting on a video conference. Historically, weve talked about tort reform from the perspective of we need to improve the business environment, and tort reform is an important part of improving the business environment. We all get that. But it is not really an issue that is going to excite Joe Six-Pack to call their legislator and press for tort reform. And so, the change in strategy was we kind of tied tort reform to automobile insurance this time. +2 John Bel Edwards signs the tort reform bill Though debate and negotiations had gone on for years, a deal on legislation to limit civil trials in hopes of lowering auto insurance rates di Regular people, who don't know much about the complexities of the court system, were excited. Supporters criticized, often harshly, opponents for trying to block an avenue toward lower auto insurance premiums. The other side countered that prices were higher because of what was included in Louisiana ratemaking, such as age, gender, and marital status. Albright contended Louisianas legal system incentivized litigation. The number of wrecks Louisiana drivers have is right in line with the rest of the country as are the number of insurance claims to repair vehicles. But the number of claims for injuries in automobile accidents is about twice the national average, he said. Plus, the states civil justice system promoted settling claims for policy limits, which for 45% of Louisiana drivers is the minimum allowed: $15,000 per person, $30,000 aggregate. Settling every claim promoted the in a wreck, get a check expectation among many, Albright said. That was the dynamic that raised insurance prices. But House Bill 57 by Schexnayder does more than alter how bodily injury torts are handled in the courts it applies to all civil legal actions. Since the 1970s, the insurance industry and business community has pushed state legislatures nationwide to alter how far courts can go to arbitrate disagreements between individuals and companies. Time-consuming and expensive, litigation chills business activity and expansion, proponents argued. Ask the former owners of Bankston Drug Store. As the only drugstore in Fayette, Mississippi, Bankston was sued repeatedly during the 1980s and 1990s in multimillion-dollar lawsuits that were really against big pharmaceutical companies and other national manufacturers. At the time, Mississippi law required a local party to keep a lawsuit before the court in Jefferson County, whose jurors were known to be profligate. Between 1995 and 2000, Mississippi juries returned about 20 verdicts of more than $9 million. Tort reform in Mississippi has since changed the legal framework that allowed that situation. Louisiana businesses and insurers have attempted, with a large measure of success, to change the rules and laws that govern how courts operate. They also had failed in many efforts to overcome opposition from lawyers and judges and, sometimes, health care providers. Starting in 2019, business and insurance interests went all-in with omnibus tort reform bills tied to auto insurance rates. Though the changes brought about by HB57 wont be lowering auto insurance premium prices any time soon, the upside of the coronavirus pandemic is that with less driving comes fewer accidents. State Farm, Progressive, Allstate and Southern Farm Bureau are among the 19 companies that have announced rebates and rate reductions linked to the pandemic. And while Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon predicted Louisianas legislation would lower rates by up to 25%, he is most welcoming to insurers issuing rebates and reducing premiums because of COVID-19 in the meantime. Hundreds of people have been 'smiling with their eyes' over the last fortnight in aid of a charitable cause aimed at supporting the Neuroendocrine Tumour (NET) Clinic at St Vincent's Hospital. The Winters family - Lorna, Justin, Rian and Ella - from Castleconnor in west Sligo have put together an innovative social media campaign which asks people to take a selfie with their mask on and 'smile with their eyes', before nominating four friends to do likewise and donate to the GoFundMe page. Lorna Winters came up with the idea, and was motivated to do so in aid of the NET Clinic due to the rare cancer diagnosis her husband Justin received for the first time in 2017. Justin Winters was diagnosed with a Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Tumour on his bowel, three years ago and underwent surgery on two occasions in 2018, the second time for his gall bladder to be removed. Having made a steady recovery after that operation in October 2018, he returned to work in the middle of 2019 before a routine scan last February revealed four more carcinoid tumours on his spleen, liver and one close to the pancreas. He faces a further surgery in the coming months. It is a very rare diagnosis, and treatment for it is hard to come by. The cancer does not respond to either chemotherapy or radiation, and up until recently the only centre of excellence to treat the condition was located in the Swedish city of Uppsala. However, a centre is being established in Dublin and funds raised from this campaign will go towards its further development. Within the first week, the fundraiser had attracted over 8,000 - a far cry from the 500 target Lorna had set when the campaign launched. "It is a very rare cancer and the diagnosis is very rare as well. They call it the quiet cancer. Justin underwent surgery in January 2018 and again in October 2018 when his gall bladder was removed. He went back to work in June of 2019 and went for his yearly routine scan in February this year which showed a carcinoid tumour on his spleen, two on his liver and one close to the pancreas," Lorna explained to The Sligo Champion. "The cancer is unusual in that it doesn't respond to chemotherapy or radiation, so he has a huge, huge surgery coming up," she added. The idea for the fundraiser came about just under two weeks ago, Lorna said, and once she had the idea, she ran it by her eleven-year-old daughter Ella who came up with the tagline that has caught the imagination of many on social media in recent days and weeks. "Last week we decided, I had a day off on the Friday and I was wondering what we would do," Lorna said of the background to the idea. "I was in the room and saw a face mask lying on the bed, and I thought 'well people were doing selfies for loads of different things before masks, so why not do a mask selfie?'" "So I thought about the idea and I had a chat with my daughter Ella, who is 11, to see what she thought and she said it would be something positive to do, so we went with it. "She came up with the tagline - she said 'Smile in Disguise - Smile with your Eyes' so we shortened it down a little bit to 'Smile with your Eyes'. "We chatted about it at about 8 o'clock in the evening and by the time that we had finished at 11 o'clock it was up and running and we set ourselves a target of 500. Never in a thousand years did we think it would go as big as it has." The response has been extensive and has stretched well beyond the west Sligo and north Mayo communities. It has been primarily advertised through Lorna's own social media channels, but radio interviews, including one with iRadio last week, have helped the campaign reach further than they had ever anticipated. "The response has been phenomenal, it has just taken over. I did the promotion just myself on Facebook and on Instagram as well, I have an account which is called 'Gallivanting with Goldilocks'. That's how it started and I suppose it has just taken off from there." The campaign has also received the support of RTE Northern Editor and Sligo native Tommie Gorman, who was diagnosed with a similar condition in the 1990s. Ms Winters says that Mr Gorman was in touch last week to offer his support to their efforts. For more information, you can visit Smile With Your Eyes on GoFundMe. A judge in Burundi has jailed more than a dozen police officers, local officials and members of the ruling party's violent youth wing after finding them guilty of extorting migrant workers returning from Tanzania, sources told AFP Saturday. The verdict was a hopeful milestone in a country where violence connected to the government often goes unpunished, human rights groups said, and could be a sign that such impunity will be less pervasive under new President Evariste Ndayishimiye. A court in the southern city of Makamba issued jail terms of up to 10 years against 13 defendants -- three police officers, two local officials, one official from the ruling CNDD-FDD political party and seven members of the party's youth wing, known as the Imbonerakure. "Seven of the defendants... were sentenced to 10 years in prison for extortion accompanied by aggravating circumstances," said a judicial source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media on the verdict, which was issued Friday. "Six other defendants were sentenced to five years in prison for extortion while three others, including a police officer, have been acquitted," the source said. The verdict was confirmed by one of the defence lawyers in the case. The accused were arrested in mid-July and accused of extorting money from Burundians who were returning from jobs on farms in neighbouring Tanzania. Human Rights Watch and other organisations have accused the Imbonerakure -- which is often referred to as a militia -- of having killed, tortured and beaten dozens of people during the tumultuous tenure of President Pierre Nkurunziza, who died in office in June. The international community is hoping for a softening of the iron-fisted regime under Nkurunziza's ally and successor, Ndayishimiye. Anschaire Nikoyagize, the president of the Burundian human rights group Iteka, described Friday's verdict as a step in the right direction. "This is the first time that we see one of these groups made up of officials linked to the government and the Imbonerakure, who have been killing and torturing people with impunity for years, arrested and sentenced," Nikoyagize told AFP. "We hope it could serve as a lesson for them. When other (members) see that they can start to get worried too," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Two common variants in the KIF3A gene increase the risk of young children having a dysfunctional skin barrier and developing the skin condition atopic dermatitis. This, in turn, can allow environmental exposures to more easily cross the skin barrier and contribute to the development of food allergies and asthma as they grow up. These findings, led by scientists at Cincinnati Children's, were published online Aug. 14, 2020, in Nature Communications. The first author was Mariana Stevens, PhD, and the senior corresponding author was Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD, Director, Division of Asthma Research. The study sheds new light on the genetic and molecular mechanisms at work in atopic dermatitis, a common condition (also known as eczema) that affects as many as 20 percent of all children. Although eczema usually resolves as children age, many children with disrupted skin barriers go on to develop more severe conditions including asthma and food allergies. The study findings could make it easier to identify which children with eczema are most likely to progress to other allergic conditions. This would allow lifestyle interventions and other preventive therapies to be targeted toward high-risk children. The study also suggests a new target for potential treatment. Food allergies are rising and the causes are not entirely clear. This study adds evidence to a rising theory that skin health is more closely connected to lung and gut health than many have suspected." Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD, Director, Division of Asthma Research Two tiny SNPs play big roles in skin health A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is a common genetic variation in a DNA sequence. In this study, researchers found two SNPs in the KIF3A gene that were confirmed through a series of experiments in children, as well as preclinical studies in mice, to play direct roles in developing eczema. These SNPs (rs11740584 and rs2299007) are linked to increased water loss through the skin, dry skin and the characteristic damage seen in atopic dermatitis. Measuring the rate of this type of water loss is one method for determining how severe a child's eczema may be. Proper function of the KIF3A gene is important because it helps cells form their primary cilia, a structure on cell surfaces that acts as an antenna to receive important signal information from other cells. Previous studies led by experts at Cincinnati Children's and others have already shown that malfunctioning KIF3A in lung tissue can lead to asthma. Likewise, malfunctions of the same gene in gut tissues can increase risk of food allergies. Now, this study helps connect both of these allergy risks to a damaged skin barrier, which allows more allergy-triggering substances to get inside our bodies to prompt immune system over-reactions. "We are working to better understand how skin, gut and lung health are connected. In fact, we have a grant from the National Institutes of Health to further study this connection," Hershey says. Development underway for screening test The research team at Cincinnati Children's has begun searching for drug compounds that might someday be useful in restoring the disrupted functions of the KIF3A gene. But the first next step based on this study will be to continue an ongoing hunt for a rapid screening test. The new study in Nature Communications builds on findings from two other studies published earlier this year from Cincinnati Children's scientists. In February, a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reported that the allergy risk posed by atopic dermatitis was higher than having a parent with allergic disease. Then in April, a study in the same journal demonstrated the value of using pain-free tape stripping as a less-invasive tool than skin biopsies for gathering data about skin health. The goal, Hershey says, would be to use skin tape strip samples to quantify KIF3A expression as a possible tool for predicting disease risk. The team is studying this approach in a group of 600 children from the Cincinnati region who were identified with atopic dermatitis early in life. This group, the first cohort of its kind in the US, will be followed for five years to directly evaluate the ability of KIF3A genetic variations and skin expression to predict disease risk. - Police Minister Bheki Cele has said that the Cabinet would meet on Saturday ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's address to the nation - The government is under a lot of pressure to open up the economy and lift the ban on cigarettes and alcohol - Ramaphosa is expected to announce that the country will be moving to lockdown level 2 tonight but this has not been confirmed PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Police Minister Bheki Cele has said that the Cabinet would meet on Saturday, the government is under a great deal of pressure to ease lockdown restrictions. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to make an announcement on Saturday, in which he will explain what the next phase of the lockdown will entail for South Africa. Many believe that the president will announce that South Africa will move to lockdown level 2. READ ALSO: Somizi Mhlongo selflessly helps fan out with a few suits and shoes Cele would not reveal any details of the meeting on Saturday: I know Cabinet will be meeting tomorrow and I will be presumptious and arrogant to say what the Cabinet will say tomorrow, said Cele. Political parties are putting a lot of pressure on Ramaphosa to open up the economy and move the country to level 2 lockdown according to IOL. Cabinet is set to meet before President Ramaphosa addresses South Africa. Photo credit: Facebook/@South African Government Source: Facebook READ ALSO: The Khunes: 5 times Itu & Sphelele served up major relationship goals Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has asked Cabinet to consider extending the Declaration of the National State of Disaster. Her department confirmed that the proposal was received by Cabinet which is currently considering the submission. The one-month extension of the Declaration is set to expire on 15 August at midnight after being invoked on 27 March at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. In other news, Democratic Alliance interim leader John Steenhuisen has once again called for an immediate end to the Covid-19 national lockdown. In a statement issued on Friday, Steenhuisen explained that millions of South Africans are running the risk of losing their income due to the restrictions: Millions of livelihoods are in peril as thousands of businesses cannot plan for the immediate future, and every day more and more of them are taking the heart-breaking decision to close their doors." With so much at stake, the opposition leader wondered how SA's president was so silent on the subject: As far as making critical and urgent decisions right now to save our economy, which is fast collapsing thanks to a self-inflicted lockdown crisis, he is nowhere to be seen." Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly News Iowans have endured the unimaginable, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said Friday, as the state tries to recover from Mondays derecho. The violent thunderstorm which struck with the force of a Category 2 hurricane with little warning lasted 14 hours with wind speeds that reached 140 miles an hour. It devastated scores of communities in the Hawkeye State, and Cedar Rapids, a city of more than 125,000 people, was among the hardest hit. Most homes and businesses sustained damage, trees and wires are down everywhere, roads are blocked, and hospitals are overrun. A developers request to change zoning laws to pave the way for a new grocery store has not received a favorable recommendation. Bethlehems Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend that Bethlehem City Council not accept a proposed zoning text amendment that would add grocery stores as a permitted use in the citys institutional zoning districts. The request comes from developer Abe Atiyeh, under the company name Bethlehem Manor Village LLC, which owns property at the intersection of Center Street and Dewberry Avenue. Every year on 15th August the nation celebrates Independence Day to commemorate the day on which India got its freedom from the British rule. This year also people are taking to social media platforms to express themselves on this special day. Dairy cooperative Amul has now joined the celebration with a creative doodle to wish everyone a Happy Independence Day. Taking to both Twitter and Instagram they shared an image featuring the iconic Amul girl. Take a look at what they shared: Since being shared less than an hour ago, the post has gathered more than 1,400 likes and counting. Amuls tweet has also gathered more than 1,100 likes. From writing Happy Independence Day to praising their creativity, people shared various replies. HAPPY Day HIND JAI VANDE MATRAM pic.twitter.com/9P1kGq3uf8 Priya (@Chhoti17priya) August 15, 2020 Amul greetings are truly Anmol !!... Amul definitely knows best , where its bread is buttered Sher-lok Om s (@LalkaTaxService) August 15, 2020 Jai Hind, Jai Hind Hind Ki Sena Sunil Nair (@sunilemobility) August 15, 2020 Vande Mataram. rkam (@rajanivkamath) August 15, 2020 What do you think of Amuls Independence Day post? Also Read | Independence Day 2020: Heres how Twitter is celebrating Indias 74 years of Independence Afghan officials say a member of the government's team tasked with negotiating with the Taliban has survived an assassination attempt. A vehicle carrying Fawzia Koofi, a lawmaker and women's rights activist, was attacked by gunmen late on August 14 along a highway in the Qarabagh district of Kabul Province, said Masoom Stanekzai, Kabuls chief peace negotiator. Stanekzai said Koofi sustained minor injuries, but that "she is in good condition and there is nothing to worry about." Koofi, a vocal critic of the Taliban, is part of the governments 21-member team that will lead talks with the militants. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, although similar incidents in the past have been blamed on the Taliban. Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, a body tasked with leading peace negotiations with the Taliban, on August 15 "strongly condemned the assassination attempt" on Koofi. Abdullah called on the government to "identify and apprehend the culprits and possible motive for the attack." The incident came as the Afghan government and the Taliban prepare to launch long-delayed peace talks in Qatar, where the militant group has a political office. The intra-Afghan talks could start as early as next week. The breakthrough came after President Ashraf Ghani said he would release 400 Taliban militants, the final part of a major prisoner swap. The government on August 14 released the first batch of militants, many of whom have been convicted of deadly attacks on Afghans and foreigners. A deal between the Taliban and the United States signed in February called for Kabul to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners. 90 Day Fiance star Nicole Nafziger cant catch a break with fans of the popular TLC series. After receiving criticism for months because she was in Morocco with fiance Azan Tefou, Nicole finally returned home to Florida to be with her five-year-old daughter, May. Now, fans are claiming that Nicole put her daughters life in danger. The 90 Day Fiance stars 2-week trip turned into 5 months Nicole saved every dollar she could from her Starbucks paycheck and headed to Morocco to visit Azan in early March. She was supposed to stay for two weeks, so she left May in Florida with her mom, Robbalee. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit just days after she arrived in North Africa, and Nicoles trip lasted a lot longer than she had planned. She claimed she couldnt get out of the country because of Moroccos international travel ban. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Nicole Nafzigers Extended Stay With Azan May Cost Her More Than Just Time With Her Daughter The U.S. Embassy was offering special flights for Americans to get home that didnt have to be paid for upfront. But Nicole remained in Morocco with Azan for five months, and that caused serious backlash from fans. They were convinced that she had abandoned May and had chosen a man over her daughter. On Sunday, August 9, the 26-year-old told her 641K Instagram followers that she was finally flying home to see May. According to ScreenRant, Nicole documented her trip to the airport in her Instagram Story with Azan by her side. Nicole Nafziger has finally reunited with her daughter After five months away from May, Nicole finally returned home to Bradenton, Florida on Monday, August 10 and reunited with her daughter. Its clear that Nicole is happy to be home with May, and the mother-daughter duo appear to be spending every minute together. Nicole has already posted a number of pics and videos of the five-year-old since her return to America. May helping make my eggs this morning, wrote Nicole in the caption of a video. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Nicole Nafziger Admits to Being a Bad Mom Still Wont Confirm When She Will Come Home Another post featured May brushing her moms hair. May also modeled a souvenir that her mom brought home a pink t-shirt that read I Morocco, complete with a cartoon camel. Despite accusations from fans that Nicole abandoned her daughter, Robbalee has made it clear thats not the case. There was no abandonment, Robbalee said last month. [May] is getting to spend time with her grandparents while her mommy is away. There is a lot more to this story than a simple answer. The 90 Day Fiance stars reunion with her daughter has fans losing their minds After fans begged her for months to return home to her daughter, Nicole finally flew back to Florida. Still, many fans are not happy. This time around, Nicole angered fans by choosing to reunite with her daughter at the airport when she got off the plane. She shared a selfie of the sweet moment and wrote in the caption that she was so happy to be home with her baby girl. The issue according to her many critics is that Nicole didnt quarantine for two weeks after traveling internationally. Comments came pouring in about how COVID cases in children have gone up and Nicole should be worried about endangering her child. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Nicole Nafziger Angers Fans for Posting Clickbait, Rather Than Return to the US and Her Daughter Dont you think quarantining yourself for an appropriate amount of time first wouldve been the responsible thing to do? wrote one critic. While another added, Abandons daughter for six months then hugs all over her after being in four different airports lmao mom of the year over here. Fans also took aim at Nicole after she posted a photo with her brand new niece. In the photo, she is holding the newborn extremely close and is not wearing a mask. New episodes of the 90 Day Fiance franchise air Sunday and Monday nights on TLC. South Korean soldiers during the joint South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise in this August 2017 photo. Yonhap South Korea and the United States plan to kick off a scaled-back annual summertime combined exercise next week, days behind schedule amid a recent surge in new coronavirus cases, sources said Saturday. The computer-simulated command post exercise was initially set to begin Sunday and run until Aug. 28, but the start will be pushed back two days, the sources said, adding, however, that it will end on the planned date. The change came after South Korean Army officer who was supposed to take part in the exercise tested positive for the coronavirus Friday after meeting with an infected civilian last week. Around 160 members of the military were found to have had close contact with the officer and are undergoing virus tests, according to the Ministry of National Defense. The government reported 166 new COVID-19 patients Saturday, a five-month high, mostly in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. "We are closely monitoring the virus situation and other circumstances, and maintaining close consultation on conducting the exercise while prioritizing the safety of service members," a military officer said. Whether and how to conduct the regular exercise have been a focus of attention, as a springtime drill was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two countries decided to go ahead with the summertime exercise but in an adjusted manner, as American troops necessary for the program were not able to come to South Korea due to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, according to the officials. In the run-up to the exercise, the two allies held four days of crisis management training this week. The upcoming exercise is meant to maintain their joint readiness posture and to check if Seoul is on course to meet the conditions to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) of its forces from Washington, according to the officials. The two sides are expected to carry out a Full Operational Capability (FOC) test during the exercise, although a complete assessment is not possible under the current conditions. Last year, the two sides conducted an initial operational capability (IOC) test, and their defense ministers decided to move on to the FOC test. Following the FOC test, the two sides will carry out a Full Mission Capability (FMC) test, the officials said. (Yonhap) A young coronavirus survivor has revealed she is still suffering serious effects from the virus weeks later. Tina Dinh fell ill on Sunday, July 26 and was rushed to hospital by ambulance three days later, after her headaches, chills, nausea and fever became overwhelming. The 26-year-old spent over a week in the Intensive Care Unit struggling to breathe and struggling for survival. With the help of a team of doctors and nurses Ms Dinh eventually recovered and was even released from hospital last week. However, some horrible side-effects still linger, she told The Herald Sun. 'I have COVID taste in my mouth it has a metallic taste and it just doesn't go away. I even woke up at 4am this morning just to brush my teeth because I couldn't deal with it.' Tina Dinh, 26, has described waking up on a ventilator in a terrifying tale of surviving COVID-19 Ms Dinh said it was a terrifying experience to be breathing normally, and then have everything change so quickly Her case has been linked to the Bertocchi Smallgoods cluster where her mother works as a casual employee and has also tested positive for coronavirus. Ms Dinh described losing her sense of smell and taste and being plagued by constant chills before she was rushed to Footscray Hospital in Melbourne. After improving overnight she was sent home but the virus continued attacking her system and paramedics were called to return her to the hospital. She said her relapse happened very quickly and paramedics arrived in the nick of time after her oxygen levels plunged to a dangerous 84 per cent. 'I can't even describe it. It is the most terrifying feeling because you don't understand why. You are trying to do everything you can with your mouth and your nose, you are trying to gasp in the air, but nothing is going in. It is like suffocating.' COVID-19 is understood to affect the ability of the respiratory system to supply the bloodstream with oxygen. She contracted the virus from her parents after an outbreak spread among workers on July 17 at the Bertocchi Smallgoods factory (pictured) in Melbourne's northern suburbs Ms Dinh was placed in an induced coma and put on a ventilator by a team of 10 specialists. Four days later she awoke to to find herself sealed in a plastic bubble in the intensive care unit with every part of her body marked from tests and injections. She credited the doctors and nurses with saving her life but also learned her father was in his own serious battle with the virus and had been placed on life support. She said lying in hospital looking through her phone and seeing news of people protesting the lockdowns made her furious. She has now been home from hospital for a week but is still positive for COVID-19 and has pneumonia with doctors telling her it will take months to recover. But she realises she is fortunate with the news on Friday that a Melbourne man in his 20s died from the virus. Despite her weak strength, she says she cannot walk or even sit up for long on her own, her focus is now on her father's recovery. She said both her and her mother speaks to him over video each day and the nurses have told them he hears them and is desperately trying to respond. He will be woken and the ventilator removed in the next few days with the family hoping he will make a recovery. MINSK -- Thousands of Belarusians have staged a seventh day of peaceful protests against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's disputed reelection and a harsh crackdown that has drawn international outrage. Opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for peaceful rallies on August 15-16, after she was forced to leave the country for neighboring Lithuania after disputing Lukashenkas claim to a landslide victory. A few thousand people gathered outside the Minsk studios of Belarusian state radio and television, peacefully chanting slogans as a few soldiers stood on the other side of the perimeter fence. The protesters urged state-media journalists to "respect" their audiences. A state television lighting technician, Uladzimer Tsitarenka, told RFE/RL that "nearly 80 percent" of the technical staff were ready to join a general strike to protest the election. "Everything will be decided on Monday," he said. Earlier in the day, thousands of people gathered near the Pushkinskaya subway station in the capital, Minsk, in honor of Alyaksandr Taraykouski, a 34-year-old demonstrator who died there on August 10 and whose funeral is being held on August 15. People held flowers and raised their fists as they held a moment of silence. Passing cars honked in solidarity with the protesters, who waved national red-and-white flags and chanted Tsikhanouskaya's name. Taraykouski's family urged protesters not to attend the church service and instead gather near the subway station where he died. Despite the plea, hundreds gathered outside the church service waving flags and photos of Taraykouski. Hundreds of others entered the hall, where the ceremony took place, to lay flowers and wreaths. After the funeral, people were clapping and shouting "Glory to the hero!" and "Long live Belarus!" At least two people have been killed and thousands detained in protests since the controversial August 9 election that saw Lukashenka, in power since 1994, declared the winner. The demonstrators have witnessed unprecedented scenes on the streets of Minsk and other cities, energizing opposition to Lukashenka despite a brutal crackdown. Some 6,700 people were detained in the first days afer the election, with those rounded up describing horrible conditions in detention facilities, beatings, and other mistreatment. More than 2,000 people who were detained during protests have been released. Around 5,000 people held a rally in the western city of Hrodna, with protesters waving national flags and holding balloons saying "Lukashenka resign." During the rally in Hrodna's Lenin Square, protesters chanted "Lukashenka, go away." The rallies on August 15 came a day after Tsikhanouskaya urged her supporters to continue ongoing protests into the weekend. "Belarusians will never want to live with the previous government again. The majority do not believe in his victory," she said in a video on August 14. "Defend our choice." A "March for Freedom" is planned in central Minsk on August 16. Scenes of violent detentions and police beatings in the days after the vote morphed into a euphoric sense that change may be possible on August 14 as tens of thousands took to the streets without major police violence, creating what Belarusian political analyst Dzmitry Bolkunets described as the "beginning of national jubilation." "Protesters have lost their fear, they are not afraid of reprisals," Bolkunets told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Flower-waving women dressed in white, workers striking at state companies, doctors, students, and Belarusians of every stripe are joining protests. Even some law enforcement officials have gone on strike or refused to work. The nationwide protests pose the biggest challenge yet to Lukashenka's 26-year rule. Lukashenka discussed the mass street protests rocking his country with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15 as the strongman faces growing pressure to step down. The Kremlin said that during their conversation the two leaders agreed that the "problems" in Belarus would be "resolved soon." During a televised meeting with government officials on August 14, Lukashenka urged Belarusians not to attend the protests, claiming that the opposition wanted "to use you and your children as cannon fodder." Demonstrators are demanding that the election results be invalidated, that a new election be held under a new Central Election Commission, and that all political prisoners be released. The election commission declared Lukashenka the winner of the election with some 80 percent of the vote. Tsikhanouskaya says she won 60-70 percent. WATCH: More than 20,000 peaceful protesters flooded into Minsk's Independence Square on August 14 to demonstrate against the presidential election and call for an end to police brutality against protesters. The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania earlier called on Belarus to conduct a new, "free and fair" vote after the disputed August 9 election. Postelection Crackdown In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent. In a joint statement on August 15, the three Baltic states urged Belarus to refrain from violence and release political prisoners and detained protesters. They also called for European Union sanctions on those responsible for the violence. The European Union on August 14 ratcheted up pressure on Lukashenka by agreeing to prepare new sanctions on those responsible for the violence and falsification of the vote. "The European Union considers the results to have been falsified and therefore does not accept the results of the election," EU foreign ministers said. Tsikhanouskaya said that she was initiating the creation of a "Coordination Council" for a potential transition of power. With reporting by Current Time and TASS Stephan Francis will spend the next four years in jail for having a loaded AR-15 rifle and f Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin James Pheby with AFP bureaus (Agence France-Presse) London Sat, August 15, 2020 13:58 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e3f691 2 News United-Kingdom,travel,travelers,Europe Free Thousands of UK holidaymakers scrambled to get home to beat new restrictions on arrivals from European countries as a second wave of virus infections threatened more disruption and economic chaos on the continent. France and the Netherlands were removed from a list of quarantine-exempt countries Friday, sparking a rush for plane, train and ferry ticket by Britons hoping get home before 4am (0300 GMT) Saturday, after which arrivals will have to self-isolate for 14 days. France is facing a resurgent wave of the disease that emerged in China late last year and has so far infected over 21 million people and killed more than 750,000 around the world. Authorities in France have reported more than 2,500 new cases for the past three days -- levels not seen since May. One British couple said they had spent nearly 1,000 pounds (1,105 euros) to make it home via Eurostar from central France. "I went to bed last night thinking it was all OK, woke up at 7 a.m. to find we had to get back here pretty sharpish," Stuart Buntine told the PA news agency. Neighboring Spain said it would close all nightclubs and ban smoking in the street where people are unable to stay at a safe distance, after the country reported almost 3,000 cases in 24 hours on Thursday. Germany added all of Spain except the Canary Islands to its list of regions where incoming travelers must show a negative test for COVID-19 or quarantine for 14 days. Austria urged its citizens to return from popular Mediterranean destination Croatia before similar rules come into effect on Monday, while Serbia introduced mandatory testing for travelers from four neighboring countries. And thousands of Albanians queued in their cars at the Greek border, hoping to squeeze across and return to work before tougher entry requirements designed to brake mounting infections come into effect. Some people had been waiting for three days in the 20-kilometre (12-mile), 4,000-car jam, an Albanian police source said. The US Department of Homeland Security also said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout most of September "to slow the spread" of the disease. Read also: UK will be ruthless over quarantine, Johnson says when asked about France Cross-Channel scramble French student Antoine, 23, had to rush back to Bristol, in southwestern England where he is at university, cutting short his summer holidays. "I'm a waiter in a small cafe near college, I can't afford to spend 14 days in the house," he said at London's St Pancras railway station after getting off a Eurostar train. French holidaymakers in the UK will be faced with tough choices of their own, as Paris swiftly announced a "reciprocal measure", although it was unclear when that might be imposed. The Netherlands said it would advise against all but essential travel to Britain, but will not impose a quarantine of its own for incoming travelers. A slew of data Friday revealed the scale of the economic impact of the virus and punishing lockdowns, with Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark all booking hefty hits to GDP in April-June. Denmark and Hungary both reported their worst slumps since the early 1990s and Poland entered its first recession since the end of the communist era. All eyes on vaccines Hopes to break the cycle of outbreaks and lockdowns have turned to a vaccine, with Britain saying Friday it has secured access to another 90 million doses of two "promising" vaccines. Vietnam meanwhile said it was looking to buy a bulk order of Russia's "Sputnik" vaccine, although Western scientists have raised concerns about the speed of its development and suggested that researchers might be cutting corners. And Washington said it would distribute any vaccine proven to be effective to all Americans for free. Mexico said it and Argentina aim to have a vaccine available for Latin America -- now the region with the worst virus toll and most cases -- early next year under a production agreement with drug giant AstraZeneca. New Zealand is battling its second outbreak of infections and extended a lockdown of its largest city Auckland by at least 12 days, giving health authorities more time to trace and contain a variant of the virus previously unseen in the country. The Pacific island nation's initial response to the pandemic was hailed a success, but a run of 102 days with no reported community transmission ended on Tuesday. The country has now detected a cluster of 30 virus cases, and genomic tests indicated the latest infections were not the same strain of coronavirus recorded earlier this year. MasterGraphics, Inc announced today a strategic partnership with D3 Technologies Springfield, MO. MasterGraphics will merge D3s 3D Systems and 3D Platform Printer business into MasterGraphics existing HP 3D print portfolio. D3 will take a significant stake in MasterGraphics as a minority shareholder. MasterGraphics will continue their focus on 3D print with an exclusive partnership with D3 Technologies to provide their clients with industry leading 3D print solutions. MasterGraphics has provided innovative print technology to the engineering and design community for over 70 years; ensuring clients have best-in-class processes for leveraging both 2D and 3D printing. MasterGraphics has been in the Additive Manufacturing space since 2008 and is focused on partnering with clients to leverage 3D print to decrease time to market, improve innovation, and reduce cost. This partnership creates a mutually beneficial relationship that will better support our clients with their additive manufacturing goals. While D3 will focus on Design Technologies & Innovation, MasterGraphics will solely be focusing on the ever-growing 3D Print market. We are excited to leverage the strengths of both companies and expand our region of focus while also adding 3D Systems to our portfolio. Further, we will be bringing HPs revolutionary Multi Jet Fusion 3D print technology to D3s partners to help accelerate true additive manufacturing adoption. While we will aide clients with the proper technology for 3D print, D3 will partner with them to leverage new design techniques needed to unlock the true value of 3D printing. Together, D3 and MasterGraphics combined expertise will help move the manufacturing industry forward and spur true innovation. -Kevin Carr, President of MasterGraphics D3 Technologies is a group of Manufacturing Business & Technology Consultants, focused on enabling companies to implement the most intelligent 3D engineering and design technologies into their product development process. We are excited to join forces with MasterGraphics to improve the expertise and solution set we can bring to our clients around additive manufacturing. With our exclusive and strategic partnership, our partners will now have access to industry leading technologies from both 3D Systems and HP. Kevin Schlack, President D3 Technologies As a result of this integrated approach, both companies expect exponential growth and operational efficiencies. About MasterGraphics MasterGraphics was founded over 70 years ago and has provided innovative technology to the design community in the Midwestern United States. Leveraging CAD data has defined their mission to provide the most advanced technology to their clients ensuring they have best-in-class solutions for leveraging both two-dimensional and three-dimensional printing. MasterGraphics headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, has evolved with the advancements in design and manufacturing. One pillar of their expertise is to offer the latest in wide format printing for CAD documents. This print process has evolved from blueprints to todays engineering printers that output CAD drawings in color. The second pillar is implementing the latest in 3D print from initial concept stage prototypes to manufactured goods. See a full list of MasterGraphics offerings and services at: http://www.mastergraphics.com So thats that. We can finally let go of the hope that Harry and Meghan will wake up one morning and decide to return to dear old Blighty to do any kind of actual Royal toil. Sure, Meghan has claimed that the Sussexes will always be Royalty but her actions say something very different. By shelling out 11 million on a cosy little estate in Santa Barbara, by embracing US electoral politics and by implicitly sanctioning a book that shames her in-laws, Meghan has irreversibly deserted an institution that to her has no purpose or even existence beyond service to Queen and country. We probably shouldnt blame her, or at least not her alone. Theoretically, and against the odds, the Sussexes novel plan for the future might just have worked, just. But, as so often with the drama that surrounds the modern Royal Family, when it comes to the big scenes, too few of the leading players can make the jump from good intentions to good, effective, real-life actions. Unwittingly, Meghan may have sent a message to the Windsors that its time to break their suicidal habits while they still can. When the Sussex experiment is properly investigated as it should be, by a conscientious Palace management then deep-rooted complacency, conceit and confusion will surely all be found among the culprits. Complacency is endemic in the British Royal machine. Not that its dedicated, educated, liberal-minded servants dont work hard or efficiently they obviously do but it has a fatal capacity for moral inertia when one of its big names is in trouble. We can finally let go of the hope that Harry and Meghan will wake up one morning and decide to return to dear old Blighty to do any kind of actual Royal toil Think of Prince Andrew, now twisting on rope paid out over years by a Palace elite that failed to take early preventive action. Think of Princess Diana, cast adrift by her husbands adultery and left to swim or sink by her own efforts. Now think of Team Sussex, a geyser of naive energy that nobody dared curb for fear of getting scalded. As for conceit in Royal circles its as ubiquitous as red carpet. In the age of Twitter and individually curated Windsor websites, it may be the easiest Royal sin to fall into. Centuries of deference have hampered the uphill task all Royal people face of distinguishing between their genuine talents and the superpowers wished upon them by friends, paid sycophants and a mercurial media. But that sliver of self- awareness is their lifeline, a critical 21st Century Royal survival skill. By co-operating even tacitly with authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Harry and Meghan revealed once and for all the depth of their own conceit. Why else allow such invasion of their own privacy and, damningly, the privacy of other family members? The books real significance is what it tells us about the Sussexes view of themselves Criticism of Finding Freedom is easy to find and much of it is justified. However, the books real significance is what it tells us about the Sussexes view of themselves. That its also a glutinous vision of excess, indulgence and self-regard shot through with a sour ribbon of passive aggression is irrelevant. If you want to understand how Harry and Meghan perceive the world and their importance to its future, this book is essential reading. Ploughing through it is like chugging a full carton of Ben & Jerrys. You know its bad for you but you cant stop. Its depressing materialism and greeting-card philosophies might distract from the garbled Americanisms, or that it reads as if it had been proof-read on a Friday afternoon by a bored intern. Just reflect, however: any Royal person can commit this sort of self-harming self-exposure, but most do not. If you ever read this book, youll understand why. Harrys mother tried it, and suffered the consequences. Already the Sussexes are denying their complicity, as if anybody would be fooled by the authors wide-eyed protestations that they received little direct help. It would be understandable if Harry and Meghan now regretted the book, particularly as they apply for membership of the West Coast elite. For the moment, the Sussexes are exciting novelties a real dook and duchess! but have they got what it takes to thrive in such mercenary new surroundings? Though Meghans screen character Rachel Zane might demur, Suits doesnt really cut it among the A-list allies they will need to recruit, befriend and endlessly cultivate. Then there is the blatant contradiction at the heart of the Sussexes drive to advocate fashionable causes. As former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter put it: It is hard for the couple to lecture people about the state of the planet when theyre flying in private planes, living in a 14-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion and living off the state. Since that humbling verdict, Harry and Meghans mission has continued to evolve into something that blurs the contradiction implicit in being a rich and titled social justice warrior, recently summarised by one interviewer as using privilege for change. They have also moved to a more modest establishment, mustering only nine bedrooms, though the bathroom count is up from 12 to 16. It is, allegedly, a terrific investment but, for a couple so willing to share the intimacies of their private lives with Scobie and Durand, Harry and Meghan are strangely reticent on matters of finance. You might think they would maintain a decent silence, at least until the cost of Frogmore Cottage is reimbursed to the taxpayer. And here we reach confusion. British Royal neutrality in anything political is legendary, obligatory and rooted in self-interest. The Windsors constitutional raison detre is as a force of continuity, a focus of national unity hovering high above the cesspit of party politics. Lose that lofty incorruptibility and soon the peasantry will be asking why their taxes go towards keeping this privileged family in such astonishing luxury. And why it is obligatory to regard them as super-enlightened in everything from town planning to elephant migration. Its a delicate contract, one which the benign mass of the British public are happy to honour. Usually. Patrick Jephson was equerry and private secretary to HRH The Princess of Wales from 1988 to 1996 Until, that is, a disturbingly confident, independent incomer such as Meghan makes us ask what really holds up the magnificent, tottering facade of the monarchy. Granted, she may be labouring under a few delusions about her own importance and might secretly be playing a longer game for American audiences. Perhaps she had wearied of her husband being number six in a mouldy hierarchical anachronism and high-tailed it back to her native California in a miff of hurt feelings and scented candles, taking an heir to the throne along with her (dont worry, we have plenty more). Her parting gift to the people who paid for her wedding and her marital home was to say that she would never set foot in anything Royal again. There are plenty whod like to hold her to this promise. Yet the wise will also contemplate a bleak Windsor future in which dire Royal finances, a scandal-hit Prince Andrew, a controversial future Queen and a looming change of reign may together conspire to make the Sussexes flight to the Golden State look positively prescient. We might have lost Meghan and Harry to the higher calling of American identity politics and the pursuit of social justice. We might mock their propagandists Scobie and Durand and scoff at the weird, infantilised world of Finding Freedom. We may even snigger at what anyone might get up to in all those Santa Barbara bathrooms. But, if we honestly think the Markle interlude has nothing to teach the British and their monarchy, be in no doubt, the last laugh will be on us. Remember the inertia that has so damaged the Crown in the recent past. Think of the bright-eyed, mixed-race commoner who came and saw and ran away. Its just possible, if they heed the warning, that Harry and Meghan may be just the shock the Windsors needed. Flipkart and Amazon's interest in delivering alcohol in India marks a bold move to make inroads into an alcohol market that is worth $27.2 billion. Walmart's e-commerce platform Flipkart has partnered with a startup backed by spirits giant Diageo to deliver alcohol in two Indian states, according to government letters seen by Reuters, months after Amazon planned a similar foray. Flipkart and Amazon's interest in delivering alcohol in India marks a bold move to make inroads into an alcohol market that is worth $27.2 billion, according to estimates by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. The local governments of eastern West Bengal and Odisha states have said that Flipkart can be associated as a technology service provider of Diageo-backed HipBar, an Indian alcohol home delivery mobile application. Flipkart's customers will be allowed to access HipBar's application on the e-commerce giant's platforms, according to the letters, which have not previously been reported. Under the arrangement, Flipkart customers will be able to place orders for their favourite tipple, which HipBar will then deliver after collecting products from retail outlets, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. HipBar, 26% owned by Diageo India, and Flipkart did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In June, Reuters reported that Amazon had secured clearance to deliver alcohol in West Bengal, signalling the US e-commerce giant's foray into the sector. "Flipkart wants to make sure that whatever consumers want, they get it. The margins (on liquor deliveries) maybe low, but for Flipkart it is about stickiness so consumer don't have to anywhere else," said a source close to Flipkart. West Bengal is India's fourth most populous state, with a population of more than 90 million people, while Odisha's population is more than 41 million. Some states in India, like Gujarat in the west, prohibit alcohol retail. India's top two food-delivery startups, Swiggy and Zomato, have also started delivering alcohol in some cities, as companies look to cash in on the high demand for booze from people staying at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Amazon on Friday also said it will launch an online pharmacy in India that will serve the southern city of Bengaluru. Shoppers in India are increasingly going online to buy everything from groceries to electronics during the pandemic. In Spain, the health minister announced Friday a new set of restrictions to contain a surge in coronavirus cases. Minister Salvador Illa said all discos and night clubs will be closed across the country. He also said smoking in public areas would be banned if smokers are unable to stay at least two meters from other people. Spanish authorities have recorded nearly 50,000 cases over the past two weeks, an average of about 3,500 new cases a day. Canada, which first announced the border restrictions in March, made the announcement one day after Mexico announced similar restrictions for its border with the U.S. Canada has more than 123,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and more than 9,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. In contrast, the U.S. has more than 5.2 million cases, one-fourth of all the cases worldwide, and more than 167,000 deaths, according to Hopkins. Canada announced Friday that the border it shares with the U.S. will remain closed to non-essential travel for another month as the U.S. continues to lead the world in COVID-19 deaths and coronavirus infections. Many Canadians remain concerned about reopening the border after Canada successfully flattened its epidemic curve. Meanwhile, a glitch in California's COVID-19 reporting system undercounted the state's cases by as many as 300,000 cases, state officials say. According to a New York Times database Friday, California is the first U.S. state to reach more than 600,000 COVID-19 cases, with almost 11,000 deaths. On Thursday, California reported 7,911 new cases and 187 deaths. The nation's top infectious disease expert said he had hoped the U.S. would be in a better place by now with the coronavirus. "We certainly are not where I hoped we would be, we are in the middle of very serious, historic pandemic," Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a National Geographic panel discussion Thursday. Even though President Donald Trump said this week he expects the outbreak to be in "good shape... in a very short period of time," Fauci said the number of cases will continue to rise unless federal and state governments can work together. "That's the thing that Im concerned about because I believe we can, we have within our power to be able to get that down," he said. There has been no single coordinated strategy between Washington and the states on how to fight the outbreak. Some states have mask mandates and are continuing restrictions, while others do not require masks in public places and have eased the rules on social gatherings. Some states are seeing the number of cases rise while such hot spots as Arizona, California and Florida are improving and are "having now, less deaths, less hospitalizations, less cases," Fauci said. Fauci has said that the coronavirus will likely never go away but that health officials can work to bring it down to "low levels." World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said governments must "do it all" -- test, isolate and treat patients, and trace and quarantine all the people with whom they had contact. Other experts are warning that unless world leaders take more action to contain it, the coronavirus could be just as or even deadlier than the 1918 flu pandemic, which is believed to have killed 50 million people worldwide. A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open looked at New York City. It says even when doctors take into account the technology, life-saving drugs and information that did not exist 100 years ago, the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases during the first two months of the outbreak was "substantially greater" than the peak of the 1918 epidemic. New Apps Three more states -- Alabama, North Dakota and Wyoming -- are launching apps to warn people about potential exposure to COVID-19, Reuters reports. Virginia is the first state to implement the technology, and other states are testing apps and plan to introduce them in the coming weeks. Users who download the apps on their smartphones get a map of the state and dots where the most cases are clustered, so travelers and others can avoid those areas. In Germany The premier of Germany's Bavaria state is apologizing for problems with a data entry system that meant about 900 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were never told about it. Nearly 44,000 people who traveled to Bavaria about two weeks ago have been waiting for their test results. Officials believe about 900 tests were positive. "It is really extremely galling. We can only apologize," Bavarian leader Markus Soeder told reporters. He promised to fix the problems by adding more staff to the testing centers. The Bavarian state health minister has offered to resign. Soeder has been touted as a possible successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Newser) President Trump on Friday gave the Chinese parent company ot TikTok 90 days to divest itself of American assets, per the AP. Trumps executive order said there is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States. Trump last week ordered sweeping but vague bans on dealings with the owners of TikTok and the messaging app WeChat, saying they are a threat to national security, foreign policy, and the economy. It remains unclear what the TikTok orders mean for the apps 100 million US users, many of them teenagers or young adults who use it to post and watch short-form videos. Trump on Friday also ordered ByteDance to divest itself of "any data obtained or derived" from TikTok users in the US. story continues below Treasury chief Stephen Mnuchin said Trump's action came after a review by the government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which assesses national security threats, notes the New York Times. On Thursday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trumps earlier TikTok and WeChat orders, telling reporters he was exercising his emergency authority under a 1977 law enabling the president to regulate international commerce to address unusual threats. TikTok has said it spent nearly a year trying to engage in good faith with the US government to address these concerns. What we encountered instead was that the Administration paid no attention to facts," says a company statement. (Read more TikTok stories.) EY Announces Rachel Neill of Carex Consulting Group as an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Midwest Award Finalist Im thrilled and honored to be named a finalist. As a female founder, I hope that I can show other women the power of entrepreneurship. Says Neill. Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Rachel Neill of Carex Consulting Group was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Midwest Award finalist. Now in its 34th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world. Rachel was selected as one of 22 finalists from a competitive pool of nominations by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced through a special virtual event in early October and will join a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, unstoppable entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience and ingenuity. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. Im thrilled and honored to be named a finalist. As a female founder, I hope that I can show other women the power of entrepreneurship. Says Neill. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, to be announced in November during a virtual awards gala. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2021. Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries all supported by vast EY resources. Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation. In the Midwest, sponsors also include LaSalle Network, Cresa, PNC Bank, Becker Professional Education and 1871. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/us/eoy About EY Private As Advisors to the ambitious, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/private About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-neill-227aa526/ YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday announced laying of foundation stone for the executive capital at Visakhapatnam and judicial capital at Kurnool shortly. Jagans announcement at the 74th Independence Day celebrations held at Indira Gandhi municipal stadium in Vijayawada came at a time when the state high court is hearing a record number of 55 public interest litigation petitions challenging the recently enacted legislations to form three capitals in the state. Addressing the gathering after unfurling the tricolour, the chief minister said the decision to establish three capitals was taken to ensure balanced growth of the state and to do justice to all the three regions. The bifurcation of the combined Andhra Pradesh in 2014 has left deep wounds on the people of the state and they are deeply hurt. Decentralisation of development and balanced growth in all the three regions of the state by forming three capital cities is the only way to undo the injustice done to Andhra Pradesh due to bifurcation, Jagan said. He added that foundation stones for the executive capital at Visakhapatnam and judicial capital at Kurnool will be laid very soon. His governments plan to lay the foundation stone on August 16 for the construction of the executive capital at Visakhapatnam has been halted due to the state high courts order extending the status quo on the three capitals plan till August 27. The government has moved the Supreme Court seeking to vacate the stay, but the SC has not taken up the case till now. Also Read: After abandoning Amaravati for 14 months, Jagan decides to develop it again The chief minister also reiterated his governments commitment to achieve special category status for Andhra Pradesh. It was a promise made by the Centre in the Parliament. Today, the Centre doesnt need anybodys support. I hope the situation will change and by Gods grace, we will get Special Category Status, he said, adding that his government would continue to make efforts in that direction. A juvenile has been arrested for murder in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Christian Vines in Stoughton last month, officials said. The suspect was arrested at the Wrentham Outlets without incident around 6:45 p.m. Friday, according to the office of Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey. The district attorneys office did not say if the juvenile is male or female. Vines, of Randolph, was killed inside his car, which was outside 31 Jones Terrace in Stoughton, on July 21, Morrisseys office said. Authorities said Vines had a gunshot injury. The juvenile is expected to be arraigned in Stoughton District Court on Monday. Morrisseys office said no further information will be released until the arraignment. Police in Stoughton received 911 calls reporting gunshots the area of Jones Terrace around 3 p.m. on the day of the slaying, the district attorneys office said last month. Vines was found injured in the drivers seat of a silver Honda sedan with the gunshot wound. Witnesses told authorities they saw two men run from the scene toward Walnut Street. A Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit tracking dog and State Police Air Wing helicopter were not successful in finding the suspects, Morrisseys office said at the time. In an obituary, Vines was remembered for greeting people with his warm, infectious smile. Christian was a very kindhearted person who was very respectful to everyone he came across, the obituary reads. His mother constantly heard people say how they would have such positive interactions with him whenever they saw him and how polite he was. He was very popular with his friends and cousins and enjoyed spending time with them. His favorite saying, according to the obituary, was say no more. His mom would ask him to take out the trash and he would say Say no more, reads the obituary, or even if you asked him to stop by to play video games, his answer was Say no more! A strong, confident and aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) India is essential not just for itself, but for the sake of larger global good, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday in the course of a wide-ranging speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort to mark Indias 74th Independence Day. His 86-minute long speech also focused on the two other issues most Indians are worried about now -- the coronavirus pandemic (where Modi said his government has a plan ready to distribute a vaccine once it is found) and China (where, without naming the country, he referred to the countrys resolve to defend its sovereignty). And like some of previous speeches on Independence Day, this one too had a target -- connecting each of Indias roughly 600,000 villages through optic fibre cable within 1,000 days. But self-reliance, the corner stone of the NDA governments policy response to the coronavirus disease, was theme of the speech. The PM outlined the contours of this new self-reliant India across all spheres education, health, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, trade, defence, foreign policy, environment, digital connectivity; for all segments of society the poor, the middle class, women, young, entrepreneurs, labour; and in all regions from Kashmir to the North-east, from urban to rural areas. In the backdrop of Chinese aggression at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and his past references to Chinese behaviour as expansionist, the PM also framed Indias freedom struggle as one against an expansionist mindset, which had devastated the world. In what could be seen as an attempt to weave the past and the present, the PM said history was witness to how India had posed a challenge to this expansionism, resisting all attempts to crush its spirit. The PM also reiterated Indias united resolve to defend its sovereignty. He paid tributes to security personnel who lost their lives and said those who had sought to challenge India at either the LAC or Line of Control got a response in the language they understood. Modi promised a new cyber security policy, a more self-reliant defence framework, continued upgrade of border infrastructure, an expansion of the National Cadet Corps to include young men and women from both border and coastal areas, and emphasised the importance of Indias ties with both the immediate and extended neighbourhood. In his address, the PM acknowledged the impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic on society, economy and everyday life. He praised citizens for battling it and spoke of Indias successful efforts to increase testing, and produce and even export masks, personal protective equipment and ventilators; declared that the country has a plan for the rapid production and dissemination of the vaccine once it is ready; and announced a national digital health mission where every Indian will have a health identity card. Focusing specifically on digital connectivity, the PM mentioned how from just five dozen gram panchayats being connected before 2014, 150,000 panchayats were now connected with optical fibre cable, and another 100,000 would soon be connected. In the changed circumstances, given the accelerated push towards digital after the pandemic, the PM said, that all of Indias over 600,000 villages would now be connected with optical fibre cable within 1,000 days. Among contentious domestic issues, the PM spoke of Kashmir of what he saw as achievements of the past year, praised elected local representatives and committed to elections after the process of delimitation and Ayodhya, where he appreciated the peaceful resolution of the issue and restraint showed by citizens. The PMs speech his seventh consecutive address from the Red Fort was criticised by the Opposition. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in a statement on Saturday, said the government is standing contrary to the countrys democratic structure, constitutional values and established traditions. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee too said people must do all it takes to preserve the basic principles on which the country was founded. We salute all those who sacrificed their lives to make the dream of a free nation come true. Our freedom was hard-earned, and we must do all it takes to preserve the basic principles on which this country was founded, she tweeted. On infrastructure, PM Modi referred to the 110 lakh crore investment announced for the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project and said that 7,000 projects had already been identified. In a crisis, investing in infrastructure boost employment and benefits many new sectors. On agriculture, the PM said that farmers have now been freed of all restrictions with the changes in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee mechanism. If you make clothes or soap, you can sell it anywhere. But a farmer could not sell his produce anywhere, it was within a restricted framework. He can, now, breathe an air of freedom and sell his produce anywhere at the best price. On manufacturing and trade, the PM spoke of Indias tremendous natural and human resources, and underlined the need to add value to it. How long will we keep selling raw materials and buying finished products? How long will this game continue?, he asked. It was time to reduce imports, enhance Indias own products, go vocal for local, innovate, and not just make in India but make for the world, the PM said. On environment, the PM spoke of making the new union territory of Ladakh a carbon-neutral zone, with a 7500 MW solar power plant. The PM also spoke, in detail, about battling pollution a key environmental and public health crisis -- and announced an holistic, integrated, participatory and technology-based approach to tackle pollution in 100 selected cities of the country. On education, the PM referred to the new National Education Policy as a framework that would make Indian students both rooted in their own setting as well as equipped to become global citizens. In particular, he highlighted the importance of the National Research Foundation and the role of research and innovation for progress. Besides thematic issues, the PM also underlined the role of various demographic segments, and steps being taken to boost their quality of life, employment prospects and incomes. On labour, the PM said it was the source of progress and it flowers when obstacles are removed. In this regard, he outlined steps taken to improve lives of citizens through bank accounts where money is transferred directly, construction of houses and toilets, provision of regular electricity, the availability of health insurance through Ayushman Bharat. Everyone who is poor, without any discrimination, can benefit from these measures. The PM said during the pandemic, these instruments had played a key role in enabling the welfare programmes of the government. On migrant workers in particular who had to bear tremendous hardship during the pandemic the PM spoke of the governments Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana for migrant workers who had returned home; their skilling; and the governments plans to construct housing for them in cities where they work away from their homes to ensure they can remain productive without any worries. On the middle class, which he categorised as Indias strength, the PM said that once it gets the right opportunities, it can do miracles and professionals from the middle class have made a place for themselves in the world. The middle class wants liberation from government restrictions. It wants an open field. He spoke of how the governments steps through low cost air connectivity, highways and information ways, cheaper home loans, a fund for stalled real estate projects to ensure middle class home buyers get their homes, reduction of taxes, bringing cooperative banks under the regulatory umbrella of the Reserve Bank of India to protect savings, reforms in micro, small and medium enterprises will help the middle class. On women, the PM said the country was committed to providing them equal opportunities. He spoke of how women today were working both in coal mines, below ground level, and flying fighter planes in the sky; the freedom Muslim women have got due to the triple talaq legislation; the enhanced maternity leave and benefits to pregnant women; the provision of direct income assistance in the bank accounts of women; and the provision of over 50 million sanitary napkins for women, at just ~1 each, through Jan Aushadi centres. Besides substantive policy themes and demographic segments, the third pillar of the PMs speech rested on balanced regional development. In this, he referred to the governments initiatives in eastern India in particular, the development pathway in Kashmir, and the focus on 110 aspirational districts where socioeconomic indicators have been below the national average and which have received priority in recent years. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has advised his citizens to avoid going outside in the present situation. "Do not go out! You should know that you and our children are being used as cannon fodder!" Lukashenko was quoted by the BelTA state news agency as saying at a meeting with the national Security Council on Friday. He also urged parents of teenagers and young people to keep on their children. "I understand that some parents, [with children] at this age, 16-17 years (I am all too familiar with that) are at times unable to control their children, especially boys. Well, you should ask us, we will help: we will talk to the children, get them busy with something. Why does it have to get to this point and then we have to deal with all these issues?" he said. "Today I cannot accuse anyone of anything. I can't. Because you see what the situation is going. The only thing, I'll ask both the ministers and others: after all, we are Slavs, if someone falls and is lying, he should not be beaten. There has to be a certain brake," Lukashenko said. "But when someone sneaks up from behind and hits police guys in the back, that's not manly, this is base... And the guy doubles up, his spine is broken, he is disabled for life," the president said. When Oregon schools shut down in the spring, Gresham teacher Alex Gatley did the only thing she and her husband could think to do: They went to California. There, her in-laws provided round-the-clock childcare for the couples daughters, ages 2 and 6 months, while Gatley conducted her classes virtually. The temporary solution offered Gatley, who teaches seventh-grade language arts at Gordon Russell Middle School and lives in Oregon City, flexibility that few of her peers or other working Portland-area parents can afford. But as a new school year nears and much remains uncertain about how Oregon educators are to teach the states 580,000 students in the midst of a pandemic, Gatley and other working parents of preschoolers and school-aged youngsters must navigate a childcare system that has been cut to half capacity as coronavirus infections remain stubbornly high. At this time last year, Oregons licensed daycare facilities could accommodate 106,225 children. Today, that number is 41,339. Thats because many childcare facilities closed, and those that remain open cannot collectively serve as many children as before. Last August, there were 3,800 licensed child care facilities operating in Oregon, according to the Department of Educations Early Learning Division. Just over 3,600 providers are still licensed, department spokeswoman Melanie Mesaros said, but only 2,826 of them are active. Gov. Kate Brown in late March ordered the states childcare facilities to close unless they could operate under strict guidelines. In Clackamas County, where Gatley lives, there are enough licensed childcare providers to serve 3,622 children, according to state figures. About 17% of those slots are free, enough for 610 children. Gatley's sister, who also has a 2-year-old daughter, is currently visiting from the San Francisco Bay area so their two girls can have regular play partners. The children crave face-to-face interaction, waving through the front window at mail carriers and garbage truck drivers who don't always wave back.Eder Campuzano/Staff Neighboring Multnomah County has enough licensed childcare providers to provide nearly 10,900 slots. Only about 1,100 of those slots are for school-aged children rather than preschoolers, toddlers or infants. The Oregonian/OregonLive surveyed parents across the state, hundreds of whom said they would have to cobble together a patchwork of solutions to ensure they could work while their children took on classes remotely. A woman in Salem said she and her husband, a nurse, are adjusting their work schedules so that one of them can be home to take care of their Harriett Elementary student. A father in Portland said he and his neighbors worked out a schedule to create their own social babysitting bubble, taking turns on childcare duty through the spring and summer. A mother with children in the Beaverton district said shell have to put off her final year of law school so the family doesnt have to pay for daycare or a sitter. The responses illustrate the wide-ranging effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on working parents in need of childcare, many of whom counted on school to provide such care for three quarters of the year. For some, daycare bills were a new added expense, albeit manageable. For others, it was an option too costly to consider if they could locate an available slot. Playground equipment will sit unused in during usual recess periods at elementary school campuses across the state as many districts opt to have their students learn wholly remotely for the first part of the year.Eder Campuzano/Staff Family Forward, a Portland-based nonprofit that advocates for the rights of working parents, in 2019 found the median cost of childcare in Oregon is about $1,200 per month. Such costs led parents like Gatley and Nikesha James to turn to a patchwork of solutions. James is a team coordinator for Providence Medical Group during the day. In the evenings, shes a server at Holladay Park Plaza, a local retirement community. When schools closed in March, the girls father watched 10-year-old Sanyah-Lee and 13-year-old Mariya every morning as they got set up on their school-issued Chromebooks. The girls attend Russell Elementary and Parkrose Middle School in Portland, entering their fifth and eighth grade years, respectively. Their father helped them with schoolwork before he went to work. In the afternoon, James would FaceTime her daughters to check in during her lunch breaks and between her two jobs. Even then, there were some questions she wasnt equipped to answer, particularly for Mariya. They teach things differently than the way I learned when I was a child, James said. When it comes to myself educating my child, we had a disconnect. I would help her with a problem and she would say, Thats not the way youre supposed to do it. Well, thats the way I learned. And unfortunately, Im your teacher right now. Although school work was tough, the familys child care arrangement worked in the spring, James said, because she thought it would be temporary. As they look to the fall, uncertainty begins to creep in. James will soon close on a new condominium. She and the girls moved in with her parents as they transitioned from one home to another. But when they move to the condo, that built-in child care will disappear unless James finds a way to work the extra hour needed to get the girls to and from their grandparents home into her daily commute. Otherwise, its right back to FaceTime tutoring and having Dad watch the girls when he can. On top of that, James has several questions about how the Parkrose district will conduct classes in the coming year. One hour of synchronous instruction in the spring didnt cut it. Whats going to happen in the fall? Are we going to have more support during the school day? Will my children get their own devices? Are they even going to be where they need to be, academically, in this next school year? James said. Audrey's parents are hesitant to hire a babysitter or nanny because they want to keep their social bubble as tight as possible as the pandemic shows no sign of slowing down. "It's just nerve wracking. We're trying to be as safe as we can be," her mother, Alex Gatley, said.Eder Campuzano/Staff Gatley has many of the same questions. So far her district has only committed to holding school exclusively via distance learning for the first five weeks. She expects Gresham-Barlow officials to make an announcement by Aug. 17. And that uncertainty also makes her hesitant to hire a nanny knowing she can only guarantee five weeks of work. She was on maternity leave when her son, Isaac, was born in February. Before that, Gatley had her daughter Audrey enrolled in daycare. The Gresham-Barlow district has not yet told its teachers whether it will require them to stream lessons live from their classrooms or allow educators to work from home. Gatley can hire a part-time nanny but wants to make sure she provides some stability for that person, knowing that nannying is a field notorious for high turnover amid difficult working conditions. Family Forward found Oregons child care workforce experiences between 25% and 30% turnover per year. And more than half of those workers, 95% of whom are women, rely on food stamps, Medicaid or other sorts of public benefits. Its hard to be like, Maybe Ill hire you for five weeks, maybe for the whole fall, Gatley said. Gatleys hesitance to hire someone also stems in part from her desire to keep as tight a social bubble as possible. Adding another person introduces another layer of complexity in her own personal contact tracing efforts. Its just nerve wracking, Gatley said. Were trying to be as safe as can be. If Gatley has to commute to her classroom in Gresham, Gatleys mother has offered to travel to Oregon City from Idaho a 12-hour round trip for at least part of the week to keep that bubble as tightly sealed as possible. If Gatley can work fully remotely for an extended period, the family will likely move back to California for fall term so her in-laws can babysit while she teaches. The childcare conundrum for working parents, while bigger this fall, isnt new. Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson has spent years pushing for universal preschool for children ages 3 and 4, an effort that voters will weigh in on in November with a ballot measure that will tax high earners to fund such a system gradually over the next decade or so. But like so much else in the era of coronavirus, the hurdles posed by unreliable childcare systems are further exacerbated as working parents must now navigate how to pull in a paycheck and make sure their children are properly cared for without normal daycare offerings or in-person school. For many, weekdays are a double-whammy, as they must get their work responsibilities accomplished and also make sure childrens learning and development proceeds at an acceptable pace. In some places, government entities have tried to plug holes in services and families budget gaps. Officials in Bend reserved $300,000 in CARES Act funding for local childcare providers and the citys parks and recreation services to expand services in the fall. Most Portland-area districts have announced that students won't see the inside of a classroom until at least November. And that's only if public health officials deem in-person instruction safe at that point.Eder Campuzano/Staff Portland Public Schools is considering offering up its buildings for childcare that would be provided by private entities such as the YMCA. The district says it would cost up to $1,000 per month per child, but officials in a survey say they may be able to provide financial assistance. For some parents, child care doesnt just provide the freedom to pursue a career without having to worry about where their kids are. Starr Green, 36, has been working from home for the last year, ever since she was hired as a virtual office administrator in Newport. And her 14-year-old daughter Megan is capable of taking care of herself for the most part. But when Lincoln County schools closed their doors in March and students launched into distance learning, Green suddenly found herself having to fulfill her daughters need for near-constant socialization as she tried to navigate her own work day. You know how in any movie you watch, theres that sort of comic relief character or clown? Thats my daughter, Green said. The Greens moved to the coast from Portland last summer and Megan quickly found a group of friends, many of whom the incoming Newport High freshman still texts regularly. But digital socialization isnt the same as hanging out in-person. And now that she spends every waking moment at home, Megan only has so many outlets for her bursts of energy. She needs me 100%, Green said. I didnt really have time to work (in the spring) and have her next to me. The Newport district is preparing to have all 5,500 of its students attend class remotely this fall. Families have two choices, one of which is a distance learning model in which classroom teachers conduct classes remotely, much as they did in the spring but which the district describes as more robust, has more accountability and more in-depth educational requirements than the distance learning we required in the spring. Students can also enroll in Newports new online charter school. Several districts, including those in Portland, Eugene and Beaverton, have set up similar online options. But Green doesnt expect either of the Newport districts options to meet her daughters needs. Meghan needs more. She needs people, she needs structure, she needs to be told what to do and how to do it, Green said. In Gresham, Gatley worries the same lack of social interaction and academic support will further exacerbate educational inequities for her students, particularly Black, Indegenous and other children of color in her classes. Many of her seventh graders babysat their younger siblings during the spring, Gatley said, some even bowing out of class early to do so. Were really lucky that we have these supports that other people might not have, she said. And while its really good for some families, there are other families who dont have that support or the same options that we do. --Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday called for violence-free elections in Bengal during an interaction with media persons at an Independence Day function. The crucial state assembly elections are due in 2021. I appeal to everyone. Let us generate a climate that will give an example to the entire country that elections in the state of West Bengal are most authentic, genuine and free from any kind of violence, Dhankhar said. Violence has marked all recent elections in the state and dozens have been killed in the run up to the elections and in post-poll violence. In 2003, at least 76 people were killed throughout the panchayat election process the highest death toll in any election in the state. It is apprehended that the upcoming assembly elections in 2021 are likely to be no exception. The Bharatiya Janata Party which won 18 of the states 42 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, marking the partys highest ever growth in Bengal, recently hinted that it would adopt an aggressive role in the coming elections. BJPs state president Dilip Ghosh had tweeted in June: Badla o hobe, badal o hobe. (There will be revenge as well as change). The slogan appeared with Ghoshs photo and a map of West Bengal. The party has alleged that at least 108 leaders and workers have been killed in Bengal since 2011. The ruling Trinamool Congress, which had been at loggerheads with the governor on several occasions, had accused Dhankhar of acting like a mouthpiece of the BJP Recently chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said: I think the governor is acting more dangerously than a BJP mouthpiece Dhankhar also said Saturday he would ensure that elections are free and fair this time. I have been trying for it from day one. And I can assure this will happen. This is bound to happen. This is my constitutional obligation. I am working harmoniously with everyone concerned to ensure that democratic fabric is not tainted and stained and that it is kept sublime, he said. A TMC minister, however, took a jibe at the governor and said that Dhankhar, while commenting on poll violence, could be referring to the BJP ruled states. I think he was referring to the country as a whole and was criticizing the violence which the BJP has unleashed. Even we want elections to be violence-free. The most free and fair elections are held in West Bengal. The governor was referring to BJP-ruled states where anarchy is going on, said science and technology minister Bratya Basu. We welcome the governors statement. It is his constitutional duty and obligation to ensure that elections are held in a free and fair manner. While it is true that violence has been unleashed in BJP ruled states, it would also be a big joke if we say that elections in Bengal are held in a free and fair manner. In the BJP ruled states terror started after 2014. In West Bengal it started in 2011, said Sujan Chakraborty, a CPI (M) legislator from Jadavpur. Chief minister Banerjee along with the chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police and Kolkata police commissioner, went to Raj Bhavan to meet the governor on Saturday noon. The governor had invited us for tea in the afternoon. But we wont be able to attend it. So we went to meet him much earlier without prior appointment, Banerjee said after the meeting. Pregnant federal MPs have warned they risk being shut out of parliamentary discussions because of the failure to agree on virtual participation with video-conferencing technology when Parliament returns later this month. The MPs warn the lack of flexibility reflects a structural problem that makes federal politics less inclusive than the private sector and deprives women and young people of representation in Canberra. Labor's Kate Thwaites is among the pregnant MPs to warn a virtual Parliament is necessary. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Labor MP Kate Thwaites, who represents the Melbourne seat of Jagajaga, warned she would not be able to participate in the upcoming parliamentary session because she was not able to travel to Canberra for the required two weeks of quarantine. "I have got some medical appointments for my pregnancy coming up this week, which means I need to be in Melbourne. I can't be in quarantine in Canberra," she said. A money expert has revealed the top paying jobs in Australia which don't require a degree. Nicholas Muscat, who founded finance business AussieMoneyMan, has shared his advice on how to land some of Australia's highest-paying jobs. Mr Muscat explained that roles like an air traffic controllers, real estate agents and ethical hackers can earn over $100,000 without a university qualification. Finance expert and YouTuber Nicholas Muscat (pictured above) has revealed the highest paying jobs in Australia that don't require a degree Mr Muscat said air traffic controllers (pictured) earned a salary over $100,000 He also said any form of management (construction management pictured) could earn a salary around $90,000 and only required exceptional people skills The entrepreneur said people were paid well for three reasons. These include, a particular skills set, holding a management position or doing a job that was dangerous or undesirable. Mr Muscat explained the unusual role of an air traffic controller provided a salary around $108,000. 'I think it's paid so highly because it is highly technical, you do have to be skilled and you do have to have natural abilities most people don't have. 'You have to have very good spacial awareness, you have to be a quick thinker and a very good communicator,' he explained. The YouTuber said working in a role with commissions, as a real estate agent or sales person, could result in a bigger paycheck. 'You might have a base salary of $50,000 to $60,000 but if you're willing to put in the work and really hustle, the sky's the limit. 'I know people who came out of high school and easily turned over $160,000 to $170,000 a year,' Mr Muscat explained. The money expert said electricians (file image pictured) earn a base salary of $85,000 He also said a role in ethical hacking could earn over $100,000. AUSTRALIA'S TOP PAYING JOBS WITHOUT A DEGREE 1. Real estate and sales - $170,000 2. Air traffic controller - $108,000 3. Ethical hacker - $100,000 4. Youth officer - $100,000 5. Management roles - $88,000 6. Electrician - $85,000 7. Care worker - $80,000 8. Plumber - $75,000 Advertisement 'An ethical hacker, also known as a white hacker, is someone who uses their hacking abilities and programming abilities to hack for a good reason.' 'People who are into computers, IT and cyber security, this is an awesome opportunity to make a lot of money doing something you love,' Mr Muscat said. The entrepreneur said any roles within management provided a high salary without the need for a degree. 'If you can manage people, you can lead people, you can get paid well for that anywhere, and you don't need any particular skills outside of that. 'I know someone making around $88,000 who was just a general manager at a local Woolworths or Coles,' he explained. Mr Muscat also suggested taking up a trades role as an electrician or a plumber, who earn $85,000 and $75,000 dollars respectively as a base salary. He said shift work in roles caring for young, elderly or disabled people could be lucrative. Mr Muscat previously worked as a youth justice officer at a correctional centre and said the role could earn over $100,000 a year. 'I was doing afternoon shifts, evening shifts, night shifts and weekend shifts, so with all this loading, that led to me making just under $60 an hour per shift.' 'The rate I was going I would have easily hit just under $100,000,' he explained. He also said a career as a care worker for elderly or disabled people could generate a salary of $70,000 to $80,000 per year. Jennifer Girard, a Central Bucks parent, speaks into a bullhorn during a protest calling for the Central Bucks School District to offer in-person classes in downtown Doylestown on Saturday. Read more Parents in the Central Bucks School District protested Saturday against the districts decision to start the year virtually an announcement school leaders made this week after determining they did not have enough staff to return to classrooms. Central Bucks had previously planned to offer full-time, in-person instruction to elementary students, along with hybrid and virtual options. But as it began to assign teachers to those programs, it became quickly apparent that we do not have adequate staff to safely open school, Superintendent John Kopicki said. Lauren Feldman, a parent of an incoming fourth grader who organized Saturdays protest in Doylestown, said families should have a choice whether to send their children back into a classroom. Im hoping that they hear our voice, and will reevaluate the situation and find a way, Feldman said. Many school districts around Philadelphia have opted to begin the school year virtually, as public health experts warn of potential outbreaks if schools reopen. On Friday, the Chester County Health Department advised schools in Chester and Delaware Counties to start the year virtually through Oct. 9, citing potential increased coronavirus cases due to the end of the summer holiday. READ MORE: A growing number of Philly-area school districts are planning virtual openings, relieving some parents and frustrating others The decisions have frustrated parents who wanted in-person instruction. In Central Bucks one of Pennsylvanias largest school districts, with 18,000 students nearly half of elementary parents had wanted to send their children back to school five days a week. A quarter chose a hybrid plan, and the rest, a fully virtual option. (Secondary-school families were given the choice of hybrid or virtual programs; 80% chose the former.) Like other area counties, Bucks falls into what Pennsylvania officials have classified as having moderate community spread, warranting a blended or fully remote model. Feldman noted that Bucks cases had been trending downward. Referring to open day-cares, she said: I dont see why we cant figure out a way to get our older kids back in our school. On the Security Council's Failure to Hold Iran Accountable Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State August 14, 2020 The United Nations Security Council is charged with the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. It failed today to uphold its fundamental mission set. It rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific UN restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade. The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable. The Security Council rejected direct appeals to extend the arms embargo from numerous countries in the Middle East endangered by Iran's violence. Arab nations and Israel strongly supported extending the embargo. Last weekend, the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council came together to ask the Security Council to extend the embargo. Israel also asked the Council to do the same to prevent Iran from expanding and modernizing its arsenal. These countries know Iran will spread even greater chaos and destruction if the embargo expires, but the Security Council chose to ignore them. The United States will never abandon our friends in the region who expected more from the Security Council. We will continue to work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons that threaten the heart of Europe, the Middle East and beyond. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alphabets Google said on Friday it would no longer provide data in response to requests from Hong Kong authorities following the enactment of a new national security law imposed by China. The US tech giant had not produced any data since the sweeping new law took force in June and would not directly respond to such requests henceforth, it added. As always, authorities outside the US may seek data needed for criminal investigations through diplomatic procedures, Google said in an emailed statement. Google reviewed all requests for user data and pushed back on overly broad ones to protect the privacy of users, the statement added. The Washington Post newspaper reported earlier on Friday that Google would stop responding directly to data requests from Hong Kong authorities, implying the company would now treat Hong Kong effectively the same as mainland China in such dealings. The national security law has drawn criticism from the administration of US President Donald Trump and further raised US-China tensions after Washingtons decision to end the former British colonys special status under US law. Google notified Hong Kong police on Thursday that it would direct officials to pursue any requests for data through a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the United States, which involves routing through the US justice department, The Washington Post reported. ALBANY Volunteers from the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross have provided emergency aid to nine people after a multi-family fire broke out around midnight Friday on Third Avenue in Watervliet. The organization provided financial assistance for necessities such as shelter, food and clothing to the fire victims. No injuries were reported from the fire which caused heavy damage, according to earlier reports. Extradition of the members of the private military company Wagner, who had been detained in Belarus, becomes impossible after their handover to Russia because they have Russian passports and Russia does not extradite its citizens, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Enin said. "If... these citizens have departed for Russia, then of course the subject matter of the subsequent dialogue vanishes on its own," Enin told the Ukraine24 television channel on Friday evening. "The thing is, if these individuals have Russian passports, then just like Ukraine, which does not extradite its citizens, Russia and Belarus do not extradite theirs," he said. In international practice, there is no absolute rule: for instance, the United States and Israel may extradite their citizens, Enin said. "From the start, we did not rule out a possibility of the Belarusian leader playing this issue and using [the detained men] as a kind of a bargaining card, primarily with Russia. And now we say that he made a choice in Russia's favor. And yet, our preliminary investigative bodies did everything they had to do to exhaust all possibilities for the extradition of these law-breakers to Ukraine," Enin said. The Arvind Kejriwal government has specially invited seven corona warriors, who had risked their lives to help Covid patients, to an event to be held at the Delhi Secretariat on Saturday on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. The Delhi government has sent special invites to these corona warriors for the Independence Day programme in appreciation of the work. The corona warriors will represent the people working in their fields during the event to be held on August 15. Among the invites is Rajeev Singh Parihar, ADM ,Central District. He was the nodal officer on Covid duty. He was responsible for the movement of migrants to other states through buses and trains. He was also responsible for shifting the migrants to hunger relief centres and was in-charge of supervising the provision of food and all other amenities to migrants staying there. Hirdesh Kumar is a resident of Dwarka and was posted at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) on Covid duty. During his duty, he was made the in-charge for the flu and testing clinic at the RGSSH. Another invitee is Sonu who started his duty as a nursing officer on April 2 in the Covid ward of the LNJP Hospital. After his second round of duty, he himself tested positive for Covid-19 on May 31. He was under home quarantine for around 17 days. But that did not stop him from serving people as he was back on duty immediately after recovering. Delhi Police constable Pradeep Chauhan is also among the invitees who is currently serving as a wireless operator in the Central Secretariat. He has been serving in the police department for the past 10 years. He was infected with Covid-19, but joined duty as soon as he recovered. Tej Bahadur is a CATS ambulance driver at the GTB Hospital. He was on the duty of transporting Covid positive patients to the hospital. During the process, he had to be in close contact with the patients and sometimes even lifted them up. Another invitee is Dina Nath Yadav who is a civil defense volunteer (CDV) in East Delhi. He was on the duty of distributing food to the poor at a hunger relief centre during the lockdown. During duty, he also got infected with Covid-19. Ashok Kumar is a supervisor of sanitation workers in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and is serving in the DEMS department. Single business model JVC was established in 2001 with its main business being supply of medical equipment which involved trading, leasing, installing, repairing and maintaining such equipment. In the early days of operations, JVC charter capital was just VND 6 bn, and its work force of five personnel included a company head, an accountant and few technicians. In 2002, JVC became the exclusive official agent for medical equipment supply in Vietnam for Hitachi, a leading corporation in Japan that specialized in magnetic resonance (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), X-ray and ultrasound machines. JVC pursued a single business model and by partnering with Hitachi, the company made huge breakthroughs the following years. Under the contract, JVC worked directly with Hitachi in Japan, undertaking all hospital orders and supplying customers with products by JVC. In this way, JVC was able to reduce costs and overheads, and negotiate the best pricing directly with Hitachi. With its partnership with Hitachi as a successful model, JVC signed further cooperation deals with other global leading medical equipment companies such as Nemoto, Toray Medical, ELK, KINKY, Carestream Kodax, and Fuji. This was a glorious golden era for JVC. By now JVC had about 200 employees and known as a leading supplier in medical imaging equipment with a 40% market share in this field. JVC became known as the official distributor of medical equipment for about 50 firms, and an exclusive distributor for 20 firms. Violation of business practices JVC revenue and profits soared for many years, mainly due to its strong partnership with Hitachi. The company saw an average annual growth rate of about 30%, and an average gross profit margin of around 38%. In 2010, JVC switched to becoming a joint stock company and in November 2011 listed on HOSE at a closing price of VND 24,800 per share. After listing, JVC issued more shares to raise capital from VND 224 bn to VND 1,125 bn. However, by 2015 many negative rumors afloat in the market caused JVC to lose 80% of its value in just three months, even dropping share price to only VND 2,000 per share. JVC business activities began to encounter difficulties because of violations committed by Mr. Le Van Huong, General Director and Chairman of Board of Directors. JVC plunge caused heavy losses for big investment funds such as Dragon Capital, Vietnam Equity Holding and Dream Incubator, while small investors too suffered huge losses. Although JVC business activities have stabilized and the company is no longer suffering ongoing losses, the past accumulated losses of almost VND 1,000 bn have brought down JVC shares to below VND 4,000 per share. Business violations committed by Mr. Le Van Huong disrupted all business operations at JVC, so much so that even banks were not willing to provide capital and customers and suppliers stopped all further dealings. According to the 2015 financial report, JVC had cash balance below VND 9 bn, while at the beginning the company had nearly VND 500 bn in cash and VND 285 bn in term bank deposits. VietABanks debt squeeze of VND 235 bn made JVC fall into an even serious shortage of operating funds. Irrecoverable damage In order to pull itself out of its present situation, JVC received support from Hitachi, its Japanese strategic partner. Hitachi handed over to JVC all distribution in the Southern market from March 2017. Thus, JVC was able to stabilize its business operations. JVC also received more support from its other partner Fuji, who offered distribution in the North. Banks such as BIDV, Techcombank, TPBank also granted back VND 150 bn credit limit to JVC, and its business results began to show a recovery, and profits began to soar again. However, JVC was burdened with accumulated losses of almost VND 1,000 bn over the years. These losses were the result of past mistakes when JVC had faced trouble. JVC has been on alert since 15 December 2017, and undistributed profit after tax as of 31 March 2020 has been at negative at about VND 1,015 bn. Besides, JVC has not been able to pay dividends to shareholders, even though its business has been profiting. JVC now needs a plan to handle accumulated losses and receivable bad debts to clean up its financial situation in order for the recovery process to best benefit its shareholders. Kim Giang Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to reopen from August 15 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc inspected the periodic renovation of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which began two months ago and completed on Friday. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc inspects the periodic renovation of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in 2020. (Photo: Lam Khanh / VNA) He told the working session on Friday that the long-term and permanent preservation of President Ho Chi Minh's body is the legitimate aspiration of the Party, State and people of Vietnam. The Mausoleum Management Board has worked hard to repair the mausoleum despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board said it is finalizing a contract on the project technology transfer with its Russian partners. Prime Minister Phuc agreed that the Mausoleum Management Board continues talks to sign a cooperation plan for the 2021 - 2025 period with Russias Research Institute of Medicinal Herbs and Essential Oil. Cabin crew at Lufthansa have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a deal to stop pay rises and cut hours, the UFO trade union said on Saturday as the German airline battles to rein in losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lufthansa reached the deal in June with UFO, which represents 22,000 cabin crew, to reap more than 500 million euros ($592.05 million) in savings from shorter hours and an equivalent cut in pay as well as a temporary reduction in pension contributions. Last week, the airline put German workers on notice of compulsory layoffs, saying the slump in travel and slow progress in union negotiations meant cuts were unavoidable after the carrier lost 1.7 billion euros in a single quarter. Lufthansa, which in June received a 9 billion euro government bailout to secure its future, said last week it expected capacity to recover to only around 50% of normal by the end of 2020 and to two thirds of last year's level in 2021. Lufthansa said on Thursday it had walked away from talks with union Verdi on behalf of 35,000 ground staff over a package to cut staff costs and would only return to the negotiating table if Verdi offers significant cost savings. Also read: Indians can travel to US, UK, Canada, UAE under air bubble agreement Facial-recognition technology enabling people's expressions and moods to be picked up in CCTV footage will be trialled in a police force. Lincolnshire Police received funding from the Home Office to trial the pilot technology - which has been delayed due to privacy concerns. Police will be able to enter searches for people wearing hats or glasses as well as certain moods and expressions using the system, to be trialed in Gainsborough. The system will identify these factors in the force's CCTV footage. While police and crime commissioner Marc Jones has secured funding, the force has not decided what searches it will use, nor what supplier provide the system. The scans are not completed live and all footage will be deleted in 31 days, a spokesperson told The Times. A human rights and privacy assessment will also be carried out first. Director of civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch Silkie Carlo said: 'There's a huge amount of money from the Home Office for this technology and they're getting themselves into legal trouble, breaching human rights and expanding state surveillance while no one is watching.' Facial-recognition technology enabling people's expressions and moods to be picked up in CCTV footage will be trialed in a police force (file image) The Home Office said: 'We are committed to empowering the police to use new technologies like facial recognition safely, in a strict legal framework.' Just this week the Court of Appeal ruled that the use of facial recognition technology by police did interfere with privacy and data protection laws. Civil rights campaigner Ed Bridges, 37, brought a legal challenge against South Wales Police arguing their use of automatic facial recognition (AFR) had caused him 'distress'. He had his face scanned while he was Christmas shopping in Cardiff in 2017 and at a peaceful anti-arms protest outside the city's Motorpoint Arena in 2018. In a ruling on Tuesday, three Court of Appeal judges ruled the force's use of AFR was unlawful, allowing Mr Bridge's appeal on three out of five grounds he raised in his case. In the judgment, the judges said that there was no clear guidance on where AFR Locate - the system being trialled by South Wales Police - could be used and who could be put on a watchlist. It ruled that 'too much discretion is currently left to individual police officers'. In a statement, Mr Bridges said he was 'delighted' the court had found that 'facial recognition clearly threatens our rights'. 'This technology is an intrusive and discriminatory mass surveillance tool,' he added. 'For three years now, South Wales Police has been using it against hundreds of thousands of us, without our consent and often without our knowledge. Mr Bridges had his face scanned while he was Christmas shopping in Cardiff in 2017 and at a peaceful anti-arms protest outside the city's Motorpoint Arena in 2018 (stock photo) 'We should all be able to use our public spaces without being subjected to oppressive surveillance.' The court also found that a data protection impact assessment of the scheme was deficient and that the force had not done all they could to verify that the AFR software 'does not have an unacceptable bias on grounds of race or sex'. The judgment notes that there was no clear evidence that the software was biased on grounds of race or sex. Mr Bridges took his case - believed to be the world's first over police use of such technology - to the Court of Appeal after his case was previously rejected by the High Court. In a ruling on Tuesday, three Court of Appeal judges ruled the force's use of AFR was unlawful, saying there was no clear guidance on where AFR Locate could be used and who could be put on a watchlist In a statement after the ruling, Mr Bridges said he was 'delighted' the court has found that 'facial recognition clearly threatens our rights'. South Wales Police said the test of their 'ground-breaking use of this technology' by the courts had been a 'welcome and important step in its development'. Six steps behind facial recognition technology The Metropolitan Police uses facial recognition technology called NeoFace, developed by Japanese IT firm NEC, which matches faces up to a so-called watch list of offenders wanted by the police and courts for existing offences. Cameras scan faces in its view measuring the structure of each face, creating a digital version that is searched up against the watch list. If a match is detected, an officer on the scene is alerted, who will be able to see the camera image and the watch list image, before deciding whether to stop the individual. Advertisement Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: 'The Court of Appeal's judgment helpfully points to a limited number of policy areas that require this attention. 'Our policies have already evolved since the trials in 2017 and 2018 were considered by the courts, and we are now in discussions with the Home Office and Surveillance Camera Commissioner about the further adjustments we should make and any other interventions that are required.' Mr Jukes added: 'We are pleased that the court has acknowledged that there was no evidence of bias or discrimination in our use of the technology. 'But questions of public confidence, fairness and transparency are vitally important, and the Court of Appeal is clear that further work is needed to ensure that there is no risk of us breaching our duties around equality.' At a three-day Court of Appeal hearing in June, lawyers for Mr Bridges argued the facial recognition technology interferes with privacy and data protection laws and is potentially discriminatory. They said the technology, which is being trialled by the force with a view to rolling it out nationally, is used to live capture the facial biometrics of large numbers of people and compare them with people on a 'watchlist'. The force does not retain the facial biometric data of anyone whose image is captured on CCTV but does not generate a match, the court heard. Mr Bridges' case was dismissed at the High Court in September last year by two senior judges, who concluded the use of the technology was not unlawful. Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Mr Justice Swift said they were 'satisfied' the current legal regime is adequate to 'ensure appropriate and non-arbitrary use of AFR' and that the force's use to date of the technology has been 'consistent' with human rights and data protection laws. Mr Bridges, who the force confirmed was not a person of interest and has never been on a watchlist, crowdfunded his legal action and is supported by civil rights organisation Liberty, which is campaigning for a ban on the technology. AFR technology maps faces in a crowd by measuring the distance between features then compares results with a 'watchlist' of images - which can include suspects, missing people and persons of interest. South Wales Police has been conducting a trial of the technology since 2017. The force added that it is not intending to appeal against the judgment. Her group is now investigating an underground maternity ward in an apartment in the town of Famagusta in Northern Cyprus. The mothers described it as a clandestine hospital. They said the nurses spoke only Turkish, and the doctors didnt know their medical histories. When I came to the hospital a doctor was surprised to hear I had a C-section before, said one of the women, who offered only her first name, Ira, because she does not want family and friends to know of her work as a surrogate mother. It was too late to follow safe practice and deliver her next child by Cesarean, as her cervix was opening, she said. An anesthesiologist arrived wearing a down jacket, rather than scrubs, inside the makeshift hospital, and she gave birth. Several hours later, she watched the baby die on a table nearby while medical workers were trying to save her own life, she said. She was bleeding internally and vomiting. They obviously did not have enough staff, Ira said. They put the baby aside, it was a nice healthy-looking girl. She did not breathe but I saw her moving, Ira said, crying while recalling the ordeal, which took place in February. After the death, the Turkish doctors demanded the women give birth by C-section, though one was allowed a vaginal birth. I begged to give birth naturally, Ms. Troyan said. They promised me I could, but the doctor suddenly came and said I am having a C-section, right now. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 22:24:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon received on Saturday more support and donations from foreign countries, following the explosions that rocked Beirut's port on Aug. 4, LBCI local TV channel reported. Lebanon received three aircraft carrying food and medical equipment from Egypt, while one aircraft arrived in Beirut from Iraq with tonnes of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, Kuwait continued to send support to Lebanon, the Gulf country started its assistance for Beirut on the second day after the explosions. Russia sent on Saturday two aircraft carrying medical, health and humanitarian support. Also, Turkey offered on Saturday to rehabilitate Al-Amin mosque and Mar Gerges Cathedral as stated by Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Hakan Cakil following his visit to these two religious landmarks. On the other hand, a number of Lebanese expatriates sent donations to owners of trucks working at Beirut's port to compensate them for their losses after the destruction of their vehicles due to the blasts. Two huge explosions rocked Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, shaking buildings all over Lebanon's capital, while killing at least 177 people and wounding 6,000. The explosions posed a great challenge to Lebanon especially that the country is already facing its worst economic crisis in its history. Enditem The move to privatize the US Postal Service led by Trump and the Postmaster General, top Trump donor Louis DeJoy, has sparked massive outrage throughout the United States. A petition to Save the USPS on Change.org has over 1.2 million signatures as of this writing. Another petition calling on Congress and the White House to fully fund the USPS on Moveon.org has over 425,000 signatures. The United States Postal Service is by far the most popular government agency, with a Pew Research survey released last year reporting that over 91 percent of respondents hold a favorable view. It delivers mail, at a flat rate, to unprofitable locations such as rural areas, delivering essential items at relatively low cost in comparison to its competitors. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the USPS and the service it provides has been rendered far more essential. However, at this critical time, USPS has centralized its leadership around DeJoy, which puts a question mark on the integrity of mail-in balloting in the November election, and delayed mail delivery nationwide. People around the country report delays in shipments of essential items, such as medicine, for as long as several weeks. VICE has recently reported that the USPS is removing mail sorting machines from facilities around the country without any official explanation or reason given. However, the drive to privatize the USPS is not solely an objective of the Republican Party and the Trump administration. The Democratic Party, the other wing of the capitalist political system, is equally responsible. Mailboxes being removed in Manhattan (Source Twitter @Azi) In a recent statement, DeJoy said that the problems of the USPS stemmed from substantial declines in mail volume, a broken business model and a management strategy that has not adequately addressed these issues. However, the truth is that the USPS has been sabotaged by its leadership, by both its Board of Governors and the political leaders in Congress and the White House responsible for nominating and electing them. The Postal Services budget crisis started in 2006, with the landmark Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act passed by the Republican George W. Bush administration. The act required the prefunding of the health benefits of retirees, a requirement no other entity, public or private, has to make. This required putting away an extra $5.6 billion per year, strongly contributing to the USPS loss of over $62.4 billion between 2007 and 2016. The bill was passed with a bipartisan consensus. It was co-sponsored by Republican John M. McHugh of New York and two Democrats, Henry Waxman of California and Danny K. Davis of Illinois. It was passed almost unanimously in the House of Representatives with 201 Democrats voting Yes and one abstaining. Among Republicans, 208 voted Yes, 20 No, and two abstained. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, then a member of the House of Representatives, voted Yes. It passed the Senate, then composed of 44 Democrats and 55 Republicans, without a roll call vote through unanimous consent. A direct consequence of this action was the reduction of the USPS workforce by over 65,000 postal workers in 2009 and the start of yearly budget deficits. Democratic President Barack Obama continued and accelerated the assault on USPS workers. In 2011, under the pretext of reducing the federal budget deficit, the Obama administration outlined a plan to restructure the Retiree Health Benefit Fund and refund $6.8 Billion from the fund to the federal government. In response, The American Postal Workers Union ignored the attack and announced in a statement, APWU Praises Obamas effort, but Long-Term Solution is Needed. During Obama's term in office, the USPS was run by a largely vacant Board of Governors with a Republican majority inherited from the Bush Administration. By law no more than five out of the nine governors can be of the same political party. In his first term, Obama's appointees were ignored by the Democratic-controlled Senate. In his second term, the Obama administration stopped nominating appointees and by the time he left office all nine positions in the board of governors was left vacant, essentially allowing the Trump administration to shape the leadership of the Post Service as it pleased. During his term, over 3,700 post offices were shut down and over 150,000 career employee positions were cut. The real estate firm CBRE, headed by Richard Blum, the husband of California Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein, won the contract to sell off the post offices. President Trump has further accelerated the attack on the post office in an unprecedented manner, but enjoys bipartisan support. The latest nominees for board of governors were composed of figures of both parties and were unanimously approved. The opposition offered by the Democratic Party against Trump and DeJoys attacks on USPS workers has been of a purely verbal character. The Democrats have signed on to a letter demanding measures in the final spending bill that would give the agency $25 billion in one-time spending, but this proposal would never pass the Republican-controlled Senate and would be vetoed by Trump even if it were to pass. The same is true of new legislation introduced Wednesday in the House of Representatives that aims to reverse the recent changes instituted by DeJoy. Democrats showed no such concern for the future of the post office when they controlled both houses of Congress during the beginning of Obamas first term. The reality is that the dictatorial powers exercised by Trump, not only in denying funding for the postal service and its ability to provide universal mail-in voting during a pandemic, but also in carrying out police-state measures in cities across the US and spearheading the back-to-school drive, have been based on the groundwork laid by the previous administration of the Democratic Party. Alongside the dismantling of the USPS, President Obama proclaimed the right of the president to assassinate American citizens without due process, killing three US citizens in drone strikes, expanded the militarization of police departments, and presided over an unprecedented transfer of wealth from the bottom 90 percent of the population to the top 10, only recently to be surpassed by Trump. The Democratic Party is attempting to direct the opposition brewing among postal workers and all sections of workers against Trump toward the election of former vice president Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris. Biden recently tweeted, We cant let Donald Trump destroy the Postal Service. But Biden served in the Obama administration, which spearheaded its own attacks not just on postal workers but on autoworkers and the entire working class in the aftermath of the 2009 recession. This has not prevented the APWU from endorsing Biden, demonstrating its role as a tool of management and political prop for the Democratic Party. The fight to halt the privatization of the United States Postal Service requires instead the mobilization of the working class completely independent of the Democratic Party and its trade union appendages. This requires the formation of rank-and-file safety committees of postal workers, connected with teachers, autoworkers and all other workers, toward the movement of a general strike . We urge all postal workers that agree with this article to reach out to us, and to organize their fellow co-workers in their workplaces. We will assist you every step of the way. China refrains from reacting to US naive provocation of tagging Confucius Institute Global Times By Zhang Han and Xie Wenting Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/14 21:44:49 Last Updated: 2020/8/14 22:35:10 The US State Department's designation of the Confucius Institute US Center (CIUS) as a Chinese "foreign mission" in its latest malicious move against China proves that it is in a state of hysteria and that the US is losing confidence as it creates trouble to nonofficial exchanges, experts told the Global Times. China refrained from a strong reaction to the US' latest move as it is already bored with the naive provocations the US likes to play. As the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at Thursday's media briefing, it's a waste of time to refute US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's lies. China has no need to react every time the US provokes, experts said. This move is meant to politicize cultural and people-to-people exchanges, but more symbolic, which won't have much of an impact on the already floundering people-to-people exchanges caused by the US, Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. The US Department of State on Thursday designated the CIUS, which manages Confucius Institutes co-established with American schools, as a Chinese "foreign mission." It requires the CIUS to register with the department and provide staff and property information to the US, as well as obtain permission for property acquisition. Some 75 Confucius Institutes are operating on campuses and elsewhere in the US. There are around 500 Confucius classrooms in the country, the Department of State said. While these institutes are not required to register yet, it's expected that the rule will force a breakup between US universities and Confucius Institutes after their contracts expire, as they would need to consider the background of the institutes when cooperating, Wu Xinbo, director of Fudan University's Center for American Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. "We reserve the right to respond to this matter," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told Friday's media briefing. China urges the US to abandon its Cold War mentality and correct its mistakes, and stop politicizing educational exchange programs or interfering in normal people-to-people exchanges, Zhao said. A specific countermeasure to the CIUS designation is unclear, but Chinese branches of US universities may face increased scrutiny, Li said. Prominent American universities that have branches in China include Duke University and New York University. Other joint projects include cooperation between Sichuan University and the University of Pittsburgh, and the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute. Disconnected from truth US government actions against the Confucius Institute heightened this year. In January 2020, the University of Maryland (UMD) decided to suspend the Confucius Institute - the oldest in the US - and in May, two political groups from US campuses called for the closure of all Confucius Institutes in the country. "We hope that all parties will treat the Confucius Institute objectively and fairly," UMD President Wallace D. Loh said in January in an open letter. He gave credit to the positive influence that the Confucius Institute has played in promoting cultural exchanges. CIUS on Friday said in a statement that it disagrees with its designation, and hopes to clear up this fundamental misunderstanding. The State Department, in its letter informing the institute of its designation, correctly acknowledged that CIUS is not a diplomatic organization, and that its employees are not government officials or representatives. But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's press release criticized CIUS as advancing a malignant "influence campaign." "The press release indicates the department is disconnected from the truth," CIUS said. "We know there are a lot of pressing issues between our two countries, but the Confucius Institutes are not one of them, and we are working hard to keep it that way," it said. But for Donald Trump, the most pressing issue for him seems to be the November election, as his approval ratings are low, given his administration's poor performance in epidemic control and the declining economy. The Trump administration wants to play the "China card" to shift domestic problems to win votes. He has tasted some sweetness, so he would keep using it in less than three months. The CIUS is one of the tactics, and we expect more unfavorable acts against China, Li said. Prior to the CIUS designation, the department had also labeled nine Chinese media as "foreign missions." As a countermeasure, China ordered US media outlets AP, UPI, CBS and NPR to declare information about their operations, including their staff and finances in China. US losing confidence Li noted that the China-US confrontation is not only about the economy and military but also about morale, which the US is losing. "The US has lost its confidence, and anxiety has prompted it to take extreme measures," he said. In contrast to the Trump administration's inability in epidemic control, China quickly recovered from the ills of the epidemic, and is now accelerating economic recovery. As the US withdraws from international organizations such as the WHO, China takes on greater responsibility in world affairs. China's development makes the Trump administration feel pressure, analysts said. Wu said China should have its own pace, and that there is no need to react every time the US makes provocative moves. Sun Taiyi, an assistant professor of political science at Christopher Newport University, told the Global Times that the designation is part of an overall decoupling strategy. Decoupling measures are likely to continue regardless of the result of the US election. If Joe Biden wins, he might use more rational measures to avoid derailing bilateral relations, but the overall China strategy will not change, Sun said. Li warned that shutting communication channels means lost opportunities to helping Americans understand China. Public misunderstanding and the animosity of political elites will create a vicious cycle. "We need to protect our interests when facing a hysterical US, and the US should be cautious that the extreme policies of the Trump administration will push bilateral relations into the abyss," Li stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President says Ankara might pull back its ambassador from Abu Dhabi, after UAE decided to normalise ties with Israel. Turkey is considering suspending diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and withdrawing its ambassador after agreement between the Gulf state and Israel to normalise ties was revealed, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. The Turkish foreign ministry also said history would never forgive the UAEs hypocritical behaviour in agreeing such a deal, which recasts the order of Middle East politics. Palestinian leaders denounced the announcement as a stab in the back to their cause. The move against Palestine is not a step that can be stomached. Now, Palestine is either closing or withdrawing its embassy. The same thing is valid for us now, Erdogan said on Friday. I told him [the foreign minister] we may also take a step in the direction of suspending diplomatic ties with the Abu Dhabi leadership or pulling back our ambassador. Under the US-brokered deal, the first between Israel and a Gulf Arab nation, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. The deal makes UAE the third Arab country to establish full relations with Israel, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. H ypocritical behaviour 200814072257093 Turkeys Foreign Ministry had earlier said Palestinians were right to reject the deal in which the UAE betrayed their cause. History and the conscience of the regions people will not forget and never forgive this hypocritical behaviour, it said. It is extremely worrying that the UAE should, with a unilateral action, try and do away with the [2002] Arab Peace Plan developed by the Arab League. Turkey has diplomatic and trade ties with Israel, but relations have been strained for years. In 2010 Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists trying to breach a blockade on the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Palestinian movement Hamas. Public health officials on Friday said as many as 550 people may have been exposed to COVID-19 at a Toronto strip club last week and urged them to self-isolate for 14 days. It is the first time city officials have issued such as warning since allowing nightclubs and restaurants to reopen, with social distancing restrictions, on July 31. Ontario Premier Doug Ford wondered what conversations the men were going to have with their spouses. 'I feel sorry for people when they go to their house and tell them that they were at the Brass Rail,' Ford quipped to reporters. 'Thats who I feel sorry for. Sorry for the spouse, seriously. Man, I wouldnt want to be on the end of that one.' Toronto Public Health said a worker at the Brass Rail strip club on Yonge Street tested positive for the virus. A worker at Brass Rail strip club in Toronto (pictured) tested positive for coronavirus A stripper is seen wearing a face mask in this still from a video on the club's Instagram page. There is no suggestion this is the worker who contracted COVID-19 Authorities said the employee worked on August 4, 5, 7, and 8. They refused to specify whether the person was a stripper or another member of staff. It said officials were contacting individuals who provided their information to the club upon entry and urged them, as well as those who had been in close contact with them, to self-isolate and get tested. Establishments are required to keep a customer log during the pandemic. Dr. Vinita Dubey, associate medical officer of health, said the club was issued a notice of noncompliance and the city is working to ensure physical distancing measures are followed. In a statement on Instagram, the club said: 'The Brass Rail closed its doors immediately when we heard that an employee may have tested positive for COVID-19. The safety of our city, staff and patrons is always our top priority. 'It turned out to be only one isolated case and that case was quickly contained. All of our staff were subsequently tested and all tests have come back negative. 'The Brass Rail has strict safety precautions in place but as an added measure we closed our establishment for another 72 hours on our own accord without direction from anyone. The club issued a statement explaining what happened. They described it as an isolated case Ontario Premier Doug Ford (pictured last week) wondered what conversations the men were going to have with their spouses 'We then hired a professional sanitization/disinfecting crew to throughly sanitize (in hazmat suits) the Brass Rail in its entirety. 'Our safety measures continue to go above and beyond to ensure our valued staff & patrons are always kept secure and safe.' Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network, said strip clubs, nightclubs or bars should not be open until at least schools are up and running. 'We just know enough from everywhere that they are going to the sources of outbreaks,' Morris said. 'I don't think people realize - 550 people potentially exposed. You know how long its going to take them to chase down 550 guys, half of which probably gave fake ID or information.' 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 Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Even in a normal year, I try my best to avoid the dentist. It's not just the physical pain, but the financial hit my bank account takes each visit. With coronavirus raging through Southeast Los Angeles, the last place I wanted to be was in a dental chair in a Cudahy strip mall with my mouth uncovered and wide open. But that's where I was Tuesday, staring at a wall painted like a pink princess castle, wondering how much money I was losing on this risky business. It couldn't be helped. I was in agony the entire weekend with a bad toothache so when Monday rolled around, I knew I needed medical attention. The problem was I had no idea who my dental insurance provider was, or if I even had dental insurance. I hadn't been in a while. The snafu led me to three different dentists in two days and cost me close to $2,000 -- even after I found my dental insurance card. The experience also led me down a rabbit hole into our dental health system, where I discovered that Black and Latino people are more likely to have dental health issues primarily due to a lack of information and access to preventive oral care. This, and that the system is basically set up to cost you proportionally for your pain. THE DENTAL RACE GAP The price tag on dental health can be thousands of dollars. Even if you have decent insurance, it can wipe out your whole savings account. For many of us, the COVID-19 recession has already done that. Thanks to what my dentist called a "failed root canal" at some point in my past, I found myself in a situation not uncommon in Latino and Black communities, where the pandemic has only heightened a disparity in oral health. This has to do with two factors: one is about a lack of knowledge about preventive care and the other is about access to dental health care. And these two feed each other. Since Latino and Black adults tend to have less information about dental care, they go to the dentist less often, and that leads to expensive problems later on. The hefty price tag associated with dental work, in turn, dissuades them from going to the dentist to begin with. Latinos in particular tend to lack dental insurance compared to other adults. According to a CDC report from 2017, just 17.5% of Hispanic adults have dental insurance. Additionally, "Black (11.2%) and Hispanic (12.3%) adults aged 65 and over were more likely to have an unmet need for dental care due to cost compared with non-Hispanic white (6.8%) and non-Hispanic Asian (5.9%) older adults." The pandemic and resulting economy has likely expanded this gap, especially in California, where we have some 2 million people who lack legal immigration status, leaving their health care options severely limited at a time when many are without work. A recent UCLA report on the economic impact of COVD-19 on California reads, "As many as 22% of Blacks and 26% of Latinos were jobless, compared to 17% of both white and Asian workers." It goes on to say that about 750,000 people in the state are jobless and undocumented because of the pandemic. It's a disparity I heard about and experienced in real time this week as I talked to Black and Brown folks standing outside dental offices in Paramount, Cudahy and Norwalk. The author at the dentist's office, preparing for pain in the mouth and wallet. (Erick Galindo/LAist) COVERAGE FOR THE UNDEREMPLOYED Melinda, a Black woman I met outside a Norwalk dental office, told me she had recently lost her retail job and was on her COBRA insurance. She was there for a teeth cleaning, trying to use what she could of her extended health benefits before they ran out. She said her insurance would cover a basic cleaning with a $50 deductible. The cleaning is a preventive measure, much like flossing and brushing your teeth is. It's also one of the most common dental treatments, according to my sister Cynthia, who is a dental hygienist. "As long as you go in for your regular cleaning at least twice a year and floss and brush daily, you can avoid expensive dental problems," Cynthia told me. The importance of a dental cleaning as a way to save me a ton of money down the line had never struck me before. That information is incredibly important, but difficult to disseminate to working-class adults in communities of color who have limited funds, little or no coverage, and are just plain busy. Citing a 2019 CDC study, an Aug. 4 article in U.S. News reported "a decline in recent years in the prevalence of untreated tooth decay in the primary teeth of Black and Mexican American children, and the same for the permanent teeth of adolescents and teens." Good news there. However, it went on: "But there was a lack of similar progress for adults, and disparities remained." WHY IS THE DENTIST SO EXPENSIVE? But this isn't just about an information gap. Access to good dentists tends to be harder for people who are part of California's service, or so-called "gig," economy. Freelancers or contract workers like Miguel, a former Uber driver I spoke with, sometimes make too much money to qualify for even basic dental coverage under the state's MediCal program. Miguel told me he had to apply for dental credit to pay to get a painful cavity taken care of. That's because lower-end dental insurance seems to be designed to really only cover routine maintenance, not costly major oral issues. Writing for HuffPost, Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive, noted that dental coverage typically has a cap of about $1,500 per year. "Many of us who do have dental insurance postpone visits to the dentist because of the cost," Potter said. "This often puts our health in jeopardy because of the close connection between oral health and overall health." The view from the chair at the dentist's office in Cudahy. (Erick Galindo/LAist) My latest trip to the dentist to treat my bad tooth pain already put me well past that limit. And just getting someone to see me was an odyssey in itself. My first trip to the dentist, one in Paramount, cost me $50 for a consultation. But that dentist didn't accept my insurance. Then came the dentist in Norwalk, who did accept my insurance but wouldn't see me unless I found my dental ID card, which was impossible to find. IMPOSSIBLE! Finally, I went to a dentist in Cudahay who didn't require a paper card as proof of my insurance. But he did require a couple of thousand dollars to cover the procedure, which was beyond what my dental insurance would cover. I don't really have $2,000 lying around in case my lower right molar ever needed a new root canal -- which, turns out, it did need. So I had to apply for dental credit. I did right there on an iPad they provided just for the occasion. The process was easy and seamless, because they've done it hundreds of times. If I pay it back within the year, they won't charge me interest. I got approved for a credit line, took my face mask off, went into a room with a pink castle painted on the wall, and sat in a chair with my mouth wide open. About the Mis Angeles column: Erick Galindo is chronicling life in Los Angeles for LAist. He took on this role after serving as our immigrant communities reporter. Erick came to us last year from LA Taco, where he was the managing editor of a James Beard award-winning staff. MORE FROM ERICK GALINDO: LOS ANGELESAs AVN reported on Thursday, the law known as the First Amendment of the Internet Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act is now weathering attacks from both ends of the political spectrum in Washington, and the future of open online communication for the adult industry and across the board appears in doubt. Donald Trump has already signed an executive order instructing the Federal Communications Commission to review and possibly revise Section 230, though there is considerable question whether the FCC is Constitutionally permitted to do so. Attorney General William Barr has also proposed a series of rollbacks to Section 230 protections. The 24-year-old law allows open communication online by freeing platforms from responsibility for content posted by users. But with the Democratic presidential ticket now finalized, it has become clear that even a change in the White House may not shield Section 230 from further attacks. Both presidential presumptive nominee Joe Biden and vice-presidential pick Kamala Harris have supported weakening Section 230 protections with Biden even flatly calling for the laws full repeal. According to a new study by the Washington D.C. think tank The Brookings Institute, a Biden-Harris administration is likely to move towards greater regulation of the technology sector. That includes stronger action on competition policy, antitrust enforcement, privacy policy, cybersecurity, and Section 230 reforms. Harris already has a record of chipping away at Section 230 protections, when she voted in favor of the 2018 FOSTA/SESTA bill, a law supposedly intended to curb sex trafficking on the internet. Because the law took away Section 230 safeguards for sites with posts that promote alleged sex trafficking, sex workers say that the law has driven them offline, back onto the streets, and made their occupations more dangerous. All but two U.S. Senators voted in favor of the FOSTA/SESTA bill, and Harris has not renounced her support for it. But during the Democratic primary campaign, she reversed her previous stance on decriminalizing sex work, saying that she now supports decriminalization as long as the work is consensual between sex worker and customer. While Harriss stance on Section 230 has not been made clear beyond her support for Section 230, she has been a supporter of net neutrality rules, and is likely to push for those provisions as a matter of social justice, according to the Brookings Institute report. Bidens stance on net neutrality regulations requiring telecom companies to treat all data traffic equally has been less clear. During the primary campaign, he never stated either support or opposition, though as vice president he was part of the Barack Obama administration that enacted net neutrality rules in 2015. Those rules were repealed in 2018 by the current, Republican-led FCC. But after becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee, Biden said that he did, in fact, support net neutrality regulations. In a statement issued in July, Biden said he would restore the FCCs clear authority to take strong enforcement action against broadband providers who violate net neutrality principles through blocking, throttling, paid prioritization, or other measures that create artificial scarcity and raise consumer prices for this vital service. Photos By Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (Newser) Two Trump appointees have quietly left their posts at the Centers for Disease Control, Politico reports. Kyle McGowan, the CDC's chief of staff, and Amanda Campbell, the deputy chief of staff, announced their resignations to staff by email on Friday morning. McGowan said the two plan to open a new consulting business and don't know of any other pending CDC resignations. "We picked this day on the calendar and left to start our own business," Gowan added. "No one has asked us to leave. No one has forced us to leave." CNN notes that both had faced criticism from the White House for not being loyal, and McGowan was the CDC's first-ever political appointee in the position of chief of staff. (Read more Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stories.) PARIS, Aug 14 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit President Emmanuel Macron at his summer residence on the Mediterranean on Aug. 20, the French presidency said on Friday, confirming an earlier Reuters report. The two leaders will discuss a range of topics including the situation in Lebanon, Belarus, the Eastern Mediterranean region as well as Brexit and the co-ordination of Europe's response to the COVID-19 crisis, Macron's office said in a statement. Macron and Merkel also plan to talk about the relationship between the European Union and China and the African continent, the French presidency said, adding it would be the first time a German chancellor visits the French president's summer residence since Helmut Kohl in 1985. (Reporting by Michel Rose Writing by Mathieu Rosemain) NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO MIGHT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OR BREACH OF ANY APPLICABLE LAW. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS OR PROSPECTUS EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOT ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED UPON IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY OFFER OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER IN ANY JURISDICTION. ANY DECISION TO PURCHASE, SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE, SELL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST BE MADE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE PROSPECTUS THAT WILL SHORTLY BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE COMPANYS WEBSITE. Acacia Pharma Group plc Publication of Prospectus Cambridge, UK and Indianapolis, US 14 August 2020 Acacia Pharma Group plc (Acacia Pharma or the Company) (EURONEXT: ACPH) is pleased to announce that a prospectus of the Company dated 14 August 2020 (the Prospectus) relating to the issue of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the "New Ordinary Shares") pursuant to a placing announced yesterday has today been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority and published by the Company. In accordance with the requirements of the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Prospectus has been produced in connection with the Company's application for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels. The Prospectus will shortly be available on the Company's website at www.acaciapharma.com subject to certain access restrictions. The Prospectus has also been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism Story continues Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the announcement titled Proposed Capital Raising by way of a Placing of New Ordinary Shares made by the Company yesterday. Contacts Acacia Pharma Group plc Mike Bolinder, CEO Gary Gemignani, CFO +44 1223 919760 / +1 317 505 1280 IR@acaciapharma.com Citigate Dewe Rogerson (Financial PR) Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, David Dible +44 20 7638 9571 acaciapharma@citigatedewerogerson.com About Acacia Pharma Acacia Pharma is a hospital pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new products aimed at improving the care of patients undergoing significant treatments such as surgery, other invasive procedures, or cancer chemotherapy. The Company has identified important and commercially attractive unmet needs in these areas that its product portfolio aims to address. Acacia Pharma's first product, BARHEMSYS (amisulpride injection) for postoperative nausea & vomiting (PONV), has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, with US launch planned for 2H 2020. BYFAVO (remimazolam) for injection, a rapid onset/offset IV benzodiazepine sedative is approved in the US for use during invasive medical procedures in adults lasting 30 minutes or less, such as colonoscopy and bronchoscopy. Acacia Pharmas rights to further develop and commercialise BYFAVO are in-licensed from Paion UK Limited for the US market, and US launch is planned for 2H 2020. APD403 (intravenous and oral amisulpride), a selective dopamine antagonist for chemotherapy induced nausea & vomiting (CINV) has successfully completed one proof-of-concept and one Phase 2 dose-ranging study in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Acacia Pharma is based in Cambridge, UK and its US operations are centred in Indianapolis, IN. The Company is listed on the Euronext Brussels exchange under the ISIN code GB00BYWF9Y76 and ticker symbol ACPH. Important information The release or distribution of this announcement may, in certain jurisdictions, be subject to restrictions. The recipients of this announcement in jurisdictions where this announcement has been published or distributed shall inform themselves of and follow such restrictions. This announcement does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in Acacia Pharma in any jurisdiction, neither from Acacia Pharma nor from someone else. This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation and has not been approved by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. A copy of the prospectus will shortly be available on the Companys website at www.acaciapharma.com provided that the Prospectus will not, subject to certain exceptions, be available (whether through the website or otherwise) to shareholders in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Africa, or any other jurisdiction where the announcement, publication or distribution of the information would not comply with applicable laws and regulations or where such actions are subject to legal restrictions or would require additional registration or other measures than what is required under English law. Any investment decision in connection with the Placing must be made on the basis of the information contained in the Prospectus. The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may or should be placed by any person for any purpose whatsoever on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. The information in this announcement is subject to change. The Prospectus has been approved by the FCA as the competent authority under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). The FCA only approves the Prospectus as meeting the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency imposed by the Prospectus Regulation. Such approval should not be considered as an endorsement of the Company or of the New Ordinary Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the New Ordinary Shares. The Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority ("Belgian FSMA") has been notified of the passporting of this Prospectus in accordance with Article 25 of the Prospectus Regulation. The Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or to subscribe for, New Ordinary Shares to any person in any jurisdiction to whom or in which jurisdiction such offer or solicitation is unlawful and, in particular, is not for distribution in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. The Company does not accept any legal responsibility for any violation by any person, whether or not a prospective investor, of any such restrictions. No action has been, or will be, taken in any jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of the New Ordinary Shares, or the possession, circulation or distribution of the Prospectus or any other material relating to the Company or the New Ordinary Shares, in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The New Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities law. The securities have not been registered, and there is no intention to register any securities referred to herein in the United States or to make any public offering of securities of the Company in the United States. The New Ordinary Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), any state securities commission in the United States or any United States regulatory authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the New Ordinary Shares or the accuracy or completeness of the Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The issue of the New Ordinary Shares has not been, and will not be, qualified for sale or distribution under any applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Subject to certain exceptions, the New Ordinary Shares may not be offered, sold or delivered within Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa, or to, or for the benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. In relation to each member state of the EEA and the United Kingdom (each a Relevant State) no New Ordinary Shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the Placing to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the New Ordinary Shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant State of any New Ordinary Shares may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation: to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation; to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation); or in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of New Ordinary Shares shall require the Company or any Bank to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation. Jefferies International Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom. Bank Degroof Petercam SA/NV is authorised by and under the supervision of the National Bank of Belgium and under the supervision on investor and consumer protection of the Belgian FSMA. You should note that, in connection with the Placing, each of the Banks is acting exclusively for the Company and for no one else in connection with the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone (whether or not a recipient of this document) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of the Banks or for affording advice in relation to the Placing, the contents of this document or any matters referred to herein. The Banks are not responsible for, and have not approved, the contents of or any part of this document and are not responsible for, and have not approved the Prospectus. This does not exclude any responsibilities which the Banks may have under FSMA, or which are imposed by the FCA, the National Bank of Belgium or the Belgian FSMA or the regulatory regimes established thereunder (as applicable). Apart from the liabilities and responsibilities (if any) which may be imposed on the Banks by either FSMA, the FCA, the National Bank of Belgium or the Belgian FSMA or the regulatory regimes established thereunder, the Banks do not make any representations, express or implied, or accept any responsibility whatsoever for the contents of this document nor for any other statement made or purported to be made by the Banks or on their behalf in connection with the Company and the Placing. The Banks, any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates or advisers accordingly disclaim all and any liability whether arising in tort or contract or otherwise which they might otherwise have in respect of this document or any such statement. Persons who come into possession of the Prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any applicable restrictions and legal, exchange control or regulatory requirements in relation to the distribution of the Prospectus and the Issues. Any failure to comply with such restrictions or requirements may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Investors should rely only on the information contained in the Prospectus (and any supplementary prospectus produced to supplement the information contained in the Prospectus) when making a decision as to whether to purchase New Ordinary Shares in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with a decision to invest in the New Ordinary Shares. Newsweek has apologized for an op-ed that questioned Sen. Kamala Harris U.S. citizenship and her eligibility to be Joe Bidens running mate, a false and racist conspiracy theory which President Donald Trump has not dismissed. 'This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize,' read Newsweek's editors note on Friday, which replaced the magazine's earlier detailed defense of the op-ed. 'We entirely failed to anticipate the ways in which the essay would be interpreted, distorted and weaponized,' read the apology, signed by Josh Hammer, opinion editor, and Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief. Newsweek on Friday apologized for publishing an op-ed that caused 'birther' conspiracy theories about Kamala Harris (pictured) They attempted to distance themselves from the op-ed piece, titled 'Some Questions for Kamala Harris About Eligibility,' by disavowing its use in conservative media. 'The op-ed was never intended to spark or to take part in the racist lie of Birtherism, the conspiracy theory aimed at delegitimizing Barack Obama, but we should have recognized the potential, even probability, that that could happen,' they wrote. 'All of us at Newsweek are horrified that this op-ed gave rise to a wave of vile Birtherism directed at Senator Harris.' But they ended the note by saying that the op-ed would remain on the site, with their note attached. The op-ed was written by John Eastman, a conservative attorney who argues that the U.S. Constitution doesnt grant birthright citizenship. Pictured: the editor's note shared by Newsweek The op-ed, titled 'Some Questions for Kamala Harris About Eligibility,' was written by conservative attorney Dr. John C Eastman Eastman sowed doubt about Harris eligibility based on her parents immigration status. Harris mother was born in India and her father was born in Jamaica. Newsweek earlier defended the piece, arguing that Eastman 'was focusing on a long-standing, somewhat arcane legal debate' about the 14th Amendment and not trying to 'ignite a racist conspiracy theory around Kamala Harris candidacy.' But the theory is false. Harris, who was tapped by Joe Biden to serve as his running mate on the Democratic ticket, was born in Oakland, California, and is eligible for both the vice presidency and presidency under the constitutional requirements. The question is not even considered complex, according to constitution lawyers. The controversial article ran under Hammer, a former Ted Cruz aide, member of the Federalist Society and conservative Claremont Institute. A number of Newsweek staffers spoke out against the piece and demanded in a letter that it be removed from the website Pictured: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris arrive to speak at a news conference at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware Journalist Christina Zhao condemned the op-ed on Twitter by calling it 'racist' and that it 'should have never been published' Journalist Chantal Da Siva shared similar sentiments and added that seeing the piece on the website was 'devastating' 'This is an inflammatory and racist op-ed that should never have been published. That is my opinion.' wrote Christina Zhao, senior editor and breaking news reporter for Newsweek, wrote on Twitter. Chantal Da Siva, a Newsweek correspondent in London, called the piece 'devastating.' 'To see this piece run on Newsweek's website was beyond devastating. It is inaccurate and it is dangerous,' she wrote. 'Journalism should be about informing, not inflaming and certainly not about spreading baseless claims that can only fuel the flames of racism and hatred.' Jason Lemon, a reporter for the publication, said on Friday that he appreciated the apology, but it didn't negate the initial publication. Jason Lemon: ''Im glad to see my employer Newsweek issue this apology over the op-ed questioning Harris eligibility to be VP. But deeply disappointed it was published in the first place' 'Im glad to see my employer Newsweek issue this apology over the op-ed questioning Harris eligibility to be VP. But deeply disappointed it was published in the first place,' he wrote. But a former Newsweek staffer told The Daily Beast that the magazine owners and management are 'are probably loving the clicks and the fact that its an editorial controversy unrelated to Jesus and Seoul.' Trump built his political career on questioning a political opponents legitimacy. He was a high-profile force behind the 'birther movement' - the lie that questioned whether President Barack Obama, the nations first Black president, was eligible to serve. President Trump has yet to dismiss the birther conspiracy claims pushed forward by his campaign advisors Only after mounting pressure during his 2016 campaign did Trump disavow the claims. After the Newsweek op-ed was published, Trump's campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis promoted the 'birther' conspiracy on Twitter. When asked about the tweet, Ellis said 'it's an open question, and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible,' Asked about the matter at the White House on Thursday, Trump told reporters he had 'heard' rumors that Harris does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors 'very serious.' Donald Trump REFUSES to shoot down birther claim that Kamala Harris can't run for VP because her parents are immigrants - and calls the Republican lawyer who pushed the theory 'highly respected' By Nikki Schwab, Senior U.S. Political Reporter President Donald Trump fanned the flames of yet another 'birther' conspiracy theory by telling White House reporters Thursday that he had 'no idea' if Kamala Harris was eligible to be vice president. The president added that the Republican lawyer who wrote a Newsweek op-ed pushing that claim 'is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer.' Right-wing law professor John C. Eastman wrote an editorial Wednesday that argued that because Harris' parents weren't citizens when she was born in 1964 in Oakland, California then she might not fit the definition of eligibility under the U.S. Constitution. A number of Constitutional experts said that was flat-out false and Harris' defenders called it racist. President Donald Trump said he has 'no idea' if Kamala Harris is eligible to be vice president, adding that an op-ed that suggested she wasn't was written by a 'very highly qualified, very talented lawyer' A Newsweek op-ed argued that Kamala Harris (pictured) may not be eligible to be vice president because her parents weren't U.S. citizens when she was born in California in 1964. One prominent law professor called the editorial 'racist nonsense' Kamala Harris is pictured with her mother Shyamala Gopalan (left), who was born in India, and her father Donald Harris (right), who was born in Jamaica Georgetown University Law Center professor Josh Chafetz told FactCheck.org Eastman's op-ed was nothing but 'racist nonsense.' Eastman had run for California attorney general in 2010, the same year as Harris, but was beaten in the GOP primary, while she won the race. John C. Eastman wrote a controversial editorial for Newsweek that suggested Kamala Harris wasn't eligible to run for VP. The op-ed was widely viewed as racist and untrue But a tweet sharing the editorial was retweeted by the Trump campaign's Senior Legal Advisor Jenna Ellis. 'It's an open question, and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible,' Ellis later told ABC News. A spokesperson for the Trump campaign never answered DailyMail.com's inquiry on whether the campaign backed Ellis' statement. At the Thursday briefing, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he could 'definitively say' Harris was eligible since she was a 'anchor baby,' a negative term for immigrants who have children in the U.S. so that they can achieve citizenship. 'So I just heard that. I heard it today. That she doesn't meet the requirements and by the way the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer,' the president answered. 'I have no idea if that's right.' 'I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president,' Trump went on, adding that the unfounded claims were 'very serious.' He then asked the reporter to explain what Harris' problem was. 'You're saying that, they're saying that she doesn't qualify because she wasn't born in this country?' Trump asked. The journalist replied explaining that Harris' parents were born abroad and weren't citizens at the time of her birth in the U.S. 'I don't know about it, I just heard about it, I'll take a look,' Trump said. His comments echoed the sentiments he pushed about President Barack Obama, the country's first black president. Businessman Trump was one of the most prominent voices to push the 'birther' conspiracy about Obama, doing so in early April 2011. Trump, who was mulling taking on Obama in the 2012 election, made a number of bogus claims including that Obama's 'certificate of live birth' was not an actual 'birth certificate.' The president was trying to push the racist narrative that Obama was born in Africa, where his black father was from. Obama countered at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in late April by jokingly showing the audience his 'official birth video' - the opening scenes of Disney's 'The Lion King.' But days earlier, in a move that showed Obama took the political threat seriously, the White House released the president's long form birth certificate. It wasn't until Trump was running in 2016 that he admitted that Obama was born in the United States - though he also claimed, falsely, that it was Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign that started the 'birther' conspiracy theory to begin with. Harris is the second person of color to appear on a major party's presidential ballot and the second Democratic politician in recent years that Republicans have tried to suggest was born outside the U.S. Following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers on May 25, people all over the world have taken to the streets for Black Lives Matter protests demanding racial justice and an end to state-sanctioned violence against Black people. Many young people have participated in such protests or marches in recent months, and many others have seen them on TV or social media. PW spoke with teachers across the country about whether and how they plan to discuss racism and the protests with their students, and asked them to share any resources they have found illuminating or helpful in their preparation. Bianca Spurlock Upper and Middle School Librarian St. Catherines School Richmond, Va. In the classroom or library: One of the first things my library did during my first year was to reevaluate our collection and policies so that we are adding more authentic voices and diverse books. That is always my top priority every year. The next is getting those books circulated among students and facultygetting them added into the curriculum and not just sitting on display on my shelves. This year our efforts are showing fruit, in that we have so many up-to-date resources people are clamoring for right now. As far as teaching [about racism], its not difficult for me to broach, as it is a constant in my life and career. But I do realize that my students and fellow faculty might come from a different perspective, and sometimes it ebbs and flows depending on the climate. When addressing this topic, I usually start [my students] on a journey of self-reflection, then empathy, and finally planned action or change. I also promote positive mirrors for my students of color. It can be damaging to African American students to only see themselves in moments of struggle and inequality. Some of my students, especially students of color, have no choice but to learn from an early age what these things [racism, Black Lives Matter, civil rights struggles] are. I think an effective way to teach this as a curriculum is an immersion in the topic. Be clear about definitions, such as racism versus prejudice or privilege versus affirmative action. This is more than a lesson; this is a societal wound that keeps reopening for many people. Students must be able to unpack and process what they learn. Then they must live it. Sometimes, it has to be a cycle and not just a one-off lesson. Discussion is always key. For example, I worked very closely with a teacher last year whose class read Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. We focused her lessons on creating a background on the featured historical characters in the book. We had the students follow a racial injustice timeline. We had them read A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson. They also reviewed age-appropriate articles on Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice. In another lesson, I challenged my eighth-grade students to review and select potential replacements for To Kill a Mockingbird, based on themes within the book, by considering more than 100 selected modern titles. The teacher gave them journal prompts and they reviewed three books they selected. They were a part of the processidentifying the problem, self-reflecting, and then creating an actionable plan. Helpful resources: I think every librarian and educator should take Project Ready, a collaborative and free diversity and equity professional development curriculum from UNC and IMLS. While its geared to librarians, theres so much information that any educator should use. Im reimagining my library skills curriculum using Teaching Tolerance resources and the Democratic Knowledge Projects 10 Questions for Young Changemakers as a foundation for research prompts. The 10 questions teach students how to create action plans and to be advocates for social change. There are a lot of anti-racism book lists out there, but books like Stamped (both the original and the remix) and How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewel, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, and So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo can help you start. I follow a lot of anti-racism educators on Twitter and Instagram: @BARWE215 (Building Anti-Racist White Educators, Philadelphia), @TeachandTransform (ABAR-Anti-Bias and Anti-Racist educator Liz Kleinrock), @labfourseven (founded by Sharon Michaels, aiming to make antiracism the norm in all K-12 schools], @theconciouskid [parenting and education through a critical race lens), @NMAAHC [National Museum of African American History and Culture]. For diverse book titles, I follow @weneeddiversebooks and @leeandlow (Lee & Low Books). And of course, something I poured a lot of energy into with my dynamic Emerging Leader Group from 2019 is AASLs Developing Inclusive Learners and Citizens Activity Guide. Its been a blueprint for so many of my lessons. Student reaction: My students are learning. They will go through their cycles of unpacking behaviors and thoughts and hopefully be able to be leaders in creating change so that this conversation can be progressive and not regressive. I try my best to engage them in a thoughtful but potent way. They ask questions and I do not shame them about where they are in their journey. I just ask them to reflect using the tools around them. They will go through this for the rest of their lives. I do the same with most adults; I just decide to walk along with them where they start. Paige Somoza Consulting Teacher Boise (Idaho) School District I have been educating myself about all of these topics within the last couple of years, and especially this summer. I have strived to teach classes with a multiperspective view and have worked on addressing my own implicit biases. I read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo this summer and have joined a book club with a diverse group of women where we read books about these issues. Our book for August is How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. I feel as though I have to truly educate myself in order to talk about these issues with students. I have been lucky enough to participate in the PBS Virtual Professional Learning Series with other PBS Digital Innovators. This spring we had the opportunity to talk about cultural responsiveness with the creative producer of Molly of Denali, Princess Johnson. In past years, I have not dived deeply into these complicated issues because they are difficult to discuss. However, through this conversation I came to the realization that, although these issues are uncomfortable, they are essential conversations that we need to have to move forward as a country. To start having this conversation with students, I think that one of the most important things we can do is cultivate a culture of community at the beginning of the school year. All students need to feel safe in order to address these historic issues. Team-building activities and class time spent getting to know one another will build empathy skills that students will need as the school year progresses. We also need our students to be aware of their implicit biases before we even start these conversations. Harvards Project Implicit is a great way for teachers and students to become aware of their biases. It is also important to provide a multiperspective view of historical events. Primary and secondary sources should be diverse and also represent those who have been disenfranchised. Corey Hall Curriculum Specialist STEM Education Works In the classroom or library: I will not be in the library this school year, as my position was downsized. However, I plan to continue blogging and Instagramming about books I read that address these topics [race, racism, civil rights, police brutality]. I hope to continue the conversation with my former students and followers. My approach has always been to integrate important topics into what Im teaching. Because of my position as a middle school librarian, I didnt have classes. I had time during book exchange, or I traveled to classes, or I set up mobile carts in the cafeteria. I highlighted a variety of books from different authors of color as well as nonfiction books that highlight important events in history. Often I would pair books, such as Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case by Chris Crow. Helpful resources: Teaching Tolerance has resources that address all kinds of issues related to equity and diversity. Books include The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, and Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Also, the Opposing Viewpoints database, Mother Jones magazine, and ProPublica are helpful and effective resources Ive used with students. Student reaction: I tended to focus on LGBTQ+ issues because I was a faculty advisor for the GSA. I asked members for book recommendations as I was ordering. At least on that front, the kids felt supported and like they were heard. Beth Raff Library Media Specialist Mt. Tabor Elementary School Parsippany, N.J. In the classroom or library: I work with elementary students, and I will be infusing social justice issues into my teaching this fall. I will certainly be sharing books that are diverse and encourage multiple perspectives. Teaching Tolerance has social justice standards that I will be looking into. Helpful resources: Over the summer, I participated in a professional development session led by an administrator to discuss The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore. New Kid by Jerry Craft, the Newbery winner, is a great graphic novel to discuss microaggressions. My professional organization, New Jersey Association of School Librarians, has an EDI [Equity, Diversity, Inclusion] resource page that is quite useful. The Brown Bookshelfs website is a great resource, too. BrainPop has some new resources appropriate for elementary students, as well. And Booksource offers an inclusive library checklist. Karen Compton 7th Grade English Teacher GEMS Dubai American Academy Al Barsha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates In the classroom or library: Last May my school was an international school in Singapore. There was only one student in the school who was African American and two who were African. There were only a handful of Caucasian American students. So, while it is an incredibly important issue, I wasnt sure how to create an awareness in my students about something that was so far removed from them. Instead, I used the [Black Lives Matter] movement to tie back to a previous unit on slam poetry. We had explored the use of performance poetry to bring about awareness for social justice. One of the poems, Letter to Your Flag [by Royalty, aka Ronald Vinson] generated discussions about Colin Kaepernick and police brutality. Many of the students had continued to think about the impact that poem had on them. As a result, they saw the connection between the poem and the events that were unfolding in May. Moving forward, my next school is an American school [in Dubai], and I expect there to be more students with experience of the situation. I am in talks with my teaching partner about how we can best address these prevailing issues in our English classes. I dont know that I am in a position to teach students about race, racism, and civil rights, as much as I have a responsibility to bring about awareness. The difference being that it can be difficult to teach about things not experienced. I am fully aware of the white privilege that has been afforded to me, but I have only recently moved to a country where my race was not the majority. Helpful resources: I hope to have students explore these topics through picture books, poetry, news articles, and advertisements. I plan to use the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. I would like to have students explore the various Black authors mentioned in the book, and to incorporate media (videos, audio recordings, etc.) to further impress upon them the need for open dialogue and attention to the matter. It would also work well as a lesson on change in societythe need for it versus the resistance. Perhaps an analysis of why people are so emotionally involved on both sides could allow for a deeper understanding. I also put together several Wakelet resources (via Wakelet.com, a platform that allows users to curate and organize multimedia content to save and share). Erin Ruggiero English Teacher Moon Area High School Moon Township, Pa. I think that many teachers have begun the work on a personal level. I have taken this summer to educate myself more deeply and broadly about inequity and racism and am applying that to how I teach and interact with others. I have also been talking with coworkers about revisiting our curriculum to be sure that an authentic and diverse collection of voices make up the literature and nonfiction selections that we use in the classroom. There is definitely more to be done when we return, and it will not happen overnight, but I know that safety, equity, and success is something that I want for all of my students. Jhenelle Robinson Campus Librarian Lehman Educational Campus Bronx, N.Y. Member of AASL Emerging Leaders Team A In the classroom or library: One of the schools I service had a series of three workshops for our students. They were optional to attend but highly encouraged for the students and staff to participate in. During these workshops we decided to break it into different time frames. We tried to give a brief overview and history of Black people in the Americas during and post slavery, what it has been like in contemporary times, and pretty much what happened in the recent uprisings regarding race relations in America. The workshops usually ran for an hour, leaving options toward the end for students to comment or ask questions. I worked collaboratively with my fellow campus librarian and with the guidance counseling team and some [members of the] administration. We made sure that the materials that we covered were age-appropriate for high schoolers but didnt sugarcoat the vital information that has been, for lack of a better word, whitewashed throughout history. It was properly sourced with a multitude of resources, and we are very proud of the end result. Weve gotten great responses from our students, fellow faculty members, and the administration. We plan to continue to have the conversation. This is not just a one-off or a trendy topic. Our principal has made it a new tenet and a new mission for our school community that race relations and Black Lives Matter will be addressed with our students, considering the fact that we serve predominantly Black, Caribbean, and Latino communities that are disproportionately affected by police brutality. We determined that it is just as important that we encourage dialogue among our students; we encourage openness, we encourage knowledge. But from my understanding, and from what Ive observed, our students are very astute, very informed, and very sensitive, because, again, the images that they see of the people who are the victims of police brutality look like themthey look like their parents, like their cousins, like members of their faith communities. So this is very relevant and necessary to address with our students, especially with much sensitivity. Helpful resources: My co-librarian and I have been approached by our administration to collaborate with our humanities, English, and history departments to develop and execute an anti-racism curriculum. Weve been creating it throughout the summer and into the beginning of the school year so that we can launch it with our incoming freshmen. As we worked on it, there were so many books that we referred to. Definitely Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. Its been a really powerful tool that we hope to incorporate into our curriculum. Also, there are a few YA titles that we would like to include, especially in ELA [English language arts], including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Ive also incorporated the AASL Developing Inclusive Learners and Citizens toolkit that I developed with my fellow ALA Emerging Leaders on Team A. It was met with a lot of enthusiasm from our administration. They were impressed and happy to know that, through helping to create that publication, Ive had previous experience dealing with diversity and equity issues in a school setting. Im pursuing a masters degree in educational policy with a concentration in diversity and equity. These two factors [my masters studies and Emerging Leaders work] have definitely been helpful in creating the language and the materials that Ive contributed towards this ongoing project. We have created Prezis [presentation tools], videos, and libguides in order to assist our students in navigating so much material. Especially in this age of misinformation and disinformation, its been very important. I have personally reached out to Bianca [Spurlock] of our [Emerging Leaders] group. She and I have grown close in solidarity. Not only as school librarians, but Black school librarians. I think its a unique experience that I believe a lot of people are empathetic to, but they just can never understand how it is to navigate spaces, especially librarianship, that are predominantly white. I think that many teachers have begun the work on a personal level. I have taken this summer to educate myself more deeply and broadly about inequity and racism and am applying that to how I teach and interact with others. I have also been talking with coworkers about revisiting our curriculum to be sure that an authentic and diverse collection of voices make up the literature and nonfiction selections that we use in the classroom. There is definitely more to be done when we return, and it will not happen overnight, but I know that safety, equity, and success is something that I want for all of my students. Breen Reardon English Teacher Sycamore High School Synnovation Lab Cincinnati, Ohio In the classroom: Ive been thinking a lot about these topics, but I dont have a ton of set plans for how to approach them. The first thing I know I will do is to have students write about their thoughts and experiences with these matters. I like to see where their heads and hearts are before we get too far into any topic. One thing I know I will findbased on past experiences with March for Our Livesis that todays high school students are much more engaged in political, social, and cultural debates than I ever was at their age. They care about these topics, and I am fully confident that many of my students will have participated in some of these demonstrations. I also know that I will find voices on every side of this issue, so discussions can be fraught, but I also believe that a classroom can be one of the best places to discuss important and sometimes divisive subjects like these. Helpful resources: In English classes, we often broach the subject of race through reading that we doboth fiction and nonfiction. Many of these readings are included in anthologies. We have also taught novels and short stories that allow us to talk about race and racism. We read some Toni Morrison (the short story Recitatif always provokes a lot of discussion) and Zora Neale Hurston, poetry by Langston Hughes (Harlem is particularly apt right now), and others. One visual text weve used is the TED talk The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; its a compelling talk. Greg Cole History Teacher Sycamore High School Synnovation Lab Cincinnati, Ohio In the classroom: Were entering year three of what we call the Synnovation Lab. The purpose of the program is to increase project-based learning and personalization in a school setting. We operate on a mastery-based system instead of an accumulated point total or test scores, which most research will tell you is not a great indicator of success. Our phrase is that we want to equip and empower students for life. Were not focusing just on the content, but on the type of person they are and what skills they have. Ill be teaching American history this year, and one of the shifts I was going to make anyway was to go from a timeline approach to history to doing a thematic approach. Looking at the themes of American history, our course starts at Reconstruction and comes up to the modern day. Thematically I wanted to find some questions that were authentic but that still mattered today. Those questions have changed over the summer. One key question is: how do we empathize and understand other peoples stories? I think a secondary question is how to have your voice heard. My goal is to make the unit coincide and end with the election. Voting is one way, protest is another waywhat are the different ways in which you can amplify your voice? Some alumni put together a march through our district, and it was very peaceful and they had a great turnout even though it rained the whole time. I think that its great for our students to see. The question of why your voice matters also comes up in how people feel about voting in our community. Do I put a sign in my yard or dont I? Do I show up to the protest or dont I? Do I express my opinions on Facebook or dont I? Those are all really important questions that I hope our students unravel. And Im sure educators have told you that anytime you talk about race or gender, its really hard to get a class discussion going. Nobody wants to say the wrong thing. Either theyre afraid of offending or sounding defensive. My goal is to break them down into more manageable groups just to have those conversations. Its super difficult, but if we dont teach them how to talk about it, how to engage in those conversations, its not going to get better. Helpful resources: Ive got several books on my reading list this month: An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi, and Fault Lines in the Constitution by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson. And one book that I like in education is 9 Billion Schools: Why the World Needs Personalized, Lifelong Learning for All by Lauren Della Bella and Dick Thomas. Its not just about making sure 14-year-olds can learn, but asking How can we help 34-year-olds learn? Our students are not going to remember the facts, and thats why I think that a thematic approach, focusing on how to create good citizens and voters and great 26-year-olds, will matter. And I hope I can bring just enough context to let them see the struggle, that the world you experience today did not come free, and that were going to need to apply this in the future. Equity Efforts in the Field Administrators and faculty in the Moon Area School District, which educates nearly 3,900 K12 students and is located about 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, had already been working toward making their campus communities more inclusive when the protests following the killing of George Floyd heightened their commitment to that mission. The discussion on diversity has been happening at our school for some time, says Barry Balaski, superintendent of the Moon Area School District. But what we realized is that most of this was coming from the student perspective and didnt have enough support from the adults. Last year, I reached out to several outside groups that I thought might be able to give us some assistance since we didnt have a diverse population of employees. Once I moved to the superintendents job, high school assistant principal Brendan Hathaway took over. Hathaway recalls that, back in January, he and a faculty member started a conversation with our students of color, and what they told us is that they want to be better represented. They want their culture, their race, their ethnicity to feel more included in what we do here. So we started to look at ways we could better support our students. Early efforts involved reaching out to Robert Morris University, which is nearby. We contacted some of their clubs and organizations, for instance the National Council of Negro Women, the Collegiate 100, to see if there were any opportunities for collaboration. RMU faculty and staff were enthusiastic about teaming up, and things were off to a good start, according to Hathaway. But when we saw what happened in the larger society this summer, it highlighted the need for us to do something for our students on an even larger scale, he says. Hathaway contacted Michael Hauser, former Moon Area High School principal and a current school board member; through their discussions, Hathaway notes, We saw an opportunity to make more of an impact districtwide. This work will be spearheaded by a new diversity and inclusion steering committee of diverse stakeholdersparents, former students, and consultants. Key players on the consulting front include Michael Quigley, assistant professor of organizational leadership, educational equity, culturally competent leadership, and nonprofit leadership at RMU, and Dan Taylor, executive president of the African American Chamber of Commerce for Western Pennsylvania. With all of these stakeholders on board, weve started discussing what we can do better as a school district to improve communication between stakeholders and to give all students here a more rewarding experience. Having the steering committee, Hathaway says, ensures that instead of just administrators making decisions, we bring in students, parents, and community members to look at all facets of what we do as a district. So, right now, everythings on the table. Balaski believes that is right in line with the intended mission of the committee. If we do not place diversity in the forefront of educating students, then we have only sought to understand the problems we face instead of making true change, he says. We also want to make an effort to look at our hiring practices in order to have a staff that is more representative of our student body. Though there is still some uncertainty about what the new school year will look like, Hathaway says that one of our goals is to meet before the start of school to make sure that, no matter how we come back to school, the steering committee has a plan in place to continue its work. Its an important initiative that were not going to put on the back burner just because of the unknowns. Return to the main feature. Who was Durga Bhabhi? The woman who helped Bhagat Singh escape from Lahore to Calcutta Independence Day: What mattered most to Ashfaqulla Khan was to see Mother India free Independence Day 2020: 26 COVID warrior including 8 women will attend At Home event India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Aug 15: Amid COVID-19 pandemic, India is celebrating 74th Independence Day this year. PM Modi Independence Day speech: His salute to jawans at LOC & LAC | Oneindia News According to the reports, not more than 100 people are expected to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the Red Fort. At the "At Home" function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Independence Day, 26 "Corona Warriors" will sit in a special enclosure. Four people will represent the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and three will represent the Safdarjung Hospital. Out of the 26 special guests, eight are women. A nursing officer who organised ICU care for patients in the most difficult working conditions, a laboratory technician who conducted RT-PCR and rapid antigen Covid-19 tests in high-risk areas and a Delhi Police head constable who distributed food packets among the poor and migrant workers are some of the invitees. The list also includes three members of the Delhi Police and a wood-cutter at the Nigambodh Ghat, where funerals are conducted. Head constable Manish Kumar, posted at the Community Policing Cell, Dwarka, established a community kitchen to feed 800 needy people daily, provided dry ration kits to workers who lost their jobs during the lockdown and helped install hands-free sanitiser machines. He also distributed 4,400 washable cotton gloves among police personnel and more than 1,375 litres of sanitiser to them, according to an official note. While nursing officer Asha Shabarwal of GTB Hospital worked hard to organise ICU care for patients, Kriti Sharma, a laboratory technician has been credited with outstanding work by doing RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test in most high risk areas during Covid-19. Pharmacist Vinod Rohilla arranged drugs and other items even late at night without hesitation, even when his grandmother was hospitalised. Amar Singh, a wood-cutter at the Nigambodh Ghat, helped people at the cremation ground in maintaining social distancing and was always "alert when bodies arrived at cremation ground for cremations regarding less number of people should be at the time of performing rituals and must have to wearing PPE kit so that infection should not spread to others," the official note said. In view of spread of coronavirus infection, while organising various programmes or activities for Independence Day celebrations, certain preventive measures such as maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks, proper sanitisation, avoiding large congregations, protecting vulnerable persons have been taken across the nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its advisory sent to all states, said"all programmes should be organised in a way that large congregation of people is avoided and technology is used in a best possible manner for celebration befitting the occasion. The events organised could be web-cast in order to reach out to people at large, who are not able to participate." The advisory said that for states, "it would also be appropriate that Covid-19 warriors like doctors, health workers, sanitation workers, etc., are invited in the ceremony as a recognition of their noble service in fight against Covid-19 Pandemic. Some persons cured from Covid-19 infection may also be invited." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 15, 2020, 9:41 [IST] Foxx said Friday that the 43 felony cases her office is pursuing are in addition to the 350 felony cases related to looting and protests that have been presented to the courts since May. Lightfoot and Brown announced a special task force focusing on looting that is in partnership with the FBI. On Saturday, the task force announced the arrest of Aaron Neal, 20, who broke into an ATM with a hammer Monday and live-streamed it on social media. He is charged with two felony counts of burglary and criminal damage to property. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 15 dismissed criticism of the US-brokered agreement with Israel saying that it is not a pact to counter Iran in any way, it is about developing ties between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, told the press that the pact between UAE and Israel is not meant to create a grouping against Iran and also dismissed Turkey's citicism of betraying the Palestinian cause as 'double standard'. Turkey threatened to suspend ties with UAE following the agreement with Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan saying the country could withdraw its ambassador from Abu Dhabi. Read: India Welcomes 'normalisation Of Israel-UAE Ties', Hopes For Resumption Of Two-state Talks Gargash, while dismissing Erdogan's statement as 'double standard' highlighted Ankara's $2 billion worth of bilateral trade with Tel Aviv, adding that over half a million tourists from Israel visit Turkey every year and the country also has its embassy in the Jewish nation. As per reports, Israel has agreed to suspend the plans of annexation of Palestinian territories under the agreement, with international community calling it a 'positive step'. Read: Turkey's Erdogan Threatens To Suspend Diplomatic Ties With UAE After Israel Deal The pact On August 13, Israel and the United Arab Emirates along with the US released a joint statement that US President Donald Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed agreed to the full normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel. While most nations welcomed the normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel, Iran, Turkey, Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip, denounced the agreement raising concerns about the Palestinian cause. Read: Israel-UAE Deal: Iran Terms It 'strategic Stupidity', France Lauds 'positive Step' Read: Turkey Calls Out 'hypocritical' Decision Of UAE To Normalise Relations With Israel A county judge this week handed down a prison sentence for the second of two men convicted on charges related to human trafficking and prostitution throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Barry C. Schiff was sentenced Thursday in Lancaster County Court to a minimum of 55 and a half years in state prison, according to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police. Schiffs co-defendant, Kenneth J. Crowell, 36, of Sommers Point, New Jersey, had been sentenced Feb. 18 to at least 39 years in prison. Schiffs sentencing was delayed several times while he remained in custody in Lancaster County Prison. Neither the news release nor court records list a hometown for Schiff, who was described as 52 years old at the time of Crowells sentencing. Court records do not list his date of birth. Crowell and Schiff were arrested in November 2017 and were convicted at trial two years later. Their arrests followed an investigation into sex worker human trafficking opened in April 2017 by members of the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Special Investigations Unit. Troopers working undercover responded to several advertisements posted on websites known for sex trafficking and arranged dates with women posted in the ads, according to the release. Several women sought assistance to escape sexual servitude. An investigating grand jury concluded that Crowell and Schiff conducted a corrupt organization involved in the human trafficking of young women for the commercial sex trade. Both men recruited young women for their organization. Crowell was responsible for posting the advertisements and communicating with the customers. Schiff used drugs to lure some of the victims into prostitution and then control them. The crimes were committed in Lancaster, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties in Pennsylvania as well as South Jersey, authorities previously said. The pair were convicted on the following charges: Crowell Corrupt Organizations (1 Count) Conspiracy, Corrupt Organizations (1 Count) Trafficking in Individuals (6 Counts) Involuntary Servitude (4 Counts) Conspiracy, Involuntary Servitude (1 Count) Promoting Prostitution (2 Counts) Criminal use of Communication Facility (1 Count) Conspiracy-Trafficking in Individuals (1 Count) Schiff Corrupt Organizations (1 Count) Conspiracy, Corrupt Organizations (1 Count) Trafficking in Individuals (5 Counts) Involuntary Servitude (3 Counts) Conspiracy, Involuntary Servitude (1 Count) Promoting Prostitution (2 Counts) Criminal use of Communication Facility (1 Count) Conspiracy-Trafficking in Individuals (1 Count) Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession with intent to deliver or manufacture of a controlled substance (1Count) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Belarusian Protests Upend Lukashenka's Geopolitical Game With Russia, China, The West By Reid Standish August 14, 2020 As Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka finds himself increasingly embattled at home in the face of the most widespread protests of his 26 years in power, the 65-year-old leader must also navigate a difficult test in the international arena. The authoritarian Lukashenka has launched a severe crackdown using stun grenades, internet blackouts, brute force, mass detentions, and live ammunition against demonstrators who have taken to the streets to protest an allegedly fraudulent election result in the country's recent presidential vote. Lukashenka was previously battered by his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic but, after a week when Belarusian authorities have violently suppressed demonstrations and Lukashenka's main rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, fled to Lithuania, the country finds itself in a deep crisis. As protests swell across the country, the deepening domestic standoff is creating a geopolitical conundrum for Lukashenka and Belarus's European Union neighbors and Russia -- as well as major powers like the United States and China -- who are all searching for a way to further their interests while preventing the domestic situation in Belarus from escalating into deeper unrest. "[Lukashenka] is embattled on all fronts in a way that he hasn't been before, both domestically and internationally," Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador to Belarus and a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told RFE/RL. A Turning Point Over the years, Lukashenka has cemented his reputation as a political survivor -- weaving between Moscow and the West to leverage Belarus's strategic position -- while in recent years welcoming in Chinese influence and investment to gain space to rebuff Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first leader to congratulate Lukashenka on winning the contested election and offer support, but Beijing has otherwise remained quiet amid the widespread demonstrations and the brutal crackdown against them. The EU is facing strong calls to impose sanctions and the bloc said that it is reassessing relations with Lukashenka's government as it holds an August 14 EU foreign ministerial meeting to discuss Belarus. The United States has similarly expressed deep concern over the election results and the unrest in Belarus comes on the heels of Washington restoring diplomatic relations after a decade-long break and a landmark February visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. For Russia, the postelection turmoil comes after a period of rising tensions between Minsk and Moscow over Russian loans, subsidized energy, and Kremlin efforts to further integrate Belarus through a Union State treaty. While Russian President Vladimir Putin did congratulate Lukashenka on a "victory" at the polls, his statement implied conditions for Russian support, and Moscow is looking for ways to gain leverage over a weakened Lukashenka who is desperate for help. This puts the Belarusian leader's long-standing international game under immense strain as the pressure against him at home continues to grow -- with large factories and other companies going on strike and making demands on August 14. "The situation now is different than in previous years. Belarusian society has passed a turning point," Katsiaryna Shmatsina, a research fellow at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies in Vilnius, told RFE/RL. "Lukashenka can increasingly only rely on repression at home, which leaves him isolated and vulnerable abroad." Playing The China Card China has emerged as a growing political and economic force in Belarus, with Minsk increasingly looking to Beijing as a place from which to receive loans and investment, while also courting China for political support. In addition to Xi being the first foreign leader to offer support to Lukashenka following the election, the Belarusian president's first appearance after the election was at a major investment project where CITIC Construction, a Chinese state-owned company, functions as general contractor. The optics were clearly intentional, Olga Kulai, a Minsk-based expert on Chinese-Belarusian relations, told RFE/RL. Kulai said the appearance was meant to show that Lukashenka enjoys Beijing's favor and that China will continue to be an important partner for Belarus in the future. In recent years, Chinese money has financed new roads, factories, rail links with Europe, and a sprawling industrial park on the outskirts of Minsk that has already drawn more than $1 billion in investment from 56 foreign companies, including Chinese technology giants Huawei and ZTE. Belarus has also positioned itself as an important launching pad on the EU's doorstep for China's Belt and Road Initiative and increasingly turns to Beijing's patronage, with Beijing opening up a $15 billion line of credit to the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus last year. But Lukashenka's current crackdown on peaceful protesters could make Belarus a less attractive partner to China. "It really undermines the importance of Belarus to China," Kulai said. "Beijing is a practical partner and they are looking for a stable country that is integrating [with] the world economic system and especially into the EU structures -- and this is not what Belarus is now. It's a domestic mess, but also a mess for foreign affairs." Bent But Not Broken With Belarus's strategic value to China waning and the EU weighing a tough response, Russia is hoping to capitalize on the current chaos. Minsk remains highly dependent on Russia, with Moscow operating as Minsk's largest creditor and Belarus's key exports are derived from products made with subsidized Russian oil. Belarus is also a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization. But while ties between Belarus and Russia are close, they remain dysfunctional. Moscow began raising energy prices in 2018 to eventually match the market rate and Lukashenka has at times taken a tough stance against the Kremlin, positioning himself as a bulwark against Russian attempts to erode Belarusian sovereignty at home and its ties to the West. During the presidential election campaign, Belarusian authorities claimed to have arrested 33 Russian mercenaries in Belarus working for the Vagner Group, a private military company, ostensibly sent to cause mischief. Amid the current protests and threat to Lukashenka's hold on power, the Kremlin is concerned about growing violence and is supporting him, while looking to make a deeper push for Moscow's goal of further integrating Belarus into Russia once the current situation calms. "Putin is worried that Lukashneka is too weak and he is in a situation right now where he can't get out well, so Russia will be ready to interfere in one way or another," Tatiana Stanovaya, the founder of the political consultancy R.Politik and a scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center, told RFE/RL. "The Kremlin knows that Lukashenka will have to lean more on them in the future, so they would like to see him weak but not broken in order to keep as much leverage as possible." But exactly how far Lukashenka would be able to concede to Moscow's wishes remains to be seen. The Belarusian president has in recent years promoted the Belarusian language and identity and past attempts to develop the Union State between the two countries have faced popular resistance. "If Lukashenka hangs on to power he will be weakened, but that doesn't mean Russia can get its way with him," Michael Carpenter, a former senior U.S. Defense Department official and ex-director for Russia on the National Security Council, told RFE/RL. "If anything, this outpouring of civic activism means that he'll need to be careful and can't bend completely." Searching For A Response The fast-moving situation on the ground in Belarus leaves few easy options as EU and U.S. officials look for a punitive response to the protests and Minsk's heavy-handed crackdown that is being widely condemned. In addition to the meeting on August 14, EU foreign ministers will also gather on August 27 and 28 in Berlin and could prepare new measures against Minsk for their leaders to approve when they meet at a September 24 summit in Brussels. The presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have also offered to mediate with Lukashenka in an effort to de-escalate the situation. If the EU were to impose sanctions on Belarus over its current abuse of human rights, it would mark the end of its attempted rapprochement with Minsk that began in 2016 when sanctions were lifted after the release of a batch of political prisoners. The United States faces a similar issue, having relaxed its own sanctions and recently approving a new U.S. ambassador to Minsk, where the last ambassador served in 2008. That rapprochement came in part from Minsk positioning itself as a neutral bulwark against Russian ambitions after Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine in 2014. But Gould-Davies said that such a viewpoint should be treated with suspicion. "There were always extreme limits on how far Lukashenka was willing to reach out to the West," he said. "The West has been played for long enough and it makes no sense to allow Lukashenka to play cards that have little or no meaning." Those original sanctions came in the aftermath of Belarus's 2010 presidential election, which also saw mass arrests and widespread repression from the authorities. Following that break in relations with the West, Belarus moved closer to Russia, which it turned to for political and economic support. Carpenter, who served at the White House on the National Security Council during that period, said there should be "a very hard policy response with sanctions and asset freezes that target the regime itself," but stopped short of calling for sectoral sanctions that could hurt the wider population and force Minsk to "seek assistance elsewhere." "This time around we need to do a better job of distinguishing between the population and the government," said Carpenter, who is currently the managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement and a foreign policy adviser to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. "We also need to engage more," he added. "We can't just sanction the country and then forget about them." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarusian-protests -upend-lukashenka-s-geopolitical-game-with -russia-china-the-west-/30784169.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 Flowers left at Cafe Nobel in Ballymena where a worker has sadly died after contracting Covid 19. Photo by Stephen Hamilton A further 65 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed, according to Department of Health figures. There have been no further deaths confirmed on Saturday. The official death toll remains at 558. The overall number of cases diagnosed is now at 6,364. Meanwhile, a fundraiser established to cover the costs of repatriating Andreea Maftei to her native Romania after she lost her battle with Covid-19 has raised thousands of pounds. The 32-year-old woman, who lived in Ballymena and was a long-time employee of Nobel Cafe, become the latest person in Northern Ireland to die after contracting Covid-19 after she passed away in hospital on Thursday. The young woman, who was originally from Tecuci in Romania, is survived by her husband of seven years Ovidiu, who works in construction. Read More The fundraiser was set up by Ovidiu's employer John Crabbe, who is "devastated" by the news of the young woman's death. Andreea's father Mircea Serban confirmed her death from Covid-19, posting on social media that she was "killed by this unfortunate virus that killed hundreds of thousands of people". Here's how Saturday unfolded: TOKYO Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Saturday Tokyo planned to send a team of officials from the ministry and other specialists to Mauritius to assess the damage from an oil spill. A Japanese bulk carrier struck a coral reef off Mauritius on July 25, spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and triggering a state of environmental emergency" in what some scientists call the countrys worst ecological disaster. Removing the ship will be a delicate operation and is likely to take months. France, which once ruled Mauritius as a colony, has said it will assist with the cleanup. Koizumi also told reporters on Saturday he saw the oil spill as a grave crisis that could lead to a loss of biodiversity. The ship, MV Wakashio, is owned by Japans Nagashiki Shipping and chartered by Mitsui OSK Lines. 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 The Delhi government has set up a rapid antigen test centre at the interstate bus terminal (ISBT) in Anand Vihar in light of migrant workers returning to the capital with the slow revival of the economy and gradual lifting of curbs that were imposed to arrest the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The move comes at a time when the daily reported cases have come down in the national capital, while they have gone up in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- the two states from where the maximum number of migrants are trickling into Delhi. Delhi recorded 1,192 fresh Covid-19 cases on Friday, against 3,947 the highest single day spike in the capital on June 23. Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, recorded 4,512 fresh covid cases on Friday against 605 recorded on June 23. Bihar recorded 3,906 fresh Covid cases on Friday against 206 on June 23. The rapid antigen test centre was set up on Thursday, said a senior official of the Delhi government. He said till Friday evening, around 450 people were tested at the centre and only six were fund to be Covid-19 positive. Although the interstate road transport is yet to be allowed, many are reaching Delhi by walking across the border lines that Delhi shares with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. In the next two weeks, the government will set up several such test centres at crucial locations in the citys border areas. Revenue district officials have been entrusted with identifying such locations, the official said. Millions of migrant workers had left Delhi in the days following the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25 to arrest the spread of Covid-19. The state government had also set up thousands of centres to provide food and shelter to migrant workers who lost their livelihoods until arrangements were made to send them back to their villages on trains and buses. Thousands of them also set off on arduous journeys back home, covering hundreds of miles, by foot. Since mid-July, we have seen a large number of workers returning to the city. While it is easier to keep a tab on those arriving by trains, it is difficult to track those coming by foot, said another senior government official, on condition of anonymity. Currently, interstate road transport is prohibited under the lockdown norms drafted by the central government. But, road transport within states is allowed.The second official said most of the migrants take buses from their respective districts and arrive at Kaushambi a township in Ghaziabad, on the Uttar Pradesh side of the border. From there, they walk to Anand Vihar, covering a distance of about 4km by foot. From Anand Vihar, which is in Delhi, they take local buses and go to other areas within the national capital, the official quoted above said. He further said most individuals who have so far been tested at the Anand Vihar centre are factory workers, construction workers, and self-employed people such as plumbers, electricians, painters, and carpenters, among others. Several of them have also crossed from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh in a similar fashion, before reaching Delhi eventually, the official said. Pakistan on Saturday summoned a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission here to register its protest over the alleged ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC). In a statement, the Foreign Office claimed that a three-year-old girl was injured in the firing by the Indian forces in Dhudhnial Sector on August 14. This is a developing story. More details are awaited. On the eve of the 74th Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation. In his televised address, he said that this year's celebration would be against the background of COVID-19 pandemic and saluted the efforts of corona warriors who lost their lives. The President also addressed Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that India's self-reliance "means being self-sufficient without alienating or creating distance from the world". He also spoke about border standoff asserting that India believes in peace it is also capable of giving a befitting reply to any attempt of aggression in a veiled reference to China Here is the full text of the President's speech: My Dear Fellow Citizens, Namaskaar! 1. It gives me great pleasure to greet all the people of India, living in the country and abroad, on the eve of the 74th Independence Day. August 15 fills us with the excitement of unfurling the tricolour, taking part in celebrations and listening to patriotic songs. On this day, the youth of India should feel the special pride of being citizens of a free nation. We gratefully remember our freedom fighters and martyrs whose sacrifices have enabled us to live in an independent nation. 2. The ethos of our freedom struggle forms the foundation of modern India. Our visionary leaders brought together a diversity of world views to forge a common national spirit. They were committed to the cause of liberating Bharat Mata from oppressive foreign rule and securing the future of her children. Their thoughts and actions shaped the identity of India as a modern nation. 3. We are fortunate that Mahatma Gandhi became the guiding light of our freedom movement. As much a saint as a political leader, he was a phenomenon that could have happened only in India. Troubled by social strife, economic problems, and climate change, the world seeks relief in Gandhijis teachings. His quest for equality and justice is the mantra for our Republic. I am glad to see the younger generations re-discover Gandhiji. Dear Fellow Citizens, 4. The celebrations of Independence Day this year will be rather restrained. The reason is obvious. The whole world confronts a deadly virus which has disrupted all activities and taken a huge toll. It has altered the world we lived in before the pandemic. 5. It is very reassuring to note that, the central government, while anticipating the tremendous challenge, responded effectively and well in time. For a country so vast and diverse with high population density, meeting this challenge requires super-human efforts. All state governments took measures in accordance with local circumstances. People also supported whole-heartedly. With our committed efforts, we have succeeded in containing the magnitude of the pandemic and saving a large number of lives. This is worth emulating by the wider world. 6. The nation is indebted to doctors, nurses and other health workers who have been continuously on the forefront of our fight against this virus. Unfortunately, many of them have lost their lives battling the pandemic. They are our national heroes. All Corona Warriors deserve high praise. They go much beyond their call of duty to save lives and ensure essential services. These doctors, health workers, members of Disaster Management Teams, police personnel, sanitation workers, delivery staff, transportation, railway and aviation personnel, providers of various services, government employees, social service organisations and generous citizens have been scripting inspiring stories of courage and selfless service. When cities and towns go quiet and roads are deserted, they work tirelessly to ensure that people are not deprived of health care and relief, water and electricity, transport and communication facilities, milk and vegetables, food and groceries, medicine and other essentials. They risk their own lives to save our life and livelihood. 7. Amid this crisis, Cyclone Amphan hit us in West Bengal and Odisha. Concerted response of Disaster Management Teams, Central and State agencies and alert citizens helped minimize loss of life. Floods have been disrupting lives of our people in the North-East and eastern states. Amid such onslaughts of disasters, it is gratifying to see all sections of society coming together to help those in distress. Also read: 74th Independence Day: Key highlights of President Ram Nath Kovind's address to nation Dear Fellow Citizens, 8. The poor and daily wage-earners are the worst hit by the pandemic. In order to support them through this phase of crisis, virus containment-efforts have been supplemented by welfare interventions. By introducing Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, the government has enabled crores of people to earn their livelihood, and mitigate the impact of job-loss, dislocation and disruption caused by the pandemic. The Government continues to extend its helping hand through a number of initiatives, supported whole-heartedly by the corporate sector, civil society and citizens. 9. The needy are being given free food grains, so that no family goes hungry. The largest free food distribution programme in the world has been extended till the end of November 2020 to provide succour to about 80 crore people every month. In order to ensure that migratory ration card holders get ration anywhere in the country, all states are being brought under the coverage of One Nation - One Ration Card scheme. 10. Committed to taking care of our people stranded anywhere in the world, the Government has brought back more than 10 lakh Indians under the Vande Bharat Mission. Indian Railways has been operating train services, in these challenging circumstances, to facilitate travel and transportation of people and goods. 11. Confident of our strengths, we reached out to help other countries in their fight against COVID-19. In responding to calls from countries for supply of medicines, India has once again shown that it stands by the global community in times of distress. We have been at the forefront in evolving regional and global strategies for an effective response to the pandemic. The overwhelming support India got at the elections for the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council is a testimony to the goodwill we enjoy internationally. 12. It has been the tradition of India that we do not just live for ourselves, but work for the well-being of the entire world. India's self-reliance means being self-sufficient without alienating or creating distance from the world. It implies that India will continue to engage with the world economy while maintaining its identity. Also read: President Kovind Independence Day Eve Speech LIVE Updates: Entire nation salutes Galwan Valley martyrs Dear Fellow Citizens, 13. The world now realizes what our sages had said long ago: the global community is but one family; Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. However, even while the world community needs to fight together against the greatest challenge before humanity, some in our neighbourhood tried to carry out their misadventure of expansion. Our brave soldiers laid down their lives defending our borders. Those worthy sons of Bharat Mata lived and died for national pride. The entire nation salutes the martyrs of Galwan Valley. Every Indian feels grateful to their family members. Their bravery in combat has demonstrated that while we believe in peace, we are also capable of giving a befitting response to any attempt of aggression. We are proud of the members of our Armed Forces, paramilitary forces and police personnel who protect the borders, and ensure our internal security. 14. I believe that in the fight against COVID-19, life and livelihood, both are essential. We have looked at the current crisis as an opportunity to initiate reforms to revitalise the economy for the benefit of all, specially farmers and small entrepreneurs. Landmark reforms have been introduced in agriculture sector. Now, farmers can have barrier-free trade and get the best price for their produce anywhere in the country. The Essential Commodities Act has been amended to remove certain regulatory restrictions on farmers. This will help raise farmers income. Dear Fellow Citizens, 15. We have learnt some tough lessons in the year 2020. The invisible virus has demolished the illusion that human being is the master of nature. I believe, it is still not too late for humanity to correct its course and live in harmony with nature. The pandemic, like climate change, has awakened the global community to our shared destiny. In my view, 'human-centric collaboration' is more important than 'economy-centric inclusion', in the present context. The greater this change, the better it will be for the humanity. The twenty-first century should be remembered as the century when humanity put aside differences and collaborated to save the planet. 16. The second lesson is that we are all equal before Mother Nature and we primarily depend on our fellow residents for survival and growth. Coronavirus does not recognize any artificial divisions created by human society. This reinforces the belief that we need to rise above all man-made differences, prejudices, and barriers. Compassion and mutual help have been adopted as basic values by the people in India. We need to further strengthen this virtue in our conduct. Only then can we create a better future for all of us. 17. The third lesson is about augmenting health infrastructure. Public hospitals and laboratories have been leading the fight against COVID-19. Public health services have helped the poor cope with the pandemic. In view of this, public health infrastructure needs to be expanded and strengthened. 18. The fourth lesson relates to science and technology. The pandemic has highlighted the need to accelerate developments in science and technology. During the lockdown and subsequent unlocking, information and communication technology has emerged as an effective tool for governance, education, business, office work and social connect. It has helped meet the twin objectives of saving lives and resumption of activities. 19. Offices of the Government of India and of the state governments have been extensively using virtual interface to discharge their functions. The judiciary has been conducting virtual court proceedings to deliver justice. In Rashtrapati Bhavan also, we have used technology to conduct virtual conferences and carry out many activities. IT and communication tools have promoted e-learning and distance education. Work-from-home has become the norm in many sectors. Technology has enabled certain establishments in government and private sectors to work overtime to keep the wheels of the economy running. Thus, we have learnt the lesson that adoption of science and technology, in harmony with nature, will help sustain our survival and growth. 20. These lessons will prove useful to humanity. The younger generation has learnt the lessons well, and I believe that the future of India is safe in their hands. These are difficult times for all of us, more so for our youth. The closure of our educational institutions would have caused anxiety among our girls and boys, casting a shadow over their dreams and aspirations for the time being. However, I would like them to remember that these difficult times wont last and they should not give up working for their dreams. The past is full of inspiring examples of exciting reconstruction of societies, economies and countries after such devastations. I am sure that our country and youth have a bright future. 21. With a view to providing futuristic education to our children and youth, the Central Government has decided to implement the National Education Policy. I am confident that with the implementation of this policy, a new quality education system will be developed and this will transform the future challenges into opportunities, paving the way for a New India. Our youth will be able to freely choose their subjects according to their interests and talents. They would have an opportunity to realise their potential. Our future generations will not only be able to get employment on the strength of such abilities but will also create employment opportunities for others. 22. The National Education Policy spells a long term vision with far-reaching impact. It will strengthen the culture of Inclusion, Innovation and Institution in the sphere of education. Imparting education in the mother tongue has been given emphasis in order to help young minds grow spontaneously. This will strengthen Indian languages as well as the unity of the country. Youth empowerment is essential for building a strong nation. The National Education Policy is a right step in this direction. My Dear Fellow Citizens, 23. Only ten days ago, construction of the temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi began, in Ayodhya. It was indeed a moment of pride for all. People of the country maintained restraint and patience for a long time and reposed unflinching trust in the judicial system. The issue of Ram Janmabhoomi was resolved through judicial process. All concerned parties and the people respectfully accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court and displayed before the world, Indian ethos of peace, non-violence, love and harmony. I congratulate all fellow citizens for their commendable conduct. Dear Fellow Citizens, 24. When India won freedom, many predicted that our experiment with democracy will not last long. They saw our ancient traditions and rich diversity as hurdles in democratization of our polity. But we have always nurtured them as our strengths that make the largest democracy in the world so vibrant. India has to continue playing its leading role for the betterment of humanity. 25. The patience and wisdom being demonstrated by all of you in coping with the pandemic has been appreciated all over the world. I am confident that you will continue to maintain caution and act responsibly. 26. We have a lot to offer to the global community, especially for intellectual and spiritual enrichment and promotion of world-peace. With this spirit, I offer a prayer for the well-being of one and all: May all be happy, May all be free from illness, May all see what is auspicious, May no one come to grief. The message of this prayer for universal well-being is Indias unique gift to humanity. 27. I once again congratulate you on the eve of 74th Independence Day. I wish you good health and a bright future. A pro-Western party in North Macedonia is trying to form a coalition government after it claimed victory in somewhat historic parliamentary elections. But the Balkan nation's first national vote under its new state name didn't go exactly according to plan. By Stefan J. Bos A suspected hacking attack caused the website of the country's electoral commission to crash for hours after polls closed in the ballot Wednesday. That delayed preliminary results. They eventually showed that the pro-Western Social Democrats narrowly beat the main conservative rival VMRO-DPMNE. But the ruling Social Democrats only received 36 percent of the vote. That was just two percent more than the conservatives who insisted they could ultimately prevail in coalition negotiations and form a government. Preliminary seat projections from the electoral commission gave the Social Democrats 46 seats in the 120-member parliament - well short of the 61 needed to form a government. The conservatives gained a projected 44 seats. That left the 45-year-old Social Democrats leader and former prime minister Zoran Zaev with complicated talks on creating a coalition cabinet. Zaev's discussions involve parties of the nation's ethnic Albanian minority, which comprises nearly a quarter of the country's 2.1 million population. Relief for Greece However complicated, his victory is a relief for neighboring Greece. Under Zaevs leadership, Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia. That ended a protracted dispute with Greece and cleared objections for North Macedonia to join the NATO military alliance earlier this year. But it was not invited to join the European Union. That outraged Zaev, who resigned in January in protest prompting early elections. North Macedonia and Albania were blocked by France, with support from the Netherlands and Denmark, in October 2019. However, well-informed analyst Ioannis Armakolas of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy hasn't given up hope. He says voters still trust Zaev to succeed in efforts to make North Macedonia an EU member state. "When it comes to Zoran Zaev, their record has been weak when it comes to domestic reforms so far. But they are a safer bet I would say to lead the country towards Brussels," Armakolas noted. Fleeing to Hungary Zaev's Social Democrats governed since 2016 after beating populist conservative Nikola Gruevski of the VMRO-DPMNE. He fled to Hungary to avoid serving a two-year jail sentence for abuse of power and corruption. Gruevski's successor, Hristijan Mickoski, moved the party toward the center-right. But he aimed his campaign at voters that are still disappointed by the country's name change. Wednesday's ballot was held despite concerns over rising coronavirus cases. Vulnerable voters and those in quarantine at home could already vote in delivered ballot boxes on Monday and Tuesday. In contrast, other masks-wearing voters carefully entered voting booths on Wednesday. North Macedonia, a former Yugoslav republic, reported more than 8,500 cases, including 393 deaths, among its 2.1 million population as of Wednesday, with nearly 200 new cases and four deaths reported over the previous 24 hours. The country's authorities claim the nation saw new cases rise in recent weeks after infection-control restrictions were lifted. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard Aug. 19 by a panel of appellate judges in the case of a man twice convicted for the 2010 rape and murder of a Mentor-on-the-Lake bartender. Joe Thomas, now 36, stood trial for the second time last year for the Nov. 26, 2010, death of Annie McSween. Lake County jurors found Thomas guilty on 10 of the 11 charges against him. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 36 years immediately following the July 25, 2019, verdict. Thomas, formerly of Perry Township, has maintained his innocence and is seeking a third trial. McSweens body was found hours after her murder in a wooded area outside the Mentor-on-the-Lake bar where she worked as a bartender. It was her 49th birthday. Thomas was arrested and charged with her death in June 2011. The arrest was made after law enforcement in April 2011 discovered clothing and other items belonging to McSween found in a burn barrel in the backyard of a home where Thomas was staying during the time of the murder. Thomas was found guilty by a Lake County jury on all 11 counts against him in his initial 2011 trial. He was sentenced to death by now-retired Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Collins. The death penalty was taken off the table prior to the start of the second trial by the Lake County Prosecutors Office. Following his initial sentence, Thomas appealed and the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. Although Thomas had frequently been seen carrying a blue pocketknife before that night, it was not recovered during the criminal investigation. At trial, prosecutors introduced five other knives Thomas owned, describing them as full Rambo combat knives. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence ODonnell wrote the courts lead opinion, which determined the trial court committed plain error by admitting those five knives that prosecutors knew were not used in the crime into evidence. The majority found a reasonable probability that the error affected the outcome of the trial, and that reversal was necessary to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice. Thomas has appealed the 2019 jurys decision and Eleventh District Appellate Court judges will hear oral arguments from his appellate attorneys as well as the Lake County Prosecutors Office in the Aug. 19 hearing. According to court records, the hearing will be held via remote conferencing due to novel coronavirus-related concerns. Appellate judges will issue a ruling some time after the hearing. The appellate brief filed by Thomas attorneys lists 10 assignments of error to be reviewed by the Eleventh District Court. Thomas attorneys argue, among other things, that Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Eugene A. Lucci (who presided over the second trial) allowed prosecutors to ambush the defense by testing biological evidence and introducing new DNA evidence midtrial. Appellate attorneys stated in the brief that prosecutors failed to provide new DNA evidence to Thomas defense counsel within the required 21-day pretrial window. This evidence undermined the defenses theory that an alternate suspect killed McSween, the appellate attorneys argued. In its response, the Lake County Prosecutors Office stated the judge merely modified the 21-day requirement for good cause. (Lucci) permitted the defense to articulate a theory of several alternative suspects with the understanding they had good faith to make such claims, the prosecutors office argued. The prosecutors office argued its unclear how the DNA evidence impacted the verdict. The jury had no evidence before them that any of the alternative suspects were in the vicinity of the bar, the office stated in its brief. In the alternative to a new trial, Thomas is seeking a modified sentence that would allow him the possibility of eventual release through parole. The Lake County Prosecutors Office announced in January 2019 they would not be seeking the death penalty at the second trial after consulting with McSweens family. If Thomas was convicted a second time and again received the death penalty, the appeals process could take nearly 20 years, Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson said. With the death penalty off the table, the appeals process will be significantly shorter. The state, as well as the family, feels there is a need for a more immediate finality to this case, Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Paul Kaplan previously told The News-Herald. President Donald Trump's administration lauded the "historic diplomatic breakthrough" of normalized ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, celebrating what the three nations said "will advance peace in the Middle East." As Newsweek reports, though not entirely unexpected, the UAE has become only the third Arab government to restore ties with Israel since the 1948 war that displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from land in what is now Israel. The development hands both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu valuable foreign policy wins, much needed for two leaders facing domestic political turmoil and accusations of criminality. But for the Palestiniansalready marginalized from the Middle East peace negotiations and increasingly disregarded by the regional power playersthe announcement was a "blow to the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits, as well as an aggression against the Palestinian people," according to Nabil Abu Rudeinah, the spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "The Palestinian leadership rejects what the United Arab Emirates has done and considers it a betrayal of Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause," Rudeinah said in a statement to Palestine TV. For all the angry words, there is little the Palestinians can do. The Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, at least those areas not settled by Israeli communities or under Israeli military control, remain divided between the Hamas and Fatah governments, with little international influence and little domestic direction. The regional trajectory is clearthe Palestinian issue is being sidelined by Arab states with concerns about Iran taking precedence. A new generation of authoritarian leaders in the Gulf no longer wish to be hamstrung by the Palestinian issue, and are keen to move ahead with their own economic and diplomatic projects. As the joint statement said, the agreement will benefit all three parties "by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations." Countries like Bahrainwhich hosted the summit unveiling elements of Trump's Middle East peace plan and is home to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Commandand Omanlong an interlocutor between Israel and other Gulf states, though now with a new sultanwill be watching closely and may follow suit, experts have said. Oman's foreign ministry issued a statement Friday expressing cautious support for the decision. A spokesperson "expressed his hope that this decision would contribute to achieving comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East," the Oman News Agency reported. And in Bahrain, the kingdom's foreign ministry described the deal as a "historic step" that will contribute to "enhancing stability and peace in the region," specifically praising the Israeli agreement to halt its planned annexation of parts of the Palestinian West Bank. "I think we'll see other countries probably follow suit," said Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations. "I think a lot of it will depend on what happens over the next few days." There will undoubtedly be anger in Arab capitals, but the its extent and nature will dictate what other Gulf states do next. "If there's perceived to be quite a manageable reaction or even a very limited or non existent reaction, then clearly that will encourage some other countries to follow suit," Lovatt said. Closer Arab-Israeli ties have been developing for years despite the lack of formal recognition, which has partially been prevented by the unknown of how the Arab public would react to full diplomatic relations. "Now we'll know," Lovatt said. Saudi Arabia has also been on the same trajectory as the UAE, Oman and Bahrain when it comes to warmer ties with Israel, noted Tareq Baconia senior analyst for Israel-Palestine and economics of conflict at the Crisis Group. But the Saudi royalswith the king's unique position as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosqueswill have to move slower than their Emirati neighbors. "Saudi Arabia is probably waiting to see the fallout out of this declaration and deciding on how to proceed," Baconi told Newsweek. Regardless of who comes next, the UAE step is a significant milestone for Arab-Israeli relations. "I do think that this has broken some kind of threshold that Arab regimes would not normalize explicitly or above the table," Baconi said. The picture is less rosy for the Palestinians. "It essentially leaves the Palestinians where they were the day before yesterday, in the sense that they are politically marginalized in the region," Baconi said. The Trump administration is unapologetically pro-Israel and has maligned the Palestinians at every turn. Arab nations are increasingly looking beyond the Israel-Palestine issue and to the future, while keeping a nervous eye on Iran and looking for regional security cooperation. And the European Union, for all its rhetoric on Israeli conduct, is yet to show how far it is actually willing to go to back the two-state solution. The UAE agreement came with a supposed Israeli abandonment of its plan to annex a large portion of the West Bank, though Netanyahu has already said there will be "no change" to his project to extend Israeli sovereignty into Palestinian territory. This gives the UAE political cover, Lovatt said, while military occupation and de facto annexation continues on the ground. How quick other Gulf states are to copy the UAE will partially depend on public perceptions of whether explicit annexation is actually off the table. "It's not necessarily that helpful for the Emiratis or other countries to follow suit if Netanyahu loudly says, 'Actually, no, we're not suspending annexation," Lovatt explained. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14) The entry of poultry meat from Brazil will not be allowed in the meantime because of reports of coronavirus traces in some chicken wings, the Department of Agriculture said Friday. The agency cited China's report that a sample of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil tested positive for COVID-19 during a screening in the Longgang district of Shenzhen. "With the recent reports from China and in compliance with the countrys Food Safety Act to regulate food business operators and safeguard Filipino consumers, the temporary ban on the import of chicken meat is imposed," the department said in a statement. The DA said poultry meat is safe to eat, but added it has not yet conducted tests for possible traces of coronavirus. "The government's current priority is covid testing for our people," said Ronnie Domingo, DA Bureau of Animal Industry Director, in a text message. "DA has not conducted its own covid testing for animals." From January to July this year, the country imported 523,810 kilograms of chicken wings from Brazil, according to DA data shared to CNN Philippines. The agency said the country has excess supply of fresh chicken this year, adding that it has regular consultations with broiler producers. The Department of Health said a person cannot contract COVID-19 from eating food that has the novel coronavirus. However, infection is still possible by touching food that has droplets from an infected person and touching ones face afterwards. "Hindi 'yan [That is not] gastro intestinal route. Its still respiratory route," said Ma. Rosario Vergeire, Health spokesperson. The World Health Organization also maintained that catching COVID-19 from food or food packaging is "highly unlikely." Commentary: The need is overwhelming. Our response must be too It is the Irish love story that became a worldwide sensation, the tale of two young lovers that became our comfort viewing during the height of the pandemic lockdown. Now Normal Peoples casting agent Louise Kiely has told how she and the shows team knew they had found their Connell and Marianne from the first day that actors Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones auditioned together. Cork-born Kiely said the chemistry between the talented young actors that captivated viewers the world over was apparent from the outset. Absolutely. One hundred per cent unanimously, she says. When Paul and Daisy read together and they read a number of scenes together, it was so exciting to see them. It was like: Ok, this is it. As casting agent, Kiely along with the directors and key members of the production team had a central role in the discovery of one of TVs most talked-about couples. We found our Connell very early on. When Paul came into the room, he had the practical stuff he has the talent, he was incredibly prepared. His knowledge of the book and the material was very impressive. He was interesting and interested. It was a very special audition but he also had this vibe, or this quality, which just really matched with the character. We had a shortlist of ladies and we started recalling him with actresses. We saw unbelievably talented people, and we continued until we found the combination which we felt was correct and right and perfect. Then we saw Daisy Edgar Jones and it was very quick, it turned around then. Great casting is an almost invisible magic when it comes to movie making. When its perfect, you can hardly see it. But when an actor is miscast in a role, it can impact on a storys entire believability. Little wonder, then, that Kiely has become one of Irelands most in-demand casting agents, with skills that have led to a nomination for TVs highest accolade, The Emmys. As well as her nomination for outstanding casting, the show got nods for actor Paul Mescal, director Lenny Abrahamson and writers Sally Rooney and Alice Birch. No doubt there will be a sizeable Cork contingent rooting for her when the virtual awards take place in September. Kiely has close ties to the city where she was born and where many of her family and friends still live. I was born in Cork and both my parents are from Cork. My mum, Maureen, is from the Pouladuff Road and my dad, Pat, is from Passage West. We lived in Cork when I was very small, and then my dads job brought us up to Maynooth. Most of my family lives down in Cork, so I have very strong Cork connections. Louise Kiely, casting agent. Photograph Moya Nolan Work brought the young family to Johannesburg in South Africa for a number of years, before returning to Ireland in 1996 when she started university in UCC. She studied law, which she says has informed her casting career. Its not that I ever referenced an act, but theres a thinking or a sort of thoroughness. You have to be really very careful about what goes down in a short-form contract when youre negotiating an actor's deal because its their deal and its their life and its a very large part of my job. There are different agreements coming from different parts of the world. Its about knowing all those agreements and Im very interested in that stuff. Still, even as a student, acting was always at the forefront and Kiely says she benefited from a thriving drama society-scene in UCC at that time. Des Bishop, Young Offenders star Orla Fitzgerald (who remains a friend to this day) and broadcaster Cathal Murray were among her peers. Cillian Murphy would drop by to do some work. On completion of her degree, Kiely moved to Dublin to take up a place at the Gaiety School of Acting. It was during this time that she began to take an interest in the casting process. What I did know was that acting is very hard, she says. Its a hard life because there are so few jobs. I was waitressing and clowning and doing whatever I needed to do in order to pay my bills. And auditioning obviously. She was also part of Castaways actors agency, a co-operative where every member has an integral part in the running of the agency. What that did was it taught me the business side. I would be doing auditions on behalf of the actors, scheduling their auditions and confirming them. I enjoyed that very much. She and her friend decided to give casting a try, and cast their first short film in 2005. They were very small jobs and it took a long time. But at the time, it didnt matter because each job was like a bonus. Louise Kiely, casting agent. Photograph Moya Nolan Kiely got to cast her first feature, Marian Quinns charming coming-of-age drama 32A, and went on to establish her own business. Shes cast movies including Sing Street and A Date For Mad Mary, while TV projects have included Red Rock and Blood. She first met top Irish filmmaker and Normal People co-director Lenny Abrahamson to discuss his then-fledgling project What Richard Did. I was absolutely delighted and proud to be a part of that. And then Lenny went off and made some wonderful movies. The filmmaker behind films including Frank, Garage and the Oscar-winning Room turned to TV to tell Connell and Mariannes deep but complicated love story, and contacted Kiely again. Screen storytelling is a very collaborative process and she says the shows phenomenal success is to the credit of all involved in the project. This includes the two young leads, who brought a remarkable chemistry to their performances. In my casting experience, it can exist in varying amounts, or in different ways. For example, theres a chemistry on the first day of a read-through and its a wonderful chemistry that I love, which is a first-day-at-school feeling, and it always happens. "With two actors, they could click off each other, they could riff off each other, they could find the right level, be at the right frequency of sound together and then the scene just comes alive. When it is amazing of its own origin or volition, then it's just really very exciting. The chemistry exists but it cant be there unless the actor is absolutely present, incredibly talented and very prepared. There is no chemistry which involves you winging it. Daisy is a very fine actor and so is Paul. She feels there are many qualities both practical and creative required to be successful at casting. I think you have to have a very large interest in people. You have to be a really good listener, to be able to get a sense of a person through a feeling. You have to have an incredible interest in film, television, theatre. In order to keep my skills up to date I am vastly interested in what is available to me to watch and know who people are on a continual basis. Its not like you can learn it one year and that's you done. Its a continuous learning skill and to love it is a massive bonus because theres a lot to do within it. You have to be very organised, because productions are big machines and you have to be accountable for people's availability and their deals and some very practical stuff. Connell and Marianne, played by Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones Kiely was thrilled when she learned of the Emmy nominations for her and the Normal People team and is excited for the night, although they are being held virtually because of Covid-19. She recalls a producer on the show telling her they were making something special, and was excited for when it would come out, but says she could have never anticipated how it was received, giving comfort to viewers in the toughest weeks of lockdown. What I love is that it is such a simple, and complicated, and universal story of love. I was very surprised by how many people watched it and were so deeply affected by it. I think its the universality of that first-love story that we all know and it just resonated. What I really loved, to be honest, is that it was an Irish story. Joe Biden selected Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate because she was the best national campaigner in the bunch. It turns out her supporters were good insider campaigners as well. My sources tell me that Biden made the decision to go with Harris weeks ago, but that some of those close to him balked, thinking she was too ambitious though this is seldom raised as a negative when it comes to men. In any event, their fear was that Harris would have her eye more on 2024 than 2020. So Biden held off, and the delay opened the door for anti-Harris forces to push for Los Angeles Rep. Karen Bass, who has said she harbors no desire to be president. Then Bass hit the rocks when her past kind words for Fidel Castro and appearance at a Church of Scientology opening surfaced history that many theorize could have been shopped by Harris supporters here in California. Whoever shopped it, the result was that one competitor for the job was damaged. The anti-Harris cadre then pitched Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser under former President Barack Obama. But Harris supporters had anticipated the move and recruited 100 prominent Black people to send letters to the Biden camp supporting Harris. Some of the letters said that for all her policy credentials, Rice was not well known in the Black community. Finally, Biden said the choice would come down to two considerations: He needed a great campaigner, and he needed someone who could step in as president should the need arise. Harris was the only one who fit the bill, and that was the end of the selection process. Interestingly, the Biden camp is staffing Harris campaign operation with its people, rather than letting her bring in her own team. Essentially, the plan is to envelop Harris in a Biden blanket. Welcome to the vice presidency. But its still a ways to go: Its been 100 years since women won the right to vote nationally, and we are still dealing with a serious gender gap in our society especially in politics. Its not going to be easy for Harris in this campaign, just as it was not easy for Geraldine Ferraro or Sarah Palin when they ran for vice president. In fact, it will be harder for Harris than it was for them, because shes not just a woman, shes a Black woman and an Indian American woman. Harris will have to watch every word and every move more closely than a white man does. The criticism wont be as fair, and it will come more quickly. Like I said, what man in the U.S. Senate would be judged harshly for being ambitious? At the same time, Harris cant wait for the prejudices of the world to define her. She has to define herself for the world. And I have every confidence that Harris will be able to do just that. She did it when she ran for San Francisco district attorney, she did it when she ran for California attorney general and the U.S. Senate, and she did it when she ran for president. 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. I just pray that the Biden operation does not squelch her by trying to dictate everything she says or does. Lucky day: I got a call from a guy who interviewed me when I was in Dallas for my sisters funeral in January 2019. I asked you what you thought the ideal Democratic ticket would be, and you said, Biden for president. Kamala Harris for VP. I even have it on tape, he said. Play if for me, I said. He did. What do you think? he asked. I think that was my lucky day. I just wish you had asked me to pick that days lottery number. Heres hoping your day is lucky as well. Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com Mai Linh and Vinasun, the two big traditional taxi firms, are losing their positions in the market as they have found it difficult to compete with e-hailing taxi firms. After Vinasun reported a loss in H1, Mai Linh Taxi reported a big loss of up to one trillion dong. Its consolidated net profit in 2019 was minus VND6 billion, raising the accumulated loss to VND1.039 trillion. Meanwhile, Mai Linh holding group still made a profit of VND61 billion. These figures were found in the 2019 separated and consolidated finance reports, according to Nhip Cau Dau Tu. Mai Linh remains the largest taxi firm in the domestic market in both market share and number of taxis. Previously, the group regulated its taxi network through three subsidiaries located in three regions northern, central and southern. The cost price exceeded proceeds, causing one of the largest taxi companies in HCM CIty to report a gross loss of approximately VND64 billion for the first time. Meanwhile, it made a profit of VND112 billion the same period last year. Vinasuns Q2 finance report showed net revenue of VND155 billion, a decrease of 70 percent compared with the same period last year. The cost price exceeded proceeds, causing one of the largest taxi companies in HCM CIty to report a gross loss of approximately VND64 billion for the first time. Meanwhile, it made a profit of VND112 billion the same period last year. Since business operations shrank, the financial costs, sale and business management costs all decreased in Q2. However, the taxi firm still incurred a pre-tax profit of VND111 billion (it made a profit of VND36 billion the same period last year). This was the second quarterly consecutive loss and it was the largest in the history of the 35-year-old firm. While traditional taxis have unsatisfactory business performance, app-based taxi firms are moving ahead with strong reform plans. GoViet has changed its name to Gojek Vietnam with the same logo, uniform and app similar to Gojek in Indonesia. The integration of the brand and the app with Gojek is the company's next strategic decision to speed up development. Previously, Gojek developed a specific app for the Vietnamese market, independent from Gojek app in Indonesia. However, the company has realized that it would be inconvenient for passengers traveling between countries to have to download two different apps to their mobile phones. Meanwhile, Be has been changing fast by joining forces with partners to diversify services. Bes drivers have recently been chosen to participate in the sensor technology-use and IoT project called Milk Way. The project allows working and breastfeeding moms to schedule breast milk delivery from work to home via the app. Be drivers will come and receive milk for delivery. Grab, the eldest brother among the riding-hailing platforms, has upgraded many services since the social distancing period, including GrabMart, GrabAssistant, GrabFood and GrabExpress. Translated by Thanh Lich Merger could tip scales in ride-hailing The two local ride-hailing platforms be and FastGo could negotiate a merger to break the dominance of Grab in Vietnam. P olice have issued a warning about a dangerous batch of Donald Trump-shaped ecstasy pills. Bedfordshire Police said the 'Donald Trumps' contain extremely high levels of MDMA and could cause "serious harm". A man in his thirties from Luton has been arrested on suspicion of supplying the orange tablets, which bear the likeness of the US president, police said. Criminals are constantly finding new ways to sell their drugs and make them more appealing," Detective Sergeant Ryan Barnes said. A man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying the orange pills / PA We have seen MDMA tablets created to look like a number of culturally popular items before and a recent example of this is the Donald Trumps. If you come across these or any other type of drug, please do not take them for your own safety, as you can never be sure what these pills contain. In 2017, thousands of similar tablets moulded in the shape of Mr Trumps head were seized by German police. The huge haul, which authorities estimated had a street value of 36,000, was discovered after officers checked an Austrian-registered car on the A30 highway in Osnabruck, northern Germany. Officers recovered 5,000 of the orange tablets alongside an unspecified amount of cash. When we talk about 2020 as the worst year ever we mean many entangled things: A pandemic. The death and economic destruction caused by the pandemic. The governmental mismanagement of the pandemic. The ways the pandemic has exposed the failures of our social system. The ways it has divorced us from routines we rely on and people we love and our delusion that the future is in our control. By PTI WASHINGTON: India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has voiced hope that Indian professionals will continue to be welcomed in America as their talent has contributed significantly to the country's economy. During a virtual meeting with Governor of Ohio state Mike DeWine, Sandhu on Friday discussed various important issues, including the potential collaborations in the sector of higher education and technology where the talent from India can contribute in a significant way. "During the meeting, Sandhu shared that the Indian talent contributes significantly to the US economy and hoped that Indian professionals are continued to be welcomed in the US," according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy. In June, President Donald Trump banned the entry into the US of workers in several key non-immigrant visa categories, including the H-1B until the end of the year, arguing that they eat into American jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those affected include the family members of the H-1B, L-1, and certain categories of J1 visas. However this week, the Trump Administration announced certain exemptions in H-1B and L-1 travel ban for those continuing employment with the same employer, a move that could help Indian IT professionals and those working in the healthcare sector. During Sandhu's meeting with DeWine, the major topics discussed were trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. "Their conversation covered the strong trade, investment and people-to-people ties and areas of economic significance common to India and Ohio. They discussed the opportunities for collaboration in higher education and tech sectors," the Indian embassy said in the statement. Sandhu and DeWine noted the presence of a dynamic Indian community of over 100,000, including professionals and students, in Ohio. Both lauded the contribution of Dr Rattan Lal, an Indian-American scientist at Ohio State University, the recipient of the World Food Prize 2020, for his work in developing an environmentally sustainable soil-centric approach to increasing food production, the statement said. India has a robust economic partnership with Ohio. Total merchandise trade between India and Ohio has grown to USD 2.2 billion (2019). In recent years, about USD 50 million worth of Indian investments have created over 3,000 jobs in Ohio. Indian companies like TCS, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Welspun, Wipro and Persistent Systems have a presence in Ohio. Companies from Ohio in sectors such as consumer goods, automotive, and technology sectors have also established a strong foothold in India, the statement said. Bangkok, Aug 15 : Thai Airways has reported losses amounting to 28 billion baht ($900 million) for the first half of this year, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, massively impacting the flag carrier's operations. "The Covid-19 pandemic has led to numerous countries imposing lockdown measures, including travel restrictions, resulting in substantial reductions in domestic and international travel," Xinhua news agency quoted the airline's acting president Charnsin Treenuchagron as saying on Friday, "Thai Airways has no choice but to reduce its flights in line with reduced passenger loads." Thai Airways booked losses of 22.68 billion baht and 5.35 billion baht) in its first and second quarters, respectively, said Charnsin. The ongoing pandemic has aggravated the economic problems of the cash-strapped flag carrier, which had to be bailed out by the government. The airline has been reporting losses since 2017. Just like most other parts of Asia, Thai authorities closed borders and cancelled all flights in March, with domestic air traffic resuming only recently, while international flights continue to be almost paralyzed. President Donald Trump, after his repetition of the controversial 'birther theory' to question Kamala Harris' eligibility in running for Vice President, has issued a fresh attack on his democratic opponent. Speaking to the media, Trump called Harris "a step worse than Joe Biden", adding that she was of Indian descent, and that he had "more Indians than she has". The President was speaking at his private club in Bedminster, New Jersey, joined by dozens of members of the city's Police Benevolent Association (PBA). "If Joe Biden would become the President, he will immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in American and probably Kamala is a step worse. I sort of wished he had picked Pocahontas...she's another beauty," he said. 'Pocahontas' is what Trump calls Senator Elizabeth Warren; a jibe at her Native American heritage. "She's (Kamala Harris) of Indian heritage, remember I said I have more Indians than her. And I checked, and I looked into it and I was right, I have more Indians than her," he said. At another press briefing on Friday, Trump was asked about his "blunt" comments on Harris, having called her a mean, nasty, mad woman. The President replied that he had not been blunt, and that Harris had treated Joe Biden - his Democratic adversary for the November elections - worse than anyone else. "I watched those debates. They were very boring, but they were debates nevertheless. And I watched, you know, pretty good parts of them, and she treated Biden worse than anybody else, by far. There was nobody including Pocahontas nobody treated Biden so badly as Kamala," he said. Trump was also asked if he had an issue with a woman of colour being in the presidential race, to which he said: "None whatsoever." He said he did not see Harris as a threat at all. On Thursday, Trump gave credence to a false and racist conspiracy about Harris' eligibility to be vice president, fueling an online misinformation campaign that parallels the one he used to power his rise into politics. Speaking from the White House, Trump told reporters he had heard rumors that Harris, a Black woman and US-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors very serious. The conspiracy is false. Harris, who was tapped this week by Joe Biden to serve as his running mate on the Democratic ticket, was born in Oakland, California, and is eligible to be president under the constitutional requirements. The question is not even considered complex, according to lawyers who have reviewed her circumstances. Trump built his political career on questioning a political opponents legitimacy. He was a high-profile force behind the so-called birther movement the lie that questioned whether President Barack Obama, the nations first Black president, was eligible to serve. Only after mounting pressure during his 2016 campaign did Trump disavow the claims. The Human Rights Commission has warned that the federal government's growing reliance on artificial intelligence and automated decisions is dangerous and will increasingly put vulnerable Australians at risk. Releasing new research on Australians' attitudes on the use of artificial intelligence, Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow has urged the government to overhaul its approach to the emerging technology to avoid another scandal like the "robo-debt" scheme that unlawfully calculated and pursued debts from welfare recipients. Government agencies are increasingly relying on automated decisions rather than humans. Credit:Rhett Wyman Mr Santow said the people that tended to be least aware of the rise of automated decisions by government agencies like the Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink were the most disenfranchised in society. "That is really, really concerning to me. And that's because there's a real tendency, when new technology is being trialled, essentially to beta test it on some of the most vulnerable people," he said. Mumbai: Amid reports of disclosure of transgressions in its network, including a case in Noida which came to light on Thursday, Axis Bank said it has so far suspended 50 accounts and 24 employees for suspicious activities. Asserting that investigating agencies acted on tip-offs provided by the bank itself, it admitted that the adverse publicity was affecting its brand, but hoped this was temporary. Axis's retail banking head Rajiv Anand said so far the investigating agencies had visited eight branches, including five in New Delhi, and the number of employees suspended has gone up to 24 from 19 last week. We are deeply distressed to see our brand name being impacted in this manner: Rajiv Anand, Axis Bank #DeMonetisation pic.twitter.com/J5016FfeP5 ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2016 Read | Income Tax dept raids Axis Bank Noida branch, unearths 20 fake accounts with over Rs 60 These suspensions exclude impact of the visit by Income Tax officials to its Noida branch this morning following a trail of Rs 600 crore deposit by a jeweller. The bank called it a "visit" by I-T officials who asked for details on 30 accounts. "It is not that Axis Bank is under the scanner, but the person doing the transaction with us is," he said, adding at no point it has been asked to shut any branch. The suspension of account is temporary and the bank carries out extra due diligence including a visit to account holder's address in some cases, he said. Read | Govt asks Axis Bank to 'set its house in order' as series of irregularities detected The bank refused to share details of amounts transacted in the suspicious accounts, but Anand conceded that a bulk of the affected accounts are in the bullion trade. Axis Bank is the largest domestic lender in the bullion import space. It said all the accounts are KYC-compliant, but the problem arises when account-holders do suspicious transactions or those involving shell companies. The bank has defined criteria for flagging such transactions and regularly files STRs (suspicious transaction reports) and cash transactions reports with the Financial Investigation Unit, he said, adding all suspicious deals reported/investigated till now were first reported by the bank as STRs. The bank, which files an average of up to 200-300 STRs a month, has filed 1,500 STRs since the demonetisation announcement. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kanu Sarda By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday found civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his two tweets on the judiciary. Bhushan, however, is not the first to be held guilty of contempt of court. In 2002, Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy was held guilty of the criminal contempt of court and sentenced to simple imprisonment for a day and a fine of Rs 2,000 by the Supreme Court. The court was offended by her criticism on the judgment given by the bench in her another contempt of court case. The bench had then held that the contempt notice was issued to her not for having attributed motives to a particular judge but for imputing motives to the court in general, as if the judiciary was carrying out a personal vendetta against her. In 2009, noted criminal lawyer R K Anand was held guilty of contempt of court for trying to influence a witness in the BMW hit-and-run case by the SC and had stripped him from his senior advocate designation. The court, however, did not send him to jail and accepted his apology and offer to provide free legal aid to the poor for a year and to donate Rs 21 lakh for improving the legal education infrastructure. In 2017, the court sentenced a sitting judge, C S Karnan of the Calcutta HC, to six months of imprisonment, holding him guilty of contempt of court. He was the first serving high court judge to be sent to prison for contempt. The court had taken suo motu cognizance of Karnans misconduct in accusing members of the judiciary of nepotism, casteism and corruption when he served as a judge in the Madras HC. He was subsequently transferred to the Calcutta HC. HC judge faced wrath In 2017, the SC sentenced Calcutta HC judge C S Karnan to six months of jail, holding him guilty of contempt of court Daryn Hudson to lead new Four Points By Sheraton in Patong PHUKET: Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort has announced the appointment of Daryn Hudson as its General Manager, ahead of the hotels opening in October. patongtourism By The Phuket News Saturday 15 August 2020, 10:00AM Award-winning Australian hotelier Daryn Hudson is to head-up the new 600-key Four Points By Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort to open in Phukets main tourism district in October. A highly-skilled hospitality professional, Daryn brings a wealth of experience to the role, having joined Marriott International for the first time in 2005 as Director of Food & Beverage at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. He has gone on to become one the companys most highly-regarded executives, said a release announcing his appointment. Having moved to Southeast Asia to take up senior roles at Marriott hotels in Manila and Bangkok, Daryn achieved his first General Managers role in 2013 at Marriott Executive Apartments Sathorn Vista, Bangkok. A successful spell as GM of the Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo saw Daryn win the Asia Pacific General Manager of the Year - Select Service and Global Courtyard Diamond General Manager of the Year awards in 2016. Most recently, Daryn was GM of The Stones Hotel - Legian Bali, Autograph Collection, where he succeeded in improving overall performance, and re-positioned the hotel in the Bali market. During his career, Daryn has also successfully completed a series of Marriott leadership programs, including Executive Leadership training in Asia-Pacific and the US. With such a proven track record, he is the perfect person to lead Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort. The release added. I am delighted to take this opportunity. With its large room count and impressive facilities, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort will bring something new to the islands hospitality landscape, providing options for leisure travellers and large-scale corporate events, said Daryn. I look forward to working with our entire team as we prepare to welcome our first guests later this year. Daryn will be based in Phuket with his wife and two daughters. The lease on Ms. Stoscheks Berlin venue, where she has mounted extensive exhibitions of video art, ends in 2022: The building will then undergo overdue renovations. Mr. Olbricht, who has exhibited his collection in Berlin since 2010, has said he will be returning to Essen, in western Germany. And the wing displaying Mr. Flicks loan of 1,500 artworks in the Hamburger Bahnhof museum is slated for demolition. He will take the works to Switzerland next year. Mr. Lederer said in an interview that he was aware of past policy mistakes, but that he was taking steps to protect and promote an art scene that was integral in shaping the citys identity. His department has helped secure around 1,400 studio spaces that are then rented to artists at submarket, subsidized rates, he said. More recently, he was behind an aid program in which artists could apply for 5,000 euros, about $6,000, in the first days of Berlins pandemic lockdown, he added. Image The collectors Karen and Christian Boros will present an exhibition in collaboration with Berghain, the techno club, from Sept. 9. Credit... Franziska Krug/Getty Images And not all collectors are leaving. Art venues like Fluentum and the Kindl Center for Contemporary Art, both established by private collectors, remain and will show new exhibitions in September. Two of the citys most visible contemporary art buyers, Christian and Karen Boros who, since 2008, have mounted exhibitions in a monolithic World War II bunker in the city center will soon host Studio Berlin in collaboration with Berghain, the techno club. From Sept. 9, the clubs cavernous spaces will become an exhibition venue for work by more than 80 local artists; for the first time, the public will be allowed in without first being scrutinized by Berghains famously picky bouncers. In an interview, Mr. Demand said that with the Local Talent exhibition at Spruth Magers he wanted to show, on a small scale, that Berlin still works, adding: Were still here, were still working, we still have the same problems and were still coming up with individual solutions. ARCHIVED - 3 irregular migrants airlifted to safety as 130 reach Murcia coastline Another wave of irregular migrants; more than 130 people in 10 boats reach Murcia On Friday evening and the early hours of Saturday morning another organised wave of pateras appeared off the Murcian coastline, bringing irregular economic migrants from Algeria to Spain. During Friday evening seven boats containing a total of 98 migrants were detected off the Cartagena coastline, and later in the evening the Giardia Civil located 4 further migrants who had reached the coast. 17 further irregular migrants were detected in Aguilas to the south of the Cabo de Cope eight nautical miles out at sea and were intercepted before they reached the coast. At 01:55 in the morning a tenth boat was located 5.6 nautical miles from the coast, heading towards Cartagena and containing 18 migrants. 3 of the migrants had to be rescued by firemen and a helicopter from the regional CEIS fire and rescue service after their boat landed in a rocky area with poor access and they attempted to climb Monte de las Cenizas. The two men and one woman had to be airlifted from the side of the mountain. The fireman engaged in this close contact rescue lift has no idea whether he is dealing with a positive individual or not; he is simply rescuing somebody in need of help. All of the new arrivals will temporarily be housed in the Escombreras port area in Cartagena, which has been reinforced to try and prevent the escape of the migrants until it can be determined whether any of their number are Covid positive. All will be given a PCR test and if one person in any of the ten boats proves positive, then all those who shared that boat will be quarantined and the Covid positive hospitalised. 30 Covid positive patients were released from hospital this week after arriving in Murcia with covid and more than 250 were quarantined from the last wave of arrivals. In the eventuality that none of the migrants in a given boat proves to be positive, they will be released to continue their journey as the Spanish authorities cannot currently repatriate them to their country of origin due to the Algerian and Moroccan borders being closed because of the covid crisis. The United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly rejected a US resolution to extend an Iranian arms embargo on Friday, in a move with huge repercussions for the Iran nuclear deal. Only two of the Councils 15 members voted in favour, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord in May 2018. Tehran mocked the Trump administration for its failure to win more than just a single vote of support, from the Dominican Republic. Washingtons European allies all abstained. In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted. Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilize a small country (to vote) with them. The result increases the likelihood that the US will try to unilaterally force a return of UN sanctions, which experts say threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises. Inexcusable The Security Councils failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, signed in July 2015 and officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under the deal, negotiated by then US president Barack Obama, Iran committed to curtailing its nuclear activities for sanctions relief and other benefits. Since Trump pulled out and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran under a campaign of maximum pressure, Tehran has since taken small but escalating steps away from compliance with the nuclear accord as it presses for sanctions relief. European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East. However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA. The US text, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear agreement. Iran says it has the right to self-defense and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the nuclear deal. Pompeo announced that members had failed to back the proposal around 30 minutes before Indonesia, the current president of the Security Council, announced that the official results included two votes against and 11 abstentions. Russia and China opposed the resolution. The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail, Chinas UN mission tweeted. Snapback Ambassador Gunter Sautter of Germany, which abstained, said more consultations are needed to find a solution that is acceptable to all council members. During a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders discussed the urgent need for UN action to extend the arms embargo on Iran. Earlier Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on China, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf. The United States has threatened to try to force a return of UN sanctions if it is not extended by using a controversial technique called snapback. Pompeo has offered the contested argument that the United States remains a participant in the nuclear accord as it was listed in the 2015 resolution -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms. European allies have been skeptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and warn that the attempt may delegitimize the Security Council. Nevertheless, the US is expected to deliver the snapback letter next week, AFP understands. Analysts suspect that Washington purposefully put forward a hardline draft that it knew Council members would not be able to accept. The fact is that everybody at the UN believes this (resolution) is just a prelude to a US effort to trigger snapback and sink the Iranian nuclear deal, Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. By PTI MUMBAI: Streaming platform ZEE5 on Saturday announced its next original series "Zidd", featuring actors Amit Sadh and Amrita Puri in the lead. Described as a tale of conviction, persuasion, passion and commitment, the show will narrate the inspiring story of a couple, played by Sadh and Puri, whose never-give-up attitude helps them overturn various impossible situations and impediments. Sadh said "Zidd" is a tribute to our special forces and great soldiers. "I would like to dedicate this to our country, to our citizens and each and every soldier of our country. This is the biggest honour as a citizen and as an artist. It is beyond acting to wear the uniform again and to be telling another real story of the valour, courage, strength and sacrifices that armed forces men and women make," Sadh said in a statement. He said that the team hopes to bring out an authentic, effective, inspirational and aspirational story that will bring a smile on the faces of the armed forces and their families. Puri said that one of the main reasons for her to be part of the project is because it inspires faith and courage. "A story like 'Zidd' that shows the triumph of human will in extraordinarily difficult circumstances made me feel hopeful. It has been a very tough year for everyone across the globe. Faith that we shall get through these difficult times is the need of the hour. 'Zidd' is a testament to the human spirit," she said. The series, directed by Vishal Mangalorkar, also stars Sushant Singh. It has been produced by Boney Kapoor, Arunava Joy Sengupta and Akash Chawla. Kapoor believes the story of "Zidd" is relevant for the current times. "After we started working together on our film, 'Maidaan', I knew that FreshLime Films was the right partner for me to make my digital debut as a producer. When Akash and Joy narrated the story of 'Zidd' to me, I was overwhelmed with josh and tears at the same time. I feel proud to present this story," Kapoor said. "Zidd" will go on floors soon and will stream exclusively on ZEE5. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday questioned the personal staff of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, including his servant, in connection with the money laundering case it is probing in the matter, officials said on Friday. According to top ED officials, the agency recorded the statements of Pankaj Dubey, Rajat Mewati and Dipesh Sawant under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The official said that Sawant was the servant at Sushant's residence and he was among the five people who saw the body of the late actor at his Bandra flat on June 14. Mewati, who was the accountant of Sushant, was asked about the finances and accounts of the late actor. The ED also questioned him why he left the job and who used to give him instructions for payments and whether the actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty also gave him instructions. An ED source related to the probe said that the probe agency, which took over the money-laundering investigation on July 31, is also checking the flat in which his former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande is currently staying. The source said that the ED is trying to find out who paid for the Rs 4.5 crore flat and if any amount was shared by Sushant. Lokhande has been vocal since the death of Sushant on June 14 and has been demanding a CBI probe into the matter. She has been continuously backing the claims of the late actor's family. The ED has taken over the probe on the basis of an FIR filed by the late actor's father, K.K. Singh, with the Bihar Police. K.K. Singh in his complaint to Bihar Police on July 25 had alleged that Rs 15 crore was withdrawn or transferred from his son's Kotak Mahindra Bank account, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA against Rhea and her family members on July 31. People have a lot of questions about Lala Kent and Randall Emmetts relationship. Ever since the Vanderpump Rules star deleted all of the pictures of Emmett from her Instagram, people have been wondering what is going on between the two. Now, Kent and Emmett have confirmed that they are still together and planning their wedding. Though their wedding had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that doesnt mean they are putting off their plans to have a baby as well. Lala Kent and Randall Emmett | Stephane Cardinale Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images How did Lala and Randall meet? When Emmett and Kent met, the film producer was still married to Ambyr Childers. So, we actually met at SUR, Kent told Cosmopolitan. How crazy is that?! He came in for a Christmas dinner and sent his assistant up to me and asked me if he could get my managers contact info because he wanted me in a film. And so then we started that whole process, I booked the film and then we just had this instant connection. It was my first season of Vanderpump [Rules]. I think only like, three episodes had aired of season 4. I was like, OK, Im going to let my guard down. Whatevers happening, I like it, you know? He makes me laugh. Give it a try. They began dating in 2016 and in 2017, Emmett and Childers got divorced. In 2018, Emmett proposed to Kent while they were celebrating her 28th birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. RELATED: Is Vanderpump Rules Star Lala Kent Thinking of Joining RHOBH? Lala and Randalls wedding is postponed People around the world are having to reschedule big events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kent and Emmett were supposed to be married by now, but the pandemic had other plans. I will tell you that were more ready to get married now than we ever were, Emmett recently told Us Weekly. Its like, alright, we got robbed of our wedding on April 18. I was on set when she called me and was like, You know we have to push the date, and I was like, I know and she said, Are you okay with that? and I burst into tears like a little baby. It was heartbreaking. The two dont have much longer to wait though as they have planned on getting married next month with a much smaller guest list. I just got off the phone with our wedding planner, just talking about the new dates, he said. Lala and I are both adamant right now about early September. We havent told anybody, but we feel like were listening to Californias guidelines Were optimistic and weve kind of decided that whatever those guidelines are at that point we will respect and abide by and if it means we have to have a smaller wedding, then were gonna have a smaller wedding. At this point, we just wanna get married and do our thing. Is Lala pregnant? Kent has made it very clear that she wants to have a family with Emmett. In fact, she was even planning on taking her IUD out before the pandemic. RELATED: Vanderpump Rules: Lala Kent Explained the Reason She and Randall Emmett Broke up and It Makes No Sense Lala is ready, thats all I can say, Emmett said. The thing was, she had a plan. I think COVID definitely changed how we look at life. [She said], Okay, Im gonna take my IUD out, were gonna get married, and then well have babies, well go on our honeymoon, blah blah blah, but COVID hit and it was like, nope, your plans are not happening that way. Kent isnt pregnant right now, but with the way things are going, she might be adding a new member to her family sooner rather than later. I think that because our wedding is contingent upon a lot of factors safety obviously first I think that the baby plans are shes moved those up a little bit, he said. Well see what happens. Shes not pregnant, but were open-minded to whenever that day comes. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Sat, August 15 2020 The National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad arrested five suspected terrorists with alleged ties to Islamic State-linked terrorist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) in Kampar regency, Riau, on Tuesday. The suspects, identified only as SU, TJ, SY, LR and TW, are natives of Kampar who used to work as farmers and food vendors, the police said. 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 Express News Service Shahid Kapoors Haider (2014) has been ranked amongst the worlds top 10 Hamlets. Featuring Shahid as Haider Meer, the film is a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeares Hamlet, set amidst the insurgency in Kashmir. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, Haider was critically and commercially lauded, winning Shahid a Filmfare Award for Best Actor. And now, Haider has been ranked at no. 7 by Literary Hub among the worlds 40 best Hamlets. The list is topped by Soviet actor Innokenty Smoktunovsky in Hamlet (1964), directed by Grigori Kozintsev. Mentioning Shahids performance, Emily Temple, Literary Hubs managing editor, wrote, Kapoor is a much less conflicted Hamlet than were used to (I suppose the conflicts of the setting are quite enough to be getting on with), hes radical and compelling enough that I really dont miss the agonizing. (I couldnt find a clip with English subtitled, but this version is on Netflixdo yourself a favor and check it out.).Shahid Kapoor was last seen in Kabir Singh (2019). His upcoming film is Jersey. The United Arab Emirates said its decision to normalize ties with Israel isnt about countering Iran, and dismissed criticism of the pact from Turkeys leader. This is not about Iran. This is about the UAE, Israel and the United States, Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, said in a phone interview. This is in no way meant to create some sort of grouping against Iran. While the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have sought to frame the agreement as part of their attempt to confront and further isolate Iran, Gargash signaled that the UAE isnt looking to provoke its near neighbor. We have a very complicated relationship with Iran, he said. While we have our concerns, we feel also that resolving these issues should be through diplomacy and de-escalation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey could withdraw its ambassador to the UAE over the countrys agreement with Israel, saying it dealt a blow to Palestinian rights. Gargash dismissed the statement as a double standard which glossed over Turkeys own significant trade links with Israel. They receive over half a million Israeli tourists, have $2 billion worth of bilateral trade and an existing embassy there. And I ask myself whether this is a principled position or not, Gargash said. Under the deal, Israel agreed to put aside for now its pledge to annex West Bank land the Palestinians want for a state. We have been very concerned with the issue of annexation, Gargash said. Through this imaginative proclamation, we have at least been able to give negotiations space. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2020 Bloomberg L.P. For Jack and Mel Bradley, keeping safe during the coronavirus pandemic has meant stocking up on food to reduce supermarket trips. So when Tropical Storm Isaias struck on Aug. 4 and the couple lost power at their Fairfield home, they scrambled to save perishables, hunting down highly in-demand bags of ice for their portable coolers and freezer. Four days later, the Bradleys called off the salvage operation after learning from United Illuminating that their electricity could be out another three days. We pretty much just gave up on the food and threw it out, Jack Bradley recalled. Power was restored on day five, but by then the couple had lost an estimated $300 to $400 in groceries. And probably $100 on ice trying to save it, Jack Bradley added. With hundreds of thousands of other Connecticut utility customers in the same position, federal, state and municipal elected officials are demanding UI, which serves the Bridgeport/New Haven area, and the larger Eversource, which serves the lions share of lower Fairfield County, provide compensation. And yet state lawmakers have missed at least two opportunities to enact legislation requiring utilities be on the hook for at least a percentage of ratepayers lost provisions. A proposed 2012 law An Act Concerning Consumer Protection For Utility Customers drafted in response to 2011s Tropical Storm Irene and an October noreaster, would have compensated customers for hundreds of dollars worth of food and medications that went bad during outages exceeding 48 hours. But that bill failed to pass the General Assembly. Then in January 2013, the state agency that oversees UI and Eversource the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued a detailed report outlining how the legislature could structure what was dubbed a Refrigerated Spoilage Loss (RSL) program. But nothing came of PURAs recommendations. Its my understanding the legislature never took action to turn the proposal into law, so it remained a feasibility study, Taren O'Connor, PURAs director of communications, told Hearst Connecticut Media this week. Which is why over the past few days, politicians from both parties have had to resort to trying to publicly shame UI and Eversource over their response to Isaias and the food and medical spoilage that resulted from the length of time it took to get everybody hooked back up. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, urged Eversource to offer refunds right now during an appearance Monday at Roberts Food Center in Madison. The store claimed it lost $300,000 worth of merchandise. Attorney General William Tong, also a Democrat, echoed those sentiments in a statement Wednesday to Eversource and UI: Do the right thing ... and reimburse consumers now for lost food and prescriptions. Families were already struggling to pay for groceries before this storm. Also Wednesday, Danburys Republican mayor, Mark Boughton, posted on Facebook about Eversource: Get the lights on, reimburse people for lost perishables, reimburse businesses for lost revenue. And Thursday, Bridgeport Democratic Mayor Joe Ganim joined in, calling on UI to consider giving each resident who lost groceries... a gift card for at least $100 to at least begin to give something back for all the damage and inconvenience. Consolidated Edison, the big New York utility, bolstered the argument for elected officials seeking voluntary compliance this week when it agreed to compensate households up to $540 if they could show food losses, and businesses for up to $10,700. Then on Friday, state Rep. Anne Hughes, D-Easton, and Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, said they would re-introduce the 2012 consumer protection bill. The thought now was such a bill would have better luck than the 2012 one did. When that proposal, over the opposition of utilities and along partisan lines, was initially voted out of the legislative Energy and Technology Committee in March 2012, it seemed on a fast track to passage well before the General Assemblys midnight May 9 adjournment deadline. But under intense lobbying, the proposal stalled out and died. Current state Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, was vice chairman of the energy committee at the time. He remembered the issue as a lost opportunity to help consumers. The bill would also have capped salaries for utility executives at $350,000. The utilities tried to say that reimbursements were impractical and neither clear nor simple, Duff told Hearst Friday, recalling some of the intense opposition. Tong, a former state representative from Stamford, was also on the energy committee at the time and also voted yes. Testimony from utilities during the 2012 public hearings stressed the need for proving gross negligence in outages resulting in the spoiling of refrigerated food, as well as a means to steer any compensation to lower-income residents only. But PURAs own analysis of and recommendations for a Refrigerated Spoilage Loss program, released in January 2013, were not a slam-dunk for advocates. As envisioned by PURA, the spoilage program could have included ratepayer awards of up to $150 for food and $200 for medications. The authority outlined four different alternatives, based on outage data from 2011s Irene and October noreaster, with estimated costs to the company of anywhere from $4 million to $487 million. But the authority warned Connecticut lawmakers they would be joining what were at the time only five other states New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and California in implementing reimbursement rules with a risk of some unknown magnitude because it would ultimately be an extra expense to ratepayers ... through increased rates. That was what Fairfields Jack Bradley suspected when told this week about the failed legislation designed to make customers like him and his wife whole for lost groceries. It would be nice, but I think were going to end up paying for it in the long run, Bradley said. PURAs report stated that unless directed otherwise by the legislature, if a RSL program is implemented for future outage events, the authority will treat (it) as an acceptable and prudent cost of regulated utility business operations. In other words, customers not shareholders would foot the bill unless an investigation by PURA cited the utilities for poor performance during a particular outage. PURA has opened a case on Eversources and UIs responses to Isaias. Both UI and Connecticut Light & Power then part of Northeast Utilities, now under Eversource using the corporate brand raised concerns at the time with PURA about spoilage relief outlined in the authoritys 2013 report. UI worried such a program would result in future efforts to reimburse customers for other costs they may incur as a result of prolonged outages. And CL&P argued homeowners and renters could purchase their own insurance to cover such losses from natural events, something PURA acknowledged in its report. PURA also grappled with issues of fairness for utility customers in terms of eligibility and the costs of providing an RSL. If the program is limited to low income customers, the remaining non-qualifying customers may view that as unfair or inequitable, read the report. If the program provides a standard or sliding scale ... payment, one can argue that the actual losses may be either over-or-under reimbursed. Another fairness issue arises if customers who are reimbursed ... also receive payments from social services programs or homeowner/renter insurance, PURA stated. For example, Bridgeport post-Isaias reminded residents who receive federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan benefits that they could request replacement subsidies. Tongs office said it was not aware of any existing legislation to force the utilities to make customers whole post-Isaias. But, the attorney general told Hearst, There is absolutely nothing prohibiting Eversource and UI from choosing to do the right thing. And, in fact, Eversource recently indicated to investors the company anticipated recovering its own Isaias storm costs without a material impact to the results of operations meaning profits. Eversource earlier this week issued a statement that echoed CL&Ps seven-year-old argument to PURA against spoilage payback: We understand how difficult it is for our customers to be without power. As this was an act of nature, we dont provide reimbursement, but we encourage our customers to reach out to their insurance carrier to see if its in their homeowners or renters policy. Meanwhile UI, in its own response to the political pressure, said: We recognize these are challenging times for our customers and that the outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias presented an additional unplanned burden. Given that this is just the start of storm season, we welcome the opportunity to work together with regulators and government to explore whether there are other things we should collectively be evaluating in the future to help address the impact on customers, UI added. None of which covers the immediate costs of the food the Bradleys and other UI ratepayers had to throw in the trash. The situation is unacceptable, Mel Bradley said. Should companies bear some of the burden of it? I would think they would have to. It is their (electrical) system. Cameron MacLeod knows that musty, dank classrooms are to be expected at his sons aging East York public school. But this year, the thought of the first grader walking back into one is newly unsettling. The air is just not moving, MacLeod said. I dont feel super confident. With millions of kids across the province preparing to head back inside in just a few weeks, parents, teachers and advocates worry poor ventilation, especially at older schools, will pose an extra risk in the time of COVID-19. And Education Minister Stephen Lecces promise on Thursday of $50 million for ventilation, has done little to allay those fears. The phrase, too little too late comes to mind, said Krista Wylie, co-founder of Fix Our Schools. Her organization is always happy to see new provincial funding for schools. But spread out over the roughly 5,000 in Ontario, it amounts to only about $10,000 per school and there are only three and a half weeks until schools are to open, she said. Wylie heard from dozens of parents reporting problems including classrooms without windows or windows that barely open, broken heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and general poor ventilation. Some older schools and portables dont even have HVAC systems to bring in outside air. Crowded and small classrooms also mean less air flow and more chance of inhaling infectious droplets, especially if more than one student has the virus. The recent Sick Kids report on safe back-to-school reopening a comprehensive document that examined the emerging science on kids and COVID-19 stated that addressing structural deficiencies such as large class sizes, small classrooms and poor ventilation must be part of any plan to reopen schools. It recommends keeping windows open, weather permitting, and adjusting HVAC systems where possible to bring in more fresh air. Ventilation is all about bringing outdoor air in, said Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto. People often mix it up with filtration, and the two sometimes exists in the same systems. But its important to recognize the difference. Filtration, refers to using some kind of usually fibrous filter to remove particles from the air that might contain COVID-19. I study filtration and indoor air quality for a living and theres nothing Id rather do than say that filtration is our solution to this problem, but its not, he said. Its what Id call a secondary measure to masks, physical distancing, hand washing and surface cleaning. Ventilation is more important, he added. The history of respiratory diseases shows that spaces with bad ventilation pose an increased risk. The emerging science on COVID-19 suggests that outdoors is the safest place to be. Small, enclosed spaces with little airflow are a higher risk, something everyone will have to worry about as we eventually move indoors this fall and winter. One early release article about a COVID cluster that originated at a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, that found infected droplets spread from one table to two others, recommended spacing tables and improving ventilation. Where I worry is the poorly ventilated spaces within the school, Siegel said. There may be plenty of windows overall, but there might not be any in a couple of classrooms. Choke-points including bathrooms and hallways where a lot of kids are in contact with each other, are also a concern. I do want parents to know that in a lot of buildings we do have an issue, Siegel said. I dont think we need to be alarmist about it, I just think we need to deal with it kind of systematically and carefully. The technology to bring fresh treated air into buildings exists, and some modern schools may already have these kind of systems. But its a tall order to expect sweeping, expensive changes in only a few weeks. HVAC systems have been systematically neglected for decades and decades and now all of a sudden we want them to help us with this very serious pandemic, and its not so simple, they take investment to work well, he said. Even before the pandemic, there was a huge repair backlog in Ontario schools, at $16.3 billion in 2019. Completed work orders for the TDSB in 2017-2018, the most recent figures available online, reveal a number of issues including broken HVAC units and windows that wont open. One temporary solution would be to hold classes outside where possible. Thats an option parent MacLeod, hopes school boards can take advantage of, so that students are not sitting at desks inside claustrophobic rooms. A spokesperson for the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, the French public school board his son attends, said the board is reviewing the ventilation process at every school and making changes to maximize air exchange including opening windows, and changing filters more often. U of Ts Siegel said its not realistic to achieve perfection, given the limited timeline, but there should be a class by class, space by space approach to make improvements. Opening windows brings in fresh air. Kids and teachers should be included in the discussion, so they understand whats being done and why. If there is an HVAC system, it should be adjusted so it brings in more fresh air and recirculate less, and filters should be changed more often. The Toronto District School Board has already checked mechanical HVAC systems during the summer to ensure this, according to the boards back-to-school plan. Portable air filters placed around the classroom and near the teacher can also help, Siegel added. Minister Lecce told reporters Thursday that the government has been working to procure MERV13 level filters, high level filters that can be slotted into more modern HVAC systems, to ensure the air quality we want. For older schools, and for portables where there just isnt an airflow capacity, theyll be bringing in stand-alone mobile units, which can be procured on a fairly short notice, Lecce said. Theyll be triaging those older schools and portables, especially in areas of the province that have a higher risk of transmission, such as the northwest and northeast areas of Toronto. Boards will also be able to dip into their reserve funds. At the TDSB officials are implementing strategies to increase fresh airflow, according to spokesperson Ryan Bird. In addition to adjusting HVAC systems, they have scheduled to start them two hours before the school day begins. Filters will be changed six times a year instead of four and windows will be open where mechanical ventilation is not available, among other measures. Theyre now looking at what will be possible in the short time before school starts, with the new ventilation funding, said Interim Director of Education Carlene Jackson in a note sent to trustees after the funding announcement. Toronto Catholic District School Board administrators are also encouraging teachers to open windows and doors where possible. In some cases, windows are only able to be opened a crack to prevent kids from falling out. A spokesperson said facility staff has been working to service window stops (the mechanism that limits window openings to four inches) and make sure that windows that can safely open, do. But Julie Altomare-Di Nunzio, president of the Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers union, said ventilation is still a huge concern, with some HVAC systems so old it takes years to find the right parts. The money from the province is a drop in the bucket she said, and to fully address issues in two to three weeks is just not realistic. They have thousands and thousands of windows that do not open properly, she said. Given how COVID-19 has unfolded in Toronto so far, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities, its likely that schools without a lot of existing resources will be hit the hardest, Siegel added. To the extent that resources are available, I sure hope that they get spent in those schools that are likely going to disproportionately bear the brunt of this, he said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to the Prince of Liechtenstein Alois von und zu Liechtensteinon the occasion of the National Day, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President's Office. "Armenia attaches great importance to the development and strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation with Liechtenstein. I am full of hope that with joint efforts and initiatives we will give a new impetus to the expansion of bilateral relations for the benefit of our peoples," reads the President's message. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled an ambitious National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) under which every Indian will get a health ID that he said will act like a healthcare account and make access to medical services easier. From today, the national digital health mission will begin. It will revolutionise Indian healthcare sector. Every Indian will be issued a health ID that will act like a healthcare account, storing details of all the tests done, existing diseases, diagnoses, medicines prescribed, said Modi in his Independence speech from Red Fort. It will also ease processes such as booking appointments, making payments, or getting registrations done at hospitals, he said. Technology will be used to resolve various problems in the health care sector whether it is getting an appointment, making payment, or queuing up to get the (registration) slip. People will be able to make informed decisions. The National Health Authority (NHA), the agency responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), has been asked to design, build, roll-out and implement the project. Six Union Territories where the mission was rolled out through a pilot launch are Chandigarh, Ladakh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, NHA said in a statement. The programme is a part of the governments National Digital Health Blueprint aimed at using technology to improve health care delivery. The objectives of the mission are to establish a core digital health database, create a system of electronic health records based on international standards, and establish data ownership pathways so that a patient is the owner his/her health records, among others. Experts said the move will be beneficial for ensuring continuity of treatment and expediting emergency care. A nationwide health ID will ensure three things continuity, connectivity, and portability of treatment. If a patient goes to a different doctor or someone else fills in for their doctor, all the medical records will be available to them ensuring continuity of their treatment. When a patient has to go to a secondary or tertiary centre, all the basic information will already be there in the record. This is particularly helpful in the emergency department where knowing the blood group or what a person is allergic to can save a lot of time. It will also save cost of repeat tests. The third is portability, which will enable me to have my entire healthcare record when I move from one city to the other without carrying several files, said K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India. However, the he said there are challenges involving exhaustive electronic record-keeping and issues of privacy. Take for example, the US system, which is highly litigious and (where) defensive medicine is practiced; doctors tend to spend a lot of time in detailed record keeping. This can be solved either by simplifying the records to be maintained in a less litigious society or by training physician assistants who are trained to take medical notes and maintain records. However, the privacy needs to be ensured even if anonymised data is provided for research or else there will be telemarketers pushing medicines to people, said Reddy. Deepak Agarwal, who headed the initiative to digitise patients records at Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said it was a great initiative but impractical at the moment. Accessing all medical records of a patient with just one click is a doctors dream. However, when we started implementing a similar system at AIIMS we faced several challenges. One is actually digitising the records for which every doctor has to input the records digitally, otherwise it will not work. Second, and more importantly, is finding a unique identifier. If we just enter the patients name as Ramu, there will be thousands of records with the same name and many people do not even use second names, making identification of people difficult. The only unique ID that most of the population has is Aadhaar card, but with a Supreme Court judgment no one can legally demand that it be linked. We had tried to do it before the judgment and there was a lot of resistance; now less than 1% patients give the details, said Agrawal. Speaking of work done in the health care sector, the PM said that new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences and other medical colleges have been set up in the country, increasing the number of MBBS and MD seats for medical students by 45,000 in the last five years. He also said over 150,000 wellness centres are being set up across the country. Around one-third of these are already functional and have helped in the Covid-19 fight, he said. (with agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Denja Abdullahi was the 11th president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He was the last president before the 38th elective convention of the union ended in a fiasco in Enugu last year. The union currently has two factions laying claim to its leadership. In this interview, the director, National Council for Arts/Culture explains why he had challenges handing over to a successor, the first time in the history of the 39-year-old union. Excerpts: PREMIUM TIMES: Your administration will go down in history as the first time that ANA had challenges via leadership tussle. What is the cause of the present crisis? Abdullahi: The crisis now in ANA was simply orchestrated by a group led by an erstwhile national legal adviser of the association who wants to forcefully enthrone himself on the association as president through peddling of false rumours, legalistic tricks, brigandage and all sorts of antics you find in the larger political field which he has imported into ANA out of sheer desperation. I spent 18 unbroken years in various positions in the National Executive Council of the Association since 2001 till 2019 when I left as President, so no one has the kind of institutional memory and factual records I have in ANA at the moment. ANA had been peaceful though with the usual low scale politicking and manoeuvring for offices over the years developing incrementally and solidifying until the bitter contest to succeed me as President in 2019 by four candidates, unprecedented in ANA history, and obviously caused by the unprecedented heights I have raised the Association to. One of those achievements, out of many I recorded, was the building of the Mamman Vatsa Writers village in Mpape, Abuja on land given to ANA by Vatsa in 1985 and which had been fallow until 2017 when my executive commenced actual development. A particular candidate became obsessed about the land and made it his only campaign agenda and worked out desperately employing campaign of calumny, wide-scale bribery of delegates, importation of thugs to our congress and eventually disrupted the election in Enugu when he saw that he was not going to win. That got us to the point we are now. PREMIUM TIMES: So who is the authentic president of ANA now? Abdullahi: After the disruption of the election by the agents of the desperate candidate who everyone knows, we reverted to constitutional provision which clearly states that power should revert to the advisory council which should convoke an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) where a caretaker committee will be formed that would now conduct an election within 180 days. The advisory council chaired by Prof Femi Osofisan, a co-founder of ANA alongside (Chinua) Achebe, followed the constitutional provision to the letter and that led to the election of Camillus Ukah as President on the 17th of July 2020 at the EGM held in Makurdi which is even with the approval of the BOT of ANA of Prof Ernest Emenyonu, Prof Kole Omotoso, Mama Mabel Segun and Labo Yari. So Camillus is the validly elected president of ANA as we speak. Any other person parading himself as such is a violator of ANA constitution and must have resorted to self-help and anarchical antics. PREMIUM TIMES: Give us an insight into what actually transpired at the botched Enugu election? Abdullahi: The elections in Enugu were disrupted after my exco was constitutionally dissolved at the expiration of my tenure by a desperate group that was determined to hijack the leadership of the Association by any means necessary. They imported thugs and non-members, compromised the security put in place and went against all conventions for the conduct of elections in ANA. They saw clearly that they would not win the election and they adopted the tactic of the Nigerian politician: any election you feel you cannot win, disrupt it if you can so you can have another chance at the poll. So, the lexicon of inconclusive election was introduced into ANA. READ ALSO: That group had had meetings before Enugu and at Enugu to plot the disruption of the election. To justify that they went about with all sorts of unfounded allegations against my executive council of trying to impose a candidate on the Association, doctoring electoral register and blackmail against ANA elders that they must not preside over the elections, which has been our tradition, because they said the elders are not fair to them. They insisted that presidential aspirants must have nominees into the electoral committee, against all reasons to the contrary, and the house succumbed to that. Even at that, they disrupted the elections with thuggery and violence. PREMIUM TIMES: These are allegations. But we were told you sought to impose Camillus as president so he could cover up your illegalities since he served as your vice president. How true is this? Abdullahi: That statement is most untrue. I had served for 4 years as President from 2015-2019 and give a comprehensive account of my stewardship in the office at the AGM of each annual convention we have held all throughout my tenure. No illegalities were raised and pointed out about me all through those 4 years I gave an account of my service in which these characters making such claims now were present. So, how come those illegalities were not pointed out even at the AGM in Enugu but suddenly surfaced in the aftermath of a disrupted election? It is trite in ANA history to read any untoward meaning into a VP becoming President. I was VP before becoming President so was Prof Olu Obafemi, Abubakar Gimba, Prof Jerry Agada etc. So, what is the big deal if my VP aspired and got elected as President after me? Are ANA members and the Congress blind not to know the right person to vote for? I have answered your question on purported illegalities. My records in office are well documented for anyone to read and verify. Let any illegality I have committed be pointed out. I do not need anyone to cover anything for me. PREMIUM TIMES: There are claims the conflict is all about who controls the vast land owned by ANA in Abuja and also parts of this land have been sold by past leaders (including you) of the association illegally? Abdullahi: The allegations against successive leadership of the Association on the ANA land is utterly false. No leadership of ANA over the years has sold any piece to anyone. In fact, no leadership of ANA has ever had the capacity to sell the land to anyone. The land was given in 1985 by Vatsa as Minister of FCT and a week after he was arrested for coup plotting and eventually killed. ANA could not even approach that land until the return to democracy in 1999. Advertisements In 1999 to 2000 the then ANA leadership of Abubakar Gimba got the C of O to the land. In 2001 to 2002, the Olu Obafemi leadership engaged a developer, Home Securities Ltd, to develop the land but the developer did nothing until that executive left office in 2005. In 2007 the executive of Wale Okediran terminated the agreement between ANA and Home Securities and led to a breach of contract suit instituted against ANA by Home Securities that went on for four years and was decided in ANAs favour in 2012 during the Remi Rajis executive. The Remi Raji exco signed an MOU with another developer, KMVL, in 2012 and the firm went to take possession of the property. In the course of that, it was discovered at AGIS that the available land out of the initial 61 hectares given has reduced to 36 hectares. Government has over the years given parts of the land to other land users as a result of under-development by ANA. On the original land now stands a presidential police barracks and all other approved structures. ANAs MOU with KMVL signed in 2012 and prepared by Ahmed Maiwada of Wadata Chambers and attested to by the then ANA President and General Secretary was premised on the available 36 hectares out of which the developer was authorised to dispose of parts of the land to put structures on five hectares for ANA. That was the subsisting MOU I met in office in 2015 when I became president and which was in force throughout my tenure. When I came on board, in spite of the MOU that has run for about three years before I was elected there, was no single structure on that land until my executive forced the developer to commence development in 2017 and we now have various structures, about 60 per cent completed before I left office in 2019. No ANA executive has had any control or documents and the power to sell any part of the land to anyone. Even throughout my tenure, I did not have any legal titles or deeds to the land in my custody apart from the MOU I inherited from the previous executive, so with which documents would I and my executive have sold any land? My exco did not also sign any new agreement with any developer. No executive can even take any such step of entering into any agreement on the land without the approval of the ANA trustees. The issue of some desperate persons going about making baseless accusations against me and other past executives over that land is sheer wickedness arising out of the angling for an office that seems to be eluding them. PREMIUM TIMES: What is the way out of this seeming impasse? Abdullahi: The crisis was orchestrated by a desperate group and they have blacklisted all the elders from intervening. They have shown gross disrespect to all the elders and official organs of the Association. They claimed to have started a revolution in ANA and that they must lead or destroy the Association if not allowed to lead. They have rebuffed all the mediating roles of the elders so ANA has to just simply allow the constitutional provisions to play out. They have threatened to challenge everything in court and had even gone to court. They are being led by a lawyer so litigation is their forte and they think they can use the court to wrest power they could not get at the polls. ANA is waiting for them. Various freedom fighters played a crucial role in Indias struggle for Independence. We talk and read about some of them, but many of such fighters have disappeared from our discourse and textbook. They sacrificed everything in the service of the nation. Here are few unsung heroes of freedom struggle. Take a look...Tirupur Kumaran: Kodi Kaatha Kumaran or Kumaran, the saviour of the national flag died from injuries sustained from a police assault on the banks of Noyyal River in Tiruppur during a protest march against the British government on January 11, 1932. At the time of his death, he was holding the flag of the Indian Nationalists, which had been banned by the British, which led him to get the moniker. Chennai, Aug 15 : In an attempt to put to rest the speculation about the party's Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2021 Assembly polls, the ruling AIADMK on Saturday warned of action against party officials airing personal views to the media without the party leadership's approval. In a joint statement, party coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and joint coordinator and Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said that nothing is going to be gained by the party by airing such personal views in public. The two leaders said that the personal views of some party officials without any basis had resulted in unnecessary speculation. They said that while participating in media debates, the spokespersons should instead highlight the government's achievements and its schemes. The statement said the AIADMK will take policy decisions like electoral alliances democratically after discussions with party leaders and also after ascertaining the views of its cadres. The recent utterances of some party leaders on the AIADMK Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2021 Assembly elections resulted in media speculation. Earlier on Saturday, posters proclaiming Panneerselvam as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2021 Assembly polls appeared in some part of Theni district from where he hails. Panneerselvam's son P. Raveendranath Kumar has been elected to the Lok Sabha from the Theni constituency. After the Independence Day function, a group of ministers and senior party leaders met Panneerselvam at his residence before meeting Palaniswami. The joint statement was issued after the discussions. The controversy over the Chief Ministerial candidate cropped up after Minister for Cooperation Sellur K Raju some days back said the party MLAs will elect the Chief Minister. Later, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, said that Palaniswami will be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the next year's elections. On the other hand, AIADMK Deputy Coordinator K.P. Munusamy said that one voiced out the procedure while the other may have voiced his personal wish. He said the party leadership will take the decision on the Chief Ministerial candidate. In an attempt to put an end to the controversy, Panneerselvam in a tweet urged the partymen to be united as the AIADMK's goal is to emerge victorious in the 2021 elections. WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Chinese company ByteDance to divest its interest in video-sharing app TikTok`s operations in the United States within 90 days. "There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," Trump said in the order. The move adds to pressure for ByteDance to divest TikTok, and legally buttresses the Trump administration`s crackdown on the Chinese-owned social media app. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request to comment. TikTok has come under fire from US lawmakers over national security concerns surrounding data collection. Last week, Trump issued an executive order that would ban US transactions with ByteDance and with Tencent Holdings Ltd`s WeChat in 45 days, escalating a confrontation with Beijing over the future of the global tech industry. Trump has said he would support an effort by Microsoft Corp to buy TikTok`s American operations if the US government got a "substantial portion" of the proceeds, but has also said there are other interested potential buyers. Trump nevertheless said he will ban the popular app on Sept. 15, though some Republicans have raised concerns about potential political fallout. The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to purge what it deems "untrusted" Chinese apps from US digital networks. Asked on Friday if he was concerns that the sweeping bans on transactions with WeChat could prevent Apple Inc from selling iPhones in China, Trump did not express worry. "I do what`s good in terms of the security of our country," he told reporters. A group of major US companies including Apple this week raised concerns about the potential negative implications on US firms from the TikTok and WeChat orders. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Restaurant Association seeking the state records used to justify New Mexicos ban on indoor dining is still alive, but just barely. State District Judge Joshua Allison granted a motion to dismiss the complaint Friday, ruling that it was premature to sue before the state had actually denied the request for records. But he also granted the Restaurant Association permission to file an amended version of the complaint within a week a move that would allow the group to continue its legal push for the records. His ruling came after the New Mexico Restaurant Association and state Department of Health clashed in court Friday over whether the state is meeting its legal requirements to provide documents sought under a public records request. Much of the dispute centered on the meaning of a provision in the state Inspection of Public Records Act, which calls for public agencies to permit access to records immediately or as soon as is practicable under the circumstances, but generally no later than 15 days. The Restaurant Association is seeking all documents used to justify the public health order that prohibits indoor dining at restaurants and breweries. Patrick Rogers, an attorney for the restaurants, said its a matter of urgent importance as restaurants and their employees lose millions of dollars in sales a day because they cant seat customers inside. He filed a complaint in state District Court about 11 days after first requesting some state records, arguing that the law calls for immediate disclosure when possible. A public agency, he said, cannot run out the clock and withhold public records for 15 days if theyre actually available before then. Were entitled, Rogers said, to know the basis of these draconian restrictions. The harm is immediate, and its continuing every day. Alfred Park, an attorney hired to represent the state, said the department has provided some documents and is working to produce more, making the lawsuit premature. The request is incredibly broad, he said, and the state is responding as quickly as it can, in compliance with the law. You cant elevate the word immediately at the expense of the rest of the statute, Park said. Allison, a judge in the 2nd Judicial District, took care to explain Friday that he wasnt ruling on the merits of the public health order itself an issue before the state Supreme Court in separate litigation. He said the records law precludes the filing of a lawsuit before the request has either been denied or deemed denied because the public agency has taken so long to respond. The restaurant lawsuit, Allison said, didnt make such an allegation, so dismissing the lawsuit was appropriate. He also granted permission for the association to file an amended complaint, which would allow the group to revise its allegations. Because of COVID-19, Manitobans face many restrictions when visiting loved ones in hospitals and personal care homes. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Because of COVID-19, Manitobans face many restrictions when visiting loved ones in hospitals and personal care homes. An adult who seeks care in a hospital emergency room cannot take someone with them for support unless they have cognitive issues or require a translator. Restrictions apply to hospital visitors who have recently travelled outside Manitoba to Eastern Canada. So, when the president and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital, Martine Bouchard, travelled to Manitoba from Montreal this week without self-isolating for two weeks, it stunned observers. While "health care providers" are spared from self-isolating upon return from Eastern Canada if they do not display coronavirus symptoms, no specific dispensation is made for hospital administrators. "Whether it's the CEO of St. B or the premier of Manitoba or whoever, people in the public eye should be leading by example right now." NDP Leader Wab Kinew NDP Leader Wab Kinew said Friday Bouchard's actions set a bad example. He said it called to mind photographs of Premier Brian Pallister sitting in a waiting area at Toronto's Pearson International Airport without wearing a mask, as required at that facility. "I think the head of one of our most important hospitals should lead by example," Kinew said. "Whether it's the CEO of St. B or the premier of Manitoba or whoever, people in the public eye should be leading by example right now and abiding by the same (rules) that we're asking everyday Manitobans to do, which is if you're coming back from Eastern Canada, you should self-isolate." Dr. David Butler-Jones, former head of the Public Health Agency of Canada, said health leaders aim to build public consensus on the rules all must follow to get through a pandemic. Asked about the head of one of Manitoba's biggest hospitals commuting during a pandemic from a COVID-19 hot spot, he was blunt. "That's where somebody senior in government, or whatever, needs to have a chat with them," he said Friday. "The head of the health authority needs to have a private talk with them, saying A) This looks bad and B) Do you really want to be a headline?" SASHA SEFTER / FREE PRESS FILES President and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital Martine Bouchard travelled to Manitoba from Montreal this week without self-isolating for two weeks. Butler-Jones said he doesn't know Bouchard's circumstances or whether she takes steps to self-isolate when she arrives in Manitoba, but if the head of a hospital is seen to be flouting the law, that could be a "career-limiting move," he said. Bouchard has commuted home to Montreal on weekends since taking the St. Boniface Hospital job a little over two years ago. Before coming back to Winnipeg on Monday she is said to have returned to Quebec on Thursday she had been working from Montreal since the end of April. A reason given by the hospital's board chair in the past for Bouchard's lengthy absence from Winnipeg is that she would have had to first self-isolate for two weeks once she arrived. Kinew questioned Bouchard's continued commuting. "Could (she) maybe move to Manitoba during the pandemic?" he said. Asked whether Bouchard is exempt from having to self-isolate, the province's chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Friday: "No individual or institution gets an exemption for themselves. The travel orders have exemptions in them, and there's no ability within the order to provide additional exemptions. So people either fall within the exemptions that are provided or they don't." Roussin wouldn't go so far as to say that Bouchard had violated the health order even though it appears to refer specifically to frontline care providers. ...If the head of a hospital is seen to be flouting the law, that could be a "careerlimiting move." Former head of the Public Health Agency of Canada Dr. David ButlerJones "We need to know what kind of precautions were taken, there might have been many," he said, while repeating previous exhortations to "be kind" and avoiding shaming people during the pandemic. Neil McArthur, head of the philosophy department at the University of Manitoba and formerly the director of the university's Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, said the issue is straightforward. "(Bouchard) is not a frontline worker and she is clearly not exempt from these protocols," he said. McArthur said it's particularly important for people in the health care field to model proper behaviour. "We're all right now restricting our lives in various ways," he said. "If there's a perception that certain people believe, because of their elite status or their importance...that they are not bound by these health orders, I think that's the kind of thing that really undermines people's trust in the health orders at all." "(Bouchard) is not a frontline worker and she is clearly not exempt from these protocols." Former director of U of M's Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics Neil McArthur 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. Health Minister Cameron Friesen has referred all questions about Bouchard's commuting to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. In a brief statement Thursday, he said the "matter is being addressed" by the WRHA's CEO, Vickie Kaminski, and that the "WRHA holds the accountability for St. Boniface Hospital." The WRHA has been silent on what actions, if any, it will take regarding Bouchard's commutes. Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont called it "frustrating" that Friesen was "passing the buck" on the issue. "I think he has a decision to make either he has to explain why this is acceptable or he has to explain why it isn't and take action," Lamont said. with files from Carol Sanders larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Sushant Singh Rajput has been decorated with an exemplary honour by the California State Assembly on India's 74th Independence Day. The assembly has recognised the late actor for his contribution to cinema and the community. His sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, received the certificate of recognition on his behalf. Thanking the assembly members for the honour, Shweta said, "It's a great privilege for me to accept this honour from California State Assembly, on behalf of my brother, in remembrance and appreciation of his philanthropic work and contributions to Indian cinema. I thank the Assembly members and the Indian American community for their continuous support in these hours of crisis." Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput was paying EMIs for Rs 4.5 crore flat occupied by Ankita Lokhande On August 14, the late actor's family observed a 24-hour spiritual prayer on two months of his death. Urging people to join them in the prayer, Sushant Singh Rajput's family said that it will observe a collective minute of silence and prayer on Saturday, August 15. Sharing a quote from the Bhagavad Gita on Instagram, Shweta wrote, "It has been 2 months you left us Bhai and we are still fighting to know the truth, to know what actually happened that day. I request you all to please join us for Global 24-hour spiritual and prayer observation for Sushant Singh Rajput, so that the truth prevails and we find justice for our beloved Sushant #GlobalPrayers4SSR #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #justiceforSushantSinghRajput #godiswithus (sic)." Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging at his residence in Mumbai's Bandra on June 14. While the Mumbai Police has declared that he died by suicide, the late actor's father, KK Singh, filed a case of abetment to suicide against Rhea Chakraborty, and her family in Patna, Bihar. Rhea and Sushant were in a relationship before he died. KK Singh, in his complaint, accused Rhea of siphoning-off Rs 15 crore from Sushant's bank account. A mother who shared a seemingly innocent photo of Vegemite and butter on toast has sparked a fierce debate online. Kim from Perth, shared an image of two slices of bread slathered with Vegemite and butter asking fellow social media users if they prefer their toast cold or hot. 'Just a useless debate, but who likes to put butter on their toast when it's still hot, or like me, prefers my toast to go cold and then put the butter on,' the mother posted. Kim from Perth, shared an image of two slices of bread slathered with Vegemite and butter asking fellow social media users if they prefer it on cold or hot toast The post received more than 1,700 comments as social media users questioned Kim's method. Poll How do you prefer to eat Vegemite and butter? Hot toast Cold toast Both How do you prefer to eat Vegemite and butter? Hot toast 289 votes Cold toast 126 votes Both 104 votes Now share your opinion 'This photo is just messed up. Has to be hot toast with butter and Vegemite,' one person commented. 'I have been married to a man for 27 years and just recently found that he lets his toast go cold before adding his spreads. Unacceptable,' another wrote. 'Has to be hot and melted.. cant stand cold toast,' someone else wrote. 'If you like your toast cold you're a psychopath,' another commented. 'I'm a hot n melt gal, hubby is a cold n sludge guy. It still makes me wonder how we work,' one revealed. 'I'm calling the police,' one joked. 'Oh no baby what is you doin,' another joked. Surprisingly, many also revealed they too enjoy eating Vegemite and butter on cold toast. 'Definitely cold and charred!' one commented. 'Cold and crunchy,' another wrote. 'I really enjoy cold toast with lots of butter,' someone else wrote. (Natural News) During a recent interview with Breitbart News, President Donald Trump made the claim that Big Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter are 100 percent trying to control the information that Americans are allowed to access online. When asked directly if Silicon Valley is impinging online free speech, Trump immediately answered with, yeah, 100 percent. Do you have a doubt? Breitbart had just informed the president prior to this that Google has systematically turned off all search functionality for Breitbart and other alt-news websites in the lead-up to the 2020 election. In essence, Google has made it next to impossible for people to find Breitbart and other conservative-leaning news content through its search engine. This means that most people will only be able to access left-leaning news content through Google that promotes Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as well as the larger Democrat agenda. The tech companies are very dishonest about that and about free speech, Trump added. It could be a big problem for them at the appropriate time. If Google wants to be a content provider, then it should be stripped of its immunity protections As you may recall, Breitbart published groundbreaking leaked footage back in 2018 of Google senior executives plotting to unseat Trump after his victory in 2016. The plan is to turn Trump and his followers into a blip in history, meaning Google plans to interfere with the 2020 election to ensure that Trump loses. When asked for a response to this, Trump cited his many accomplishments thus far, further joking that his tenure up until this point has been a pretty big blip. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) have also taken up the task of trying to hold Big Tech accountable for its censorship. This trio has spoken numerous times about how tech companies like Google are manipulating search results in collusion with the Democrats. These three senators also penned a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Attorney General Bill Barr pushing for more accountability and possible antitrust action against Silicon Valley for its growing bias against conservatives and the president himself. Google is undeniably engaged in behavior that goes against both its stated mission and its legal confines, at least as far as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) is concerned. If Google wants to be a content publisher, then its immunity protections under the law need to be stripped. Otherwise, Google needs to abide by neutral content provider guidelines, which restrict it and other tech platforms from censoring content for political purposes. Mostly Republicans in Congress are taking Big Tech to task for its monopolistic control over information During a recent hearing before a House Judiciary Committee subcommittee, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) grilled Pichai about his companys monopolistic behavior. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has also expressed deep concerns about the nature of Google and other tech platforms, which are increasingly silencing viewpoints with which their leadership disagrees. Trump is apparently fully aware of what is going on, but has yet to act. But as he indicated to Breitbart, his administration is waiting until just the right moment to strike, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later in preservation of the First Amendment. Class action them. Take their assets, wrote one Breitbart commenter. It is illegal to conspire to take constitutional rights away much less actually do it as they blatantly are. They are stupid. Trap set. Spring it now. Two U.S. codes on the books. They are controlling the information illegally. More related news about Big Tech censorship is available at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com The retail giant has 124 stores and employs a reported 14,000 staff. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP The British high street bloodbath continues as the owners of retailer Debenhams becomes the latest to draw up liquidation plans in a move that could cost thousands of jobs. The retail giant, which boasts 124 stores and employs a reported 14,000 staff collapsed into administration four months ago and announced plans to axe 2,500 jobs throughout its stores and warehouses earlier this week. In April, the beleaguered store hired administrators from FRP Advisory in a protective measure against creditors demanding their money, after collapsing into administration for the second time. Hundreds of jobs have already gone at the more than 200-year-old retailer since the start of lockdown after it permanently shut 18 stores. READ MORE: Debenhams to cut 2,500 jobs as COVID-19 bites Company bosses are thought to have appointed restructuring firm Hilco Capital a company that specialises in helping distresses retail businesses navigate liquidation, should talks of a sale come to fruition. A spokesman for the retailer said: Debenhams is trading strongly, with 124 stores reopened and a healthy cash position. As a result, and as previously stated, the administrators of Debenhams Retail Ltd have initiated a process to assess ways for the business to exit its protective administration. The administrators have appointed advisers to help them assess the full range of possible outcomes which include the current owners retaining the business, potential new joint venture arrangements (with existing and potential new investors), or a sale to a third party. So far, more than 4,300 job losses were announced over the week by major British retailers and more than 730,000 UK workers have been taken off payrolls since March, gutting an already struggling industry. Ranjani Madhavan and Iffath Fathima By Express News Service BENGALURU: Though there has been a rise in Covid cases in the state, there is a downward trend of the disease, and an increase in the doubling period, if one were to go by the moving growth rate (MGR), revealed a report by Dr Giridhara R Babu, member, state Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee. Titled Covid Management: Karnataka is bouncing back, the report refers to a 30-day MGR. The MGR is commonly used to smooth out short-term fluctuations and highlight long-term trends. This is generally used in conjunction with time. In a pandemic, a decrease in MGR indicates a downtrend in the disease, the report reads. The report uses data between July 4 and August 8. The 30-day moving positivity growth rate for Karnataka starts at 216%, increases to 400% and declines to 189%. The 30-day moving active cases growth rate for Karnataka starts at 287%, moves to 725% and declines to 118%. The 30-day moving fatality growth rate for the state starts at 309%, hikes to 552%, and declines to 148%. The MGR figures for positivity, active cases and fatalities show a similar declining trend for Bengaluru, Mysuru and Bidar. Dr Babu, Head of Lifecourse Epidemiology at Public Health Foundation of India, said, Karnatakas 30-day moving positivity growth rate has come down from 400 to 189, which is a positive sign. This indicates that testing has been increasing, isolation of patients is quick, and contact tracing is happening too. As compared to the rest of India, Karnataka is doing well. For example, for 30-day moving positivity growth rate, Bengaluru starts at 1,188%, jumps to 1,467%, and declines to 144%. The same figures for Mysuru starts at 91%, rises to 1,110% and reduces to 353%. For Bidar, it starts at 107%, increases to 146% and comes down to 113%.MGR for active cases in the city starts at 2,172%, reduces to 1,960% and then drops to 50%. In Mysuru, it begins with 730%, grows to 937% and comes down to 342%. For Bidar, the figures are 32%, hike to 601% and drop to 60%. Sports 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 Until now, Sarah Crossan has been best known for her young adult fiction. She's a former Laureate na nOg and her work has won several prizes, including the prestigious Carnegie medal for One, an affecting, unsentimental story about conjoined twins. Set in London, Here is the Beehive is her debut novel for adults and, like several of her other books including One, it's written in free verse. Verse novels are less of a fixture in contemporary adult fiction than in Young Adult literature, though over the past couple of decades the Canadian poet Anne Carson has helped invigorate the genre, and in 2018, Robin Robertson's verse novel, The Long Take, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. From the opening stanzas of Here is the Beehive it's clear that Crossan understands the level of distillation that verse requires. Her protagonist's voice is immediate and distinctive. Within a few pages - using very few words - she establishes the backstory and plot. The title comes from a children's song in which a beehive is visible but the bees are initially hiding away. The narrator, Ana, has been hidden away by the lover she in turn hid away. She has also been hiding from the intensity of her own emotions and from the unpalatable truth about her secret relationship. She and Connor were together on and off for three years, their spouses unaware of the affair. When Connor dies suddenly, she is thrown into complicated, private mourning. She is a lawyer and through her firm's position as executor, she comes into contact with Connor's wife, Rebecca. As she excavates the passion and imbalances of the affair, she grows increasingly fixated on Rebecca, befriending her, babysitting her younger son and combing the house for clues about Connor's other life. Ana's marriage is failing, her judgment poor, her grief impossible to contain. Ana is an angry, defensive character who has, refreshingly, rejected the roles of nurturer, feeder and confidante. Her husband takes care of the children and cooking; she focuses on work and her lover. She is self-interested - she speaks to a neighbour who is a nurse for the first time only because she is angling for medication - and self-protective. "Why can't you be kind to me?" she asks her husband when the family's pet rabbit is dying. "To be honest, Ana, you don't really / respond all that well to love," he replies. Addressing Connor directly in the second person, she is also, of course, talking to herself, so her digressions and splintered memories make perfect sense. It can feel subversive, transgressive even, when she gives voice to the darkest parts of her psyche. While Connor wishes that their spouses would meet other people, her wish is more extreme. "If only they'd die, I thought." Crossan writes in snapshots, paring Here is the Beehive down to its essentials. While this creates momentum it also means that certain characters and relationships are underdeveloped. Rebecca remains elusive, refracted through the prism of Ana's jealousy and hurt. Although Ana realises Connor treated them both unfairly - "But when Rebecca was at home / with the kids and we were together fucking / you benefited from her lack of drive then, didn't you?" - she struggles to really see Rebecca. The relationship between the two women, which seems as though it will be pivotal, never really materialises. Although Ana's mental health is faltering, there is a suddenness to some of her more unhinged behaviour that feels out of step with the rest of the novel. There are difficulties too with some of Crossan's stylistic choices. Her use of one- and two-word lines can give individual words and phrases an emphasis they don't necessarily merit. Clipped lines and sentence fragments cut up the text, drawing attention to themselves and the form, interrupting the narrative. "Time shifts / Tick / Tock / If Only / I would be kinder." Video of the Day The fragmentation reflects Ana's fragmenting mind but the reader is frequently invited to pause or to linger on lines that might fit better within a body of text. Despite this, like The Golden Gate, Vikram Seth's excellent novel in sonnets, Here is the Beehive generates its own momentum. Its core strength is its depiction of an imperfect mother and wife, defying traditional expectations of women while wrestling with her own self-sabotaging behaviour; Ana delays mentioning her children for so long that when she eventually references them it is unclear who they are. Her contradictions can't be explained away by her grief or dysfunctional background - an alcoholic mother, an avoidant, philandering father. She is particularly vivid in her interactions with her sister and best friend - blunt, spiky women who complement her - and with her husband who is beyond frustrated and struggling to suppress his rage. Infuriating, barbed and bleakly funny, she carries the novel - a distorted love poem as well as the story of a woman finally confronting herself. FLINT, MI The longtime Flint event Back to The Bricks, which has brought thousands to the downtown area will roll a lot different this year. The annual car show is a cruise this year, taking place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. It wont be held downtown and only participants and organizers of the car cruise will be involved. Cruisers will follow a 17-mile route that allows them to see 32 different historical landmarks throughout Genesee County, keeping with the theme of the event: Discovering Flint. Executive Director of Back to the Bricks Amber Taylor said the event is only for participants and at no point will anyone get out of their car. Were trying to prevent anybody coming in contact with anybody else, said Taylor. As of Thursday, Aug. 13, over 400 had registered to participate in the cruise. Participants received the route and directions on Friday night. Originally, all Back to the Bricks events were canceled due to the COVID-19 concerns. Taylor said the obvious change in this years event will be the absence of the car enthusiasts and spectators bustling in the downtown area checking out cars and shopping local businesses. Were putting our car lovers and enthusiasts health before anything else, Taylor said. I think also the biggest impact is the economic impact, in which were not contributing to this year and were very sad about that. At the finish line, Back to the Brinks Root Beer will be available for purchase and t-shirts will be given out through booths. Also, 750 cruisers will get a commemorative placard from the event. We absolutely couldnt compete with the large-scale event that were used to that everybody loves. But what were able to do is offer something and although it is just for cruisers, were delighted with the opportunity. Along the route, participants will see a several historical landmarks. Cruisers will use a QR code to get information about each landmark. Heres a list of the historical sites cruisers will see along the route: Fisher Body Administration building. Otto P. Graff statue. Kewpee Burger building/famous Vernors Ginger Ale mural. Masonic Temple. Citizens Bank Weather Ball. Charles Stuart Mott Foundation building. General Motors Automotive Pioneer Plaza. University of Michigan Campus. Whaley Historic Home -Museum. Flint Cultural Center. Applewood Estate. Buick Gallery. Old Farmers Market. Wilson Park. New Farmers Market. McFarlan Veterans Memorial Park. Durant Hotel. Fred A. Aldrich House/ Jacob Smith. Mr. Durant & Mr. Dort - Statues. Durant-Dort Carriage Factory No. 1. William Durants Office. Charles W. Nash House. Atwood Stadium. Kettering University. Glenwood Cemetery. Crim Festival of Races - The Dreaded Bradley Hills. Oldest standing house in Flint (3401 Westwood Pkwy). The Rock, or Block. UAW Sitdowners Monuments & Memorial. The Red Brick House. Stockton House. Related news: Back to the Bricks cancels events in downtown Flint, pushes forward with modified plan Back to the Bricks cancels events in downtown Flint, pushes forward with modified plan Celebrity guru to the stars Gypsy Gita is pictured above with US art dealer Sarah Hasted A Hollywood 'guru to the stars' has described giving a massage to Prince Andrew inside the 'weird and creepy' mansion of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Gypsy Gita, 70, who worked for the billionaire from 2001 to 2005, claims he met Andrew on three occasions and massaged him twice. He described the Prince as being 'aloof', adding: 'I didn't know who Andrew was. Most Americans, at least until recently, wouldn't have a clue who he is. 'I found him a bit strange, arrogant, 'off' in some way I couldn't put my finger on. He was aloof and odd.' Mr Gita, a Native American spiritual healer who has worked with celebrities including US President Donald Trump and actress Minnie Driver, was introduced to Epstein and his alleged 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell when Trump passed his phone number on. He described walking into Epstein's 55 million home in Manhattan as like entering 'a weird, warped world', adding: 'It was creepy. Once you went through the big front doors there was a desk you checked in at and then you turned left to go to the sitting room where visitors waited. 'There was this huge wall of prosthetic eyeballs. There must have been 150 at least. Jeffrey would say: 'Don't forget you are being watched at all times.' He said that Epstein who killed himself in prison last year while being held on multiple child sex charges always wore a 'uniform'. 'I massaged him a multiple times and he would always wear sweatshirts which said either Harvard or Yale on them,' he said. Epstein went to neither, but was a donor to both. Mr Gita added: 'He always had this smirk on his face, like he was the smartest guy in the room. I've been around celebrities and billionaires who have Monets on their walls so I wasn't awestruck by him. I just thought he was weird. Andrew who was seen yesterday whistling nonchalantly as he drove out of Windsor Castle has vehemently and repeatedly denied Ms Roberts's accusations and any suggestion of wrongdoing 'I always worked on him in the upstairs massage room.' It was in this room that women, including Andrew's accuser Virginia Roberts, say they were abused. Andrew who was seen yesterday whistling nonchalantly as he drove out of Windsor Castle has vehemently and repeatedly denied Ms Roberts's accusations and any suggestion of wrongdoing. Father-of-two Mr Gita insists that he was never aware of any underage girls at Epstein's properties. 'If I'd been aware of him abusing children he'd be dead,' he said. He bitterly regrets introducing women into Epstein's orbit. As The Mail on Sunday revealed last week, Chauntae Davies claims she was trafficked as a sex slave after Mr Gita introduced her to Ms Maxwell. 'Chauntae was a trainee masseuse working for me and Ghislaine offered her a full-time job. I had no idea she ended up in such a terrible situation,' he said. Mr Gita also claims that he massaged Andrew again at Ms Maxwell's New York townhouse: 'She had her own massage room and I worked on Andrew there. He had bad body posture.' Mr Gita said that Epstein who killed himself in prison last year while being held on multiple child sex charges always wore a 'uniform'. 'I massaged him a multiple times and he would always wear sweatshirts which said either Harvard or Yale on them,' he said. Epstein went to neither, but was a donor to both. Epstein is pictured in a Harvard sweatshirt He says he stopped working for Epstein when Ms Maxwell made what he considered to be a veiled threat. 'She said: 'You're going to start hearing things about Jeffrey and I want you to know none of it's true.' When I hesitated, she said: 'I know you have two daughters.' That scared me. I'd never told her or Jeffrey about my family and it felt like a threat. I never went back.' Ms Maxwell is awaiting trial on charges of procuring underage girls for sex and perjury. She denies all the charges. Representatives for Prince Andrew last night declined to comment. Mylvaganam could not raise millions, therefore he could not buy ticket from party View(s): It is a well known secret that if you want to win an election in Sri Lanka, be it from Presidential to Local Councils, you might need millions to carry out a high-spending campaign, even if you are well educated and qualified to represent the people. Those who cannot raise millions had to be sidelined as it happened in the recently concluded polls. The Nuwara Eliya districts Former Parliamentarian Mylvaganam Thilakarajah was among those who could not secure a party ticket to contest due to financial difficulties. He was one of the well read and outspoken MPs representing plantation workers in the previous Parliament. The minority party of which he is a member, reportedly demanded millions as a condition to consider nominating him under the alliance with another newly formed major political party in the South. The disappointed Mr Thilakarajah told friends he could not get a bank loan to fund his campaign therefore he was not contesting the polls. Better to make Vade than get involved in bond scams: Handunnetti The Janatha Vimukthi Peramunas (JVP) Former Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnettis defeat at the 2020 parliamentary election has shocked some supporters, but others have mocked him. Some social media users continue to share posts expressing sadness at him not securing a seat, while others have mocked his defeat. Mr Handunnetti himself shared such a mocking post directed at him on his own Facebook page this week. The doctored photo had superimposed his head onto an individual making and selling Vade. The Sinhala caption mocked the former MP, saying he was now making Vade at the Matara market. The former MP thanked whoever made the post for describing him as making Vade to make ends meet. Im happy whoever made this didnt doctor my photo into something like one showing the robbery of the Central Bank. This is a respectable job. I actually like this post, he wrote. Wigneswaran takes oaths at Mullivaikaal shrine; Ponnambalam also pays visit It has become a ritual for Tamil nationalist politicians to visit Mullivaikaal in Mullaitivu where the bloody ethnic wars final phases were fought. This was apparently to ensure that their nationalistic feelings were intact. A mini common memorial with a statue was built in the recent years. Early this week, retired Supreme Court Justice C. V. Wigneswaran visited the place to take an unofficial oath with his supporters. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, another Tamil nationalist politician elected to Parliament, also visited the location yesterday with his supporters. Both newly elected parliamentarians secured a sizable number of votes, by breaking the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) vote bank in the North. They criticised the TNAs moderate stand and accused it of supporting the United National Party (UNP) during the previous Government. Amidst the hottest fire of COVID-19, gold is the best investment The gold price has skyrocketed to unbelievable heights since March, after Sri Lanka was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, a sovereign of solid gold (8 grams) fetched Rs 75,000 to Rs 80,000 in the local market. As of Friday (August 14), its value had gone up to Rs 110,000, excluding the workmans fee. Analysts say the reason behind the sky-high price of gold is related to real estate and people had lost interest in investing in real estate. They keep the gold with them as they can go to the bank or pawning centres to pawn their gold whenever a need arises to obtain cash quickly. That is something that could not be done with real estate. Another reason is that authorities had successfully detected a large amount of gold being smuggled into the country. The Navy is maintaining strict vigilance along the northern territorial waters and has foiled many recent attempts by regular smugglers to smuggle gold into the country via the sea route. CBK grudgingly praises MR but accuses Sirisena of destroying SLFP Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who has been scathing in her criticism of the Rajapaksas in the past, had some grudging words of admiration for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this week. Speaking to the media for the first time since the 2020 parliamentary election, Ms Kumaratunga said she was not surprised by the humiliating result suffered by opposition parties. Noting that the opposition lacked strong leaders, Ms Kumaratunga added that while she opposes the politics of former President and now Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, he is nevertheless, a strong leader. Ms Kumaratunga however, was far less complimentary of former President Maithripala Sirisena. She had played a leading role in luring Mr Sirisena away from Mr Rajapaksas Cabinet to contest and ultimately defeat him at the 2015 Presidential election. Im still searching for traces of the SLFP since he (Sirisena) destroyed it, Ms Kumaratunga said, noting that Mr Sirisena did not even obtain a Cabinet portfolio despite what he did for the Rajapaksas at the expense of the SLFP. Who is part of this mystery parcel? Customs officers who inspected an unclaimed parcel that had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport via Air Cargo from the US this week found that the recipients address in Sri Lanka was fake. They waited to see if anyone came to claim the parcel, but none turned up. Given the current fears surrounding COVID-19, along with uncertainty over what the parcel might contain, no one was willing to take the risk of opening the parcel at the airport. As such, the parcel was removed under heavy security to a Customs warehouse in Katunayake, where it currently remains. Authorities are expected to open the mystery parcel sometime next week. Firecrackers lit in protest outside Tamil newspaper office in Jaffna A well funded and politically connected Northern politician supporters were eagerly waiting on Wednesday with bundles of firecrackers hoping their leader would be given at least a State Ministerial post for his remarkable victory in the Parliamentary polls. It turned out that the leader was merely given a Co-Chair post in the District Development Committee. Disappointed supporters took the firecrackers in front of a newspaper office which is critical of their leader, and lit them not as a celebration but as a protest. Prof. Hoole hits back at two national list MPs who attacked him Political parties and the people often lodge complaints to the Election Commission with regard to election violations or other illegal activities related to the polls. But if a Election Commission member lodged a complaint against two national list Parliamentarians to the Commission, where should it go? Thats the question the Commission is dealing with these days. Election Commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole lodged a complaint to the Commission this week against two national list Parliamentarians nominated by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for levelling baseless allegations against him during the polls. The Commission is yet to take a decision on how to proceed with this complaint by Prof. Hoole. Grads, low-income recruits state jobs list posted online The names of 50,000 graduates eligible for state jobs will be posted on the website of the Presidential Secretariat today, the secretariat announced. This comes following President Gotabaya Rajapaksas instructions to speed up a programme to provide jobs for 50,000 graduates and 100,000 others from low-income backgrounds. Those recruited will be informed by letter tomorrow, and are required to report to work on September 1 to the nearest Divisional Secretariat. The 100,000 youth will start work the same day. In February, applications were called from unemployed graduates and unskilled youth from low- income families for jobs in masonry, carpentry, agriculture, fisheries, and forest conservation in their residential areas, with a monthly salary of Rs. 35,000. They will also be trained to support government officials to maintain state properties and other civil activities, prevention of diseases including dengue, natural disasters, uplifting rural infrastructure facilities, and coast conservation. Those with 10 years of continuous service and good performance will be eligible for a pension as well as foreign opportunities. A multi-purpose development task force as envisaged in the Saubhagyaye Dekma manifesto, was appointed to look into recruitment at the Ministry of Defence and tri-forces providing training. A senior official of the previous Public Administration Ministry said that transfers, job placements within the state sector that were held up due to virus-related curfews will resume. The Venerable Thenne Gnanananda Thero, the convener of the Combined Association of Unemployed Graduates, said those who have passed government teacher examinations are awaiting appointments that have been held up due to the pandemic lockdown and elections. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 10:42:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on Sept. 2, 1945 shows Japan's surrender ceremony aboard the United States Navy battleship USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. (Xinhua) The memories about the history of aggression are increasingly fading, and the reflection on World War II in the Japanese society is becoming neglected through the years. Only by choosing to face up to and deeply reflect on its history of aggression, can Japan truly win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community. TOKYO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- This year's Aug. 15 marks the 75th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II (WWII). For most people in Asia, Aug. 15 is a special date that will never be erased from their memories. The war of aggression initiated by Japan brought untold sufferings to the people in Asia. China alone suffered 35 million casualties and 600 billion U.S. dollars in economic losses in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. However, with the advent of "75 years after the war," the generation that experienced the war of aggression has become a minority group in Japan. The memories about the history of aggression are increasingly fading, and the reflection on the war in the Japanese society is becoming neglected through the years. Experts have pointed out that this trend is worrying, and that only by choosing to face up to and deeply reflect on its history of aggression, can Japan truly win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community. ACTIONS AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY On Aug. 6 and Aug. 9 every year, the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki hold ceremonies to commemorate the atomic bombings. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of participants decreased this year. In an effort to hasten the surrender of Japan which had staged the war of aggression, the U.S. army dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. Japan has long portrayed itself as the "victim" of World War II, especially of the nuclear explosions, with little reference to the historical background of the atomic bombings. "Seventy-five years ago, the atomic bombs turned Hiroshima and Nagasaki into ruins," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in his speeches at this year's ceremonies. "The tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the suffering caused by them must not be repeated," he said. However, Abe said nothing about the reasons for the bombings and their background. In the annual World War II memorial ceremony on Aug. 15, Abe's speeches, since he came to power again in 2012, have always focused on mourning for the Japanese soldiers who died in the war of aggression, avoiding talking of Imperial Japan staging the brutal aggression war and the colonial rule. He has also evaded repeating Japan's responsibility for wartime atrocities mentioned by his predecessors starting from former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, showing no intention of reflection and apology. POISONOUS, WRONG VIEW OF HISTORY Japan Conference, a right-wing group, also used political means to exert influence on local education committees this year, urging the adoption of history textbooks published by IKUHOSHA Publishing Inc. which are highly controversial. The textbooks not only beautified the Japan-initiated war of aggression as a "self-defense war" and "Asia's national liberation war of independence," but also called the Nanjing Massacre as "Nanjing Incident," despite the fact that the Japanese war criminals of the massacre had been tried at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East after WWII. According to statistics from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the adoption of the IKUHOSHA history textbooks in 2020 accounts for 6.4 percent of the national total. Citizens in Nagoya, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka and other cities have launched campaigns against the adoption of the textbooks that distort Japan's history of aggression. As is customary on Aug. 15, Abe usually offers a sacrifice fee to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals and advocates twisted views that "Japanese aggression is justified" and "Japan liberated the Asian people." Takakage Fujita, director general of a civil group dedicated to upholding and developing the well-known Murayama Statement, said that whether to visit or offer sacrifices, it equals the worship of Class-A war criminals, which means supporting the beautification of the war of aggression, and will seriously undermine Japan's post-war peace order. File photo taken on Sept. 2, 1945 shows Japan's surrender ceremony aboard the United States Navy battleship USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. (Xinhua) ALARMING ARMED FORCES Over the years since taking office, the Abe administration has taken a series of actions challenging the post-war international order, such as strengthening defense cooperation between Japan and the United States, revising security laws, and promoting the amendment of the pacifist Constitution. After the Abe administration passed the new security law in September 2015, which lift the ban on the right of collective self-defense and fundamentally changed Japan's post-war policy of exclusively defense-oriented strategy, it sparked concerns in Japan, Asian countries and even in the international community. In the same year, a new version of Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation was published, listing "cross-domain operations" and "U.S. vessels protection" as part of maritime security. In recent years, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has been modernizing its military hardware. The 2019 edition of the defense white paper stressed that the Self-Defense Force will strengthen its military, scientific and technological capabilities in space, cyber security, electromagnetic waves and other fields to build a "multi-dimensional and comprehensive defense capability." In May 2020, Japan's first Space Operations Squadron was established at its base in Tokyo Prefecture. Nobuyoshi Takashima, an honorary professor at Japan's University of the Ryukyus, said Japan's recent rising trend in exclusionism and economic and military ambitions would provoke vigilance from its Asian neighbors. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 19:26:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks (UAB) Wissam Fattouh announced on Saturday that the Arab League will launch a fund in cooperation with the UAB to support Lebanon in reconstructing Beirut after the deadly explosions in the Lebanese capital, the National News Agency reported. "Arab banks and financial institutions that are members of the union will finance this fund to support the Lebanese population and reconstruction in Beirut," Fattouh said, referring to the Arab Relief and Support Fund for Lebanon. The money will be at the disposal of relevant institutions, civil society associations and individuals according to a list obtained from Lebanese authorities about the affected people, he noted. Two huge explosions rocked Port of Beirut on Aug. 4 at around 6:10 p.m. local time (1510 GMT), shaking buildings all over Lebanon's capital and killing at least 177 and wounding 6,000 others. The explosions pose a great challenge to Lebanon especially when the country is already facing its worst economic crisis in its history. Enditem A man behind an alleged Ponzi scheme who has been dubbed "the new Christopher Skase" had vast operations in Melbourne where his companies claimed to have purchased big name hotels and shopping centres on the promise of helping Chinese investors gain permanent residency in Australia. iProsperity boss Michael Gu last week fled the country amid allegations he dudded investors by claiming to be buying a portfolio of Australian commercial property worth hundreds of millions of dollars. iProsperity's Michael Gu in Australia before he left the country. Credit:James Alcock Company records show the Lamborghini-driving Mr Gu took out $21 million in loans using company money in the years before his sudden departure to Los Angeles. A further $1 million of company funds was used to purchase Vanuatu passports through the Pacific Island nations own visa program; other company money was used to buy luxury vehicles including a Rolls Royce Wraith. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Halle Berry was proudly displaying her iconic physique in a jaw-dropping black bikini as she enjoyed an afternoon on the beach during her birthday getaway. The actress, who turned 54 on Friday, looked incredible in a racy two-piece as she wandered along the beach in a slow-motion video she shared with fans on Instagram. Halle celebrated her birthday in style by riding on a skateboard in the sunshine in a separate post as she reminded her followers to have fun while keeping fit. Wow! Halle Berry was proudly displaying her iconic physique in a jaw-dropping black bikini as she enjoyed an afternoon on the beach after celebrating her 54th birthday Halle is no stranger to showcasing her iconic figure, having risen to fame as a Bond Girl in the early 2000s. And the star once again proved she could turns heads as she wandered by the ocean in the sizzling video. Halle sported an amazing black bikini with revealing cutouts that accentuated her amazing figure before posting the clip alongside the caption: 'Leo Season in full effect #BirthdayWeekendVibin.' Amazing: The actress, who turned 54 on Friday, looked incredible in a racy two-piece as she wandered along the beach in a slow-motion video she shared with fans on Instagram Flawless: The star hid behind a pair of statement shades and styled her tousled honey tresses in loose beach waves before they were buffeted by the breeze On Friday Halle looked agelessly radiant once again as she marked her birthday in a separate Instagram post as she proudly skateboarded down the street. Wearing a T-shirt and bikini bottoms, she rode away from the camera but had glimpsed back over her shoulder to smile at the photographer. She uploaded the snapshot, which enjoyed a rainbow tint, alongside a caption which read: '54....life just gets better and better!' Sizzling: The mother-of-two set pulses racing as she proved she's still got it in the plunging black two-piece which enhanced her ample assets Humour: Halle posted the clip alongside a caption that read: 'Leo Season in full effect #BirthdayWeekendVibin' Wow! Halle was the picture of confidence as she strutted along the beach in her amazing frayed two-piece Halle has two children - daughter Nahla, 12, by her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, and son Maceo, six, by her third ex-husband Olivier Martinez. As she begins the next year of her life Halle will see her feature directorial debut Bruised premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF will occur September 10 to 19 with a hybrid of virtual and in-person events, though industry members and media are barred from screenings, IndieWire reports. Happy birthday: On Friday Halle looked agelessly radiant once again as she marked her birthday in a separate Instagram snapshot as she proudly skateboarded down the street Halle stars as an ex-fighter who has left the MMA business and lost custody of her son, but the film finds her locked in a struggle to regain her child and career. 'I didn't really set out to direct it, I set out to act in it. I read the script and I loved it,' Halle explained to iHeart + Variety's The Big Ticket With Marc Malkin. 'And, it was written, at that time, for a 22-year-old white woman, which, obviously, can't be me,' she said, but she persuaded 'the producers that it should be me, and why it would be more relevant in the times in which we're living if it were me.' Still got it: Halle is no stranger to showcasing her iconic figure, having risen to fame as a Bond Girl in the early 2000s She got the part but while looking for a director she found that 'nobody really saw the story that I saw in my head, that I kept talking to the producers about, that they loved. 'So, finally we just sat down one day and they said: "Why don't you do it?"' Halle confessed: 'I thought: "I can't direct, this is a big acting role for me, I don't think I should be directing as well." 'And they gave me so much confidence and helped me realize that: "But nobody understands it like you. It's story telling and we definitely feel confident that you've got the story." She recalled: 'I put that hat on for a week or so and I thought about how that felt and I realized, after 25 years in the business there is a lot I know about filmmaking.' The Oscar-winner shared: 'Ive never been the kind of actress that just goes to work, stays in my trailer and says: "Call me when you're ready."' Before Halle was attached to the project it was slated to star Blake Lively and be helmed by The Notebook director Nick Cassavetes, per Deadline. SIOUX CITY -- An Omaha developer plans to convert the Badgerow Building into housing, office space and an upscale restaurant. The city, which purchased the historic downtown high rise for $750,000 from a bank that foreclosed on the troubled property, has a tentative deal to sell the Badgerow to Clarity Development for $1 million. City staff and Hunden Strategic Partners, a consultant hired to assist with the selection of a developer for the project, are recommending the City Council approve an agreement with Clarity, which will develop the property as Badgerow Developer, LLC. The council will consider the development agreement at its weekly meeting Monday. Under the agreement, the developer would purchase the 12-story building at 622 Fourth Street, renovate it into a mixed-used facility with a high-end restaurant, cocktail lounge and Class A office space on the first two floors, 71 market-rate apartments on floors 3-11, and a health club on the top floor. The developer, which would keep the master lease in place, would commit to a minimum assessed value of $10.928 million following the project's completion by October 2022. The city, in turn, would provide a grant equal to 100 percent of new incremental property taxes for 10 years and an amount equal to 75 percent of new incremental taxes for an additional five years, support the developer's application for historic tax credits, and lease 170-200 parking spaces in its parking ramp system. Because the building is located in an urban renewal district, the city is required to advertise for competing bids for at least 30 days. After that period passes, the agreement with Badgerow Developer, LLC would be presented to the council for consideration immediately following a public hearing on Oct. 19. Built in 1933, the Badgerow is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Considered a premier example of the art deco style of architecture, the tallest commercial building in downtown Sioux City is perhaps best known for the Native American figurines that line the top of the building. The Badgerow had been vacant and red-tagged by the city as unfit for occupation for more than three years before California-based Mako One purchased it for $450,000 in 2007. Mako and its managing partner, Bruce DeBolt, had planned on transforming the Badgerow into a hub for small data centers, as well as space for restaurants, professional offices and other businesses. But his vision never came to fruition. Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust purchased the Badgerow for $1 million at a November 2018 auction after it submitted the only bid. The bank had foreclosed on the building the previous year after Mako and DeBolt defaulted on a bond that was secured to pay to renovate and redevelop it. Last October, the council approved a resolution for the city to purchase the Badgerow from Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company. In March, the city closed on the property. Sioux City Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty said there was "strong interest" in the property. According to documents filed with the city, on-site tours were provided to three interested developers. Two developers submitted proposals, which were evaluated. Clarity Development's renovation and reinvestment of the building will greatly increase its tax value, bring in increased economic activity and build upon other recent commercial and housing investments, according to documents posted on the city's website. Love 1 Funny 3 Wow 1 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. Coronavirus: What you need to read The Washington Post is providing some coronavirus coverage free, including: The latest: Coronavirus in the U.S. Coronavirus maps: Cases and deaths in the U.S. | Cases and deaths worldwide | Which states are reopening and closing again What you need to know: Vaccine tracker | Summertime activities & coronavirus | Your life at home | Personal finance guide | Make your own fabric mask | Follow all of our coronavirus coverage and sign up for our free newsletter. How to help: Your community | Seniors | Restaurants | Keep at-risk people in mind Asked and answered: What readers want to know about coronavirus Have you been hospitalized for covid-19? Tell us whether youve gotten a bill. Several including Apple, Ford, Walmart and have called on US President to end an executive order seeking the ban of and TikTok in the country as it would cause harm to US businesses trying to trade in China. The US wanted clarification over the executive order that would bar "any transaction that is related to WeChat" by Americans, reports The Wall Street Journal. Apart from the ban order on Chinese short-video-making app TikTok, Trump also issued another similarly-worded executive order against WeChat, a messaging, social media, and electronic payment application owned by the Chinese company Tencent Holdings Ltd. Tencent said it was "reviewing the executive order to get a full understanding." The executive order to ban from the Apple App Store could lead to 25-30 per cent drop in iPhone shipments in the Chinese market, famed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted. Meanwhile, 95 per cent of the 1.2 million Chinese Apple users said that they would rather switch to an Android device than use an iPhone without China, with its population of 1.44 billion people, accounted for about 15 per cent of Apple's total June quarter revenue. WeChat is a popular Chinese messaging application that is especially successful in China. --IANS wh/na (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.) Thousands of descendants of Ulster soldiers who fought in what's been called the "forgotten" army against Japan at the end of the Second World War will look to the skies today to see a spectacular tribute to their loved ones on a day that the Duke of Edinburgh will feature in a rare public appearance to mark his part in the conflict which ended 75 years ago. After a minute's silence this morning, the Red Arrows will stage a high-octane fly past over the four UK capitals, including Belfast, to commemorate VJ (Victory in Japan) Day, a date in the calendar that doesn't attract anything like the same attention every year that VE (Victory in Europe) Day does just three months earlier. But for people like Haydn Milligan from Bangor, VJ Day, that effectively finished the War, is a chance to reflect with pride on their ancestors' service in a torturous conflict that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Unlike many other soldiers, Haydn's father, Tommy, survived to tell the tale of the Burma campaign, but he rarely told it. "He didn't speak in detail about the war and, as I was growing up, I suppose I didn't really press him too much," says Haydn, who has been engaged in an exhaustive quest of late to find out what his father did in the war. And a shoebox has provided invaluable pointers to his exploits. Haydn says: "In the box, there were my father's medals, his pay book, a few photographs and other bits and pieces. "Piecing them together, along with my memories of what dad did reveal about the war and looking through military records, I was able to come up with a fairly decent picture of him and his 8th Belfast Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, which was founded in the wake of the Munich crisis and recruited mainly young Belfast men in the spring of 1939. "My dad was a driver for one of the gun crews. He drove a four-wheel-drive heavy truck, called a Matador, which pulled the heavy 3.7 inch gun over the green fields of England and France and then through the mud and dirt of India and Burma." The regiment took part in the Arakan campaigns for two-and-a-half years, firing against the Japanese Air Force and against ground targets, when their accuracy at long range earned them the nickname "The Twelve Mile Snipers". At one point, the Milligan family were told that Tommy could succumb to a potentially fatal disease, scrub typhus, but he pulled through. On his return to Belfast in September 1945, he discovered that his mother had died two weeks earlier. After the war, Tommy joined the Burma Star Association and was chairman of the Northern Ireland branch between 1979 and 1981. Haydn has now compiled a series of documents about the Burma campaign and about the history of his father's regiment and the Burma Star. But he hasn't stopped searching for more information about his father's early days in the Army, particularly in England. In the meantime, Haydn will follow today's TV coverage of the 75th anniversary commemorations. Ninety-nine-year-old Prince Philip will appear on large screens around the UK in a photo montage of other veterans and Prince Charles will be among the royals attending a service of remembrance. Haydn says: "I think it's important that people should remember VJ Day, just as they do VE Day." Ordinarily, patrolling the waters near Central and South America for drug traffickers is a job largely left to the U.S. Coast Guard. But since April 1 of this year, the U.S. Navy has surged assets to the region to assist with the mission -- and helped reel in more than $2.5 billion worth of contraband to date. The operation has gotten presidential attention and is ongoing, with the Navy destroyer Pinckney publicizing a recent major bust this week. The Pinckney, homeported in San Diego, executed a seizure with an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment July 24, seizing more than 120 kilograms, or 265 pounds, of suspected cocaine from a single ship. In total, the haul was worth some $4.5 million. Read next: In Test, Army Defense System Destroys Cruise Missiles While Under Jam Attack "While on routine patrol, approximately 200 nautical miles southwest of Jamaica, a helicopter assigned to the 'Wolf Pack' of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 75 located the vessel and Pinckney soon arrived on scene," Navy officials said in a release. "After coordination with the Government of Colombia and Colombian Navy, the vessel was searched and six suspected drug smugglers detained. The mariners are now in Government of Colombia custody." The crew of the Pinckney also secured medical evacuation for one detainee for whom treatment was deemed necessary for survival. Heads of U.S. Southern Command have long expressed their wish for more U.S. Navy assets in the region to stop a drug trade tied to tens of thousands of U.S. deaths every year. Under the enhanced counternarcotics mission, those ships and aircraft are in place, at least for now. Top officials say the $90 billion drug trade, which thrives in unstable regions, has taken advantage of the added instability of the global COVID-19 pandemic. "Since the end of March, we have employed, in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility, 75% more surveillance aircraft and 65% more ships than normal for drug interdiction," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a July 10 news conference from Doral, Florida. "These additional assets include four Navy destroyers, five Coast Guard cutters, and eight aircraft. Currently, nearly a dozen Navy and Coast Guard ships and over 15 aircraft from across the interagency are supporting our efforts, in addition to security forces deployed to the region." A spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's 4th Fleet, Cmdr. Katherine Meadows, said in a statement to Military.com that additional Defense Department capabilities added in the ramp-up include a continuous rotation of Navy destroyers and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters; Navy littoral combat ships; P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft; Air Force E-3 AWAC and E-8 JSTARS aircraft for reconnaissance; and an Army Security Forces Assistance Brigade company for advisory support. The Coast Guard has also increased its cutter and helicopter presence, and 22 partner nations have aided the effort. "All of our ships have an embarked [Coast Guard] Law Enforcement Detachment onboard," Meadows said. "The Navy supports the detection, while the Coast Guard has the authorities to seize narcotics and detain illicit trafficking suspects." To date, she said, the Navy has participated in the seizure of 16,396 kilograms of cocaine -- more than 36,000 pounds -- and 16,601 marijuana. The overall enhanced mission has "disrupted or seized" more than 38,000 pounds of marijuana and more than 98 metric tons of cocaine, she said. "The operation has denied transnational criminal organizations more than $2.5 billion in criminal profits from the smuggling of narcotics that kill thousands of people every year and cause substantial human suffering in the U.S. and around the world," she added. That's up from under $2 billion on July 10. Meadows did not provide comparison figures for the same period last year, but Esper said the U.S. military had been able to increase targeting of known drug operations by 60%. And at the Doral news conference, SOUTHCOM Commander Adm. Craig Faller said drug "disruptions" had increased by 15%. "And 60 percent more targeting is a big deal for us because that means we can put more assets on more targets. And the enemy has seen that," Faller said. "We've gotten information from our intelligence agencies that says the enemy has watched that and they're waiting, and they're stockpiling and they're trying to change their tactics." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: More Navy Ships Headed to South, Central America to Stop Drug Trafficking Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 17:52:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will aim to manufacture 50 percent of its pharmaceutical needs within three years, local media citing a newly appointed state minister reported here Saturday. State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply, and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana, while assuming duties at the Ministry of Health in capital Colombo on Friday, said that the government would promote local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. He pledged to patch up the legal loopholes in the purchasing of pharmaceuticals while cracking down on corruption and malpractice. The government would ensure the provision of high-quality pharmaceuticals at affordable prices to the general public, he said. Jayasumana also vowed to tackle the excessive use of agro-chemicals in the agricultural sector which has been linked to a high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology among rural and farming communities. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (SLPMA) welcomed the creation of the State Ministry for Pharmaceutical Production as a positive step for developing the local industry. Enditem Facebooks recommendations systems, designed to prioritize the growth of groups, most likely supercharged the QAnon community exposing scores of people to the conspiracy theory and then forging bonds among like-minded believers who could communicate, organize and spread their message further. As NBC Newss Ben Collins notes, this spread has intensified during the coronavirus pandemic as QAnon has become a hub for public health misinformation on Facebook. According to The Wall Street Journal, the average membership in 10 large public QAnon Facebook groups swelled by nearly 600 percent from March through July, to about 40,000 from about 6,000. QAnon followed a similar growth strategy on platforms like YouTube, building channels around influencers savvy enough to game the platforms recommendation algorithms. On Twitter, the communities formed around the successful manipulation of hashtags, efforts amplified by the Trump campaign and the presidents Twitter feed. (On Friday Mr. Trump refused to answer whether he supported QAnon.) This online ecosystem has been attractive to some political candidates. Politicians see the infrastructure QAnon has built on these platforms. They recognize it as increasing in power and see it as having a political benefit, said Alex Kaplan, a researcher for the media watchdog group Media Matters for America who has been tracking the increase in QAnon supporters running for Congress. There are true believers, yes, but many also see pandering to QAnon as a way to cultivate political support. They say, why not use this infrastructure to get some benefit? be it followers or money or votes. Mr. Kaplan has reported that there are at least 20 candidates on the ballot in November who support or have spoken favorably of QAnon. The overtures of campaigns like Ms. Greenes and President Trumps are only likely to become more overt as QAnon moves further into the mainstream. Journalists like Mr. Kaplan are concerned that more media coverage will lead to the conspiracy theory being normalized. People should be worried. They should not get used to this, he told me. Its crucial to remember this all started as a theory on a message board linked to white nationalists and trolls that President Trump was involved in a secret plot to take down the deep state and pedophiles. Thats what all of this is. For those whove been following and reporting on QAnon since its earliest days, this week has been disorienting and disheartening. Its a horrifying, humbling and depressing feeling to have seen something like this back when it was just a few forum posts, warn of its potential to infect the nation and end up right, Paris Martineau, a technology reporter who wrote the first explainer on QAnon for a national news outlet in 2017, told me. I feel like, over the past three years, there have been so many moments where I thought it had reached its zenith, but it was really only just getting started. Its no coincidence that a technology reporter was one of the first to identify this phenomenon indeed, much of the best coverage of the movement has come from those steeped in understanding of social networks. QAnon is a product of the modern algorithmically powered internet (a fact that reporters flocking to cover the movement need to be mindful of). - Mazingira Park was renamed to Michuki Park by the Ministry of Environment in 2012, in honour of the late John Michuki - President Uhuru Kenyatta said the opening of the park was the early steps of re-making and re-birthing of the city of Nairobi - Michukis feat to clean up the river received international recognition when the UNEP presented him with a certificate - However, the ownership of the piece of land was also contested by a private developer who is said to have protested government activities on the 26-acre land President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, August 14, opened the rehabilitated Michuki Park initially know as Mazingira Park in Nairobi County. The park was renamed to Michuki Park by the Ministry of Environment in 2012, in honour of the late John Michuki. READ ALSO: COVID-19 patients to pay public hospitals for PPEs after gov't failed to foot bills President Uhuru Kenyatta during the launch of rehabilitated Michuki Park. Photo: State House. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Woman says she gave up scholarship to join top university after pastor advised against it A statement by the president showed the park was restored to its initial look and ending criminal activities that have been going on in the park. We have moved it from a safe haven for criminals to a place of serene beauty and peace; from blacken waters of Nairobi river to a swimming destination for ducks and mudfish; and from a lifeless habitat to a life-supporting ecosystem, leading to the re-emergence of birds," he said. We can restore the former glory of our great city of Nairobi, to what was referred to as the green city in the sun, he added. READ ALSO: Proud man gushes about girlfriend who completed 3rd degree while in lockdown The president said the opening the park was the early steps of re-making and re-birthing of the great city of Nairobi. He also said that it is the citizens of the city that must make a covenant with the city to take care of the green spaces and their attendant species. We are here to affirm that a city is not great because of its lofty and towering brick-and-motor assets. A city is great because its citizens are great, and its environment is great. READ ALSO: COVID-19 funds: Treasury sitting on KSh 9B cash donations amid medical kits shortage in counties The park was renamed to Michuki Park by the Ministry of Environment in honour of the late John Michuki. Photo: State House. Source: Facebook But for this to happen, we must admit that we lost the green city in the sun because we did not take care of it," he added. According to the president, the civic responsibility of the citizen to take care of the green spaces was not enforced and the citizens of Nairobi city were not organized enough to protect it. Because of this, and the rapid growth of concrete spaces over the green spaces, he said, there was a collapse of civic order and national duty in the city. READ ALSO: Dubai crown prince leaves luxury car for birds to build nest on it Indeed for a long time, the park was considered part of the condemned sections of the city, a dumpsite and haven for criminals who terrorised city residents. According to Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, the ongoing rehabilitation of the park was meant to improve its ecological veracity for public use and enjoyment. For a man who accomplished what then appeared like a mission impossible; to reclaim and clean up the Nairobi River, the park was a befitting honour for Michuki's efforts. READ ALSO: US rejects Russia's offer to assist with COVID-19 vaccine Michukis feat to clean up the river received international recognition when the United Nations Environmental Programme presented him with a certificate. This was during a UNEP convention on the control of the movement of toxic waste held in Basel, Switzerland, in 2009. Here is a man who looks beyond short-term ambitions, and acts for future generations; someone who is not driven by short-term interest, but by public interest," said senior UNEP official, Bakari Kante. READ ALSO: Kiambu family cling to hope of finding medic daughter 13 years after she went missing But todays event was without controversy after a private developer on Thursday, August 13, is said to have protested government activities on the 26-acre land. In a media advertisement, Uaso Nyarobe Waterfront Limited, through their lawyers, warned the government against going ahead with the launch as the land belonged to it. A lawyer from MMC Asafo was quoted by People Daily saying the developer had instructed them to handle the matter but had not expressed desire to move to court should his warning be ignored. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly Source: TUKO.co.ke How the hell would a doll escape? Reply Thread Link Well, shes haunted Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link I swear Ive had it with online conspiracy theorists Reply Parent Thread Link With Uber and enough disgust with men Reply Parent Thread Link she got fed up and said "I'M NOT YOUR TOY!" and walked out. Reply Parent Thread Link Eurovision who tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I still prefer Dead Silence. Reply Thread Link [ Spoiler (click to open) ] morgue scenes are eerie as fuck and the design for Mary Shaw is one of the creepiest Underrated film tbh. The Reply Parent Thread Link "No one is in here!" "Yes there issss!" I laugh EVERY time. I know it's supposed to be creepy but Donnie's "Shut up" is hilarious. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Really? I wasn't into it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I loveeeee Dead Silence, the whole aesthetic is so good Reply Parent Thread Link Oh shit. Reply Thread Link Good to know. Reply Thread Link It's all Shane Madej's fault Reply Thread Link I loved this episode for this alone. Reply Parent Thread Link He keeps doing that shit. One of these days, a demon is gonna come for that ass. Reply Parent Thread Link idk I really think Shane actually is a demon. The way he's totally calm even about non-paranormal threats is inhuman. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like, to demons, Shane Madej is extremely frightening lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link hey there demons. it's me, ya boi. Reply Parent Thread Link Annabelle and the Goatman are gonna team up and take Shane out Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm such a #shaneiac . Because the way he interacts with 'demons' and 'ghosts' is exactly how I would act. lmao Reply Parent Thread Expand Link this episode is killing me hahahaha "normal mom gift" "for a 28 year old" Reply Parent Thread Link Shane is def getting possessed one day Reply Parent Thread Link This is the first time I've heard of this guy. Lol this is the paranormal investigator we needed. My friend & I watch Ghost Adventures just to get mad. He's me if I investigates ghosts. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Even though the Warrens were shit, I still like watching The Conjurning 1 and 2 when I'm bored or for bg noise Reply Thread Link I LOVE the first Conjuring. Vera Farmiga is so good in it. Reply Parent Thread Link I could never put on The Conjuring as background noise omg. I would freak myself out so bad Reply Parent Thread Link Why were the Warrens shit? I don't know anything outside of the media stuff, so I'm curious Reply Parent Thread Link They made shit up all the time and exploited people for money. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link As with most things, the fictionalized version is def better. Reply Parent Thread Link Wait this shit was real? Fuck Right as Im about to go to sleep Reply Thread Link If it makes you feel any better, the real Annabelle is a Raggedy Anne doll and wasn't creepy looking at all. Reply Parent Thread Link too bad, we could use "haunted doll on the loose" plot twist for 2020 Reply Thread Link It could only have been an improvement for sure Reply Parent Thread Link Haunted doll escapes occult museum, targets mask protesters Reply Parent Thread Link a hero comes along... Reply Parent Thread Link We have "love in the time of Covid" so why not? Reply Parent Thread Link Honestly I was assuming it would be the murder clowns so demon doll was a shock! Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like Trump would take more action to find a missing possessed doll than he has for tackling Covid, so I think its for the best that we didnt get to check off Missing Possessed Doll from our 2020 scorecards. Edited at 2020-08-15 12:56 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I was always fascinated with this whole "case". Her and Robert The Doll. Reply Thread Link Robert the Doll has scared me ever since I was little. The fact that you have to apologize to him and so many people have written apologies to him after disrespecting him is just ??? to me. Reply Parent Thread Link Robert is so picky, you have to ask if you are allowed to go near of him or something like that Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Robert the doll is fuuuuuucked. I would never go near that thing. Reply Parent Thread Link I just googled Robert the doll and now I wish I hadn't. I have never heard of him but holy fuck is he creepy. Reply Parent Thread Link Love how the movie franchise had to change the doll (and make it scarier) to avoid getting sued for using a Raggedy Anne doll. I just searched images of the doll in the museum and kept seeing her arms positioned differently. Fuck that shit! I'm out! Reply Thread Link It's probably a human moving her arms, the Warrens were scammers and there's no such a thing as a haunted doll. Reply Parent Thread Link Sounds like something a haunted doll would say. I know it's you Annabelle. Reply Parent Thread Link "and make it scarier" they went so overboard with it that the doll ended up looking like a parody. Reply Parent Thread Link I had a raggedy anne as a kid and i used to turn it around so it wasnt looking in my direction at night and now i feel vindicated. Reply Parent Thread Link The first time I saw it, I was like there's no way someone would buy such an ugly doll.. they could at least go with the Chucky road where the doll looks normal at first and then it changes into an ugly face Reply Parent Thread Link that's cuz she walked out the building, heard somebody cough, and walked right back in. Reply Thread Link smarter than 99% of the population Reply Parent Thread Link It's 2020 so that wouldn't even surprise me. Reply Thread Link The doll in the movie is scary but like... a Raggedy Ann doll? If I were a demon I'd pick something a little more intimidating. Reply Thread Link Yeah, at least Robert the doll has a decaying corpsy look to him. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah but fewer people would suspect a raggedy Ann doll or something cute! Reply Parent Thread Link I think I'd follow Annabelle's example, tbh. Something that looks like the doll in the film would put a lot of people off. An innocuous-looking doll of a beloved classic character has a much better chance of being picked up and overlooked by the next victim, imo. Reply Parent Thread Link idk i had a raggedy ann doll as a kid and was terrified of her lol which is so weird bc i LOVED the books Reply Parent Thread Link Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 15, 2020 12:03 522 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066e3bccf 1 Politics omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,omnibus-bill,house-of-representatives,deliberation,puan-maharani,Jokowi,Joko-Widodo Free Lawmakers are speeding up the deliberation of the controversial omnibus bill on job creation as they aim to complete it by September for endorsement amid mounting protests over the bills contentious provisions. House Legislation Body (Baleg) member Hendrawan Supratikno said lawmakers had deliberated 75 percent of the bill. They had settled 6,200 out of the 8,000 problem inventory list (DIM) items of the bill. We could complete it by the end of September and [the bill] can be endorsed before the next recess on Oct. 9, he told reporters on Friday, adding that the House and the government would discuss up to 100 points of the DIM every day. House Speaker Puan Maharani also said the House would continue to deliberate the omnibus bill on job creation with a careful approach. The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician previously urged lawmakers not to rush deliberations, citing objections from several labor unions over contentious articles and that a hasty deliberation would only disadvantage the people. "The House will continue the deliberations thoroughly, carefully and transparently," she said in her speech at the annual joint meeting at the House compound on Friday before President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and other state officials on Friday. Amid mounting public outcry, lawmakers had included the bill on this years priority list. Read also: House keeps problematic bills in Prolegnas, aiming to pass them by October Puan expressed hope that the House could finish deliberations, without specifying a deadline. "We'll pay attention to the country's needs and priorities, she added. Jokowi appeared to respond to criticism over how his government had opted to press ahead with the deliberation of a number of controversial bills, including the omnibus bill, saying in his state of the nation address on Friday that "all policies must focus on environmental friendliness and promote the protection of human rights." FBI officials involved in Crossfire Hurricane - the investigation into Donald Trump's associates' connections with Russia - should be 'very worried right now', the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee has said. Lindsey Graham, a powerful Republican ally of the president, told Fox News on Friday night that he thought a house of cards was about to topple. Kevin Clinesmith, 38, a former FBI attorney, is expected to plead guilty to altering an email during the Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Clinesmith's lawyer said he made a mistake while trying to clarify facts for a colleague. Lindsey Graham appeared on Hannity on Friday night to discuss the guilty plea Speaking to Trey Gowdy, who is standing in for Sean Hannity, Graham discussed Clinesmith Donald Trump seized on the news that Clinesmith was preparing to plead guilty, and promoted the plea agreement as proof that the Russia investigation was illegitimate and politically motivated. Clinesmith had written texts expressing opposition to Trump. The president opened a White House news conference by calling Clinesmith 'corrupt', and the deal 'just the beginning.' The work of Clinesmith, and others involved, is being investigated by John Durham, U.S. attorney for Connecticut, as part of his exploration of the origins of the Russia probe that culminated in Robert Mueller's inquiry. Graham told Trey Gowdy, host of the Hannity show on Friday, that the news about Clinesmith's pending plea marks a 'great day for the rule of law.' He added: 'Something tells me that Mr Clinesmith knows where the bodies are buried, and if I were in the FBI working on Crossfire Hurricane [the Russia investigation], I would be very worried right now.' Kevin Clinesmith, 38, a former FBI attorney, is expected to plead guilty to altering an email Clinesmith will plead guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from Durham's review of the FBI investigation into links between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign, two sources close to the matter told Fox News earlier Friday. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz previously accused Clinesmith, though not by name, of altering an email about former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page to say that Page was 'not a source' for another government agency. Page has said he was a source for the CIA. The DOJ relied on the assertion that Page was not a source for other agencies as it submitted a third and final renewal application in 2017 to eavesdrop on Page, under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Carter Page advised the Trump campaign during the 2016 election and was monitored by FBI Howoritz has found, however, that law enforcement officials had sufficient reason to open the Russia investigation, and - despite Graham's assertion - found no evidence that they acted with political bias. William Barr, the attorney general, had previewed the agreement on the Hannity show on Thursday night, announcing that a development would occur in the investigation on Friday. 'It's not an earth-shattering development, but it is an indication that things are moving along at the proper pace, as dictated by the facts in this investigation,' he said. Graham, however, said the plea was 'a really big deal'. 'An FBI lawyer in charge of reviewing warrants is going to plead guilty to falsifying documents to the FISA court against a Trump advisor, and if you are lucky, you'll find this in the mainstream media for 30 seconds,' said Graham. He said that if an FBI lawyer had pleaded guilty to falsifying documents to target Hillary Clinton's advisers, it would have generated far more attention. 'What this lawyer did is a really big deal,' said Graham. 'We have to trust the system, there has to be a certain amount of trust. 'This is a lawyer, a man of the law, a member of the bar, who took it upon himself to falsify documents and keep an investigation going that should've been stopped. 'This is a big day for transparency and the rule of law.' Irish Water and Fingal County Council advise customers in Swords of potential disruption and odour while essential works are carried out at Swords Wastewater Treatment Plant, over the coming weeks. Irish Water is working in partnership with Fingal County Council to carry out essential maintenance works at Swords Wastewater Treatment Plant impacting customers in Swords over the coming weeks. During these works there may be intermittent odours. Irish Water and Fingal County Council say they will make every effort to minimise the risk of odours and to complete these works as quickly as possible. Works are expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Irish Water would like to apologise for any odours that arise while the work is being carried out. If odour issues are noted, please contact the Irish Water Customer Care Centre on 1850 278 278. Irish Water and Fingal County Council say they understand the inconvenience caused when maintenance works occur and thank customers for their patience while they complete 'these essential works to ensure an effective treatment process within the plant'. Irish Water and Fingal County Council say they regret any inconvenience caused. A spokesperson for Irish Water said: 'Irish Water is working at this time, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services. 'The latest updates on these works will be available on the supply and service section of our website https://www.water.ie.' The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week and customers can call the utility on 1850 278 278. Customers can also contact IW on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. Thousands of protesters have marched in Russia's Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, where rallies against President Vladimir Putin's role in a regional political crisis have been held for over a month. Some of the protesters chanted "Long live Belarus!" as they marched through Khabarovsk on August 15, voicing support for demonstrations against the disputed presidential vote in Belarus. The disputed August 9 election in Belarus handed strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term and sparked nationwide protests that have been brutally put down by security forces. Demonstrators have attended weeks of the mass demonstrations in Khabarovsk to express anger since central authorities arrested Governor Sergei Furgal and transferred him to custody in the capital Moscow. There were no immediate reports of detentions at the Khabarovsk event. Authorities in Khabarovsk said the number of protesters "has dropped significantly" and said that only about 1,500 people attended the August 15 march. But live footage of the march showed several thousand protesters in attendance. After the protest, police detained Aleksei Vorsin, the head of the local office of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. He was being held overnight before facing on judge on administrative charges of participating in an unsanctioned demonstration. During the August 15 rally, Vorsin gave a speech in which he suggested that workers in Khabarovsk follow the example of Belarus and organize a general strike. Protesters also demanded the immediate release of 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. Furgal was arrested on July 9 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 dismissed 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. 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. The pro-Furgal demonstrations have attracted tens of thousands of protesters on weekends since they started on July 11. It is no exaggeration to say that there is now no guaranteed safe place in Trinidad and Tobago. We have moved from the stage of being prisoners in our homes behind metal bars to being afraid to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and even to sleep, for fear that if crime comes knocking we may have no recourse but to cower and beg for our lives. The society is being overpowered by the force of the criminal will with insufficient resources to resist and break that power. If you're looking to take some time away from the chaotic digital world and reconnect with nature, there's one standout option: a back-to-the-wild glamping getaway. Thwarted by travel restrictions and encouraged by good weather, a surge of holidaymakers have opted for a holiday under canvas this summer. Demand has resulted in more campsites popping up and seasons being extended. After months of uncertainty, domestic travel businesses are finally finding their feet. One of the latest sites to open is Fir Hill Estate, situated a 10-minute drive outside Newquay, on the edge of Porth Reservoir in Cornwall. Spread across the 62-acre historical family estate, Mongolian Gers (a type of yurt) come equipped with a traditional firepit, barbecue stove and cooking facilities. What's the story? The estate was purchased by Charlie Hoblyn in 2012 and since then he's worked hard to restore it from ruin. With astonishing ambition and dogged determination, he's completely transformed the far-reaching grounds, which now comprise majestic woodlands, a renovated barn with cosy leisure areas and even a beautifully restored orchard with more than 200 fruit trees. What's even more special is Charlie's approach to sustainability. The site isn't connected to mains services. Instead, it relies solely on solar thermal panels, a biomass generator and borehole and spring water supply for everything. There's plenty to explore on foot or by bicycle and a variety of activities, such as fishing, birdwatching and stargazing around the campfire, can be enjoyed without even venturing off the grounds. A seasonal highlight includes picking the estate's cherries, apples, plums and damsons throughout May to September. What can you do in the area? Also known as the surfing capital of the UK, Newquay offers some of the best wave-catching opportunities all year round. If you're new to surfing, you might want to settle for either Towan, Great Western or Newquay beach, but if you're up for more of a challenge, head for the impressive waves at Fistral. There are plenty of spots to rent out wetsuits nearby, if you haven't got one to hand. I'd highly recommend Slide & Glide, where you can hire a wetsuit for a daily rate of 5. The friendly staff have excellent local knowledge and also offer a range of customised surfboards, designed specifically for the surf around the area. Need to brush up on your surf skills with the help of a friendly instructor? I'd highly recommend Newquay Activity Centre (newquayactivitycentre.co.uk) on Towan beach, which offers a range of other outdoor activities too, including stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and coasteering. (Taster surf lessons from 35pp.) If lying flat against the waves is more your thing, try the incredible selection of wooden bodyboards at Dick Pearce & Friends (dickpearce.com). Dick and co. have been handcrafting their so-called 'bellyboards' for decades using sustainable materials and their slick design means you're guaranteed a thrilling ride in the tide. Expand Close Sunny day in Newquay Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sunny day in Newquay What to eat and drink Cornish pasties are delicious at any time of year. The distinctive D-shaped delights come with an interesting past. Many years ago, miners in the region needed something substantial to fuel their physically demanding jobs, but the snack had to be convenient to eat as they risked contaminating their food with poisonous chemicals on their hands. The large crust of the Cornish pasty provided a solution: the 'handlebar' was easy to hold onto and could be discarded afterwards, so the miners didn't fall ill. If you're looking for a traditional, locally produced pasty to sample, try Morris Pasties (morris-pasties.co.uk). The recipe for their hand-crimped beauties is held secret with the family solicitor. For bigger meals, one spot worth visiting is Bush Pepper (bushpepper.co.uk) in the heart of Newquay. Chef Chris Brookes creates Australian-influenced cuisine using some of Cornwall's finest ingredients. Nothing beats their delicious Dukkah Eggs on toasted sourdough, using Cornish free range poached eggs, dukkah, smashed avocado, halloumi and a wedge of lemon. A great morning fix before heading out for a surf. (Evening menu options from 17 and a bottle of wine from 18). After a long day of exploring, head to the Carnmarth Hotel (carnmarth.com) for one of their signature Cornish Bramble cocktails while soaking up the stunning ocean views. (Mains from 12 and cocktails from 8). This cosy spot overlooks Fistral beach, whose wild waves give way to a gently lapping tide beneath the sensational Cornish sunset. A perfect end to a glorious glamping experience in a town full of character, in a county brimming with beauty. HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP A five-night self-catering break in a yurt (sleeping six) at the Fir Hill Estate (thefirhill.co.uk; 07831 800 701) costs from 600. For more information on Newquay, visit newquaybid.co.uk. A delegation of Laos led by Politburo member and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and another of ambassadors, representatives of international organisations in Hanoi paid last respect to the late leader. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo affirmed that Phieu was a close comrade and friend of the Communist Party and people of China. US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J.Kritenbrink wrote that former Party leader Phieu played an important role in the Vietnam - US cooperation, including his support for the Vietnam US bilateral trade agreement in 2000 and hosting the Vietnam visit by US President Bill Clinton in November 2000. His contributions laid a foundation for growing friendship between the two nations, the diplomat stressed. Cambodian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sok Dareth wrote on the funeral book that the former Party leaders passing is a great loss of the Vietnamese Party, Government and people, and Cambodia has also lost a close friend who made outstanding contributions to the development of the bilateral friendship. Russian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Aleksei Popov said as a true patriot, Phieu dedicated his whole life to the struggle for national independence and prosperity and also made great contributions to the cause of developing trust and friendship between the two nations. Cuban Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Indira Lopez Arguelles also expressed the most profound condolences to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people, saying that the late leader will live forever in the mind of all people. The punch from Red Fort: PM Modis strong message to China, Pakistan India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 15: The message from the Prime Minister on Independence Day to both Pakistan and China was a sharp one today. While most of the address by PM Modi was focused around an Atma Nirbhar Bharat, he delivered a punch to both Pakistan and China by stating that the brave soldiers deployed along the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control had given a befitting reply to those who sought to challenge India's sovereignty. The entire world saw what India is capable of the PM said. Every inch of land from the Line of Control to the Line of Actual Control will be protected the PM also said Our Army has paid back everyone in their own coin, the PM also added. The world saw what our soldiers did at Ladakh: PM Modi PM Modi was making a reference to the stand off in eastern Ladakh. What our brave soldiers can do, the entire world has seen at Ladakh, the PM said. Be it an aggressor or a terrorist, India has fought and will continue fighting them, PM Modi further added. From the LoC to the LaC, whoever has tried to raise their eyes towards the sovereignty of our country, our brave soldiers responded to it in the same coin, the PM also said. PM Modi Independence Day speech | Sanitary pads & New minimum marriage age | Oneindia News Today, a neighbour is not just the one we share a border with, but also those with whom our heart stays connected and there is harmony in relations. I am happy that India has strengthened its relations with all countries in the extended neighbourhood, the PM further added. The PM also spoke about India's victory of a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He said that out of the 192 countries, 184 backed India. This is because India is strong and secure, the PM also said. The PM also said that India has always believed that the entire world is one family. While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey, he also said. Independence Day 2020: India has the willpower to lead the world, says PM Modi It may be recalled that on July 4, the PM had made a surprise visit to Ladakh. During his visit, he interacted with the Indian Army, IAF and ITBP personnel. In his address to the Armed Forces, the PM took a dig at China and said that the age of expansionism is over. This is the age of development and the age of expansionism is over, he also said. History is a witness that the expansionist forces have either lost or were asked to turn back. SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and VILNIUS, Lithuania, Aug. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss biotech company Memo Therapeutics AG (MTx) and Northway Biotechpharma (Northway), a leading biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), announce a new partnership to manufacture MTx's therapeutic COVID-19 antibody candidate in a four-month fast-track process. MTx today announces a collaboration with Northway for fast-track cGMP manufacturing of its lead antibody candidate for the treatment of COVID-19. MTX-COVAB is a fully human, highly potent antibody isolated from clinically selected convalescent COVID-19 donors with picomolar neutralizing activity against wild-type SARS-CoV-2, as well as newly described mutants. The selected antibody will undergo an accelerated development path as an immunotherapy and for the prevention of COVID-19. Under the terms of the manufacturing agreement, Northway will develop the cell line and the manufacturing process, and will further produce cGMP batches of MTx's antibody for clinical studies. Northway is also perfectly positioned to execute commercial production once MTX-COVAB receives marketing authorization. This will enable MTx to supply the market in time for the anticipated second wave of the pandemic. Northway produces antibodies and other mammalian cell-based therapeutics up to the 2.000 L scale in single-use bioreactors at its current facilities. A larger-scale production facility using stainless-steel bioreactors will be made operational by the start of 2021 to facilitate ramping-up of capacity to meet MTx's demand. This project leverages the innovative discovery research and applied cGMP manufacturing know-how of the two partners. "Based on outstanding efficacy data from our MTX-COVAB clinical candidate, regulatory authorities fully support MTx's development plan for a fast-track approach towards market authorization. We are confident that we will be equipped to serve patients' needs by the start of 2021," explained Dr. Karsten Fischer, CEO of Memo Therapeutics. "It is a great pleasure to support MTx's programs and to personally contribute to the global fight against COVID-19 by employing our technical know-how and excellent cGMP manufacturing capabilities," said Dr. Vladas Bumelis, Executive Chairman of the Board of Northway Biotechpharma. Dr. Andre Markmann, VP Business Development of Northway Biotechpharma, added: "MTx has very aggressive timelines due to the global health threat and, therefore, needs a partner that is able to respond to their demands rapidly while also providing a high-quality service. They have selected Northway Biotechpharma as we are able to meet these needs." About Memo Therapeutics - https://memo-therapeutics.com Memo Therapeutics AG (MTx) is an innovator in the field of antibody discovery and immune repertoire analysis. MTx's antibody discovery platform uses robust, simple and fast microfluidic single-cell molecular cloning and screening technologies to enable antibody repertoire mining and antibody discovery at unprecedented speed, efficiency and sensitivity. The platform captures and preserves entire B-cell repertoires from any donor species and any B-cell type in recombinant form for display using mammalian cells. The antibody repertoires are subsequently screened in single-cell format using microfluidic screening technology that can assess millions of candidate antibodies directly in functional assays, resulting in recombinant clonal cell lines expressing mAbs with the desired functional properties. Exploiting the power of its microfluidic single-cell molecular cloning and screening technologies, the Company engages in antibody discovery across species and indications for proprietary and partnered projects. MTx's current pipeline features programs in infectious diseases and immuno-oncology. MTx is a private company located in Bio-Technopark Zurich, Switzerland. For Further Information Contact: media@memo-therapeutics.com About Northway Biotechpharma - https://www.northwaybiotech.com Northway Biotechpharma is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) supporting customers worldwide. Its highly experienced professional team executes projects at any stage, from cell line construction and process development to cGMP manufacturing of biopharmaceutical products. The company's wide-ranging expertise and vertically integrated service offering translates to the ability to rapidly execute multiple projects from its state-of-the-art GMP facilities, while ensuring full process and product compliance at all stages of research, development and commercial manufacturing. Northway Biotechpharma is a privately owned company founded in 2004 and located in Vilnius, Lithuania, and in Waltham, Boston, US. For Further Information Contact: vladas.bumelis@northwaybiotech.com Related Files Press release.pdf Related Links Memo Therapeutics AB Northway Biotechpharma Move over wreaths of carnations and lilies, a new option for funerals is to bring your credit card for a tap 'n' go donation. Sydney Funerals has launched the free service called Tap a Little Contribution (TLC) using off-the-shelf technology from Square. Illustration: Cathy Wilcox Credit: Founder Scott Duncombe said the idea was to allow mourners to contribute to the cost of the funeral or to make a donation to charity, whichever the family prefers. "Over the years, I've seen that some families really do struggle, especially when it's a sudden death in the family, to come up with the funds for a funeral," Mr Duncombe said. The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) in Nha Trang city, partnering with New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine and the global health non-profit organisation PATH, expects to conduct testing on small groups of volunteers in October-December this year. Phase 2, comprising larger groups of people, and Phase 3, comprising up to thousands, will be conducted at the beginning of 2021. The institute plans to submit documents for approval to the health ministry as early as April next year and claims to be capable of producing 30 million doses a year. By October 2021, the vaccine could be distributed to the general population. IVAC is researching an egg-based vaccine, making use of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. According to Duong Huu Thai, head of IVAC, the production of its COVID-19 vaccine will be similar to the production of influenza vaccine. The live NDV-Lasota-S virus given to IVAC from its US partner in May is injected into a membrane of fertilised hens egg and cultivated, then the propagated viruses are extracted from the membrane to be inactivated while still maintain their physical properties. The now inactivate virus, unable to cause disease, will still trigger the bodys immune response that can target the coronavirus. The vaccine candidate has shown initial positive results in animals, Thai said, but it was too early to claim success. Another firm, Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 Company (Vabiotech) under the Ministry of Health, partnering with the UK-based University of Bristol since February, said after trials on mice demonstrating strong immune response to coronavirus, especially after the repeat shot, it aims to conduct trials on small groups of people at the beginning of next year. Vabiotech is developing its vaccine candidate using the protein subunit method, using only part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to stimulate the immune system to release antibodies. The company said it is optimising production procedures for large-scale production of the vaccine and could produce up to 100 million doses a year. Two other companies in Vietnam are researching a vaccine, including the Centre for Immunisation Vaccines POLYVAC partnering with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, which is still waiting for approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology for its research. The last is Nanogen Biopharmaceutical company in Ho Chi Minh City, using protein from the SARS-CoV-2 strain found in Chinas Wuhan together with the mutated strain D614G, the dominant strain rapidly spreading across the world, including the ongoing outbreak in Vietnam. The health ministry has asked the two companies to start preparing for large-scale manufacturing in case their vaccines are approved. Nguyen Thu Van, member of Scientific Council under the Ministry of Health, said a Vietnamese-made COVID-19 vaccine could be obtained by the end of 2021. If Vietnam can achieve that goal, that timeframe is already expedited. Usually, it takes at least five to six years to produce a new vaccine, Van said. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Vice Director of the Administration of Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry of Health, said in a meeting last month that even with an expedited timeline, "the vaccines quality must still be ensured and the product must be able to prevent coronavirus infection based on ethical principles in medical research". The provincial government and its chief public officer of health remain reluctant to mandate the use of non-medical masks to help curb the spread of COVID-19 infections. Given the current upsurge in confirmed cases in Manitoba, one might be inclined to wonder why. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The provincial government and its chief public officer of health remain reluctant to mandate the use of non-medical masks to help curb the spread of COVID-19 infections. Given the current upsurge in confirmed cases in Manitoba, one might be inclined to wonder why. Non-medical masks have risen to the top of the hierarchy of preventative measures as the accumulated evidence shows how easily the coronavirus can be transmitted through the air. Masks, along with hand washing and social distancing, could help us "live with the virus," as the provinces messaging now advises we must learn to do. But theres a catch: masks are mainly effective at preventing someone from dispersing the respiratory droplets or aerosols that are expelled when we talk, sing, cough and sneeze. They may not be as effective at stopping us from inhaling the contagion, but they can be quite useful in stopping us from spreading it. Which is to say, masks are only truly effective if everyone is using one. Despite our growing knowledge of the virus and the role masks can play in controlling it, the governments messaging remains muted. Despite our growing knowledge of the virus and the role masks can play in controlling it, the governments messaging remains muted. Dr. Brent Roussin, the provinces chief public officer of health, has said that Manitobans should "avoid" crowded indoor spaces where social distancing is not possible. He has also said in situations where a two-metre distance from others cannot be maintained, masks are recommended. What Dr. Roussin has not said, however, is that masks will be mandatory in indoor public spaces. His continued reluctance, as well as the disinclination of the Progressive Conservative government to add this simple step to Manitobas pandemic response, is puzzling. This week, Dr. Roussin issued what is likely his first mandatory mask order when he said all older students on school buses must wear non-medical masks when classes resume in September. That decision is sensible: school buses have poor air circulation and offer few opportunities for passengers to be adequately spaced. Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP Mask use on buses will be mandatory for older students this fall. Dr. Roussins willingness to rise to the level of mandatory order for buses, but stop short of that standard for schools and classrooms and other indoor spaces, for that matter is puzzling. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. There is no certainty that social distancing can be properly maintained in schools once in-person classes begin. Many schools have small classrooms and poor ventilation. The province is not providing resources for the installation of plastic barriers between desks, bathroom sinks or lunchroom tables. Given the risks evident in that scenario, mandating mask use would seem a reasonable demand. But Dr. Roussin has only made masks "strongly recommended" in schools (Ontario, Alberta and Quebec have declared them mandatory when classes resume), which places children and the people who teach them in the same category of preventative pandemic measures as other indoor spaces such as grocery stores and shopping malls. And based on whats now known about airborne transmission of the coronavirus, there is a strong argument to be made for mandating mask use in all public indoor spaces, including schools. Simply put, the more people wear masks in public, the more places we can safely go and things we can safely do. It is likely that many school divisions will, on their own, make masks mandatory. The unions that represent teachers and support staff have already indicated their support for such a measure. The government and Dr. Roussin should reconsider the provinces position on mask use. Requiring masks in indoor public spaces is a reasonable demand and if the current science means anything an effective strategy. Simply put, the more people wear masks in public, the more places we can safely go and things we can safely do. Isnt that what learning to live with this virus is all about? He was slammed by the judges for using packet tortilla chips instead of making his own while cooking nachos on the latest season of MasterChef. And, appearing on The Project on Saturday, the 34-year-old revealed that he is still using pre-made 'store bought' ingredients. Host Susie Youssef reminded Hayden of the incident and cheekily asked: 'Have your skills improved since then or are you still doing the packet chips?' Still the same: Appearing on The Project on Saturday, Hayden Quinn (pictured) revealed that he is still using pre-made 'store bought' ingredients to cook Grabbing a plate of tortilla chips from his cooking station, Hayden replied with a giggle: 'I'm not going to lie, no joke these are store bought tortillas.' It comes after Hayden came under fire earlier this year, when he pulled a packet of Doritos out of the MasterChef kitchen to use in his nachos. He plated up chilaquiles verdes with an avocado cream and peach hot sauce, and the judges suggested that a homemade variety would have taken the dish to another level, alongside a hotter sauce. Tough question: The Project host Susie Youssef reminded Hayden of the incident and cheekily asked: 'Have your skills improved since then or are you still doing the packet chips?' Pre-made ingredients: Grabbing a plate of tortillas from his cooking station, Hayden replied with a giggle: 'I'm not going to lie, no joke these are store bought tortillas' He later defended his decision to use packet chips calling himself a 'common man' who has to 'represent the people'. 'I'm the common man! I don't go around making my own tortilla chips and I can guarantee you, no one else does,' he told The Project in May. 'I've got to represent the people and cook with those packet chips, and I'm sticking by it 100 per cent.' Out of a packet: Hayden came under fire, when he pulled a packet of Doritos out of the MasterChef kitchen to use in his nachos In the meantime Hayden is set to return to our TV screens for the second season of Taste of Australia but this time with a focus on NSW. 'This season it's all about NSW staying in my very own backyard sand enjoying it at the same time,' he added. Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn continues Saturday at 4:30pm on Channel 10. The Bahujan Samaj Partys (BSPs) national president, Mayawati, on Saturday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh over the murder of a village head and the death of a boy in subsequent violence in the states Azamgarh district. Three motorcycle-borne men shot dead the 40-year-old Satyamev Jayate aka Pappu Ram on Friday evening in Bansgaon, police said. The report about the gruesome murder of the Dalit village head Satyamev Jayate Pappu of Bansgaon village of Azamgarh on the eve of the Independence Day and death of one crushed to death (in an accident) is extremely sad. What is the difference between the previous Samajwadi Party government and present Bharatiya Janata Party government if Dalits are subjected to atrocities in this manner and murdered? Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi. Hundreds of locals gathered at the spot as news of the village heads murder spread on Friday. A huge crowd also gathered at Bongaria Bazar. A 12-year-old boy died after he came under the wheels of a vehicle. The incident instigated the people and they attacked Bongaria Bazar police outpost and set four motorcycles on fire and pelted the police personnel with stones. Nearly five police personnel were injured in the stone-pelting. When the police tried to control the crowd, the mob resorted to stone-pelting at the police personnel. A police officer said, We took to firing in the air to bring the situation under control. Subhash Chandra Dubey, deputy inspector general of police, said six teams have been deployed to find and arrest the assailants involved in the murder of village head. The police would act against them under the gangster act and National Security Act (NSA), Dubey said. Officials said the situation is under control now and that the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been deployed in the village as a preventive measure. The police administration has also suspended the Tarwan police outpost in-charge. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the incident and announced 5 lakh each for the families of the village head and the boy. Adityanath, who expressed deep grief, also instructed officials to attach the property of the assailants and ensure action under NSA against them. Vijay Vishwash Pant, Azamgarhs divisional commissioner, said the district administration would also give 4.25 lakh each to the families of the village head and the boy as both were Dalits after the post mortem examination reports. India is ready to mass produce COVID-19 vaccines when scientists give the go-ahead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Independence Day speech on Saturday. Mr Modi made the revelation while also launching a national project to roll out health identities for each citizen. In annual celebrations, held at the 17th-century Red Fort and scaled down due to the pandemic, Mr Modi identified health and economic self-reliance as the key priorities for his government. Not one, not two, as many as three coronavirus vaccines are being tested in India, he said from the ramparts of the red sandstone palace in the old quarters of Delhi. READ ALSO: He was wearing a flowing orange and white turban and covering his mouth and nose with a scarf of the same colours whenever anyone came close to him at the ceremony. Along with mass-production, the roadmap for distribution of vaccines to every single Indian in the least possible time is also ready, Modi said. At the event, soldiers who ceremonially welcomed Mr Modi had been under quarantine days before the event. Only around 4,000 guests were allowed and made to sit six feet apart, while medical booths with ambulances were set up for any attendee showing COVID-19 symptoms during entry. Launching a National Digital Health Mission for the country of 1.3 billion, Mr Modi said in his seventh Independence Day speech that records of every health test, disease, medication and other details will be kept under a health ID. Whether it is making a doctors appointment, depositing money or running around for documents in the hospital, the mission will help remove all such challenges, he said. Without mentioning China, with whom ties have hit a low following the worst border clash in decades that killed 20 Indian soldiers in June, Mr Modi said the countrys sovereignty was supreme. Anyone who has raised eyes on the sovereignty of the country, the army of the country have responded to them in the same language. Mr Modi also said it was important to raise Indias economic might to increase its international influence, emphasising the need to cut imports and increase exports of value-added products. The prime minister reiterated plans to improve Indias infrastructure by spending more than 110 trillion rupees ($1.47 trillion) on around 7000 projects. He said it will help revive economic growth by creating jobs and boosting small businesses. (Reuters/NAN) The Duck Inn Taproom, located right on the banks of the Perkiomen Creek on Route 29 in Perkiomen Township, has rebounded after severe flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit in September. In the last two years, the Democratic Socialists of America have animated much of the intellectual ferment in city politics, gaining a foothold after helping propel Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez into Congress. In the recent Democratic primary, several D.S.A.-backed candidates unseated incumbents in the State Legislature. Mr. Doctoroffs nonprofit could serve as something of a counterpoint. Among other things, the coalition would focus on stabilizing the citys budget, improving public health, eliminating disparities in the criminal justice system and turbocharging the development of affordable housing. Mr. Doctoroff, a former private equity executive, said he has yet to raise any money for the nonprofit, which he described as in a nascent stage. A draft charter for the organization, which has been circulating among some of his friends and advisers, estimates a preliminary budget of $10 million. It says that additional fund-raising will be necessary for disseminating the plan and get-out-the-vote operations. Mr. Doctoroff said in an interview that he has already spoken with many of the likely mayoral candidates about his idea. He has personal relationships with several of them, including Shaun Donovan, who worked with Mr. Doctoroff in the Bloomberg administration before joining the Obama cabinet, and Ray McGuire, a Citigroup executive who is reportedly considering a run for mayor. Mr. McGuire and Mr. Doctoroff attended Harvard University together, Mr. Doctoroff said. Before the pandemic struck, the mayoral race was thought to be primarily a three-way contest among Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president; Corey Johnson, the Council speaker; and Scott M. Stringer, the city comptroller. But the outbreak, as well as the social unrest brought by the George Floyd protests, has seemed to open up the field. Two weeks ago, Maya D. Wiley, a former top counsel for Mayor de Blasio, left her role as a contributor on MSNBC and NBC News to explore a run for mayor; she is well regarded among progressive Democrats and would be expected to focus on race and criminal justice issues. In the current political climate, it is not clear if business leaders like Mr. Ross and Mr. Doctoroff can change the conversation, or help push a mayoral candidate of their choice into office. Two Japanese cabinet ministers paid their respects on Saturday at a war shrine seen by neighbouring countries as a symbol of Tokyos past militarism, in the first such visit since 2016. Nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual cash offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo to mark Saturdays 75th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II but was not expected to visit in person, local media said. Yasukuni honours 2.5 million war dead, mostly Japanese, who perished in the countrys wars since the late 19th century. But it also enshrines senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal after the war. Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda, one of the two ministers to visit the shrine along with Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, said he did so to pay tribute to the war dead. I paid respects to the souls of those who nobly sacrificed themselves during the war, Hagiuda told reporters. Abe last visited the shrine in December 2013 to mark his first year in power, sparking fury in Beijing and Seoul and earning a rare diplomatic rebuke from close ally the United States. Young people will be urged to follow COVID-19 hygiene guidelines and maintain social distancing as part of a new campaign to avert another shutdown of pubs, bars and restaurants. The campaign devised by the Night Time Industries Association encourages young people to Check. Check. Check. Keep COVID in Check' and will be featured on posters, coasters and online. Pasan Wijesena (2nd from right), owner of Earl's Juke Joint in Newtown, said more customers were following COVID-19 rules compared to the first lockdown Credit:Janie Barrett NTIA chairman Michael Rodrigues said new rituals were needed for anyone leaving home before they gathered in public. Think Slip-Slop-Slap for indoors, he said, referring to a famous 1980s health campaign. In the same way you might grab your wallet, keys and phone, we now all need to pack the sanitiser and grab a face mask. According to the affidavit, Fleharty had recently been released on bail from the Lincoln County Jail, where he was being held on charges of tampering with a witness. The Lincoln County Jail pulled a phone recording from Grizzle, who is still jailed. He allegedly had a conversation with Fleharty on May 31. He told Grizzle it would be done and it wasnt going to be friendly, according to the affidavit, and also said It would be done tomorrow. Fleharty allegedly told Hinkle that if he testified against Grizzle, Fleharty would be back with a gun and put a bullet in his head as well as a bullet in his kids head, the affidavit says. Fleharty then told Hinkle to give him his wallet and if he didnt, he was going to cave his head in, according to the affidavit. Hinkle gave him the wallet, which contained bank cards, a drivers license and $250. Fleharty then left by the back door. A neighbor saw Fleharty arrive at the residence in a silver SUV and leave a short time later, according to the affidavit. The Dawson County Sheriffs Office arrested Fleharty after a warrant was issued for his arrest. 68 Shares Share After being kept up all night responding to pages, I was still half-asleep walking into Mr. Jenkins room for what I thought would be a routine early morning admission for new-onset seizures. From scanning through the electronic medical record, I was not expecting to encounter the unfortunate and complex array of social factors underlying his condition. Mr. Jenkins was in his late 20s and had three children to take care of. He worked in construction as a pipefitter, a job that required him to climb and work on tall structures with minimal protective equipment. He had been doing this job to support his family since dropping out of high school at the age of 16. Upon further inquiry regarding the symptoms he was experiencing, he disclosed to me that these were not actually new-onset seizures. At the age of 19, the patient had gotten into an altercation with a neighbor and was hit in the head with a brick. Following this incident, he had suffered from recurrent seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. In the past, he had seen numerous doctors for his condition and had been prescribed Keppra, an antiepileptic medication which he had been taking to prevent these seizures from occurring. However, he had been experiencing side effects and stopped taking his antiepileptic medication. Subsequently, he began to experience more frequent seizure episodes, including on the job while working on an elevated platform. When it came time to renew his contract with the construction company, he found himself out of a job due to the nature of his work. Consequently, he lost his employer-provided health insurance, and, as a result, he lost access to his medical home and access to his antiepileptic medications. To support his family, he started working odd jobs, and his income exceeded the maximal cutoff to be eligible for government-sponsored health care. Despite being above this threshold, he did not make enough money to afford private health insurance either. For some time, his only form of health care came from trips to the emergency room to receive temporary prescriptions for his seizure medication. Mr. Jenkins relayed to me that his goal from this hospital admission was to again obtain medications to control his seizures and to receive a doctors clearance that would allow him to return to his previous line of work so that he could have job security and receive employer-sponsored health insurance. This patient falls into what has been referred to in health care as the donut hole. It is essentially the health care systems version of a catch-22; he could not receive regular access to health care without working, and he could not get back to work without first controlling his seizure disorder with the help of the health care system and medical professionals. Understanding the gravity of this patients unfortunate situation led me to wonder how the health care system in a modernized nation could leave so many people without access to basic affordable health care. How has a system become so complex, convoluted, and corrupt that a person who was perfectly capable of being cured by modern medicines was denied access to a simple cure that would allow him to function as a productive member of society? This is not a problem that I can begin to fix myself or even begin to answer, but I do not feel that it is okay to dismiss these issues as too bad so sad. I hope to bring attention to the people who suffer from little or no access to health care, and I can only hope that moving forward, we, as a society, find solutions to these issues and make decisions that are not just based on monetary incentives. Thankfully, I am fortunate enough to train in Austin, Texas, where residents and local government officials have elected to create a safety-net health care system to care for people such as Mr. Jenkins. The Medical Access Program (MAP), established in 2004 by Central Health, is a program that allows socioeconomically disadvantaged people who would otherwise be unable to afford health insurance a way to access health care and obtain necessary medicines via a network of CommUnityCare clinics. This program is funded by Travis County residents taxpayer dollars and serves as health insurance for residents of Travis county at or below the poverty line. In 2019, Mike Geeslin, president and CEO of Central Health, reported, Last year Central Health funded care for 1 in 7 Travis County residents, or about 184,000 people, and were planning to care for more people in the years to come. Despite efforts via the Affordable Care Act to expand health care coverage to a larger percentage of Americans by making health insurance more affordable to the socioeconomically disadvantaged, it is estimated that 8.5 percent of Americans were still without health insurance in 2018. Local programs such as MAP are essential in supplying health care to this otherwise underserved population. However, such programs still have their limitations. Access to specialist care can be very limited, and non-emergent or elective surgeries cost-prohibitive. Continued health care reform is vital to ensure everyone has access to necessary health care so they can continue to thrive and be productive members of our society. Vincent Fussell is a family medicine resident. Image credit: Shutterstock.com LADAKH: The soldiers of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Saturday (August 15) celebrated the countrys Independence Day on the banks of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh at 16,000 feet. The soldiers carried the tricolour of ITBP flags as part of the celebrations. The official Twitter handle of ITBP on Saturday released a mashup of the popular patriotic songs sung by its soldiers. ! ! ITBP troops celebrating Independence Day 2020 on the banks of Pangong Tso in Ladakh.#IndependenceDayIndia #IndependenceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/TYj8JyYxvd ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 15, 2020 This year, at least 294 ITBP personnel have been awarded the Director General (DG) commendation for displaying bravery during skirmishes with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. The force recommended names of 21 of its personnel for gallantry medals for fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the army in keeping the Chinese troops at bay amid the border standoff between the two countries over the last three months in Ladakh. The ITBP added that six personnel of the force have also been awarded with the same DG commendation for showing courage in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. Also, among the Independence Day decorations are recommendations for the home minister's special operations medal to 358 ITBP and other paramilitary forces personnel for their dedicated services in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The force is operating over 10,000-bedded COVID-19 Sardar Patel hospital, the country's largest facility, at Radha Soami Beas in Delhi's Chhattarpur that opened on July 5. It also set up the first coronavirus quarantine facility in the Chhawla area of Delhi in January, besides running Central Armed Police Forces Referral hospital in Greater Noida. The about 90,000-personnel strong ITBP is the primarily tasked to guard the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China that runs from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. LOLCs impressive performance puts them at the helm of the corporate sector View(s): LOLC Group (LOLC) has concluded another financial year on a high note as per the results for the year ended March 31, 2020 posting an impressive Rs.19.8 billion Profit after Tax (PAT) for the year in comparison to Rs.19.6 billion PAT last year. In a short span of time, LOLC has truly emerged as a Sri Lankan global player having operations in over 10 countries, the group said in a media release this week. While the group performance was affected by local externalities, such as the Easter Sunday attack, the subdued economic growth and the political instability in FY19/20 that resulted in the company to record dips in the net interest income and hikes in impairment charges, LOLC has been able to enjoy its stellar performance largely based on the earnings stemming from its overseas financial operations and the gain on a bargain purchase of Rs. 5.4 billion from the acquisition of the largest sugar production plantation company in Africa. Moving forward, LOLC is well set to realise the financial synergies generated from the PRASAC divestment through realigning the capital position of the group. Established 40 years ago, LOLC has spearheaded the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) lending and microfinance revolution in Sri Lanka and the region. Excelling on a national level, LOLC has now established itself as a leading microfinance institution in the countries which it operates. With its financial strength and the perfected micro finance business model in the region, the group is now well-positioned to expand its operations beyond Asia to the African continent where a substantial opportunity lies in serving a large bottom of the pyramid population. Overseas expansion has not only offered LOLC, diversified revenue streams with increased financial stability, but also has added resilience with a well-spread risk profile, according to the release. LOLC already made its debut in Africa by acquiring a microfinance bank in Nigeria in October 2019 and by starting LOLC Finance Zambia as a green field project. In FY 2020/21, LOLC will focus on consolidating its existing businesses while pursuing promising investments in Africa and Asia for long-term value creation. The group announced the boards decision to sell its 70 per cent stake in PRASAC to the South Korean KB Kookmin Bank for a consideration of US$603 million in January 2020. LOLC received the relevant regulatory approval in March 2020 and concluded the transaction in April 2020. Despite the sale of PRASAC, LOLC still has a foothold in the fastest growing Southeast Asian country via LOLC Cambodia, the fourth largest Microfinance Institution (MFI) in terms of portfolio size. The group owns 97 per cent of LOLC Cambodia that has an asset base surpassing $1 billion, a gross loan portfolio of $857 million, a deposit base of $501 million and a recorded profit of $34.6 million. Today, with the financial sector representation in eight countries along with promising investments in Asia and Africa in the coming years, LOLC has successfully established itself as a strong global financial conglomerate. With this standing, the group says it is poised to be a global financial catalyst with a multi-currency, multi-geographic microfinance and SME platform in the future. In spite of the challenging and unexpected external shocks, LOLC Finance PLC (LOFC) continued to hold its market leadership position amongst the Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) in the country with an asset base of Rs.192 billion, a portfolio of Rs.134 billion and deposits of Rs.99 billion. The company posted Rs.3.9 billion PAT in the year under review. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 04:43:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman wearing a scarf walks along an empty street in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Aug. 14, 2020. Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 27, 242 after 1,038 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Friday, the country's Ministry of Health said. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 27, 242 after 1,038 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Friday, the country's Ministry of Health said. The ministry, in a statement issued on Friday, revealed that from a total of 17,323 medical tests that were conducted within the last 24 hours, some 1,038 of them tested positive for COVID-19, eventually bringing the total number of positive cases to 27,242. Thirteen more patients succumbed to illnesses related to the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the East African country to 492, according to the ministry. The ministry said 11,660 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had so far recovered, including 232 in the last 24 hours period. According to the ministry, a total of 15,088 COVID-19 patients are still undergoing medical treatment, out of which 195 are in severe condition. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation with about 107 million people, confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13. The East African country had so far conducted some 567,442 COVID-19 medical tests, according to the ministry. Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has advised African youths to come together and use their electoral power to kick out the older generation from all leadership positions. While speaking at an interactive session held virtually to mark this years International Youth Day on Wednesday, August 12, the former President said unless old people are forced out of the political stage, they will continue to occupy the leadership positions which is a disservice to the youths in Africa. By Noriyuki Suzuki, KYODO NEWS - Aug 15, 2020 - 09:37 | All, Feature, Japan Fumikazu Matsuzaki saw his business take a one-two punch from the coronavirus pandemic. His 40-year career in the "hanko" seal game was put suddenly in peril when the traditional document formalization procedure became the target of criticism for its inherent inefficiencies, particularly as more people were forced to work remotely. Many in Japan called for the long-held practice of authorizing and formalizing documents via red stamped seals to be abolished. Then Matsuzaki lost his international revenue stream when sales of his tailor-made hanko for foreigners dried up due to a slump in visitors and tourists who normally ordered them as unique and personalized souvenirs or gifts. Forced to search for new business with his customers now stuck at home, Matsuzaki latched onto a novel idea: making digital hanko. "I was down in the dumps because you see something that you've done for 40 years suddenly labeled as 'not needed anymore,'" said Matsuzaki, a third-generation hanko shop owner in Tokyo. "But it's also true that I got out of that negativity and took a different look at life because of the hanko." The spread of the novel coronavirus in Japan has prompted the government to call for more people to work from home to reduce the risk of infection. With an increasing number of companies acquiescing, hanko were thrust into the spotlight when complaints began surfacing from people forced to physically go to their office simply to make their mark on a contract or other document. Matsuzaki says the deep-rooted hanko tradition, or the existence of seals at all, should not be solely blamed for Japan's seemingly backward reliance on paper and ink. That said, he acknowledges the time is likely ripe for reassessment. "I don't deny there may be cases in which hanko are not necessary. What needs to be done is to rethink what is necessary and what is not in Japan's hanko-dependent system," said the 61-year-old. In the government's view, the absence of hanko marks does not invalidate a contract unless specifically mentioned. It has joined forces with business groups, including the powerful Japan Business Federation, to move toward a system in which digital documents can be considered official. Kotaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi Prefecture in central Japan, an area known for its hanko seal makers, was quick to express displeasure with the sudden shift. "Despite calls for electronic verification, I believe seals should be respected as showing the identity of an organization or a person or as a symbol of trust," the governor told a prefectural assembly session in June. Japanese use hanko seals to authenticate contracts and other important documents, a practice that some critics say has kept companies drowning in a sea of paper. Established in 1921, Matsuzaki's shop Bunbukudo Inbo Co. is both a mixture of old and new. It sells handmade hanko made by craftsmen who spend weeks carefully carving the delicate pieces. Japanese people often register such seals with authorities as a way of identification and use them on important occasions such as buying a house or car. But not all hanko are created equal, and not all are laboriously carved by a person. Other, cheaper, more everyday hanko can be produced by machine in around half an hour at Matsuzaki's store. Despite the groundswell for change, Matsuzaki says the pandemic has not caused a sudden change in demand for hanko at his store, apart from the drop off in customers from abroad. Japan was temporarily put under a nationwide state of emergency in April and May, with the government requesting that people refrain from nonessential outings. "I was worried (about the future) around April because hanko seals were being treated as something bad. People buy them out of necessity, not because they want the product. So it's passive buying," Matsuzaki said. "Then I thought I should make something people want to buy. Even though we are faced with this strong headwind at home, I thought I should spread the tradition more." He decided to digitalize "dual hanko," or wooden stamps on which non-Japanese names are engraved in both Japanese kanji characters and the alphabet, and sell them as images online. Bunbukudo Inbo had sold around 800 wooden stamps since the launch of the series in 2017. Going digital, he thought, would require no visit to the shop with no risk of coronavirus infection. Every hanko design is unique because he creates it based on a customer's choice of font and kanji characters that sound close to the original foreign name. Prices range from 2,750 yen ($25.70) to 3,300 yen, and Matsuzaki hopes the digital stamps can be used for various purposes, including profile pictures on social media. It is still uncertain how the debate over the hanko tradition will unfold and what it would mean to shops like Matsuzaki's in the long run. At Bunbukudo Inbo, sales of Japanese hanko seals far exceed those of dual ones, but he says both are necessary. Matsuzaki, who has not groomed anyone to take over from him in the business, is determined to keep his hanko shop, inherited from his father, open for decades to come. "Without the coronavirus, I'd never gotten the idea of digitalizing dual hanko. And because of hanko seals, I'm here," he said. "I will have to explore what I can offer as a hanko shop to society in the new era. I may even get more exciting ideas." Related coverage: Japanese university ends seal-stamping custom to promote telework Japan to review seal-stamping custom to better contain coronavirus University students launch COVID-19 multilingual support project In northern Bangladesh, Abdus Samad Sarker swims through floodwaters, desperately trying to salvage food for his livestock. Abdus and his family live near the Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers in the world. As the country battles a growing Covid-19 crisis, millions of people are also facing floodwaters that threaten their homes and livelihoods. Although the Brahmaputra and surrounding river networks provide important natural water sources, during the monsoon they also pose a threat, with waters bursting the riverbanks and inundating large swathes of the low-lying country. While some disasters resulting from natural hazards, such as earthquakes, are next to impossible to predict, extreme weather events such as floods are relatively easy to anticipate thanks to advances in data collection and weather forecasting systems. Abdus Samad Sarker collecting food for his livestock (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Monowara Begum (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) In Bangladesh, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have used these tools to develop an innovative mechanism that employs robust weather forecasts to disburse funding for humanitarian assistance even before a flood occurs. The aim is to offer faster and more empowering support, and to help communities prepare and protect themselves before the next disaster strikes. Floods submerge houses, leaving many residents marooned (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) A cutting-edge early-warning system and a timely cash grant mean Abdus has been able to relocate his livestock, his main source of income, to higher ground while he waits for the waters to subside. During the day we go to our neighbours house, but at night we sleep on a boat, he says. Im 78 years old and I dont have any job prospects, so receiving this money is helpful and helps me feed my family. Momotaz Begum carrying a water vessel (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Boats and rafts made from banana trees are one of the only available modes of transportation during the floods (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) This year, the forecasting programme in Bangladesh has been expanded through an anticipatory humanitarian action project led by the UNs Central Emergency Response Fund. The idea is that families like Abduss receive cash before the floods hit so they have time and resources to prepare for the impact on their lives, homes and livelihoods. Meanwhile, vulnerable women and girls have been supplied with hygiene and health kits. Rowshan Ara is among those to have received the cash payment of $53 (41); while that may not seem like a lot, it goes a long way in an area where the average daily wage is less than $5 a day. Women line up to withdraw cash (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Rombia Begum withdrawing cash from a bKash agent (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) She and her family had already felt the devastating impact of floods earlier in the monsoon when they lost their land. They found some new land and signed a three-year lease. Now their new property is also completely submerged. Families are empowered to prepare by purchasing essential supplies such as food and medicine, by strengthening their shelters, protecting their assets, and moving to safer areas. The anticipatory assistance can also aid their recovery by allowing them to start rebuilding sooner, which can make all the difference for their homes and livelihoods in the long term. Sayma and Sumaiya Khatun standing on the doorstep of their submerged house (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Shahidul Islam and Rowshan Ara, with their two daughters, Sayma and Sumaiya, under a mosquito net on their boat (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Rowshan Ara, Shahidul Islam and their daughters at their submerged yard (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) The money will help us survive this flood, explains Rowshan Ara. If we have anything left once the floods are going, then we will use it to build our house higher from the ground and hopefully next time it wont be as bad. Anticipatory action is a core element of the new business model that humanitarian organisations need to adopt in order to effectively respond to the rapidly evolving landscape of climate and other risks that combine to form compound disasters such as this one. Shahidul Islam, with four others, piling up food for their livestock (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Rowshan Ara preparing lunch in her makeshift kitchen (WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud) Through anticipatory action, WFP and its partners aim to lead to a faster, more efficient and humanitarian response, which also protects development gains and prevents crises before they occur. WFP assists 1.17 million people in Bangladesh, including more than 850,000 Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar. Learn more about WFPs work in Bangladesh here Former President Pranab Mukherjees daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee took to Twitter on Saturday and revisited her memories with father. She said her father never missed hoisting the National Flag on Independence Day. Sharmistha posted images from last years Independence Day celebrations and hoped for her father to get better to hoist the tri-colour next year. In his childhood, my dad & my uncle would hoist National Flag at our ancestral home in village. Since then, he never missed a year to hoist tri-colour on Independence Day. Sharing some memories from last years celebration at home. Im sure hell do the same next year. Jai Hind, her post read. Also read: Pranab Mukherjee being closely monitored, medical condition unchanged In his childhood, my dad & my uncle would hoist National Flag at our ancestral home in village. Since then, he never missed a year to hoist tri-colour on Independence Day. Sharing some memories from last years celebration at home. Im sure hell do the same next year. Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/SX0CVO8lW6 Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) August 15, 2020 The former presidents health condition remains critical but stable. As per the statement issued by the hospital where he is being treated, Mukherjee continues to be on ventilator and is being closely monitored. The condition of Honble Shri Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged this morning. He continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists, the Army (R&R) Hospital said in a statement on Saturday morning. On Friday, Sharmistha tweeted out saying that her fathers medical has not worsened. Without getting into medical jargons, whatever I could understand from the last two days is that though my dads condition continues to remain very critical, it hasnt worsened. Theres little improvement in his eyes reaction to light, she had posted. This post has been updated to include more information about the Natures Promise and Wegmans recalls. Valencia oranges, lemons, limes, organic limes and red potatoes are being recalled by Freshouse II of Salisbury, N.C., because they could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Freshouse instituted the recall, according to the FDA, after routine testing found listeria on a piece of equipment used in a packing facility. The produce was shipped to retail distribution centers in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia as well as wholesalers in Maryland and North Carolina. Freshouse II, LLC of Salisbury, N.C. is recalling Valencia oranges, lemons, limes, organic limes, and red b potatoes because they have the potential to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. (Photo provided) Here are the product details: Limes, Freshouse brand, UPC 333834683, trace numbers printed on tag or clip on bag 174618, 174570, 174571 and 174572, 2-pound mesh bags. Organic limes, Natures Promise brand , UPC 8826753813, trace number 174375, 1-pound mesh bags. Red B Potatoes, Fresh from the Start brand , UPC 338314020, trace umbers 174575, 174403 and 174595, 3-pound mesh bags. Lemons, Fresh from the Start brand , UPC 3338314020, trace numbers 174551 and 174552, 2-pound mesh bags. Lemons, Wegmans brand , UPC 7789015917, no trace number, 2-pound mesh bags. Valencia oranges, Wegmans brand, UPC 7789052363, no trace number, 4-pound mesh bags. Food Lion has issued a recall for its stores in North Carolina and Virginia for the 2-pound bag of limes and 1-pound bag Natures Promise Organic Limes sold between July 7 and Aug. 7. Wegmans has issued a recall for its 4-pound bag of Valencia oranges, 2-pound bag of lemons, bulk lemons, and a variety of in-store produced seafood and restaurant foods items that contain fresh lemon. For more information, contact Freshouse at 631-369-7150 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, weekdays; or send an email to customerservice@freshouse.com. Freshouse II, LLC of Salisbury, N.C. is recalling Valencia oranges, lemons, limes, organic limes, and red b potatoes because they have the potential to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. (Photo provided) READ MORE 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. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday issued an appeal to long-term ally Russia as he faced growing pressure to step down following a disputed election that has triggered protests at home and condemnation abroad. Lukashenko is grappling with the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule as tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets accusing him of rigging last Sunday's presidential election, and calling for him to step down. He suggested that the impact of the protests might spill beyond Belarus's borders. 'There is a need to contact (Russian President Vladimir) Putin so that I can talk to him now, because it is not a threat to just Belarus anymore,' Lukashenko said, according to state news agency Belta. 'Defending Belarus today is no less than defending our entire space, the union state... Those who roam the streets, most of them do not understand this.' Citing Belarusian media, Interfax said Lukashenko had discussed the situation with Putin in a telephone call. The Russian news agency gave no details. The European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Belarus in response to a bloody crackdown in which at least two protesters have been killed and thousands detained, while the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania called on Belarus to conduct new 'free and fair' elections. Opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday, has called for more protests and an election recount. Crowds gathered in Minsk again on Saturday, this time to lay flowers where one of the protesters was killed this week, as his family attended the 24 year old's funeral. This file photo taken on December 20, 2019 shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) followed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left), entering a meeting hall during the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, in Saint Petersburg Alexander Lukashenko, 65, (left) and opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, 37 (right) had both claimed victory after the Belarus presidential election Police surround a protester during a mass rally following the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, late Tuesday Relatives of Alexander Tarakhovsky mourn next to his coffin during a funeral ceremony in Minsk, Belarus, 15 August 2020. Alexander Tarakhovsky (also spelled Alexander Taraykovskiy), a 34-year-old demonstrator, was reportedly killed on 10 August during an opposition rally against the presidential election results Russia sees Belarus as a strategic buffer against NATO and the EU, but ties between the two countries had been under strain before the election. Moscow scaled back financial support to Minsk and Lukashenko rejected Russian calls for closer political and economic union. Lukashenko has accused the protesters of being in league with foreign backers, and warned Belarusians to stay at home to avoid becoming 'cannon fodder'. Moscow this week also accused unnamed countries of 'outside meddling' in Belarus. Russia has been wary of unrest on its borders since governments fell in Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution, Ukraine's 2003-04 Orange Revolution and Kyiv's 2014 Maidan protests - events in which it says the West backed the protesters. In recent days, members of the protest groups have emerged from a detention centre in Minsk dazed, shaken and in tears to meet their relatives. 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, on August 15, 2020 A man carries a cross during the funeral ceremony of Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died on August 10, in central Minsk today Men carry a coffin with the body of Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester who died on August 10, during the funeral ceremony in central Minsk today They displayed the black-and-blue bruises on their bodies, saying police had beaten them mercilessly. One teenager asked his weeping mother to look away. Authorities in Belarus have freed at least 2,000 of about 7,000 people who had been pulled off the streets by riot police in the days following a disputed election that kept the country's iron-fisted leader, President Alexander Lukashenko, in power. As they reunited with loved ones early Friday, they told of being struck repeatedly with truncheons, being threatened with gang rape and held amid harsh conditions and overcrowded cells. The accounts are fueling outrage at home and have European countries weighing new sanctions against officials in Belarus. 'They were beating me without mercy,' Alexei Shchitnikov told The Associated Press upon his release, his face disfigured by bruises. The 47-year-old company director displayed a cross drawn on his back, an apparent marking by police that he should be given rough treatment. People lay flowers near the Pushkinskaya subway station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, in central Minsk, on August 15, 2020, during the funeral ceremony People take part in a protest against the 2020 Belarusian presidential election results by the Pushkinskaya metro station. Since the announcement of the election results on August 9, mass protests have been erupting in major cities across Belarus A poster reading 'We won't forget, we won't forgive' at a makeshift memorial to Alexander Taraikovsky, a citizen killed during protests against the election results, in Prytytski Square by the Pushkinskaya metro station. Since the announcement of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election results on August 9, mass protests against the election results have been erupting in major cities across Belarus 'They were behaving like bandits and real beasts,' he added. 'The people will remember Lukashenkos "victory" for a long time.' Student Sasha Vilks showed a reporter his legs and his back deeply bruised from truncheon blows, but told his weeping mother not to look. 'They called us terrorists and beat us severely on our legs and our backs,' the 19-year-old told the AP. 'They would beat us first and then ask questions.' He said he was kept lying face down for hours in handcuffs and didnt see the faces of his tormentors, who wore balaclavas. 'Some of them were walking around, saying `Give me someone to beat. It was really scary,' he said, breaking into tears. Tatyana, a 21-year-old bookseller who didnt give her last name because she feared police reprisals, said she was threatened with gang rape. 'It was a real hell,' she said. 'When I was on a police bus, they threatened to rape me with a truncheon. The more I cried, the more they beat me. They kept repeating, `You love the president!' Shuddering, she added: 'They were indiscriminately beating everyone there, men and women. On the police bus, I saw them break one mans rib and he was crying in pain.' n this file photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, protesters give aid to a man injured by shrapnel from a smoke grenade during clashes with police after the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus The demonstrations began after officials announced that Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, had won 80 per cent of the vote in Sunday's election - a result that protesters denounced as rigged. During the four nights that followed, black-clad riot police detained thousands of largely peaceful demonstrators in Minsk and other cities after firing tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. At least one person was killed. The graphic descriptions of savage beatings and other abuse by police has brought tens of thousands into the streets of the Belarusian capital in the biggest challenge in his tenure. Yegor Martinovich, an award-winning journalist and the editor of the popular Nasha Niva independent online newspaper, was among those detained in the crackdown and said he was beaten ferociously while in custody. Belarus police club a protester during a protest in Minsk last night where thousands raged at president Alexander Lukashenko in the wake of a disputed election on 10 August A police officer prepares to aim his weapon during the protests in the capital of Belarus last night after authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed a sixth term 'They beat us all with truncheons and kicked us while putting us on and off police vehicles,' he told the AP. 'They made us lie on the ground for half a day, our faces down. They were hounding us with dogs, insulting us and refusing to give us food. They had just one response to all of our pleas: 'You've got your revolution!'' Martinovich said several people in his cell were covered with bruises from being hit over and over. 'When the beaten people were suffering from thirst, a guard would give a bottle of tap water for all of us,' he said. 'The authorities cracked down on peaceful protesters with all the repressive power of the authoritarian state, and the consequences of that could be unpredictable.' As the jails filled quickly to capacity, police crammed more people into cells intended for only a few inmates. Martinovich said he and 27 others were put in a cell intended for 12 people, and they had to take turns sleeping. When he was released, guards put in 10 more. Others at a Minsk jail said dozens of men and women were packed into cells intended for only two inmates. Many others who were not taken into custody also were hurt. A line of police block a road while tear gas wafts in the background during mass protests in Minsk which saw thousands of people turn out to demonstrate on Tuesday Eduard Kukhterin, a 56-year-old publisher, was struck by rubber bullets in the back and arm while entering his apartment building near a street clash. 'A police bus arrived and those black-clad thugs jumped on the pavement and started firing at people as if it were a shooting range,' he said. 'It looked like a horror movie, but it's Belarus today.' Kukhterin said he couldn't go to a hospital for a bullet stuck in his arm because doctors warned him they would have to report it to police, who would detain him. The national police chief later apologized to those who were targeted indiscriminately, and the Interior Ministry, which earlier shunned questions from anguished relatives trying to locate their loved ones, opened a hotline Friday. Lukashenko blamed protesters for triggering the crackdown, saying some of them assaulted police, who were justified in their response. Police also broke into apartments to seize protesters. Stas Gorelik, who is working on a doctorate at George Washington University, was visiting his parents in Minsk when he was arrested by the Belarusian security agency, which still goes by its Soviet-era name, the KGB. 'Stas' face was broken and blood was dripping down his face when they took him away,' said his father, Lev Gorelik, who went to the apartment where his 32-year-old son was staying with his girlfriend. 'His pillow was also drenched in blood.' He said they couldn't find him for three days until they learned he was at a KGB jail, facing charges of organizing mass riots, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The KGB has denied Gorelik access to a lawyer. 'It's hard to explain such brutality - he was only doing science and never engaged in activism or politics,' the anguished father said. Human rights activists are preparing an appeal to the U.N. Committee Against Torture over the violence against protesters and the abusive treatment of detainees. 'All those detained were severely beaten before, during and after their arrest,' said Valiantsin Stefanovich of the Viasna rights center. 'We have documented massive abuse and torture - they were drawing crosses on people's backs with truncheon blows, they were forcing people to engage in mass prayers and making them crawl on the ground naked.' 'In 20 years of work as a human rights defender, I have never seen such abuses and humiliation,' he said, adding that 'law enforcement agents have received a carte blanche for violence.' By allowing the crackdown, observers say Lukashenko appears to have burned his bridges to the West and made himself entirely dependent on law enforcement agencies. 'The people from the KGB and other security agencies have played an increasingly important role in Lukashenkos entourage, and they have been able to enforce their forceful scenario,' Stefanovich said. 'And the longer it goes, the less clear it becomes who depends on whom.' The U.S. and the European Union imposed some sanctions on Belarus in the early 2000s when Lukashenko earned the nickname of 'Europe's last dictator' by stifling dissent, but some were later lifted. Throughout his rule, he has tried to blackmail Russia, his main ally and sponsor, by appearing to reach out to the West to win more subsidies. But EU foreign ministers again are taking the first steps toward sanctions in light of the post-election crackdown. 'This outburst of cruel and unmotivated violence has put Lukashenko back in the 'Europe's last dictator' niche,' said Minsk-based independent analyst Alexander Klaskovsky. 'The sanctions and the rising tensions inside the country will leave the president with very little room for maneuver.' WARSAW, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed an agreement on Saturday for the expansion of the U.S. military presence and the creation of a regional headquarter in Poland. They signed the so-called Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a legal framework that deepens military cooperation between the two countries. The core of the new agreement consists of the opening of a base in Poland for the 5th Corps of the U.S. Army, which is expected to open in 2021. The total number of American soldiers in Poland will increase by 1,000 to around 5,500. Blaszczak told Polish Press Agency that the deal will cost Poland around 113 million euros (134 million U.S. dollars). "Like other countries with a United States military presence, Poland guarantees and pays for military quarters, sustenance, a yearly allowance of fuel, storage of select equipment and armaments, and infrastructure," he said. SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and VILNIUS, Lithuania, Aug. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss biotech company Memo Therapeutics AG (MTx) and Northway Biotechpharma (Northway), a leading biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), announce a new partnership to manufacture MTx's therapeutic COVID-19 antibody candidate in a four-month fast-track process. MTx today announces a collaboration with Northway for fast-track cGMP manufacturing of its lead antibody candidate for the treatment of COVID-19. MTX-COVAB is a fully human, highly potent antibody isolated from clinically selected convalescent COVID-19 donors with picomolar neutralizing activity against wild-type SARS-CoV-2, as well as newly described mutants. The selected antibody will undergo an accelerated development path as an immunotherapy and for the prevention of COVID-19. Under the terms of the manufacturing agreement, Northway will develop the cell line and the manufacturing process, and will further produce cGMP batches of MTx's antibody for clinical studies. Northway is also perfectly positioned to execute commercial production once MTX-COVAB receives marketing authorization. This will enable MTx to supply the market in time for the anticipated second wave of the pandemic. Northway produces antibodies and other mammalian cell-based therapeutics up to the 2.000 L scale in single-use bioreactors at its current facilities. A larger-scale production facility using stainless-steel bioreactors will be made operational by the start of 2021 to facilitate ramping-up of capacity to meet MTx's demand. This project leverages the innovative discovery research and applied cGMP manufacturing know-how of the two partners. "Based on outstanding efficacy data from our MTX-COVAB clinical candidate, regulatory authorities fully support MTx's development plan for a fast-track approach towards market authorization. We are confident that we will be equipped to serve patients' needs by the start of 2021," explained Dr. Karsten Fischer, CEO of Memo Therapeutics. "It is a great pleasure to support MTx's programs and to personally contribute to the global fight against COVID-19 by employing our technical know-how and excellent cGMP manufacturing capabilities," said Dr. Vladas Bumelis, Executive Chairman of the Board of Northway Biotechpharma. Dr. Andre Markmann, VP Business Development of Northway Biotechpharma, added: "MTx has very aggressive timelines due to the global health threat and, therefore, needs a partner that is able to respond to their demands rapidly while also providing a high-quality service. They have selected Northway Biotechpharma as we are able to meet these needs." About Memo Therapeutics - https://memo-therapeutics.com Memo Therapeutics AG (MTx) is an innovator in the field of antibody discovery and immune repertoire analysis. MTx's antibody discovery platform uses robust, simple and fast microfluidic single-cell molecular cloning and screening technologies to enable antibody repertoire mining and antibody discovery at unprecedented speed, efficiency and sensitivity. The platform captures and preserves entire B-cell repertoires from any donor species and any B-cell type in recombinant form for display using mammalian cells. The antibody repertoires are subsequently screened in single-cell format using microfluidic screening technology that can assess millions of candidate antibodies directly in functional assays, resulting in recombinant clonal cell lines expressing mAbs with the desired functional properties. Exploiting the power of its microfluidic single-cell molecular cloning and screening technologies, the Company engages in antibody discovery across species and indications for proprietary and partnered projects. MTx's current pipeline features programs in infectious diseases and immuno-oncology. MTx is a private company located in Bio-Technopark Zurich, Switzerland. For Further Information Contact: [email protected] About Northway Biotechpharma - https://www.northwaybiotech.com Northway Biotechpharma is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) supporting customers worldwide. Its highly experienced professional team executes projects at any stage, from cell line construction and process development to cGMP manufacturing of biopharmaceutical products. The company's wide-ranging expertise and vertically integrated service offering translates to the ability to rapidly execute multiple projects from its state-of-the-art GMP facilities, while ensuring full process and product compliance at all stages of research, development and commercial manufacturing. Northway Biotechpharma is a privately owned company founded in 2004 and located in Vilnius, Lithuania, and in Waltham, Boston, US. For Further Information Contact: [email protected] Related Files Press release.pdf Related Links Memo Therapeutics AB Northway Biotechpharma SOURCE Memo Therapeutics A group of TikTok workers in the US, led by San Francisco Bay Area resident Patrick Ryan, now plans to file suit against the Trump administration and US government. The potential lawsuit comes in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump seeking to ban the company. And, more specifically, that executive orders somewhat vague verbiage. Thats based on recent reports stemming from a GoFundMe campaign set up by Mr. Ryan. The executive order in question stops and all transactions with the company. That could potentially lock down employee payroll in the US, just for starters. But since the underlying goal of the transaction is fairly clear, to effectively shut down the company in the US. But it also has potential longer-term impacts. Thats because the order is contingent on the company being sold and separated from its Chinese parent company. And WeChat was also named in the order, so that company will need to follow similar guidance or leave the US. If they arent sold, theyll be forced to stop operating. Advertisement If forced to exit the US, any employees in the US are essentially out of the job. But those are matters set to be discussed in another suit facing the Trump Administration from TikTok itself. Whats the basis for this TikTok suit against the US government? The suit to be filed against the Trump Administration by TikTok workers already has purported legal representation too. And the team would be led by some noteworthy lawyers, including Mike Godwin. Thats if the case is moved forward. If that name sounds familiar, its because Mr. Godwin is the man behind Godwins law. Godwins law is fairly straightforward, for clarity. It notes that the longer an online discussion continues, the more likely it is that a comparison involving Hitler or Nazis will be made. Advertisement The team would be filing the suit on the grounds of both the 5th and 14th Amendments to the US Constitution. And it could very well stick, given how TikTok is managed in the US and the involvement of US citizens working within the US for the US division of the company. The latter amendment appears to effectively affirm the citizenship of the workers. But it also joins the 5th Amendment in clearly stating the right to due process. Thats in addition to its denying the government the right to abridge the privileges or immunities of US citizens. And further denying the governments right to deprive any US citizen of life, liberty, or property without due process. On what grounds is TikTok itself fighting this? TikTok, as it operates within the US, utilizes US workers and dedicated US databases. It also has a dedicated Transparency Center that sets it apart from other companies that have faced the wrath of the Trump Administration. And that will undoubtedly serve as the basis for its own suit against the administration. Thats likely in addition to similar constitutional violations that could also be brought to bear. Advertisement All of that is setting aside any objections China might have to the proposed app and service ban although those are less likely to be acknowledged in the current political climate. Dr. Judy Melinek was fed up. As the acting chief forensic pathologist for Alameda County and a vocal critic of the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic, the San Francisco resident had reached her breaking point in June. She left the Oakland morgue for a meeting with a county lab official to find out why it took 48 hours to get coronavirus test results instead of the eight hours she was promised, Melinek recalled. The machine had capacity for 96 samples, she said she was told, but before running a test they had to wait to fill up all the wells with samples from all over the county, and by the time the cycle was completed all the workers were already home for the day. Can you pay someone overtime to stay late so we can have the results the next morning? Melinek said she asked, sharing the encounter in a blog post she wrote in late June. Ill check, the lab official responded. How about getting another machine ... so we dont have to wait until all 96 wells are full? Melinek recalled asking. We cant do our autopsies or contact tracing until we know if the bodies are infected or not. Ill ask, she said she was told. The testing delay never changed, Melinek said. Courtesy Melinek family Days later on June 12, Melinek resigned from the position and decided to move her family to New Zealand, a country praised for its near eradication of the virus. The abrupt move punctuated months of frustration with her own work environment, where she said coroner deputies would sneak through a back entrance to avoid temperature checks and homicide detectives would walk into the morgue without masks. Neetu Balram, an Alameda County Public Health Department spokeswoman, said she was unable to verify Melineks claims about the lab delays, but said it was one of the first public health labs to offer coronavirus testing and has added capacity to seven days a week. Staffing, space and equipment limitations prevent scaling up the way commercial and research labs have, but multiple staff routinely work overtime to maximize throughput, and turnaround times remain well below the average of large commercial labs during the current surge, Balram said. Alameda County Sheriffs Office spokesman Ray Kelly called Melinek a disgruntled employee, saying she based many of her allegations on thirdhand info. Judy is a smart person and is very concerned about COVID, Kelly said. She sounded the alarm early on the disease. Some of the things she suggested early on were not feasible. More than the problems in Alameda County, however, the 51-year-old former San Francisco resident said it is the federal governments lack of a cohesive plan to stem the outbreaks that led her to pull two of her kids out of high school and to accept an essential worker visa for the small country to help a coroners department there. I did not feel safe at my job. I was concerned about endangering my family to COVID-19 through my exposure at work to personnel who were not strictly adhering to social distancing guidelines and the safety protocols I had written, Melinek told The Chronicle in a recent email interview. As the weeks wore on and we could all see that there was going to be no coordinated federal response to the growth of COVID-19, I began to worry more and more that California would be unable to hold off the pandemic on its own. I wanted to move to a place where political leaders on a national level respected science and listened to doctors in forming a response to this continuing and growing public health disaster. What does it mean when an official on the front lines of the pandemic fight waves her white coat and loses hope? Just last week, New Zealand boasted the designation of not having a single new coronavirus case in 100 days before more than a dozen residents tested positive Thursday. Melinek, an active Twitter user with more than 50,000 followers who has been chronicling her move, posted a screenshot of the governments cell phone alert sent out to residents announcing new cases and an adjustment to the threat level in the area. This was my wake up message this morning, Melinek wrote. Are you paying attention U.S.? This is what NZ does when there are a handful of community spread cases. This is what you should be doing. Melinek had run PathologyExpert Inc. out of a Balboa Street office since 2013, while also writing two books with her husband, novelist T.J. Mitchell. She had contracted her autopsy services with Alameda County for seven years and had taken the role as chief medical examiner starting in early March. In early April, as an outbreak among inmates at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin was in its early stages, Melinek began emailing county supervisors warning that all first responders should wear masks and face shields when interacting with the public in close quarters and that work areas must be disinfected between every transport of arrestees. She warned that any exposed or symptomatic first responder must get tested with a same-day turnaround. Decisions you make now will not have an effect until two weeks from now, she said in an email to Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle on April 1. We cant wait to see what happens. Its already happening elsewhere. Lets learn from their mistakes. Up until her final days, she said employees avoided temperature checks, shared food and did not adhere to PPE requirements. On her final day, homicide detectives from a Bay Area law enforcement agency showed up to observe an autopsy without symptom screenings and temperature checks, and one was not wearing a mask, Melinek said. These changes to everyday behavior add up, she said. We cannot blame the individual workers in our essential services sector when they are not keeping themselves safe. It is their supervisors who need to take this danger seriously, and work seriously to mitigate it. In my experience, that was not happening at my former workplace when I left it. 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. Alameda County officials said some of Melineks recommendations were unrealistic. Kelly said she wanted coroner deputies to wear Tyvek suits and hazmat gear on all body removals. That is not possible for deputy sheriffs in the field, and at the time of COVID early on we had limited supplies of PPE, he said. So a lot of the recommendations we listen to, but we were getting conflicting information from the CDC health experts and others. While Melinek worried about Alameda County, she had much bigger concerns with how the U.S. government was handling the response. The numbers of cases are going up and the numbers of deaths are going up, Melinek said. People are not wearing masks consistently, are traveling and socializing, and they are dying all over the country. The failure is federal, and it is total. She was offered a temporary essential worker visa with the possibility of qualifying for permanent residency. Her last day with Alameda County was June 12. Melinek and her family flew to New Zealand in July and went into a 14-day managed isolation at a dedicated hotel. She was tested on Day 3 and Day 12 and allowed to leave her hotel room only for exercise in an enclosed yard. Melinek has since left isolation and will work and live in Wellington, serving as a contract pathologist for Communio, a company with a government contract providing forensic services to coroners. Her biggest adjustment so far has been the weather. Its winter in New Zealand and, as Melinek explains, the moon is upside down. But she also has been able to experience a sense of normality, shopping in downtown Wellington with residents milling around without masks, shaking hands and socializing. She even attended a rugby match with fans. There are contact tracing apps for your phone where you can scan a QR code to track your own movement in case there is an outbreak. There are hand-sanitizer stations everywhere, she said. But other than that, you wouldnt know that we were in the middle of a pandemic. New Zealanders certainly do appreciate how lucky they are. Theyve pulled together and theyve succeeded. Its inspiring to be here. The collective will and guidance from the highest levels of government are starkly different from those in her native country, she said. All of this can be accomplished in the United States, but it needs to be a priority and it will be harder because we are a larger, diverse nation with a larger disease prevalence, she said. But its never too late to start. Its only too late for those who have died. Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni RENSSELAER COUNTY Rensselaer County generated a $3 million savings during a refinancing of bonds last week, thanks in large part to the countys strong financial position, according to Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin. The bond sale last week netted a bigger savings than expected and saw all county bonds sold more quickly than expected, McLaughlin said. The refinancing saw the county reduce interest on bonds from a 2012 issuance totaling $21.6 million by $3.067 million. The refinancing, which was approved by the County Legislature, was initially expected to generate a savings of $2.5 million. This is great news for our taxpayers and continues my administrations efforts to improve the financial condition of the county and make our county a solid place for investment and job growth, McLaughlin remarked. We are working every day to save money and provide needed services efficiently. This is a significant savings and a good indicator of our countys financial health, Chair of the Legislature Mike Stammel explained. Under McLaughlins leadership, the county has unanimously adopted budgets that reduced taxes each of the past two years, improved the countys bond rating and generated significant personnel and purchasing savings. The county has also improved the county bond rating to Aaa3 and earned strong financial reviews and positive independent audits during McLaughlins tenure as county executive. Our strong financial position, a record of savings and solid ratings and review, definitely helped generate a savings when we refinanced these bonds. The market reacted very well to the countys offering, and that is excellent news, McLaughlin said. I want to thank Acting Chief Fiscal Officer Mark Wojcik and his team for their work and congratulate them on their success with this bond refinancing, McLaughlin noted. We have projects like Amazon and Regeneron happening now in our county. This helps demonstrate that Rensselaer County remains a great place to invest and grow, Vice Chair for Finance Bob Loveridge added. The bonds included general obligation bonds for public safety projects and bonds issued in support of Hudson Valley Community College. The county is a sponsor of Hudson Valley Community College. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Saturday - the 75th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two - but avoided a personal visit that would anger China and South Korea. Four cabinet ministers paid their respects in person at the shrine, which honors 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal as well as war dead, and is seen by Beijing and Seoul as a symbol of Japan's past military aggression. "I came to deliver a message from (ruling Liberal Democratic Party) President Abe that he paid his respects from the heart to the war dead and prayed for the rest and permanent peace of their souls," said ruling party lawmaker Shuichi Takatori, who made the offering on Abe's behalf. Abe has not gone to Yasukuni in person since a December 2013 visit that outraged China and South Korea, but has sent offerings via an aide. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 39, often floated as a future premier, visited the shrine, as did Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda, a close Abe ally. Seiichi Eto, minister in charge of territorial issues, and internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi also visited the shrine. The Gardas oversight body has said it is very concerned about an eviction incident in Dublin that was attend by gardai. The Policing Authority questioned the appropriateness of the Garda presence as the force commissioned a probe into the events at the property on Berkeley Road in Dublin. Social media footage of the incident appeared to show masked men wearing black evicting several people from the house before boarding it up. The statement from the Garda Siochana is welcome and important in that its recognition that there are lessons to be learned from the incident is an acceptance that all was not right with the Garda actions on the day Policing Authority Several gardai were at the scene as the incident unfolded on Wednesday. The Garda said an investigation into alleged criminal damage at the premises had been launched. Deputy Commissioner John Twomey has also asked for an urgent external report on the Garda role in the incident so the organisation can learn lessons. In response, the Policing Authority said: The Policing Authority was very concerned by the material in public circulation relating to an eviction in Dublin on Wednesday last. That concern was about the appropriateness of the Garda presence and of some of the things that appeared to have been said, and about the fact that circumstances were allowed to develop where the impression was conveyed that the Garda Siochana had an active role in the event. The impression was also conveyed that the Garda concern for vulnerable people so amply demonstrated in the context of the health emergency was not evident in this case. I have requested an urgent lessons-learned report on this recent incident Deputy Commissioner John Twomey The chairperson of the authority had a number of contacts and conversations with the Acting Commissioner John Twomey about these issues on Thursday and Friday. The statement from the Garda Siochana is welcome and important in that its recognition that there are lessons to be learned from the incident is an acceptance that all was not right with the Garda actions on the day. Earlier, the Garda said it was very aware of current public discourse around the incident. It said the forces purpose at evictions was not to be an integral part of the event, but to prevent breaches of the peace and ensure the safety of all persons involved. Mr Twomey has appointed an outside superintendent to examine all the circumstances of the incident. An Garda Siochana is a learning organisation, he said. I have requested an urgent lessons-learned report on this recent incident. If, where An Garda Siochana can learn from this experience, we will do so to ensure that we continue to provide the best policing service going forward based on our tradition of policing by consent. 4 Iranian converts face years in prison for participation in house church Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Four Iranian converts to Christianity were sentenced earlier this month to several years in prison after they were arrested in February on accusations they acted against national security by participating in house church meetings and evangelizing. According to Article 18, a London-based nonprofit that promotes religious freedom and tolerance for Christians in Iran, the four accused received sentences between two and five years for spreading Zionist Christianity. Ramin Hassanpour was sentenced to five years, while Hadi Rahimi was sentenced to four years in prison. Sakine Behjati and Saeede Sajadpour both received two-year sentences. All four are said to be members of the Church of Iran, a nontrinitarian denomination, in Rasht, the capital city of Gilan Province. The four were charged in May. After being charged with the crimes, they spent about a week in Rashts Lakan Prison after they were unable to pay the $30,000 bail. Bail was eventually lowered and they were released. Human rights groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, have called on the theocratic Iranian regime to release the four believers. Authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran have engaged in a systemic pattern of arresting and imprisoning Christian converts accused of participating in house church movements as well as other religious minorities. The sentencing of these [converts] marks the latest development in a relentless crackdown on specific religious groups in Iran, CSWs Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said in a statement shared with media. We urge the Iranian government to release these Christians and all others who are currently detained on excessive charges relating to their religion or belief, and to end the judicial harassment of members of minority faith communities. CSW reported in June that four other Iranian Christians were ordered by authorities to turn themselves in at Evin Prison in Tehran to begin serving five-year sentences after they were arrested during a series of raids on house churches in Rasht. They were accused of promoting Zionism. In court, the four men were slandered by a judge as being apostates. The charges leveled against them are without substance, and their trial lacked transparency, Thomas explained. CSW has also learned that Mohammadreza Omidi, another Church of Iran member, was not released by his expected release date and might have to serve another four years in prison. Omidi began serving a 10-year prison sentence in Iran along with Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and other house church members who were sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018. According to CSW, Omidi initially received a verdict reducing his 10-year sentence to two years. He expected to have been released in July. However, he was told by prison authorities that the sentence had been reduced to six years, not two. If correct, this would mean he will have four more years to serve, CSW reported in a statement to press. Article 18 previously reported that Ismaeil Maghrebinejad, a 65-year-old member of the Anglican Church, had two of the three prison sentences he received earlier this year upheld. He was accused of engaging in propaganda against the state and membership of a group hostile to the regime. Iran is ranked as the ninth-worst county in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. As Christian converts regularly face the risk of being arrested just for attending house churches, Open Doors USA reported in its annual report released in January that 169 Christians were arrested in Iran during the organizations 2019 reporting period. The reporting period ran from Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli held a telephonic conversation on Saturday, in the first high-level contact after ties between the two countries came under severe strain following issuance of a new political map by the Himalayan nation in May. Oli called up Modi and greeted the government and people of India on the country's 74th Independence Day, an official statement said. It said Oli also conveyed to Modi his congratulations for India's recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Modi offered India's continued support to Nepal in its fight against the pandemic and recalled the civilizational and cultural links that the two countries share, it said. "The leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in both countries. Prime Minister offered India's continued support to Nepal in this regard," the statement said. It said Modi thanked Oli for his telephone call. The telephonic conversation between the two leaders came two days before Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi are scheduled to hold talks under a bilateral framework. It is not known whether issues relating to the border row figured in the talks between Modi and Oli. The ties between the two countries came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal protested the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through its territory. Days later, Nepal came out with the new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories. In June, Nepal's Parliament approved the new political map of the country featuring areas which India maintains belong to it. In its reaction, after Nepal's lower house of parliament approved the bill, India termed as untenable the "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims by the neighbouring country. India said Nepal's action violates an understanding reached between the two countries to resolve the boundary issues through talks. Oli has been asserting that Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal and vowed to "reclaim" them from India. Emily Ratajkowski was glimpsed in the Hamptons this week enjoying a bike ride with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. The 29-year-old showed off her supermodel legs in a pair of shorts as she pedaled her way down a tranquil street. Gathering her dark hair into an updo, she kept cozy in an aquamarine hoodie and accessorized with a pair of sunglasses. Stepping out: Emily Ratajkowski was glimpsed in the Hamptons this week enjoying a bike ride with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard Meanwhile her husband, a producer who worked on the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems and goes by the nickname 'SeBo,' flaunted his toned gams in floral shorts. He bundled up in a stylish print sweatshirt and wore a Kobe Bryant tribute mask that had his Lakers number 24 on it. Emily and Sebastian were also spotted out and about that same day enjoying a stroll with one of their female friends. The couple recently decamped to the Hamptons after previously self-isolating at their home in New York City, before which they were on the west coast. Off she goes: The 29-year-old showed off her supermodel legs in a pair of shorts as she pedaled her way down a tranquil street Looking fab: Gathering her dark hair into an updo, she kept cozy in an aquamarine hoodie and accessorized with a pair of sunglasses Emily, her beefcake producer husband and their dog Colombo spent much of lockdown at her parents' house in Los Angeles. They fled New York City while it was the American epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and flew out to California on April 15. The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention had issued an advisory on March 28 asking 'residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.' Meanwhile: Her husband, a producer who worked on the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems and goes by the nickname 'SeBo,' flaunted his toned gams in floral shorts In loving memory: He bundled up in a stylish print sweatshirt and wore a Kobe Bryant tribute mask that had his Lakers number 24 on it Trio: Emily and Sebastian were also spotted out and about that same day enjoying a stroll with one of their female friends However in late June as COVID-19 cases spiked dramatically in California, Emily and Sebastian crossed back to New York. In a piece published at the start of May she dished to British GQ that 'Its been interesting being in quarantine and married.' 'I feel like a lot of people will end up divorced. But my husband and I are in a good partnership,' said Emily, whose husband was a producer on Uncut Gems. 'And I think that Ive learned a lot about myself being married, for sure,' the Inamorata founder added. Dashing about: The couple recently decamped to the Hamptons after previously self-isolating at their home in New York City, before which they were on the west coast 'Good partnership': In a piece published at the start of May she dished to British GQ that 'Its been interesting being in quarantine and married' Brian Hook Says Arms Embargo Against Iran To Be Extended 'One Way Or Other' August 14, 2020 Brian Hook, the outgoing U.S. State Department Special Representative for Iran, said in a video press conference on Thursday that the United States is going to ensure that the arms embargo on Iran is extended "one way or the other". The U.S. sent a revised version of the Iran arms embargo to the members of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, with the embargo previously set to expire on October 18. The proposed resolution is "a clean rollover of the existing arms embargo the Security Council put in place thirteen years ago [in 2007], and has voted to keep it in place several times since," Hook told reporters, adding, "Our proposal's main theme is an arms embargo for an indefinite period." Reuters reported on Thursday that the Security Council began voting on the proposed resolution, which is opposed by the veto-holding nations Russia and China. The result will be announced at a meeting on Friday, diplomats said. "Letting the arms embargo expire was a big deficiency of the Iran nuclear deal," Hook said, calling the new proposal "a compromise text" with the U.S. that includes provisions supported by all permanent members of the council. "Its expiration should never have been based on an artificial timeline of five years. It was an irresponsible concession." Should the proposed resolution fail to pass, the United States has threatened to invoke the "trigger mechanism" included in the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which would reinstate all sanctions on Iran if the embargo is lifted. Hook also urged Security Council members to vote for the extension out of respect for the Middle East nations that "live in Iran's dark shadow," saying, "Abstaining may carry a certain appeal for those who want to have it both ways, to express concern without addressing the concern. But abstentions will not be forgotten by nations in the region who are counting on council members to vote yes." Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/brian-hook-says- arms-embargo-against-iran-to-be-extended -one-way-or-other-/30783793.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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 6) - Whether the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant will be revived or not, the Department of Energy said that it will not affect the call for introducing nuclear power in the countrys energy mix. The inclusion of nuclear in our energy mix is not limited to BNPP or not dependent on BNPP. BNPP might be revived, rehabilitated, or not, but it will not stop us from adapting nuclear, said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi in a meeting with media on Thursday. That's why we are looking for host communities willing to adapt nuclear as a source of power, he said. President Rodrigo Duterte recently issued Executive Order 116, creating the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee, which will study the adoption of a national nuclear energy policy. Located in the town of Morong, the BNPP was the countrys first and only nuclear power facility and was supposed to generate 623 megawatts of clean energy. In 1986, then president Corazon Aquino shut down the facility over corruption and safety concerns after the Chernobyl incident in Russia in the same year. READ: A look inside a sleeping giant: the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant The DOE chief pointed out on Thursday that there have been talks of introducing nuclear energy in Cagayan, Palawan, and Sulu. He said Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez was open to having nuclear power source in the province, but there is still a process to be followed before it happens. It is still a process, of course we have to go to the usual process of public consultation, said Cusi. He added that small modular nuclear reactors are planned for Palawan and Sulu. Mumbai, Aug 15 : Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has received a special recognition from California State Assembly for his contribution to the world and cinema. Sushant's US-based sister Shweta Singh Kirti shared the news on Instagram with a picture on Saturday. In the picture, Shweta displays the certificate given by California State Assembly to the actor. "On the occasion of Indian Independence Day California recognizes my brother's (Sushant) overall contribution to society. California is with us.... are you? Thanks for your support California," she wrote with the image, and put hashtags #GlobalPrayersForSSR, #Warriors4SSR, #CBIForSSR and #Godiswithus. The certificate states that California State Assembly is giving Sushant the special recognition for his "contribution to Bollywood cinema with special appreciation for all of his philanthropic community work as well as his efforts to promote India's rich culture and heritage". Sushant was found dead at his residence on June 14. His family lodged an FIR accusing his girlfriend, actress Rhea Chakraborty, and her family with abetment to suicide among other charges. The late actor's family, fans and friends have demanded a CBI probe into his death. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Bihar police arrest a youth on Friday for opening a fake Instagram account on behalf of former PM Manmohan Singh and collected donations. Attempting to take undue advantage of growing political acrimony between the BJP and Congress leaders, a 22-year-old identified as Someshwar Singh pursuing higher studies to become a soil scientist from Dun Business College in Dehradun, tried his best to dupe the people through a fake Instagram account. The police in Bihar arrested him on Friday within 24 hours of case being reported to DGP Gupteshwar Pandey from intelligence source. The accused had been seeking donations through digital payment through Paytm linked with the fake Instagram profile account. The reason stated for seeking donation was even more baffling. He has stated on the fake profile account: "You need to know why we need you to donate us. The BJP use his money power to ruin the image of our former PM. They sharing morphed images, edited videos, and fake Youtube analysts. For countering them, we need huge team of content creator, web- designers, video editor and anchors for Youtube. For this we need you to donate us". (Taken as it is from the account post) This fake Instagram profile made in the name of Dr Singh's office had more than 90000 followers. Confirming this, ADG (HQ) of Bihar Police Jitendra Kumar said that the cyber-cell of Bihar police started investigation just after DGP Gupteshwar Pandey got an input on such fake Instagram profile account made in the name of Dr Manmohan Singh office. The ADG further said that the QRT of a Paytm account for receiving digital payment of donation was also being operated by Somu Kumar, another accused and linked with a bank account, opened in the name of Someshwar Singh in the Kotak Mahindra Bank at Bhagwanpur branch in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. When the cyber cell started investigating into this, it got a mobile number-8210039492, issued in the name of a woman Poonam Kumari of Muzaffarpur district. The nodal officer of Paytm disclosed to the police that a youth named Somu Kumar has been suing the number," Kumar said. "The cyber cell informed the Muzaffarpur SSP Jaykant, who immediately formed a special team that arrested Somehwar Singh of Sheohar district, living at Baraya in Muzaffarpur," the ADG said. The entire case was cracked within 24 hours after being informed by an intelligence source to DGP. The police team recovered one mobile phone with 2 sim cards from the possession of Singh. "The number 8210039492 was used in the creation of fake Instagram profile with another number of 8375835574," he said. War games: Greek and French military vessels during a maritime exercise in the eastern Med on Thursday. Photo: Greek National Defence via AP European Union foreign ministers held urgent talks on military tensions between Greece and Turkey as the neighbouring countries' navies continued a game of brinkmanship over eastern Mediterranean drilling rights. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would press ahead with the search for oil and gas in the disputed waters until August 23, as planned, but after a phone call with Germany's leader, he signalled that Ankara and Berlin had agreed to a "softening" of positions after that date. There was no indication from Athens whether it had been consulted, or agreed. Mr Erdogan warned that Turkey would strongly respond to any "harassment" of its vessels by Greece. Ankara has a research ship accompanied by two warships prospecting between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete, and Greece deployed its own naval vessels to the area. Greek foreign minister Nikos Dendias travelled to Vienna to meet US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Austrian foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg. The emergency EU meeting is being held by video conference. Although the meeting is not expected to produce any decisions, Athens is seeking the 27-country bloc's backing and a commitment for potential EU sanctions from its partners in the dispute with Turkey, which comes weeks after a similar confrontation was defused with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's intercession. Expand Close Determined: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking in Istanbul yesterday. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Determined: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking in Istanbul yesterday. Photo: AP Ahead of his meeting with Mr Dendias, Mr Schallenberg said he was "very concerned about the dangerous and alarming situation, which we believe could escalate. Actions taken by certain states in the eastern Mediterranean ... should lead the European Union to re-evaluate its relations with Turkey," he said. Only France has responded so far, pledging to boost its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean and sending two warships to the area for joint drills with the Greek navy. France also deployed two fighter planes to Crete. French relations with Turkey, which is not an EU member, are already strained over Ankara's involvement in Libya's civil war. Relations between historic regional rivals - and nominal Nato allies - Greece and Turkey have hit a more than two-decade low after Turkey sent a seismic research ship, escorted by warships, to prospect on Monday for potential offshore oil and gas in waters Athens claims as its own. Greece placed its armed forces on high alert and sent warships to the spot, south of Turkey between Crete and the island nation of Cyprus, demanding the vessels' withdrawal. Turkey claims it has every right to prospect in the area, as well as in neighbouring waters Cyprus considers its own, after the discovery of large offshore gas deposits in recent years off Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. The governments in Athens and Ankara have spoken of the need for peaceful dialogue, although it is unclear how that could happen with each insisting they will defend their rights. Meanwhile, with the warships dancing about each other in a relatively small patch of the eastern Mediterranean, there is a real danger of rapid escalation in the case of an accidental collision or hostile act. LANSING, MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Saturday to establish new coronavirus safety and testing protocols inside Michigan correctional facilities through the end of September. The order mandates that incarcerated people be tested for COVID-19 upon entry to, transfer, and release from prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities, and resumes the suspension of transferring people from jails to prisons unless certain risk-reduction and testing protocols are established inside the jail. Those protocols include screening all people entering or leaving a facility, testing inmates presenting symptoms of COVID-19, providing employees with personal protective equipment (PPE), and requiring masks and social distancing for inmates and staff. Staff is not required to be testing on their way in or out of work, but their temperatures are taken, and recent travel information is recorded. In light of the ongoing threat of COVID-19 to jail and prison populations, and the increased availability of testing in our state, it is now reasonable and necessary to require entry, transfer, and release testing of inmates in Michigan prisons, and to allow transfers only from jails that implement comparable testing protocols, the revised Executive Order 2020-170 reads. The order will be in effect until Sept. 30. The announcement comes as the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), which oversees the states prison system, has 435 active COVID-19 cases, its largest spike since the spring. Most of those cases are in the Muskegon Correctional Facility, where an outbreak began three weeks ago. RELATED: Coronavirus surges again in Michigan prisons, with biggest outbreak since spring Whitmers first executive order regarding MDOC facilities took place in March, as the virus began its spread inside the state of Michigan The order temporarily suspended the transfer of people from jails to prisons. Those transfers briefly resumed, and are now suspended again. For jails that have resumed tranfers, this latest order goes into effect on Sept. 8. RELATED: Gov. Whitmer takes action to protect jails, detention centers from coronavirus Beginning next Monday, a lockup facility may request an inspection to determine if they meet the safety and testing protocols necessary to transfer prisoners in. The risk reduction protocols include screening all people coming in and out of a given facility by taking their temperature and recording travel information; providing staff with PPE; increasing circulation by opening windows and using fans; providing personal hygiene products, including soap and water, to inmates; regularly cleaning and sanitizing the facility. Prisons are required to coordinate with local public health departments, notifying them of suspected or confirmed cases. Visits to jails and prisons are suspended, except for attorney visits, and any inmate presenting COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, sore throat, uncontrolled cough, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, and loss of taste or smell must be isolated and tested. Jails will also be expected to maintain documentation of an inmates testing history. Inmates will be subject to wide testing requirements upon intake, within 72 hours before any transfer, and within 72 hours before release. In the event of a widespread outbreak, testing will be required on an ongoing basis, coupled with contact tracing, in coordination with the local public health department, the order reads. Prisoners who have tested positive should not be transferred unless 10 days have passed since symptom onset, 24 hours have passed since a fever resolved, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and other symptoms have improved. The order also strongly encourage(s) the early release of certain members of the jail population, including older people, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant people, people approaching their release date. People whose offenses were traffic violations or failure to appear or failure to pay are also considered eligible for early release under these circumstances. RELATED: Protesters urge Whitmer to release Michigan inmates facing risk of coronavirus in state prisons People who violate their parole will not be brought to jail unless that facility has been deemed in compliance with the protocols. Incarcerated people are considered especially at risk for contracting COVID-19, because of the tight quarters in many jails and prisons and the shared nature of life within their walls. Early in the pandemic, protesters called upon Whitmer to release low-risk prisoners in acknowledgement of this risk. To date, 4,351 incarcerated people and 435 MDOC employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Those figures include the deaths of 68 prisoners and three corrections workers, according to the MDOC. 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/. Read more on MLive: Muskegon inmate with coronavirus receives meeting with parole board after AG support Sick with COVID-19, inmate cant get out of prison even with AG, prosecutor backing him As coronavirus cases climb in Muskegon prison, families express fear and confusion Coronavirus surges again in Michigan prisons, with biggest outbreak since spring Sen. Lindsey Graham broke with President Trump on Friday, writing that there is no issue as to whether Sen. Kamala Harris is a U.S. citizen. There are plenty of issues to find disagreement with @KamalaHarris regarding her record as Senator or as a Vice Presidential nominee, Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, tweeted. She is consistently rated one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Senate, fully embracing a radical Democratic agenda. However, there is no issue as to whether or not she is an American citizen, he added. She was born in the United States in 1964 to parents who were legally present. Under the Constitution and Supreme Court precedent, she is unequivocally an American citizen. Trump questioned whether Harris is eligible to be vice president during a Thursday press briefing. I heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements, he said. And, by the way, the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer. I have no idea if thats right. I wouldve I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for Vice President. Trump was referencing an op-ed published in Newsweek that argues the Constitution doesnt permit birthright citizenship, The New York Times reported. Harris was born in 1964 in Oakland, California, making her eligible to serve as vice president. Her parents are Jamaican and Indian immigrants who moved to the U.S. before Harris was born. The 14th Amendent of the U.S. Constitution states all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. The Supreme court ruled that any person born in the United States is a citizen, no matter the citizenship status of their parents. Harris is both the first Black and Asian American woman to be a major partys vice presidential candidate. Trump previously touted a birther conspiracy theory about former President Barack Obama, the nations first Black president, falsely claiming that he wasnt born in the U.S. and questioning the legitimacy of his birth certificate. Obama was born in Hawaii. Story continues Donald Trump was the national leader of the grotesque, racist birther movement with respect to President Obama and has sought to fuel racism and tear our nation apart on every single day of his presidency, Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, told The Hill. So its unsurprising, but no less abhorrent, that as Trump makes a fool of himself straining to distract the American people from the horrific toll of his failed coronavirus response that his campaign and their allies would resort to wretched, demonstrably false lies in their pathetic desperation. Trump suggested in 2011 that Obama didnt have a birth certificate and relented in 2016, saying President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period. Harris criticized Trump in her first speech as Bidens running mate on Wednesday, slamming the president for his response to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, CNN reported. He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground, she said. This is what happens when we elect a guy who just isnt up for the job, Harris added. Our country ends in tatters and so does our reputation around the world. Trump has responded by calling her a radical leftist, nasty and a madwoman. Israel Ambassador to India Ron Malka took to Twitter on Saturday to wish Indian a Happy Independence Day. He shared a video where he extended greetings in English as well as Hindi. "To all our Indian friends, happy Independence Day. We wish you all, peace and prosperity. Swatantrata diwas ki hardik shubhkaamnaein," Malka said in the video message. 'Thanks for your support' In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations through a peace agreement on August 14 as part of a deal to halt the controversial annexation of parts of the West Bank that Palestinians see as a part of their future state. Ron Malka took the opportunity to thank India for the major role it played in this historic peace agreement. Thanks Dear friend for your support. Both Israel and India are peace seeking, always striving for progress and stability pic.twitter.com/6CBtBZt5zl Ron Malka (@DrRonMalka) August 14, 2020 Rivlin extends wishes The President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin also wished India on its 74th Independence Day in a video message which was shared by the Indian Embassy in Israel on Twitter. 'Mazel tov', said President Rivlin in the video message sending his warm wishes to India in the traditional Jewish way. He also said that India-Israel friendship is based on the shared values of democracy, freedom, innovation and development. Check out the video below. Pronab Mandal By KOLKATA: A sitting CPM MLA and a 70-year-old former legislator living in a mud-hut, both elected from Dhupguri assembly constituency in north Bengal, turned down election strategist Prashant Kishors offer to join the ruling Trinamool Congress saying "all communists cannot be purchased. The Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the team of Kishor, which was hired by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees party after its debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, visited the houses of sitting MLA Mamata Roy and Lakshmi Kanta Roy, who served for consecutive two terms from the constituency in Jalpaiguri district and offered them a red-carpet welcome to the TMC. The TMCs attempt to bring the septuagenarian CPM leader in its fold is said to be a move to regain the party ground in north Bengal riding the clean and honest image of Roy in the region. The BJP had a sweeping victory in the 2019 general elections by bagging seven Lok Sabha seats out of eight in north Bengal. The saffron camp secured victory in 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. "For the past few days, I was receiving calls from several persons who claimed to be representatives of Prashant Kishors team. I told them that now I am not involved in the partys activities because of my age but they kept insisting that they wanted to visit my house. On last Tuesday, two representatives came to my house. I offered them chairs on the courtyard," said Roy, who showed his net asset worth Rs 4.6 lakh in his affidavit to the election commission of India in 2006 Assembly elections. After exchanging a few words, the two men asked Roy to take them inside the house with a mud wall and tile roof. "I told them what secret talk they wanted to have with a communist like me. Looking at the condition of my house, the duo was surprised. They requested me to join the TMC promising a key position in the ruling partys district-level functionaries. I had a simple reply for them. I told them I retired from my partys regular activities because of my age issue but not from the partys ideology. I made it clear that many of our party workers might have shifted sides but all communists cannot be purchased," he said. The men also visited sitting MLA Mamata Roys residence and contacted another former MLA from the same assembly segment Banamali Roy with a similar offer. While Mamata refused to accept the offer and asked the I-PAC representatives not to come again, Banamali did not allow them to visit his house. Insiders in the ruling party said the poaching attempt was initiated to regain grounds in its erstwhile citadel. "Corruption among our local leaders was the key reason behind the jolt that we received in north Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections. We are hunting for faces who are known for their honesty and clean image. Such figures in our party will help us to take the electorates into confidence and approaching personalities like Roy and two others were part of our strategy," said a senior TMC leader. Casually tapping on their smartphones and smoking in the sunshine, the young men gathered outside the once grand, but now slightly downmarket, hotel appeared carefree and relaxed. Their untroubled, if somewhat bored, demeanour is perhaps no surprise. Having successfully reached the UK as asylum seekers, they are now guests of the British taxpayer with free accommodation and a 39.60 weekly spending allowance. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday can reveal that at least 20 and perhaps as many as 50 hotels across Britain are being used to house migrants who have made the perilous crossing on small boats across the English Channel. The accommodation, which includes four-star rated hotels, is part of a 4billion ten-year contract between the Home Office and various outsourcing companies. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday can reveal that at least 20 and perhaps as many as 50 hotels across Britain are being used to house migrants who have made the perilous crossing on small boats across the English Channel (pictured, people believed to be migrants outside the Royal Hotel in Hull city centre which is housing migrants) The accommodation, which includes four-star rated hotels including the Royal Hotel in Hull, is part of a 4billion ten-year contract between the Home Office and various outsourcing companies The deal is shrouded in secrecy with Government officials refusing to say precisely how many hotels are being used and how many asylum seekers are staying in them. In Hull, where these photographs were taken outside the Royal Hotel last week, three local MPs and the council have objected to the city being used to accommodate migrants, saying it was 'totally unsuitable for the vulnerable individuals'. Hull's imposing railway hotel, which hosted Queen Victoria in 1854 and featured in one of Philip Larkin's early poems, is a short walk to the local shisha lounge and the nearest corner shop. This is the daily routine for many recently arrived migrants who, having travelled from war-torn states, wait as so-called 'boat-chasing' lawyers seek to convince the UK Government they are genuine refugees fleeing persecution and not economic migrants. Burly security guards wearing face masks prevent casual visitors setting foot inside the Grade II listed hotel, making it clear that asylum-seekers are the only guests. It is likely that they will be staying on Humberside for some time. The Home Office boasts of returning 'more than 155' migrants since small boat arrivals began in October 2018 including 14 to France and Germany last week but that is just a fraction of the more than 4,500 migrants who have arrived so far this year alone. The Novotel hotel chain is also understood to have also reached lucrative agreements with the Home Office to house migrants. Last week, large groups of young men of North African appearance were seen strolling around outside the Novotel at Newcastle Airport (pictured), which boasts a fitness centre and an indoor heated swimming pool The migrants in Hull, who were seen clutching what appeared to be official paperwork, have nowhere to go as they must reside at the hotel and are prevented from seeking employment. Some loitered listlessly in the lobby and surrounding streets, whiling away the hours until their next meal in the restaurant. Such depressing scenes are being repeated at hotels across the country and come amid a growing political storm over the Government's failure to stamp out illegal immigration. More than 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel to arrive in Britain in last 10 days bringing total to 4,511 this year - more than DOUBLE amount in 2019 More than 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK in 10 days after crossing the Channel in small boats. Some 1,004 migrants were brought ashore by Border Force between August 4 and 13, analysis found. This takes the total so far this year to at least 4,511, more than double the amount thought to have crossed during the whole of 2019. On Saturday the Home Office confirmed that 89 migrants who made the crossing in five boats were brought to the UK on Thursday, as well as 48 who arrived in four boats on Friday. Advertisement The numbers of migrants illegally entering the UK has more than doubled in the last eight years, from 20,000 to 48,000, while the National Audit Office recently highlighted a staggering 96 per cent jump in asylum seekers living in initial, short-term, accommodation. The estimated monthly cost to accommodate each of them has also increased by 28 per cent from 437 to 560. The Channel crisis may have given Home Secretary Priti Patel a headache, but it has provided much-needed revenue for hoteliers, including the Royal Hotel's owner Alex Langsam. The businessman, who has been dubbed the Asylum King, has already made millions from Home Office contracts to house refugees in budget hotels such as those in his Britannia chain. He entered the Sunday Times Rich List in 2016 with a personal fortune of 220million. Since then the company's income has continued to rise. At least eight Britannia hotels are understood to be occupied by migrants. Last night, the company declined to comment. The Novotel hotel chain is also understood to have also reached lucrative agreements with the Home Office to house migrants. Last week, large groups of young men of North African appearance were seen strolling around outside the Novotel at Newcastle Airport, which boasts a fitness centre and an indoor heated swimming pool. Washing was also seen hanging from windows. Best Western and Travelodge have also apparently secured deals to provide lodgings and meals for recently arrived asylum seekers. A spokesperson for Best Western said it 'did not judge' its guests, rather it 'tries to help them'. Travelodge said it could not disclose information about customers due to the Data Protection Act. The Home Office last night insisted it was working with French authorities to make the crossChannel route unviable and to crack down on organised criminal gangs facilitating these crossings. Officials added that hotels are only ever a 'temporary measure' and that migrants will be moved to longer term accommodation when it is possible to do so. A spokesman said: 'The UK has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and support whilst their application for asylum is being considered. Any temporary measures are kept under review and we are working with local authorities across the UK to secure the suitable longer term accommodation that is required.' The Duke of Edinburgh has made a rare appearance for VJ Day, appearing in a photo montage of veterans who served in the Far East during the Second World War. In 2017, Prince Philip, then 97 years old, retired from royal duties. He has since been seen in public on a handful of occasions, the most recent time being in July when he attended a ceremony at Windsor Castle to pass on his role as colonel-in-chief of the Rifles to the Duchess of Cornwall. Saturday 15 August marks the 75th anniversary of VJ Day otherwise known as Victory over Japan Day which signalled the end of the Second World War. To mark the occasion, a photo montage has been created showing veterans at the time of the Second World War compared to now. Prince Philip features among the veterans, having served as a Royal Navy officer during the Second World War. On the day Japanese officials signed their surrender to the Allied forces on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, the dukes warship HMS Whelp was moored neighbour. The 99-year-old has previously said that the ceremony could be watched from his warship through binoculars. The "then and now" photo montage is being broadcast on big screens across the country, including in Piccadilly Circus, London. Earlier today, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led a two-minute silence at 11am to commemorate VJ Day. (Twitter (Royal British Legion, @PoppyLegion) (Twitter (Royal British Legion, @PoppyLegion)) The Queen released a special statement in honour of the day, expressing her gratitude to those who fought so valiantly. Today we mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, which brought victory for the Allies and finally marked the end of the Second World War, the monarch said. Those of us who remember the conclusion of the Far East campaign, whether on active service overseas, or waiting for news at home, will never forget the jubilant scenes and overwhelming sense of relief. The Queen added that amongst the joy at the culmination of the Second World War was terrible devastation and the cost borne by so many. Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today. The 94-year-old ended her statement by saying: May the memory of their sacrifice and bravery remain with us always. With his feet firmly planted he let his vision take flight August 18 marks the 10th death anniversary of Ray Wijewardene, the practical thinker, intrepid aviator and visionary inventor. Here Yomal Senerath-Yapa looks back on the man and his legacy View(s): View(s): The one thing in Ray Wijewardenes low-ceilinged, ships cabin of a study that really sucks you in is a David Attenborough poster of a magnified dragonfly- its great red eyes boring into you like intelligent pearls against the bright tropical greenery. It is a symbol of Rays own undying curiosity about nature. Where Wordsworth and Burton and most of us saw the beauty of nature only, Ray glimpsed the greater plan of Gaia- the way her reasoning and seam and chalk lines run. It was this acute observation of nature and his lateral thinking (which friend Ashley de Vos says ran like the Mahaweli river everywhere- flowing and flooding the banks and coming again) that made him such a wonder- a thinker who would make the bamboo tats in his holiday tree hut draw from down to up (because below is where you need privacy)- or air-condition only his four poster bed with a fridge unit (because you really dont want to AC your shoes as well). His fascinating lab/study- festooned with plane models, silver-worked guns, antique maps and boomerangs- is Spartan for an eminent scion of the Tudugala Wijewardene family- austere, functional. For Deshamanya Vidyajothi Ray Wijewardene, former Chancellor of the Moratuwa University, Cambridge-educated engineer, inventor, agriculturalist, aviator and Olympic athlete, was a man who saw beauty in the utilitarian- at its most productive. Upul Jayalath, who took care of Rays 140-acre coconut estate Kohombe, recalls what must be the supreme model of sustainability. Each coconut tree was individually treated and each had its bed ticket- marked with what ailed the tree and the treatments done. Once cured, each ticket was daubed with ash. Gliricidia (the miracle plant Ray would promote throughout his life) gave leaves as fertilizer, ensuring that Kohombe produced the highest yield of coconuts and those of the best organic quality in Sri Lanka. Using a homemade gasifier, the gliricidia wood was used to provide electricity for 10 homes in the estate, while also powering a water pump. Yarn, made with coconut fibre, in 25 kilo rolls, was exported. All the estates electricity was generated using gliricidia wood- all zero input. He wanted our country to become self-sustained like the estate, says Upul. Rays crusade for Gliricidia went beyond agriculture, as U. D. Jayawardene, engineer, recalls. He realized that the only source of water we have is the rain water from the two monsoons. This precious supply is wasted when the rivers overflow and the water ends up in the sea after causing floods. His suggestion was that- in addition to forest cover- we have a 3km cover of gliricidia. He also knew that 90% of the countrys fuel needs could be met by Gliricidia wood alone. Re-greening Sri Lanka- something environmental scientists see as a key factor in the fight for global recovery today- was taken up by him 20 years ago. One entrepreneur who carries forward his legacy of gliricidia is Lucky Dissanayake who was charmed by one of Rays simple ideas (as Hercule Poirot complained- they always seem simple once explained). Using an out-grower model- without owning a single parcel of land- Lucky and her firm produce fuel wood from Gliricidia. Over 40,000 smallholder farmers are encouraged to grow at least one fence of gliricidia around their land or intercrop, and thus provide food, fuel and livelihood development for themselves and for Biomass Group- Luckys company- deforestation-free, sustainable, ethical, traceable and certified fuel wood. Today the company produces many thousands of tons of commercial biomass. Lalith Seneviratne, Director/ Group Chief Executive Officer of Telecom and friend, recalls Rays peripatetic life as salesman of the Landmaster tractor he invented in the 1950s. Whereas Rays initial target was to sell 30 Landmasters in Japan, in the first year he ended up selling a hundred thousand in that country alone. Behind Rays table is a framed caricature that delightfully accentuates Rays great elegance- with that very aristocratic aquiline nose. This cartoon is by Asela Samaratunga- one of the few handpicked proteges Ray mentored and today a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in the UK. Party to Rays later flying escapades, Asela recalls how the sky always made the great man dream. Rowing in dreamy Giritale Lake once, he would say looking up we are all like clouds. We appear and disappear with the time. We meet and move with the wind. Sometimes we form new clouds and it continues. It goes on and on To be close to the clouds was inebriating. Asela was an assistant with Cyril the chauffeur, Mano his technical assistant and others in flying. Ray was a perfectionist. Hed never be satisfied until we did our jobs properly no matter how long it took. I was fortunate to fly with him in his Lihiniya two-seater and Kura the two-seater helicopter. All these were built by him from imported kits. Once these were built we customized them with Rays own preferred colour schemes and logos. I worked with him and Mano to design and paint the colour schemes for the Kura and Sutikka small helicopters. He insisted we write the letters on the body of the helicopters in Sinhala. He always had blessings from Podi Hamuduruwo before any test flights of the home-built aircraft. Ray used to call them necessary insurance policy for the toys. Kura the home built twin seater helicopter crashed while Ray with Mano were heading towards Ratmalana Airport from Kakapalliya. Ray never gave up. He wanted to build another experimental aircraft , but this time a single seater following the instructions from his wife- if you want to kill yourself- dont kill others, so he went and ordered a single seater, small helicopter model called Robinson Mini 500. Investigations have found out that Kura crashed due to a design fault in the main rotor blades. Practicality meant Ray was frugal and modest, his tantrum bursts cleared quickly- and he never became what many eminent Lankans became when successful- haughty parodies of themselves. Sivam Krish, who was another protege, has this to add: We, now, live in the world that Ray fantasied. Agriculture has finally become a playground for advanced technologies like AI, Robotics and Drones. Ray would have loved it. It is something he foresaw decades ago in a time when the British colonial era left Ceylon with experts in wells doctors, engineers, agriculturalists competed but dug in. Ray floated above them all seeing the connections they did not see working on possibilities that they could not imagine or appreciate. His love for the environment and agriculture and aviation is now taking amazing forms something he foresaw. He wanted to be re-born as a hummingbird that could do aerial gymnastics that no flying machine can still accomplish. Every time I see one I remember Ray. Algiers, 15 August 2020 (SPS) - Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria, Abdelkader Taleb Omar, praised on Wednesday the efforts of Algeria, leadership, people and political class, in favor of the Sahrawi cause and the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. During the audience granted to him by the Secretary General of the National Democratic Rally (RND), Tayeb Zitouni, the Sahrawi ambassador said he "informed the party leadership of the latest developments in the Sahrawi cause which is beginning a decisive turning point." This meeting stems from "our conviction that the partisan and popular support and rejection, loud and clear, of the policies that the Moroccan regime is trying to impose must be translated into programs and plans of support" to the cause, stressed the Sahrawi diplomat. Taleb Omar welcomed the "understanding" and "support" he perceived in the leadership of the party, which he described as "friend of the cause ( ) with a certain experience in solidarity with the Saharawi people." On the sidelines of the meeting, the Sahrawi diplomat said that "the Polisario Front will work to intensify actions of solidarity with the entire political class and civil society, so that the voice of the cause remains audible". According to him, "it is necessary to draw inspiration from partisan experiences, especially in the field of political training and parliamentary diplomacy." This requires, adds the Sahrawi diplomat, "more coordination with the Algerian political class," recalling that he "has made contact with several formations with a view to scheduling other meetings. The member of the national secretariat of the Polisario Front said he was satisfied "with the national consensus in Algeria around the support of the Sahrawi cause." The Sahrawi cause "which is at a decisive turning point, is facing the obstacles of the Moroccan regime and its attempts to change the status of the territory, which must enjoy its right to self-determination, in order to appropriate it," he lamented. (SPS) 062/SPS/700 As Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on 74th Independence Day, he was surrounded by a posse of security and state-of-the-art security apparatus. Among them was an anti-drone system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO which was stationed near the Red Fort. According to DRDO, as reported by news agency ANI, the anti-drone system can detect and jam micro drones up to three kilometres and use laser to bring down a target up to 2.5 kilometres. Unprecedented security ring was thrown around the Red Forst from where PM Modi delivered his Independence Day speech, listing his governments past achievements and presenting the roadmap for the future. Security personnel were deployed both in plainclothes and uniform in the area. Facial recognition system was also been set up at vantage points to keep an eye on the attendees. The police said that all the necessary guidelines in view of the Covid-19 pandemic were also enforced. Apart from this, the Delhi Police had also coordinated with other states and union territories - from Delhis neighbours like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to others namely Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar - and discussed security measures in the view of August 15. The personnel of National Security Guard (NSG), Special Protection Group (SPG) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were also present in the area. Over 300 cameras were installed for security and their footage was monitored round-the-clock, the police said. There were around 4,000 security personnel at the Red Fort who stood in adherence with social distancing norms, they said. This is a critical moment for physics. I look forward to working with the Board and Council to ensure that APS faithfully represents the interests of its members while continuing to build a broad and inclusive community to address the worlds most pressing challenges. Theoretical physicist Jonathan Bagger will become the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Physical Society (APS). The selection was unanimously approved by the APS Board of Directors. Bagger has completed six years as Director of TRIUMF, Canadas particle accelerator center, located in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was previously Krieger-Eisenhower Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, where he served as chair of the department and held several senior administrative positions. As its new CEO, Bagger will oversee all aspects of APS operations, including managing a staff of 250 people and a $68 million annual budget. I am deeply honored to have been selected as the next CEO of APS, said Bagger. This is a critical moment for physics. I look forward to working with the Board and Council to ensure that APS faithfully represents the interests of its members while continuing to build a broad and inclusive community to address the worlds most pressing challenges. APS President Phil Bucksbaum said: Jon Bagger is a distinguished physicist and an exceptional leader. He has managed TRIUMF through years of transition and growth, and has had great success in positioning the laboratory for a bright and vibrant future. His leadership and commitment to TRIUMF will be missed by us all, said Digvir Jayas, Chair of the TRIUMF Board of Management. We wish him great success in his role at APS. APS Past President David Gross, who chaired the CEO Search Committee, said: I am delighted and excited that Jonathan Bagger has accepted our invitation to be the next CEO of APS. Jons extensive experience in scientific management and his deep commitment to APS and its mission will serve the Society well in these tumultuous times. Bagger has a long history of service to APS. He has held numerous leadership positions within APS committees and units, including the Task Force on Expanding International Engagement (2017-2018), the Division of Particles and Fields (2001-2004), and various prize committees. He has served on the APS Council (2001-2004) and the APS Executive Board (2003-2004), as well as on the editorial boards of Physical Review Letters (1990-1993) and Physical Review D (1998-2007). He was elected a Fellow of APS in 1997 for his contributions to the theory and phenomenology of supersymmetry, supergravity, and supercolliders. At TRIUMF, Bagger led a multi-disciplinary laboratory with a $72 million annual budget and a staff of more than 500 people. As part of his deep commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, he reshaped TRIUMFs hiring practices and established the laboratorys Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He stated that an inclusive workforce is essential to the future of physics; it enriches our science and engages the broader community, to the benefit of all. Bagger also believes that APS and its members must continue to speak out in support of the US scientific enterprise. He said he is proud to join an organization that stands up for science and the values we hold dear. I am absolutely delighted with the appointment of Dr. Jonathan Bagger, said APS CEO Kate Kirby, who will retire at the end of the year. I think he will be a great leader of APS. Jon and I have already had some good conversations and together we are planning for a very smooth and seamless transition. About APS The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents over 55,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world. Society offices are located in College Park, Maryland (Headquarters), Ridge, New York, and Washington, DC Matthew L. Schwartz, a lawyer for Prince, noted that Prince had testified to the House Intelligence Committee in November 2017 and his testimony has been public for years. That committee made a criminal referral in April 2019. It unsurprisingly went nowhere, Schwartz said in a statement. If members of the Senate likewise made a referral which we dont know anything about there would be nothing new for the Department of Justice to consider, nor is there any reason to question the Special Counsels decision to credit Mr. Prince and rely on him in drafting its report. Authorities in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Gia Lai recently slapped two local women with a total fine of VND10 million (US$433) for sharing fake news regarding the local COVID-19 situation on social media. One of the two women is P.T.M.V., 37, who lives on Truong Chinh Street in the provincial capital city of Pleiku. M.V. heard rumors that there was a coronavirus-positive case in Gia Lais Mang Yang District last month. Without checking an official source, M.V. posted the false information on her Facebook account. According to a reliable source, Gia Lai has documented a coronavirus-positive case in Gia Trung, Mang Yang. [The patient is] probably dying, she wrote. The woman deleted her post just ten minutes later after receiving comments disputing the false information. On July 30, M.V. was fined VND5 million ($216) by the Gia Lai police and inspectors from the provincial Department of Information and Communications for spreading COVID-19 fake news. On August 3, V.T.B.V., 54, from Gia Lais Ayun Pa Town, received the same fine for a similar violation. The woman previously posted on her Facebook account that [The national television channel] VTV1 at 5:00 pm on July 30 reported that Kon Tum has logged 39 cases of COVID-19, referring to another Central Highlands province. B.V. later admitted to the police that she had misheard the news anchor, who was reporting a local outbreak of diphtheria rather than COVID-19. Although she had removed the post shortly afterward, the woman was still fined VND5 million for the violation. There have been several cases in Gia Lai where residents and even officials, civil servants and public employees share and spread unofficial, unverified information on social networks, especially those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing confusion in public opinion, according to the municipal administration. Gia Lai has reported no COVID-19 case since January, when the pandemic first hit Vietnam. The countrys COVID-19 tally stood at 930 patients, with 437 recoveries and 22 deaths as of Saturday afternoon. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Acting Health Minister suggests greater concern needed in community about COVID-19 Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long suggested increasing community concern about COVID-19 at a meeting of the National Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on August 14. Violations of COVID-19 prevention and control measures must be strictly punished, he added. Regarding the situation in northern Hai Duong province, Long said Patient 867 was infected before July 30 and has had contact with many people. He lauded Hai Duong citys timely imposition of social distancing measures, saying the ministry will help it with contact tracing, quarantining, and testing. Some 1,500 samples are expected to be taken each day in Hai Duong for testing, he added. Meanwhile, the situation in the central province of Quang Nam continues to be problematic, as only nine of its 16 towns and districts have imposed social distancing measures. The disease is expected to be brought under control in the locality at the end of this month, according to Long. At the meeting, committee members agreed on the need to step up treatment in central Da Nang city and Quang Nam province, and suggested the Prime Minister issue a new directive given the risk of transmission in all localities, especially major urban areas. Regarding the second phase of the high school graduation exams, a representative from the Ministry of Education and Training said they will be held at the earliest possible date in line with the developments of the disease. As of 6am on August 14, Vietnam had reported 911 COVID-19 cases, including 361 overseas cases quarantined upon arrival. The death toll now stands at 21. Some 172,080 people are under quarantine nationwide. Health officials urge public to learn to 'co-habit with the virus' Health officials have urged members of the public to change their habits to cohabit with the virus after the return of COVID-19 community transmission. Officials and experts shared the sentiment as the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control met on Friday morning in Hanoi, as Vietnam is trying to contain the outbreak in the central region, which ended the countrys streak of 99 days without community cases in late July. Deputy Prime Minister and head of the committee Vu Duc Dam said we can no longer expect that the entire country is virus-free, since the threats of a disease outbreak are ever-present nationwide. We have to encourage the people to practise anti-epidemic hygiene and safety measures, and the message now is to co-habit safely with the virus, am said, stressing Vietnams COVID-19 strategy is one of a poor country which relies on buy-in from the whole community to limit the number of infections. am said in recent times, in many localities, both the people and administration have shown complacence". am said the alert level must be raised, calling for people to strictly abide by recommendations like avoiding going out if not necessary, wearing masks in public, washing hands and maintaining a safe distance. This is not just a responsibility of each individual to themselves, but also a duty to their family, to society and the country, he said. Over the past few days health authorities recorded new COVID-19 cases in the northern province of Hai Duong, with no known links to Da Nang, which has caused public alarm and forced Hai Duong City with a half-a-million population to go into a 15-day lockdown. The health ministry is analysing the virus samples from infected people to see if it is the same strain that is spreading in the central region. Health ministry, foreign ministry and defence ministry representatives asked that all localities be stricter in managing foreign entries into the country currently limited to experts, investors and highly skilled workers especially in terms of quarantine and hygiene. They have also suggested measures that other countries are using, including performing quick tests to screen all arrivals upon landing, or electronic devices like wristbands or bracelets to track foreign entries whereabouts during the quarantine. The public security ministry said it is investigating alleged illegal immigration rings that exploit the policy to allow selected investors and experts to enter the country from abroad. Five more Covid-19 patients in Danang recover Five more Covid-19 cases in the central province of Danang were discharged from hospital on Friday following their full recovery. The patients, who are from Hoa Vang field hospital in Danang, will be quarantined for 14 days to come to ensure safety. On August 10, ten other patients were also released from the hospital. By Friday, a total of 20 Covid-19 patients in Danang were declared to have fully recovered. So far, the country has recorded a total of 916 Covid-19 cases, including up to 449 related to the Danang outbreak. The country has confirmed 21 deaths connected to the pandemic. Social distancing regulations have been extended for Danang as the Covid-19 outbreak has continued. The lockdown started from Tuesday midnight for the whole city until the city had the new announcement. Eight sailors caught in Ca Mau illegally re-entering Vietnam Authorities in Ca Mau Province have detained and quarantined eight Vietnamese sailors who illegally re-entered Vietnam. On August 14, Ca Mau Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control said they had found eight crew who had re-entered Vietnam illegally through Song Doc Town. Nguyen Van Dung, deputy head of the Department of Health, said eight people were brought to the quarantine centre and one person had a fever and was brought to Tran Van Thoi General Hospital. "We have taken samples from them for testing. The first test results came back negative," he said. The local authorities have also reviewed and determined 33 people that had contact with the men. They will be monitored at home in accordance with regulations. On August 11, Song Doc Town People's Committee received the news that eight sailors had returned from Malaysia illegally into Vietnam. At that time, two people had already been transferred to quarantine centre and six people hadn't filled medical declaration forms. The police in Ca Mau was asked to work with the border guards, the Department of Health and Tran Van Thoi People's Committee to search and quarantine them. Ca Mau provincial authorities have tightened monitoring over fishermen who often go in and out of the estuaries and applied stricter measures to fight against Covid-19. Preparatory work set for COVID-19 fight in Da Nang All members of a wards peoples committee in Da Nang's Cam Le district have been isolated after a vice chairman tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, according to a report from the citys COVID-19 prevention steering committee released on Friday (August 14). The vice chairman had close contact with four COVID-19 patients, and 36 members of the wards committee were taken to a quarantine centre from Thursday (August 13). A temporary managing committee was assigned to cover administrative procedures for the isolated staff. The citys Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reported on Friday (August 14) that 88,658 medical samples had been taken between July 25 and August 13, of which 88,362 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (99.6 per cent). The city began trial operation of the 300-bed Tien Son field hospital on Thursday (August 13) for hosting those in close contact with COVID-19 cases. The central province of Quang Nam began extending social distancing orders from Friday (August 14) in districts of Duy Xuyen, Thang Binh, Dai Loc and Dien Ban town as six new COVID-19 patients in the area were reported on Thursday (August 13). One man in Dien Ban town was tested for SARS-CoV-2 on August 9 one month after he had visited an ill friend at the Da Nang general hospital. The official test result released on August 13 showed he was positive for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 patient No 905). The provincial CDC warned that all people who had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 should be isolated at home or a quarantine centre for at least two weeks. The provincial general hospital is treating 53 COVID-19 patients. Thua Thien-Hue Province has not reported any cases, but the provincial central hospital has been treating 12 COVID-19 patients from Da Nang and Quang Nam since late July. The province has isolated 33,000 people returning from COVID-19 hotspots in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, and 31,000 medical samples had been taken for testing. All people at quarantine centres and home are healthy. Quarantine period extended in Quang Nam districts Four districts in the central province of Quang Nam will continue to be locked down for Covid-19 prevention. On August 14, Tran Van Tan, vice chairman of Quang Nam People's Committee, signed the decision to extend the lockdown in three districts and one town including Dien Ban, Dai Loc, Duy Xuyen and Thang Binh from August 15 until further notice. The residents were asked to stay home and go out only for necessary reasons like buying food, medicine, going to the hospitals or to avoid accidents and disasters. They must wear face masks when going out. Gatherings of more than two people are banned in public and each person must keep two metres apart. Essential shops and facilities are allowed to open and must follow all preventive measures. Quang Nam authorities also suspended all educational, sports, cultural and religious events. Tourist spots will be closed. Public transport will only serve experts, workers and people to quarantine centres. On August 13, Quang Nam authorities also extended the quarantine period in Hoi An until further notice with similar preventive measures. Que Son, Dien Ban, Dai Loc, Duy Xuyen and Thang Binh districts and towns had been put under lockdown from August 1 to 15. From July 25 until now, Quang Nam has reported 84 Covid-19 cases. Vietnam helps Bangladesh, Sri Lanka fight COVID-19 Medical supply handover ceremony for Bangladesh Empowered by the Prime Minister, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung on August 14 presented medical equipment worth 60,000 USD as a relief package of the Vietnamese Government and people to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to support their fight against COVID-19. The Vietnamese official said the pandemic is developing complicatedly in many countries in the world, including Vietnam. However, the Southeast Asian nation wants to support regional and international friends in this difficult time. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are traditional friends of Vietnam and boast sound bilateral relations over the past decades, he said. Ambassadors of the two countries thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their support and spoke highly of Vietnams COVID-19 response. They affirmed to continue strengthening coordination and sharing information with Vietnam in protecting health and safety for people. Over 350 Vietnamese citizens from Japan flown home Over 350 Vietnamese citizens from Japan were brought home safely on August 14. The flight was arranged by the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Japanese authorities. Passengers were mostly children aged below 18, the elderly, pregnant women, the sick, workers whose labour contracts expired, those without residences and other especially disadvantaged cases. The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan sent staff to support the citizens at the airport. After landing at Cam Ranh International Airport in the south central province of Khanh Hoa, crewmembers and passengers were put under quarantine in line with regulations. In the near future, similar flights will be arranged to carry disadvantaged citizens home, with domestic pandemic situation and quarantine capacity taken into account. Over 340 Vietnamese citizens flown home from Angola More than 340 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from Angola on a flight of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on August 13. The flight was arranged under cooperation of Vietnamese and Angolan authorities. Passengers included children under 18, the elderly, pregnant women, the ill, workers with expired contracts and no accommodation, and those in disadvantaged circumstances. The Embassy of Vietnam in Angola sent its staff to provide the citizens with pre-departure assistance. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, disease prevention measures were put in place during the flight. Upon arrival at Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, all the flight crew and passengers were given heath checkups and went into quarantine in line with regulations. Vietnamese authorities and overseas missions plan to arrange more flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home, depending on their need and quarantine capacity at home. COVID-19 cases in Philippines surpass 150,000 The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 153,660 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,216 new daily cases on August 14. The ministry said over the past 24 hours, the capital city of Manila recorded the largest number of infections in the country, with 3,848 cases. The country also confirmed 16 related deaths on the day, raising the total number of fatalities to 2,442. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries further rose to 71,405 after 1,038 more patients were give the all-clear. The same day, Indonesias Ministry of Health recorded an additional 2,307 cases of SARS-CoV-2 and 53 deaths, bringing the total respective numbers in the country to 135,123 and 6,021. Lao Cai launches legal procedures against 4 foreign illegal immigrants Border guards in the northern border province of Lao Cai on August 14 decided to start legal procedures against a case who organised illegal immigration into Vietnam. Earlier on July 29, the local force arrested a group of people, including four Lao nationals, who were trying to illegally cross the border area in Ban Lau commune (Muong Khuong district) to China. Given the COVID-19 situation, the arrestees were requested to be quarantined at the communes Na Loc 4 hamlet. Three Lao Cai locals confessed that they colluded with one another to bring the Lao nationals to Lao Cai for illegal immigration in China. The same day, legal procedures were also started against a similar case in the southwestern border province of Tay Ninh that involves three people. Japan, Malaysia to ease travel restrictions Japan and Malaysia will begin easing travel restrictions for their people from September. The agreement came at a meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin Hussein in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur on August 14. At the event, they also discussed regional and global issues of shared concern, including strengthening collaboration in the fight against COVID-19. As scheduled, Motegi held talks with Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali later the same day. After arriving back to Japan, Motegi will take working trips to Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar from August 20 and return home on August 25. UPPER GWYNEDD The ceremony may have looked a little different than it usually does, but Upper Gwynedds officials have given their formal thanks to several township employees and two regional residents for their help with an incident in spring. Police Chief David Duffy led a recognition ceremony last Monday night for several local officers, and two regional officials who helped keep an elementary school student safe earlier this year. On March 4, 2020, Upper Gwynedd Police responded to Gwyn-Nor Elementary School regarding an emotionally disturbed father, Duffy said. The subject was creating a disturbance, and being verbally abusive with staff. The father then withdrew his juvenile son from class, from the school, and from the district. They left the area, and their destination was unknown, he said. Several hours later, Duffy told the township commissioners Monday night, the father called the police department in a state of crisis, demanding that police pick up his son, saying he would abandon the son in Philadelphia. Thats where two special helpers came in: Meghan Cutler, a case worker with Montgomery Countys Department of Children and Youth Services, who coordinated the situation in real-time and helped locate the missing student, and Sharde Shockley, a shift supervisor with Greyhound Transportation, who helped keep the student safe at a bus station in Philadelphia until police could arrive. Both of these persons helped us coordinate a very complicated search, and we were able to recover the child safely, and come to a successful resolution for the placement of this child, he said. It was a complicated, stressful call, but they worked closely with us, and we got it resolved safely, Duffy said. The two were were then thanked via Zoom video call by the board of supervisors, and received formal commendations from Duffy on behalf of the police department. During their meeting on Monday night, the commissioners and Duffy also thanked resident Beth Miller for helping officers stay safe while looking good after the arrival of COVID-19. Beth Miller generously donated her time and skills to create protective masks for the officers and staff of the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department, Duffy said. She used material from the Air Force blue shirts, which our uniforms are made of. Its a unique color and blend, she used this material to make up masks for us, which took quite a bit of time, theyre professional looking, and they also adhere to safety regulations, he said. As he spoke, Duffy held up his own mask made by Miller, showing how it matches our shirts exactly, and commissioners President Liz McNaney joked shes started calling officers the fashion police since receiving them. We still want to project a professional appearance to the public. Something like this might seem simple, but its a big deal for us, and its a big deal for how we represent our residents, Duffy said. During their Aug. 10 meeting, the board also recognized five township employees for years of service to the township, including three with police. Duffy thanked and acknowledged police Officer Rachel DiPiano for 18 years of service to the department, particularly with Montgomery County drug task force and undercover work in her earlier years and, more recently, for helping the department achieve and maintain statewide accreditation status. Shes always been a contributing part of our accreditation process, and helpful with policy updates and revisions, and we wish her well in her future years, he said. That accreditation status, Duffy noted later in the meeting, was first earned by the department in 2005 and was reaffirmed in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and now 2020, and the department will now earn the title of Premier Agency from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association for passing five straight re-accreditation evaluations. Duffy added further thanks for administrative secretary Julie Murphy, whom he called the backbone of the department, for her 30 years there. Whenever Im doing a tour and I come into her office and introduce her, I explain that she is the person who runs this department, and its true, Duffy said. Murphy helps manage payroll and budget for the department, maintains records including audits, assists with the accreditation, coordinates officer schedules, acts as liaison with area crossing guards at local schools, and handles criminal records, reports and and expungements, according to the Chief. I cant believe its been 30 years. Ive worked with her for 12-and-a-half now, and as much as I can possibly help it, I hope to have many more years to go here, and want her to stay the entire time. Shes just been a tremendous asset, Duffy said. Also recognized by Duffy was Officer Brant Whistler for 15 years of service with the department, and Duffy said Whistler serves a key role as 911 coordinator by maintaining up-to-date contact information for the department with all local businesses and facilities, while also serving as a sniper on the Montgomery County SWAT team and as the departments firing range instructor and in one other key role. Brant also has the distinctive title and badge of Pet Detective. Years ago, Brant asked me if he could start, and wanted to initiate, a pet registry for residents who lost a dog or a cat or a pet, Duffy said. Two non-police employees were also recognized by the board, including Jason Platt, the public works departments street sweeper operator, for five years of service. McNaney said when she asked Public Works Director Willard Troxel about Platt, the compliments were many. He said that Jason will do whatever job, or anything that you ask him to do, and will do it in such a positive way, and that youre just a great asset, not only to the Public Works department, but to everybody here at the township, McNaney said. And Finance Director Dave Brill was recognized for ten years of service to the township, and McNaney, Township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell, and board Vice President Denise Hull all said Brill was invaluable when they took over their respective positions. Dave is such a hard worker. Its normal for him to work six days a week, and he works very hard, takes it all very seriously, but he always has a very good attitude, Hull said. Hes the first to come from that perspective of the glass being half full, not half empty, and we can all really use that these days. Upper Gwynedds commissioners next meet at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14; for more information visit www.UpperGwynedd.org. Light striking the stained glass sets the rich colors glittering and glowing inside Bethesda Episcopal Church like dazzling jewels against dark velvet. The windows in the Saratoga Springs church contain more than Biblical stories; they hold Masonic symbols (like the all-seeing eye on the back of the $1 bill) and genuine mysteries. One mysterious window shows Jesus at about age 6 with his earthly father, Joseph the carpenter. Joseph's hand is on his heart, as if in pain. A child's coffin is near his feet. Jesus gazes at his dad, worried. There is no Biblical story that this image could possibly be illustrating. Bethesda's welcoming, informed guides are Mary Shartle, co-editor of book on the church's history, and Mercy House president Gordon Boyd (Bethesda's Mercy House is a haven for those struggling with addiction and varied disabilities). In the choir loft, three angels in iridescent silver and gold-trimmed robes float above red-streaked dark clouds piled into mountains and gorges that resemble the Grand Canyon. "The artists used a technique of layering pieces of glass that give those images an almost three dimensional effect," Shartle explained. The Tiffany windows were installed over years spanning the Civil War through the Gilded Age. The congregation was founded in 1830 taking its name, Bethesda, from the supernatural pool described in the New Testament. The Gospel of John says that whenever angels rippled the pool, the water was imbued power to heal any ailment, disease or disability. More Information Stained Glass Series is back Now that houses of worship are reopening, we hope to provide a monthly showcase for the region's most beautiful, unique or fascinating stained glass. Windows can be modern or historic. Whether your church, synagogue, mosque or temple has one stained glass window or a dozen, if the art holds a special place in your congregation's hearts, we would love to hear about it. Send suggestions to lyedwards@timesunion.com See More Collapse People frantically seeking cures gathered at the pool, waiting for invisible angels. The huge window behind the pulpit shows Jesus healing the sick at the pool without using a drop of its water. The window was an 1887 gift from financier Spencer Trask and his wife Katrina, who developed and funded the Yaddo artists' colony. Shartle points to the mother with a sick baby at the pool's edge. "Katrina had four children and all died before adulthood; the window was donated in honor of her daughter who died of diphtheria she may have caught from Katrina," Shartle said. Mother and baby may reflect Katrina's desperate prayers. Sometimes the donor's story is as compelling as the window's image. Ellen Walworth donated a window showing a sunburned John the Baptist clad in wild animal fur baptizing Jesus in a pale green river where lily pads drift. Ellen married her violent stepbrother, then fled the abusive marriage. Her son finally shot and killed his dad to protect Ellen. The son was spared prison via an insanity defense. "Ellen went on to earn an NYU law degree and became a successful writer of scientific papers," Shartle said. The Gothic Revival building's windows include many symbols related to medieval mysticism. Two different windows depict a pelican slashing her chest with her beak to feed her nesting babies with drops of her blood. The mystical symbol of self sacrifice had a long, popular life in Britain where Queen Elizabeth I's royal spies wore it carved on amulets. The church is far more than its works of art. The congregation volunteers for and donates to many charitable efforts including the Salvation Army and the Backstretch Employee Service Team which meets health and social welfare needs of race course backstretch workers. Bethesda is in the process of expanding Mercy House, 26 units of housing for people with chronic health problems. "Our other program partnerships include the CREATE workshop, which provides art therapy to folks with certain disabilities," Boyd said. "They will be operating in Mercy House once we are up and running." That appreciation of ethereal beauty and pragmatic service is captured in a window depicting Christ's ascension. He rises toward heaven as the disciples cluster below, heads tilted to watch him soar. Their expressive glass faces look both awed and determined. Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Ellen Walworth's name. In 2014, China announced it would set up a system to judge its citizens: on their trustworthiness, their public and social media behavior, the wisdom of their purchasing habits, how often they play video games, their interactions with law enforcement and government officials, whether they clean up after their dogs and more. Many pundits and academics saw this as an extraordinary step by an authoritarian state to enforce conformity on its 1.3 billion-plus residents. China isn't doing this just to nudge people to be better citizens. Instead, it is punishing or rewarding them based on their "social credit score." High rankings ensure quicker processing of government documents, better access to goods and housing, and other sorts of preferential treatment. Low rankings reduce or eliminate access to many goods, public and private services and travel options. Beijing actively shames individuals it finds wanting. A cellphone app produces a graphic showing those nearby who are socially "deficient" and why they are considered untrustworthy. As Newsweek reported in 2018, the biggest sin of all is being a government critic. It detailed how an investigative journalist who had gone after official corruption found his daughter denied access to good schools, among many other penalties. Shades of "1984." Pranab Mukherjee is being closely monitored, medical condition unchanged, says Hospital India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Aug 15: Army's (R&R) Hospital on Saturday said that former President Pranab Mukherjee's medical condition remains unchanged. "His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists," the statement added. Pranab Mukherjee critical | Former President's death rumours are false | Oneindia News Meanwhile, Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha took to Twitter and shared memories of the last year's Independence Day celebrations with her father. She also said her father never missed a year to hoist the tri-colour on Independence Day and hoped for him to do the same next year. Independence Day 2020: Day after testing COVID-19 negative Amit Shah hoists National Flag "In his childhood, my dad and my uncle would hoist National Flag at our ancestral home in village. Since then, he never missed a year to hoist tri-colour on Independence Day. Sharing some memories from last years celebration at home. I'm sure he'll do the same next year. Jai Hind," her tweet read. Recently, the former president underwent a critical brain surgery to remove a clot in his brain after he suffered a fall at his Rajaji Marg residence on Sunday. Watch: ITBP jawans celebrate Independence Day at 16,000 feet in Ladakh On Friday, Sharmistha said that her father's condition remains critical but has not worsened. "Without getting into medical jargons, whatever I could understand from the last two days is that though my dads' condition continues to remain very critical, it hasn't worsened. There's little improvement in his eyes' reaction to light," she said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 15, 2020, 12:53 [IST] Trailblazing Afghan women's rights campaigner Fawzia Koofi, a member of the negotiating team that will hold peace talks with the Taliban, has been wounded in a gun attack near Kabul, officials said Saturday. Gunmen opened fire on Koofi, 45, and her sister on Friday when they were returning from a meeting in the province of Parwan near the capital, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told AFP. Koofi, a former member of parliament and strong critic of the Taliban, was shot in her right hand, he said, adding that she was in a stable condition. The Taliban denied they were involved in the attack on Koofi. The attack drew strong condemnation from Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani -- who described it as a "cowardly attack", according to his spokesman Sediq Seddiqi. Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the national reconciliation council, called on Afghan authorities to bring "the perpetrators of the attack to justice". The chief of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, Shaharzad Akbar, also condemned the "horrific attack". "Worrying pattern of targeted attacks that can negatively impact confidence in peace process," she wrote on Twitter. In recent months, there have been gun attacks against human rights activists and prosecutors in Kabul. Koofi survived a previous assassination attempt in 2010, when gunmen fired at her as she was returning to the capital after an International Women's Day event. She was among the few women in a pan-Afghan delegation that held several rounds of unofficial dialogue with the Taliban in 2019. That dialogue came alongside separate negotiations between the Islamist militants and the United States in Qatar which finally led to the signing of an agreement between the two in February this year. At the time, Koofi told AFP how she had received threats previously from militants just for wearing nail polish. - Pride and stress - Koofi is now one of four women negotiators in the Afghan team that will hold direct talks with the Taliban in the coming days. Story continues "I think this time we are going for serious talks," she told AFP this week. "There is a sense of pride... but in the meantime, it's a lot of stress. "You have to really make sure that you are perfect in many ways." Koofi, a widow and mother of two daughters, was the first girl in her family to attend school. Her education was interrupted when she was forced out of medical college in 1996 as the Taliban stormed to power. It was only after the US-led invasion in 2001 that she rose to prominence as a politician and in 2005, became the first woman to serve as the deputy speaker of Afghanistan's parliament. The talks with the Taliban are expected within days, aimed at ending the conflict that has ravaged Afghanistan for almost two decades. Afghan authorities are currently releasing from jails some 400 Taliban militants, fulfilling a key demand from the insurgent group for any talks. But the release has raised widespread international concern as some of those militants are accused of killing scores of people including foreigners in deadly attacks. mam-eb-jds/kaf Dr. Deborah Elms - Executive director Asian Trade Centre Singapore But there are some encouraging points of light in an otherwise gloomy landscape. Last month the 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held a virtual meeting of trade ministers. The meeting, and final statement, focused on a number of important issues including the necessity of keeping trade lanes open for critical medical supplies and other essential goods, supporting developing countries and smaller businesses in this uncertain landscape, and providing backing to the World Trade Organization (WTO). APEC members are working on a wide variety of topics this year, but a key objective is to create a post-2020 vision before the annual leaders meeting in November. The introduction of a pandemic has made this work more urgent than ever, as collective action is needed to drive growth and jobs across the world in the new normal. Two important groupings have big milestones in August. First, the members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) met last week. The CPTPP, which still has no secretariat to manage this sprawling and complex trade agreement, is instead driven by a series of meetings across the year by government officials working on various aspects of the deal. The primary mechanism for oversight is the CPTPP Commission, which will be held virtually under Mexicos chairmanship this year. This commission meeting should be notable for a few reasons. First, it is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the agreement after more than 18 months in operation. While trade flows remain depressed under the pandemic, governments like Vietnam have taken advantage of the opportunity to expand knowledge. Vietnam held 577 seminars and workshops in 2019 alone to encourage the proper utilisation of the CPTPP by businesses of all sizes across the country. Second, the commission will review any issues that have emerged in implementation. An agreement that runs to nearly 600 pages with thousands of country-specific commitments is bound to have a few issues. As a simple example, a typo in one of the letters mentioned yams instead of yarn. While the CPTPP rulebook is extensive, in many areas it is remarkably thin. For instance, the CPTPP allows for advanced rulings on issues like tariff classification and rules of origin, but it does not actually say how such things will be done or how members will recognise rulings between parties. These are implementation details that have to be reviewed regularly to ensure that the spirit and intent of the provisions are applied on the ground. If there are issues, members have to address these challenges in various committee meetings and report solutions to the commission at the annual meeting. Finally, and perhaps of most interest to outsiders, the commission is the body tasked with managing accession of new members. The RCEP will be an impactful new trade arrangement, with commitments in around 20 chapters.(Photo Le Toan) The list of potential new members is not terribly long, and 2020 has made it even more challenging for some candidates to consider membership at this time. All of the institutions attached to trade, including trade ministries, customs agencies, and political leadership have been distracted by a wide variety of policies and programmes aimed at managing and mitigating COVID-19 damage. Nevertheless, the commission will be reviewing the entry requirements for new members and considering possible candidates for admission. While the original TPP had a strict rule to prohibit observer status for potential members to ensure that only committed participants joined the ongoing negotiations, the CPTPP members may want to find a new pathway to allow a small handful of interested countries to start becoming familiar with the agreement and working through issues related to formal membership. The commission is only scheduled to meet once a year, so missing this opportunity to expand means a lengthy delay. At a time of such unsettled trade relationships, it is problematic to have promising candidates wait even longer to start working on membership. Meanwhile, also this month the five active members (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam) are wrapping up work on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The 15 participating countries in RCEP (the ASEAN, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea) are due to sign the agreement in November. This means the final texts and schedules need to be completed in August to allow sufficient time for member governments to review the final details. The legal scrubbing of the RCEP has taken some time, as there were several fast and furious changes at the end of last year when talks were getting down to the wire. Not all of the bilateral commitments between members over tariff cuts were fully completed and the matching rules of origin work has also taken time to conclude. Switching to virtual negotiations has also slowed progress in some areas. However, all the necessary work for the RCEP should be completed next month as the agreement heads towards signature in November. Once signed, it will likely take until January 2022 to enter into force, as the agreement needs to obtain domestic-level approval in at least six ASEAN member states plus three of the five ASEAN dialogue partners. The RCEP will also be a sprawling trade arrangement, with commitments in 20 or so chapters, including goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights, standards, cooperation and development, micro-sized and small enterprises, and much more. The institutional arrangements are important the RCEP needs a dedicated secretariat to manage implementation and provide the kind of sustained attention to the agreement that is necessary if it is to have a significant impact on trade in Asia. Overall, Asia continues to have some bright spots of promise on trade and economics. Governments in the region have largely recognised the importance of keeping goods, services and investments moving and have taken critical steps to keep up momentum. Such efforts should be encouraged. Covid-19 has had a seismic impact on many Irish food and drink producers, particularly those whose businesses were focused on supplying pubs, cafes and restaurants, or geared towards export. Rather than give up, the most enterprising have developed new business models that allow Irish home cooks and food lovers to enjoy high-quality local products that might previously have been too expensive or simply not available to retail customers. With online delivery services ramped up in terms of efficiency, and most of us spending more time in the kitchen, there's no excuse to stick to the same-old, same-old supermarket shop anymore. And by supporting local producers, we can bolster the economy and establish good shopping habits with lasting benefits. "Back in January, we decided to grow way more tomatoes and aubergines, as there was such demand for them from the restaurants last year," says organic grower Jenny McNally of McNally Family Farm (mcnallyfamilyfarm.ie) in Balrickard, north Co Dublin, "but business is way down in terms of restaurants so our farm-shop and market-stall customers are getting them instead. The growing conditions in the tunnels are perfect at the moment so we have lots of both, but are selling out every week." Exotic crops, such as shishito and Padron peppers, oyster leaves and tomatillos that in other years would have been destined for restaurants, are now available to home cooks - and gluts of courgettes and cabbages mean that anyone who can turn their hand to fermenting and pickling will be able to fill their larder for the winter at very little cost. "A huge cabbage is 1.50, and that makes a lot of kraut or kimchi," says Jenny. See also: Richard Corrigan's Virginia Park Lodge, virginiaparklodge.com; Clonanny Farm, Facebook @ClonannyFarm; Ballyholey Farm Shop, ballyholeyfarmshop.com; Drummond House Garlic, drummondhouse.ie; Valleyview Farm, Facebook @Valleyview-Farm Fish and shellfish Niall Sabongi of Sustainable Seafood Ireland (sustainableseafood.ie) made a quick switch to online delivery service when his restaurant customers - including The Greenhouse, which holds two Michelin stars - closed back in March. He has since added a retail element with pitches in branches of Avoca and at the Saturday market in Airfield, Dublin. "Sixty per cent of the restaurants are back open now," he says, "but volumes are way down on what they were and there's so much uncertainty. People don't know whether they want to go out or not." Niall buys much of his stock from Irish day boats dotted around the coast, many of which would have exported the bulk of their catch pre-lockdown. Although exports to Europe have resumed, those further afield have not - which means that bargains abound, making this the summer to get to grips with Irish fish and seafood. "Lobster is very affordable," says Niall, who is currently selling two for 25. "My kids are sick of eating it - they say, 'Daddy! Not lobster again.' Turbot has never been better value. People are buying whole turbot to roast for Sunday lunch. Red mullet is almost finished, but tuna season is starting. If you eat in season, you eat at the best price point." Niall recommends line-caught pollock as the best bargain of all right now. "I'd choose it over cod any time," he says. "It has beautiful pearly white flesh and a kilo feeds four or five people for a tenner. Irish people look down on it but that's mad." See also: Allta, alltabox.ie; Glenmar Shellfish, glenmarshellfish.com; Mullaghmore Sea Farm, Co Sligo, mullaghmoreseafarm.com; Kish Fish, Howth, Co Dublin, kishfish.ie; Gannet Fishmongers, Galway, eatmorefish.ie Oysters Irish oysters are a premium product that pre-Covid would have been eaten more in hotels and restaurants than in Irish homes, or exported live around the world, being particularly prized in China and Hong Kong. But with demand from restaurants down, international flights in disarray and a product that's particularly vulnerable to shipping delays, oyster farmers are having to look to new markets for their products. Diarmuid Kelly of Kelly Oysters in Kilcolgan, Co Galway, has introduced a farm-gate click-and-collect service which is a hit with locals and holidaymakers in the area, who can pick up Gigas oysters, clams and mussels. From September 1, the start of the native oyster season, he will offer an all-Ireland next-day delivery service for a flat rate of 10. "The wild native oysters grow in self-sustaining oyster beds and are juicy, buttery and delicious," he says. "They are considered the best-tasting oyster in the world, thanks to where they grow, at the confluence of the sea and the Clarinbridge and Kilcolgan rivers." See kellyoysters.com See also: Carlingford Oysters, carlingfordoystercompany.ie; Flaggy Shore Oysters, redbankfoodco.com; Achill Oysters, achilloysters.com Poultry Sales of chest freezers rocketed during lockdown, and those with spare capacity can take advantage of the bargains to be had by buying in bulk. Sean Ring in Co Kilkenny supplies many of Ireland's best restaurants with his organic chickens; if you buy them individually in a high-end butcher's, they cost around 20, but ordered online, you'll pay 58 for four. Free-range chickens are also available, as are various other chicken products including goujons, legs, wings and breasts. For 4, you can get a batch of wing tips and carcasses for stock-making, which will up your soup game no end. Minimum order 150; ringsfarm.ie See also: The Chicken Inn, English Market, Cork, Facebook @chickfoods Coffee "From a business point of view, everything changed overnight," says Frank Kavanagh of Cloud Picker coffee roastery in Crumlin, Dublin, "and we had to implement new systems to cater for a very different type of customer." Pre-Covid, the vast majority of Cloud Picker's business was wholesale, supplying cafes and restaurants. "Our average order used to be 20kg," says Frank, "but with domestic customers, it might just be 250g. Tiny orders take more time, and people were buying a lot of gifts. We've seen a real appetite from our customers to try different kinds of coffees - they want to go on that journey - and we've added magazines and products from small artisan producers such as Olly's Honey, White Mausu and Harry's Nut Butter. People are definitely buying treats." Cloud Picker's wholesale business is back up to 40pc of what it was pre-Covid, with the increase in retail business making up the difference. "We hope to hold on to the home customer," says Frank, "so we have introduced an online chat function and are very on it in terms of responding to messages from customers on Instagram." See cloudpickercoffee.ie See also: Imbibe Coffee Roasters, imbibe.ie; 3Fe, 3fe.com; Red Rooster, davenportcoffee.com Flour If you've mastered sourdough, perfected soda bread or cracked focaccia during lockdown, chances are that it's a habit that will stick. It's far cheaper to buy flour in bulk than picking up a kilo here and there, and you can always share it out among friends and family. "I was almost exclusively supplying to restaurants when Covid hit, and now I'm the exact opposite," says James Kelly, farmer and miller, of Ballymore Organics in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare (ballymoreorganics.ie), who was taken by surprise by the demand for flour on the part of lockdown bakers. So much so that he ran out of flour at one point and had to wait to harvest, dry, clean, store and fine-clean it, before milling as orders came in. In recent weeks the demand from the restaurant trade picked up - Kelly supplies the flour for the two-Michelin-star Aimsir's signature bread baked in Dexter beef fat - but he says that his whole business has realigned. "I love this new element of supplying direct to home bakers and porridge aficionados all over Ireland. The most popular products have been plain flour and coarse wholemeal. I only had a chance to perfect the oats when I ran out of wheat, and it's not really porridge season for most people, except the diehards, but I'm hoping that will be as popular as we head into autumn." See also: The Little Mill, Co Kilkenny, thelittlemill.ie Patisserie "Pre-Covid, we sold nothing to consumers other than via the range that we do for Dunnes Stores' Simply Better," says Robert Bullock of Le Patissier in Dublin's Mulhuddart (lepatissier.ie), whose upmarket patisserie business supplies restaurants such as Michael's in Mount Merrion and Roly's Bistro, and caters for weddings and events including the Punchestown Racing Festival, with 10,000 guests. In March, Robert had to let all of his staff go and ran the business with his partner, Louisa, and adult children, James and Ellie. They set up an online business offering boxes of seven individual pastries for 35 for delivery, and the new model was an instant hit. "We have had some customers order 35 boxes at a time to be delivered to friends and family, and corporate business has been good, with companies buying boxes to be delivered to their staff working from home. The ripple effect has been great for us - if someone receives a box as a gift, they tend to go on and order one for someone else." Robert has managed to bring all of his staff back to work and is on target to raise 5,000 for the Irish Cancer Society via his Classic Twist box, 5 from the sale of each box going to the charity. Meat Michelle and John Hourigan of Ridgeway Wagyu in Dromard, Co Wicklow (wagyu.ie), were supplying mainly to restaurants, including Fallon & Byrne, before that business was decimated, and quickly got an online shop up and running. Wagyu beef is a premium product known for its rich, buttery texture and is highly prized in Japan, where it originates, but relatively new to the Irish market. "The response from households has been fantastic," says Michelle. "People are keen to try something that they might have seen as unaffordable before." A packet of 12 burgers costs 45, with steaks also available, and free delivery in Dublin and Wicklow. See also: Metcalfe Park, for rare-breed, grass-finished beef from Cynnie Fortune-Ryan's herd of Kerry cattle, Instagram @metcalfeparkbeef; Andarl Farm, for free-range pork, andarlfarm.ie; Atlantic Erris Lamb (wildatlanticwayfarm.com) and Goat Ireland (goatireland.ie) from valhallameats.com; John Stone Beef (and lamb, on the menu at The Butcher Grill and The Marker Hotel), johnstonebeefshop.com; Calveys Achill Mountain Lamb, achilllamb.ie; Ballinwillin Farm (venison, goat and wild boar), ballinwillinhouse.com Scores of cadets who attended the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on Saturday expressed great excitement after Prime Minister announced the government's plan to expand the in border and coastal areas. In his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the prime minister said that keeping in mind development of youth in border and coastal areas, the government is going to expand the Cadet Corps (NCC) for them. "We are going to train around one lakh new cadets and efforts will be made to ensure one-third of those are girls," Modi said. He said there are around 173 districts in border and coastal areas. "In border areas, the army will train the cadets. In coastal areas, the Navy will train them. And where there are airbases, the Air Force will impart training to these cadets. This way, border and coastal areas will get trained manpower to combat disasters. And, youths will also acquire necessary skills for careers in armed forces," the prime minister said. Hundreds of cadets, boys from various schools and young men from colleges drawn from different parts of Delhi, who sat on chairs placed in a neat pattern adhering to social distancing norms, cheered when Modi made the announcement for expansion. They were dressed in a saffron t-shirt bearing the logo and a green pair of trousers and sported a white cap, reflecting the colours of the flag. The NCC currently has 17 directorates, and members of the Delhi Directorate from different battalions were present at the event that was scaled down in view of the COVID-19 situation. Kapil Chaudhary, 20, a student of the Delhi University's Shyam Lal College, said, "We are very happy to hear about the expansion plan for the NCC in coastal and border areas". "It is needed and we would get to serve in those areas if the opportunity arises," said Chaudhary, an army cadet. Sixteen-year-old Vikram, a Class 8 student from Kalkaji, was excited too after hearing the announcement by the prime minister. "I am in school but I know the kind of training NCC provides that equips us to respond to disasters and natural calamities by using our skills. Now we hope after expansion we would get to travel to the border and coastal areas," he said. Ankit, 20, also of Shyam Lal College termed the decision a "welcome step". "We will have more trained manpower and one-third of that will be girls, which is even better. Recently, we saw in the film 'Gunjan Saxena' that women have fought a tough battle for equality in defence forces," he said. In January, NCC Director-General Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra said that the sanctioned strength of the corps is 14.6 lakh and 13.5 lakh cadets have been enrolled. "The target is to reach the 15 lakh target by 2022. Also, we wish to take the current girl cadets strength from 31.86 per cent to 33 per cent by 2022," he had said. Nikhil Kumar, 17, a school student from Shashtri Park area, said it was his second time at the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. "What moved me was the prime minister's call to become self-reliant. As he said, we are a country of 130 crore people. There's nothing that's out of our reach. We have been importing technology from developed countries, it's time we took a step towards becoming a developed nation," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In what could be another blow to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the Supreme Court has said that the insolvency law is not out of purview of the Limitation Acts as it rejects an application for a default committed more than three years from the date of insolvency petition. The apex court said in its 14 August verdict that only existence of a debt and a default on that debt is not enough for admitting an insolvency plea. It also stated that the NCLT cannot admit cases of default more than three years (as prescribed by the Limitation Act) before the filing of insolvency application. The Limitation Act prescribes a time limit within which a suit can be filed against someone. The time limit prescribed for most suits is three years. The objective of the Limitation Act is to avoid lengthy proceedings. The case pertains to an Aurangabad-based maker of aluminium ingots -- Veer Gurjar Aluminium Industries - which defaulted on a loan in 2011 taken from Corporation Bank in 2008 and 2009. The loan was later taken over by JM Financial ARC, which filed an insolvency application against the debtor in March 2017. The NCLT admitted the application in August 2018, against which the debtor moved NCLAT. Also Read: RCom insolvency to fall apart if spectrum not part of its assets: SBI tells SC The debtor's appeal against the NCLT order was based on the fact that the financial creditor cannot file an insolvency application in 2018 for a default committed in 2011. However, NCLAT rejected the plea of the debtor and upheld the NCLT order. The debtor than moved the Supreme Court, which held that insolvency proceeding against a default in 2011 is clearly barred by limitation for having been filed much later than the period of three years from the date of default as stated in the application. It also said that both NCLT and NCLAT overlooked the question of limitation and hence set aside the NCLAT order which allowed the insolvency proceeding against the debtor. Also Read: No resolution in sight even after 3 years for Era Infra insolvency Divakar Vijayasarathy, managing partner, DVS Advisors, termed the judgement a big jolt to the IBC amidst rising cases of NPAs. He says: "Though IBC was introduced with a view to expedite resolution of NPAs, but by virtue of this judgement the same wouldn't be applicable to defaults which more than 3 years old. These cases would have to be settled under existing laws through DRT, which is time consuming and largely ineffective. The response of the government to this decision would be interesting as this puts a serious blot on the overall resolution process and the entire financial ecosystem is the loser." The UK is today urged to take inspiration from the wartime generation in the battle against coronavirus as world leaders pay tribute on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. Boris Johnson has hailed the courage of those who brought the Second World War to a close and delivered peace and prosperity. He has joined other leaders including Donald Trump in a video to commemorate the sacrifices of the UKs Armed Forces and Allies. In his own video message, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, said: Its important that as we face the challenges of today, we take inspiration from that generation. Through their community spirit and their bravery and their determination for a better world theyve shown us what we can achieve when we pull together. In the Friendship of Nations video 10 global figures including Mr Johnson and Mr Trump, Nigerias president Muhammadu Buhari and Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau, will say in turn: To all who served, we thank you. The commemorations will start at sunrise with a piper playing Battles Over at the Imperial War Museums HMS Belfast in London. Military pipers will also play at dawn in India, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal. Later the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will lead a two-minute silence at 11am at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Afterwards the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part in a flypast. The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who served in the Second World War as a naval officer, will make a rare public appearance at the event, after his retirement from royal duties in 2017. As the day goes on the Red Arrows will fly over Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London. Their flight path will include the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, where three Burma Star recipients live in retirement. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 16:25:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's foreign ministry on Saturday expressed deep worry over Japanese leaders' visit to the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, seen as a symbol of the militaristic and colonial past of Japan. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the government expresses deep disappointment and worry about the repeated visits and ritual offerings by Japan's government and parliament leaders to the Yasukuni Shrine that beautifies Japan's war of aggression and enshrines war criminals. The statement urged Japan's responsible leaders to squarely face up to the history and show humble introspection and sincere repent over the past atrocities "with action". Such action can build future-oriented relations between Seoul and Tokyo and let Japan gain trust from neighboring countries and the international community, the statement noted. Four members of the Japanese cabinet visited the shrine earlier in the day to mark 75 years since Japan's surrender in World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his ritual offering to the shrine instead of the visit. The Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from World War II. Visits and ritual offerings made by Japanese officials to the infamous shrine have consistently sparked criticism and hurt the feelings of South Korea and other countries brutalized by Japan during the war. The Korean Peninsula was colonized by the Imperial Japan from 1910 to 1945. Enditem Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/8/2020 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Dion Borleys favourite toy growing up was an emerald- green action figure called Man-at-Arms, modelled after a character from Masters of the Universe. MOTU, as its known to its loyal legion of fans, is a decades-old media franchise created by toy conglomerate Mattel Inc. that, in addition to plastic playthings, also spawned a newspaper comic strip, multiple video games and two feature films. (No need to waste your time viewing 1987s Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture featuring a pre-Monica Geller Courteney Cox; the flick has a paltry 17 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.) Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press An original Easy Bake Oven among board games. Borley, 45, a toy collector for about eight years, "seriously for the last four," recently recouped the cherished piece after years of searching. There was a hitch. His "new" Man-at-Arms was decidedly underdressed, having lost the gold-coloured suit of armour it came with when it first hit store shelves in 1983. Luckily, Borley belongs to Winnipegs Toy Realm, a two-year-old online community whose members freely share photos of their local toy hauls on the groups Facebook page. (Our favourite: an April post showing off action figures depicting characters from the long-running, cheeseball TV series The Love Boat.) Last month Borley uploaded a pic of his treasure along with a message reading, "I really like this dude and would love to be able to complete him." Within 24 hours a fellow member replied, stating he had the precise accessories Borley was hunting for. "This is the power of the Toy Realm, having like-minded people to discuss our passions with, but also as a powerful network of knowledge and information," says Borley, who collects toys mainly for nostalgic reasons. "Its also about friendship, camaraderie and helping each other out, whether youre just starting out or are a longtime peer." --- What could possibly go wrong? In 1950, the A.C. Gilbert Company introduced the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab. Aimed at youngsters, the science kit allowed curious minds to simulate nuclear reactions in the comfort of their bedroom. Problem was, although the kits box was clearly marked, "Exciting! Safe!" that wasnt quite the case. The model lab was soon recalled when it was discovered the included ore samples contained measurable amounts of "Honey, I nuked the kid!" uranium. Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Nathan Finlaysons POP figurine is quite extensive. OK, so maybe Nathan Finlayson, founder of Winnipegs Toy Realm, doesnt own anything quite as volatile as the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab, which despite its radioactive shortcomings still commands thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Still, there is one toy on the married 36-year-olds shelves that has something in common with the kit, owing to the fact it too was recalled soon after its release. One time while thrifting, Finlayson found a Dr. Who action figure hed never seen before and didnt know too much about. As soon as he returned home he posted a photo of it online only to be told what hed bought was distinctly unique. It turned out the toy, made to resemble Dapol Davros, one of Dr. Whos chief nemeses, was designed by a person seemingly unfamiliar with the long-running, British sci-fi series. That could explain why Finlaysons find had two arms, one more than its television counterpart. "I dont have any intention of selling it, thats not the reason I collect, but because it has a defect (later corrected) its apparently quite rare, something I likely wouldnt have found out if it wasnt for the online toy community," he says seated in a North Kildonan coffee shop. Finlayson figures he was six or seven when his older brothers began gifting him their hand-me-down G.I. Joes and Transformers. Like most kids, he was only too happy to play with his "stuff," taking the lot into the bathtub or sandbox where an arm or leg would invariably break off, if not disappear altogether. Three years ago he thought to himself how great it would be to reacquire some of his favourite childhood toys, this time for display purposes only. He joined a few online forums devoted to toy collecting and began interacting with others who shared his passion for everything from Smurfs to Star Wars to McDonalds Happy Meal giveaways. Things started out OK, but after a few months he felt something was missing. A lot of the people he was in touch with were more interested in how much something was worth versus what he refers to as the "thrill of the hunt." Because he enjoys swapping stories about turning up a vintage Tonka truck or Batman figure in the most unexpected of locations, be it a flea market, garage sale or second-hand store, he created Winnipegs Toy Realm where the focus is more on where or when a certain something was unearthed versus its potential value. Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Take a look overhead, there goes the Spider-Man. Figurine hangs among Nathan Finlaysons vast collection of toys. "If youre a collector you already know how to buy and sell," he says. "Winnipegs Toy Realm is all about show and tell. I took a gamble on members being able to get to know each other through their individual collections and form a community and thats exactly what its become." Besides its no-sales edict, Winnipegs Toy Realm has a few additional rules. First of all, all posts have to be about local finds; eBay purchases need not apply. Also, as the groups administrator Finlayson ensures all comments about other members posts are respectful and nonjudgmental. It doesnt matter if My Little Pony or Funko pop vinyls arent your cup of tea, its always interesting to ascertain why somebody else is attracted to a particular toy or make, he feels. For example, theres one Toy Realm member who customizes Hot Wheels cars, stripping them down and rebuilding them from scratch, like you would a "real" car, he goes on. Though he would never have the time or patience to do anything even remotely similar, he was fascinated to learn theres somebody who does. "On an almost daily basis Im surprised by just whats out there," he says, pegging the groups current membership at around 150. "Its incredible to see just how awesome some of these collections are and what I can aspire to. Seriously, I thought I had a lot of Polly Pocket toys but I went to a house recently where a guy had an entire wall full, which kind of put my own display to shame." Terri Settle is a member of Winnipegs Toy Realm. Shes also the owner of Terris Trinkets, a new and used toy shop that opened June 1 at 210 Larsen Ave., next door to Big Ricks Hot Rod Diner. 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. Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press May the figurines be with you: Finlayson shows off a collection of Star Wars toys. "Many of the Toy Realm members are my customers," says Settle, who occupied a booth at the Mulvey Flea Market for years before relocating to East Kildonan. "The Toy Realm allows members to showcase their collections and brag when they find something exceptional." Besides neighbourhood children, Settle welcomes a large number of adult customers ranging in age from "18 to 80," many of whom shes gotten to know on a personal level. If shes aware somebody collects Fisher-Price or Army Antz exclusively shell keep her eyes open when shes out and about, she says. "There is a certain thrill for collectors when they find a toy from their childhood," she continues. "Many parents are really excited to get their own children to love the same toys they played with as kids. There are so many toys that have stood the test of time: Lego, Marx, Transformers and any superheroes." That reminds us; because Finlayson is about to become a father he and his wife are expecting their first child this fall we couldnt let him go without asking whether or not hes willing to share his stash of toys with his kiddo. "Probably not the stuff thats still in the original box the stuff Ive never touched myself but everything else for sure," he says with a chuckle. "I dont have too many toys from my own childhood but the ones I do, I cherish them immensely, even if theyre broken or missing a few pieces. Im hoping my children will grow up getting as big a kick out of this stuff as I do." david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Kookmin Bank Global Credit Research - 14 Aug 2020 Hong Kong, August 14, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Kookmin 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. Kookmin Bank's (Kookmin) Aa3 long-term foreign-currency deposit and senior unsecured debt ratings incorporate a three-notch uplift from Kookmin's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of a3, based on our assessment of a very high likelihood of the bank receiving support from the Government of Korea (Aa2), in times of stress. The very high probability of government support for Kookmin is underpinned by its position as one of Korea's largest banks by assets. Kookmin's ratings are supported by its strengthened loan underwriting and resulting stable asset quality, as well as capitalization that is stronger than that of its peers, with a tangible common equity ratio of 13.7% as of March 2020. Other considerations include the bank's large size and strength in retail banking, which result in stable profitability and a sticky retail deposit. 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. Tae Jong Ok Asst Vice President - Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd. 24/F One Pacific Place 88 Queensway Hong Kong China (Hong Kong S.A.R.) JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Sophia Lee, CFA Associate Managing Director Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd. 24/F One Pacific Place 88 Queensway Hong Kong China (Hong Kong S.A.R.) 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Hospitals overcharging patients is not anything new but during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has reached such levels where common people cannot afford to get treatment private in hospitals. Despite several state governments capping the cost of treatment in private hospitals, they still find ways around it to charge high amounts from patients. BCCL According to Vijay Gopal, an anti-corruption activist from Hyderabad, a private hospital in the city had charged Rs 3,32,682 for 12 days of COVID treatment of a 52-year-old patient. Out of this, the cost of PPE kits alone was Rs 96,000. The patient had been admitted to the hospital on July 13 and was discharged by July 25. The PPE kits together have cost Rs 96,000. This is not under the price cap. In some other private hospitals, they are charging upto Rs 8,000 per kit, Gopal was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express. AFP In his complaint to the Director of Public Health Gopal demanded that government must ensure that such hospitals, charging above MRP for PPE kits must pay a fine. Recently another hospital in the city had charged Rs 2.23 lakh for 246 PPE kits, which is Rs 910 per kit. Telangana health minister Eatala Rajender had recently said that the office of DPH has received at least 1,039 complaints against several private hospitals in the past few weeks, and most of them were about overcharging. Due to the rising number of complaints, Telangana government has now directed these hospitals to display the rates/charges of their various services at prominent places of the hospital for the benefit of patients. These rates/charges should be applicable as of December 31, 2019. REUTERS According to an order by the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare on Monday, high-end drugs and PPE (personal protection equipment) kits excluded from the package prices have to be charged at MRP only. While discharging the patients, the bills have to be given to them as certain complaints have been received stating that detailed invoices have not been given. "Any deviations from these instructions will be viewed seriously and action will be initiated," the order said. The state government had earlier issued orders capping rates being charged by the private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment. In addition to discussing border closures, this week Q&A discusses tech giants, plus a scathing new report on the lack of diversity on Australian TV screens. This pandemic has fast turned this nation into two countries- the states opening up and those locking down. With border closures in place, how do we stay united? Also, in the time of COVID it is vital we trust our sources of news and information. Conspiracy theories, fake news and the influence of big tech are all under the microscope. The government is looking to introduce a new code to force tech giants to pay traditional media for news content. Will it help level the playing field and hold digital giants to account? And we look at a scathing new report on the lack of diversity on Australian TV screens. Joining Hamish on the panel live: Barnaby Joyce, Nationals Member for New England Michelle Rowland, Shadow Communications Minister Antoinette Lattouf, Journalist and diversity advocate Niki Savva, Columnist and author Ziggy Ramo, Musician Sinead Boucher, Chief executive and owner of Stuff Ltd 9:35pm Monday on ABC. Flash Three Katyusha rockets landed at the edge of Baghdad International Airport on Friday, the Iraqi military said. The attack took place in the evening when the three rockets were fired from al-Radhwaniyah area in southwestern Baghdad, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. The attack caused only minor damage, the statement said without giving further details. Meanwhile, an interior ministry source told Xinhua that the three rockets landed at the edge of the airport near an Iraqi army base, housing U.S. military experts, who are tasked with training the Iraqi forces, without causing casualties. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, but Baghdad airport and the Iraqi military bases housing U.S. troops across Iraq, as well as the U.S. embassy in the Green Zone, have been frequently targeted by mortar and rocket attacks. More than 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against the Islamic State militants, mainly providing training and advising to the Iraqi forces. One town in Offaly accounted for 70% of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the county in the last two months according to figures from the HSE. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Edenderry Urban Area has jumped from 80 on June 12 to 158 on August 12, an increase of 78. In total there were 113 new cases in Offaly from June 12 to August 12. The figures are contained in Ireland's COVID-19 Data Hub which uses official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). It was updated late on Friday for the first time in two months. There was an increase of eight cases in the Tullamore Urban Area over the two month period while there was an increase of one in Clara. Portarlington North saw an increase of two cases. There was also an increase of two cases in Screggan from 11 to 13 while there was also an increase to five in Clonmore but as it was listed as less than five on June 12, it is not possible to say the exact increase. Other major towns in Offaly have shown no increase. The figures for Birr, Ferbane and Banagher have all remained the same from June 12 to August 12. READ NEXT: BREAKING: Almost no cases of Covid-19 confirmed in South and West Offaly in last two months For the rest of the electoral areas in the county, there was no increase in cases in two months. or it is not possible to say if there has been an increase. The majority of areas were listed as having less than five on June 12 and are still listed as less than five on August 12. All of the county is locked down as part of a wide ranging, regional lockdown imposed on Offaly, Laois and Kildare last week. READ NEXT: How many confirmed cases of Covid-19 are in hospitals in Offaly, Laois and Kildare If a second wave of the coronavirus sweeps through nursing homes in New Jersey again, certified nursing aide 62-year-old Margaret Boyce said she will be there on the front lines to feed, bathe and dress the residents, as she has for the last 17 years. But Boyce pleaded with a panel of state lawmakers Thursday to listen to her experiences and make changes the long-term care industry desperately needs to keep residents and employees safe. As a veteran CNA at JFK Hartwyck-Edison Estates, Boyce said she earns $15.78 an hour, and must work a side job as a home health aide to pay her bills. Both Boyce and her son, a porter at the Edison center, contracted COVID-19 and eventually returned to work, she said. CNAs like me werent given N95 masks like the nurses and management, even though we were the ones who spend the most time with the residents. When I asked about getting a mask, a supervisor told me, CNAs dont need N95s. You are exposed anyway, " Boyce told a stunned panel of state lawmakers Thursday. As a nursing home worker, you feel invisible. People think you have a dirty job. And in this pandemic, weve learned that to some people, our lives dont matter that much, Boyce said. Long-term care lobbyists, union officials, family members and advocates for senior citizens and disabled people debated the merits of nine proposed laws that would require closer state scrutiny nursing homes and make millions of dollars available for temporary wage increases and sick pay. The Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee and the Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee which hosted the hearing are expected to vote on the legislation later this month. But Boyces four-minute testimony stood out in the three-hour virtual gathering as among the most riveting and alarming. She is there for 17 years breaking her back for a wage that appears to be capped at barely $16 an hour, said Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, D-Essex. The workload they have on them is far beyond my imagination. Assembly Chairwoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, assured Boyce, a member of the nursing home employee union 1199SEIU, this package of bills is to protect you specifically, to support you and to make sure you are safe in your workplace. A spokeswoman for Hackensack Meridian Health, which owns JFK-Hartwyck at Edison Estates, did not directly address Boyces testimony in a statement on Friday. The company, the largest hospital and health care chain in New Jersey, expressed pride in their essential workers and stated its commitment to protecting our team members, patients and guests from infection and harm. Our team members were trained in the proper use of PPE and are required to wear full protective gear surgical masks, gloves and gowns throughout their work shift. Our policies and processes are designed to keep everyone safe and are in accordance with best practice guidelines of the CDC and multiple governing organizations, the statement said. Residents and advocates for the veterans home at Menlo Park in Edison also brought some attendees to tears with testimony on the conditions at the state-run center that contributed to 62 resident deaths. Senate Health committee chairman Joseph Vitale called for the resignation of Menlo Parks CEO. The bills are: S2758/A4482 - Raises the minimum wage for direct care staff in long term care facilities to $3 higher than state minimum wage, which would be annually adjusted based on cost-of-living increases. S2790/A4476 Would create a Long-Term Care Emergency Operations Center in the New Jersey Department of Health to serve as a centralized command and resource center that would respond to future infectious disease outbreaks affecting long term care centers. S-2789/A4477 Proposes revisions in license, operational and reporting requirements for long-term care facilities. S2786/A4483 - Allows employees in long-term care to earn paid sick leave. S2759/A4478 - Would require the Department of Health to establish a scaling system of actions and penalties for long-term care facilities found in violation of state and federal operating requirements. S2788/A4479 Proposes one-time, lump-sum payments to long-term care staff who provided direct care services to residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. S2787/A4481 - Would establish a task force to develop recommendations for change in the long-term care system. S2791/A4480 - Requires New Jersey Department of Human Services to review and evaluate any existing requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations for the delivery of nursing home services. S2813/ A4547 - Appropriates $62.3 million for a temporary Medicaid rate increase that would raise direct care worker salaries and the purchase of personal protective equipment. With 6,690 resident fatalities, New Jersey has the second-highest per capita death rate from the coronavirus, behind Rhode Island, according to federal data released Monday. A report by Manatt Health, a healthcare consultant hired by the Murphy administration after the state came under withering criticism for its pandemic response in long-term care facilities, provided the framework for the bills, sponsors said. Lobbyists for the long-term care industry pledged cooperation but stopped short of supporting the specific bills because they said the cost too much money to implement with more government funding. Todays proposed legislation is not helpful. To the contrary, the Legislatures proposed bills completely distort the Manatt Report by advancing a debunked narrative that somehow nursing homes are to blame, said Jonathan Dolan, president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey. Aside from the bill dedicating $62.3 million to a rate hike and infection control equipment, Dolan said, all these bills accomplish is to heap additional regulation on an already highly-regulated industry. With the right changes and amendments in a spirit of thoughtful and mutual collaboration, we can make this package of reforms workable and impactful, he added. Huttle noted that Dolans 21-page written testimony contains only criticisms and no recommendations on how to make the legislation better. You say you want to self-police and we would gladly have you self-police, but unfortunately many of the common sense methods of hand washing and isolation and just taking universal precautions were not followed, Huttle said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Mumbai, Aug 15 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Board on Friday approved the transfer of Rs 57,128 crore surplus to the Central government for FY20. The decision was taken at the 584th meeting of the Central Board under the chairmanship of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, through video conference. The Board reviewed the current economic situation, continued global and domestic challenges and the monetary, regulatory and other measures taken by the RBI to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic. It also approved the transfer of Rs 57,128 crore as surplus to the government for the accounting year 2019-20, while deciding to maintain the Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.5 per cent. In the last fiscal, the RBI approved a Rs 1,76,000 crore ($24.8 billion) dividend payment to the government, including Rs 1,48,000 crore for FY20. The central bank decides on the amount of surplus or dividend transfer to the government based on its income during the period July 1 to June 30. It earns via interest income on account of open market operations (OMOs), foreign exchange (FX) gains, and writing back of excess risk provisions. Its liabilities include issuance of notes and deposits held (CRR and reverse repos). The transfer of surplus is expected to help the government ease fiscal pressure caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and also aid it in giving the economy a boost. In the past, the demand on the RBI for higher dividends and to part with a greater share of its capital has been a hotly debated issue between the central bank and the government. Aditi Nayar, Principal Economist, ICRA, said: "The surplus to be transferred by the RBI to the Central Government mildly trails the budgeted amount." "However, this shortfall pales in comparison with the Covid-induced revenue shock from tax and non-tax revenues and disinvestment proceeds, which we assess at over Rs 6 trillion relative to the Government of India's FY2021 Budget Estimates." E. Jason Wambsgans-Pool/Getty ImagesR. Kelly's manager, Donnell Russell, was charged Friday with for allegedly making a threatening phone call to the Manhattan theater that screened the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly back in 2018. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, Russell was charged with one count of conspiracy to threaten physical harm by interstate communication and one count of threatening physical harm by interstate communication. Each of those charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Russell's alleged threatening phone call on December 4, 2018 was made in an effort to halt the New York screening of Surviving R. Kelly, which explored the allegations that Kelly engaged in abusive sexual relationships with both minor girls and adult women. "By allegedly threatening a shooting at the theater, Russell prevented the screening, which was attended by a number of R. Kellys alleged victims," said acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss in a statement. "Threats of gun violence aimed at intimidating and silencing victims of sexual abuse are unlawful as well as unacceptable. We are committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting such crimes. According to authorities, Russell attempted to have the screening shut down via a cease and desist order but when that didn't work, he allegedly called the theater and told an employee an armed individual would open fire at the screening if it went on. After receiving that call, the employee notified authorities and the screening was shut down and the theater evacuated. Russell was expected to make an appearance in federal court on Friday. By Candice Williams Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Saturday offered talks with Japan to resolve a bitter feud over wartime grievances as the nation celebrated the 75th anniversary of its liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II. In a nationally televised speech, Moon said that his government has left the door of consultations wide open for Japan to settle a long legal and diplomatic dispute over compensation for Koreans who had been subjected to forced labour at mines, factories and other sites. Relations between the two countries sank to their lowest point in decades last year as they allowed their disagreements over wartime history to spill over into issues related to trade and military co-operation. Moon, who tempered his words, avoided direct criticism of the conservative Japanese government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which has insisted that all compensation issues were settled when the two countries normalized relations under a 1965 treaty. Japans stance was refuted by South Koreas Supreme Court in 2018, when it ruled that the deal did not cover individual rights to seek reparations and called on Japanese companies to compensate aging Korean plaintiffs who had been forced into slave labour. Our government is ready to sit face-to-face with the Japanese government at any time to find a mutual solution the victims can support, Moon said. He said the process would help build a bridge of friendship and future co-operation between the countries. Tokyo didnt immediately respond to Moons comments. In a move Seoul saw as retaliation for the court ruling, Japan last year tightened export restrictions on certain high-tech materials used by major South Korean companies to produce semiconductors and smartphone displays key exports for South Korea. South Korea has proceed with a complaint to the World Trade Organization. Moon also called for North Korea to respond to South Korean proposals for bilateral co-operation, including joint programs against COVID-19 and other diseases, and the resumption of temporary reunions between aging relatives separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency in a statement urged Japan to make a sincere apology and reparation to Korean victims of forced labour and military sexual slavery. The Accra Regional Police Command has begun an investigation into the cause of the fire that destroyed the Electoral Commission (EC) office at Sapeiman near Accra on Friday. Head of Public Affairs Unit (PAU), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge said the cause of the fire, as well as the value of the damage caused, were not immediately known. DSP Tenge also added that there was no casualty. Giving the facts, she said the Police Command received information about the fire outbreak at the Regional Office of the EC in the early hours of Friday. She said four fire tenders from Amasaman, Kotoku, Nsawam, and Abelemkpe were brought in to quench the fire and provide security. Police officers from the Division were also deployed to provide security for the Fire officers, she said. The Head of the PAU said the room that stored used electoral materials was razed but the fire was brought under control at about 0500 hours. The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Commission, Kwame Amoah, informed the Regional Police Commander DCOP Afful Boakye Yiadom, who was at the scene, that the incident would not affect the recent registration and the upcoming December 2020 elections in areas under its jurisdiction. Source: Myjoyonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Eliza Scanlen has described the emotional impact of shaving her head for her new film Babyteeth. The Sharp Objects star, 21, who was most recently seen in Greta Gerwigs adaptation of Little Women, plays a teenager with terminal cancer in the Australian movie. She told the PA news agency: I was terrified at first, Im a twin and it was kind of a running joke in my family that I had a big dent in my head from my sister kicking me in the womb, so I had no idea whether that had stayed as I grew older. It was relief when we shaved it off and my head was perfectly round, so there was nothing to worry about. I realised after shaving it how much I hid behind my hair and it instilled in me a confidence that I didnt have before and it sounds cheesy but I think it really did transform me. She added: I think that Milla (her character in the movie) encouraged me to be less generic and shaving your hair off is a very good way of doing that to begin with. Expand Close Eliza Scanlen in Babyteeth (Lisa Tomasetti/Picturehouse Ent) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eliza Scanlen in Babyteeth (Lisa Tomasetti/Picturehouse Ent) After shaving my head, being out in public felt different at first, it requires a lot of bravery to begin with to step out without any hair and I felt especially uncomfortable knowing that people were going to see me in a certain way and that I was going to receive a lot of undeserved sympathy for an illness that I didnt have. People did assume that i was ill and that was at times quite uncomfortable so it just gave me a lot of perspective really. Video of the Day She continued: I think Milla takes risks and through the making of the film, I learned how to take risks as Eliza as well. Murphy said it was always important to her to cast an actress who was willing to shave off her hair, adding: For me vanity in actors is a real turn off because I think the whole point is you shouldnt be thinking about how you look, you have got to be in the moment of the character. It ruled out other people but to be honest, Eliza was someone that we had in mind from the beginning but also Im really happy to have those strict restrictions on actors and if they then dont want to even audition because of it, thats a really easy decision for me. I want bold performers who are risk takers so if cutting someones hair is an issue then Im not the right person for you to work with. Babyteeth is out now in UK cinemas. And on YouTube, a QAnon channel with over 100,000 followers pushed the conspiracy, too. Remember, we know what pizza was code language for, Daniel Lee, a YouTube personality popular in conspiracy circles, told his audience. The video was viewed 30,000 times. A Facebook spokeswoman, Liz Bourgeois, said in an email on Friday that its up to our fact-checking partners to determine which claims they rate, and they take a number of factors into consideration. She acknowledged that as of Friday afternoon, there were no fact-checks so far on the widely shared posts falsely tying Ms. Harris to PizzaGate. Twitter said on Friday that it permanently suspended people associated with QAnon who used many different accounts or tried to evade a previous suspension. We deploy a number of tools to add context to and address misinformation, including applying labels, not recommending tweets and limiting the reach of tweets, a Twitter spokesman, Trenton Kennedy, said. YouTube said Friday that it was reducing the spread of borderline content on the video site, including QAnon content, but that the video flagged by The Times did not violate its guidelines. Harriss Heritage Falsehoods about Ms. Harriss heritage in particular that she is not Black were among the most widely spread misinformation that Zignal Labs tracked. Since Tuesday, the argument had been mentioned over 40,000 times, the company found. Kamala Harris is not an American Black, said one tweet that collected 2,300 likes and shares after it was first posted on Wednesday. She is half Indian and half Jamaican. She is robbing American Blacks of their history. Kamala is as Black American as Obama. People convicted of terrorism offences during the Troubles should not be eligible for victims compensation payments, new Government guidance has stated. Those convicted of causing serious harm will also be unable to access the money, according to the new rules. The principles to determine eligibility for the payments were published yesterday amid an ongoing political stand-off over the implementation of the long-delayed scheme to support victims of the Troubles. Sinn Fein is boycotting the initiative because it believes the UK Governments approach could exclude thousands of injured people from Northern Irelands republican community who were involved in the conflict. People convicted of terrorism offences during the Troubles should not be eligible for victims compensation payments, new Government guidance has stated. Pictured: Stormont in Belfast In a separate dispute, the Government and Stormont Executive are at odds on who should fund the scheme. The scheme automatically bars anyone who was injured in an act they were responsible for. However, there are convicted paramilitaries who were injured in other circumstances during the Troubles, such as those who were targeted by rival gunmen or state forces. Under the scheme, any injured individuals with a serious conviction - those who were given a 30-month-plus prison sentence - must have their cases assessed by an independent adjudication board to decide whether they are eligible for the payment. The principles published by the Government yesterday will guide the boards deliberations. The guidance makes clear that it would be inappropriate to award compensation to anyone responsible for causing serious harm, such as anyone guilty of murder, attempted murder or GBH. Sinn Fein is boycotting the initiative because it believes the UK Governments approach could exclude thousands of injured people from Northern Irelands republican community. Pictured: Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly at the party's Falls Road office in Belfast The Government warned that, if the board sets aside this guidance and awards compensation to anyone who falls into that category, it reserves the right to intervene and veto it. The guidance also outlines the mitigating factors that may lead the board to allocate the payments to someone with a serious conviction. Those include whether the individual was a juvenile at the time of the offence, whether they had a mental incapacity, and whether they have demonstrated remorse and have not engaged in further criminal since the conviction. Ministers said the board, which will be chaired by a judicial figure, will assess each application on a case-by-case basis. The payments scheme, which should have opened to applications at the end of May, will pay out 2,000 to 10,000 a year depending on the severity of the injury. Publishing the guidance, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: The moral and legal obligation to deliver this scheme for victims of the Troubles injured through no fault of their own is undeniable and I hope that the publication of todays guidance will renew the focus and efforts of the Northern Ireland Executive to move forward to finally deliver for these victims. The political disagreements and delay of the last few years on this issue have gone on long enough. It is imperative that Sinn Fein now enable the scheme to move forward by agreeing with all the other parties and urgently designate a department to administer the scheme and get payments to those who will benefit most. It became increasingly clear to the Gulf states that the Western allies they had relied on for decades to come to their rescue might not be there in a pinch. Finally, as Iranian-sponsored proxy forces grew more powerful across the region in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen the Gulf states increasingly saw Iran as their greatest threat. And the 2015 Iran nuclear deal persuaded them that Washington was not committed to destroying Irans nuclear ambitions or keeping Iran pinned down by sanctions. Israel, by contrast, was unwavering in its campaign against Iran. And according to Yaakov Amidror, Mr. Netanyahus former national security adviser, the Gulf countries were hearing from Egypt and Jordan about Israels helpfulness and reliability on vital matters of national security. Demographic changes in the Gulf states also reordered their priorities, forcing a focus on creating jobs for their young people more than standing up for the Palestinians. And Gulf leaders admired Israels economy and tech sector. If the agreement with the U.A.E. holds, it would be the first flowering of the redemption Mr. Netanyahu has been promising Israelis for 11 years. His hope is that other countries will follow suit. On Friday, Jared Kushner, President Trumps senior adviser, said that normalized relations with Saudi Arabia were an inevitability. On Saturday, Israels intelligence minister, Eli Cohen, predicted that Sudan would open full relations with Israel by the end of the year. But analysts question whether many of the 19 Arab states that do not have ties with Israel will follow the Emirates lead. VICTORIABritish Columbias health minister and provincial health officer are urging people to follow physical distancing guidelines amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across the province. Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a joint statement on Friday urging residents to stick together and keep a safe distance from people they may not know or who arent in their social bubble. They say the province has the ability to bend the pandemic curve back down, but only if everyone takes part in measures related to the fight against COVID-19. Dix and Henry warn that transmission of the virus has forced nightclubs and bars to shut down, either voluntarily or because of orders from a health authority. B.C. reported 84 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the provinces total to 4,358. There were no new deaths in the past 24 hours, leaving the total number of deaths at 196. Read more about: A Central Massachusetts school is closed to undergo a deep cleaning after multiple workers tested positive for COVID-19. Athol-Royalston Regional School District Superintendent Darcy Fernandes informed the school community this week of the positive tests. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Fernandes said two employees who worked in the cafeteria of Athol Elementary School tested positive for COVID. All members that they believe were in close contact with the employees will be asked to quarantine by the DPH and/or get a COVID-19 test, she said. The individuals will not be allowed back in the building until they meet the Department of Public Healths criteria. On Friday, an additional two employees were confirmed to test positive for the virus. The district also announced this week its reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year, which will allow families to choose between full-time, in-person learning or remote learning. The decision to offer full-time, in-person learning was made after considering parent feedback and testing data for the communities served. Data from the CDC demonstrates the town of Royalston has had 0% of COVID-19 cases in 100,000 cases between January 1 and July 29, the district said. Athol has had 0.28. These numbers show that in this area, our case numbers are among the lowest in the state. The decision came ahead of the state deadline on Friday for all Massachusetts school districts to submit their reopening plans and choose between full-time, in-person learning, hybrid and fully-remote learning models. Parents who select remote learning for their children will be assigned to remote learning for six weeks, the Athol-Royalston Regional School District reopening plan states. At the end of six weeks the district will review COVID-19 conditions and decide if we will continue this offering. If a parent decides on the remote learning model and wants to return their child to school they will be able to do that by contacting the school the child is attending; within a week the school will make the change. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker unveiled a new color-coded map tracking coronavirus spread in towns and cities on Tuesday. The states map tracks the average daily case rate per 100,000 residents over a two-week period, with colors representing: Red: more than eight cases per 100,000 residents Yellow: four to eight cases per 100,000 residents Green: fewer than four cases per 100,000 residents White: fewer than five reported cases in two weeks The latest map, updated on Wednesday, shows 11 communities were deemed high risk. Of those, nine were in Eastern Massachusetts: Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Hull, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Salem and Saugus. Two Western Massachusetts communities were labeled high risk on Wednesday: Granby and Holyoke. Thirty-five more cities or towns were labeled yellow on the map, meaning they saw an average of four to eight coronavirus cases. Baker noted during a press conference the same day the map was released that such municipalities need specific strategies to attack COVID-19 there. He emphasized that, The vast majority of communities in Massachusetts are experiencing low COVID case numbers. Following the governors announcement, state education officials issued new guidance on back-to-school reopening plans. In a letter to school superintendents, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey C. Riley said the states color-coded metric for tracking possible spikes in COVID cases should inform classroom models. Such metrics should serve as a guide as to whether schools should open using full-time in-person, hybrid, or remote models, and will also support future decision-making if the impact of COVID-19 requires us to switch between educational models throughout the school year, the guidance from DESE, issued Tuesday, reads. In the guidance, Riley noted that some districts have already finalized plans for the year. He said during a call with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents that he would support whatever decision districts make. Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 02:13:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People keep a physical distance as they wait for a play at an open-air amphitheater in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Photo by Osman Orsal/Xinhua) ISTANBUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of theater-goers packed an open-air amphitheater on the Asian side of Istanbul for the play "Abnormal" on a recent evening, leaving two empty seats between each other. The temperatures of the audience had been taken by several security officials at the entrance before they were permitted in the venue located in Liberty Park in the Kadikoy district. The municipal units warned those who were in a hurry to sit before the start of the play to obey the social distancing rule as much as possible. Many hand sanitizers were also catching the eyes in various parts of the amphitheater, whose capacity was reduced by 60 percent in line with the COVID-19 measures. The local municipality recently launched a series of cultural and artistic events in the venue that will last until the end of August, aiming at raising some funds to support the artists and enable the citizens to have pleasant times in the open air. "We are social but distant. We are not at full capacity, but at safe capacity," Serdil Dara Odabasi, mayor of the Kadikoy municipality, said at a written statement. "If the art does not fit in the hall, it fits in the parks," he noted. Eyup Emre Ucaray, the director of the play, meanwhile, was visibly excited as he was discussing the last details with the actors. "All the tickets were sold out three days ago," he told Xinhua. "It seemed that the Turkish people were long ready for such cultural activities and feel safer outside, free from the COVID-19 contamination concerns." The theater venues across the country reopened last month after four months of closure due to the pandemic. "We saw an unexpectedly good crowd at our first performance in early July," Ucaray said. However, soon after, the number of new daily infected cases began to follow an upward trend, forcing people to refrain from going to crowded places and particularly from attending indoor events, he added. "People are very keen to go out and get socialized, but in the case of negative development, they immediately take a step back," he added, noting that such open-air activities would be the best alternative during the pandemic. Speaking of the financial losses originated from the suspension of their plays, the director said both actors and behind-the-scenes workers have been struggling to make a living. The summer months are usually the times when they decide on new plays and select new texts, the director continued. "But this year, an enormous uncertainty dominates the atmosphere, and as we do not know what will happen a few months later, we have trouble in launching new projects," he said. In Ucaray's view, the sector has been trying to manage this uncertainty, and he is hopeful that all will be back to normal again as of January next year. He said the plays at the park would provide some lifeline support as the municipality would donate the total collected income to the participating artists to show solidarity with them. Filiz Ertekin, a 75-year-old Kadikoy resident, meanwhile, told Xinhua that she couldn't go out much as the COVID-19 risk is still very high for elderly, but she felt very comfortable and safe during the play outside. "I liked the play. The acting was very qualified. It was a beautiful summer evening for me," she said after the event, noting that she paid 25 Turkish liras or 3.39 U.S. dollars for the ticket. Enditem A frontline worker at Sligo University Hospital could be 195,042 better off following last Friday's EuroMillions jackpot draw after a winning ticket was sold at the shop there. Speculation is rife across the hospital after it was revealed that a player scooped the huge prize after purchasing the ticket on Friday last at Aramark Retail Shop. As Covid-19 restrictions are still in place in relation to visitors, and patients are advised not to leave wards, there is increasing speculation the winner is a frontline worker. The player was just one lucky star number away from winning the massive 64 million jackpot that was up for grabs. Tracy O'Neill who is manager of the shop said there is massive excitement running through the hospital. Speaking to The Sligo Champion, Ms O'Neill said she couldn't believe it when she got word on Friday night. "I was delighted really, and stunned. It's our first big lotto win." Ms O'Neill, who has been running the shop for the past five years, along with four other staff, said speculation is rife as to who the lucky winner could be. "It is mostly staff of the hospital who visit the shop these days because of Covid restrictions. We've no idea at all as to who it could be, everyone is wondering." The shop manager said she hopes the winner is a hospital employee. I hope it is a frontline staff member who worked all throughout Covid, it would be brilliant. The winning EuroMillions Plus numbers were: 05, 20, 21, 36, 41 and the Lucky Stars were 06 and 11. Domhnall McLoughlin, Assistant General Manager at Sligo University Hospital said, This is wonderful news for one of our staff or one of the patients in the hospital. We dont know the identity of the person but we wish them the very best with their windfall. As of yet no one has come forward to claim the prize. Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, big jackpot winners are currently not required to visit Lotto HQ to claim their prizes, and instead can receive them in the post following identity checks. Google is not going to replace Duo with Meet just yet, but before it happens, a lot of key features from Duo will be incorporated into Meet. Google currently has two video calling apps, Google Duo and Google Meet, now that Google Hangouts is on the way out. However, it seems like Google wants to tidy it up further and according to reports, the company plans to replace Duo with Meet. According to 9to5Google, this discussion is a result of Google placing its consumer communication services, Duo, Messages and the Android Phone app, all under the leadership of G Suite head Javier Soltero. After this new unified team was made public in May, Soltero told employees that it did not make sense for Duo and Meet to coexist. With almost everyone working from home and handling everything from classes to meetings online, Google has had to move aggressively to beef up Meet to take on Zoom. Like Duo, Meet is now free for everyone and is looking to capture the same market. The focus is now on Meet and Soltero has opted to make it Googles one video calling service for both enterprise and regular customers. Internally, this is being described as a merger or two services and has been codenamed Duet - the portmanteau of Duo and Meet. Sources told 9to5Google that this new direction and the reduced interest in creating a dedicated consumer service surprised The Duo team. Looking back Google Duo was announced at I/O 2016 as one half of Googles new consumer messaging strategy to replace Hangouts. While Allo, Googles text messaging service, failed, Duo found great success as an app thats focused on video. Since then, Duo has added a web client, group calling, the ability to send story-esque audio and video messages, but it integrally remains a simple app with a list of contacts that you can tap to start a call. Duo is integrated with Google Messages and Google Phone dialer and has recently added the option of letting people be reached through their email IDs. For all intensive purposes, Duo was Google/Androids version of FaceTime. An update in April introduced the AV1 codec that improved video call quality, built-in screenshots, larger groups and the ability to save messages on Duo. Following that, in early May, Google followed that up with a Family mode, more virtual effects, link-based invites and 32-person calls. Sources made it clear that at the end of this merger, Duo is going to go away and engineers who were working on Duo will move on to work on Meets enterprise development or have left the team. To be fair, Meets usage has surged past Duo over the last few months. In April Google announced that Meets peak daily usage grew by 30x with three billion minutes of video meetings and almost three million new users daily. Daily meeting participants crossed 100 million. On the other hand, Duo reported an 8x surge in group calls in April as well as 10 million sign-ups per week and a ten-fold increase in call minutes. The popularity of Zoom shows that regular users are fine with using an enterprise app for personal communication. And whats important in 2020 is the fact that the users are now familiar with generating a link that can be sent to other users instead of a direct contact list. Monetised as a part of G Suite from day one, Google has been explicit about how important Meet is by integrating it with Gmail. And now, before the replacement happens, the plan is to get several key Duo features on to Meet and these include end-to-end encryption, contacting users for a video call via a phone number and 3D effects. Google has also slowed Duos development pace after the introduction of group conversations to the Nest Hub Max last month. Overall as well, Duos development has been slowed down in comparison to the other video calling apps. Google provided a detailed timeline for Meets upcoming features. However, Duo is not going away any time soon. According to sources the timeline for this transition could take up to two years. While development plans could change, its not happening any time soon. The Interboro School Board issued a letter in response to the resignation of school board member Christine Alonso. Alonso, a Glenolden Republican who served on the board since 2018 and most recently as its treasurer, resigned Thursday amid calls by the Delaware County Black Caucus, other elected officials and others for her behavior stemming from a counter-protest to an Aug. 1 Black Lives Matter march in Ridley Township. On video, Alonso was heard saying, Im so racist, I fought for this country and every single one of you, but youre right, Im the racist. I fought for you. I fought for you. Stay over there, ho. Stay over there. Go get your welfare check. I know you aint got a job. Go get your f welfare check. Alonso said her PTSD from serving in the Army in Iraq has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and she was following doctors recommendations to step down from her professional roles to focus on healing. She denied allegations of racism but expressed regret at her actions at the rally in Ridley Township. In a letter to the Interboro community, dated Aug. 13, the same day Alonso tendered her resignation, board President William L. Phelps Jr. along with board members Justin Shivone, Jack Evans, Edward Harris, Jennifer Varricchio, Glenn Goldsborough, Kelly Joseph and Danielle Fagan issued their response. The Interboro School Board and District is a diverse and inclusive community that condemns discrimination, hatred and violence of any kind, they wrote. The actions of the past several weeks have caused unfortunate divisions in our community to rise to the surface. Ms. Alonsos actions by her own admission displayed at a minimum a lack of judgement and professionalism and at a maximum are interpreted as discriminatory, the letter continued. We agree and do not condone those actions. Additionally, we do not condone the hatred and bullying on social media that were directed at Ms. Alonso and us as board members. This situation, they continued, has caused an unfortunate distraction at a time when we could least afford to have one as we are dealing with this pandemic and trying to find a way to safely educate all of the students of the district. They spoke of Alonsos time on the board. During her time on the board, Ms. Alonso was an excellent board member who contributed her lifes experiences and brought new perspectives to the thought process of the board, the joint letter read. At no time was there ever any hint of racism or discrimination in any of her comments or actions. The board respects and thanks Ms. Alonso for the service she provided not only to our community but to America as a whole. However, they continued, we ask Ms. Alonso to reflect and consider the best interest of the district during these challenging and unprecedented times. They then referred to the district mission statement, reading, Interboro School District provides a challenging and supportive learning environment for all students to succeed academically, socially and emotionally while becoming college and career ready citizens within a global community. The letter then concluded, As a board and district we will work tirelessly to continue to fulfill this mission for the betterment of our students and community. We ask all members of the community to work with us as partners for the success of our district. India marks 25 years of the Internet on August 15 alongside the 74th Independence Day celebrations. The Internet has become so much important in this digital age that it is often said to be the fourth basic necessity after roti, kapda, and makaan. While the Internet in India arrived in the year 1986, its access was limited to the educational and research communities. It was on August 15, 1995 when the common man in India got an opportunity to connect to the world via the Internet. Speeds then were relatively-slow and we had only one internet provider the government-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL). Jump to 2020, India has a bunch of 4G mobile and high-speed broadband Internet providers. Over the years, the Internet has turned out to be the driving force for raising a voice, expressing thoughts, and even create jobs. India is now home to more than 550 million active internet users and is expected to breach the 600 million mark by year-end 2020. PM Modi, in his speech on India's 74th Independence Day, announced that over six lakh villages across India would be connected through high-speed internet via optical fibre within 1,000 days. As the internet becomes more accessible and affordable, here's how important the internet has been for Indians. Survival during the COVID-19 pandemic The coronavirus pandemic led to India go under the biggest lockdown in March 2020. Over 1.3 billion people were forced to stay in their homes to curb the spread of the virus. During these months, people found a way to stay connected with their loved ones and even for professional purposes through video calls and various other apps and mediums available on the internet. The demand was such that the rural areas outnumbered urban cities in terms of active internet users, which increased to over 500 million in April 2020. Internet consumption in India also increased by 13 percent during the lockdown. Access to information courtesy of affordable Internet plans The first internet plan for the public in India cost Rs 5,000 and offered 9.6 kbps speeds. Compare that to 2020 and you get 42GB 4G data for less than Rs 150. Until 2016, Indians paid roughly Rs 300 for 1GB data. Things changed when Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) entered the telecom sector with Jio and provided high-speed 4G mobile internet to users for free. Within the first six months of its launch, Reliance Jio crossed over 100 million active subscribers. However, a large chunk of users still are unable to access smartphone and feature phones. While there are a bunch of Android smartphones available for over Rs 5,000, nearly 500 million Indians still do not have a basic device to get access to the internet. Jio, alongside its telecom operations, launched the Jio Phone in 2016. The 4G feature phone became so popular that within a couple of years, it crossed over 300 million shipments. Today, the average cost of mobile internet is under Rs 7/ GB, and a major chunk of the credit is often given to Reliance Jio for launching 4G internet in India and changing the telecom sector and the internet in India. Courtesy of the competitive environment, India ranks number 1 in the list of countries with the most affordable mobile internet plans. Campaigns The Internet has also played a key role in voicing various social campaigns and causes. Social media users took charge and supported the LGBTQ community to decriminalise homosexuality under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Not just that, another massive campaign against sexual harassment, #MeToo, began on social media. While the movement did start first in the US, many here in India gathered the courage to speak up against the ones who abused them sexually. Education We have already mentioned how the internet played a key role in helping people stay connected during the pandemic. However, the most significant use case of the internet is being done in the education sector. As schools and colleges continue to remain close, students and teachers are relying on video-conferencing apps such as Microsoft Teams for online education. Some institutes are also conducting tests online using their own applications or via such video-conferencing apps. Corporates and businesses Majority of corporate infrastructure relies on the internet for their businesses. The use case is not limited to the consumer front, where these companies use the platform to sell their products, but also for key data transfer and security. The pandemic has also given small and medium businesses (SMBs) an opportunity to get on board the virtual space and generate revenue by selling their products online. Platforms like JioMart are being used by these retailers to offer seamless accessibility to a range of products to consumers. The popularity is such that JioMart surpassed 1 million downloads on Google Play Store alone a few days after its launch. The service, which was initially available across 200 locations in India, is expanding at a rapid rate to other parts of the country. The Internet has also helped brands like Uber and Ola launch ride-hailing services and help connect millions of taxi and auto drivers across India. Not just transport, apps like Swiggy and Zomato have changed the way people order food online. Outsourcing and cloud-based services India is considered to be a preferred country by multinational companies due to its budget-friendly costs. It is estimated that the development cost of an outsourced project costs about 30 percent lesser than developed countries like the US and UK. Despite reduced costs, Indian outsourcing companies are known to offer high-quality services. Indias increased focus on technology is also aiding in improving the overall infrastructure. With robust internet connectivity, that is improving and expanding every day, the use of cloud-based services for storing data is also witnessing strong growth. Clients are offered the latest and best in software technology, including customised solutions for various applications such as e-commerce, business process re-engineering, system migration, legacy system maintenance, system integration, and much more. Outsourcing companies also maintain uninterrupted communication channels with clients by providing high-speed bandwidth via satellite connectivity, submarine cables and fibre optic networks, according to the website Outsource2India. Startup Culture With a booming economy and increasing focus on Digital India, coupled with a young population, the focus on startups has been on the rise. The government, too, is aiding citizens in launching start-up companies via various initiatives. The overall fund flow to Indias startup ecosystem has actually grown in 2019. Around USD 20.44 billion has been pumped into Indian startups. Thats the highest in the past five years. While these are some of the positive sides of the Internet in India, there are an equal number of downsides as well. Privacy and data security remain a big concern, not just for citizens but for the administration as well. There have been several reports on applications storing user data without their consent and using it to generate revenue by targeting ads. Cyberattacks too have been on the rise, leading to users being vulnerable to virtual attacks if adequate measures are not taken. Not just that, app-based bugs have led to data leaks. As they say, data is the new oil, so not just brands but even hackers try and get access to user information and capitalise it for a large sum. The dark web is also a known-yet-unknown entity of the internet. Recently, personal data of 2.9 crore Indian job seekers was leaked on the dark web. Sure, you can use services like VPN to avoid being a victim to such attacks but as they say, precaution is better than cure. The Internet continues to be a boon and curse at the same time. As India enters its 26th-year of the digital age, here's hoping for a safer, smoother, faster and even-more connected virtual world. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 04:26:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANAA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A 10-year-old girl was killed on Friday when artillery shelling hit a farm in the south of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, local medics told Xinhua. Six other family members were wounded in the shelling on the farm in al-Durayhimi district, they said. It was the latest in a series of such exchange of shelling between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthi rebels in the embattled port city. Last week, two residents were killed and 10 others, including six children, wounded in clashes between the warring parties in the district of Bayt al-Faqih in the south of Hodeidah, according to the local medics. Hodeidah has seen a shaky cease-fire between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels since the two sides reached a UN-sponsored truce agreement in Stockholm in December 2018. Part of the province, including the port city on the Red Sea, is under control of the Houthi rebels, while the government forces have advanced to the southern and eastern districts. Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem There are calls for tourism chief Michael Cawley to step down from his position as Failte Ireland chairman this afternoon after it emerged he travelled to Italy on holidays despite a massive drive to promote staycations in Ireland due to Covid-19. Longford councillors Seamus Butler and Peggy Nolan both expressed their dismay at the news with the former insisting Mr Cawley's position was "untenable" as a consequence. The Irish Independent revealed today that the Failte Ireland chairman went to Italy on his holidays, which is on the Green List. Details of the development surrounding Mr Cawley emerged as the Government is continuing to advise people not to travel abroad and to "holiday at home" as the Covid-19 pandemic plays havoc with the country's economy and health service. Failte Ireland is carrying out a "major drive to encourage people to take domestic breaks" and the Government has introduced a tax rebate to encourage people to spend their holidays here. Cllr Butler described the saga as a "bloody disgrace" and something which was inexcusable in the current climate. "Absolutely," he said when asked if the affair was a resigning matter. "I mean Failte Ireland are always on about the Atlantic East, the Atlantic Way and Hidden Heartlands and then you have the likes of this going on. "It's just a very bad example that's been set and I don't think his position is tenable." Longford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Peggy Nolan said while she did not necessarily agree with Cllr Butler's assertion of the issue being one which should result in Mr Cawley's resignation, the long serving local politician registered her disappointment at the news. "People are very anxious and fearful and if this man has gone to Italy then shame on him," she said. "I don't think it is a resigning issue but what I do think is that is card should be very firmly marked when he gets home." The idea of viewing racism as a public health problem has gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic. Cities have begun to cite the concept and to connect the dots between racism and the health of communities of color. It has become impossible to ignore how longstanding policies and practices have contributed to bad health outcomes and thus to greater vulnerability to COVID-19 and to more deaths. Racial discrimination has played a role in housing policies, banking practices and how school district boundaries were drawn. It plays a role in access to public transit and fresh foods and in the creation of safe sidewalks and parks. Together, such policies and practices created better health outcomes for one set of people than for others. Its never too late for San Antonio to recognize those inequities and chart a course toward fairness by budgeting with an equity lens allocating public funds to compensate for decades of neglect and poor services in minority neighborhoods. On Aug. 7, City Councils community health and equity committee unanimously approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis and calling for racial justice to be a fundamental part of all city policies and programs. Next week, the full council will discuss whether to pass the non-binding measure and join a growing list of governments in recognizing what science long ago confirmed: that racism has disproportionately affected the health of communities of color. The concept of connecting racism and public health is still relatively new. Amelie G. Ramirez, who directs UT Health San Antonios Institute for Health Promotion Research, says the trend goes back only five years. And it has met with some resistance. Ramirez pointed to an article in Stateline, a publication of the Pew Charitable Trusts, in which Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a public health professor at George Washington University, said that after the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore police custody in 2015, I said routinely that poverty was a public health issue, and most people understood. Then I talked about violence as a public health issue and about half of the people I spoke to agreed. But when I talked about racism as a public health issue, almost no one agreed. Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News / Contributor Three years ago, Milwaukee County became the first to declare racism a public health crisis, swayed by experts at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Ramirez said. The American Public Health Association says that between 2017 and June of this year, 24 city councils, mayors, governors, statehouses and school boards adopted resolutions like the one before San Antonio City Council. The list now stands at 120. Its the right thing to do, said Rogelio Saenz, a professor of demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio who has tracked the under-counting of COVID-19 cases among Latinos. If the city goes back to business as usual, we havent accomplished anything. Getting a direct return from the well-intended resolution wont be easy. It would help if voters, in November, approve Mayor Ron Nirenbergs proposal to use $154 million in sales tax revenue to pay for job training and college education for people thrown out of work by the pandemic. Another way to advance the resolutions aims would be to redirect some of the money now spent on policing to community-based service programs. Saenz said they should focus on basic needs, including affordable housing and blunting the threat of gentrification. Five months into the coronavirus pandemic, San Antonio residents regardless of color feel weighed down by business closures and job losses. Others feel the weight of working from home while also serving as their childrens teachers. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County commissioners back 24-hour early voting sites, curbside voting for November Imagine that weight compounded by constant racial battle fatigue, Saenz said, using a phrase meant to describe the mental, emotional and physical stress that racial discrimination inflicts upon people of color every day. It has been linked to hypertension and heart disease. In San Antonio, the genesis of the council resolution lies with Councilwomen Jada Andrews-Sullivan of District 2 and Ana Sandoval of District 7. Sandoval said the concept of racism as a public health problem was solidified for her in bold statements in an alumni email from Michelle Williams, a renowned epidemiologist and dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Sandoval, who holds a masters degree from the Chan School, invited Williams to speak with her during a Facebook forum. The dean obliged because her husband, aviation safety expert Todd Curtis, has San Antonio roots. Racism as a public health issue may still be relatively new, the councilwoman said. But its a sleeping giant. A resolution wont solve it. But it states we have an issue. eayala@express-news.net New research into a childhood disease linked with Covid-19 has found that it causes changes in white blood cells. University of Limerick was one of three universities involved in new research which could help to understand and treat the disease. Children are less likely to suffer from Covid-19 itself, and appear to only have mild symptoms when infected. But in some cases, children all over the world have been diagnosed with a rare but severe illness which appears to follow the virus. Paediatric inflammatory multi-system syndrome is associated with Sars-CoV-2 and known as PIMS-TS. It is similar to Kawasaki disease, a rare illness affecting young children. Very little is known about either illness or how to treat them. UL worked with University of Birmingham and University of Warwick to examine blood samples from children admitted with both diseases to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital during the UK's coronavirus lockdown. It found large changes in white blood cells, known as monocytes, in patients with both diseases. Dr Eanna Fennell, a postdoctoral fellow in the Health Research Institute and the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, helped to lead the blood cell analysis. Dr Fennell said while the research was carried out on a small sample of patients, it could help contribute to finding a way to treat the disease. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli spoke to each other over the phone on Saturday the first time since Kathmandu brought a new political map of the country that showed several Indian territories as its own. During the talks, Oli greeted PM Modi on India's 74th Independence Day and congratulated him for the countrys recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council," a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry said. The Ministry of External Affairs release said, "Two leaders expressed mutual solidarity" on the COVID-19 pandemic with Prime Minister Modi offering "continued support to Nepal in this regard. Civilisational and cultural links that India and Nepal share were also highlighted by PM Modi. No talks on border developments came during the conversation, it added. Earlier in this year, both leaders had spoken on the coronavirus pandemic. The development comes two days before India and Nepal sit for a talk on New Delhi's development projects in the country. The "scheduled oversight mechanism" will see India being represented by its envoy in Kathmandu Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Nepal being represented by its Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi. The government sources said that the meeting is "part of regular interaction between India and Nepal" and the mechanism was set up in 2016 to "review ongoing bilateral economic and development projects, and meets on a periodic basis". India has been assisting Nepal in the development of border infrastructure through up-gradation of 10 roads in the Terai area, developing cross-border rail links at Jogbani-Biratnagar, Jaynagar-Bardibas and establishment of Integrated Check Posts at Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, and Nepalgunj. The total economic assistance earmarked under Aid to Nepal budget in FY 2019-20 was Rs 1,200 crore. The sight of Muslims marking Eid al-Adha at Croke Park on the last day of July was quite unlike anything witnessed before in the stadium. About 200 worshippers spaced out their prayer mats on the pitch as clips of Muslim festivities from around the world were broadcast on a big screen. The event was the culmination of months of planning by Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council. Even with empty seats all around, the buzz was palpable. On the other side of Dublin, meanwhile, people were queuing for Eid prayers from early in the morning at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh. The annual celebration looked a bit different this year with social distancing measures in place. Where usually up to 3,000 would gather in the mosque, only 350 were allowed in at a time, divided between a number of rooms. Three prayer sessions were held that Friday, with spots of 20 to 30 minutes having to be booked online. Read More Like their Christian counterparts, Ireland's minority religions are still adapting to a new way of doing things since the easing of lockdown. Logistical challenges aside, there is much relief about the return to bricks-and-mortar facilities. Summayah Kenna, a spokeswoman for the Islamic Cultural Centre, tells Review that members of the community had missed the emotional as well as religious support provided by the mosque. "It feels like a second home for a lot of us, so it was a huge blow to have it closed," she says. Covid restrictions also affected Kenna's work as head of the centre's community welfare department. "A large part of the role is meeting people to talk through social and family issues, and with things moving online we lost the intimacy of those in-person conversations," she says. "Even now, as we open gradually, some people are afraid to come in because of the virus." Dr Hemant Kumar of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre in Dublin is likewise eager to resume services. The centre will open its first permanent temple in Walkinstown to limited gatherings later this month, having previously rented premises in Lucan. In the meantime, it has been offering online 'pooja', or Hindu worship, over Facebook. "We had to cancel a number of important spiritual and cultural events," says Kumar, "but the livestreams have been very popular with so many people being at home." Zen Buddhist priest Ian Kilroy - or Reverend Myozan Kodo Kilroy, as he is known - has similarly found positives in going online. Kilroy is the founder and guiding teacher of Zen Buddhism Ireland, which until March had been based in a Quaker building in Temple Bar. Since lockdown, the community has held daily meditations over Zoom, allowing it to open up the practice to new people in Ireland and further afield. However, it plans to resume Zen nights at Common Ground, a co-operative space in Bray, from the end of the month. The past few months have been a struggle for many, but Kilroy points out that living through a crisis can also provide important lessons. "We've had to rethink a lot of things, from the way we work and commute to how we spend our leisure time. This pandemic has been a kind of enforced retreat, and in retreating from the world we often rediscover the deep simplicity and consolation of silence, but we also face up to the hard reality of life." Whether this change of pace leads more to religion remains to be seen, but for the already religious, Covid has served as a reminder of the importance of congregation. "You can see the enthusiasm people have coming back," says Al-Qadri, head imam at the Islamic Centre in Blanchardstown. "The services have been really needed." Letters to the Editor View(s): Some thoughts on attracting large and medium scale foreign investors Nimal Sanderatne, in his columnImperatives For Economic Developmentin the Sunday Times of August 9 writes under the heading Fiscal consolidation an economic prerequisite and priority for development explaining the current financial status of the country in a nutshell, identifying the reason for the major crisis our economy is facing today, namely the ever widening fiscal deficit. The writer has touched on most known and unknown reasons for such crises, but it would have been more informative if areas such as corruption and its ramifications were also discussed. Corruption in the country has kept away most foreign investors as they face unnecessary red tape. If they come, they will generate jobs for skilled and unskilled workers and better revenue for the country. The plight is no government has been able to curtail this evil. The COVID-19 situation has given Sri Lanka an opportunity to seek lucrative foreign investments since the government has curtailed the pandemic admirably, where other countries have lagged behind. The WHO has recognized this. In the present scenario, if the government takes firm steps to eradicate corruption that takes place when foreign investments are negotiated, securing and attracting large and medium scale foreign investors will not be a dream. To address the ever-widening fiscal deficit, the remedy is to improve exports by offering our exporters and entrepreneurs the best facilities. They include soft import costs for raw materials and equipment among others. This will see higher local capital investments and will improve investor efforts to bring new business ideas that will generate higher revenue to the country. While attracting foreign investors, a strategy should be in place to encourage the deployment of underutilised capital of the local business sector and pave the way to expansion of businesses. They will then be presented with more export opportunities to trade their products in the global market. A short-term tactical approach (borrowing more money) will not be effective. Long-term efforts and strategies to meet objectives to overcome the struggles of the public(debt servicing cost) have to be launched. The systems should be in place and accountability of the government officials needs to be assured. Saman Jayasena Via email Paintings on the walls that do not help national unity We appreciate all men, women, university students, artists, clergymen and youth who voluntarily come forward to beautify the country by creating colourful paintings on the walls by the side of roads. Now there are no walls left for politicians, tuition masters, traders and theatres to paste their posters. The pictures drawn on the walls most often depict historical scenes and cultural events. But some pictures do not suit the place and deliver the wrong message. The painting at Galagedera- Rambukkana junction (Y junction) shows three unhappy faces of people from different ethnic communities staring in different directions as if they are not on good terms with each other. What is the message given by this painting? Will it encourage unity and harmony among the communities? It would have been better if the artists had drawn happy and smiling faces facing each other and perhaps holding hands to symbolise national unity. It would have been even better if they had drawn Galagederas forgotten national hero- T.B. Jayah who joined hands with D.S. Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of this country and Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, in helping gain Independence. T.B. Jayahs parental home lies only about 150 metres from this junction. They could have even drawn pictures of the former Ministers and MPs such as K.A. Jabbar, Tamara Kumari Ilangaratne, Tikiri Banda Ilangaratne, Sarath Amunugama and Rauff Hakeem who have done some service to the country, particularly to the Galagedera electorate . A.W.M. Kaleel Galagedera Our public veterinary care services need strengthening I started vaccinating my dog from the fifth week after birth and since it is critical to vaccinate against major viruses, a veterinary surgeon at the Government Veterinary Hospital in Welisara Ragama, recommended the dog be given the vaccination against the Parvo virus. On my subsequent visits to the vet, the dog was given the vaccinations for other major diseases including the second vaccination for Parvo. However, after the 12th week it contracted the Parvo virus and was rushed to the same hospital for treatment and treated continuously for four days. The fifth day being a Sunday they told me to show the dog to a private vet but with all this care it died on the sixth day. The veterinary care at Government hospital is expensive and we pay for all the medicine, equipment and medical services but there is a serious doubt about the quality of the medicines being administered and services provided. The said hospital lacks basic supplies like Sodium Chloride (Saline), Metronidazole etc. and they have to be bought outside and brought to the hospital. Though a list of veterinary surgeons is published, there is basically the same vet almost all the time. Most of the vaccinations and medical services are performed by personnel wearing rubber slippers. Gone are the good days when the quality of these public institutions was of high standard. I request the Govt, to give priority to strengthening Public Veterinary Services specifically in the forward march for dairy farming in our country. Adrian Weerasekera Via email The Office of the President of Ukraine says that Ukraine expected to see a more legally relevant and well-considered decision regarding the members of the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, who have been extradited from Belarus to Russia on August 14. "The Republic of Belarus is definitely an independent state with its own position, but Ukraine expected to see a more legally relevant and well-considered decision," it said. "Ukraine takes the decision of Belarus to pass the group of previously detained members of the Wagner Group to Russia with regret," the president's office said. TOPEKA, Kan. Democrats are scrambling to deal with the strong possibility that a 19-year-old candidate for a Kansas House seat in Kansas City will unseat a veteran lawmaker despite making incendiary comments on social media and acknowledging abusive behavior online toward girls in middle school. Aaron Coleman, a dishwasher and community college student, holds a five-vote lead over seven-term state Rep. Stan Frownfelter, a 69-year-old small business owner. Officials in their home of Wyandotte County are scheduled to meet Monday to review provisional ballots and decide whether to count them, potentially altering Coleman's 807-802 lead in voting. Coleman is running a liberal platform that includes universal health coverage, eliminating college tuition, defunding the police and legalizing marijuana. But he received more attention for a social media post suggesting he would laugh and giggle if a former GOP state lawmaker died of COVID-19, another post endorsing abortion up to the moment of birth and a third acknowledging that allegations that he engaged in online bullying, blackmail and revenge porn were true. He apologized for the comments and said his past behavior targeting several middle-school girls was that of "a sick and troubled 14-year-old. Some Democrats are struggling with the possibility that with no Republican on the ballot in the 37th District this fall, Coleman could sit in the House come January. Frownfelter argues that Coleman's nomination could hurt Democrats' efforts to pick up seats in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Aaron Coleman. (Aaron Coleman Campaign) He is not fit to serve in the Legislature, said Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Coleman also ran as an independent write-in candidate for governor in 2018. He attributed the results of the House primary to his door-to-door campaigning and said in an email to The Associated Press that he was absolutely shocked by the results. I ran to talk about how to make Kansas better for working people, Coleman said. I never expected I would win. Story continues Frownfelter won the Kansas City, Kansas, seat in 2006 and hadn't previously faced a contested primary. He also faced no opponent at all in five of his seven previous elections. Frownfelter said in an interview that he believes that had turnout been higher, he would have won and suggested that young voters came out to back Coleman while older constituents did not vote. Everybody I talked to said, Oh, you don't have to worry. You're going to win,'" Frownfelter said. He added that that many voters didn't know of Coleman's social media posts or past behavior. Coleman's social media posts about coronavirus and abortion have been taken down, and in an Aug. 1 post on Facebook, he apologized that he had crossed a boundary. Im new at politics and so sometimes I speak a little too directly," he said in his email Friday to AP. "But these issues are life and death. The Kansas City Star detailed the allegations about Coleman's behavior in middle school in a recent editorial decrying the possibility that he could serve in the House. He did not dispute the newspaper's account. The Star said Coleman obtained a nude photo of a girl, threatened to distribute it unless she sent him more nude photos and followed through with the threat when she didn't provide more photos. Asked about the accuracy of those details, Coleman said in his email to the AP, They're accurate. Coleman said Friday that he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder at age 15. In a June 17 Facebook post, he attributed his problems partly to spending the vast majority of his elementary school education in a closet instead of getting proper help at school. He said he was home-schooled in middle school. Ive grown a great deal since then, he said in his Friday email. Doug Powers, assistant superintendent of the Kansas City-area Turner school district where Coleman went to elementary school, said it does not put kids in closets. State Democratic Party officials are not commenting at least until the vote-counting is done. Jacques Barber, Wyandotte County's Democratic chairman, said the party shouldnt try to overturn the result if Coleman is declared the nominee but try to counsel him and give him as much guidance as we can. He has been elected by the people, and the people have been exposed to what he's said and done, and apparently, that's their choice, Barber said. Mumbai: The third largest luxury carmaker BMW India, which on Thursday launched the fourth model from its Mini stable in Mumbai, hopes to have petrol variants for all its nearly a dozen models by next year. We are working towards having petrol variants for all our models by next year. As of now we have only limited petrol models. We offer petrol models in the 3 & 5 Series and also in the X3 & X5 Series, BMW India Acting President Frank Emanuel Schloeder said in Mumbai. Schloeder, talking to PTI after launching the Mini Clubman, the fourth model from the German luxury carmakers British subsidiary, declined to give a break-up of diesel and petrol model sales or elaborate more on the petrol plan except saying they will have to have a second assembly line with this plan. BMW is sourcing engines from Force Motors now. He ruled out local assembly of the Mini, saying the pie is so small that it cant be commercially viable. The company assembles eight models at its Chennai plant. Luxury carmakers like the market leader Merc, Audi, BMW and JLR were badly hit after the Supreme Court in December last year banned all above 2-litre diesel models in Delhi/NCR. The ban was lifted only in August after the manufacturers agreed to pay 1 per cent green cess in a special account. While the worst hit was the Merc, Audi and JLR (as mode of their models fall into the banned category) BMW was comparatively better off as most of its models come with under 2-litre engines, though powered by diesel powertrains. Accordingly, the 35,000-units luxe car market is set for a decline this year, while Schloeder said his sales have been clocking over 20 per cent till November as the note ban has hit its sales. But again, Schloeder declined to quantify the fall in sales, but when pointed out that his rival brands have been complaining of over 50 per cent dip in footfalls at the dealerships, he just said, We dont have so much decline and cant quantify how much. Terming demonetisation as a good move in the long-run, Schloeder said he hopes sales will come back to normalcy over the next two months. He said the forthcoming GST roll-out, despite the proposed sin tax on luxury goods and tobacco, would over the years help the luxury carmakers. I dont understand why taxation should be used as a punishment. I hope after the initial years, when the economy gets used to GST and the government;s tax revenue increases, luxury goods like ours will also be taxed reasonably. The countrys largest luxury carmaker till 2012, BMW has been pushed to a distant No 3 and has not been reporting sales numbers since then. Last year, industry sources said, it sold under 7,000 units as against over 13,500 by Merc. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Vietnam has just registered and has not finalized the purchase of recently-approved COVID-19 vaccine named Sputnik V from Russia because there are still many different opinions about this product. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. At the meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on August 14, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that some countries have had Covid-19 vaccine. Particularly, there are still many different opinions about the vaccine of Russia. The committees members reiterated theres no end in sight to the pandemic until an effective medicine or vaccine is obtained so the Ministry of Health still registered to buy it. The registration shows that Vietnam wants to cooperate with Russia and if Russia agrees, it will provide the vaccine for Vietnam to test. But it can take at least half a year from the trial stage to the widespread use of vaccine. The Ministry of Health said that Vietnam would register to buy every good vaccine in the world for the hope of the success of that vaccine in reality but Vietnam would only register for the purchase. In addition to the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, the Ministry of Health has registered to buy Covid-19 vaccine from the UK. Talking with VietNamNet, Mr. Vu Tuan Cuong, Director-General of the Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health also affirmed that Vietnam has not finalized the purchase of Russian vaccine. Meanwhile, Vietnam will continue developing its own COVID-19 vaccines to be self-reliant in its distribution to the 90 million population. Currently, Vietnam has four Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers, including: VABIOTECH, IVAC (Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals), POLYVAC (Center for Vaccine and Medical Biological Production) in cooperation with the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Nanogen Company. The health ministry will send two vaccine candidates, slated to be available by the end of 2021, by POLYVAC and VABIOTECH, to be tested in the US after pre-clinical trials on animals yielded promising results. With POLYVAC vaccine, if the results of the evaluation of toxicity on animals sent to the US is safe, this unit can conduct human trials (clinical trials) at the end of the year. On August 11, President Vladimir Putin announced that this countrys Ministry of Health had licensed the Covid-19 vaccine called Sputnik V, a reference to the surprise 1957 launch of the world's first satellite by the Soviet Union. The vaccine is jointly developed by the Gamaleya National Research Centre and the Russian Ministry of Defense. President Putin emphasized that the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine was a very important step forward for the world. Mr. Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre, affirmed that the Russian Covid-19 vaccine can extend its protection period up to 2 years. According to preliminary information, the vaccine costs about US$10 per two doses. However, many scientists around the world have warned that this is an incomplete vaccine because phase 3 has not been implemented. This is considered the most important in the testing process, which must last many months with thousands of samples. At the same time, the number of people participating in the phase 1 and 2 trial is too small compared to the regulations on clinical trials of vaccines. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this organization is working with Russian health officials to see whether the vaccine meets the standards before being launched to the market or not. The quality of the vaccine prior to widespread vaccination requires careful assessment, WHO added. Thuy Hanh Vietnamese COVID-19 vaccine set for human trials in October First phase of human trials on a made-in-Vietnam COVID-19 vaccine could begin as early as this October. My dog lives inside my house and always exits with a leash. Recently, he broke his leash chasing the cat, causing my husband to lose his balance and almost fall. My dog at first was amused and intrigued by these animals roaming free. You see in his training classes all the other animals are on leases too. The other pets on the walking trail, Tractor Supply and other places allowed have to have a leash attached. I say this because since COVID-19 we don't get to visit those places as often. My dog has to watch this cat invade our personal spaces through a window and he's not happy to say the least. My dog has great resentment that this cat comes to our property. The dog wants to chase the cat when it finds it under our car in the driveway or other places. My neighbor recently threatened to kill my dog. My cool headed husband just said, OK, now we know where to send the police first. Entitlement doesn't stop with just young people. It is a failure to look in the mirror and see how you have contributed to the issue. Entitled adults often cannot see their own faults. Age does not sidestep common courtesy. Be the person you wish others to be. Thirty-two Russian citizens who were earlier detained in Belarus and whom Minsk described as members of the Wagner private military company have returned home, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said. "In line with Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov's request dated August 5, 2020, according to the procedure stipulated by the Minsk Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations on Civil, Family, and Criminal Cases of January 22, 1993, thirty-two citizens of the Russian Federation who were detained earlier in Belarus have crossed the Russian Federation's border and are currently in Russia," the office told Interfax. The thirty-third Russian citizen, who also has Belarusian citizenship, stayed in Belarus, it said. "The transfer of the said persons has been accomplished in strict compliance with international law and Russia's and Belarus's national laws, through close interaction between the prosecution authorities of our countries. The Russian Federation's competent authorities are continuing to look into the situation surrounding these citizens" it said. Thirty-three Russian citizens suspected by the Belarusian authorities of being employees of the Wagner private military company and of planning to instigate mass unrest in the period of the Belarusian presidential election were detained near Minsk on July 29. Russia insists that the Russians detained in Belarus return home and says that their culpability is not proven. August 1945. My father-to-be, an Army sergeant and a combat infantryman in Italy, was on his way back to the United States to participate in the invasion of Japan. His brother was a doctor in the Army Medical Corps. My future father-in-law was in the Army in the Pacific and was also gearing up for the attack on the Japanese homeland. On Aug. 6, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On Aug. 8, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. On Aug. 9, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. On Aug. 15, Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of Japan to the Allies. After that announcement, my mother-to-be, still a teenager, found herself wading through a river of celebratory confetti in the streets of Detroit, part of the throng rejoicing that the war had at last ended. On Sept. 2, representatives of Japan signed the surrender document aboard the USS Missouri, officially ending World War II. Peace at last: On Sept. 2, 1945, the American Army and Navy aboard the USS Missouri for the surrender ceremonies to mark the end of the war with Japan. (Three Lions/Getty Images) This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, yet few of us will celebrate that historical victory over the forces of fascism and tyranny. Our attention is consumed by more immediate trials and troubles. In addition to the chaos caused by the pandemic, we are facing riots in some of our cities and calls to eradicate our culture and our Constitution. Many, including some of our politicians, deny the idea of American exceptionalism, the concept that America is unlike any other country in the history of the world. They contend that America was and is evil, a blackhearted nation with an ugly history whose Constitution and ideals must be eradicated or altered. Are they correct? Is there nothing special, nothing unique, about America? The Rubble Heap and the Communists Lets pay a visit to August of 1945 and the postwar years, and take a look. By the wars end, much of the world lay in ruins. The British Isles would continue a system of rationing for years. The economies of France and Italy were flattened, their factories closed, with many of their citizens living in poverty. Germany was a landscape of bombed-out cities, Japan a country of smoking ruins whose population initially was terrified by a possible American occupation. In 1947, Winston Churchill described Europe as a rubble-heap, a charnel house, a breeding ground of pestilence and hate. A German woman amid the rubble of what is left of Berlin after World War II. (Fred Ramage/Keystone/Getty Images) Meanwhile, the Soviet Union, which had suffered millions of military and civilian deaths, was turning Eastern Europe into a communist bloc, locking up entire nations behind what Churchill would call the Iron Curtain. In China, Mao Zedongs communist party seized control. Some countriesKorea, Vietnam, and Germanywere eventually split in two between capitalism and communism, between freedom and dictatorship. Standing in sharp contrast to this devastation and the communist power grabs was the United States of America. Home Front Physically untouched by the war, American factories in the postwar era turned from putting out tanks and warships to the production of consumer goods: automobiles, refrigerators, radios, televisions, kitchenware, and hundreds of other items. Our system of free enterprise flooded the country with these goods, and the standard of living skyrocketed. Suburbs grew outside of cities, the construction of a massive interstate highway system was underway, and every day brought new wonders of science and technology, including medical advances and travel into space. America also advanced the cause of liberty among its people. Within 20 years of the end of World War II, segregation was dead or dying, African Americans had won the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended discrimination in schools and the workplace. American Generosity Moreover, while communism around the world was bent on subjugating people and suppressing liberty, America reached out to preserve freedom and to rebuild a world ruined by war. With its billions of dollars in aid, the Marshall Plan and other American programs helped prevent communism from gaining ascendency in Europe and allowed countries like Italy and France to reopen for business. Particularly significant was the assistance given by America to Germany and Japan. Throughout history, the old adage To the victors belong the spoils has applied, and conquered peoples were often enslaved or reduced to penury. In some cases, they were simply exterminated, like the Carthaginians after the Third Punic War. Instead of keeping the Germans and Japanese on their knees, however, the United States brought both these nations back to life by shaping them into democracies and by providing them with massive economic assistance. Coupled with the work ethic of these two peoples, this tactic worked so successfully that within 20 years Japan and Germany were competing internationally in trade, were developing new technologies, and saw the bulk of their citizens earning middle-class incomes. America helped both Germany and Japan recover. A new block of apartments in Hiroshima, Japan, circa 1955. (Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) And in both countries, again largely by American guidance, democracy flourished. Gone were the goose-stepping armies, the dictators, the concentration camps, and the secret police. Replacing them were voting booths, political parties, and constitutions. Japan and Germany stand today as living monuments to American benevolence and generosity. Keeping Democracy Alive In addition, postwar United States offered economic and military support to countries around the world. South Korea remains a vibrant country to this day because America and its allies defeated the attempted conquest of that tiny nation by the North Koreans and the Chinese communists. During this time, the United States assisted other struggling nations as well, many of them in places like Africa and Asia, with financial aid and other incentives to retain their liberty. The contrast between these real democracies and communism was glaring, with the most vivid example of that difference found in the city of Berlin. In 1961, the East German government, hand in hand with the Russians, built a wall separating East and West Berlin, a concrete barrier designed to prevent refugees from fleeing to West Berlin and freedom. On one side of that wall was East Berlin with its breadlines, its government stores with their empty shelves, its darkness and silence at night. On the other side was West Berlin with its busy shops and streets, its restaurants and fine hotels, its bright lights, clubs, and bars. We need to remember that the Berlin Wall was built to keep East Germans captive. East Berliners climb onto the Berlin Wall on Dec. 31, 1989. (Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Did the United States have ulterior motives in its support for these countries? Of course. They served as markets for our goods, provided us with locations for our far-flung military bases, and were allies against the worldwide threat of communism. To bring democracy and free enterprise to the world was in our best interests. But so what? If I give five dollars to someone in need on the streets, does it matter to him whether that small generosity makes me feel better about myself? Real American Radicalism But where does it come from, this American wealth and the love of liberty? Why did Abraham Lincoln once describe the United States as the last best hope of earth? What were the roots for an American prosperity so vast that we boosted half the postwar world into economic recovery? Why do we so often battle dictators and advocate for democracy? We find the answer to these questions in a single sentence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. The Declaration of Independence. (Public Domain) Those words from Thomas Jeffersons Declaration of Independence constitute the most radical political idea ever conceived. Here are not suppositions, but truths, and self-evident means that these truths are clear to the most casual observer. All men are created equal means that rich and poor, black, white, and brown, and citizens from all walks of life have equal rights in the courtroom and the polling booth, and need bow to no one. Certain inalienable rights means that human beings are born with rights no government can bestow or take away. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are the lifeblood of the American Dream. Keeping the Dream Alive When we fail to remember those words, or cast them aside as old-fashioned and useless, the Dream dies. Consequently, we must ignore those who today have turned their backs on Jeffersons Declaration and want us to do the same. As we have done in the past, we must work to correct real injustices when we find them, but we must refuse to heed those who tell us that America is inherently evil and who advocate canceling our culture and our uniqueness. This August, lets put on a new pair of glasses and take time to look back at a postwar nation that not only brought prosperity and greater justice to its citizens, but also did the same for countries around the world. Let us remember leaders of that agemen like Harry Truman, George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, and Dwight Eisenhowerall of whom believed in the American Dream of liberty and its concomitant prosperity. Let us also remember those 400,000 Americans who died in lands far from home fighting against fascism and tyranny. Americans lost 400,000 fighting in World War II, a sacrifice that seems forgotten today. The World War II Memorial in Washington, July 2017. (MusikAnimal CC BY-SA 4.0) In the midst of our troubles, lets pause to remember and celebrate the goodness of America and the unique vision of the American Dream. Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C., Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog.